Geospatial Modeling of Urban Sewage Network Operations Based on DRASTIC Model (A Case Study of Isfahan)

In recent years, old urban sewage networks have encountered numerous flaws, leading to several important problems in the environment, such as groundwater pollution, excessive growth of tree roots inside sewer pipes, etc. To tackle such problems, innovative approaches must be practiced in urban sewage networks operations. To this aim, a spatial model based on "predictive analysis" and smart technology in the sewage network operation management is needed. Our proposed model was firstly applied for the city of Isfahan to evaluate and predict possible accidents in the urban sewage network. Our model is based on DRASTIC model and Geographic information system. The sewage accidents were assessed by combining the results of DRASTIC model and Getis-Ord Gi* index. This model could assess the previous sewage accidents and predict the probability of future accidents in cities, as well as their environmental risks. In this study, the intention was to identify the hot spots of accidents in the sewage network using GIS; then by studying the factors affecting the accidents, and geological and environmental parameters, a spatial model was designed. Combination of the Getis-Ord Gi* index and DRASTIC model is the main innovation of this research. In the study area, the following items were determined as the most important factors in the sewage accidents: 1- soil type, 2-inappropriate infrastructure, 3-inappropriate pipes with older age, 4-lower diameter. Finally, this model showed that there was a significant relationship between spatial and environmental indices in the study area. Also, the significance value obtained from the statistical analysis of the relationship between pipe diameters and sewer network accidents was equal to 0.004 and the significance value obtained from the statistical analysis of the relationship between pipe life and such events based on Kendall and Spearman tests were calculated as 0.05 and 0.37, respectively

Polymorphisms Of genes encoding interleukin-4 and its receptor are associated with chronic idiopathic urticaria

<b>RATIONALE</b>\ud \ud - Interleukin-4 (IL-4) has pivotal role in promotion of T\ud helper2 responses. ll-4 is also an important regulator of adaptive immune responses. This study is aimed at investigating of association of polymorphisms\ud in IL-4 and IL-4-receptor genes with susceptibility to CIU.\ud \ud <b>METHODS</b>\ud \ud - A matched case-control study was conducted on 89 patients\ud with CIU and 138 healthy controls. Autologous serum skin test (ASST) was performed according to international standards. Total IgE levels, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO) and anti thyroglobulin antibodies (ATG) were investigated using spectrophotometry and enzyme-linked\ud immunosorbant-assay, respectively. Single nucleotide polymorphisms at following positions were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction: IL-4-1098T>G (rs243248), -590C>T (rs2243250), -33C>T (rs2070874), and IL-4-receptor+1902A>G (rs1801275). Estimated frequencies were compared between patients and controls.\ud \ud <b>RESULTS</b>\ud \ud - ASSTwas positive in 39 (43.8%) and abnormal TPO and ATG\ud were found in 12 (13.4%) and 6 (6.7%) of patients which were significantly higher than controls (p<0.05). Mean serum level of IgE was 140.57 (IU/ml) in CIU patients which fell in normal range similar to controls. patients and controls. Among polymorphic sites in IL-4gene, only C allele\ud at -33C>T (OR 2.39, 95%CI (1.41 to 4.05), p<0.001) was significantly higher in patients compared to controls. CC genotype at -590C>T (OR 4.5, 95%CI (1.9 to 10.82)) and -33C>T (OR 3.46, 95%CI (1.88 to 6.43)), were significantly higher in CIU patients (p<0.0001).\ud \ud <b>CONCLUSIONS</b>\ud \ud - Polymorphisms in promoter region of IL-4 but not IL-\ud 4-receptor gene confer susceptibility to CIU and may predispose patients to immune dysregulation

Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphisms in chronic idiopathic urticaria

Background - This study was performed to evaluate association of gene polymorphisms among proinflammatory cytokines and susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). Methods - Ninety patients with prolonged urticaria more than 6 weeks were included as case group. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-6 (G/C −174, G/A nt565) and TNF-α (G/A −308, G/A −238) were evaluated, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and the results were compared to the control group. Results - G allele was significantly higher in the patients at locus of −238 of promoter of TNF-α gene (pConclusions - Pro-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms can affect susceptibility to CIU. TNF-α promoter polymorphisms as well as IL-6 gene polymorphisms are associated with CIU

Association of interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor ß gene polymorphisms with Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) are two anti-inflammatory cytokines that are implicated in the pathogenesis of urticaria. The goal of this study was to examine the possible association of polymorphisms of TGF-β and IL-10 genes with susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). This study was conducted on 90 patients with CIU. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done to determine the genotype at 5 polymorphic sites; TGF-β (codon10C/T and codon25G/C) and IL-10 (-1082G/A, -819C/T, and -592C/A). The C allele at codon 25 of TGF-β was more prevalent in CIU patients compared to controls (OR = 9.5, 95% CI = 5.4-16.8, P<0.001). Genotypes of CT and CG at 10 and 25 codons of TGF-β gene, respectively, and AG, CT, and CA for loci of -1082, -819, and -592 of IL-10 gene were significantly higher in CIU patients (P<0.001). In haplotype analysis, frequency of TGF-β haplotypes differed between patients with CIU and controls; CC haplotype was overrepresented, while CG and TG haplotypes were underrepresented (P<0.001). These results suggest that TGF-β and IL-10 genetic variability could contribute to susceptibility to CIU. Additionally, patients with CIU seem to have genotypes leading to high production of TGF-β and IL-10

Polymorphisms Of genes encoding interleukin-4 and its receptor are associated with chronic idiopathic urticaria

RATIONALE - Interleukin-4 (IL-4) has pivotal role in promotion of T helper2 responses. ll-4 is also an important regulator of adaptive immune responses. This study is aimed at investigating of association of polymorphisms in IL-4 and IL-4-receptor genes with susceptibility to CIU. METHODS - A matched case-control study was conducted on 89 patients with CIU and 138 healthy controls. Autologous serum skin test (ASST) was performed according to international standards. Total IgE levels, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO) and anti thyroglobulin antibodies (ATG) were investigated using spectrophotometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbant-assay, respectively. Single nucleotide polymorphisms at following positions were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction: IL-4-1098T>G (rs243248), -590C>T (rs2243250), -33C>T (rs2070874), and IL-4-receptor+1902A>G (rs1801275). Estimated frequencies were compared between patients and controls. RESULTS - ASSTwas positive in 39 (43.8%) and abnormal TPO and ATG were found in 12 (13.4%) and 6 (6.7%) of patients which were significantly higher than controls (pT (OR 2.39, 95%CI (1.41 to 4.05), pT (OR 4.5, 95%CI (1.9 to 10.82)) and -33C>T (OR 3.46, 95%CI (1.88 to 6.43)), were significantly higher in CIU patients (pCONCLUSIONS - Polymorphisms in promoter region of IL-4 but not IL- 4-receptor gene confer susceptibility to CIU and may predispose patients to immune dysregulation