Hematological, Biochemical and Blood Lead Level Profile among Gasoline Exposed Station Workers in Sulaimaniya City

Occupational exposure to toxic fumes of leaded gasoline has become a major public health concern. These fumes contain tremendous life threatening toxins, which can cause abnormal alterations in the functioning of many vital organs. The current study intended to find out any changes in the hematological and biochemical profile in correlation to the Blood lead levels among individuals occupationally exposed to gasoline and gasoline vapors as a fist line risk group. The mean Blood lead level among gasoline station workers (6.2±5µg/dL), was significantly higher (P=0.017) than controls (2.1 ± 6.4 µg/dL), and there was a significant (P=0.003) increase in Blood lead level (10.6±3.9 µg/dL) of smoking workers compared to non-smoking workers. The latter is above the permitted value for adult individuals. The workers had higher (P=0.01) concentration of hemoglobin (15.9 gm/dL), whereas, other hematological counts were within the normal limits. Serum alkaline phosphatase and uric acid were significantly higher among the workers (338±49.5 and 6.1±1.7) with P-value of (0.0001 and 0.038 respectively), whereas, no statistically significant differences were found among serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, creatinine, cholesterol and albumin

Some Biochemical and Hematological Parameters among Petroleum and Cement Factory workers in Sulaimaniyah City/ Kurdistan/ Iraq

The objective of the current research was to study any alteration in the biochemical and hematological parameters among exposed workers in Petroleum and Cement Factories located in the Bazian basin northwest Sulaimaniyahcity,Iraq .we found  a significant increase  in the average BLL and serum iron values among cement and petroleum refining workers(11.3 µg/dL)and(173 µg/dL)  successively .As well among the studied groups the workers at Mass CF had the highest BLL (15.5 µg/dL) and serum iron(216 µg/dL). An increase in the average values of serum creatinine and AST levels and a significant decline in mean values of ALP among the workers, while, no significant difference were found between other studied biochemical parameters .The hematological analysis revealed a significant increases in the values of RBC, HCT and MPV, in addition to, a decrease in MCHC. Oppositely, no significant differences were found between other blood cell parameters. Keywords: Petroleum and Cement Factories toxic dusts and fumes. Blood lead, Iron biochemical and hematological parameter

The effect of eight weeks of walking exercise and folate supplementation on plasma homocysteine levels in elderly non-athletes

aims / objectives of the research: The increase in cardiovascular diseases among the elderly is one of the world's leading causes of death, and aerobic exercise is one way to prevent these conditions. Aim and Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of 8 weeks of walking and folate consumption on plasma homocysteine levels in non-athletic older women. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 20 non-athletic older women aged 50 to 60 volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to one of two groups: exercise+folic acid (10 persons) or exercise+placebo (10 persons). Both groups completed a walking program of eight weeks (3 sessions per week, each lasting 60 minutes). Following the conclusion of the exercise program, blood samples were collected and analyzed using independent and dependent t-statistics. After completing the walking exercise program for eight weeks, the plasma homocysteine levels fell considerably in both the exercise+supplement (P=0.002) and exercise+placebo (P=0.005) groups. Results: After completing the walking exercise program for eight weeks, the plasma homocysteine levels fell considerably in both the exercise+supplement (P=0.002) and exercise+placebo (P=0.005) groups.Conclusion: According to the present study's findings, elderly individuals should engage in walking exercises and take supplemental folate to lower plasma homocysteine and prevent cardiovascular risks

Gas exchange, growth and flowering of Lagerstroemia indica treated with different concentration and application techniques of paclobutrazol

