Introduction: Exposure to particulate matter in the workplace has been identified as a major contributing factor to respiratory diseases including decreased lung function. In developing countries, health and safety of landfill workers receives little attention. Thus, it is necessary to conduct an in-depth investigation into particulate matter exposure and its link to disease. This study to investigate the relationship between exposure of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) on forced vital capacity and respiratory symptoms in landfill workers. Materials and methods: Measurements of PM2.5 parameter air samples were taken using an SNDWAY brand detector from five locations. Interviews using questionnaires with 49 landfill worker respondents were conducted to determine respiratory symptoms. Forced vital capacity was examined with a Voldyne 4000 incentive spirometer and the results were analyzed with chisquare statistical analysis. Results: The highest PM2.5 concentrations occurred during the day in the west, east, and center, which fall into the unhealthy category. Most of the respondents had abnormal forced vital capacity (32 people, 65.3%) and respiratory symptoms (43 respondents, 87.8%). Chi-square analysis showed a statistically significant association between PM2.5 exposure and abnormal FVC with a p-value of 0.002 and an Odds Ratio (OR) of 10.0 (95% CI: 2.41–41.58). Conclusion: This study found a significant association between PM2.5 exposure and abnormal Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) in landfill workers (p = 0.002; OR= 10.0; 95% CI: 2.41–41.58). These findings indicate that workers exposed toPM2.5 are at increased risk of lung function impairment, underscoring the need for routine respiratory health monitoring and targeted exposure mitigation in landfill environments.

Background: In this study we evaluated lung volumes, volume changes relative to Cobb angle and correlation of volume changes with Cobb angle changes before and after the surgery.Materials and Methods: Eighteen non-smoker patients with idiopathic scoliosis were included in this descriptive observational study. Cobb angle, lung volume and flow were measured before and after the surgery. To assess height and weight changes during the follow-up period, we used the percent relative to normal (percent predicted) instead of absolute volumes.Results: Eighteen of 30 selected patients were included. The mean follow-up period was 34.5±19.6 months. Dynamic volume changes of lung were: VC= -13.4 SD=8.6 (p<0.005); FVC=-9.22 SD=14 (p<0.001); FEV1=9.8 SD=15 (p<0.001). There was a weak correlation between the mean value of dynamic volume changes and the mean changes in Cobb angle after the surgery. There was a weak correlation between Cobb angle and dynamic volume of lung before the surgery.Conclusion: In this study there was a significant decrement of dynamic lung volumes after corrective surgery for thoracic curve scoliosis.

Background and Objectives: Tobacco usage is one of the most common problems in human societies that, In addition of getting several social, economic and health effects, it can cause respiratory, digestive and bladder cancer, also chromosomal and blood factors changes. Little study has been done about hookah effects on human. The aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary function tests in hookah users in Ardabil city.Materials & Methods: In this case-control study, 133 male subjects who have used hookah 3 times a day for at least 3 years or more, were selected from Coffee house of ARDABIL city and then pulmonary function tests were carried out at least triplicate. For comparison of pulmonary parameters, the same number of healthy subjects without hookah consumption in the same age and socioeconomic status were used and spirometery was done. The data were analyzed with SPSS 11 software program and presented as mean ±SD. Statistical significance was assayed by student’s t-test for unpaired data and the differences were considered to be significant at the p<0.05 level. Results: Age range of hookah smokers and normal subjects was 17-78 and 20-82 years old, respectively. Age average of hookah smokers and normal subjects was 44.37±14.9 and 41.54±14.46 years old, respectively .Mean differences of age was not statistically significant. The average of PEF, FEV1%, FEV1, FEF25-75 and FEF 25 in hookah smokers were: 7.73, 83.11%, 3.56, 3.81, 6.32, respectively and in normal subjects was: 8.51, 85.69%, 3.78, 4.35, 7.29 respectively. The mean differences between two groups were statistically significant in each parameter (p < 0.05). In this study, there were 27 (20%) COPD patients in hookah smokers. Ten percent of hookah smokers had FEV1% less than 70. Conclusion: The results showed that using hookah disrupts pulmonary function parameters. So as cigarette, using hookah may have devastating effects on respiratory system. Knowing about effects of hookah to people, especially to young is necessary.

