[Comparison of diagnostic validity of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and other laboratory markers in chronic ethanol abuse].

Background: Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) has been reported to be the best laboratory marker of the chronic alcohol abuse, but there are conflicting data on its accuracy and sensitivity ranging from 19% to 96% in various studies. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic efficiency of CDT with the other markers of alcohol abuse used in clinical practice with respect to possible sex differences.

Methods And Results: The serum CDT (using the method of anion-exchange chromatography and TIA), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GMT) values and platelet count were evaluated in 50 alcohol-dependent patients admitted to the Center of Detoxification and in the reference group of 85 healthy teetotallers.

[Diagnostic value of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, gamma-glutamyltransferase and mean erythrocyte volume as laboratory markers of chronic alcohol abuse].

Introduction: Our research aimed at finding out values of carbohydrate-deficient transferin (CDT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) for the purposes of future etiological diagnostics of alcohol neuropathy in thin fibres.

Methods: We examined the serum of 80 control subjects (50 women and 30 men), and the serum of 33 alcoholics (20 men and 13 women) with the daily consumption of more than 60 g alcohol in the course of the last four weeks. CDT was determined with the use of microcolumn separation after iron saturation followed by turbidimetric immunoassay (ChronoAlcoI.

Developing senior doctors as mentors: a form of continuing professional development. Report Of an initiative to develop a network of senior doctors as mentors: 1994-99.

Background: Senior doctors report that mentoring skills are transferable to everyday medical practice and managing juniors. An analysis of views from consultants and general practitioners, who had trained together on a regional mentoring scheme, reveals significant potential for personal and professional development in such networks.

Context: The Northern and Yorkshire Region Doctors' Development and Mentoring Network was set up in 1994.

[A case of secondary amyloidosis in Hodgkin's disease].

A case of hepatic and intestinal secondary amyloidosis in 43 years old patient with Hodgkin's disease is presented. Diagnostic difficulties due to atypical localization of Hodgkin's disease were discussed. Therapeutic problems were caused by severe hepatic insufficiency.

[A case of gastric lymphoma in the course of Epstein-Barr virus infection].

A case of 18 year old patient with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is presented. Serious organ complications were observed in the course of the disease. Patient's death was a result of the massive gastrointestinal bleeding caused by gastric lymphoma, which was confirmed endoscopically and histopathologically.