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Introduction: Saliva is a promising biological fluid to be used for measuring a number of analytes. Aim of this ppaper is to verify if salivary anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies determination could be suitable for monitoring the viral spread and vaccination efficacy during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: a total of 69 subjects were enrolled at the Padova University Hospital: 39 COVID-19 patients and 30 health care workers (HCW), who underwent a complete vaccination cycle with BNT162b2. All subjects collected a salivary sample, using Salivette, (SARSTEDT AG & Co, Nümbrecht, Germany). For 9 HCW, salivary samples were collected at three different times within the same day. A serum sample was also obtained for all individuals. Salivary COVID-19 N/S1 RBD (sal-IgG) and serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG Ab (ser-IgG) were used for determining anti SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Results: positive sal-IgG were found in 67/69 (97.1%) samples; in serum samples, the positivity for ser-IgG was found in 68/69 (98.6%). The sal-IgG median levels differed from COVID-19 to vaccinated HCW, being 0,21 kAU/L in patients samples and 0,8 kAU/L in vaccinated HCV samples (p =0.030). Median levels for ser-IgG in COVID-19 and patients vaccinated HCW were 121 kBAU/L and 940 kBAU/L (p <0.001) respectively. A statistically significant correlation was found between ser-IgG levels and time post-vaccination in HCW (rho =-0.6292, p <0.001). Sal-IgG levels were not influenced by the daytime of collection (rho =0.148, p=0.373). Passing-Bablok regressions showed that sal-IgG and ser-IgG comparability was assessable only when ser-IgG values were divided by 1000, showing slope and intercept values of 0.016 (95%CI: 0.016-0.078) and 0,221 (95%CI:-0.097 to 0.786), respectively. Conclusions: sal-IgG are detectable both in COVID-19 and in vaccinated individuals and the values are not influenced by the daytime of collection. As expected sal-IgG were much lower than ser-IgG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional relationship between parathyroid glands and prostatic gland is commonly very well known. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of PTH and serum levels of PSA in patients with pathological finding of BPH. According to 261 transrectal ultrasound-guided prostatic biopsies performed from March 2009 to March 2010, 75 patients, responding to our inclusion criteria, were selected. 26 patients (34.6%) ended the study. All patients with high serum levels of PSA (>4 ng/mL), with histological diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia, underwent the assay of serum levels of PTH. We observed high levels of PTH (> 66 pg/mL) in 9 patients (35.2%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromogranin A (CgA) is considered as a major speciic neuroendocrine tumor marker. It belongs to the secretogranin family, which is present in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, endocrine glands and in a group of endocrine cells such us pancreas and thyroid. Serum levels of CgA could relect the neuroendocrine activity and could be used when evaluating advance prostate carcinoma. Moreover , there are also several factors that may increase the serum level of CgA: treatment with proton-pump inhibitors or H2-receptor blockers, chronic atrophic gastritis, rheumatoid arthritis, liver and renal failure. Another method to evaluate NE differentiation is scintigraphy with the 111 In-labeled somatostatin analogue (DTPA-D-Phe)-octrotide, (Octreoscan). This method takes advantage of the D overexpression of type II somatostatin receptors on the cell surface of NE tumors. With this technique the presence of NE differentiation can be detected both at the primary (prostate) and the metastatic sites. A more speciic system to detect NE cell activity is obtained by analyzing CgA gene expression in prostate tissue by a semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the single individual it is not possible to precisely determine the contribution of the benign prostatic hyperplasia to the raising of the PSA. We have analyzed the course of the PSA in 67 patients undergoing open prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia with the goal to appraise the existing relationships between PSA and volume of the transition zone. We have considered the followings data: pre-operating PSA, post-operating PSA to 3 months from the surgery, weight of the prostatic adenoma removed. We have ascertained that the surgical intervention has determined a reduction of PSA levels of the 90%; in detail the value of PSA serum has gone down to inferior values to 2 ng/ml in the 97% of the times and to 1 ng/ml in the 88% of the cases. A meaningful correlation statistically exists between the PSA and weight of the removed adenoma (r=0.24, p <0.03), despite is not possible to show a linear relationship between the variation of the weight and the variation of the PSA such that can be express as a constant percentage among the two variable (the contribution of the volume of the adenoma to the raising of the PSA results inclusive between 0.01 and 0. 