Ardabil University of Medical Sciences
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Potential of using green adsorbent of humic acid removal from aqueous solutions: equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamic and regeneration studies
No full textThe natural organic matter in water resources poses many problems, such as unpleasant taste and colour in the water, and is one of the most important precursors to the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) during water treatment. This study was performed to evaluate the efficiency of activated carbon (AC) and activated carbon coated with nZVI nanoparticles (AC-nZVI) to remove humic acid from aqueous solutions. To end this, the effect of some operational factors including pH, contact time, humic acid concentration and adsorbent dose was studied in removal of humic acid from aqueous solutions in the presence of AC and AC-nZVI. The structure of the adsorbents and their morphology were characterized by FTIR, BET, SEM and XRD analyzes. The adsorption isotherm was determined using Langmuir, Freundlich and kinetic adsorption models by studying quasi-first-order and quasi-second-order models. The thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption system such as changes in enthalpy (ΔH0), entropy (ΔS0) and free energy of Gibbs (ΔG0) were also measured and evaluated. The results showed that the removal efficiency is directly associated with the dose of adsorbent and has a reverse association with pH and humic acid concentration. The optimal removal of humic acid at the adsorbent dosage of 1.6 g/L, the humic acid concentration of 50 mg/L and the contact time of 45 min was found 84.7% and 95.68% for AC and AC-nZVI, respectively. The SBET and total pure volume for the AC-nZVI were 821.52 m2/g and 0.631 cm3/g respectively. The removal rate by AC-nZVI as significantly high, indicating the effective role of nanoparticle stabilisation on activated carbon. As a result, it is possible to find an effective and highly efficient adsorbent by stabilising the nanoparticles on activated carbon that can be used to remove humic acid
Detection of CA72-4 tumor marker using optical biosensor
No full textAbstract
Introduction: The clinical detection of carbohydrate antigen CA72-4, a tumor marker in biological samples, improves and facilitates the rapid screening and diagnosis of Ovary cancer. In this project, a fluorometric biosensor that is a mixture of carbon quantum dot (CQD) and nanoparticles modified with CA72-4 antibody (Ab-AuNPs) is reported to detect CA72-4.
Methods: The present method is conducted by preparing glucose-derived CQD using a microwave-assisted method. Ab-AuNPs were also prepared from chemical reduction of gold salt using citrate in the aqueous phase. Then, to select the biosensor selectively, monoclonal antibody (Ab) for CA72-4 analyte was deposited on AuNPs. The intensity of fluorescence emission increase is proportional to the concentration of CA72-4.
Results: The nanoparticles applied here are characterized by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic lights scattering (DLS). The fluorescence of the CQD overlaps the red absorption of Ab-AuNPs and therefore is quenched after fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CQD and Ab-AuNPs. CA72-4 therefore can induce the aggregation of AuNPs which is accompanied by a color change from red to blue. Hence, the fluorescence of CQD no longer overlaps the absorption of (aggregated) AuNPs (650 nm) and is not quenched as a result. The intensity of fluorescence emission increase is proportional to the concentration of CA72-4.
Conclution: These findings form the basis for a fluorometric assay that has linear response in the 0.1–200 U•mL-1 CA72-4 concentration range, with a 0.03 U•mL-1 detection limit. Also this biosensor possesses excellent selectivity for CA72-4 and in our perception has a large potential for the determination of CA72-4 in serum
Investigation of group B streptococcus drug resistance in pregnant and non-pregnant women in Iran
No full textClinical Symptoms and Para-Clinical Findings among the Deceased Patients Due to Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning in Ardabil, Iran, From 2009 To 2017
No full textIntroduction:
Aluminum phosphide or rice tablet is one of the most common pesticides and insecticides used in agriculture to protect crops, cereals, and rice. Recently, this substance has been increasingly used as a method for committing suicide among people in society. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical symptoms and para-clinical findings of deceased patients due to Aluminum phosphide poisoning in Ardabil province, Iran.
Materials and Methods:
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 97 hospitalized patients who died due to Aluminum phosphide poisoning in Ardabil province, Iran, from 2009 to 2017. The data were collected using a checklist and then analyzed in SPSS software (version 19) through descriptive and analytical statistics
Results:
The mean age of all patients was 34.3±15.8 years, and the majority of the cases (77.3%) were female. The most important symptoms were nausea and vomiting in males (92%) and females (100%). Moreover, the patients had a mean recovery time of 5.89 h. Of all the deceased patients, 22 and 75 cases took two and one tablets, respectively. Furthermore, 92.7% of the patients had taken the rice tablets orally. The amount of Glasgow Coma Scale (P=0.001), systolic blood pressure (P=0.001), PH (P=0.001), heart rate (P=0.001), respiratory rate (P=0.001), bicarbonate (P=0.001) and white blood cell (P=0.009) in died patients in more than 24 hour significantly difference with died patients in less than 24 hour. The females obtained a significantly lower systolic blood pressure (P=0.01) and lower pH (p=0.045), but the higher partial pressure of oxygen (P=0.01), compared to males.
