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CA125, a tumor marker normally used to follow the clinical course of ovarian cancer, also may have a role in lymphoma. All available series were analyzed using the standard reference value 35 U/ml, but age and sex may influence serum CA125 (sCA125) levels. We aim to study the prognostic value of serum CA125 (sCA125) levels in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), considering the influence of age and sex on sCA125 levels. We investigated the relationship between sCA125 and clinical outcome after treatment in 42 patients with DLBCL, comparing both the standard (35 U/ml) and a new age and sex adjusted (sex/age-adjusted) reference value proposed by our group. We found that patients with elevated sCA125 levels had significantly more adverse prognostic factors at diagnosis, lower CR rates, higher relapse rates and worse survival. In the low-risk IPI categories, the presence of elevated sCA125 defined a particularly high-risk subgroup with poorer 3-year PFS when compared with patients with normal sCA125 levels. The use of a sex/age-adjusted reference value for sCA125 may increase the sensitivity to identify those patients with elevated sCA125 levels truly related to DLBCL activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the effects of repeated capture on physiological, haematological and biochemical parameters of mouflon. Increase in body temperature, mature neutrophil count and lactate; Decline in red blood cells, hemoglobin, total lipid and zinc; Relation between the changes and stress.

Examines the suitability of the Sysmex F-800 hematological analyser for use with equine blood samples. Stability of the red blood count and hemoglobin concentration; Decrease in platelet count; Modifications needed to improve the system.

A semiautomatic electronic system for counting blood cells in veterinary haematology (Sysmex F-800) was evaluated. A total of 100 samples of canine blood were analysed. The results for leucocyte (WBC), erythrocyte (RBC), and platelet (PLT) counts, the haemoglobin concentration (Hb), and haematocrit value (Hct) obtained using the autoanalyser were compared with those obtained using a manual method as a reference. The results show very high levels of correlation for WBC (r = 0.96), Hb (r = 0.97) and Hct (r = 0,95) and high levels for RBC (r = 0.85) and PLT (r = 0.72). The precision is satisfactory in all the parameters studied with the exception of the platelet count (CV= 10.2 %) where it is unsatisfactory. Taking into consideration the margin of error associated with manual cell counting methods, we conclude that this haematological analyser is sufficiently accurate for work with blood samples from dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "An old woman with painful oral intake".