Abstract Aims Heart failure is known as a health problem in the world due to its mortality and burdens on the health care system. Studies remain controversial about the effect of opium usage on systolic heart function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare systolic left ventricular function in opium users with non‐addict people by strain echocardiography and its association with serum apelin level. Methods This case–control study was conducted in 2022 at Shafa Hospital in Kerman, Iran, on 50 opium users who referred to the addiction treatment centres and had no history of other substance usage. The addiction is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM‐5) and a history of opium consumption for at least 3 years. Fifty healthy people (non‐opium users) who were matched in terms of age and sex were enrolled as a control group. Demographic information of the participants, including age, gender and amount of opium usage, was recorded by questionnaire. Citrated blood samples were taken from all participants in the study, and serum apelin was measured by the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. They underwent transthoracic echocardiography by an expert cardiologist using the same device (Philips Affiniti 50). Echocardiographic systolic parameters have been recorded and compared between the two groups. Results In this study, 100 participants, including 50 opium users and 50 non‐opium users (as a control group), were investigated. The mean age was 36.4 ± 5.08 in the opium users' group and 34.14 ± 7.2 in the control group. As both groups were matched, there were 8 (16%) women and 42 (84%) men in each of the two groups. The mean amount of ejection fraction (EF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were significantly lower in opium users than in the control group ( P < 0.001). The results also demonstrated that the serum level of apelin in the addicted persons was lower when compared with the non‐addicted persons (3.4 vs. 9.7; P < 0.001). Conclusions Evaluation of systolic left ventricular function in opium users by strain echocardiography showed that opium affects the systolic function of the heart, as observed by a significant reduction in EF and GLS. So opium usage can be considered a risk factor for heart failure and needs more attention in preventive cardiology.
Abstract The present research employed ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) modified cellulose to remove basic violet 10 (BV10) and reactive orange 16 (RO16) dyes. The cellulose was obtained from sago bark which was solid waste of sago starch industries. Sago bark contains 56.86% cellulose so that it can provide significant amount of active site. The optimum condition was examined using batch method investigating some parameters including pH, initial dye concentration, contact time, and thermodynamics. The adsorption capacity of cellulose (Cell) itself was also investigated for the comparison. The characterization of adsorbent showed the presence of ester bond, amine groups and escalating of surface area and pores after EDTA modification. The adsorption capacity of EDTA‐modified cellulose (Cell‐EDTA) was 73.53 mg/g for BV10 and 22.42 mg/g for RO16. The adsorption of both dyes onto Cell‐EDTA followed Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous, endothermic and feasible. Desorption studies proved that NaOH was an effective desorbing agent of BV10 and RO16. Based on research, Cell‐EDTA was more favorable in cationic dye, basic violet 10 than anionic dye, reactive orange 16.
Abstract Understanding near‐surface groundwater storage, flow patterns, surface and groundwater interactions in mining areas can assist in making mining more efficient and profitable. This is especially important in opencast mines affected by water inflows that may negatively affect production and increase mining costs. We map and characterize the near‐surface aquifer zones at the opencast site of Tharisa Minerals, located in the southwestern region of the Bushveld Complex (South Africa). The main goal is to infer pit water inflow at the mine site and determine how it may be better controlled. The Bushveld Complex hosts partially connected and unconfined alluvial, shallow‐weathered and crystalline bedrock aquifers, which are often connected by small‐scale permeable zones. Seismic refraction tomography, multichannel analysis of surface waves, electrical resistivity tomography and borehole data are used to map and understand the different aquifer zones in the vicinity of the mine, as well as infer their relation to water inflow in the mine pits. The geophysical surveys map the overburden, weathered bedrock aquifer zone, and the top of the crystalline aquifer rock zone reasonably well. They reveal extensive and deep weathering, and possible high hydraulic conductivity in the vicinity of the mine. The results provide a better understanding of the mine's near‐surface environment, which could be used to implement effective and targeted dewatering techniques, thus enabling better pit inflow water control to improve mine working conditions and production.
Abstract Excessive use of azithromycin (AZM) is associated with resistance and negative impacts on the environment. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an electrochemical sensor for AZM. The screen‐printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with boron‐doped diamond nanoparticle (BDDNP) and reduced‐graphene oxide (rGO) was successfully applied to measure the AZM concentration. The morphology of the modified electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy‐energy dispersive X‐ray (SEM‐EDX). Furthermore, the effect of electrochemical parameters, such as signal per background, scan rate, and selectivity was determined. The results showed that under optimum conditions, the plot of AZM demonstrated linearity in the range of 30–100 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) at 1.6 μM. The repeatability and recovery were also investigated, and the sensor was applied to real samples obtained from hospital wastewater. A remarkable 93.27 % recovery rate and excellent precision were recorded with an %RSD of 2.41 %. This study underscores the potential of SPCE modified with rGO/BDDNP for accurate and reliable measurement of AZM levels, showcasing great applicability in addressing the challenges associated with monitoring AZM in various environmental settings.