Removal of Remazol Black B Dye by Electrocoagulation Process Coupled with Bentonite as an Aid Coagulant and Natural Adsorbent

Coloured discharge effluent into aquatic ecosystems may be carcinogenic and mutagenic besides aesthetic problems. In this work, the ability to remove (Remazol Black B) coloured water using electrocoagulation process is equipped with iron and aluminium electrodes with bentonite as a coagulant aid and natural adsorbent has been investigated. Remazol Black B was selected as a model dye and the treatment process was performed in a batch of electrocoagulation (EC) cell using iron and aluminium electrodes and bentonite. Experiments were conducted at 5 levels of various operational parameters at bench scale. The initial dye concentration was varied between 200-1200mg/L, pH ranging from 2-10; the retention time was between 0-60 minutes, the voltage studied was in the range of 5-30 V and the electrical conductivity was 0.25 to 2 Siemens/cm. Results showed that the use of electro-Aluminum and Iron, under optimum conditions of pH 2 and 4, the concentration of dye1000mg/L, the voltage of 30V and 30 min have the maximum dye removal of about 99% and 91%, respectively. Results showed that both electrode voltages increase the efficiency of the above process in paint removal with decreasing pH from 10 to 2 and increasing the voltage from 5 to 30 V. Results show that by electrocoagulation Process Coupled with Bentonite as an Aid Coagulant could be used as well as an effective method for dye removal from colored wastewater

A systematic review of clinical trials on Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) effectiveness on sexual function and its safety

Objective: During recent years, evidence-based practice as a way to support higher standards of care was emphasized by health care policymakers. Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common problem that affects the quality of life in individuals. Today, the use of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) for treating SD has been considered, so this study was performed to evaluate the current evidence for the efficacy and safety of ginkgo in treating SD. Materials and Methods: In this review study, electronic databases of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Google Scholar, Web of science and Persian databases such as SID and Magiran were searched up to March 2020, to identify all the studies reporting the effect of GBE for effectiveness on sexual function and its safety. The search was performed using the keywords of Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba, Complementary and alternative medicine, women sexual dysfunction, and male sexual dysfunction. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Oxford Center for Evidence Based Medicine checklist. Results: Among 156 articles found in the initial search, 5 randomized controlled trials (475 participants) were selected for this study. After a meticulous review, we found that G. biloba can have positive effects on the sexual function of postmenopausal women, while evidence shows that it has no effect on the sexual function of antidepressants users. Headaches and gastrointestinal disturbance were among the adverse events mentioned in several trials. Conclusion: We concluded that G. biloba has limited positive effects on sexual function and more studies are needed to confirm these findings

A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials on saffron (Crocus sativus) effectiveness and safety on erectile dysfunction and semen parameters

Objective: We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis study to determine saffron (Crocus sativus) effectiveness and safety in male infertility problems. Materials and Methods: The databases PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Google Scholar, SID, IranMedex and Magiran until July 2016 and reference section of relevant articles, were searched to find both English and Persian clinical trials on male infertility issues that used saffron as medical treatment. Also, the quality of these trials was evaluated by Oxford Center for Evidence Based Medicine checklist. A total of six trials was ultimately included. All statistical analyses were done by Comprehensive Meta-analysis (CMA) Version 2. Results: Only in one study conducted on sperm parameters, the mean percentage of sperm with normal morphology (

Emotional and Cognitive Experiences of Pregnant Women Following Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Anomalies: A Qualitative Study in Iran

Background: Pregnant women are often ill-prepared for the health of their unborn child in the case of abnormal findings, and experience several difficulties following the detection of fetal anomalies. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the emotional and cognitive experiences of pregnant women following prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies in Mashhad, Iran. Methods: This qualitative conventional content analysis study was designed through two referral centers for fetal anomaly. The data were collected from April 2017 to January 2018 in Mashhad (Iran) through individual semi-structured in-depth interviews, from 25 pregnant women with a prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies. Results: Four categories and 10 subcategories emerged. Category one, grief reactions during the time of diagnosis, contained two subcategories: shocked and panicked, and distressed and disbelieved.Category two, perinatal loss through a pregnancy termination, contained four subcategories: guilt and shame during pregnancy termination, loss of their expected child, suffering and emotional distress process, and unmet needs by health professionals. Category three, fears of recurrence in future pregnancies, had two subcategories: worried about inadequate prenatal care in the future pregnancies and worried about abnormal fetus in next pregnancies. Finally, Category four, a dilemma between hope and worries contained two subcategories: hope for normality and worried about future. Conclusion: It is important to monitor emotional reactions of women following prenatal anomaly diagnosis. So, training clinicians and health-care professionals for proper response to grief reaction in post therapeutic abortion is essential

