Non-cardiac determinants of NT-proBNP levels in the elderly: relevance of haematocrit and hepatic steatosis.

Background: The levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), a marker of heart failure, are higher in women and anaemic subjects, and tend to be lower in obese people. These relationships are still largely unexplained and it is unclear whether they also apply to the N-terminal portion of BNP precursor (NT-proBNP).

Aims: This cross-sectional study was performed to assess general and abdominal obesity, sex and other variables as possible extra-cardiac determinants of NT-proBNP.

Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) with 14484/ND6 mutation in a North African patient.

We report the clinical and genetic study of a Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) patient of North African origin harboring the 14484/ND6 mutation of mtDNA. For over a year we followed the ophthalmological course of this 24-year-old male with LHON treated with idebenone and vitamin B12. Serum lactate after effort was evaluated before, during and after therapy.

Interference of specific autoantibodies in the assessment of serum thyroglobulin.

Prevalence of anti-thyroglobulin autoantibody (anti-TG Ab) above 120 IU/mL was 0.238 in 491 healthy and thyroid-disorder patients (80% female, mean overall age 50 +/- 15 years) presenting to the laboratory for contrastographic, endocrinologic, or general medical purposes. It is well known that anti-TG Ab (autoantibodies to thyroglobulin) can lead to the underestimation of serum thyroglobulin (TG).

Spectrophotometric phosphate assay in human seminal plasma. A technique for the determination of glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine secretion.

Glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine (GLY-3-PrC) has a role in determining the epididymal environment, but its function is not yet completely clear. This lack of knowledge might be partially due to the limitations of techniques currently employed in the GLY-3-PrC determination. In this paper we have studied and adjusted to human seminal plasma a spectrophotometric assay initially devised for bull and rabbit ejaculates.