Measurement of HbA1c in multicentre diabetes trials - should blood samples be tested locally or sent to a central laboratory: an agreement analysis.

Background: Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is an important outcome measure in diabetes clinical trials. For multicentre designs, HbA1c can be measured locally at participating centres or by sending blood samples to a central laboratory. This study analyses the agreement between local and central measurements, using 1-year follow-up data collected in a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) of newly diagnosed children with type I diabetes.

Minichromosome maintenance protein in myxofibrosarcoma.

Histopathological assessment of myxofibrosarcoma may be difficult, especially on the basis of a small core biopsy, which enables only a crude evaluation of grade and prognosis. We have tested the hypothesis that determination of cell cycle state may assist in the diagnostic assessment of myxofibrosarcoma. We have studied 51 cases of high-grade (n=20), intermediate-grade (n=21), and low-grade (n=10) myxofibrosarcomas, as well as nine cases of benign myxoma.

Potential implications of ABO blood group for vascular rejection in pig to human kidney xenotransplantation.

Background: A substantial hurdle for successful xenotransplantation is to negate the effect of xenoreactive natural antibodies [mainly Galalpha1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc (alpha-Gal) specific] that cause hyperacute xenograft rejection. Galalpha1-3Gal molecules (alpha-Gal) have close structural homology with human ABO blood groups and therefore an individual's blood group might influence the formation of alpha-Gal specific antibodies. Genetic heterogeneity controlling alpha-Gal specific antibody formation could have important implications for future pig to human xenotransplantation clinical trials.