Conclusion:
The results of this study showed that the frequency of deaths due to rice pill poisoning was much higher in males than females; moreover, this value was higher in middle-aged groups, compared to other age groups
In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial effect of shirazes thyme and black seed hydroalcoholic extract on bacteria involved in acute sinusitis
No full textObjective
The value of medicinal plants which contained various extracts with important biological compounds, has been highlighted in recent years with the design of semi-synthetic drugs of natural origin. Considering that the level of antibiotic resistance will be one of the major human problems in forthcoming years, so the use of effective herbal substances as a troubleshooting solution can help human beings.
Methods
First two black seed and thyme plants were selected, purchased and approved by Professor of Pharmacognosy. The hydro-alcoholic extracts of both plants were extracted and concentrated by a rotary apparatus. The standardization process was performed by Folin-Siocalter method and the extracts of two plants were mixed in 50-50 ratios. Using this mixture and according to the standard protocols, the MIC and MBC tests were carried out by microdilution method and growth inhibition zone test to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of extracts. Finally, nasal sprays were formulated and evaluated to treat bacterial sinus infections.
Results
After standardizing the dry extracts of the two plants, the total phenolic content of the two plants was obtained as 363±38 mg galic acid/gr extract for shirazes thyme and 122 ±15mg galic acid/gr extract for black seed. The results of antimicrobial tests showed that the antibacterial power of the mixture of the two extracts had better results on Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Streptococcus pyogenes and finally a weak effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The results showed that the antibacterial power of the mixture of the two extracts had a better effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Streptococcus pyogenes and finally a weak effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively.
The MIC quantities on above-mentioned microorganisms were as 2-4-8-64 mcg/mL and the results for MBC test were 4-64-128-128 mcg/mL respectively. The results of disk diffusion test on those microorganisms were as 22-20-22-0 mm in 100% concentration, 21- 16- 17-0 mm in 50% concentration, 19-14-15-0 mm in 25% concentration and 18-12-14-0 mmin concentration of 12.5% of prepared extract. The results of the mixed disk diffusion test of the two extracts were compared with the disk diffusion test of the antibiotic gentamicin and it was found that gentamicin only has higher potency effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in other cases the effects are close to the mixed test of the two extracts. According to the quantities obtained in 3 tests, a hydroalcoholoc solution (containing ratio of 3: 7 of water and alcohol) was formulated as a nasal spray. The recommended dose for clinical trial was according to the results of the aura test.
Conclusion
Pay attention to the data obtained from this study, it was concluded that the composition of shirazes thyme and black seed hydroalcoholic extract was effective against the involved microorganisms in sinus bacterial infections. Therefore, herbal medicines in the form of nasal sprays have positive effects to improve the infection and inflammation caused this illness. Finally, in this project, a suitable formulation was formulated and proposed to be used in clinical trials in the future
Mapping geographical inequalities in access to drinking water and sanitation facilities in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17
No full textBackground
Universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities is an essential human right, recognised in the Sustainable Development Goals as crucial for preventing disease and improving human wellbeing. Comprehensive, high-resolution estimates are important to inform progress towards achieving this goal. We aimed to produce high-resolution geospatial estimates of access to drinking water and sanitation facilities.
Methods
We used a Bayesian geostatistical model and data from 600 sources across more than 88 low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) to estimate access to drinking water and sanitation facilities on continuous continent-wide surfaces from 2000 to 2017, and aggregated results to policy-relevant administrative units. We estimated mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive subcategories of facilities for drinking water (piped water on or off premises, other improved facilities, unimproved, and surface water) and sanitation facilities (septic or sewer sanitation, other improved, unimproved, and open defecation) with use of ordinal regression. We also estimated the number of diarrhoeal deaths in children younger than 5 years attributed to unsafe facilities and estimated deaths that were averted by increased access to safe facilities in 2017, and analysed geographical inequality in access within LMICs.
Findings
Across LMICs, access to both piped water and improved water overall increased between 2000 and 2017, with progress varying spatially. For piped water, the safest water facility type, access increased from 40·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 39·4–40·7) to 50·3% (50·0–50·5), but was lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, where access to piped water was mostly concentrated in urban centres. Access to both sewer or septic sanitation and improved sanitation overall also increased across all LMICs during the study period. For sewer or septic sanitation, access was 46·3% (95% UI 46·1–46·5) in 2017, compared with 28·7% (28·5–29·0) in 2000. Although some units improved access to the safest drinking water or sanitation facilities since 2000, a large absolute number of people continued to not have access in several units with high access to such facilities (>80%) in 2017. More than 253 000 people did not have access to sewer or septic sanitation facilities in the city of Harare, Zimbabwe, despite 88·6% (95% UI 87·2–89·7) access overall. Many units were able to transition from the least safe facilities in 2000 to safe facilities by 2017; for units in which populations primarily practised open defecation in 2000, 686 (95% UI 664–711) of the 1830 (1797–1863) units transitioned to the use of improved sanitation. Geographical disparities in access to improved water across units decreased in 76·1% (95% UI 71·6–80·7) of countries from 2000 to 2017, and in 53·9% (50·6–59·6) of countries for access to improved sanitation, but remained evident subnationally in most countries in 2017.
