British Journal of Biomedical Science最新文献

{"title":"REV-ERBs as regulators of circadian rhythm, neuroinflammation, and glial lipid homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease. A narrative review.","authors":"Fahmida Shabnam, Meenakshi Singh, Rajesh Amin, Kristine Griffett","doi":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/bjbs.2026.16121","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive decline, amyloid-β and tau aggregation, and chronic neuroinflammation, processes that are tightly coupled to circadian and metabolic dysfunction. REV-ERBα (NR1D1) and REV-ERBβ (NR1D2) are ligand-dependent nuclear receptors that function as transcriptional repressors within the core clock and coordinate programs governing lipid metabolism, innate immunity, and redox homeostasis in the brain. In microglia, REV-ERBα restrains NF-κB signaling, complement and inflammasome activation, and lipid droplet accumulation, thereby limiting synaptic engulfment and tauopathy progression, whereas its loss drives a hyper-reactive, neurotoxic state. Astrocytic REV-ERBα exerts context-dependent effects, simultaneously constraining cytokine and nitric oxide production while tuning NAD⁺ metabolism through an NFIL3-CD38 axis with implications for tau-induced neurodegeneration. Preclinical studies demonstrate that synthetic pan-REV-ERB agonists reduce glial activation, restore NCoR/HDAC3-mediated repression, improve cognitive performance, and partially realign disrupted circadian rhythms in AD models, although current compounds are limited by suboptimal pharmacokinetics and off-target actions. In this narrative review, REV-ERBs are presented as nodal integrators of circadian, metabolic, and neuroimmune pathways in AD and as promising, yet complex, therapeutic targets, highlighting opportunities for brain-penetrant ligands, rational combinations, and chronotherapeutic dosing paradigms.</p>","PeriodicalId":9236,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Biomedical Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"16121"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13634978/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149104495","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":"Longitudinal agreement of repeated critical haemoglobin measurements as evidence of sustained analytical quality.","authors":"Vanda Simões, Cacilda Magalhães, Yuliana O Eremina","doi":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16480","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/bjbs.2026.16480","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9236,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Biomedical Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"16480"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13478016/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148788346","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":"Nucleic acid testing-optimized HIV diagnostic algorithms: a multimethod comparative effectiveness analysis in clinical practice.","authors":"Defu Yuan, Fei Zhao, Li Li, Xiaoxue Tian, Xizhao An, Zhenglai Ma, Ying Gao, Michelle Muxiao Wang, Lijun Sun, Hao Wu, Tong Zhang, Bin Su, Bei Wang, Lifeng Liu","doi":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.15887","DOIUrl":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.15887","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Global and Chinese efforts still face significant gaps in achieving the first 95% of the \"95-95-95\" target, with persistently high and rising rates of late HIV diagnosis. This study evaluates RNA/DNA quantification, RNA qualitative, and ELISA assays to optimize HIV testing strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective cross-sectional study evaluated 215 first-time HIV testers from June 2024 to May 2025. Using clinical diagnosis as the reference standard, we assessed four methods' sensitivity, specificity, and subgroup performance, with tandem testing strategies simulation for optimal detection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>DNA quantitative detection demonstrated optimal performance with 100% sensitivity and specificity. RNA quantitative assay showed 99.02% sensitivity and 100% specificity, while ELISA achieved 99.02% sensitivity and 98.23% specificity. RNA qualitative testing exhibited 99.02% sensitivity but lower specificity (75.22%). ROC revealed superior diagnostic performance for DNA quantitative (AUC = 1.000) and RNA quantitative (AUC = 0.995) compared to RNA qualitative (AUC = 0.871). All methods maintained consistent sensitivity across CD4⁺ T cell levels. Simulation of tandem strategies identified ELISA combined with DNA quantitative testing as optimal (net sensitivity: 99.02%, net specificity: 100%, total tests: 318). For 18 WB-indeterminate samples, DNA/RNA quantitative methods achieved 100% diagnostic accuracy, outperforming RNA qualitative (94.44%) and ELISA (83.33%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>DNA quantitative detection shows high diagnostic value in initial HIV testing, overcoming challenges from undisclosed ART-induced RNA suppression and resolving WB-indeterminate misclassifications to reduce late diagnosis risks. This study supports Nucleic acid tests into diagnostic algorithms and validates the superior performance of ELISA screening followed by DNA confirmation, offering actionable strategies to shorten diagnostic delays and advance national AIDS control objectives.</p>","PeriodicalId":9236,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Biomedical Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"15887"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13461564/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148720678","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":"Use of EQA for assessing variation in post-analytical interpretation of results using a clinical case of ?adrenal insufficiency taking into consideration variation in analytical performance of cortisol.","authors":"Rachel Marrington, Michelle Anderson, Martin Roch, Sarah Davies, Rosie Forster, George Williams, Johnathan d'Oyen-Fitchett, Finlay MacKenzie","doi":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16559","DOIUrl":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16559","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Laboratory medicine is evolving at a rapid rate, not only in terms of the repertoire of tests available and automation of the laboratory and procedures, but also in how laboratory data is used within \"calculated tests,\" algorithms and guidelines. The goal is diagnostic and treatment improvements for the patient; however, there are real patient safety concerns if the limitations of what is often described as the \"simple blood test\" are not sufficiently understood and appreciated. The aim of this study was to investigate how laboratories take into consideration variation in cortisol assays when managing potential cases of adrenal insufficiency when they had a single cortisol measurement. For English laboratories also assessed compliance to NICE Guidance NG243 - \"Adrenal insufficiency: identification and management,\" published in 2024.