Investigating the relationship between the level of serum albumin and body mass index, as nutritional indicators, with dialysis adequacy in patients under hemodialysis

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who undergo hemodialysis have many complications; one of the most important of which is malnutrition, which affects these patients’ quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum albumin and body mass index (BMI) as nutritional indicators, and their relationship with dialysis adequacy in patients under hemodialysis.METHODS: In this study, 100 patients who underwent hemodialysis in Razi Hospital, Qaemshahr City, Iran, in 2016 were selected via convenience sampling method. The data were collected using demographic questionnaire, albumin test, and measuring height and weight of patients. Data were analyzed using linear regression and correlation coefficient tests.RESULTS: The correlation between the hemodialysis adequacy with albumin was 0.634, which was significant (P < 0.050). For the second hypothesis, the quality of dialysis with BMI was not positively correlated. The correlation between the hemodialysis adequacy with BMI was -0.007, which was not significant (P > 0.050). Although, in the third hypothesis, the regression between the adequacy of hemodialysis, as a dependent variable, and serum albumin and BMI, as independent variables, indicated significant relationship between serum albumin and hemodialysis adequacy; but there was no significant relationship between BMI and adequacy of hemodialysis.CONCLUSION: Adequacy of hemodialysis is in relationship with malnutrition and improving the KT/V dialysis adequacy may have a significant effect on the malnutrition control in these patients

Evaluation of epidemiologic, clinical, and paraclinical features of children with brucellosis hospitalized in two teaching hospital related to Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, during the years 2010-2016

BACKGROUND: The clinical manifestations of brucellosis are very diverse. This study was conducted to investigate the epidemiological, laboratory, and clinical characteristics in pediatrics patients with brucellosis.METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the population included patients under age of 18 years who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of brucellosis in Razi hospital, Qaemshahr City, and Bu-ali Sina hospital, Sari City, Iran, during the years 2010-2016. Twenty seven patients with a mean age of 12.5 years including 9 girls and 18 boys had inclusion criteria and entered to study. Most patients (70.3%) were in the age range of 12-18 years.RESULTS: Twenty one patients (77.8%) consumed unpasteurized dairy products and 10 patients (37%) had direct contact with livestock. Most of the initial complaints were fever in 13 cases (48.1%), joint pain in 12 cases (44.4%), and limbs pain in 5 cases (18.5%). The most common clinical findings were arthritis (14.8%) and splenomegaly (7.4%). In laboratory findings, 11.1% had leukopenia, 48.1% had anemia, 3.7% had thrombocytopenia, 29.6% had a moderate increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), 25.9% had high increase in ESR, and 18.5% had leukocytosis. Clinical signs and laboratory parameters in the study included chills and fever, joints and limbs pain, arthritis, splenomegaly, increase in ESR, anemia, leukocytosis, and leukopenia.CONCLUSION: In patients with fever and skeletal or joints pain, brucellosis should be considered as a possible disease, and initial diagnostic measures should be taken, especially in children. Signs and symptoms of brucellosis are various and nonspecific. Educating the high risk families plays an important role in management of disease.

The relationship between the adequacy of hemodialysis and laboratory parameters

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the factors affecting the adequacy of dialysis and determine the relationship of dialysis adequacy with laboratory parameters.METHODS: This descriptive study was performed on 60 hemodialysis patients of Razi Medical Center of Qaemshahr, Iran, with the history of more than 3 months of dialysis. The participants were selected using census method. Data collection was conducted through a researcher-made questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to evaluate laboratory parameters. The adequacy of dialysis was calculated through the Kt/V parameter. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests.RESULTS: According to the Kt/V criteria, the mean dialysis adequacy index was 1.6 ± 0.22 and 41.7% of the patients had the optimum dialysis adequacy (Kt/V of greater than 1.2), and 43.3% of patients had a dialysis adequacy which was close to the desirable level. There was a significant reverse relationship between dialysis adequacy and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood sugar, and body mass index (BMI). Nevertheless, there was no significant relationship between dialysis adequacy and parathyroid hormone ‎(PTH), cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), calcium, phosphorus, and the number of dialysis sessions per week, duration of each dialysis session, and the history of dialysis (P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: In order to increase the adequacy of dialysis, the blood sugar level of patients should be controlled and patients should be advised to modify their weight using a suitable diet

The relationship between the adequacy of hemodialysis and laboratory parameters

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the factors affecting the adequacy of dialysis and determine the relationship of dialysis adequacy with laboratory parameters. METHODS: This descriptive study was performed on 60 hemodialysis patients of Razi Medical Center of Qaemshahr, Iran, with the history of more than 3 months of dialysis. The participants were selected using census method. Data collection was conducted through a researcher-made questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to evaluate laboratory parameters. The adequacy of dialysis was calculated through the Kt/V parameter. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests. RESULTS: According to the Kt/V criteria, the mean dialysis adequacy index was 1.6 ± 0.22 and 41.7% of the patients had the optimum dialysis adequacy (Kt/V of greater than 1.2), and 43.3% of patients had a dialysis adequacy which was close to the desirable level. There was a significant reverse relationship between dialysis adequacy and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood sugar, and body mass index (BMI). Nevertheless, there was no significant relationship between dialysis adequacy and parathyroid hormone ‎(PTH), cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), calcium, phosphorus, and the number of dialysis sessions per week, duration of each dialysis session, and the history of dialysis (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In order to increase the adequacy of dialysis, the blood sugar level of patients should be controlled and patients should be advised to modify their weight using a suitable diet

