Plasma D-dimer concentration in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder of the connective tissue characterized by widespread vascular lesions and fibrosis. Little is known so far on the activation of the hemostatic and fibrinolytic systems in SSc, and most preliminary evidences are discordant.

Methods: To verify whether SSc patients might display a prothrombotic condition, plasma D-dimer was assessed in 28 consecutive SSc patients and in 33 control subjects, matched for age, sex and environmental habit.

Influence of physical exercise and relationship with biochemical variables of NT-pro-brain natriuretic peptide and ischemia modified albumin.

Background: The diagnostic approach and the clinical management of patients presenting with suspected acute coronary syndrome or cardiac dysfunction are as yet challenging. Although ischemia modified albumin (IMA) and natriuretic peptides were recently proposed for detection of myocardial ischemia and cardiac dysfunction, little information is available on preanalytical and metabolic sources of variability of these markers.

Methods: To establish the influence of a regular endurance training and the relationship with conventional biochemical variables, NT-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and IMA were assayed, along with cardiac troponin T (cTnT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), creatinine and albumin, in 35 sedentary healthy individuals and 50 male professional road cyclists, 12-24 h following the last demanding training session.

Stability of blood cell counts, hematologic parameters and reticulocytes indexes on the Advia A120 hematologic analyzer.

Delayed sample analysis is not a rare circumstance in clinical and laboratory practice, especially when blood samples are shipped to distant centralized laboratories, when the analysis can not be readily performed, or when retesting is appropriate. In this study we sought to evaluate the stability of conventional and new hematologic parameters in blood specimens stored for as long as 24 hours at 4 degrees C. Of the 21 hematologic parameters tested with the use of the Advia 120 hematologic analyzer (Bayer Diagnostics), means for paired samples of specimens differed significantly over the 24-hour storage period for hematocrit, main corpuscular volume, percentage of macrocytes, platelet count, main platelet volume, reticulocyte count and percentage, and reticulocyte hemoglobin content (all P < .

Cobalt chloride administration in athletes: a new perspective in blood doping?

Blood doping is an illegal and unfair way of enhancing athletic performance by increasing the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Currently used methods usually involve stimulation of erythropoiesis. Gene therapy targeting the hypoxia inducible factor pathway may be an attractive alternative to traditional blood doping techniques.

High-workload endurance training may increase serum ischemia-modified albumin concentrations.

The measurement of cardiac troponins has emerged as the biochemical "gold standard" for the diagnosis and management of patients with acute chest pain. However, earlier markers should support investigation strategies, as several patients with acute coronary syndrome might present with non-diagnostic concentrations. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), measured by the albumin cobalt binding (ACB) assay, was recently proposed for early detection of myocardial ischemia.

Influence of short-term venous stasis on clinical chemistry testing.

Control and standardization of preanalytical variability is a critical factor for achieving accuracy and precision in laboratory testing. Although venous stasis from tourniquet placement during venepuncture should be minimized, as it has been claimed to account for spurious and significant variations for several analytes in plasma, there is controversy surrounding its real impact on laboratory testing. The aim of the present study was the investigation of the influence of short-term venous stasis on routine biochemical testing, by measuring the plasma concentration of 12 common analytes, including proteins, protein-bound substances, enzymes and electrolytes, in plasma specimens collected either without venous stasis or following the application of standardized external pressure of 60 mm Hg using a sphygmomanometer for 1 and 3 min.

Serum ferritin as a marker of potential biochemical iron overload in athletes.

Objectives: Beyond hematological manipulation, iron supplementation therapy is commonplace in athletes to counterbalance physiological or pathologic anemia and to prevent physiologic dysfunction. However, misuse of iron therapy, occasionally resulting in iron overload, is not free from metabolic risks.

Design: We planned to measure baseline serum ferritin concentration in sedentary individual and athletes.

Lipoprotein[a] and the lipid profile in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder of the connective tissue characterized by widespread vascular lesions and fibrosis, associated with endothelial dysfunction, that might finally promote occlusive vascular complications. Little is known so far on the lipid profile of these patients.

