An investigation on As, Cd, Mo and Cu contents of soils surrounding the Meyduk tailings dam

The contents of As, Cd, Cu and Mo were determined in soil surrounding Meyduk tailings dam based on 21 surface soil samples. Assessment of toxic element pollution in studied soil samples needs knowledge of pre-anthropogenic metal concentration to act as a reference against which measured values could be compared. Estimating the background values was executed by sampling rocks adjacent to soil sampling stations. Various indices including enrichment factor [EF], pollution load index [PLI], modified contamination degree [mCd] and geoaccumulation index [I geo] were used for determining the contamination level of soil in the vicinity of tailings impoundment under the effect of the tailings dust. Anthropogenic pollution was diagnosed from natural one by sequential extraction done by Tessier et al method and calculating pollution intensity index [l poli]. The results indicate a significant upward enrichment in northeastern and southwestern surface soil around the tailings dam for Cd and Cu. The dominant wind direction demonstrated that only the contamination of southwestern soil around the tailings dam would be attributed to tailings dust while the dispersive dusts scattered after the mine explosions generally affected the northeastern part

prevalence of M. tuberculosis infection and disease in HIV positive individuals in Shiraz, Southern Iran

The emergence of HIV infection and its close association with TB poses an even greater challenge to the health systems and when co-infection is present, it is the most potent risk factor for progression of the disease to an active TB. This study was performed to determine the HIV-seropositive individuals with Mycobacterial infection referring to Center for Counseling and Behavioral Modification in Shiraz, southern Iran. From January 2004 to December 2006, 459 HIV-positive individuals who referred to Center for Counseling and Behavioral Modification in Shiraz, Southern Iran were enrolled. HIV antibody tests included ELISA and western blot tests, and the tests used for M. tuberculosis infection were PPD skin test, chest x-ray, Ziehl-Neelsen technique, culture in Lowenstein-Jensen medium and pathological examination. 28.5% of HIV-positive individuals had a positive PPD skin test, among whom 89.3% showed a latent tuberculosis infection and 10.7% active tuberculosis. 7.9% of HIV positive patients had active tuberculosis including pulmonary [75.8%] and extrapulmonary types [24.2%]. Among the latter cases, 62.5% had TB lymphadenitis, 25% pericarditis and 12.5% TB pleuritis. 40% of those with pulmonary tuberculosis and 50% with exptrapulmonary TB had a positive PPD skin test. As tuberculosis is a common opportunistic infection in HIV-positive patients in Iran with a higher prevalence of extrapulmonary type and the complex clinical presentation of disease, HIV-positive patients should be regularly screened for tuberculosis. Early recognition of latent tuberculosis infection and adequate chemoprophylaxis seem to be essential too

[Comparing the effects of three heparinization methods of hemodialysis set on the amount of clot formation during hemodialysis]

Nowadays, the most important aspect of hemodialysis is the technical method of anticoagulation of extracorporeal circuit. This quasi-experimental study was performed to compare three methods of heparinization in the extracorporeal circulation.Twenty-seven hemodialysis patients referring to Rafsanjan Hemodialysis Center with the weight range of 50-90 kg and normal Clotting Time and Partial Thromboplastine Time were selected and underwent three methods of anticoagulation rotatively. In the first method, only a single bolus injection of heparin [5000 IU] at the beginning of hemodialysis was applied. In the second method a primary bolus of heparin [2000 IU] followed by heparin infusion [1000 IU/hour] from the beginning of second hour to the end of third hour was used. In the third method, a single bolus injection at the beginning of hemodialysis and another injection [2500 IU] at the end of the second hour were applied. The amount of clot formation was evaluated at the end of the hemodialysis session by visual inspection. The amount of clot formation in the first method [%92.6] was significantly more than those in the second and third methods [P<0.05]. Although the first method is currently being used in some hemodialysis centers, it is not safe and accurate in comparison to the other two methods