Health-related quality of life according to the socioeconomic status of living areas in Iranian children and adolescents: Weight disorders survey

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become a major concern in the field of children�s health research. We assessed HRQoL among Iranian children and adolescents according to the socioeconomic status (SES) of their living region. Methods: Via multistage cluster sampling from rural and urban school students aged 6 to 18 years, this nationwide study was conducted from 2011 to 2012. HRQoL was assessed using the adolescent core version of the Pediatric Quality of Life questionnaire. Through survey data analysis methods, the data were compared according to the SES of the living region, sex, and the living area. Results: Overall, 23043 students participated in the survey (participation rate=92.2). The mean age of the participants was 12.55±3.31 years. Boys accounted for 50.8 of the study population, and 73.4 were from urban areas. At national level, the mean of the HRQoL total score was 81.7 (95 CI: 81.3 to 82.1) with a mean of 83.5 (95 CI: 83.0 to 84.1) for the boys and 79.8 (95 CI: 79.1 to 80.5) for the girls. The highest and the lowest scores, respectively, belonged to social functioning (90.0 95% CI: 89.7 to 90.3) and emotional functioning (78.2 95% CI: 77.7 to 78.7). The highest total HRQoL score belonged to the second highest SES region of the country (mean=83.1; 95% CI: 82.5 to 83.7). The association between total HRQoL and the score of all the subscales and SES in the living area was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that in the children and adolescents, SES was associated with HRQoL. Accordingly, HRQoL and the related SES differences should be considered one of the priorities in health research and health policy. © 2019, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Determination of total dissolved solid (TDS), nitrate and fluoride in 24 brands of Iranian bottled waters

Concentration of total dissolved solid (TDS), nitrate and fluoride in 24 different brands of Iranian bottled water were studied. A total of 78 bottle water was analyzed for TDS, NO3 - and F- according to standard methods. Also, results were compared to Iranian, World Health Organization (WHO) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water standards. The mean concentrations of F- in all examined water samples were lower than acceptable ranges. In three brands the concentrations of nitrate were higher than Iranian legislations (NO3 - �45 mg/l as NO3 -). In addition, the mean concentration of TDS in 9 brands were higher than 500 mg/l (Iranian legislations) and in all brands were within the appropriate WHO guidelines values. © 2011 Academic Journals

Electrochemical process efficiency for the removal of organic phosphorus from synthetic wastewater

Background: Phosphorus compounds are among the potential water pollutants which enter the water resources through different ways such as wastewater discharge. Although there are physical, chemical and biological treatment methods for phosphorus removal from the wastewater, much attention has been focused on the use of electrochemical process. Materials and Methods: This bench-scale study was conducted on synthetic wastewater samples containing organic phosphorus using a closed batch system. The effects of reaction time and initial concentration of organic phosphorus on the electrochemical process of phosphorus removal were studied. In this study, the effect of steel electrodes, an electric current of 0.6 A, a reaction time of 10-60 minutes and also the initial phosphorus concentrations (2 to 32 mg/l) were investigated. Results: The results of this study showed that the concentration of residual organic phosphorus after the electrochemical process at different initial concentrations was reduced to less than 1 mg/l (equivalent to the effluent discharge standard to receptive water in Iran) at a reaction time of 50 minutes. Moreover, the phosphorus removal efficiency was between 93.73-98.72 at different initial concentrations and a reaction time of 60 minutes. Conclusion: The electrochemical process, using the steel electrodes at an electric current of 0.6 A, can reduce the phosphorus concentration to less than 1 mg/l. Moreover, the optimum reaction time for the removal of organic phosphorus is 50 minutes

A prospective study of survival after in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation and its related factors

Background: Despite several studies, there is no agreement on factors that affect survival after in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the survival rate of in-hospital CPR and its related factors at Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan, Iran, in 2014. Patients and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted on all cases of CPR performed in Kashan Shahid Beheshti hospital during a 6-month period in 2014. Through a consecutive sampling method, 250 cases of CPR were studied. A three-part researcher-made instrument was used. The outcome of CPR was documented as either survival to hospital discharge or unsuccessful (death of the patient). Chi-square test, t test, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: Of all CPR cases, 238 (95.2) were unsuccessful and 12 (4.8) survived to hospital discharge. Only 2.6 of patients who were resuscitated in medical units survived to hospital discharge, whereas this rate was 11.4 in the emergency department. Only 45 (18) patients were defibrillated during resuscitation; in 11 patients, defibrillation was performed between 15 to 45 minutes after the initiation of CPR. The mean time from initiation of CPR to the first DC shock was 13.93 ± 8.88 minutes. Moreover, the mean duration of CPR was 35.11 ± 11.42 minutes. The survival rate was higher in the morning shift and lower during the time of shift change (9.4 vs. 0). The duration of CPR and speed of arrival of the CPR team were identified as factors that predicted the outcome of CPR. Conclusions: The survival rate after in-hospital CPR was very low. The duration of CPR and the time of initiating CPR effects patients' outcomes. These findings highlight the crucial role of an organized, skilled, well-established and timely CPR team. Copyright © 2016, Trauma Monthly

