A prospective study of the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic performance of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, highly sensitive C-reactive protein, soluble E-selectin and serum amyloid A in the diagnosis of neonatal infection.

Background: Diagnosis of neonatal infection is difficult, because of it's non-specific clinical presentation and the lack of reliable diagnostic tests. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential diagnostic value of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) measurements, both individually and in combination in the setting of a neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods: 219 consecutive serum samples were taken from 149 infants undergoing sepsis work up in a neonatal intensive care unit.

The clinical effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fish oils and/or copper in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To determine the effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fish oils with or without copper on disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Fish oil supplementation has a beneficial effect on murine models of SLE, while exogenous copper can decrease the formation of lupus erythematosus cells in rats with a hydralazine-induced collagen disease.

Methods: A double blind, double placebo controlled factorial trial was performed on 52 patients with SLE.

A comparison of antibodies to tissue transglutaminase with conventional serological tests in the diagnosis of coeliac disease.

Background: Tissue transglutaminase is now recognized as the autoantigen for antiendomysial antibodies. Antibodies to tissue transglutaminase have been proposed as a valuable test for coeliac disease.

Objective: To determine the value of antibodies to tissue transglutaminase in the diagnosis of coeliac disease in our outpatient population.