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With about 60%-70% of medical decisions based on laboratory investigations, modern medicine is increasingly more reliant on laboratory medicine. Pediatric healthcare particularly depends on laboratory testing, with reference intervals (RIs) serving as critical tools for accurate result interpretation. However, establishing pediatric RIs poses distinctive challenges due to developmental, growth, nutritional, and disease-related variations across age groups, along with technical, ethical, and logistical challenges. Despite these limitations, there are several ongoing initiatives for developing pediatric RIs globally, underscoring the importance of developing accurate pediatric RIs. This review outlines the particularities of pediatric laboratory medicine and the specific challenges in establishing pediatric RIs, highlighting the recent initiatives in this area. It also addresses biological and analytical variability issues and explores future perspectives aimed at enhancing diagnostic accuracy and elevating patient care standards.

Introduction: Anti-thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPO) is an essential diagnostic tool for autoimmune disorders of the thyroid gland. However, TPO results are not always comparable due to differences between methods. Here, we aimed to investigate the differences between two modern laboratory methods for TPO measurement: electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) and chemiluminescence microparticle (CMIA) immunoassays.

Identification of predictive biomarkers for the evolution of critically ill COVID-19 patients would represent a milestone in the management of patients and in human and financial resources prioritization and allocation. This retrospective analysis performed for 396 critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit aims to find the best predictors for fatal outcomes in this category of patients. The inflammatory and metabolic parameters were analyzed and Machine Learning methods were performed with the following results: (1) decision tree with Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) algorithm, based on the cut-off values using ROC Curve analysis, indicated NLR, IL-6, comorbidities, and AST as the main in-hospital mortality predictors; (2) decision tree with Classification and Regression Tree (CRT) algorithm confirmed NLR alongside CRP, ferritin, IL-6, and SII (Systemic Inflammatory Index) as mortality predictors; (3) neural networks with Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) found NLR, age, and CRP to be the best mortality predictors. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis was complementarily applied to statistically validate the resulting predictors and to emphasize the inferred causal relationship among factors. Our findings highlight that for a deeper understanding of the results, the combination of Machine Learning and statistical methods ensures identifying the most accurate predictors of in-hospital mortality to determine classification rules for future events.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of transient postprandial in vivo and prolonged experimental in vitro hyperlipidemia on human peripheral blood monocytes. Methods: Peripheral blood was collected from seven healthy subjects after an overnight fast and three hours after a standardized high-fat meal. Both fasting and postprandial samples were stained for surface markers CD14/CD11b and intracellular lipids using BODIPY493/503. Postprandial samples only were used for isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells that were further incubated overnight with postprandial hyperlipidemic autologous plasma, then stained as described above. All samples were analyzed on a FACSAria III flow cytometer.

Quality Control (QC) in Romania is regulated by the Order of the Minister of Health no. 1608/2022 that modifies the previous Order 1301/2007. The new version of the Order introduces a more scientific approach by requesting the laboratories to assess test performance and then elaborate an appropriate internal QC plan. The aim of this study was to demonstrate how to design a QC plan for complete blood count (CBC) in an Emergency Laboratory with continuous activity, in order to comply with the new Order 1608/2022. QC data obtained over a three-month period (April-June 2022) from the Sysmex XN-1000 instrument of the Emergency Laboratory of the County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Târgu Mureș were included. In order to establish an appropriate QC plan, two models were applied and the following parameters were calculated: the number of daily QC runs (N), the probability of false rejection (Pfr), the QC frequency (run size), and the required QC rules. White blood cells achieved high performance, while Hematocrit performance was poor. Different levels of performance were achieved for Platelets. We emphasize that, when all parameters are measured on the same instrument, QC frequency and Pfr should be adjusted in order to develop a QC plan that “fits” all the parameters of the CBC as a whole. In our Emergency Laboratory, the calculated QC plan for CBC is N=2, Pfr=0.03, multi-rule 1:3s/2:2s/R:4s, and a run size of 95 samples which is approximately the same as the number of CBCs performed during one 12-hour shift.

Objective: Ammonia is extremely unstable in blood specimens and has special requirements during transport, processing and storage. The aim of our study was to determine the stability of ammonia in EDTA K3 blood samples and to establish a protocol for sample handling.

