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Laboratory Characteristics (laboratory + characteristic)
Selected AbstractsSerum homocysteine, creatinine, and glucose as predictors of the severity and extent of coronary artery disease in asymptomatic members of high-risk familiesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 7 2002P. Pajunen Abstract Background There has been no previous study to determine the severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) in subjects with no diagnosis or symptoms of CAD at the time of the angiography. Methods Fifty-three subjects, who were siblings of patients with early onset CAD, underwent coronary angiography. Indices to describe per-patient characteristics of CAD were calculated, based on computer-aided quantitative coronary angiography. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were correlated to the angiographic parameters. Results Serum total homocysteine (, = 0·29, P < 0·05) and creatinine (, = 0·47, P = 0·001) levels were related to the global atheroma burden index. The median of the atheroma burden index was two times higher in the top homocysteine quartile compared to the lowest quartile. The overall atheroma burden index correlated significantly with the fasting blood glucose level in all subjects. Diabetes, especially when albuminuria was present, was a powerful risk factor. In a multivariate analysis, only age and sex were independent predictors of atheroma burden. Conclusions Serum homocysteine and creatinine concentrations, and diabetes with albuminuria were found to be markers of the severity and extent of CAD in subjects of high-risk families without symptoms of CAD. [source] Familial multiple coagulation factor deficiencies , chance associations and distinct clinical disordersHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 1 2009P. J. ROBSON Summary., The familial multiple coagulation factor deficiencies (FMCFDs) are a group of rare haemostatic disorders of genetic origin in which there is reduced plasma activity of more than one coagulation factor. FMCFDs may arise from co-incidental inheritance of separate coagulation factor deficiencies or from a single genetic or cytogenetic defect. All the FMCFDs present significant challenges in diagnosis and management yet there is little systematic evidence with which to guide clinical practice. This review summarizes the historical literature that describes the FMCFDs and introduces a refined classification of these disorders. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the most common FMCFDs are considered in detail. [source] Analysis of risk factors predicting thrombotic and/or haemorrhagic complications in 306 patients with Essential ThrombocythemiaHEMATOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Franca Radaelli Abstract Thrombotic and haemorrhagic complications are the main causes of morbidity in Essential Thrombocythemia (ET). We investigated the clinical and laboratory characteristics associated with the occurrence of these events with the aim of identifying subgroups of patients who might benefit from anti-aggregant and/or cytoreductive therapy. The study involved 306 consecutive ET patients (median age 58 years and median follow-up 96 months); the investigated variables were age, gender, platelet count, previous history of thrombotic or haemorrhagic events, disease duration and cardiovascular risk factors. Forty-six patients (15%) experienced thrombotic complications during the follow-up: 26/64 patients with a previous history of thrombosis (40.6%) and 20/242 patients without (8.3%; p,<,0.0001). Thirty-one patients (10%) experienced major haemorrhagic complications, mainly gastrointestinal tract bleeding: 3 with and 28 without a history of haemorrhagic events (p,=,0.052). When the patients with a negative history of thrombosis were stratified on the basis of the number of cardiovascular risk factors (none vs. one vs. more than one), there was a significant correlation with the occurrence of thrombotic events (p,<,0.05). ET patients with a positive history of thrombosis are at high risk of thrombotic complications, and should receive cytoreductive and anti-aggregant treatment. Asymptomatic patients with a negative thrombotic history and no cardiovascular risk factors are at low risk, and should not be treated. Patients with a negative thrombotic history and one or more cardiovascular risk factors are at intermediate risk, and should be treated with anti-aggregant and/or cytoreductive therapy. The need for treatment should be periodically re-evaluated. Age and platelet count, generally accepted as very important risk factors for thrombosis, did not seem in our series associated with an increased risk for thrombosis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Clinical features of cutaneous and disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in Paraty, Rio de JaneiroINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2008Ricardo Vieira-Gonçalves MD Background, American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is endemic in Rio de Janeiro State (RJ), where the disease shows epidemiologic and clinical characteristics