Clin Chem Lab Med
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In response to increasingly complex demands in terms of productivity and budgets, there is a critical need to avoid mistakes during instrument selection that will be financially costly, and adversely affect customers, staff, productivity and test turnaround time. As there is no "one size fits all", guidelines must be appropriate to permit informed decision making. A Medline search was conducted to assess background knowledge in this area, using the terms "laboratory instrument selection" and "laboratory instrument evaluation". ⋯ Appropriate criteria for instrument selection were established in the current report based on subjective and objective (technical) evaluations. Additionally, a sound and simple financial approach is also suggested to help in making informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. We propose that such a process as outlined in our report will protect laboratories from making costly and avoidable mistakes in the acquisition of major equipment.
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Total error (TE) in analytical measurement is calculated as systematic error (SE) plus z-times random error (RE). The z-multiplier is typically chosen at the 95% probability level, being 1.96 in the absence of SE is of considerable magnitude (one-sided 95% probability). Up to now, no SE/RE ratio dependent z-values have been considered. Here, we present z-values for SE/RE ratios ranging from 0 to 1. ⋯ The results show that at SE/RE ratios > 0.75 the one-sided 95% probability level is practically reached. The results allow a refined calculation of TE at specified SE/RE ratios and a general understanding of the relevance of two- and one-sided probabilities at different SE/RE ratios.
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The aim of this study was to provide an improved outline of the patterns and correlates of changes in plasma bilirubin after partial hepatectomy. ⋯ Major hepatectomy, parenchymal ischemia, and sepsis have similar and synergistic impacts as determinants of prominently conjugated hyperbilirubinemia after liver resection. This is likely related to impaired hepatocellular bilirubin transport and occurs in the absence of obstructive components.
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Modern blood gas analyzers are often coupled to electrolyte and metabolite analyzers. We evaluated a Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress analyzer (STP CCX) for the rapid point-of-care measurement of blood gases (pH, pCO2, pO2, sO2), hematocrit (Hct), total hemoglobin (tHb), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), glucose (Glu), lactate (Lac), urea (BUN), ionized calcium (iCa) and ionized magnesium (iMg). ⋯ This analyzer is suitable as a simple and fast diagnostic tool in the laboratory and the critical care unit. However, users should be aware of biases that may lead to clinically significant errors in the assessment of acid-base status.
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Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) produces nitric oxide, which plays a role in vasodilatation and in the regulation of cell growth and apoptosis. eNOS-deficient mice have impaired cardiac development resulting in congenital heart defects (CHDs). In humans, a single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene coding for eNOS (894G>T) is associated with birth defects. ⋯ Our data indicate that the eNOS 894G>T polymorphism is associated with increased CHD risk. The study also provides evidence of a possible gene-environment interaction effect on CHD risk between the maternal eNOS 894G>T variant and maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy. This observation should be interpreted with caution because of the relatively small subgroups. Further study in a larger group of CHD subjects is required.