Tehran University Medical Journal

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Background: Meningitis is one of the serious and dangerous infections in the infancy and childhood and rapid diagnosis of meningococcal disease is important, especially in infants. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein found in blood and is an acute phase protein. CRP sensitive reactive that used for diagnosis of infection. This study conducted to assessment of the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein, and neonatal meningitis, as well as diagnostic value of test. Methods: Forty nine hospitalized infant that suspected to meningitis were enrolled in this analytic cross sectional research via non probable accessible sampling. 28 patients (52.7%) of all the patients were male and 21 patients (42.8%) were female. The average age of the patients was 22.6±11.88 days. Data from clinical examinations and laboratory tests entered in a questionnaire and all of samples divided in two bacterial (septic) and non-bactria (aseptic) meningitis group. All data including cerebrospinal fluid CRP of newborns were statistically analyzed. Results: In total, the mean and standard deviation of age was 22.6±11.88 days. 57.2% of infants were male and 42.8% were female. In total, 40.82% of infants were diagnosed with septic meningitis. There was no significant difference between septic and aseptic groups in terms of sex (P= 1.00) also in terms of age (P= 0.1). The mean and standard deviation of CRP level in septic meningitis group was 0.95±0.68 mg/L and in aseptic group was 0.16±0.36 mg/L. The CRP level difference in septic meningitis group compare with aseptic group was statistically significant (P<0.000). The finding showed that cut off point for CRP level as a diagnostic test was 0.17 mg/L, sensitivity was 95% and specificity was 86%. Conclusion: In the present study, newborns with septic meningitis had higher cerebrospinal fluid CRP level than newborns with aseptic meningitis, and CSF-CRP can be used in rapid diagnosis of septic and aseptic meningitis. Although this result has been seen in many studies, but more research is needed.

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Background: One of the toxins accumulated in the body of hemodialysis patients is beta-2 microglobulin which is caused and increased by various factors. The one of this factors that can affect beta-2 macroglobulin is of membrane type that using in hemodialysis. In the present study, we examined the impact of C-reactive protein (CRP) as an inflammatory factor on beta-2 microglobulin in high-flux membrane hemodialysis patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in 44 hemodialysis patients that have been dialyzed in two academic centers Sina and Amir Alam Hospitals, Tehran, Iran from 2013 to 2014. The patients were hemodialyzed via fistula or permanent catheters three times a week for 4 hours for more than three months. Patients with known infectious disease, hemodialysis with low-flux membrane and dialysis less than three times a week were excluded. All patients were hemodialyzed using Fresenius biocompatible high-flux membrane (FX 100, Fresenius, Massachusetts, USA). Arterial blood sampling was performed. beta-2 microglobulin, CRP, BUN and creatinine tests were conducted for all patients. Results: Forty-four patients among the chronic hemodialysis patients were selected for final analysis. 20 males (44.5%) and 24 females (54.5%) were included in this study. The frequencies of underlying disease in patients participating in the study were as follows: hypertension, 23 cases (52.3%) diabetes mellitus, 11 cases (25%) hypertension and diabetes mellitus, 2 cases (4.5%) obstructive disorder, 2 cases (4.5%). In 23 patients (52.3%), beta-2 macroglobulin was >12 mg/l and in 21 (47.7%), it was <12 mg/l. 29 cases (65.9%) had CRP values less than or equal 6 mg/l. However, there was no significant differences between beta-2 microglobulin and CRP levels (P= 0.460). Also regression analysis of data showed no relationship between beta-2 microglobulin and CRP levels (r= -047, P= 0.763). Conclusion: Although it seems that inflammatory factors can be effective in increasing beta-2 microglobulin, the present study did not find such a relationship between CRP and beta-2 microglobulin.

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Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive procedure whereby the gallbladder is removed using laparoscopic techniques. Monopolar electerosurgical energy is the method of dissection of gallbladder from liver bed. Ultrasonic energy causes less thermal damage and suggests an alternative to monopolar elevterocautery. Leptin is a tissue factor and C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein that builds up in surgical damages. In laparoscopy, pneumoperitoneum and thermal damage cause this increase. In this study, after completion of surgery with both methods, plasma leptin and CPR were measured. Next, the complications and benefits of the two methods were compared.

Methods: This single blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 78 patients who were candidate for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in surgery clinic of Razi Teaching Hospital in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences from March 2013 to March 2015. Patients were divided randomly into two groups of ultrasonic and electerocautery. Then, leptin’s level and CRP’s level were measured at completion of surgery, 30 minutes after completion, 6 and 24 hours after completion of surgery in the two groups.

Results: This study shows that the average rate of leptin at completion of surgery, 30 minutes after completion, 6 and 24 hours after completion of surgery in ultrasonic group had less increase than electerocautery group and the difference was statistically significant (P= 0.0001). The average rate of CRP at completion of surgery, 30 minutes after completion, 6 and 24 hours after completion of surgery in ultrasonic group had less increase than electerocautery group and the difference was statistically significant (P= 0.0001).