Large clinical laboratories often rely on multiple chemistry analyzers. However, when a new analyzer is introduced, the laboratory must establish whether the old and new methods are comparable and can be used interchangeably. In this study, we compared the newly introduced Atellica CH930 chemistry analyzer with the already established Architect ci4100 and Cobas 6000 c501 from our laboratory.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) manifested as atherosclerosis is a major cause of coronary heart disease. Different scoring systems based on clinical and paraclinical data are currently used, but the FH diagnosis should be made only in the presence of the causative genetic defect. In the present study, 12 symptomatic (previously diagnosed with atherosclerosis) and asymptomatic family members were investigated. Serum lipids were measured using commercial reagents. A genetic investigation was performed by Sanger sequencing using commercial reagents and custom primers, while copy number variations and a selected set of 40 point mutations were evaluated using in vitro diagnostic medical devices. For the investigated patients, serum lipids were within the reference range, due to the fact that the subjects were following lipid-lowering therapy, and smoking was the only identifiable additional risk factor. Four benign exon variants and three intron variants situated within the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol receptor gene were identified by Sanger sequencing. No copy number variations and none of the 40 investigated point mutations were determined. Although independently considered benign, the combined effect of the identified genetic conditions could be pathogenic under the influence of additional risk factors. Even in the presence of a diagnosis made using clinical scores, the molecular diagnosis is often challenging, attesting to the complexity of FH genetic etiology.

The innate immune system is mandatory for the activation of antiviral host defense and eradication of the infection. In this regard, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, neutrophils representing the cellular component, and cytokines, interferons, complement or Toll-Like Receptors, representing the mediators of unspecific response act together for both activation of the adaptive immune response and viral clearance. Of great importance is the proper functioning of the innate immune response from the very beginning. For instance, in the early stages of viral infection, the defective interferon response leads to uncontrolled viral replication and pathogen evasion, while hypersecretion during the later stages of infection generates hyperinflammation. This cascade activation of systemic inflammation culminates with cytokine storm syndrome and hypercoagulability state, due to a close interconnection between them. Thus an unbalanced reaction, either under- or over- stimulation of the innate immune system will lead to an uncoordinated response and unfavorable disease outcomes. Since both cellular and humoral factors are involved in the time-course of the innate immune response, in this review we aimed to address their gradual involvement in the antiviral response with emphasis on key steps in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the plasma profile of arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), as well to analyze the relationship of Omega 6/Omega 3 ratio with anthropo-metric parameters and insulin resistance markers.

Objective:the aim of this study was to evaluate the imprecision of the method used to determine TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) levels from dried blood spots in a newborn screening program and how the value of the coefficient of variation influences the total error of the method.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) are able to synthesize various cytokines that play key roles in the immune response and intercellular signaling. Since alterations in cytokine production and/or activity occur in many pathological processes, the study of cytokine synthetic capacity of PBL is a valuable tool for assessing the immune profile. In this paper, we aimed to investigate the variability of interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) synthetic capacity of CD4+/CD8+ T-cells stimulated ex-vivo in healthy subjects, by means of a commercial intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) protocol. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 16 healthy subjects by Ficoll gradient centrifugation and activated ex-vivo with PMA/Ionomycin/Brefeldin-A for 4 hours. Activated PBL were surface-stained for CD3/CD4/CD8, fixed and permeabilized. ICS was performed using anti-human IL-2/TNF-α/IFN-γ and samples were analyzed on a BD-FACSAria-III flow cytometer. We recorded high post-isolation and post-activation mean viabilities: 82.1% and 82.4% respectively, p=0.84. Both CD4+/CD8+ subpopulations were found to partially produce each of the three cytokines, but in different proportions. On average, a significantly greater percentage of CD4+ cells was shown to produce IL-2 and TNF-α, compared with CD8+ cells (61.5%+/-5.8 vs. 25%+/-5.6 and 26.9%+/-11 vs. 7.5%+/-3.3 respectively, p---lt---0.0001 for both). Contrarily, IFN-γ was produced by a higher proportion of CD8+ cells (8.4%+/-3.9 vs. 6.8%+/-3.2, p=0.01). These results show that the employed ICS protocol elicits a satisfactory and consistent cytokine response from PBL of healthy subjects. The collected data may be used to outline a preliminary reference range for future studies on both healthy/pathological subjects.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the performance of the total testing process of complete blood count (CBC) on two different instruments in an emergency setting of a county hospital, and to design an appropriate internal quality control plan.

The aim of this study was to determine the rate of hemolyzed specimens sent to our laboratory for coagulation testing, assess the interference of hemolysis on coagulation for patients without anticoagulant therapy and to determine the reference intervals for PT, INR and aPTT for our laboratory in order to test our own limitations.

