Analysis of annual distributions of hemoglobin A values as a method to test for HbA standardization.

Background And Aims: The monitoring of yearly distributions of HbA measured has been indicated as a reliable indicator of worldwide standardization.

Materials And Methods: Measurements/year of HbA have been collected over three consecutive years in 15 Italian laboratories each using the same analytical method over three years period. HbA distributions, cleaned of replicated measurements, were compared by the overlapping area of the raw probability density functions expressed by coefficient eta (η), and by comparing the reference intervals for the central part of each distribution estimated by the indirect method refineR using the R package "refineR".

Music as a social bond in patients with amnesia.

The music and social bonding (MSB) hypothesis proposes that human musicality has evolved as mechanisms supporting social bonding. We consider the MSB hypothesis under the lens of amnesia by arguing how patients with amnesia, especially those with Alzheimer's disease, can benefit from music, not only to retrieve personal memories, but also to use them for social bonding.

Weak correlation between antibody titers and neutralizing activity in sera from SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects.

Plenty of serologic tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been developed so far, thus documenting the importance of evaluating the relevant features of the immune response to this viral agent. The performance of these assays is currently under investigation. Amongst them, LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG by DiaSorin and Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 cobas® by Roche are currently used by laboratory medicine hospital departments in Italy and many other countries.

Retrospective analysis of the cholesterol levels in a European mid-latitude population between 2007 and 2018: controversies and therapeutic implications.

Background And Aim Of The Work: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries and its association with LDL-cholesterol has been well established. During the last decades statin therapy, and an healthy lifestyle, has proven highly effective in reducing cardiovascular event rates. Yet, there is still controversy among national guidelines and clinical practice with regard to LDL-cholesterol measurements.

Routine blood analysis greatly reduces the false-negative rate of RT-PCR testing for Covid-19.

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak is now a pandemic disease reaching as much as 210 countries worldwide with more than 2.5 million infected people and nearly 200.000 deaths.

A Possible Antioxidant Role for Vitamin D in Soccer Players: A Retrospective Analysis of Psychophysical Stress Markers in a Professional Team.

The health benefits of physical activity are recognized, however, high levels of exercise may lead to metabolic pathway imbalances that could evolve into pathological conditions like the increased risk of neurological disease observed in professional athletes. We analyzed the plasma/serum levels of 29 athletes from a professional soccer team playing in the Italian first league and tested the levels of psychophysical stress markers (vitamin D, creatine kinase, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and testosterone/cortisol ratio) during a period of 13 months. The testosterone/cortisol ratio was consistent with an appropriate training program.

Routine blood tests as a potential diagnostic tool for COVID-19.

Objectives The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to date, the epidemic has gradually spread to 209 countries worldwide with more than 1.5 million infected people and 100,000 deaths. Amplification of viral RNA by rRT-PCR serves as the gold standard for confirmation of infection, yet it needs a long turnaround time (3-4 h to generate results) and shows false-negative rates as large as 15%-20%.

Biochemical, immunochemical and serology analytes validation of the lithium heparin BD Barricor blood collection tube on a highly automated Roche COBAS8000 instrument.

Background: Recently developed blood tubes with a barrier to provide plasma are becoming widespread. We compared 43 biochemical, 35 immunochemical and 7 serology analytes in a BD-Vacutainer® Barricor tube for local clinical validation of this lithium-heparin tube with a barrier.

Methods: Samples from 70 volunteers were collected in different BD-tubes: a clot-activator tube with gel (SST), a lithium-heparin tube with gel (PST), and a lithium-heparin tube with barrier (BAR).

Association between solar ultraviolet doses and vitamin D clinical routine data in European mid-latitude population between 2006 and 2018.

The major source of vitamin D in humans is the ultraviolet radiation-dependent cutaneous synthesis of cholecalciferol; however, low vitamin D status is common in Europe even at mid-latitudes. The UV-radiation that reached the Earth's surface near Milan between May 2006 and December 2018 was retrieved from the TEMIS database and matched with the serum vitamin D levels measured in 30 400 people living in the same area. The results showed a high percentage of insufficient vitamin D levels (measured as 25-hydroxy-vitamin D) throughout the years.

Assessment of Medicaid Beneficiaries Included in Community Engagement Requirements in Kentucky.

