Mohammad Ranaee, Yaghob Khoshsirat Tomaj , Hemmat Gholinia Ahangar , Mahmood Monadi,
Volume 80, Issue 3 (June 2022)
Abstract
Background: Pleural effusion is the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavities resulting from an imbalance of fluid production and reabsorption. Early detection of the cause of pleural effusion leads to early treatment and reduces effects on the patient. The most important step in pleural effusion diagnosis is to determine its nature and to determine whether it is transudate or exudate. CRP(C-reactive protein) is an acute-phase protein that is synthesized by hepatocytes during inflammatory states, the highly sensitive type of CRP is more sensitive than the standard CRP test and measures lower levels. It may help differentiate the nature of pleural effusion. The aim of this research was to evaluate the hs-CRP diagnostic value in differentiating the nature of the pleural effusion
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, in Rohani hospital of Babol from March 2017 to February 2019, 75 pleural effusion patients, undergoing thoracentesis, the hs-CRP level was measured in their pleural fluid and were compared based on Light´s criteria in two groups of transudates and exudates. Using the ROC curve, the appropriate cut-off point was determined for hs-CRP to differentiate the nature of pleural effusion.
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Results: Out of 75 patients, 45 patients were in the exudative pleural effusion group and 30 patients in the transudative group. The mean of hs-CRP in the exudate group was 18.27±10.74 mg/L and in the transudative group 2.98±2.15 mg/L (p˂0.001). The cut-off point for hs-CRP of pleural fluid was calculated to be 5.94 mg / L, which has a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 93.3%. This marker was also studied in exudative subgroups, and there was a significant difference between pleural hs-CRP levels in two groups of pleural effusion due to malignancy and Parapneumonic effusion (p=0.011).
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Conclusion: The pleural fluid hs-CRP can be used as a useful marker for differentiating the nature of pleural effusion and differentiating the pleural effusion of transudate and exudate.
Hossein Ghorbani, Mohammad Ranaee, Alireza Firouzjahi, Zahra Ahmadnia, Samaneh Rouhi, Farzane Jafarian, Rouzbeh Mohammadi Abandansari , Somayeh Ahmadi Gorji,
Volume 80, Issue 5 (August 2022)
Abstract
Background: Infection with Strongyloides stercoralis is common in tropical and subtropical regions. To prevent and treat these diseases, information on the distribution and frequency of these parasites in different geographical areas is needed. Due to the importance of diseases in the northern provinces of Iran, the present study was performed to determine the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis.
Methods: From April 2011 to March 2020, stool samples from patients who were referred to Rouhani hospital in Mazandaran province, Babol, were gathered. For stool samples, microscopic detection was performed immediately using the wet expansion method, followed by a formal-ether concentration process. Based on the sample size calculation, the minimum number of patients with Strongyloides stercoralis infection was considered to be 380 patients from the years 2011-2020. Mean and standard deviation indices were used to describe quantitative data and numbers and percentages were used to describe qualitative data.
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Results: Out of the total number of 39,800 archived patient files that were reviewed, a total of 420 (1.05%) patients were confirmed for the presence of Strongyloides stercoralis in their feces. The age range of patients was 3 to 89 years. The population of male patients (249 patients) was higher than females (171 patients). In patients with positive Strongyloides stercoralis, disease symptoms were positive in 206 patients and negative in 214 patients. The most common underlying disease in patients was abdominal pain (220 patients). 271 patients received steroids.
Conclusion: Strongyloides stercoralis infection was detected in the northern region of Iran. The prevalence of this parasite was higher in men, the elderly, and people with underlying comorbidities. These results can be used to identify and compare areas where the prevalence of infection is higher. Therefore, revealing the effect of Strongyloides stercoralis infection on public health makes the need for in-depth clinical and diagnostic studies important. People with chronic diseases, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, should be screened for parasitic diseases.
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