Treatment Failure in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Patients Referred to the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences During 2008-2017

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector borne disease predominantly found in tropical and subtropical countries, including Iran. For more than 6 decades, pentavalent antimonials have been used successfully worldwide for the treatment of leishmaniasis, but over the past few years, clinical resistance to these medications has increased. In this study, we evaluated CL patients who did not show any desirable responses to the anti-leishmanial treatment within a 10-year period (2008 to 2017). Methods: All patients from different parts of Iran suspected of having cutaneous leishmaniasis, who were referred to the laboratory of leishmaniosis in Tehran University of Medical Sciences from 2008-2017 were parasitological examined. Results: During this period, a total of 1480 suspected CL patients were referred to the laboratory of leishmaniosis. Samples from 655 patients (70.8) suspected of having CL were positive microscopically. The failure rate in patients treated with anti-leishmaniasis medications for a minimum of three complete treatment periods was 1.83 (12 cases). There was no association between the number and size of skin lesions and patient characteristics. Also, the route of drug administration had no significant effect on the number and size of lesions. Conclusion: In the present study, treatment failure was found in some confirmed CL patients treated with meglumine antimoniate. Over the past few years, it seems that had been increased in resistance to these medications. So, a review of the correct implementation of the treatment protocol and/or a combination therapy may be helpful in preventing an increase in the rate of treatment failure

Wet deposition of hydrocarbons in the city of Tehran-Iran

Air pollution in the city of Tehran has been a major problem for the past three decades. The direct effects of hydrocarbon contaminants in the air are particularly important such as their carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects which can be transported to other environments via dry and wet deposition. In the present study, rainwater samples were collected and analyzed for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX) as well as fuel fingerprints in two ranges of gasoline (C5–C11) and diesel fuel (C12–C20) using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC/FID). Mean concentrations of ∑16 PAHs varied between 372 and 527 µg/L and for BTEX was between 87 and 188 µg/L with maximum of 36 µg/L for toluene. Both gasoline range hydrocarbons (GRH) and diesel range hydrocarbons (DRH) were also present in the collected rainwater at concentrations of 190 and 950 µg/L, respectively. Hydrocarbon transports from air to soil were determined in this wet deposition. Average hydrocarbon transportation for ∑PAHs, BTEX, GRH, and DRH was 2,747, 627, 1,152, and 5,733 µg/m2, respectively

Investigating the Concentration and types of Asbestos Fibers using PCM and SEM in a Cement- Asbestos Industry

  Background and aims : Asbestos minerals are divided into two main groups including serpentine and amphiboles and each has one or more subgroups. These minerals have been used in industrial products such as cement-asbestos sheet and pipe, brake shoe, clutch and insulation materials. Occupational and non - occupational exposures by this carcinogenic material have caused to develop several methods to evaluate airborne asbestos fibers. But in this way, NIOSH 7400 as the conventional method has some shortages that confirm necessity of studying of other microscopic methods in asbestos fibers evaluation.   Methods: In this study, 90 samples from different points of a cement- asbestos industry in Tehran (IRAN) have been collected on MCE filters. According to NIOSH 7400, half of each filter was prepared and then fiber counting was accomplished by phase contrast microscopy. The other part of filters were used for identification of asbestos fibers types by scanning electron microscopy.   Results : According to NIOSH 7400, fibers concentration range were determined 0.02 – 0.44 . The maximum concentration of airborne asbestos was 0.37±0.05 that was related to recycling process. Study of elemental composition of fibers by scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the type of fibers was chrysotile.   Conclusion: More than 50 percent of collected samples in this industry have concentrations above occupational exposure limits that may increase asbestos related diseases in the future. The preventive approaches in occupational health studies necessitate that in order to evaluate airborne asbestos fibers, the occupational hygienists need to be access to several methods. Therefore development of other microscopic methods such as scanning electron microscopy besides NIOSH 7400, must be considered

Optimization of carbon nano tubes synthesis using fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition: A statistical approach

Fluidized Bed Chemical Vapor Deposition (FBCVD) has been introduced as a promising method for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) synthesis because of its large scale, low cost and high yield production. However, there is no clear relation between synthesis parameters and CNTs growth; therefore more data are required on FBCVD synthesis of CNTs. This research intended to investigate the effects of some synthesis parameters namely reaction temperature, catalyst loading and deposition time on FBCVD growth of CNTs. In present study, CNTs were synthesized through decomposition of acetone over prepared catalysts which are Iron and Molybdenum supported on Alumina. After each run the product was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The effects of parameters on carbon deposition yield were statistically studied using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimum quality and yield of the CNTs were achieved at 750 °C reaction temperature, 40min of deposition time and utilizing 5 gm of catalysts loading

Exposure to Inhalable Flour Dust and Respiratory Symptoms of Workers in a Flour Mill in Iran

