[Effectiveness of retraining courses for physicians in the participant's point of view in these courses in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provic I.R. Iran, 2011]

Daily development of medical sciences, innovation the modern method, need in acquisitig the diagnosis and treatment skills and up to date the physicians information, leads to retraining program or continuous program in this field. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicians' viewpoints of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province about efficiency of continuous medical education courses for providing an appropriate model. Two hundred ninety one physician occupied in public or non-public units in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province were selected randomly. The data were collected using a likert five options questionnaire and then they were analyzed using uni variant t test, independent t-test and ANOVA. Kronbakh Alpha was used for testing the reliability. [_=0.86] The results indicated that continuous medical education courses influence the respondent's efficiency, change and innovation, familiarity of physicians with aims and strategies, increasing efficiency and physicians' motivation [P<0.001]. There was a significant relationship between the efficiency and respondent's training course, the respondant's age and the empiricism background of respondants [P<0.05]. The finding shows that, in the respondants point of view, holding the continuous medical training affects the efficiency, change and innovation, familiarity with aims and strategies, increasing efficiency and increasing the physicians motivation

[Microbiological and chemical quality of water in food industries with low content of water]

In the production of some high-consumed food products like cake, biscuit, chocolate and spaghetti water is used in the preparing of primary material and in the kneading processes. At the present study microbiological and chemical quality of consumed water in food industries of East Azerbaijan Province were studied. Eleven factories with different products were selected. Water samples were collected and analyzed regarding the microbiological contamination and chemical parameters, and heavy metals. In addition, condition of water quality in selected industry was surveyed during the summer. According to the results, monitoring of water quality in the studied industries is not suitable. The chemical characteristics of consumed water in those industries had major differences. Ni, Cr, Zn, Fe and Mn were present in all analyzed water but in lower concentration than national Maximum Contaminant Level [MCL]. Pb was measured in higher concentration than MCL in spaghetti factory no. 2 and close to MCL in wiener and frankfurter and sugar industries. Cd was close to MCL in spaghetti factory no. 2 and wiener and frankfurter industries. It was concluded that for the safety and health of food products the food industries should use the public water supply system as water source at least in food processing units or in the units of preparing of primary materials. Also for the preventing of chemical pollution of food products it is necessary, pay more attention to the subject of water quality control according to the special water standard of food industries, and using less volume of water in some food industry isn.t acceptable reason for neglecting of water quality monitoring and assessing. In addition it is required to analyze heavy metals in the final products of those industries

[Study of arsenic presence in drinking water sources: a case study]

Conducted studies about arsenic have shown that consumption of water contaminated with arsenic can causes different adverse health effects in consumers. World Health Organization [WHO] has enacted 10mg/L arsenic in drinking water as a guideline value. Regarding some reports about arsenic presence in a village of Hashtrood county and related health effects and also considering this fact that determination of arsenic as a poisoning chemical is not included in routine monitoring of water by responsible organizations, in present study all of drinking water sources in Hashtrood county in East Azerbaijan province were studied for arsenic presence. Water supply and its sanitation situation were studied in all of cities and residential villages [200 villages] by field visiting. Arsenic content of water samples were determined using Ez arsenic test kit, a product of Hach Company. For assurance of the kit results, 20 water samples with different concentration of arsenic were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma [ICP] method and then achieved results was compared together. Arsenic was present in drinking water of 50 villages that in 9 villages its level was higher than Iranian standard [50mg/L]. During the study totally 11087 persons [21.96% of rural areas population] in Hashtrood county were exposed to different levels of arsenic via drinking water. Correlation between kit and ICP results was significant [R2 = 0.9715]. Studied region in present study is a polluted area to arsenic by geogenic sources. It is necessary to replace water source of villages with higher level than national standard with safe drinking water. Annually measurement of arsenic in drinking water of all villages spatially polluted villages should be considered by responsible organization e.g. Health Network and Rural Water and Wastewater Company. Used kit in our study is recommendable for this purpose

Comparison of the biological NH[3] removal characteristics of a three stage biofilter with a one stage biofilter

A three stage and a one-stage bench-scale biofilter with effective heights of 129 cm filled with same type of packing material were operated at different influent concentrations of ammonia in order to investigate their performance in treating waste gas streams. The columns contained a mixture of municipal compost inoculated with thickened municipal activated sludge as a base material and shredded hard plastic as a bulking agent in a 3:2 v/v ratio; the porosity, density and pH were 52%, 0.65 and 7.2 respectively. Microbial acclimation to ammonia was achieved by exposing the three stage biofilter to an average inlet loading rate of 2.15g-NH3/m3 h and the one-stage to an average inlet loading rate of 1.32 g NH3/m3 h and an empty bed residence time of 60 s, for 10 days and 17 days respectively. Under steady-state condition, maximum elimination capacity [EC] was 9.85 g-NH3/m3h at a loading rate of 9.86 g-NH3/m3h for three-stage biofilter and 8.08 g NH3/m3h at a loading rate of 8.13 g-NH3/m3h for one-stage biofilter. The average pressure drop across biofilters bed was determined 33.76 Pa/m1 in three-stage biofilter and 180.7 Pa/m1 in one-stage biofilter. The three stage biofilter showed superior performance and gained more elimination capacity, shorter acclimation time, longer operation in steady-state condition and less pressure drop than one-stage biofilter

Biological removal of Ammonia from contaminated air streams using biofiltration system

Ammonia is a colorless, toxic, reactive and corrosive gas with a sharp odor. It is irritating to the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Ammonia gas occurs in the environment naturally and is emitted by many industries and, therefore, its control is essential. Biofiltration is a new emerging technology that is being used as a control procedure. This study evaluates the use of a mixture of compost, sludge, and pieces of PVC as biofilter media to remove ammonia gas. The study investigates the effects of parameters such as inlet concentration, accumulation time, and depth of filter media to evaluate the removal efficiency. A laboratory scale biofilter column was built and operated to investigate the removal of ammonia from a waste gas stream. The findings indicate that for inlet concentrations of 236 ppm, and ammonia loading of less than 9.86 g-NH3/m3.h at empty bed residence time of 1 min, an ammonia removal efficiency of more than 99.9% was obtained. The acclimation period of the bacteria was 10 days. The average pressure drop during measurement was 4.44 mm H2O. The study also revealed that for concentration levels of 99, 211, and 236 ppmv, biofilter media depths of 40, 80, and 120 cm will be required, respectively. The results obtained in this study indicate that the biofiltration system composed of compost in the mixture of sludge and smashed polyvinyl chloride as biofilter media is an efficient method for the removal of ammonia from waste gas streams. It is also found that the optimum depth of biofilter media depends on the inlet concentration of ammonia

Invitro comparitive study of the efficacy of licorice decoctant and choice antibiotics on helicobacter pylori growth

Glycyrrhiza Glabra [Licorice] root, a member of the pea family has been used since ancient times as both food and medicine. Licorice has been used as an antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti inflammatory in researches.Extraction of this medical plant is used as the basis of anti-ulcer medicine for treatment of peptic ulcer. In the present study, licorice decoction [20gr/dl,33gr/dl] was prepared and anti microbial activity on helicobacter pylori growth was studied by disk diffusion method and cup plate method. The results showed that licorice decoction 33gr/dl by disk diffusion method inhibited growth of helicobacter pylori in vitro the same as metronidazole.[P value=0.709] However, it does not have anti bacterial activity against helicobacter pylori like amoxicillin and clarythromycin [Pvalue-0.000]. Decoction licorice [20gr/dl, 33gr/dl] can not be used as an alternative to choice antibiotic [amoxicillin, clarythromycin] in vitro