Annals of clinical and laboratory science最新文献

{"title":"Comparison of a Rapid Test versus Culture for Detecting Group B Streptococcus Colonization in Late Pregnancy.","authors":"Yao Song, Qingwen Nie, Yunting Zhuang, Yanxuan Xiao, Ruiyan Bai, Zeshan Lin, Zhijian Wang","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to compare the diagnostic performance of colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA) with culture-based screening for antepartum detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in South China, performing GBS screening on women at 35-37 weeks of gestation. GICA and direct bacterial culture were separately performed on paired rectovaginal swabs. Decisions about intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) were based on the GBS positive results by either GICA or culture.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The detection rate for GBS colonization was 7.5% (31/414) by the culture and 16.4% (68/414) by the GICA, with significant difference (<i>p</i><0.001). Kappa value between the two methods was 0.516 (<i>p</i><0.001), suggesting moderate concordance. Against the reference standard of direct culture, the GICA showed a sensitivity of 90.3%, specificity of 89.6%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 41.2%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.1%, and accuracy of 89.6%. Among individuals with positive GICA, the culture-positive group was associated with significantly higher proportion of IAP and lower relative risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to the negative group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The GICA demonstrates 90% sensitivity and specificity in detecting maternal GBS colonization compared to culture. This rapid test may be considered as a promising alternative, particularly for emergency labor and large-scale screening in resource-limited settings. However, the clinical overuse of IAP should be concerned.</p>","PeriodicalId":8228,"journal":{"name":"Annals of clinical and laboratory science","volume":"55 3","pages":"409-415"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144764430","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":"<i>Technical Note:</i> Comparison of Plain and Serum-Separator Blood Collection Tubes for the Measurement of Steroid Hormones by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS): Observation of Erroneous Peaks in Serum Separator Tubes for Analysis of Testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone.","authors":"Uttam Garg, Bheemraj Ramoo, Clarence Frazee, Amitava Dasgupta","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the gold standard for the analysis of steroids including 11-deoxycortisol, androstenedione, testosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in serum or plasma. In our hospital we observed an occasional problem in analysis of testosterone in some patients when blood was collected in Beckton-Dickinson serum separator gel tubes (BD gel tubes). Therefore, we investigated this issue.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Blood was collected from 10 volunteers (five males and five females) simultaneously in plain red top tubes (no gel), Greiner serum separator gel tubes (Greiner gel tube), and BD (Beckton-Dickinson) gel tubes followed by extraction of steroids from serum, reconstitution with mobile phase, and subsequent analysis of various steroids using LC-MS/MS in a single run.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No interfering peak was observed when blood was collected in plain red top tube for all five steroids. However, we observed clinically significant interference with low testosterone values when blood specimens were collected in BD gel tubes. For DHEA, we observed interference when blood was collected in BD gel tubes and Griner tubes. Other steroids were not affected.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We concluded that BD serum separator gel tube may not be suitable for analysis of testosterone in women and DHEA for both men and women.</p>","PeriodicalId":8228,"journal":{"name":"Annals of clinical and laboratory science","volume":"55 3","pages":"449-452"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144764423","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":"Six Sigma in Action: Evaluating Its Practicality in a Multi-Analyzer Laboratory under CLIA 2024 Guidelines.","authors":"Humeyra Ozturk Emre","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The stricter Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) 2024 guidelines introduced narrower Total Allowable Error (TEa) limits, posing challenges for clinical laboratories in maintaining analytical quality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Six Sigma metrics in assessing the performance of routine biochemical tests using these updated criteria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study analyzed the internal quality control (IQC) data for 22 biochemical analytes across four instruments in a high-throughput laboratory. Performance was assessed using Sigma metrics calculated based on the CLIA 88 and CLIA 2024 criteria, with classifications into poor (<3 Sigma), acceptable (3-6 Sigma), and excellent (>6 Sigma) categories. İnstrument-specific variability and control levels (normal and pathological) were also analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Under the CLIA 2024 guidelines, only 22.16% of the analytes achieved excellent performance (>6 Sigma), compared to 49.43% under CLIA 88. No significant differences were observed between instruments, indicating consistent analytical performance across platforms. Normal control levels (Control Level 1) exhibited greater variability (median Sigma: 4.76, range: 1.19-13.34) compared to pathological controls (Control Level 2) (median Sigma: 4.72, range: 1.22-10.22), reinforcing the impact of control level differences on analytical precision. CRP, CK, and Bilirubin were the highest-performing tests, consistently maintaining high Sigma values above the acceptable threshold. In contrast, Albumin, Urea, and GGT exhibited the lowest Sigma performance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The transition to stricter CLIA 2024 guidelines significantly affects the analytical performance of biochemical tests, highlighting vulnerabilities in routine laboratory operations. Adopting advanced automation, tailored QC protocols, and modern analytical tools is essential to enhance diagnostic precision and ensure compliance with evolving regulatory demands.