Clin Lab
-
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of alcoholic (ASH) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in alcoholics by non-invasive biochemical markers: AshTest and NashTest. ⋯ In conclusion, the prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in alcoholics is higher than of alcoholic steatohepatitis, as estimated by non-invasive tests. Co-occurrence of alcoholic steatohepatitis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in alcoholic patients is low and the high prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is related with high occurrence of metabolic risk factors.
-
Determination of troponin I may be important in the management of the critically ill patient. In medical emergencies, especially when vascular access is difficult to achieve, the use of intraosseous (10) needles is recommended. We aimed to perform a descriptive study, aiming to elucidate whether IO needles can be used to evaluate troponin I in a porcine model of human shock. ⋯ This investigation has shown that troponin I can be analyzed in bone marrow aspirates in a shock model. This may be useful in medical emergencies, where cardiac damage is suspected to be involved. The levels of IO troponin I increased during the first 3 hours of shock, after which it remained at a high level. During this initial period there was, in parallel, a progressive circulatory deterioration.
-
To explore the role of human immunoglobulin (Ig) and thymosin α1 therapy for severe sepsis through comparison between bundles combined with human immunoglobulin (Ig) and thymosin α1 therapy group (A group) and bundles group (B group). ⋯ Bundles combined with human immunoglobulin (Ig) and thymosin α1 therapy may reduce APACHE II and SOFA scores, shorten the time of artificial ventilation and length of ICU stay, and improve the prognosis of subjects with severe sepsis.
-
Comparative Study
Different Expression of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and C-reactive Protein in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma and Nodular Goiter.
Inflammation is the seventh hallmark of cancer. Growing evidence indicated inflammation was linked to the progression and prognosis of many malignancies. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), as two inflammation markers, reported frequently in the incidence and progress of solid cancers, but little research has concerned these markers in thyroid disease. In this study, the expression of ESR and CRP both in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and nodular goiter was investigated. ⋯ The present study demonstrated a different expression of ESR and CRP between PTC and nodular goiter. Even though the difference in absolute figures between them was very small, it could help clinicians to distinguish the difference between nodular goiter and PTC to some extent. ESR/CRP may have potential value in distinguishing thyroid benign disease from malignant tumors. However, ESR and CRP had no effect on the progress of PTC. They may not have potential value currently in PTC staging and predicting prognosis.
-
Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has emerged as one of the most troublesome pathogens in healthcare settings worldwide. The present study was conducted to analyze the genes encoding resistance to carbapenems and to determine in vitro activity of colistin and tigecycline against CRAB isolates from blood culture of hospitalized patients at Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical School hospital. ⋯ This study indicated the most of the CRAB isolates in our hospital carry the OXA-23 gene. Colistin and tigecycline resistance were not detected. However, significant effort must be done to prevent the spread of OXA-23-producing CRAB-isolates and continuous monitoring of drug resistance is necessary in clinical settings.