Performance of an automated system for quantitation of hepatitis C virus core antigen.

The performance of an automated system for the HCV core antigen assay using the Lumispot LS-2000 automated analyzer was evaluated against that of the COBAS AMPLICOR HCV MONITOR Test, version 2.0 (COBAS HCM-2) for the testing of sera from 155 chronic hepatitis C patients. The within-run coefficient of variations (CVs) and the between-day CVs were <9.

[Quantification of urinary hemoglobin by an immunological method].

The quantification method of urinary hemoglobin has not been established. We examined whether a reagent (Eiken, Tokyo) used to immunologically assay fecal hemoglobin could be utilized to quantify urinary hemoglobin. The coefficients of variation were 2.

Stereospecific analysis of omeprazole in human plasma as a probe for CYP2C19 phenotype.

Omeprazole is a class referred to as proton pump inhibitor; it acts to regulate acid production in the stomach and is used to treat various acid-related gastrointestinal disorders. In the liver, it is metabolized to varying degrees by several cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzymes which are further categorized into subfamilies of related polymorphic gene products. The metabolism of omeprazole is to a large extent dependent on CYP3A4 and CYP2C19.

Determination of omeprazole and its metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Omeprazole is a benzimidazole compound that acts as a proton-pump inhibitor. Because the metabolism of omeprazole is mainly catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A4 and CYP2C19. the genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19 could be of clinical concern in the treatment of acid-related diseases with omeprazole.

Apolipoprotein A-I deficiency with accumulated risk for CHD but no symptoms of CHD.

We evaluated a 69-year-old Japanese woman with apolipoprotein (apo) A-I deficiency, high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance. The patient had corneal opacity, but neither xanthomas, xanthelasma, nor tonsillar hypertrophy. She was not symptomatic for coronary heart disease (CHD), and had normal electrocardiograms at rest and exercise using a cycle ergometer.