{"title":"The diagnostic and prognostic value of serum angiopoietin-like 4 level in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.","authors":"Xiuyun Song","doi":"10.1177/00045632241312634","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00045632241312634","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectivesNeonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is the most common respiratory disease in preterm infants (PIs). The implication of Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) was reported in lung diseases. We delved into the role of serum ANGPTL4 in NRDS diagnosis/prognosis.MethodsTotally 256 PIs were prospectively selected, including 128 NRDS infants and 128 non-NRDS PIs. NRDS infants were assigned into Survival and Death groups. ANGPTL4 level in PIs and its diagnostic and prognostic value for NRDS were separately assessed by ELISA and receiver operating characteristic curve. The independent risk factors (IRFs) for death in NRDS infants were analysed by multivariate logistic regression.ResultsNRDS infants exhibited reduced gestational age, birth weight, and 5 min Apgar score. ANGPTL4 level rose in NRDS infants, and increased with NRDS severity. Serum ANGPTL4 level was negatively correlated with 5 min Apgar score in NRDS infants. The area under the curve of serum ANGPTL4 for the diagnosis of NRDS was 0.902, with 88.28% sensitivity, 86.72% specificity, and 255.98 ng/mL cut-off value; the AUC for the diagnosis of severe NRDS was 0.741, with 66.67% sensitivity, 79.52% specificity, and 625.5 ng/mL cut-off value. Low gestational age, birth weight and 5 min Apgar score, severe NRDS, and elevated serum ANGPTL4 levels were IRFs for death in NRDS infants. NRDS infants with increased serum ANGPTL4 level displayed decreased survival rate and short survival time.ConclusionsANGPTL4 exhibited high diagnostic value and predictive value for death in NRDS, and it served as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of NRDS.</p>","PeriodicalId":8005,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Clinical Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"293-302"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142881126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah L Davies, Daniel J Cuthbertson, Louise J Ward, Wassif S Wassif, Mark Gurnell, Andrew S Davison
{"title":"A United Kingdom-wide audit of the laboratory investigation of primary aldosteronism.","authors":"Sarah L Davies, Daniel J Cuthbertson, Louise J Ward, Wassif S Wassif, Mark Gurnell, Andrew S Davison","doi":"10.1177/00045632251319984","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00045632251319984","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectivesPrimary aldosteronism (PA) is a common but under-recognised cause of secondary hypertension. Early diagnosis with targeted medical and/or surgical intervention is important to prevent irreversible end-organ damage. An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline was used to define audit standards against which to assess current United Kingdom (UK) laboratory practice.MethodsA survey comprising 22 questions, which captured information on screening, confirmatory testing and adrenal vein sampling (AVS), was distributed to all UK Clinical Biochemistry laboratories by the Association for Laboratory Medicine. Consultation with clinical colleagues was encouraged.Results50 of 147 laboratories (34.0%) responded, 17 of which provided an analytical service for plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and renin, measured as plasma renin activity (PRA) or direct renin concentration (DRC). PRA/DRC, PAC and aldosterone:renin ratios were used to screen for PA. Saline infusion testing was the most common confirmatory test. AVS was used to aid lateralisation. Chemiluminescence immunoassay and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry were the preferred analytical methods for PAC and PRA/DRC. However, there was considerable variation across centres in respect of reference intervals and cutoffs, which were not fully accounted for by differences in analytical platforms. Although diagnostic algorithms, with pre- and post-analytical support, were in evidence in some centres, these were not universal or always embedded in a multidisciplinary team setting.ConclusionsWe observed significant heterogeneity in the laboratory investigation of PA across the United Kingdom. Therefore, this work serves as a stimulus for greater collaboration to permit national harmonisation/standardisation of analytical and clinical aspects of UK PA practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":8005,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Clinical Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"312-325"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143057758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Janice Lv Reeve, Michael J O'Meara, Damian G Griffin
