Evaluating the diagnostic performance of Liaison® chemiluminescence assay as screening tool for detection of acute Epstein-Barr infection: A comparative study.

The present investigation assessed the Liaison® diagnostic performance in detecting Epstein-Barr (EBV) IgM-VCA in a large patient cohort, considering age and symptomatology. VIDAS® were employed as a benchmark for acute EBV infection. The study also probed other coexisting conditions and potential cross-reactivity for error sources.

Outperformance of interleukin-6 over placental alpha microglobulin-1 in predicting preterm delivery in symptomatic women.

Background: Threatened preterm labor is the major cause of hospital admission during the second half of pregnancy. An early diagnosis is crucial for adopting pharmacologic measures to reduce perinatal mortality and morbidity. Current diagnostic criteria are based on symptoms and short cervical length.

A more accurate prediction to rule in and rule out pre-eclampsia using the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and NT-proBNP as biomarkers.

Background The management of potential pre-eclamptic patients using the soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1)/ placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio is characterised by frequent false-positive results. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted to identify and validate cut-off values, obtained using a machine learning model, for the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and NT-proBNP that would be predictive of the absence or presence of early-onset pre-eclampsia (PE) in singleton pregnancies presenting at 24 to 33 + 6 weeks of gestation. Results For the development cohort, we defined two sFlt-1/PlGF ratio cut-off values of 23 and 45 to rule out and rule in early-onset PE at any time between 24 and 33 + 6 weeks of gestation.

Influence of temperature, serum, and gonadotropin supplementation in short- and long-term organotypic culture of human immature testicular tissue.

Objective: To study how temperature, serum, and gonadotropin supplementation affect the organotypic culture of human immature testicular tissue (ITT) in vitro.

Design: Experimental basic science study.

Setting: Reproductive biology laboratory.

Metabolic disorders and inflammation are associated with familial combined hyperlipemia.

Background: Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia (FCH) is related to different metabolic disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of alterations of hydrocarbonated metabolism and lipid profile together with inflammatory and adhesion molecules in subjects with FCH compared to controls.

Methods: 75 HFC patients and 75 healthy individuals were studied.

Comparability of two different polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis methods for the classification of LDL pattern type.

Background: The measurement of small dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) particles is relevant when assessing cardiovascular risk. However, there is as yet no referenced method for the determination of LDL subfractions or a standardized comparison of the methods currently available. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the pattern of LDL particles measured by polyacrylamide tube gel electrophoresis (PTGE) and polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis (PGGE) and to correlate the results with triglyceride concentration.

Low intestinal cholesterol absorption is associated with a reduced efficacy of phytosterol esters as hypolipemic agents in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Background & Aims: Phytosterols (PS) lower LDLc, but their effect on metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains unknown. We evaluated whether low-fat milk enriched with PS improves cardiovascular risk factors in these patients.

Methods: A randomised parallel trial employing 24 moderate-hypercholesterolaemic MetS patients and consisting of two 3-month intervention phases.

The metabolic syndrome and its individual components: its association with venous thromboembolism in a Mediterranean population.

Introduction: The association of metabolic syndrome with venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains uncertain. Moreover, the relevance of abdominal obesity as an independent or related risk factor for VTE in the metabolic syndrome cluster is controversial. We aimed to evaluate the impact of metabolic syndrome and its individual components on VTE risk.

Effects of phytosterol ester-enriched low-fat milk on serum lipoprotein profile in mildly hypercholesterolaemic patients are not related to dietary cholesterol or saturated fat intake.

Phytosterols (PS) are recommended to reduce LDL-cholesterol. However, the influence of cholesterol and fat intake on the lipid-lowering effect of PS in mildly hypercholesterolaemia is unclear. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the efficacy of PS is related to the composition of saturated fat and dietary cholesterol intake.

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk and oxidative stress parameters in hypercholesterolemic subjects on a standard healthy diet including low-fat milk enriched with plant sterols.

A healthy diet and plant sterols (PS) are recommended for reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and, subsequently, the risk of premature cardiovascular disease. PS mediate a decrease in fat-soluble vitamin concentration, which can lead to a general impairment of antioxidative defenses and an increase in oxidative stress. Thus, we evaluated the effects of a healthy diet, including PS-enriched low-fat milk, on cardiovascular risk and oxidative stress parameters in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Small and dense LDL in familial combined hyperlipidemia and N291S polymorphism of the lipoprotein lipase gene.

There is a predominance of small and dense LDL cholesterol particles in familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH). The lipoprotein lipase gene could exert an influence in these circumstances.To study the relationship of pattern B LDL and lipids with N291S polymorphism of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in FCH patients.

[Metabolic syndrome in patients with coronary heart disease. Results of using different diagnostic criteria].

A unified definition of metabolic syndrome, considered a common feature of cardiovascular risk, is lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of this syndrome in patients with ischemic heart disease using two diagnostic criteria: the European Group of Resistance to Insulin and the National Cholesterol Education Program. We designed an observational, cross-sectional study of the factors that make up metabolic syndrome in subjects diagnosed with coronary heart disease.

[Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with coronary heart disease].

Background And Objective: We aimed to know the prevalence of classical cardiovascular risk factors, hyperinsulinism, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome (MS) in a population with coronary heart disease (CHD) as compared with a population without personal or familial history of cardiovascular risk factors.

Subjects And Method: This was an observational and transversal study of cardiovascular risk factors making up the MS in an adult population. 367 subjects aged 35-79 years (268 men and 99 women) were studied; 185 had CHD (141 men and 44 women) and 182 (127 men and 55 women) were included as a control population.