Evaluating the Performance of the Sysmex DI-60 Automated Cell Image Analyzer for the Differential Analysis of Leukocytes

Background@#The Sysmex DI-60 system (Sysmex, Japan) is an automated cell image analyzer. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the DI-60 system for the differential analysis of leukocytes. @*Methods@#A total of 220 samples were analyzed in this study. The agreement between DI-60 pre-classification and manual verification by experts was determined. The correlation between the differential leukocyte counts obtained using the DI-60 system and those manually obtained in the peripheral blood smears were determined. @*Results@#The pre-classification agreement of DI-60 was 91.0%. The correlation coefficients of normal five-part differentials were 0.9163 (segmented neutrophils), 0.9017 (lymphocytes), 0.8533 (monocytes), 0.8345 (eosinophils), and 0.3505 (basophils). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and the efficiency of counting the abnormal cells, including blasts, promyelocytes, myelocytes, metamyelocytes, lymphocyte variants, and erythroblasts, were determined. The efficiency of the DI-60 system in counting the blasts, promyelocytes, myelocytes, metamyelocytes, lymphocyte variants, and erythroblasts was 99.5%, 100.0%, 95.9%, 96.5%, 98.6%, 100.0%, and 95.9%, respectively. @*Conclusions@#The pre-classification agreement of DI-60 was higher than that of previous studies. The correlation between the differential leukocyte counts obtained with the DI-60 system and those of manual counting was acceptable. The performance of DI-60 as a screening tool in clinical laboratories may be good; however, it is yet to replace manual slide review.

Validation of the Blatchford Bleeding Score in Cancer Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

PURPOSE: The Glasgow Blatchford Score (GBS) and the Rockall score are validated risk tools for predicting adverse outcomes in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). In this study, we attempted to validate these risk assessment tools in patients with active cancer who visited an emergency department (ED) with UGIB. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of patients with active cancer presented to Asan Medical Center ED from January 2009 to December 2011. The primary outcomes required therapeutic interventions (transfusion, endoscopic/surgical/radiologic interventions), and there was a recurrence of bleeding or mortality within 30 days. RESULTS: Of the 225 patients, 197(87.6%) needed interventions. The area under the receiver-operator curves showed that the GBS [0.86; 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 0.77-0.95] surpassed the clinical Rockall (0.67; 95% CI, 0.55-0.79) and full Rockall scores (0.72; 95% CI, 0.61-0.83) in predicting clinical interventions. Regarding a score of 2 or less as negative, the GBS showed a sensitivity of 0.99 and a specificity of 0.54. When patients were divided according to their source of bleeding, the sensitivity and specificity did not change. CONCLUSION: The GBS outperformed clinical and full Rockall scores in predicting the intervention in patients with active cancer. The source of bleeding was not an important factor in the score's performance. The GBS also showed very good sensitivity; however, its specificity is suboptimal and limits its role as a sole indicator for decisions in cancer patients with UGIB.

Adalimumab Induced Acute Exacerbation of Rheumatoid Arthritis Related Interstitial Lung Disease

A 69-year-old woman with 6 years history of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and asymptomatic interstitial lung disease (ILD) began taking adalimumab for ongoing arthritis despite intakes of sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine for treatment. ILD progressed noticeably after 10 weeks of starting adalimumab. We discontinued adalimumab and added methylprednisolone 40 mg, and the patient's clinical findings gradually improved. The beneficial and adverse effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors on RA associated ILD are unclear but this case reports adalimumab could abruptly exacerbate known ILD. We emphasize cautions on the use of adalimumab, one of the TNF-alpha inhibitors, in elderly RA patients with preexisting ILD.

Emergency Department-Based Treatment of Acute Ureteral Colic with Hydromorphone and Pethidine: Prospective, Randomized Control Trial

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacies and side effects of intravenous hydromorphone and pethidine in the emergency department (ED) treatment of ureteral colic. METHODS: A prospective, controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted in a university-affiliated tertiary referral center. All adult patients who presented to the ED with severe ureteral colic were included. The patients received either 1 mg of hydromorphone (n=26) or 50 mg of pethidine (n=26) intravenously. Pain intensity was determined using a 10 cm visual analogue scale 0, 15, 30, and 120 minutes after injection. RESULTS: Dermographic characteristics and baseline pain scores of both groups were comparable (p>0.05). The pain intensity level for the hydromorphone group was lower than for the pethidine group at 15, 30, and 120 minutes. Pain relief was better with hydromorphone at 15 minutes (p<0.05). Side effects of the two groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The ureteral colic patients receiving hydromorphone achieved more pain relief. The side effects were similar for either treatment. Hydromorphone should be the preferred agent in suspected ureteral colic, when an opioid analgesic is to be used.

Case of Late-onset Acute Lung Injury Developed as a Complication of Organophosphate Intoxication-induced Acute Pancreatitis

Organophosphate insecticides are used globally and are household items in rural areas of Korea. Their ingestion for a suicidal purpose is common in Korea. Respiratory failure is the most serious manifestation and the usual cause of death in acute organophosphate poisoning, and is usually common during acute cholinergic crisis. But, respiratory failure may appear suddenly in a patient who is recovering from a cholinergic crisis, even while receiving conventional therapy. Most of these respiratory failures are associated with intermediate syndrome or pneumonia. In several recent studies, acute pancreatitis as a complication of organophosphate poisoning has been shown to be not a rare condition and respiratory failure may also occur in acute pancreatitis. However, acute lung injury developing as a complication of organophosphate intoxication-induced pancreatitis has not been hitherto reported in Korea. We described a case of a 50-year-old woman who had acute organophosphate intoxication-induced acute pancreatitis. The patient developed acute lung injury on the eighth day hospital day, after cholinergic crisis, without intermediate syndrome and pneumonia. Exclusion of other causes indicated that the acute lung injury may have developed due to acute pancreatitis.

