This is one of the most important tests present nowadays for Cardiac functions, for management of patients with heart failure and for prognostic value in patients with cardiac ischemia, heart failure or vascular diseases. BNP is a neurohormone that affects body fluid homeostasis by natriuresis and diuresis, as well as vascular tone by decreasing angiotensin… Read More »
BAL is a powerful diagnostic tool if its triad are fulfilled: adequate specimen, prompt processing and a patholgist knowing what he is looking for. In normal BAL, fluid recovery of about 60% with total cell count 175+/-30/mm3 is usually obtained. This count is increased in alveolitis (832+/-221/mm3). While it is markedly reduced in bone marrow… Read More »
c-erbB-2 (Her2-neu) is very important gene that is expressed in 30% of breast carcinoma. This test is performed now routinely in USA in all breast carcinoma cases. The significance of this gene in clinical practice is the following Associated with high histologic grade- (Associated with shortened disease free survival (early relapse– The higher the level… Read More »
C-Kit is proto-oncogene; a tyrosine kinase receptor that is important for cell development and growth. It is located in chromosome 4. It is expressed in interstitial cells of Cajal which are the pacemaker cells in the intestine. Tumors that arise from these cells are called Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST). These tumor are one of most… Read More »
Diagnosing T.B could be difficult sometimes and requires more tests. Relying on finding Acid Fast Bacilli is usually not reliable in many cases. PCR for T.B also has a limitation and can not be performed on the blood. FDA approved 2 new tests for T.B. The first one is �anda-tb�. This test is relying on… Read More »
Carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative. Serum Carnitine Deficiency (SCD) incidence is 1:37,000 newborns. Carnitine plays an essential role in the transfer of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria for beta-oxidation. Age at presentation of SCD is usually ranging from 1 month to 7 years, but cases can occur earlier or later (you… Read More »
Introduction: Lymphocytosis in BAL specimen can be seen in variety of interstitial lung diseases, and can give indication of the causative of interstitial lung infiltrate. Further, indication of the cause of the disease can be sorted out by performing the CD4/CD8 ratio :Clinical use :Diseases this test is of clinical relevance (Increased CD4/CD8 ratio: Sarcoidosis(… Read More »
Chromogranin A: belongs to a family of secretory proteins that are present in dense-core vesicles of neuroendocrine cells. Owing to its widespread distribution in neuroendocrine tissues, it can be used as an excellent serum marker of neuroendocrine activity because it is co-released with the peptide hormone content of the secretory granules. It has high specificity… Read More »
Introduction: Cytogenetics of leukemia is extremely important today for the best diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of leukemia patients :Examples :(Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL (Prognosis is best in Hyperdiploid, then t(12;21), then t(1;19- Patients who have t(12,21) respond very well to chemotherapy- Patients with t(1,19) have poor prognosis and require bone marrow transplant- (Adult ALL :… Read More »
Introduction : patient with degenerative brain disease may present with brain atrophy, mental retardation (usually progressive), seizures and musculoskeletal disorders The causes of these problems are wide and should involve a wide battery of tests. The panel we suggested below should cover the most common disorders of degenerative brain disease (Mucopolysaccharide metabolite test (urine… Read More »