Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is associated with severe sepsis and fatal disease in emergency room patients with suspected infection: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Early diagnostic and prognostic stratification of patients with suspected infection is a difficult clinical challenge. We studied plasma pentraxin 3 (PTX3) upon admission to the emergency department in patients with suspected infection.

Methods: The study comprised 537 emergency room patients with suspected infection: 59 with no systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and without bacterial infection (group 1), 67 with bacterial infection without SIRS (group 2), 54 with SIRS without bacterial infection (group 3), 308 with sepsis (SIRS and bacterial infection) without organ failure (group 4) and 49 with severe sepsis (group 5).

Early detection of severe sepsis in the emergency room: diagnostic value of plasma C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and interleukin-6.

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic values of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) to identify severe sepsis in an emergency room (ER) setting.

Methods: This was a single-centre prospective follow-up study of 539 consecutive adult patients admitted to the ER with suspected infection. Blood samples were taken concurrently with blood cultures at admission.

Comparison of total and intact aminoterminal propeptide of type I procollagen assays in patients with breast cancer with or without bone metastases.

Background: Aminoterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) reflects bone formation. Two different antigens exist in human serum: intact PINP and a monomeric form. The intact PINP assay measures trimeric form and the total assay measures both forms.

Interchangeability of blood gas, electrolyte and metabolite results measured with point-of-care, blood gas and core laboratory analyzers.

Background: The random use of point-of-care, blood gas and core laboratory analyzers to measure electrolytes and metabolites increases the variability in test results. This study was designed to determine whether these results performed on whole blood (point-of-care and blood gas) and plasma (core laboratory) platforms are interchangeable without a risk of clinically relevant discrepancies.

Methods: The interchangeability of the blood gas analysis, electrolytes, glucose, lactate and hemoglobin results performed with three stat platforms (i-STAT, Radiometer ABL 825, RapidLab 865) and two core laboratory platforms (Roche Modular P800 and Sysmex XE-2100) were evaluated using samples from critically ill patients.

Validation of an automated intact N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) assay.

Objectives: N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen assay (PINP) reflects the rate of type I collagen synthesis

Design And Methods: Different sera were fractioned by gel filtration and analyzed with intact and total PINP assays. The sizes of the antigens were determined by western blotting. The thermal stability was tested at +37°C, +4°C and room temperature (RT).

Stability of chemical and immunochemical analytes in uncentrifuged plasma samples.

Background: The stability of analyte concentrations in plasma after prolonged contact with blood cells in uncentrifuged lithium-heparin gel tubes was studied.

Methods: To investigate the stability of concentrations of 26 chemistry and 15 immunochemistry analytes, the simultaneously drawn samples (n = 50) were measured after 6 h storage at +8 degrees C and +22 degrees C in whole blood and after immediate separation of plasma. The analyte concentrations were measured with a Roche Modular PPEE analyser using reagents from Roche Diagnostics.

Automated measurement of 25-OH vitamin D3 on the Roche Modular E170 analyzer.

Background: The first commercial direct automated immunoassay specific for 25-OH vitamin D(3) (25-OH-D(3)) was recently introduced for use on Roche Diagnostics immunoassay analyzers. We assessed the analytical performance of the Elecsys 25-OH-D(3) assay on a Roche Modular E 170 analyzer.

Methods: The Elecsys 25-OH-D(3) assay is a direct electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for human serum or plasma.

Tracking and determinants of LDL particle size in healthy children from 7 to 11 years of age: the STRIP Study.

Serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle composition varies according to lifestyle and age. To analyze its long-term tracking, we studied LDL particle size consecutively in 100 children at the ages of 7, 9 and 11 years using a high-resolution 3% polyacrylamide gel tube, electrophoresis method, searching also for long-term determinants of the particle size. The mean LDL particle sizes at 7 and 9 years, and at 7 and 11 years correlated directly (r=0.

Prospective study on food fortification with vitamin D among adolescent females in Finland: minor effects.