The Optimal Length of a CVC Inserted via the Right Internal Jugular Vein during Computed Tomography

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the optimal length of a central venous catheter (CVC) inserted through the right internal jugular vein METHODS: During a 4-month period, we prospectively studied 374 patients who required a CVC. We enrolled 39 patients who underwent chest computed tomography (CT). The skin was punctured at the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and at mid-distance between the angle of the mandible and the sternoclavicular junction. We measured the distance from catheter insertion to the superior vena cava/right atrium (SVC/RA) junction and calculated the recommended depth. RESULTS: The optimal length of a CVC inserted via the right internal jugular vein was 15 cm, this was based on the mean distance from the CVC insertion point to the distal SVC. By using these guidelines, the initial placement of a CVC in the distal SVC was more accurate than using other formulas (92.3% vs. 76.9%). CONCLUSION: To increase the likelihood of optimal tip location within the SVC on the first attempt and elimination of reposition, we suggest using the recommended depth instead of a formula to guide catheter placement.

Chest CT Parameters to Predict the Major Adverse Events in Acute Submassive Pulmonary Embolism / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of chest computed tomographic (CT) parameters in acute submassive pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2009, 268 consecutive patients with acute submassive PE that was confirmed by chest CT with pulmonary angiography in emergency room were studied. One experienced radiologist measured CT parameters and judged the presence of right ventricular dysfunction. CT parameters were analyzed to determine their ability to predict a major adverse event (MAE). RESULTS: There were 220 patients included and 61 (27.7%) had MAE. Left ventricular and right ventricular maximum minor axis (36.4+/-8.0 vs. 41.7+/-7.4, p<0.01; 45.7+/-9.4 vs. 41.5+/-7.6, p<0.01), superior vena cava diameter (19.2+/-3.4 vs. 18.0+/-3.4, p=0.02), azygos vein diameter (10.0+/-2.2 vs. 9.2+/-2.3, p=0.02), septal displacement (19 vs. 18, p<0.01) were significantly higher in MAE group than in no MAE group. Patients with MAE had high right ventricular/left ventricular dimension ratio (RV/LV ratio) compared to patients without MAE (1.34+/-0.48 vs. 1.03+/-0.28, p<0.01). The most useful cut-off value of RV/LV ratio for MAE was 1.3 and the area under the curve was 0.71 (0.62~0.79). CONCLUSION: RV/LV ratio on chest CT was a significant predictor of submassive PE related shock, intubation, in-hospital mortality, thrombolysis, thrombectomy within 30 days.

Chest CT Parameters to Predict the Major Adverse Events in Acute Submassive Pulmonary Embolism / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of chest computed tomographic (CT) parameters in acute submassive pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2009, 268 consecutive patients with acute submassive PE that was confirmed by chest CT with pulmonary angiography in emergency room were studied. One experienced radiologist measured CT parameters and judged the presence of right ventricular dysfunction. CT parameters were analyzed to determine their ability to predict a major adverse event (MAE). RESULTS: There were 220 patients included and 61 (27.7%) had MAE. Left ventricular and right ventricular maximum minor axis (36.4+/-8.0 vs. 41.7+/-7.4, p<0.01; 45.7+/-9.4 vs. 41.5+/-7.6, p<0.01), superior vena cava diameter (19.2+/-3.4 vs. 18.0+/-3.4, p=0.02), azygos vein diameter (10.0+/-2.2 vs. 9.2+/-2.3, p=0.02), septal displacement (19 vs. 18, p<0.01) were significantly higher in MAE group than in no MAE group. Patients with MAE had high right ventricular/left ventricular dimension ratio (RV/LV ratio) compared to patients without MAE (1.34+/-0.48 vs. 1.03+/-0.28, p<0.01). The most useful cut-off value of RV/LV ratio for MAE was 1.3 and the area under the curve was 0.71 (0.62~0.79). CONCLUSION: RV/LV ratio on chest CT was a significant predictor of submassive PE related shock, intubation, in-hospital mortality, thrombolysis, thrombectomy within 30 days.

Mechanics and Fatigability of the Rat Soleus Muscle During Early Reloading

In order to elucidate muscle functional changes by acute reloading, contractile and fatigue properties of the rat soleus muscle were investigated at three weeks of hindlimb suspension and the following 1 hr, 5 hr, 1 d, and 2 weeks of reloading. Compared to age-matched controls, three weeks of unloading caused significant changes in myofibrillar alignments, muscle mass relative to body mass (-43%), normalized tension (-35%), shortening velocity (+143%), and response times. Further significant changes were not observed during early reloading, because the transitional reverse process was gradual rather than abrupt. Although most of the muscle properties returned to the control level after two weeks of reloading, full recovery of the tissue would require more than the two-week period. Delayed recovery due to factors such as myofibrillar arrangement and fatigue resistance was apparent, which should be considered for rehabilitation after a long-term spaceflight or bed-rest.