Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus and HIV markers among blood donors from Shahre-Kord, Iran (2004-2006)

Objective: To determine the prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infection in voluntary blood donors from Shahre Kord, a central province of Iran, during 2004-2006 Design: Retrospective, descriptive and analytical study based on data from Serology Laboratory of the Blood Transfusion Center (BTC) at Shahre-Kord, Iran Setting: The BTC, Shahre-Kord, Iran Subjects: 35,124 apparently healthy voluntary blood donors Intervention: Detection of HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HCV and anti-HIV markers in blood samples using immunoenzymatic tests and Western blotting, as determined by the BTC Main Outcome Measures: Analysis of data obtained from the Serology Laboratory of the BTC, Shahre-Kord, Iran to determine prevalence Results: Overall prevalence estimates were: 0.1 for HBsAg, 0.07 for anti-HBc, 0.2 for anti-HCV and 0.002 for anti-HIV antibody. There was a statistically significant increase in the overall prevalence of HBsAg and HBcAb (from 0.015 to 0.02) and the prevalence of HCVAb (from 0.06 to 0.48) during the study period (p < 0.05). Three male donors were co-infected by HCV and HBV. Conclusion: This study suggests the need to investigate risk factors and risk groups for these infections in Iran. In the light of these results, an effective control and training program should be implemented

On the response of a lean-premixed hydrogen combustor to acoustic and dissipative-dispersive entropy waves

Combustion of hydrogen or hydrogen containing blends in gas turbines and industrial combustors can activate thermoacoustic combustion instabilities. Convective instabilities are an important and yet less investigated class of combustion instability that are caused by the so called “entropy waves”. As a major shortcoming, the partial decay of these convective-diffusive waves in the post-flame region of combustors is still largely unexplored. This paper, therefore, presents an investigation of the annihilating effects, due to hydrodynamics, heat transfer and flow stretch upon the nozzle response. The classical compact analysis is first extended to include the decay of entropy waves and heat transfer from the nozzle. Amplitudes and phase shifts of the responding acoustical waves are then calculated for subcritical and supercritical nozzles subject to acoustic and entropic forcing. A relation for the stretch of entropy wave in the nozzle is subsequently developed. It is shown that heat transfer and hydrodynamic decay can impart considerable effects on the entropic response of the nozzle. It is further shown that the flow stretching effects are strongly frequency dependent. The results indicate that dissipation and dispersion of entropy waves can significantly influence their conversion to sound and therefore should be included in the entropy wave models

A new technique of scrotoplasty following total scrotal destruction by raised rotated perineal flaps with de epithelialized borders

In this article we present a two-year-old male patient who had history of Fournier gangrene of scrotum. Extensive perineal and scrotal debridement with suprapubic cystostomy tube insertion had been done for him in the emergency setting. One year later his parents brought him back for scrotal reconstruction. A novel technique by using rotational perineal flap was used. The cosmetic result of one-month and three-month follow up is presented in the article. © 2019, Urology and Nephrology Research Centre

Diabetes mellitus and bell's palsy in Iranian population

During last decades many researchers have focused on the conditions associated with Bell's palsy including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and viral infections. This study was performed to evaluate correlation of diabetes mellitus and Bell's palsy and some relevant features not discussed in the literature in an Iranian population. The presence of diabetes mellitus was evaluated in a total number of 275 subjects (75 patients with Bell's palsy and 200 control subjects). Diabetes mellitus was noted in 10 (13.3) patients with Bell's palsy among which 6 case were diagnosed as new cases of diabetes. Previous history of Bell's palsy was present in 10.67 of the subjects with Bell's palsy. This study confirms the correlation of diabetes mellitus and Bell's palsy for the first time in an Iranian population. We suggest screening tests for diabetes mellitus to be a routine part in the management of patients with Bell's palsy, especially in developing countries. © 2008 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Experimental investigation of entropy waves' evolution for understanding of indirect combustion noise in gas turbine combustors

Achieving clean and quiet combustion in gas turbines is essential for improving many low-carbon energy and propulsion technologies. This often requires suppression of combustion instabilities and combustion generated noise in gas turbine combustors. Entropy noise is the less explored mechanism of combustion generated sound. Central to the emission of entropic sound is the survival of entropy wave during convection by the mean flow and reaching the combustor exit nozzle. Yet, the annihilation of entropy waves in this process is still poorly understood. To address this issue, the evolution of convected entropy waves in a fully-developed, cold flow inside a circular duct is investigated experimentally. Entropy waves are produced by a well-controlled electrical heater. Fast-response, miniaturized thermocouples arranged over a moveable cross-section of the duct are employed to record the state of entropy waves at different axial locations along the duct. Hydrodynamic parameters including Reynolds number and turbulence intensity are varied to investigate their effects upon the wave decay. The results show that the decay process is strongly wavelength dependent. It is found that the wave components with wavelengths larger than the duct diameter are almost unaffected by the flow and therefore remain essentially one-dimensional. However, other spectral components of the wave are subject to varying degrees of dissipation and loss of spatial correlation. Overall, the results support the recent numerical findings about the likelihood of wave survival in adiabatic flows. They further clarify the validity range of the one-dimensional assumption commonly made in the literature

