Iranian Delegation Participates in BRICS Health Ministers Meeting in Chandigarh

For pilgrims arriving at the spiritual center of Kashi during the sacred month of Sawan, which begins on July 30th, a measure has been adopted: meat dishes will no longer be served at the Varanasi Kant railway station.

Measures to Ensure Comfort

The senior station master issued the relevant orders, and this restriction will be in effect throughout the entire month of Sawan. The senior station master himself will oversee compliance with these rules. Additionally, arrangements have been made to maintain cleanliness, provide clean drinking water, ensure safety, and offer medical assistance.

Preparation for the Influx of Pilgrims

Arpit Gupta, the senior station master of Varanasi Kant, stated that special attention will be paid to sanitation and hygiene due to the start of the sacred month of Sawan. With support from the district administration, ambulances and fire services will operate at the station. Assistance points have also been set up at the first two entry points. It is projected that the number of visitors will double compared to the daily 90 thousand pilgrims, and all preparations are being made with this forecast in mind.

Safety and Food

A request was made to RPF and GRP to increase staff numbers. The station is equipped with 180 surveillance cameras to monitor the situation. The project to create a waiting area will soon be completed, and special trains will be launched if crowds increase. A quality check of food products was conducted, as well as disinfection, and an instruction was given that only vegetarian food will be served at the station.

Dietary Standards

Although vegetarian food was previously served at the station, it is now formalized. The food served will comply with FSSAI quality standards. This decision was made to ensure that the feelings of the pilgrims are not offended during the sacred month of Sawan.

Water is a vital element, and its purity requires special attention. The water tower in a house plays a key role in daily life, as we use it to wash dishes, vegetables, take showers, and perform other household chores. However, many people do not clean the tower for years. Over time, dirt, moss, rust, and bacteria accumulate inside the tank. Even water that looks clean can be dangerous to health and lead to serious illnesses.

The Importance of Regular Cleaning

To ensure that the water supplied to the house always remains clean and safe, it is crucial to periodically clean the tank. This not only protects the health of family members but also ensures the long and uninterrupted operation of pipelines and plumbing equipment. Often, the problem arises that people do not know exactly when such cleaning should be performed and leave the tank in this condition for a long time.

Signs of Tank Contamination

There are five clear signs that indicate the need for immediate deep cleaning of the tank:

• Change in taste or smell of water: If the tap water seems unfamiliar or has an unpleasant odor, it may indicate contamination of the tank. Clean water should have neither taste nor smell.
• Visibility of debris or color in water: If the water in a glass becomes cloudy, has a earthy tint, or contains small particles while filling it, it is time to clean the tank. This can be caused by the accumulation of rust, dust, or moss.
• Decrease in water pressure from the tap: If the flow of water from the tap or shower has become weaker compared to before, it is possible that dirt in the tank is causing pipe blockages.
• Appearance of green moss on the tank walls: Green growths or moss inside the tank should not be ignored, as they can promote the proliferation of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.
• Frequent pipe clogging problems: If pipes in the house regularly clog or require frequent calls to a plumber, a dirty water tower can also be the cause.

Benefits of Timely Hygiene

Regular cleaning of the water tower guarantees the cleanliness and safety of the water. This prevents the development of bacteria and moss, reduces the risk of pipeline blockages, and also improves the performance of devices such as water purifiers, water heaters, and washing machines. Most importantly, it reduces the threat of diseases associated with consuming contaminated water.

How to Clean the Tank

It is recommended to clean the water tower installed on the roof of the house approximately every six months. Although light surface cleaning can be done between these periods, complete draining, internal, and external cleaning is necessary every half year. This allows for the removal of dust and dirt, as well as the elimination of insects.

Five Simple Steps for Self-Cleaning

The cleaning process includes the following stages:

1. Draining the water: The pump must be turned off, and the tank must be completely emptied using a drain tube or bucket.
2. Mechanical cleaning: Thoroughly clean the inner walls and bottom of the tank from moss and dirt using a long brush.
3. Waste removal: Use a sponge or mug to completely remove the loosened dirt and dirty water.
4. Disinfection: Apply a solution made from bleaching powder or vinegar to the walls and leave it for 20 minutes.
5. Rinsing and refilling: Rinse the tank thoroughly with clean water, discarding the dirty water. After drying, fill it with fresh water.

A 35-year-old man suffering from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis sought treatment at a Turkish dermatology clinic. He had previously been in remission for eighteen months thanks to treatment with monoclonal antibodies against interleukin-23A, specifically risankizumab.

Effect of Cupping and Diagnosis

Two weeks before his visit, the patient decided to self-treat back pain using cupping therapy. Specialists applied clusters of superficial incisions to the skin so that the vacuum could draw out a small amount of blood—this ancient procedure is called hijama or wet cupping. Examination revealed clearly demarcated erythematous scaly papules and plaques on his shoulders, as well as on the middle and lower parts of his back.

Doctors Yusuf Demir and Zekai Kutlubay presented this case in The New England Journal of Medicine. After gathering the medical history and conducting examinations, the man was diagnosed with Koebner phenomenon, also known as isomorphic response.

The Essence of Koebner Phenomenon

This phenomenon is characterized by the appearance of rashes typical of various dermatoses, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, or lichen planus, in areas of the skin where such manifestations were not previously observed. This occurs after mechanical irritation of the skin, caused by scratches, burns, sutures, or abrasions. It is important to note that this phenomenon can occur even in people whose condition is well-controlled.

The patient stopped using cupping and resumed his previous dose of risankizumab. Three months after a follow-up examination, all his rashes disappeared.

Additional Research Findings

The article also mentions the results of another study published in JAMA Neurology. It showed that prolonged exposure to traffic noise increases the likelihood of developing Parkinson's disease. The risk increased by three percent for every additional 11.5 decibels of noise; however, having a quiet facade not facing the road helped reduce this elevated risk.