[The value of repeated determinations of brain natriuretic peptide for the diagnosis of unstable angina].

The diagnosis of unstable angina (troponine undetectable) is often difficult in the absence of electrocardiographic changes after suggestive chest pains. The object of this study was to analyse the kinetics of Brain Natiuretic Peptide (BNP) during acute coronary syndromes (ACS) without ST elevation. Plasma BNP was measured every 6 hours for 48 hours in 65 patients admitted for suspicion of ACS without ST elevation and without clinical, radiological or echocardiographic signs of left ventricular dysfunction.

External evaluation of LIAISON tumour marker assays on the fully automated chemiluminescent LIAISON immunoassay analyser.

The LIAISON immunoassay analyser was tested in a multicentre evaluation performed by 8 laboratories. The analytes evaluated were CA 15-3, CA 19-9, CA 125II, AFP, CEA, NSE and PSA. Excellent results were obtained for within-run and between-run precision with most assays showing within-run CVs < 5% and between-run CVs between 4 and 8%.

[Validity of immunochemical assays for blood estradiol. Study conducted in 1994].

Since 1989 many kits have been commercialized for measuring estradiol by non-isotopic immunoassays which largely contributed to the diffusion of this parameter. Rapidly, in quality control schemes, a wide dispersion of results has been observed. In this paper, the kits' characteristics (precision, accuracy and detection limit) have been studied and compared to a reference method (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry).

[Value of immunoassay of hCG for the determination of high plasma concentrations].

The serum concentration of human chorionic gonadotrophin is higher in trisomy 21 than in normal pregnancy. Our study aimed at comparing 17 commercial kits, both those for measuring high concentrations and others for diagnosis and initial follow-up of pregnancy under specific conditions, ie for measuring hCG concentrations between weeks 14 and 18 of pregnancy. All kits were satisfactory; however, usual values for the gestational weeks concerned need to be established for each reagent.

Free triiodothyronine (FT3) EIA-BioMerieux. Analytical and clinical evaluation.

We tested a new immuno-enzymatic kit: FT3-EIA BioMerieux, for direct measurement of FT3. Precision is good, with coefficients of variation below 10%. Detection limit is 0.

[Valproic acid, a comparison between 2 methods of determination: immunoenzymology and high performance liquid chromatography].

Valproic acid is a very commonly used anti-epileptic drug which requires regular monitoring. The authors consider the assay of this drug by means of 2 techniques: Syva's homogeneous phase immuno-enzymatic technique adapted by Du Pont de Nemours for his automatic clinical analyser and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The precision of the immuno-enzymatic technique is insufficient for concentrations of valproic acid of between 70 and 35 mumol/l (coefficient of variation: 27.

Rapid assessment of the distribution of apolipoproteins C-II and C-III subspecies in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins by isoelectric focusing.

We describe an isoelectric-focusing method for rapidly separating and quantifying apolipoprotein (apo) C-II and C-III subspecies of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Concentrated very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) or delipidated apo VLDL are focused on dry acrylamide plates, after their rehydration with ampholytes and urea. Apo C-II and apo C-III in VLDL are resolved into four major bands--C-II (pI 5.

[Evaluation of the cardiovascular risk associated with atherosclerosis: HDL-cholesterol or apoproteins? (author's transl)].

The antiatherogenic role of HDL-cholesterol is now well established and for some years plasma HDL-cholesterol measurements have been used in the biochemical evaluation of atherosclerosis. A positive correlation has been found between low HDL-cholesterol plasma levels and high risk of cardiovascular complications. More recently, studies of the proteinic component of lipoproteins, particularly apoprotein A 1 of HDL lipoproteins and apoprotein B of LDL and VLDL lipoproteins, have shown that measurement of apoproteins is of greater help to differentiate between normal subjects and patients with coronary artery disease, irrespective of age.

[Interpretation of B and A apoproteins dosage in the acute accidents of the cerebral and coronary atherosclerosis. Age influence upon the results (author's transl)].

In the purpose of studying their respective predictive value, beside the cardiovascular risk, the concentrations of B and (Apo) A1 apoproteins, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were estimated in a group of 110 patients (acute coronary insufficiency : 30 cases; recent myocardial infarction : 50 cases; cerebro-vascular accident : 30 cases) compared with the concentrations of an example group composed of 150 normolipemic subjects, presumed healthy. The concentrations of Apo A1 and HDL-cholesterol remain close in both groups, respectively to 1,6 +/- 0,33 mmol/l and 0,85 +/- 0,18. On the other hand, in the patients group, the concentrations of LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and cholesterol are very increased in all the patients less than 60 years old; beyond they meet the ones of the control subjects with same age; the concentrations of the Apo B stay high in all the cases.