Clin Chem Lab Med
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We evaluated the (pre-)analytical and diagnostic performance of two automated fecal calprotectin (FC) immunoassays, Liaison® Calprotectin (Diasorin) on Liaison® XL and fCAL™ turbo (Bühlmann laboratories AG) on Cobas C501 (Roche Diagnostics), and compared it with our established Bühlmann ELISA method. ⋯ In conclusion, the newly developed stool extraction device protocols showed acceptable and comparable performance to the stool weight method. Overall, the automated Liaison® Calprotectin and fCAL™ turbo assay showed good analytical and diagnostic performance for detection of IBD.
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Multicenter Study
Higher serum caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18 levels during the first week of sepsis diagnosis in non-survivor patients.
Caspase-cleaved cytokeratin (CCCK)-18 is a protein released into the blood during apoptosis. Higher circulating CCCK-18 concentrations have been found in non-survivor than in survivor septic patients at moment of sepsis diagnosis. The following questions arise now: (1) How are serum CCCK-18 levels during the first week of sepsis? (2) Is there an association between sepsis severity and mortality and serum CCCK-18 levels during the first week? The aims of this study were to answer these questions. ⋯ Non-survivor septic patients showed persistently during the first week higher serum CCCK-18 levels than survivor patients, and there is an association between sepsis severity and mortality and serum CCCK-18 levels during the first week.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of pneumatic tube system with manual transport for routine chemistry, hematology, coagulation and blood gas tests.
The pneumatic tube system (PTS) is commonly used in modern clinical laboratories to provide quick specimen delivery. However, its impact on sample integrity and laboratory testing results are still debatable. In addition, each PTS installation and configuration is unique to its institution. We sought to validate our Swisslog PTS by comparing routine chemistry, hematology, coagulation and blood gas test results and sample integrity indices between duplicate samples transported either manually or by PTS. ⋯ The modern PTS investigated in this study is acceptable for reliable sample delivery for routine chemistry, hematology, coagulation and blood gas (in syringe and capillary tube) laboratory tests.
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Comparative Study
Analytical performance and diagnostic accuracy of six different faecal calprotectin assays in inflammatory bowel disease.
We evaluated the analytical performance of six different faecal calprotectin immunoassays together with their diagnostic accuracy in the discrimination between functional and organic bowel disorders. ⋯ Analytical and diagnostic performance of the evaluated faecal calprotectin assays is good, but numerical values differ substantially between the assays necessitating the use of different clinical cut-offs. Introduction of multiple result intervals aids in clinical decision-making.
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Cannabis has been used since ancient times to relieve neuropathic pain, to lower intraocular pressure, to increase appetite and finally to decrease nausea and vomiting. The combination of the psychoactive cannabis alkaloid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with the non-psychotropic alkaloids cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) demonstrated a higher activity than THC alone. The Italian National Institute of Health sought to establish conditions and indications on how to correctly use nationally produced cannabis to guarantee therapeutic continuity in individuals treated with medical cannabis. ⋯ As the first and most important aim of the different cannabis preparations is to guarantee therapeutic continuity in treated individuals, a strictly standardized preparation protocol is necessary to assure the availability of a homogeneous product of defined stability.