Highly sensitive C-reactive protein levels in Iranian patients with pulmonary complication of sulfur mustard poisoning and its correlation with severity of airway diseases

Background: Sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent that can cause serious pulmonary complications. This study was designed to determine serum highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and evaluate its correlation with lung function parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to SM poisoning. Methods: Fifty consecutive SM patients with stable COPD and a mean age 46.3 + 9.18 years were enrolled in this cross sectional study. Thirty healthymen were selected as controls. Lung function parameters were evaluated. Serum hs-CRP by immunoturbidometry assay was measured in both the patients and controls. Results: In the case group, the mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was 2.14 + 0.76 L (58.98%+17.51% predicted). The mean serum hs-CRP was 9.4+6.78 SD and 3.9+1.92 SDmg/L in the cases and controls, respectively, with significant statistical differences (p < .001). There was negative correlation between the serum hs-CRP and FEV1 levels (p ¼ .01). The serum hs-CRP levels were also correlated with Global Initiative for ChronicObstructive Lung disease (GOLD) stages (r ¼ .45, p < .001). Conclusions:Our findings suggest that the serum hs-CRP level is increased in SM patients with COPD and may have a direct correlation with disease severity. It may then be used as a marker for the severity of COPD in patients with SM poisoning

Interleukin-6 and airflow limitation in chemical warfare patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the main late complications of sulfur mustard poisoning. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 in war veterans with pulmonary complications of sulfur mustard poisoning and their correlation with severity of airways disease. Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with sulfur mustard poisoning and stable COPD, and of mean age 46.3 ± 9.18 years were enrolled in this study. Thirty healthy men were selected as controls and matched to cases by age and body mass index. Spirometry, arterial blood gas, six-minute walk test, BODE (body mass index, obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity), and St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire about quality of life were evaluated. Serum IL-6 was measured in both patient and control groups. Results: Fifty-four percent of patients had moderate COPD. Mean serum IL-6 levels were 15.01 ± standard deviation (SD) 0.61 pg/dL and 4.59 ± 3.40 pg/dL in the case and control groups, respectively (P = 0.03). There was a significant correlation between IL-6 levels and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage (r = 0.25, P = 0.04) and between IL-6 and BODE index (r = 0.38, P = 0.01). There was also a significant negative correlation between serum IL-6 and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1, r = −0.36, P = 0.016). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that serum IL-6 is increased in patients with sulfur mustard poisoning and COPD, and may have a direct association with airflow limitation

Bilateral Pulmonary Artery, Inferior Vena Cava, and Cardiac Echinococcosis: A Rare Presentation of Zoonotic Diseases

Introduction:Cystic hydatidosis is a zoonoticdisease thatis mostly observedin the Mediterranean region. This infectious disease may present throughdifferent manifestations that may delay the diagnosis and cause various complications for the patients. Most of the cases are usually diagnosed by imaging studies and the related management could be medical or surgical depending on the patient’s clinical condition and disease severity. Case presentation:In the present report, we present the case ofa 50-year-old female patient with a positive history of liver and splenichydatid cysts with hemoptysis and dyspnea. The diagnosis of pulmonary and cardiac involvement wasmade usingcomputed tomography angiography. Despite the immediate surgery, the patient died from hemorrhage after 3 days. Conclusion:Themanagement of pulmonary embolism due to Echinococcus highly depends on the clinical judgment and the outcomes are subject to the history and extent of the involvement

Prevalence of Asthma in Children of Chemical Warfare Victims

Objective: Exposure of DNA to sulfur mustard gas may increase the inheritance of asthma in chemical warfare victims' (CWV) offspring. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of asthma in children of CWV and compare it to asthmatic children in the general population. Methods: Four hundred and nine children from 130 CWV fathers and 440 children from 145 asthmatic parents from two cities in Iran participated in this study. The prevalence of asthma was determined by standard questionnaire released for epidemiological survey of asthma in children and compared between two groups. Findings: The prevalence of asthma in the CWV group was 15%; this was not significantly different from the control group (12.5%). The children of the CWV group reported a significantly greater incidence of wheezing (1.2±3.1 attacks) per year, but the control group reported more severe attacks leading to speech difficulties (3%) and coughing (7%). Regression analysis showed that with increasing family size in the control group, the number of subjects suffering from asthmatic symptoms decreases significantly (r=0.86, P=0.001). Conclusion: Chemical agents may increase the prevalence of asthma in the offspring of CWV

Evaluation of Superiority of FEV1/VC Over FEV1/FVC for Classification of Pulmonary Disorders

