Assessment of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and cortisol levels in saliva and their correlation to cervical vertebrae maturation method in males and females at different growth stages: a clinical study

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this in-vivo study was to assess the salivary dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and cortisol levels, and their correlation to the Cervical Vertebrae Maturation method (CVM) in males and females at pre-pubertal, pubertal and post-pubertal growth stages. Methods: 48 patients (24 males, 24 females) who were to undergo routine orthodontic treatment were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then subjects were grouped according to CVM stages, using lateral cephalogram, in pre-pubertal, pubertal and post-pubertal groups. Unstimulated saliva from the selected subjects was collected. DHEAS and cortisol levels in the salivary samples were estimated by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then they were compared to Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Method stages. One-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey's post-hoc test was used to compare the salivary DHEAS and cortisol levels between different CVM stages in males and females. Independent Student t-test was used to compare the mean salivary DHEAS and cortisol levels between different males and females in each CVM stage. Result: There was a progressive increase in salivary DHEAS and cortisol concentration as skeletal maturation progressed from CVM stages 1 and 2, CVM stages 3 and 4, reaching the highest value at CVM stages 5 and 6. Their levels were higher in males than females. Conclusion: The salivary DHEAS and cortisol levels can be useful as a potential indicator of skeletal maturation, to aid in the assessment of pubertal status.

RESUMO Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo in vivo foi avaliar os níveis salivares de sulfato de dehidroepiandrosterona (DHEAS) e de cortisol, e sua correlação com o método de maturação das vértebras cervicais (CVM) em homens e mulheres nas fases de crescimento pré-puberal, puberal e pós-puberal. Métodos: 48 pacientes (24 homens, 24 mulheres) que se submeteriam a tratamento ortodôntico de rotina foram selecionados de acordo com os critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Em seguida, usando telerradiografia lateral, os indivíduos foram agrupados de acordo com os estágios CVM, em grupos pré-puberal, puberal e pós-puberal. Foi feita coleta de saliva não estimulada nos indivíduos selecionados. Os níveis de DHEAS e cortisol nas amostras salivares foram avaliados pelo teste ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent assay). Em seguida, foram comparados aos estágios do método CVM. O teste ANOVA de uma via seguido pelo teste post-hoc de Tukey foi usado para comparar o DHEAS salivar e os níveis de cortisol entre os diferentes estágios de CVM em homens e mulheres. O teste t de Student independente foi usado para comparar a média de DHEAS salivar e os níveis de cortisol entre diferentes homens e mulheres em cada estágio de CVM. Resultados: Houve um aumento progressivo no DHEAS salivar e na concentração de cortisol à medida que a maturação esquelética progrediu dos estágios CVM 1 e 2, para os estágios CVM 3 e 4, atingindo o valor mais alto nos estágios CVM 5 e 6. Seus níveis foram maiores nos homens do que nas mulheres. Conclusões: Os níveis salivares de DHEAS e cortisol podem ser úteis como um potencial indicador de maturação esquelética, para auxiliar na avaliação do estado puberal.

Comparison of clinical parameters with APACHE-II, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score scores in predicting treatment outcome of patients with ventilator associated pneumonia

Background: The objective of this study was to study the multiple clinical parameters in patients with VAP and to compare the 3 scores namely, APACHE II, SOFA and CPIS in predicting the treatment outcome of patients with ventilator associated pneumonia.Methods: It was a cross sectional observational study conducted on forty patients admitted in ICU between June 2018 and July 2019, who developed VAP after admission to ICU. Logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the predictive ability of the APACHE II, SOFA and CPIS scoring systems in assessing VAP-related mortality. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. All analyses were performed using SPSS software version 10.Results: The sample size in our study was 40 patients. The mean age of patients was 43.4±15.9. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation before VAP onset was 8±2 days. Klebsiella species was the most common organism isolated from ET aspirate. Of the three scores only APACHE II was independent predictor of the mortality in the logistic regression analysis.Conclusions: APACHE II score is better at predicting mortality in patients with VAP as compared to SOFA and CPIS scores. Age, co-morbidities, duration of ICU stay, time of acquiring VAP, multi organ dysfunction, need for ionotropes and multi drug resistant organisms play an important role in predicting the outcome of patients.

Study of spectrum of sepsis and prediction of its outcome in patients admitted to ICU using different scoring systems

Background: Although sepsis is one of the leading causes of mortality in hospitalized patients, information regarding early predictive factors for mortality and morbidity is limited. The aim was to identify reliable and early prognostic variables predicting mortality in patients admitted to ICU with sepsis.Methods: Patients fulfilling the Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2012 guidelines criteria for sepsis within the ICU were included over two years. Apart from baseline haematological, biochemical and metabolic parameters, APACHE II, SAPS II and SOFA scores were calculated on day 1 of admission. Patients were followed till death or discharge from the ICU. Chi-square test, student t-test, receiver operating curve analyses were done.Results: 100 patients were enrolled during the study period. The overall mortality was 35% (68.6% in males and 31.4% in females). Mortality was 88.6% and 11.4% in patients with septic shock and severe sepsis and none in the sepsis group, respectively. On multivariate analysis, significant predictors of mortality were APACHE II score greater than 27, SAPS II score greater than 43 and SOFA score greater than 11 on day the of admission. On ROC analysis APACHE II had the highest sensitivity (92.3%) and SAPS II had the highest specificity (82.9%).Conclusions: All three scores performed well in predicting the mortality. Overall, APACHE II had highest sensitivity, hence was the best predictor of mortality in critically ill patients. SAPS II had the highest specificity, hence it predicted improvement better than death. SOFA had intermediate sensitivity and specificity.

Comparison of prediction of outcomes in upper GI bleed using non-endoscopic scoring systems

Background: Several scoring systems have been designed for risk stratification and prediction of outcomes in upper GI bleed. Endoscopy plays a major role in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of UGIB patients. However not all patients with UGIB need endoscopy. The objective of the present study was compared the prediction of mortality using different scoring systems in patients with upper GI bleed. A decision tool with a high sensitivity would be able to identify high and low risk patients and for judicious utilization of available resources.Methods: 100 patients were assessed with respect to their clinical parameters, organ dysfunction, pertinent laboratory parameters and five risk assessment scores i.e. clinical Rockall, Glasgow Blatchford, ALBI, PALBI and AIMS65 were calculated.Results: For prediction of outcomes, AIMS65 was superior to the others (AUROC of 0.889), followed by the GBS (AUROC of 0.869), followed by clinical Rockall score (AUROC 0.815), followed by ALBI score (AUROC of 0.765), followed by PALBI score (AUROC of 0.714) all values being statistically significant.Conclusions: The AIMS65 score is best in predicting the mortality in patients with upper GI bleed. The optimum cut off being >2. Though GBS may be better in predicting the need for intervention, it is inferior in predicting the mortality. The newer scores like ALBI and PALBI are inferior to AIMS65 and GBS in predicting mortality.