Blood eosinophils and serum eosinophil cationic protein in patients with acute and chronic urticaria

We have analysed the relationship of blood eosinophil count and serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels in patients with acute and chronic idiopathic urticaria. The ECP levels and eosinophil counts were measured in the peripheral blood of 15 patients with acute urticaria, 25 with chronic idiopathic urticaria and 10 normal healthy subjects. Blood eosinophil counts and serum ECP levels increased in all patients with acute urticaria. Concerning patients affected by chronic urticaria, taking into account the recrudescence of the disease at the moment of taking the blood sample, only symptomatic patients showed increased eosinophil blood values whereas serum ECP levels were increased both in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Furthermore, serum ECP levels in chronic urticaria did not correlate with the peripheral eosinophil counts, as they did in acute urticaria. The results of the present study indicate that eosinophils may play a role in the inflammatory mechanisms in patients with acute and chronic urticaria showing a positive correlation between serum ECP levels and disease activity.     

腹内压值对外科急腹症患者的检测价值研究

目的:评估膀胱压力(BP)测量作为急腹症诊断工具的临床价值。方法:选取在我院外科治疗的患者,根据病情分为两组:一组为325例急腹症患者,对照组为50例进行腹腔镜手术的患者。在治疗前测量患者腹内压力。患者采用仰卧位,将50 m L无菌生理盐水缓慢注射到膀胱中,待排光后检测BP。将导管同水压计连接,以耻骨联合处为参考点。将BP值大于10 cm H2O,作为诊断急腹症的标准。结果:BP诊断急腹症的灵敏度为94.4%,特异性为79%,阳性预测值为95.9%,阴性预测值为71.7%,精确度为92.3%。结论:腹内压(IAP)升高可以作为急性腹痛的诊断工具。BP检测有助于临床医生在试验室检查或影像学检查结果有限时对患者病情进行评估。     

血清CRP与PCT在儿童血液细菌感染诊断中的临床应用

目的:研究血清C-反应蛋白(CRP)与降钙素原(PCT)在儿童血液细菌感染诊断中的价值,为临床诊疗提供依据。方法:选取2012年1月到2016年1月我院收治的血液细菌感染患儿84例为研究组,另选取同期健康体检儿童106例为对照组。检测两组儿童血清CRP和PCT水平,并观察血清CRP和PCT的阳性预测值、阴性预测值、灵敏度和特异度。结果:研究组血清CRP、PCT水平和阳性率均显著高于对照组,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);血清PCT诊断的特异度、灵敏度、阴性预测值和阳性预测值分别为84.91%、92.86%、93.75%、82.98%,均分别显著高于血清CRP的67.92%、50.00%、63.16%、55.26%,比较差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:血清CRP和PCT对儿童血液细菌感染均具有一定诊断价值,但是血清PCT的诊断效能更高。     

A comparative evaluation of the sensitivity of different methods for the serological diagnosis of leptospirosis

In this work the comparative evaluation of the sensitivity and serological specificity of the microcapsular agglutination (MCA) test, the passive hemagglutination (PHA) test and the microagglutination (MA) test are presented. In the MCA test leptospiral antigens, adsorbed on synthetic carrier capsules produced by Japan Lyophilization Laboratory, were used and the PHA test was made with the use of polyvalent erythrocyte diagnosticum. The study of blood serum samples from 46 leptospirosis patients revealed that the values of antibody titers in the PHA and MCA tests were 5.5-8.1 times higher than the traditional MA test. In the MCA and PHA tests antileptospiral antibodies could be detected as early as on days 1-3 of the disease when the results of the MA test were negative or very low. The maximum values of antibody titers in the MCA and PHA tests were detected on days 11-15 of the disease and in the MA test, on days 21-25. The MCA and PHA tests are genus-specific and permit the detection of antileptospiral antibodies irrespective of the serogroup of the infective agent. In the study of the blood sera of 40 patients with diseases of nonleptospiral etiology the MCA and MA tests yielded false positive results in 7.5% and the PHA test, in 12.5% of cases in titers below the diagnostic level. These data are indicative of high sensitivity and specificity of the serological tests used in this study.     

