ABSTRACT
Background: Traffic noise is one of the major sources of environmental pollution that can cause permanent or temporary loss of hearing in drivers. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hearing loss among professional long-distance drivers in Bandar Abbas freight terminal
Methods: One thousand long distance occupational drivers in Bandar Abbas freight terminal not certified by underlying medical conditions were selected for this study. The demographic background, experience, type and kind of vehicles were recorded in a check list. Audiometry test was done at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz using Welton 1300 audiometer equipped with AD-19 supra-aural earphones. Statistical analysis was done using analysis of variance [ANOVA]
Results: The age, experience, vehicle kind and weight of drivers were 34.02 +/- 13.19, 8.21 +/- 7.84, and 8.73 +/- 6.12 years and 68.30 +/- 15.61 kg. Approximately 52% of drivers studied had a degree of hearing loss. The most common type of hearing loss was sensorineural with mild loss of 69% and 70.9% for the left and right ears, respectively
Conclusion: Periodic medical examination with emphasis on the audiometry can be a way of diagnosing hearing loss in the drivers In addition to providing training courses for the drivers on hearing protection, the use of ear muffs equipment in the truck noise can also be considered as a solution
ABSTRACT
Appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies. In spite of the relatively high rate of negative appendectomy, as a result of miss diagnosis, uncertainty of diagnosis still continues to challenge physicians. The objective of this prospective study was to investigate the role of [99m]Tc-Ubiquicidin [UBI] scintigraphy in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and to compare [99m]Tc-UBI scintigraphy with [99m]Tc-IgG scintigraphy. Twelve patients with right lower quadrant pain and suspicious of acute appendicitis were referred to the nuclear medicine imaging center. Radionuclide imaging was performed with [99m]Tc-UBI in 8 and [99m]Tc-IgG in 4 patients. Ultrasonography, Alvarado scoring and histopathological examinations were also performed as additional diagnostic tests. Reports from [99m]Tc-IgG and [99m]Tc-UBI scintigraphies of all patients were negative. This study may conclude that [99m]Tc-IgG scintigraphy and [99m]Tc-UBI scintigraphy in the detection of appendicitis do not have adequate efficacy. However, in order to better evaluate [99m]Tc-IgG and [99m]Tc-UBI scintigraphy, a comprehensive study on a large number of patients with clinical suspicious of acute appendicitis would be more helpful
ABSTRACT
Background: Pre-chlorination of raw water containing natural organic matters may lead to forming harmful disinfection by-products such as trihalomethanes [THMs], the measurement of which needs expensive advanced analytical instruments. This study was conducted to anticipate THMs formation potential in Bandar Abbas drinking water system using cheap and simple experiments and a mathematical model
Methods: In a 24 week sampling program, 96 samples were collected weekly from raw water [RW], clarification [CE], filtration [FE], and disinfection effluent [DE]. After measuring the Dissolved Organic Carbon [DOC], residual chlorine, contact time, temperature and pH of water, THMs concentration was calculated using a mathematical model
Results: The means of DOC concentration in RW, CE, FE and DE were 5.56, 4.21, 3.50, and 3.01 [mg/l], respectively. The mean of temperature values varied from 22.28 in RW to 21.25 in DE and the mean of pH variations was measured from 6.75 in DE to 8.37 in CE. Also, the mean of residual chlorine concentration was 0.0 to 1.72 in RW and DE, respectively
Conclusion: The means of calculated THMs were 37.92 +/- 4.82microg/l, 51.15 +/- 9.44microg/l, and 52.71 +/- 8.37microg/l for CE, FE, and DE respectively; this did not meet the related EPA standard [30-40microg/l]; therefore, further detailed studies should be conducted to resolve the consumers' concerns in this regard
ABSTRACT
Background: This study aimed to determine the efficiency of the intermittent cycle extended aeration system [ICEAS] and the removal conditions of treating contaminants, especially nitrogen phosphorus from sea shopping center wastewater
