2 research outputs found
Sensitivity and Specificity of Procalcitonin in Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis
Background and Objective: According to the fact that neonatal infection is a challenging
diagnosis field, several studies have tried to test sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests. This
study was conducted to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of procalcitonin (PCT) as a single
early marker of neonatal sepsis.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 150 neonates admitted to NICU and neonatal ward in
Shahrekord Hajar hospital were enrolled. A full workup including blood cultureand other tests and
PCT was conductede. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for PCT was
determined.
Results: It was found out that 8 patients had definite infection, 15 patients had possible infection,
and 127 patients had no infection. Although PCT was not able to significantly differentiate
between those with definite and possible infections (p>0.05), but there was a significant difference
for frequency of abnormal PCT between non-infectious patients and other patients. Sensitivity,
specificity, positive and negative predictive values of PCT was 87.5%, 87.4%, 30.4%, 99.1%, and
87.41% respectively.
Conclusion: Beside the limitation of the sample size, the satisfactory diagnostic characteristics
of PCT highlight it as a good measure for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Further studies are essential
to be carried out
Adjuvant Effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Flagellin on the Immunological Patterns of the HIV-1 Vaccine Candidate: Vaccine Formulations Versus Different Routes of Immunization
New strategies to increase the immune response to HIV-1 vaccine using immunological adjuvants such as Toll-like receptor agonists are needed. In this study, HIV-1 p24-Nef and conjugated form of the vaccine candidate to type-A flagellin (FLA) were injected in the BALB/c mice in different routes. Two weeks after the last immunization, lymphocyte proliferation was measured by the BrdU method. The IL-4 and IFN-gamma levels, as well as the total IgG antibody and its isotypes titer, were evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The IFN-gamma ELISPOT was also performed. Our data showed that the HIV-1 p24-Nef alone and conjugated to type-A flagellin (FLA) significantly increased lymphocyte proliferation responses as well as higher levels of cytokines and IFN-gamma producing lymphocytes and the level of humoral immune responses compared with the control groups. The cell-mediated immune responses through the subcutaneous route and humoral immune responses through the intramuscular route were significantly higher in the conjugated form than in the mere vaccine candidate. In conclusion, when the FLA as an adjuvant is constructed in the HIV-1 vaccine candidate, it could effectively improve both humoral and cellular immune responses. Furthermore, modification in the vaccine formulation could change the optimal route of vaccine inoculation