The effects of drone transportation on routine laboratory, immunohematology, flow cytometry and molecular analyses.

Objectives: Transportation of medical samples between laboratories or hospital sites is typically performed by motorized ground transport. Due to the increased traffic congestions in urban environments, drone transportation has become an attractive alternative for fast shipping of samples. In accordance with the CLSI guidelines and the ISO 15189 standard, the impact of this transportation type on sample integrity and performance of laboratory tests must be thoroughly validated.

Value of pneumococcal PCR in respiratory samples for exclusion of pneumococcal pneumonia.

Background: is the main aetiological agent in bacterial pneumonia. Therefore pneumococcal PCR is often included in respiratory multiplex PCR panels, both commercial and in-house. But respiratory PCR results for are difficult to interpret due to frequent non-pathogenic colonization on the mucosal surface of the upper airways with pneumococci or to cross-reaction of the PCR target in non-pneumococcal streptococci.

Nationwide Harmonization Effort for Semi-Quantitative Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 PCR Test Results in Belgium.

From early 2020, a high demand for SARS-CoV-2 tests was driven by several testing indications, including asymptomatic cases, resulting in the massive roll-out of PCR assays to combat the pandemic. Considering the dynamic of viral shedding during the course of infection, the demand to report cycle threshold (Ct) values rapidly emerged. As Ct values can be affected by a number of factors, we considered that harmonization of semi-quantitative PCR results across laboratories would avoid potential divergent interpretations, particularly in the absence of clinical or serological information.

Matrix metalloprotease 8-dependent extracellular matrix cleavage at the blood-CSF barrier contributes to lethality during systemic inflammatory diseases.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a highly mortal inflammatory disease, associated with systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction. SIRS can have a sterile cause or can be initiated by an infection, called sepsis. The prevalence is high, and available treatments are ineffective and mainly supportive.

Involvement of specific matrix metalloproteinases during tumor necrosis factor/IFNgamma-based cancer therapy in mice.

The potent antitumor activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in combination with IFN-gamma can only be applied in local regimens due to their strong proinflammatory properties. It has been shown that the broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor BB-94 protects against TNF/IFNgamma-induced toxicity without blocking the antitumor effect. Here, we tried to explain this protective role of BB-94 and sought to assign roles to specific MMPs in TNF/IFNgamma-induced toxicity.

Chemokine and cytokine processing by matrix metalloproteinases and its effect on leukocyte migration and inflammation.

The action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was originally believed to be restricted to degradation of the extracellular matrix; however, in recent years, it has become evident that these proteases can modify many nonmatrix substrates, such as cytokines and chemokines. The use of MMP-deficient animals has revealed that these proteases can indeed influence the progression of various inflammatory processes. This review aims to provide the reader with a concise overview of these novel MMP functions in relation to leukocyte migration.

Activation of NMDA receptors promotes dendritic spine development through MMP-mediated ICAM-5 cleavage.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 are pivotal in remodeling many tissues. However, their functions and candidate substrates for brain development are poorly characterized. Intercellular adhesion molecule-5 (ICAM-5; Telencephalin) is a neuronal adhesion molecule that regulates dendritic elongation and spine maturation.

Protection of zinc against tumor necrosis factor induced lethal inflammation depends on heat shock protein 70 and allows safe antitumor therapy.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced inflammation prevents its broad application as an antitumor agent. We here report that addition of ZnSO(4) to the drinking water of mice induces expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in several organs, notably the gastrointestinal track. Zinc conferred dose-responsive protection against TNF-induced hypothermia, systemic induction of interleukin-6 and NO(x), as well as against TNF-induced bowel cell death and death of the organism.

Description and mapping of the resistance of DBA/2 mice to TNF-induced lethal shock.

In our search for genes that inhibit the inflammatory effects of TNF without diminishing its antitumor capacities we found that, compared with C57BL/6 mice, DBA/2 mice exhibit a dominant resistance to TNF-induced lethality. Tumor-bearing (C57BL/6 x DBA/2)(BXD)F(1) mice completely survived an otherwise lethal TNF/IFN-gamma-antitumor therapy with complete regression of the tumor. This was not the case for C57BL/6 mice.

Matrix metalloproteinase-8: cleavage can be decisive.

Matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), also known as collagenase-2 or neutrophil collagenase, was long thought to be expressed solely by maturing neutrophils, and functionally restricted to ECM breakdown. Recent experiments, however, have revealed that this protease can be expressed by a wide variety of cell types and that it plays an important regulatory role in both acute and chronic inflammation. This review intends to give the reader an overview of the most interesting recent findings concerning the role of MMP-8 in inflammation and in cancer progression.

Resistance of collagenase-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-8)-deficient mice to TNF-induced lethal hepatitis.

Acute fulminant liver failure is a serious worldwide health problem. Despite maximal supportive intensive care treatment, the disease offers a poor prognosis, with mortality rates of >80%. We have previously shown that a broad-spectrum inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) confers complete protection in a mouse model of TNF-induced lethal hepatitis, thereby suggesting the possibility of protecting cancer patients against the deleterious side effects of TNF therapy.