Clinical Reliability of point-of-care tests to support community based acute ambulatory care.

OBJECTIVE: To ensure clinicians can rely on point-of-care testing results, we assessed agreement between point-of-care tests for creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, calcium, Hb, INR, CRP and subsequent corresponding laboratory tests. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults referred to a community-based acute ambulatory care unit. INTERVENTIONS: The Abbott i-STATTM (Hb, clinical chemistry, INR) and the AfinionTM Analyser (CRP) and corresponding laboratory analyses. OUTCOMES: Agreement (Bland-Altman) and bias (Passing-Bablok regression). RESULTS: Among 462 adults we found an absolute mean difference between point-of-care and central laboratory analyses of 6.4g/L (95%LOA -7.9 to +20.6) for haemoglobin, -0.5mmol/L (95%LOA -4.5 to +3.5) for sodium, 0.2mmol/L (95%LOA -0.6 to +0.9) for potassium, 0.0mmol/L (95%LOA -0.3 to +0.3) for calcium, 9.0 µmol/L (95%LOA -18.5 to +36.4) for creatinine, 0.0mmol/L (95%LOA -2.7 to +2.6) for urea, -0.2 (95%LOA -2.4 to +2.0) for INR, -5.0 mg/L (95%LOA -24.4 to +14.4) for CRP. CONCLUSIONS: There was acceptable agreement and bias for these analytes, except for haemoglobin and creatinine.

Evaluation of the protective effect of melatonin on oocyte, embryo and ovarian tissue parameters in female mice exposed to acetamiprid.

OBJECTIVE: Acetamiprid (ACP) causes infertility and its effect appears to occur via oxidative stress. Melatonin has antioxidative properties. Thus, in this experimental study, we examined the protective effect of melatonin against toxic pathologic changes from ACP on reproductive system parameters of female mice. METHODS: The study included 30 female mice divided into 5 groups (6 mice in each group), as follows: Saline (control group); ACP (10, 20 mg/kg); ACP (10mg/kg) + melatonin (10mg/kg); and ACP (20mg/kg) + melatonin (10mg/kg). All mice were given intraperitoneal injections daily for one month. The groups were evaluated for ovarian histopathological changes and oocyte quality based on in vitro fertilization (IVF) parameters. RESULTS: ACP induced histological damages in the ovaries of mice and caused increases in the number of atretic follicles and decreases in the quality of oocytes based on IVF parameters. These alterations were significantly reduced by melatonin. CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin can decrease the toxic effects of ACP in the female reproductive system of mice. Further studies are needed.

Socio-demographic Characteristics of Transsexuals Referred to the Forensic Medicine Center in Southwest of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Transsexualism or gender identity disorder affects person's gender identity. AIM: This study was to describe socio-demographic characteristics in a population of transsexuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 44 persons of both sexes with diagnostic criteria of gender identity disorder who were referred to the Legal Medicine Organization of Fars, southwest of Iran during the time period 2005-2010. The general practitioners examined the following socio-demographic characteristics and then recorded them in a semi-structured questionnaire, which was developed by the Forensic Medicine Center in Shiraz: Sex, age, educational level, place of residence, marital status, duration of treatment, and employment status. RESULTS: A total of 44 persons (18 (40.9%) males versus 26 (59.1%) females) were referred for sex change during the study period. The sex ratio was 0.69:1. The mean age was 27.6 ± 2.9 years. The majority of patients were diploma and higher diploma education (77.3%), lived in urban areas (81.8%), were employed (56.9%), were single (93.1%), and were under six months of hormonal treatment (61.4%). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that social acceptance is lower for male to female transsexuals, since these patients have lower employment and literacy statuses. Further studies should be designed to evaluate and deeper analyze more socio-demographic, clinical, and psychiatric variables about transsexual patients.