Clin Lab
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To investigate the relationship between the levels of serum complement C1q and the risk and severity of acute ischemic stroke, a total of 154 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 42 healthy volunteers as normal controls were enrolled in the present study. ⋯ Serum complement C1q is an independent risk factor for acute outbreak of ischemic stroke, whose level is closely related to the outbreak and infarct size and neurological function impairment.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
The Diagnostic Value of Procalcitonin Versus Other Biomarkers in Prediction of Bloodstream Infection.
We compared the diagnostic utility of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and hematological markers, including white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophils (NEU), percentage of neutrophils (NEU%), lymphocytes (LYM), neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio (NLCR), and platelet count (PLT) for predicting bloodstream infection (BSI), which was confirmed by blood culture (BC). ⋯ PCT proved to be the most reliable predictor of BSI, second were NEU% and NLCR. A higher PCT level was found in patients with a gram-negative BSI compared to gram-positive BSI and fungal BSI.
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Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a known pathogen associated with diarrhea especially in hospital acquired diarrhea. Yet, it is being recognized as a probable etiology for community acquired diarrhea. The aim of the present study was to detect the presence of C. difficile as a pathogen causing community acquired diarrhea in children and to verify the value of different laboratory methods for diagnosis, namely specific culture, immunoassay for toxin detection, and nested polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR). ⋯ From this study, we can conclude that community acquired diarrhea due to C. difficile is common among children. It should be sought among the pathogens causing this infection. Rapid laboratory detection of toxin A by a rapid chromatography device is accurate compared to time consuming culture. Moreover, nested PCR for toxin B is an accurate and rapid method when it is available.
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MicroRNAs are present in human plasma and have been reported to be biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of circulating microRNA-208b (miR-208b) for the diagnosis and prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). ⋯ Circulating miR-208b may serve as a sensitive biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of AMI patients.
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Cell free DNA (cfDNA) was recently suggested as a new marker of sepsis and poor outcome in ICU patients. Procalcitonin has also been the focus of attention as an early marker for systemic inflammation and sepsis. ⋯ cfDNA is a good predictor of patient outcome in ICU and to a lesser extent as a marker of sepsis. PCT is another promising marker that can complement cfDNA to reach better patient management. Other markers can help in less severe cases.