Levels of airborne biological agents and related factors in indoor environments of fish toxicity laboratory

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 1553-1563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Ho Hwang ◽  
Dong Uk Park ◽  
Chung Sik Yoon
2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Ho Hwang ◽  
Dong Uk Park ◽  
Kwon Chul Ha ◽  
Hyun Woo Cho ◽  
Chung Sik Yoon

AimsTo evaluate concentrations of airborne bacteria in university laboratories, hospital diagnostic laboratories, and a biowaste site in Seoul, Korea. To measure total airborne bacteria (TAB), the authors assessed sampling site, type of ventilation system, weather and detection of Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), indoors and outdoors.MethodAn Andersen one-stage sampler (Quick Take 30; SKC Inc) was used to sample air at a flow rate of 28.3 l/min for 5 min on nutrient medium in Petri dishes located on the impactor. A total of 236 samples (TAB, 109 indoor and nine outdoor; GNB, 109 indoor and nine outdoor) were collected three times in each spot from the 11 facilities to compare airborne bacteria concentrations.ResultsTAB concentrations ranged from undetectable to 3451 CFU/m3 (mean 384 CFU/m3), and GNB concentrations from undetectable to 394 CFU/m3 (mean 17 CFU/m3). TAB concentrations were high in window-ventilated facilities and facilities in which GNB were detected; concentrations were also high when it was rainy (all p values <0.05). TAB concentrations correlated significantly with GNB (r=0.548, p<0.01), number of bacteria species (r=0.351, p<0.01) and temperature (r=0.297, p<0.01). The presence of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), the number of TAB species and the detection of GNB affect TAB concentrations in laboratories.ConclusionsIt is recommended that special attention be given to regular control of indoor environments to improve the air quality of university and hospital laboratories.


Author(s):  
Waffa Aswaq Al-Shammari

Objective: To measure an association between factors related to indoor air pollution and CVD in the Hail population of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A case control study was conducted in King Khalid hospitals. Convenience and random sampling techniques were used to recruit cases and controls. Structured Questionnaire was used to collect data from 302 CVD cases and 300 controls. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 24.0 statistical software. Results: The bivariate analysis showed significant association between (i) socio-demographic characteristics (ii) air quality and occupation related variables (iii) ventilation and cooking related factors and (iv) exposure of different types of smoke, and CVD (p<0.001).  The independent risk factors of CVD by Multivariate logistic regression analysis with adjusted odds ratios of variables are:  age groups (25-50 & >50 years) (2.95&22.84); education level (uneducated & primary) (4.39&2.64); cigarette smoking (1.89); shisha smoking (2.12), exposed to cigarette smoke (2.50); burning scented wood (3.09), burning of mosquito repellent (2.18) and kitchen type (2.83) (p<0.001). Conclusions: This study shows various sources of air pollutants are associated with CVD. The composition of indoor and outdoor air is same in Hail city but amount of contaminants is high in indoor environments. Future studies longitudinal studies are required to confirm the findings of this study.


Author(s):  
J. Zhang ◽  
D.B. Williams ◽  
J.I. Goldstein

Analytical sensitivity and spatial resolution are important and closely related factors in x-ray microanalysis using the AEM. Analytical sensitivity is the ability to distinguish, for a given element under given conditions, between two concentrations that are nearly equal. The analytical sensitivity is directly related to the number of x-ray counts collected and, therefore, to the probe current, specimen thickness and counting time. The spatial resolution in AEM analysis is determined by the probe size and beam broadening in the specimen. A finer probe and a thinner specimen give a higher spatial resolution. However, the resulting lower beam current and smaller X-ray excitation volume degrade analytical sensitivity. A compromise must be made between high spatial resolution and an acceptable analytical sensitivity. In this paper, we show the necessity of evaluating these two parameters in order to determine the low temperature Fe-Ni phase diagram.A Phillips EM400T AEM with an EDAX/TN2000 EDS/MCA system and a VG HB501 FEG STEM with a LINK AN10 EDS/MCA system were used.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 814-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie E. Smith ◽  
Ruth Huntley Bahr ◽  
Hector N. Hernandez

