Activated sludge process is a biological process that is widely used in the domestic and industrial wastewater treatment in over the world. The foam formation is often reported in wastewater treatment plants which are related to this process. Some operational problems can be created by foaming, such as effluent quality deteriorates, the creation of malodorous, increased time requirements in order to plant maintenance, and in extreme cases, hazardous working conditions resulting from foam spilling out of the aeration basin and as well as increased in operational costs. There are different ways to overcome this problem, such as reduce air flows into the aeration basin, reduction in the grease and oil content of the wastewater, surface and return activated sludge (RAS) chlorination, anoxic and anaerobic selectors, solid retention time (SRT) control and antifoams and organic polymer addition. On the other hand, rapid and accurate identification of the foam causes is in the first step to control bulking and foaming. Foam problem is often created by filamentous bacteria, such as Nocardia and Gordonia species. This bacterium has a role important in activated sludge.

Objective:To evaluate the capability of recombinant Leishmania LPG3 and its fragments in the activation of B cells.Methods:In the present study, human B cells were purified from peripheral blood of 10 adult healthy subjects using magnetic-activated cell sorting technique. Subsequently, purified B cells were treated with recombinant LPG3, and itsN-terminal and C-terminal fragments at different concentrations (2, 10 and 20 μg/mL). B cell activation was assessed through expression of CD69 molecule by flowcytometry and secretion of IL-6, TNF-αα and IL-10 cytokines via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay following treatment with recombinant antigens.Results:Our results showed that while the recombinant LPG-3 could significantly increase the production of IL-6 and TNF-α (P<0.05) in B cells, it had no effect on the secretion of IL-10 by B cells.Conclusions: Our study indicated that recombinant LPG-3 and especially itsN-terminal fragment could stimulate B cell response as an important immune response component against leishmaniasis. Thus, it seems that it can be considered as an effective adjuvant in vaccine developments against leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND: The Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire-50 (NOSACQ-50) was developed by a team of Nordic occupational safety researchers based on safety climate and psychological theories. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Persian version of NOSACQ-50 and assess the score of safety climate on a group of workers in a steel company in Iran. METHODS: The Persian version of NOSACQ-50 was distributed among 661 employees of a steel company in Qazvin Province (Iran). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis were used to determine the dimensions of the questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach α coefficient. Pearson correlation test was applied to investigate the correlation between different dimensions. RESULTS: The results of EFA showed that the Persian version of NOSACQ-50 consisted of six dimensions. The Cronbach α coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.94. The mean score of safety climate in all dimensions was 2.89 (standard deviation 0.60). CONCLUSION: The Persian version of NOSACQ-50 had a satisfactory validity for measuring safety climate in the studied Iranian population.
Climate* ; Iran ; Occupational Health ; Psychological Theory ; Steel*

In recent years, in spite of medical advancement, tuberculosis (TB) remains a worldwide health problem. Although many laboratory methods have been developed to expedite the diagnosis of TB, delays in diagnosis remain a major problem in the clinical practice. Because of the slow growth rate of the causative agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis, isolation, identification, and drug susceptibility testing of this organism and other clinically important mycobacteria can take several weeks or longer. During the past several years, many methods have been developed for direct detection, species identification, and drug susceptibility testing of TB. A good understanding of the effectiveness and practical limitations of these methods is important to improve diagnosis. This review summarizes the currently-used advances in nonmolecular and molecular diagnostics.
Diagnosis* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Pathology, Molecular ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

OBJECTIVETo assess local effect of celecoxib on nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve transection model.

METHODSForty-five male healthy white Wistar rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups (n equal to 15 for each): sham-operation (SHAM), control (SIL) and celecoxib treated (SIL/CLX) groups. In SHAM group after anesthesia left sciatic nerve was exposed and after homeostasis muscle was sutured. In SIL group the left sciatic nerve was exposed in the same way and transected proximal to tibioperoneal bifurcation leaving a 10 mm gap. Proximal and distal stumps were each inserted into a silicone tube and filled with 10 microlitre phosphate buffered solution. In SIL/CLX group defect was bridged using a silicone tube filled with 10 microlitre celecoxib (0.1 g/L).

RESULTSFunctional study and gastrocnemius muscle mass confirmed faster and better recovery of regenerated axons in SIL/CLX than in SIL group (P less than 0.05). Morphometric indices of regenerated fibers showed number and diameter of the myelinated fibers in SIL/CLX were significantly greater than those in control group. In immunohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-100 in SIL/CLX was clearly more positive than that in SIL group.

CONCLUSIONResponse to local treatment of celecoxib demonstrates that it influences and improves functional recovery of peripheral nerve regeneration.

Animals ; Celecoxib ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; Peripheral Nerves ; drug effects ; surgery ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacokinetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects ; Silicones ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacokinetics

