A Comparison Study: Possible Bias in Troponin I Measurement Obtained with a Point of Care Testing and a Central Laboratory Analyzers Employing Different Biological Matrices and Anticoagulants.

Background: high-sensitive cardiac TroponinI (hs-cTnI) is widely used for diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes. The latest recommendation for hs-cTnI determination is the protocol 0-1 h finalized to improve the rule out accuracy of the test. A Point of Care Testing able to guarantee these performances could be very useful due to reducing the turnaround time and ruling out patients suspected of ACS, especially by using biological matrices that are not required for centrifuge.

Donation after circulatory death and liver transplantation: a cohort study.

Donations after circulatory death (DCD) are still challenging in Italy because of prolonged ischemia time (tWIT) due to the law and logistical issues. This cohort study was primarily aimed at assessing the association between successful transplantation and DCD types in the North Italy Transplant program. Adjusted risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for type III versus type II DCD were estimated using a Poisson regression model with a robust error variance.

Impact of the preparation method of red cell concentrates on transfusion indices in thalassemia patients: A randomized crossover clinical trial.

Background: The average hemoglobin content of red cell concentrates (RCC) varies depending on the method of preparation. Surprisingly less data are available concerning the clinical impact of those differences.

Study Design And Methods: The effects of two types of RCC (RCC-A, RCC-B) on transfusion regime were compared in a non-blinded, prospective, randomized, two-period, and crossover clinical trial.

Solid Organ Transplantation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Era: "The Great Bet" in the North Italy Transplant Program Area.

Introduction: Solid organ transplantation is challenging for waitlist patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Aim: This study investigates COVID-19 incidence and mortality in patients transplanted in the North Italy Transplant program (NITp) during the outbreak.

Materials And Methods: All consecutive patients transplanted from February 20 to April 3, 2020 (6 weeks), were included in our cohort and were observed for at least 4 weeks.

Use of the reticulocyte channel warmed to 41°C of the XN-9000 analyzer in samples with the presence of cold agglutinins.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare data obtained from the reticulocyte channel (RET channel) heated to 41°C with those obtained from impedance channel (I-Channel) at room temperature in the samples with the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)<370g/L and in samples with the MCHC>370g/L, in the presence of cold agglutinins.

Methods: In this study, 60 blood samples (group 1) with the MCHC<370g/L (without cold agglutinins) and 78 blood samples (group 2) with the MCHC>370g/L (with cold agglutinins) were used to compare the two analytical channels of the XN-9000 analyzer in different preanalytical conditions. The parameters evaluated in both groups were the following: red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume (MCV), RBC-most frequent volume (R-MFV), mean hemoglobin concentration (MCH) and mean cellular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC).

A STARD-compliant prediction model for diagnosing thrombotic microangiopathies.

Aim of the study was the definition of a predictive model for the initial diagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA). We retrospectively collected data on all adult patients admitted to the Gemelli Hospital from 2010 to 2014. ICD-9 codes from primary diagnoses were used for TMA diagnosis.

Mobile phone radiofrequency exposure has no effect on DNA double strand breaks (DSB) in human lymphocytes.

Background: The use of mobile phones has been associated with an increased risk of developing certain type of cancer, especially in long term users. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the potential genotoxic effect of mobile phone radiofrequency exposure on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Methods: The study population consisted in 14 healthy volunteers. After collection of two whole blood samples, the former was placed in a plastic rack, 1 cm from the chassis of a commercial mobile phone (900 MHz carrier frequency), which was activated by a 30-min call.

Red blood cell distribution width in patients with limb, chest and head trauma.

Introduction: This study investigated the values of red blood cell distribution width (RDW), an emerging and independent predictor of morbidity and mortality, in patients with limb, chest and head trauma.

Material And Methods: The study sample consisted of all patients who attended the emergency department (ED) of the University Hospital of Parma for limb, chest and head traumas requiring admission to hospital wards during the year 2014. The controls consisted of outpatients living in the same geographical area and undergoing routine laboratory testing for health check-up.

Cardiac Troponin I is Increased in Patients with Polytrauma and Chest or Head Trauma. Results of A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Background: We performed a retrospective case-control study to assess the values of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in a large number of patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) with different types of trauma.

Methods: The study population consisted of all patients aged 18 years or older admitted to the local ED with all types of traumas over a 1-year period. Results of cTnI were compared with those of 125 consecutive blood donors and 25 non-cardiac chest pain ED patients.

Blood Sampling Seasonality as an Important Preanalytical Factor for Assessment of Vitamin D Status.

Background: The measurement of vitamin D is now commonplace for preventing osteoporosis and restoring an appropriate concentration that would be effective to counteract the occurrence of other human disorders. The aim of this study was to establish whether blood sampling seasonality may influence total vitamin D concentration in a general population of Italian unselected outpatients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective search in the laboratory information system of the University Hospital of Parma (Italy, temperate climate), to identify the values of total serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) measured in outpatients aged 18 years and older, who were referred for routine health check-up during the entire year 2014.

