Results of a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover trial of melatonin for treatment of Nocturia in adults with multiple sclerosis (MeNiMS).

Background: Nocturia is a common urinary symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) which can affect quality of life (QoL) adversely. Melatonin is a hormone known to regulate circadian rhythm and reduce smooth muscle activity such as in the bladder. There is limited evidence supporting use of melatonin to alleviate urinary frequency at night in the treatment of nocturia.

Maternal serum CA 19-9 and CA 15-3 levels in pregnancies affected by trisomy 21.

Objectives: To investigate the levels of tumour markers CA 19-9 and CA 15-3 in the first trimester maternal serum of euploid control and trisomy 21 pregnancies.

Methods: Maternal serum marker levels of 69 trisomy 21 and 388 euploid controls were quantified by the Kryptor analyser, and levels were compared between the two groups after analysis for confounding factors. Monte Carlo simulation was carried out to determine the effect of adding potential markers to the combined test.

A comparison of two immunoassay methods for the measurement of maternal serum placental growth factor in early pregnancy.

Objectives: To compare the DELFIA Xpress and Quantikine ELISA placental growth factor (PlGF) immunoassay platforms by analysing the same set of early first-trimester maternal serum samples from cases with trisomy 21 and euploid controls.

Methods: Thirty-seven trisomy 21 cases and 243 euploid control serum samples, drawn at 8(+0) to 10(+6) weeks of gestation, were reanalysed by Quantikine PlGF ELISA following original analysis on the DELFIA Xpress platform.

Results: PlGF levels increased with gestation in the euploid controls when measured on both platforms, although raw levels were in general lower on the DELFIA Xpress.

Maternal serum placental growth factor in second trimester trisomy 21 pregnancies.

Objective: To investigate the levels of placental growth factor (PlGF) in second trimester maternal serum in trisomy 21 cases and euploid controls - an unclear subject in the published literature.

Methods: Second trimester maternal serum samples from 17 recent (since 2005) and 74 older trisomy 21 cases and 542 euploid controls were extracted from frozen storage and retrospectively analysed for PlGF using a DELFIA Xpress immunoassay platform. Results were converted to multiples of median (MoM) for comparison.