Clinical profile and serological correlation with haemolysis in DAT-positive autoimmune haemolytic anaemia patients in Bangladesh.

Discerning the type of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) is crucial for transfusion support and initiation of treatment. This study aimed to establish the clinical profile and serological character of red cell autoantibodies and to investigate the relationship with haemolysis in AIHA patients who were direct antiglobulin test (DAT)-positive. A total of 59 DAT-positive AIHA patients were included in this study.

Response to apheretic platelet transfusion in children of acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving induction chemotherapy: a cross-sectional study from Bangladesh.

Background: Disease and therapy-related hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia is a significant barrier to managing acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patients. To reduce the risk of haemorrhage, apheretic platelet transfusion is a modern, effective, and expensive option. Since most ALL patients in Bangladesh have financial constraints, this study can shed light on the magnitude of benefit regarding the effectiveness of apheretic platelet prophylactically and therapeutically in children of ALL receiving induction chemotherapy.

Prevalence of hypogonadism in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia patients of Bangladesh: investigating the role of serum ferritin level as a diagnostic tool.

Introduction: Hypogonadism is one of the most frequent complications in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients and early recognition and treatment is the core element in restoring impaired gonadal function. Despite the high burden of disease, relevant studies are scarcely addressing the gonadal function of such patients in Bangladesh. The pattern of gonadal function in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients must be characterized before planning a generalized management plan.

Marital Status and Gender Differences as Key Determinants of COVID-19 Impact on Wellbeing, Job Satisfaction and Resilience in Health Care Workers and Staff Working in Academia in the UK During the First Wave of the Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global public health crisis that continues to exert immense pressure on healthcare and related professional staff and services. The impact on staff wellbeing is likely to be influenced by a combination of modifiable and non-modifiable factors.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the self-reported wellbeing, resilience, and job satisfaction of National Health Service (NHS) and university staff working in the field of healthcare and medical research.

Self-perceived disease activity was the strongest predictor of COVID-19 pandemic-related concerns in young people with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, irrespective of their gender, with females reporting higher concerns.

Objectives: We report the results of a pilot young patient survey that targeted patients with JSLE and JDM, exploring well-being, resilience and general concern about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as well as self-assessment of disease activity.

Methods: The survey was completed anonymously by patients who had been approached via the automatically generated hospital database between June and December 2020. In addition to disease characteristics, geographic location, education and employment level, we explored young patients' resilience, mood and feelings, mental well-being, self-assessed disease activity and general COVID-19 concerns using validated tools and visual analogue scales.

Concordance of CSF measures of Alzheimer's pathology with amyloid PET status in a preclinical cohort: A comparison of Lumipulse and established immunoassays.

Introduction: We assessed the concordance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau measured on the fully automated Lumipulse platform with pre-symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology on amyloid positron emission tomography (PET).

Methods: In 72 individuals from the Insight 46 study, CSF Aβ40, Aβ42, total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau at site 181 (p-tau181) were measured using Lumipulse, INNOTEST, and Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) assays and inter-platform Pearson correlations derived. Lumipulse Aβ42 measures were adjusted to incorporate standardization to certified reference materials.

Concordance of CSF measures of Alzheimer's pathology with amyloid PET status in a preclinical cohort: A comparison of Lumipulse and established immunoassays.

Introduction: We assessed the concordance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau measured on the fully automated Lumipulse platform with pre-symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology on amyloid positron emission tomography (PET).

Methods: In 72 individuals from the Insight 46 study, CSF Aβ40, Aβ42, total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau at site 181 (p-tau181) were measured using Lumipulse, INNOTEST, and Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) assays, and inter-platform Pearson correlations were derived. Logistic regressions and receiver-operating characteristic analysis generated CSF cut-points optimizing concordance with F-florbetapir amyloid PET status (n = 63).

Plasma phospho-tau181 in presymptomatic and symptomatic familial Alzheimer's disease: a longitudinal cohort study.

Blood biomarkers have great potential to advance clinical care and accelerate trials in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Plasma phospho-tau181 (p-tau181) is a promising blood biomarker however, it is unknown if levels increase in presymptomatic AD. Therefore, we investigated the timing of p-tau181 changes using 153 blood samples from 70 individuals in a longitudinal study of familial AD (FAD).

Correction to: Relevance of biomarkers across different neurodegenerative diseases.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Relevance of biomarkers across different neurodegenerative diseases.

Background: The panel of fluid- and imaging-based biomarkers available for neurodegenerative disease research is growing and has the potential to close important gaps in research and the clinic. With this growth and increasing use, appropriate implementation and interpretation are paramount. Various biomarkers feature nuanced differences in strengths, limitations, and biases that must be considered when investigating disease etiology and clinical utility.

Perspectives in fluid biomarkers in neurodegeneration from the 2019 biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases course-a joint PhD student course at University College London and University of Gothenburg.

Until relatively recently, a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders was principally based on clinical presentation, with post-mortem examination remaining a gold standard for disease confirmation. This is in sharp contrast to other areas of medicine, where fluid biomarkers, such as troponin levels in myocardial infarction, form an integral part of the diagnostic and treatment criteria. There is a pressing need for such quantifiable and easily accessible tools in neurodegenerative diseases.

University College London/University of Gothenburg PhD course "Biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases" 2019-course organisation.

Biomarkers are increasingly employed for effective research into neurodegenerative diseases. They have become essential for reaching an accurate clinical diagnosis, monitoring disease, and refining entry criteria for participation in clinical treatment trials, and will be key in measuring target engagement and treatment outcome in disease-modifying therapies. Emerging techniques and research combining different biomarker modalities continue to strengthen our understanding of the underlying pathology and the sequence of pathogenic events.