A Systematic Overview of Reviews on the Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Erectile Dysfunction

Background & aim: This systematic overview of reviews on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was performed to summarize the clinical efficacy of this approach in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) and assess methodological quality of the included reviews. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed to find the systematic reviews and meta-analyses on CAM interventions (e.g., acupuncture, saffron, yohimbine, and ginseng) for ED treatment, published until October 2017. To this end, we searched the international databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane, as well as Iranian databases, such as SID, IranMedex, and Magiran. The assessment of the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews was accomplished using the AMSTAR scale. Results: The searching process led to the inclusion of five systematic reviews examining CAM therapies, including acupuncture, saffron, Yohimbine, and ginseng. The methodological quality of the retrieved reviews was at a favorable level. Positive results were found for the administration of yohimbine, saffron, and ginseng as treatment agents for ED. However, there was insufficient evidence regarding the effect of acupuncture on this health problem. Major methodological defects included the use of a grey literature search, likelihood of publication bias, and conflicts of interests. Conclusion: As the findings indicated, CAM appeared to be an effective treatment for ED. However, it is essential to conduct further studies on the safety and value of CAM for the management of this condition

The relationship between childbearing motivations with fertility preferences and actual child number in reproductive-age women in Mashhad, Iran

INTRODUCTION: Motivation is directly involved in women's childbearing decision. Considering the lack of information about reproductive-age women's childbearing motivations with preferences and actual child number in Iran, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between childbearing motivations with the fertility preferences and actual child number of reproductive-age women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants in this descriptive–correlational study were 844 reproductive-age women (aged 15–49 years) who were married for the first time and came from a wide range of areas in Mashhad. Multistage and convenience samplings were applied and the data were collected using Miller's childbearing motivation and fertility preferences and actual child number questionnaire. RESULTS: The results of the study reveal that positive- and negative-childbearing motivation were correlated with preferences (P < 0.001) but were not correlated with actual child number. Furthermore, the interactional variable derived by a combination of positive and negative motivations showed a significant relationship with the ideal and actual child number (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Childbearing motivations affect the fertility preferences in reproductive-age women but do not appear to have any influence on the actual child number. Furthermore, the interactional variables affect the ideal and actual child number

Relationship between length and width of the purple line and foetal head descent in active phase of labour

Purple line is one of the non-invasive methods to assess the progress of labour. This longitudinal observational study was performed on 350 women during the active phase of labour. We assessed the relationship between length and width of the purple line and foetal head descent. Women were examined in the lateral position and researcher recorded the presence or absence of the line before each vaginal examination. Where present length and width of the line was measured using a disposable tape measure. The purple line appeared in 75.3% of 350 women during the active phase of labour. There was a positive correlation between length of the purple line and station of the foetal head (r = +0.29, p = .001). There was also a medium positive correlation between width of the purple line and the station of the foetal head (r = +0.71, p < −.001). There is a positive correlation between purple line and station of the foetal head. Where the purple line is present, measurement of it may reduce the number of vaginal examinations, especially when the single aim is to measure station of the foetal head. Further research is needed to confirm the current finding in other races.IMPACT STATEMENT Current knowledge on the subject: In the literature, purple line is one of the non-invasive methods to assess the progress of cervical dilatation and foetal head descent in labour. Failure of the foetal head is the second most common indication for performing surgical deliveries. Progression of labour has been evaluated by vaginal examination for the assessment of cervical dilatation and foetal head station. Vaginal examinations can be unpleasant, intrusive, embarrassing and so painful for women. Researchers suggested to explore whether the line is also present in women across other ethnic and racial groups and they also suggested further researches to examine the width of purple line. The contribution made by the results of this study: The results of this study add to the growing body of research on progression of labour that the purple line appeared in most of Iranian women during the active phase of labour. There was a positive correlation between length and width of the purple line and station of the foetal head. The implications are of these findings for clinical practice and further research: The results of this study can be used reduce the number of vaginal examinations, especially when the single aim is to measure station of the foetal head. Further research is needed to confirm the current finding in other races