Methods: Experiment was carried out on fish distribution center of Bandar Abbas and 30 samples were collected in a 6 month period from the inlet of the market septic tank. The used pilot study carried out consisted of two zones: pre-react and main react zones. They were divided using a baffle wall. Firstly, wastewater enters a pre-react zone and then through the opening at the bottom of the baffle wall it enters the main react zone. The experiment was carried out with three simultaneous cycles per day
Results: The results showed that the mean of BOD5, COD, phosphorus, and nitrate and nitrite removal was 91.5, 86.7, 59.5, 49, and 80.8 percent, respectively
Conclusion: It was shown that the system is able to remove nitrogen and phosphorus almost similar to other proprietary phosphorus removal processes and with lower cost; however, it is not a proprietary process
ABSTRACT
To report normal interpupillary distance [IPD] values in different age groups of an Iranian population. This study was performed on 1,500 randomly selected subjects from 3,260 consecutive out-patients with refractive errors referred to Farabi Eye Hospital, Isfahan, Iran over a period of two years [2008 to 2010]. Measurement of refractive errors and IPD for far distance were performed using an autorefractometer [RMA-3000 autorefractometer, Topcon, Tokyo, Japan]. Mean IPD in adult subjects was 61.1 +/- 3.5 mm in women and 63.6 +/- 3.9 mm in men [p<0.001]. Mean IPD increased 4.8 mm during the second decade, 1.7 mm during the third decade, and 0.6 mm during the fourth and fifth decades of life. The observed increase in IPD after the age of 30 years indicates that factors other than skeletal growth may affect this parameter.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of two-step versus single application of mitomycin-C [MMC] during photorefractive keratectomy [PRK] for high myopia
Methods: This randomized clinical trial included consecutive patients with high myopia [exceeding 7 D]. Patients underwent PRK and were randomized to two methods of MMC 0.02% application as follows: in the single application group, MMC was applied for 45 seconds followed by irrigation; in the two-step group MMC was used identically followed by repeat application for another 15 seconds and corneal surface irrigation. Visual acuity, refractive error, pachymetry, topography, corneal haze and complications were compared between the two groups 18 months after surgery
Results: One hundred and forty patients [70 subjects in either study arm] underwent PRK according to the study protocol. Mean spherical equivalent refractive error was significantly reduced from baseline to-1.16 +/- 0.39 D in the single application group and to-1.07 +/- 0.39 D in the two-step group. Sixteen [11.5%] versus 8 [5.7%] eyes lost one or more line[s] of best corrected visual acuity in the single application group as compared to the two-step group [P=0.05]. Corneal haze was observed in 18 [12.9%] and 8 [5.7%] eyes in the single application versus two-step group, respectively [P=0.04]. Grade 3 corneal haze was not observed in the two-step group but occurred in five eyes [3.6%] in the single application group [P=0.03]. No eyes developed corneal ectasia during the follow-up period. Two-step intraoperative application of MMC 0.02% in highly myopic eyes undergoing PRK can reduce the frequency and severity of haze formation
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Male , Adult , Middle Aged , Photorefractive Keratectomy , Myopia/surgery , Laser TherapyABSTRACT
To compare keratometric measurements using a Javal type manual keratometer with IOLMaster in eyes undergoing photorefractive keratectomy [PRK] for myopia. In this comparative case series, we studied patients aged 21 to 27 years scheduled for myopic PRK. Keratometry was performed preoperatively and three months after the procedure using a Javal type manual keratometer and the IOLMaster. We compared postoperative measurements obtained by both instruments with the clinical history method [CHM]. Seventy eyes of 35 patients with mean age of 23.45 +/- 1.55 years were studied. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was -4.53 +/- 1.3 D. Average preoperative IOLMaster and manual keratometric readings were 45.95 +/- 1.23 D and 46.32 +/- 1.18 D, respectively. Postoperatively, mean IOLMaster measurements was 38.03 +/- 0.68 D and that of manual keratometry was 43.15 +/- 1.1 D. Compared to CHM measurements, the 95% limits of agreement were -5.95 to -0.85 for the IOLMaster and -1.44 to 4.04 for manual keratometry. Keratometric measurements with the IOLMaster and a Javal type manual device are comparable after PRK; both are largely deviant from the CHM and can yield misleading results