Interpretation
Our estimates, combined with geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden, identify where efforts to increase access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are most needed. By highlighting areas with successful approaches or in need of targeted interventions, our estimates can enable precision public health to effectively progress towards universal access to safe water and sanitation
Three-Year Trend of Antimicrobial Resistance of A. baumannii: A Retrospective Study from Ardabil, Northwestern Iran
No full textBackground & Aims: Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most important pathogenic bacteria causing nosocomial and opportunistic infection with the high rate of antibiotic resistance. The aim of the present work was to study the antimicrobial resistance pattern of Acinetobacter isolates recovered from patients admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital and identifying the related risk factors. Also, in this study, the efficacy of different combined antimicrobial therapy against A. baumannii was evaluated.
Materials & Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 108 medical records related to patients admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ardabil province from 2011 to 2013 was entered into the study. For each patient, demographic, bacterial culture, and antibiogram data were obtained and analyzed.
Results: Results indicated that pulmonary infections were the most common clinical source of Acinetobacter infection. The highest rate of resistance (100%) was related to ceftizoxime, chloramphenicol, furazolidone, nitrofurantoin, cephalothin, cephalexin, ticarcillin, piperacillin, amoxicillin, and aztreonam followed by ceftazidime, imipenem, co-trimoxazole, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, and cefixime (80%). The lowest rate of resistance was seen against polymyxin B, ampicillin/sulbactam and meropenem. Our results indicated that 86.9 % and 91.7% of isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone and imipenem, respectively. Since carbapenems are the drug of choice and the last-resort agent for the treatment of MDR strain of A. baumannii , this high resistance level would be a serious concern.
Conclusion: The epidemiological survey will be helpful in controlling infections in hospital environment and prescribing proper antimicrobial agents
Calculation of economic losses due to Covid 19 virus in Ardabil
No full textBack ground: The current epidemic of the Covid virus 19 as the most important global health challenge and its expansion has reached 146 countries. This rapid and widespread spread has caused serious social, economic, cultural and even political damage in countries in such a way that even UN meetings and many sports, cultural and scientific competitions between countries and within countries have been affected by this epidemic. In this study, the economic losses caused by the outbreak of covid-19 in Ardabil was investigated. Also, due to the high prevalence of this disease in Iran and the resulting mortality in a short period of time, an attempt was made to reduce system costs. Iran's health should also be estimated in relation to the control of this epidemic.
Aim: To determine the economic losses of Covid-19 in Ardabil
Matherials and Methods: To collect data, a questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) was used to calculate the non-medical costs of influenza. Among the patients referred to the hospitals and centers under the auspices of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences who were given a definitive corona diagnosis, they were systematically randomly selected according to the required sample size and a telephone interview was conducted with them.
Results: Patients received an average of 61.89 services, whether direct or indirect. Most of these services in terms of number included tests with 15.62, medicine with 9.06 and equipment with 7.81 services. The results of the study in the field of direct and indirect medical costs showed that for 300 patients, a total of 11,117 services were provided, with an average of 37.03 services, which is a total of more than 1766.4 million Rials total costs and an average of more than 8 million per The patient has become the cost of imposing the individual and the health system.
The highest average cost in these patients was related to absenteeism with a total cost of 2116.4 million Rials, the highest economic burden.
Conclusion: The total direct medical cost was 1766.4 million Rials, the total indirect medical cost was 31.79 ,million Rials and the direct non-medical costs were 2227.84 million Rials. The highest cost was non-medical direct costs.
Examining Job Satisfaction, Mental Workload, and Job Control in Midwives working in hospital
No full textBackground: Midwives constitute a group of health care personnel in hospitals. Clearly, job satisfaction and control have a key effect on improvement of work condition and alleviation of mental workload in workers. Job satisfaction, mental workload, and job control in midwives in hospital were examined.
Methodology: A descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 143 midwives working in educational hospitals. Four questionnaires including a demographics form, NASA-TLX, JDI job satisfaction inventory, and a job control questionnaire was used in the study. Data analyses were done using SPSS (v. 18).
Results The mean scores of mental workload, job satisfaction, and job control were 70.98, 193.77, and 14.65 respectively. Mental workload was high in the subjects and there was a correlation between mental workload, job satisfaction, and job control.
Conclusion: An increase in mental workload decreases job satisfaction. Job control has a key role in the improvement of work condition of midwives. Therefore, there is a need for managerial approaches to alleviate workload and increase job control and job satisfaction in hospital workers
