ABSTRACT
Background: Environmental contamination by chromium [Cr] has become an important issue due to its adverse effects on human health and environment. This study was done to evaluate the application of modified bentonite using sulfuric acid as an adsorbent in the removal of hexavalent Cr from aqueous solution
Methods: Adsorbent features were determined using x-ray diffraction [XRD], fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy [FTIR] and scanning electron microscope [SEM] techniques. Thereafter, the effect of pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage and different concentrations of Cr was investigated. The experimental data was fitness in terms of kinetic and equilibrium adsorption processes
Results: The maximum capacity [Qm] of Cr[VI] according to Langmuir model was obtained at 4.21 mg/g. The experimental data properly obeyed the Longmuir and pseudo-second-order models. The highest percentage of Cr[VI] adsorption was observed at pH = 3 and the process after 60 minutes reached the equilibrium state
Conclusion: In Langmuir expression, the dimensionless constant separation term [RL] values for the adsorption of Cr onto the modified bentonite was in the range of 0-1, indicating that the adsorption is a favorable process and the modified bentonite has good potential in removing hexavalent Cr using sulfuric acid
ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that is commonly caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. As Kurdistan province is close to Iraq [risky due to political instability in recent years], the Bane city had high interaction with Iraq, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of tuberculosis in Bane [Kurdistan] between 2003 and 2010. This descriptive longitudinal study was done from 2003 to 2010. The number of people with TB was 94 cases taken from the registry. The data included age, sex, type of isease, age and place of registration. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods through SPSS 20 software. Among the 94 cases recorded in this analysis, the women had higher percentage than men [41.49 percent and 58.51 for men and women, respectively] and the incidence rates were found to be 7.93 in men and 11.64 in women 100000 persons; therefore, there were significant differences between men and women [a p-value <0.01] in all patients in this study. Fifty five percent were from the urban and some others the rural areas and 98.9 percent of them were from Iran. The incidence rate of tuberculosis in females is higher than males. In addition, the average delay time of symptoms to diagnosis was 191 days, so this time, it is relatively high because TB is an infectious disease. [Yazdani Charati J. Moradi M. The study of Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Bane[Kurdistan] between 2003 and 2010. IJHS 2013; 1[1]: 8-12] http:/jhs.mazums.ac.ir
ABSTRACT
Cartilage tissue has limited regenerative capacity and the management of cartilage defects has always been a challenging issue. Platelet-rich plasma [PRP] has been recently been used to improve healing of cartilage defects. In the present experiment, we aimed to investigate the effects of PRP on regeneration capacity as well as survival of the cartilage grafts in a rabbit model. In 15 white New Zealand rabbits, auricular cartilage was used to produce 4 pieces of cartilage [each about 2×2 cm]. Two samples were diced to small pieces and 2 samples left intact. PRP was prepared using 5 ml of auricular blood. After measuring of the weight and volume of cartilages, they mixed with either normal saline or PRP and then implanted on the back of the rabbit. After 12 weeks, the implants were removed and the weight and volume were measured and the numbers of nucleated lacunae were counted on H and E staining. Histological findings showed that in both the intact and diced cartilages, adding PRP resulted in increasing regeneration of chondrocytes. Moreover, adding PRP to intact cartilages had a significant effect in maintaining the grafts 'weight and volume [p<0.05] but in diced cartilages, this effect was not significant. Our findings yielded valuable information on the effect of PRP on survival and regeneration of autologous cartilage grafts as the extent of angiogenesis and the diameters of vessels were more pronounced in the side using PRP and markedly lesser reduction of weight and volume were visible in this group. PRP was effective in increasing survival and regeneration capacity of cartilage grafts in rabbit model