{"title":"Measurement of uric acid in FC Mix tubes is not accurate.","authors":"Janice Lv Reeve, Michael J O'Meara, Damian G Griffin","doi":"10.1177/00045632241308076","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00045632241308076","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8005,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Clinical Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"332-334"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142817068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julia S Kenkre, Tina Mazaheri, R Dermot G Neely, Handrean Soran, Dev Datta, Peter Penson, Paul Downie, Alexandra M Yates, Katharine Hayden, Mayur Patel, Jaimini Cegla
{"title":"Standardising lipid testing and reporting in the United Kingdom; a joint statement by HEART UK and The Association for Laboratory Medicine.","authors":"Julia S Kenkre, Tina Mazaheri, R Dermot G Neely, Handrean Soran, Dev Datta, Peter Penson, Paul Downie, Alexandra M Yates, Katharine Hayden, Mayur Patel, Jaimini Cegla","doi":"10.1177/00045632251315303","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00045632251315303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of premature death in the United Kingdom. Lipid testing is a key tool used to assess cardiovascular risk and guide clinical management decisions. There are currently no national guidelines to provide evidence-based recommendations on lipid testing and reporting for UK laboratories and clinicians. Here we present consensus guidance, following a review of published evidence by a multidisciplinary group of UK experts across a range of laboratory and clinical services. Recommendations include the composition of a standard lipid profile; indications for, and composition of, an enhanced lipid profile including apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein (a); use of the Sampson-NIH calculation for LDL-c estimation and guidance on when to flag abnormal results. This consensus guidance on lipid testing and reporting in the United Kingdom has been endorsed by HEART UK and The Association for Laboratory Medicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":8005,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Clinical Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"257-286"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12227826/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142943256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Benchtop centrifugation: An effective method for reducing lipaemia associated interference in grossly lipaemic samples?","authors":"James L Hall, Henry C Carlton, Kate E Shipman","doi":"10.1177/00045632241312622","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00045632241312622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundGrossly lipaemic samples are a significant cause of analytical errors, potentially impacting patient care. The causes of lipaemia are varied and often unavoidable, while methods to reduce lipaemia through gold-standard ultracentrifugation are limited by availability, transportation and cost. Benchtop centrifugation has been proposed as an alternative method to reduce lipaemia.MethodsFifty-three grossly lipaemic serum samples (lipaemia >201.8 mg/dL) that were unsuitable for analysis were selected and centrifugated at 18840 g for different time-periods with lipaemia measured prior to and after centrifugation. Core analytes were measured on serum samples free of lipaemia before and after 30 min of centrifugation at 18840 g to assess the effect of the centrifugation process.ResultsAfter centrifugation for 5 min, 90% of grossly lipaemic samples were either ideal (lipaemia <50 mg/dL) or adequate (lipaemia 50.1-201.7 mg/dL) for analyte testing. All samples were either adequate or ideal for testing following centrifugation for 30 min. Although some analytes showed a statistically significant change in the measured concentration post high-speed centrifugation, none had clinically significant changes according to analyte specific reference change value (RCV) analysis. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK) demonstrated the most notable reductions in activity, but these did not exceed their RCV.ConclusionsBenchtop centrifugation shows potential laboratory utility in reducing lipaemia whilst maintaining clinically reliable results, however small sample sizes preclude firm conclusions. Further research is warranted to increase the sample size with finer time-point tuning, sub-group analysis and temperature analysis, due to the potential for sample heat injury, to balance practicality and accuracy.