---

Background and Objective: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the important causes of nosocomial infections. Extended spectrum-beta Lactamases (ESBLs) and Metallo-beta Lactamase (MBL) producing strains have become resistant against a wide range of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Methanol extract of Camellia Sinensis on Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing ESBL isolated from burnt wounds of patients.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was done on burnt wounds of 245 hospitalaized patients in Shafa hospital, Kerman, Iran during 2006-07. ESBLs producing strains were detected by phenotypic confirmatory test and also E-test strips were used for MBL detection. P.aeruginosa MIC was determined for Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime, Azteronam, Imipenem, Meropenem and methanol extracts of plant Camellia Sinensis prepared by Maceration method.

Results: 120 of burnt wound infected with P.aeruginosa, out of them 41 isolates contained ESBL while lacked MBL. 60% of isolates were resistant to Cefotaxime, 66% to Ceftazidime, 42% to Azteronam, 3% to Imipenem and 5% to Meropenem. Among the extracts, green Tea had the highest antibacterial effect on standard strains and P.aeruginosa producing ESBLs in 1.25mg/ml concentration.

Conclusion: This study showed that methanolic extract of green tea has higher antibacterial effect aginst β-lactamase P.aeruginosa strains than Cefotaxime and Ceftazidime.

---

Background and Objective: The first effect of stress on the immune system is usually a rapid increase in function which manifests itself by an increase in the number of inflammatory cytokines in blood. It is however, followed by a decrease of function in immunological response. During inflammation, the expression of hepcidin gene is increased in order to keep iron away from pathogens. This study was conducted to determine the effect of chronic mild stress on the expression of hepcidin gene in the hippocampus of the male adult rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 30 adult male Wistar rats, weighing approximately 200-250 grams. They were randomly allocated into two groups of 15 rats: control and chronic mild stress group. Animals in intervention group were exposed to chronic mild stress for 3 weeks. At the end of the stress protocol, 2 ml blood sample was collected to measure the serum concentration of IL-6. Real time PCR method was used to investigate hepcidin expression in hippocampus. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 and independent t-test. Results: The mean level of IL-6 was significantly higher in the CMS exposure group (27.98±0.84 pg/ml) than control group (18.29±1.18 pg/ml) (P<0.05). Hepcidin expression in the hippocampus of intervention group was significantly higher (2.69±0.226%) in compared to control group (1±0.105) (P<0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that chronic mild stress increases the expression of hepcidingene and the serum level of IL-6 in adult rats.