Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Jan 2002
Comparative StudyBlood coagulation and fibrinolysis in acute ischaemic and haemorrhagic (intracerebral and subarachnoid haemorrhage) stroke: does decreased plasmin inhibitor indicate increased fibrinolysis in subarachnoid haemorrhage compared to other types of stroke?
Ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke may cause haemostatic abnormalities, apart from concomitant brain damage. In this study, some blood coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters were investigated in 30 patients with ischaemic stroke (atherothrombotic) and 30 with haemorrhagic (20 with intracerebral and 10 with subarachnoid haemorrhage) stroke. The following parameters were determined within the first 24h after stroke: prothrombin time (PT%). activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). fibrinogen, activity of FVII, antithrombin. plasmin inhibitor (PI) and fibrin D-dimer. ⋯ With the exception of this difference, there were no other differences between ischaemic stroke and the two types of haemorrhagic stroke. This could indicate that haemostatic abnormalities are a consequence of brain damage rather than primary haemostatic activation during thrombosis and/or bleeding in the acute phase of stroke. A decrease in the plasmin inhibitor could suggest excessive fibrinolysis in subarachnoid haemorrhage.
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Jan 2002
Reference intervals for procalcitonin and C-reactive protein after major abdominal surgery.
Procalcitonin (PCT). a new marker proposed as a diagnostic tool for bacterial infections, triggers a systemic-inflammatory reaction in the body (sepsis, septic shock) and has potential use in a wide range of patient settings. To interpret the results from PCT measurements, we depend on reference intervals established from relevant populations. ⋯ We present a continuous reference interval for plasma PCT and CRP concentrations in the first week following major abdominal surgery. For PCT we also present a graphic display of expected mean and expected upper reference limits predicted from the value measured on the first postoperative day.
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Jan 2002
Intratracheal pulmonary ventilation keeps tracheal tubes clean without impairing mucociliary transport.
Intratracheal pulmonary ventilation (ITPV) is a form of tracheal gas insufflation through a reverse thrust catheter that facilitates expiration and enhances CO2 removal. Tracheas of sheep mechanically ventilated for 3 days with gas delivered through the reverse-thrust catheter remained free of secretions, without suctioning. It was hypothesized that: 1) The expiratory flow from the lungs, combined with continuous cephalad flow from the reverse-thrust catheter keeps endotracheal tubes clean; and 2) tracheal mucus velocity is not impaired by ITPV. ⋯ The enhanced expiratory flow during ITPV expels secretions from the endotracheal tube through entraining of mucus at the tip of the endotracheal tube. Tracheal mucus velocity is not influenced by ITPV.
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Apr 2001
Increased plasma hyaluronan in severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
Pre-eclampsia is a serious multi-system disorder with general endothelial disease, often with a component of hepatic dysfunction. The pathogenesis of preeclampsia is not fully understood, and no specific diagnostic tests are available for early and reliable diagnosis, or for monitoring of the disease process. Hyaluronan is an extracellular matrix polysaccharide present at low concentrations in plasma. ⋯ In the control groups, a small increase in plasma hyaluronan was seen after delivery, after both caesarean section (p<0.05) and vaginal delivery (p<0.01). In conclusion, plasma hyaluronan is increased in severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. The cause of the increase is unknown.
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Jan 2001
Levels of three inflammation markers, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A protein and procalcitonin, in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningitis.
The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) in blood are increased in patients with inflammatory diseases as acute phase proteins. Most of the presently used indicators of inflammation, such as body temperature, white cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate or CRP, are non-specific parameters. In contrast, procalcitonin (PCT) has been reported to be selectively induced by severe bacterial infection during the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and also in sepsis or multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. ⋯ Among those with bacterial meningitis, the serum PCT level was more elevated in those with more serious bacterial meningitis. The PCT level in the CSF did not significantly differ among the patients with the three types of meningitis. However, the serum PCT level was very high above 0.1 microg/L in all seven bacterial meningitis patients, especially in the clinically serious cases.