Folate, homocysteine and selected vitamins and minerals status in infertile women

Diet has been recognised as a crucial factor influencing fetal and maternal health. Adequate levels of substances such as homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 have been associated with a higher rate of success in infertility treatments. Few data, however, are available on the average levels of micronutrients in the blood of reproductive-aged women, and specific values for adequate levels are not available. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to measure levels of folate, homocysteine and selected vitamins and minerals in women attending the infertility unit of an academic hospital for in vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Reference range of serum calcitonin in pediatric population

Background: Children belonging to the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) pedigree and carrying germline RET mutations are candidates for prophylactic thyroidectomy, the timing of which is based on the mutation-associated risk and the calcitonin (CT) levels. Design: The aim of this study was to establish the reference range for serum CT in a pediatric population. The study included 2740 subjects (1339 females and 1401 males) ranging in age from 1 day to 16 years and undergoing blood testing for any medical condition not affecting serum CT. Results: Overall, serum CT was undetectable in 61.5% of the samples and detectable in 38.5%. Detectable samples were more frequent in the first 2 years of life. Thereafter, undetectable samples became more frequent, particularly in females. Mean serum CT concentrations were higher in the first year of life (9.81 ± 8.8 pg/mL; range, 2.0-48.9 pg/mL) and the second year of life (4.56 ± 2.64 pg/mL; range, 2.0-14.7 pg/mL). A significant decrease of serum CT levels was observed thereafter (P < .001), and starting from the third year of life serum CT levels were similar to those found in adults. No gender difference was found in any age group. Based on these results, age-specific CT reference ranges are needed in the pediatric population, and especially in the first 2 years of life. Conclusions: This is the first study defining the reference range for serum CT in the pediatric population and large enough to be statistically meaningful. Our proposal may facilitate the process of decision making when dealing with gene carriers of MEN 2

Low non-carbonic buffer power amplifies acute respiratory acid-base disorders in septic patients: an in-vitro study

Rationale: Septic patients have typically reduced concentrations of hemoglobin and albumin, the major components of non-carbonic buffer power(\u3b2). This could expose patients to high pH variations during acid-base disorders. Objectives: To compare, in-vitro, non-carbonic \u3b2 of septic patients with that of healthy volunteers, and evaluate its distinct components. Methods: Whole blood and isolated plasma of 18 septic patients and 18 controls were equilibrated with different CO2 mixtures. Blood gases, pH and electrolytes were measured. Non-carbonic \u3b2 and non-carbonic \u3b2 due to variations in Strong Ion Difference (\u3b2SID) were calculated for whole blood. Non-carbonic \u3b2 and non-carbonic \u3b2 normalized for albumin concentrations (\u3b2NORM) were calculated for isolated plasma. Representative values at pH=7.40 were compared. Albumin proteoforms were evaluated via two-dimensional electrophoresis. Measurements and main results: Hemoglobin and albumin concentrations were significantly lower in septic patients. Septic patients had lower non-carbonic \u3b2 both of whole blood (22.0\ub11.9 vs. 31.6\ub12.1 mmol/L, p&lt;0.01) and plasma (0.5\ub11.0 vs. 3.7\ub10.8 mmol/L, p&lt;0.01). Non-carbonic \u3b2SID was lower in patients (16.8\ub11.9 vs. 24.4\ub11.9 mmol/L, p&lt;0.01) and strongly correlated with hemoglobin concentration (r=0.94, p&lt;0.01). Non-carbonic \u3b2NORM was lower in patients (0.01 [-0.01 - 0.04] vs. 0.08 [0.06 - 0.09] mmol/g, p&lt;0.01). Septic patients and controls showed different amounts of albumin proteoforms. Conclusions: Septic patients are exposed to higher pH variations for any given change in CO2 due to lower concentrations of non-carbonic buffers and, possibly, an altered buffering function of albumin. In both septic patients and healthy controls, electrolyte shifts are the major buffering mechanism during respiratory acid-base disorders