Evaluation of the TEST 1 erythrocyte sedimentation rate system and intra- and inter-laboratory quality control using new latex control materials

Background: The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test has been considered to be a simple procedure, not requiring quality control (QC). However, QC is essential for accuracy and precision. We evaluated the TEST 1 ESR system and performed QC procedures using newly developed latex control materials in three hospitals. Methods: Using tripotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood samples (n=184), we compared TEST 1 ESR values with Westergren ESR data and evaluated intra-assay precision. Three levels of latex control materials were used to assess inter-assay precision. Reference range assessment was done using samples from 220 healthy individuals. Inter-laboratory QC with latex control materials in three hospitals was performed. Results: Correlation between TEST 1 ESR and Westergren ESR results was good (p<0.001). Intra-assay precision [coefficients of variation (CV) 6.6%-21.7%] with patient samples and inter-assay precision (CV 0.0%-6.8%) with latex control materials were satisfactory. The reference ranges of 2-10 mm/h for males and 2-19 mm/h for females were established. Inter-laboratory QC data with latex control materials in three hospitals demonstrated good accuracy and satisfactory precision (CV 0.0%-14.4%). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the TEST 1 QC is reliable and the latex control materials are valuable for inter-laboratory proficiency testing. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010; 48: 1043-8.Cha CH, 2009, AM J CLIN PATHOL, V131, P189, DOI 10.1309/AJCPOU1ASTLRANIJ*CLIN LAB STAND I, 2008, C28A3 CLSIPiva E, 2007, CLIN BIOCHEM, V40, P491, DOI 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2006.12.002Padro-Miquel A, 2007, CLIN CHEM LAB MED, V45, P930, DOI 10.1515/CCLM.2007.150Romero A, 2003, CLIN CHEM LAB MED, V41, P232Plebani M, 2002, AM J CLIN PATHOL, V117, P621LEE BH, 2002, J CLIN PATHOL QUALIT, V24, P167GIAVARINA D, 2002, CLIN LAB, V48, P459Piva E, 2001, CLIN CHEM LAB MED, V39, P451*CLIN LAB STAND I, 2000, H2A4 CLSIPlebani M, 1998, AM J CLIN PATHOL, V110, P334BULL BS, 1993, J CLIN PATHOL, V46, P198BULL BS, 1991, PRACTICAL LAB HEMATOFABRY TL, 1987, BLOOD, V70, P1572WESTERGREN A, 1926, AM REV TUBERC, V14, P94

Meta-analysis of the Association between HLA-DRB1 Allele and Rheumatoid Arthritis Susceptibility in Asian Populations

The aims of this study were to summarize results on the association of HLA-DRB1 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Asians and to determine if the shared epitope (SE) hypothesis could explain the meta-analysis results. Among the papers published between January 1987 and July 2006 on RA susceptibility in Asian-Mongoloid populations (Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Thai), 12 were selected for the meta-analysis. Mongoloid-Asian patients with RA had significantly higher frequencies of HLA-DRB1*0101, *0401, *0410, and *1001 than controls (OR 1.5-2.1, p<0.05 for association). When analyses were restricted to more ethnically homogeneous populations, HLA-DRB1*0405 showed a significant susceptibility to RA in Koreans (OR 5.65, 95% CI 4.32-7.39), whereas the HLA-DRB1*0301, *0403, *0406, *0701, *1301, and *1405 alleles showed protective association with RA (OR 0.32-0.70, p<0.05 for association). In conclusion, it was found that HLA-DRB1 *0101, *0401, *0405, *0410, and *1001 are susceptible, while HLA-DRB1*0301, *0403, *0406, *0701, *1301, and *1405 are protective in Asian-Mongoloids. All the RA-associated alleles except DRB1*0301 could be explained by the structural model supporting the SE hypothesis that RA susceptibility is determined by the combination of amino acid residues at HLA-DR β71 and β74, not by β71 alone

Male Breast Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Introduction: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare condition, and cases in male patients are even less common. Case: We describe a case of ACC of the breast with axillary lymph node metastasis, disseminated osteolytic bone metastasis and bone marrow involvement in a 41-year-old man. Conclusion: Male breast ACC is an extremely rare malignancy; there can be difficulty in obtaining a final diagnosis. We report this case because of its rarity