Using adaptive model predictive control to customize maintenance therapy chemotherapeutic dosing for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common childhood cancer in which nearly one-quarter of patients experience a disease relapse. However, it has been shown that individualizing therapy for childhood ALL patients by adjusting doses based on the blood concentration of active drug metabolite could significantly improve treatment outcome. An adaptive model predictive control (MPC) strategy is presented in which maintenance therapy for childhood ALL is personalized using routine patient measurements of red blood cell mean corpuscular volume as a surrogate for the active drug metabolite concentration. A clinically relevant mathematical model is developed and used to describe the patient response to the chemotherapeutic drug 6-mercaptopurine, with some model parameters being patient-specific. During the course of treatment, the patient-specific parameters are adaptively identified using recurrent complete blood count measurements, which sufficiently constrain the patient parameter uncertainty to support customized adjustments of the drug dose. While this work represents only a first step toward a quantitative tool for clinical use, the simulated treatment results indicate that the proposed mathematical model and adaptive MPC approach could serve as valuable resources to the oncologist toward creating a personalized treatment strategy that is both safe and effective.     

Longitudinal analysis of the 90K glycoprotein in the Italian HIV-seroconversion study: temporal trend and predictability of the maturity of HIV infection

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the level of 90K as a predictor of AIDS; to describe 90K levels over time after HIV serconversion; and to evaluate the 90K level as a marker of the maturity of infection. DESIGN: Prospective incident cohort of HIV-infected individuals with documented dates of seroconversion. METHODS: Cox models were applied to estimate the crude and adjusted relative hazards (RH) of AIDS by level of 90K. Regression models were applied to describe the temporal trend and the correlates of the level of 90K over time after HIV-seroconversion. Logistic models were applied to evaluate the probability of a sample of 90K having been taken within a certain time period after HIV-seroconversion. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 150 participants of the Italian Seroconversion Study. A total of 429 measurements of 90K were taken. Both early and later measurements of 90K were highly predictive of AIDS, also when adjusting for CD4 lymphocyte count and HIV load. The 90K level (U/ml) increased by 10% annually (95% CI: 7%-13%); the increase over time was linear. IDUs had higher 90K levels than heterosexuals and homosexuals over the course of HIV disease. High 90K levels were highly predictive of distant seroconversions (age-adjusted probability, 74%), whereas were poorly predictive of recent seroconversions (age-adjusted probability, 5%); the results were similar for the predictability of CD4 lymphocyte count. CONCLUSIONS: The level of 90K is a useful prognostic tool for clinical purposes. As a marker of the maturity of infection, 90K is similar to the CD4 lymphocyte count, with the advantage of being able to use serum instead of fresh whole blood. It has a good capacity to identify distant infections.     

Invasive and noninvasive techniques for analysis of cardiovascular effects of sleep apnea]

There is increasing epidemiological and experimental evidence that Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) is associated with cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, heart failure and stroke. Due to the high prevalence of SDB in the general population (5% to 10%) there is increasing demand for cost-effective and reliable diagnostic tools for the assessment of cardiovascular function during sleep in patients with SDB. The first part of this review focuses on our present knowledge about the association between SDB and cardiovascular disease. In the second part various methods for the assessment of cardiac function, blood pressure, sympathetic activity, as well as vascular and cerebrovascular function in patients with SDB are discussed. Current developments such as ECG analysis for SDB screening or arterial tonometry are introduced. Further improvements in the diagnostic tools for the investigation of cardiovascular function in patients with SDB may to advantage be coupled with epidemiological studies. This approach may demonstrate the predictive value or superiority of a specific diagnostic parameter in the diagnosis of SDB and its cardiovascular consequences.     

血常规在头颈部鳞状细胞癌早期诊断中的作用

目的:探究血常规指标在头颈部鳞状细胞癌早期诊断中的作用,从血液学的角度为头颈部鳞状细胞癌的早期诊断提供参考依据。方法:对181例头颈部良恶性肿瘤患者的血常规结果进行回顾性分析,比较头颈部鳞状细胞癌患者组(实验组)和头颈部良性肿瘤组(对照组)患者的血小板计数(PLT)、血小板比积(PCT)、血小板平均容积(MPV)、血小板分布宽度(PDW)、大血小板比率(P-LCR)、中性粒细胞计数(NEU)、淋巴细胞计数(LYM)、单核细胞计数(MONO)、嗜酸性粒细胞计数(EOS)、嗜碱性粒细胞计数(BASO)、血小板计数/淋巴细胞计数比值(PLR)以及中性粒细胞计数/淋巴细胞计数比值(NLR)共12个指标。结果:实验组和对照组的PLT、PCT、MPV、PDW、P-LCR以及BASO计数值比较均没有统计学差异(p0.05)。对照组NEU、MONO、EOS、PLR和NLR均低于实验组,而LYM计数值高于实验组,其差异均具有统计学意义(p0.05),ROC曲线显示NLR对于早期诊断的意义要优于PLR。结论:血小板相关指标在头颈部鳞状细胞癌早期诊断中无明显意义,白细胞亚型计数具有重要的提示作用,而NLR的诊断意义要高于PLR,或许可以联合其他鳞癌标志物进行早期诊断。     

