Blood cell and iron status analytes of preterm and full-term infants from 20 weeks onwards during the first year of life.

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of blood cell and iron status laboratory analytes in preterm and full-term infants during the first year of life.

Methods: This was a prospective study of 100 preterm and 50 full-term infants. Preterm infants received iron supplementation beginning at 3 weeks of age.

Hematological parameters in preterm infants from birth to 16 weeks of age with reference to iron balance.

Background: The objective of this study was to describe the natural kinetics of serum soluble transferrin receptor (S-TfR), ferritin and reticulocyte indices in preterm neonates, and to find out whether these analytes relate to hematocrit (Hct) level in determining the need for red cell (RBC) transfusions.

Methods: During a 2-year period, 100 preterm neonates were recruited in a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit. Inclusion criteria were gestational age < or =34 weeks or birth weight <2000 g.

The effect of thyroid antibody positivity on reference intervals for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) in an aged population.

Our aims were: 1) to analyze the effect of the methodology used to derive clinically feasible cut-off values for thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb), which exhibit highly skewed distributions; and 2) to describe the influence of thyroid antibodies on thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) reference intervals among thyroid disease-free aged subjects. The reference population consisted of 1086 individuals with a mean age of 73 years. The impacts of TPOAb and/or TgAb positivity on the reference intervals of TSH and FT4 were evaluated by both including and excluding subjects with elevated thyroid antibodies.

Weight reduction with very-low-caloric diet and endothelial function in overweight adults: role of plasma glucose.

Objective: Obesity is associated with endothelial dysfunction that may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. We studied whether weight reduction improves endothelial function in overweight individuals.

Methods And Results: Flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery was measured in 67 adults (age: 46+/-7 years, body mass index: 35.

Increased serum soluble transferrin receptor concentration detects subclinical iron deficiency in healthy adolescent girls.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the measurement of serum soluble transferrin receptor could detect subclinical iron deficiency in adolescent girls, and to assess the possible specificity-compromising effects of growth, menarche, and intensive physical activity. The study population consisted of 191 physically active (control) girls aged 9-15 years. Dietary iron intake was estimated at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months.

RIA for serum holo-transcobalamin: method evaluation in the clinical laboratory and reference interval.

Background: Decreased serum holo-transcobalamin (holoTC) could be the earliest marker of cobalamin (Cbl) deficiency, but there has been no method suitable for routine use. We evaluated a new commercial holoTC RIA, determined reference values, and assessed holoTC concentrations in relation to other biochemical markers of Cbl deficiency.

Methods: The reference population consisted of 303 individuals 22-88 years of age, without disease or medication affecting Cbl or homocysteine metabolism.

Iron overload in children who are treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia estimated by liver siderosis and serum iron parameters.

Objective: To evaluate a secondary liver iron overload and its fate in children who are treated conventionally for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and to assess whether serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is useful in detecting iron load.

Methods: Liver siderosis was estimated histologically from liver biopsy specimens of 30 children (aged 2.6-17.