Amylases ; blood ; Herbicides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Lipase ; blood ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in serum amylase (AMY) and lipase (LPS) and their clinical significance in patients with acute paraquat poisoning (APP).

METHODSThe clinical data of 62 APP. patients who were admitted to Guangzhou 12th People's Hospital in 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. With clinical death being regarded as the end point of observation, the 62 patients were divided into survival group (n=32) and death group (n=30). The fasting venous blood of the patients on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day after admission were collected, and the AMY and LPS levels were determined; the obtained data were compared between the two groups and analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe AMY and LPS levels of the survival group on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day after admission were significantly lower than those of the death group (P<0.05); the AMY and LPS levels of the death group on the 3rd day were significantly higher than those on the 1st day after admission (P<0.05); the survival group demonstrated no significant changes in AMY and LPS levels (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONChanges in AMY and LPS levels in APP patients are reliable indicators for the determination of poisoning severity and prognosis.

Amylases ; blood ; Humans ; Lipase ; blood ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; blood ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: There is a long-standing debate about whether postoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) is best managed operatively or nonoperatively. The aim of this study is to define predictive factors for surgical indication in the treatment of an adhesive SBO. METHODS: Medical records and laboratory data of 211 patients who had a SBO after a laparotomy from January 2000 to December 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the modality of SBO treatment: operatively and nonoperatively. The laboratory data and clinical parameters were compared between the two groups and a statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: A Mann-Whitney analysis revealed previous SBO history, amylase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), creatine phosphokinase, drainage amount via a Levin tube to be significant factors associated with surgical management. A multivariate analysis showed drainage amount via a Levin tube of 500 mL/day or greater (P=0.007), amylase of 90 IU/L or greater (P=0.04), and ESR of 11 mm/hr or greater (P=0.03) to be independent predictive factors for surgery. CONCLUSION: Surgical management should be considered among adhesive SBO patients with elevated amylase (> or =90 IU/L) and ESR (> or =11 mm/hr) and with large drainage amount through the Levin tube (> or =500 mL/day).
Adhesives ; Amylases ; Blood Sedimentation ; Creatine Kinase ; Drainage ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The Samsung LABGEO PT10 (Samsung Electronics, Korea) has been developed as a point-of-care testing (POCT) chemistry analyzer. We evaluated the performance of the Samsung LABGEO PT Biochemistry Test 15 (Samsung Electronics) and the HbA1c Test (Samsung Electronics), which are dedicated cartridges for the LABGEO PT10. METHODS: Based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, the precision, linearity, and methodology were evaluated for seven chemistry analytes (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, amylase, and hemoglobin A1c). All the analytes, except for hemoglobin A1c, were obtained from three different types of samples: whole blood, plasma, and serum, to evaluate matrix effects. RESULTS: In the precision analysis, both within-run and total-run coefficients of variation were less than 10% for the seven analytes. Dose curves for the seven analytes were linear in the clinically relevant concentration ranges. The methodology study yielded correlation coefficients > or =0.98 for the seven comparisons of the LABGEO PT10 cartridge tests with other methods. Except for HDL cholesterol, the percentage differences between test results obtained from whole blood, plasma, and serum, were within +/-10%. The concentrations of HDL cholesterol measured in whole blood samples were 0.9 mg/dL and 5.6 mg/dL higher than those measured in plasma and serum specimens, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The LABGEO PT10 showed suitable analytical performance with respect to precision and linearity and demonstrated a good correlation with automated chemistry analyzer. With the additional benefits of a short turnaround time and ease of use, the LABGEO PT10 is an acceptable POCT chemistry analyzer.
Amylases ; Biochemistry ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Chemistry* ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Creatinine ; Methods ; Plasma ; Point-of-Care Systems ; Triglycerides

