Spurious hyperphosphatemia related to severe hyperbilirubinemia in patients with end-stage liver disease.

Aim: Accurate assessment and management of hyperphosphatemia is a key component of the care of patients with both acute and chronic kidney disease (CKD). In some cases, hyperphosphatemia may be spurious, and failure to recognize this may lead to complications. We report 6 cases of spurious hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) that was associated with severe hyperbilirubinemia.

Effect of renal function loss on NT-proBNP level variations.

Objective: NT-proBNP level is used for the detection of acute CHF and as a predictor of survival. However, a number of factors, including renal function, may affect the NT-proBNP levels. This study aims to provide a more precise way of interpreting NT-proBNP levels based on GFR, independent of age.

Prevalence of hyperprolactinemia in schizophrenia: association with typical and atypical antipsychotic treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and severity of hyperprolactinemia among a large sample of patients with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders treated with typical and atypical antipsychotic medications.

Method: Three electronic databases (general medical, psychiatric, and pharmacologic) containing the census data from November 2002 through March 2003 for a state-funded, inpatient hospital serving the chronically mentally ill were merged (N = 470). This database was purged of patient names, while the unique hospital identification number and demographic variables in each record were retained.

Medical, economic, and regulatory factors affecting point-of-care testing. A report of the conference on factors affecting point-of-care testing, Philadelphia, PA 6-7 May 1994.

On 6-7 May 1994, the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry sponsored a conference on point-of-care testing (POCT) in Philadelphia, PA. Several other organizations including the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Clinical Laboratory Management Association, the National Laboratory Training Network Eastern Area Resource Office, and Thomas Jefferson University co-sponsored the program, which brought together approximately 225 healthcare professionals involved in the decision making processes of implementing and overseeing POCT. These individuals included clinical chemists, medical technologists, clinicians, pathologists, nurse managers, respiratory therapists, laboratory and hospital administrators, and manufacturers of point-of-care devices.

Point-of-care versus central laboratory testing: an economic analysis in an academic medical center.

A cost-effectiveness study was conducted to determine time and labor costs for point-of-care (POC) versus central laboratory testing. A prospective, observational time and motion study was carried out at a teaching hospital located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The cohort consisted of 210 patients presenting to the emergency department who were triaged at the urgent or emergent level during a 4-week period.

Evaluation of prostate-specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase as prostate cancer markers.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) have been evaluated in patients with prostate cancer, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), and prostatitis. PSA has proved to be diagnostically more sensitive than PAP for the detection of prostate cancer: 95.0 per cent vs 60.

Extension of research into stress factors and their effect on illness absenteeism.

Health evaluation interviews and referrals are proving to be useful tools in managing occupational stressors. As illness absenteeism is reduced, the cost-effectiveness of this new prevention program becomes evident. Health evaluations incorporated as part of the medical examination result in the following benefits: Employees are provided with opportunities to assess their own needs in developing adequate coping skills.

Stress factors and their effect on absenteeism in a corporate employee group.

This research measured the effect of health evaluation interviews on illness absenteeism in a group of 500 corporate employees. The 20-minute interview, done in conjunction with the periodic medical examination, was designed to assess stress-related symptoms and coping abilities relate primarily to work stress. Referrals and educational materials were given to those employees who had stress-related symptoms.

Immunochemical evaluation of the organ specificity of prostatic acid phosphatase.

In a survey of normal and cancerous human tissues we determined the distribution of immunoreactive prostatic acid phosphatase, using rabbit antiserum to acid phosphatase purified from prostatic fluid. In all normal tissues and blood cells studied except leukocytes we found less than 0.1% (expressed as micrograms per gram of wet weight of tissue) of the quantity of immunoreactive prostatic acid phosphatase detected in normal prostate tissue by radioimmunoassay.

The effect of the alkaline tide on serum-ionized calcium concentration in man.

The effect of the gastric alkaline tide on serum-ionized calcium levels was determined in human subjects. Gastric acid seretion was stimulated by a standard steak meal, human synthetic gastrin, and betazole hydrochloride. Ionized calcium levels fell to a similar extent after each stimulus.

Oxygen and carbon monoxide kinetics of Glycera dibranchiata monomeric hemoglobin.

Oxygen and carbon monoxide kinetics of Glycera dibranchiata monomeric hemoglobin have been studied using laser photolysis, air flash, and stopped flow techniques. The reactions of this hemoglobin with both ligands were found to be more rapid than the corresponding reactions involving myoglobin and were also biphasic in nature, the rate constants being approximately an order of magnitude different for the fast and slow phases in each case. No pH or hemoglobin concentration dependence of the pseudo-first order rate constants was apparent between pH 6 and 9 and in the concentration range of 1.