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Background: Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most important risk factors for developing cervix cancer. Since cell culture and serological methods have no diagnostic value for the detection of this virus and its variants, the importance of molecular methods such as PCR in the early and definite diagnosis of such virus becomes evident. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of HPV18 based on detecting E6 gene in paraffin block samples using the PCR method. Materials and Methods: In this study, 69 out of 150 cervix samples of precancerous and cancerous lesions were collected during 2007-2012. DNA was extracted from paraffin blocks using the phenol/chloroform method. Two L1 and E6 consensus primers were used to evaluate the HPV and 18 HPV, respectively. Results: Among 69 patients with cervix cancer, 53 (76.8%) cases were HPV-positive and 16 (23.19%) HPV-negative. Twelve out of 53 (17.39%) HPV-positive cases were HPV18- positive. Moreover, 6 cases were diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia II, III and 6 with squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion: Results of the study confirm the previous reports concerning the relationship between HPV and cervix cancer. Considering the efficiency of DNA extraction and PCR protocol, we can use the test in pathology labs with simple and inexpensive facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High abundances of coccoliths have been observed in surface sediment samples from near the coasts of the Oman Sea in February 2011. At the end of the NE monsoon, the locally observed high Gephyrocapsa oceanica production is hypothesized to respond to local injections of nutrient-rich deep water into the surface water due to sea-surface cooling leading to convection. The most abundant coccolithophore species are G. oceanica followed by Emiliania huxleyi, Helicosphaera carteri, Calcidiscus leptoporus. Some species, such as Gephyrocapsa muellerae, Gephyrocapsa ericsonii, Umbilicosphaera sibogae, Umbellosphaera tenuis and Florisphaera profunda, are rare. The G. oceanica suggested a prevalence of upwelling conditions or high supply of nutrients in the Oman Sea (especially West Jask) at the end of the NE monsoon. E. huxleyi showed low relative abundances at the end of the NE monsoon. Due to the location of the Oman Sea in low latitudes with high temperatures, we have observed low abundances of G. muellerae in the study area. Additionally, we have identified low abundances of G. ericsonii at the end of the NE monsoon. Helicosphaera carteri showed a clear negative response with decreasing amounts (relative abundances) at the end of the NE monsoon. C. leptoporus, U. sibogae and U. tenuis have very low relative abundances in the NE monsoon and declined extremely at the end of the NE monsoon. F. profunda, which is known to inhabit the lower photic zone (

Long marine sedimentary cores can be effective in paleo-climate reconstruction. The present research aims at analyzing the temporal variation of temperature as an important climate parameter and also variations in metal concentrations (As, Ba, Cd, Li, Mo, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Sr, Zn, Fe, Ca, Al) of two long sedimentary cores at the Persian Gulf back to the Holocene. The obtained results revealed that the average elemental concentrations, apart from Ni, Sr, Ca and Na, are less than the shale value in both sedimentary cores. Moreover, the amount of δ13c varies from -1.31 versus 1.02 in Bushehr, to -1.69 versus 1.56 in Bandar Abbas sedimentary cores, respectively. In addition, δ18o change from -3.63 Vs -2.02 in Bushehr to -3.79 Vs -1.36 in Bandar Abbas sedimentary cores, respectively. Abrupt change in δ13c and δ18o can be seen in both sedimentary cores at two different periods (3000 to 5000 and 8000 to 9000 years ago). The maximum increase in temperature in sedimentary cores was at 0.4°C per 100 years in Bushehr and 0.01°C per 100 years in Bandar Abbas. The minimum temperature reached to -0.8°C per 100 years in Bushehr to -0.02°C per 100 years in Bandar Abbas sedimentary cores. Compared to the previously obtained temperatures in this research, there has been temperature changes in the last 40 years in the Persian Gulf, which indicates that the recent rate change in sea water temperature has been unprecedented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zahedan City is situated in the Sistan basin, a highly active dust source region that poses significant risks to human and ecological health due to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) present in atmospheric dust. In this study, we investigated the concentration, sources, and human health risk assessment of PTEs in 88 monthly atmospheric dust samples collected between December 2020 and October 2021 using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed that the concentrations of PTEs in atmospheric dust followed the descending order of Mn > Zn > Ba > Sr > Cr > V > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > As > Mo > Cd. The calculated