distinct from those of ATL in other Brazilian regions. Paraty is the second most important endemic area in RJ; however, reports on leishmaniasis in this region refer to the occurrence of the disease without describing its characteristics. Methods, The clinical features of 71 cases of ATL reported between 1991 and 1997 in Paraty are presented. Thirty patients were re-evaluated 10 years later. Results, Males and females were affected in similar proportions, and the disease was more prevalent in patients aged between 10 and 49 years (63.4%). Cutaneous leishmaniasis was the most prevalent clinical form observed. Unique lesions were present in 69% of cases, 91.6% of which displayed an ulcerated aspect. Although mucosal leishmaniasis was not observed, severe clinical manifestations, such as disseminated cutaneous lesions caused by L. braziliensis, were diagnosed in two patients. These patients presented skin lesions with different clinical aspects spread throughout the body, as well as low cellular immune responses. Montenegro skin test (92% positivity) and serology (8% IgM and 56% IgG anti- Leishmania positive results) were the most utilized tests for supporting the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. Parasites, detected in 27 of the 33 cases analyzed, were characterized as L. braziliensis. Conclusion, ATL in Paraty shares the clinical and laboratory characteristics reported for ATL in other regions of RJ, probably because of the similar epidemiologic context related to the Atlantic rainforest region. [source] Prolactin and macroprolactin in patients with systemic lupus erythematosusINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 3 2008Mohammadhassan JOKAR Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma levels of prolactin and macroprolactin in a group of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to determine if prolactin and macroprolactin concentrations were related to disease activity, clinical features or serological abnormalities. Methods: Ninety consecutive Iranian patients with SLE were tested for serum prolactin and macroprolactin levels. Total prolactin was measured directly in serum samples by radioimmunoassay. Free prolactin was extracted from the serum using polyethylene glycol. Clinical manifestation and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) were recorded. Auto antibodies were determined by standard techniques. Results: There were 90 patients (7 male, 83 female) with a mean age of 27.6 ± 9.1 (range 14,52). The mean disease duration was 27.6 ± 9.1 months. The frequency of high prolactin and macroprolactin, respectively, was 10% (9/90) and 5.6% (5/90) in patients with SLE. Macroprolactinemia was found in 55.55% (5/9) of hyperprolactinemic patients. Lupus activity was present in 63.3% (57/90) of patients without a significant difference in the frequency of high serum prolactin and macroprolactin levels when compared to inactive lupus. There were no statistically significant differences regarding demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics between the group of patients with macroprolactinemia and the group without macroprolactinemia. Conclusion: Our results suggest that a subgroup of SLE patients have hyperprolactinemia and macroprolactinemia but they do not seem to have positive or negative correlation to clinical and laboratory features and disease activity. [source] Splenectomy and thrombosis: the case of thalassemia intermediaJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 10 2010A. T. TAHER See also Mannucci PM. Red cells playing as activated platelets in thalassemia intermedia. This issue, pp 2149,51. Summary.,Background:,Hypercoagulability in splenectomized patients with thalassemia intermedia (TI) has been extensively evaluated. However, clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients who eventually develop overt thromboembolic events (TEE) are poorly studied. Patients/Methods:,Three Groups of TI patients (n = 73 each) were retrospectively identified from a registry involving six centers across the Middle East and Italy: Group I, all splenectomized patients with a documented TEE; Group II, age- and sex-matched splenectomized patients without TEE; and Group III, age- and sex-matched non-splenectomized patients without TEE. Retrieved data included demographics, laboratory parameters, clinical complications, and received treatments that may influence TEE development, and reflected the period prior to TEE occurrence in Group I. Results:,The mean age of Group I patients at development of TEE was 33.1 ± 11.7 years, with a male to female ratio of 33:40. TEE were predominantly venous (95%) while four patients (5%) had documented stroke. Among studied parameters, Group I patients were more likely to have a nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) count , 300 × 106 L,1, a platelet count , 500 × 109 L,1 and evidence of pulmonary hypertension (PHT), or be transfusion naïve. The median time to thrombosis following splenectomy was 8 years. Patients with an NRBC count , 300 × 106 L,1, a platelet count , 500 × 109 L,1, or who were transfusion naive also had a shorter time to thrombosis