Comparative Study between Neopterin and Alvarado Score in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis and Its Severity

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis (AA) remains a complex case even for experienced surgeons. Rate of negative appendectomy is 5–40% and delayed intervention result in perforated appendicitis in 5–30% of cases. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate NPT as a marker for the diagnosis of AA concerning its severity. And compare the diagnostic value of it with the ALV scoring system. METHODS: One hundred twenty patients presented with signs and symptoms of AA and underwent appendectomy, only 84 patients proved to be AA by histopathological examination, were included in the study. Blood samples for neopterin (NPT) estimation and Alvarado (ALV) score was calculated. Control group consists of 45 healthy individual. RESULTS: NPT levels were significantly higher in patients’ group than control with p = 0.001 at a cutoff point 5.3 nmol/L. The diagnostic accuracy of NPT was higher than ALV score. NPT sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 85.4%, 76.9%, 89%, and 70%, respectively. CONCLUSION: NPT significantly elevated in patient with AA and has a high diagnostic accuracy, with correlation to clinical features and severity of the inflammation

The influence of socioeconomic status and general health on the fracture incidence

Background/Aim: There is an association between patient general health, socioeconomic status and fracture incidence. Aim of this study was to demonstrate the relation between the socioeconomic and health status and the occurrence of fractures in Al-Kindy Hospital residents. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was performed by using data collected from fractured patients in Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital / Baghdad Orthopaedics Outpatient Clinic, between 12 December 2021 and 8 March 2022. A hundred patients aged 20 to 75 years were included in this study. The data were collected using a researcher-administered questionnaire, which included items to assess patient's socioeconomic status (accommodations, occupation, income status, level of education, owing motor vehicle) and assessed patient's health status (height, weight, presence of chronic disease(s), smoking status, alcohol consumption, water source quality, sun exposure, nutrition status). Results: A 100 patients from Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital between the age 20-75 participated in the study. The incidence of fractures was higher in younger and more active males (68 %) than females (32 %). Highest percent appeared in lower group of socioeconomic status (58 %) and in lower group of health status (44 %). There was a significant relation between health status and body mass index (BMI). Obese and overweight patient were the more vulnerable to fractures. Conclusion: Fractures are more likely to happen to people with low socioeconomic status, low general health status and overweight people