Clin Lab
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The demonstration of the quantitative prevalence of specific cytokines in JIA formed the basis for the introduction of biological anticytokine drugs to treatment. Routine assessment of the concentration of these cytokines in blood serum may enable earlier decision making on the legitimacy of biological treatment (anti-TNF). The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic value of TNFalpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta in monitoring the course of the disease and effectiveness of treatment with etanercept of children with oligo- and polyarticular JIA. ⋯ We conclude that IL-6 may serve as a biomarker of activity of the disease in children with JIA treated with ETN.
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In patients undergoing cardiac surgery, perioperative coagulopathy and the use of allogenic blood products are independently associated with increased mortality and major perioperative cardiac and non-cardiac adverse events. Hemotherapy should be based on specific hemotherapy algorithms rather than "clinical judgments". However, whether hemotherapy should be based on "classical" conventional laboratory coagulation analyses or Point-of-Care (POC) measures is discussed controversially. ⋯ Unfortunately, the studied hemotherapy--algorithms are very complex and thus hard to integrate into daily practice. In close cooperation of three German University Hospitals, the authors developed and implemented two more comprehensive and practical hemotherapy algorithms that are based on either POC measures or conventional coagulation testing. Here we present and discuss the structure and limitations of these algorithms.
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The type and frequency of E-cadherin (CDH1) germline variants in China for the early-onset diffuse gastric cancer (EODGC) has not been well established. Our study tend to screen and characterize germline variants for CDH1 gene in EODGC patients and in general population in China. ⋯ No deletions or insertions were found in the CDH1 exon boundaries. All of the variants resulted com- mon polymorphisms. CDH1 germline variants are present in EODGC patients in Chinese population, but they are mainly missense variants with unknown function which are likely associated with lymph node metastasis and OS.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of the delta neutrophil index with procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in sepsis.
The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of the delta neutrophil index (DNI) with procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP) for the prediction of sepsis and its outcome. ⋯ The DNI can be obtained easily from automated hematological analysis and is cost effective. Furthermore, the DNI has a high diagnostic power for predicting sepsis and survival, similar to procalcitonin and better than CRP. The combination of DNI and procalcitonin may improve the ability to predict the severity of sepsis and survival.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Serum procalcitonin in cirrhotic patients with septic shock: relationship with adrenal insufficiency and clinical outcomes.
Serum procalcitonin is commonly used to differentiate systemic inflammation due to infection from non-infectious causes. Limited data exist on the value of procalcitonin in predicting relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI). This study evaluated the value of procalcitonin in predicting RAI and mortality in cirrhotic patients with septic shock. ⋯ High serum procalcitonin was highly associated with RAI in cirrhotic patients with septic shock. Procalcitonin was not associated with 28 - day mortality in this patient population.