Ethiopian medical journal
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Ethiopian medical journal · Jan 2011
Chest X-ray evaluation of pneumonia-like syndromes in smear negative HIV-positive patients with atypical chest x-ray. Findings in Ethiopian setting.
Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), bacterial pneumonia (BP) and Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), account for the major causes of pneumonia-like syndromes seen in HIV-AIDS patients and have overlapping clinical and chest x-ray findings pausing challenge to early diagnosis and treatment in Africa. The accuracy of chest x-ray (CXR) interpretations, inter-observer agreement, degree of chest x-ray overlapping, and distinguishing features among these common lung infections was assessed at Tĩkur Anbessa hospital, a tertiary care referral hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ⋯ Overlapping clinical and radiographic features often occurs as is co-existing infections in HIV-AIDS patients with respiratory symptoms. Therefore, definitive microbiological method should be the main tool to expedite early diagnosis and treatment in HIV-infected patients with respiratory symptoms.
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Ethiopian medical journal · Jan 2011
Diagnosis of ischemic heart disease using CK-MB, troponin-I and ischemia modified albumin.
Diagnosis of cardiac ischemia in patients attending emergency department with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is often difficult. Biochemical tests like cardiac troponin (cTnI/T) and CK-MB may not rise during reversible myocardial ischemia. Previous reports suggest that oxidative damage due to ischemic conditions rapidly modifies human serum albumin and reduce its capacity to bind exogenous cobalt. Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) has shown to be a sensitive and early biochemical marker. ⋯ The IMA Test can be assayed by simple and quick method, which may serve as a useful diagnostic tool for the assessment of myocardial ischemia/infarct.