Correlation between serum concentrations of homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in patients with schizophrenia

Introduction: The role of hyperhomocysteinemia in psychotic disorder can be explained by partial antagonism of homocysteine on NMDA-glycine receptor. Plasma concentration of homocysteine is an indicatorof the status of the B-vitamins (folate, B12, B6). Folate deficiency may have different effects on the neurochemical processes of schizophrenia. This suggests that the association between elevated levels of homocysteine and schizophrenia is biologically very likely.Methods: The study was consisted of 20 patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls. We investigated the levels of serum homocysteine concentration using AxSYM (Abbott), levels of folate assay istwo-step immunoassay to determine the presence folate in human serum using CMIA (chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay) technology and Axsym Holo Tc is microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA)for the quantitative determination of human holo TC in serum and determination defi cit of vitamin B 12.Results: The patients group has higher levels of homocysteine in compare with controls group for 3.85 μmol/L while the concentration of folate in the group of patients was lower for 9.17 ng/mL. The mean level of vitamin B-12 in investigation groups were in reference range 19.1-119 pmol/L, but patient group have lower average concentration of vitamin B-12 lower for 24.81 pmol/L compared to the control group.Conclusion: Our results showed that homocysteine concentration is inversely proportionate to folate concentration,i.e. as homocysteine concentration in serum increases, folate concentration falls. Shizophrenicpatients with elevated tHcy level and low folate levels should have vitamin supplementation with folic acid

Comparison of the performance of three cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 immunoassays

Introduction: In the present study we investigated the performance, precision, and recovery of three different automated methods in determining cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 levels. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 60 hospitalized female patients. As controls, commercially available samples were used. Cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 levels were measured using ARCHITECT CA 15-3, Elecsys® CA 15-3, and Vitros CA 15-3 immunoassays. A comparison of the results between the three methods was conducted, and the precision and recovery were analyzed. Results: Coefficient of variations (CVs), determined with low- and high-level-CA 15-3 control samples, and reproducibility values were: 2.56-2.80% and 3.10-4. 20% for ARCHITECT i2000SR immunoassay analyzer; 3.50-5.55% and 4.88-6.47% for Cobas E 601 analyzer; 3.30-4.0% and 4.30-4.80% for VITROS 5600 Integrated System, respectively. The percent recoveries were 95-98% for Elecsys® CA 15-3 assay, 93-105% for Vitros CA 15-3 assay, and 92-95% for ARCHITECT CA 15-3 assay. Method comparison results demonstrated correlation coefficient (r) in range from 0.994 to 1. The average CA 15-3 concentrations measured by Vitros, ARCHITECT, and Elecsys® were 157.24 +/- 329.75 U/mL, 100.91 +/-213.75 U/mL, and 80.93 +/- 173.29 U/mL, respectively. Conclusions: Tumor marker CA 15-3 in individual patients should be monitored using the same immunoassay method, reagents, and analyzer. Different immunoassays tested on different analyzers, often show large discrepancies in reported values for individual patients. Different immunoassay technologies quantify analytes of clinical interest using monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. Thus, the usage of antibodies with different specificities could explain the differences in CA 15-3 serum values between different methods

Comparison of chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) for Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Introduction: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is used for monitoring of disease progression and treatment response in cancer patients. Our aim was to compare the performance of chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) for CEA. Methods: A total of 115 samples were collected during routine diagnostic, prognostic and therapy monitoring procedures in patients with colorectal and pancreatic cancer. We used ARCHITECT i2000SR and Cobas E601 for CEA analysis in sera samples. Results: The correlation coefficient of 0.984 [95% CI: 0.972 to 0.991] for results obtained on both platforms was observed for CEA≤10 ng/mL group. Moreover, intercept of 0.9027 [95% CI: 0.705 to 1.099] and slope 0.8076 [95% CI: 0.765 to 0.8498]  (p 10 ng/mL group we observed slope = 1.1986  [95%CI: 1.1474 to 1.2498]  (p 10 ng/mL were 0.2066 (95% CI: 0.0019 to 0.4113) and –2.66 (95% CI: -10.10 to 4.76) ng/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Although there were differences, based on 20 days precision tests, overall results showed a good analytical performance and correlation between CEA assays on ARCHITECT i2000SR and Cobas E601 platforms. Reference intervals appropriate for the method of CEA measurement should be used. The standardization and harmonization of serum CEA concentration assays are needed

The evaluation of B-type Natriuretic Peptide and Troponin I in acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina

Introduction: The diagnostic utility of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has prompted interest in its use as an aid in the detection of early heart failure and assessment of diseases. The first objective of this study was measurement of BNP and troponin I (TnI) blood levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and unstable angina. The second objective of this study was to find a correlation between TnI and BNP in blood. Methods: The concentrations of BNP and TnI in 150 blood levels were determined using CMIA (chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay) Architect and 2000 (Abbott diagnostics). The retrospective study included 100 patients who were hospitalized at the Department of Internal Medicine of the University Clinical Center Sarajevo and 50 healthy control. The reference blood range of BNP is 0-100 pg/mL and TnI is 0.00-0.4 ng/mL. Results: In the patients with AMI the mean value of BNP is 764.48 ± 639.52 pg/mL and TnI is 2.50 ± 2.28ng/mL. The patients with unstable angina have BNP 287.18 ± 593.20 pg/mL and TnI 0.10 ± 0.23 ng/mL. Our studies have shown that the correlation between BNP and TnI was statistically significant for p< 0.05 using Student t test with correlation coefficient r = 0.36.  Conclusions: BNP and TnI levels can help to identify the patients with a high risk for cardiovascular diseases

Correlation between serum concentrations of homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in patients with schizophrenia

Introduction: The role of hyperhomocysteinemia in psychotic disorder can be explained by partial antagonism of homocysteine on NMDA-glycine receptor. Plasma concentration of homocysteine is an indicator of the status of the B-vitamins (folate, B12, B6). Folate deficiency may have different effects on the neurochemical processes of schizophrenia. This suggests that the association between elevated levels of homocysteine and schizophrenia is biologically very likely. Methods: The study was consisted of 20 patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls. We investigated the levels of serum homocysteine concentration using AxSYM (Abbott), levels of folate assay is two-step immunoassay to determine the presence folate in human serum using CMIA (chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay) technology and Axsym Holo Tc is microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) for the quantitative determination of human holo TC in serum and determination defi cit of vitamin B 12. Results: The patients group has higher levels of homocysteine in compare with controls group for 3.85 μmol/L while the concentration of folate in the group of patients was lower for 9.17 ng/mL. The mean level of vitamin B-12 in investigation groups were in reference range 19.1-119 pmol/L, but patient group have lower average concentration of vitamin B-12 lower for 24.81 pmol/L compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our results showed that homocysteine concentration is inversely proportionate to folate concentration,i.e. as homocysteine concentration in serum increases, folate concentration falls. Shizophrenic patients with elevated tHcy level and low folate levels should have vitamin supplementation with folic acid