Dapsone-induced DRESS after infliximab-induced vasculitis: a case of cerebral infarction in the context of multiple drug reactions.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a life-threatening condition characterised by peripheral eosinophilia, rash and multi-organ failure arising several weeks after exposure to the culprit medication. Although rare, DRESS syndrome triggered by specific agents has been associated with specific genetic polymorphisms more prevalent in different ethnic groups, including an association between dapsone-induced DRESS and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-B:13*01, a single nucleotide polymorphism more prevalent in those of Asian descent. DRESS and drug-related vasculitis may affect any organ system including the central nervous system (CNS), usually manifesting as encephalitis, meningitis or embolic cerebrovascular accidents related to eosinophilic cardiac disease and thrombosis.

Heart Failure: Optimizing Recognition and Management in Outpatient Settings.

Heart failure represents a growing chronic medical condition with major implications on patient morbidity, mortality, and cost to health care systems. In this article, the heart failure syndrome is reviewed from a perspective of diagnosis and management, with updated therapeutic options reflected in major guidelines published since this topic was last reviewed in Primary Care Clinics in Office Practice in 2013. An emphasis is placed on the use of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology's staging system as a framework to improve early identification and treatment of patients at risk of symptomatic heart failure.

Analytical performance and clinical concordance of the cancer biomarkers CA 15-3, CA 19-9, CA 125 II, Carcinoembryonic Antigen, and Alpha-Fetoprotein on the Dimension Vista® System.

Objectives: We examined analytical characteristics of new CA 15-3, CA 19-9, CA 125 II, Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), and Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) assays on the Dimension Vista® System.

Design And Methods: Imprecision studies used CLSI-EP5-A2, Limit of Blank and Limit of Detection used CLSI-EP17 and measurement ranges were determined. Method comparisons were evaluated with Passing-Bablok, least-squares regression and residual plots.

Performance characteristics of a no-pretreatment, random access sirolimus assay for the Dimension RxL clinical chemistry system.

Objectives: Current therapeutic drug monitoring methods for sirolimus require a manual pre-treatment step and batch analysis. We describe and validate a no-pretreatment, random access sirolimus assay for the Dimension RxL clinical chemistry system from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.

Design And Methods: Whole blood samples from renal transplant patients prescribed sirolimus were analyzed by the LC-MS/MS reference method, Abbott IMx and Dimension RxL methods in accordance with CLSI recommendations.

The use of B-type natriuretic peptide to diagnose congestive heart failure.

This paper explains the background and current use of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) assays to differentiate congestive heart failure (CHF) from other causes of dyspnea. With a large and growing elderly population, CHF is being diagnosed much more often in emergency rooms in the United States. Doctors need a way to quickly distinguish whether a patient with respiratory distress is suffering from cardiac insufficiency or another etiology.

Effect of porcine-derived mucosal competitive exclusion culture on antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli from growing piglets.

While use of antimicrobial drugs in livestock production has made a significant impact on animal health, welfare, and productivity, interest in suitable alternatives such as pre/probiotics, organic acids, and cultures of normal flora or "competitive exclusion" cultures from young animals has increased significantly in the wake of the antimicrobial resistance issue. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of porcine-derived mucosal competitive exclusion (PCE) culture on both the antimicrobial susceptibility of commensal E. coli and on growth performance in piglets.

Susceptibility of Escherichia coli from growing piglets receiving antimicrobial feed additives.

Concerns regarding an apparent association between the use of antimicrobial feed additives (AFAs) in food animal production and a concomitant increase in antimicrobial drug resistance among zoonotic enteropathogens have provided the impetus to propose cessation of their use. While AFAs have been used in food animal production for nearly 50 years, the future use of AFAs will require an understanding of the effects of different classes of antimicrobials on the antimicrobial resistance of commensal flora. The present study examines the effect of three AFAs (apramycin, carbadox, and chlortetracycline) on the antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli in growing piglets and on animal performance.