Analytical evaluation of the novel Mindray high sensitivity cardiac troponin I immunoassay on CL-1200i.

Objectives: The current study was designed to evaluate the analytical performance of the new Mindray highly sensitive cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) chemiluminescent immunoassay on Mindray CL-1200i, as a thorough validation of novel hs-cTnI methods is required before introduction into clinical practice.

Methods: The evaluation of the analytical performance of this hs-cTnI immunoassay encompassed the calculation of the limit of blank (LOB), limit of detection (LOD), functional sensitivity, imprecision, linearity, 99th percentile upper reference limit (URL) and concordance with another previously validated hs-cTnI chemiluminescent immunoassay.

Results: The LOB and LOD were 0.

Plasma Bile Acid Profiling and Modulation of Secreted Mucin 5AC in Cholangiocarcinoma.

Studies investigating the potential role of circulating bile acids (BAs) as diagnostic biomarkers for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are sparse and existing data do not adjust for confounding variables. Furthermore, the mechanism by which BAs affect the expression of the oncogenic mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) has never been investigated. We performed a case-control study to characterise the profile of circulating BAs in patients with CCA ( = 68) and benign biliary disease (BBD, = 48) with a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technique.

Effects of Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Variants on Platelet Morphology and Activation.

Platelets are central elements of hemostasis and also play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in coronavirus disease 2019. This study was planned to investigate the effects of different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) recombinant spike protein variants on platelet morphology and activation. Citrated whole blood collected from ostensibly healthy subjects was challenged with saline (control sample) and with 2 and 20 ng/mL final concentration of SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein of Ancestral, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants.

Effects of Different Types of Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein on Circulating Monocytes' Structure.

This study investigated the biological effects on circulating monocytes after challenge with SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein. Whole blood collected from seven ostensibly healthy healthcare workers was incubated for 15 min with 2 and 20 ng/mL final concentration of recombinant spike protein of Ancestral, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants. Samples were analyzed with Sysmex XN and DI-60 analyzers.

Type 2 Diabetes Related Mitochondrial Defects in Peripheral Mononucleated Blood Cells from Overweight Postmenopausal Women.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a multisystem disease that is the subject of many studies, but the earliest cause of the disease has yet to be elucidated. Mitochondrial impairment has been associated with diabetes in several tissues. To extend the association between T2D and mitochondrial impairment to blood cells, we investigated T2D-related changes in peripheral mononucleated blood cells’ (PBMCs) mitochondrial function in two groups of women (CTRL vs.

Comparison of five commercial anti-SARS-CoV-2 total antibodies and IgG immunoassays after vaccination with BNT162b2 mRNA.

Background: Since universal vaccinations represents the most effective strategy to mitigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), baseline assessment and post-vaccine monitoring of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies are essential to vaccination programs. Therefore, this study aimed to compare data of five commercial anti-SARS-CoV2 immunoassays after administration of an mRNA vaccine.

Methods: Venous blood was collected from three healthcare workers, receiving a double (30 g) dose of BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine (Comirnaty, Pfizer), on the day of the first vaccine dose and then at fixed intervals for the following 2 months.

Repeated Passive Mobilization to Stimulate Vascular Function in Individuals of Advanced Age Who Are Chronically Bedridden: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Vascular dysfunction and associated disorders are major side effects of chronic bed rest, yet passive mobilization as a potential treatment has only been theorized so far. This study investigated the effects of passive mobilization treatment on vascular function in older, chronically bedridden people.

Method: The study sample was 45 chronically bedridden people of advanced age (mean age: 87 years; 56% female; mean bed rest: 4 years) randomly assigned to a treatment (n = 23) or a control group (CTRL, n = 22).

The Role of Epigenetics in the Regulation of Hemostatic Balance.

Epigenetics, a term conventionally used to explain the intricate interplay between genes and the environment, is now regarded as the fundament of developmental biology. Several lines of evidence garnered over the past decades suggest that epigenetic alterations, mostly encompassing DNA methylation, histone tail modifications, and generation of microRNAs, play an important, though still incompletely explored, role in both primary and secondary hemostasis. Epigenetic variations may interplay with platelet functions and their responsiveness to antiplatelet drugs, and they may also exert a substantial contribution in modulating the production and release into the bloodstream of proteins involved in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis.

Machine Learning Model Comparison in the Screening of Cholangiocarcinoma Using Plasma Bile Acids Profiles.

Bile acids (BAs) assessments are garnering increasing interest for their potential involvement in development and progression of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Since machine learning (ML) algorithms are increasingly used for exploring metabolomic profiles, we evaluated performance of some ML models for dissecting patients with CCA or benign biliary diseases according to their plasma BAs profiles. We used ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) for assessing plasma BAs profile in 112 patients (70 CCA, 42 benign biliary diseases).

Thrombin generation in different commercial sodium citrate blood tubes.

Background: This study aimed to verify whether blood drawn into six different commercial coagulation tubes generated comparable results of thrombin generation.

Methods: Blood was sequentially collected from 20 healthy subjects into different brand and draw volume 3.2% sodium citrate tubes (4.

Effects of endurance exercise on serum concentration of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP): a potential link between exercise intensity and headache.

Background Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a powerful neuropeptide that is strongly involved in headache pain pathogenesis by triggering vasodilation, mast cell degranulation and neurogenic inflammation. This evidence has prompted us to investigate the acute influence of endurance exercise on CGRP concentration in blood. Methods The study population consisted of 48 male amateur runners, who ran a half-marathon distance at 75%-85% of maximal oxygen uptake.