following splenectomy. Conclusion:,Splenectomized TI patients who will develop TEE may be identified early on by high NRBC and platelet counts, evidence of PHT, and transfusion naivety. [source] Systematic review: hepatitis-associated aplastic anaemia , a syndrome associated with abnormal immunological functionALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2009R. GONZALEZ-CASAS Summary Background, Hepatitis-associated aplastic anaemia is a syndrome in which marrow failure follows the development of hepatitis. Aim, To review systematically the aetiology, immunopathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis-associated aplastic anaemia. Methods, Literature searches were undertaken on the MEDLINE electronic database up to December 2008. Twenty-four relevant studies were identified. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients were analysed and reviewed. Results, Hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia is a variant of acquired aplastic anemia in which an episode of hepatitis precedes the onset of aplastic anemia. The hepatitis may be acute and severe, even fulminant; it may be self-limiting or chronic. The pathology is often not attributable to a recognized cause of viral hepatitis. The syndrome occurs in 28 percent of young adults after liver transplantation for non-A, non-B, non-C hepatitis. Several features of the syndrome suggest that the marrow aplasia is mediated by immunological mechanisms, possibly mediated by gamma interferon or the cytokine cascade. Survival of patients treated with hematopoietic cell transplantation has been 82%, and the response rate to immunosuppressive therapy 70%. Conclusions, Hepatitis-associated bone marrow aplasia is mediated by immunological mechanisms. Treatment options include hematopoietic cell transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy. [source] Varying clinical presentations at onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children , epidemiological evidence for different subtypes of the disease?PEDIATRIC DIABETES, Issue 4 2001Andreas Neu Abstract: Objective:, On the basis of 2121 case observations between 1987 and 1997, we describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of diabetes mellitus type 1 at its onset. Our objective is to analyze whether clinical presentation follows a uniform pattern or whether there is evidence for different subtypes. Research design and methods: Thirty-one pediatric hospitals and one diabetes center in Baden-Wuerttemberg (BW), Germany, participated in this study. The hospital records of 2121 children below 15 yr of age were examined retrospectively. Statistical analysis was done after logarithmic transformation into a normal distribution. Results: The average duration of symptoms was found to be 15.2 d (95% CI (Confidence Intervals) = 14.3,16.1) ranging between 2.0 and 180 d (95% central range). The most frequent symptoms were polyuria and polydipsia; 7.2% presented with altered level of consciousness. The mean blood glucose value was 407.9 mg/dL (95% CI = 400.0,416.0), corresponding to 23.3 mmol/L (95% CI = 22.8,23.8). The median pH value was 7.35 (95% CI = 7.34,7.36), and the median base excess was ,5 mmol/L (95% CI =,5 to ,4). The younger patients had a shorter duration of symptoms and suffered most frequently from ketoacidosis. Conclusions: Although the symptoms of diabetes at its onset follow a uniform pattern, the clinical presentation and duration of symptoms indicate that there may be various forms of type 1 diabetes. [source] Doll-like face: Is it an underestimated clinical presentation of cystic fibrosis?PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 7 2008Mehmet Kose MD Abstract Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most prevalant inheritable chronic disease in caucasian children. The clinical syndrome of kwashiorkor is well-recognized complication of CF. The edema of the face can be seen in kwashiorkor. As doll-like face is very rare and underestimated clinical presentation of CF patients complicated with hypoproteinemia we evaluated demographic features and laboratory characteristics of 5 patients diagnosed as CF with doll-like face. Methods: Between June 2005 and January 2008, 115 children were diagnosed as having CF enrolled in our center. Five infants were diagnosed as CF with doll-like face before the age of 6 months participitated in study. Results: The incidence of doll-like face younger than the 6 months of age were 9.4% in our center. 48 infants diagnosed as CF without doll-like face before the age of 6 months participitated in the study as controls (group2). Physical examination revealed doll-like face and pitting edema of lower extremities in group 1. Their weight and length were under the third centile. Laboratory findings of group 1 include: mean hemoglobin 7.6g/dl; mean total protein 4.4 g/dl; albumin 2.3 g/dl. When compared control group in order to; 11.4 g/dl (range 7.6,17.9); 6.2 g/dl (range 4.0,8.8); 4.7 g/dl (range 2.1,5.8). mean hemoglobin, total protein and albumin values were lower in group 1. Conclusion: In a subgroup of patients, doll-like face may be the presenting manifestation of CF. Especially in developing countries clinicians should be aware of in patients with malnutrition and doll-like face and CF should be considered in differential diagnosis. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:634,637. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The prevalence and predictors of erectile dysfunction in men with newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitusBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2007Adel Al-Hunayan OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). PATIENTS AND METHODS All consecutive samples of men newly diagnosed with type 2 DM attending the diabetes centre in the capital of Kuwait were included in the study. Face-to-face interviews with the men were conducted using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 questionnaire. A threshold IIEF-5 score of <21 was used to identify men with ED. Pertinent clinical and laboratory characteristics were collected. RESULTS Of 323 men with newly diagnosed type 2 DM, 31% had ED; comparing potent men and men with ED, there were statistically significant differences for smoking, duration of smoking, hypertension, education level, body mass index and serum glycosylated haemoglobin level. Among these, age was the most important risk factor identified by multivariate logistic regression. CONCLUSION About a third of men with newly diagnosed type 2 DM had ED; this was associated with many variables, but most notably with age at presentation. [source] Acute encephalitis with refractory, repetitive partial seizures (AERRPS): a peculiar form of childhood encephalitisACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2010H. Sakuma Sakuma H, Awaya Y, Shiomi M, Yamanouchi H, Takahashi Y, Saito Y, Sugai K, Sasaki M. Acute encephalitis with refractory, repetitive partial seizures (AERRPS): a peculiar form of childhood encephalitis. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 121: 251,256. © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard. Objective,,, We conducted a nationwide multicenter study in Japan to elucidate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of acute encephalitis with refractory, repetitive partial seizures (AERRPS). Materials and methods,,, Clinical and laboratory features, treatment, and outcome were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Results,,, Twenty-nine children were enrolled in the study. Refractory and repetitive partial seizures accompanied by fever were the cardinal clinical features. Partial seizures consisted principally of eye deviation or facial twitching, being periodically repeated during the acute phase. These seizures were refractory to conventional anticonvulsants and were only suppressed by high-dose intravenous barbiturate administration. Rhythmic activities on electroencephalography and non-specific cerebral atrophy on neuroimaging were common. Serum or cerebrospinal antibodies against GluR,2 were positive in six patients. General prognosis was unfavorable due to intractable epilepsy and cognitive deficits. Conclusion,,, Based on the peculiar and homogenous features, AERRPS can be regarded as a distinct clinical entity. [source] A case of benign acute childhood myositis associated with influenza A (H1N1) virus infectionCLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 2 2010M. Koliou Clin Microbiol Infect 2010; 16: 193,195 Abstract Benign acute childhood myositis (BACM) is a rare transient condition usually occurring at the early convalescent phase of a viral upper respiratory tract illness, normally influenza A, and, more frequently, influenza B infection. It is characterized by acute-onset difficulty in walking as a result of severe bilateral calf pain and by elevated muscle enzymes including creatinine kinase. It is self-limiting because there is rapid full recovery usually within 1 week. We describe the first case of BACM in association with the new pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in an 11-year-old boy from Cyprus. The child had the typical clinical and laboratory characteristics of this clinical syndrome. Prompt diagnosis of this clinical entity is essential to prevent unnecessary investigations and therapeutic interventions and to reassure the patient and parents of the excellent prognosis. [source] The impact of laboratory characteristics on molecular detection of respiratory syncytial virus in a European multicentre quality control studyCLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 12 2008T. J. Meerhoff Abstract The performance of nucleic acid amplification techniques for detecting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was evaluated in 25 laboratories across Europe by an external quality assessment study. In addition, factors related to the diagnostic performance of laboratories were explored. The results of this quality control study show that the performance of laboratories for RSV diagnosis in Europe is good, with an overall correct score of 88%. The type of assay (nested or real-time PCR vs. commercial tests) was identified as a significant factor (OR 8.39; 95% CI 1.91,36.78) in predicting a correct result. [source] | ||||||||||