Vitamin D insufficiency is common particularly during winter time. After the recommendation by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finnish fluid milks and margarines have been fortified with vitamin D since February 2003. The aims of the present study were to examine the impact of vitamin D fortification of food supplies on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25(OH)D) concentrations and on daily dietary vitamin D intake among adolescent females.

Comparison of three commercial tests for buprenorphine screening in urine.

Background: Rapid and sensitive tests for detecting buprenorphine and its metabolites for drug-screening situations have been long awaited. From the tests available, we have evaluated two on-site drugs-of-abuse testing devices using competitive binding immunoassays and one homogeneous enzyme immunoassay measured on an automated analyser.

Methods: A total of 49 urine specimens were tested using three different kits.

The effect of PPARgamma-agonism on LDL subclass profile in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease.

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) often present a preponderance of small, dense LDL particles (small-LDL), which are associated with a high risk of myocardial infarction. Some studies suggest that PPARgamma-agonists increase LDL cholesterol but have divergent effects on various LDL subclasses in T2DM patients. We studied the effect of rosiglitazone on the LDL subclass profile in T2DM patients with verified coronary artery disease (CAD).

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size in healthy prepubertal children: the STRIP study.

Background: Small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles (diameter < 255 Angstrom) are highly atherogenic, and in adults they are associated with an elevated risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).

Aim: To examine possible contributors to LDL particle size distribution in healthy prepubertal children.

Methods: We determined LDL particle size in 176 7-y-old children by non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Structural and functional changes in peripheral vasculature of Fabry patients.

Objective: Fabry disease is a lysosomal storage disorder due to deficient alpha-galactosidase A activity, which leads to glycosphingolipid accumulation especially in vascular smooth-muscle and endothelial cells. Little is known about the effects of Fabry disease on peripheral artery function and structure. Therefore, we aimed to further characterize the peripheral vascular structural and functional changes in Fabry disease.

Bone as a possible target of chemical toxicity of natural uranium in drinking water.

Uranium accumulates in bone, affects bone metabolism in laboratory animals, and when ingested in drinking water increases urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate, important components in the bone structure. However, little is known about bone effects of ingested natural uranium in humans. We studied 146 men and 142 women 26-83 years of age who for an average of 13 years had used drinking water originating from wells drilled in bedrock, in areas with naturally high uranium content.

Serum bone markers in breast cancer patients during 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) therapy.

Background: Chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) is now indicated for adjuvant therapy of breast cancer. Its effects on serum bone markers and bone metabolism are unclear.

Patients And Methods: The bone formation marker serum osteocalcin, the bone resorption marker serum carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx), serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and calcium concentrations were assessed in nine premenopausal breast cancer patients with no distant metastases at baseline, before the fourth cycle and after the ninth cycle of FEC therapy.

Effect of 7-year infancy-onset dietary intervention on serum lipoproteins and lipoprotein subclasses in healthy children in the prospective, randomized Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project for Children (STRIP) study.

Background: We previously showed that low-saturated-fat dietary intervention from infancy until 5 years of age safely and effectively reduced serum cholesterol concentration. We now report how such intervention influenced serum lipids, LDL particle size, and HDL subfractions in children when they reached the age of 7 years.

Methods And Results: Healthy 7-month-old infants (n=1062) were randomized to the intervention (n=540) and control (n=522) groups.

Does simvastatin affect mood and steroid hormone levels in hypercholesterolemic men? A randomized double-blind trial.

Epidemiological and clinical studies have suggested that powerful cholesterol lowering may have adverse effects on mood and psychological well-being. Inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis by simvastatin (a hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor) may also reduce steroid hormone biosynthesis. To explore if mood changes are related with steroid hormone levels, we designed a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial.

Vitamin D and attainment of peak bone mass among peripubertal Finnish girls: a 3-y prospective study.

Background: Little is known about the effect of vitamin D status on bone gain in adolescents.

Objective: The objective was to examine whether vitamin D status is associated with accrual of bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD).

Design: This 3-y prospective study examined the association between changes in BMD or BMAD and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in 171 healthy Finnish girls aged 9-15 y.