Active close contact investigation of tuberculosis through computer-aided detection and stool Xpert MTB/RIF among people living in Oromia Region, Ethiopia (CADOOL Study): protocol for a prospective, cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease with high incidence in low-income countries (LICs); it remains one of the infectious diseases with the highest mortality in the world, especially in LICs. It is crucial to recognise and diagnose TB as soon as possible, but microbiological tests on sputum are not always sensitive enough. New methods for an early diagnosis of TB are needed.

Prostate Fiducial Marker Placement in Patients on Anticoagulation: Feasibility Prior to Prostate SBRT.

Fiducial marker placement is required in patients undergoing robotic-based Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) or image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) for prostate cancer. Many patients take antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication due to other medical comorbidities. They are often required to temporarily discontinue these medications prior to invasive medical procedures as they are prone to bleed.

Physical methods for preventing deep vein thrombosis in stroke.

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and resulting pulmonary embolism (PE) are uncommon but important complications of stroke. There is good evidence that anticoagulants can reduce the risk of DVT and PE after stroke, but this benefit is offset by a small but definite risk of serious haemorrhages. Physical methods to prevent DVT and PE (such as compression stockings applied to the legs) are not associated with any bleeding risk and are effective in some categories of medical and surgical patients.

Extended oral anticoagulant therapy after a first episode of pulmonary embolism.

Background: The optimal duration of oral anticoagulant treatment after a first episode of pulmonary embolism remains uncertain.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical benefit of extending a 3-month course of oral anticoagulant therapy to 6 months (pulmonary embolism associated with temporary risk factors) or to 1 year (idiopathic pulmonary embolism) in patients with a first episode of pulmonary embolism.

Design: Multicenter randomized study with independent, blinded assessment of the outcome events.

Coagulation indicators in chronic stable effort angina and unstable angina: relationship with acute phase reactants and clinical outcome.

The aim of the study was to evaluate which pattern of coagulation indicators characterizes unstable angina and, particularly, its relationship with short-term prognosis. Forty patients with unstable angina (UA Group) at admission in the intensive care unit, 40 patients with chronic stable effort angina (SEA Group), and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied. Blood coagulation indicators were fibrinogen, prothrombin fragment F1 + 2 (F1 + 2), thrombus precursor protein (TpP), and D-dimer.

Physical methods for preventing deep vein thrombosis in stroke.

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and resulting pulmonary embolism (PE) are uncommon but important complications of stroke. There is good evidence that anticoagulants can reduce the risk of DVT and PE after stroke, but this benefit is offset by a small but definite risk of serious haemorrhages. Physical methods to prevent DVT and PE (such as compression stockings applied to the legs) are not associated with any bleeding risk and are effective in some categories of medical and surgical patients.

Coagulation indicators in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: effects of electric and pharmacologic cardioversion.

The aim of this study was to determine whether paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and/or restoration to sinus rhythm with electric or pharmacologic cardioversion induce modifications to the coagulation system. Thirty-five patients with PAF undergoing either electric (n = 11) or pharmacologic (n = 24) cardioversion were studied. Fibrinopeptide A and D-dimer blood samples were taken immediately before and after cardioversion at different intervals.

Left atrial and appendage mechanical function after pharmacological or electrical cardioversion in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation: a multicenter, randomized study.

Background: Transient atrial and appendage dysfunction occurs after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. It has been suggested that one component of early dysfunction is related to the method of restoration of sinus rhythm and it is less severe in patients undergoing pharmacological than electrical cardioversion. The aim of this study was to compare left atrial chamber and left atrial appendage mechanical function before and after 48 hours from electrical or pharmacological cardioversion in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.

Bilitranslocase localization and function in basolateral plasma membrane of renal proximal tubule in rat.

Bilirubin and phthalein dyes are taken up by the liver via a carrier-mediated mechanism operated at least in part by bilitranslocase (BTL). Because they also undergo renal transport, the presence and function of BTL was investigated in rat renal tubular plasma membrane vesicles. Transport of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) was enriched in basolateral domain of plasma membrane and followed the distribution pattern of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase but not of gamma-glutamyltransferase.

Reconstitution of sulfobromophthalein transport in erythrocyte membranes induced by bilitranslocase.

Bilitranslocase, the protein responsible for the anion translocation at the sinusoidal plasma membrane level in liver, was shown to be able to reconstitute the transport of sulfobromophthalein in liposomes in the past. The protein preparation used in those experiments consisted of two subunits of 35.5 and 37 kDa.

Reversal of ethinylestradiol-induced cholestasis by epomediol in rat. The role of liver plasma-membrane fluidity.

Epomediol (EPO) is a synthetic terpenoid compound shown to be active in increasing bile flow and some enzymatic activities of liver plasma membranes in the rat. The possible effect of EPO treatment in the ethinyl-estradiol (EE) induced cholestasis in the rat was investigated by measuring the hepatic transport of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) (plasma clearance and biliary secretion) and bile flow. Liver plasma membrane fluidity was also determined by the steady state fluorescence polarization (P) of diphenylhexatriene (DPH).

Bilitranslocase is the protein responsible for the electrogenic movement of sulfobromophthalein in plasma membrane vesicles from rat liver: immunochemical evidence using mono- and poly-clonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies raised against bilitranslocase, may display either inhibitory or enhancing activity on the electrogenic transport of sulfobromophthalein, evoked in rat liver plasma-membrane vesicles by the addition of valinomycin in the presence of K+. In both cases, the target protein is identified with a 37 kDa band in SDS-mercaptoethanol gel electrophoresis of solubilized membranes. The electrophoretically homogeneous protein isolated by ion-exchange chromatography, corresponds in all respects to the 37 kDa protein band of bilitranslocase, obtained in the past by different techniques.