Association Between Zinc Status and Insulin Resistance/Sensitivity Check Indexes in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is considered the most common metabolic disorder of the pregnancy period. It is characterized by pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction in the setting of chronic insulin resistance. Zinc is a nutrient involved in numerous metabolic processes and shows a relationship with glycometabolic disorders and GDM.

Maternal Serum Copper and Some Metabolic Indexes in Late Second Trimester of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Pregnancy.

Background: Copper (Cu) is a physiologically important trace element during pregnancy. The study aim is to assess the altered level of serum Cu and its association with some metabolic indexes in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM).

Methods: A total of 108 pregnant women (aged 18 - 40, second trimester) are included in the study and divided into two groups (GDM n = 54; pregnant with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), n = 54) after performing a 2-hour 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Evaluation of automated hematology analyzer DYMIND DH76 compared to SYSMEX XN 1000 system.

Background: DYMIND DH76 (DYMIND BIOTECH, China) is a new automated hematology system designed to provide CBC count, including a 5-part WBC differential count, and its analytical performance should be assessed before adoption for clinical use.

Methods: The analyzer was evaluated according to the International Council for Standardization in Haematology guideline. The purposes of this study were to assess its analytical performance in comparison to SYSMEX XN 1000 hematology analyzer currently used in our laboratory, as well as to compare the automated and manual WBC differential.

Analysis of ITPA phenotype-genotype correlation in the Bulgarian population revealed a novel gene variant in exon 6.

Mutations in the inosine triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (ITPA) gene causing enzyme deficiency were shown to have pharmacogenetic implications in azathioprine-induced adverse drug reactions. The distribution of ITPA activity as well as the types and the frequencies of gene variants associated with a lower enzyme activity were determined in healthy volunteers from a Bulgarian population. The ITPA activity was measured in 185 erythrocyte samples by an established high-performance liquid chromatography procedure.