Background and objectives: Lagerstroemia indica is a fast growing landscape shrub that require frequent pruning. The pruning process is a costly operation, temporary and partially successful in controlling tree growth. This study reports the effect of different concentration and application techniques of paclobutrazol, a growth and development of the plant in view of its management in height control and flowering enhancement. Materials and Methods: The study involved four different concentration (0 (control), 1500, 3000 and 4500 mg L–1) and two application techniques (foliar spray and soil drenching) of paclobutrazol (PBZ) on 2 month-old plants which were raised from semi hardwood cuttings. Changes in leaf photosynthesis, vegetative growth and flowering were measured. Results: Increasing PBZ rate to 3000 and 4500 mg L–1 reduced leaf photosynthesis and differ the rates markedly from plants of other treatments. The PBZ application, given as foliar spray and soil drenching reduced plants height. Among the two application techniques, the respective reduction in plant height for foliar sprayed and soil drenched plants were almost 75 and 90% compared to the control plants. The PBZ at 1500 mg L–1, given as soil drenching increased the number of flowers by 25% and at 3000 mg L–1 in foliar spray increased the number of flowers by 21% over the non-treated plants. Foliar PBZ sprayed plants produced significantly more leaves compared to those produced by the soil drenched plants. Paclobutrazol applications inhibited extension growth of stem thus reduced the overall height of plants which is linked to shorted internode but at the same time increased branch, leaf and flower number. Conclusion: These effects of PBZ observed here could be regarded as positive effects as the treatments would produce shorted statured plants which are normal desirable to landscape enthusiasts

Gas exchange, growth and flowering of Lagerstroemia indica treated with different concentration and application techniques of paclobutrazol

Background and objectives: Lagerstroemia indica is a fast growing landscape shrub that require frequent pruning. The pruning process is a costly operation, temporary and partially successful in controlling tree growth. This study reports the effect of different concentration and application techniques of paclobutrazol, a growth and development of the plant in view of its management in height control and flowering enhancement. Materials and Methods: The study involved four different concentration (0 (control), 1500, 3000 and 4500 mg L–1) and two application techniques (foliar spray and soil drenching) of paclobutrazol (PBZ) on 2 month-old plants which were raised from semi hardwood cuttings. Changes in leaf photosynthesis, vegetative growth and flowering were measured. Results: Increasing PBZ rate to 3000 and 4500 mg L–1 reduced leaf photosynthesis and differ the rates markedly from plants of other treatments. The PBZ application, given as foliar spray and soil drenching reduced plants height. Among the two application techniques, the respective reduction in plant height for foliar sprayed and soil drenched plants were almost 75 and 90% compared to the control plants. The PBZ at 1500 mg L–1, given as soil drenching increased the number of flowers by 25% and at 3000 mg L–1 in foliar spray increased the number of flowers by 21% over the non-treated plants. Foliar PBZ sprayed plants produced significantly more leaves compared to those produced by the soil drenched plants. Paclobutrazol applications inhibited extension growth of stem thus reduced the overall height of plants which is linked to shorted internode but at the same time increased branch, leaf and flower number. Conclusion: These effects of PBZ observed here could be regarded as positive effects as the treatments would produce shorted statured plants which are normal desirable to landscape enthusiasts

Utilization of Waste Plastic and Waste Glass Together as Fine and Coarse Aggregate in Concrete

Concrete is one of the common materials for producing different construction-related structures around the world, mainly due to its low cost, availability, long period of durability, and ability to withstand very bad weather conditions. Glass and plastics have become an inseparable and integral part of our lives. The amount of glass and plastics consumed annually has been growing steadily. Its low density, strength, user-friendly designs, fabrication capabilities, long life, lightweight, and low cost are the factors behind such phenomenal growth. Glass and plastic are found in municipal solid waste (MSW), and they are of the most used daily materials; they can be used as a construction material in buildings or primarily in the form of containers, etc. This paper focuses on replacing some fine and coarse aggregates in concrete with waste plastic and waste glass. To evaluate the effects of including these wastes, mechanical tests like compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural tests conducted on samples prepared with four different percentages of fine and coarse aggregate replaced with fine and coarse plastic and glass waste together. From the results obtained, it was seen that waste plastic and waste glass together reduces compressive strength, flexural strength, and density, while in some proportions of replacement increased splitting tensile strength and water absorption percentage; however, the results are in a manner that even though the concrete produced with such aggregates can be used for structural applications

