[Antibacterial effects of scrophularia striata extract on pseudomonas aeruginosa]

Scropholaria striata Boiss. From Scropholariaceae [Teshnehdari in folklore of Ilam Province, Iran] is used for treatment of infectious disease of urinary tract especially in females. In this research for finding of the most effective part of the plant, crude extract of the aerial parts of S. striata and its different fractions was investigated on the 50 resistant strains of Psudomonas aeroginosa. Crude extract of the plant and its various fractions [chloroform, methanol and water] were prepared. Bacterial strains were collected from 3 hospitals and 50 resistant strains were isolated from the culture medium containing various antibiotics. Efficacy of the all fractions was investigated on these resistant bacterial strains. Water and methanol fractions of the plant were showed more antibacterial activity on 50 resistant strains of P. aeroginosa than crude extract [p=0.0001 and p=0.001 respectively] and water fraction was showed stronger effect than methanol fraction [p=0.001]. Chloroform fraction of the plant had no antibacterial activity on this resistant strain. The results of this study showed that the water extract of Scropholaria striata can be used as a remedy for the treatment of the infections caused by Psudomonas aeroginosa

[ frequency distribution of chief complaints in patients with major depressive disorder referring to psychiatric clinics in Kerman]

Physical symptoms associated with depression and common psychiatric disorders sometimes lead to the misdiagnosis of depressive disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency distribution of different chief complaints in patients with major depressive disorder referring to psychiatric clinics according to their demographic characteristics and source of referral. The study was done on 246 depressed patients [191 females and 55 males] visited by three psychiatrists in Kerman. Patients' chief complaints, duration of presenting symptoms, their demographic characteristics and source of referral were recorded and data were analyzed by chi-square. Pain was more prevalent in women, while somatic complaints other than pain and psychiatric complaints were more prevalent in men. Higher educational level and age were significantly associated with higher rate of presenting psychiatric complaints [P<0.001, P<0.01 respectively]. Marital status and duration of symptoms had no significant correlation with the type of somatic complaints. In patients with psychiatric complaints sources of referral were respectively patient's own referring, general practitioners and specialists other than psychiatrists [P<0.001]. In patients with pain complaint sources of referral were respectively patient's own referring, specialists other than psychiatrists and general practitioners. Somatic complaints are frequently present in depressed patients. Cultural differences in presenting complaints, stigma in referring to psychiatrists, general practitioners' and specialists' attitudes and knowledge toward psychiatric disorders affect appropriate and early diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Improving the knowledge of general practitioners about depressive disorders decreases mortality rate, social functioning disturbances, unnecessary expenses and the risk of unnecessary clinical procedures in these patients