mahmoud monadi

Using new diagnostic methods to help quickly diagnose VTE disease is important. It is well known that treatment of VTE is based on radiological methods, but the main purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between blood coagulation factor XIII( FXIII), D-dimer, and fibrinogen levels in patients with VTE.

Seventy patients initially suspected of having VTE were included and determined their D-dimer, fibrinogen, and (FXIII )levels. The diagnosis of VTE was based on the CT-Angiography. The blood samples were prepared from the patients during the first 6 hours of admission and before using anticoagulant.

The mean level of D-dimer in VTE patients was higher than those without VTE (1770± 764.49 vs. 430.66± 263.98ng / ml) (p <0.001). The mean factor XIII level in patients with VTE was significantly lower than those without VTE(55.03±13.61 vs. 88.57±18.14ng / ml) (p <0.001). The mean fibrinogen level in patients with VTE was significantly lower than in non-VTE patients (140.49± 36.03 vs. 214.69± 69.73 mg/dl) (p <0.001). The cut-off value of D-dimer was 500 ng/ml, and the sensitivity and specificity were 97% and 74%, respectively. The cut-off point of fibrinogen was 168 mg/dl, with a sensitivity of and a specificity of 77% and 77%, respectively. The cut-off point of XIII was 70 ng/ml, with a sensitivity of and specificity85% and 82%, respectively.

 Our findings suggest that combined measurement of serum levels of D-dimer, factor XIII, and fibrinogen can be used to confirm clinical suspicion for VTE.

The present study aimed to investigate the one-year prevalence of SARS- CoV-2, common comorbidities and demographic information among negative- and positive rRT-PCR in health care workers (HCW), hospitalized and outpatients. Also, the association between SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold (Ct) and the outcomes of patients were analyzed in Babol, northern Iran.

This large retrospective cross-sectional study was performed between March 2020 and March 2021. The records of 19232 hospitalized, outpatients and HCW suspected to COVID-19 were collected from teaching hospitals in the North of Iran.

Out of the 19232 suspected to COVID-19 patients, 7251 (37.7%) had a positive rRT-PCR result; 652 (9%), 4599 (63.4%) and 2000 (27.6%) of those were categorized as HCW, hospitalized and outpatients, respectively. Moreover, between the hospitalized and the outpatient group, 10.2 and 0.8% cases died, whereas no death cases were reported in the HCW. Furthermore, it seems that death rate was significantly different between the three groups of Ct value, the highest mortality in those with Ct between 21 and 30 (group B=7.6%) and the lowest in the group with the highest Ct (between 31 and 40 = 5.5%) (p<0.001).

In summary, 37.7% of cases were positive for SARS-CoV-2; of which, 63.4, 27.6 and 9% were hospitalized, outpatients and HCW, respectively. With regard to the mortality rate in hospitalized patients and the significant association with Ct under 20 and 30, it seems that the early detection and the initial quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in the first week of the conflict and therapeutic considerations to reduce the relative load can reduce the mortality rate.

Increased serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in asthma and its association with disease severity has been investigated in many studies. This study aimed to determine serum hs-CRP status in asthma versus healthy controls and to examine its ability in predicting asthma control. Serum CRP was measured by ELISA method using a high sensitive CRP kit. Severity of asthma was determined using Asthma Control Test. Spearman and chi square tests were used for association and correlation respectively. The predictive ability was determined by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Accuracy was determined by determination of area under the ROC curve (AUC). A total of 120 patients and 115 controls were studied. Median serum hs-CRP in asthma was higher than control (P=0.001. In well controlled asthma the hs-CRP decreased significantly compared with poorly controlled (P=0.024) but still was higher than control (P=0.017). Serum hs-CRP at cutoff level of 1.45 mg/L differentiated the patients and controls with accuracy of 63.5 % (AUC= 0.635±0.037, P=0.001). Serum hs-CRP &le 2.15 mg/L predicted well controlled asthma with accuracy of 62.5% (AUC= 0.625±0.056, p=0.025). After adjusting for age, sex, weight and smoking, there was an independent association between serum hs-CRP >1.45 mg/L and asthma by adjusted OR=2.49, p=0.018). These findings indicate that serum hs-CRP in asthma is higher than healthy control and increases with severity of asthma and decreases with. Thus, serum hs-CRP measurement can be helpful in predicting asthma control and treatment response.

