سال:1396 | دوره: | شماره: |تعداد مقالات:8

Background: Heavy metals are the most important factors of environmental pollution that are accumulated in soil and plant through irrigation and taking these contaminated herbs by human and animal ultimately hurt community health and cause various diseases including cancer. This study was done to determine the chromium (VI) in almond kernel and investigate almond green hull adsorption to remove this metal from the aqueous solutions.Methods: In this study, the concentration of hexavalent chromium in Birjand almond kernel using SEM and EDX imaging is investigated and its adsorption rate by almond green hull of the area through aqueous solutions was determined by changing the contact time, concentration, pH, adsorbent dose and the temperature. Chromium concentration was determined according to standard method by colorimetric method and using a UV / VIS spectrophotometer at 540 nm.Results: This study showed that irrigating agricultural land of this district does not cause the accumulation of hexavalent chromium in almond kernel. Removal of hexavalent chromium is also highly dependent on pH of the solution so that, the results indicate a high removal at pH=2. Also, with increasing adsorbent dosage, contact time and temperature, the removal rates increased and because of the limited sites in the adsorbent, by increasing the initial concentration of chromium, the removal efficiency decreased.Conclusions: Cr (VI) was not observed in almond kernel, although almond green hull removes this metal effectively from aqueous solutions.

Background: The aim of the present study was to analyze antibiotic susceptibility profile and genetic diversity of L.monocytogenes, isolated from chicken carcasses using RAPD-PCR.Methods: In this study, 26 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes recovered from chicken carcasses were used. Antibiotic susceptibility of these isolates were examined for eleven antimicrobial agents and RAPD-PCR with use of three different primers were applied to detect genetic diversity of the isolates.Results: Some of the isolates showed multidrug resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Totally, 26 L. monocytogenes isolates had 16 different antibiogram patterns. Isolates of A and B clusters showed 7 and 6 different pattern, respectively.12 Isolates of cluster C showed 7 different pattern.Conclusions: Some of isolates had multidrug resistance to antibiotics. This may raise a public health hazard. RAPD-PCR showed that L.monocytogenes isolated from chicken carcasses had low genetic diversity and there was no clonal relationship between the isolates.

Background: The increase in the amount of phosphate in aquatic environments disrupts the balance of the growth of aquatic organisms and causes serious environmental problems. The aim of this study is to investigate the removal of phosphate ion using powdered activated carbon coated with magnetic iron nanoparticles.Methods: For this purpose, the synthesis of nanoparticles was carried out through co-precipitation mechanism and the effects of various parameters including the amount of adsorbent dose, pH, initial concentration, temperature, contact time, and also the effect of interaction ions on adsorption performance were evaluated in a batch system. Then, the study of Kinetics and isotherms was performed on the obtained data. To determine the characteristics of the produced nanoparticles, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray Diffraction and infrared spectroscopy were used.Results: The results showed that the maximum adsorption (100%) happened in pH=4 after 90 min of the contact between the solution and the adsorbent. experimental data also matched the Langmuir isotherm.Conclusions: According to the results obtained, as an eco-friendly adsorbent, the powdered activated carbon sorbent coated with magnetic iron nanoparticles has a desirable capability in removal of phosphate.

Background: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic virus fever is an acute febrile haemorrhagic disease mainly transmitted from animals to men by tick bites. There is the risk of disease transmission in humans during the slaughter of infected animals or a short period after that, following the contact with the skin or carcasses of the animal. Since rural women are the first group who are at risk of developing the disease, this study tried to determine the effect of education based on Health Belief Model on preventive behaviors against Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in rural women.Methods: This randomized controlled field trial was carried out on 138 rural women who were divided randomly into intervention and control groups. The intervention group members participated in an educational program designed based on Health Belief Model which contained five training sessions in the form of lecture together with group and panel discussion. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 8 parts including demographic characteristics and health belief model constructs, which was completed by the researcher before, immediately after, and three months after the intervention. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software, version 19. Independent t-test, analysis of repeated variance, and post hoc Bonferroni test were used to compare the mean score of knowledge and model constructs and to compare the mean changes in the two groups before, immediately after, and three months after the intervention.Results: Before the intervention, the mean score of knowledge and health belief model constructs had a significant difference between intervention and control groups in the constructs of knowledge (p=0.005), cues to action (p=0.001), and behavior (P<0.001), but there was no significant difference in other constructs. In the intervention group, a significant difference in mean scores of different constructs was observed before, immediately after, and three months after intervention, while in the control group, no significant difference was observed in most of the aspects of the model.Conclusions: Considering the positive influence of the education which is based on this model on the behaviors associated with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, it is suggested that this theory be used in preventive education programs against Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever.