Background and Aim: The present studies on kyphoscoliosis operation demonstrate different results on lung volume changes. Some observations show increased, some show decreased and other studies show no changes in the dynamic respiratory flows.In this study we evaluated lung volumes before and after surgery. We also evaluated the correlation of repiratory lung volume changes with mean of Cobb's angle.Patients and Methods: In this observational descriptive study, 18 non smoker patients with idiopathic scoliosis were included. Cobb's angle, lung volume and flow were measured before and after surgery with spirometer. Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis. To consider height and weight changes during the follow ups, we used percentage relative to normal instead of absolute volumes.Results: From 30 patients included in this study we followed 18. Mean follow up duration was 34.5±19.6 months (SD=19.6) Dynamic volume changes were: VC=13.4 SD=8.6 (P<0.005), FVC=9.22 SD=14 (p<0.001) and FEV1=9.8 SD=15 (p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between lung volume changes and Cobb's angle changes. There was weak inverse correlation between mean value of dynamic volume changes and mean changes in Cobb's angle after surgery; the greater the cobb's angle changes, the lesser the lung volume changes.Conclusion: In this study there was significant decrement of dynamic lung volumes after corrective surgery for thoracic curve scoliosis. There was no correlation between the degree of corrective angle and the amount of lung volume changes. There was a weak linear correlation between cobb's angle and lung volumes before surgery. Greater the angle changes, lesser the lung volume changes.There was a weak inverse correlation between the mean value of Cobb's angle and changes in dynamic lung volume after surgery.

Background and Aim: Asthma, as the most prevalent disorder of the airways is accompanied with excessive inflammatory, oxidative and apoptotic activity. In asthmatic patients, serum and hair levels of zinc are decreased. Zinc, as an essential micronutrient for human is reported to have anti inflammatory, anti oxidant and anti apoptosis roles. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of zinc supplementation on lung function in asthmatic patients in Hazrat Rasool Akram Hospital.Patients and Materials: A cross sectional clinical trial was conducted on 29 patients with asthma who received 50 mg zinc supplementation every other day for a period of 8 weeks. 10 ml blood sample was drawn prior to initiation of supplementation period. Serum Zinc concentration was measured by Atomic Absorption spectrophotometry and compared with that of 29 non-asthmatic individuals. Respiratory factors such as Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Vital Capacity (VC) and FEV1: FVC ratio was measured by Spirometer in asthmatic patients before and after Zinc supplementation.Dietary intake in asthmatic patients was assessed by Dietary recall questionnaire. Data were analysed by Paired t-test and Independent t-test. SPSS V. 10 was used.Results: The serum zinc concentration of treated patients was 0.68±0.16 mg/l, which shows significant difference (P<0.05) when compared to that of normal group. The differences of FEV1, FVC, VC, FEV1: FVC were not statistically significant before and after zinc supplementation (P>0.05) and the daily food intake of zinc in patients, was 60% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).Conclusion: Zinc status of serum in asthmatic patients was significantly lower than non-asthmatic subjects and supplementation with 50 mg zinc taken every other day for 8 weeks did not lead to significant effect on respiratory factors. More interventional trials are recommended.

Background & Aim: Every surgery is followed by some changes in postoperative pulmonary function tests which can dramatically influence this period. Although the type of the surgery and its vicinity to diaphragm are the main determinants of these changes, anesthetic techniques are also responsible. Among different probable factors through which anesthesia could influence postoperative pulmonary function tests, we planned to evaluate the effects of drugs used during the maintenance stage of anesthesia on postoperative pulmonary function tests.Patients & Method: This is a single blind randomized clinical trial in which the patients ranged in age from 15 to 35 and presented with ASA I (American Society of Anesthesiology). All the operations were elective extremity or lower abdominal surgeries and their length was between one and two hours. All the patients had normal preoperative pulmonary function tests. The total number of the subjects was sixty and they were randomly divided into two equal groups (n=30).For the maintenance stage of anesthesia, inhalational agents (N2O 50%, Halothane 0.5-1%) were used in one group and intravenous drugs in the other one (Midazolam 0.1mg/kg/h, Alfentanil 0.5mg/kg/min). 24 hours postoperatively, pulmonary function tests (PFT) were performed and the deviations of three indices (FEV1=Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 sec, FVC=Forced Vital Capacity, VC=Vital Capacity) from their preoperative values were measured and compared. Students’ t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: FEV1, FVC and VC decreased by 16.3%, 13.5% and 12.5% in the inhalational group and by 12%, 12.9% and 12% in the intravenous group respectively. Comparing the results showed no significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion: Among the factors which are related to anesthesia and can affect postoperative pulmonary indices, the above-mentioned drugs that we used for the maintenance stage, whether inhalational or intravenous, exert no significant influence on postoperative pulmonary function tests.