Short term ciprofloxacin and clindamycin combination antibiotic therapy before and after transrectal ultrasound scan and prostate biopsy: Its impact on major components of gut microbiome.

The perturbation of gut microbiome is a risk factor for a number of adverse conditions. Among other factors antibiotic therapy is a common culprit. We characterized the short-term alteration of gut microbiome after antibiotic therapy.

Toward harmonization of interpretive commenting of common laboratory tests.

Interpretive commenting (IC) is an integral part of postanalytical activities of laboratories when the clinical interpretation of laboratory results in the context of the clinical situation of a patient is provided. Harmonizing practices in IC can be an approach to ensure high-quality comments, which if followed by adequate clinical actions has a great potential in improving patient outcomes. This paper reviews basic work prior to harmonization of IC of common laboratory test results.

[Effects and significance of estradiol in men].

The most important estrogen is estradiol in both men and women. In men elevated estradiol levels and associated metabolic disorders have been implicated in the development of common diseases including cardiovascular disorders, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus, as increased estradiol associated with decreased testosterone levels increases the risk of these diseases. In this review the authors summarize the causes and consequences of androgen deficiency and estradiol excess, and they review recent studies on potential therapeutic strategies to correct increased estradiol levels in men.

Protein interference in thyroid assays: an in vitro study with in vivo consequences.

Background: Pathological concentration of plasma proteins may cause problems in immunoanalytics. The low triiodotyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels, frequently found in seriously ill patients, may be ascribed either to laboratory artifact due to the lower thyroid hormone binding capacity or to a compensatory response of the organism to the disease.

Methods: The authors performed an in vitro experiment, in which sera of seriously ill patients with either low immunoglobulin G (IgG), and/or low albumin levels were investigated for free thyroid hormones (fT3, fT4) following stepwise adjustment of the serum IgG and/or albumin.

NT-brain natriuretic peptide levels in pleural fluid distinguish between pleural transudates and exudates.

Background: Pleural effusion is not pathognomic and distinguishing between transudates and exudates often presents a diagnostic dilemma. The purpose of our study was to examine whether the inclusion of pleural fluid brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement into the analysis improves the diagnostic accuracy of pleural effusion.

Methods: The pleural effusion of 14 patients with CHF (group A) and 14 subjects with different pleural pathology (group B) were analyzed.

Intraoperative bilateral cavernous sinus sampling for ACTH measurements during transsphenoidal pituitary surgery in patients with Cushing's disease.

Intraoperative bilateral cavernous sinus sampling combined with rapid ACTH measurement was performed in a pilot study in seven patients with Cushing's disease during transsphenoidal pituitary surgery before and immediately after removal of the ACTH-producing pituitary microadenoma. Before tumor removal a gradient in ACTH concentrations greater than 1.5:1 toward the side of the tumor was found in six patients whereas ACTH concentrations in the right and left cavernous sinuses were similar in one patient with a midline tumor.