enrichment factors revealed significant enrichment for As > Zn, moderate enrichment Pb > Ni, deficiency to minimal enrichment for Cr > Mn > Fe > Sr > Cd > V > Cu > Ba > Co, and no enrichment for Mo. Arsenic was found to be the major contributor to the potential ecological risk index, accounting for 55% of the total risk. The widespread utilization of arsenic-based pesticides in the surrounding agricultural lands may be a significant contributor to the severe arsenic pollution in the region. The winter season exhibited the highest monthly mean concentrations of Zn and Pb possibly due to temperature inversions trapping local anthropogenic pollutants near the Earth's surface. Cluster analysis revealed a strong correlation between Ni-Cr-Fe-V-Mn-Al, which shows mainly the geogenic source for these elements. The predominant exposure route for non-carcinogenic risk to humans was ingestion. The hazard index (HI) values for the heavy metals studied decreased in the following order: Cr > As > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu > Cd, for both children and adults. The HI values indicated that there was no possible non-carcinogenic risk associated with exposure to these heavy metals in Zahedan's atmospheric dust. The result of the inhalation cancer risk assessment suggested that while the potential risks of cancer for As, Cd, Cr, and Ni were below the safe level, the levels of Chromium were close enough to the threshold to warrant further investigation and monitoring., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: Approximately 25% of facility births take place in private health facilities. Recent national studies of maternal and newborn health (MNH) service availability and quality have focused solely on the status of public sector facilities, leaving a striking gap in information on the quality of maternal and newborn care services., Methods: A rapid cross-sectional assessment was conducted in November 2022 to assess the quality of MNH services at private hospitals in Iraq. Multi-stage sampling was used to select 15% of the country's 164 private hospitals. Assessment tools included a facility assessment checklist, a structured health worker interview tool, and a structured client exit interview tool. Data collection was conducted using KoboToolbox software on Android tablets, and analysis conducted using SPSS v28., Results: All hospitals visited provided MNH services and had skilled personnel present or on-call 24 h/day, 7 days/week. Most births (88%) documented between January and June 2022 were cesarean births. Findings indicate that nearly all hospitals have the human resources, equipment, medicines and supplies necessary for quality antenatal, intrapartum and early essential newborn care, and many are also equipped with special units and resources needed to care for small and sick babies. However, while resources are in place for basic and advanced care, there are gaps in knowledge and practice of high-impact interventions that require few or no resources to perform, including skin-to-skin thermal care and support for early initiation of breastfeeding. Person-centered maternity care scores suggest that private hospitals offer a positive experience of care for all clients, however there is room for improvement in provider-client communication., Conclusions: This assessment highlights the need for deeper dives into factors that underly decisions about how and where to give birth, and both understanding and practice of early essential newborn care and pre-discharge examinations and counseling at private healthcare facilities in Iraq. Engaging private health facility staff in efforts to monitor and improve the quality of maternal and newborn care, with a focus on early essential newborn care and provider-client communication for all clients, will ensure that women and newborns benefit from the best care possible with available resources., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

During the last two decades, the number of tropical cyclone (TC) events in the Arabian Sea has increased dramatically. These events have led to severe human and economic damage in Oman, Iran and Pakistan. Within this context, Gonu, Phet and Shaheen were the Arabian Sea's most destructive TCs on record, leading to a total of 6.07 billion USD in damages and 159 fatalities. Previous studies have mainly focused on atmospheric, sea surface temperature (SST) and anthropogenic impacts of TC generation and intensification. By contrast, oceanographic currents, Persian Gulf water outflow and the role of ocean-atmospheric interactions on the distribution of outflow water into the Arabian Sea and their impacts on TC intensification, are poorly understood. In order to address this issue, we use historical TC records, satellite data, atmospheric and reanalyzed oceanographic data to shed new light on the relationship between large-scale atmospheric forcing and ocean currents on TC intensification in the Arabian Sea. The results demonstrate that pre-monsoon TCs mainly occurred during co-existing La Niña, cold Indian Ocean Basin Model (IOBM) and