Evaluation of the Diesse Cube 30 touch erythrocyte sedimentation method in comparison with Alifax test 1 and the manual Westergren gold standard method.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a traditional nonspecific laboratory test used for the assessment of inflammation. Even if its usefulness is nowadays being largely debated, it is still considered a valuable laboratory test in selected clinical conditions, such as rheumatoid diseases, orthopedic infections and Hodgkin's lymphoma, and it can be used for the infectious, inflammatory, malignancies, and autoimmune diseases follow-up. The introduction of new methodologies on semi-automated and automated analyzers started about four decades ago and opened a new era of ESR analysis characterized by shorter assay time, use of (EDTA) undiluted blood, that increases sample stability and allows using a single sample for also other hematologic tests, and greater safety for laboratory personnel.

Glutathione Transferase P1-1 an Enzyme Useful in Biomedicine and as Biomarker in Clinical Practice and in Environmental Pollution.

Glutathione transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1) is expressed in some human tissues and is abundant in mammalian erythrocytes (here termed e-GST). This enzyme is able to detoxify the cell from endogenous and exogenous toxic compounds by using glutathione (GSH) or by acting as a ligandin. This review collects studies that propose GSTP1-1 as a useful biomarker in different fields of application.

Levamisole in Illicit Trafficking Cocaine Seized: A One-Year Study.

Cocaine use is increasing around the world and its purity is frequently altered through dilution, substitution, contamination, and adulteration. Sugars, talc, starch, and carbonates represent the principal diluents of cocaine, while phenacetin, levamisole, caffeine, and lidocaine are its major adulterants in Europe. Levamisole is used because it is an odorless powder, with physical properties similar to cocaine, and it has reasonable cost and availability, being widely used in veterinary medicine.

Plasma and erythrocyte membrane phospholipids and fatty acids in Italian general population and hemodialysis patients.

Background: Dyslipidemia and abnormal phospholipid metabolism are frequent in uremic patients and increase their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD): ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may reduce this risk in the general population. In this study we compared the plasma and erythrocyte cell membrane composition of PUFAs in a group of Caucasian hemodialysis (HD) patients and in a control group of healthy subjects and evaluated the erythrocyte/cell membrane fatty acid ratio as a marker of the dietary intake of phospholipids. The relationship between ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids and the possible differences in PUFAs concentrations were also investigated.