Health Scope
Year:2013 | Volume:2 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

Phenols are natural products originated by various plants and animals decomposition. Also, phenolic compounds, as a class of organic materials, have a similar structure to the more common pesticides which are commonly resistant to biological degradation. In addition, phenol is one of the most general pollutants in effluents discharged from diverse industries producing various products including resins, plastics, adhesives, iron, steel, aluminum, leather, etc. Additionally, phenol is used as a solvent, as an antiseptic and as an additive in disinfectants.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is considered as one of the most common diseases, causing many deaths worldwide annually. Objectives: The current study was aimed at diagnosing influencing factors of cardiovascular disease by comparison between implicational Logit and Probit models.Patients and Methods: This work is based on a study group approved by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences with the code of 85134 (Mashhad Study). Information was collected by the stratified-cluster sampling method and registering more than 7603 people randomly from Mashhad city. From them 682 were patients with cardiovascular disease. Data was analyzed using statistical Logit and Probit models.Results: After analyzing linearity and interactional effects between variables, by considering the other variables unchanged, the Odd Ratio of sex, age, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (hdl-c), systolic blood pressure (sys-bp), body mass index (BMI), smoking, total cholesterol, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) and history on cardiovascular disease were 4.231, 2.70, 0.98, 3.8, 3.421, 2.014, 1.5, 1.7 and 7.215 respectively.Conclusions: Independent variables such as sex, age, hdl-c, sys-bp, BMI, smoking, cholesterol and hs-CRP were considered as influencing variables, and education, marital status, disease history, height, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and low density lipoprotein were removed from the models.

Background: Diabetes as the most common metabolic disorder is an important global challenge. Diabetes needs self-care for one's entire life.Objectives: The aim of study was detecting the effect of health belief model program on decreasing blood sugar level in diabetic patients of Zahedan city in 2011.Patients and Methods: After choosing 138 diabetic type 2 patients from Zahedan diabetic center, they were divided into two random groups (case and control groups each of them 69 patients). Data was collected using a questionnaire based on the health belief model, and checklist related to patient practices. Reliability and validity of questionnaire was examined. Data collected before the intervention and three and six months after educational method intervention were analyzed by the SPSS software.Results: According to the results there is a significant statistical difference between average numbers of models before and after educational intervention (p<0.001). Also HbA1c and FBS after educational intervention were lower (p<0001).Conclusions: Applying the HBM Model proved is very effective in developing an educational program for diabetics, to control their blood sugar. Besides such programs, follow up education for controlling and monitoring are highly recommended.

Background: Increase in pollution and growth of technology result in high material production and increase in the amount of solid wastes.Objectives: This research aimed at investigating the quality and quantity of municipal solid wastes in Babolsar city. Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive and cross-sectional that investigated quality and quantity of household and hospital solid wastes. Generation rate was determined and physical analysis was performed for solid waste samples collected from many places during 3 consecutive days of one week.Results: Mean generation rate of household solid wastes was 73608 ± 7483 kg per day and generation rate per person in one day was 1.2 kg. Average of total solid wastes, including general and infectious solid wastes, and sharps were 1.2 and 1.1 and 0.03 kg for each hospital bed in one day, respectively. The weight percentages of food waste, plastic, paper, glass, metals, textiles and other materials of household and hospital solid wastes were 69.3% and 45.3%, 7.8% and 11.6%, 9.4% and 13.6%, 3.3% and 6.9%, 3.5% and 6.2%, 3% and 6.7% and 3.7% and 8.3%, respectively. Means of weight percentage of plastic, textiles, paper, glass, metals and sharp objects in the infectious solid wastes were 37 %, 22 %, 16.5%, 4.48%, 12%, 7.5% and 5.1% respectively.Conclusions: Considering the weight percentage of food wastes (70%), solid wastes of Babolsar city could be used for composting. Also as large quantities of infectious wastes were produced by hospitals of Babolsar, it is recommended that sterilization systems (Hydroclave) be used for decontamination of these hazardous wastes.

Background: Fixed bed adsorber as a controlling method for volatile organic compounds is widely used. However, these adsorbers are facing some issues such as high pressure drop, non-uniformed distribution of fluid, channeling and blockage. Fluidized bed adsorber as a novel method solves lots of these limitations.Objectives: This research aimed at investigating factors affecting the adsorption of vapors of VOCs on fluidized bed adsorbers. Materials and Methods: To assess adsorption, an annular fluidized bed reactor was designed and charged with activated carbon particles with size of 50 - 100 and 100 - 140 American society for testing and materials (ASTM) standard mesh, respectively. To calculate the minimum fluidization velocity, Ergun equation was used. The effect of inlet concentration (400 - 600 ppmv), fluidization velocity, particle size distribution and breakthrough time were investigated under a steady state.Results: Tests indicated that by increasing flow rate from 0.3 (L/min), bubbles formed in the bed and the bed’s pressure drop suddenly declined. The adsorption test indicated that, when Q=3 (L/min), the removal efficiency of activated carbon (AC) (100 - 140 mesh ASTM), was nearly 100% up to 99 min and it reached zero after 260 min. For 50 - 100 Mesh AC, the removal efficiency was close to 100% up to 95 min and it reached zero after 270 Minutes. The results also indicated that increasing initial concentration and flow rate reduces breakthrough time. However, two flow rates, 2 and 3 (L/min) Comparison, did not reveal significant differences in the removal efficiency of the bed before breakthrough time.Conclusions: Results indicated that annular fluidized bed reactor’s adsorbers are useful techniques for VOCs adsorption. Comparison of two particle ranges indicates that in all concentrations and all flow rates of the experiments, smaller particle size adsorption are better. In superficial velocity above the minimum fluidization velocity, pressure drop of fluidized beds are less than the pressure drop of fixed beds.So fluidized bed systems are more applicable for smaller adsorber particles.

