The Effect of Low‑Dose Ketamine (Preemptive Dose) on Postcesarean Section Pain Relief

Background: Postsurgical pain is the main cause of anxiety in patients; therefore, analgesics (adjuvants) such as preemptive doses of ketamine with minimal adverse effects would be beneficial. However, studies are needed regarding their efficacy. Aim: To determine the preemptive effect of intravenous ketamine on pain intensity and need to opioids in cesarean section which performed under spinal anesthesia. Subjects and Methods: The study was a randomized, double‑blinded, clinical trial involving 60 term parturients for cesarean, using random block method, they were divided into two groups of each. The case group received ketamine with dose of 0.2 mg/kg and the control one normal saline with the same volume. Pain intensity was compared in 0,30,60,90,120,150, and 180 min and 6,12,18, and 24 h after surgeries with visual analog scale (VAS) index. The average opioid usage was compared during 24 h after those too. Final analyses were done with Mann‑Whitney, Chi‑square, and Spss.v. 16 (P < 0.05 was meaningful level). Results: There was not significant statistical difference on average VAS during interrupted times (F = 0.15, P = 0.70). Average dosage of diclofenac suppository and mean time for taking the first dosage of opioids have not statistical difference too (respectively; P = 0.76, P = 0.87). Average dose of pethidine was lesser than placebo statistically. It means, the case group did not take pethidine but this amount was 6 (20%) in the control one (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Taking the preemptive dosage of ketamine (0.2 mg/kg) before cesarean could act as a probably model for decreasing opioid consumption. Keywords: Ketamine, low dose, pain relief, preemptiv

Influence of bioaugmentation on biodegradation of phenanthrene-contaminated soil by earthworm in lab scale

Background: Use of earthworm to eliminate the phenanthrene from the soil (bioaccumulation) is developed as an economical method. Bioaugmentation of microorganism was used for promotion of bioaccumulation by earthworm. The aim of this study was to determine the bioaccumulation or biodegradation of phenanthrene by Eisenia fetida and bacterial consortium in polluted soil. Methods: The amount of 0.4 kg of the polluted soil in the ratio of 10 and 30 mg phenanthrene per kg of dry soil was transferred into each pot. Afterwards, bacteria and earthworms were added to each pot in separate and combination. The samples were kept under field conditions, and the retention concentrations of phenanthrene were analyzed after 8 weeks. Results: Results showed that the Eisenia fetida was able to significantly remove phenanthrene from the polluted soil samples. Bioaccumulation and bioaugmentation alone have the removal efficiency of 60.24 and 50.3, respectively. In the combined mode, phenanthrene removal efficiency was 63.81. Conclusions: The current study indicated that the use of earthworms, could improve both phenanthrene bioavailability and microbial activity, which led to enhancing removal of carbon-based pollutants. ©2014 Asgharnia et al

Study of parasites occurrence and intensity in fishes of Anzali Lagoon

Tish survey prolonged from summer 2011 trough summer 2012. During this period 574 samples of different fish species were investigated for their parasites. Totally 30 species of parasites isolated of the fishes. Some of the isolated parasites are recorded for the first time in Iran. Rafidascaris acus Orientocreadium siluri, Silurotaenia siluri, Acanthocephalus lucii , Argulus foliaceus has recorded for the first time from European catfish, Silurus glanis, and Dactylogyrus inexpectatus has recorded for the first time from Gibel Carp, Carassius auratus gibelio, in Anzali wetland. Statistical comparison of parasites infections and intensity between the different area of Anzali wetland were done. Infection of Pike, Esox lucius, to Diplostomum spathaceum, Raphidascaris acus and Monogenean in western parts of wetland were significantly different from the Eastern and Central areas (p<0.05). So based on the data have concluded the eastern and central regions of the wetland are more polluted than the western part. Comparing the results of the present study with before ones showed that the composition of parasite species has been changed over time, while the prevalence, intensity and abundance of parasites have been increased. It may be due to changing environmental conditions such as increasing discharge of effluent, eutrophication of the wetland. This results accents to necessity of reconstruction of Anzali wetland with preference of eastern and central regions

