Essential oil composition of Thymus Trauvetteri Klokov & Desj. at different growing altitudes in Mazandaran, Iran

Thymus trauvetteri Klokov & Desj. (Lamiaceae) is a permanent species that grows in some mountain rangeland of Iran including Mazandaran province. The aerial parts of Thymus trauvetteri were collected during flowering stage in June 2014, from mountain rangelands of Mazandaran province,in North of Iran. Around samples collected from four altitudes (2100 m, 2400 m, 2700 m and 3000 m) in mountain region of Mazandaran province. The goal of current research was to assess the effect of altitude on the chemical composition and function of essential oil in Thymus trauvetteri. The essential oil were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas spectrometry (GC-MS). Based on the results, the essential oil content is between 1.01-1.51% at different altitudes. The highest essential oil (1.51%%) was extracted at an altitude of 2400 m, while it was opposite (1.01%) at an altitude of 3000 m. The main compounds essential oil of Thymus trauvetteri samples were identified: thymol (5.93%-49.75%), carvacrol (1.78%-54.02%), and p-cymen (6.98%-19.07%). According to the results, altitude was significantly (p≤ 0.05) effective on essential oil, thymol, carvacrol and p-cymen rates according to results of correlation analysis. The highest percentage of essential oil is at an altitude of 2400 m and the lowest is 3000 m above sea level. The highest percentage of thymol is in L3 (2700 m) and lowest is in L1 (2100 m). The highest percentage of carvacrol is in L3 (2700 m) and lowest is in L4 (3000 m). The highest percentage of p-cymen is in L1, L2, L3 (2100, 2400 and 2700 m, no significant difference) and lowest is in L4 (3000 m). Variations in essential oil rates and compositions may be due to on genetic, ecological or individual variability

"A COMPARATIVE TRIAL OF LAMOTRIGINE AND CARBAMAZEPINE IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY GENERALIZED TONIC CLONIC SEIZURES"

Lamotrigine has been used widely in the treatment of partial and secondary generalized seizures. In this study use of lamotrigine as monotherapy for the newly diagnosed primary generalized tonic–clonic seizure has been investigated and compared with carbamazepine. After dose escalation (3 weeks for carbamazepine and 6 weeks for lamotrigin), patients were followed every 4 weeks for the first 16 weeks and then every 8 weeks for the next 32 weeks. Total number of patients was 91, randomly divided in two groups, 46 patients in lamotrigine group and 45 patients in carbamazepine group. The efficacy of the two drugs against primary generalized tonic clonic seizure was almost the same. The proportion of patients with seizure episodes in the last 40 weeks of treatment in both groups was similar (24.2% versus 24.6%). Overall, fewer patients in lamotrigine group than in the carbamazepine group withdrew because of adverse events (6.5% vs. 24.5%, P = 0.0216). The commonest side effect leading to withdrawal with lamotrigine was rash and with carbamazepine was drowsiness. More lamotrigine than carbamazepine recipients completed the study (88.9% vs. 73.3%, P = 0.0961). Lamotrigine and carbamazepine showed similar efficacy against primary eneralized tonic clonic seizure in newly diagnosed epilepsy. Lamotrigine, however, was better tolerated

"CLINICORADIOLOGICAL FINDINGS AND TREATMENT OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH INTRACRANIAL HYDATID CYST "

Human infection with echinococcus granulosis is a common disease throughout south America, The Mediterranean littoral, The Middle East, Central Asia and East Africa, which usually occur in children and young adults. Formation of avascular cystic lesions in the liver, kidney, pancreas, bones, vitreus and brain can cause protean of signs and symptoms. Intracranial cysts usually present with focal neurological deficit and features of raised intracranial pressure. ‎Primary hydatid disease of the brain is a rare entity but may pose various diagnostic problems. In this study we report the clinicoradiological findings, treatment outcome and some other properties of intracranial hydatid cysts in 24 cases, emphasizing the fact that hydatid cyst should always be suspected in cystic lesions affecting intracranial cavity specially in endemic areas. Sixty five percent of our patients were children and young adults, 85% of whom came from rural areas. We found in contrast to other studies a female predominance (58%). Headache and vomiting were the most common symptoms. All but one of the patients had a solitary lesion in the cerebral hemisphere. In 21/24 (87%), cysts were removed intact. Four patients (three ruptured cysts during surgery and one case with additional cyst in the lung) received mebendazole (800 mg daily). Surgical mortality and postoperative complications were 8.3 and 20.8% respectively