The free cortisol calculated: correlation with the free cortisol concentrations measured with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after equilibrium dialysis and establishment of reference intervals.

Background: Changes in cortisol binding globulin (CBG) impact the total serum cortisol concentration and affect the accurate assessment of adrenal function. Free biologically cortisol can be calculated using different equations or directly measured after complicated procedures.

Methods: The free cortisol index (FCI) obtained using the Bonte formula as well as the free cortisol concentration calculated (Coolens equation) were first estimated for 45 healthy workers.

Severity of COVID-19 among Hospitalized Patients: Omicron Remains a Severe Threat for Immunocompromised Hosts.

The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the general population in the context of a relatively high immunity gained through the early waves of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), and vaccination campaigns. Despite this context, a significant number of patients were hospitalized, and identifying the risk factors associated with severe disease in the Omicron era is critical for targeting further preventive, and curative interventions. We retrospectively analyzed the individual medical records of 1501 SARS-CoV-2 positive hospitalized patients between 13 December 2021, and 13 February 2022, in Belgium, of which 187 (12.

Cascadion™ SM Clinical Analyzer: Evaluation of the whole blood immunosuppressants quantification and routine usability.

Background: Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC- MS/MS) tends to overcome other methods for therapeutic drugs monitoring (TDM) due to its very good analytical performances. Nevertheless, the lack of automation still limits its use in laboratory medicine. The Cascadion SM Clinical Analyzer (Thermo Fisher Scientific) is the first fully automated LC-MS/MS instrument available.

Two-day low-dose dexamethasone suppression test more accurate than overnight 1-mg in women taking oral contraceptives.

Introduction: Late-night salivary cortisol (LSaC) and 24-h urinary free cortisol measurement, and overnight 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (1 mg-DST) are the first-line screening tests recommended for Cushing's syndrome. Through elevations in the level of cortisol-binding globulin, oral contraceptive agents lead to increases in the total plasma cortisol concentration, yielding false-positive 1 mg-DST results.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of the overnight 1-mg DST and two-day low-dose DST (2d-DST) in female volunteers taking combined oestrogen-progestin oral contraceptives (COCs).

Matching visual induction effects on screens of different size.

In the film industry, the same movie is expected to be watched on displays of vastly different sizes, from cinema screens to mobile phones. But visual induction, the perceptual phenomenon by which the appearance of a scene region is affected by its surroundings, will be different for the same image shown on two displays of different dimensions. This phenomenon presents a practical challenge for the preservation of the artistic intentions of filmmakers, because it can lead to shifts in image appearance between viewing destinations.