Laboratory Evaluation Of PE, PP, And SBS Polymers As Bitumen Modifiers

Reactive polymers, such as PE, PP, and SBS, cause a chemical reaction between the polymer and the Bitumen, which can be advantageous for hot-climate asphalt applications. High-density polyethene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) were used to create elastomeric-modified-bitumen mixes. Modified Bitumen's physical and rheological properties were investigated by containing different polymers percentages (2%, 4%, 6%) into 60/70 Bitumen grade. The results of penetration, flash, fire, softening point, viscosity, elastic recovery and Penetration Index tests revealed an increase in elastic behaviour in modified asphalts, as a result of which material properties suitable for highway construction are obtained. According to the results of physical and rheological tests, the temperature range of asphalt increases by adding polymers and increase the permanent resist deformation as well. Penetration Softening and Elastic recovery tests result in the asphalt modification being elastomeric with good performance at intermediate temperatures stage, especially for the KRG region

The global, regional, and national burden of oesophageal cancer and its attributable risk factors in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2017

© 2020 The Author(s). Background Oesophageal cancer is a common and often fatal cancer that has two main histological subtypes: oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Updated statistics on the incidence and mortality of oesophageal cancer, and on the disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) caused by the disease, can assist policy makers in allocating resources for prevention, treatment, and care of oesophageal cancer. We report the latest estimates of these statistics for 195 countries and territories between 1990 and 2017, by age, sex, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD). Methods We used data from vital registration systems, vital registration-samples, verbal autopsy records, and cancer registries, combined with relevant modelling, to estimate the mortality, incidence, and burden of oesophageal cancer from 1990 to 2017. Mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs) were estimated and fed into a Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) including risk factors. MIRs were used for mortality and non-fatal modelling. Estimates of DALYs attributable to the main risk factors of oesophageal cancer available in GBD were also calculated. The proportion of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma to all oesophageal cancers was extracted by use of publicly available data, and its variation was examined against SDI, the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index, and available risk factors in GBD that are specific for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (eg, unimproved water source and indoor air pollution) and for oesophageal adenocarcinoma (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease). Findings There were 473 000 (95% uncertainty interval [95% UI] 459 000-485 000) new cases of oesophageal cancer and 436 000 (425 000-448 000) deaths due to oesophageal cancer in 2017. Age-standardised incidence was 5.9 (5.7-6.1) per 100 000 population and age-standardised mortality was 5.5 (5.3-5.6) per 100 000. Oesophageal cancer caused 9.78 million (9.53-10.03) DALYs, with an age-standardised rate of 120 (117-123) per 100 000 population. Between 1990 and 2017, age-standardised incidence decreased by 22.0% (18.6-25.2), mortality decreased by 29.0% (25.8-32.0), and DALYs decreased by 33.4% (30.4-36.1) globally. However, as a result of population growth and ageing, the total number of new cases increased by 52.3% (45.9-58.9), from 310 000 (300 000-322 000) to 473 000 (459 000-485 000); the number of deaths increased by 40.0% (34.1-46.3), from 311 000 (301 000-323 000) to 436 000 (425 000-448 000); and total DALYs increased by 27.4% (22.1-33.1), from 7.68 million (7.42-7.97) to 9.78 million (9.53-10.03). At the national level, China had the highest number of incident cases (235 000 [223 000-246 000]), deaths (213 000 [203 000-223 000]), and DALYs (4.46 million [4.25-4.69]) in 2017. The highest national-level agestandardised incidence rates in 2017 were observed in Malawi (23.0 [19.4-26.5] per 100 000 population) and Mongolia (18.5 [16.4-20.8] per 100 000). In 2017, age-standardised incidence was 2.7 times higher, mortality 2.9 times higher, and DALYs 3.0 times higher in males than in females. In 2017, a substantial proportion of oesophageal cancer DALYs were attributable to known risk factors: tobacco smoking (39.0% [35.5-42.2]), alcohol consumption (33.8% [27.3-39.9]), high BMI (19.5% [6.3-36.0]), a diet low in fruits (19.1% [4.2-34.6]), and use of chewing tobacco (7.5% [5.2-9.6]). Countries with a low SDI and HAQ Index and high levels of indoor air pollution had a higher proportion of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma to all oesophageal cancer cases than did countries with a high SDI and HAQ Index and with low levels of indoor air pollution. Interpretation Despite reductions in age-standardised incidence and mortality rates, oesophageal cancer remains a major cause of cancer mortality and burden across the world. Oesophageal cancer is a highly fatal disease, requiring increased primary prevention efforts and, possibly, screening in some high-risk areas. Substantial variation exists in age-standardised incidence rates across regions and countries, for reasons that are unclear