BACKGROUND: The numerous side effects and chemo-resistance of conventional chemical drugs in the treatment of malignancies have led to consideration of the anti-cancer properties of natural products. In the present study, we aimed to explore the apoptotic effect of two natural components, resveratrol and prednisolone, on the T acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line, CCRF-CEM. Our findings suggested the incorporation of these natural agents into drug regimens to treat patients with ALL. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the effect of different doses of resveratrol (15, 50 and 100 µM) and prednisolone (700 µM) on BAX (apoptosis promoter) and BCL2 (apoptosis inhibitor) expressions following 24 and 48 hours of treatment on CCRF-CEM cells, using real-time PCR, and on apoptosis induction using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The results showed a time- and dose-dependent increase in BAX expression and a decrease in BCL2 expression. Apoptosis was induced in CCRF-CEM cells treated with resveratrol and prednisolone for 24 and 48 hours. Combined resveratrol and prednisolone treatment showed synergistic effects on the overexpression of BAX and the downregulation of BCL2. The drug combination had a greater influence on apoptosis induction compared with either drug administered alone after 48 hours of treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that resveratrol exhibited a remarkable efficacy to improve the influence of glucocorticoids drugs, especially prednisolone, to induce apoptosis in the CCRF-CEM cell line.
Apoptosis* ; Biological Products ; Cell Line* ; Down-Regulation ; Flow Cytometry ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Prednisolone ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Purpose: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is the most well-known eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID) characterized by the presence of a high number eosinophils within the esophageal epithelium and the clinical signs. Biopsies of patients with suspected EoE may not show a high number of eosinophils, however the presence of granules may help with the diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the presence of cell-free eosinophil granules in the esophageal tissue of patients with suspected and confirmed EoE to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of patients with low eosinophil count. Methods: Fifteen patients with confirmed EoE and 15 suspected of EoE were included in this study. Patients' esophageal tissue biopsies were stained using immunohistochemistry (IHC) to identify eosinophils and their cell-free granules. For testing, anti-major basic protein (MBP) and anti-chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3) were used as primary antibodies and a double-staining kit containing secondary antibodies conjugated to the enzyme and related chromogens were used. Results: Cell-free granules with different degrees were observed in 53.3% and 93.3% of suspected and confirmed EoE samples, respectively. Furthermore, in esophageal biopsy of 73.3% of patients with suspected and 93.3% of patients with a definitive diagnosis of EoE, basal layer hyperplasia (BLH) was recognized. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that IHC can be applied to detect cell-free eosinophil granules in esophageal tissue. Observation of granules and basal cell hyperplasia in biopsies of suspected EoE patients whose eosinophil count is below the threshold can be valuable findings to make a definitive diagnosis for these patients.

Purpose: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is the most well-known eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID) characterized by the presence of a high number eosinophils within the esophageal epithelium and the clinical signs. Biopsies of patients with suspected EoE may not show a high number of eosinophils, however the presence of granules may help with the diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the presence of cell-free eosinophil granules in the esophageal tissue of patients with suspected and confirmed EoE to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of patients with low eosinophil count. Methods: Fifteen patients with confirmed EoE and 15 suspected of EoE were included in this study. Patients' esophageal tissue biopsies were stained using immunohistochemistry (IHC) to identify eosinophils and their cell-free granules. For testing, anti-major basic protein (MBP) and anti-chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3) were used as primary antibodies and a double-staining kit containing secondary antibodies conjugated to the enzyme and related chromogens were used. Results: Cell-free granules with different degrees were observed in 53.3% and 93.3% of suspected and confirmed EoE samples, respectively. Furthermore, in esophageal biopsy of 73.3% of patients with suspected and 93.3% of patients with a definitive diagnosis of EoE, basal layer hyperplasia (BLH) was recognized. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that IHC can be applied to detect cell-free eosinophil granules in esophageal tissue. Observation of granules and basal cell hyperplasia in biopsies of suspected EoE patients whose eosinophil count is below the threshold can be valuable findings to make a definitive diagnosis for these patients.

Purpose: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is the most well-known eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID) characterized by the presence of a high number eosinophils within the esophageal epithelium and the clinical signs. Biopsies of patients with suspected EoE may not show a high number of eosinophils, however the presence of granules may help with the diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the presence of cell-free eosinophil granules in the esophageal tissue of patients with suspected and confirmed EoE to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of patients with low eosinophil count. Methods: Fifteen patients with confirmed EoE and 15 suspected of EoE were included in this study. Patients' esophageal tissue biopsies were stained using immunohistochemistry (IHC) to identify eosinophils and their cell-free granules. For testing, anti-major basic protein (MBP) and anti-chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3) were used as primary antibodies and a double-staining kit containing secondary antibodies conjugated to the enzyme and related chromogens were used. Results: Cell-free granules with different degrees were observed in 53.3% and 93.3% of suspected and confirmed EoE samples, respectively. Furthermore, in esophageal biopsy of 73.3% of patients with suspected and 93.3% of patients with a definitive diagnosis of EoE, basal layer hyperplasia (BLH) was recognized. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that IHC can be applied to detect cell-free eosinophil granules in esophageal tissue. Observation of granules and basal cell hyperplasia in biopsies of suspected EoE patients whose eosinophil count is below the threshold can be valuable findings to make a definitive diagnosis for these patients.

Purpose: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is the most well-known eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID) characterized by the presence of a high number eosinophils within the esophageal epithelium and the clinical signs. Biopsies of patients with suspected EoE may not show a high number of eosinophils, however the presence of granules may help with the diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the presence of cell-free eosinophil granules in the esophageal tissue of patients with suspected and confirmed EoE to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of patients with low eosinophil count. Methods: Fifteen patients with confirmed EoE and 15 suspected of EoE were included in this study. Patients' esophageal tissue biopsies were stained using immunohistochemistry (IHC) to identify eosinophils and their cell-free granules. For testing, anti-major basic protein (MBP) and anti-chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3) were used as primary antibodies and a double-staining kit containing secondary antibodies conjugated to the enzyme and related chromogens were used. Results: Cell-free granules with different degrees were observed in 53.3% and 93.3% of suspected and confirmed EoE samples, respectively. Furthermore, in esophageal biopsy of 73.3% of patients with suspected and 93.3% of patients with a definitive diagnosis of EoE, basal layer hyperplasia (BLH) was recognized. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that IHC can be applied to detect cell-free eosinophil granules in esophageal tissue. Observation of granules and basal cell hyperplasia in biopsies of suspected EoE patients whose eosinophil count is below the threshold can be valuable findings to make a definitive diagnosis for these patients.