</p>","PeriodicalId":8228,"journal":{"name":"Annals of clinical and laboratory science","volume":"55 3","pages":"416-425"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144764450","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":"Identification of Increased Tissue microRNA-214 Expression Level as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker for Gastric Cancer.","authors":"Hao Wang, Baoru Qiao, Huanbin Yang, Zhilong Si, Fei Xiao","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been recognized as important candidates for diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers for many human cancer types, including gastric cancer. Previous studies have found that the expression level of miR-214 was increased in gastric cancer tissues, and it was able to promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells. In the present study, we aimed to investigate its clinical significance and prognostic value in gastric cancer.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 133 pairs of gastric cancer tissues and corresponding adjacent normal gastric tissues were obtained from 133 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays were carried out to detect the expression level of miR-214. Associations between tissue miR-214 expression level and clinicopathological parameters were evaluated using Chi square test. Overall survival was calculated, and survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method; differences between groups were compared using log-rank tests. Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed to assess the prognostic value of miR-214 expression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that expression level of miR-214 was significantly higher in the gastric cancer tissues than in the adjacent normal gastric tissues (<i>P</i><0.001). The expression levels were significantly associated with depth of invasion (<i>P</i>=0.022), differentiation degree (<i>P</i>=0.009), lymph node metastasis (<i>P</i><0.001), and TNM stage (<i>P</i><0.001). The patients with high miR-214 expression level showed reduced overall five-year survival compared to those with low miR-214 expression (log-rank test <i>P</i>=0.015). Furthermore, multivariate regression analysis showed that tissue miR-214 expression level was an independent prognostic factor overall survival (HR=2.102, 95% CI: 1.572-8.822, <i>P</i>=0.033) in gastric cancer.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results indicated that miR-214 was closely related to the occurrence, progression, and metastasis of gastric cancer, and overexpression of miR-214 in tissues might serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":8228,"journal":{"name":"Annals of clinical and laboratory science","volume":"55 2","pages":"166-171"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143975192","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":"Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science: Information for Authors.","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8228,"journal":{"name":"Annals of clinical and laboratory science","volume":"55 2","pages":"293-294"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143966979","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":"Expression and Effects of FUS/Sfrp5/Wnt5 in Atherosclerosis Development.","authors":"Xiaogao Wang, Hui Wang, Ran Lu, Shiyuan Chen, Yong Gao, Chaowen Yu","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Atherosclerosis (AS) contributes significantly to the development of cardiovascular disease. Despite recent advances in medical treatment, the outcomes for patients with AS are still unsatisfactory. This study aims to enhance our understanding of AS and pave the way for the development of more effective therapeutic approaches to improve patient outcomes and ultimately reduce the burden of this devastating condition.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An AS cell model was established using oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) administration to human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs), followed by injection with oe-NC, oe-FUS, oe-Sfrp5, or oe-FUS+ oe-Sfrp5. Western blot, Transwell assay, CCK8 assay, Oil Red O staining assay, and ELISA were used to elucidate the mechanisms of the FUS/Sfrp5/Wnt5 pathway in our model of AS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study, both FUS and Sfrp5 inhibited Wnt5a expression. In addition, FUS inhibited lipid droplet formation and migration capacity of OX-LDL-induced HVSMCs, and FUS and Sfrp5 may have a synergistic effect in controlling Wnt5a in AS. These results highlight the potential therapeutic value of targeting the FUS and Sfrp5 pathway to control AS progression.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest that FUS and Sfrp5 may have a synergistic effect in controlling Wnt5a in AS.</p>","PeriodicalId":8228,"journal":{"name":"Annals of clinical and laboratory science","volume":"55 2","pages":"240-246"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143959824","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":"Long Noncoding RNA H19 Regulates the Foam Cell Formation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Inhibiting microRNA-107 to Activate the CD40/CD40L Pathway.","authors":"Rui Zhang, Jiani Zhou, Miaohui Zhao","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Atherosclerosis (AS) represents a life-threatening condition involving vascular inflammation and posing a high risk of death, yet effective therapeutic strategies remain limited. This research focused on elucidating the regulatory function of the long noncoding RNA H19 (lncRNA H19) in AS and its underlying molecular mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To conduct the research, an AS mouse model induced by a high-fat diet and a vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) model exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) treatment were respectively constructed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were significant aortic pathological changes and increased foam cell formation in the AS group versus the Control group. ox-LDL treatment effectively enhanced VSMC proliferation, VSMC migration, foam cell formation, and inflammatory cytokine secretion (TNF-<i>α</i> and IL-6), along with decreased microRNA-107 (miR-107) expression, while simultaneously increasing CD40 expression in VSMCs, all of which were reversed by knockdown of H19. Additionally, inhibition of miR-107 increased the migration and proliferation, inflammatory cytokine secretion, as well as foam cell formation in ox-LDL-treated VSMCs subjected to H19 knockdown. Moreover, miR-107 was confirmed to directly target CD40, and CD40 overexpression mitigated H19 knockdown-induced effects on ox-LDL-treated VSMCs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>H19 regulates the progression of AS by modulating the CD40/CD40L axis through regulation of miR-107. Targeting H19/miR-107 and CD40/CD40L may serve as a potential treatment strategy for AS.