Concordance between creatinine- and cystatin C-based eGFR in clinical practice.

The mean of GFR-estimates based on serum creatinine (eGFR) and cystatin C (eGFR) has superior accuracy than each estimate alone. Recent studies have shown that agreement between eGFR and eGFR is an indicator for the accuracy of the mean of the two estimates. As long as the difference between the two (|ΔeGFR|) is below 40%, a high P accuracy rate of more than 90% was documented in research settings using gold-standard GFR measurements.

Expression of the nucleoside transporters hENT1 (SLC29) and hCNT1 (SLC28) in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia.

Cellular uptake of clinically important deoxynucleoside analogs is mediated by nucleoside transporters including the human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) and the concentrative nucleoside transporter-1 (hCNT1). These transporters are responsible for influx of cytarabine and reduced hENT1 expression is a major resistance mechanism in acute myeloid leukemia. We determined hENT1 and hCNT1 protein expression by immunocytochemistry in 50 diagnostic pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patient samples.

Evidence for shrunken pore syndrome in children.

The link between cystatin C and mortality independent of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in adults has prompted the "Shrunken Pore Syndrome" (SPS) hypothesis, where high serum cystatin C with normal creatinine is explained by smaller glomerular pores, through which creatinine can pass freely, while the larger cystatin C, beta-trace protein (BTP) and pro-inflammatory molecules are retained. This study set out to apply the definition of SPS to children. In 294 children who underwent inulin clearance (Cin) test, serum creatinine, cystatin C and BTP were measured.

Diagnostic performance of Elecsys immunoassays for cerebrospinal fluid Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in a nonacademic, multicenter memory clinic cohort: The ABIDE project.

Introduction: We compared the automated Elecsys and manual Innotest immunoassays for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in a multicenter diagnostic setting.

Methods: We collected CSF samples from 137 participants in eight local memory clinics. Amyloid β(1-42) (Aβ42), total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) were centrally analyzed with Innotest and Elecsys assays.

Estimation of GFR in children using rescaled beta-trace protein.

Introduction: Beta-trace protein (BTP) is a low molecular weight protein, produced mainly in the cerebrospinal fluid. It has been proposed as a marker for kidney function. Recently, a new method for GFR estimation using mean normal values to rescale GFR marker concentrations has been described for creatinine and cystatin C, two commonly used endogenous markers for kidney function.

GFR-estimation by serum creatinine during glucocorticosteroid therapy.

Background: While glucocorticosteroids (GCS) are widely used in patients with kidney disease, little is known about their effect on serum creatinine, the most commonly used endogenous marker of kidney function.

Methods: We assessed the effect of GCS on the relationship between estimated GFR using the Schwartz equation (eGFR) and measured GFR using a single-injection inulin clearance (Cin) in children both in a paired analysis and a cross-sectional study. Primary outcome variable was the difference between eGFR and Cin (ΔGFR) in a paired analysis involving 22 patients during and off GCS treatment (mean GFR 103.

Combining GFR estimates from cystatin C and creatinine-what is the optimal mix?

Background: Combining estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations based on creatinine and cystatin C has been shown to improve the accuracy of GFR estimation. This study aims to optimize this strategy for height-independent GFR estimation in children.

Methods: Retrospective study of 408 inulin clearance tests with simultaneous International Federation of Clinical Chemistry-calibrated measurements of creatinine, cystatin C, and urea in children (mean age 12.

Accurate eGFR reporting for children without anthropometric data.

Introduction: Reporting estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) instead of serum concentrations is advised in current guidelines. Most creatinine-based eGFR equations for children require height, a parameter not readily available to laboratories. Combining height-dependent creatinine- and cystatin C-based eGFR improves performance.

Presence of human papillomavirus in semen in relation to semen quality.

Study Question: Is the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in semen associated with impairment of semen quality?

Summary Answer: In a large cohort of males seeking fertility evaluation, no associations were observed between seminal HPV presence and semen parameters.

What Is Known Already: HPV is commonly detected in semen samples. Whether the presence of HPV is related to impairment of semen quality, remains unclear.

Technical performance of a novel, fully automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for the quantitation of β-amyloid (1-42) in human cerebrospinal fluid.

Introduction: Available assays for quantitation of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarker amyloid-beta 1-42 (Aβ [1-42]) in cerebrospinal fluid demonstrate significant variability and lack of standardization to reference measurement procedures (RMPs). We report analytical performance data for the novel Elecsys β-amyloid (1-42) assay (Roche Diagnostics).

Methods: Lot-to-lot comparability was tested using method comparison.

Engagement of SIRPα inhibits growth and induces programmed cell death in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Background: Recent studies show the importance of interactions between CD47 expressed on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and the inhibitory immunoreceptor, signal regulatory protein-alpha (SIRPα) on macrophages. Although AML cells express SIRPα, its function has not been investigated in these cells. In this study we aimed to determine the role of the SIRPα in acute myeloid leukemia.

In vitro sensitivity and cross-resistance to deoxynucleoside analogs in childhood acute leukemia.

Background And Objectives: Cytarabine (ara-C) is a key drug in the treatment of acute leukemia. Resistance to ara-C might be circumvented by the use of other deoxynucleoside analogs.

Design And Methods: Using the MTT assay, we determined in vitro sensitivity and cross-resistance to deoxynucleoside analogs in 362 acute leukemia samples from untreated children and 32 normal bone marrow mononuclear cell samples.

In vivo induction of resistance to gemcitabine results in increased expression of ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 as the major determinant.

Gemcitabine is a deoxycytidine (dCyd) analogue with activity against several solid cancers. Gemcitabine is activated by dCyd kinase (dCK) and interferes, as its triphosphate dFdCTP, with tumor growth through incorporation into DNA. Alternatively, the metabolite gemcitabine diphosphate (dFdCDP) can interfere with DNA synthesis and thus tumor growth through inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase.

The effect of G-CSF on the in vitro cytotoxicity of cytarabine and fludarabine in the FLAG combination in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia.

The combination of fludarabine, cytarabine (ara-C) and G-CSF (FLAG) is routinely used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study we characterized the interactions between fludarabine, ara-C and G-CSF in vitro using AML blasts. Exposure to G-CSF alone resulted in a higher leukemic cell survival (LCS), which might be indicative of increased proliferation.

Aphidicolin decreases ex vivo resistance to cytosine arabinoside in childhood acute leukaemia.

In order to assess the effect of the DNA polymerase inhibitor aphidicolin on resistance to cytosine arabinoside, blast cells from 15 children with ALL and 9 with AML were exposed to a range of concentrations of ara-C +/- aphidicolin. Cell survival was measured using the MTT assay. Aphidicolin significantly increased sensitivity to ara-C in blast cells from both ALL (p=0.