Removal of Remazol Black B Dye by Electrocoagulation Process Coupled with Bentonite as an Aid Coagulant and Natural Adsorbent

Coloured discharge effluent into aquatic ecosystems may be carcinogenic and mutagenic besides aesthetic problems. In this work, the ability to remove (Remazol Black B) coloured water using electrocoagulation process is equipped with iron and aluminium electrodes with bentonite as a coagulant aid and natural adsorbent has been investigated. Remazol Black B was selected as a model dye and the treatment process was performed in a batch of electrocoagulation (EC) cell using iron and aluminium electrodes and bentonite. Experiments were conducted at 5 levels of various operational parameters at bench scale. The initial dye concentration was varied between 200-1200mg/L, pH ranging from 2-10; the retention time was between 0-60 minutes, the voltage studied was in the range of 5-30 V and the electrical conductivity was 0.25 to 2 Siemens/cm. Results showed that the use of electro-Aluminum and Iron, under optimum conditions of pH 2 and 4, the concentration of dye1000mg/L, the voltage of 30V and 30 min have the maximum dye removal of about 99% and 91%, respectively. Results showed that both electrode voltages increase the efficiency of the above process in paint removal with decreasing pH from 10 to 2 and increasing the voltage from 5 to 30 V. Results show that by electrocoagulation Process Coupled with Bentonite as an Aid Coagulant could be used as well as an effective method for dye removal from colored wastewater

Comparing Diagnostic Accuracy of Purple line with Transvers Diagonal of Michaelis Sacral to Predict labor Progress

Background and Aim: One of the key aspects of maternal care is observing the progress of labor. Careful assessment of labor progress could provide mothers to be referred on time and could decrease the maternal and neonatal morbidity. This study aimed to compare diagnostic accuracy of purple line with transvers diagonal of Michaelis sacral rhomboid to predict labor progress in nulliparous and multiparous women. Methods: In this double-blind diagnostic accuracy study, 350 nulliparous and multiparous womenwith a single pregnancy in vertex presentation and gestational age of 38-42 week, who admitted in Om-ol-Banin Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, from April to August 2012, were selected using convenience sampling. At first, the transvers diagonal of the Michaelis sacral rhomboid area was measured in cervical dilatation of ≤ 3 centimeters. Then, labor progress and presence or absence of purple lines between the buttocks in the lateral position was hourly controlled in the active phase of labor. Data were analyzed by SPSS Version 16 using Mann-Whitney and Chi-square test. Results: The mean age of the women was 25/22 (±5) years. Out of the 350 women enrolled, 61/2% were primigravidas and 38/8% were multigravidas. The presence of purple line was accompanied with normal labor progress with 68.57% sensitivity, 42.66% specificity, and 80.57% validity. The transverse diagonal of the Michaelis sacral cut-off point was ≥98.5 millimeter with 86.5% sensitivity, 59.45% specificity and 79.65% validity, which was also accompanied with normal progress of labor. Conclusion: Considering the diagnostic accuracy of transverse diagonal of the Michaelis sacral and purple line, thetransvers diagonal of Michaelis Sacral is more accurate predictor of labor progress

Informational needs of pregnant women following the prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies: A qualitative study in Iran

INTRODUCTION: An appropriate exchange of information between the health-care provider and the family is an important component of coping with stress following the prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the informational needs of pregnant women following a prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies in Mashhad, Iran. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This qualitative, conventional, content analysis study was designed through two referral centers for fetal anomaly. The data were collected from April 2017 to January 2018 in Mashhad (Iran) through individual semi-structured in-depth interviews, from 25 pregnant women with a prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies. RESULTS: Three categories and nine subcategories emerged. Category 1, information needed for clarifying the diagnosed anomaly and making a decision, containing four subcategories: The need to know the reasons of doing more diagnostic tests; The need to know the facts regarding the anomaly and its cause; The need for more information to gain control over the situation; and The need to know about legal permission for therapeutic abortion. Category 2, Information needed for preparing to the future, containing three subcategories: Practical and economic issues; The delivery and postnatal situation; and Future mortality and morbidity of especial anomaly. Category 3, the adequacy of the information provided, containing two subcategories: Information overload and Inadequate information. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women receiving a prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomaly have a variety of information needs that are not adequately met by the health-care providers. Further research is required for finding a means to meeting this information need