Drug-induced pancreatitis accounts for 0.1~2.0% of all pancreatitis cases. Generally, the mechanism of drug-induced pancreatitis is an immune reaction, accumulation of toxic material, and/or ischemia. However, how dapsone causes pancreatitis remains unclear. A 61-year-old man presented with a 2-week history of epigastric discomfort. He had taken dapsone for 2 months to treat psoriasis. Laboratory findings showed high blood glucose levels and metabolic acidosis; however, hemoglobin A1c was low. Serum amylase and lipase levels were elevated to 125/4,479 U/L. Abdominal computed tomography was indicative of pancreatitis. There was no causative history of pancreatitis and no other medication history except dapsone. Thus, we reached a diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) followed by dapsone-induced pancreatitis. The patient fasted and was treated with insulin administration and fluid hydration in accordance with treatment guidelines. After treatment, amylase and lipase decreased and symptoms subsided, but insulin injection was required to control blood glucose levels. Drug-induced pancreatitis is a very rare adverse effect of dapsone. Only four cases of pancreatitis related to dapsone could be found in a PubMed search. Moreover, diabetes caused by dapsone-induced pancreatitis has not been reported previously. Here, we report a case of DKA caused by dapsoneinduced acute pancreatitis.
Acidosis ; Amylases ; Blood Glucose ; Dapsone ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Insulin ; Ischemia ; Lipase ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis* ; Psoriasis

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of children with acute pancreatitis and provide the basis of early diagnosis and treatment.

METHODSTotally 121 children with acute pancreatitis admitted to Hunan Children's Hospital between March 2003 and December 2009 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The data of clinical manifestations, biochemical examinations, imaging and prognosis were summarized and statistically analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 121 cases, preschool and school-age children were the main groups, and the prevalent months were May and June. Abdominal pain (88.4%) and vomiting (61.2%) were the major initial symptoms of pancreatitis in children, but none of children under the age 1 year complained of abdominal pain; 70.2% had signs of abdominal tenderness, accompanied by abdominal rigidity, distension, hepatomegaly, jaundice, etc. Severe patients developed shock, convulsions, coma and so on. Serum amylase concentration increased to above the upper reference limit in 114 children (94.2%) when they admitted within 24 hours after admission. Urine amylase elevation was noted in 77 children (79.4%). The amylase concentration decreased after 3 days, but not all returned to normal 14 days afterward. Children with sustained serum amylase elevation or serum amylase level ≥ 3 times upper limit of normal range more likely to have fever, vomiting, abdominal distension, and pancreatic abnormalities at ultrasonography or CT which showed that the echo of pancreas decreased or enhanced, pancreas edema, pancreatic duct expanded, etc. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT showed that 75 cases (62.0%) had other organ damage besides pancreatitis, liver (25.3%) and intestinal (16.0%) damages were very common, while liver and myocardial damages were seen frequently in the laboratory examinations, which complicated with serum ALT/AST, total bilirubin, blood glucose elevation and myocardial enzyme abnormalities. Several gastroscopic examinations showed mucosal hyperemia and edema, sheet-like erosion, etc. Except for one case who underwent laparotomy, all the remaining children were treated with non-operative comprehensive treatment. Of them 119 were cured or improved, 2 died and 5 had recurred disease later.

CONCLUSIONSGastrointestinal symptoms were the main clinical manifestations of acute pancreatitis in children, often complicated with extrapancreatic damage. The younger the patient was, the less complaint of abdominal pain they had. This indicates that acute pancreatitis should be considered when children suffered from acute abdominal pain and vomiting which had no known cause or could not be explained. It is important to do take serial monitoring of serum amylase, and imaging procedures.

Adolescent ; Amylases ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing ; blood ; diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVESTo simplify the enteric drainage (ED) procedure and to decrease surgical and metabolic complications in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) patients.

METHODSBetween June 2000 and June 2002, nine patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and uremia underwent simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. The arterial inflow of the pancreas was based upon the right external iliac artery, while venous drainage was systemic via the external iliac vein. The allografts' exocrine secretions were drained into the proximal jejunum via a two-layer hand sewn, side-to-side donor duodenum to proximal small bowel anastomosis after reperfusion. No Roux-en-Y an astomosis of the jejunum was performed. The kidney graft was placed in the left iliac fossa. Quadruple immunosuppressive therapy with antilymphocyte globulin or anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody (Zenapax), tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and steroids was standard treatment in all patients.

RESULTSThis procedure was successfully applied in all 9 patients without complication referable to the technique. All patients had achieved euglycemia and excellent renal function, and stopped being dependent on an external insulin source. Fasting serum glucose fell from 9.5 preoperatively to 4.8 mmol/L and remained stable thereafter. At the time this paper was written, the grafts from eight patients were functioning well.

