Clinical Applications of Point-of-Care Testing in Different Conditions.

Background: The use of point-of-care testing (POCT) in different clinical applications is justified by the fact that the time to release the result is shortened, allowing the physician to define the diagnosis and most appropriate therapy in a shorter time. However, the negative aspects must also be highlighted and studied so that we can move forward with the use of these devices. These negative aspects include greater analytical imprecision compared to laboratory automation, the variability between different equipment from different manufacturers, the risk of inappropriate use, a low level of global regulation, higher costs compared with laboratory testing and cost ineffectiveness in terms of health care.

Point-of-Care Testing: General Aspects.

Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) has been highlighted in the health care sector in recent decades. On the other hand, due to its low demand, POCT is at a disadvantage compared to conventional equipment, since its cost is inversely proportional to the volume of use. In addition, for the implementation of POCT to succeed, it is essential to rely on the work of a multidisciplinary team.

Clinical correlation between a point-of-care testing system and laboratory automation for lipid profile.

Background: We evaluated the clinical correlation between the CardioChek PA analyzer and a clinical laboratory reference method to use for screening program purposes.

Methods: Fasting blood samples were collected on 516 patients (age 20-85 y). One venous sample was collected using a serum tube for the evaluation on a COBAS reference analyzer.

Assessing the adherence to and the therapeutic effectiveness of hypolipidemic agents in a population of patients in Brazil: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: to evaluate the relation between patient adherence and therapeutic effectiveness of hypolipidemic agents in clinical practice.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 417 patients using hypolipidemic drugs (simvastatin, atorvastatin) between 2003 and 2010 was performed. The population studied consists of patients assisted by the Public Health Service in the far-west region of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

New ways to deal with known preanalytical issues: use of transilluminator instead of tourniquet for easing vein access and eliminating stasis on clinical biochemistry.

Introduction: Tourniquet due venous stasis can alter both concentration and/or activity of several blood analytes, but is rarely regarded as an issue of laboratory variability. To overcome the problem transillumination devices (TD) have been proposed for a stasis-free phlebotomy. In this paper the use of a TD in place of tourniquet during blood collection has been evaluated.

Suitability of a transport box for blood sample shipment over a long period.

Background: Safety transport boxes are increasingly used to ship laboratory specimens but there is little information on their capacity to maintain suitable transportation temperatures.

Materials And Methods: Inner temperature was assessed using a commercially available transport box during an 8-h transportation period in the heat.

Results: Temperature stability was unsatisfactory during approximately 64% of the transportation time (i.

Butyrylcholinesterase and diabetes mellitus in the CHE2 C5- and CHE2 C5+ phenotypes.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities (total and band specific) and diabetes mellitus.

Subjects And Methods: BChE activities (BChEA, AC(4/5), AC(OF) and RC(5)) were analyzed in 101 type 1 (DM1) and in 145 type 2 (DM2) diabetic patients, in relation to phenotype, weight and incidence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in these patients. The C(4/5) and C(5) complex were separated from other molecular forms (C(OF)) using an acid agar gel.

Prospective double-blind crossover study of Camellia sinensis (green tea) in dyslipidemias.

Background: Epidemiological studies have established an association between dyslipidemias and atherosclerosis. Nutritional therapy is a key point in the prevention strategy for individuals who present with risk factors for atherosclerotic disease.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis) in patients with dyslipidemias.

Healthy individuals carrying the PCSK9 p.R46L variant and familial hypercholesterolemia patients carrying PCSK9 p.D374Y exhibit lower plasma concentrations of PCSK9.

Background: We measured plasma PCSK9 concentrations in healthy men with a PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) loss-of-function variant (p.R46L), in statin-treated patients with a clinical diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and carrying a PCSK9 gain-of-function mutation (p.D374Y), and in statin-treated patients with FH due to different genetic causes.

Association of lipoprotein lipase D9N polymorphism with myocardial infarction in type 2 diabetes: the genetics, outcomes, and lipids in type 2 diabetes (GOLD) study.

The association of polymorphisms affecting lipid metabolism with the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in type 2 diabetes mellitus was investigated. The Genetics, Outcomes and Lipids in type 2 Diabetes (GOLD) Study is a prospective, multicenter study, conducted on 990 patients presenting diabetes and MI (n=386), or diabetes without previous manifestation of stroke, peripheral or coronary arterial disease (n=604), recruited from 27 institutions in Brazil. APO A1 (A/G -75 and C/T +83) and APO C3 (C/G 3'UTR) non-coding sequences, CETP (Taq 1B), LPL (D9N), APO E (epsilon2, epsilon3, epsilon4,), PON-1 (Q192R), and two LCAT variants Arg(147)-->Trp and Tyr(171)-->Stop were tested by PCR-RFLP.

The PCSK9 gene R46L variant is associated with lower plasma lipid levels and cardiovascular risk in healthy U.K. men.

In the present study, we have determined the relative frequency of the R46L, I474V and E670G variants in the PCSK9 (protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) gene and its association with plasma lipid levels and CHD (coronary heart disease) in healthy U.K. men and patients with clinically defined definite FH (familial hypercholesterolaemia).

Hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women and its effects on plasma lipid levels.

Postmenopausal women run the same risks of coronary heart disease as men. The lipid alterations observed at this time reflect increased blood levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein (a), and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. These changes lead to a higher risk of coronary artery disease, and hormonal therapy has a favorable effect on lipid metabolism.