16 ng/ml/gr). For every range of PSA the volume of the TZ is not correlated to the total value of PSA, probably because a difference exists in the quantity of manufacturing epithelium of PSA in prostates of similar dimensions, and, to the moment, some method not invasive doesn't exist for determining how much epithelium is contributing to the global value of the PSA (a modern urologic dilemma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To present the electrophoretic pattern of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isoenzymes in serum of infants and children exhibiting increased total ALP catalytic activity in the course of acute respiratory disease. Subjects and methods: Results obtained in 21 children (17 of them infants), including 13 male and eight female children aged 2 months to 8 years, hospitalized for respiratory diseases are presented. Total ALP catalytic activity was determined and electrophoretic separation of ALP isoenzymes was performed in children's sera. Results: Increased total ALP catalytic activity(range, 528-5622 U/L) during hospital stay was recorded in eight (38.1%) children. Atypical picture of benign transient hyperphosphatasemia TH), which implies the occurrence of fast anodal fraction (faster than hepatic fraction) and near-cathode fraction (faster than bone fraction), was recorded in five children. The placental-like isoenzyme was detected in two children. Expression of bone fraction and placental-like fraction was recorded in a rachitic child. Prehepatic ALP was expressed in two children, and hepatic ALP isoenzyme in one child. Conclusion: Acute respiratory disease in infants and children may entail transient increase in the ALP catalytic activity with the occurrence of various isoenzyme bands such as fast anodal and near-cathode fraction (in TH), prehepatic fraction and placental-like fraction. TH is verified when total ALP activity has decreased and returned to reference intervals. In this case, no additional testing is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of serum lipids(cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol)in relation to a type of depression in patients affected by major depressive disorder. Subjects and methods: The study included 76 patients affected by depression. Diagnosis of major depressive disorder was made according to the criteria of a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th revision (DSM IV) and by applying HAMD-17 questionnaire. Depression subtypes (melancholic, atypical and dysthymic)were also determined using MINI questionnaire. Serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol were determined by commercial laboratory kits and enzymatic method. VLDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were determined by calculation methods. Results: Using one-way ANCOVA after adjustment for age and BMI, we found significantly lower levels of cholesterol (P=0.001),LDL-cholesterol (P=0.022), cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio (P=0.019), and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterolratio (P=0.005) in patients with atypical depression than in patients with melancholic or dysthymic type of depressive disorder. Conclusion: Results of our investigation suggested that serum concentrations of cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, and cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio could be employed as biological markers to differentiate clinical subtypes of depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Beta(β) endorphins have been detected in the hypothalamus and pituitary, and in a small amount in other organs. The aim of our study was to establish the possible influence of psychotropic drugs on serum and brainβ-endorphins in rats as experimental model. Material and methods: The study was performed on albino Wistar rats (200-250 g body weight), using the antidepressant trazodone. RIA technique was employed for quantification of serum and brainβ-endorphins. Results: Serum β-endorphins measured on day 1 of trazodone application were significantly higher (72.31 ± 1.86 pg/mL;x±SEM) compared to baseline values (45.83 ± 3.77 pg/mL; P=0.001). However, trazodone produced significantly lowerβ-endorphin concentrations on day 9 of treatment (33.4 ± 1.91 pg/mL)compared to the values measured on day 1 of trazodone administration (P=0.001). Endorphin concentrations recorded on day 28 (38.62 ± 1.42 pg/mL)were higher compared to those measured on day 9 (P=0.439). Data on brain β-endorphin concentration showed a significant decrease on day 1 of trazodone administration (431.03 ± 11.57 pg/g) compared to data obtained from control rat brains (873.5 ± 18.32 pg/g; P=0.001). Statistical significance was also recorded by comparison of the lower data obtained on day 9 of treatment (433.65 ± 14.67 pg/g) and those observed in the control group (P=0.001). In trazodone treated rats, brain β-endorphins were significantly higher on day 28 (929 ± 18.13 pg/g) compared with the levels measured on day 1 and day 9 of treatment (P=0.001 both), showing slightly higher values than in control rats, yet without statistical significance (P=0.137). Conclusion: Chronic trazodone treatment causes an increase in the brain β-endorphin synthesis, while acute drug administration results only in a rapid release of β-endorphins into the circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To determine pre-, intra-and postoperative serum glucose and lactate concentrations in patients subjected to low abdominal surgery under total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol-fentanyl, and in those under general balanced anesthesia with isoflurane-fentanyl. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 50 patients of both sexes, aged between 35 and 60 years, subjected to low abdominal surgery. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group of 25 ASA I/II American Society of Anesthesiologists I/II classification) patients treated under TIVA, and control group of 25 ASA I/II patients treated under balanced anesthesia. The length of surgery and the degree of surgical trauma did not differ significantly between the two anesthesia groups of patients. Blood samples for glucose and lactate measurements were drawn at exact time points: 30 minutes before the beginning of the surgery (T0), 30 minutes after the beginning of the surgery (T1), at the end of the surgery(T2), 2 hours after the surgery (T3), and 24 hours after the surgery T4). Serum levels of glucose and lactate were measured using commercially available kits. The results were evaluated with nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. Results: Serum concentrations of glucose measured at T1, T2 and T3 time points in patients treated under TIVA with propofol-fentanyl were significantly lower (P=0.03, P=0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) than those in patients treated under general balanced anesthesia with isoflurane-fentanyl. The mean circulating level of lactate measured at T4 point