Symptom burden, coagulopathy and heart disease after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in primary practice.

SETANTA (Study of HEarT DiseAse and ImmuNiTy After COVID-19 in Ireland) study aimed to investigate symptom burden and incidence of cardiac abnormalities after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/COVID-19 and to correlate these results with biomarkers of immunological response and coagulation. SETANTA was a prospective, single-arm observational cross-sectional study condcuted in a primary practice setting, and prospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT04823182).

Total plasma homocysteine measurement: Evaluation of the Abbott immunoassay, comparison with the JEOL ion exchange chromatography and investigation of its clinical utility.

Objectives: Homocysteine is an intermediary amino acid formed in methionine metabolism, with elevated total homocysteine (tHCY) being a biomarker of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. We evaluated the Abbott ARCHITECT tHCY immunoassay, compared it with the current established JEOL ion exchange chromatography (IEC) method and evaluated its clinical utility.

Design And Methods: Following immunoassay method verification, plasma samples of 91 patients were analysed for tHCY using immunoassay and IEC.

Performance characteristics of five SARS-CoV-2 serological assays: Clinical utility in health-care workers.

Study Objective: SARS-CoV-2, which causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of acute infection relies on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based viral detection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the optimal serological testing strategy for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies which provides an important indicator of prior infection and potential short-term immunity.

Correction to: Can routine perioperative haemodynamic parameters predict postoperative morbidity after major surgery?

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13741-020-0139-6.].

Can routine perioperative haemodynamic parameters predict postoperative morbidity after major surgery?

Background: Postoperative morbidity occurs in 10-15% of patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery. Predicting patients at higher risk of morbidity may help to optimize perioperative prevention. Preoperative haemodynamic parameters, systolic arterial pressure (SAP) < 100 mmHg, pulse pressure (PP) > 62 mmHg or < 53 mmHg, and heart rate (HR) > 87 min are associated with increased postoperative morbidity.

The aldosterone to renin ratio in the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism: Promises and challenges.

The complexity of evaluating patients for secondary treatable causes of hypertension is underappreciated. Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most prevalent cause of secondary hypertension (3%-32% of hypertensive patients). The recent endocrine society clinical practice guideline (ESCPG), "The Management of Primary Aldosteronism: Case Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment", differs from the previous version in the explicit recognition of PA as a major public health issue.

Fertility in classical galactosaemia, a study of N-glycan, hormonal and inflammatory gene interactions.

Background: Classical Galactosaemia (CG) (OMIM #230400) is a rare inborn error of galactose metabolism caused by deficiency of the enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT). Long-term complications persist in treated patients despite dietary galactose restriction with significant variations in outcomes suggesting epigenetic glycosylation influences. Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is a very significant complication affecting females with follicular depletion noted in early life.

Validation of an automated ultraperformance liquid chromatography IgG N-glycan analytical method applicable to classical galactosaemia.

Background Classical galactosaemia (OMIM #230400) is a rare disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by deficiency of the galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase enzyme. The pathophysiology of the long-term complications, mainly cognitive, neurological and female fertility problems, remains poorly understood. Current clinical methods of biochemical monitoring lack precision and individualization with an identified need for improved biomarkers for this condition.

Generating method-specific Reference Ranges - A harmonious outcome?

Objectives: When laboratory Reference Ranges (RR) do not reflect analytical methodology, result interpretation can cause misclassification of patients and inappropriate management. This can be mitigated by determining and implementing method-specific RRs, which was the main objective of this study.

Design And Methods: Serum was obtained from healthy volunteers (Male + Female, n > 120) attending hospital health-check sessions during June and July 2011.

Evaluation of cystatin C in malignancy and comparability of estimates of GFR in oncology patients.

Objectives: Creatinine is the biomarker of choice for use in estimates of kidney function in oncology patients. However as non-renal factors such as muscle mass can influence creatinine concentrations, we evaluated cystatin C as an alternative biomarker and its incorporation in GFR estimating formulae in an oncology setting. Measured GFR is infrequently undertaken in adult clinical practice with the consequent reliance on calculated GFR for patient assessment.

Laboratory services: regaining and maintaining control.

Purpose - After implementing an internal quality control (IQC) programme, the purpose of this paper is to maintain the requisite analytical performance for clinical laboratory staff, thereby safeguarding patient test results for their intended medical purpose. Design/methodology/approach - The authors address how quality can be maintained and if lost, how it can be regained. The methodology is based on the experience working in clinical laboratory diagnostics and is in accord with both international accreditation requirements and laboratory best practice guidelines.

In control? IQC consensus and statutory regulation.

Purpose - Internal quality control (IQC) represents an essential risk management tool within the total testing pathway (TTP) that contributes to the overall objective of assuring the quality of results produced in medical laboratories. Controlling analytical phase quality alone requires significant expertise and input by scientifically trained staff. This effort has escalated exponentially following the publication of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO)15189:2012 requirements for quality and competence in medical laboratories.

