Evaluation of diagnostic value of procalcitonin as a marker of neonatal bacterial infections

This study tried to assess sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of procalcitonin for diagnosis of neonatal bacterial infections. This prospective cross sectional study was carried out during an 18-month period in NICU and neonatal wards of Besat Hospital in Hamedan province, Iran. 39 symptomatic infants with clinical and laboratory findings in favor of bacterial infection with a positive blood, CSF, and/or supra pubic urine culture entered the study; 32 newborns without any bacterial infection served as control group. Quantitative procalcitonin level >/= 0.5 ng/ml was accepted as pathological. Finally sensitivity, specificity, positive [PPV] and negative predictive value [NPV] were calculated for procalcitonin test. 20 blood cultures, 17 urine cultures and 8 CSF cultures were positive. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for procalcitonin test was 76.9%, 100%, 100% and 78% respectively. Diagnostic value of procalcitonin test in accordance with blood culture for mentioned items was 85%, 100%, 100% and 91.4% respectively. Its diagnostic value according to urine culture was: sensitivity 70.6%, specificity 100%, PPV 100% and NPV 86.4%, and according to CSF culture was: sensitivity 75%, specificity 100%, PPV 100% and NPV 94.1% respectively. The results show that the procalcitonin test has high sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for diagnosis of neonatal infections

Urinary tract and other associated anomalies in newborns with esophageal atresia

Esphageal atresia is often associated with other anomalies. Hereditary and environmental factors may influence the incidence of associated anomalies, particularly of the urogenital system. WE had 63 neonates with esophageal atresia admitted to 2 centers in Hamadan, Iran, from 2002 to 2008. They were 38 girls [60.3%] and 25 boy [39.7%]. Tracheoesophageal fistula was present in 54 neonates [85.7%], and other associated anomalies in 10 [15.9%]. Cardiac anomalies were found in 7 neonates; anorectal anomalies, in 4; urinary tract anomalies, in 2; and limb anomaly, in 1. Urinary tract anomalies [3.2%] were bilateral polycystic kidney in 1 neonate and unilateral hydronephrosis due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction in another. Both neonates with urinary tract anomalies were female and both had tracheoesophageal fistula, as well. Many of associated congenital abnormalities influence the management protocol of esophageal atresia, and therefore, should be detected as soon as possible after birth

[Anatomical location of basal cell carcinoma in relation to histopathological subtypes: analysis of 189 cases in Hamadan Sinahospital during 1997-99]

Basal cell carcinoma [BCC] is the most common skin cancer in whites. Determination of anatomical localization of BCC in relation to histological subtypes of this tumor. This survey is a descriptive cross sectional study carried out on 189 cases of BCC patients diagnosed in Hamadan Sina hospital between 1997-1999. This study showed 7 histologic subtypes of BCC. Nodular type was the most common type [55.16%] and metatypical type had the lowest frequency [3.7%]. Head and neck were the most common sites of all subtypes of this tumor and nose was the most common of involvement [22.7%]. Superficial BCC was more common on the scalp, which is due to irradiation used for the treatment of tineacapitis in the past

Oral fluid antibody detection in the diagnosis of gastric Helicobacter pylori infection

The aim of this study was to evaluate an enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] for the detection of anti - helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] specific IgG antibodies in specimens of oral fluid. All subjects over the age 18 years undergoing endoscopy for any reason were asked to participate in the study. Two groups of 44 patients in each were selected as HP[+] and HP[-]. At the same time, 5 milliliters of unstimulated saliva was collected from these patients, and the antibody titration against H.P. was evaluated by [ELISA] method. In overall, the level of salivary antibody in H.P[+] group was significantly more than those in H.P[-] group [P<0/001]. In the best cut - off, sensitivity and specificity obtained in this test were respectively 88.6% and 81.8% and positive predictive and negative predictive values were determined as 83% and 87.8%, respectively. Positive Likelihood Ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 6.8 and -0/083, respectively. Oral fluid ELISA is relatively a comfortable, fast and noninvasive test for diagnosis of H. pylori infection