GB virus C viremia and anti-E2 antibody response among hemodialysis patients in Gorgan, Iran

Background: GB Virus C is a blood-borne virus and a member of Flaviviridae, like hepatitis C that is distributed globally and puts hemodialysis patients at high risk of developing liver disease. The clinical significance of GBV-C in this population remains unclear

Complications leading to hospitalization due to consumption of anti-TB drugs in patients with tuberculosis in Gorgan, Iran (2007-12)

Background and Objective: Anti tuberculosis drugs therapy is the most effective method for controling the tuberculosis (TB). Early detection and appropriate treatment can prevent the TB-drug resistance. This study was carried out to determine the complications leading to hospitalization due to consumption of anti-TB drugs in patients with tuberculosis. Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, 1550 records of patients with TB in urban and rural health centers of Gorgan, north of Iran were assessed during 2007-12. Checklist consists of demographic and clinical data for each patient was recorded in a questionare. Results: 44 cases experienced the complications of anti-TB drugs. 27 (61.4%) of cases with complications were women. 77.3% and 22.7% of patients affected with pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis,respectively. 38.6% of patients were diabetic. The hepatic complication was seen in 37 cases (84.1%). Skin and other complications were seen in 5 and 2 cases, respectively. There was not any relationship between drug complications and other disases. Conclusion: Hepatic damage is the most common complication leading to hospitalization in tuberculosis patients using anti-TB drugs. Keywords: Tuberculosis, Anti-TB drug, Live

Imipenem resistance in clinical Escherichia coli from Qom, Iran

OBJECTIVE: The emergence of metallo-\u3b2-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae is a worldwide health concern. In this study, the first evaluation of MBL genes, bla IMP and bla VIM , in Escherichia coli resistant to imipenem isolated from urine and blood specimens in Qom, Iran is described. Three hundred urine and blood specimens were analysed to detect the presence of E. coli. Resistance to imipenem and other antimicrobials was determined by disk diffusion and MIC. MBL production was screened using CDDT. PCR was also carried out to determine the presence of bla IMP and bla VIM genes in imipenem-resistant isolates. RESULTS: In total, 160 E. coli isolates were collected from March to May 2016. According to disk diffusion, high-level of resistance (20%) to cefotaxime was observed, whereas the lowest (1%) was detected for tetracycline. In addition, five isolates showed resistance to imipenem with a MIC\u2009 65\u20094 \ub5g/mL. CDDT test confirmed that five isolates were MBL-producing strains, but no bla IMP and bla VIM genes were detected. Results of this study show a very low level of resistance to imipenem in our geographical area

Optical properties of Born-Infeld-dilaton-Lifshitz holographic superconductors

In this paper, we first study the Lifshitz-dilaton holographic superconductors with nonlinear Born-Infeld (BI) gauge field and obtain the critical temperature of the system for different values of Lifshitz dynamical exponent, $z$, and nonlinear parameter $b$. We find that for fixed value of $b$, the critical temperature decreases with increasing $z$. This indicates that the increase of anisotropy between space and time prevents the phase transition. Also, for fixed value of $z$, the critical temperature decrease with increasing $b$. Then, we investigate the optical properties of ($2+1$) and ($3+1$)-dimensional BI-Lifshitz holographic superconductors in the the presence of dilaton field. We explore the refractive index of the system. For $z=1$ and $(2+1)$-dimensional holographic superconductor, we observe negative real part for permittivity $\textrm{Re}[\epsilon]$ as frequency $\omega$ decreases. Thus, in low frequency region our superconductor exhibit metamaterial property. This behaviour is independent of the nonlinear parameter and can be seen for either linear ($b=0$) and nonlinear ($b\neq 0$) electrodynamics. Interestingly, for ($3+1$)-dimensional Lifshitz-dilaton holographic superconductors, we observe metamaterial behavior neither in the presence of linear nor nonlinear electrodynamics.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures (including subfigures), some references added in V

Comparative performance analysis of Vacuum Insulation Panels in thermal window shutters

Windows are a major area of heat loss in buildings and can lose up to 10 times more energy than other building elements. In a typical house, around 10% of heat is lost through the windows. Thermal shutters could considerably reduce heat losses through windows and improve the energy performance of buildings. Insulation plays a major role in overall performance of thermal shutters. Advance insulation material such as Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) can help in improving the performance of thermal window shutters. VIP with a thermal conductivity of 0.005-0.008 W/mK is a high thermal resistance and energy efficient alternative to conventional thermal insulation materials. In this paper, effect of VIP and conventional insulation has been investigated and compared for enhancing the thermal performance of window shutters using computer simulations. Results indicate significant reduction in heat loss through windows when VIP insulation was employed in internal thermal window shutters. Thermal bridging was found to be the significant factor that deteriorated the performance of the shutter. Reducing heat loss through the frame and surrounding walls could improve the VIP insulated shutter thermal performance by approximately nine times

Feasibility of Application of Modern Methods of Construction in Iran

Various plans and policies have been adopted by the Iranian Government to address the housing shortages in Iran. Some of these policies have been successful and some have failed dramatically deteriorating the housing conditions. Technology transfer from other countries, such as the UK, may facilitate industrialisation which has been recognised as an effective way to address housing deficiencies in Iran. The Iranian and UK construction industries, however, differ in various respects which may increase the risk of failure if transferred technologies are not adapted to Iranian needs and conditions. This paper compares the current conditions of the Iranian and UK construction industries to identify the risks and opportunities if Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) were to be transferred from the UK to Iran. Several issues such as demand and supply, regulations and standards, practicality, costs, design, sustainability, and governmental policies have been studied in detail. The results reveal that MMC could potentially improve the housing conditions in Iran by addressing major issues such as skilled labour shortages, energy and materials wastes, building quality and speed of construction. The major risks are also identified as volatile economy and housing market, transportation and industry capacity. The chance of successful adoption is considerably higher for those MMC that are suitable for small projects, do not require highly skilled labour and heavy machinery, and are compatible with prevailing methods of construction in Iran

