Antiphospholipid Antibody Testing in a Maximum Care Hospital: Method-Dependent Differences.

Antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) testing is critical for the classification of antiphospholipid syndrome. The 2023 ACR/EULAR classification criteria recommend the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and specific thresholds for aPL positivity. Since non-ELISA methods are increasingly used, we compared and evaluated ELISA and non-ELISA aPL assays in a real-world maximum care hospital setting.

When rare becomes common: N2 gene-positive, E gene-negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR results between 2021 and 2022.

Nucleocapsid gene-positive, envelope gene-negative (N2+/E-) SARS-CoV-2 PCR results obtained with the Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay are an infrequent phenomenon. We assessed the validity of the N2+/E- cases with an indirect approach by analyzing their occurrence in relation to overall positive PCR rates and absolute number of PCR tests (24,909 samples, collected June 2021 to July 2022). Additionally, 3022 samples were analyzed with the Xpert Xpress CoV-2-plus assay in August/September 2022.

Laboratory policies and practices for thyroid function tests in Croatia: survey on behalf of Working Group for Laboratory Endocrinology of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

Introduction: Laboratory plays important part in screening, diagnosis, and management of thyroid disorders. The aim of this study was to estimate current laboratory preanalytical, analytical and postanalytical practices and policies in Croatia.

Materials And Methods: Working Group for Laboratory Endocrinology of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine designed a questionnaire with 27 questions and statements regarding practices and protocols in measuring thyroid function tests.

Verification policies in Croatian medical biochemistry laboratories: a survey of the practice.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to screen practices used in verification procedures for methods/analysers among medical biochemistry laboratories (MBLs) in Croatia. We hypothesized that these procedures differ widely from laboratory to laboratory and wanted to gather specific data on steps used in the verification workflow.

Materials And Methods: In order to obtain data, an online survey was conducted.

Test validation, method comparison and reference range for the measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate in peripheral blood samples.

Introduction: The measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) concentrations is a corner stone of the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis and other ketonic states. The aim of this study was to perform a validation of a peripheral blood βOHB assay (Randox) on a Roche cobas c502 analyser and to establish a βOHB reference range for the validated assay.

Materials And Methods: Precision, linearity and limit of detection and blank (LoD, LoB) were determined according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) EP05-A3, EP 06-A and EP17-A2 guidelines, using commercial control material and residual patient sample pools.

Precision, accuracy, cross reactivity and comparability of serum indices measurement on Abbott Architect c8000, Beckman Coulter AU5800 and Roche Cobas 6000 c501 clinical chemistry analyzers.

Background: The aim of our study was to perform verification of serum indices on three clinical chemistry platforms.

Methods: This study was done on three analyzers: Abbott Architect c8000, Beckman Coulter AU5800 (BC) and Roche Cobas 6000 c501. The following analytical specifications were verified: precision (two patient samples), accuracy (sample with the highest concentration of interferent was serially diluted and measured values compared to theoretical values), comparability (120 patients samples) and cross reactivity (samples with increasing concentrations of interferent were divided in two aliquots and remaining interferents were added in each aliquot.

Soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and omentin-1 as potential biomarkers of subclinical atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients.

Purpose: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular complications represent significant cause of mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aims of this study were to: (a) investigate association of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, omentin-1 and other non-traditional risk factors with subclinical atherosclerosis; (b) examine the diagnostic value of these specific markers in the early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis; and (c) examine their role as predictors of mortality in group of patients with subclinical atherosclerosis on regular HD.

Materials And Methods: Starting from November 2011, a cohort of 210 HD patients participated in this 3-year follow-up study.

Croatian laboratories have a good knowledge of the proper detection and management of hemolyzed, icteric and lipemic samples.

Background: Endogenous interferences are an important source of biased laboratory results. Hemolysis, lipemia and icteria are the main source of endogenous interference in laboratory medicine. Accreditation according to ISO 15189 improves the overall quality of the laboratory procedures.

Serum omentin-1 levels as a possible risk factor of mortality in patients with diabetes on haemodialysis.

Aim: The main cause of mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients is cardiovascular disease. Serum omentin-1 level was found to be associated with cardio-metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the role of omentin-1 as a predictor of mortality in a group of diabetes positive HD patients.

How well are pregnant women in Croatia informed about the oral glucose tolerance test?

Introduction: Preanalytical errors still constitute the largest source of errors in laboratory work. Proper patient preparation and patient's knowledge about a particular procedure affects its accuracy and reliability. We hypothesized that most of pregnant women are not well enough informed about the proper procedure for the OGTT.

Evaluation of the BD Vacutainer(®) RST blood collection tube for routine chemistry analytes: clinical significance of differences and stability study.

Introduction: Preanalytical variables account for most of laboratory errors. There is a wide range of factors that affect the reliability of laboratory report. Most convenient sample type for routine laboratory analysis is serum.

[Metoprolol and atenolol in mild-to-moderate chronic heart failure: comparative study].

The clinical end-point of all causes of mortality and cardiovascular hospitalisation (combined end-points) is a widely accepted indicator of heart failure survival. The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of metoprolol and atenolol on combined end-points in patients with mild-to-moderate heart failure. This study was designed to be comparative, prospective, and random.

Brief history of medicine in Slovenia.

Slovenes have lived in the territory of today's Slovenia for more than 14 centuries, whilst the history of its medical culture goes back for 2000 years. The advent of Christianity in Slovenia in the eighth century AD marked an important turning point in the development of its medicine. The 500 years of the Habsburg monarchy was later to have a further impact on the development of new medical ideas.

13-cis-retinoic acid and bone density.

Background: 13-Cis-retinoic acid has an influence on bone in patients on long-term treatment as well as on short-term treatment. The presence of skeletal abnormalities after the treatment was established by roentgenologic and scintigraphic examinations. We wanted to know whether a 6-month course of low-dose 13-cis-retinoic acid has a clinically important influence on bone density in men with severe acne.

[Clinical application of beta-blockers with particular reference to hypertension].

Beta-blockers are effective in reducing the blood pressure of many patients with systemic hypertension. They differ in terms of the presence or absence of partial agonistic activity, membrane-stabilizing activity, beta-1 selectivity, alfa-blocking properties and relative potency and duration of action. All beta-blockers appear to have blood pressure lowering effects.

Antihypertensive effect of indapamide given in conjunction with captopril in severe hypertension.

The efficacy of captopril alone or in combination with indapamide was evaluated in 17 patients with severe hypertension (diastolic greater than 120 mmHg) previously treated with triple antihypertensive therapy, i.e. diuretic, beta-blocker and a vasodilator.