[Assessment of knowledge and beliefs' barriers to living with type 2 diabetes and its related factors]

Living with type 2 diabetes is a big challenge. In this regards, concentration on patients' knowledge and beliefs are main components of planning for living with the disease. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and beliefs' barriers to living with type 2 diabetes and its related factors. This was a cross sectional study conducted with 600 patients selected using random sampling. Data gathering tool was consisted of two sections: demographic and health related items, diabetes control index as HbA[1C] [10 items], and the questionnaire of knowledge and beliefs barriers [10 items]. Interviews were performed to collect the data. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyze data. Mean and standard deviation of patients' knowledge and beliefs' barriers was 31.26 and 7.61, respectively. There were significant relationships between patients' knowledge and beliefs' barriers and disease duration, level of education, type of treatment, occupation, age groups, income and HbA1C [P<0.001]. Results of the logistic regression model revealed that odds ratio of knowledge and beliefs' barriers had a significant relationship with disease duration [P=0.001], under diploma education [P<0.001], Insulin therapy [P=0.004], mixed therapy of oral agents and insulin [P=0.02], age more than 65 years old [P=0.001] and poor diabetes control [P<0.001]. The severity of patients' knowledge and beliefs barriers had a significant relationship with elderly age, disease duration, less education, non-oral agents' therapy, and poor diabetes control. Conducting experimental studies on the factors in patients with type 2 diabetes is suggested

[Optimization of solid phase micro-extraction [SPME] for monitoring occupational exposure to ethyl benzene]

Analytical methods for volatile organic compounds [VOCs] in different samples need extraction of compounds by applying hazardous solvents. Solid phase micro-extraction [SPME] is a solvent-free equilibrium extraction method in which proper calibration can allow quantitative determinations of VOCs at a very good sensitivity without the use of any organic solvent. VOCs are generally present in urine only at trace levels therefore a sensitive procedure is needed for their trace determinations. Throughout this study headspace solid phase micro-extraction [HS-SPME] was followed by GC-FID for ethyl benzene in spiked urine was optimized. In this study the parameters influencing SPME and gas chromatography of ethyl benzene including extraction time temperature desorption temperature desorption time salt addition sample pH sample volume and sample agitation were investigated. Extraction procedure was performed at 30°C for 6 min using 0.2 gmL[-1] of NaCl in the sample solution. The sample volume and sample pH were optimized at 5 ml and 7 [neutral pH] respectively. Desorption of the ethyl benzene was carried out for 60 sec. at 250°C. The method was also validated with three different spiked urine samples and illustrated an appropriate reproducibility over six consecutive days as well as six within-day experiments. During this investigation parameters of accuracy linearity and detection limits of the procedure were also evaluated. The developed method of HS- SPME-GC-FID proved to be a simple convenient and practical procedure and was successfully used for measuring of ethyl benzene in spiked urine

Trace analysis of xylene in occupational exposures monitoring

Determination of organic pollutants usually requires extraction of the pollutants from samples, using hazardous solvent. Solid phase micro-extraction [SPME] is a solvent-free equilibrium extraction method, in which, proper calibration can allow quantitative measurements of organic pollutants at a very good sensitivity without the use of any organic solvent. Because individual VOCs are generally present in urine only at trace levels, a sensitive and accurate determination technique is essential. This study describes the optimization of headspace solid phase micro-extraction [HS-SPME] followed by gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector [GC-FID] for xylene in spiked urine. Through this investigation, the parameters affecting the extraction and GC determination of xylene, including extraction time, temperature, desorption temperature, desorption time, salt addition, sample pH, sample volume and sample agitation were studied. An optimized headspace extraction was carried out at 30°C for 6 min in presence of 0.2 gml-1 of NaCl in the sample solution. Desorption of the xylene was carried out for 60 sec. at 250°C. The optimized procedure was also validated with three different pools of spiked urine samples and showed a good reproducibility over six consecutive days as well as six within-day experiments. In this study, the accuracy, linearity, and detection limits were also determined. The HS-SPME-GC-FID technique provided a relatively simple, convenient, practical procedure, which can be successfully applied for determination of xylene in spiked urine when an occupational exposure monitoring is required

Solid phase microextraction for trace analysis of urinary benzene in environmental monitoring

Conventional analytical method for organic pollutants in water requires extraction of the pollutants, using hazardous solvent. Solid phase microextraction is a solvent free equilibrium extraction method, in which, proper calibration can allow quantitative determinations of organic pollutants at a very good sensitivity without the use of any organic solvent. Because individual volatile organic carbons are generally exposed environmentally and present in urine only at trace levels, a sensitive and accurate determination technique is essential. So, this study describes the optimization of headspace solid phase microextraction [HS-SPME] followed by GC-FID for benzene in spiked urine. Through this investigations, the parameters affecting the extraction and gas chromatographic determination of analytes, including extraction time, temperature, desorption temperature, desorption time, salt addition, sample pH, sample volume and sample agitation were studied. An optimized headspace extraction was carried out at 30°C for 6 min in the presence of 0.2 g/mL of NaCl in the sample solution. Desorption of the analytes was carried out for 60 sec. at 250°C. The optimized procedure was also validated with three different pools of spiked urine samples and showed a good reproducibility over six consecutive days as well as six within-day experiments. The accuracy, linearity, detection limits were also determined. The headspace solid phase microextraction, GC-FID technique provides a relatively simple, convenient, practical procedure, which was here successfully applied to determine benzene in spiked urine