Background: This study intended to investigate blood lead and serum total antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress marker levels of subjects in a lead-zinc mining community of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods: Sixty-eight (68) occupationally-Exposed (OE) and 62 environmentally-Exposed (EE) to lead in Enyigba community and 70 non-inhabitants (controls), were recruited for this study. Blood samples were collected from them for blood lead (BL), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), assays using standard methods. Data were analyzed with the IBM SPSS software and means were compared using One Way ANOVA and t-test. Statistical differences was considered significant at p<0. 05. Result: Mean BL significantly rose in the OE and EE groups (p<0. 0001 respectively) than the controls. TAC decreased significantly in the OE (p<0. 01), but increased in EE (p<0. 05) compared with the control groups, while SOD, CAT, and MDA decreased significantly in the OE (p<0. 01 respectively) and EE (p<0. 01 each) versus control group. Significant higher TAC and lower CAT were recorded in the EE compared with the OE (p<0. 05) subjects. GPx significantly increased (p<0. 05) in the OE compared with the control group. Only CAT correlated significantly with lead in the EE subjects. BL, MDA, and CAT differed significantly (<0. 0001 respectively), and SOD (<0. 05) varied with age. Children <10 years recorded the highest BL concentration (34. 77±, 12. 46) b young adults aged 21-30 the lowest, which was significantly lower than in the other age categories. Conclusion: The elevated MDA concentration and reduced antioxidant activities indicated some oxidative stress damage resulting from lead toxicity.

Background: Helicobacter pullorum can infect the intestinal tracts of both humans and avian species. This study aimed to assess the frequency and antibiotic resistance of H. pullorum isolated from workers in the poultry slaughterhouses, farms, and markets as Exposed population and healthy people who referred to the hospital as non-Exposed population by culture method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Methods: Two hundred healthy individuals, including 100 individuals from Exposed population and 100 from non-Exposed population were selected in Semnan. Fresh stool samples were examined by conventional culture method and biochemical tests. PCR test with 16S rRNA gene was employed to confirm the H. pullorum isolates. Antibiotic resistance test was done using the disk diffusion method and various antimicrobial agents. Results: Generally, 17 (17%) samples from Exposed population and 12 (12%) samples from non-Exposed population were H. pullorum positive by culture method and biochemical tests. However, PCR test could confirm 10 (10%) and 7 (7%) samples from Exposed and non-Exposed populations, respectively. Therefore, the frequency of H. pullorum was determined to be 9. 5%. Antibiotic resistance test could reveal that most of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (84. 2%), whereas resistance to colistin and fosfomycin was found to be 15. 8%. Conclusion: The present study illustrated that H. pullorum can be present among healthy population with the low frequency rate. Moreover, it was indicated that the frequency of this food-borne pathogen is high in the Exposed population. Therefore, there is a high demand for good observation for slaughter hygiene and implementation of routine surveillance in the poultry farms and markets.

Background: Chemical warfare victims with history of exposure to sulfur mustard gas comprise a considerable number of our young asthmatic population. They are at risk of adverse effects of the gas including asthma; diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, chemical bronchitis, skin lesions and ophthalmic complications, with a great part of their treatment depending on corticosteroid compounds.Objective: To evaluate the rate of osteoporosis in a group of asthmatic victims of sulfur mustard gas and to compare it with non-chemical asthmatic patients, in order to determine the distribution, site of involvement, intensity of effects, and difference with the non-Exposed group.Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, 100 asthmatic male patients who had a history of exposure to sulfur mustard gas were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and matched with 100 non-chemical asthmatic male patients in regard to age, duration of disease, duration of corticosteroid therapy, and the form of therapy. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) test was performed on hip and lumbar vertebrae of case and control groups according to WHO criteria. Independent- samples T test was used to analyze the results.Results: There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the two groups in the range of osteoporosis and osteopenia. No significant correlation was found between age and complications. Most changes (65%) were observed in the vertebral column, and hip involvement (%5) was much more severe in the case group.Conclusion: Considering the morbidities caused by this chemical warfare agent, the osteoporotic complications in chemical warfare victims can intensify their disabilities. Therefore, preventive measures must be undertaken to reduce complications.

