Renal function assessment in adults with recurrent calcium kidney stone disease

The prevalence of nephrolihiasis and chronic kidney disease has risen over the past three decades, we sought to determine if person with a history of kidney stones have lower renal function relative to non stone formers. Methods: We conducted a case-control study utilizing 138 recurrent calcium kidney stone formers and 127 age and gender matched controls with no history of renal disease, all subjects were aged 30-55 years old, with no history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure and liver disease and also no urinary tract obstruction and medications can affect Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). We estimated GFR by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EP I) equations and categorized using cut points suggested by Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) guidelines. Results: Mean GFR in case group and control group was: 80.17(18.45) ml/min/1.73m2 and 83.80(15.75) ml/ min/1.73m2 respectively (P value: 0.09). Distribution of subjects among stone formers in stage I, II, III was 59(42.8%), 71(51.4%) and 8(5.8%) and in control group was 67(52.8%), 59(46.4%) and 1(0.8%) respectively, (p: 0.03). There was an inverse correlation between GFR and number of passed stone but there was no significant correlation between history of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and estimated GFR. Conclusion: Recurrent calcium stone disease may be associated with nephron damage and an increased risk of chronic kidney disease

Water footprint of crop production in Tehran province

Evaluation of supply chain of water consumption contributes toward reducing water scarcity, as it allows for increased water productivity in the agricultural sector. Water Footprint (WF) is a powerful tool for water management; it accounts for the volume of water consumption at high spatial and temporal resolution. The objective of this research is to investigate the water footprint trend of crop production in Tehran from 2008 to 2015 and to assess blue water scarcity in the agricultural sector. Water consumption of crop production was evaluated based on the WF method. Evapotranspiration was evaluated by applying the CROPWAT model. Blue water scarcity was evaluated using the blue water footprint-to-blue water availability formula. The results demonstrate that pistachio, cotton, walnut, almond, and wheat have a large WF, amounting to 11.111 m3/kg, 4,703 m3/kg, 3,932 m3/kg, 3,217 m3/kg, and 1.817 m3/kg, respectively. Agricultural blue water scarcity amounted to 0.6 (severe water stress class) (2015–2016). Agricultural water consumption in Tehran is unsustainable since it contributes to severe blue water scarcity. Tehran should reduce agricultural water scarcity by reducing the water footprint of the agricultural sector

Evaluation of breast cancer risk factors for using in hormone replacement therapy of corticosteroid- treated post-menopausal women

اساس درمان بعضی از بیماری های پوستی و تعدادی از بیماری های دیگر مثل بیماری های خود ایمنی استفاده از کورتیکوستروئید سیستمیک می باشد. این درمان سبب اوستئوپروز و عوارض دیگری به خصوص در خانم های یائسه می شود. درمان جایگزینی با هورمون (HRT=Hormone Replacement Therapy) به منظور پیشگیری و کاهش این عوارض در این گروه از بیماران توصیه شده است. در مقابل HRT سبب افزایش خطر ابتلا به سرطان پستان می شود. در این مطالعه با بررسی عوامل خطر سرطان پستان، عوامل مؤثر در به کارگیری یا عدم به کارگیری HRT در زنان یائسه دریافت کننده کورتیکوستروئید شناسایی گردید. این مطالعه از نوع گذشته نگر بود و در آن 176 بیمار شناخته شده مبتلا به سرطان پستان توسط پاتولوژی انتخاب شدند و به همین تعداد افراد سالم به صورت تصادفی انتخاب گردیدند. اطلاعات لازم مربوط به این دو گروه از طریق مصاحبه حضوری و تکمیل پرسشنامه جمع آوری گردید و مورد تجزیه و تحلیل آماری قرار گرفت. طبق این مطالعه عوامل خطر ابتلاء به سرطان پستان به ترتیب اهمیت عبارت بودند از: سابقه فامیلی، یائسگی دیررس، تاخیر در اولین حاملگی، مدت کم شیردهی، تعداد فرزند کمتر از 2 و عدم بارداری، در مورد سابقه سقط و سن اولین قاعدگی با خطر بروز سرطان پستان رابطه معنی داری یافت نشد. با توجه به نتایج حاصله توصیه می شود که از انجام HRT در بیماران یائسه دریافت کننده کورتیکوستروئید و دارای سابقه فامیلی مثبت سرطان پستان خودداری شود و در مورد فاکتورهای یائسگی دیررس، تاخیر در اولین حاملگی، مدت کم شیردهی تعداد فرزند کمتر از 2 و عدم بارداری، HRT با احتیاط زیاد صورت گیرد

Evaluation of polyethylene microplastic bio-accumulation in hepatopancreas, intestine and hemolymph of freshwater crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus

Microplastics (MPs) are one of the biggest environmental problems threatening aquatic life. The accumulation of MPs in the body of aquatic animals can play a role in transferring these pollutants into the food chain. These pollutants can significantly affect the physiology of aquatic animals. In this study, the bioaccumulation capability of MPs in the body of freshwater crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus has been evaluated. For this purpose, crayfish were exposed to 0, 500, and 1000 µg L-1 of polyethylene MPs (PE-MPs) for 28 days. Then, the accumulation of MPs in hemolymph, hepatopancreas, and intestine of crabs was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Bioaccumulation of PE-MPs in the hemolymph, hepatopancreas, and intestines was observed in the crayfish exposed to PE-MPs. This study showed that FTIR is a suitable method for identifying and measuring MPs in aquatic organisms

Subjective and simulation-based analysis of discomfort glare metrics in office buildings with light shelf systems

