Drug-induced long-QT syndrome: a case report.

An elderly psychiatric female patient with a long-lasting severe resistant depression was referred for medical examination because of gastrointestinal complaints. The ECG revealed a strongly extended QT interval. No other cardiological abnormalities were observed.

Laboratory work flow analysis and introduction of a multi-functional analyser.

Laboratory work flow analysis was performed in order to define guidelines for improved laboratory organisation and efficiency. All activities were monitored from the moment a laboratory test was requested until the result was reported and received. Detailed information was collected on numbers of samples and tests, work-stations and sample splitting, number of staff and laboratory costs and management.

Clinical biochemistry training in The Netherlands.

A unique situation for clinical biochemistry exists in the Netherlands, since it is nearly fully practised by science-oriented professionals. They are enlisted in the Register of Recognized Clinical Biochemists supervised by the Netherlands Society of Clinical Chemistry. Training as a clinical biochemist consists of a 4-year period in a hospital laboratory; it is not a specific university education.

Value of maternal fructosamine in the screening of an unselected population for hyperglycemia-related complications in the newborn.

The relationship between the maternal serum fructosamine concentration and pregnancy outcome was studied in 765 consecutive subjects of an obstetric community hospital population. The neonatal outcome of patients with a fructosamine concentration in pregnancy below and above 2.30 mmol/L were compared.

Enhanced production of calcitriol, and hypercalcaemia in a patient with sarcoidosis provoked by daily intake of calciol.

A case of sarcoidosis is described which presented with hypercalcaemia and renal insufficiency. Initially, a calciol intoxication was diagnosed, because a high daily intake was suspected. However, vitamin D3 metabolites in the blood revealed normal concentrations of calcidiol, but extremely high concentrations of calcitriol.

The value of laboratory tests in patients suspected of acute appendicitis.

The clinical usefulness of laboratory tests was examined in 258 patients admitted to the emergency room with the general practitioner's tentative diagnosis, acute appendicitis. Acute appendectomy was performed on 91 patients. Histological examination of the appendix confirmed the diagnosis in 69 cases (acute appendicitis 20, phlegmonous appendicitis 36, perforation 13).

Diamine oxidase activity in amniotic fluid for diagnosis of ruptured membranes.

Diamine oxidase in vaginal effluent is used as a parameter for ascertaining the state of fetal membranes. A new method using tritiated putrescine as a substrate is described for the determination of diamine oxidase in amniotic fluid and vaginal effluents. A number of tests are used for the diagnosis of premature rupture of fetal membranes.

The effect of maximal doses of formoterol and salbutamol from a metered dose inhaler on pulse rates, ECG, and serum potassium concentrations.

In a randomized, double-blind, crossover cumulative study, the individual maximal bronchodilator dosages for formoterol (F) and salbutamol (S) were assessed for their respective influence on ECG, pulse rate, and serum potassium levels in 13 patients with stable and reversible asthma. The following dosages were administered with an interval of 1 h: 12-24-48-(48)-(48) micrograms for F and 100-200-400-400-(400)-(400) micrograms for S. The study day was discontinued if pulse rate was above 140 beats min-1, a flattening of T wave on the ECG was recorded, or a maximal bronchodilation in FEV1 was observed (above 110 percent of the predicted value or an increase in FEV1 in the last two measurements below 5 percent).

Quantitative determination of non-haem iron and ferritin iron in bone marrow using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A comparative study on the cytological and chemical determination of the bone marrow iron content.

A method for non-haem iron analysis in bone marrow aspirates using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry has been developed. Bone marrow aspirates were obtained from patients with various disorders. A good correlation is observed between chemical and cytological assessment of total non-haem iron in bone marrow.

Measurements of serum ferritin used to predict concentrations of iron in bone marrow in anemia of chronic disease.

We determined serum ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in 73 patients with anemia of chronic disease. Nomograms of CRP, ESR, or fibrinogen vs ferritin concentrations were constructed and used to estimate the iron store in bone marrow. Iron stores estimated from the nomograms were compared with the results of staining cytological bone marrow smears for iron, the reference method for evaluating iron in bone marrow.

Serum lipids and gallstones: a case-control study.

The role of serum lipids in the etiology of cholesterol gallstones and pigment gallstones was assessed in a case-control study. The study included 250 cases with surgically or ultrasonographically confirmed cholecystolithiasis and 526 hospital control patients. The highest gallstone risk was found at low high-density cholesterol levels and high triglyceride levels.

The diagnostic value of neuron-specific enolase and carcino-embryonic antigen analyses in patients with carcinoma of the lung.

Neuron-specific enolase and carcino-embryonic antigen were quantified simultaneously in sera of 135 patients attending the Department of Respiratory Diseases for diagnostic bronchoscopy. Fifteen small cell lung carcinomas, 24 non-small cell lung carcinomas and 96 benign pulmonary diseases were investigated. Lung biopsies or bronchial washings were obtained from about 75% of the patients, including all patients with neoplastic diseases.

Determination of tissue iron and ferritin in liver pathology comparison of histochemical and biochemical results.

Results are presented from the determination of tissue iron and ferritin in 15 pathological livers (6 with steatosis, 8 with fibrosis/cirrhosis and 1 with haemochromatosis). The histological assessment according to the Rowe system, after Perls' staining, was compared with the measurement of the iron content in liver homogenate by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results of the flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry were less accurate than in normal livers, but the method can still be considered reliable with satisfactory precision.