News Article and Medical Journal

The following article will describe you with the sensitivity and specificity of four real-time PCR assays. They were evaluated for detection and diagnostic use of H1N1 influenza A virus. Accordingly, the results of this evaluation study demonstrate that the concurrent use of primary diagnostic and confirmatory assays provides rapid and accurate assessment of confirmed cases, and allows appropriate management of patients.

Four real-time PCR assays described in this article were Health Protection Agency HPA (H1)v assay, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) realtime RT-PCR kit – CDC (H1)v assay, HPA (N1)v assay, and The swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV) assay. The respiratory swab samples were tested according to the protocol provided for each assay.

RT-PCR Assays Article: The Sensitivity and Specificity continued »

Catecholamines are sympathomimetic hormones part of the sympathetic nervous system that are released by the adrenal glands. They are epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine (wikipedia.org). The following figure presenting biosynthesis of the catecholamines.

Herein is an article dicussed Clinical Management Protocol for H1N1 Influenza A (Swine Flu) Virus. As also stated by the WHO, the following article you can download contain materials regarding clinical management protocol and infection control guidelines which is issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India.

There are section discussed in this swine flu article: Epidemiology, Clinical features, Confirmation of influenza A(H1N1) swine origin infection (RT-PCR, viral culture, virus specific neutralizing antibodies),  Treatment Principle Guideline (SOP, oseltamivir medication, supportive therapies, discharge policy, chemo prophylaxis, non-pharmaceutical interventions, laboratory tests).

Then it continued into: Guidelines on Infection Control Measures, which describe issues targeted according to the risk profile of infection such as During Pre Hospital Care/in Hospital, Definition of Suspected Case, Probable Case, Confirmed Case, Standard Operating Procedures on Use of Personal Protection Equipments/PPE (Goggles, N-95 Mask, Gown, Triple layer Mask, Gloves, Shoe covers).

H1N1 Article: Clinical Management Protocol for Swine Influenza continued »

The following Journal will discuss the use of disease-mofifying antirheumatic drugs and the biologic-therapies in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis.

You will find any usefull informations regarding psoriatic arthritis (PsA) since it covers sections such the Pathogenesis of Psoriatic Arthritis, Moll and Wright criteria for psoriatic arthritis, CASPAR criteria for the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis, The prognosis of PsA, The Classification, Definition of mild, moderate, and severe psoriatic arthritis, Comparison of PsA with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and anklyosing spondylitis, PsA Response Criteria, Radiologic Features and etc.

Also there are descriptions about American College of Rheumatology scoring (ACR), The Disease Activity Score (DAS) scoring system, Scoring methods for the assessment of structural damage in peripheral joints in PsA, and the Use of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)to Treat Moderate to Severe PSA (methotrexate, Sulfasalazine, Leflunomide, TNF inhibitors).

2008 Psoriasis Journal: Biologic Therapies in the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis continued »