Conclusion: The level of leptin and CRP shows that surgery with ultrasonic method will provoke the immune system less than electerocautery method.

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Background: Since high plasma level for C-reactive protein (CRP) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, thereby decrease in the level of high- sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients through anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce mortality and the incidence of heart failure. Accordingly, this research aims to investigate the effect of hs-CRP on ACS patients before and after treatment with astatines.

Methods: This cross-sectional and cohort study was performed for the population of 90 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) martyrs at the Mustafa Khomeini University Hospital in the Ilam city, Iran, From July to September, 2014. Blood samples were collected at admission and demographic and clinical symptoms, echocardiography and electrocardiography were recorded. At admission, the questionnaire including demographic information and medical history of patients was filled by the researchers and echocardiography and physical examination was carried out by cardiologist. The obtained data are further explored and analyzed via SPSS software, ver. 19 (Chicago, IL, USA).

Results: The sample under study was 52.2% and 48.8% men and women, respectively. Phi correlation coefficient of 73% and positive Cramer's V of 0.879 was observed between re-admission and arrhythmia admission for the group received 40 mg atorvastatin. It means that we have more re-admission when arrhythmia increases. Only 4% correlation coefficient and very low positive Cramer's V of 0.293 was seen for the group who receive 80 mg atorvastatin. It indicates that no significant correlation exists between eject fraction of admission and re-admission (P=0.18). The results showed that hs-CRP of the group that received 80 mg atorvastatin was 0.179 which is lower than 0.37 for the group who received 40 mg atorvastatin.

Conclusion: By increasing the astatine dose, the amount of hs-CRP and consequently the risk of subsequent cardiovascular events were reduced. Hence, high starting dose of atorvastatin at preliminary stages of hospitalizing can reduce re-admission and cardiovascular consequents.

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Background: Urinary tract infection is a common infectious disease in children and associated with the risk for renal scarring and long-term complications, usually consists of pyelonephritis and may cause complications such as scars in kidney, hypertension and renal failure. Some studies demonstrated association between urinary tract infection and electrolyte disturbances such as hyponatremia. The present study has been designed for assessment of association between urinary tract infection and hyponatremia in children.

Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study has been conducted on 120 children have referred to the Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science from 21 March 2011 until 20 March 2013. A total of 120 children who were aged 6 months to 12 years and had febrile urinary tract infection. The study population and were classified into two group of sixty children: hyponatremic and nonhyponatremic. We compared the laboratory findings in two groups with each other. The data included serum sodiom level, white blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and ddimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan results collected from children with febrile urinary tract infections admitted in pediatric ward. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and independent T-test with SPSS software, ver. 20 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA).

Results: In this study, 120 patients, 104 females (86.7%) and 16 males (13.3%) aged six months to 12 years were evaluated. All the patients were studied in terms of positive DMSA Scan. In the first group (hyponatremic) 31, and the second group (without hyponatremia) 13 patients were identified. There was a significant association between hyponatremia and WBC count, ESR, CRP, duration of fever and abnormal DMSA scan. Conclusion: We conclude that there is significant association between hyponatremia and severity of urinary tract infection in children.

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Background: Nowadays, stroke can be considered as the one of the major causes of disability and mortality worldwide. However, relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level with stroke early prognosis has not been well studied, especially in Iran. Therefore, the present study aimed to study the relationship between CRP level of serum in patients with acute stroke at first 24h of admission and stroke early prognosis. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was performed on 50 patients with acute stroke who were admitted at Emergency Ward of Shahid Rajaie Hospital, in Tonekabon City, Iran, between May 2013 to July 2014. In first step, valid clinical diagnosis was made based on CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the patients. The ethical observations were considered for all patients. The serum level of CRP was measured by standard method, at first 24h of the admission. Clinical information and risk factors (age, gender, type of stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus) was detected for each patient. On discharge, early prognosis by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) (mRS< 3= good and mRS≥ 3= bad) was also recognized. In this study, statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, and logistic regression method was used (P< 0.05). Results: The results of this study showed that 38% of the patients were 70-80 years old. Also, 52% of the patients were male and 48% were female. The serum CRP level of patients at the first 24h of admission increased in all studied patients. The mean of the serum CRP level was 12.82 that were higher than the normal range. The statistical analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between the serum CRP level and the stroke early prognosis. Conclusion: Although the serum CRP level was not recognized as an anticipator factor for stroke prognosis at this study, it is recommended to performance of more studies by case-study method on this setting.

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Results: The results of this study showed no significant difference between NLR and PLR levels in both groups of patients without ocular complications and with ocular complications. But the results showed that DAS-28 was significantly lower in the group with ocular complications (P<0.0001). Conclusion: In general, the results of the present study showed that the evaluation of inflammatory factors such as platelet to lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil to lymphocyte alone could not be judged in predicting the presence or possibility of ocular involvement, and the level of these factors in patients with ocular complications was affected. Other factors, such as the number of blood cells and the condition of each patient, are included.