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Standard Laboratory Tests (standard + laboratory_test)
Selected AbstractsSystemic, renal, and hepatic hemodynamic derangement in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitisHEPATOLOGY, Issue 5 2003Luis Ruiz-del-Arbol M.D. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is frequently associated with renal failure. This study assessed if systemic and hepatic hemodynamics are also affected by this condition. Standard laboratory tests, tumor necrosis factor , (TNF-,) in plasma and ascitic fluid, plasma renin activity (PRA) and norepinephrine (NE), and systemic and hepatic hemodynamics were determined in 23 patients with SBP at diagnosis and after resolution of infection. Eight patients developed renal failure during treatment. At diagnosis of infection, patients developing renal failure showed significantly higher values of TNF-,, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), PRA and NE, peripheral vascular resistance, and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and lower cardiac output than patients not developing renal failure. During treatment, a significant reduction in cardiac output and arterial pressure and increase in PRA and NE, HVPG, and Child-Pugh score were observed in the first group but not in the second. Peripheral vascular resistance remained unmodified in both groups. Changes in PRA and NE correlated inversely with changes in arterial pressure and directly with changes in BUN, Child-Pugh score, and HVPG. Five patients in the renal failure group developed encephalopathy, and 6 died. In the group without renal failure, none of the patients developed encephalopathy or expired. In conclusion, patients with SBP frequently develop a rapidly progressive impairment in systemic hemodynamics, leading to severe renal and hepatic failure, aggravation of portal hypertension, encephalopathy, and death. This occurs despite rapid resolution of infection and is associated with an extremely poor prognosis. [source] Calibration of a discrete element model for intact rock up to its peak strengthINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 5 2010Yuannian Wang Abstract When three dimensional, bonded discrete element models (DEMs) are deployed to model intact rock, a basic question is how to determine the micro parameters that control macro properties of the modeled rock. After briefly describing the authors' DEM code, this paper describes algorithms to calibrate the model's micro parameters against standard laboratory tests, such as uniaxial and triaxial tests. Sensitivity analysis is used to identify the deformability micro parameters by obtaining relationships between microscopic and macroscopic deformability properties. The strength model parameters are identified by a global optimization process aimed at minimizing the difference between computed and experimental failure envelopes. When applied to the experimental results of Lac du Bonnet granite, this calibration process produced a good agreement between simulated and experimental results for both deformability and strength properties. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Comparative Assessment of Coagulation Changes Induced by Two Different Types of Heart,Lung MachineARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 1 2010Niels Rahe-Meyer Abstract The cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) used in heart surgery has a deleterious effect on hemostasis. The aim of our study was to assess by means of standard laboratory and point-of-care methods changes induced by CPB in coagulation parameters, particularly in platelet function, and to determine whether these changes differ depending on the type of heart,lung machine (HLM) used: minimal extracorporeal circulation system (MECC) and standard HLM. The study enrolled 88 patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass surgery performed on pump. Forty-four interventions were performed with MECC and 44 with standard HLM. Blood was sampled preoperatively, after 30 min on CPB, after weaning from CPB, and 24 h postoperatively. Coagulation and platelet function were assessed using multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA), rotation thromboelastometry, as well as standard laboratory tests. Rotation thromboelastometry and standard laboratory reflected significantly impaired hemostasis after weaning from CPB but no significant differences between the two groups at different time points. Aggregation decreased significantly in both groups as early as 30 min after the institution of CPB (P < 0.05, Mann,Whitney U -test) and recovered within the first 24 h postoperatively, without reaching the preoperative level. Intraoperatively, aggregometry values reflected a significantly more severe reduction of platelet function in standard HLM group than in the MECC group (P < 0.01, ProcMixed test). Our findings suggest that MEA and thromboelastometry reflect impairment of coagulation in cardiac surgery performed on different types of HLM and that platelet function is less affected by MECC than by standard HLM. [source] Pharmacokinetics of andolast after administration of single escalating doses by inhalation in mild asthmatic patientsBIOPHARMACEUTICS AND DRUG DISPOSITION, Issue 2 2001S. Persiani Abstract The pharmacokinetics of andolast, a new tetrazolyl-benzamido derivative with antiallergic, antiinflammatory, mucosal protective and antisecretive activities, have been investigated in patients suffering from mild asthma (FEV1,70% of predicted) in whom obstruction was reversible (FEV1 increase,15% of initial) after the administration of 0.2 mg of salbutamol by inhalation. Twelve out-patients (seven males and five females) were enrolled in the present study and were treated with a single dose of andolast of 2, 4 and 8 mg by inhalation using the MIAT Monohaler® device according to a randomised crossover design. Plasma samples were collected before drug administration and up to 540 min after dosing. Andolast plasma concentrations were determined using a validated LC-MS/MS method with a limit of quantitation of 0.2 ng ml,1. Pharmacokinetic analysis was carried out using standard non-compartmental methods. In addition, andolast safety and tolerability were evaluated by performing standard laboratory tests, by recording vital signs and ECGs and by monitoring the occurrence of adverse events throughout the study period. Andolast was absorbed after inhalation and was available to the systemic circulation. The mean peak plasma concentrations were 6.3, 10.9 and 30.5 ng ml,1 at the three doses, respectively, and occurred at 30, 52.5 and 30 min (median tmax). The mean AUCt values were 1852, 2889 and 7677 ng min ml,1. The apparent plasma clearance (CL/F) and volume of distribution (Vz/F) were, respectively, 1168 ml min,1 and 430 l at the dose of 2 mg, 1143 ml min,1 and 468 l at the dose of 4 mg, and 1141 ml min,1 and 486 l at the dose of 8 mg. The apparent elimination half-life averaged 4.5, 5.0 and 4.6 h at the three doses, respectively. Even though the small number of subjects participating in the present study reduced the power of the statistical test, there was no statistically significant evidence of non-proportionality for all the andolast pharmacokinetic parameters calculated at the three doses. Thus, the data obtained as a whole suggest that andolast pharmacokinetics are dose-independent in the dose range investigated. Finally, the safety and tolerabilty of the drug administered to mild asthmatic patients was good up to the maximum investigated dose of 8 mg. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||