Objective: The purpose of this work was to compare DNA damage, acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity, inflammatory markers and clinical symptoms in farmers Exposed to organ phosphorus pesticides to individuals that had no pesticide exposure.Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey with a total of 134 people. The subject group consisted of 67 farmers who were Exposed to organ phosphorus pesticides. The control group consisted of 67 people without any contact with pesticides matched with the subject group in terms of age, gender, and didactics. Oxidative DNA damage, the activities of AChE, interleukin-6 (IL6), IL10 and C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum were measured and clinical examinations conducted in order to register all clinical signs.Results: Compared with the control group, substantial gains were observed in the farmers’ levels of oxidative DNA damage, IL10 and CRP. There was significantly less AChE activity in farmers Exposed to organ phosphorus pesticides. The levels of IL6 in both groups did not significantly differ.Conclusion: The outcomes show that exposure to organ phosphorus pesticides may cause DNA oxidative damage, inhibit AChE activity and increase the serum levels of inflammatory markers. Using biological materials instead of chemical pesticides and encouraging the use of safety equipment by farmers are some solutions to the adverse effects of exposure to organ phosphorous pesticides.

Introduction: Reconstruction of traumatic soft tissue defects at calf middle third after a trauma or open fracture is very important esthetically and psychologically for patients. There are few methods for this. One of them is hemisoleus flap. Cases: In this study 6 patients who experienced fractures after trauma, one case with chronic secretary osteomyelitis and one with Exposed plate were reconstructed with hemisoleus flap technique. After surgery and follow up, flap cover was complete in 7 cases. In one patient (with Exposed plate), one half of flap was necrotized, which in second stage was covered by gastrocnemius flap. Functions and wrist flexion were not decreased after surgery in 7 cases. One case had movement defect, but after 3 months it was disappeared. Conclusion: Design and application of muscular hemisoleus flap (medial belly) for this goal with preservation of muscle function for flexion, instead of scarification of total soleus muscle function is usefulness of this procedure. 

Introduction: The purpose of this study was the evaluation and comparison of histological responses of dental pulp toward three different materials inserted directly over Exposed pulp of canines cats. Materials & Methods: In this study, thirty-two teeth were used as experimental and 2 teeth as control group (intact pulp). Similar cavities were prepared and their centers mechanically Exposed. Exposure sites were capped with Dycal, Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) and Scotchbond Multi Purpose (MP), and filled by composite acid etch.In periods of 7 and 70 days, animals were sacrified and 5 micron sections prepared. The samples were evaluated under light microscope, and the data analyzed by Kruskal Wallis (ANOVA) with %95 significance level.Results: In 7 day samples, there were no significance differences in inflammation among the material tested (P=0.12). No dentine bridge was observed in 7 day groups. In 70 day samples, there was no inflammation in %16.7 of MTA groups. No significance differences were found between three groups for inflammation (P=0.69). Dentin bridges were observed in %50 of MTA, %40 of Dycal and %20 of Scotchbond samples. These differences weren’t significance (P=0.85). Conclusion: These findings support the use of MTA and Scotchbond MP as direct pulp capping materials.

Background and Objective: Sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent used by the Iraqi forces during the Iraq-Iran war. So far some statistical methods have only been applied to discriminate between Exposed and non-Exposed Sardasht inhabitants, using immunological variables. This paper focuses on allocating objects to Exposed and nonExposed groups and choosing the best model, using a variety of qualitative and quantitative variables available.Materials and Methods: The participants had been recruited from Sardasht (Exposed) and Rabat (non-Exposed) residents. In general, a sample of 372 and 128 in case and control groups were assessed in this study. To allocate the persons to the Exposed group, a logistic regression model was used. Models with main effects of the independent variables were compared using sensitivity, specificity and the area under their ROC curves.Results: Sensitivities of quantitative, qualitative and mixed models are as follows: 0.953, 0.948 and 0.952. Specificities of these models are 0.225, 0.524 and 0.542 respectively. Variables included in the mixed model are IL-18BP (p<0.001), sP-selectin (p=0.003), itching (p<0.001), plaque (p=0.017), chronic cough (p=0.029), sputum (p=0.017), hyperpigmentation (p=0.026) and bulbar conjunctive (p=0.025).Conclusion: According to the models' sensitivities, specificities, R2 and the area under their ROC curves on the one hand and the simplicity of qualitative variables usage on the other hand, the qualitative model could be preferred to as the mixed one.