Clin Chem Lab Med
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Comparative Study
Analytical performance and diagnostic accuracy of six different faecal calprotectin assays in inflammatory bowel disease.
We evaluated the analytical performance of six different faecal calprotectin immunoassays together with their diagnostic accuracy in the discrimination between functional and organic bowel disorders. ⋯ Analytical and diagnostic performance of the evaluated faecal calprotectin assays is good, but numerical values differ substantially between the assays necessitating the use of different clinical cut-offs. Introduction of multiple result intervals aids in clinical decision-making.
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We evaluated the (pre-)analytical and diagnostic performance of two automated fecal calprotectin (FC) immunoassays, Liaison® Calprotectin (Diasorin) on Liaison® XL and fCAL™ turbo (Bühlmann laboratories AG) on Cobas C501 (Roche Diagnostics), and compared it with our established Bühlmann ELISA method. ⋯ In conclusion, the newly developed stool extraction device protocols showed acceptable and comparable performance to the stool weight method. Overall, the automated Liaison® Calprotectin and fCAL™ turbo assay showed good analytical and diagnostic performance for detection of IBD.
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Multicenter Study
Higher serum caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18 levels during the first week of sepsis diagnosis in non-survivor patients.
Caspase-cleaved cytokeratin (CCCK)-18 is a protein released into the blood during apoptosis. Higher circulating CCCK-18 concentrations have been found in non-survivor than in survivor septic patients at moment of sepsis diagnosis. The following questions arise now: (1) How are serum CCCK-18 levels during the first week of sepsis? (2) Is there an association between sepsis severity and mortality and serum CCCK-18 levels during the first week? The aims of this study were to answer these questions. ⋯ Non-survivor septic patients showed persistently during the first week higher serum CCCK-18 levels than survivor patients, and there is an association between sepsis severity and mortality and serum CCCK-18 levels during the first week.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of pneumatic tube system with manual transport for routine chemistry, hematology, coagulation and blood gas tests.
The pneumatic tube system (PTS) is commonly used in modern clinical laboratories to provide quick specimen delivery. However, its impact on sample integrity and laboratory testing results are still debatable. In addition, each PTS installation and configuration is unique to its institution. We sought to validate our Swisslog PTS by comparing routine chemistry, hematology, coagulation and blood gas test results and sample integrity indices between duplicate samples transported either manually or by PTS. ⋯ The modern PTS investigated in this study is acceptable for reliable sample delivery for routine chemistry, hematology, coagulation and blood gas (in syringe and capillary tube) laboratory tests.
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Low back pain (LBP) is a very frequent condition, affecting most people at some point throughout their life. This cross-sectional study was aimed to investigate a selected panel of cytokines and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with or without LBP. ⋯ Then results of our study suggest that leptin and MCP-1 may be promising biomarkers for diagnosis of acute LBP and its risk to become chronic.