Rinsho byori. The Japanese journal of clinical pathology
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Review Case Reports
[A novel molecular marker for thrombus formation and life prognosis--clinical usefulness of measurement of soluble fibrin monomer-fibrinogen complex (SF)].
For a long time fibrinopeptide A(FPA), fibrinopeptide B(FPB), D-dimer, FM test, serum FDP, and thrombin anti-thrombin complex(TAT) are being used as molecular markers to for sure diagnose hypercoagulable state and thrombus formation. Indeed these molecular markers are very useful for diagnosing thrombus formation, disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC), and the indicator of treatment of DIC. But these molecular parameters are not enough and difficult for prognosis of the disease or predicting the complication of patients as the most important subject for clinicians. ⋯ Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis shows that the specificity and sensitivity of the SF assay appears to be quite satisfactory. As the level of SF reflects the thrombin generation activity in plasma, it would serve as a strong tool to selectively kick up the state of thrombin generation. These results indicate that the SF could be a specific and reliable parameter for the diagnosis of PASC and contribute to legitimate managements of patients with PASC.
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Recent studies have revealed a close association of the blood coagulation system with inflammation and immune reactions. The products of the cascade reaction of blood coagulation can work as inflammatory mediators or immune modulators, and, vice versa, some inflammatory or immune stimuli are linked to induction of blood coagulation. ⋯ Third, the progress in the investigation of thrombin was reviewed from the viewpoint of its effects on inflammation (vascular permeability enhancement, leukocyte chemotaxis, chemical mediator release, etc.) and immune reactions (T-cell proliferation, cytokine production, etc.). The evidence presented here indicates a cross-talk between blood coagulation and inflammatory and immune reactions, suggesting that the products of the clotting reaction (e.g., thrombin) in lesions are real-time markers of inflammatory diseases.
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Review
[Quality management system in the medical laboratory--ISO15189 and laboratory accreditation].
Medical laboratory services are essential to patient care and therefore should meet the needs of all patients and clinical personnel responsible for human health care. Recently, ISO15189, the first quality management ISO system for medical laboratories, has attracted the attention of all medical laboratories. ⋯ This will help medical laboratories to comply with regulatory requirements, to meet the expectations of their clients and, most importantly, to improve and maintain their service to patients. ISO15189 will be an important template for assessing and recognizing the competence of medical laboratories in their technical capacity and the effective quality management of a professional service and its staff--with or without the aim of accreditation.
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Review
[Molecular targeted treatment--new treatment strategy for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia].
Imatinib mesylate is a new drug that can inhibit the tyrosine kinase activity of Bcr-Abl, the receptors for platelet-derived growth factor receptor(PDGF) and stem cell factor, or c-kit. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is distinguished by the presence of a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 that results in a shortened chromosome 22, termed the Philadelphia(Ph) chromosome. As a result of the translocation, a fusion gene called the Bcr-Abl gene is created from two normal cellular genes, encoding a chimeric Bcr-Abl protein with a deregulated tyrosine kinase activity. ⋯ These results indicated that imatinib was superior to interferon-containing treatment as a first-line therapy. More than 10,000 patients worldwide, including those in Japan, have been treated with imatinib in clinical trials, and a lot of information has been accumulated on the use of this drug. The aim of this article is to review the use of this drug and the practical management of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.