The relation between physical space standards, equipment standards, safety, health care and general health issues concerning the operating room personnel in university/educational hospitals affiliated with Birjand university of medical sciences

Introduction: Occupational health and safety threats in hospitals and clinical centers are more serious due to physical and psychological factors. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between physical space standards, equipment and safety and general health of operating room personnel in hospitals affiliated to Birjand University of Medical Sciences in 2015-2016. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed in all operating rooms of Birjand University of Medical Sciences hospitals and their personnel (n = 88). Research tools included equipment standards checklist (32 questions), physical space (25 questions), health (23 questions), operating room safety (21 questions) and GHQ-28 questionnaire. Checklist validity was confirmed based on the content validity and reliability coefficient of 0.85. Data were analyzed using SPSS / 18 software, central indices and correlation tests Results: On average, 86.29% of operating room standards were observed in Birjand University of Medical Sciences hospitals. Equipment standards (89.62%) and physical space standards (82.71%) were the highest and the lowest, respectively. There was a direct and positive relationship between the general health of personnel and the different aspects of standards, meaning that the higher the standard, the higher the general health of the personnel. Only the relationship between general health of personnel and standards of physical space and equipment was statistically significant (p <0.05). Conclusion: The present study show that the occupational environment of the operating room, especially the presence of standard and safe physical space and equipment could significantly correlate with general health. Therefore, it is essential for managers to maintain physical, safety, equipment and infection control standards.

Optical isolation via 𝒫 𝒯 -symmetric nonlinear Fano resonances

We show that Fano resonances created by two 𝒫 𝒯 -symmetric nonlinear micro-resonators coupled to a waveguide, have line-shape and resonance position that depends on the direction of the incident light. We utilize these features in order to induce asymmetric transport, up to 47 dBs, in the optical C-window. Our theoretical proposal requires low input power and does not compromise the power or frequency characteristics of the output signal.

Unidirectional lasing emerging from frozen light in nonreciprocal cavities

We introduce a class of unidirectional lasing modes associated with the frozen mode regime of nonreciprocal slow-wave structures. Such asymmetric modes can only exist in cavities with broken time-reversal and space inversion symmetries. Their lasing frequency coincides with a spectral stationary inflection point of the underlying passive structure and is virtually independent of its size. These unidirectional lasers can be indispensable components of photonic integrated circuitry.

Observation of asymmetric transport in structures with active nonlinearities

A mechanism for asymmetric transport which is based on parity-time-symmetric nonlinearities is presented. We show that in contrast to the case of conservative nonlinearities, an increase of the complementary conductance strength leads to a simultaneous increase of asymmetry and transmittance intensity. We experimentally demonstrate the phenomenon using a pair of coupled Van der Pol oscillators as a reference system, each with complementary anharmonic gain and loss conductances, connected to transmission lines. An equivalent optical setup is also proposed.

Simultaneous determination of lovastatin and niacin in tablet by first and third derivative spectrophotometry and H-point standard addition methods

Most cardiovascular diseases need to be treated by more than a simple drug and the use of combination products diminishes noncompliance. Advicor(®) as a combination product of a vitamin and a fat lowering agent has no monograph in official pharmacopeias for its quality control purposes. In this study, first and third derivative signals for NA and LV quantitation at the two pairs of wavelengths, 261 and 273 nm; 245 and 249 nm were monitored with the addition of standard solutions of NA or LV, respectively. The limits of detection were 0.03 and 0.32 mg/L for LV and NA, respectively. The limits of quantitation were 0.09 and 0.78 mg/L for LV and NA, respectively. RSD% for both interday and intraday precision was lower than 2.6 and 2.7% for LV and NA, respectively. Selectivity of the method was assessed for both degradation products produced in stress conditions and common excipients that may present in the pharmaceutical dosage forms. The recommended procedure was successfully applied to real samples.

Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis A among blood donors in Qazvin, central Iran

INTRODUCTION

The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a major global health problem, especially in developing countries. Although children aged 5-14 years are the most infected age group, all age groups are equally affected in an HAV epidemic. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and related risk factors of HAV among blood donors in Qazvin, central Iran.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed in April 2008 on a total of 351 blood donors aged 17 to 60 years. Information on demographic variables and probable risk factors was recorded. The blood samples were investigated for antibodies to HAV (HAV Ab). Data was analysed using the t-test, chi-square test and Fisher's exact test to examine the factors related to HAV Ab positivity.

RESULTS

Out of the 351 blood donors, 49.0 percent (n is 172) were regular blood donors, 94.0 percent (n is 330) were male and 71.0 percent (n is 248) were married. HAV Ab was found in 94.9 percent (n is 333) of the total sample. The prevalence of HAV Ab was higher among married and older participants. It was lower among those with a high school or vocational level of education (p is less than 0.05) than among those with a lower level of education.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals a high prevalence of HAV Ab among adult blood donors in Qazvin, which indicates a high level of childhood contact with HAV in the area.

Fungicidal effect of volatile oils from Eucalyptus citriodora and its major constituent citronellal

A study was undertaken to explore the effect of volatile oils from Eucalyptus citriodora and its major constituent citronellal against two wellknown rice pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Helminthosporium oryzae The radial growth and dry weight of both the test fungi were drastically reduced in response to the volatile oils A complete inhibition of R solani and H oryzae was observed at 10 and 20 ppm respectively Citronellal alone was found to be more effective than eucalypt oils Based on the study it was concluded that eucalypt volatile oils have potential for the suppression of phytopathogenic fungi

Concentrations of natural radionuclides in imported mineral substances

Levels of natural radionuclides, such as thorium-232 (232Th), radium-226 (226Ra) and potassium-40 (40K), were determined in about 2,000 samples of imported mineral substances using gamma spectrometry. The maximum concentration levels of 232Th, 226Ra and 40K were 1,260 +/- 54, 13,400 +/- 94 and 1,256 +/- 260 Bq kg(-1), respectively, in zirconium compounds. Due to relatively high concentrations of the above-mentioned radionuclides in some imported mineral substances, the National Radiation Protection Department (NRPD), as the competent authority, has established national limits (900 Bq kg(-1) for 232Th, 1800 Bq kg(-1) for 226Ra and 11,000 Bq kg(-1) for 40K), based on the external exposures, for general importation permits of these materials.