Assessment of Workers' Exposure to Cement Dust, in Concrete Batching Unit of a Dam Project before and after Control Measures

Background: The importance of clean air in industrial workplaces is well known. Cement dust, due to its silica content, is very dangerous. The aims of this study were to assess and control the release of cement dust from silos of concrete batching units during charging and production processes in a dam project. Methods: In this study, dust particule mass released from the cement silos were investigated by performing environmental samplingandpersonal sampling from 15 operators of batching machine. Samples were analyzed by gravimetric method. Control methods were used to control the released dust. Data collected before and after the intervention were analyzed through SPSS19 and using paired t- test and one sample t- test. Results: Mean concentrations of dust particles masses in personal and environmental samples were respectively 15.56 and 30.77mg/m3 and both were higher than the standard exposure limit values in Iran. After implementation of dust control methods, mean concentrations of dust in personal and environmental samples decreased respectively to 4.1 and 5.2 mg/m3 that show the efficiency of control methods. Conclusion: The control method applied in the present study is a novel and cost-effective method to control the released particles from batching units of cement silos. It is possible to decrease the dust concentration in industrial workplaces to the standard levels, by performing simiar methods. Keywords: Dust, Cement, Batching Silo, Dam Constructio

Empirical Study of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards to Radiation Health Hazards of Cell Phone: a Case Study on Medical Science Students

The cell phone has become an essential part of life, however, in developing countries, knowledge and awareness of users about its adverse health effects have not enough increased. This study aimed to develop a questionnaire to investigate knowledge, attitude and practice regarding health hazards of the cell phone among college students. In this cross-sectional study, 230 graduate students of University of medical sciences located in Hamadan (western province of Iran) were participated, randomly. A developed self-administered questionnaire was completed by each participant to assess knowledge, attitude and practice regarding health hazards of the cell phone. The data was analyzed using SPSS 21. The results showed that the content validity ratio and the content validity index of the developed questionnaire were 0.915, 0.79, respectively. Cronbach (alpha), as a criterion of the reliability of the developed questionnaire, was also equal to 0.85. The scores of knowledge, attitudes and practice among the students were 7.95±2.5, 74.78±8.8, and 28.91±9.0, respectively. Relative to the maximum achievable scores, the acquired scores of attitudes was more acceptable than the others. Moreover, the acquired scores of the knowledge were more than the practice. The scientific controversy about health risks of the cell phones aggravated the public concerns about not well-known effects and consequently, it supported and motivated good attitude among student users. Moreover, it seems that the lack of proper knowledge about cell phone health hazards and protection principles can influence adequate practices. As low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principle should be adopted for uses of the cell phone, while a major effort is done for monitoring of its new potential health impacts

Investigating Different Dimensions of Nomophobia among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Today, mobile phones are recognised as an inseparable part of our daily lives, facilitating communication between users. Based on the studies, addiction to cell phones can lead to several complications including depression, anxiety, anger, and aggression. AIM: This study aimed to investigate nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia) among medical students of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Branch. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 students studying in different majors of medical sciences in Islamic Azad University, Tehran Branch, from 2016 to 2017. Demographic data of all participants were recorded in a data sheet. In the next stage, a questionnaire was designed by the researcher to evaluate the effect of age, gender, education, and the duration of using cell phone variables on discomfort, anxiety, and insecurity due to lack of access to cell phone or other related issues. Raw data were analysed using SPSS statistical software version 21. The significance level was considered P < 0.05. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that participants with lower mean age felt more discomfort, anger, anxiety, and insecurity due to lack of access to mobile phones and other related issues compared to other people. However, no variable was statistically significant (P-value > 0.05). Except anxiety, results showed that longer duration of mobile phone use might lead to a significant decrease in discomfort, anger, and insensibility variables among users (P-value > 0.05). The incidence of nomophobia (with its different aspects) was significantly lower in females (P-value > 0.05). Also, in participants with higher educational status, the nomophobia was recorded to be more frequent (P-Value > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Understanding the pattern of nomophobia occurrence among cell phone users can facilitate our path to prevent its harms including discomfort, anger, anxiety, and feeling of insecurity among users of technology

Monitoring of fisheries resources in artificial reefs in east of Kish Island waters

Artificial reefs are manmade materials deployed under water in order to improve environment and increase the exploitation of fishing area. Usage of artificial technic has developed due to increase of world population and need to supply of protein, aim to restoring of natural specially rehabilitation of demersal fishes. It has effected to increase the production in order sustainable exploitation. Coasts and Islands have destruction due to over harvesting from ecosystems and other activities by humans and natural, these caused many aquatic as demersal fishes has endangered in Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. The artificial reef is one way or method that can improve the environment and restore the aquatic. Iranian fisheries has established an artificial reefs area in west of Kish Island. This area has studied during one year, Data of assembled fishes and physical sampling were collected in seasonal during spring, summer, autumn and wintered. There were tow treatment for sampling as artificial reefs site and a control site. Collected data has analyzed and evaluated by SPSS and Exel. The results showed that there was significant difference between the sites and assembled fishes in artificial reefs were more than control site. Consequently the artificial reefs can be a tool and technic to improve the marine environment and increase the production of fishes, especially the demersal fishes

