DANSPOT: A Multicenter Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomized Trial of the Reclassification of Acute Myocardial Infarction: Rationale and Study Design.

Background: Cardiac troponins are the preferred biomarkers for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Although sex-specific 99th percentile thresholds of troponins are recommended in international guidelines, the clinical effect of their use is poorly investigated. The DANSPOT Study (The Danish Study of Sex- and Population-Specific 99th percentile upper reference limits of Troponin) aims to evaluate the clinical effect of a prospective implementation of population- and sex-specific diagnostic thresholds of troponins into clinical practice.

Vitamin B12 reference intervals.

Introduction: P-Vitamin B12 is a commonly used biochemical test. Evaluation of test results and diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency are challenging, and the role of different biochemical methods remains unclear.

Methods: The aim of this study was to establish reference intervals for plasma vitamin B12 concentration using different immunoassays (method 1: Alinity, Abbott Laboratories; method 2: Cobas 6000, Roche Diagnostics; method 3: Atellica IM, Siemens Healthineers).

Cut-offs for thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies in early pregnancy.

Objective: Thyroid disease in women of reproductive age is mainly of autoimmune origin, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) as well as thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg-Ab) are key markers. Adding to this, much focus in pregnancy is on euthyroid women who are thyroid antibody positive. Evidence to substantiate the cut-offs for the definition of thyroid autoantibody positivity in early pregnant women is warranted.

Iodine status in Danish pregnant women after an increase in iodine fortification.

Objective: Iodine fortification programmes are implemented in many countries and often associated with an increase in population iodine intake. However, the initial attempt may not be sufficient and in Denmark the level of iodine added to salt was increased in 2019. Sparse evidence is available on the impact of such modification in iodine fortification.

Analyte stability in whole blood using experimental and datamining approaches.

The analytical stability of laboratory tests relies mostly on internal and external quality control procedures. Summarized patient data has in several studies been shown to be a good supplement for monitoring analytical stability. In our present investigation, we evaluate a datamining method for retrospective evaluation and assessment of analyte stability in whole blood.

Classification of maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy using repeated blood samples.

Objective: The assessment of maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy is debated. It is well-established that pregnancy-specific reference ranges preferably should be used. We speculated if the use of repeated blood samples drawn in early pregnancy would influence the classification of maternal thyroid function.

Classification of Thyroid Dysfunction in Pregnant Women Differs by Analytical Method and Type of Thyroid Function Test.

Context: Physiological alterations challenge the assessment of maternal thyroid function in pregnancy. It remains uncertain how the reference ranges vary by week of pregnancy, and how the classification of disease varies by analytical method and type of thyroid function test.

Design: Serum samples from Danish pregnant women (n = 6282) were used for the measurement of thyrotropin (TSH), total and free thyroxine (T4), total and free 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), and T-uptake using "Method A" (Cobas 8000, Roche Diagnostics).

Thyroid function abnormalities and thyroid autoantibodies in Danish pregnant women.

Objective: Abnormal thyroid function in pregnant women is a matter of concern. Knowledge on the occurrence of known and unidentified thyroid function abnormalities in a large unselected cohort of pregnant women is warranted as part of the debate on benefits and risks of routine testing.

Design: Cohort study.

[Common variable immunodeficiency can present as a multisystemic disorder].

Common variable immunodeficiency is the second most common primary immunodeficiency with a prevalence of approx. 1/10.000-50.

Effects of atorvastatin on systemic and renal NO dependency in patients with non-diabetic stage II-III chronic kidney disease.

Aims: Clinical trials suggest that statins have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system independent from their cholesterol lowering properties. In patients with chronic kidney disease stage II-III, we tested the hypothesis that atorvastatin increased systemic and renal nitric oxide (NO) availability using L-N(G) -monomethyl arginine (L-NMMA) as an inhibitor of NO production.

Methods: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study patients were treated with atorvastatin for 5 days with standardized diet and fluid intake.

Effect of cholecalciferol supplementation during winter months in patients with hypertension: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Low 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are inversely related to blood pressure (BP) and have been associated with incident hypertension. In people living at northern latitudes diminished cholecalciferol synthesis in the winter increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency. We wanted to test the hypothesis that daily cholecalciferol supplementation in the winter lowers BP in patients with hypertension.

New mutations in APOB100 involved in familial hypobetalipoproteinemia.

Familial hypolipoproteinemia (FHBL) is characterized by an inherited low plasma level of apolipoprotein B containing lipoproteins. FHBL may be caused by mutations of APOB. Individuals with FHBL typically have intestinal malabsorption and frequently suffer from a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins.

Does bipolar pacemaker current activate blood platelets?

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether bipolar pacemaker current lead can activate blood platelets. The null hypothesis was that 1 minute of electrical stimulation of platelets would not influence their subsequent reactivity to adenosine diphosphate (ADP).

Background: Both platelets and muscle cells contain actin and myosin filaments, and both cells are activated following calcium influx.

No certain predictors for mutation status in a Danish cohort with familial hypercholesterolemia: a descriptive study.

Objective: In order to enable clinicians to refer the right persons suspected of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) for mutation screening, a retrospective study was conducted in a Danish FH cohort.

Design And Methods: The study comprised 643 probands and 395 relatives, of which 421 individuals had a pathogenic mutation, and 211 had cardiovascular disease (CVD). Logistic regression, Cox regression, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to find optimal predictive variables for mutation status and evaluate risk factors for CVD.

[Blood samples with hemolysis: clinical consequences?].

Hemolysis affects many biochemical analyses, and when pronounced the result is replaced by an autoreply pointing out the hemolysis present. However, for proper treatment it is crucial to know whether hemolysis is due to sampling (in vitro) or is taking place in the patient (in vivo). At present, no consensus exists on how to help clinicians differentiate between the two.