多种无创检查组合在冠心病诊断中的价值

目的：评价多种无创辅助检查组合对冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病（冠心病）辅助诊断价值,筛选有效的冠心病确诊和排除指标,初步确定优化的冠心病早期诊断策略。方法：回顾性分析6419例冠心病患者多项无创辅助检查结果（包括静息心电图、24小时动态心电图、负荷心电图、负荷核素心肌显像、16或64排CT冠状动脉成像）,以冠状动脉造影阳性（至少一支主要冠状动脉或其主要分支的内径有≥50％的狭窄）为金标准,观察各种无创辅助检查组合对冠心病诊断的特异性、敏感性、误诊率、漏诊率、阳性预测值和阴性预测值。结果：多项无创辅助检查组合在冠心病的诊断中敏感性56．02-87．43％,特异36．13-87．61％,阳性预测值58．83．97．16％,阴性预测值30．21．73．36％,非介入手段中,敏感性和阴性预测值以动态心电图联合核素心肌灌注显像组最高,特异性和阳性预测值以动态心电图联合冠脉CT成像组最高。结论：辅助检查组合可作为无创性诊断、评价冠心病的重要方法,动态心电图可作为各级别医院冠心病筛查的基本及重要手段。     

Evaluation of diagnostic relevance of mRNA levels in peripheral blood: predictive value for mortality in hemodialysis patients

In clinical practice, diagnosis and risk prediction are usually based on the analysis of serum or plasma proteins whereas gene expression analysis is not used on a routine basis. In order to compare the diagnostic and predictive relevance of serum protein and peripheral blood mRNA levels, we determined cytokine levels of end-stage renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis. These patients face a high mortality mainly due to acceleration of atherosclerosis and subsequent severe vascular events. mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF alpha was significantly elevated in hemodialysis patients and further increased after 2 h of dialysis treatment. In contrast, gene expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF beta was significantly decreased. Patients who died during the observation period of 36 months had significantly increased mRNA levels of TNF alpha and decreased TGF beta mRNA expression at baseline. Survival analysis indicated that increased TNF alpha mRNA levels (P < 0.02) and TNF alpha/TGF beta mRNA ratios (P < 0.001) predict mortality. The corresponding cytokines in serum showed some association with disease, but serum concentrations neither changed during hemodialysis nor predicted mortality. This study shows that gene expression patterns of circulating leukocytes may present an important new diagnostic tool to predict clinical outcome in patients with inflammatory vascular diseases.     

Binding, stimulating and blocking TSH receptor antibodies to the thyrotropin receptor as predictors of relapse of Graves' disease after withdrawal of antithyroid treatment.

TSH-receptor autoantibodies (TRAbs) are a valuable diagnostic tool for confirming a diagnosis of Graves' disease (GD). While there is evidence that high TRAb levels are associated with relapse of GD, whether a discrimination of TRAb into stimulating (TSAb) and blocking (TBAb) autoantibodies would benefit the clinician in terms of outcome prediction remains unclear. To address this issue, we have determined TRAb, TSAb and TBAb levels in serum samples of ninety-six euthyroid patients with GD taken four weeks after antithyroid drug withdrawal (ATDT). Forty-seven patients (49 %) underwent relapse of GD within two years. Amongst those, forty-one (87 %) had been positive for TRAb and thirty-five (74 %) for TSAb after treatment. All patients except one were negative for TBAb. The correlation between TRAb and TSAb in those treated GD patients was relatively weak (r = 0.268, p < 0.001). Based on a cut-off limit of 1.5 IU/l, the positive and negative predictive values with respect to prediction of relapse were too low for any clinical relevance (TRAb: 49 % and 54 %; TSAb: 51 % and 55 %). However, when a cut-off level above 10 IU/l was used, the positive and negative predictive values increased to 83 % and 62 %. The additional measurement of TSAb or TBAb in those samples after therapy did not add additional information, even at higher decision thresholds. In conclusion, differentiation of TRAb into TSAb and TBAb is of no help in the prediction of relapse of GD in euthyroid patients at the end of ATDT, and only high TRAb levels are associated with relapse.     

Outbreak of trichinosis near Paris.

