Data and performances evaluation of the SPIDIA-DNA Pan-European External Quality Assessment: 2nd SPIDIA-DNA laboratory report.

AbstractWithin the EU-SPIDIA project (www.spidia.eu), the quality parameters of blood genomic DNA were defined [SPIDIA-DNA: an External Quality Assessment for the pre-analytical phase of blood samples used for DNA-based analyses – [1]; Influence of pre-analytical procedures on genomic DNA integrity in blood samples: the SPIDIA experience – [2]; Combining qualitative and quantitative imaging evaluation for the assessment of genomic DNA integrity: the SPIDIA experience – [3]. DNA quality parameters were used to evaluate the laboratory performance within an External Quality Assessment (EQA) [Second SPIDIA-DNA External Quality Assessment (EQA): Influence of pre-analytical phase of blood samples on genomic DNA quality – [4]. These parameters included DNA purity and yield by UV spectrophotometric measurements, the presence of PCR interferences by Kineret software and genomic DNA integrity analysis by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis.Here we present the specific laboratory report of the 2nd SPIDIA-DNA EQA as an example of data and performances evaluation

SPIDIA-RNA: First external quality assessment for the pre-analytical phase of blood samples used for RNA based analyses

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Cytological and Ultrastructural Responses of Platanus acerifolia (Ait.) Willd. Leaves to Cerato-Platanin, a Protein from Ceratocystis fimbriata f.sp. platani

Cerato-platanin (CP) is a purified protein isolated from the culture filtrate of the ascomycete Ceratocystis fimbriata f. sp. platani (Cfp), the causal agent of canker stain disease of plane. The responses of cells/tissues of plane leaves to CP was studied by light microscopy (LM) and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using two experimental procedures. The most significant responses occurred already at 24 h after treatments, and were also visible at 48 h. The main effects of CP were to cause a great increase in primary starch and a certain degree of intercellular and intracellular disorganization of the spongy parenchyma cells and plasmolysis processes. In addition, an increase of intracellular phenolic compounds was observed in the palisade cells. The effects of Cfp were similar but less evident than those of CP

The glycopeptide CSF114(Glc) detects serum antibodies in multiple sclerosis.

Synthetic glycopeptides have the potential to detect antibodies in multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present study, we analyzed the antibodies (IgM class, IgG class and IgG subclasses) to the synthetic glycopeptide CSF114(Glc) in the serum of 186 MS patients, 166 blood donors (BDs), 25 patients affected by meningitis/encephalitis, 41 affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 49 affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The IgM antibody level to CSF114(Glc) was significantly increased in MS patients versus BDs (p<0.001) or versus other autoimmune diseases (SLE or RA, p<0.001). The IgG response was restricted to the subclass IgG2. IgM antibodies to CSF114(Glc) were found in 30% of relapsing/remitting MS patients and, at lower levels, in subjects affected by meningitis/encephalitis. The study of antibodies to CSF114(Glc) is a new, potential immunological marker of MS

Antipsychotic drug use in pregnancy: A multinational study from ten countries

Aim: To compare the prevalence and trends of antipsychotic drug use during pregnancy between countries across four continents. Methods: Individually linked health data in Denmark (2000−2012), Finland (2005–2014), Iceland (2004–2017), Norway (2005–2015), Sweden (2006–2015), Germany (2006–2015), Australia (New South Wales, 2004–2012), Hong Kong (2001–2015), UK (2006–2016), and the US (Medicaid, 2000–2013, and IBM MarketScan, 2012–2015) were used. Using a uniformed approach, we estimated the prevalence of antipsychotic use as the proportion of pregnancies where a woman filled at least one antipsychotic prescription within three months before pregnancy until birth. For the Nordic countries, data were meta-analyzed to investigate maternal characteristics associated with the use of antipsychotics. Results: We included 8,394,343 pregnancies. Typical antipsychotic use was highest in the UK (4.4%) whereas atypical antipsychotic use was highest in the US Medicaid (1.5%). Atypical antipsychotic use increased over time in most populations, reaching 2% in Australia (2012) and US Medicaid (2013). In most countries, prochlorperazine was the most commonly used typical antipsychotic and quetiapine the most commonly used atypical antipsychotic. Use of antipsychotics decreased across the trimesters of pregnancy in all populations except Finland. Antipsychotic use was elevated among smokers and those with parity ≥4 in the Nordic countries. Conclusion: Antipsychotic use during pregnancy varied considerably between populations, partly explained by varying use of the typical antipsychotic prochlorperazine, which is often used for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Increasing usage of atypical antipsychotics among pregnant women reflects the pattern that was previously reported for the general population