Demographic data for urinary Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) marker [IGFBP7]·[TIMP2] reference range determinations.

This data in brief describes characteristics of chronic stable comorbid patients who were included in reference range studies of [IGFBP7]·[TIMP-2] "Reference Intervals of Urinary Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Markers [IGFBP7]·[TIMP2] in Apparently Healthy Subjects and Chronic Comorbid Subjects without AKI" [1]. In order to determine the specificity of [IGFBP7]·[TIMP-2] for identifying patients at risk of developing AKI we studied a cohort with nine broad classification of disease who did not have AKI. Details regarding the population that was targeted for inclusion in the study are also described. Finally, we present data on the inclusion criteria for the healthy subjects used in this investigation to determine the reference range

Opera and poison : a secret and enjoyable approach to teaching and learning chemistry

The storyline of operas, with historical or fictional characters, often include potions and poisons. This has prompted a study of the chemistry behind some operatic plots. The results were originally presented as a lecture given at the University of Minho in Portugal, within the context of the International Year of Chemistry. The same lecture was subsequently repeated at other universities as an invited lecture for science students and in public theaters for wider audiences. The lecture included a multimedia and interactive content that allowed the audience to listen to arias and to watch video clips with selected scenes extracted from operas. The present article, based on the lecture, demonstrates how chemistry and opera can be related and may also serve as a source of motivation and inspiration for chemistry teachers looking for alternative pedagogical approaches. Moreover, the lecture constitutes a vehicle that transports chemistry knowledge to wider audiences through examples of everyday molecules, with particular emphasis on natural products.The author is pleased to express his gratitude to Jorge Calado and Michael John Smith for useful discussions. The author also thanks the reviewers of the manuscript for their helpful comments and suggestions. Thanks are due to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT,Portugal), QREN and FEDER/EU for financial support through the research centers, CQ/UM PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2011. Ciencia Viva, Portugal, is also acknowledged for financial support of the activities organized by the University of Minho during the International Year of Chemistry. The author also expresses his gratitude to Ana Paula Ferreira and Andre Cunha Leal from RTP Antena 2 who contributed immensely to the popularization of the lecture on which this paper is based on

Validation of cell-cycle arrest biomarkers for acute kidney injury using clinical adjudication.

RationaleWe recently reported two novel biomarkers for acute kidney injury (AKI), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-2 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7), both related to G1 cell cycle arrest.ObjectivesWe now validate a clinical test for urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] at a high-sensitivity cutoff greater than 0.3 for AKI risk stratification in a diverse population of critically ill patients.MethodsWe conducted a prospective multicenter study of 420 critically ill patients. The primary analysis was the ability of urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] to predict moderate to severe AKI within 12 hours. AKI was adjudicated by a committee of three independent expert nephrologists who were masked to the results of the test.Measurements and main resultsUrinary TIMP-2 and IGFBP7 were measured using a clinical immunoassay platform. The primary endpoint was reached in 17% of patients. For a single urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] test, sensitivity at the prespecified high-sensitivity cutoff of 0.3 (ng/ml)(2)/1,000 was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI], 85-98%) with a negative likelihood ratio of 0.18 (95% CI, 0.06-0.33). Critically ill patients with urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] greater than 0.3 had seven times the risk for AKI (95% CI, 4-22) compared with critically ill patients with a test result below 0.3. In a multivariate model including clinical information, urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] remained statistically significant and a strong predictor of AKI (area under the curve, 0.70, 95% CI, 0.63-0.76 for clinical variables alone, vs. area under the curve, 0.86, 95% CI, 0.80-0.90 for clinical variables plus [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7]).ConclusionsUrinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] greater than 0.3 (ng/ml)(2)/1,000 identifies patients at risk for imminent AKI. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01573962)

Demographic data for urinary Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) marker [IGFBP7]·[TIMP2] reference range determinations

This data in brief describes characteristics of chronic stable comorbid patients who were included in reference range studies of [IGFBP7]·[TIMP-2] “Reference Intervals of Urinary Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Markers [IGFBP7]·[TIMP2] in Apparently Healthy Subjects and Chronic Comorbid Subjects without AKI” [1]. In order to determine the specificity of [IGFBP7]·[TIMP-2] for identifying patients at risk of developing AKI we studied a cohort with nine broad classification of disease who did not have AKI. Details regarding the population that was targeted for inclusion in the study are also described. Finally, we present data on the inclusion criteria for the healthy subjects used in this investigation to determine the reference range

Reference intervals of urinary acute kidney injury (AKI) markers [IGFBP7]∙[TIMP2] in apparently healthy subjects and chronic comorbid subjects without AKI.

BackgroundInsulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) have demonstrated significantly improved diagnostic performance in assessing risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) compared with existing biomarkers. We present the findings of a multi-site trial to determine the reference intervals for these biomarkers in apparently healthy adults and those with stable chronic morbid conditions without AKI.MethodsA urine specimen was collected from apparently healthy subjects (N=378) and subjects with at least one stable chronic morbidity (N=372). Specimens were kept frozen until analysis with the NephroCheck® Test (Astute Medical). The test is comprised of fluorescence immunoassays for IGFBP7 and TIMP-2 and is used with the Astute140® Meter which quantifies the concentration of each biomarker. The meter multiplies the concentrations of IGFBP7 and TIMP-2 and displays the result as a numerical value ([IGFBP7]∙[TIMP-2]) expressed in (ng/ml)(2)/1000 which is called the AKIRisk™ Score.ResultsThe reference intervals (inner 95%) for [IGFBP7]∙[TIMP-2] in all subjects (N=750), apparently healthy subjects, and subjects with stable chronic morbidities were 0.04-2.22, 0.04-2.25, and 0.05-2.20 (ng/ml)(2)/1000 respectively. There was no statistical difference between reference intervals for apparently healthy and chronic stable morbid cohorts (p=0.42).ConclusionsOur investigation showed that urine [IGFBP7]∙[TIMP-2] values were not elevated in patients with stable chronic morbidities who did not have AKI