Background: Low birth weight is a major indicator of health assessment in neonates and infants and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality of infants. Low birth weight of newborns can be prevented by identification and control of the associated risk factors. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with low birth weight of newborns in the city of Birjand.Methods: This case-control study incorporated babies born in Birjand in 2015. Newborns weighing less than 2500 grams (N=140) were considered as the case group and those weighing more than 2500 g were regarded as the control group. For every member of the case group, two controls that were closest to birthdate of the case were selected from the Office of Continuous Care for Under One Year Infants. The data obtained were analyzed in SPSS-16, and the significant level was considered at a=0.05.Results: The chance of low birth weight in women with a history of low birth weight labor was 3.54 times greater than other women. The chances were 28.38 and 9.44 times greater in mothers with pluriparity and hypertension, respectively.However, parity rank, interval from previous delivery, type of birth, season of birth, abortion history, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia were not significantly associated with the incidence of low birth weight.Conclusions: As low birth weight is associated with some preventable factors, measures such as training people, especially women and young girls, and provision of quality care during pregnancy are recommended, especially in the case of high risk pregnancies.

Background: Marital satisfaction is a lofty objective in the realization of a desirable family and acts as a fundamental contributor to the health and development of family members. One of the most important factors influencing marital satisfaction is attachment style. This study aimed to determine the relationship between attachment style and marital satisfaction in housewives.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 housewives referring to health centers of Birjand in 2016. The participants were selected by stratified cluster sampling method. The data collection instruments consisted of the standardized Marital Satisfaction Questionnaires and Collins and Read’s Adult Attachment Style Scale. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 19) using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise regression analysis. The significant level was set at values lower than 0.05.Results: The anxious attachment style (R=0.28) and avoidant attachment style (R=0.32) were predictors of marital satisfaction. There was a significant negative correlation between marital satisfaction and anxious attachment style (r=0.289), while the correlation between marital satisfaction and avoidant attachment style was significantly positive (r=0.183).Conclusions: As attachment styles are contributory to marital satisfaction, counselors can build on couple therapy approach to have an effective role in modifying attachment styles of the couple and solving their conflicts both before and after marriage.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide. Given its low cost, wide availability, and lack of need for complex training, breast self-examination has turned into an important tool for early detection of cancer, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the housewives’ awareness of breast self-examination, stages of change of BSE behavior, and the related factors among women referring to health centers of Birjand city in 2016.Methods: This descriptive, analytic study was conducted on 450 housewives aged between 20 to 40 years referring to healthcare centers of Birjand. Sampling was performed through multistage cluster sampling method. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire which included a demographic characteristics section and various items on knowledge and stages of change. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed. The data were analyzed in SPSS-19 using descriptive and inferential statistical tests.Results: Mean age of the participants was 30.7±5.2 years and 97.8% of them were married. According to behavior change stages, 32.9% of the participants were in the pre-contemplation stage, while 19.68%, 23.3%, 18.2% and 6% were respectively in contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance stages. The mean awareness score was 6.72±2.49.Fisher exact test showed a significant relationship between the stages of change with the level of education (P=0.001), family history of breast cancer (P=0.03), and awareness (P<0.001).Conclusions: Given the low performance of women in breast self-examination, it is required on the part of health authorities to plan and implement the needed educational interventions.

Background: Exposure to chemicals and air pollutants is an important factor of health threat for workers. The present study was conducted with the aim to investigate the relationship between Arsenic metal ions in the air and that of extracted from simulated alveolar fluid.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, personal and environmental sampling was performed according to OSHA standard and leaching testing was conducted in similar conditions of the lungs [pH=7.4, temp.37oc, CO2=5 %] to measure the rate of solubility. Measurement was done by means of the atomic absorption apparatus, Model Spec AA 220 with a graphite furnace Model GTA 110. Data processing was done by using the SPSS statistical software.Results: The concentration of arsenic metal ion in the air was 0.0078±0.0014 mg/m3. That is lower than the allowable rate (0.01 mg/m3). The amount of metal ions in sustained particles of the environment air was 51.4±4.68 mg/g dust and that of extracted with simulated alveolar fluid in extra corporeal condition was 0.013±0.004 mg/g dust. Pearson correlation test did not reveal any significant relationship between them (p>0.05).Conclusions: Since there was no significant relationship between arsenic metal ion in the air and that of extracted from alveolar fluid and also the solubility of this metal ion depends on many factors, therefore, these findings can be the basis of further deep and precise studies in future.