Diagnostic accuracy of a new commercially available HCV-antigen test

Nowadays the diagnosis of HCV infection is based on the detection of anti-HCV antibodies (HCV-Ab) subsequently confirmed by a RIBA test and HCV-RNA test.A new chemiluminescence assay is now available allowing the detection of HCV antigen (HCV-Ag) (HCV-Ag,Abbott, USA®).The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic performances of this new test.We performed on 63 selected serum samples the following analyses: HCV-Ab , HCV-Ag, RIBA test and HCV-RNA . For HCV-Ag vs HCV-RNA we found specificity of 95% and sensitivity of 100%. Our study has highlighted the diagnostic accuracy of HCV-Ag test. This test does not require special equipments to be performed, so its strong specificity suggests its possible role in a rapid and low-cost new diagnostic protocol, particularly in a population with low incidence of HCV infection

HIV 1-2 Ag/Ab selective and combined detection by a new rapid point-of-care test

In order to reduce the window phase between time of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exposure and source’s results of laboratory investigations, we evaluated the analytical performance of a new point of care test for simultaneous detection of HIV Abs and HIV Ag.We tested 48 serum samples by HIV Combo Ag/Ab Abbott Diagnostic®, USA; by Western Blot Matrix HIV 1/2 Abbott®, USA and by the new POCT test HIV 1/2 Ag/Ab Combo Inverness Medical®, UK. Good concordance of results was recordered with analytical performance (sensitivity and specificity) and diagnostic accuracy of 100%.Thus this new test is ideal for rapid laboratory investigation when the time for appropriate prophylactic therapy is very important, such as found in exposure in the workplace

Characterization for anti-cytoplasmic antibodies specificity by morphological and molecular techniques

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was the characterization of anti-cytoplasmic antibodies by home-made morphological and biochemical techniques. Indeed, indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on HEp-2 cell line is not always exhaustive in relation to the complexity of the antigens involved. METHODS: Nine serum samples with anti-cytoplasmic antibodies (2 anti-Golgi apparatus, 3 with diffuse pattern and 4 with lysosome/endosome-like pattern) were tested with fluorescent confocal microscopy, Western blot analysis and, when necessary, with electron microscopy technique. RESULTS: Confirmation of the IIF staining pattern was performed in confocal microscopy by comparison with the respective antibody marker. The anti-endoplasmatic reticulum positivity was also confirmed by electron microscopy evaluation. Both anti-lysosome/endosome and anti-endoplasmatic reticulum positivity have been definitely identified by Western blot through clear reactivity with calreticulin and LC3B, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results do not aim at representing a standard routine laboratory procedure. Electron microscopy evaluation cannot be proposed as a routine approach, but confocal microscopy technique may be offered in centralized reference laboratories. Newer technologies, especially multiplex immunoassay, can also lead to an easier identification of these autoantibodies, without recurring to a home-made immunoblotting. Only with a complete characterization we will be able to define the clinical relevance of anti-cytoplasmic antibodies, which are still considered as “esoteric” and not as “diagnostic” antibodies

Metabolic implications of surgical fat removal: Increase of adiponectin plasma levels after reduction mammaplasty and abdominoplasty

Recent studies tried to identify new indicators of risk in the development of insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome; recently, breast size has been proposed as a new measure of risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus in women. To understand the role of breast adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue in lipidic and glucose metabolism, we decided to evaluate the variation on levels of adiponectin in plasma and other well-known metabolic markers before and after surgical fat reduction.We formed 2 groups: breast reduction group (M-) and abdominoplasty group (ADD). For all patients enrolled in the study, we recorded anthropometric measurements 1 hour before surgery (that we considered as time zero). At time zero, we always performed a blood sample to observe the assay of glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, CRP, TNF-\u3b1, IL-1, IL-6, and adiponectin. The dosage of the above parameters was repeated 40 days after the surgical intervention with the aim of assessing whether they showed a statistically significant change after surgery.Adiponectin levels increased significantly in both groups of patients after surgery: in patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty and abdominoplasty, the mean increase was equal to 1.68 (P = 0.007) and 4.28 (P = 0.019), respectively. The variation in increase was not statistically different between the 2 groups (P = 0.254).Moreover, in the M- group, we observed that HDL levels increased and glycemia decreased significantly.Our study shows that reduction mammaplasty is a surgical procedure associated with a significant improvement in adiponectin level, HDL cholesterol level, and a significant decrease in glycemia level.The effective correlation between the role of breast adipose tissue and appearance of disease is still to be determined

Long noncoding RNA dysregulation in ischemic heart failure

12nonenoneGreco, Simona; Zaccagnini, Germana; Perfetti, Alessandra; Fuschi, Paola; Valaperta, Rea; Voellenkle, Christine; Castelvecchio, Serenella; Gaetano, Carlo; Finato, Nicoletta; Beltrami, Antonio Paolo; Menicanti, Lorenzo; Martelli, Fabio*Greco, Simona; Zaccagnini, Germana; Perfetti, Alessandra; Fuschi, Paola; Valaperta, Rea; Voellenkle, Christine; Castelvecchio, Serenella; Gaetano, Carlo; Finato, Nicoletta; Beltrami, Antonio Paolo; Menicanti, Lorenzo; Martelli, Fabi

MOESM1 of Long noncoding RNA dysregulation in ischemic heart failure

Additional file 1: Table S1. Disease association of the lncRNAs of the SBI "Disease-related human lncRNA profiler" plate. Table S2: Sequences and gene alignment of the primers designed for validation. Table S3: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) analysis of CDKN2-AS1. Table S4: Differentially expressed protein coding genes neighboring the HF modulated lncRNAs. Table S5: Non end-stage HF LncRNAs signature in end-stage HF patients. Table S6: HF-modulated mRNAs correlating with HF-modulated lncRNAs. Table S7: Pathway enrichment analysis of HF-modulated mRNAs correlating with HF-modulated lncRNAs. Table S8: Significantly enriched pathways in common between LV and PBMC datasets in HF patients