Expression of cytoskeletal proteins differentiates between progressors and non-progressors in treated idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Myofibroblasts play an important role in wound healing in a variety of tissue injuries. They have also been implicated in tissue fibrosis including renal scarring. This study was aimed at defining their role in one of the commonest forms of nephrotic syndrome in adults, namely membranous nephropathy.

Can chest X-rays and ventilation/perfusion scans be interpreted reliably from personal computer screens?

A computer-based system is routinely used for home reporting of nuclear medicine scans performed out of hours in our unit. To report ventilation/perfusion scans (V/Q) adequately, chest radiographs are also digitized and transferred to the home personal computer. One hundred consecutive V/Q scans and their corresponding chest X-rays were reported on a personal computer and on a lightbox by two radiologists and two nuclear physicians.

An automated chromogenic peptide substrate assay for coagulation factor XII.

We have developed an automated chromogenic peptide substrate assay for factor XII (FXIIcs) on a Cobas Mira S Plus clinical chemistry analyser using a new commercially available kit. This was used to determine factor XII (FXII) levels in plasma samples from 320 blood donors, 206 patients with a history of venous thrombosis and 74 lupus anticoagulant positive (LA+) patients. Results were compared with those obtained in a clotting assay for FXII (FXIIct) and an immunochemical assay (FXIIag).

The value of the chest radiograph in reporting aerosol ventilation-perfusion scans.

It has become accepted practice to have a chest radiograph (CXR) available for reference at the time of reporting a ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan. We designed a study to determine whether the availability of a CXR altered the interpretation of V/Q scans in our unit. One hundred consecutive V/Q scans were reported with and without reference to a CXR by two radiologists and two nuclear physicians.

Factor XII determinations in the presence and absence of phospholipid antibodies.

Factor XII (FXII) levels were determined in plasma samples from 29 normal donors, 10 patients with inherited FXII deficiency (all lupus anticoagulant [LA] negative) and 67 LA positive patients, using clotting (FXIIct), chromogenic substrate (FXIIcs) and immunochemical (FXIIag) assays. Excellent correlations were obtained in the three FXII assays with the LA negative samples and between the FXIIcs and FXIIag assays in the LA positive samples. Correlations between both the FXIIcs and FXIIag with FXIIct in the LA positive patients were poor.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: terminology and definitions.

Inconsistent and inaccurate death certification, lack of agreed definitions, different terminology, and different understanding of the same terminology hamper research into mortality in epilepsy and result in national statistics that are difficult to interpret. A consensus in death certification and in classification of epilepsy-related deaths, including sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), is needed. Guidelines for classifying cases as SUDEP are proposed.

Occupational asthma in greenhouse tomato growing.

An employee working in a commercial tomato growing greenhouse developed asthma of increasing severity over a period of 8 years. She was diagnosed as having occupational asthma by a chest physician. The cause was obscure and initial allergy testing was negative.

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry normal reference range use within the UK and the effect of different normal ranges on the assessment of bone density.

The number of different normal ranges used on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) machines in the United Kingdom was determined by means of a postal questionnaire. Both femoral neck and posteroanterior spine L2-L4 regions were considered. It was clear from this survey that a variety of normal ranges were in use for all manufacturers of DEXA systems.

Case report: pulmonary oedema secondary to laryngospasm following general anaesthesia.

The development of pulmonary oedema following the relief of upper airway obstruction has been reported in a wide range of conditions including post-anaesthetic laryngospasm. Radiologists should be aware of this condition as a complication of general anaesthesia.