anomalous northern hemisphere circulations over the Persian Gulf. By contrast, post-monsoon TCs were generally generated during warming acceleration period. Poleward movement of the monsoon belt provided the required humidity and energy for TC generation and increased upwelling events. Water salinity and temperature have increased in the north and northwestern parts of the Arabian Sea following rising upwelling events and a decrease in Persian Gulf outflow water depth. Rapid TC intensification has increased noticeably since 2007 and >72 % of cyclones have reached category 3 or more. We find that the rate of SST rise in the Arabian Sea is higher than the other parts of the northern Indian Ocean since 1998. SST and salinity in the Arabian Sea have been controlled by Persian Gulf outflow water and oceanographic currents. TC intensity is controlled by warm and saline (>36.6 PSU) water distribution patterns, mediated by eddy and jet currents. Rapid intensification of pre-monsoon TCs occurred by tracking to the north and northwest, with most landfalls occurring during this period. Post-monsoon TCs generally affect the center and the southwest of the Arabian Sea. The risk of intensive TCs manifests an increasing trend since 2007, therefore education programs via international platforms such as the International Ocean Institute (IOI) and UNESCO are required for the countries most at risk., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. We further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The major roles of vitamin D in the genesis of breast cancer and as an immunomodulator against acute and chronic infections have been the subject of much research in recent years. A low vitamin D status could decrease the function of blocking the cell multiplication cycle of the cancer process and weaken the immune system. In this context, we were interested in the implication of vitamin D status in women with human papilloma virus (HPV)-induced breast cancer. Our study included 63 women, 53 with breast cancer and 10 healthy women, and we measured the plasma 25(OH)D3 level and looked for the presence of HPV by PCR in our population. 90.6% had low serum 25(OH)D3 levels and HPV was found in 41% of cases. In this regard, the data in the literature are discordant. Vitamin D status could explain the concomitance of the two conditions, breast cancer and HPV; it would be desirable to broaden the sample in order to better define its impact.

Background: The Herpesviridae family plays a significant etiological role in central nervous system viral infections during primary infection or reactivation from a latent form. Early detection is crucial because prescribing some antivirals can prevent severe side effects or life-threatening conditions., Methods: In this study, 251 CSF specimens were collected from patients with clinical suspicion of viral encephalitis in Pars Hospital, Tehran, Iran. DNA was extracted, and a multiplex PCR was designed to investigate the presence of herpes simplex virus-1, herpes simplex virus-2, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus., Results: Overall, 59 cases of the 251 CSF samples were positive for multiplex PCR (23.5%). The most frequent positive findings were EBV and HSV, with a prevalence of 10.3% and 8.7% (5.5% HSV-1 and 3.1% HSV-2), respectively. Four co-infections were also seen in this study., Conclusions: This multiplex PCR assay detects simultaneously different herpesviruses in CSF samples of patients with suspected encephalitis in 2 rounds of PCR amplification; therefore, it is a reliable and cost-saving diagnostic method for evaluating patients infected with herpesvirus with neurological disorders., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as small RNA and post-transcriptional modulators are shown to have regulatory effects for different cellular activities and pathways, such as metabolism, virus replication and also cell growth. In addition, miRNAs can regulate the replication of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Therefore, the expression profile of miRNAs was evaluated in HBV-infected patient groups and healthy controls. The expression levels of the following microRNAs (as noninvasive biomarkers) were compared in two experimental (those with various stages of HBV infection) and control groups to evaluate their diagnosis ability: mir141-5p and mir501-5p. RNA extraction was performed for 45 serum samples. The miRCURY LNA™ Universal RT-miRNA-PCR system and miRNA PCR panels were used for measuring microRNA expression profiles. To normalize quantitative values, the endogenous reference by UniSp6 expression was used. Serum mir141-5p and mir501-5 were significant None in patient in different stages of HBV infection(p<0.001) than in controls(p<0.01). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses suggested that serum has mir141-5p and mir501-5p none significant diagnostic value for HBV infection. Results suggest that mir141-5p and mir501-5 can not be used as diagnostic biomarkers for monitoring of HBV infection and other biomarkers in this disease need to be investigated.