</p>","PeriodicalId":8005,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Clinical Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"287-292"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142881125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Folic and folinic acid load tests for dynamic assessments of compliance and metabolism in folate deficiency and hyperhomocysteinaemia patients unresponsive to high-dose folate replacement.","authors":"Tejas Kalaria, Agata Sobczyńska-Malefora, Himabindu Rebbapragada, Rawya Hussein, Dominic J Harrington, Rousseau Gama, Supratik Basu","doi":"10.1177/00045632241312616","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00045632241312616","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We describe the utility of 'folic and folinic acid load tests' in the investigation of a 26-year-old woman with persistently low serum folate and moderate hyperhomocysteinaemia unresponsive to folic acid supplements. Serum folate, plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), red cell 5-MTHF and plasma total homocysteine at baseline, 2-h, 4-h and 2- or 4-days (if applicable) post administration of a large dose of oral folic acid, or oral or parenteral folinic acid were measured. The tests confirmed non-compliance but also suggested an unsuspected possible defect in the folate pathway based on differential response to folic versus folinic acid supplements. The folic and folinic acid load tests identify non-compliance and can help identify possible defects related to the absorption, transportation, or metabolism of folate.</p>","PeriodicalId":8005,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Clinical Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"326-331"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142926310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Relationships of serum levels of tocilizumab to interleukin-6 and endogenous markers of CYP3A activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.","authors":"Takashi Mochizuki, Kaito Shibata, Takafumi Naito, Kumiko Shimoyama, Noriyoshi Ogawa, Junichi Kawakami","doi":"10.1177/00045632251357148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00045632251357148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background Tocilizumab co-administration and inflammatory conditions potentially alter the activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 by modulating the interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling pathway in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to evaluate the correlations of serum levels of tocilizumab with IL-6 and CYP3A activity in RA. Methods RA patients (n = 35) with controllable disease activity using intravenous or subcutaneous tocilizumab were enrolled. Serum tocilizumab was monitored at the trough point after reaching steady-state. Serum levels of IL-6, its soluble receptor (sIL-6R), 4β-hydroxycholesterol (4β-OHC), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and CYP3A5 genotype were determined. Results The RA patients had a wide variation of serum tocilizumab level (interquartile range, 9.8-24.6 µg/mL). Tocilizumab treatment led to abnormally high levels of serum IL-6 and sIL-6R. The serum level of tocilizumab was correlated with that of IL-6, but not sIL-6R. In the tocilizumab-treated RA patients, the median serum levels of 4β-OHC and 25-OHD were 36.7 and 17.7 ng/mL, respectively, and no correlations with the serum level of tocilizumab were observed. CYP3A5 genetic polymorphisms were not also associated with the serum level of 4β-OHC. RA patients with the <i>CYP3A5*1</i> allele exhibited a correlation between serum levels of tocilizumab and 4β-OHC, while those with <i>CYP3A5*3/*3</i> did not. Conclusions Tocilizumab treatment raised the serum IL-6 level in a concentration-dependent manner. In the RA patients with functional CYP3A5 protein, the serum tocilizumab level partially explained the interindividual variation in CYP3A activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":8005,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Clinical Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"45632251357148"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144493722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Application of ergosterol as a maitake mushroom intake biomarker.","authors":"Naoko Kuwabara, Eri M Jogi, Masaharu Kato, Yuki Masuda, Morichika Konishi, Kenji Yamasaki, Shuzo Ohata, Setsushi Kato, Michio Hashimoto, Shinji Sato, Saori Nakagawa","doi":"10.1177/00045632251357138","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00045632251357138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundDyslipidemia is a lifestyle-related disease; therefore, cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors in foods can be easily ingested on a daily basis and are effective in aiding treatment and prevention. To assess the impact of this diet on health, it is of the essential thing that food intake can be properly measured, and it is important to find biomarkers of food intake. Previously, we reported that ergosterol, which is present in mushrooms, inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis. In this study, we measured serum ergosterol levels in healthy participants who consumed maitake mushroom bread to confirm actual ingestion of maitake mushrooms.MethodsSerum samples from healthy participants who consumed maitake mushroom bread (<i>n</i> = 24) or normal bread without maitake mushroom (placebo, <i>n</i> = 26) were analysed for ergosterol levels using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with diene derivatization.ResultsIn the placebo group, there was no significant difference in ergosterol concentrations between baseline (before consumption) and 18 weeks. In contrast, the ergosterol concentration was 5-fold higher at 18 weeks than at baseline in the maitake mushroom bread-intake group.ConclusionMaitake mushroom bread intake for 18 weeks significantly increased serum ergosterol levels in healthy participants, suggesting that ergosterol is useful as a biomarker of mushroom intake.