Environmental sustainability assessment of wooden furniture produced in Pakistan / Avaliação da sustentabilidade ambiental de móveis de madeira produzidos no Paquistão

Abstract Life cycle assessment was carried out for a conventional wooden furniture set produced in Mardan division of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan during 2018-19. Primary data regarding inputs and outputs were collected through questionnaire surveys from 100 conventional wooden furniture set manufacturers, 50 in district Mardan and 50 in district Swabi. In the present study, cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment approach was applied for a functional unit of one conventional wooden furniture set. Production weighted average data were modelled in the environmental impacts modelling software i.e., SimaPro v.8.5. The results showed that textile used in sofa set, wood preservative for polishing and preventing insects attack and petrol used in generator had the highest contribution to all the environmental impact categories evaluated. Total cumulative energy demand for wooden furniture set manufactured was 30,005 MJ with most of the energy acquired from non-renewable fossil fuel resources.

Resumo A abordagem de avaliação do ciclo de vida foi realizada para um conjunto de móveis de madeira convencional produzido na divisão Mardan da província de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa do Paquistão durante 2018-19. Os dados primários sobre entradas e saídas foram coletados por meio de pesquisas por questionário de 100 fabricantes de conjuntos de móveis de madeira convencionais, 50 no distrito de Mardan e 50 no distrito de Swabi. No presente estudo, a abordagem de avaliação do ciclo de vida do berço ao portão foi aplicada para uma unidade funcional de um conjunto de móveis de madeira convencional. Os dados da média ponderada da produção foram modelados no software de modelagem de impactos ambientais, isto é, SimaPro v.8.5. Os resultados mostraram que os têxteis usados ​​no conjunto de sofás, o preservativo de madeira para polir e prevenir o ataque de insetos e a gasolina usada no gerador tiveram a maior contribuição em todas as categorias de impacto ambiental avaliadas. A demanda total acumulada de energia para o conjunto de móveis de madeira fabricado foi de 30.005 MJ, com a maior parte da energia adquirida de recursos de combustíveis fósseis não renováveis.

Environmental sustainability assessment of wooden furniture produced in Pakistan

Abstract Life cycle assessment was carried out for a conventional wooden furniture set produced in Mardan division of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan during 2018-19. Primary data regarding inputs and outputs were collected through questionnaire surveys from 100 conventional wooden furniture set manufacturers, 50 in district Mardan and 50 in district Swabi. In the present study, cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment approach was applied for a functional unit of one conventional wooden furniture set. Production weighted average data were modelled in the environmental impacts modelling software i.e., SimaPro v.8.5. The results showed that textile used in sofa set, wood preservative for polishing and preventing insects attack and petrol used in generator had the highest contribution to all the environmental impact categories evaluated. Total cumulative energy demand for wooden furniture set manufactured was 30,005 MJ with most of the energy acquired from non-renewable fossil fuel resources.

Resumo A abordagem de avaliação do ciclo de vida foi realizada para um conjunto de móveis de madeira convencional produzido na divisão Mardan da província de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa do Paquistão durante 2018-19. Os dados primários sobre entradas e saídas foram coletados por meio de pesquisas por questionário de 100 fabricantes de conjuntos de móveis de madeira convencionais, 50 no distrito de Mardan e 50 no distrito de Swabi. No presente estudo, a abordagem de avaliação do ciclo de vida do berço ao portão foi aplicada para uma unidade funcional de um conjunto de móveis de madeira convencional. Os dados da média ponderada da produção foram modelados no software de modelagem de impactos ambientais, isto é, SimaPro v.8.5. Os resultados mostraram que os têxteis usados no conjunto de sofás, o preservativo de madeira para polir e prevenir o ataque de insetos e a gasolina usada no gerador tiveram a maior contribuição em todas as categorias de impacto ambiental avaliadas. A demanda total acumulada de energia para o conjunto de móveis de madeira fabricado foi de 30.005 MJ, com a maior parte da energia adquirida de recursos de combustíveis fósseis não renováveis.

Serum Vitamin D level in Jordanian patients with exfoliation syndrome and exfoliative glaucoma / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To compare the level of serum Vitamin D in patients with exfoliation syndrome (XFS) and exfoliative glaucoma (XFG) with that in control subjects. METHODS: Serum levels of 25 - hydroxy Vitamin D ( Vitamin D ) were measured using liquid chromatography. Variables like age, sex and medical history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease were reported. RESULTS:This study included a total of 55 patients with XFS/XFG and 60 control subjects. Patients with XFS/XFG were significantly older than control subjects (mean age:71.8y vs 67. 5y, P = 0. 002). Gender distribution was similar. The prevalence rates of diabetes, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean of Vitamin D was 14.7 ng/mL for patients with XFS/XFG and 14. 9 ng/mL for control subjects with no significant difference. Although Vitamin D level was lower in the XFS/XFG group but multivariate analysis did not show significant difference in Vitamin D deficiency between the two groups after adjusting for age,gender,and medical conditions. CONCLUSION:The outcomes of our study are different from those in the literature. Vitamin D levels were low in both the XFS/XFG group and the control group being lower in the first one but that difference was not statistically significant. XFS and Vitamin D deficiency share common associations with certain systemic diseases. Further studies with larger numbers are needed to elaborate more on these associations and to support further the controversial literature.

