Performance of automated urine analyzers using flow cytometric and digital image-based technology in routine urinalysis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analytical performances of Sysmex UF-5000 and Dirui FUS-200 and to compare the results with manual microscopy and between each other. Two hundred fifty urine samples were analyzed for evaluation. Mid-stream specimens were studied sequentially using Dirui FUS-200 and Sysmex UF-5000, and also with manual microscopy within one hour. The physical and chemical components of urinalysis, and sediment results were investigated. The precision results of the FUS-200 and UF-5000 for WBCs, RBCs, and ECs were acceptable. The both analyzers demonstrated good linearity (r > 0.97), with no carry-over. The comparisons of FUS-200 and UF-5000 with manual microscopy for RBCs, WBCs, and ECs on 250 samples exhibited good agreement with little bias (R > 0.780). Only, the moderate agreements were obtained for calcium oxalate for both analyzers (R = 0.512, and 0.648, respectively). The sensitivities of the FUS-200 and UF-5000 were 75.8% and 86.8%, with specificities of 92.3% and 87.8% for WBCs, for RBCs the sensitivities were 91.1%, and 84.4% with specificities of 82.2%, and 89.6% for both analyzers. Kappa values of the UF-5000 were higher than FUS-200 for WBCs, RBCs, ECs, and calcium oxalate. The FUS-200 and UF-5000 urine analyzers, are both accurate, very precise systems and can be safely used in clinical laboratories. However, due to the technological characteristics of the UF-5000 analyzer, its positive impacts on the morphologic recognition and enumeration of RBCs and WBCs should be taken into account, particularly in university hospital laboratories with high patient volumes

VEGF, IGF-1 and FGF-2 Serum Levels in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder with and without Bipolar Disorder

Purpose: To investigate serum levels of VEGF, IGF-1 and FGF-2, and relationships with several clinical characteristics in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with and without bipolar disorder (BD). Method: 40 subjects with ASD + BD as study group, and 40 subjects with ASD as control group were included. Serum levels of VEGF, IGF-1, and FGF-2 were measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: The study group was significantly higher than the control group in terms of ASD severity, self-harming behavior and sleep disturbance. Serum VEGF and FGF-2 levels were significantly higher in the ASD + BD group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in serum IGF-1 levels between the two groups. There was no correlation between VEGF, IGF-1 and FGF-2 serum levels and ASD severity in the study group. However there was a negative correlation between VEGF levels and age at first diagnosis of BD, and a positive correlation between IGF-1 levels and the number of bipolar episodes in the study group. Conclusion: Growth factors like VEGF and FGF-2 may be potential biomarkers of bipolar disorder in young subjects with ASD. Given the difficulty of clinical management of BD in young subjects with ASD, potential biomarkers would help clinicians in the diagnosis and follow up of BD in this special population. Further research is needed whether VEGF and FGF-2 can be potential biomarkers in the clinical management of young subjects with ASD and BD

The Relationship Between Cyclo-Oxygenase-2 -1195A/G Gene Polymorphism and Renal Cell Carcinoma

Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the association of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) -1195A/G polymorphism with initiation and progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and interaction with smoking in RCC patients in a Turkish population

Despite the lack of association between different genotypes and the presence of prostate cancer, endothelial nitric oxide Synthase a/b (eNOS4a/b) polymorphism may be associated with advanced clinical stage and bone metastasis

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the distribution of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS4a/b) gene polymorphism and clinical features of prostate cancer (PCa)

Increased risk of advanced prostate cancer associated with MnSOD Ala-9-Val gene polymorphism