</p>","PeriodicalId":8005,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Clinical Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"45632251357138"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144493692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jonathan Fenn, Henry Gill, Tejas Kalaria, Lauren Starbrook, Loretta Ford, Hayley Sharrod-Cole, Clare Ford, Rousseau Gama
{"title":"Diurnal variation in salivary testosterone independent of food consumption.","authors":"Jonathan Fenn, Henry Gill, Tejas Kalaria, Lauren Starbrook, Loretta Ford, Hayley Sharrod-Cole, Clare Ford, Rousseau Gama","doi":"10.1177/00045632251357140","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00045632251357140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundWe previously reported that salivary testosterone (Sal T) decreased following a morning meal but concluded that this decrease could be a postprandial effect or an inherent circadian rhythm or both. Since no studies describing diurnal variations in Sal T have considered the effect of meals, we investigated the temporal variation of Sal T independent of food consumption.MethodsSalivary samples were collected from 17 males at 09.00 h, 10.00 h, and 11.00 h and then at 22.00 h, 23.00 h, and 24.00 h following an 8 h fast for each collection period.ResultsMean (standard deviation) Sal T concentrations were 191.2 (56.68) pmol/L at 09.00 h, 174.2 (53.29) pmol/L at 10.00 h, 168.1 (52.61) pmol/L at 11.00, 120.2 (46.04) pmol/L at 22.00 h, 130.3 (35.72) pmol/L at 23.00 h and 125.1 (29.75) pmol/L at 24.00 h. Sal T at 09.00 h was higher (<i>P</i> < .05) than at all other time points. Sal T at 10.00 h was similar (<i>P</i> = .65) to that at 11.00 h and both were higher (<i>P</i> < .05) compared to all evening time points. Although some patients exhibited a nadir in Sal T at 22:00 followed by an increase, overall evening levels were not significantly different (<i>P</i> > .80).ConclusionWe report an inherent circadian rhythm in Sal T with higher levels in the morning than evening and report for the first time that it is independent of food consumption.</p>","PeriodicalId":8005,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Clinical Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"45632251357140"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144482912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Byrne E, Twomey Pj, Crowley Rk, McKenna Mj, Kilbane M
{"title":"A method comparison of the Roche intact PTH method versus the Roche whole PTH (1-84) method: Examining the differences based on eGFR.","authors":"Byrne E, Twomey Pj, Crowley Rk, McKenna Mj, Kilbane M","doi":"10.1177/00045632251356826","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00045632251356826","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>AimThird-generation whole PTH (1-84) parathyroid hormone (PTH) assays do not recognize the PTH 7-84 fragment whereas second-generation (intact) assays detect both 1-84 and 7-84 PTH fragments. This study aimed to compare the second-generation Roche intact PTH method with the third-generation Roche whole PTH (1-84) method, examining differences based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).MethodsThe intact PTH method and whole PTH (1-84) method were compared using 100 serum samples selected across eGFR quintiles for chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 1-5 in accordance with Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO).ResultsMethod comparison based on eGFR showed that differences between both PTH methods were not significant at eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>. There was a statistically significant difference at eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>. The whole PTH (1-84) method produced lower results as eGFR decreased: CKD Stage 3 (mean difference: -21%; 95% confidence interval: -16 to -26%) to CKD Stage 5 (mean difference: -46%; 95% confidence interval: -40 to -52%).ConclusionsDifferences observed between the two assays may be due to second-generation PTH assays overestimating PTH concentration by measuring both 1-84 PTH and C-terminal fragments, notably PTH (7-84) in patients with significant renal impairment. The whole PTH (1-84) assay may be used to monitor metabolic bone disease risk. Initial dual reporting of PTH by both methods is recommended for eGFR <60 mL/min to educate users due to the difference in results.</p>","PeriodicalId":8005,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Clinical Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"45632251356826"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144473796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}