SummaryThe area under the thrombin generation curve (the endogenous thrombin potential; ETP) has been proposed as a parameter for plasma-based hypercoagulability and to monitor anticoagulant treatment. We present an ETP assay for the routine laboratory using a centrifugal analyser. Throughput is 30 samples/h, within and between run imprecision is 4-5.6%. Suitable substrates were developed for the ranges of 10-500% and 2-100% of normal.Independent of tissue factor concentration (if >4 pM), the normal value of the extrinsic ETP is 384.8 ±51.7 nM.min. The intrinsic ETP, triggered by ellagic acid, is 414 ± 41 nM.min.The ETP is decreased to 15 and 35% of normal by oral anticoagulation (INR 2.5-4.0) and by heparin administration (APTT 1.5-2.5 X control).The ETP is increased in untreated subjects with congenital antithrombin deficiency and in women using oral contraceptives. In deep vein thrombosis (phlebographically confirmed), it is increased by 29.4% (extrinsic) and 53% (intrinsic). In (angiographically assessed) coronary artery disease the increase is by 10% and 17% respectively.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) and to assess the performances of prenatal and neonatal diagnoses. From 1994From -2005

The understanding of plasma-liquid interactions is of major importance, not only in physical chemistry, chemical engineering and polymer science, but in biomedicine as well as to better control the biological processes induced on/in biological samples by Cold Atmospheric Plasmas (CAPs). Moreover, plasma-air interactions have to be particularly considered since these CAPs propagate in the ambient air. Herein, we developed a helium-based CAP setup equipped with a shielding-gas device, which allows the control of plasma-air interactions. Thanks to this device, we obtained specific diffuse CAPs, with the ability to propagate along several centimetres in the ambient air at atmospheric pressure. Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) measurements were performed on these CAPs during their interaction with a liquid medium (phosphate-buffered saline PBS 10 mM, pH 7.4) giving valuable information about the induced chemistry as a function of the shielding gas composition (variable O2/(O2 + N2) ratio). Several excited species were detected including N2+(First Negative System, FNS), N2(Second Positive System, SPS) and HO˙ radical. The ratios between nitrogen/oxygen excited species strongly depend on the O2/(O2 + N2) ratio. The liquid chemistry developed after CAP treatment was investigated by combining electrochemical and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy methods. We detected and quantified stable oxygen and nitrogen species (H2O2, NO2-, NO3-) along with Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS) such as the peroxynitrite anion ONOO-. It appears that the RNS/ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) ratio in the treated liquid depends also on the shielding gas composition. Eventually, the composition of the surrounding environment of CAPs seems to be crucial for the induced plasma chemistry and consequently, for the liquid chemistry. All these results demonstrate clearly that for physical, chemical and biomedical applications, which are usually achieved in ambient air environments, it is necessary to realize an effective control of plasma-air interactions.

Aims Liver damage remains the most frequent type of adverse drug reaction (ADRs) that can lead to the withdrawal of a drug from the market. The abnormal laboratory data identi®ed by computerized hospital information systems can be used in order to improve the detection of ADRs. Our objectives were to assess the detection and incidence of drug-induced liver abnormalities in a university hospital inpatient population and to evaluate the underreporting rate of drug-induced liver injury. Methods We conducted a prospective study performed 1 week per month from June to October 1997. We selected patients by a computerized process using biochemistry laboratory data, based on serum enzyme values, alanine aminotransferase (over 2 fold normal) and alkaline phosphatase (over 1.5 fold normal). Results Among 1976 ALT and 1814 AP assays performed during the period of the study, 156 (7.9%) and 159 (8.8%) tests, respectively, fell into the selected criteria. These concerne 147 patients. Among these patients, 13 (8.8%) cases of drug-induced liver injuries were suspected. Seven cases were asymptomatic. Six cases were classi®ed as serious by these criteria: hospitalization to investigate the cause of health status impairment (4 patients), prolongation of hospitalization (1 patient) and lifethreathening (1 patient). Using the hospitalization database, the incidence of druginduced liver injuries was estimated as 6.6 per 1000 inpatients a week. Only 1 case was reported by physicians in the same period. Conclusions Computerization of biochemical data would allow the development of systems to improve detection of drug-induced injury. Moreover, underreporting remains important for such potentially serious ADRs, even in a university hospital.