</p>","PeriodicalId":8228,"journal":{"name":"Annals of clinical and laboratory science","volume":"55 2","pages":"247-258"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143962921","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":"Sarcoid-like Reaction in Breast Cancer Tumor Bed and Axillary Lymph Nodes Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Case Report.","authors":"Yan Gao, Haval Ali, Zhihong Hu, Hongxia Sun","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although granulomatous change is not commonly seen in breast cancer tumor bed and/or lymph node after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT), they may mimic lymph node metastasis or tumor progression or recurrence. We present a case of diffuse sarcoid-like reaction (SLR) developed in both the breast tumor bed and axillary lymph nodes after NCT. A postmenopausal Hispanic woman presented with a 11.4 cm left breast mass with swollen lymph nodes in her left axilla. A core biopsy of the breast mass was performed, leading to the diagnosis of grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. The tumor is negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receoptor-2 overexpression. The patient received NCT with three cycles of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, followed by weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks. After NCT, the tumor in her left breast significantly reduced in size, but the lymph nodes remained swollen. She subsequently underwent left modified radical mastectomy. Histological examination of the treated tumor bed revealed residual invasive tumor with frequent non-caseating granulomatous change. The granulomatous reaction was also seen in several axillary lymph nodes, of which only one had residual metastatic tumor cells. Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis, sarcoidosis, and infective etiologies were excluded based on the patient's medical history, imaging, and histological findings. We report a case of localized SLR in response to NCT in breast cancer tumor bed and axillary lymph nodes. Recognizing this feature is important to avoid misdiagnosis and overtreatment of SLR as residual cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":8228,"journal":{"name":"Annals of clinical and laboratory science","volume":"55 2","pages":"281-285"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143960261","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":"Multiple Lines of Treatment in a Patient with Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Cervix: A Case Report.","authors":"Liyan Cao","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (SCNEC) is a rare and highly aggressive tumor with a high rate of recurrence and metastasis. Due to its low prevalence, standardized treatment regimens for SCNEC remain undefined. This case report describes an adult patient with SCNEC who developed multiple metastases, including those in the neck, abdominal wall, and brain. The patient underwent a multidisciplinary treatment approach, including chemoradiotherapy, targeted therapy, and a PD-1 inhibitor combined with radiotherapy, achieving notable therapeutic efficacy with an overall survival exceeding 49 months. This case underscores the potential role of immunotherapy in treating SCNEC. Furthermore, the extensive tumor progression, exacerbated by disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and poor patient compliance highlights the importance of cervical cancer screening, early diagnosis, and treatment compliance.</p>","PeriodicalId":8228,"journal":{"name":"Annals of clinical and laboratory science","volume":"55 2","pages":"286-292"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143962834","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":"miR-142-5p Affects Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Regulating PIAS3/pSTAT3.","authors":"Jindong Dai, Hangling Wei, Guangming Yang, Bi Zhao","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>miR-142-5p's role in tumors is inconsistent. The PIAS3/pSTAT3 signaling is an important regulator of the tumor microenvironment. Our study assessed whether miR-142-5p and PIAS3/pSTAT3 affect oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>83 OSCC patients were recruited to analyze the baseline characteristics. In TCGA database, we found 18 miRNAs in tumor tissues, including miR-142-5p. STAT3 protein expression was measured in tissues by IHC and the relationship of miR-142-5p with PIAS3/pSTAT3 was assessed along with cellular location of miR-142-5p by immunofluorescence staining.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In TCGA database, 18 miRNAs were found to be expressed in OSCC samples. miR-142-5p was significantly downregulated in OSCC tissues compared to normal tissues. Meanwhile, PIAS3 has complementary sequences with hsa-miR-142-5p and luciferase activity was reduced. STAT3 was located in the nucleus of miR-142-5p-transfected cells. In OSCC, miR-142-5p activated PIAS3, leading to STAT3 activation. Patients with positive STAT3 expression had better survival outcomes than patients with negative STAT3 level.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>miR-142-5p directly targets PIAS3 and induces up-regulation of STAT3 through miR-142-5p/PIAS3/pSTAT3 axis, thereby affecting the survival outcome of OSCC patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":8228,"journal":{"name":"Annals of clinical and laboratory science","volume":"55 2","pages":"179-184"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974675","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}