Верификација на квалитативни методи Ñо теÑÑ‚ ленти за иÑпитување на дроги кои Ñе злоупотребуваат во урина

The verification of the  qualitative method with test  devices for detection of eight drugs of abuse in urine  (amphetamines, methamphetamine,  barbiturates,  benzoylecgonine,  marijuana, 3,4-methylendioxy-methamphetamine, methadone, and opiates) was done using the assessment results  from External Quality Assessment  Scheme according to  verification protocol in  our laboratory, which included predefined performance characteristics such as: accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the method, as well as for method comparison analysis. Our results have shown that  qualitative methods for detection of drugs of abuse in urine have fulfilled the predefined criteria in regard to sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for screening purposes. There was a good agreement between the observed results and assessment results. Reliability of the method has fulfilled the predefined criteria with the exception for amphetamine and methamphetamine (weak and none, respectively). As a conclusion we may say that the rapid non-instrumented test devices for detection of drugs of abuse in urine have shown satisfactory verification results and have fulfilled the criteria for intended purposes according to the ISO 15189 Standard.Верификацијата на квалитативните методи Ñо брзи теÑтови за детекција на оÑум дроги кои Ñе злоупотребуваат во урината (амфетамини, метамфетамини,  Ð±Ð°Ñ€Ð±Ð¸Ñ‚урати, кокаин, марихуана,3,4-метилендиокÑи-метамфетамин, метадон и опиати) беше направена Ñо примена на резулта- тите од оценката од надворешната контрола на квалитетот, врз оÑнова на протоколот за вери- фикација во нашата лабораторија, кој опфаќа претходно дефинирани критериуми како  ÑˆÑ‚о Ñе: точноÑта, ÑензитивноÑта  Ð¸ ÑпецифичноÑта на методот. Ðашите резултати покажаа дека квалитативниот метод за детекција на дрогите кои Ñе злоупотребуваат во урина ги иÑполнува претходно дефинираните  критериуми во поглед на ÑензитивноÑта, ÑпецифичноÑта и точноÑ- та за screening потреби. ПоÑтои добро Ñовпаѓање на добиените резултати од наша Ñтрана Ñо резултатите од надвoрешната контрола на квалитет. ВеродоÑтојноÑта на методот ги иÑполни претходно дефинираните критериуми Ñо иÑклучок на амфетамините и метамфетаминот (Ñлаба, одноÑно никаква). Како заклучок можеме да кажеме дека брзите неинÑтрументални теÑтови за детекција на дроги кои Ñе злоупотребуваат во урината покажаа задоволителни резултати од верификацијата и ги иÑполнија критериумите за Ñоодветната планирана намена во ÑоглаÑноÑÑ‚ Ñо Ñтандардот ISO 15189

Urinary Nephrin and Podocalyxin Levels as Predictors of Pre-eclampsia in High-Risk Pregnant Women

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria. Damage of podocyte cells has been reported in pre-eclamptic women, thus podocyte specific proteins such as nephrin and podocalyxin could be useful biomarkers in PE.Aim: To investigate the role of urinary nephrin (u-nephrin) and urinary podocalyxin (u-PDX) levels in predicting PE in women with a high-risk pregnancy.Materials and methods: We included 101 pregnant women in this study and allocated them into three groups: group 1 included pregnant women at high risk of developing PE (n=41), group 2 - pregnant women with PE (n=30), and group 3 was the controls including healthy pregnant women (n=30). The inclusion criteria for women with PE were de novo hypertension >140/90 mm Hg, proteinuria >300 mg/24 hours, and presence of edema after 20 weeks of gestation, while the exclusion criteria were a history of renal diseases and pregnant women younger than 18. Inclusion criteria for the group of women with a high-risk pregnancy was gestational week >15, a history of PE in a previous pregnancy, pre-existing diabetes type 1 or 2, pre-existing hypertension, multiple gestations, prior placental abruption, obesity women, nulliparity, maternal age >35 years, and a family history of PE. The study was conducted from March 2016 to May 2017 in the Medical Faculty at the Institute of Medical and Experimental Biochemistry in Skopje. Urine samples were used to measure the nephrin and podocalyxin levels using immunoenzyme assay, creatinine and microalbumin. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses.Results: U-nephrin levels were elevated in 96.7% of women with PE, and 73% of women with a high-risk pregnancy. U-PDX levels were elevated in 63% of the women with PE and 100% of the women with a high-risk pregnancy. U-nephrin and u-PDX levels were significantly increased in women with a high-risk pregnancy and women with PE compared with a control group (p<0.001). A significant difference was found between the subgroups of pregnant women classified according to gestational age in their u-nephrin and u-PDX levels. There was a significant positive correlation between the levels of both markers and glomerular filtration rate, and significant negative correlation between the levels of both markers and gestational age. ROC analysis revealed that the cut-off value of 304.6 ng/ml of u-nephrin had a sensitivity (Se) of 96.7%, specificity (Sp) of 96.7% (for both Se and Sp 95% confidence interval (CI) 82.8-99.9), while the cut-off value of 59.5 ng/ml of u-PDX had a sensitivity of 100% and Sp of 93.3% (Se - 95% CI 88.4-100, Sp - 95% CI 77.9-99.2), in distinguishing women with PE and healthy pregnancies. Both markers showed excellent clinical utility (CUI≥0.81), for u-nephrin (CUI+ and CUI− is 0.934), for u-PDX (CUI+ is 0.938; CUI− is 0.933).Conclusions: U-nephrin and U-PDX levels could be useful as predictors of PE in women with a high-risk pregnancy

Application of the bacterial bioluminescence vibrio fisheri method to assesment of EC50 as a marker of toxicity for several pesticides.

International audienc

Role of urinary podocalyxin in early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy

Introduction. Podocyte injury has been reported as an early feature of DN therefore, the assessment of podocyte injury can be accomplished by estimation of podocalyxin in urine. This study aimed to estimate the urinary podocalyxin levels and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this biomarker for early detection of DN