In 1999 the American conference of governmental industrial hygienists (ACGIH) proposed a threshold limit value (TLV) of 0.5 mg/m3 for flour dust with a sensitization notation. As part of this study, a relationship between flour dust concentrations and respiratory symptoms were examined. All 24 male flour subjects and 10 male controls were studied using air samples, ventilatory function testing, and questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. On average, breathing zone respirable and total flour dust in the flour mill were 4.97 mg/m3 and 12.11 mg/m3, respectively. The prevalence of cough, phlegm, difficulty to breathe, and respiratory symptoms were higher in subject group, also during an 8-h shift ventilatory function tests, it was demonstrated that respiratory capacities (FVC, FEV1, PEF) in the flour workers decreased, however, there was no significant statistical difference between case and control groups. Our results suggest that all of different job activities in flour mill may have a great impact on the development of work- related symptoms. Therefore, to minimize the risk of sensitization of occupational exposure during the work process, along with a decrease in mean 8-h TLV average exposure should be achieved

Lighting measurement in Shemiranat health center based on EN 12464-1 European standard

Introduction: Illumination standards especially Illumination Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and Iran lighting standards (ILS) are just based quantitative measurements. However, lighting has psychological effects and can influence quality and quantity of productivity and comfort of workers. Therefore, Illumination standards were undergone some changes. EN 12464-1 standards focus on the quality and quantity of lighting as well as the energy consumption. The aim of this study was to evaluate quality and quantity of lighting in Shemiranat health center. .Material and Method: In this study, first work tables were divided into 20×20 squares and illuminance was measured by putting HANGER S3 luxmeter sensor on the center of each square. In next stage, the luminance of each lighting source was measured from the view of observe and the average luminance of work table surface was calculated in the divide square. Furthermore, vertical, horizontal and lateral distance between observes eye and lighting source was measured. The gathered information was put in the equation and glare rate was calculated. Finally, according to the table we obtained color rendering index of lighting sources. .Result: Results of this study showed that maintained illuminance dose not mach the standards (500 lux) in any of the work station. Moreover, the glare match the standards just in less than 10 percent of the work area. Therefore, it is essential to reform the artificial lighting system and keep the maintained luminance and glare at the standard level. .Conclusion: There is a dramatic difference between the current lighting condition and the standard values. Therefore, making changes in lighting system is obviously essential

Evaluation of Workers’ Exposure to Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate (MDI) in an Automobile Manufacturing Company, Iran

Evaluation of personal inhalation exposure to methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) among 39 employees, working in the window fixation and window glue processes in an automobile manufacturing company was performed. This study was conducted for both case and control groups. After sampling and sample preparation processes, MDI was determined with a UV-VIS spectrophotometer at 590 nm; the lung function was assessed with a digital spirometer, too. The average concentration of MDI in the window fixation, and window glue workplaces were 34.53 and 27.37 μg/m3, respectively, which was lower than the threshold limit value (TLV) recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) (51 μg/m3). Respiratory symptoms in the exposed group were significantly different compared to the unexposed group (p < .05). Lung capacities in the case group were lower than in the control group (p < .05). Therefore, MDI can be easily measured making it possible to evaluate the adverse effects caused by occupational exposure

Do bright-light shock exposures during breaks reduce subjective sleepiness in night workers?

Night work has many harmful effects on the health, efficiency and safety of workers. This study evaluates the effects of bright-light exposure (BL) on subjective sleepiness during night work. Ninety night workers who have more than a year's experience at a metallurgy production plant volunteered to participate in this clinical pilot study. Workers were divided into two groups and every group was exposed to either bright light (2500-3000 lux) or normal light (300 lux) during break times at night for two consecutive nights. Fifteen-minute breaks were initiated at 22.00 h (before starting work) 24.00 h, 02.00 h and 04.00 h. The range of subjective sleepiness was assessed by the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) at 23.00 h, 01.00 h, 03.00 h and 05.00 h. We used SPSS 11.5 for data analysis. The result demonstrated that there were significant differences in the rate of sleepiness between the two groups by paired t-test analysis (P < 0.001). These findings suggest that photic stimulation in industrial settings could increase adaptation to night work

Twenty four Hours Circadian Cortisol Profile in Shift Work Nurses

ABSTRACT: Introduction & Objective: It is well established that adrenal hormone cortisol has long been used in human psychobiological studies as a biological marker of circadian rhythm, stress, and anxiety. There is little information, however, about the interrelationships of night work, plasma cortisol levels in females’ nurses of the developing countries. The aim of the present study was to compare circadian cortisol profile between two groups of nurses with shift and permanent work in a Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, between January 2006 to September 2008. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, we examined the reproducibility of plasma cortisol levels during one month period in 34 shift work nurses and 10 permanent day shift works. We evaluated potential associations between night work and hormone levels, using current and shift work information for the health care shift workers. Results: The results clearly revealed that shift work significantly increased nighttime cortisol levels (34.93 μg/dl) during night shift and decreased the peak levels of cortisol in the morning (39.03 μg/dl). During the work shift the plasma cortisol presented a decreased concentration in the morning and increasing levels (44.93 μg/dl) by the end of the evening. In contrast , the permanent day work nurses, who had never worked at night shifts, showed a lowest secretion of cortisol during the first half of night time sleep (10.02 μg/dl ), and a peak value of the cortisol after awakening at 07:00 h ( 59.75 μg/ml). We also observed a significant association between night work and increased levels of cortisol over the remaining of the day. Conclusion: It can be concluded that nurses with night shift work have an abnormal cortisol secretion profile. Shift work nurses on rotating night shifts seem to experience changes in hormones levels that may be associated with increased of circadian disorders risk observed among night – shift workers