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the attendance and success rates for seniors in voice therapy, identify any contributing patient-related factors, and compare results to existing findings for younger patients. Method This retrospective study included information from the voice records of 50 seniors seen by the same speech-language pathologist in a private practice. Analysis of attendance and outcome data divided participants into 6 groups. Outcomes for Groups 1–3 (64% of patients) were considered successful (positive voice change), while outcomes for Groups 4–6 (36% of patients) were considered unsuccessful. These data were compared to similar data collected for younger adults in a previous study. Results The attendance and success rates for seniors in this study were higher than those previously reported for younger patients. Further consideration of patient factors revealed that reports of increased stress, Reflux Symptom Index scores > 13, and higher Voice Handicap Index functional subscale scores were significant in distinguishing between patients in the successful and unsuccessful treatment outcome groups. Conclusions The relatively high attendance and success rates among this sample of seniors suggest the desire to achieve voice improvement does not diminish with age, and chances for success in voice therapy among nonfrail seniors may be greater than for younger patients.


2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
Robert J. Barth

Abstract “Posttraumatic” headaches claims are controversial because they are subjective reports often provided in the complex of litigation, and the underlying pathogenesis is not defined. This article reviews principles and scientific considerations in the AMAGuides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) that should be noted by evaluators who examine such cases. Some examples in the AMA Guides, Sixth Edition, may seem to imply that mild head trauma can cause permanent impairment due to headache. The author examines scientific findings that present obstacles to claiming that concussion or mild traumatic brain injury is a cause of permanent headache. The World Health Organization, for example, found a favorable prognosis for posttraumatic headache, and complete recovery over a short period of time was the norm. Other studies have highlighted the lack of a dose-response correlation between trauma and prolonged headache complaints, both in terms of the frequency and the severity of trauma. On the one hand, scientific studies have failed to support the hypothesis of a causative relationship between trauma and permanent or prolonged headaches; on the other hand, non–trauma-related factors are strongly associated with complaints of prolonged headache.


2011 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahime Bedir Findik ◽  
Nurcihan Karakurt Hascelik ◽  
Kadir Okhan Akin ◽  
Ayse Nurcan Unluer ◽  
Jale Karakaya

Background: Striae gravidarum, a clinical condition commonly seen in pregnant women, produces serious cosmetic problems and may lead to psychological problems. Aim: The present study investigated whether there was any relation between the presence of striae in primigravid pregnant women and blood vitamin C levels, and factors thought to contribute to the formation of striae such as family history, weight gained during pregnancy, smoking status, abdominal and thigh circumference, and age. Methods: Overall, 69 primigravid women attending routine antenatal follow-up and, using prophylactic iron and vitamin preparations, underwent investigation. All were pregnant 36 or more weeks. Scoring was based on striae examination and whether striae were present. The relation between the presence of striae, vitamin C blood levels, and other factors was investigated. Results and Conclusions: Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a significant relation between the presence of striae and blood vitamin C levels (p = 0.046) and between the presence of striae and family history (p = 0.023). No significant relation was found between the presence of striae and age, weight gained during pregnancy, abdominal and thigh circumference, or smoking status. It was concluded that further, more comprehensive studies on the issue are required.


Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 316-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna Gillies ◽  
David Chicop ◽  
Paul O'Halloran

Abstract. Background: The ability to predict imminent risk of suicide is limited, particularly among mental health clients. Root cause analysis (RCA) can be used by health services to identify service-wide approaches to suicide prevention. Aims: To (a) develop a standardized taxonomy for RCAs; (b) to quantitate service-related factors associated with suicides; and (c) to identify service-related suicide prevention strategies. Method: The RCAs of all people who died by suicide within 1 week of contact with the mental health service over 5 years were thematically analyzed using a data collection tool. Results: Data were derived from RCAs of all 64 people who died by suicide between 2008 and 2012. Major themes were categorized as individual, situational, and care-related factors. The most common factor was that clients had recently denied suicidality. Reliance on carers, recent changes in medication, communication problems, and problems in follow-through were also commonly identified. Conclusion: Given the difficulty in predicting suicide in people whose expressions of suicidal ideation change so rapidly, services may consider the use of strategies aimed at improving the individual, stressor, support, and care factors identified in this study.


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