A localised outbreak of trichinosis occurred in January 1976 in the southern suburbs of Paris. A total fo 125 cases was recorded including 30 children. The prominent symptoms were oedema of the face or eyelids, fever, and myalgia; diarrhoea was unusual and constipation common. An increased blood eosinophil count and raised serum concentrations of muscular enzymes strongly indicated trichinosis. This diagnosis was confirmed later immunologically. The parasite was found in only three out of 32 muscle biopsy specimens but this investigation was made relatively early in the disease. No deaths occurred. In all cases clinical recovery was fast and serum antibody titres were maximum during the first month and decreased slowly. The disease was milder and the recovery faster in children than adults. Epidemiological study suggested that horse meat was responsible for the infection, though no meat could be examined.     

Laboratory Diagnosis of Canine Pyometra

The principal laboratory test used to confirm the pyometra diagnosis in the bitch has been the determination of the total white blood cell count in venous blood. A marked elevation is known to be a characteristic of the disease. In the present study, the white blood cell count was determined as well as the γ-globulin level. An elevation of the γ-globulin level and the total white blood cell count was very characteristic to the pyometra patients. The increase in the number of white blood cells nor the high γ-globulin level cannot be regarded specific for pyometra, therefore it was regarded important to find out a more specific test for pyometra. When sonicated E. coli bacteria were tested against sera from pyometra patients in electroimmunodiffusion, the precipitation was almost always detected when E. coli had been isolated from the uterus. This technique provides a quick method in detecting the causative E. coli infection. The present study suggests that whenever laboratory tests are used to confirm the pyometra diagnosis by the total white blood cell count, it is advantageous to analyze the total γ-globulin level in the serum as well as specific antibodies against a common E. coli antigen. Because of the reliability of the glutaraldehyde coagulation test and the simple technique, this can be suggested as the method of choice for an average small animal practice.     

Sensitivity and Specificity of a Novel Classifier for the Early Diagnosis of Dengue

Background

Dengue is the commonest arboviral disease of humans. An early and accurate diagnosis of dengue can support clinical management, surveillance and disease control and is central to achieving the World Health Organisation target of a 50% reduction in dengue case mortality by 2020.

Methods

5729 children with fever of <72hrs duration were enrolled into this multicenter prospective study in southern Vietnam between 2010-2012. A composite of gold standard diagnostic tests identified 1692 dengue cases. Using statistical methods, a novel Early Dengue Classifier (EDC) was developed that used patient age, white blood cell count and platelet count to discriminate dengue cases from non-dengue cases.

Results

The EDC had a sensitivity of 74.8% (95%CI: 73.0-76.8%) and specificity of 76.3% (95%CI: 75.2-77.6%) for the diagnosis of dengue. As an adjunctive test alongside NS1 rapid testing, sensitivity of the composite test was 91.6% (95%CI: 90.4-92.9%).

Conclusions

We demonstrate that the early diagnosis of dengue can be enhanced beyond the current standard of care using a simple evidence-based algorithm. The results should support patient management and clinical trials of specific therapies.     

Effects of glucan treatment on the Th1/Th2 balance in patients with allergic rhinitis: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a disease characterized by IgE-mediated, allergic inflammation of the nasal mucosa. T helper (Th) 2 cells play an important role in the development of IgE-mediated diseases such as AR, with local overproduction of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) at the site of allergic inflammation. Th1 cytokines (IL-12 and IFN-gamma) are known to suppress this Th2 immune response, aiding the treatment of these diseases. Beta-1,3-1,6-glucan (Glucan) is an immunomodulator stimulating particularly the antitumor response. An efficient antitumor stimulation can be achieved through a Th1-mediated immune response. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Glucan on the immunopathogenic processes in the microenvironment to determine if it reverses the Th2-mediated immune response in AR to Th1-mediated response. METHODS: 24 Olea europea mono-sensitized patients with AR were randomized into Glucan and placebo groups. The Glucan group consisted of 12 patients who received Glucan treatment for 12 weeks, while the placebo group of 12 patients received placebo during the same period. A nasal provocation test (NPT) with Olea europea was performed at the beginning and end of treatment, and nasal lavage followed the positive NPT. IL-4, IL-5, IFN-gamma and IL-12 levels and the eosinophil count (%) were measured in nasal lavage fluid (NLF) samples. Simultaneously, peripheral blood eosinophil % values were measured. RESULTS: After treatment, IL-4 and IL-5 levels in NLF from the Glucan group were found to have decreased significantly (p = 0.027, p = 0.04; respectively), while IL-12 levels were found to have significantly increased (p = 0.008). However, IFN-gamma levels had not changed. On the other hand, none of the cytokine levels had changed significantly in the placebo group following treatment. Moreover, the percentage of eosinophils in the NLF was found to have decreased significantly after treatment in the Glucan group (p = 0.01), while that of the placebo group did not change. Peripheral blood percentage eosinophil levels had not changed significantly in any group. CONCLUSION: Th2-originated IL-4 and IL-5 levels responsible for the allergic inflammatory response in the microenvironment of patients with AR, are decreased with Glucan while levels of Th1-originated IL-12 are increased. Moreover, eosinophils, which are important effector cells of the inflammatory response, are decreased in the microenvironment. As a result, Glucan may have a role as an adjunct to standard treatment in patients with AR.     

