Advantages of the AMDL-ELISA DR-70 (FDP) Assay over Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) for Monitoring Colorectal Cancer Patients

The DR-70® (FDP) test was the first cancer test cleared by USFDA for monitoring colorectal cancer (CRC) since Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) in 1982. Conservatively, 50% of biopsy-positive CRC patients have negative CEA values. DR-70 and CEA values were compared for 113 CRC monitoring patients. Total concordance rates for DR-70 and CEA were 0.665 and 0.686, respectively. CRC patient pairs were grouped based on their CEA value to deduce DR-70's effectiveness at monitoring patients with low CEA values. DR-70 had 12% to 100% greater positive concordance rates than CEA in this group. DR-70 is a welcome new option for CRC patients

Y-box protein-1/p18 fragment identifies malignancies in patients with chronic liver disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Immunohistochemical detection of cold shock proteins is predictive for deleterious outcome in various malignant diseases. We recently described active secretion of a family member, denoted Y-box (YB) protein-1. We tested the clinical and diagnostic value of YB-1 protein fragment p18 (YB-1/p18) detection in blood for malignant diseases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used a novel monoclonal anti-YB-1 antibody to detect YB-1/p18 by immunoblotting in plasma samples of healthy volunteers (n = 33), patients with non-cancerous, mostly inflammatory diseases (n = 60), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; n = 25) and advanced solid tumors (n = 20). YB-1/p18 was then tested in 111 patients with chronic liver diseases, alongside established tumor markers and various diagnostic measures, during evaluation for potential liver transplantation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We developed a novel immunoblot to detect the 18 kD fragment of secreted YB-1 in human plasma (YB-1/p18) that contains the cold-shock domains (CSD) 1-3 of the full-length protein. YB-1/p18 was detected in 11/25 HCC and 16/20 advanced carcinomas compared to 0/33 healthy volunteers and 10/60 patients with non-cancerous diseases. In 111 patients with chronic liver disease, YB-1/p18 was detected in 20 samples. Its occurrence was not associated with advanced Child stages of liver cirrhosis or liver function. In this cohort, YB-1/p18 was not a good marker for HCC, but proved most powerful in detecting malignancies other than HCC (60% positive) with a lower rate of false-positive results compared to established tumor markers. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was most sensitive in detecting HCC, but simultaneous assessment of AFP, CA19-9 and YB-1/p18 improved overall identification of HCC patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Plasma YB-1/p18 can identify patients with malignancies, independent of acute inflammation, renal impairment or liver dysfunction. The detection of YB-1/p18 in human plasma may have potential as a tumor marker for screening of high-risk populations, e.g. before organ transplantation, and should therefore be evaluated in larger prospective studies.</p

Intrasurgical plasmin enzyme in diabetic macular edema

Purpose To evaluate in a prospective study the efficacy of intrasurgical autologous plasmin enzyme (APE) in producing posterior vitreous detachment. Design Consecutive, interventional case series. Methods A group of 12 eyes of 11 patients with diabetic macular edema secondary to posterior vitreous cortex contraction was considered. A quantity of 0.1- to 0.2-ml containing 0.8 to 1.2 IU of APE prepared by our Coagulation Service was injected into the vitreous body 25 minutes before surgery. The efficacy of the APE was subjectively evaluated. A control group of 10 eyes with the same clinical characteristics underwent the same surgery without APE injection. Complete eye examinations, including optical coherence tomography, were performed on all patients before surgery and during the 1-year follow-up period. Results During surgery in the APE-treated group, the posterior vitreous cortex was judged adherent in three cases, partially detached in six cases, and totally detached in three cases. In two cases a complete collapse of the vitreous body was observed. During surgery in the non–APE-treated group, the posterior vitreous cortex was judged still adherent in nine of 10 eyes and partially detached in 1 eye. Comparing the postoperative results between the APE-treated group and the non-APE-treated group, we found no significant differences in final postoperative retinal thickness (P = .2552), whereas we found a significant difference in final visual acuity (P = .0121). Conclusions Autologous plasmin enzyme was useful in inducing a pharmacologic posterior vitreous detachment and in facilitating surgery. It did not seem to interfere with the final retinal thickness, and it ameliorates the final visual acuity