High-sensitive cardiac troponin-I facilitates timely detection of subclinical anthracycline-mediated cardiac injury.

Background Anthracycline drugs are effective anticancer agents, but their optimal use is limited in many patients by the associated cardiotoxicity, even at designated safe doses. As conventionally sensitive cardiac troponin-I assays fail to reliably quantify concentrations of cardiac troponin-I below 30 ng/L, we investigated the potential role of high-sensitive cardiac troponin-I in the detection of subclinical cardiomyocyte injury in patients treated with anthracycline agents. Methods Serial high-sensitive cardiac troponin-I concentrations were assessed in 84 patients, receiving anthracycline-containing ( n = 38) and non-anthracycline-containing ( n = 46) regimens.

Clinical utility of C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen in multiple myeloma.

Myeloma bone disease (MBD) is a major cause of morbidity in multiple myeloma (MM). We investigated bone turnover markers (BTM) as relapse predictors and biomarkers for monitoring MBD. We measured C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-1), and Procollagen type 1 N Propeptide (P1NP) in 86 MM patients and 26 controls.

Transitioning high sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) into routine diagnostic use: More than just a sensitivity issue.

Objectives: High sensitivity cardiac troponin T and I (hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI) assays show analytical, diagnostic and prognostic improvement over contemporary sensitive cTn assays. However, given the importance of troponin in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, implementing this test requires rigorous analytical and clinical verification across the total testing pathway. This was the aim of this study.

Classical galactosaemia: novel insights in IgG N-glycosylation and N-glycan biosynthesis.

Classical galactosaemia (OMIM #230400), a rare disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, is caused by a deficient activity of galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.

Establishment of reference intervals for aldosterone and renin in a Caucasian population using the newly developed Immunodiagnostic Systems specialty immunoassay automated system.

Background: Measurement of aldosterone and/or renin is essential to aid the differential diagnosis of secondary hypertension, guide strategy for therapeutic management of hypertension and assess adequacy of mineralocorticoid replacement.

Aim: The objective was to establish normative data for aldosterone and renin using the Immunodiagnostic Systems specialty immunoassay system platform in a Caucasian population.

Methods: Following informed consent, 365 subjects were recruited to this study.

IgG N-Glycosylation Galactose Incorporation Ratios for the Monitoring of Classical Galactosaemia.

Classical galactosaemia (OMIM #230400) is a rare disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by deficiency of the galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase enzyme (EC 2.7.7.

Detection of high-sensitivity troponin in outpatients with stable pulmonary hypertension identifies a subgroup at higher risk of adverse outcomes.

Background: The detection of elevations in cardiorenal biomarkers, such as troponins, B-type natriuretic peptides (BNPs), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalins, are associated with poor outcomes in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure. Less is known about the association of these markers with adverse events in chronic right ventricular dysfunction due to pulmonary hypertension, or whether their measurement may improve risk assessment in the outpatient setting.

Methods And Results: We performed a cohort study of 108 patients attending the National Pulmonary Hypertension Unit in Dublin, Ireland, from 2007 to 2009.

Peri-operative troponin monitoring using a prototype high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) assay: comparisons with hs-cTnT and contemporary cTnI assays.

Background: Non-cardiac surgery is associated with major vascular complications and higher incidences of elevated plasma troponin (cTn) concentration. Goal-directed therapy (GDT) is a stroke volume (SV)-guided approach to intravenous (IV) fluid therapy that improves tissue perfusion, oxygenation and reduces post-operative complications. In patients undergoing major gastro-intestinal surgery, we compared high sensitive and contemporary troponin assays and correlated results with patient outcome.

Use of a highly-sensitive cardiac troponin I assay in a screening population for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a case-referent study.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic condition, and relatives of affected persons may be at risk. Cardiac troponin biomarkers have previously been shown to be elevated in HCM. This study examines the new highly-sensitive cardiac troponin I (hsTnI) assay in a HCM screening population.

Establishment of a reference interval for urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin.

Introduction: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is emerging as a promising new biomarker for the early identification of acute kidney injury (AKI). We have determined a reference range in a large healthy population. In addition, as NGAL is a neutrophil-related protein, we investigated whether the presence of leukocyturia has the potential to significantly alter the specificity of NGAL in the diagnosis of AKI.

Evidence for a specific defect in hippocampal memory in overt and subclinical hypothyroidism.

Context: Declarative memory largely depends upon normal functioning temporal lobes (hippocampal complex) and prefrontal cortex. Animal studies suggest abnormal hippocampal function in hypothyroidism.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess declarative memory in overt and subclinical (SCH) hypothyroid patients before and after l-T(4) (LT4) replacement and in matched normal subjects.