ABSTRACT
Background: Damage caused by traumatic brain injury [TBI] depends on the extent of primary and secondary damages. The latter can cause induced neurological inflammation by releasing pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Measurement of serum interleukin-6 [IL-6], as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, can be useful in predicting outcome in patients with TBI.
Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 44 patients with GCS/= 14 years, hospitalized in Poursina teaching hospital, were included in the study. Blood samples were collected from patients in the first 6 hours after the accident; and serum was tested by ELISA method for the determination of IL-6 levels. Patients' outcomes were recorded 6 months after head injury according to Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS], and were divided in two good [GOS >/=4] and bad [GOS<3] outcome groups. Data were analyzed in SPSS software version18 using the Spearman's rho, independent-t test, Fisher Exact test and Mann-Whitney test.
Results: Comparison of IL-6 serum levels, in the two groups after 6 months of head injury, showed that mean serum levels of IL-6 in good outcome group was lower than bad outcome group [85.2 +/- 51.6 vs. 162.3 +/- 141.1, respectively] [P <0.03].
Conclusion: Elevated serum levels of IL-6 in patients with severe TBI, is associated with poor clinical outcome.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate enteral feeding solutions used in trauma patients in terms of their nutritional quality and microbial contamination. Enteral feeding solutions prepared in the hospital were collected during 3 months. Microbial counts of solutions and macronutrient contents were evaluated and compared with food tables. One sample t test was used for comparing data with the predicted values. Energy and protein contents of 27 enteral feeding solutions prepared in different days were in range of 26.04-87.25 kcal and 1.33-8.44 g/100 ml, respectively; their mean values were 59.23 +/- 2.5 and 4.46 +/- 0.3 respectively. There was a significant difference between laboratory results and predicted values based on food tables. Coloni count of aerobic and coliform, 4 h after preparation of 22 solutions, were reported to be 2x10[6] +/- 2.9x10[5] and 8.9x10[5] +/- 6.8x10[5] CFU / g respectively and were much higher than PFA permitted value. The results showed that the real energy of solutions was less than the predicted values, so the energy intake of the patients is affected. In addition, these solutions had higher bacterial contamination than the allowed amount