GORE-TEX SCLERAL-SUTURED ENVISTA INTRAOCULAR LENS DISLOCATION: THREE CASES AND AN ASSESSMENT OF EYELET TENSILE STRENGTH, FRACTURE CHARACTERISTICS, AND RISK FACTORS.

Purpose: Three cases of dislocation of a Gore-Tex scleral-sutured EnVista intraocular lens are reported. The tensile strength of the lens eyelets under two suturing methods is assessed. Pursuant surgical considerations are discussed.

Implementation of basic quality control tests for malaria medicines in Amazon Basin countries: results for the 2005-2010 period.

Background: Ensuring the quality of malaria medicines is crucial in working toward malaria control and eventual elimination. Unlike other validated tests that can assess all critical quality attributes, which is the standard for determining the quality of medicines, basic tests are significantly less expensive, faster, and require less skilled labour; yet, these tests provide reproducible data and information on several critical quality attributes, such as identity, purity, content, and disintegration. Visual and physical inspection also provides valuable information about the manufacturing and the labelling of medicines, and in many cases this inspection is sufficient to detect counterfeit medicines.

Development and validation of 14 human serum protein assays on the Roche cobas® c 501.

Many laboratories rely on dedicated nephelometers and turbidimeters for the measurement of serum proteins. There are, however, a number of chemistry analyzers that offer open channel configurations for end-user applications. We developed and validated 14 human serum protein assays (α(1)-antitrypsin, α(2)-macroglobulin, albumin, apolipoproteins AI and B, complement components 3 and 4, haptoglobin, immunoglobulins A, G, and M, orosomucoid, transferrin, and transthyretin) on the Roche cobas(®) c 501.

Maternal obesity and markers of inflammation in pregnancy.

Objectives: To evaluate whether obesity is associated with changes in pro-inflammatory and immunomodulatory cytokines in pregnancy.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study using maternal serum from the early second trimester to examine biomarkers associated with inflammation in relation to maternal body mass index (n=80 total).

Results: Leptin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein were significantly different between groups and increased with increasing body mass index.

Evaluation of the recombinant VlsE-based liaison chemiluminescence immunoassay for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi and diagnosis of Lyme disease.

Recent efforts to improve the serologic diagnosis of Lyme disease have included the use of a synthetic peptide (C6) that reproduces the sequence of invariable region 6 of VlsE, the variable surface antigen of Borrelia burgdorferi. In the present study, the diagnostic performance of DiaSorin's recombinant VlsE-based chemiluminescence immunoassay in 1,947 human serum samples was evaluated. Sensitivity was determined using two serum panels from the CDC.

Serologic associations of anti-cytoplasmic antibodies identified during anti-nuclear antibody testing.

Background: There are currently no guidelines concerning additional laboratory testing for specific autoantibodies among anti-nuclear antibody-negative sera with an anti-cytoplasmic staining pattern identified by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Moreover, few data are available that address this laboratory situation.

Methods: We performed specific autoantibody assays in 200 sera with an anti-nuclear antibody titer < or =1:32 and a cytoplasmic titer (undefined staining pattern) of > or =1:64, identified sequentially in the course of routine anti-nuclear antibody testing.

Commutability of the CRM 470 C-reactive protein value in the Dade Behring N High Sensitivity CRP assay.

Certified Reference Material 470 (CRM 470) demonstrates commutability with both the manufacturer's calibrator and with dilutions of serum pools in the Dade Behring N High Sensitivity assay for C-reactive protein (CRP). Both regression and back calibration show similar nonlinearity for all materials, largely due to the method of calibration curve fitting used in this assay. Significant differences in values among the currently available commercial assays can be largely overcome by using appropriate calibration curve fitting and the recommended value transfer protocol, which includes a minimum of two assay runs on each of at least 3 separate days, with weight correction of all reconstitutions and dilutions.

Development of immunoturbidimetric assays for fourteen human serum proteins on the Hitachi 912.

Many laboratories rely on dedicated nephelometers or turbidimeters and commercial reagent kits for the evaluation of serum proteins. However, with growing emphasis on cost containment, laboratories are forced to seek additional operational efficiencies by capitalizing on the use of existing analyzers whenever possible. In the present paper we describe the development of immunoturbidimetric assays for routine analysis of 14 human serum proteins (alpha1-antitrypsin, alpha2-macroglobulin, albumin, apolipoproteins Al and B, complement components 3 and 4, haptoglobin, immunoglobulins A, G, and M, orosomucoid, prealbumin, and transferrin) on the Hitachi 912, a general chemistry analyzer.