Clinical biochemistry
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Clinical biochemistry · Jun 2006
Head to head comparison of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with/without left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
Human pro-B-type natriuretic peptide is cleaved into the active B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the inactive fragment NT-proBNP. It is unclear if, similar to BNP, NT-proBNP can be used as a marker of impaired left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF). This study evaluated the analytical performance of both assays to detect LV systolic dysfunction. ⋯ Similar to BNP, NT-proBNP is a promising marker in identifying LVSD. Although both assays are reliable and have good analytical performance, their diagnostic cut-off value is dynamic and population-dependent. The slightly wider detection range and the more stable structure of NT-proBNP compared to the BNP assay suggest that NT-proBNP could play an additional role in the evaluation of patients with LV systolic dysfunction.
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Clinical biochemistry · Mar 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialCytotoxic effects of volatile anesthetics with free radicals undergoing laparoscopic surgery.
Free radicals induced by several diseases can trigger oxidative stress, leading to the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl content (CB). Volatile agents are able to increase the extent of oxidative status. However, the effects of these agents together with pneumoperitonium (Pp) have not been reported. We aimed to investigate the role of volatile anesthetics and ischemic injury during Pp on free radicals and scavenging enzymes in laparoscopic abdominal surgery. ⋯ We concluded that desflurane was affected by desflurane with low flow anesthesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery. Significant influence on oxidative stress and antioxidant mechanics was not seen with sevoflurane anesthesia. Our studies support that oxidant and antioxidant defense mechanisms were altered in the desflurane group and this alteration improved after a combination of desflurane-N(2)O.
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Clinical biochemistry · Dec 2005
Comparative StudyPleural adenosine deaminase in the separation of transudative and exudative pleural effusions.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a new parameter, pleural adenosine deaminase (PADA), for separating transudative pleural effusion from exudative pleural effusion, and to compare the results with other tests (albumin gradient and protein gradient). ⋯ The measurement of PADA is suggested as a reliable test in the separation of pleural exudates from transudates with accuracy similar to that of the albumin gradient and protein gradient.
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Clinical biochemistry · Nov 2005
NT-proBNP in the differential diagnosis of acute dyspnea in the emergency department.
The purpose of this study was to verify the usefulness of NT-proBNP in the differential diagnosis of dyspnea in a population of patients presenting in the ER with breathlessness. ⋯ NT-proBNP measurement represents a useful biochemical tool helping the ER physician in the rapid and reliable recognition of cardiac involvement in patients presenting in the ER with acute-severe dyspnea.
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Clinical biochemistry · Oct 2005
Adenosine deaminase activity in the serum and malignant tumors of breast cancer: the assessment of isoenzyme ADA1 and ADA2 activities.
The potential relationship between adenosine deaminase activity and cancer progression was examined by investigating the activity of total ADA and its isoenzymes in serum and simultaneously in the cancerous tissue of each patient with breast cancer. ⋯ Although serum and tumor total ADA activity and its ADA2 isoenzyme were both found to be increased, distinct correlation patterns were observed with some of the prognostic factors. It can be speculated that increased ADA and isoenzyme activities in serum originated from sources other than the breast tumors.