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- Edvardsson, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Classification of ≥80-year-old individuals into healthy, moderately healthy, and frail based on different frailty scores affects the interpretation of laboratory results
- 2022
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Ingår i: Asian Journal of Medical Sciences. - : Nepal Journals Online (NepJOL). - 2467-9100 .- 2091-0576. ; 13:9, s. 63-71
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Interpretation laboratory analyses are crucial when assessing the patient’s condition. Reference intervals from apparently healthy and disease-free individuals may cause problems when outcomes from elderly patients with chronic diseases and on medications are being interpreted. Elderly individuals are a heterogeneous group ranging from individuals managing their daily life independently to individuals with diseases and impairment, in need of nursing care around the clock, that is, frail; a term widely used although there is no consensus on the definition.Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the effect of classification of elderly into healthy, moderately healthy, and frail, based on activities of daily living (ADL) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or frailty index (FI), on the interpretation of outcomes regarding: Albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, and gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) levels.Materials and Methods: Individuals ≥80 years (n=568) were classified either on ADL and MMSE or number of deficits, (FI).Results: Individuals classified as frail based on FI had lower mean levels for ALT, creatinine and γ-GT than individuals classified based on ADL and MMSE (P<0.05).Conclusion: The model to define health status to some extent affected laboratory analyte levels in ≥80 years old, classified as healthy, moderately healthy, and frail based on ADL and MMSE versus FI.
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| 2. |
- Gustafsson Bragde, Hanna, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Characterisation of gene and pathway expression in stabilised blood from children with coeliac disease
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMJ open gastroenterology. - : BMJ. - 2054-4774. ; 7:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: A coeliac disease (CD) diagnosis is likely in children with levels of tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies (anti-TG2) >10 times the upper reference value, whereas children with lower anti-TG2 levels need an intestinal biopsy to confirm or rule out CD. A blood sample is easier to obtain than an intestinal biopsy sample, and stabilised blood is suitable for routine diagnostics because transcript levels are preserved at sampling. Therefore, we investigated gene expression in stabilised whole blood to explore the possibility of gene expression-based diagnostics for the diagnosis and follow-up of CD.DESIGN: We performed RNA sequencing of stabilised whole blood from active CD cases (n=10), non-CD cases (n=10), and treated CD cases on a gluten-free diet (n=10) to identify diagnostic CD biomarkers and pathways involved in CD pathogenesis.RESULTS: No single gene was differentially expressed between the sample groups. However, by using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), significantly differentially expressed pathways were identified in active CD, and these pathways involved the inflammatory response, negative regulation of viral replication, translation, as well as cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival. The results indicate that there are differences in pathway regulation in CD, which could be used for diagnostic purposes. Comparison between GSEA results based on stabilised blood with GSEA results based on small intestinal biopsies revealed that type I interferon response, defence response to virus, and negative regulation of viral replication were identified as pathways common to both tissues.CONCLUSIONS: Stabilised whole blood is not a suitable sample for clinical diagnostics of CD based on single genes. However, diagnostics based on a pathway-focused gene expression panel may be feasible, but requires further investigation.
