Clinical biochemistry
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Clinical biochemistry · May 2009
Association between ischemia-modified albumin, lipids and inflammation biomarkers in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), lipids and inflammation biomarkers in patients with hypercholesterolemia, and the possible involvement of IMA in atheromatous plaque development and oxidative stress. ⋯ Hypercholesterolemia is associated with an increase in inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, and it also reduces the capacity of albumin to bind cobalt owing to ischemia, resulting in an increased IMA. IMA formation appears to be associated with oxidative stress and atheromatous plaque development.
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Clinical biochemistry · Feb 2009
ReviewCardiac point of care testing: a focused review of current National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry guidelines and measurement platforms.
Cardiac markers are a cornerstone for assessment of suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. The National Academy for Clinical Biochemistry has recently developed practice guidelines for clinical, analytical and point-of-care (POC) testing in the context of ACS. Several technologies have become available for POC applications. ⋯ Cardiac troponin measurements at POC are a viable alternative when testing needs cannot be met by the central laboratory. Laboratory medicine must be involved in implementation and ongoing service. Quality of testing must not be compromised by performance at POC.
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Clinical biochemistry · Jan 2009
Validation of a simple method of estimating plasma free cortisol: role of cortisol binding to albumin.
To develop, optimize, and validate a generalized mass action, equilibrium solution that incorporates measured concentrations of albumin as well as cortisol binding globulin (CBG) to estimate free cortisol. ⋯ Mass action solutions that incorporate the measured concentration of albumin as well as CBG provide a reasonably accurate estimate of free cortisol that generalizes to conditions of health as well as a setting of hypercortisolism and low CBG and albumin concentrations associated with septic shock. Modeling studies emphasize the significant contribution of albumin deficiency and albumin-bound cortisol under conditions of CBG-deficiency, and identify a synergistic effect by which combined CBG and albumin deficiency contribute to elevation of free cortisol in septic shock.
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Determine the relation of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity and the outcome of septic patients and its relation to oxidative damage and clinical parameters of sepsis severity. ⋯ XO activity was increased in non-survivors patients and the variations in XO activity could be used for outcome prediction.