The serum concentrations of leptin and MCP-1 independently predict low back pain duration.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a very frequent condition, affecting most people at some point throughout their life. This cross-sectional study was aimed to investigate a selected panel of cytokines and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with or without LBP.

Methods: The study population consisted of 104 patients diagnosed with LBP (52 non-persistent and 52 persistent) and 52 healthy subjects with no LBP.

DNA injury is acutely enhanced in response to increasing bulks of aerobic physical exercise.

The aim of this study was to evaluate DNA damage in response to increasing bulks of aerobic physical exercise. Fifteen adult and trained athletes performed four sequential trials with increasing running distance (5-, 10-, 21- and 42-km) in different periods of the year. The γ-H2AX foci parameters were analyzed before and 3h after the end of each trial.

Red blood cell distribution width and haemoglobin are associated with hospital admission in patients with acute allergic reactions.

Introduction: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is significantly associated with a variety of human disorders. This study aimed to investigate whether RDW value at admission may predict the need of hospitalisation in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute allergic reactions.

Materials And Methods: The study population consisted of adult patients (aged > 17) admitted to the ED for acute allergic reactions.

The Mean Platelet Volume Is Decreased in Patients Diagnosed with Venous Thromboembolism in the Emergency Department.

Platelets are small corpuscular elements, which play an essential role in hemostasis and thrombosis. As active players in the thrombotic process, hyperactive platelets are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders. Nevertheless, the role of platelet size, as a biological marker of platelet activation, remains debated in the setting of venous thrombosis.

Analytical Evaluation of Free Testosterone and Cortisol Immunoassays in Saliva as a Reliable Alternative to Serum in Sports Medicine.

Background: This study was aimed to investigate whether measurement of free testosterone and cortisol in saliva is a reliable alternative to their assessment in serum for monitoring physical fitness in professional athletes.

Methods: We studied 25 members of the soccer team Parma F.C.

Value of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width on Emergency Department Admission in Patients With Venous Thrombosis.

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) was found to be a useful parameter in a variety of cardiovascular and thrombotic disorders. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective case-control study to establish whether an association exists between RDW and venous thrombosis. The study population consisted of 431 consecutive patients who received a diagnosis of venous thrombosis in the emergency department (ED), thus including cases of superficial venous thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and/or pulmonary embolism (PE).

Spring season birth is associated with higher emergency department admission for acute allergic reactions.

Background: Acute allergic reactions are important causes of emergency department (ED) admission, imposing a significant clinical and organizational burden. Since the season of birth is linked with early exposure to allergens, this study was aimed to establish whether an association exists between season of birth and incidence and severity of acute allergic reactions in the ED.

Methods: The electronic hospital database was searched to identify all consecutive adult patients who were admitted to the ED for acute allergic reactions (acute urticaria, acute angioedema, urticaria-angioedema and anaphylaxis) during a 1-year period.

Birth season and vitamin D concentration in adulthood.

Background: Recent evidences suggest that the season of birth may influence human development and vulnerability to develop certain diseases.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was hence carried out in the laboratory information system of the University Hospital of Parma (North-West Italy), to retrieve values of total serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) measured in a the whole cohort of unselected outpatients age 18 years and older referred for routine health check-up during January to December 2014. Vitamin D was then stratified according to birth season.

Serum bilirubin value predicts hospital admission in carbon monoxide-poisoned patients. Active player or simple bystander?

Objectives: Although carbon monoxide poisoning is a major medical emergency, the armamentarium of recognized prognostic biomarkers displays unsatisfactory diagnostic performance for predicting cumulative endpoints.

Methods: We performed a retrospective and observational study to identify all patients admitted for carbon monoxide poisoning during a 2-year period. Complete demographical and clinical information, along with the laboratory data regarding arterial carboxyhemoglobin, hemoglobin, blood lactate and total serum bilirubin, was retrieved.

Analytical imprecision of lactate dehydrogenase in primary serum tubes.

Background: Previous studies showed high frequency of duplicate errors of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) measurement in primary lithium-heparin blood tubes. We hence evaluated imprecision of LDH testing and frequency of replicate errors in primary serum samples centrifuged at two different speeds.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 15 healthy subjects and centrifuged at either 1300 g or 2000 g.

Analytical evaluation of Diazyme procalcitonin (PCT) latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay on Beckman Coulter AU5800.

Background: This study was aimed to evaluate the analytical performance of the novel Diazyme procalcitonin (PCT) immunoturbidimetric assay on Beckman Coulter AU5800.

Methods: Diazyme PCT is a latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay, developed for use on laboratory instrumentations with capability of reading absorbance at 600 nm. This analytical evaluation included the assessment of limit of blank (LOB), limit of detection (LOD), functional sensitivity, imprecision, linearity, carryover, and method comparison between Diazyme PCT and Kryptor PCT on 129 routine serum inpatient samples.