Measurement of D-dimer in cerebrospinal fluid using a luminescent oxygen channeling immunoassay.

Background: Measurement of D-dimer in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) allows insight into coagulation system activation in the central nervous system and can be utilized to monitor intracranial hemorrhage as well as acute phase processes beyond hemostasis in inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. So far, the measurability of D-dimer in low and very low concentrations in CSF was limited in conventional immunoassays. Novel high-sensitivity chemiluminescent immunoassays such as the luminescent oxygen channeling immunoassay (LOCI) are getting increasingly available but have not been validated in CSF.

Role of S100B Serum Concentration as a Surrogate Outcome Parameter After Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Background And Objectives: To establish serum concentration of protein S100B as an objective biomarker surrogate for astroglial tissue damage after mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: This prospective 2-center study recruited patients with acute middle cerebral artery infarctions caused by large vessel occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Blood samples were collected at day 2 after intervention and analyzed for S100B serum concentrations using ELISA techniques.

The Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Equivalent as a Screening Marker for Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in children worldwide and may result in iron deficiency anemia (IDA). The reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret-He) provides information about the current availability of iron in erythropoiesis. This study aims to examine the validation of Ret-He as a screening marker for ID and IDA in children.

Spontaneous (Hashimoto-like) chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis in a rhesus macaque ().

A case of a female, 10-year-old rhesus macaque () with spontaneous chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is presented. At necropsy, the thyroid gland was slightly enlarged, with up to 2 mm large, round, confluent, beige foci on the surface of both lobes. Histopathologic features resembled human Hashimoto's thyroiditis: multifocally, the interstitium was infiltrated by lymphocytes and variably sized lymphoid follicles.

Vitamin D-A New Perspective in Treatment of Cerebral Vasospasm.

Background: Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is a frequent complication after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), with no sufficient therapy and a complex pathophysiology.

Objective: To explore the vitamin D system as a potential treatment for CVS.

Methods: 25-vitamin D3 levels tested between 2007 and 2015 and data of SAH patients admitted during the months with a peak vs nadir of VitD3 values were analyzed, retrospectively.