Defining trimester-specific reference intervals for carbohydrate deficient transferrin in pregnant women.

Objectives: Extensive consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can lead to severe complications for the unborn child. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) levels in serum have become a common biomarker for excessive alcohol intake. However, during pregnancy CDT levels can rise to levels above commonly used cut-off values, for reasons unrelated to alcohol intake.

Explainable Machine Learning Models for Rapid Risk Stratification in the Emergency Department: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Risk stratification of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) is important for appropriate triage. Diagnostic laboratory tests are an essential part of the workup and risk stratification of these patients. Using machine learning, the prognostic power and clinical value of these tests can be amplified greatly.

Prospective multicentre mid-term clinical and radiological outcomes of 159 reverse total shoulder replacements and assessment of the influence of post-operative complications.

Background: The aim of our prospective multicentre study is to evaluate the five-year follow-up outcomes of primary reverse shoulder replacement utilizing two different designs of glenoid baseplates.

Methods: There were 159 reverse shoulder replacements (91 cemented and 68 uncemented stems, 67 Trabecular Metal baseplates and 92 Anatomical Shoulder baseplates in 152 patients (99 women) with a mean age of 74.5 (58-90) years.

Evaluation of the Atellica UAS 800: a new member of the automated urine sediment analyzer family.

Background: In 2017 the Atellica UAS 800 urine sediment analyzer was introduced by Siemens Healthineers. We investigated its applicability in the standardization and automation of the laboratory urinalysis workflow, including the prediction of urine culture outcome and glomerular pathology.

Methods: We evaluated the performance characteristics of the Atellica UAS 800 and its correlation with the iQ200 (Beckman Coulter).

The end of the laboratory developed test as we know it? Recommendations from a national multidisciplinary taskforce of laboratory specialists on the interpretation of the IVDR and its complications.

The in vitro diagnostic medical devices regulation (IVDR) will take effect in May 2022. This regulation has a large impact on both the manufacturers of in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVD) and clinical laboratories. For clinical laboratories, the IVDR poses restrictions on the use of laboratory developed tests (LDTs).

Evaluation of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin measurements on the V8 capillary electrophoresis system and comparison with the IFCC approved HPLC reference method and N-Latex immunonephelometric assay.

Objectives: Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) measurements are commonly used for the identification and follow-up of individuals suspected of chronic alcohol abuse. This study describes the analytical characteristics of the CDT assay on the Helena Biosciences V8 electrophoresis analyzer and compares its diagnostic performance to the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine approved high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method and the N-Latex CDT immunonephelometric assay.

Methods: The analytical performance of the V8 assay, including the linearity and the imprecision, was studied at two separate locations.

Current state of the morphological assessment of urinary erythrocytes in The Netherlands: a nation-wide questionnaire.

Background The morphological assessment of urinary erythrocytes (uRBC) is a convenient screening tool for the differentiation of nephrological (dysmorphic) and urological (isomorphic) causes of hematuria. Considering the morphological heterogeneity, this analysis is often perceived as difficult. There is no clear (inter)national consensus and there is a lack of external quality assessment programs.

Rapidly rule out acute myocardial infarction by combining copeptin and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein with cardiac troponin.

Background: The rapid exclusion of acute myocardial infarction in patients with chest pain can reduce the length of hospital admission, prevent unnecessary diagnostic work-up and reduce the burden on our health-care systems. The combined use of biomarkers that are associated with different pathophysiological aspects of acute myocardial infarction could improve the early diagnostic assessment of patients presenting with chest pain.

Methods: We measured cardiac troponin I, copeptin and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein concentrations in 584 patients who presented to the emergency department with acute chest pain.

Cardiac troponin in ischemic cardiomyocytes: intracellular decrease before onset of cell death.

Aim: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and T (cTnT) are the most important biomarkers in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Nevertheless, they can be elevated in the absence of AMI. It is unclear if such elevations represent irreversible cardiomyocyte-damage or leakage from viable cardiomyocytes.

A comprehensive review of upper reference limits reported for (high-)sensitivity cardiac troponin assays: the challenges that lie ahead.

Cardiac troponins (cTn) are the preferred markers for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The guidelines recommend the use of the 99th percentile upper reference concentration of a healthy population as the diagnostic cut-off for AMI. However, a broad range of upper reference limits is still employed, complicating the diagnosis of AMI.

Troponin T measurements by high-sensitivity vs conventional assays for risk stratification in acute dyspnea.

