Cytotoxic effect of <em>Cousinia verbascifolia</em> Bunge against OVCAR-3 and HT-29 cancer cells

Introduction: Little information is available about phytochemical and biological properties of Cousinia genus. In a primary study, seven Cousinia species including C. verbascifolia showed cytotoxic activity ranged between 18.4 &plusmn; 0.59 to 87.9 &plusmn; 0.58 &mu;g/mL. To the best of our knowledge, no other biological studies have been conducted on this plant. Therefore, in this study the cytotoxic effect of Cousinia verbascifolia Bunge against OVCAR-3 and HT-29 cancer cells was evaluated. Methods: Filtration and in vacuo concentration of methanol extract resulted in a green gum which was subjected on reverse column chromatography. Semi polar fraction (41.3 g) eluted with water: methanol (20:80), was then subjected on a silica gel column chromatography using hexane/acetone and resulted in 11 fractions. Finally, cytotoxic activities against ovarian and colon cancer cells were determined at a wavelength of 570 nm by Matrix metalloproteinase protein (MTT) standard method. Results: None of the fractions showed highly cytotoxic activity. Based on NCI, fractions Fr. 1, Fr. 2, Fr. 4, Fr. 5, Fr. 6, Fr. 8 and Fr. 10 showed moderately cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranged between 119 to 190 &mu;g/mL against OVCAR-3 cells. Fractions Fr. 1, Fr. 2, Fr. 6, Fr. 7 and Fr. 8 showed moderately cytotoxic activity ranged between 118 to 194 &mu;g/mL against HT-29 cells. Fr. 10 and Fr. 11 showed no cytotoxic activity. Conclusion: Due to the inhibitory properties of extract and its fractions on cancer cells, identification of responsible compounds possessing cytotoxic effects for generating possible new approach in medicinal chemistry are recommended.</p

Effect of the nursing process using via "accessible care cards" on the patients' satisfaction of nursing care in intensive care units of Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz

Background and aims: Nursing process is performance Standard for nursing cares. According to their conditions and facilities, various centers can choose and implement a nursing process that is more efficient for them. This study was aimed to determine the effect of nursing process the way "accessible care cards" on patients' satisfaction from care in intensive care units. Methods: This is a cross-sectional interventional study with plan case-control study that was conducted in Golestan hospital in Ahwaz in 2014. Considering the inclusion criteria and available sampling method, a total of 38 controls and 38 cases were selected for the intervention group were evaluated. Data were collected questionnaire made by researcher, which was assess the scientific validity, the content validity method were used validated. As well as its reliability using Cronbach's alpha test (α= 0.9) was determined. Intervention was conducted by accessible care cards in nursing process for two weeks and its impact on patient satisfaction was measured. The control group was routine care. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS 19 and statistical tests. Descriptive statistics such as mean, and standard deviation was used. Chi-square test, Mann-whitney and t-test were used to compare groups. Results: Results showed that 28.90% of patients in the control group had great satisfaction of care, while the 97.36% of patients in the intervention group reported nearly excellent satisfaction. The observed difference in patients' satisfaction with nursing care in both the experimental and control group was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: Implementation of nursing process, in a manner of available cards led to an increase in patient satisfaction compared with the routine manner and the use of these cards makes the nursing process of a greater degree of mental state, to objectively state, that can help in saving a lot of time for nurses

Comparison evaluation of Curcumin(Curcuma longa extract)with the application of expressed breast milk in the treatment of nipple cracks in lactating primiparous women: A randomized clinical trial

زمینه و هدف: شقاق پستان مشکل شایعی در زنان شیرده می باشد که می تواند باعث قطع زودهنگام شیردهی گردد. زردچوبه یکی از قدیمی ترین گیاهان دارویی است که به دلیل دارا بودن کورکومین، اثر ترمیم کننده روی زخم ها دارد. این مطالعه با هدف تعیین تأثیر عصاره آبی الکلی کورکومین و مقایسه آن با باقی گذاردن قطره شیر مادر در درمان شقاق پستان انجام گردید. روش بررسی: پژوهش حاضر به صورت کارآزمایی بالینی تصادفی در سال 1392 بر روی زنان نخست زای مراجعه کننده به مراکز بهداشتی غرب اهواز انجام گردید. 88 مادر شیرده مبتلا به شقاق پستان، به شکل تصادفی به دو گروه مساوی درمان با کورکومین و گروه باقی گذاردن قطره شیر مادر تقسیم شدند. به منظور بررسی روند بهبود زخم و عوارض جانبی کورکومین، قبل ازدرمان، روز سوم و روز هفتم پس از شروع درمان، مقیاس استور توسط پژوهشگر تکمیل گردید. یافته ها: قبل از مطالعه و همچنین در روز هفتم تفاوت معنی دار بین میانگین نمره شقاق پستان در دو گروه مشاهده نشد؛ اما در روز سوم میانگین نمره شقاق در گروه کورکومین (267/0±761/)0 در مقایسه با گروه باقی گذاردن قطره شیر مادر (426/0±23/1) به طور معنی داری کمتر بود. همچنین اختلاف میانگین نمره شقاق قبل از درمان با روز سوم و همچنین با روز هفتم پس از شروع درمان، در هر دو گروه، معنی دار بود. نتیجه گیری: کورکومین و شیر مادر هر دو در درمان شقاق پستان موثر هستند؛ ولی باتوجه به عوارض جانبی محدود، فعالیت ضد میکروبی و اثر بیشتر کورکومین در کوتاه مدت، پیشنهاد می گردد از این دارو برای درمان شقاق پستان استفاده شود

The effect of pomegranate juice on clinical signs, matrix metalloproteinases and antioxidant status in patients with knee osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the commonest forms of musculoskeletal disorders that leads to joint degeneration and has a major impact on patients' quality of life. Experimental and in vitro studies have suggested the protective roles of pomegranate juice (PJ) as a rich antioxidant source for mitigating cartilage inflammation. In this interventional study, 38 patients with knee OA were randomly divided into two groups: PJ or control for 6 weeks to evaluate the effect of this intervention on clinical signs, inflammation and antioxidant status. RESULTS: Significant decreases in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) total score (P = 0.01), stiffness score (P = 0.00) and physical function score (P = 0.01) were observed in PJ group after the intervention. The means of serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 was significantly decreased (P = 0.02) and glutathione peroxidase was increased in the intervention group compared with the control group after the study period (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of this clinical trial, PJ consumption can improve physical function and stiffness, decrease breakdown cartilage enzymes and increase antioxidant status in patients with knee OA. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industr

Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among pregnant women reffarred to obstetric clinic in Abadan Taleghani hospital

A Symptomatic Bacteriuria (ASB) during pregnancy is amajor risk factor for development of pyelonephritis which is associated with potential obstetrical complications such as preterm labor and low birth weight if unrecognised and untreated. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ASB, associated risk factors and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated uropathogens among antenatal women. This cross-sectional study was conducted at Obstetric Clinic in Abadan Taleghani hospital between May 2014 and December 2014. Clean catch mid-stream urine specimen were collected from 200 antenatal women and then processed using standard bacteriological methods. We found the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 9 among the pregnant women. Escherichia coli (55.5), followed by Enterobacter cloacae (22.2) were detected as the predominant microorganisms. Ciprofloxacin and Ceftriaxon were found to be the most effective antibacterial agent against the isolates in this study. Screening of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy and convenient treatment must be considered as an indispensable part of antenatal care. © Medwell Journals, 2016