Imprecision remains to be improved in the measurement of serum cystatin C with heterogeneous systems.

Objectives: Except for the large bias of some measurement systems for serum cystatin C (CysC) measurements, unacceptable imprecision has been observed for the heterogenous system. This study analyzed the external quality assessment (EQA) results in 2018-2021 to provide an insight into the imprecision of CysC assays.

Methods: Five EQA samples were sent to participating laboratories every year.

An Accurate Isotope Dilution Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Serum C-Peptide and Its Use in Harmonization in China.

Background: Serum C-peptide results from various routine methods used in China are highly variable, warranting well-performing methods to serve as an accuracy base to improve the harmonization of C-peptide measurements in China. We developed an accurate isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) method for serum C-peptide measurement and explored its use in harmonization.

Methods: After protein precipitation with ZSO solution, C-peptide was extracted from serum samples by anion-exchange solid-phase extraction and quantified by ID-LC-MS/MS in positive ion mode.

Circulating HPV DNA in HPV-associated cancers.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are the primary cause of almost all cervical cancers, anal cancers, and a variable proportion of other anogenital tumors, as well as head and neck cancers. Circulating HPV DNA (cHPV-DNA) is emerging as a biomarker with extensive potential in the management of HPV-driven malignancies. There has been a rapid advancement in the development of techniques for analyzing cHPV-DNA for the detection, characterization, and monitoring of HPV-associated cancers.

CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib promotes SARS-CoV-2 cell entry by down-regulating SKP2 dependent ACE2 degradation.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has become a global pandemic. CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib was reported to be one of the top-scored repurposed drugs to treat COVID-19. As the receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) entry, expression level of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is closely related to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Application of serum pools in insulin harmonization: Commutability and stability.

Background: Recalibration using serum pools assigned by higher-order reference methods had been demonstrated to be effective in improving the agreement among insulin immunoassays. To promote the application of serum pools in insulin harmonization, this study analyzed serum pools' commutability between insulin immunoassays, and their short- and long-term stability at different temperatures. The agreement between commonly used immunoassays was also evaluated.

The predictive value of tissue response viewer for lesion transmurality in a porcine model.

Background: The tissue response viewer (TRV) is a multiparametric index that incorporates time, power, tissue pressure, impedance, and wall thickness data during radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) and is used to predict the transmurality of lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of the TRV in a porcine model.

Methods: Twelve pigs underwent preablation high-density voltage and activation mapping of two atria, and both were repeated after linear RFCA.

Serosurvey for SARS-CoV-2 among blood donors in Wuhan, China from September to December 2019.

The emerging of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused COVID-19 pandemic. The first case of COVID-19 was reported at early December in 2019 in Wuhan City, China. To examine specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in biological samples before December 2019 would give clues when the epidemic of SARS-CoV-2 might start to circulate in populations.

Consistency and reproducibility of large panel next-generation sequencing: Multi-laboratory assessment of somatic mutation detection on reference materials with mismatch repair and proofreading deficiency.

Introduction: Clinical precision oncology increasingly relies on accurate genome-wide profiling using large panel next generation sequencing; however, difficulties in accurate and consistent detection of somatic mutation from individual platforms and pipelines remain an open question.

Objectives: To obtain paired tumor-normal reference materials that can be effectively constructed and interchangeable with clinical samples, and evaluate the performance of 56 panels under routine testing conditions based on the reference samples.

Methods: Genes involved in mismatch repair and DNA proofreading were knocked down using the CRISPR-Cas9 technology to accumulate somatic mutations in a defined GM12878 cell line.

Development and validation of a duplex real-time PCR for the rapid detection and quantitation of HTLV-1.

Background: The HTLV-1 prevalence in China varies geographically, while HTLV-2 infection has rarely been found so far. Proviral load is one of the determining factors of pathogenesis and progression of HTLV-1 related diseases. However, neither molecular assays nor commercial kits are available for HTLV-1 diagnosis in China.

Focus on the frontier issue: progress in noninvasive prenatal screening for fetal trisomy from clinical perspectives.

The discovery of cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal blood and the rapid development of massively parallel sequencing have revolutionized prenatal testing from invasive to noninvasive. Noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) based on cffDNA enables the detection of fetal trisomy through sequencing, comparison, and bioassays. Its accuracy is better than that of traditional screening methods, and it is the most advanced clinical application of high-throughput sequencing technologies.

Vein of Marshall Collateralization during Ethanol Infusion in Atrial Fibrillation: Solution for Effective Myocardium Staining.

