Epidemiology of Poisoning in Northeast of Iran (2004-2013)

Background: Poisoning is a major concern, especially in developing countries. We aimed to focus on poisoning trends based on registry data for the recent 10 years.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on registry database of Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad, Iran. All cases of toxic exposure or poisoning during 2004 to 2013 were included (49189 patients). Data from two national censuses were used for calculating rates. SPSS 11.5 was used for data analysis. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: There were 49189 admissions during the 10-year period with a mean age of 26.21±14.97 years out of which 50.3% were female. The prevalence rate had increased three times in women and four times in men. Pharmaceutical toxins (63.5%) had the highest proportional mortality ratio, which mostly occurred in winters. The mean age of admission began to decline again in recent years.Conclusion: Analyzing data on secular trends can always enlighten the healthcare decision makers for real health problems. Designing the proper population-based interventions can be one of the many uses of these findings

Analysis of international efforts in energy research and development

Research and experimental development comprise innovative and creative work undertaken systematically to increase the stock of knowledge of science, engineering, and society. This knowledge reserve is used to improve living conditions and standards, including economic growth. Research and development (R&D) expenditures are useful measures of the scale and direction of technological innovation within a country, industry, or scientific field. Administrators concerned with economic growth and performance rely on R&D statistics as one possible type of indicator of technological change. R&D statistics are an essential tool in many government programs and evaluations (OECD 1993). The objective of the analysis was to identify and evaluate R&D funding sources, levels, and trends in the energy sectors of selected industrialized countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States) and the European Union (EU). Fossil fuel technologies, particularly fuel cells and advanced gas turbines, were the focus of the analysis, whose results are presented in this report

Economic evaluation and market analysis for natural gas utilization. Topical report

During the past decade, the U.S. has experienced a surplus gas supply. Future prospects are brightening because of increased estimates of the potential size of undiscovered gas reserves. At the same time, U.S. oil reserves and production have steadily declined, while oil imports have steadily increased. Reducing volume growth of crude oil imports was a key objective of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Natural gas could be an important alternative energy source to liquid products derived from crude oil to help meet market demand. The purpose of this study was to (1) analyze three energy markets to determine whether greater use could be made of natural gas or its derivatives and (2) determine whether those products could be provided on an economically competitive basis. The following three markets were targeted for possible increases in gas use: transportation fuels, power generation, and chemical feedstock. Gas-derived products that could potentially compete in these three markets were identified, and the economics of the processes for producing those products were evaluated. The processes considered covered the range from commercial to those in early stages of process development. The analysis also evaluated the use of both high-quality natural gas and lower-quality gases containing CO{sub 2} and N{sub 2} levels above normal pipeline quality standards

Comparison of serum and urine lead levels in opium addicts with healthy control group

Context: Lead-contaminated opium is one of the new sources of lead exposure in our region. As far as the literature review is concerned, there are limited comparative studies about comparison of blood lead level (BLL) in addict patients with healthy controls. Objective: We aimed to compare BLL and urine lead level (ULL) between opium addicts with the healthy control group. Materials and Methods: Forty opium addict subjects (mean age: 43 ± 10 years) as the patient group and 40 healthy subjects (mean age: 41 ± 9 years) as the control group participated. Three milliliter of whole blood and urine was obtained from both groups and lead level was assessed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: The mean value of BLL in patient group was 7.14 ± 1.41 mcg/dL and that in the healthy control group was 5.42 ± 1.46 mcg/dL. The mean value of ULL was 2.62 ± 0.83 mcg/dL in the patient group and 2.50 ± 0.76 mcg/dL in the healthy control group. BLL was different in the two groups ( p &lt; 0.001), but ULL was not ( p = 0.5). There was a significant correlation between BLL with duration of opium addiction in the patient group ( r = −0.403, p = 0.01). BLL and ULL were significantly correlated in controls ( r = 0.436, p = 0.005) and not in patients. Discussion and conclusion: It was observed that the BLL in opium addicts was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group. This can be due to use of adulterated opium with lead. Therefore, screening of blood lead concentration is helpful for opium-addict patients especially with nonspecific symptoms. </jats:sec

Spider bite (latrodectism) in Mashhad, Iran

Background: Spider (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) bites are relatively common in North East Iran. They induce morbidity and rarely mortality. We aimed to investigate clinical, electrocardiographic and para-clinical changes in patients with this bite. Methods: All consecutive patients admitted with suspected spider bites between September 2005 and September 2006 were studied prospectively. Results: Spider bites accounted for 56 cases (0.5% of all poisoning, 21% of all admitted envenomated). The patients’ mean (SD) age was 32 (16) years. The most common findings were pain (90%) mainly in their back (45%), stomach (35%), lower limbs (33%), upper limbs (19%) and chest (14%). Other clinical findings included were sweating (55%), chills (29%), dyspnea (25%), flushing (14%), spasm (12%), headache (12%), nausea (12%) and vertigo (12%). On electrocardiograph (ECG); ST segments were depressed in 25% of cases in at least two of the pre-cordial leads. Laboratory findings were in normal ranges. All the patients recovered following supportive and symptomatic treatment (no anti-toxin available in Iran), with a mean hospitalization period of 1.9 (1.3) days. Conclusions: Spider (L. Tredecimguttatus) bite is relatively common in Mashhad, which induces latrodectism with relatively different findings and cardiac toxicity. ECG monitoring should be considered, particularly when specific anti-toxin is not available. </jats:p