Aerobic thermophilic treatment of landfill leachate in a moving-bed biofilm bioreactor

In the present study the landfill leachate obtained from Tabriz Landfill site was first treated in a suspended growth activated sludge bioreactor which then was turned to a moving-bed biofilm bioreactor under thermophilic conditions [50 Degree C]. The average Soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand [SCOD] removal ranged from 70% to 62% as Organic Loading Rate [OLR] increased from 0.454 to 4.678 kgCOD/[m[3].d]. Hydraulic Retention Time [HRT] values were set to 12, 14, 16.8, and 21 h. The recycle ratio of biomass ranged from 1 to 1.5. The total biomass concentration was in the range of 2600-3100 mg/L of which 60-65 percent was in the form of biofilm. It was COD removal efficiency was 5% to 10% higher in moving-bed biofilm operation compared to suspended growth one at the same OLR and HRT. Respirometry experiments revealed that readily biodegradable organic compounds accounted for 5.7% and 5.2% of substrate under thermophilic and mesophilic conditions, respectively. The maximum resulting oxygen uptake rates were 0.21 mgO[2]/[L.min] and 0.16 mgO[2]/[L.min] under thermophilic and mesophilic conditions, respectively

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in thalassemic patients of East Azarbaijan in 2003

Patients with major beta-thalassemia have been exposed to a wide range of blood-borne viruses among which hepatitis B and C viruses have a considerable importance. In this study, seroprevalence and risk factor of HBV, HCV and HIV infections among thalassemic patients of East Azarbaijan were evaluated. Eighty four thalassemic patients who were regularly transfused at Children Hospital [Tabriz] enrolled in this observational study. Some data were collected through questionnaires and patients' medical history; then, patients were evaluated for the presence of HCVAb, HBsAg, HIVAb, HBsAb, HBcAb and ferritin by ELISA; moreover, HCV positive sera were confirmed by Recombinant Immunoblot Assay [RIBA-3.0]. None of the eighty-four thalassemic patients were HIV and HBV positive; however, 6 [7.1%] were HCV positive. Distribution of sex and the mean ferritin did not differ from HCV-positive to HCV-negative patients, but the age average was significantly higher in HC V-positive patients [p<0.001]. Moreover, HCV-positive patients had a significantly longer history of transfusion compared with HCV-negative patients [p<0.001]. The prevalence of HCV in those patients who had received their first blood transfusion before the implementation of compulsory testing for HCV in 1995 was significantly lower. In other words, no case became infected after the initiation of donor screening test for HCV.The prevalence of HCV in thalassemic patients of East Azarbaijan was lower compared to other provinces of Iran and all positive cases in this study went back to the time period preceeding 1995 that is before the implementation of compulsory HCV screening tests

[ relative frequency of the epithelial cell abnormalities in the cervicovaginal smears of women referring to Medical Center Of Al-Zahra Hospital Of Isfahan from 1996-2001]

Objective: the goal of this research is to study the relative frequency of different types of epithelial cell abnormalities in cervicovaginal smears

Material and methods: this descriptive-retrospective study was carried out in Al-zahra Hospital of Isfahan University during the period 1996-2001.538 satisfactory cervicovaginal smears by using the Bethesda classifiction system are reviewed

Results: of the 538 cervicovaginal smears, 115[21.37%] were normal. Others were reactive changes: 372 [69.14%], ASCUS: 30 [5.75%], LSIL: 9] [1.97%], HSIL: 3 [0.55%], SCC: 1] [0.18%], benign endometrial cells in post menopausal women: 4[0.74%], AGUS: 1] [0.18%], Endometrial adenocarcinoma: 1] [0.18%] and extrauterine adenocarcinoma: 2] [0.36%]. Endocervical adenocarcinoma is not identifiedin this study

Conclusion: ASCUS results [5.75%] are compatible with universal standards. The carcinoma results differ with other countries. It is estimated that the screening programs in adenocarcinoma are not effective as squamous cell carcinoma