Effect of ointment with cabbage, pomegranate peel, and common plantain on wound healing in male rat

زمینه و هدف: تحقیقات بالینی و تجربی متعدد اثربخشی گیاهان دارویی بر روند ترمیم زخم را به اثبات رسانده اند و انار، بارهنگ و کلم از جمله گیاهان مفید در طب سنتی هستند که برای التیام زخم مورد استفاده قرار گرفته اند؛ لذا این مطالعه با هدف بررسی اثر بخشی کرم با اختلاط گیاهان کلم برگ، پیه سفید انار و بخش های هوایی بارهنگ بر زخم پوستی در موش صحرایی طراحی و اجرا شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی 24 راس موش صحرایی بصورت تصادفی به 4 گروه 6 تایی شامل کنترل (سرم فیزیولوژیک)، شاهد (تحت درمان با پتادین)، کنترل مثبت (تحت درمان با فنی توئین) و گروه تجربی تحت درمان با کرم با اختلاط پیه انار، بارهنگ و کلم برگ تقسیم شدند. پس از ایجاد زخم در شرایط غیرعفونی و یکسان، حیوانات بصورت روزانه تحت درمان قرار گرفتند و در روزهای 3، 6، 9 و 14 پس از ایجاد زخم، درصد بهبودی زخم محاسبه گردید. یافته ها: درصد بهبودی زخم در گروه دریافت کننده کرم درمانی در روز های 3، 6، 9 و 14 نسبت به گروه کنترل افزایش معنی داری نشان داد (

Pathogen Identification in Suspected Cases of Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis

Pyogenic spinal infection continues to represent a worldwide problem. In approximately one-third of patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis, the infectious agent is never identified. Of the cases that lead to organismal identification, bacteria are more commonly isolated from the spine rather than fungi and parasites. This study applied universal prokaryotic 16S rRNA PCR as a rapid diagnostic tool for the detection of bacterial agents in specimens from patients suspected of pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Gram and Ziehl-Neelsen staining were used as a preliminary screening measure for microbiologic evaluation of patient samples. PCR amplification targeting 16S rRNA gene was performed on DNA extracted from 57 cases including specimens from epidural abscesses, vertebral, and disc biopsies. Positive samples were directly sequenced. MRI findings demonstrated that disc destruction and inflammation were the major imaging features of suspected pyogenic spondylodiscitis cases, as 44 cases showed such features. The most common site of infection was the lumbar spine (66.7%), followed by thoracic spine (19%), the sacroiliac joint (9.5%), and lumbar-thoracic spine (4.8%) regions. A total of 21 samples amplified the 16S rRNA-PCR product. Sanger sequencing of the PCR products identified the following bacteriological agents: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (n = 9; 42.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 6; 28.5%), Mycobacterium abscessus (n = 5; 23.8%), and Mycobacterium chelonae (n = 1; 4.8%). 36 samples displayed no visible 16S rRNA PCR signal, which suggested that non-bacterial infectious agents (e.g., fungi) or non-infectious processes (e.g., inflammatory, or neoplastic) may be responsible for some of these cases. The L3–L4 site (23.8%) was the most frequent site of infection. Single disc/vertebral infection were observed in 9 patients (42.85%), while 12 patients (57.15%) had 2 infected adjacent vertebrae. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) inflammatory markers were noted in majority of the patients. In conclusion, microbiological methods and MRI findings are vital components for the proper diagnosis of pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Our findings suggest that molecular methods such as clinical application of 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing may be useful as adjunctive diagnostic tools for pyogenic spondylodiscitis. The rapid turnaround time of 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing submission and results can potentially decrease the time to diagnosis and improve the therapeutic management and outcome of these infections. Although S. aureus and M. tuberculosis were the most common causes of pyogenic spinal infections in this study, other infectious agents and non-infectious etiologies should be considered. Based on study results, we advise that antibiotic therapy should be initiated after a definitive etiological diagnosis

Effects of aqueous extract of celery (Apium graveolens L.) leaves on spermatogenesis in healthy male rats

Objectives: Nowadays, a lot of attention has been paid to the therapeutic properties of herbs, including evaluation of the effects of these plants on fertility in laboratory animals. Apium graveolens L. (celery) has been widely used in traditional medicine for treatment of various disorders including impotency. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects of aqueous extract of A. graveolens on testicular tissue and spermatogenesis in healthy male rats. Materials and Methods: In this research, 24 apparently healthy male rats were divided into three groups, including eight rats in each. The first group as control received only distilled water 1 ml/animal/day. The second and third groups orally received 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. of the extract, respectively, for 30 days. The day after the last administration of the extract, the rats were sacrificed, the testes were removed entirely, and the morphometric studies were carried out. Epididymal sperm count and histological studies of testicular tissue were conducted. Results: The comparison between the treated and control groups revealed a remarkable increase in the seminiferous tubules diameter, testes volume (p≤0.001), and the number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes and spermatozoa. Furthermore, the increase in the number of spermatids and epididymal weight were only significant at high doses of the extract (p≤ 0.05). Conclusions: The results from this study indicated that administration of celery leaf extract may improve spermatogenesis process and also be useful for some sperm fertility parameters

Investigation of Sharp Injuries in an Educational Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran

Background & Aims of the Study: The Sharp Injuries (SIs) are a percutaneous piercing wound caused by a sharp instrument. Needle Sticks and Sharp Injuries (NSSIs) can increase the incidence of cases of Hepatitis B, C and HIV. The purpose of this study was to Investigation of the relative frequency of NSSIs in healthcare workers (HCWs) in Ahvaz, Iran (Razi hospital) over 3-year period (2011–2013). Materials and Methods: A descriptive study during 2011-2013 was conducted on 600 HCWs at Razi Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran. To measure NSSIs, has been diagnosis and categorized based on the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS). Data about health workers’ age, sex, site of NSIs injury, ward of hospitalization and case of needle stick were collected. Descriptive statistical by SPSS version 16 used for analyzed data in this study. Results: According to the results of this study, among all nurses, the maximum cases of NSIs were HCWs. Regarding the finding, recapping needle were found in 34.17%, handling needle in 20.25%, suturing in 16.45%, passing needle in 13.92%, transit disposal in 8.86% and dissembling needle in 6.32% of cases. Findings showed that the most NSIs in Razi Hospital were general surgery, emergency, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN), operating room, orthopedic and infectious diseases wards during 2011-2013. Conclusion: Based on these findings, the number of health care-associated with NSIs between nurses in our study may be due to the shortage of nurses, long working hours during the night shift, fatigue and failure to use an appropriate equipment