Demographic data for urinary Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) marker [IGFBP7]·[TIMP2] reference range determinations

This data in brief describes characteristics of chronic stable comorbid patients who were included in reference range studies of [IGFBP7]·[TIMP-2] “Reference Intervals of Urinary Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Markers [IGFBP7]·[TIMP2] in Apparently Healthy Subjects and Chronic Comorbid Subjects without AKI” [1]. In order to determine the specificity of [IGFBP7]·[TIMP-2] for identifying patients at risk of developing AKI we studied a cohort with nine broad classification of disease who did not have AKI. Details regarding the population that was targeted for inclusion in the study are also described. Finally, we present data on the inclusion criteria for the healthy subjects used in this investigation to determine the reference range

Reference intervals of urinary acute kidney injury (AKI) markers [IGFBP7]∙[TIMP2] in apparently healthy subjects and chronic comorbid subjects without AKI.

ABSTRACTBackgroundInsulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) have demonstrated significantly improved diagnostic performance in assessing risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) compared with existing biomarkers. We present the findings of a multi-site trial to determine the reference intervals for these biomarkers in apparently healthy adults and those with stable chronic morbid conditions without AKI.MethodsA urine specimen was collected from apparently healthy subjects (N=378) and subjects with at least one stable chronic morbidity (N=372). Specimens were kept frozen until analysis with the NephroCheck® Test (Astute Medical). The test is comprised of fluorescence immunoassays for IGFBP7 and TIMP-2 and is used with the Astute140® Meter which quantifies the concentration of each biomarker. The meter multiplies the concentrations of IGFBP7 and TIMP-2 and displays the result as a numerical value ([IGFBP7]∙[TIMP-2]) expressed in (ng/ml)2/1000 which is called the AKIRisk™ Score.ResultsThe reference intervals (inner 95%) for [IGFBP7]∙[TIMP-2] in all subjects (N=750), apparently healthy subjects, and subjects with stable chronic morbidities were 0.04–2.22, 0.04–2.25, and 0.05–2.20 (ng/ml)2/1000 respectively. There was no statistical difference between reference intervals for apparently healthy and chronic stable morbid cohorts (p=0.42).ConclusionsOur investigation showed that urine [IGFBP7]∙[TIMP-2] values were not elevated in patients with stable chronic morbidities who did not have AKI

Reference intervals of urinary acute kidney injury (AKI) markers [IGFBP7]∙[TIMP2] in apparently healthy subjects and chronic comorbid subjects without AKI

ABSTRACTBackgroundInsulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) have demonstrated significantly improved diagnostic performance in assessing risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) compared with existing biomarkers. We present the findings of a multi-site trial to determine the reference intervals for these biomarkers in apparently healthy adults and those with stable chronic morbid conditions without AKI.MethodsA urine specimen was collected from apparently healthy subjects (N=378) and subjects with at least one stable chronic morbidity (N=372). Specimens were kept frozen until analysis with the NephroCheck® Test (Astute Medical). The test is comprised of fluorescence immunoassays for IGFBP7 and TIMP-2 and is used with the Astute140® Meter which quantifies the concentration of each biomarker. The meter multiplies the concentrations of IGFBP7 and TIMP-2 and displays the result as a numerical value ([IGFBP7]∙[TIMP-2]) expressed in (ng/ml)2/1000 which is called the AKIRisk™ Score.ResultsThe reference intervals (inner 95%) for [IGFBP7]∙[TIMP-2] in all subjects (N=750), apparently healthy subjects, and subjects with stable chronic morbidities were 0.04–2.22, 0.04–2.25, and 0.05–2.20 (ng/ml)2/1000 respectively. There was no statistical difference between reference intervals for apparently healthy and chronic stable morbid cohorts (p=0.42).ConclusionsOur investigation showed that urine [IGFBP7]∙[TIMP-2] values were not elevated in patients with stable chronic morbidities who did not have AKI

Rapid Point of Care Analyzer for the Measurement of Cyanide in Blood

A simple, sensitive optical analyzer for the rapid determination of cyanide in blood in point of care applications is described. HCN is liberated by the addition of 20% H(3)PO(4) and is absorbed by a paper filter impregnated with borate-buffered (pH 9.0) hydroxoaquocobinamide Hereinafter called cobinamide). Cobinamide on the filter changes color from orange (λ(max) = 510 nm) to violet (λ(max) = 583 nm) upon reaction with cyanide. This color change is monitored in the transmission mode by a light emitting diode (LED) with a 583 nm emission maximum and a photodiode detector. The observed rate of color change increases 10x when the cobinamide solution for filter impregnation is prepared in borate-buffer rather than in water. The use of a second LED emitting at 653 nm and alternate pulsing of the LEDs improve the limit of detection by 4x to ~ 0.5 μM for a 1 mL blood sample. Blood cyanide levels of imminent concern (≥ 10 μM) can be accurately measured in ~ 2 min. The response is proportional to the mass of cyanide in the sample – smaller sample volumes can be successfully used with proportionate change in the concentration LODs. Bubbling air through the blood-acid mixture was found effective for mixing of the acid with the sample and the liberation of HCN. A small amount of ethanol added to the top of the blood was found to be the most effective means to prevent frothing during aeration. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for repetitive determination of blood samples containing 9 μM CN was 1.09% (n=5). The technique was compared blind with a standard microdiffusion-spectrophotometric method used for the determination of cyanide in rabbit blood. The results showed good correlation (slope 1.05, r(2) 0.9257); independent calibration standards were used