ABSTRACT
AIM: This study was designed to evaluate the synergistic activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of medicinal plants Origanum vulgare and Hypericum perforatum and their active components, carvacrol and hypericin against Staphylococcus aureus. METHODS: The synergistic effects of the plants, as well as carvacrol and hypericin, were examined using a checkered method against S. aureus (ATCC 12600). RESULTS: A fractional inhibitory concentration of 0.5 was obtained for combination of O. vulgare and H. perforatum and 0.49 for combination of the active ingredients carvacrol and hypericin, both of which indicated a synergistic effect. CONCLUSION: This preliminary evaluation demonstrated a synergistic property of O. vulgare and H. perforatum extracts in treating S. aureus infection. This study indicates that combination of the plants, as well as combination of carvacrol and hypericin, might be used as a new antibacterial strategy against S. aureus.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of epididymo-orchitis in patients with acute scrotum. METHODS: In this five-year cross sectional study from March 2004 to June 2009, 83 patients who were hospitalized for acute scrotal pain at Shohadaye Ashayer Hospital in Khorramabad were investigated. First, urine analysis and urine culture tests were carried out followed by sonography if necessary. In cases of suspicious sexual activities, serologic tests and urethral secretion culture were also carried out. In patients whose response to treatment was unsatisfactory after 48 hours, brucellosis and tuberculosis were investigated. RESULTS: Out of 83 patients with epididymo-orchitis, there were positive urine cultures in 69 patients. In 52 (62.7%) of these patients, 30 were infected with E. Coli, 9 with Klebsiella, 8 with Pseudomonas, and 5 cases with Proteus, respectively. In 17 cases, tuberculosis and ischaemic orchitis were observed. CONCLUSION: Among common causes of epididymo-orchitis, rare causes such as tumour, tuberculosis, and brucellosis must be taken into consideration. In all these cases sufficient time for the follow-up should be taken into account.
