Performance evaluation of MR-proadrenomedullin and other scoring systems in severe sepsis with pneumonia

Background

In sepsis, risk assessment is as crucial as early and accurate diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) with other scoring systems in severe sepsis and septic shock patients due to community acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methods

Patients were divided into 2 groups as severe sepsis and septic shock due to CAP (group 1, n=31) and only CAP group (group 2, n=26). Serum MR-proADM, procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and d-dimer level were analyzed. Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) were performed for all patients.

Results

There was no difference between groups in terms of serum MR-proADM levels (P=0.780). Serum MR-proADM was not found a significant value for the prediction of death within the 4 and 8 weeks in all patients. SOFA score was the most significant to predict mortality in 4 and 8 weeks (P<0.001). The combination of SOFA score and serum MR-proADM was a strong factor to predict death in 4 weeks (specifity 86.8% and sensitivity 66.7%). The combination of MR-proADM, SOFA score, and APACHE II score was found 75.0% sensitive and 71.4% specific to predict mortality within 4 weeks in group 1.

Conclusions

The MR-proADM does not correlate with mortality or disease severity to predict mortality. The combination of SOFA, APACHE II scores, and MR-proADM was efficient to predict prognosis and mortality rate in severe sepsis or septic shock patients.     

Validation of the Turkish version of the fatigue severity scale in patients with fibromyalgia

The aim of the study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the fatigue severity scale (FSS) in fibromyalgia (FM) patients. Sixty-one FM patients and 54 healthy controls were evaluated using the Turkish version of the FSS. Reliability was investigated using test–retest reliability and internal consistency. Concurrent validity was evaluated between the FSS score and the VAS fatigue. Convergent validity was assessed by comparing the FSS score with the scores of VAS pain, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate validity. Test–retest reliability and internal consistency of the FSS were excellent in FM patients (ICC: 0.94, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient: 0.85) and in the healthy controls (ICC: 0.90, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient: 0.91). For the concurrent validity, the correlation between the FSS and VAS fatigue was very good in FM group (r: 0.63, P: 0.000) and in the healthy controls (r: 0.94, P: 0.000). For the convergent validity, correlations between the FSS and BDI, BAI, FIQ, pain intensity were moderate to good in both groups (P: 0.000). The Turkish version of the FSS has been proved to be valid and reliable to detect severity of fatigue in FM patients. We recommend the use of it in clinical practice.     

Nasopharyngeal sarcoidosis: a rare involvement

Sarcoidosis is a chronic, multisystemic, non-caseating granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Nasopharyngeal involvement is very rare in sarcoidosis. The objective of this report was to evaluate a rare involvement of sarcoidosis. This report includes a case of nasopharyngeal sarcoidosis. A 51-year-old female with nasopharyngeal sarcoidosis was treated as sarcoidosis, and she was better. Nasopharyngeal involvement is very rare in sarcoidosis but it must be kept in mind.     

Quantitative evaluation of right ventricle function by transthoracic echocardiography in childhood congenital heart disease patients with pulmonary hypertension

Introduction and Objective: The present study aims to quantitatively evaluate the right ventricle (RV) function by means of transthoracic echocardiography in normal children and childhood congenital heart disease patients with pulmonary hypertension. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in a cohort including 40 healthy children and 30 pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension who were diagnosed under close surveillance at the study center between October 2009 and November 2010. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the patient and control groups for the right ventricle myocardial performance index (RVMPI), the left ventricle myocardial performance index (LVMPI), the tricuspid valve systolic flow velocity (Ts), the ratio of systolic pulmonary artery pressure to the right ventricle outflow tract systolic flow velocity time integral (sPAP/RVOT VTI), and the ratio of systolic pulmonary artery pressure to right ventricle outflow tract systolic flow velocity time integral × heart rate (sPAP/[RVOT VTI×HR]). When the children were divided into three groups based on their pulmonary vascular resistance significant differences emerged that predicted an increasing severity of RV dysfunction. Significant differences were also observed for the RVMPI, the LVMPI, and the Ts as well as for echocardiographic pulmonary flow (Qp) and systemic flow (Qs). Discussion: The present study demonstrates that echocardiographic parameters can be used for the quantitative detection of RV dysfunction in childhood congenital heart disease patients with high pulmonary artery pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean) or pulmonary vascular resistance.     

Determination of the appropriate catheter length and place for needle thoracostomy by using computed tomography scans of pneumothorax patients

Introduction

The primary goal of this study was to compare the chest wall thicknesses (CWT) at the 2nd intercostal space (ICS) at the mid-clavicular line (MCL) and 5th ICS at the mid-axillary line (MAL) in a population of patients with a CT confirmed pneumothorax (PTX). This result will help physicians to determine the optimum needle thoracostomy (NT) puncture site in patients with a PTX.