Importance: States are pursuing Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver authority to apply community engagement (CE) requirements (eg, participation in work, volunteer activities, or training) to beneficiaries deemed able-bodied as a condition of coverage. Understanding the size and characteristics of the populations included in these requirements can help inform policy initiatives and anticipate effects.

Objective: To estimate the number and characteristics of Kentucky Medicaid beneficiaries who would have to meet CE requirements.

Improving provider directory accuracy: can machine-readable directories help?

Objectives: To examine inaccuracies in health plan provider directories and consider whether the machine-readable (MR) formats required of provider directories in the health insurance exchanges are more accurate than conventional directories and have the potential to improve directory accuracy in the future.

Study Design: The descriptive study design included qualitative data collection through stakeholder interviews and quantitative data analysis and verification of provider data source accuracy from multiple sources.

Methods: Four separate sources of provider data from 5 counties were captured and aggregated into an analytic database.

Calibration by commutable control materials is able to reduce inter-method differences of current high-performance methods for HbA.

Background: Most of the current methods used for the determination of HbA seem not well aligned. A comparison among the best performing techniques and the commutability of some control materials currently available and under development has been evaluated.

Methods: Forty blood samples were analyzed in duplicate over two separate days by different HPLC and capillary electrophoresis systems.

Glycation gap: An additional tool for glycometabolic monitoring.

Background: The determination of glycated albumin (GA) has been suggested as an additional parameter having an independent added value respect to that of HbA. The determination of glycation gap (gg) has also been proposed, but few studies have addressed its potential impact in the routine evaluation of glycometabolic control.

Methods: A total of 157 subjects presenting normal whole blood cell count, no hemoglobin variants, normal creatinine levels and serum protein electrophoresis patterns were studied.

Sample collections from healthy volunteers for biological variation estimates' update: a new project undertaken by the Working Group on Biological Variation established by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

Background: Biological variation (BV) data have many fundamental applications in laboratory medicine. At the 1st Strategic Conference of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) the reliability and limitations of current BV data were discussed. The EFLM Working Group on Biological Variation is working to increase the quality of BV data by developing a European project to establish a biobank of samples from healthy subjects to be used to produce high quality BV data.

Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) localizes at the centrosome and is required for proper mitotic spindle organization.

Mutations in MECP2 cause a broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders of which Rett syndrome represents the best defined condition. Both neuronal and non-neuronal functions of the methyl-binding protein underlie the related pathologies. Nowadays MeCP2 is recognized as a multifunctional protein that modulates its activity depending on its protein partners and posttranslational modifications.

MeCP2 post-translational modifications: a mechanism to control its involvement in synaptic plasticity and homeostasis?

Although Rett syndrome (RTT) represents one of the most frequent forms of severe intellectual disability in females worldwide, we still have an inadequate knowledge of the many roles played by MeCP2 (whose mutations are responsible for most cases of RTT) and their relevance for RTT pathobiology. Several studies support a role of MeCP2 in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and homeostasis. At the molecular level, MeCP2 is described as a repressor capable of inhibiting gene transcription through chromatin compaction.

Prescription coverage, use and spending before and after Part D implementation: a national longitudinal panel study.

Background: In January 2006, 43 million Medicare beneficiaries became eligible for subsidized prescription coverage (Part D) through Medicare. To date, no longitudinal study has afforded information on beneficiaries' prescription coverage transitions and corresponding changes in prescription use and spending.

Objective: To evaluate changes in Medicare beneficiaries' prescription coverage, use and spending before and after Part D implementation, including comparison of those who enrolled in Part D with those who did not.

Medicare prescription drug benefit progress report: findings from a 2006 national survey of seniors.

A national survey in 2006 found that Part D secured drug coverage for most seniors who were without it in 2005, prior to the Medicare drug benefit. Seniors without drug coverage in 2006 generally fell into two groups: those in relatively good health and those potentially difficult to reach. Compared with seniors covered through employer plans or the Department of Veterans Affairs, Part D enrollees had higher out-of-pocket spending and greater cost-related nonadherence.

Physician-patient communication about prescription medication nonadherence: a 50-state study of America's seniors.

Context: Understanding and improving the quality of medication management is particularly important in the context of the Medicare prescription drug benefit that took effect last January 2006.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of physician-patient dialogue about medication cost and medication adherence among elderly adults nationwide.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.