Background: Economic consequence analysis is vital for recognizing pipeline comprehensive risk analysis and emergency response planning.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate economic loss due to fire and explosion in petrochemical feed and product pipelines. Materials and Methods: The present study which performed on 47 pipelines of a petrochemical special zone, pertinent pipeline selected by chemical energy potential, flow rate and capital density. Pipeline hazard factor and material factor were determined, and fire and explosion index (F& EI) was calculated. After determination of F& EI, the area of exposure and replacement value in exposure area was determined. Finally, actual maximum probable property damage and business interruption were computed.Results: In the fire and explosion, radius of exposure in adjacent of pipeline was 41.5 meter, and damage factor was 0.87. On the other hand, actual maximum probable property damage was $ M 3.9, and business interruption was $ M 767.Conclusions: Since, Butadiene pipeline has the highest grade of risk in which the degree of fire and explosion is severe, appropriate control actions are required to reduce the risks. Therefore, considering the economic costs and consequences, a comprehensive risk analysis and emergency response planning is highly important for the Petrochemical feed pipelines.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen of humans in both community acquired as well as nosocomial infections.It is also among the four most common causes of food-borne illnesses.Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of enterotoxin producing S. aureus strains in different raw meat and hamburgers in Isfahan.Materials and Methods: From August to December 2012, 370 samples of raw beef (n=160; minced and carcass), lamb (n=80), goat (n= 80), and camel (n=50) meat were purchased from randomly selected butcheries in Isfahan, Iran, and analyzed for the presence of S. aureus.Isolates were also tested for their ability to produce staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C, D, and E by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test.Results: Totally, 223 (60.3%) S. aureus were isolated. Among the 223 S. aureus isolates 30 (13.5%) were found to be enterotoxigenic. Twenty-six (86.7%) were positive only for one type of SEs (14 SEA, 1 SEB, 6 SEC and 5 SED) while the remaining (13.3%) were positive for more than one SEs.None of the isolates were positive for SEE.Conclusions: Only 8.3% of the total meat samples examined in the current study showed this count or above. This low degree of contamination by S. aureus is tolerated in most food stuffs and they are not considered a risk for public health. However, we need more epidemiological investigations about enterotoxigenic S. aureus isolates and their toxins for better management of food products and to decrease human diseases. The results of this study showed that most S. aureus strains isolated from samples produced SEA and SED compared to other SEs.

Background: Researchers have mentioned that supervisor support for safety may predict occupational accidents and psychological distress in the workplace.Objectives: The present study examined the role of supervisor support on employees’ health and safety and psychological distress leading to physical illness symptoms.Materials and Methods: 189 employees of Isfahan Steel Company were randomly selected to complete questionnaires about supervisor support, physical symptoms and psychological distress. The data were analyzed by correlation and regression analysis.Results: The results showed that there was a significant internal correlation between supervisor support with physical symptoms and psychological distress (P<0.05). Regression analysis indicated that supervisor support significantly reduced the effect of psychological distress to physical symptoms (P<0.05).Conclusions: Lack of supervisor support can result in psychological distress leading to symptoms experienced by the employees.

Background: Heart failure is a chronic disease in the elderly. Self-care education has a significant role in preventing the disease, its progress, and complications.Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the effect of training on self-care behaviors among patients with heart failure in hospitals of Zahedan City in 2012.Materials and Methods: The present study had a quasi-experimental interventional design with control group, and was conducted in CCU and post-CCU wards in hospitals affiliated to Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in 2012. There were 140 hospitalized patients in two equal groups of case (70 people) and control (70 people). The case group received an educational package including a pamphlet, an educational CD, and educational footage for their cell phone. After one month, they took the posttest. The data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software ver.18.Results: After training, the mean scores of awareness, attitude and practice among patients in the case group were respectively 8.93±2.32, 47.69±2.21, and 66.04±3.44 (P<0.0001). The mean score difference of attitude in the intervention group was 17.78±7.0, and 3.30±6.85 in the control. The mean score difference of practice in the intervention group was 26.57±6.37, and 2.08±7.16in the control group (P<0.0001).Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that self-care behaviors in patients with heart failure were influenced by awareness, and their practice improved with increasing their knowledge. Therefore, it is recommended to give an educational pamphlet video to patients with heart failure.

Background: The most accidents can be directly attributed to human factors. Hence, more traffic crashes result from driver malfunctioning which from among them, the driver behavior is a proximal factor in the road traffic injuries causation chain.Objectives: This study aims to investigate relationship between aberrant driving behaviors questionnaire (DBQ factors) and self-report crashes involvement amongst professional bus drivers of public transportation system.Materials and Methods: This analytical descriptive study was performed on 161 urban bus drivers in Tehran. Proportional sampling method was used to select drivers from nine systems or areas. Data were collected through questionnaire including driver's behavior and their demographic information. Validity and reliability of the driver's behavior questionnaire for bus drivers had been confirmed in a previous study. Data collection was analyzed by Pearson correlation and regression logistic of in SPSS 16 of software.Results: Drivers reported accident involvement during the past three years with mean and standard deviation 2.4 ± 3.2, so that 31.1% had been involved in three or more accidents. There was a negative significant correlation between age and risky violation (P=0.01).Furthermore, accidents involvement in the last three years was positively correlated with working hours per week (P=0.003) and traffic offences (P=0.005). Mistake as a driving aberrant behavior had a direct significant relationship with annual mileage (P=0.020) and accidents involvement in last three years (P=0.025).Conclusions: Bus driver’s crashes can be reduced by less driving time and mistakes which is dependent on mileage they drive.