Risk factors of re-intubation of patients in intensive care units

Re-intubation of the trachea is one of the complications of the patients encounter with critical illness in the intensive care unit. The incidence of this complication has reported between 2% and 25%. Many risk factors contribute with this phenomenon; such as female sex, aging, narcotic and sedative drugs, etc. Re-intubation increases the duration of hospitalization, as well as pulmonary complications and mortality rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors of re-intubation in the intensive care units [ICU]. This study was a retrospective cross- sectional study and was conducted in 2004 among the data documented 210 medical records. These records were obtained from three ICUs of AL-Zahra medical Center. Incomplete medical records were. All data was extracted and filled in speciallydesigned questionnaires. Obtained data was analyzed with SPSS software by using Chi-square and t-tests. From the 210 medical records studied, 15 patients [7.1%] were re-intubated. There was a positive correlation between re-intubation and hemoglobin when it was lees than 12 gr/dL or more than 15 gr/dL. Aging [age>65 years], hyponatermia [Na<135 meq/L], hypokalemia [K<3.5meq/L] and co-existing diseases [cardiac, renal, diabetes and hypertension] might have a role in increasing the frequency of re-intubation

[Evaluation the immunogenesity structure of HIV recombinant protein gp41-p24]

HIV recombinant proteins can be used as immunogen and inducer of immune system. The gag and env proteins are among the most important ones that are located on internal and surface sections, respectively. In this study, we considered the immunogenisity structure of HIV recombinant protein gp41-p24, which has not yet been studied in detail before. In the present study, the HIV recombinant protein gp41-p24 was prepared by cloning methods and kept as unfolded. Using the dilution procedure, unfolded protein was changed to refolded state. The molecular weight and concentration of protein [refolded and unfolded] was measured by electrophoresis and spectrophotometer methods. The measurement of refolded protein can be estimated by native gel and circular dichroism method [CD] based on secondary structure of the protein. Immunological activity and immunogenic structure of these two proteins, based on protein type and optical density was recorded by ELISA and western blot methods. Our results showed that molecular weight of each protein was 32 KD and also they were pure. The refolded protein was observed by native gel method. In the above protein compared with the unfolded one, increased content of helix and beta strand structures and decreased random form was shown. Immune reaction with the antibodies in the serum of HIV positive control patients was observed in the standard and refolded proteins. There was no significant difference based on the protein type. Our research indicated that the HIV recombinant protein gp41-p24, after refolding, has immunogenic activity and we suggest its application as an immunogen in immunization and stimulation of immune system