Development and implementation of a GIS-based tool for spatial modeling of seismic vulnerability of Tehran

Achieving sustainable development in countries prone to earthquakes is possible with taking effective measures to reduce vulnerability to earthquakes. In this context, damage assessment of hypothetical earthquakes and planning for disaster management are important issues. Having a computer tool capable of estimating structural and human losses from earthquakes in a specific region may facilitate the decision-making process before and during disasters. Interoperability of this tool with wide-spread spatial analysis frameworks will expedite the data transferring process. In this study, the earthquake damage assessment (EDA) software tool is developed as an embedded extension within a GIS (geographic information system) environment for the city of Tehran, Iran. This GIS-based extension provides users with a familiar environment to estimate and observe the probable damages and fatalities of a deterministic earthquake scenario. The productivity of this tool is later demonstrated for southern Karoon parish, Region 10, Tehran. Three case studies for three active faults in the area and a comparison of the results with other research substantiated the reliability of this tool for additional earthquake scenarios

Thermal Performance of Vacuum Insulated Window Shutter Systems

Windows are a major area of heat loss in buildings losing up to 10 times more energy compared to other building elements. Thermal shutters are used to improve the energy performance of windows in both hot and cold climatic conditions. The performance of thermal shutters however greatly depends on the thermal insulation and construction detailing, specifically cold-bridging, through the shutter, as well as between the shutter and window frames. This study evaluates the effects of cold-bridging, trickle ventilation and the size of the air cavity, between the vacuum insulated shutter and the window, on the performance of window thermal shutters. Thermal simulations are conducted in VOLTRA (Thermal analysis software) to assess the conditions. The results indicate that although thermal shutters reduce heat-loss through windows, their performance could be significantly affected by cold-bridging by up to 90%. The additional thermal resistance due to the air cavity and the ventilation through the trickle vent appeared to be much less significant compared to the effects of thermal bridging

A report about a case of Gestational trophoblastic tumor associated with ectopic pregnancy

مقدمه: تومور تروفوبلاستیک حاملگیGTT)) متعاقب حاملگی خارج رحمی یک رویداد بسیار نادر است. در این مقاله یک مورد مول مهاجم که از یک حاملگی خارج رحمی لوله‌ای نشأت گرفته بود معرفی می‌شود. گزارش مورد: بیمار خانم 26 ساله با حاملگی دوم و اولین حاملگی خارج رحمی (G2L1EP1) بود که به خاطر افزایش میزان هورمون گنادوتروپین جفتی((BHCG بعد از عمل حاملگی خارج رحمی (EP) به بیمارستان شهید بهشتی اصفهان ارجاع شد. درمان اولیه EP بیمار با عمل سالپنژکتومی بوده است. پیگیری پاتولوژی سالپنژکتومی مول مهاجم تشخیص داده شد که بیمار تحت دو دوره درمان با متوترکسات قرار گرفت و با توجه به گزارش توده در آدنکس راست در سونوگرافی یک نوبت لاپاراتومی ‌شد که باز هم تشخیص مول مهاجم بود. بنابراین بیمار تحت رژیم درمانی (etoposide methotrexate actinomycin D cyclophosphamide vincristine) EMA/CO قرار گرفت و نهایتاً با BHCG معادل 1 مرخص شد. نتیجه گیری: پیگیری عدد BHCG بعد از عمل جراحی EP هم برای تشخیص EP پا برجا و هم برای رد GTT بسیار مهم است هم چنین پیگیری جواب پاتولوژی اعمال جراحی در صورتی که از تشخیص نیز مطمئن هستیم ضرورت دارد

Transition in housing design and thermal comfort in rural Tanzania

This study evaluates the performance of three low-income passive housing designs at providing thermal comfort for their inhabitants in temperate tropical rural Tanzania. Severe climatic conditions in these upland regions include large daily oscillations in air temperature (14°C-36°C) and high levels of solar radiation, causing overheating which affects inhabitant health and wellbeing. Inadequate shelter in these difficult climatic conditions is a widespread problem with 71% of Tanzanians living in rural areas, of which 28% of are below the national poverty line. Over the last 10 years an increasing number of houses are using modern building materials (brick or concrete walls and iron roof) rather than traditional vernacular design (mud-pole walls and thatch roof). Three designs were chosen to describe this transition. The performances of the three houses were simulated across a study year using IES and then compared against five chosen criteria to assess thermal comfort. Detailed analyses of critical times of day and specific areas of the building envelope were used to identify critical areas of design. The traditional house overheated significantly less often with smaller diurnal indoor temperature swings than the modern houses (due to its higher roof insulation and wall thermal mass). It also experienced uncomfortably low temperatures least often but maintained higher temperatures for longer during hot evenings. The modern houses outperformed the traditional house in ventilation gains with constant heat rejection throughout the day and night. The traditional house’s open structure resulted in high daytime ventilation gains and night-time heat rejection. Consideration of the position and internal gains of each room was found to be an important design factor. Across the study year the traditional design provided greater thermal comfort. However, as durability and social pressures are important factors in the choice of building materials, the design of modern materials that can mimic and improve on traditional material performance is critical to improving the health of inhabitants