The local clinical validation of a new lithium heparin tube with a barrier: BD Vacutainer® Barricor LH Plasma tube

Introduction: Although serum-providing blood tubes with a barrier are still widely used due to their significant advantages, the use of blood tubes with a barrier to provide plasma is becoming widespread. We compared 22 analytes in a BD Vacutainer® Barricor LH Plasma tube for local clinical validation of this new lithium heparin tube with a barrier. Materials and methods: Samples from 44 volunteers were collected in different tubes (Becton Dickinson and Company): Z tube without additive (reference), clot-activator tube with gel (SST), lithium heparin tube without gel (LiH), and lithium heparin tube with barrier (Barricor). Analyte concentrations in different tubes were compared with the reference tube. All tubes were also evaluated according to additional testing (different centrifugation durations, blood-sampling techniques and individual differences). Results: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose (Glc), potassium (K), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), sodium (Na), and total protein (TP) had a significant bias in Barricor (9.19%, - 3.24%, - 4.88%, 21.60%, - 0.40%, 5.03%, respectively) relative to the reference tube. There was no statistical difference between different centrifugation durations and individual differences for AST, K and LD in LiH and/or Barricor (P > 0.05). There was a significant bias for LD between LiH and Barricor in terms of blood-sampling techniques (21.2% and 12.4%, respectively). Conclusions: Recently, the use of plasma has become prominent due to some of its advantages. In this study, plasma AST, K, LD, Glc and TP levels in Barricor were clinically different in comparison to serum. The results of additional tests showed that higher levels of LD in Barricor did not result from haemolysis, and they might be related to other factors including number of platelets, cellular fragility, or functional environment

Role of urine glycosaminoglycan levels in the diagnosis and follow-up in men with lower urinary tract symptoms

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether urinary glycosaminoglycans (GAG) levels reflect clinical status in men with lower urinary tract symptoms and if they could be used as a marker in management of overactive bladder (OAB). Methods: A total of 34 patients were recruited who were admitted with LUTS and diagnosed as having clinically bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) due to prostate enlargement. These newly diagnosed, never treated patients underwent routine investigation, consisting of history, physical examination, PSA, ultrasound, uroflowmetry, assessment of symptoms scored by both International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Marmara- Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (M-OBQ). The patients were divided into two groups as those with an initial M-OBQ score < 12 (group 1) and ≥ 13 (group 2). Alfa blocker was initiated in eligible patients. Further evaluations included prostate volume measurement, pre- and post-treatment urinary GAG levels, IPSS and M-QAOB values and maximum urine flow rate (Qmax). Results: Before treatment, urinary GAG level was 21.5 mg/gCr (6.1-45.5) in Group 1, and 23.35 mg/gCr (15.6-32.6) in Group 2 (p =0.845). After the treatment, the GAG level in Group 1 and Group 2 were found to be 19.8 mg/gCr (7.4-70.5) and 18 (7.6- 41.7), respectively (p = 0.511). No difference in GAG levels was found in subgroup analysis for patients with or without OAB. Conclusions: In recent years, there have been many studies investigating the relationship between LUTS and urinary markers. However, in our prospective study, no relationship was found between pre- and post- treatment urinary GAG levels in patients with LUTS with or without OAB

First-trimester placental function in levothyroxine-using pregnant women: a case-control study

We aimed to compare the pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and the uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA PI) levels of euthyroid pregnant women using levothyroxine vs. a control group of uncomplicated pregnancies and to evaluate the effects of different levothyroxine dosages on pregnancy outcomes. We retrospectively evaluated 206 levothyroxine-using pregnant women by looking at their basic placental function markers and obstetric outcomes. A sample of 449 women whose pregnancies concluded with uncomplicated term deliveries composed of our control group. To examine the relationship between the levothyroxine dosages and the frequency of pregnancy complications, levothyroxine users were divided into different groups according to the 75, 100, and 150 mcg cutoffs. The median PAPP-A MoM levels of levothyroxine users were significantly lower at 0.94 vs. 1.11 (p < .001) and the median mean UtA PI was significantly higher than the control group at 2.08 vs. 1.74 (p < .0001). The median birth weight was significantly lower for the levothyroxine users' group at 3292 g vs. 3427 g (p < .0001). Using 75, 100, and 150 mcg dose cutoffs, PAPP-A MoM, mean UtA PI and obstetric complication frequencies were not significantly different among levothyroxine users. Significant changes in placental function markers have been observed in euthyroid levothyroxine-using pregnant women during the first trimester. However, the frequency of obstetric complications does not appear to be dose dependent