Measuring routine childhood vaccination coverage in 204 countries and territories, 1980-2019 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020, Release 1

Background Measuring routine childhood vaccination is crucial to inform global vaccine policies and programme implementation, and to track progress towards targets set by the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) and Immunization Agenda 2030. Robust estimates of routine vaccine coverage are needed to identify past successes and persistent vulnerabilities. Drawing from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020, Release 1, we did a systematic analysis of global, regional, and national vaccine coverage trends using a statistical framework, by vaccine and over time. Methods For this analysis we collated 55 326 country-specific, cohort-specific, year-specific, vaccine-specific, and dosespecific observations of routine childhood vaccination coverage between 1980 and 2019. Using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, we produced location-specific and year-specific estimates of 11 routine childhood vaccine coverage indicators for 204 countries and territories from 1980 to 2019, adjusting for biases in countryreported data and reflecting reported stockouts and supply disruptions. We analysed global and regional trends in coverage and numbers of zero-dose children (defined as those who never received a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis [DTP] vaccine dose), progress towards GVAP targets, and the relationship between vaccine coverage and sociodemographic development. Findings By 2019, global coverage of third-dose DTP (DTP3; 81.6% [95% uncertainty interval 80.4-82 .7]) more than doubled from levels estimated in 1980 (39.9% [37.5-42.1]), as did global coverage of the first-dose measles-containing vaccine (MCV1; from 38.5% [35.4-41.3] in 1980 to 83.6% [82.3-84.8] in 2019). Third- dose polio vaccine (Pol3) coverage also increased, from 42.6% (41.4-44.1) in 1980 to 79.8% (78.4-81.1) in 2019, and global coverage of newer vaccines increased rapidly between 2000 and 2019. The global number of zero-dose children fell by nearly 75% between 1980 and 2019, from 56.8 million (52.6-60. 9) to 14.5 million (13.4-15.9). However, over the past decade, global vaccine coverage broadly plateaued; 94 countries and territories recorded decreasing DTP3 coverage since 2010. Only 11 countries and territories were estimated to have reached the national GVAP target of at least 90% coverage for all assessed vaccines in 2019. Interpretation After achieving large gains in childhood vaccine coverage worldwide, in much of the world this progress was stalled or reversed from 2010 to 2019. These findings underscore the importance of revisiting routine immunisation strategies and programmatic approaches, recentring service delivery around equity and underserved populations. Strengthening vaccine data and monitoring systems is crucial to these pursuits, now and through to 2030, to ensure that all children have access to, and can benefit from, lifesaving vaccines. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Global injury morbidity and mortality from 1990 to 2017 : results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Correction:Background Past research in population health trends has shown that injuries form a substantial burden of population health loss. Regular updates to injury burden assessments are critical. We report Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study estimates on morbidity and mortality for all injuries. Methods We reviewed results for injuries from the GBD 2017 study. GBD 2017 measured injury-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) using the Cause of Death Ensemble model. To measure non-fatal injuries, GBD 2017 modelled injury-specific incidence and converted this to prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). YLLs and YLDs were summed to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Findings In 1990, there were 4 260 493 (4 085 700 to 4 396 138) injury deaths, which increased to 4 484 722 (4 332 010 to 4 585 554) deaths in 2017, while age-standardised mortality decreased from 1079 (1073 to 1086) to 738 (730 to 745) per 100 000. In 1990, there were 354 064 302 (95% uncertainty interval: 338 174 876 to 371 610 802) new cases of injury globally, which increased to 520 710 288 (493 430 247 to 547 988 635) new cases in 2017. During this time, age-standardised incidence decreased non-significantly from 6824 (6534 to 7147) to 6763 (6412 to 7118) per 100 000. Between 1990 and 2017, age-standardised DALYs decreased from 4947 (4655 to 5233) per 100 000 to 3267 (3058 to 3505). Interpretation Injuries are an important cause of health loss globally, though mortality has declined between 1990 and 2017. Future research in injury burden should focus on prevention in high-burden populations, improving data collection and ensuring access to medical care.Peer reviewe