Clinical association of localized intraventricular conduction defect

A prospective study was organized to clarify the clinical association of localized intraventricular conductions [LIVCD]. Fifty patients with symptoms suggesting cardiac origin were studied and subjected to chest X-ray, E.C.G, holter ambulatory monitoring, and treadmill test. The results showed that LIVCD seems to be acquired. Ischemic heart disease constituted the most frequent associated condition [42%]. Hypertension not associated with ischemia constituted the next frequent condition [30%]. Obesity and diabetes mellitus account for [10% and 8%], respectively. No definite association could be found in the remaining 10% of cases, a finding which might be related to other factors e.g. sclerodegenerative affection, myocaraditis, cardiomyopathy. Indeed patients with LIVCD are in need for long-term follow up to monitor the progression of this condition to other types of intraventricular conduction defects

Clinical significance of plasma fibrinogen level in acute myocardial infarction

Plasma fibrinogen and serum cardiac enzymes have been evaluated in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Our results showed that plasma fibrinogen and cardiac enzymes were significantly higher in patients with Q-wave myocardial infarction in comparison with non Q-wave infarction. Furthermore, plasma fibrinogen tended to be significantly higher in patients with complicated Q-wave infarction, and it showed a multimodal pattern in its values during the course of illness. We conclude that plasma fibrinogen can serve as a good diagnostic and prognostic parameter for Q-wave myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction in patients of 45 years and under in comparison with elderly patients

Our study was conducted on 365 patients with acute myocardiai infarction [MI] Patients were examined and were followed during their stay in hospital. Fifty patients were young [<45 years], 257 patients were middle aged [46-69 years] and were elderly [>=70 years]. Eight-eight% of the young were male, of whom 4% had a history of ischemic heart disease [IHD] which was significantly less than other age groups. A part from male preponderance, other traditional risk factors were not significantly different from other age groups them location was not different among age groups. The inhospital complication rate was less in the young than older age groups. occurrence of congestive heart failure increased with age. Conduction defects rarely occurred in young, while arrhymias occurred with significant differences among all age groups. Only two% of the young died, compared to 14% of middle aged and 36% of elderly patients

Clinical associations of left bundle branch block

Fifty patients [24males and females, mean age 61.24 +/- 10.4 years] were used to investigate the clinical associations of left bundle branch block, these associations include cardiac and non-cardiac evaluated by electrocardiographic analysis of frontal plane QRS axis, and echocardiographic studies. The results showed that coronary artery disease and hypertension were most common clinical associated diseases which accounted for 80% of patients while 12% of patients had benign left bundle branch block. Left axis deviation, associated with left ventricular dysfunction, was in 38% of the patients. We conclude that left bundle branch block exist, with very high percentage, in patients with cardiovascular diseases and it might imply a poor left ventricular function particularly in those with left axis deviation

use of arteriolar vasodilator in the management of advanced congestive heart failure

This study reports on therapeutic effect of hydralazine in the management of advanced congestive heart failure [ACHF] in Iraq. One hundred patients, with ACHF [class 4 of NYHA classification] were studied pressure, and the physical fitness for walking were taken as a follow up indicator for beneficial effect. Three months follow up after treatment showed that 50% of patients were stepped up to class 3 of NYHA. Six months follow up showed that 52% were in a good condition, and were satisfy the class 2 of NYHA. One year later 68% of the total patients were survived and they were stepped up, at least, one class of NYHA. Two years follow up showed that 60% of total patients were still surviving with 42% of them satisfy the criteria of class 2 of NYHA. The remaining patients of the total surviving [i.e. 18%] were in class 3 of NYHA. The mortality rate was 10%, 15% and 25% after 6 months, one year, and two years of treatment respectively. Incidence of sudden death was 5% among all patients through the 2 years period of study. As a result of the improvement in clinical states and reduction in mortality, hydralazine would be recommended to be used in the management of congestive heart failure

Occult arrythmias and cardiac related symptoms in apparently healthy individuals

A prospective study was organized to clarify the role of ambulatory electrocardiograph [ECG] in detecting cardiac arrhythmias in symptomatic individuals. One hundred and fifty individuals with symptoms suggesting cardiac origin were subjected to Holter ambulatory ECG. The results showed that 93% of total individuals subjected to the study had had cardiac arrhythmias with significant [p>0.001] higher% of atrial and ventricular ectopics. There were no significant differences[p>0.05] in the clinical presentations and in the incidence of arrhythmias between males and females. However there was significant [p<0.001] correlation between the progression of age up to 30-40 years and incidence of cardiac arrhythmias. Results of this study clearly suggest that young symptomatic individuals should be monitored by Holter ECG to exclude cardiac arrhythmias