Prediction of ischemic placental diseases during the first trimester combined test period: a retrospective cohort of low-risk pregnancies in search of the link between parity and disease

Objective: To assess the predictive power of a multifactorial model established on maternal characteristics, placenta-associated plasma protein A (PAPPA), and the mean uterine artery pulsatility index (Ut A PI) levels for the development of ischemic placental diseases (IPD) during the first-trimester combined test (FTCT) period and to evaluate the strength of some generally accepted clinical risk factors

T Helper 1 Cytokines and Their Relationship with Beta Cell Function in Type 1 Diabetes

Objective: In type 1 diabetes (T1D), T helper (Th) 1 cells affect beta cell functions significantly. This study aims to explore the association between serum levels of Th1 cytokines [interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin (IL)-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)] and beta cell function in T1D. Material and Methods: The study included 110 patients with T1D (TIDPs) and 31 healthy controls. The beta cell functions in T1DPS were assessed by calculating mixed-meal stimulated C-peptide levels. T1DPs were categorized into three groups depending on results of this test (1a-lowest, 1b, 1c-highest). Cytokine levels, IFN-gamma/IL-2, and TNF-alpha/IL-2 ratios in T1DPs were compared with that in controls. Correlation analysis between cytokine levels and diabetes-related parameters was then carried out. Results: IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-2 levels, and TNF-alpha/IL-2 of T1DPs were higher (p=0.02, p=0.01, p=0.008, and p=0.01, respectively) than that of controls. The highest IFN-gamma/IL-2 and TNF-alpha/IL-2 ratios were observed in group 1b (p=0.03 and p=0.04, respectively) while the lowest IFN-gamma/IL-2 and TNF-alpha/IL-2 ratios were observed in group 1a (p=0.03 and p=0.04, respectively). The TNF-alpha levels were found to be negatively correlated with fasting glucose levels (r(2) =-0.003, p=0.031). However, after adjustment for age and gender, this correlation diminished (r(2) =-0.028, p=0.076). Conclusion: IFN-gamma, IL-2, and TNF-alpha may exhibit a triggering role in the pathogenesis of T1D. IFN-gamma/IL-2 and TNF-alpha/IL-2 ratios possibly have more significant roles in the progression of beta cell dysfunction than other cytokines

FORECASTING THE CONSUMPTIONS OF COAGULATION TESTS USING A DEEP LEARNING MODEL PREDVIĐANJE POTROŠNJE TESTOVA KOAGULACIJE KORIŠĆENJEM MODELA DUBOKOG UČENJA

Background: Laboratory professionals aim to provide a reli-able laboratory service using public resources efficiently while planning a test's procurement. This intuitive approach is ineffective, as seen in the COVID-19 pandem- ic, where the dramatic changes in admissions (e.g. decreased patient admissions) and the purpose of testing (e.g. D-dimer) were experienced. A model based on objec- tive data was developed that predicts the future test con- sumption of coagulation tests whose consumptions were highly variable during the pandemic. Methods: Between December 2018 and July 2021, month-ly consumptions of coagulation tests (PTT, aPTT, D-dimer, fibrinogen), total-, inpatient-, outpatient-, emergency-, non-emergency -admission numbers were collected. The relationship between input and output is modeled with an external input nonlinear autoregressive artificial neural net- work (NARX) using the MATLAB program. Monthly test consumption between January and July 2021 was used to test the power of the forecasting model.Results: According to the co-integration analysis, the total number as well as the number of emergency and non- urgent examinations and the number of working days per month are included in the model. When the consumption of aPTT and fibrinogen was estimated, it was possible to predict the consumption of other tests. Fifty months of data were used to predict consumption over the next six months, and prediction based on NARX was the more robust approach for both tests. Conclusion: The deep learning model gives better results than the intuitive approach in forecasting, even in the pan- demic era, and it shows that more effective and efficient planning will be possible if ANN-supported decision mech- anisms are used in forecasting

Can body shape index indicate obesity-associated inflammation and cardiovascular diseases in stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease patients?

A motivated q-extension of the values of the Riemann zeta function atpositive integers is presented. Several irrationality and transcendence resultsas well as new general problems for these q-zeta values are stated