in patients treated under TIVA was significantly lower (P=0.001) than that in patients treated under balanced anesthesia, while T1 lactate was lower in patients treated under balanced anesthesia(P=0.01). The mean serum concentrations of glucose and lactate measured at T1, T2, and T3 points were significantly higher related to their baseline levels in patients treated under balanced anesthesia (P < 0.001). Both T2 and T3 values of glucose were above the normal range. The mean serum levels of glucose determined at T1, T2, T3, and T4 in patients under TIVA were significantly higher (P < 0.001; P=0.001) than the baseline level, however, only the level measured at T2 point exceeded the upper normal value. Serum lactate levels measured at T1, T2, T3, and T4 were significantly higher than the baseline level (P < 0.001) in patients under TIVA. Conclusions: The results obtained suggested the metabolic response to surgery to be probably attenuated and thus improved in patients treated under TIVA with propofol-fentanyl in comparison with that in patients treated under general balanced anesthesia with isoflurane-fentanyl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroenzymes are complexes consisting of normal enzymes or isoenzymes generated by their polymerization, mostly by their linking to immunoglobulins, some lipoproteins, proteins, or cell membrane fragments. Generally, macroenzymes are characterized by a greater molecular mass and longer half-life in systemic circulation. The occurrence of macroenzymes in serum may influence analytical measurement of anenzyme activity or may cause erroneous interpretation of elevated enzyme activity due to inadequate understanding of the clinical relevance of the presence of macroenzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum creatinine concentration is an unreliable and insensitive marker of chronic kidney disease (CKD). To improve CKD detection, many European and North American laboratories and all Australasian laboratories calculate and report an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the Modification of Diet in RenalDisease(MDRD) formula with every request for serum creatinine concentration. The aim of this paper is to provide timely information to Clinical Chemists about the strengths, weaknesses and available evidence for the role of automated laboratory reporting of eGFR in CKD detection. The accuracy and precision of eGFRs is reasonable in most adults in whom calculated values are < 60mL/min/1.73m2. However, eGFRs should be interpreted with caution in some settings, (particularly patients with eGFRs > 60mL/min/1.73 m2 and children). This paper also discusses eGFR-related decision points for clinical actions, the indications for nephrologist referral, the importance of creatinine assays tandardisation and the role of eGFR in drug dose decision-making. In conclusion, automatic laboratory reporting of eGFR will enhance early detection of CKD, allow the timely institution of appropriate reno-and cardioprotective therapies, and better in form decisions regarding the prescription of renally excreted medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Immunoediting is a new concept in cancer surveillance. Immunity is involved in detecting cellular waste, and taking off transformed cells. In particular, natural IgM antibodies play an important role in immunosurveillance mechanisms against transformed cells in humans. Scientific evidence indicates that biomarkers for different types of cancer, such as liver and colorectal cancer, circulate in blood associated with immunoglobulin M (IgM) to form complexes that improve diagnosis in comparison to circulating free biomarkers. In prostate cancer it has been demonstrated that testing for serum levels of the PSA-IgM immune complex improves the diagnostic performance of total PSA. Preliminary reports indicate that the combination of PSA-IgM with total PSA is the best approach to reduce the number of negative prostatic mapping thus improving the diagnosis of prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES. There is evidence of a clinical correlation between chronic prostatitis and elevated serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA). In the present study a system was developed to stage inflammation in benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), which correlates with serum PSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We retrospectively studied 98 patients undergoing transurethral resection of prostate. In all patients, histological sections of prostate showed BPH and inflammatory cell infiltration, which could be graded as G1, G2 and G3, according to involvement of epithelium. PSA levels were assessed pre- and postoperatively by the Immulite 2000 PSA assay. RESULTS. The difference in mean serum PSA values between groups G1 and G3 was highly significant (G1 3.3±2.1; G3 = 7.1±3.9 ng/mL; p<0.05). Mean age, prostatic weight and PSA density were similar in the three groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS. We concluded that in patients with BPH and prostatitis on pathological examination there is an associated PSA elevation when glandular epithelium is disrupted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biobanks are a critical resource for "omics" technologies in order to dissect molecular mechanism and gene-environmental interactions of common diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Progress in basic biomedicine may contribute to advance personalised medicine in which treatments will no longer be "one size fits all", but instead "tailored" to the molecular and genetic profile of each patient. Currently, there are major efforts worldwide to professionalize biobanks in order to move ahead from a "do-it-yourself" tissue collection - as is most frequent at present - for providing high quality preservation and storage of biological samples with potentially greater scientific impact. In this paper, we describe our recent experience in the design and development of a high-security liquid nitrogen storage system (-196°C) as a key resource for biomedical research.