Background: The vein of Marshall (VOM) ethanol infusion improves sinus rhythm maintenance in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Distal collateral circulation of VOM can be a challenge to effective ethanol infusion.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of ethanol infusion in VOM with distal collateral circulation.

Development of a designed comparison method based on isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for determining plasma renin activity and its clinical assessment of renin activity stability in plasma.

Plasma renin activity (PRA) is recommended as the first screening indicator for primary aldosteronism. Immunoassays and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods have been developed for quantifying PRA, but the interchangeability across assays and laboratories was suboptimal, which predominantly related to the differences in the plasma incubation strategy. This study aims to establish and validate a designed comparison method based on LC-MS/MS.

Circulating immune complexes and mutations of HBsAg are associated with the undetectable HBsAg in anti-HBs and HBeAg positive occult hepatitis B virus infection.

Introduction: Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is an HBsAg negative state in HBV infection with usually inactive HBV replication. However, there were a minority of individuals with positive HBeAg and anti-HBs among OBI blood donors and few studies have focused on this unusual serological pattern.

Methods: 2022 plasma of blood donors that preliminary screened reactive for HBV DNA and non-reactive for HBsAg were collected from 16 provinces in China from 2015 to 2018.

Validation of a Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing Assay for Lower Respiratory Pathogen Detection.

Lower respiratory infection (LRI) is the most fatal communicable disease, with only a few pathogens identified. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), as an unbiased, hypothesis-free, and culture-independent method, theoretically enables the detection of all pathogens in a single test. In this study, we developed and validated a DNA-based mNGS method for the diagnosis of LRIs from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).

Oral Administration of Branched-Chain Amino Acids Attenuates Atherosclerosis by Inhibiting the Inflammatory Response and Regulating the Gut Microbiota in ApoE-Deficient Mice.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that serves as a common pathogenic underpinning for various cardiovascular diseases. Although high circulating branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) levels may represent a risk factor for AS, it is unclear whether dietary BCAA supplementation causes elevated levels of circulating BCAAs and hence influences AS, and the related mechanisms are not well understood. Here, ApoE-deficient mice (ApoE) were fed a diet supplemented with or without BCAAs to investigate the effects of BCAAs on AS and determine potential related mechanisms.

Development and validation of a survival prediction model and risk stratification for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Purpose: We explored risk variables associated with cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs) and created a network dynamic nomogram model to predict patient survival time.

Methods: A total of 7750 patients with PNENs were included in this analysis, including 134 with functional PNENs and 7616 with nonfunctional PNENs. Clinical feature and prognosis differences between functional and nonfunctional PNENs were compared.

Factor XI, a potential target for anticoagulation therapy for venous thromboembolism.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common cause of mortality and disability in hospitalized patients, and anticoagulation is an essential therapeutic option. Despite the increasing use of direct oral anticoagulants, complications and adverse drug reactions still occur in patients with VTE. Within 5 years, 20% of patients with VTE experience recurrence, and 50% of patients with deep vein thrombosis develop post-thrombotic syndrome.

A candidate reference method and multiple commutable control materials for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D measurement.

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to establish a reliable candidate reference method for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] measurement and to assess the commutability of multiple control materials among liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods.

Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 [25(OH)D2] and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] together with spiked internal standards were extracted with a one-step approach and then analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The commutability assessment for 25(OH)D was conducted according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) EP14-A3 protocol.

Relative vaccine effectiveness against Delta and Omicron COVID-19 after homologous inactivated vaccine boosting: a retrospective cohort study.

Unlabelled: ObjectiveTwo COVID-19 outbreaks occurred in Henan province in early 2022-one was a Delta variant outbreak and the other was an Omicron variant outbreak. COVID-19 vaccines used at the time of the outbreak were inactivated, 91.8%; protein subunit, 7.

CRISPR-Cas-based techniques for pathogen detection: Retrospect, recent advances, and future perspectives.

Background: Early detection of pathogen-associated diseases are critical for effective treatment. Rapid, specific, sensitive, and cost-effective diagnostic technologies continue to be challenging to develop. The current gold standard for pathogen detection, polymerase chain reaction technology, has limitations such as long operational cycles, high cost, and high technician and instrumentation requirements.

The mechanism of Girdin in degenerative brain disease caused by high glucose stimulation.

Unlabelled: Girdin, as an actin-binding protein, plays a major role in maintaining the stability of the actin skeleton structure and affects the growth, development, and migration of neurons. This study discusses the mechanism of Girdin in brain degeneration caused by high glucose stimulation. We examined the expression of Girdin in diabetic patients.