Investigating the infectivity of body fluid can be useful for preventative measures in the community and ensuring safety in the operating rooms and on the laboratory practices. We performed a literature search of clinical trials, cohorts, and case series using PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library, and downloadable database of CDC. We excluded case reports and searched all-language articles for review and repeated until the final drafting. The search protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database. Thirty studies with urinary sampling for viral shedding were included. A total number of 1,271 patients were enrolled initially, among which 569 patients had undergone urinary testing. Nine studies observed urinary viral shedding in urine from 41 patients. The total incidence of urinary SARS-CoV-2 shedding was 8%, compared to 21.3% and 39.5 % for blood and stool, respectively. The summarized risk ratio (RR) estimates for urine positive rates compared to the pharyngeal rate was 0.08. The pertaining RR urine compared to blood and stool positive rates were 0.20 and 0.33, respectively. Our review concludes that not only the SARS-CoV-2 can be excreted in the urine in eight percent of patients but also its incidence may have associations with the severity of the systemic disease, ICU admission, and fatality rates. Moreover, the findings in our review suggest that a larger population size may reveal more positive urinary cases possibly by minimizing biases.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as a small RNA and post-transcriptional modulator are shown to have regulatory effects for different cellular activities and pathways, such as metabolism, virus replication and also cell growth. In addition, miRNAs can regulate the replication of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Therefore, the expression profile of miRNAs was evaluated in HBV infected patient groups and healthy controls. The expression levels of following microRNAs (as noninvasive biomarkers) were compared in two experimental (those with various stages of HBV infection) and control groups to evaluate their diagnosis ability: miR-122-5p, miR-125a-5p, miR-199a-3p, miR-210-5p, miR-205-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-372-5p, and miR-1-5p. RNA extraction was performed for 45 serum samples. The miRCURY LNA™ Universal RT-miRNA-PCR system and miRNA PCR panels were used for measuring microRNA expression profiles. To normalize quantitative values, the endogenous reference by UniSp6 expression was used.Serum miR-125a-5p and miR-122-5p were significantly higher in patients in different stages of HBV infection (p&lt;0.001) than in controls (p&lt;0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses suggested that serum miR-125a-5p and miR-122-5p have significant diagnostic value for HBV infection. A significant difference was not found in terms of serum levels of other miRs (miR-199a-3p, miR-210-5p, miR-205-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-372-5p and miR-1-5p). Results suggest that miR-125a-5p and miR-122-5p can be used as possible noninvasive biomarkers for monitoring of HBV infection need to confirm in future completed studies.

Background: Classical galactosaemia is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism caused by a deficiency of the enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase. This is a rare and potentially lethal condition that classically presents in the first week of life once milk feeds have commenced. Affected babies may present with any or all of the following: cataracts; fulminant liver failure; prolonged jaundice; or Escherichia coli sepsis. Once the diagnosis is suspected, feeds containing galactose must be stopped immediately and replaced with a soya-based formula. The majority of babies will recover, however a number will not survive. There are long-term complications of galactosaemia, despite treatment, including learning disabilities and female infertility. It has been postulated that galactosaemia could be detected on newborn screening and this would prevent the immediate severe liver dysfunction and sepsis. This is an update of a previously published review., Objectives: To assess whether there is evidence that newborn screening for galactosaemia prevents or reduces mortality and morbidity and improves clinical outcomes in affected neonates and the quality of life in older children., Search Methods: We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group Trials Register comprising references identified from electronic database searches, handsearches of relevant journals and conference abstract books. We also searched online trials registries and the reference lists of relevant articles and reviews. Date of the most recent search of Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis Group's Trials Register: 12 December 2019. Date of the most recent search of additional resources: 02 February 2020., Selection Criteria: Randomised controlled studies and controlled clinical studies, published or unpublished comparing the use of any newborn screening test to diagnose infants with galactosaemia and presenting a comparison between a screened population versus a non-screened population., Data Collection and Analysis: No studies of newborn screening for galactosaemia were found., Main Results: No studies were identified for inclusion in the review., Authors' Conclusions: We were unable to identify any eligible studies for inclusion in this review and hence it is not possible to draw any conclusions based on randomised controlled studies. However, we are aware of uncontrolled studies which support the efficacy of newborn screening for galactosaemia. There are a number of reviews and economic analyses of non-trial literature suggesting that screening is appropriate., (Copyright © 2020 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The purpose of this article is to study, result of metal concentration in two-sediment cores from Persian Gulf. Age of sediment is determined by C 14 isotope method and bulk concentration is determined by ICP. This research output shows that, age of BandareAbbas core back to 9660 and Bushehr core to 15,600 years ago. Also,concentration in BandareAbbas and Bushehr cores respectively change as, As (1.08-11.76 Vs 5.2-13.09), Ba (15.03-129.5 Vs 73.9-120.4), Cd (0.09-0.46 Vs 0.09-0.18), Li (5.66-58.5 Vs 15.3-33.4), Mo (0.3-0.75 Vs 0.3-0.8), Mg (7928.4-15,503.9 Vs 13,102.8-17,227.8), Mn (110.6-566.4 Vs 279.3-429.1), Na (8905.47-27,993.3 Vs 9357.7-27,541.4), Ni (13.3-110.3 Vs 37.1-88.4), Pb (0.5-42.5 Vs 2.5-13.6), Sr (407.5-1773.2 Vs 440.3-1596.9), Zn (13.05-71.2Vs22.4-50.5), Fe (0.46-4.07 Vs 1.7-3.18), Ca (9.25-23.3 Vs 13.8-19.2) and Al (0.62-8.15 Vs 2.48-4.65). Moreover different pollution index investigation represent that except Ca, the rest of the metal elements do not show pollution., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Classical galactosaemia is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism caused by a deficiency of the enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase. This is a rare and potentially lethal condition that classically presents in the first week of life once milk feeds have commenced. Affected babies may present with any or all of the following: cataracts; fulminant liver failure; prolonged jaundice; or Escherichia coli sepsis. Once the diagnosis is suspected, feeds containing galactose must be stopped immediately and replaced with a soya-based formula. The majority of babies will recover, however a number will not survive. There are long-term complications of galactosaemia, despite treatment, including learning disabilities and female infertility. It has been postulated that galactosaemia could be detected on newborn screening and this would prevent the immediate severe liver dysfunction and sepsis., Objectives: To assess whether there is evidence that newborn screening for galactosaemia prevents or reduces mortality and morbidity and improves clinical outcomes in affected neonates and the quality of life in older children., Search Methods: We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group Trials Register comprising references identified from electronic database searches, handsearches of relevant journals and conference abstract books. We also searched online trials registries and the reference lists of relevant articles and reviews.Date of the most recent search of Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis Group's Trials Register: 18 December 2017.Date of the most recent search of additional resources: 11 October 2017., Selection Criteria: Randomised controlled studies and controlled clinical studies, published or unpublished comparing the use of any newborn screening test to diagnose infants with galactosaemia and presenting a comparison between a screened population versus a non-screened population., Data Collection and Analysis: No studies of newborn screening for galactosaemia were found., Main Results: No studies were identified for inclusion in the review., Authors' Conclusions: We were unable to identify any eligible studies for inclusion in this review and hence it is not possible to draw any conclusions based on randomised controlled studies. However, we are aware of uncontrolled studies which support the efficacy of newborn screening for galactosaemia. There are a number of reviews and economic analyses of non-trial literature suggesting that screening is appropriate.

Background: The expression of the 5,10-methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in human oocytes and preimplantation embryos suggests that the MTHFR gene is involved in folliculogenesis and female reproduction. Considering the importance of the MTHFR gene on female reproduction, the aim of this study was to evalu- ate the influence of MTHFR C677T polymorphism on ovarian marker reserve, particularly serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, and ovarian response as well as clinical pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization (IVF)/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)., Methods: A total of 137 women who underwent ART treatment due to male factor infertility enrolled in this study. Genotyping of MTHFR C677T polymorphism and serum AMH concentrations were performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique and an ultrasensitive enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: Women with the TT genotype showed significantly higher AMH levels (4.5 ± 3.2 ng/mL) compared to carriers of other genotypes after ovarian stimulation. We observed a nonsignificant trend towards lower clinical pregnancy rates in patients with the TT (23.1%) versus CT (48.4%) genotypes (p = 0.2). No significant differences existed in terms of miscarriage and live birth rates among the groups. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that the duration of infertility and AFC were important predictive variables for the live birth rate., Conclusions: Our results confirmed that the presence of the T mutant allele of the 677 polymorphism in the MTHFR gene led to an increased trend in AMH levels. Interestingly, we observed that the numbers of oocytes retrieved decreased in the mutated genotypes. We have not observed this trend in relation to oocyte maturity. The influence of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism on embryo quality and pregnancy rate after ART cycles remains unclear.

Some pollutants can qualitatively affect aquatic freshwater such as rivers, and heavy metals are one of the most important pollutants in aquatic fresh waters. Heavy metals can be found in the form of components dissolved in these waters or in compounds with suspended particles and surface sediments. It can be said that heavy metals are in equilibrium between water and sediment. In this study, the amount of heavy metals is determined in water and different sizes of sediment. To obtain the relationship between heavy metals in water and size-fractionated sediments, a canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was utilized in rivers of the southwestern Caspian Sea. In this research, a case study was carried out on 18 sampling stations in nine rivers. In the first step, the concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, and Cd) were determined in water and size-fractionated sediment samples. Water sampling sites were classified by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) utilizing squared Euclidean distance with Ward's method. In addition, for interpreting the obtained results and the relationships between the concentration of heavy metals in the tested river water and sample sediments, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was utilized. The rivers were grouped into two classes (those having no pollution and those having low pollution) based on the HCA results obtained for river water samples. CCA results found numerous relationships between rivers in Iran's Guilan province and their size-fractionated sediments samples. The heavy metals of sediments with 0.038 to 0.125 mm size in diameter are slightly correlated with those of water samples.