Background: Pediatric onco-hematology is not a frequently encountered medical specialty, and it influences everyday life, basic activities, and the immune system, mostly through psychosocial changes, which may affect every individual and their families differently. Anxiety is the most frequently encountered mental health disorder occurring during childhood and adolescence. The effect of stress and anxiety on the immune system is suggested by the fact that stress hormones elevate proinflammatory cytokines and subsequently lower the anti-inflammatory response.

Introduction: Experimental acute cerebral ischemia quickly triggers circulating inflammatory cells, provoking infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages in the damaged brain region. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids alleviate the ischemic deterioration, however, their potential effect on bone marrow cell mobilization is less known.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the utility of plasma NfH in correlation with serum hsCRP for severity and short-term functional outcome prediction after ischemic stroke. Methods: 124 patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled, serial plasma neurofilament heavy chains and hsCRP concentrations were measured and evaluated for TOAST subtype, stroke severity and functional outcome at discharge. Results: Serum level of hsCRP was significantly higher in patients versus controls (p

Objectives: The goal of the study was to investigate the correlations between the interleukin-6 IL-6 -174 G/C and IL-6 -572 G/C gene polymorphisms and sepsis risk and severity in adult ICU patients.

It is well known that critically ill patients require special attention and additional consideration during their treatment and management. The multiple systems and organ dysfunctions, typical of the critical patient, often results in different patterns of enteral absorption in these patients. Anti-platelet drugs are the cornerstone in treating patients with coronary and cerebrovascular disease. Dual anti-platelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is the treatment of choice in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary interventions and is still widely used in patients with acute coronary syndromes. However, despite the use of dual anti-platelet therapy, some patients continue to experience cardiovascular ischemic events. Recurrence of ischemic events is partly attributed to the fact that some patients have poor inhibition of platelet reactivity despite treatment. These patients are considered low- or nonresponders to therapy. The underlying mechanisms leading to resistance are not yet fully elucidated and are probably multifactorial, cellular, genetic and clinical factors being implicated. Several methods have been developed to asses platelet function and can be used to identify patients with persistent platelet reactivity, which have an increased risk of thrombosis. In this paper, the concept of anti-platelet therapy resistance, the underlying mechanisms and the methods used to identify patients with low responsiveness to anti-platelet therapy will be highlighted with a focus on aspirin and clopidogrel therapy and addressing especially critically ill patients.

Pentru a avea succes în experimentele de biologie moleculară, sunt necesare cunoștințe bune despre diversele metode și protocoale în acest domeniu. În biologia moleculară, manipularea corespunzătoare a acizilor nucleici este esențială, începând cu calitatea extracției până la testele efective (PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR, PCR array, clonare, etc). Deși multe dintre protocoale sunt “standardizate”, în practică sunt multe variabile care pot influența rezultatele experimentelor. Datorită importanței proiectării corecte a primerilor în metodele de tip PCR, ne vom concentra pe modul de proiectare și pe verificarea lor cu ajutorul programelor de calculator, dar de asemenea prezentăm și alte programe utile disponibile gratuit, care pot ajuta cercetătorii în domeniul biologiei moleculare

Background: Trauma in its early stages leads to an acute inflammatory condition affecting all cellular lines. Neutrophil granulocytes make up the largest population of human white blood cells and are fundamental to the innate immune system. The objective of our pilot study was to evaluate neutrophil death and viability alterations in critically ill trauma patients in correlation with their clinical outcome.