Methods: To investigate the potential contribution of lipid abnormalities in genesis and progression of vascular occlusive complications, an extensive lipid profile, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio, the atherogenic index of plasma, lipoprotein[a] (Lp[a]) and high-sensitive C Reactive Protein (Hs-CRP), was assessed in 31 consecutive female SSc patients and 33 matched healthy controls.

Short-term venous stasis influences routine coagulation testing.

Preanalytical variability is a common source of errors in coagulation testing, as clotting assays are particularly susceptible to poor standardization of the whole analytical process. To investigate the effect of a short-term venous stasis on routine coagulation testing, we measured activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, fibrinogen and D-dimer in plasma specimens collected either without venous stasis or following the application of a 60 mmHg constant, standardized external pressure by a sphygmomanometer, for 1 (1-min stasis) and 3 min (3-min stasis). When compared with blood specimens collected without stasis, the Pearson's correlation coefficients and the corresponding slopes of the Passing and Bablok regression line of samples collected following 1 and 3-min stasis were acceptable.

Anticardiolipin antibodies in healthy and diseased dogs.

The concentrations of anticardiolipin immunoglobulin G (IgG) were measured in 134 healthy dogs and 63 diseased dogs by an elisa. The mean (sd) concentration in the healthy dogs was 5.40 (2.

[New perspectives in the diagnostic approach to acute coronary syndrome].

Cardiovascular disorders and acute coronary syndrome represent the leading pathologies in western countries. Over 30 years from the first diagnostic criteria issued by the World Health Organization, the diagnostic approach to patients with non-traumatic chest pain is as yet challenging. Investigators have attempted various diagnostic strategies, such as clinical decision algorithms, cardiac biomarkers, echocardiography, and myocardial perfusion imaging to avoid missing patients with myocardial ischemia or unstable angina.

Preanalytical variability in laboratory testing: influence of the blood drawing technique.

The predominant technique used to draw blood for laboratory testing is a conventional straight needle attached to an evacuated tube system. However, alternative tools might be advantageous in exceptional circumstances. The use of butterfly devices has been traditionally discouraged for reasons of costs and due to the high risk of obtaining unsuitable samples, but there is no convincing evidence to support the latter indication.

MDCT imaging of post interventional liver: a pictorial essay.

In this pictorial essay, we consider the post operative MDCT findings after liver resection, transplantation, surgical managed major trauma and radiofrequency ablation of focal lesions. Common complications such as fluid collections, hemorrhage, biloma, vascular disease, hematoma, abscesses will be also considered.

Rufloxacin induced photosensitization in bio-models of increasing complexity.

Rufloxacin belongs to the class of fluoroquinolones that act mainly as specific inhibitors of bacterial Topoisomerase II. These drugs are widely known to be involved in various diseases ranging from cutaneous reactions to aging. The type II photosensitizing activity of Rufloxacin has been already demonstrated on calf thymus DNA and free nucleosides.

Photosensitizing effect of some nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on natural and artificial membranes: dependence on phospholipid composition.

Previous studies have clarified the molecular mechanism of photosensitization on red blood cell membranes induced by some drugs belonging to the class of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: ketoprofen, naproxen, and diflunisal. This process involves the participation of photodegradation products, free radicals, and reactive oxygen species. The aim of the present paper is to investigate the photohemolytic process using red blood cells of mammalian species, with different membrane phospholipid compositions.

Total and free PSA serum concentrations are not influenced by extensive physical exercise and bicycle riding.

Vigorous and prolonged physical exercise and mechanical involvement of the perineal region might influence prostatic function and measurement of both total (PSA) and free prostate specific antigen (fPSA), decreasing the diagnostic efficiency of the laboratory screening for either benign or neoplastic prostate disorders in athletes. To investigate the effects of regular and strenuous physical exercise with or without bicycle riding on integrity and biochemical function of prostatic tissue, we measured serum PSA and fPSA in 69 elite and professional cyclists, 31 members of the Italian national cross-country ski team, and in 43 sedentary healthy controls. The concentration of both PSA and fPSA did not differ significantly between sedentary individuals and physically active cross-country skiers (PSA 0.