Survey of Effectiveness Factors on Staff Satisfaction with FQFD and FAHP in Shazand Imam Khomeini Refinery

ABSTRACT This paper proposes an approach for staff wants development based on quality function deployment (QFD). This method considers quality by customer-oriented view and internalizes it in different stages of product/service, and finally concludes to recognition and preparation of priorities of system improvement and customer satisfaction. In this research, fuzzy QFD is used for staff of Imam Khomeiny Refinery as customers, services and rewards as technical specifications, and staff expectations as customers' wants. The staff was divided into four groups and relative weightings of each group were determined by the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) technique. A case in Shazand Imam Khomeini Refinery is given to illustrate the utilization of the proposed approach at this paper

Assessment of left atrial systolic dyssynchrony in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and heart failure using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: MESA study

Background: Left atrial (LA) remodeling in response to cardiovascular and hemodynamic stress may precede atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). We hypothesized that LA systolic synchronous contraction as a functional measure of LA remodeling is deranged in patients with paroxysmal AF and HF. Methods: We performed a nested case-control analysis with 1:2 matching for 39 cases of paroxysmal AF (n=28, in sinus rhythm during cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)) and HF (n=14, AF+HF; n=3) and 78 controls with similar demographic and clinical characteristics at the baseline (Table 1). LA circumferential (short axis) and longitudinal strain rate (horizontal long axis) were measured using Multi-modality Tissue Tracking (Toshiba, Japan) from short and long-axis cine CMR images. Circumferential LA systolic dyssynchrony among 18 LA segments (6 segments x 3 slices) was evaluated as; Standard Deviation (SD) of time to pre atrial contraction Strain rate (PreA Src) and Peak systolic strain rate (Peak Srac) (Figure 1). Similarly, longitudinal LA dyssynchrony parameters (among 6 segments) were: SD-Time to pre-atrial contraction strain rate (PreA SrL) and SD-Time to peak systolic strain rate (Peak-SraL). Wilcoxon-rank sum test (non-parametric) or two sample t-test (parametric) were used for comparison between the groups. Results: In participants during MESA exam 5 (age 74±8 years, 51.4% men), systolic circumferential dyssynchrony (SD-TP-PreA Src, msec) was significantly higher in the cases compared to controls (45.06 vs. 28.73, p<0.010). Similarly, case group had greater longitudinal dyssynchrony than controls; SD-TP PreA SrL (51.62 vs. 36.43, p=0.001) and SD-TP-Peak SraL (45.23 vs. 35.92, p=0.027) (Table 1). Conclusions: Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and heart failure have significantly higher LA circumferential and longitudinal systolic dyssynchrony compared to normal controls

Estimating the incidence of lung cancer attributable to occupational exposure in Iran

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>The aim of this study was to estimate the fraction of lung cancer incidence in Iran attributed to occupational exposures to the well-established lung cancer carcinogens, including silica, cadmium, nickel, arsenic, chromium, diesel fumes, beryllium, and asbestos.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nationwide exposure to each of the mentioned carcinogens was estimated using workforce data from the Iranian population census of 1995, available from the International Labor Organization (ILO) website. The prevalence of exposure to carcinogens in each industry was estimated using exposure data from the CAREX (CARcinogen EXposure) database, an international occupational carcinogen information system kept and maintained by the European Union. The magnitude of the relative risk of lung cancer for each carcinogen was estimated from local and international literature. Using the Levin modified population attributable risk (incidence) fraction, lung cancer incidence (as estimated by the Tehran Population-Based Cancer Registry) attributable to workplace exposure to carcinogens was estimated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The total workforce in Iran according to the 1995 census identified 12,488,020 men and 677,469 women. Agriculture is the largest sector with 25% of the male and 0.27% of female workforce. After applying the CAREX exposure estimate to each sector, the proportion exposed to lung carcinogens was 0.08% for male workers and 0.02% for female workers. Estimating a relative risk of 1.9 (95% CI of 1.7–2.1) for high exposure and 1.3 (95% CI 1.2–1.4) for low exposure, and employing the Levin modified formula, the fraction of lung cancer attributed to carcinogens in the workplace was 1.5% (95% CI of 1.2–1.9) for females and 12% (95% CI of 10–15) for males. These fractions correspond to an estimated incidence of 1.3 and 0.08 cases of lung cancer per 100,000 population for males and females, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The incidence of lung cancer due to occupational exposure is low in Iran and, as in other countries, more lung cancer is due to occupational exposure among males than females.</p

Association of Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide With Cardiac Magnetic Resonance-Measured Global and Regional Cardiac Function and Structure Over 10 Years: The MESA Study.

Background NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) is widely used to diagnose and manage patients with heart failure. We aimed to investigate associations between NT-proBNP levels and development of global and regional myocardial impairment, dyssynchrony, and risk of developing myocardial scar over time. Methods and Results We included 2416 adults (45-84 years) without baseline clinical cardiovascular disease from MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). NT-proBNP was assessed at baseline (2000-2002). Cardiac magnetic resonance-measured left ventricular parameters were assessed at baseline and year 10 (2010-2012). Tagged cardiac magnetic resonance and myocardial dyssynchrony were assessed. We used linear and logistic regression models to study the relationships between quartiles of NT-proBNP levels and outcome variables. Left ventricular parameters decreased over time. After 10-year follow-up and adjusting for cardiovascular disease risk factors, people in the highest quartile had significantly greater decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (-1.60%; 95% CI, -2.26 to -0.94; P<0.01) and smaller decline in left ventricular end systolic volume index (-0.47 mL/m2; 95% CI, -1.18 to 0.23; P<0.01) compared with those in the lowest quartile. Individuals in the highest quartile had more severe risk factor adjusted global, mid, and apical regional dyssynchrony compared with those in the lowest, second, and third quartiles (all P-trend<0.05). Compared with the lowest-quartile group, the adjusted odds ratios for having myocardial scar was 1.3 (95% CI, 0.7-2.2) for quartile 2; 1.2 (95% CI, 0.6-2.3) for quartile 3; and 2.7 (95% CI, 1.4-5.5) for quartile 4 (P-trend=0.012) for the total sample. Conclusions Among participants without baseline clinical cardiovascular disease, higher baseline NT-proBNP concentration was significantly associated with subclinical changes in developing myocardial dysfunction, more severe cardiac dyssynchrony, and higher odds of having myocardial scar over a 10-year period independent of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors

Trehalose: A promising new treatment for traumatic brain injury? A systematic review of animal evidence

Background: TBI is a major global health issue due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. Persistent neurodegeneration following secondary brain injuries is a significant concern. Trehalose, a naturally occurring disaccharide, has shown potential therapeutic effects in preclinical TBI models. This study systematically reviews the preclinical and clinical data on trehalose as a potential TBI treatment. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of trehalose’s role in TBI treatment following PRISMA guidelines. Our search spanned from the inception of PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science until August 2023. Google Scholar was also manually searched. The quality of the studies was assessed using SYRCLE’s risk of bias tool for animal studies. Results: Out of sixty-six records reviewed, four animal studies were included. These studies indicated that trehalose enhanced motor and cognitive functions, reduced oxidative damage and inflammation, regulated metal dyshomeostasis, increased neurotrophic factors and synaptic proteins, and improved autophagy and mitochondrial function in mouse/rat TBI models. However, a significant risk of bias was noted. Conclusion: Trehalose demonstrates potential as a TBI treatment. However, more rigorous, and comprehensive research is needed to confirm its safety and efficacy in humans