Introducere. Validarea unor noi biomarkeri în sepsis poate contribui la diagnosticul mai precoce al acestuia şi la iniţierea mai rapidă a terapiei. Scopul acestui studiu este acela de a evalua capacitatea formei solubile a rolului său în evaluarea prognosticului. Material şi metodă. Am realizat un studiu pilot, prospectiv pe 49 de pacienţi cu sindrom de răspuns inflamator sistemic (SIRS) internaţi în Clinica de Terapie Intensivă, care au fost împărţiţi, în funcţie de existenţa bacteriemiei, în lotul A (SIRS cu bacteriemie, n=14) şi lotul B (SIRS fără bacteriemie, n=35). S-au recoltat în prima zi probe sanguine pentru determinarea suPAR, proteina C reactivă (CRP), procalcitonina (PCT) şi hemocultura. Am urmărit identificarea unor valori de cut-off cu semnificaţie statistică în estimarea bacteriemiei şi a mortalităţii la pacienţii septici. Rezultate. În lotul A valorile suPAR au fost de 14,3 ng/mL (interval 10-45,5 ng/mL) iar în lotul B, de 9,85 ng/mL (interval 3,4-48 ng/mL), p=0,008. Aria de sub curbă (AUC) pentru suPAR a fost de 0,745 (95% CI: 0,600-0,859); pentru CRP, AUC a fost de 0,613 (95% CI: 0,522-0,799); pentru PCT, AUC a fost de 0,718 (95% CI: 0,477-0,769). Valoarea de cut-off a suPAR în predicţia bacteriemiei a fost de 9,885 ng/mL, cu sensibilitate de 100% şi specificitate de 51,43%. Mortalitatea în lotul A a fost de 85,7% (12/14), iar în lotul B de 74,3% (26/39), p>0,05. AUC pentru suPAR a fost de 0,750 (95% CI: 0,455-0,936); pentru CRP, AUC a fost de 0,613 (95% CI: 0,413-0,913); pentru PCT, AUC a fost de 0,618 (95% CI: 0,373-0,888). Valoarea de cut-off a suPAR în predicţia mortalităţii a fost de 11,5 ng/mL, cu sensibilitate de 66,67% şi specificitate de 100%.

Începând cu primul număr din 2013, Revista Română de Medicină de Laborator a implementat un nou sistem editorial şi de publicare. În cadrul acestui editorial vom încerca să clarificăm pentru toţi cititorii şi autorii schimbările majore şi efectul lor asupra evoluţiei revistei. Astfel, vom prezenta detalii legate de organizarea internă actuală a comitetului redacţional şi fluxul de lucru în redacţie a articolelor trimise spre publicare.

Examenul morfologic şi imunofenotiparea prin citometrie in flux sunt analize indispensabile în diagnosticul leucemiilor acute. Aceste investigaţii sunt complementare, în primul rând deoarece au ca şi obiect comun fenotipul celulei maligne în ansamblul ei. Scopul studiului nostru a fost de a analiza corelaţiile intre citologie si imunofenotipare pe un lot de pacienţi investigaţi pentru leucemie acută mieloidă. În studiul nostru, gradul de corelare între procentul de blaşti determinat prin citologie şi imunofenotipare a fost redus (r=0.049). Gradul de corelare între expresia mieloperoxidazei determinată prin citochimie şi imunofenotipare a fost de asemenea redus, cu rezultate mai bune pentru citochimie. Expresia markerilor imunofenotipici a corespuns cu compoziţia pe clase FAB a lotului nostru, mai puţin pentru HLA-DR (49.0%), TdT (3.77%), CD14 (5.66%), CD15 (5.66%). Am pus in discuţie de asemenea importanţa interpretării cu prudenţă a rezultatelor pozitive pentru markeri eritroizi şi megakariocitari şi diagnosticul diferenţial al cazurilor care exprimă simultan CD7 şi CD56. În concluzie, interpretarea rezultatelor imunofenotipării prin citometrie in flux în strânsă corelaţie cu morfologia, optimizarea metodelor de analiză şi utilizarea de paneluri standardizate sunt indispensabile atât pentru diagnostic, dar şi pentru urmărirea în evoluţie a cazurilor

Obiective: Scopul principal al acestui studiu a fost evaluarea funcţiei beta celulare reziduale la diagnosticul diabetului zaharat tip 2 şi identificarea unor markeri de laborator cu ajutorul cărora să se efectueze o cât mai bună estimare a acesteia. Obiectivul secundar a fost evaluarea modificării funcţiei beta celulare cu diferite regimuri terapeutice. Materiale şi metode: Patruzeci şi şapte subiecţi au fost incluşi în studiu şi fiecare a efectuat un test de toleranţă la glucoză oral (TTGO) cu 75 g glucoză la înrolare şi la 6 luni. Parametri metabolici şi imunologici au fost determinaţi din probe à jeun. În funcţie de gradul decompensării metabolice, terapia specifică a fost iniţiată: metformin, metformin plus gliclazid sau insulinoterapia (cu/fără metformin). Funcţia beta celulară iniţială şi totală a fost evaluată cu ajutorul disposition index (DI) calculat pentru primele 30 de minute şi respectiv 120 minute. Rezultate: La diagnostic, glicemia à jeun şi HbA1c au variat în limite largi (129- 521 mg/dl şi respectiv 5.5-14%). Indicii DI30 şi DI120 au scăzut pe măsura severităţii decompensării glicemice. Atât pentru DI30, cât şi pentru DI120 s-au depistat corelaţii negative semnificative cu markerii glicemici (HbA1c, glicemia la 2 ore şi amplitudinea maximă a glicemiei) şi corelaţii pozitive cu peptidul C la 2 ore (p

