We studied the immune responses to heat shock protein (Hsp)-27 and pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) values in patients with valvular heart disease, but free of angiographically evident coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients who were candidates for valvuloplasty surgery and 30 healthy matched controls were recruited. The anti-Hsp-27 antibody titers were 0.35 ± 0.04 absorbency units (AU) in the valvuloplasty group, being significantly higher than for the controls (0.11 ± 0.02 AU; P < .05). The PAB values were significantly higher in cases (134.67 ± 13.69 Hamidi-Koliakos(HK) unit) when compared with controls (49.78 ± 6.75 HK unit; P < .05). In cases, the ejection fraction was inversely correlated with anti-Hsp-27 antibody (P < .05) but was not significantly related to PAB values (P > .05). Based on the echocardiographic findings, the patients had no evident heart failure, but the high levels of anti-Hsp-27 and PAB values in patients with valvular heart disease may indicate that these variables can be used as markers of heart failure. However, a longitudinal study is required to confirm this hypothesis.
The relationship between serum anti-heat shock protein (Hsp)27 antibody and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and indices of cardiac function were investigated in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or heart valve replacement. The changes in anti-Hsp27 antibody titers and hs-CRP levels were compared among patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump CABG or valvular heart replacement. Fifty-three patients underwent off-pump, on-pump CABG, and heart valvular replacement in each group. Serum anti-Hsp27 titers and hs-CRP values were measured 24 h before and after the operation and at discharge. Echocardiography was performed before surgery and before discharge. The results were compared with values from 83 healthy controls. hs-CRP levels increased and anti-Hsp27 antibody decreased following surgery (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), although these changes were independent of operative procedure (P = 0.361 and P = 0.120, respectively). Anti-Hsp27 antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge (P = 0.016). Only in coronary patients were anti-Hsp27 antibody levels negatively associated with E/E' (r = -0.268, P = 0.022), a marker of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. In conclusions, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels are associated with indices of cardiac function in coronary patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass had no significant effect on the induction of changes in anti-Hsp27 levels. Moreover, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels fell in all groups postoperatively; this may be due to the formation of immune complexes of antigen-antibody, and antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge.
Background: Diagnosis of pediatric sinusitis with puncturing as an invasive technique and culturing of the microorganisms may be substituted with less invasive imaging methods. Computerized tomography scanning as the gold standard of sinusitis diagnosis may not be a generalized method due to its devastating radiation effects; therefore, ultra-sonography and radiography seem to be methods to be evaluated in the diagnosis of maxillary sinusitis. Objectives: There are limited and conflicting studies found in the literature that have evaluated the role of ultra-sonography in the diagnosis of maxillary sinusitis. The purpose of this study was to compare ultra-sonography with Water's view radiography in the diagnosis of maxillary sinusitis in children. Methods: In this prospective study, 60 children aged over four years old with clinically diagnosed maxillary sinusitis, admitted to Lung Clinic of Mofid Children's Hospital, were enrolled. Water's view X-ray and ultra-sonography were performed by two expert radiologists on the same day. Data and interpretations were collected and entered in the SPSS 21 software. Results: The patient's mean age was 6.8 ± 1.8 years. Overall, 120 maxillary sinuses were analyzed by ultra-sonography and radiology. There was diagnostic agreement between the two techniques regarding 59 sinus sites, 49.2%. Compared to standard X-ray, ultra-sonography had a sensitivity of 56.4% and specificity of 91.7%. The diagnosis rate for normal interpretation via the ultrasound technique compared to the standard X-ray was 8.3% and considered acceptable. This method underestimated the diagnosis of fluid collection (30.4%), yet overestimated the rate of mucosa thickening (62.3%). Conclusions: This study revealed that ultra-sonography is not a suitable technique for detection of mild mucosal thickening yet may come to represent an alternative substitution to the more invasive methods for diagnosis of acute sinusitis with moderate to severe mucosal thickness and fluid collection in the maxillary sinuses.
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