FEV(6) and FEV(1)/FEV(6) can be used as surrogates for FVC and FEV(1)/FVC, respectively, and these parameters showed acceptable sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for occupational health evaluations.

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Even though some rises and falls occurred in the antibodies titer, the variations could hardly be attributed to coughs in this study. Indeed, the variation of antibodies had no meaningful relationship with clinical factors. In this regard, further studies are needed to clarify the reason for the so-called "hajj coughs", but epidemiological studies will be difficult to do until easier and more reliable methods become available for accurate diagnosis.

Background: Inflammatory processes are proved in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) as one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is known as an antioxidant drug with anti-inflammatory effects. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of NAC on hsCRP in CKD patients on peritoneal dialysis. Methods: This quasi-experimental self-controlled study examined adult CKD patients on peritoneal dialysis referred to the peritoneal dialysis clinic. The participants were assigned into two groups (A: CRP of 5 - 15 mg/L and B: CRP < 5 mg/L), and both groups were treated with oral NAC 600mg twice a day for eight weeks. First, the hsCRP was measured before and after the intervention, and then all the collected data were analyzed. Results: Forty patients (n = 24 in the group A and n = 26 in the group B) participated in this study. NAC decreased the hsCRP level in both groups (P = 0.001 in the group A vs. P = 0.002 in group B); however, the decrease was more prominent in the group A (P = 0.013). The hsCRP decrease was more significant in women (P = 0.002) in general and women in the group B (P = 0.02) in particular. The hsCRP variation had a significant relationship with the underlying disease (P = 0.009). There was no significant correlation between the hsCRP variation with age (r = -0.173, P = 0.285) and the duration of dialysis. Conclusions: The administration of NAC (600 mg, twice a day for eight weeks) significantly decreased the level of hsCRP in patients on peritoneal dialysis, especially in those with CRP = 5 - 15 mh/L. The decrease has no relationship with age and duration of dialysis; however, it was more highlighted in women.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to synthesize and characterize nano-ceramic blue pigment Co0.5Zn0.5Al2O4 via polyacrylamide gel method. Generally, the high cost and the environmental toxicity of cobalt aluminate pigments lead them to become less common and cause problems in production process. To significantly reduce this problem, it is required to reduce the cobalt in the pigment and replace the cobalt with some amounts of zinc in the structure. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, calcination temperature and its effects on phase specification and color properties of final product were investigated. The powders were studied by using XRD, FESEM, TG/DTA, FTIR, UV-Vis and colorimetric in CIELab space, in which the calcination temperatures were set to 600°C, 800°C and 1,000 °C, and the inert atmosphere was air. Findings According to the XRD patterns, single-phase spinel structure with a good crystallinity was formed even in the low temperature. The infrared spectra displayed vibrations at about 500, 560 and 680 cm−1, which were ascribed to the spinel structure. FESEM images showed nanoscale particles with an average size of 32 nm. Regarding the Co2+ spin transitions in tetrahedral sites, the UV-Vis spectra presented three bands at 552, 598 and 628 nm. Practical implications The colorimetric data indicated the formation of blue pigments corresponding to negative values of b*. The color of pigments was affected by calcination temperature. Originality/value The characterization analysis shows that a blue pigment has been obtained in this research. Different degrees of blue color were obtained at different calcination temperatures.