[Clinical use of D-dimer testing].

D-dimers are fibrin degradation products which are released during local or systemic activation of coagulation. D-dimer testing is widely used for the work-up of patients suspected of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Interpretation of D-dimer levels must take into account the sensitivity and specificity of the assay.

Simultaneous determination of four anthracyclines and three metabolites in human serum by liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and very specific method, using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ES-MS), was developed for the determination of epirubicin, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, idarubicin and the respective active metabolites of the last three, namely doxorubicinol, daunorubicinol and idarubicinol in human serum, using aclarubicin as internal standard. Once thawed, 0.5-ml serum samples underwent an automated solid-phase extraction, using C18 Bond Elut cartridges (Varian) and a Zymark Rapid-Trace robot.

Sensitive determination of irinotecan (CPT-11) and its active metabolite SN-38 in human serum using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry.

A couple of sensitive and accurate liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (LC- S-MS) methods for the determination of the total forms of irinotecan and its active metabolite SN-38 in human serum, using the same chromatographic and detection conditions, is presented. Both used camptothecin as internal standard (I.S.