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| 3. |
- Rendek, Zlatica, 1983-
(författare)
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Faecal Calprotectin Diagnostics : Focus on Primary Care and Suspected Sources of Error
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Patients with gastrointestinal symptoms often present a diagnostic challenge for general practitioners. Faecal calprotectin (FC) is commonly used as a marker of intestinal inflammation and is useful for differentiating between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as well as for the follow-up of patients with IBD and monitoring treatment response. However, several other causes of increased FC levels have been acknowledged, including intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or proton pump inhibitors and respiratory infections. Currently, there is insufficient knowledge about how these factors affect FC levels. It is crucial that physicians who use calprotectin as a diagnostic tool have the ability to conduct a sound evaluation of the test result to ensure accurate clinical decisions, and potentially avoid unnecessary referrals and invasive investigations.The aim of this thesis was to investigate the contribution of FC in the diagnostics of gastrointestinal disease in primary care, its diagnostic value and accuracy as a predictor of gastrointestinal disease and the influence of different sources of error on calprotectin levels. In particular, the effects of oral diclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID]), omeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor [PPI]) and respiratory tract infection on FC levels are investigated. The normalization interval after cessation of diclofenac and omeprazole is assessed.The first study is a retrospective analysis of data on all FC tests on adults conducted in primary care in Östergötland County in 2010. A higher proportion of patients with a positive FC result were diagnosed with IBD and organic gastrointestinal disease compared with those with a negative FC result. Predictors of IBD were positive FC, diarrhoea, rectal bleeding and male sex. Predictors of organic gastrointestinal disease were found to be positive FC, age >35 years, abnormal clinical findings and duration <3 months. FC had the highest sensitivity and negative predictive value compared with demographic factors, symptoms and duration. Intake of NSAIDs, PPIs and acetyl salicylic acid showed marginal effects on the diagnostic accuracy of FC for IBD and organic gastrointestinal disease. Among patients with a negative FC test, on whom no further investigations were performed, no missed diagnoses of IBD or organic gastrointestinal disease were detected at a 5-year follow-up.The second study investigates the effect of diclofenac intake on FC levels. We found that shortterm intake of oral diclofenac was associated with increased FC levels and that FC returned to normal within 2 weeks of cessation.The third study reports on a randomized open-label clinical trial and investigates the effect of omeprazole, diclofenac and co-administration of these drugs on FC levels. The findings regarding diclofenac were consistent with those of the second study. Short-term intake of omeprazole alone or when co-administered with diclofenac was associated with increased FC levels. The normalization interval was 3 weeks after cessation.The fourth study, a prospective cohort study, examines the effect of an acute respiratory tract infection on the FC level. Faecal and salivary calprotectin levels were not found to be increased during respiratory tract infections. This study did not confirm any correlation between calprotectin levels in saliva and faeces during infection.In conclusion, FC reliably rules out IBD and contradicts the presence of other organic gastrointestinal diseases in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms attending primary care. Patients with a positive FC test together with other symptoms, such as diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, short duration or age >35 years should be prioritized for further investigations. Short-term intake of diclofenac, omeprazole, or their co-administration in healthy individuals is associated with increased FC levels. In patients with an increased FC level on diclofenac, it is sufficient to repeat the FC test 2 weeks after cessation. In patients on omeprazole alone or when co-administered with diclofenac, the FC test should be repeated 3 weeks after cessation. Acute respiratory tract infections were not found to be associated with increased faecal or salivary calprotectin levels.
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| 4. |
- Toros, Andrew, et al.
(författare)
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Use of temperature changes and pro-inflammatory biomarkers to diagnose bacterial infections in patients with severe cerebral trauma
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Neurocritical Care. - : Korean Neurocritical Care Society. - 2508-1349. ; 15:1, s. 21-31
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundIn patients undergoing neurosurgeries, inflammation and infection are strongly related; however, inflammation can be present without infection. Midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is a relatively new sepsis biomarker that is rarely used clinically. Recently, the concept of DiffTemp was introduced, that is, a >1°C rise from individual normal temperature accompanied by malaise, as a more accurate definition of temperature assessed as fever. The aim of the present study was to examine the importance of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells, procalcitonin, and MR-proADM levels and DiffTemp.MethodsThis prospective, comparative study had a quantitative approach. Forty-two patients, aged >18 years and presenting with severe cerebral trauma were included from a neurosurgical intensive care unit. The outcome variable was infection; group 0, no infection (n=11); group 1, suspected infection (n=15); and, group 2, confirmed infection (n=16). Group assignments were performed using biomarkers, medical records, bacterial cultures, and International Classification of Diseases-10, and by the clinical assessment of criteria for nosocomial infections by a neurosurgeon.ResultsOn comparing groups 1 and 2, MR-proADM and DiffTemp were associated with a higher risk of confirmed infection (odds ratio, 5.41 and 17.14, respectively). Additionally, DiffTemp had a 90.9% specificity in patients with no infection and a 93.8% sensitivity in patients with confirmed infections. CRP and procalcitonin levels were not associated with an increased risk of confirmed infection.ConclusionIncreased levels of MR-proADM were associated with a higher risk of confirmed infection. DiffTemp was associated with a higher risk of having a confirmed infection.
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