The Vascular Side of Chronic Bed Rest: When a Therapeutic Approach Becomes Deleterious.

The interplay between chronic constraint and advanced aging on blood flow, shear-rate, vascular function, nitric oxide (NO)-bioavailability, microcirculation, and vascular inflammation factors is still a matter of debate. Ninety-eight individuals (Young, =28, 23±3yrs; Old, =36, 85±7yrs; Bedridden, =34, 88±6yrs) were included in the study. The bedridden group included old individuals chronically confined to bed (3.

Analytical Evaluation of the New Beckman Coulter Access Procalcitonin (PCT) Chemiluminescent Immunoassay.

This study was designed to evaluate the analytical performance of the recently commercialized Beckman Coulter Access procalcitonin (PCT) chemiluminescent test on the Access immunoassay system. The analytical assessment encompassed the estimation of limit of blank (LoB), limit of detection (LoD), functional sensitivity (i.e.

Two-center comparison of 10 fully-automated commercial procalcitonin (PCT) immunoassays.

Background This two-center study was designed to verify comparability of procalcitonin (PCT) values among 10 different commercial immunoassays. Methods A total number of 176 routine lithium-heparin plasma samples were divided in identical aliquots and simultaneously analyzed with 10 different PCT immunoassays, including Kryptor BRAHMS PCT sensitive, Abbott Architect BRAHMS PCT, Beckman Coulter Access PCT (on Access and DXI), BioMérieux Vidas BRAHMS PCT, Diasorin Liaison BRAHMS PCT, Fujirebio Lumipulse G BRAHMS PCT, Roche BRAHMS PCT (on Cobas E801), Diazyme PCT (on Roche Cobas C702) and SNIBE Maglumi PCT. Results Highly significant correlation was always found across multiple comparisons, with correlation coefficients comprised between 0.

Filling accuracy and imprecision of commercial evacuated sodium citrate coagulation tubes.

Current recommendations advocate that blood tubes for coagulation testing should be filled not less than 90% of their nominal filling volume, since under- or over-filling >10% may generate unreliable results of some hemostasis assays. This study was hence aimed to explore filling accuracy and precision of commercial blood tubes. Between-lot variations of 3 different lots (20 tubes per lot) of 3.

Influence of hypertriglyceridemia, hyperbilirubinemia and hemolysis on thrombin generation in human plasma.

Background Although accumulating evidence suggests that the hemostatic balance is impaired in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, hyperbilirubinemia or hemolytic anemias, little is known on the underlying biological mechanisms. This experimental study was aimed at exploring whether increasing values of triglycerides, bilirubin or cell-free hemoglobin promote thrombin generation in plasma. Methods Three different pools were prepared from three different sets of 20 normal routine plasma citrate samples.

Analytical Assessment of the New Roche Cobas t 711 Fully Automated Coagulation Analyzer.

This study aimed to provide a preliminary evaluation of the analytical performance of the new Roche COBAS T 711: fully automated coagulation analyzer, which uses both liquid and lyophilized reagent cassettes. The analytical assessment included analysis of imprecision and linearity of prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and fibrinogen on COBAS T 711: analyzer. Test results of 120 routine plasma samples were also compared with those obtained using two other coagulation analyzers (Instrumentation Laboratory ACL TOP 700 and Stago STA-R MAX).

Dark chocolate modulates platelet function with a mechanism mediated by flavan-3-ol metabolites.

Cocoa is a rich source bioactive compounds, i.e., flavan-3-ols, and its consumption has been associated with several beneficial effects, such as the positive modulation of the hemostasis targeted by the platelet function.

Prothrombotic State Induced by Middle-Distance Endurance Exercise in Middle-Aged Athletes.

Since the impact of possible prothrombotic factors on blood coagulation resulting from exercise remains elusive, this study investigated the acute effects of middle-distance endurance running on blood coagulation parameters in middle-aged athletes. The study population consisted of 33 male endurance runners who were engaged in a 21.1 km run under competitive conditions.

Internal quality assurance of HIL indices on Roche Cobas c702.

Automatic assessment of hemoglobin (H), lipaemia (L) and icterus (I) in serum or plasma (HIL indices) is the mainstay for evaluating sample quality. We planned this study to verify whether in-house prepared internal quality control (IQC) materials may be suitable for quality assurance of HIL indices. Pools containing different values of each of the three HIL indices were prepared from routine plasma samples, divided in aliquots and frozen at -20°C.

Impact of blood cell counts and volumes on glucose concentration in uncentrifuged serum and lithium-heparin blood tubes.

Background: Although it is known that glucose concentration exhibits a time-dependent decay in uncentrifuged serum and lithium-heparin blood tubes, no evidence exists on how this variation may depend on blood cell counts (CBC) and volumes.

Methods: Venous blood was drawn from 30 non fasting healthy volunteers into three serum and three lithium-heparin tubes. One serum and lithium-heparin tubes were centrifuged within 15 min after collection and glucose was measured with a hexokinase assay.

Analytical validation of Gentian NGAL particle-enhanced enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA).

Objectives: This study was designed to validate the analytical performance of the new Gentian particle-enhanced enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) for measuring neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in serum samples.

Design And Methods: Analytical validation of the Gentian NGAL assay was carried out on a Roche Cobas c501 and was based on assessment of limit of blank (LOB), limit of detection (LOD), functional sensitivity, imprecision, linearity and concordance with the BioPorto NGAL test.

Results: The LOB and LOD of Gentian NGAL were found to be 3.