Vitamin D has a potential to modulate inflammatory response against noxious particles in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The present study was conducted to determine the status of serum vitamin D in COPD versus healthy group. The patients presented to the outpatient pulmonary clinic of Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital, Babol Iran. Diagnosis of COPD was confirmed based on airflow limitation defined as FEV1/FVC ratio <70% and FEV1< 80% of predicted. All eligible patients aged ≥ 40 years old entered the study. Pulmonary infection, tuberculosis, pleural effusion, congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and embolism, restrictive airway disease, conditions leading changes in vitamin D metabolism and absorption were excluded. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) was determined by electrocheminluminescence method and levels <20, 20-29, and ≥30ng/ml were considered as deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency. In statistical analysis, the frequency of serum 25-OHD deficiency and insufficiency in patients were compared regarding age of ≤ 50 or >50 years old. All patients were males and age and sex-matched controls were selected among healthy subjects accompanied COPD patients. Ninety patients and 100 controls with respective mean (±SD) age of 64.8±11.7 and 62.6±11.7 years old (P=0.19) were studied. Compared with control, proportions of serum 25-OHD deficiency and insufficiency in patients >50 years were higher and deficiency was lower (61.5% vs 87.5%, P=0.11). These findings indicate that a significant proportion of young COPD patients have insufficient serum 25-OHD. Regarding a positive relationship between 25-OHD and FEV1 in COPD, these findings highlight serum 25-OHD assessment in COPD for recognizing high risk patients.

Vitamin D deficiency seems to be associated with pulmonary function deterioration. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D and forced expiratory volume in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). From September 2011 to April 2012 eighty consecutive patients with COPD presented to an outpatient clinic of Babol University- Teaching Hospital entered to the study. Diagnosis of COPD was confirmed according to clinical findings and pulmonary function test. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) was assessed by chemiluminuscence method and postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) was measured in all patients. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between serum 25-OHD concentrations and FEV1 value. The patients were classified according to serum 25- OHD concentrations as less 10ng/ml, 10-19.9; 20-29.9; 30-39.9; and 40ng/ml or higher. The mean values of FEV1 for each class of serum 25-OHD were determined and compared. The mean age of patients was 67.4±11.5 years. The mean FEV1 volume in serum 25-OHD deficient COPD was lower than sufficient COPD (1.550±0.55 vs 1.650±-0.58, p=0.45). Mean FEV1 values increased from 1.55±0.55 L in patients with mean serum 25-OHD <20 ng/ml to 1.94±0.74 L in COPD patients with mean serum 25-OHD ±>40 ng/ml. There was a dose-response pattern of relationship between FEV1 and serum 25-OHD. However, the relationship did not reach to a statistically significant level. These findings indicated a relationship between serum 25-OHD concentration and FEV1 volume in patients with COPD and suggest optimization of serum vitamin D levels in COPD.

IntroductionFungi are considered as a life threatening in immunocompromised patients and respiratory tract is the main involvement location. Critically ill patients who are admitted to intensive care units (ICU) may also be susceptible to these infections, because of their conditions. Fungal colonization in respiratory tract maybe consider as a probable source for infection. Therefore, in the present study we evaluatedfungal flora of respiratory tract in patients admitted to ICU.Materials and MethodsBronchoalveolar lavage samples were collected by bronchoscope from 45 patients with underlying predisposing conditions for invasive fungal infection twice a week. Samples were homogenated by pancreatin for performance of direct microscopic examination and cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar. The grown fungi on culture media were identified by standard mycological procedures.ResultsThe main underlying predisposing conditions were COPD (22.2%), hematologic malignancy (20.3%) and prolonged stay in the ICU (16.9%). The mean length of ICU stay was 19.6 days. Overall, 80 samples had positive result in direct examination (76.2%) and culture (71.2%), respectively. The most frequent isolated fungi were Candida (64.7%), Aspergillus (19.3%) and Penicillium (7.9%). Among Candida and Aspergillus species, C. albicans and A. flavus were most common. In 48.4% of patients, similar fungal species were isolated in both sampling times.ConclusionThe results of our study showed that the ICU patients were susceptible to fungal resistant colonization especially Candida and Aspergillus as two life threatening fungal agents. So we emphasize the control procedures to reduce the fungal infection possibility among ICU patients.

Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) is recommended as a tool for control of asthma. The purpose of this study was to determine the normal value of PEFR in the healthy high school children in Babol, Iran. This study was conducted on 470 healthy high school children (285 girls, 185 boys with the age between 14-18 years). For the determination of PEFR we used Mini Wright Peak Flow Meter. At a three time measurement, the highest value of PEFR is recorded. Formula for prediction of PEFR was estimated by linear regression analysis after the correlation of PEFR with the age, height and weight. The mean PEFR in the boys was 546.57±74.92 and in the girls was 424.48±52.29L/m. The amount of PEFR was increased regarding age, height and weight. The formula for prediction of PEFR was estimated: For boys: weight ×1.59+height×2.24+age×1.47-135,For girls: weight ×0.86+height×1.46+143.17 The results show that the normal range of PEF is different from that reported to the other countries.