Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Jan 2007
Regional distribution of blood flow during proximal aortic cross-clamping: an experimental study using coloured microspheres.
To investigate the effect of thoracic aortic cross-clamping on blood perfusion of the brain, spinal cord, heart, muscular tissue and visceral organs. ⋯ During XC of the thoracic aorta, the perfusion of the muscular tissue was significantly increased proximal to the level of XC. The circulation of the brain was unchanged, probably because of autoregulatory mechanisms. Blood perfusion of the myocardium increased 3-fold during XC.
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Jan 2007
Comparative Study Clinical TrialInterleukin-6 and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein in acute appendicitis in children.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) in children with acute appendicitis (AA) and to compare this with the diagnostic accuracy of routinely used C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count. Eighty-two consecutive children admitted to our Department because of suspected AA were enrolled in this prospective study and classified into two groups: group 1 (49 children who underwent surgery for AA) and group 2 (33 children with no surgery with diagnosis of non-specific abdominal pain or sonographic mesenteric lymphadenitis). There were no negative appendectomies during the time of the study. ⋯ The highest AUC for AA was that for IL-6 (0.776), followed by WBC count (0.684), CRP (0.637) and LBP (0.635). In conclusion, only IL-6, determined on admission, showed medium diagnostic accuracy, while other laboratory markers showed low diagnostic accuracy for AA in children. The new laboratory markers therefore do not significantly improve the diagnosis of AA.
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Jan 2007
Applicability of estimated glomerular filtration rate in stratifying chronic kidney disease.
The aim of this audit was to evaluate the degree of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) among inpatients and outpatients in a District General Hospital, with special attention given to laboratory testing and impact on health delivery. ⋯ eGFR is inversely associated with increasing age and female gender. MDRD derived eGFR fails to completely compensate for age and gender variations and thus different action limits may be required. Small but significant numbers of patients progressed to stages 4 and 5 CKD. Additional clarity in describing "progressive fall in eGFR" in the guidelines would improve identification of the population most at risk.
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Jan 2007
External quality assessment in the measurement of haemoglobin by blood gas analysers in Belgium.
The Belgian national External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) for haematology organized a survey to assess the reliability of haemoglobin (Hb) measurements with the blood gas analysers (BGAs) currently available in Belgian hospitals. ⋯ For the BGAs from Bayer, Radiometer and Roche, interlaboratory variation ranged from 0.6 % to 4.1 %, indicating good precision and close agreement between centres. A significant negative bias observed on the GEM Premier 3000 using the EDTA anticoagulated blood samples did not appear to be present in fresh heparinized whole blood samples. There was no significant difference in imprecision and bias between Hb measurements on BGA situated in and outside the central laboratory.
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Jan 2007
Microcytosis, iron deficiency and thalassaemia in a multi-ethnic community: a pilot study.
The high prevalence of microcytosis (defined here as mean cell haemoglobin<27 pg) with no other abnormality is a principal cause of confusion in screening for haemoglobin disorders. Here we report the results of a small pilot study aiming to resolve this confusion by routinely proceeding to plasma ferritin and HPLC assay, using the original sequestrene blood sample, when microcytosis is detected. Participants comprised a random sample of 1,302 people referred for a full blood count by their General Practitioner (GP) to the laboratory of a North London district general hospital serving a multi-ethnic inner-city population. ⋯ In North Europeans, microcytosis was present in 3% of males (half were iron-deficient) and 11% of females (most were iron-deficient). Among ethnic minorities, microcytosis was present in 35% of males (one tenth were iron-deficient), and 45% of females (less than half were iron-deficient): an exclusion diagnosis of "probable alpha thalassaemia" could be made in the remainder. We conclude that when microcytosis is present, routine further analysis of the original sequestrene sample by plasma ferritin assay and haemoglobinopathy screening could lead to a more efficient and cost-effective laboratory service for primary care and maternity services.