Comparison of Two Homogeneous LDL-Cholesterol Assays Using Fresh Hypertriglyceridemic Serum and Quantitative Ultracentrifugation Fractions.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare two homogeneous assays of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) with a modified beta quantification reference measurement for LDL-C (BQ-LDL), fractions of chylomicron (CM), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) by quantitative ultracentrifugation in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

Methods: Two homogeneous LDL-C assays (LDL-C(K), Kyowa Medex and LDL-C(S), Sekisui Medical) were used to measure 198 samples of fresh anonymized leftover sera with hypertriglyceridemia (≥ 150 mg/dL). Of these, 32 samples with discrepant LDL-C levels or hypertriglyceridemia (≥ 400 mg/dL) were used for further analysis.

[Usefulness of Procalcitonin Measurement for the Detection of Sepsis].

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a frequently used marker for bacterial sepsis. The present study was aimed to assess the usefulness of PCT measurement in patient with sepsis. We studied the relationship between serum PCT level and blood culture in clinical 209 cases admitted from January 2010 through June 2010.

Clinical application of the different cross-reactivities of anti-insulin antibodies to insulin lispro to evaluate endogenous insulin secretion.

Background: Insulin analogs are often used to treat patients with diabetes. We evaluated the cross-reactivities of anti-insulin antibodies in two insulin immunoassay kits (Architect and ECLusys) against recombinant human insulin and insulin analogs, and measured insulin concentrations in the serum of the diabetic patients treated with only insulin lispro.

Methods: Ten-fold dilutions of recombinant human insulins and insulin analogs were measured using Architect and ECLusys kits.

[Clinical trial and evaluation of a direct report system of panic values at Fukuoka University Hospital].

In order to support a faster and more informative clinical practice, we established the criteria for panic (critical) values regarding the blood concentrations of glucose, Na, K, Ca, inorganic phosphate (IP), Hb and number of platelets, and also created a system to report these values directly to the doctors in charge. We initiated this system in September 2003. In order to evaluate the availability of this system, we analyzed the clinical data during a one year period, based on the findings of patients showing panic values, mainly concerning the disease states and the correspondences by the doctors who were directly informed.