Context: Five species of the genus Ajuga (Lamiaceae) having the common name of "bugle" are found in Iran. In Persian medicine (PM), the genus Ajuga (Kamaphytus) is used for treating jaundice, joint pain, gout, amenorrhea, sciatica, and wound healing. This study aimed to review the ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and biological activities of Ajuga species that grow in Iran to determine their therapeutic potentials and suggest further studies on the healing properties of this genus in Iran. Evidence Acquisition: Electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were comprehensively searched for studies on Ajuga species in Iran, including "Ajuga austro-iranica," "Ajuga chamaecistus," "Ajuga comata" (Syn.: "Ajuga Chia," "Ajuga chamaepitys subsp. Chia"), "Ajuga orientalis," and "Ajuga reptans." The search period was from 1966 to February 2021. The related articles were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the current study. Results: Several ethnobotanical and pharmacologic reports have verified the traditional uses of the genus Ajuga for anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, analgesic, anabolic, anti-arthritis, antipyretic, and hepatoprotective activities. Numerous phytochemicals have been identified from Ajuga species involving phytoecdysteroids, neo-clerodane-diterpenes, iridoids, flavonoids, withanolides, phenylethyl glycoside, and essential oils. Conclusions: Due to the beneficial therapeutic effects of Ajuga genus, it can be considered in future clinical studies as a source of natural antioxidants, dietary supplements in the pharmaceutical industry, and stabilizing food against oxidative deterioration.

Background: Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) is the causative agent of herpes zoster, or "shingles." Most cases of acute herpes zoster are self-limiting, although the pain can cause significant suffering, and experience postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), particularly in older adults. Early treatment of herpetic neuralgia in the subacute phase may prevent PHN progression. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of memantine in the treatment of subacute neuropathic herpes zoster. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on sixteen patients aged 18-75 years with subacute herpetic neuralgia. Patients were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria (8 in each group). The duration of the study was eight weeks. Patients in the memantine group received Gabapentin 300 mg per day and memantine 5 mg twice a day. Then, after one week, the memantine dose was tapered up to 10 mg twice a day. In the control group, patients received only Gabapentin from the first week to the end of the study. DN4 questionnaire is used to measure the severity of nerve pain. The patients of both control and intervention groups completed the questionnaire before starting the treatment and it was done again after the end of the treatment period (8 weeks). Results: The results showed improvement in pain in patients who received Memantine along with Gabapentin in comparison with Gabapentin alone (P =0.001). Moreover, the DN4 questionnaire score evaluation indicated a significant difference only for the intervention group's Q1 variable in within-group analysis (P =0.031). Conclusion: Co-administration of memantine with Gabapentin reduced the severity of subacute neuropathic herpes. In addition, memantine is expected to be a viable option for treating and relieving subacute and chronic nerve pain in patients.

Erythrasma is a chronic infection of the skin that appears in the body folds as flat copper spots. The causative agent of this infection is Corynebacterium minutissimum (C. minutissimum). Erythrasma can be treated with antiseptics or topical antibiotics. The study aimed to investigate the antibiotics susceptibility patterns, and the presence of the erythromycin resistance gene (ermX and mefA) in C. minutissimum isolates in skin lesions with suspected erythrasma. From July 2020 to May 2022, 278 skin scrub specimens were collected from patients admitted to the hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Specimens were incubated on the blood agar plates and isolates were identified by microbiological laboratory methods. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns were determined by the disk diffusion method and resistance genes of ermX and mefA were detected by the PCR method. Out of 278 specimens, 41 C. minutissimum isolates (14.74%) were recovered. The highest frequency of resistance was observed to a penicillin (75.6%) followed by erythromycin and clarithromycin (39.02%), clindamycin (30.05%), tetracycline (24.2%), and gentamicin and neomycin (19.5%). The frequencies of ermX and mefA genes were 75% and 12.5%, respectively. Resistance to antimicrobial drugs was common and worrying. Resistance to erythromycin in C. minutissimum is mainly related to the ermX gene.

Introduction: Wart is a common disease which is caused by a group of viruses called Human Papilloma Virus. The most prevalent type of wart is common wart and the most prevalent site of involvement is hands. Complete recovery, no recurrency and effectiveness in all patients are not obtained by any of therapeutic methods, so in this study we decided to compare therapeutic effects of 5 Fluorouracil (FU) with cryotherapy in treatment of common warts of backhand. Material and Methods: In this study, in a one year period from March 2012 to March 2013, 60 patients that referred to dermatology clinic of Sina hospital included the study with the diagnosis of backhand wart .Patients were divided into two groups of treatment, one treated with cryotherapy (30 patients) and one threated with 5 FU (30 patients). Age and gender of patients, number of lesions and duration of involvement were documented. Treatment by topical 5 FU was implemented for 4 weeks, twice a day for 4 hours each course. Second group was treated by cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen spray, two sessions with a two-week interval between sessions). Their response to treatment was evaluated as good, moderate and weak. Results: There was no difference in age, gender and mean of duration of involvement and number of lesions between two groups. Response to treatment was considerably better in 5 FU group (p=0.02). Also rate of relapse and complications were lower in 5 FU group of treatment, with a statistically significant difference compared to the cryotherapy group (P<0.001). In separate evaluation of complications only scar formation was equal in two groups and pain and bullae formation were lower in 5 FU group with a statistically significant difference (P<0.001 both). Conclusions: According to limited studies in this field, results of this study could be the base of more comprehensive studies in evaluating the efficacy of 5 FU in treatment of common warts. Appropriate therapeutic response in addition to lower rates of relapse and complications by 5 FU treatments can make a major change and lower the psychosocial burden of this disease dramatically.