We aimed to investigate the association between manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) Ala-9-Val gene polymorphism and the initiation and/or progression of prostate cancer (PCa) as well as to evaluate its potential interactions with advanced age and smoking status. MnSOD Ala-9-Val gene polymorphism was carried out in 134 (mean age 64.1 +/- A 7.48) PCa patients and 159 (mean age 62.5 +/- A 7.53) healthy controls with serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels (< 4 ng/ml) and normal digital rectal examination (DRE) findings in this prospectively designed study. PCa patients were classified as low stage disease (T(1) or T(2) and N(0)M(0) stages) and high stage disease (T(3) or T(4) and N(0)M(0) or N(1) or M(1) stages). Genotypes for MnSOD Ala-9-Val gene polymorphism were identified by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFPL). Despite lack of association between different genotypes of MnSOD Ala-9-Val gene polymorphism and the presence of PCa, patients with Ala/Ala genotype were at an increased risk of high stage disease compared with those with the Val/Val genotype [odds ratio (OR), 3.77; 95% CI, 1.30-10.94; P = 0.012]. However, no significant difference was observed in the distribution of each genotype among PCa patients, with respect to tumor grade. On the other hand, smoking status and aging did not seem to change the association between genotypes and PCa risk. Ala/Ala genotype of MnSOD polymorphism may have an effect on adverse features of PCa such as high stage disease

Genetic variants of MnSOD and GPX1 and susceptibility to bladder cancer in a Turkish population

This study was conducted to investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms in the MnSOD and GPX1 genes with the risk and invasiveness of bladder cancer in a Turkish population. This prospectively designed study enrolled 157 patients with bladder cancer (mean age 63.2 +/- 10.86 years) and 224 healthy controls (mean age 61.7 +/- 8.39 years). Genotyping of the MnSOD Ala-9Val and GPX1 Pro198Leu polymorphisms was carried out by PCR-RFLP. No significant difference was found in MnSOD genotype distributions between the controls and the bladder cancer patients. However, the Leu/Leu genotype of GPX1 was associated with a significantly higher risk of bladder cancer than the Pro/Pro genotype. When stratified according to tumor stage, the Leu/Leu genotype of GPX1 was more frequently observed in bladder cancer patients with high-stage tumors than those with low-stage tumors. Additionally, patients carrying both Ala/Ala of MnSOD and Leu/Leu of GPX1 had the highest risk of developing bladder cancer. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the GPX1 Pro198Leu polymorphism may be associated with the risk and development of invasive bladder cancer. In addition, the combination of the MnSOD Ala/Ala and GPX1 Leu/Leu genotypes may have a synergistic effect on disease risk

Association of Polymorphisms in MCP-1, CCR2, and CCR5 Genes with the Risk and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Prostate Cancer

The aim of our study was to determine the effect of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2), and CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) gene polymorphisms on the susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of prostate cancer. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method in 156 histopathologically confirmed prostate cancer patients and 152 healthy subjects. Individuals with AA genotype or at least one A allele of CCR2 V64I gene polymorphism had a higher risk for prostate cancer as compared with those with GG genotype (p = 0.010 and p = 0.028, respectively). CCR5 Delta 32/wt genotype and CCR5 Delta 32 allele were also found to be involved in the susceptibility to prostate cancer (p = 0.028 and p = 0.030, respectively). However, there was no significant association between MCP-1-2518 A/G gene polymorphism and prostate cancer risk. Prostate cancer patients carrying AA genotype or at least one A allele of CCR2 V64I had significantly increased risk for high stage disease (p = 0.002 and p = 0.039, respectively) and metastasis (p = 0.004 and p = 0.022, respectively). The CCR2 A allele (64I allele) was significantly associated with high T stage (p = 0.001) and metastasis (p = 0.005) as compared with CCR2 G allele (64V allele). Our data indicate that gene polymorphism of CCR2 V64I may influence the susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of prostate cancer and CCR5 Delta 32 allele may also be an important risk factor for prostate cancer in Turkish men population

Manganese superoxide dismutase Ile58Thr, catalase C-262T and myeloperoxidase G-463A gene polymorphisms in patients with prostate cancer: relation to advanced and metastatic disease.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) Ile58Thr, catalase (CAT) C-262T and myeloperoxidase (MPO) G-463A gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of prostate cancer

Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS4a/b) Gene Polymorphism is Associated with Tumor Recurrence and Progression in Superficial Bladder Cancer Cases

Purpose: We investigated the relationship between the distribution of the eNOS4a/b polymorphism and the clinical features of superficial bladder cancer