CONCLUSIONSOur primary experience suggests that SPK with ED without Roux-en-Y anastomosis represents a more physiologic milieu, and a viable alternation to replace the bladder (BD) as the primary route of drainage for exocrine secretions of the pancreas. It is a feasible and safer procedure.

Adult ; Amylases ; blood ; Drainage ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; blood ; Intestines ; Kidney Transplantation ; methods ; Male ; Pancreas Transplantation ; methods

Macroamylasemia is a condition of persistent, elevated serum amylase activity with no apparent clinical symptoms of a pancreatic disorder. In Korea, however, no such case has been reported to date. We report a case of a 17-year-old female diagnosed with macroamylasemia and acute appendicitis. One day earlier, she developed epigastric and right lower quadrant abdominal pain. She was characterized by high level of serum amylase, but normal lipase. Amylase isoenzyme analysis demonstrated increased fraction of salivary type and follow-up amylase level was persistently increased. Immunofixation disclosed the macroamylase binding with an immunoglobulin, consisting of IgA and kappa chain. The patient was treated by appendectomy, and the abdominal pain subsided.
Adolescence ; Amylases/blood* ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis/enzymology ; Appendicitis/blood* ; Case Report ; Female ; Human ; IgA/blood ; Immunoglobulins, kappa-Chain/blood ; Isoenzymes/blood ; Protein Binding

PURPOSE: Outbreaks of mumps continue to occur, even though the number of patients diagnosed of mumps has decreased considerably with the widespread use of vaccine. The accurate diagnosis of mumps is needed to understand the epidemiology of mumps and analyse the safety and effectiveness of vaccine. Therefore, we attempted to appraise the accuracy of provisional diagnosis of mumps in clinical practice by measuring mumps specific antibody. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with presumptive diagnosis of mumps were enrolled from four university hospitals. Medical history including MMR vaccination was obtained, and anti-mumps IgM antibody test(ELISA. Denka Seiken Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), complete blood counts and amylase were measured. RESULTS: Among 36 patients presumptively diagnosed of mumps, anti-mumps IgM antibody was positive in 14 patients(38.8%), negative in 20(55.5%) and equivocal in 2(5.5%). In two patients who were not vaccinated against mumps, one had anti-mumps IgM antibody and the other did not. All four patients, vaccinated with MMR twice after their first birthday did not have anti-mumps IgM antibody. The sites of involved glands and the associated localized as well as systemic symptomatologies were not different between patients with anti-mumps antibody and those without. The proportion and degree of increment of serum amylase level were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: A significant number of patients with provisional diagnosis of mumps appear to be due to other causes. Amylase, commonly used in clinical practice, does not differentiate mumps from other illnesses involving the parotid glands. Mumps can be accurately diagnosed only by laboratory tests including anti-mumps antibody. The two-dose MMR vaccination program needs to be reinforced.
Amylases ; Blood Cell Count ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemiology ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M* ; Mumps* ; Parotid Gland ; Vaccination

PURPOSE: The efficacy of octreotide in the treatment of acute pancreatitis is controversial. Octreotide treatment for acute pancreatitis often shows poor correlation between results obtained in experimental studies and results of clinical trials. In a clinical setting, there is always a delay between the onset of the disease and initiation of the octreotide treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the beginning of treatment and alteration in effectiveness of octreotide. METHODS: Acute pancreatitis was induced by pancreatic duct ligation in 50 rats. The rats were randomly divided into five groups. Octreotide was not used in group 1 (control group). Only single dose (4 microg/kg) octreotide was administered subcutaneously to rats in group 2, having induced pancreatitis. Octreotide treatment was begun at different times (8th, 24th, 48th hour) in three other groups and continued treatment at a dosage of 4 microg/kg t.i.d. The animals were sacrificed at the end of the 72nd hour and blood and tissue samples were collected. RESULTS: Leukocyte count and plasma amylase values were less in groups 2 and 3. Hemorrhagic focuses were encountered less at pancreas tissues in group 3. Pancreatic necrosis and alveolar capillary basal membrane damage were lower in groups 3 and 4. No difference was found in fasting blood glucose, calcium and hematocrit. CONCLUSION: Octreotide had benefical effects in acute pancreatitis when octreotide treatment was begun in the first 24 hours.
Amylases ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Calcium ; Capillaries ; Fasting ; Leukocyte Count ; Ligation ; Membranes ; Necrosis ; Octreotide ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis ; Plasma ; Rats