α-1 Antitrypsin Genotype-Phenotype Discrepancy in a 42-Year-Old Man Who Carries the Null-Allele.

Background: Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is a hereditary condition caused by mutations in the SERPINA1 gene and associated with lung emphysema and liver disease. Laboratory testing in suspected A1AT deficiency involves quantifying serum A1AT concentration and identification of specific alleles by genotyping and phenotyping. The aim of this report was to present a case of the null allele carrier with consequent genotype/phenotype/concentration discrepancies and potential misclassification of the Z variant in a 42-year-old white man presenting with symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Gentamicin and Vancomycin Interference on Results of Clinical Chemistry Parameters on Abbott Architect c8000.

Context.—: Gentamicin and vancomycin are nephrotoxic antibiotics. Little is known about the influence of drug concentrations on results of clinical chemistry tests.

Targeted Mass Spectrometry-Based Assays for Relative Quantification of 30 Brain-Related Proteins and Their Clinical Applications.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a promising clinical sample for identification of novel biomarkers for various neurological disorders. Considering its direct contact with brain tissue, CSF represents a valuable source of brain-related and brain-specific proteins. Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory, demyelinating neurological disease affecting the central nervous system, and so far there are no diagnostic or prognostic disease specific biomarkers available in the clinic.

Ascorbic acid-A black hole of urine chemistry screening.

Background: Study was performed in order: (i) to assess the comparability of glucose, bilirubin, hemoglobin, leukocyte esterase, and protein; (ii) to assess accuracy of glucose, bilirubin, hemoglobin, leukocyte esterase, and protein; and (iii) to evaluate interference of ascorbic acid on the glucose, bilirubin, hemoglobin, and nitrite determination using 2 different dipsticks: iChem Velocity, Iris Diagnostics and Combur-10M, Roche Diagnostics.

Methods: Random urine specimens were included in the study. Comparability, accuracy, and ascorbic acid interference testing were performed.

Does recreational scuba diving have clinically significant effect on routine haematological parameters?

Introduction: Scuba diving represents a combination of exercise and changes in environmental conditions. This study aimed to evaluate changes in haematological parameters after recreational scuba diving in order to identify clinically significant changes.

Materials And Methods: The study included males, 17 recreational divers, median age (range) 41 (30-52) years.

Preanalytical external quality assessment of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine and CROQALM: finding undetected weak spots.

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to present results of first two years of preanalytical external quality assessment (EQA) in Croatia.

Materials And Methods: This paper summarizes results from 6 rounds of preanalytical EQA during 2014-2016 in 161-175 Croatian laboratories (number ranged between cycles). EQA was designed as an online survey of the compliance with National recommendations for phlebotomy (NRP).

Laboratory testing of extravascular body fluids in Croatia: a survey of the Working group for extravascular body fluids of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

Introduction: We hypothesized that extravascular body fluid (EBF) analysis in Croatia is not harmonized and aimed to investigate preanalytical, analytical and postanalytical procedures used in EBF analysis in order to identify key aspects that should be addressed in future harmonization attempts.

Materials And Methods: An anonymous online survey created to explore laboratory testing of EBF was sent to secondary, tertiary and private health care Medical Biochemistry Laboratories (MBLs) in Croatia. Statements were designed to address preanalytical, analytical and postanalytical procedures of cerebrospinal, pleural, peritoneal (ascites), pericardial, seminal, synovial, amniotic fluid and sweat.

Blood gas testing and related measurements: National recommendations on behalf of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

Blood gas analysis (BGA) is exposed to risks of errors caused by improper sampling, transport and storage conditions. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) generated documents with recommendations for avoidance of potential errors caused by sample mishandling. Two main documents related to BGA issued by the CLSI are GP43-A4 (former H11-A4) Procedures for the collection of arterial blood specimens; approved standard - fourth edition, and C46-A2 Blood gas and pH analysis and related measurements; approved guideline - second edition.

Interference of M-protein on prothrombin time test - case report.

The aim of this report was to present a case of interference on prothrombin time (PT) test that directed further laboratory diagnostics and resulted with final detection of monoclonal gammopathy in an 88-year old man. Routine coagulation testing during medical examination at Emergency Department revealed unmeasurable PT (< 7% activity) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) within reference range. After repeated sampling for coagulation testing, PT was unmeasurable again, as well as fibrinogen level (< 0.

The knowledge and understanding of preanalytical phase among biomedicine students at the University of Zagreb.

Introduction: The educational program for health care personnel is important for reducing preanalytical errors and improving quality of laboratory test results. The aim of our study was to assess the level of knowledge on preanalytical phase in population of biomedicine students through a cross-sectional survey.

Materials And Methods: A survey was sent to students on penultimate and final year of Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry--study of medical biochemistry (FPB), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FVM) and School of Medicine (SM), University of Zagreb, Croatia, using the web tool SurveyMonkey.

K2-EDTA and K3-EDTA Greiner Tubes for HbA1c Measurement.