Eosinophil cationic protein, specific IgE and IgG4 in human toxocariasis

Among 67 French patients presenting a toxocaral infection, various demographic, environmental, clinical and laboratory parameters (blood eosinophil count, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), serum total IgE, specific IgE against common inhalant allergens, specific IgE and IgG4 against Toxocara excretory-secretory antigens) were investigated. Correlation studies and logistic regression analyses were conducted, testing elevated levels of ECP, specific anti-Toxocara IgE or IgG4 as outcome variables An elevated ECP level was significantly associated with both cough and rhinitis, a high level of specific anti-Toxocara IgE with itchy rashes and possible atopic status, and an increase of specific anti-Toxocara IgG4 with rural residence.     

CEA和CYFRA21-1在原发性肺癌诊断中的应用价值分析

目的:评价血清癌胚抗原(carcinoembryonic antigen,CEA)和细胞角蛋白19的片段(CYFRA21-1)水平对原发性肺癌的诊断价值。方法:回顾性分析2012年5月~2013年5月我科收治的329例肺癌患者和192例肺部良性病变患者的临床资料。结果:肺癌患者血清CEA或CYFRA21-1水平随着肺癌的分期呈现逐渐上升的趋势(P0.001,P0.01)。以血清CEA≥3.4μg/L作为诊断条件诊断肺癌的灵敏度、特异度和阳性预计值预计值分别为67%、62%和75.2%;以血清CYFRA-21≥5.0 ug/L作为诊断条件诊断原发性肺癌的灵敏度、特异度和阳性预计值预计值分别为48%、87%和86.3%;以血清CEA≥3.4 ug/L和CYFRA-21≥5.0 ug/L共同作为诊断条件推断原发性肺癌的灵敏度、特异度和阳性预计值预计值分别为48%、87%和86.3%;良性肺部疾病患者中血清CEA和CYFRA-21水平同时升高者只有2%。结论:血清CEA≥3.4 ug/L和CYFRA-21≥5.0 ug/L同时升高对肺癌有具有重要的诊断价值,可有效的鉴别原发性肺癌与其它良性病变。     

Human Eosinophils Express the High Affinity IgE Receptor,FcεRI,in Bullous Pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disease mediated by autoantibodies targeting BP180 (type XVII collagen). Patient sera and tissues typically have IgG and IgE autoantibodies and elevated eosinophil numbers. Although the pathogenicity of the IgE autoantibodies is established in BP, their contribution to the disease process is not well understood. Our aims were two-fold: 1) To establish the clinical relationships between total and BP180-specific IgE, eosinophilia and other markers of disease activity; and 2) To determine if eosinophils from BP patients express the high affinity IgE receptor, FcεRI, as a potential mechanism of action for IgE in BP. Our analysis of 48 untreated BP patients revealed a correlation between BP180 IgG and both BP180 IgE and peripheral eosinophil count. Additionally, we established a correlation between total IgE concentration and both BP180 IgE levels and eosinophil count. When only sera from patients (n = 16) with total IgE≥400 IU/ml were analyzed, BP180 IgG levels correlated with disease severity, BP230 IgG, total circulating IgE and BP180 IgE. Finally, peripheral eosinophil count correlated more strongly with levels of BP180 IgE then with BP180 IgG. Next, eosinophil FcεRI expression was investigated in the blood and skin using several methods. Peripheral eosinophils from BP patients expressed mRNA for all three chains (α, β and γ) of the FcεRI. Surface expression of the FcεRIα was confirmed on both peripheral and tissue eosinophils from most BP patients by immunostaining. Furthermore, using a proximity ligation assay, interaction of the α- and β-chains of the FcεRI was observed in some biopsy specimens, suggesting tissue expression of the trimeric receptor form in some patients. These studies provide clinical support for the relevance of IgE in BP disease and provide one mechanism of action of these antibodies, via binding to the FcεRI on eosinophils.