Studies suggest that the dynamic changes in cellular response might correlate with disease severity and outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 patients. The study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes of lymphocyte subsets in patients with COVID-19. In this regard, 53 patients with COVID-19 were prospectively included, classified as mild, moderate, and severe. The peripheral lymphocyte profiles (LyT, LyB, and NK cells), as well as CD4+/CD8+, CD3+/CD19+, CD3+/NK and CD19+/NK ratios, and their dynamic changes during hospitalization and correlation with disease severity and outcome were assessed. We found significant differences in CD3+ lymphocytes between severity groups (p < 0.0001), with significantly decreased CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ in patients with severe disease (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.048, respectively). Lower CD3+/CD19+ and CD3+/NK ratios among patients with severe disease (p = 0.019 and p = 0.010, respectively) were found. The dynamic changes of lymphocyte subsets showed a significant reduction in NK cells (%) and a significant increase in CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ cells in patients with moderate and severe disease. The ROC analysis on the relationship between CD3+ cells and fatal outcome yielded an AUC of 0.723 (95% CI 0.583–0.837; p = 0.007), while after addition of age and SpO2, ferritin and NLR, the AUC significantly improved to 0.927 (95%CI 0.811–0.983), p < 0.001 with a sensitivity of 90.9% (95% CI 58.7–99.8%) and specificity of 85.7% (95% CI 69.7–95.2%). The absolute number of CD3+ lymphocytes might independently predict fatal outcomes in COVID-19 patients and T-lymphocyte subset evaluation in high-risk patients might be useful in estimating disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomarkers are crucial in cancer diagnostics, prognosis, and surveillance. Extensive research has been dedicated to identifying biomarkers that are broadly applicable across multiple cancer types and can be easily obtained from routine investigations such as blood cell counts. One such biomarker, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), has been established as a prognostic marker in cancer. However, due to the dynamic nature of cancer diagnosis and treatment, periodic updates are necessary to keep abreast of the vast amount of published data. In this review, we searched the PubMed database and analyzed and synthesized recent literature (2018–February 2024) on the role of NLR in predicting clinical outcomes in nonhematologic malignancies. The search was conducted using the PubMed database. We included a total of 88 studies, encompassing 28,050 human subjects, and categorized the findings into four major groups: gastrointestinal cancer, cancers of the urinary tract and reproductive system, lung cancer, and breast cancer. Our analysis confirms that NLR is a reliable prognostic indicator in cancer, and we discuss the specific characteristics, limitations, and exceptions associated with its use. The review concludes with a concise Q&A section, presenting the most relevant take-home messages in response to five key practical questions on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most significant inherited risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Current guidelines focus on monogenic FH, but the polygenic form is more common and less understood. This study aimed to assess the clinical utility of an 8-SNP LDLC polygenic score in a central Romanian cohort. The cohort included 97 healthy controls and 125 patients with premature (P)CHD. The weighted LDLC polygenic risk score (wPRS) was analyzed for associations with relevant phenotypic traits, PCHD risk, and clinical FH diagnosis. The wPRS positively correlated with LDLC and DLCN scores, and LDLC concentrations could be predicted by wPRS. A trend of increasing LDLC and DLCN scores with wPRS deciles was observed. A +1 SD increase in wPRS was associated with a 36% higher likelihood of having LDLC > 190 mg/dL and increases in LDLC (+0.20 SD), DLCN score (+0.16 SD), and BMI (+0.15 SD), as well as a decrease in HDLC (−0.14 SD). Although wPRS did not predict PCHD across the entire spectrum of values, individuals above the 90th percentile were three times more likely to have PCHD compared to those within the 10th or 20th percentiles. Additionally, wPRS > 45th percentile identified "definite" clinical FH (DLCN score > 8) with 100% sensitivity and 45% specificity. The LDLC polygenic score correlates with key phenotypic traits, and individuals with high scores are more likely to have PCHD. Implementing this genetic tool may enhance risk prediction and patient stratification. These findings, the first of their kind in Romania, are consistent with the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most commonly used method for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) estimation is the Friedewald equation, which has notable limitations. However, more accurate methods have been proposed. This study investigates