Performance, kinetic, and biodegradation pathway evaluation of anaerobic fixed film fixed bed reactor in removing phthalic acid esters from wastewater

Emerging and hazardous environmental pollutants like phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are one of the recent concerns worldwide. PAEs are considered to have diverse endocrine disrupting effects on human health. Industrial wastewater has been reported as an important environment with high concentrations of PAEs. In the present study, four short-chain PAEs including diallyl phthalate (DAP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), and phthalic acid (PA) were selected as a substrate for anaerobic fixed film fixed bed reactor (AnFFFBR). The process performances of AnFFFBR, and also its kinetic behavior, were evaluated to find the best eco-friendly phthalate from the biodegradability point of view. According to the results and kinetic coefficients, removing and mineralizing of DMP occurred at a higher rate than other phthalates. In optimum conditions 92.5, 84.41, and 80.39% of DMP, COD, and TOC were removed. DAP was found as the most bio-refractory phthalate. The second-order (Grau) model was selected as the best model for describing phthalates removal

Biological survey of Caspian kutum (Rutilus kutum) released fingerlings in Sefidroud River (Guilan Province)

Kutum fish (Rutilus kutum) is an anadromous cyprinid species that spawns in adjusted rivers to the Caspian Sea. Many million fingerlings were artificially produced and annually released in these rivers specifically in Sefidrud River by Iranian Fisheries Organization. In this study were estimated the staying period of Kutum fingerlings in Sefidrud River and its diet and growth. A small piece of the caudal fin was cut as a tagging method. About 50000 and 5200 individuals were marked during July and September 2013, respectively. The marked fish had an average total length 53.2±5.6 mm and body weight 1.11±0.26 g and were released in river around two kilometers of the estuary. The sampling of fishes had been earlier started from Feb. 2012 and continued until Feb. 2013 at five stations. Four stations were along river from three Kilometer of estuary to estuary and one station was in right side of estuary in the sea coast. The results showed that marked samples after releasing time were distributed in all studied area from 3 kilometers of estuary to estuary but they migrate mainly toward Caspian Sea in a short time. However the marked samples were observed in estuary and the sea coast after 6 and 24 hours of their releasing time, respectively, Kutum fingerlings remained in Sefidrud river ecosystem in a longer time, at least until end of our sampling period i.e. 105 days. The coefficient of vacuity index of the natural feeding study was 0.0, 49.0 and 30.6 % for phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthos, respectively. The average of GastroSomatic index, intensity of fullness and condition factor were calculated 6.30±3.25, 174.6±153.2 and 0.92±0.09, respectively. A temporal and spatial variation on main food items were observed in gut content of fish fingerlings from different locations and seasons. Gut contents were generally included 59 genera of phytoplankton, 15 groups of zooplankton and 10 groups of benthos. Nitzschia, Navicula and Synedra were dominated among phytoplankton genera with 45.83, 18.02 and 15.99 %, respectively. Among zooplankton groups; the Rotaria, Moeina and Difflugia were dominated with 22.30, 20.86 and 15.83%, respectively. Chironomidae and Gammaridae were the main food items among fed benthic animals with 83.67 and 11.15%, respectively. Furthermore 48 phytoplankton genera, 32 zooplankton genera and 6 benthic families were identified in ecosystem of Sefidrud river. Bacillariophyta phylum (with 23 genus), Rotatoria (with17 genus) and Chironomidae family were dominated in each mentioned groups, respectively. It is concluded that the Kutum fingerlings stay in Sefidrud River for a long time, although most of them migrate to Caspian Sea during first month after releasing. However dietary indices were normal in studied samples, the condition factor index seems to be low

Study on viral nervouse necrosis (isolation, characterisation and pathogenesis) in golden grey mullet in the Caspian Sea and study of pathogenecity and possibility of transmission to the other fish species (Sturgeon fishes, Rutilus frisii kutum and reared Rainbow trout and Carp)