Measurements of major ions, trace elements, water-stable isotopes, and geophysical soundings were made to examine the interaction between Urmia Aquifer (UA) and Urmia Lake (UL), northwest Iran. The poor correlation between sampling depth and Cl(-) concentrations indicated that the position of freshwater-saltwater interface is not uniformly distributed in the study area, and this was attributed to aquifer heterogeneities. The targeted coastal wells showed B/Cl and Br/Cl molar ratios in the range of 0.0022-2.43 and 0.00032-0.28, respectively. The base-exchange index (BEI) and saturation index (SI) calculations showed that the salinization process followed by cation-exchange reactions mainly controls changes in the chemical composition of groundwater. All groundwater samples are depleted with respect to δ(18)O (-11.71 to -9.4 ‰) and δD (-66.26 to -48.41 ‰). The δ(18)O and δD isotope ratios for surface and groundwater had a similar range and showed high deuterium excess (d-excess) (21.11 to 31.16 ‰). The high d-excess in water samples is because of incoming vapors from the UL mixed with an evaporated moisture flux from the Urmia mainland and incoming vapors from the west (i.e., Mediterranean Sea). Some saline samples with low B/Cl and Br/Cl ratios had depleted δ(18)O and δD. In this case, due to freshwater flushing, the drilled wells in the coastal playas and salty sediments could have more depleted isotopes, more Cl(-), and consequently smaller B/Cl and Br/Cl ratios. Moreover, the results of hydrochemical facies evolution (HFE) diagram showed that because of the existence fine-grained sediments saturated with high density saltwater in the coastal areas that act as a natural barrier, increasing the groundwater exploitation leads to movement of freshwaters from recharge zones in the western mountains not saltwater from UL. The highly permeable sediments at the junction of the rivers to the lake are characterized by low hydraulic gradient and high hydraulic conductivity. These properties enhance the salinization of groundwater observed in the study area. The main factors influencing the salinity are base-exchange reactions, invasion of highly diluted saltwater, dissolution of salty pans, and water chemistry evolution along flow paths.

This paper presents the results of an assessment about interaction between Urmia Lake (UL) and coastal groundwater in the Urmia aquifer (UA). This aquifer is the most significant contributor to the freshwater supply of the coastal areas. The use of hydrochemical facies can be very useful to identify the saltwater encroachment or freshening phases in the coastal aquifers. In this study, the analysis of salinization/freshening processes was carried out through the saturation index (SI), ionic deltas (Δ), binary diagrams, and hydrochemical facies evolution (HFE) diagram. Based on the Gibbs plot, the behavior of the major ions showed that the changes in the chemical composition of the groundwater are mainly controlled by the water-soil/rock interaction zone and few samples are relatively controlled by evaporation. A possible explanation for this phenomenon is that the deposited chloride and sulfate particles can form the minor salinity source in some coastal areas when washed down by precipitation. The SI calculations showed that all groundwater samples, collected in these periods, show negative saturation indices, which indicate undersaturation with respect to anhydrite, gypsum, and halite. In addition, except in a few cases, all other samples showed the undersaturation with respect to the carbonate minerals such as aragonite, calcite, and dolomite. Therefore, these minerals are susceptible to dissolution. In the dry season, the SI calculations showed more positive values with respect to dolomite, especially in the northern part of UA, which indicated a higher potential for precipitation and deposition of dolomite. The percentage of saltwater in the groundwater samples of Urmia plain was very low, ranging between 0.001 and 0.79 % in the wet season and 0.0004 and 0.81 % in the dry season. The results of HFE diagram, which was taken to find whether the aquifer was in the saltwater encroachment phase or in the freshening phase, indicated that except for a few wells near the coast, there is very little hydraulic interaction between UA and UL. In this coastal area, most of the samples that were collected repeatedly in both wet and dry seasons showed the same hydrochemical facies, which suggested that the seasonal groundwater fluctuations cannot significantly change the chemical composition of groundwater.