Four commercial slides were compared with in-house slides for the detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) against Bartonella henselae in 58 healthy persons from a rural region by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. MRL-BA slides (MRL Diagnostics, USA) and Virion slides (Virion, Switzerland) with agar-derived Bartonella henselae showed IgG titers of > or = 1:256 in 44.8% and 51.7%, respectively, whereas Bion slides (Bios, Germany), MRL-Vero slides (MRL Diagnostics), and in-house slides with cell-associated Bartonella henselae showed such titers in 3.4%, 5.1% and 3.4%, respectively. The MRL-Vero slides (Bartonella IgG substrate slides, MRL Diagnostics) were further evaluated with 26 patients with cat scratch disease, 20 patients with lymphadenopathy not due to cat scratch disease, 100 blood donors from an urban area, and 120 blood donors from a mixed urban/rural area. In our mixed urban/rural population the IgG titer of 1:256 had a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 93.4% for the serodiagnosis of cat scratch disease. Seroprevalence was higher in blood donors from the mixed area (50.8%) than from the urban area (37%). MRL-Vero slides were considered useful for the serodiagnosis of cat scratch disease by indirect immunofluorescence and have replaced our in-house system. However, patients with low IgG titers should be retested three to four weeks after initial sampling to demonstrate a possible rise of IgG titers in paired sera.

INTRODUCTION: Bilateral ultrasound-guided peripheral block (TAP - block) in the plane between the inner oblique abdominal muscle and the transversal abdominal muscle – TAP plane, is a regional anesthesia technique by infiltration of a local anesthetic, provides analgesia for operations involving the anterior abdominal wall. The analgesic effectiveness of the block decreases the consumption of opioid analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. AIM: In this study, we evaluated the intraoperative analgesic efficacy of bilateral TAP - block and the consumption of opioid analgesics in patients undergoing bilateral laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: The study was conducted with 35 patients, who were randomized into two groups. In the control group (group I), there are patients who received general anesthesia (GA), and experimental group (group II), were patients who have received general anesthesia and a bilateral tap block (GA + TAP). RESULTS: Patients with TAP-block (group II) have significantly lower fentanyl consumption compared to group I. CONCLUSION: Multimodal approach for the simultaneous administration of general anesthesia with a TAP block provides effective intraoperative analgesia and significantly reduces the perioperative consumption of opioid analgesics.

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