Study on Viral Nervouse necrosis (isolation, characterisation and pathogenesis) in Golden grey mullet in the Caspian Sea and study of pathogenecity and possibility of transmission to the other fish species (Sturgeon fishes, Rutilus frisii kutum and reared Rainbow trout and Carp) Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN) is a worldwide disease affecting several species of cultured marine fish. For the past two decades, betanodavirus infections that cause Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN) have emerged as major constraints on the culture and sea ranching of marine fish in almost all parts of the world. More than forty species mainly of marine origin have been so far affected and this number is likely to rise in future following the introduction of new species and the increase of aquaculture trade. Unknown acute mortality occurred in wild golden grey mullet Lisa auratus and Liza saliens in Iranian waters of Caspian Sea in recent years. In order to isolation and confirmation of causative agents of golden grey mullet mortality in the Caspian Sea, a complementary research investigation project was designed in 2005 and approved immediately in Iranian Fisheries Research Organization (IFRO). Many diagnostic aspects such as Virology (Cell culture and Elctereone Microscopy), Hemathology, Bacteriology, Histopathology, Molecular biology (NestedRT-PCR), Heavy metals measuerment and Serology (IFAT and IHC) were employed in mentioned multidiciplinary project. About 322 moribund fish samples which revealed skin darkening, erratic swimming behavior such as spiral and belly-up at rest and high distention of swimming bladder. Suspected samples were collected from coastal capture sites in iranian north proviences in 2006 till 2009. Targets tissue such as brain and eye were removed in strile condition and then kept in -80oC frezzer for cell culture and Nested-RT-PCR. Other tissue samples from liver, kidney, intestine, stomach, gill, skin and muscle, gall bladder and gonads were taken and fixed in 10% buffer formalin and same parts fixed in glutaraldehyde 3% for histopathology, IHC and EM respectively. Cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed in those cell cultures just six days after inoculation with the dilutions of the tested 312 homogenate supernatants. CPE in monolayers of cells cultured (SSN-1 cell line) was characterised by thin or rounded, refractile, granular cells with vacuoles. Nine samples were positive in virology assay. Nested- RT-PCR was done on suspected tissue samples and supernatant of CPE positive samples and 21 tissue samples and all CPE positive samples were positive. IFAT was selected as a confirmatory method for identifying viral strains replicating on cell cultures and carried out with rabbit anti-betanodavirus serum on suspected tissue samples and some smears of CPE positive samples. Some bright points approved betanodavirus antigen and confirmed cell culture and Nested-RT-PCR findings. In fixed tissue samples widespread and massive vacuolation were observed in brain, spinal cord, retina and optical nerve. In order to confirmation of diagnostic findings , IHC was done with monoclonal antibody antibetanodavirus and some red-brown points were observed. Theses findings revealed expected viral antigens and confirmed previous results. Moreover, virus particles with 25-30 nm in diameter were visualized in infected brain and retina using positive staining in TEM. Also pathogenicity test was employed to confirm the obtained results. So Guppy fish Poecilia reticulata and sturgeon fry were used instead of the experimental host due to ease of handling and susceptibility. After 15 days post infection, guppy bathed in VNN-infected tissue culture with 104 TCID50 showed clinical signs similar to naturally infected Golden grey mullet, and the mortality rate reached up to 100% in 75 dpi. When target organs were examined by cell culture isolation, serology, and histopathology, all revealed the presence of virus in the Guppy. Suspected supernatant injected to sturgeon fry through intravitreous injection and widespread vacuolation were observed in brain and spinal cord buy IHC and Real time PCR were negative. In conclusion, with attntion to obtained results in this investigation such as ecological factors, clinical signs, histopathological, virological and bacteriological results, molecular analysis, (IHC, IFAT, PCR), TEM demonstration, serological and hematological findings, it could be confirmed that VNNV was the main causative agent for disease outbreak in Golden grey mullet in Southern coastline of Caspian Sea