Survey on hydrogen sulfide and ammonia emissions in the air around of the stabilization ponds Mineral gases producing odors in wastewater treatment

Abstract: (344 Views) Background and aims: Odors are one of the problems of water and wastewater treatment, especially in the vicinity of residential areas. Hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, mineral compounds in waste water treatment plants are odorous. These gases have unfavoraitable effects on humans and the environment. Methods: This Cross-sectional study was conducted in the Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. After field visits around the plant, the number of 12 sampling stations was determined. Sampling stations are selected in four geographical directions with regard to permanent trade winds that are zero, two and four kilo meters from the plant to Residential settlements. Sampling was performed in the morning and evening during the four seasons and 192 samples were provided. Results: Results showed that the concentration of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gas was more in warm seasons significantly and more odor caused (P=0.011, P=0.004) and the maximum emission is in the summertime. According to the results, the highest concentration of these gases was in the evening during the day. Conclusion: According to the results, the concentration of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia gases in all the seasons except winter is within the threshold. Concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the summer and ammonia concentrations in all the seasons were higher than US. EPA standards and World Health Organization guidelines

The Role of Health Literacy in Reducing Healthcare Costs and Referring to the Hospital among Elderly

Introduction: Health literacy is the capacity of individuals to obtain, process and understand information about basic health services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Inadequate health literacy is associated with a variety of adverse health consequences and inappropriate use of health care. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between patients' health literacy level and the cost of treatment among the elderly. Methods: The present study was a descriptive-analytical study. The research sample was 1008 main pensioners of the Social Security Organization in Ahvaz. The research instruments were two questionnaires entitled Test Of Functional Health Literacy  in Adults (TOFHLA) and Health Services Utilization Questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS software. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean and standard deviation) and analytical statistics (Pearson and Spearman correlation) with a significance level of 0.5 were used. Results: The findings of this study showed that more than 80% of the participants have inadequate health literacy. The results also show the inverse and negative relationship between people's health literacy and the number of referrals to health centers and also its inverse relationship with treatment costs. Conclusion: Improving the level of health literacy reduces the cost of treatment in the health system and also increases the level of welfare and health in individuals, and this is especially important in the elderly whose health needs are higher than ordinary people. To educate and promote health literacy, one must turn to social contact points with the elderly, including libraries and librarians

Electrodegradation of tetracycline using stainless steel net electrodes: Screening of main effective parameters and interactions by means of a two-level factorial design

Performance of electrodegradation process using stainless steel net electrodes was explored for removal of tetracycline (TC) from synthetic wastewater in a laboratory batch study. Main effects of various operating parameters, such as initial TC concentration (20 and 100 mg/L), reaction pH (3.0 and 9.0), current density (4.1 and 17.1 mA/cm(2)), agitation speed (250 and 750 rpm), and electrolysis time (20, 50, and 80 min), and their interactions on the TC removal efficiency, were optimized by means of a five-factor and two-level factorial experimental design methodology. The significance of responses obtained from the proposed design (sixteen experimental runs under batch mode conditions) was statistically evaluated by preparing a Pareto chart, half-normal probability plot, and plots of main effects and their interactions (herein referred to as Factions) within the framework of the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The statistical results corroborated with 95% certainty that TC concentration, pH, and current density showed the largest effects (absolute values) on the TC removal efficiency. Besides the most effective Factions, a sodium sulfate (used as supporting electrolyte) dose of 1 g/200 cc was determined as the optimum value for the studied process. Under the conditions of an initial TC concentration=20 mg/L, a reaction pH=3.0, current density=17.1 mA/cm(2), an agitation speed=250 rpm, and an electrolysis time=20 min, about 70% of TC could be successfully removed from the simulated wastewater. Findings of this experimental study clearly confirmed the applicability of the electrodegradation process for the removal of a broad spectrum antibacterial agent like TC, and also demonstrated the effectiveness of the factorial design methodology before transferring the obtained experimental knowledge for a full-scale facility

MicroRNAs: Potential prognostic and theranostic biomarkers in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract Small noncoding ribonucleic acids called microRNAs coordinate numerous critical physiological and biological processes such as cell division, proliferation, and death. These regulatory molecules interfere with the function of many genes by binding the 3'‐UTR region of target mRNAs to inhibit their translation or even degrade them. Given that a large proportion of miRNAs behave as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes, any genetic or epigenetic aberration changeing their structure and/or function could initiate tumor formation and development. An example of such cancers is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most prevalent adult leukemia in Western nations, which is caused by unregulated growth and buildup of defective cells in the peripheral blood and lymphoid organs. Genetic alterations at cellular and molecular levels play an important role in the occurrence and development of CLL. In this vein, it was noted that the development of this disease is noticeably affected by changes in the expression and function of miRNAs. Many studies on miRNAs have shown that these molecules are pivotal in the prognosis of different cancers, including CLL, and their epigenetic alterations (e.g., methylation) can predict disease progression and response to treatment. Furthermore, miRNAs are involved in the development of drug resistance in CLL, and targeting these molecules can be considered a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of this disease. MiRNA screening can offer important information on the etiology and development of CLL. Considering the importance of miRNAs in gene expression regulation, their application in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of CLL is reviewed in this paper

6-Gingerol modulates miRNAs and PODXL gene expression via methyltransferase enzymes in NB4 cells: an in silico and in vitro study

Abstract This investigation delves into the influence of predicted microRNAs on DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and the PODXL gene within the NB4 cell line, aiming to elucidate their roles in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A comprehensive methodological framework was adopted to explore the therapeutic implications of 6-gingerol on DNMTs. This encompassed a suite of bioinformatics tools for protein structure prediction, docking, molecular dynamics, and ADMET profiling, alongside empirical assessments of miRNA and PODXL expression levels. Such a multifaceted strategy facilitated an in-depth understanding of 6-gingerol’s potential efficacy in DNMT modulation. The findings indicate a nuanced interplay where 6-gingerol administration modulated miRNA expression levels, decreasing in DNMT1 and DNMT3A expression in NB4 cells. This alteration indirectly influenced PODXL expression, contributing to the manifestation of oncogenic phenotypes. The overexpression of DNMT1 and DNMT3A in NB4 cells may contribute to AML, which appears modulable via microRNAs such as miR-193a and miR-200c. Post-treatment with 6-gingerol, DNMT1 and DNMT3A expression alterations were observed, culminating in the upregulation of miR-193a and miR-200c. This cascade effect led to the dysregulation of tumor suppressor genes in cancer cells, including downregulation of PODXL, and the emergence of cancerous traits. These insights underscore the therapeutic promise of 6-gingerol in targeting DNMTs and microRNAs within the AML context