Arsenic Exposure, Dermatological Lesions, Hypertension, and Chromosomal Abnormalities among People in a Rural Community of Northwest Iran

Chronic exposure to arsenic compounds is one of the major public-health problems in many developing and some developed countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to arsenic on dermatological lesions, hypertension, and chromosomal abnormalities among people in a community in the northwest of Iran. The occurrence of dermatological lesions, hypertension, and chromosomal abnormalities was investigated in two groups: Ghopuz village, including 101 subjects with chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking-water and Mayan village, including 107 subjects with no exposure. Daily/yearly absorbed amounts of arsenic were calculated for all subjects. Cumulative arsenic index for each individual was then estimated on the basis of age, water consumption, and location of residence. Arsenic concentration in drinking-water sources in Ghopuz and Mayan villages was 1031±1103 μg/L and non-detectable respectively. The mean systolic blood pressure in the exposure group [n=137, 95% confidence interval (CI 132–142)] was significantly higher than that in the control group (n=107, 95% CI 99.9–114). A similar significant difference was observed for diastolic blood pressure (exposed: n=82, 95% CI 79–85 vs non-exposed: n=71, 95% CI 66–75). The incidence of hyperkeratosis was 34 times higher among the exposure group compared to the control subjects [odds ratio (OR)=34, p<0.001)]. A significant difference was also observed in the occurrence of skin-pigmentation between the two groups (OR=2.4, p<0.007). Location and severity of the pigmentations were statistically different between the two groups. Twenty-five percent of the subjects in the exposure group showed chromosomal abnormalities (p=0.05). Arsenic exposure was a serious health problem in the region. More studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects and dose-response relationship of arsenic in the region and similar areas. Wide-ranging monitoring programmes for drinking-water sources should be implemented by public-health authorities

Arsenic Exposure, Dermatological Lesions, Hypertension, and Chromosomal Abnormalities among People in a Rural Community of Northwest Iran

Chronic exposure to arsenic compounds is one of the major public-health problems in many developing and some developed countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to arsenic on dermatological lesions, hypertension, and chromosomal abnormalities among people in a community in the northwest of Iran. The occurrence of dermatological lesions, hypertension, and chromosomal abnormalities was investigated in two groups: Ghopuz village, including 101 subjects with chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking-water and Mayan village, including 107 subjects with no exposure. Daily/ yearly absorbed amounts of arsenic were calculated for all subjects. Cumulative arsenic index for each individual was then estimated on the basis of age, water consumption, and location of residence. Arsenic concentration in drinking-water sources in Ghopuz and Mayan villages was 1031\ub11103 \u3bcg/L and nondetectable respectively. The mean systolic blood pressure in the exposure group [n=137, 95% confidence interval (CI 132-142)] was significantly higher than that in the control group (n=107, 95% CI 99.9-114). A similar significant difference was observed for diastolic blood pressure (exposed: n=82, 95% CI 79-85 vs non-exposed: n=71, 95% CI 66-75). The incidence of hyperkeratosis was 34 times higher among the exposure group compared to the control subjects [odds ratio (OR)=34, p&lt;0.001)]. A significant difference was also observed in the occurrence of skin-pigmentation between the two groups (OR=2.4, p&lt;0.007). Location and severity of the pigmentations were statistically different between the two groups. Twenty-five percent of the subjects in the exposure group showed chromosomal abnormalities (p=0.05). Arsenic exposure was a serious health problem in the region. More studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects and doseresponse relationship of arsenic in the region and similar areas. Wide-ranging monitoring programmes for drinking-water sources should be implemented by public-health authorities

Iranian clinical practice guideline for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegeneration involving motor neurons. The 3–5 years that patients have to live is marked by day-to-day loss of motor and sometimes cognitive abilities. Enormous amounts of healthcare services and resources are necessary to support patients and their caregivers during this relatively short but burdensome journey. Organization and management of these resources need to best meet patients' expectations and health system efficiency mandates. This can only occur in the setting of multidisciplinary ALS clinics which are known as the gold standard of ALS care worldwide. To introduce this standard to the care of Iranian ALS patients, which is an inevitable quality milestone, a national ALS clinical practice guideline is the necessary first step. The National ALS guideline will serve as the knowledge base for the development of local clinical pathways to guide patient journeys in multidisciplinary ALS clinics. To this end, we gathered a team of national neuromuscular experts as well as experts in related specialties necessary for delivering multidisciplinary care to ALS patients to develop the Iranian ALS clinical practice guideline. Clinical questions were prepared in the Patient, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) format to serve as a guide for the literature search. Considering the lack of adequate national/local studies at this time, a consensus-based approach was taken to evaluate the quality of the retrieved evidence and summarize recommendations

Entropy generation and exergy destruction in two types of wavy microchannels working with various aqueous nanofluids using a multi-phase mixture model

In this research, for the first time, the impact of wavy orientations on the entropy generation and exergy destruction of the wavy microchannel working with various types of aqueous nanofluid is addressed. To this end, two Left–Right and Up–Down wavy microchannels were developed, and the laminar flows of silver, aluminum oxide, and hybrid silver-aluminum oxide nanofluids, each with concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 3%, were numerically simulated using the multi-phase mixture model. The simulation was carried out at constant pumping powers of 0.05 W, 0.15 W, 0.25 W, and 0.35 W, and the inlet temperature of 300 K. The results demonstrated that the total exergy destruction for the Left–Right wavy microchannel is on average 20% lower than the Up-Down one. In both of the microchannels, using nanofluid decreases the destructed exergy, with the largest irreversibility reduction related to the silver nanofluid case. Also, utilizing nanofluids increases the effectiveness number, while raising the pumping power declines it. Moreover, the values of the effectiveness number are higher for the Up-Down wavy microchannel compared to those of the Left–Right one. Finally, for 3% silver nanofluid at pumping power of 0.05 W in the Left–Right wavy microchannel, the highest value of second law efficiency is obtained, while it is lowest for the water at pumping power of 0.35W in the Up–Down wavy microchannel