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

مراقبت های لازم در برخورد با بیماران مشکوک به هاری در بخش اورژانس

Rabies is one of the most ancient and dangerous diseases that have been introduced in medical texts. This disease has been reported in more than 150 countries around the world except for the South Pole. According to a report by world health organization (WHO) in 2015 about 99% of rabies cases are due to being bitten by a rabid dog and more than 95% of mortalities in humans following rabies have occurred in Asia followed by Africa. Most cases of human deaths due to rabies occur in India. There is little data available regarding Central Asia and Middle East and more studies are needed. Considering the deadly nature of this disease and noting that only 7 individuals have survived this illness until now as well as Iran’s geographical location, the importance of paying more attention to this disease is recognized even more. In a case report by Dr. Sadeghi et al. that has been published in Iranian Journal of Emergency Medicine, the furious form of the disease, which is the common type of rabies, has been introduced. In the end, the patient sadly died despite receiving immunoglobulin, being vaccinated after being exposed, and taking necessary treatment measures. What should be noted regarding the mentioned patient in our opinion is evaluating and giving information regarding nursing and burial process of the victim. Theoretically, the disease can be transmitted form one human to another in case of saliva and other secretions of the patient coming into contact with mucosa or open wounds of another, yet a definite and proved case of this has not been reported yet. Considering this point, people who take care of patients with suspected rabies should be vaccinated against the disease. Therefore, educating and training a special medical group for taking care of these patients like influenza and viral hemorrhagic fevers and etc seems necessary. Additionally, exposed individuals should use mask, gloves, gown and glasses throughout the time of exposure. Moreover, considering the deadly nature of the disease, all the individuals exposed to the mucosa, saliva, or other mouth secretions of the rabies patient should receive a complete set of vaccine after exposure if they have not been vaccinated before; especially if they have an open wound or cracks in their hand and foot. The corpse of the patient dying from rabies should not be buried conventionally. The corpse should be disinfected and then wrapped in a thick impenetrable piece of nylon after spraying disinfectant powder and then sanitarily buried as a package. Therefore, if a patient dies of rabies, in addition to taking the aforementioned measures, it is suggested to inform the authorities of cemeteries regarding the burial of these victims. بیماری هاری یکی از قدیمی ترین و خطرناک ترین بیماریهایی است که در متون پزشکی از آن نام برده شده است. این بیماری در بیشتر از 150 کشور دنیا به جز قطب جنوب گزارش گردیده است. بر اساس گزارش WHO در سال 2015 در حدود 99 درصد موارد بیماری، ناشی از گاز گرفتگی توسط سگ هار می باشد  و بیش از 95 درصد موارد مرگ انسان ها در پی هاری در آسیا و سپس آفریقا رخ داده است. بیشترین موارد مرگ انسانی ناشی از هاری در کشور هند رخ می دهد. در مورد آسیای مرکزی و خاورمیانه اطلاعات اندکی در دسترس است و بررسی بیشتری را می طلبد. با توجه به ماهیت کشنده بیماری و این نکته که تاکنون فقط هفت نفر از این بیماری جان سالم بدر برده اند و جایگاه جغرافیائی ایران، توجه بیشتر به این بیماری حائز اهمیتی بیش از پیش می باشد. در مقاله گزارش موردی که توسط آقای دکتر صادقی و همکاران در آن مجله طب اورژانس ایران به چاپ رسیده است، فرم  Furiousبیماری که نوع شایع هاری می باشد، شرح داده شده که علیرغم دریافت ایمونوگلوبولین و انجام واکسیناسیون پس از مواجهه و اقدامات درمانی مورد نیاز، متاسفانه بیمار فوت شده است. آنچه از نظر اینجانبان در خصوص بیمار فوق مطرح می باشد، بررسی و اطلاع رسانی در مورد اقدامات پرستاری و نحوه تدفین و خاکسپاری قربانی مذکور می باشد. از نظر تئوری انتقال بیماری از انسان به انسان و در پی مواجهه با بزاق و ترشحات فرد بیمار با مخاط یا زخم های باز پوستی امکان پذیر است، هر چند که تاکنون مورد قطعی و ثابت شده آن گزارش نشده است. با توجه به این نکته، لازم است افرادی که از بیماران مشکوک به هاری مراقبت می کنند، بر علیه بیماری واکسینه شوند. لذا تربیت و آموزش کادر درمانی ویژه ای جهت مراقبت از این بیماران، همانند آنفلوآنزا و تب های خونریزی دهنده ویروسی و ... ضروری به نظر می رسد. همچنین افراد در معرض تماس بایستی در تمام مدت تماس از ماسک، دستکش، گان و عینک استفاده کنند. علاوه بر این، با عنایت به ماهیت تقریباً کشنده بیماری، ضرورت دارد که تمامی افراد مواجهه یافته با بیمار هار که تماس مخاطی داشته یا در معرض تماس با بزاق و ترشحات دهان بیمار قرار گرفته اند، بخصوص اگر دارای زخم باز یا ترک خوردگی در دست و پا باشند، اگر قبلاً واکسینه نشده اند، یک دوره کامل واکسن پس از مواجهه دریافت نمایند. جسد بیمار فوت شده از بیماری هاری نباید به طور معمول کفن و دفن شود. بلکه باید جسد را پس از ضد عفونی، در یک قطعه بزرگ نایلون ضخیم غیر قابل نفوذ، پس از پاشیدن پودرهای ضد عفونی کننده، پیچیده و به صورت بسته بندی دفن بهداشتی نمایند. بنابراین توصیه می شود در صورت فوت بیماری با تشخیص هاری، علاوه بر رعایت موارد فوق، مسئولان آرامستانها و قبرستان ها نیز در خصوص خاکسپاری این قربانیان آگاه و مطلع گردند

