Analytical performance of the VITROS® Immunodiagnostic Products total PSA II and free PSA assays.

Objectives: To assess the precision and the performance of the VITROS(®) total PSA II (tPSA) and free PSA (fPSA) assays on the VITROS(®) ECi/ECiQ Immunodiagnostic system.

Design And Methods: The precision of the tPSA and fPSA assays was evaluated following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)-guideline EP5-A2. During a 20-day period, 2 runs of 5 quality control (QC) samples were performed daily.

Depressive symptoms in Crohn's disease: relationship with immune activation and tryptophan availability.

Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with immune activation and depressive symptoms. This study determines the impact of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α treatment in CD patients on depressive symptoms and the degree to which tryptophan (TRP) availability and immune markers mediate this effect. Fifteen patients with CD, eligible for anti-TNF-α treatment were recruited.

Laboratory detection of macro-aspartate aminotransferase: case report and evaluation of the PEG-precipitation method.

Background: Chronic elevated AST without other signs of liver disease, cardiac or skeletal abnormalities, is suggestive for macro-AST. Laboratory detection can be performed by gel filtration chromatography, ultrafiltration or precipitation with polyethylene glycol (PEG).

Patient And Methods: A healthy 27 year-old female was referred because of chronic elevated AST (116-704U/L) without other abnormalities.

Influence of separator gel in Sarstedt S-Monovette® serum tubes on various therapeutic drugs, hormones, and proteins.

Background: A separator or barrier gel is a common component of serum and plasma collection tubes. Despite their advantages, the use of these tubes is not universally accepted, especially for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the polyacrylester separator gel in Sarstedt S-Monovette\® tubes influences the concentration of 10 selected parameters (amikacin, vancomycin, valproic acid, acetaminophen, cortisol, free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, transferrin, prealbumin and carcinoembryonic antigen) in a clinically significant way.

Biochemical markers for blood-brain barrier dysfunction in acute ischemic stroke correlate with evolution and outcome.

Background/aims: We evaluated the cerebrospinal fluid/serum albumin ratio (AR) and kinetics of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in blood as markers for blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption after acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: The AR was determined in 88 patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. MMP-9 was measured on admission, 24, 72 h and 7 days after stroke onset.

Serum testosterone concentration in male autistic youngsters.

Objective: Research on the biological pathophysiology of autism has found some evidence that alterations in androgenic hormones may play a role in the pathophysiology of that disorder. We studied morning concentrations of serum testosterone in a very homogenic group of postpubertal youngsters with autism and a group of normal controls.

Methods: This study examines the serum testosterone concentration on 9 consecutive time points between 08.

The role of tryptophan catabolism along the kynurenine pathway in acute ischemic stroke.

Post-stroke inflammation may induce upregulation of the kynurenine (KYN) pathway for tryptophan (TRP) oxidation, resulting in neuroprotective (kynurenic acid, KA) and neurotoxic metabolites (3-hydroxyanthranillic acid, 3-HAA). We investigated whether activity of the kynurenine pathway in acute ischemic stroke is related to initial stroke severity, long-term stroke outcome and the ischemia-induced inflammatory response. Plasma concentrations of TRP and its metabolites were measured in 149 stroke patients at admission, at 24 h, at 72 h and at day 7 after stroke onset.

Evaluation of lactate as a marker of metabolic stress and cause of secondary damage in acute ischemic stroke or TIA.

Background: Accumulation of lactate in ischemic regions has been documented in acute stroke. We evaluated the relation between lactate levels in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and ischemic stroke evolution and outcome.

Methods: Lactate was measured in blood of 187 acute ischemic stroke and TIA patients at admission, 24 h, 72 h and 7 days after stroke onset.

Faulty serotonin--DHEA interactions in autism: results of the 5-hydroxytryptophan challenge test.

Background: Autism is accompanied by peripheral and central disorders in the metabolism of serotonin (5-HT). The present study examines plasma dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) and the cortisol/DHEA-S ratio following administration of L-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), the direct precursor of 5-HT, to autistic patients.

Methods: Plasma DHEA-S levels were determined both before and after administration of 5-HTP or placebo, on two consecutive days in a single blind order in 18 male autistic patients and 22 matched healthy controls.

Effects of experimental panic on neuroimmunological functioning.

Objective: Psychoimmunological research in panic disorder (PD) so far focussed on single time point evaluation in resting conditions. No robust evidence for changes in the immune system was found using this method. However, PD is characterized by the occurrence of unexpected panic attacks (PAs).

Central serotonergic hypofunction in autism: results of the 5-hydroxy-tryptophan challenge test.

Some studies have suggested that disorders in the central serotonergic function may play a role in the pathophysiology of autistic disorder. In order to assess the central serotonergic turnover in autism, this study examines the cortisol and prolactin responses to administration of L-5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP), the direct precursor of 5-HT in 18 male, post-pubertal, Caucasian autistic patients (age 13-19 y.; I.

Reference intervals for a complete blood count determined on different automated haematology analysers: Abx Pentra 120 Retic, Coulter Gen-S, Sysmex SE 9500, Abbott Cell Dyn 4000 and Bayer Advia 120.

We processed 317 samples from healthy adult volunteers for a complete blood count, including leukocyte differentials and reticulocyte parameters, through five new-generation haematology analysers: Abx Pentra 120 Retic, Coulter Gen-S, Sysmex SE 9500, Abbott Cell Dyn 4000 and Bayer Advia 120. From these data non-parametric 2.5-97.