Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry
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The usefulness of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) concentration for predicting the outcome of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is unclear. We evaluated the prognostic value of plasma NGAL concentration for predicting disease severity in comparison with other widely used biological markers of inflammation in patients with CAP. ⋯ Plasma NGAL concentration is a valuable biological marker in the assessment of the severity and prediction of the prognosis of patients with CAP in the emergency department.
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Pneumatic tube systems (PTSs) are convenient methods of patient sample transport in medical centers, but excessive acceleration force and time/distance traveled in the PTS have been correlated with increased blood-sample hemolysis. We investigated the utility of smartphones for monitoring of PTS-related variables. ⋯ Smartphones can monitor PTS variables that cause sample hemolysis. This provides an accessible method for investigating specific PTS routes in medical centers.
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Early onset sepsis (EOS) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns; however, current diagnostic tools are inadequate. We evaluated the accuracy of a novel cytokine, interleukin (IL)-35, for the diagnosis of EOS in comparison with other infection markers. ⋯ The diagnostic performance of IL-35 was superior to that of PCT and other commonly used markers, suggesting that IL-35 may be a valuable tool for EOS diagnosis.