Necessary Care When Facing Patients with Suspected Rabies in Emergency Department

Rabies is one of the most ancient and dangerous diseases that have been introduced in medical texts. This disease has been reported in more than 150 countries around the world except for the South Pole. According to a report by world health organization (WHO) in 2015 about 99% of rabies cases are due to being bitten by a rabid dog and more than 95% of mortalities in humans following rabies have occurred in Asia followed by Africa. Most cases of human deaths due to rabies occur in India. There is little data available regarding Central Asia and Middle East and more studies are needed. Considering the deadly nature of this disease and noting that only 7 individuals have survived this illness until now as well as Iran’s geographical location, the importance of paying more attention to this disease is recognized even more. In a case report by Dr. Sadeghi et al. that has been published in Iranian Journal of Emergency Medicine, the furious form of the disease, which is the common type of rabies, has been introduced. In the end, the patient sadly died despite receiving immunoglobulin, being vaccinated after being exposed, and taking necessary treatment measures. What should be noted regarding the mentioned patient in our opinion is evaluating and giving information regarding nursing and burial process of the victim. Theoretically, the disease can be transmitted form one human to another in case of saliva and other secretions of the patient coming into contact with mucosa or open wounds of another, yet a definite and proved case of this has not been reported yet. Considering this point, people who take care of patients with suspected rabies should be vaccinated against the disease. Therefore, educating and training a special medical group for taking care of these patients like influenza and viral hemorrhagic fevers and etc seems necessary. Additionally, exposed individuals should use mask, gloves, gown and glasses throughout the time of exposure. Moreover, considering the deadly nature of the disease, all the individuals exposed to the mucosa, saliva, or other mouth secretions of the rabies patient should receive a complete set of vaccine after exposure if they have not been vaccinated before; especially if they have an open wound or cracks in their hand and foot. The corpse of the patient dying from rabies should not be buried conventionally. The corpse should be disinfected and then wrapped in a thick impenetrable piece of nylon after spraying disinfectant powder and then sanitarily buried as a package. Therefore, if a patient dies of rabies, in addition to taking the aforementioned measures, it is suggested to inform the authorities of cemeteries regarding the burial of these victims

Initial Identification and Preventive Measures against the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus in Emergency Department; a Letter to Editor

به دنبال کشف و گسترش ویروس کرونای جدید (nCoV-2019[1]) عامل بیماری تنفسی از شهر ووهان[2] ، استان هوبای در چین، تحقیقات گسترده ای به منظور شناخت، پیشگیری و درمان بیماری ناشی از این ویروس انجام گرفته است. هر لحظه اطلاعات مربوط به این ویروس در حال به روز رسانی می باشد. هدف از این نامه ارایه راهکارهایی در شناسایی اولیه و پیشگیری از گسترش ویروس کرونای جدید در بخش اورژانس به عنوان خط اول مواجهه با بیماران در بیمارستان، با اقتباس از توصیه های سازمان بهداشت جهانی ([3]WHO) (1-4) است.Following the discovery and spread of the novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019), the cause of a respiratory illness from Wuhan, Hubei province in China, extensive research has been done for identifying, preventing and treating the illness caused by this virus. The information on this virus is being updated every moment. Identifying the sources of contamination and the routes of transmission is one of the requirements for accurate prevention of infection. The original source of nCoV-2019 is still unknown and efforts are ongoing in this regard. Early detection and control of the sources of infection in the emergency department is crucial. In addition to the standard cautions, further infection prevention and control (IPC) should be initiated according to the protocols by world health organization (WHO) on presentation of suspected cases. The aim of this letter is introducing solutions for initial detection and prevention of the spread of the novel coronavirus in emergency department as the first line of dealing with patients in the hospital by adapting WHO recommendations