The predictive value of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin chemical biomarkers in the premature diagnosis of infection in brain ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: The infections are common complications after the ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticipatory value of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) biomarkers in diagnosis of stroke-induced infection.METHODS: In the current prospective study, 184 patients with cerebral ischemia were enrolled. Serum samples were obtained from patients. The CRP and PCT, white blood cells (WBCs) and monocytes, and final infections were evaluated.RESULTS: In the first 72 hours, the analysis for CRP revealed that the sensitivity was 41.60%, the specificity was 100%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 100%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 82.90%. PCT showed that the sensitivity was 85.41%, the specificity was 98.54%, PPV was 95.34%, and NPV was 95%.CONCLUSION: According to our findings, the evaluation of CRP and PCT with simultaneous clinical observation could be considered as a good step in start of antibiotic therapy

Investigating the relationship between the level of serum albumin and body mass index, as nutritional indicators, with dialysis adequacy in patients under hemodialysis

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who undergo hemodialysis have many complications; one of the most important of which is malnutrition, which affects these patients’ quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum albumin and body mass index (BMI) as nutritional indicators, and their relationship with dialysis adequacy in patients under hemodialysis. METHODS: In this study, 100 patients who underwent hemodialysis in Razi Hospital, Qaemshahr City, Iran, in 2016 were selected via convenience sampling method. The data were collected using demographic questionnaire, albumin test, and measuring height and weight of patients. Data were analyzed using linear regression and correlation coefficient tests. RESULTS: The correlation between the hemodialysis adequacy with albumin was 0.634, which was significant (P 0.050). Although, in the third hypothesis, the regression between the adequacy of hemodialysis, as a dependent variable, and serum albumin and BMI, as independent variables, indicated significant relationship between serum albumin and hemodialysis adequacy; but there was no significant relationship between BMI and adequacy of hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: Adequacy of hemodialysis is in relationship with malnutrition and improving the KT/V dialysis adequacy may have a significant effect on the malnutrition control in these patients

Evaluation of epidemiologic, clinical, and paraclinical features of children with brucellosis hospitalized in two teaching hospital related to Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, during the years 2010-2016

BACKGROUND: The clinical manifestations of brucellosis are very diverse. This study was conducted to investigate the epidemiological, laboratory, and clinical characteristics in pediatrics patients with brucellosis. METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the population included patients under age of 18 years who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of brucellosis in Razi hospital, Qaemshahr City, and Bu-ali Sina hospital, Sari City, Iran, during the years 2010-2016. Twenty seven patients with a mean age of 12.5 years including 9 girls and 18 boys had inclusion criteria and entered to study. Most patients (70.3%) were in the age range of 12-18 years. RESULTS: Twenty one patients (77.8%) consumed unpasteurized dairy products and 10 patients (37%) had direct contact with livestock. Most of the initial complaints were fever in 13 cases (48.1%), joint pain in 12 cases (44.4%), and limbs pain in 5 cases (18.5%). The most common clinical findings were arthritis (14.8%) and splenomegaly (7.4%). In laboratory findings, 11.1% had leukopenia, 48.1% had anemia, 3.7% had thrombocytopenia, 29.6% had a moderate increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), 25.9% had high increase in ESR, and 18.5% had leukocytosis. Clinical signs and laboratory parameters in the study included chills and fever, joints and limbs pain, arthritis, splenomegaly, increase in ESR, anemia, leukocytosis, and leukopenia. CONCLUSION: In patients with fever and skeletal or joints pain, brucellosis should be considered as a possible disease, and initial diagnostic measures should be taken, especially in children. Signs and symptoms of brucellosis are various and nonspecific. Educating the high risk families plays an important role in management of disease

The process of surface carburization and high temperature wear behavior of infiltrated W-Cu composites

Tungsten-copper (W-Cu) composites are used as high temperature frictional materials under special service conditions for electromagnetic gun rail and precision guide for rolled pieces due to their good ablation resistance and electrical conductivity. However, they have poor wear resistance at elevated temperatures. In this paper, surface carburization method was applied on the W-20 wt%Cu composite to investigate the mechanisms of carburization and its effects on the high temperature friction behavior of composite. Carburization process has been done at a temperature of 1100 °C for 30 h. The obtained results showed that carburizing at 1100 °C with a dwelling time of 30 h resulted into formation of a carburized layer and a dense intermediate sub-layer on the substrate. Also, the surface carburized layer with a thickness of about 70 μm composed of mixed phases of graphite, WC and W2C. The hardness of carburized layer (~HV454) was significantly higher than that of substrate (HV223). Also, bending strength of the carburized W-Cu composites has been significantly improved, although their electrical conductivity and tensile strength was decreased slightly. The carburization mechanism of the W-Cu composites was found to be dominant by carbon atom diffusion through reaction with W atoms and formation of surface liquid copper, which promoted migration and diffusion of tungsten and carbon at high temperatures. Average coefficients of friction and wear rate of carburized W-Cu composites are all lower than these of un-carburized W-Cu composites owing to the presence of surface carburized layer. Also, formation of CuWO4 at high temperatures reduced the friction and wear resistance of the W-Cu composites