Between-row spacing and local accession on the yield and quality of garlic

Garlic is primarily grown for its cloves used mostly as a food flavoring condiment. Previous studies carried out on plant density indicate its direct influence on yield. Plant density depends on the genotype, environmental factors, cultural practices, etc. This study was established to determine the effects of different between-row spacing on growth, yield, and quality of four local accession of garlic. It was laid out on two-factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications during two years. Four local accession of garlic (Langroud, Tarom, Tabriz and Hamedan) were culture in three between-rows spacing (15, 25 and 35 cm) during two years. The results of two cultivated years were different. Plant density changed when garlic cultured with different between row spacing. In present research plant yield increased when the lower between row spacing and high plant density were used but the yield improvement occurring at increased plant stand is offset by the reduction in bulb size and some quality indices such as total phenol and antioxidant which severely affects quality and market value, when garlic is produced for fresh market.O alho é cultivado principalmente por seus dentes e é usado principalmente como um condimento. Estudos anteriores realizados sobre densidade de plantas indicam a sua influência direta sobre o rendimento. A densidade de plantas depende do genótipo, fatores ambientais, práticas culturais, etc. Este estudo foi estabelecido para determinar os efeitos de diferentes espaçamentos entre linhas no crescimento, rendimento e qualidade de quatro acessos locais de alho. O delineamento foi blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial, com três repetições, durante dois anos. Quatro acessos locais de alho (Langroud, Tarom, Tabriz e Hamedan) foram cultivados em três espaçamentos entre linhas (15, 25 e 35 cm) durante dois anos. Os resultados de dois anos cultivados foram diferentes. A densidade de plantas foi alterada quando o alho foi cultivado em diferentes espaçamentos entre linhas. Na presente pesquisa a produtividade por planta aumentou quando o espaçamento entre linhas foi inferior e alta densidade de plantas foram utilizadas, mas a melhoria de rendimento ocorre melhor estande de plantas e redução no tamanho do bulbo e de alguns índices de qualidade, tais como fenóis totais e antioxidantes que afetam severamente a qualidade e valor de mercado, quando o alho é produzido para o mercado in natura

Optimisation of nitrogen and potassium for Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. in a soilless culture system

Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. is highly appreciated due to its short growth period and high economic value among all Aloe species, and is used in pharmaceuticals, folk medicine, healthcare, cosmetic products and food products. Hydroponic systems have the potential to improve the cropping management and to achieve higher produce quality standards in leafy vegetables. However, the identification of optimal soilless practices such as nutrient solution preparation is critical in order to increase yield and quality. This study was conducted to evaluate the growth of A. vera in four nutrient solutions containing different NH4+:NO3− ratios and potassium concentrations. Interaction between nutrient solutions and sampling times affected all measured characteristics. The highest nitrogen concentration showed the best results at all sampling times. Thus for A. vera plants, NO3− supply combined with low quantities of NH4+ favours growth.Keywords: Aloe vera, ammonium, growth, medicinal plant, nitroge

Influence of enriched soaking water on shiitake (Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Singer) mushroom yield and properties

Shiitake is an edible mushroom native to East Asia. In the present research, the soaking water was targeted as the vehicle to enrich the substrate. The amount of nutrients in the substrate is severely reduced by mycelium growth and development during spawn running and browning period. Some part of this reduction can be compensated by soaking the substrate in the enriched soaking water. In this study, soaking water was enriched by some complement materials and enrichment effects on some important properties of shiitake mushroom were evaluated. The highest biological efficiency (69.88 %) was gained with soaking the blocks in wheat bran extraction suspension. The highest dry matter of mushroom was obtained by rice bran extraction suspension as the enriched soaking water. The results of this research showed that some important properties of shiitake mushroom can be improved by soaking the blocks with enriched soaking water. According to the results, wheat bran extraction suspension was the best enriched solution to increase productivity of shiitake mushrooms and rice bran extraction suspension was suitable to improve quality of mushrooms.</p

Solar-assisted clean steam generator, a cleaner production approach for sustainable healthcare facilities

Healthcare sector buildings, particularly hospitals, significantly contribute to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Hospitals require a substantial amount of steam, including the essential hygienic or “clean steam,” that is currently supplied mostly by heaters and fossil fuel-based boilers. This study proposes a solar-driven clean steam generator, employing LS-2 parabolic trough collectors with Therminol VP-1 as the working fluid, to supply clean steam in hospitals. The system was designed and techno-economically assessed for two case study hospitals in Denmark and Sweden using MATLAB. The proposed system's proficiency was compared against existing solutions, revealing that it can contribute up to 19% and 22% of the energy requirements for the Danish and Swedish hospitals, respectively, in certain months. While the design may not enhance energy and exergy efficiencies due to inherent losses, it significantly reduces environmental impact, preventing 67.8 tons and 75.5 tons of equivalent CO2 emissions per year for the Danish and Swedish hospitals, respectively. This innovation aims to contribute to the healthcare sector's sustainability.</p