[ frequency of episiotomy and its related factors]

Despite routine episiotomy is questioned in specialized midwifery books for more than a decade, this method is still routinely performed in Iran. In addition to increasing health care costs it will increase the workload of nursing and midwifery. This study was done with the aim of determining the frequency of episiotomy and its related factors in a labor ward in Sari city. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample [n=915], women referred to Labor ward of Emam Khomeini hospital of Sari city in Iran were recruited by census during 2007. Data was collected using an information sheet including three parts of demographic characteristics of women, obstetrical characteristics and probable related factors of episiotomy, and the type of delivery [with or without episiotomy]. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, X[2] and Mantel-Haenszel tests using SPSS-PC [v.16]. Episiotomy was performed in 812 cases [88.7%]. There was a significant relationship between episiotomy and maternal age [P=0.023], Parity [P=0.01], the first minute APGAR score [P=0.003], fifth minute APGAR score [P=0.000], and birth weight [P=0.000]. There was no relationship between prolonged second stage, use of forceps and vacuum, neonatal head circumference, maternal literacy and residency. Regarding the routine use of episiotomy in some labor wards, and in order to physiologic management of labor and creating a good experience for mothers, it is suggested that episiotomy only be performed on the basis of indication. It will also reduce mortality, complications, and the health care costs and also nurses' and midwives' workload

Degradation of trace aqueous 4-chloro-2-nitrophenol occurring in pharmaceutical industrial wastewater by ozone

Degradation of 4-chloro-2-nitro phenol by ozonation in aqueous solution was studied in a semi batch reactor under constant ozone dosage and variable pH conditions. The effectiveness of the process was estimated based on the degree of conversion of 4-chloro-2-nitro phenol. It was observed that ozonation is more effective at alkaline reaction of medium than other conditions. The degree of conversion achieved [at the first 5 minutes of the process] at pH 9 was 99.64% compared to 99.03% and 77.35% at pH 7 and 3, respectively. Another parameter used to quantify the 4-chloro-2-nitrophenol during ozonation was the pseudo first order rate constant k [min[-1]]. Results showed that the rate constant of the process was approximately much higher at the alkaline pH compared to acidic ones. A considerable improvement in chemical oxygen demand removal was observed at pH above 7. At pH 9, the reduction in chemical oxygen demand at the end of the process reached 56.9%. The degree of organically bounded nitrogen conversion to nitrate was higher at pH 3. Of the total organic carbon reduction, 15.89% was observed at pH 9. The 4-chloro-2-nitro phenol degradation intermediate products were analyzed by mass- spectrometry. The main intermediate product was chlorophenol

[Molecular diagnosis of B cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma by evaluation of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement]

Rearrangement of V, D, and J segments of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene with inserted or deleted nucleotides within rearranged segments makes unique hypervariable regions [CDR-3]. These regions can be used for evaluation of B cell clonality for the purpose of molecular diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma [NHL] and for confirmatory diagnosis in suspicious cases. In this study, samples of 42 patients were collected from Taleghani, Baqhiyatalah, and Aliasghar hospitals; out of this number, there were 22 patients with diagnosis of B cell NHL, 10 with reactive hyperplasia, and 10 with malignant lymphoma. After DNA extraction from formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues, PCR was done using consensus primers for amplification of CDR-3 region. PCR products were analyzed after heteroduplex analysis using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver stain. Results Clonal patterns in group 1 [B cell NHL], 2 [reactive and follicular hyperplasia], and 3 [morphological diagnosis without immunohistochemistry] were observed in 77.2%, 0%, and 70% of patients, respectively. Our findings are compatible with other international studies with minor differences. The diagnosis of B-cell lymphoid malignancy can frequently be substantiated by detecting clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain [IGH] gene rearrangement