Assessing the comparability of cycle threshold values derived from five external quality assessment rounds for omicron nucleic acid testing.

Background: A variety of open-system real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays for several acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 are currently in use. This study aimed to ensure the quality of omicron nucleic acid testing and to assess the comparability of cycle threshold (Ct) values derived from RT-PCR.

Methods: Five external quality assessment (EQA) rounds using the omicron virus-like particles were organized between February 2022 and June 2022.

Development of a matrix-based candidate reference material for human glycated albumin using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

Glycated albumin (GA) in human serum is tested clinically as a short-term indicator for glucose monitoring. Here, we evaluated a candidate serum reference material (RM) at three different GA concentrations to help standardize serum GA measurements. Both albumin and GA were quantitatively determined using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with lysine-4,4,5,5-D·2HCl (D-lysine) and N-C-(l-deoxy-d-fructose-1-yl)-l-lysine (C-DOF-lysine) as internal standards and lysine and synthetic DOF-lysine as calibration standards.

A machine learning-based approach for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol calculation using age, and lipid parameters.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a critical biomarker for cardiovascular disease. However, no consensus exists on the best method for estimating LDL-C in Chinese laboratories. This study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) method for LDL-C estimation.

Routine blood biomarkers for the detection of multiple myeloma using machine learning.

Introduction: Primary laboratory tests performed in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM) include bone marrow examination and free light chain assay; however, these may only be ordered after clinical suspicion of disease. In contrast, routine blood test results are readily available.

Methods: Machine learning algorithms (ML) combined with routine blood tests were used to detect MM.

Prognostic value of EGFR and KRAS in circulating tumor DNA in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

EGFR (exon 19 and exon 21) mutations in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated by EGFR-TKIs are associated with a better survival; while KRAS mutations predict a worse prognosis. However, there are divergent findings regarding the prognostic value of EGFR and KRAS mutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). We aimed to summarize the evidence for the use of circulating EGFR and KRAS mutations as prognostic factors in advanced NSCLC patients.

Prognostic value of circulating tumor DNA in patients with colon cancer: Systematic review.

The application of circulating tumor DNA(ctDNA) represents a non-invasive method for tumor detection. Its prognostic significance in patients with colorectal cancer is controversial. We performed a systematic review of data from published studies to assess the prognostic values of ctDNA in patients with colorectal cancer.

Engineering Antibodies for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases.

Historically, serum therapy was previously used to combat infectious pathogens. However, serum sickness and anaphylaxis limited its broad application. The advancement of antibody engineering technologies has made it feasible to generate monoclonal antibodies.

The reliable assurance of detecting somatic mutations in cancer-related genes by next-generation sequencing: the results of external quality assessment in China.

To evaluate the proficiencies of laboratories utilizing next-generation sequencing (NGS) to detect somatic mutations in cancer-related genes, an external quality assessment (EQA) was implemented by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories of China in 2015. We prepared a panel of samples that comprised eight samples made by mixing synthetic mutated DNA fragments with normal human genomic DNA and one reference sample containing only genomic DNA. We validated our sample panel, and then distributed it to laboratories across China.

Hybrid kappa\lambda antibody is a new serological marker to diagnose autoimmune pancreatitis and differentiate it from pancreatic cancer.

The only generally accepted serological marker currently used for the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is IgG4. Our aim was mainly to determine whether hybrid κ\λ antibody can help to diagnose AIP and to differentiate it from pancreatic cancer. We established an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system to measure the levels of hybrid κ\λ antibodies in human sera.

Diagnostic Value of Serum IgG4 for IgG4-Related Disease: A PRISMA-compliant Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Many studies about serum IgG4 for the diagnosis of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) have been reported. However, these studies had relatively small sample sizes and the diagnostic accuracy values varied much between them.The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum IgG4 for IgG4-RD.

Increased Kappa/Lambda Hybrid Antibody in Serum Is a Novel Biomarker Related to Disease Activity and Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The κ/λ hybrid antibodies in normal human serum were reported recently, but their clinical relevance has not yet been explored. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the major joint diseases, and the early diagnosis and treatment of RA remain a challenge. Here, we developed a double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system to quantify relative serum κ/λ hybrid antibody levels in RA patients, osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and healthy controls (HC) in order to assess their potential use as a serological biomarker of early disease and clinical activity and to preliminarily investigate their immunomodulatory roles in RA.

Diagnostic value of Der p 1 and Der p 2 specific IgE in Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus IgE sensitization.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic performance of Der p 1 and Der p 2 specific IgE (sIgE).

Data Sources: Studies were systematic computerized searches of the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane libraries (published 1966 to September 5, 2015).

Study Selection: Records were screened by title and abstract and then by full-text articles of relevant studies.

Bispecific antibodies and their applications.

Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) recognize two different epitopes. This dual specificity opens up a wide range of applications, including redirecting T cells to tumor cells, blocking two different signaling pathways simultaneously, dual targeting of different disease mediators, and delivering payloads to targeted sites. The approval of catumaxomab (anti-EpCAM and anti-CD3) and blinatumomab (anti-CD19 and anti-CD3) has become a major milestone in the development of bsAbs.

A new type of natural bispecific antibody with potential protective effect in Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Context: As a new antibody concept, natural bispecific antibodies (nBsAbs) have been detected in long-term passive immunization and some diseases, but their potential immunomodulatory role remains unclear. Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) appears to fulfill the condition for nBsAb production but has not yet been characterized.

Objective: The objective of the study was to identify a new nBsAb against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (Tg) in HT patients and to preliminarily explore its immunomodulatory role.

Identification of circulating microRNAs as biomarkers in cancers: what have we got?

During the past few years there has been great interest in the development of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as stable blood-based biomarkers for cancer detection. Deregulation of miRNAs in blood samples has shown considerable clinical utilities in cancers. Due to poorly characterized preanalytical and analytical variables and the lack of a standardized measurement protocol, the application of these miRNA fingerprints is hindered by conflicting results.

Regions identity between the genome of vertebrates and non-retroviral families of insect viruses.

Background: The scope of our understanding of the evolutionary history between viruses and animals is limited. The fact that the recent availability of many complete insect virus genomes and vertebrate genomes as well as the ability to screen these sequences makes it possible to gain a new perspective insight into the evolutionary interaction between insect viruses and vertebrates. This study is to determine the possibility of existence of sequence identity between the genomes of insect viruses and vertebrates, attempt to explain this phenomenon in term of genetic mobile element, and try to investigate the evolutionary relationship between these short regions of identity among these species.