Comparison between radiometry and spectrophotometry for the determination of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in cerebrospinal fluid.

Determination of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can help for establishing the diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis. We investigated the performance characteristics of two assays for ACE determination in 57 CSF, radiometry with [glycine-1-14C] benzoyl-L-histidyl-L-leucine and spectrophotometry with furylacryloyl-phenylalanyl-L-glycyl-L-glycine (FAPGG) as substrates. We compared both kinetic assays to an ELISA specific for human ACE.

[Measurement of angiotensin-I-converting enzyme in the blood: help for method validation].

Blood angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) assay is now realized by the determination of enzyme activity on synthetic substrate, mostly furylacryloyl-phenylalanyl-L-glycyl-L-glycine (FAPGG). The matrix can be serum or heparin-plasma, with or without a separator; the assay developed on serum or plasma is not adapted to other matrix such as cerebrospinal fluid where the ACE activity is much lower. This assay has been adapted on a number of automated biochemistry analyzers with the specifications of the supplier of reagents, sometimes with modification of volumes or times for analysis.

Multi-centre evaluation of recent troponin assays for the diagnosis of NSTEMI.

Objectives: We aimed to compare the use of nine different cardiac troponin (cTn) assays (2 cTnT and 7 cTnI) for the diagnosis of NSTEMI in a single multi-centre population.

Design And Methods: One hundred and fifty-eight patients were included (mean age 60 years, SD 17 years), including 23 patients (14%) with NSTEMI.

Results: The analytical comparison highlighted a large heterogeneity of cTn assays, as reflected by percentages of patients with detectable cTn, correlation coefficients, Passing-Bablok comparisons and concordance coefficients.

Search for biomarkers of neurosarcoidosis by proteomic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease, which mostly affects lung. Central nervous system can be affected causing a neurosarcoidosis in 5 to 15% of all sarcoidosis patients. The definitive diagnosis is established on histological examination of brain granulomas.