Materials and methods

All trauma patients who presented consecutively to A&E over a 12-month period were included. Among all the trauma patients with a chest CT (4204 patients), 160 were included in the final analysis. CWTs were measured at both sides and were compared in all subgroup of patients.

Results

The average CWT for men on the 2nd ICS-MCL was 38 mm and for women was 52 mm; on the other hand, on the 5th ICS-MAL was 33 mm for men and 38 mm for women. On the 2nd ICS-MCL 17% of men and 48% of women; on the 5th ICS-MAL 13% of men and 33% of women would be inaccessible with a routine 5-cm catheter. Patients with trauma, subcutaneous emphysema and multiple rib fractures would have thicker CWT on the 2nd ICS-MCL. Patients with trauma, lung contusion, sternum fracture, subcutaneous emphysema and multiple rib fractures would have thicker CWT on the 5th ICS-MAL.

Conclusions

This study confirms that a 5.0-cm catheter would be unlikely to access the pleural space in at least 1/3 of female and 1/10 of male Turkish trauma patients, regardless of the puncture site. If NT is needed, the 5th ICS-MAL is a better option for a puncture site with thinner CWT.     

Dilatation of the ascending aorta and serum alpha 1-antitrypsin level in patients with bicuspid aortic valve

Predictors of aortic dilatation are not well described in patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV). This study sought to examine the relationship between proximal aortic dilatation and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and alpha 1-antitrypsin (α1AT) levels in patients with BAV. All patients underwent echocardiography using a standard protocol, and aortic measurements were taken in end-diastole. We studied 82 patients with BAV and categorized them into two groups according to aortic dimensions corrected for body surface area and age. The plasma level of α1AT was routinely determined using a BN ProSpec analyzer (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Marburg, Germany), and that of MMP-9 were determined by ELISA (RayBiotech Inc. Norcross, GA, USA). Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) software for Windows version 12. This study included patients with BAV with no or mild valvular impairment. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of gender, body surface area, associated hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, or smoking. The mean ascending aortic diameter was 4.38?±?0.5?mm in group 1 and 3.34?±?0.35?mm in group 2 (p?相似文献   

Evaluation of hearing loss in patients with Graves' disease

Hearing loss has commonly been reported in association with thyroid disorders and during treatment with propylthiouracil. The relationship between hyperthyroidism and the auditory system has not been previously investigated. The aim of this cross-sectional, case-control study was to investigate hearing loss in patients with Graves' disease (GD). The study population consisted of patients with newly diagnosed GD and healthy controls. Pure tone audiometry at frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz, along with immittance measures including tympanometry and acoustic reflex tests, were performed in all participants. Twenty-two GD patients and 22 healthy controls consented to inclusion in the study. The differences between groups with regards to age and gender distribution were statistically insignificant (P = 0.567 and P = 0.757, respectively). The hearing thresholds of right and left ears were also similar in both groups (P > 0.05). When single-ear evaluations were taken into account (total of 44 ears for both groups), hearing thresholds in the GD group were significantly higher than healthy controls at all frequencies (P < 0.05). Following testing at the designated frequencies, the only significant effect of thyrotoxicosis was observed with frequencies of 4000 and 8000 Hz. The odds ratio for having hearing loss at a frequency of 8000 HZ associated with GD was 14.97 (95% confidence interval 4.03-55.64). In patients with GD, right and left pure tone audiometric findings at a frequency of 8000 Hz correlated positively with FT3, FT4 and negatively with TSH. Our results are highly suggestive of a decrease in hearing ability in patients with GD, particularly at high frequencies. Further studies are needed to help elucidate the mechanisms behind hearing loss which develops in association with GD.     

Fascioliasis: 3 cases with three different clinical presentations

Fascioliasis, which is a zoonotic infestation caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke), is primarily a disease of herbivorous animals such as sheep and cattle. Humans become accidental hosts through ingesting uncooked aquatic plants such as watercress. It presents a wide spectrum of clinical pictures ranging from fever, eosinophilia and vague gastrointestinal symptoms in the acute phase to cholangitis, cholecystitis, biliary obstruction, extrahepatic infestation, or asymptomatic eosinophilia in the chronic phase. However, it may often be overlooked, especially in the acute phase, because of vague symptoms. As a result of newly introduced serological assays facilitating the diagnosis, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases. Here, we report the clinical and laboratory assessment and therapeutic approach of a series of three cases diagnosed (in order of) one week, three months and one and a half years after presentation of the first symptoms of the disease.