Background: Cardiac troponin T measured by a high-sensitivity assay (hs-cTnT) recently proved to be of prognostic value in several populations. The hs-cTnT assay may also improve risk stratification in acute dyspnea.

Methods: We prospectively studied the prognostic value of hs-cTnT in 678 consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department with acute dyspnea.

Cardiac troponin T elevations, using highly sensitive assay, in recreational running depend on running distance.

Background: Endurance exercise is frequently associated with cardiac troponin (cTn) concentrations, otherwise corresponding to minor myocardial infarction. However, research on the underlying mechanisms has been limited because of assay restraints in the low concentration range.

Methods And Results: Using the pre-commercial, highly sensitive hs-cTnT assay, cTnT concentrations were measured in samples from recreational runners obtained before and after running 5 km (trained, n = 43/untrained, n = 122), 15 km (n = 38), 21 km (n = 10), and 42 km (n = 85) (all trained).

Inflammation, overhydration and cardiac biomarkers in haemodialysis patients: a longitudinal study.

Background: Inflammation, overhydration and elevated cardiac biomarkers are related to outcome in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Here, we explored the relationship between the body composition (BC), inflammation and cardiac biomarker concentrations in HD patients longitudinally.

Methods: A total of 44 HD patients were followed for 6 months.

Understanding the adaptive growth strategy of Lactobacillus plantarum by in silico optimisation.

In the study of metabolic networks, optimization techniques are often used to predict flux distributions, and hence, metabolic phenotype. Flux balance analysis in particular has been successful in predicting metabolic phenotypes. However, an inherent limitation of a stoichiometric approach such as flux balance analysis is that it can predict only flux distributions that result in maximal yields.

Haemodialysis patients longitudinally assessed by highly sensitive cardiac troponin T and commercial cardiac troponin T and cardiac troponin I assays.

Background: Elevated cardiac troponin (cTn) concentrations predict an increased mortality in patients suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study compares the performance of a precommercial high-sensitive cTnT assay (hs-cTnT) with two contemporary cTn assays in detecting cTn elevations in ESRD patients during a six-month follow-up.

Methods: Thirty-two ESRD patients were followed for six months, during which cTn concentrations were assessed every two months.

Manipulation or intra-articular steroids in the management of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder? A prospective randomized trial.

Background: The management of adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) is controversial. The authors present a prospective randomized study comparing the outcome, at a two-year follow-up period, of two groups of patients treated either by manipulation of the shoulder under anaesthetic or by intra-articular shoulder injections using steroid with distension.

Methods: Fifty-three patients suffering from Idiopathic "Primary" Frozen Shoulder were prospectively randomized into two treatment groups and followed up for two years from the start of treatment.

Internal fixation of fractures of the proximal humerus with a humeral fixator plate (PlantTan Plate): a two year follow-up.

Fractures of the proximal humerus are common. Most can be treated conservatively with good results. However, there is no uniform treatment of displaced fractures.

Reference population and marathon runner sera assessed by highly sensitive cardiac troponin T and commercial cardiac troponin T and I assays.

Background: Endurance exercise can increase cardiac troponin (cTn) concentrations as high as those seen in cases of minor myocardial infarction. The inability of most cTn assays to reliably quantify cTn at very low concentrations complicates a thorough data analysis, and the clinical implications of such increases remain unclear. The application of recently developed highly sensitive cTn immunoassays may help resolve these problems.

The long-term effectiveness of steroid injections in primary acromioclavicular joint arthritis: a five-year prospective study.

We evaluated the long-term benefits of steroid injection in 25 shoulders in 20 consecutive patients (average age, 55 years) with primary acromioclavicular arthritis. Minimum follow-up was 5 years. The mean preinjection Constant score (61 points) improved at 6 months to 81 points, (mean difference, 19.

Wound infection in the management of hip fractures: a comparison between low-molecular weight heparin and mechanical prophylaxis.

A review of 205 consecutive patients was carried out to determine the association of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and the development of wound infection in patients having undergone surgery for a femoral neck fracture: 114 patients treated with LMW Heparin (Group A) and 91 patients with mechanical prophylaxis (Group B). The wounds were assessed using the ASEPSIS Score. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) were also noted.

3M Capital hip arthroplasty: 3-8-year follow-up of 208 primary hip replacements.

We reviewed 267 Capital hip replacements. Patients were recalled in 1998 after reports of failure of this prosthesis. 208 hips (200 patients) were followed-up (average 6 years).