Objective: To determine whether K2-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and K3-EDTA Greiner tubes could be used interchangeably for glycosylated hemoglobin, type A1C (HbA1c) measurement via the Abbott Laboratories ARCHITECT chemiluminescent microparticle HbA1c assay on the ARCHITECT i2000SR immunoanalyzer at our university hospital.

Materials: We drew blood from a total of 45 outpatients into plastic Greiner Vacuette tubes, some of which were lined with K2-EDTA and others with K3-EDTA anticoagulant. Data are presented as median and interquartile range values.

The role of human kallikrein 6, clusterin and adiponectin as potential blood biomarkers of dementia.

Objectives: Progressive degenerative syndromes which affect brain, altering memory, behavior, cognition and emotion, are commonly defined as dementia. It was suggested that serum human kallikrein 6 (KLK6), clusterin (CLU) and adiponectin (ADPN) in combination with inflammation markers, neuroimaging and neuropsychological testing could assist in discriminating dementia patients from control individuals. Our aim was therefore to compare serum concentrations of KLK6, CLU and ADPN and inflammatory marker, interleukin-6 (IL-6), in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD), patients with vascular dementia (VAD), cognitively healthy participants (CHP) and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Short-term and long-term storage stability of heparin plasma ammonia.

Aims: Ammonia is an extremely unstable analyte and requires special attention during sampling, transport and storage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of ammonia in lithium-heparin plasma during short-term (at +4°C) and long-term (at -20°C) storage.

Methods: Twenty plasma samples were used for short-term stability assessment.

Serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in Croatian population.

Serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) is a well-studied polymorphism in psychiatric research. The function of serotonin transporter is to control neural stimulation and maintain homeostasis of serotonin in other cells like platelets and enterochromaffin cells. Considering serotonin function in human behavior, and the role of serotonin transporter, 5-HTTLPR has been associated with depression related disorders, anxiety related personality traits, and adverse response to psychotherapy.

The association of inflammatory markers with cerebral vasoreactivity and carotid atherosclerosis in transient ischaemic attack.

Objectives: Inflammatory mediators have an important role in the pathogenesis of stroke. Increased activity of inflammatory mediators initiates the development of atherosclerosis independently of other risk factors, thus compromising brain microcirculation and causing transient ischaemic attack (TIA). The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between serum level of cellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and breath-holding index (BHI) in subjects with transient ischaemic attack.

Institutional practices and policies in acid-base testing: a self reported Croatian survey study on behalf of the Croatian society of medical biochemistry and laboratory medicine Working Group for acid-base balance.

Introduction: The aim of this survey study was to assess the current practices and policies in use related to the various steps in the blood gas testing process, across hospital laboratories in Croatia.

Materials And Methods: First questionnaire was sent by email to all medical biochemistry laboratories (N = 104) within general, specialized and clinical hospitals and university hospital centres to identify laboratories which perform blood gas analysis. Second questionnaire with detailed questions about sample collection, analysis and quality control procedures, was sent only to 47 laboratories identified by the first survey.

Paraoxonase 1 activity and phenotype distribution in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Introduction: Postmenopausal women have higher risk of cardiovascular disease. One of the contributing factors could be reduced activity of anti-atherogenic enzyme paraoxonase 1 (PON1). The aim of this study was to examine differences in the lipid status, paraoxonase and arylesterase PON1 activities and PON1 phenotype in women with regular menstrual cycle and in postmenopausal women.

The evidence based practice for optimal sample quality for ammonia measurement.

Objectives: Pre-analytical factors are a major source of variability in laboratory results. Failure to identify these factors can lead to falsely increased or decreased results and to erroneous clinical decisions. We aimed to investigate several pre-analytical factors influencing ammonia measurement, and to quantify their effect on the apparent increase in ammonia concentration.

Pleural, peritoneal and pericardial effusions - a biochemical approach.

The pathological accumulation of serous fluids in the pleural, peritoneal and pericardial space occurs in a variety of conditions. Since patient management depends on right and timely diagnosis, biochemical analysis of extravascular body fluids is considered a valuable tool in the patient management process. The biochemical evaluation of serous fluids includes the determination of gross appearance, differentiation of transudative from exudative effusions and additional specific biochemical testing to assess the effusion etiology.

Lipemia: causes, interference mechanisms, detection and management.

In the clinical laboratory setting, interferences can be a significant source of laboratory errors with potential to cause serious harm for the patient. After hemolysis, lipemia is the most frequent endogenous interference that can influence results of various laboratory methods by several mechanisms. The most common preanalytical cause of lipemic samples is inadequate time of blood sampling after the meal or parenteral administration of synthetic lipid emulsions.

Visfatin is not associated with inflammatory markers in patients on hemodialysis.

Background: Cardiovascular events are a major cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease. Endothelial dysfunction represents a key event in atherosclerosis development and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of different forms of cardiovascular disease, including chronic kidney disease. In recent years, visfatin, a ubiquitous adipokine, has been described as a potent marker of endothelial inflammation and dysfunction.