Clin Lab
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of serum cardiac specific biomarker release after non-cardiac thoracic surgery.
The detection of postoperative myocardial infarction can be difficult in patients after lung surgery. The aim of this study was to verify the clinical significance of elevated Troponin I (cTnI), N-terminal pro-natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and CK-MB in the perioperative course. ⋯ Despite the excellent sensitivity of troponin I for detection of acute myocardial infarction the fact remains that troponin I elevations were common after intrapericardial procedures and pneumonectomies. Thus, to differentiate between cardiac ischemia provoked chest pain and wound pain related to thoracotomy remains most difficult. Patients with only marginally elevated cTnI concentrations after intrapericardial resections or pneumonectomy should remain in the intensive care unit and should be followed-up carefully by cardiologists.
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Many children receive one or more units of red blood cell (RBC) preparations during their paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission depending on their underlying disease course. Physicians often justify RBC transfusions in critically ill children when anaemia is present because of the assumption that by increasing the haemoglobin level the delivery of oxygen (DO2) to peripheral tissues is improved so that ultimately the oxygen utilization (VO2) can be improved. ⋯ The TRIPICU study has clearly shown that it is safe to refrain from transfusing stable critically ill children unless their Hb has dropped below 7 g/dL (4.3 mmol/L) as increasing data emphasizes that the common practice of transfusing critically ill children is not free from causing harm as shown by increased morbidity and mortality. This narrative review summarizes the current literature and discusses possible pathophysiological mechanisms.
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Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements in pleural fluid and plasma have been proposed to facilitate differential diagnosis of pleural effusion (PE). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of these measurements when differentiating between benign (BPE) and malignant pleural effusion (MPE). ⋯ CRP levels in the pleural fluid and plasma were higher in patients with BPE, particulary infectious PE. However, the measurement of CRP and PCT is not a useful parameter for discriminating between BPE and MPE and does not provide useful information in clinical practice.
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Comparative Study
Serum matrix Gla protein concentrations in patients with mild and severe acute pancreatitis.
Acute pancreatitis (AP) causes an increase in proinflammatory cytokine and acute phase protein levels. Our previous studies in AP showed the role of fetuin A as a negative acute phase protein. Matrix Gla protein (MGP), beside fetuin A, is one of the main inhibitors of extraosseous calcification. In the present preliminary study we evaluated the relationship between MGP, lipase, and inflammation in AP patients. ⋯ Our preliminary results indicate that the MGP level correlated negatively with all of the proinflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins studied in patients with AP, and positively with lipase, fetuin A, and albumin measurements. These findings may indicate the role of MGP in calcium and phosphate metabolism disturbances in the course of AP.
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For intrauterine transfusion and some other rare indications, irradiation and washing or adjustment to an elevated haematocrit is necessary. No data are currently available indicating whether irradiation of red blood cell concentrates (RBCs) might impair the mechanical stability of erythrocytes during centrifugation leading to elevated haemolysis. Consequently, if irradiation and centrifugation of RBCs is necessary, there is no definitive recommendation about the preferred sequence of steps. ⋯ There is no difference in the haemolysis caused by centrifugation between irradiated and non-irradiated RBCs. However, it is well known that washing RBCs after irradiation significantly lowers the potassium content. Summarising these two findings leads to the conclusion that it is optimal first to irradiate and then to wash RBCs.