1,721,325 research outputs found
Comments on Delanghe and Joyner's editorial "testing for recombinant human erythropoietin". Preanalytical and analytical issues in indirect hematological testing.
No full textFighting healthcare rocketing costs with value-based medicine: The case of stroke management
No full textValue-Based Medicine (VBM) is imposing itself as 'a new paradigm in healthcare management and medical practice. In this perspective paper, we discuss the role of VBM in dealing with the large productivity issue of the healthcare industry and examine some of the worldwide industrial and technological trends linked with VBM introduction. To clarify the points, we discuss examples of VBM management of stroke patients. In our conclusions, we support the idea of VBM as a strategic aid to manage rising costs in healthcare, and we explore the idea that VBM, by establishing value-generating networks among different healthcare stakeholders, can serve as the long sought-after redistributive mechanism that compensate patients for the industrial exploitation of their personal medical records
Screening methods of genetic polymorphisms associated to the immune response for the evaluation of athletic predisposition and relative kits
No full textHealth literacy: a new challenge for laboratory medicine
No full textPoor health literacy and inappropriate test prescribing hamper the value of laboratory medicine. The disintermediation between test producers and interpreters may happen both in Point of Care Tests, where doctor mediation is provided, but laboratory expert supervision is not, and in Direct to Consumer Testing, where no medical mediation is provided at all. In these cases, the respect for patient's autonomy must not preclude the principles of non-maleficence (as an individual concern) and justice (as a societal concern), as wrong test interpretation can generate confusion, anxiety, inappropriate social behavior, useless medical examinations and considerable cost increase. Considering how different is patient ability to understand test results (if any) and handle any physical and psychological consequence, promoting health literacy and professional laboratory mediation become crucial professional priorities. The aims of this review are 1) to describe the importance of health literacy on laboratory test interpretation, medical advice and therapeutic compliance; 2) to discuss doctor-level, patient-level and caregiver-level educational interventions in light of the four principles of the value-based framework (personal value, technical value, allocative value and societal value). Based on these premises, the authors support the need to enhance health literacy in patients, help doctors improve the communication of results and validate commercial tests under the scrutiny of scientific community.Poor health literacy and inappropriate test prescribing hamper the value of laboratory medicine. The disintermediation between test producers and interpreters may happen both in Point of Care Tests, where doctor mediation is provided, but laboratory expert supervision is not, and in Direct to Consumer Testing, where no medical mediation is provided at all. In these cases, the respect for patient's autonomy must not preclude the principles of non-maleficence (as an individual concern) and justice (as a societal concern), as wrong test interpretation can generate confusion, anxiety, inappropriate social behavior, useless medical examinations and considerable cost increase. Considering how different is patient ability to understand test results (if any) and handle any physical and psychological consequence, promoting health literacy and professional laboratory mediation become crucial professional priorities. The aims of this review are 1) to describe the importance of health literacy on laboratory test interpretation, medical advice and therapeutic compliance; 2) to discuss doctor-level, patient-level and caregiver-level educational interventions in light of the four principles of the value-based framework (personal value, technical value, allocative value and societal value). Based on these premises, the authors support the need to enhance health literacy in patients, help doctors improve the communication of results and validate commercial tests under the scrutiny of scientific community
From volume to value: A watershed moment for the clinical laboratory
No full textThe clinical laboratory is often evaluated for the volume of testing. However, it is undeniable that laboratory tests affect clinical decision-making and are included in many clinical guidelines, meaning their contribution to determining clinical outcomes. Therefore, the clinical laboratory professional has the task of enhancing laboratory tests by optimizing the request and reporting phase and addressing patient outcomes. This opinion paper, presenting practical examples of managing value-based health care in the clinical laboratory context, underlines the need to shift towards value-based management to optimize outcome-based health care
Association of recreational physical activity with homocysteine, folate and lipid markers in young women
No full textEur J Appl Physiol. 2009 Jan;105(1):111-8. Epub 2008 Oct 14.
Association of recreational physical activity with homocysteine, folate and lipid markers in young women.
Di Santolo M, Banfi G, Stel G, Cauci S.
SourceDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, School of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy.
Abstract
We assessed the influence of recreational physical activity in young healthy women on homocysteine, a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Participants were 124 23-year-old normal-weight Italian recreational athletes (performing 8.7 +/- 2.46 h week(-1) exercise) and 116 controls. Median blood homocysteine, folate and lipid markers did not differ between athletes and controls. Elevated homocysteine levels at CVD risk > or =12.0 and > or =15.0 micromol l(-1) were not different between groups. Continuous homocysteine was inversely related to folate (P or =15.0 micromol l(-1). Recreational physical exercise does not adversely impact homocysteine levels among young women. Only low folate significantly increases the risk for hyperhomocysteinemia in young women
Red blood cell-mimicking synthetic biomaterial particles: the new frontier of blood doping?
No full textRed blood cell-mimicking synthetic biomaterial particles: the new frontier of blood doping
Creatinine values during a competitive season in elite athletes involved in different sport disciplines.
No full textLetter to the editor regarding "Rapid determination of urinary di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites based on liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry as a marker for blood transfusion in sports drug testing".
No full textRapid determination of urinary di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites based on liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry as a marker for blood transfusion in sports drug testing
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