Glare is a kind of physiological phenomenon that influences occupants’ visual comfort. Discomfort glare scenes in comparison to other levels of glare have been difficult to estimate and need accurate and reliable metrics. In contemporary architecture, the glass façade is so popular since it can remarkably minimize energy consumption in buildings and maximize daylight utilization as a natural energy. However, it is necessary to consider occupants’ visual discomfort due to the daylighting glare risks during the initial stage of design. Since the measured glare metrics should have an acceptable correlation with the human subject data study, the agreement on the glare indices is complicated. This paper presents a comparison between subjective and simulation-based analysis of discomfort glare metrics in offices with a light shelf system. The discomfort glare metrics considered in this study include Daylight Glare Index (DGI), CIE Glare Index (CGI), Visual Comfort Probability (VCP), Unified Glare Rating (UGR), and Daylight Glare Probability (DGP). The parallel comparison was conducted by using simulation and questionnaire surveys to determine which criteria are more useful under different conditions. According to the findings, DGP yields the most reliable results in different levels of glare based on the subjective analysis and VCP has the lowest accuracy in each stage. UGR also has the highest accuracy rate for evaluating perceptible glare, DGI is applicable for assessing imperceptible glare, and CGI can be an acceptable index for approximating intolerable glare. The study results significantly reduce the complexity of the problem and can provide useful guidance for designers to select the most reliable glare metric based on climatic conditions

Environmental Impact Assessment of the Industrial Estate Development Plan with the Geographical Information System and Matrix Methods

Background. The purpose of this study is environmental impact assessment of the industrial estate development planning. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010 in Isfahan province, Iran. GIS and matrix methods were applied. Data analysis was done to identify the current situation of the region, zoning vulnerable areas, and scoping the region. Quantitative evaluation was done by using matrix of Wooten and Rau. Results. The net score for impact of industrial units operation on air quality of the project area was (−3). According to the transition of industrial estate pollutants, residential places located in the radius of 2500 meters of the city were expected to be affected more. The net score for impact of construction of industrial units on plant species of the project area was (−2). Environmental protected areas were not affected by the air and soil pollutants because of their distance from industrial estate. Conclusion. Positive effects of project activities outweigh the drawbacks and the sum scores allocated to the project activities on environmental factor was (+37). Totally it does not have detrimental effects on the environment and residential neighborhood. EIA should be considered as an anticipatory, participatory environmental management tool before determining a plan application

Burden of pediatric asthma in Kurdistan Province, West of Iran

BACKGROUND: Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease (CRD) and one of the most serious and important pediatric diseases in developing countries. The present study aims to estimate the burden of asthma among children in Kurdistan Province, Iran.METHODS: Disability-adjusted life year (DALY) was used in order to estimate the burden of asthma. In a cross-sectional study, with a sample size of 4000, and using the multi-stage sampling method and Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, the prevalence of asthma was estimated for two 6-7 and 13-14 age groups in Kurdistan Province in 2013. In addition, some necessary data were extracted from the death registration system in Kurdistan Provincial Health Center and Statistical Center of Iran (SCI).RESULTS: Burden of asthma for 6-7 age group was 71.6 DALYs in boys (2.77 DALYs per 1000 population) and 48 in girls (2.22 DALYs per 1000 population) with a total burden of 119.6 DALYs (2.52 DALYs per 1000 population). Moreover, its burden for 13-14 age group was 121.1 DALYs in boys (4.86 DALYs per 1000 population) and 82.3 in girls (3.98 DALYs per 1000 population) with a total burden of 203.4 DALYs (4.46 DALYs per 1000 population).CONCLUSION: Considering the significant prevalence of asthma and its burden among children in Kurdistan Province, it is suggested that prevention and management of this disease be considered as a priority by policy makers and in health programs, in addition to attempting to prevent and reduce its burden by setting out effective interventions

Harnessing CRISPR/Cas9 technology in cardiovascular disease

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a precisely targeted bacterial defense system, used to control invading viruses. This technology has many potential applications including genetic changes in somatic and germ cells and the creation of knockout animals. Compared to other genome editing techniques such as zinc-finger nucleases and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENS), the CRISPR/Cas9 system is much easier and more efficient. Most importantly, the multifunctional capacity of this technology allows simultaneous editing of several genes. The CRISPR/Cas9 system also potentially has the ability to prevent and treat human diseases. The present article addresses some key points related to the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system as a powerful tool in cardiovascular research and as a new strategy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD)

Chemical Decellularization Methods and Its Effects on Extracellular Matrix

Background:  Extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by tissue decellularization processes as a biological scaffold due to its unique properties compared to other scaffolds for migration and implantation of stem cells have been used successfully in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in the last years. The objective of this manuscript was to provide an overview of the chemical decellularization methods, evaluation of decellularized ECM and the potential effect of the chemical decellularization agents on the biochemical composition.Methods: We searched in Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct. The literature search was done by using the following keywords: “ECM, biologic scaffold, decellularization, chemical methods, tissue engineering.” We selected articles have been published from 2000 to 2016, and 15 full texts and 97 abstracts were reviewed.Results:Employing an optimization method to minimize damage to the ECM ultrastructure as for a result of the lack of reduction in mechanical properties and also the preservation of essential proteins such as laminin, fibronectin, Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), growth factor is required. Various methods include chemical, physical and enzymatic technics were studied. However, on each of these methods can have undesirable effects on ECM.Conclusion: It is suggested that instead of the Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) which have high strength degradation, we can use zwitterionic separately or in combination with SDS. Tributyl phosphate (TBP) due to its unique properties can be used in decellularization process