Introduction: Forced expiratory value in one score  (FEV1)/ Forced vital capacity (FVC) was used in classical literature for primary classifications of pulmonary disorders. American Thoracic Society/ European Respiratory Society guidelines recommended using FEV1/VC instead of FEV1/FVC.The aim of study was determination of the extent of superiority of FEV1/VC over the FEV1/FVC. Materials and Methods: Two hundred seven subjects whom suffered from different pulmonary disorders were evaluated by standard spirometry, lung volume and Carbon mono-oxide lung diffusion capacity (DLCO). Accuracy of FEV1/VC and FEV1/FVC for diagnosing lung disease was compared by area under the ROC curve, sensitivity and specificity analysis including Kraemer efficiency and likelihood ration methods. Gold standards were diagnosis confirmed by over-all clinical and para-clinical judgment. Results: Primary classification of FEV1/FVC and FEV1/VC according to gold standards showed that FEV1/FVC detected obstructive and restrictive lung disease better than FEV1/VC. FEV1/FVC was able to detect the obstructive and restrictive lung disease correctly in 61% and 34% and FEV1/VC in 56% and 33% respectively. FEV1/FVC showed 100% agreement with forced expiratory flow (FEF)=25-75%,   and Maximum expiratory flow (MEF)=50% but this agreement for FEV1/VC was 95-96%. Accuracy assessments revealed the superiority of FEV/FVC in the likelihood ratio method. Also, based on the ROC curve and Kraemer’s coefficient, more accurate results were obtained by FEV1/FVC, compared to FEV1/VC. Conclusion: FEV1/FVC showed marginally higher accuracy for detecting lung disease than FEV1/VC

Early Effectiveness of Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation on Right Ventricular Function in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Subjects with Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure

Introduction: Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) has become an integral tool in the management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study was performed to evaluate the early effects of NIPPV on pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), serum N-terminal pro BNP (NT-proBNP), and ventilatory parameters in the COPD patients with AHRF. Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 20 COPD patients with AHRF. The participants received the standard treatment in addition to NIPPV. There was no contraindication for NIPPV. Arterial blood gas analysis, Doppler echocardiography (for measuring PAP), and plasma NT-proBNP measurements were performed before and after NIPPV. Results: According to the results, the mean age of the participants was 54.57±15.43 years. Furthermore, the mean pressures of carbon dioxide (PCO2), NT-proBNP levels, and PAP were 72.33±13.96 mmHg, 4333.90±6542.20 pg/ml, and 47.5±6.38 mmHg, respectively. After one week of NIPPV, there were statistically significant differences among the mean pH, PaCO2, PAP, and NT-proBNP (

The evaluation of e-health adoption by Iranian citizens

The advances in the diagnosis and management of diseases, especially chronic conditions, necessitates the development of health care systems and are time-consuming. The introduction of e-health system as an efficient tool for the management and care of patients in the recent decades has resulted in a significant success in this regard. However, the implementation of this system accompanies with some challenges in some countries, such as Iran. Regarding this, the present review aimed to discuss the definition of e-health and the barriers of applying this system

The Relationship between Serum Pro‐Brain Natriuretic Peptide (Pro‐BNP) Levels and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) in Patients with Limited Scleroderma

Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a late progressive sclerodermarelated complication, which can lead to right heart failure and cor pulmonale. Given that cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic method of choice for PAH, and considering the high risks of this method, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum Pro‐Brain natriuretic peptide (Pro‐BNP) Levels and PAH in patients with limited scleroderma. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study , during June 2011‐ Dec 2013, referring patients to two major educational hospitals, Mashhad‐ Iran, with scleroderma, who were afflicted with the disease for at least two years (or more), were enrolled in the study if they met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the patients underwent echocardiography to determine the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). Afterwards, the subjects were referred to a lung center for performing body plethysmography, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), and 6‐ minute walk test (6MWT). Pro‐BNP Serum level was determined using flourescent immune assay method. Results: The present study included 20 patients (18 female subjects) with the mean age of 43.28±9.56 yrs, and the mean pro‐BNP level of 138 pg/ml. The logarithmic correlation between PAP values, Forced Vital Capacity /DLCO ratio, and pro‐BNP level, which was measured using Pearson's correlation coefficient, showed a significant association among these variables( respectively, r=0.76, P0.001; r=0.677, P=0.011). Moreover, the DLCO decrease was associated with increasing pro‐BNP level, though this relationship was not significant. Conclusion: This study showed that there was a significant relationship between the serum levels of pro‐BNP marker and increased PAP in the echocardiography, DLCO reduction, and FVC/DLCO increase. In fact, this serum marker can be used in patients with systemic scleroderma (SSc) to evaluate the status of PAH

Bronchial Artery Embolization for Massive Hemoptysis: a Retrospective Study

  Introduction: To assess the efficacy and safety of bronchial artery embolization in the treatment of massive hemoptysis.   Materials and Methods: A retrospective study on 46 patients (26 males and 20 females) who were referred to the Razavi Hospital from April 2009 to May 2012 with massive hemoptysis and had bronchial artery embolization procedures. General characteristics of the patients including age, gender, etiology, and thorax computed tomograms, findings of bronchial angiographic, results of the embolization, complications related to bronchial artery embolization and clinical outcome during follow-up were reviewed. Results: The etiology included previous pulmonary tuberculosis in 20 cases, previous tuberculosis with bronchiectasis in 16 cases, bronchiectasis in 6 cases, and active pulmonary tuberculosis in one case. No identifiable causes could be detected in three patients. Moreover, massive hemoptysis was successfully and immediately controlled following the embolization procedure in all patients. One patient developed recurrent hemoptysis during one month following the procedure and was treated by re-embolization. No major procedure–related complication such as bronchial infarction was identified However none of the patientsexperienced neurological complications. Conclusion: Bronchial artery embolization is a safe and effective means of controlling massive hemoptysis and should be regarded as the first-line treatment for this condition