Application of anti-Xa assay in monitoring unfractionated heparin therapy in contemporary antithrombotic management.

Introduction: Unfractionated heparin remains the most widely used agent in the prevention and acute treatment of thrombosis. Pharmacological complexities of this intriguing agent mandate frequent monitoring of its anticoagulant properties to maintain safe and effective hematological outcomes. Although activated partial thromboplastin time has been the standard test to monitor unfractionated heparin therapy for many decades, the anti-Xa assay has emerged as a substitute or adjunct in many institutions.

Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in idiopathic hypereosinophilia with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) encompasses numerous diverse conditions resulting in peripheral hypereosinophilia that cannot be explained by hypersensitivity, infection, or atopy and that is not associated with known systemic diseases with specific organ involvement. HES is often attributed to neoplastic or reactive causes, such as chronic eosinophilic leukemia, although a majority of cases remains unexplained and are considered idiopathic. Here, we review the current diagnosis and management of HES and present a unique case of profound hypereosinophilia associated with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia requiring intensive management.

CT detection of acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of contrast-enhanced CT to detect acute myocardial infarction (MI), which has not been systematically assessed. On contrast-enhanced helical chest CT, we retrospectively identified 18 patients (10 women, eight men; mean age, 66 years) with an initial MI. Each patient underwent contrast-enhanced single-detector helical chest CT within 1 month after the MI between March 2001 and June 2002.

Baseline echocardiographic values for adult male rats.

Background: Because of safety, repeatability, and portability, clinical echocardiography is well established as a standard for cardiac anatomy, cardiac function, and hemodynamics. Similarly, application of echocardiography in commonly used rat experimental models would be worthwhile. The use of noninvasive ultrasound imaging in the rat is a potential replacement for more invasive terminal techniques.

Utility of the Mayo End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score in assessing prognosis of patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

Background: Alcoholic hepatitis is characterized by acute, or acute-on-chronic hepatic failure and associated with a high mortality. Specific therapies should be considered for those at high risk of mortality. The Mayo End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score is a marker of disease severity and mortality in persons with chronic alcoholic liver disease.