Evaluating the efficiency of Plantago ovata and starch in water turbidity removal

In. the current study, the efficiency of starch and Plantago ovata extract as coagulant aids is compared in water turbidity removal. The coagulant is ferric chloride and the experiments are run in two ranges of pH 7 and 8. The achieved results of turbidity removal in different turbidity levels of 100, 50 and 20 NTU caused by different concentrations of starch and P.ovata as coagulant aids besides ferric chloride as the main coagulant are compared. According to the achieved results, the use of P.ovata or starch as the coagulant aid may play a key role in reducing the amount of FeCl[3] as the main coagulant and consequently decreasing the generated sludge. Furthermore, the remarkable turbidity removal efficiency gained when these coagulant aids are used in comparison with the case when no coagulant aid is introduced is also of interest. Generally, the both coagulant aids seem to be more efficient in pH value of 7 rather than 8. Although both coagulant aids used in this study manifested acceptable turbidity removal efficiencies, P.ovata showed higher capabilities of removal in different turbidity levels and pH values in comparison with starch

Ocular manifestation of tuberculosis

To determine the prevalence of ocular involvement in patients with tuberculosis [TB] infection. All patients with a new diagnosis of TB who were referred to Zahedan Tuberculosis Center underwent a complete ophthalmic examination. Any cases of known ophthalmic disease or previous ocular involvement were excluded from the study. Prevalence of ocular involvement with 95% confidence interval [95% CI] was calculated. Out of 444 eyes of 222 TB patients, 19 eyes [4.3%, 95% CI: 2.6-6.6%] of 17 patients [7.7%, 95% CI: 4.5-12.0%] had some ophthalmic lesions ascribable to TB. The most frequent ophthalmic lesions were choroidal tubercles in 4 eyes [21.1%]; interstitial keratitis and acute iritis each in 3 eyes [15.8%]; chorioretinitis, peripapillary nodule and lid lupus vulgaris each in 2 eyes [10.5%]; and retinal vasculitis, vitritis and lateral rectus paresis each in one eye [5.3%]. The ocular involvement was unilateral in 88.2%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that only the duration of TB before treatment had direct correlation with ocular involvement [odds ratio= 5.22, 95% CI: 1.57-17.35]. The frequency of ocular involvement in TB in the study population is at least 3 times greater than other countries. Early treatment of TB can reduce ocular involvement and prevent other complications of the disease

[Three cases of benign flecked retina syndrome]

To present 3 rare cases of benign flecked retina syndrome. A 19-year-old female patient presented with fundus albipunctatus appearance in fundoscopy without night blindness and normal dark adaptation time on electeroretinography [ERG]. After 9years of follow up, no change in visual acuity, ERG, or other ophthalmologic examination was seen. Two members of her family had the same condition. Benign flecked retina syndrome presents with fundus abnormalities similar to fundus albipunctatus but without night blindness and normal dark adaptation time and any without any changes in vision or ERG