Mahshid Talebi Taher

Publications of Mahshid Talebi Taher

• Septic versus inflammatory arthritis: discriminating the ability of serum inflammatory markers.

  Authors: Mahshid Talebi-Taher, Fatemeh Shirani, Najmeh Nikanjam, Mehdi Shekarabi

  Rheumatology international. 03/2012;

  Early diagnosis of septic arthritis is very important. Few studies showed diagnostic accuracy of serum inflammatory markers in septic arthritis. The aim of our study was to compare the serum andEarly diagnosis of septic arthritis is very important. Few studies showed diagnostic accuracy of serum inflammatory markers in septic arthritis. The aim of our study was to compare the serum and synovial fluid markers [procalcitonin, serum IL-6, TNF-α, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, synovial fluid white blood cell counts and PMN percentage] in septic and inflammatory arthritis. Seventy-five patients, including 25 and 50 septic and non-septic arthritis, were enrolled in the study. The serum and synovial fluid markers [procalcitonin, serum IL-6, TNF-α, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, synovial fluid white blood cell counts, and PMN percentage] were compared in septic and inflammatory arthritis. Patients with septic arthritis had significantly elevated levels of procalcitonin, serum TNF-α, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, synovial fluid white blood cell counts, and PMN percentage in comparison with the inflammatory arthritis group (P < 0.00). Serum IL-6 level does not differ among the two groups. In a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, synovial fluid WBC counts, PMN percentage, TNF-α, ESR, and serum PCT preformed best in distinguishing between septic and non-septic arthritis. Our study suggests that PCT can be used to diagnose the septic arthritis, but more studies warranted in order to determine the specificity and sensitivity of the test.

• Comparing the performance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold and Mantoux test in detecting latent tuberculosis infection among Iranian health care workers.

  Authors: Mahshid Talebi-Taher, Seied-Ali Javad-Moosavi, Amir-Hossein Entezari, Mehdi Shekarabi, Baran Parhizkar

  International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 12/2011; 24(4):359-66.

  The risk of transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from patients with tuberculosis to health care workers (HCWs) has been well documented but little is known about the prevalence of latentThe risk of transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from patients with tuberculosis to health care workers (HCWs) has been well documented but little is known about the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in Iranian HCWs. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs by using IFNgamma-release assay and compare the results with those of tuberculin skin test (TST). Two hundred HCWs were evaluated with both TST and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube test (QFT-GIT). The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS v.16 Software. The participants were 73 males and 127 females with the mean age of 34.36±8.26 years. TST was positive in 105 cases (52.5%) and the QFT results were positive in 17 cases (8.5%). There was poor agreement between the two tests (53%, κ = 0.115). Induration diameter of TST ≥ 10 mm and working duration ≥ 10 years were independent predictors for positive QFT (p = 0.004). Due to the fact that BCG vaccination has been administered routinely to all HCWs in Iran, specific tests should be introduced for high risk groups. QFT thus seems to be more effective for LTBI diagnosis than TST among HCWs with BCG immunization history.

• Varicella Zoster antibodies among health care workers in a university hospital, Teheran, Iran.

  Authors: Mahshid Talebi-Taher, Maria Noori, Ahmad-Reza Shamshiri, Mitra Barati

  International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 01/2010; 23(1):27-32.

  This study was designed to evaluate the immune status of health care workers against varicella zoster in a university hospital in Teheran, Iran, and to compare the history of chickenpox infectionThis study was designed to evaluate the immune status of health care workers against varicella zoster in a university hospital in Teheran, Iran, and to compare the history of chickenpox infection with the presence of varicella antibodies in this population. Serologic testing for varicella was performed for 405 health care workers with different job categories and at different age. The enzyme immunoassay was used for determining IgG antibodies against varicella zoster virus. A total of 405 health care workers, aged 19-50 years (median: 29 years), were examined. Of these, 289 (71.4%) were found to be seropositive. No statistically significant differences were observed between gender, age, or occupation, and seropositivity (p = 0.09, 0.75, 0.54. respectively). Statistical analysis revealed that the correlation between chickenpox history and seropositivity showed a 62.3% sensitivity, 72.4% specificity, 84.9% positive predictive value, and 43.5% negative predictive value. Serologic screening of health care workers is essential to determine their immunity to varicella, regardless of the age, occupation and history of infection. This population is recommended to be considered a target group for future immunization programs in Iran.

• Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 and the diagnosis of sepsis.

  Authors: Mitra Barati, Farshid Rahimi Bashar, Reza Shahrami, Mohammad Hossein Jarrah Zadeh, Mahshid Talebi Taher, Marzieh Nojomi

  Journal of critical care. 11/2009;

  PURPOSE: Early diagnosis and assessment of the systemic inflammatory response to infection are difficult with usual markers (fever, leukocytosis, C-reactive protein [CRP]). Triggering receptorPURPOSE: Early diagnosis and assessment of the systemic inflammatory response to infection are difficult with usual markers (fever, leukocytosis, C-reactive protein [CRP]). Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) expression on phagocytes is up-regulated by microbial products. We studied the ability of soluble TREM-1 (sTREM-1) to identify patients with sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasma samples were obtained on intensive care unit admission from patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome for sTREM-1 measurement. RESULTS: Soluble TREM-1, CRP concentrations and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were higher in the sepsis group (n = 52) than in the non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome group (n = 43; P = .00, .02, and .001, respectively). Soluble TREM-1, CRP concentrations, white blood cell count and ESR were higher in the sepsis group than in the non SIRS group (n = 37; P = .04, .00, .01, and .00, respectively). In a receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, ESR, CRP and sTREM-1 had an area under the curve larger than 0.65 (P = .00), in distinguishing between septic and non-infectious SIRS patients. CRP, ESR, sTREM-1 had a sensitivity of 60%, 70% and 70% and a specificity of 60%, 69% and, 60% respectively in diagnosing infection in SIRS. CONCLUSION: C-reactive protein and ESR performed better than sTREM-1 and white blood cell count in diagnosing infection.