the advantages and limitations of these methods and identifies the contexts in which each equation is the most or least applicable. Methods: A cohort of 222 individuals underwent a standard lipid profile assessment, including directly measuring their LDL-C (dLDL-C). LDL-C was also estimated using the Friedewald, Martin–Hopkins, and Sampson equations. The differences (%Delta) between the estimated and measured LDL-C were analyzed in relation to dLDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride levels. Results: The %Delta was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) for the Martin–Hopkins (−8.8 ± 9.8) and Sampson (−9.5 ± 9.2) equations compared to Friedewald (−12.2 ± 9.2). All equations increasingly underestimated LDL-C as the dLDL-C levels decreased. The %Delta of the Martin–Hopkins equation showed significant positive correlations with dLDL-C (≤130 mg/dL) and triglycerides and a significant negative correlation with HDL-C. In a subgroup of 30 individuals with extreme %Delta values, patterns of gross underestimation were observed, particularly when low LDL-C, low triglycerides, and high HDL-C coincided. Conclusions: The Martin–Hopkins equation is a superior method for LDL-C estimation and a valuable tool in precision medicine. However, clinicians and laboratory professionals must be aware of its limitations and recognize patterns that could lead to significant LDL-C underestimation. We propose an algorithm for clinical laboratories to provide personalized LDL-C assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Reportedly, statins can decrease MMP activity in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but this effect has not been studied in healthy individuals. Methods: MMPs 2, 7, and 9 and several other parameters were measured before and after a four-week course of moderate-dose atorvastatin (20 mg/day) in 21 healthy individuals. Results: Atorvastatin treatment resulted in lower total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides (p < 0.001 for all), but higher levels of plasma enzymes AST, ALT, CK, and LDH (p < 0.05 for all). No effect of atorvastatin on plasma MMP median concentrations was recorded. Before treatment, moderate positive significant correlations were found between MMP-7 and age, blood lipids, and blood count-derived inflammatory markers. Pre-treatment MMP-7 was best predicted by the total cholesterol-to-HDL cholesterol ratio in a remnant cholesterol-weighted least squares regression model. After atorvastatin treatment, MMP-7 no longer correlated with these markers. Conclusions: While the effect of statins on plasma MMPs in atherosclerosis is controversial, short-term moderate-dose atorvastatin treatment does not seem to affect levels of MMPs 2, 7, and 9 in healthy individuals. However, an intriguing correlation between MMP-7 and atherosclerosis-related blood lipids and neutrophil-associated inflammatory biomarkers seems to be disrupted by atorvastatin independently of hsCRP, possibly via pleiotropic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In addition to newborn screening, dried blood spots (DBSs) are used for a wide variety of analytes for clinical, epidemiological, and research purposes. Guidelines on DBS collection, storage, and transport are available, but it is suggested that each laboratory should establish its own acceptance criteria. Methods: An optical scanning device was developed to assess the quality of DBSs received in the newborn screening laboratory from 11 maternity wards between 2013 and 2018. The algorithm was adjusted to agree with the visual examination consensus of experienced laboratory personnel. Once validated, the algorithm was used to categorize DBS specimens as either proper or improper. Improper DBS specimens were further divided based on 4 types of specimen defects. Results: In total, 27 301 DBSs were analyzed. Compared with an annual DBS rejection rate of about 1%, automated scanning rejected 26.96% of the specimens as having at least one defect. The most common specimen defect was multi-spotting (ragged DBS, 19.13%). Among maternity wards, improper specimen rates varied greatly between 5.70% and 49.92%. Conclusions: Improper specimen rates, as well as the dominant type of defect(s), are mainly institution-dependent, with various maternity wards consistently showing specific patterns of both parameters over time. Although validated in agreement with experienced laboratory personnel consensus, automated analysis rejects significantly more specimens. While continuous staff training, specimen quality monitoring, and problem-reporting to maternities is recommended, a thorough quality assessment strategy should also be implemented by every newborn screening laboratory. An important role in this regard may be played by automation in the form of optical scanning devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Adina. Hutanu, Mihaela. Iancu, Smaranda. Maier, Rodica. Balasa, Minodora. Dobreanu Objective: Despite advances made in the treatment of ischemic stroke, it still remains one of the leading causes of [...]