Effect of adding the herb Achillea millefolium on mouthwash onchemotherapy induced oral mucositis in cancer patients: Adouble-blind randomized controlled trial

Background: Oral mucositis (OM) is a debilitating side-effect of chemotherapy. It has different complications, including impairment of drinking, eating and even talking, sometimes so severe that physician stops the therapy. Objective: Investigating the effect of Achillea millefolium distillate solution in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced OM. Interventions/methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 56 cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced OM were randomly assigned into control and experimental groups in similar blocks based on the severity of OM. The experimental group gargled 15mL of a mixture of routine solution and distilled A. millefolium 4 times a day for 14 days while the control group gargled 15mL of routine solution. The severity of OM was assessed at three times before, 7 and 14 days after intervention. Data was analyzed using Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, Friedman, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Results: The mean severity score of OM was 2.39±0.875 in both groups at start of the study that was changed to 1.07±0.85 and 0.32±0.54 in the intervention group in days 7 and 14 (. p<0.001). However, the severity of OM was increased to 2.75±0.87 and 2.89±0.956 in the control group respectively (. p<0.001). Conclusions: A. millefolium distillate healed OM much more than the routine solution. Therefore, it is suggested to be used in patients with chemotherapy-induced OM.The study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, Number: IRCT2013092214729N1. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd

The relationship between turbidity, residual chlorine concentration and microbial quality of drinking water in rural areas of Kashan during 2008-9

Background: Common belief is that water quality evaluation must be based on its appearance, not only the apparent characteristics but also the microbial and chemical characteristics should be considered. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between turbidity, residual chlorine concentration and microbial quality of water used for drinking in rural areas of Kashan. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on drinking water samples taken from 57 villages of Kashan during 2008-9. Among the total samples taken during three stages, only one sample was selected and analyzed for water quality parameters of turbidity, residual chlorine concentration and heterotrophic plate count (HPC).Results: HPC, residual chlorine concentration and turbidity of water samples desirable in three stages and undesirable in another three stages were 86, 22.8 and 75.4 12.3, 29.8 and 0, respectively. Furthermore, HPC in 95 of samples under the supervision of rural water and wastewater company (RWWC) and in 64.7 of samples that were not under the supervision of RWWC, were in the range of standard drinking water.Conclusion: The results of the study show that correlation between residual chlorine concentration and HPC level of drinking water in Kashan rural areas was significant, while there is no significant correlation between residual chlorine concentration and turbidity HPC and turbidity. Hence, RWWC supervision has a prominent role in supplying safe drinking water for such areas

Efficiency study for integrated stabilization pond (ISP) in municipal wastewater treatment

History and Objectives: Considering the high cost of mechanical treatment of wastewater and the necessity to investigate more economical methods, specially the ones involving natural treatment processes, a study on efficiency of integrated stabilization pond (ISP) was conducted in Shoosh Sewage Treatment Plant during 1999. Materials and Methods: This ISP experimental study was conducted during three seasons with two types of raw sewage feeding. The system consists of an anaerobic pond in combination with facultative pond in series with a high rate and a maturation samples from inflow and effluent were taken on weekly basis and COD, BOD5, TSS, total nitrogen and total phosphorous were checked, the resulting reduction in mentioned parameters formed the basis of a statistical evaluation. Results: Pollutants reduction was higher in spring compared with summer and fall. BOD5 with 89 reduction showed the highest and total phosphorous with 60 showed the lowest reduction levels during the said period. The level of sewage pollutant reduction during three stages of the study shows that the anaerobic pond in combination with facultative pond registed the highest percentage of pollutant removal. Conclusion: ISP systems are effective in treatment of sewage. Up flow of sewage in fermentation pit has a positive effect on the system efficiency and shows the fermentation pits considerable role in facultative ponds. Since there is little available experience about ISP in Iran, more investigation on the subject is recommended

Evaluation of the efficiency of wastewater treatment plant in removal of parasitic eggs in Kashan University of Medical Sciences

The results showed that the monthly average of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, Enterobius vermicularis, freeliving nematodes and Dicrocoelium dendriticum in the effluent of wastewater treatment plant, were 9.86, 2.64, 2.89 and 8.47 eggs per liter, respectively. The average number of parasitic eggs in the effluent of wastewater treatment plant was less than one. As a result, the efficiency of the treatment plant in their removal was 95.61, 100, 97.25, and 95.70, respectively and can easily meet the standards for reuse in agricultural irrigation (Angleburg Index: Nematode Egg: � 1 in liters). © 2018 MPH