Clinical chemistry
-
D-2-Hydroxyglutaric aciduria (D-2-HGA), L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA), and the combined D/L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (D/L-2-HGA) are poorly understood organic acidurias. To investigate the usefulness of cultured human skin fibroblasts for both diagnostic and research purposes, we measured disease-related metabolites in the cell culture medium. ⋯ Cell culture media from fibroblasts from patients with D-2-HGA, L-2-HGA, or D/L-2-HGA contain increased amounts the corresponding 2-HGs, demonstrating the suitability of fibroblasts for both diagnosis of and research concerning 2-HGAs.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Clinical and analytical performance of the liaison cardiac troponin I assay in unstable coronary artery disease, and the impact of age on the definition of reference limits. A FRISC-II substudy.
Measurements of cardiac troponins are currently used as the standard for the detection of myocardial injury. None of the current assays complies with the new requirements on assay imprecision as proposed by the European Society of Cardiology/American College of Cardiology. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical and analytical performance of the Liaison cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assay. ⋯ The Liaison cTnI assay is a sensitive assay with a CV < or =10% at the 99th percentile URL. The ability to detect age-related differences among apparently healthy individuals is unique among today's commercial assays. The results indicate that different assays seem to identify different patient cohorts for cardiac risk in the lower range of cTnI concentrations.
-
Localized overheating of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) after microwave warming with consequent damage to erythrocytes has been reported. We therefore compared possible cellular markers of erythrocyte damage, as measured by flow cytometry, with laboratory indicators of hemolysis to evaluate the effects of microwave warming on PRBCs. ⋯ All markers of cellular damage were altered after heating to >47 degrees C, and a substantial part of hemolysis was delayed. The methodology can be used for future testing of other blood warming devices.