SIMULTANEOUS ASSAY OF ARIPIPRAZOLE AND ITS ACTIVE METABOLITE IN SERUM BY HPLC.

A rapid, convenient, precise HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of aripiprazole and its active metabolite dehydroaripiprazole in blood serum. The separation was carried out by RP HPLC on Symmetry C₁₈ column (150 x 4.6 mm; 5 μm).

Heart Transplantation and Risk of Cardiac Vasculopathy Development: What Factors Are Important?

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to find the main risk factors for development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), especially factors identified before the surgical procedure and factors related to the recipient profile and the medical history of the donor. MATERIAL AND METHODS There were 147 patients who had heart transplantation (HT) included in this study: mean age was 45.8±15.

Sarcoidosis as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism.

Sarcoidosis as a chronic condition of immune dysregulation might be associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In this study we report three cases of sarcoidosis and pulmonary embolism (PE) occurring together, that share common clinical, serological and pathological findings, confirming the diagnosis of active pulmonary sarcoidosis and no others co-existing prothrombotic factors. We hypothesized that the hypercoagulability and increased risk for VTE in sarcoidosis may be attributable to active local and generalized inflammatory process.

Non-high risk PE in the patients with acute or exacerbated respiratory disease: the value of the algorithm based on D-dimer evaluation and Revised Geneva Score.

Introduction: The diagnostic algorithm of non-high risk pulmonary embolism (PE) is based on probability scoring systems and plasma D-dimer (DD) assessment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of Revised Geneva Scoring (RGS) and DD testing for the excluding of non-high risk PE, in the patients admitted to the hospital due to acute respiratory diseases.

Material And Methods: The consecutive patients, above 18 years of age, referred to the department of lung diseases, entered the study.

Methotrexate as a single agent for treating pulmonary sarcoidosis: a single centre real-life prospective study.

Introduction: The first-line therapy in chronic sarcoidosis, according to WASOG/ATS/ERS recommendations, is GCS. This therapy is associated with significant adverse effects and finally does not alter the natural history of the disease. The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of monotherapy with MTX, as an alternative to GCS, in progressive pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Standards of the Polish Ultrasound Society - update. Sonography of the lower extremity veins.

This article has been prepared on the basis of the Ultrasonography Standards of the Polish Ultrasound Society (2011) and updated based on the latest findings and reports. Ultrasound examination of the lower extremity veins is relatively easy and commonly used to confirm or rule out venous thrombosis. However, a relatively easy compression test frequently requires experience, particularly in situations when imaging is difficult (due to lymphedema, dressing or thick tissues).

Standards of the Polish Ultrasound Society - update. Ultrasound examination of the aorta and arteries of the lower extremities.

A Doppler ultrasound examination has an advantage over other vessel imaging methods as it can be carried out by the patient's bedside and allows to make a diagnosis without exposing the patient to the inconveniency of transportation or an X-ray scan. The purpose of testing the lower extremities and the aorta is to objectively confirm a preliminary clinical diagnosis, localize lesions responsible for the symptoms of the disease, determine their severity and nature (e.g.

Standards of the Polish Ultrasound Society - update. Examination of extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries.

The role of a standard is to describe examination techniques, recommended norms as well as principles necessary to obtain results and draw appropriate conclusions, rather than a description of pathologies. The paper presents a technique for carotid artery examination as well as currently recommended standards. According to San Francisco Consensus from 2003, a significant stenosis of 70% may be detected when systolic velocity in the internal carotid artery stenosis is >230 cm/s, and the diastolic velocity is >100 cm/s.

[Acute lupus pneumonitis--case report and literature review].

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease that is characterized by its chronic course and the involvement of many organs and systems. The most common abnormality in the respiratory system of SLE patients is lupus pleuritis. Less common is parenchymal involvement, which may present as acute lupus pneumonitis (ALP) or chronic interstitial lung disease.

Incidence of malignancies in cardiac allograft recipients - a single-center experience.

Background: Most of the available data suggest that the risk of malignancy in solid organ recipients is higher than in the general population. In Poland, the prevalence rate for malignancy in the general population is about 1.02%.

[Chest ultrasound in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in a pregnant patient - a case report].

Pregnancy is a risk factor for both pulmonary embolism (PE), and an incorrect diagnostic assessment in cases of suspected PE with potentially dangerous consequences for the mother and foetus. The major concern is ionising radiation utilized by diagnostic tests and its potential negative effect on foetal safety. This paper presents diagnostic difficulties encountered in a 31-year-old patient at 20 weeks of gestation who was admitted to hospital with non-specific chest pain and suspected PE as a complication of right lower limb venous thrombosis.

Vena cava filter occlusion and venous thromboembolism risk in persistently anticoagulated patients: a prospective, observational cohort study.

Background: Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement may be life-saving, but after contraindications to anticoagulation remit, patient management is uncertain.

Methods: We followed patients who had venous thromboembolism, followed by treatment with permanent IVC filter placement, and were anticoagulated long-term as soon as safety allowed. We conducted annual physical examinations and ultrasound surveillance of the lower extremity deep veins and of the IVC filter site.

Accuracy of compression ultrasound in screening for deep venous thrombosis in acutely ill medical patients.

The value of vein ultrasonography for diagnosis of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is widely accepted. We are unaware of published data comparing ultrasonography with the "gold standard" of venography for DVT diagnosis in asymptomatic persons in the patient group of acutely ill medical patients. It was the objective of this study to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of compression ultrasound (CUS) examinations in the diagnosis of proximal and distal DVT in acutely ill medical patients [with congestive heart failure (NYHA class III and IV), exacerbations of respiratory disease, infectious disease, and inflammatory diseases] considered to be at moderate risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

[Recurrent pneumothorax as alone manifestation of mesothelioma pleurae].

Malignant mesothelioma of the pleura is a rare neoplasm with a poor prognosis. The most often symptoms of this disease are dyspnoe and chest wall pain, which is often associated with pleural effusion. We present 35-years old woman with 5 epizodes of pneumothorax during 3 years (4 of right side and 1-bilateral) in whom bilateral pleurodesis was performed.