Clin Chem Lab Med
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Comparative Study
A comparison of three commercial platforms for urinary NGAL in critically ill adults.
Early biomarkers for acute kidney injury (AKI) diagnosis are needed since an increase in serum creatinine levels is a late marker. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is one of the most promising AKI biomarkers. Prior to routine clinical use, it is necessary to evaluate and validate a high-throughput commercially available method for NGAL detection. The aim of this study was to do an independent validation and comparison of the analytical performance of three different commercially available urine NGAL (uNGAL) assays. ⋯ All three methods for uNGAL showed acceptable performance for the tested parameters and are comparable with each other at clinically relevant cutoffs. However, Architect yields lower results than the other two methods, with a bias more pronounced at higher uNGAL concentrations, suggesting additional standardization efforts will likely be necessary to better harmonize the uNGAL methods at various clinically relevant cutoffs.
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The utility of faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) in assessment of symptomatic patients with lower gastrointestinal symptoms has not been well explored. The aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic yield for advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACRN) in symptomatic patients using the first of two FIT samples (FIT/1) and the higher concentration of two FIT samples (FIT/max). ⋯ Undetectable FIT is a good strategy to rule-out ACRN in symptomatic patients. The diagnostic yield of collecting two samples for FIT can be achieved with one sample, but a lower faecal haemoglobin concentrations (f-Hb) cut-off is required.
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Accurate and reliable testing reports play an important role in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of disease. However, little is known about the appropriateness of laboratory testing reporting in China. This national survey takes clinical biochemistry as an example to investigate the state of reporting appropriateness in our country. ⋯ The laboratory reporting system in China needs to improve, particularly the integrity of the report. Strengthening information technology will not only promote reporting appropriateness, but also guarantee accurate, standardized and traceable data collection and long-term monitoring.
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Leiomyomas growth involves cellular hypertrophy, modulation of mitotic activity and upregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Vascular factors and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a coordinated role during neoplasia and tissue remodeling. The present study investigates the role of angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A with the activity of main gelatinases, MMP-2/MMP-9 and their tissue inhibitor TIMP-1 in patients with leiomyomas. ⋯ This study demonstrates a possible coordinated role of VEGF-A and MMP-2 during uterine leiomyomas growth and angiogenesis with potential prognostic significance.