Role of diffusion tensor imaging as an imaging biomarker and theranostic tool in structural imaging of traumatic brain injury

Neuroimaging technology is at a "newborn" stage in the evaluation of TBI. While additional literature are obviously required to decide whether these modalities and progress in knowledge with noninvasive monitors will allow early and consistent recognition of revocable secondary brain damages, the final query is whether these new modalities will help in treatment plans that will absolutely mark result. DTI is an influential instrument for assessing white matter anatomy and related anomalies. DTI was formerly an investigation tool, but is using clinical practice. Accepting the terms and basic ideas of this method can aid in the clinical implementation and interpretation of this blend of structural and physiologic white matter evaluation. In conclusion, although DTI is as a diagnostic tool for severity of TBI and as an outcome predictor, but severe preclinical and clinical validation of each imaging method should be a top importance

Evaluation of the risk of lung cancer due to hookah smoking: a meta-analysis study

Background: Hookah smoking has been growing among people because consumers believe that smoking in the form of hookahs has lesser health effects than cigarettes. However, recent reports showed that water pipe smoking (WSP) increased heart rate, blood pressure, impaired pulmonary function and carbon monoxide intoxication. Chronic bronchitis, emphysema and coronary artery disease are serious problems of long-term use of this kind of smoking. Lung, gastric and esophageal cancers are associated with WPS, as well as periodontal disease, and obstetrical complications. Hence purpose of this study was to survey the relationship between lung cancer and tobacco consumption in the form of hookah through meta-analysis. Methods: In this meta-analysis study we conducted an electronically search in databases PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE to find relevant articles regarding the adverse effects of hookah smoking, using the terms ‘water pipe’ and its synonyms (hookah, shisha, goza, narghileh, arghileh and hubble-bubble) in various spellings in Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran from January to May 2017. All articles including Cohort and case-control studies published between 1980 and 2017 and conducted in the world were included without restriction regarding publication language. The cross-sectional studies, case reports, conference abstracts, reviews and studies not conducted on humans were excluded. The article selection process and data extraction were performed by two independent investigators. The articles were evaluated using odds ratios, heterogeneity and distribution models. Results: In this study, 120 articles related to the effect of hookah smoke on health were found. Of these articles, there were 9 articles related to the effect of hookah smoke on lung cancer. The results showed that hookah smoking could increases the risk of lung cancer with a chance ratio of 3.72 and a confidence interval of 4.85-2.60. Heterogeneity and distribution were not observed among selected articles. Conclusion: There is accumulating evidence about the association of water pipe tobacco smoking with of lung cancer, which increases the risk of lung cancer due to water pipe tobacco smoking consumption

Efficiency and kinetic modeling of removal of nutrients and organic matter from a full-scale constructed wetland in Qasre-Shirin, Iran

Background: This study assessed the removal of organic material and nutrients from full-scale subsurface flow (SSF) constructed wetlands (CWs) followed by anaerobic stabilization ponds under environmental conditions. Methods: The effluents were distributed evenly in 12 reed beds. Samples were taken twice monthly for a total of 6 months from several points in the wetland. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and nutrient removal from the system and the longitudinal effect of the reed beds for removal of pollutions were determined. A full-scale model of flow, BOD, and nutrients in SSF in the CWs is presented. Results: The flow rate and concentrations of parameters indicated that removal of organic matter and nutrients in the cold months decreased rather than in the hot months, as expected. The removal efficiency for BOD, COD, and TSS and the strongest biological interactions showed no uniform trends. The beds showed the highest removal rates in the first few meters of bed. The hybrid Monod-Plug flow regime and the Stover-Kincannon models showed the best fit for the kinetics of the processes. Umax in the Stover-Kincannon model was 3.64 mg/l.d for nitrogen and 0.24 mg/l.d for phosphorus. These values are very low, which indicates lower consumption and inefficiency of the system for removing nitrogen and phosphorus. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the SSF in CWs are able to treat average wastewater as effectively as common mechanical systems at lower cost