Retinal blood vessel segmentation for macula detachment surgery monitoring instruments

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144261/1/cta2462_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144261/2/cta2462.pd

Saharan sand and dust storms and neonatal mortality: Evidence from Burkina Faso

West African populations are exposed to the longest and harshest dust storms on the planet, the Saharan sand and dust storms (SDS). Nonetheless, little is known about the effects of the severe storms on early-life health in West Africa. This study investigated the association of the risk of neonatal mortality, an indicator of the population's early-life health, with potential prenatal and neonatal exposure to the Saharan SDS. Data on 30,552 under-five children from Burkina Faso's 1993, 2003, and 2010 demographic and health surveys were matched to the particulate matters (PM) and terrestrial air temperature and precipitation forecasts. Exposure to dust events was measured by the number of days with average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations above a series of threshold. Intensity-dependent patterns of associations between neonatal mortality and both prenatal and birth month exposure to dust events were identified. There was no association if average daily PM10 and PM2.5 levels were &lt;60 and 30 μg/m3, respectively. However, strong associations, which increase almost linearly with the intensity of exposure, were identified when daily PM10 and PM2.5 levels ranged from 70 to 150 and from 40 to 70 μg/m3, respectively. At the higher PM levels, the association for the gestation period decreased, but that for the birth month remained mostly unresponsive to changes in the PM levels. Larger associations were identified when siblings were compared. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Reliability and validity of the Persian version of Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) to measure functional limitations in patients with foot and ankle disorders

Objective: To translate the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) into Persian and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of FAAM. Methods: 93 patients with a range of foot and ankle disorders, completed the Persian version of the FAAM and Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) in the test session. With an interval of 2-6 days, 60 patients filled out the FAAM in the retest session. The FAAM is composed of two subscales including activities of daily living (ADL) and SPORTS. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (s.e.m.), item internal consistency and discriminant validity using Spearman's correlation coefficient and construct validity using Spearman's correlation coefficient and Independent t-test. Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.97 and 0.94 was obtained for ADL and SPORTS subscales, respectively. The ICC and s.e.m. were 0.98 and 3.13 for ADL and 0.98 and 3.53 for SPORTS subscale. Items were stronger measures of their hypothesized subscale than of other subscale. The ADL and SPORTS subscales had stronger correlation with SF-36 physical function (r=0.60, 0.53) and physical health summary measure (r=0.61, 0.48) than with SF-36 mental health (r=0.21, 0.10) and mental health summary measure (r=0.36, 0.27). A high correlation was found between FAAM scores and global scale of functional status for SPORTS (r=0.73) but not for ADL (r=0.42). FAAM scores were greater in individuals who rated their function as normal or nearly normal compared with those who rated as abnormal or severely abnormal for SPORTS (P=0.04) but not for ADL (P=0.15). Conclusion: The Persian version of FAAM is a reliable and valid measure to quantify physical functioning in patients with foot and ankle disorders. © 2010 Osteoarthritis Research Society International

Evaluation of interleukin-2 to detect active and latent tuberculosis among household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis cases

Background: The interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) are the most important diagnostic approach to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection diagnosis. However, they cannot discriminate between latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and active tuberculosis (TB). Some recent studies suggested that interleukin-2 (IL-2) response to M. tuberculosis could be utilized as a potential biomarker to discriminate active disease from LTBI. Objectives: The current study aimed at evaluating the potential role of IL-2 to detect both active TB and LTBI among household contacts of patients with pulmonary TB in two TB-endemic regions of Iran. Methods: A total of 650 household contacts of patients with TB were invited to participate in the current study. All subjects were diagnosed on extensive clinical evaluation of active TB and LTBI based on clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. The IGRA test was performed using QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus. The serum level of IL-2 was measured using the ELISA Development Kit. Results: A total of 237 household contacts entered the final analysis, including 132 patients with LTBI and three with active TB. In addition, 14 subjects were included as TB controls and 102 as TB-uninfected controls. The serum level of IL-2 was significantly higher in active TB and LTBI patients than TB-uninfected controls. The ROC curve was plotted between active TB and LTBI, revealing that the cutoff point of 25.5 pg/mL identifies the active form with 88.24 sensitivity and 36.36 specificity. Conclusions: The current study indicated that the IL-2 assay could not discriminate between active TB and LTBI with acceptable sensitivity. © 2021, Author(s)