Antibacterial and cytotoxicity evaluation of Arum hygrophilum Bioss.

OBJECTIVE: Arum hygrophilum Bioss is a plant native to Asia, Europe, and Northern Africa. It is consumed as beverages, spices, or cooked leaves to cure gastrointestinal infections and cancer. This study aims to determine the antibacterial and anticancer effectivenesss of A. hygrophilum Bioss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the well-diffusion method, the antimicrobial activity of the plant's aqueous extract and five other organic extracts were evaluated against bacteria often associated with food poisoning. The assessment of the antiproliferative activity by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was done on five cancerous cell lines and on fibroblasts as a reference cell line. RESULTS: The growth of L. monocytogenes was significantly inhibited by the aqueous and ethanolic extracts. Both extracts had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 62.5 mg/mL. The inhibition caused by the methanolic extract had a MIC of 500 mg/mL. The growth of S. aureus and MRSA were inhibited by the aqueous extract with a MIC of 500 mg/mL, while the inhibition caused by the ethanolic extract had a MIC of 250 mg/mL on MRSA and 500 mg/mL on S.aureus. Both strains of S.aureus were also inhibited by the 3-pentanon extract, while the butanol extract only exhibited a moderate growth inhibition against MRSA. The MTT assay showed that the aqueous extract had not affected the proliferation of cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicity of the ethanolic and methanolic extracts had no concentration-inhibition relationship and the IC50 values were above 800 µg/mL for all extracts. CONCLUSIONS: L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were inhibited by different Arum extracts. The antibacterial activity of Arum hygrophilum Bioss against foodborne pathogens makes it safe to use as a natural food preservative, and as a source for sanitizers and antimicrobials. Further investigation is recommended to determine the cytotoxicity of the plant against additional cancer cell lines.

Utilization of maternal health services offered by the Health Insurance Organization in Alexandria.

This study examines the extent of utilization of maternal health services (MHS) currently offered by Health Insurance Organization (HIO) in Alexandria. A total of 1040 insured married females working in primary, preparatory and secondary schools in three educational regions in Alexandria were interviewed. Data was collected about socio-economic status of females, their knowledge about MHS offered by HIO, as well as sources of receiving MHS other than HIO. Barriers preventing utilization of such services and recommendations for improvement were explored from beneficiaries. The results revealed that for the last pregnancy, about half the sample utilized antenatal services and about one fourth utilized natal services, while a very small percentage (8%) utilized family planning services. The private sector was the main source for receiving MHS for non-utilizer. Lack of confidence and low quality of services were the main barriers preventing utilization. Complete physical examination, examination of fetal heart sound and improvement of physical environment of obstetrics and gynecology department were the main recommendations for improvement of MHS offered by HIO.

Satisfaction of mothers by nursing care provided to their sick children in ambulatory health care centers.

The aim of the study was to measure satisfaction of mothers attending health units with their ambulatory children. A random sample of 150 mothers was included in the study from 3 ambulatory care units in Ismailia. The indirect method of measuring satisfaction was used through identification of mothers pre-visit expectations and measuring the post visit fulfillment by technical quality of nursing care. The percentage of expectation fulfillment reflected the degree of satisfaction. The mother's responses were validated by observers opinion to the same service provided. The results of the study revealed that respondent scores indicated a weak satisfaction with most of nursing care services such as taking temperature, weighing the child and carrying physicians orders. The results also revealed that aspects related to nurse's advice and guidance to mothers regarding child's condition, elicited high level of unsatisfaction.