[Diagnostic accuracy of helicobacter stool antigen in dyspeptic patients before eradication therapy]

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the diagnostic accuracy of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen [HpSA] test with three other invasive and non-invasive diagnostic methods. A total of Fifty-two dyspeptic patients were included. None of the patients had previous eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori. Endoscopic biopsy samples were obtained for histology examination and Rapid Urease Test [RUT]. Urea Breath Test [UBT] and HpSA were also performed. Patients were considered Helicobacter pylori positive when 2 of 3 tests [histology examination, RUT and UBT] were positive [gold standard]. Diagnostic accuracy of HpSA was assessed performing a Receiver Operating Curve [ROC] analysis. Twenty-three Were men and 29 Were women, with a mean age of 42.3 years of the Patients. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was 67.3%. ROC curve analysis was showed a significant area under curve of 94.6% [p=0.0001]. Cut-off value was estimated to be 0.1. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of HpSA wa 91.4%, 94.1%, 97% and 84%, respectively. HpSA level significantly increased with increasing in bacterial load. HpSA was proved to be a highly accurate, simple and non-invasive test for the diagnosis of Helicobater pylori infection before treatment in dyspeptic patients

Study of scorpionism in Kashan in central Iran

The present research study was conducted to get new information due to the epidemiology of scorpionism in the region of Kshan, central of Iran. This was a descriptive retrospective study. Totally 230 files, belonging to the patients presented to the health centre and hospitals of city of Kashan during one year [March 22nd 2007 - March 21st 2008] were reviewed. In a questioner, this information was included and recorded for each patient: sex and age of scorpion sting victim, background of patient, antivenin treatment, month of scorpion sting, scorpion-stung part of body, color of scorpion and geographical place [rural/urban]. The frequencies of epidemiological parameters were converted to the percentage rank. The incidence of scorpion sting in Kashan is calculated as 58 persons in hundred thousand [100,000]. The results of this study show that the most of scorpion-stung patients were males [53.04%] and the rest were females [46.95%]. The distribution rate of ages shows that the greatest rate of scorpion stings were reported among the 15-24 year old people. Data collected in this study revealed that the highest incidence of scorpion sting cases took place in summer [75.7%] and the lowest in winter [0.4%]. Totally 73.91% of scorpion sting victims were from urban areas and the rest [26.08%] were from rural areas of Kashan. The scorpions brought to the Medical Centres by the patients or their relatives were identifiedas Odonthobuthusdoriae, Hotentta saulcyi, Compsobuthus sp., Androctonus crassicauda and Orthochirus sp. of Buthidae and Scorpio maurus of Scorpionidae in Kashan of Iran. It is concluded that the scorpionism in Kashan is similar to the other areas from the epidemiological cases including: distribution rate of ages, sex and site of stings. Existence of Hemiscorpius lepturus causes more clinical effects among people of south west of Iran than Kashan area