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The UK NEQAS for Steroid Hormones Scheme provides an External Quality Assessment (EQA) service for Cortisol. In December 2025, three serum specimens were distributed for cortisol analysis and interpretation based on a provided scenario - each specimen taken from a 25-year-old female at 08:30, clinical details - ?Adrenal insufficiency. Participants were required to interpret results into three categories - (1) Person may have adrenal insufficiency, (2) Probability of adrenal insufficiency uncertain or (3) Adrenal insufficiency very unlikely. Data has been evaluated based on the reported cortisol result and corresponding interpretation, broken down by manufacturer and location of laboratory.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Cortisol results were returned by ∼370 Participants with ∼300 interpretating their result. Specimen 536A had a cortisol of 122 nmol/L (SD 9 nmol/L, %CV 7.5%), 536B - 307 nmol/L (SD 24 nmol/L, %CV 7.8%) and 536C - 260 nmol/L (SD 19 nmol/L, %CV 7.2%) based on a mass spectrometry method mean (validated by a candidate reference method). According to NG243, these cortisol results should correspond to Codes (1), (3) and (2) respectively. As expected, there was variation in the cortisol result reported and the subsequent interpretation.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study utilises EQA to look at the variation in cortisol measurement specifically in the context of identifying adrenal insufficiency. By linking post-analytical interpretation to the analytical measurement we have identified variation in both cortisol assays and interpretation of results.</p>","PeriodicalId":9236,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Biomedical Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"16559"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13461562/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148721407","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":"Intracranial <i>Candida</i> parapsilosis infection occurring 2 years after burr-hole drainage for chronic subdural hematoma: a case report.","authors":"Junfeng Li, Shaohua Lin, Wei Liu, Pengpeng Li, Lei Luo","doi":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16761","DOIUrl":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16761","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common condition affecting patients undergoing neurosurgical treatment for which burr-hole drainage remains the standard treatment. Postoperative fungal infections following this procedure are extremely rare, but can lead to severe consequences.</p><p><strong>Case description: </strong>A 66-year-old male with a history of hypertension and schizophrenia underwent bilateral burr-hole drainage for bilateral frontotemporoparietal CSDH at another hospital 2 years prior to presentation. In the intervening years following this procedure, he experienced recurrent headaches, developed involuntary tongue protrusion and limb shaking, and suffered one episode of seizure 10 days before admission. Imaging suggested recurrence and possible organization of the bilateral CSDH. Bilateral craniotomy for hematoma evacuation was performed. Intraoperative examination revealed the organization and thickening of the subdural hematoma membrane, with a maximum thickness of approximately 1 cm. Postoperative pathological examination unexpectedly revealed structures suggestive of fungal hyphae. Subsequent cerebrospinal fluid culture confirmed the presence of <i>Candida</i> parapsilosis infection, establishing the definitive etiological diagnosis. The patient was successfully cured through surgical evacuation, antifungal therapy consisting of sequential voriconazole and fluconazole treatment, temporary lumbar drainage, and comprehensive management of complications, although the course of hospitalization was further complicated by intestinal obstruction, pneumonia, and bacteremia.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This report describes a rare case of intracranial C. parapsilosis infection occurring 2 years after burr-hole drainage for the management of a CSDH. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with delayed postoperative fungal infections and emphasizes the importance of pathological examination when encountering atypical surgical findings. A multidisciplinary approach combining aggressive surgical debridement with targeted antifungal therapy is crucial for achieving a favorable outcome.</p>","PeriodicalId":9236,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Biomedical Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"16761"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13461563/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148721189","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":"VSL#3^® supplementation improves fatigue in long COVID: results from the DELong#3 randomized placebo-controlled trial.","authors":"Chiara Amoroso, Beatrice Marinoni, Paola Maragno, Alessandro Rimondi, Federico Bottaro, Clorinda Ciafardini, Martina Muià, Ivanna Honcharyuk, Daniele Noviello, Bruna Caridi, Eduardo Maria Sommella, Alessandra Bandera, Andrea Gori, Marco Mantero, Francesco Blasi, Roberta Ferrucci, Alberto Priori, Francesco Strati, Maurizio Vecchi, Federica Facciotti, Flavio Caprioli","doi":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16993","DOIUrl":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16993","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Long COVID is frequently characterized by persistent fatigue and impaired quality of life. Increasing evidence suggests that gut microbiota dysbiosis and immune dysregulation may contribute to symptom persistence. We evaluated the effects of the probiotic formulation VSL#3® in patients with long COVID.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05874089), patients with long COVID and clinically relevant fatigue received VSL#3® or placebo for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was fatigue improvement assessed by the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS). Secondary and exploratory analyses included patient-reported outcomes, gut microbiota profiling, immune phenotyping, cytokine analyses, and targeted metabolomics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Forty-eight patients completed the study (placebo n = 25; VSL#3® n = 23). VSL#3® supplementation significantly improved fatigue compared with placebo, with a greater reduction in CFS score (24.24% vs. 6.06%; p = 0.037) and a higher proportion of responders (68% vs. 35.7%; p = 0.019). Clinical benefit persisted after treatment discontinuation and was accompanied by improvements in selected quality-of-life and gastrointestinal symptom domains. VSL#3® supplementation was associated with selective enrichment of health-associated bacterial taxa, including <i>Bifidobacterium</i>, <i>Lactobacillus</i>, <i>Ruminococcus</i>, and <i>Coprococcus</i>, together with modulation of inflammatory and immune-related pathways. Exploratory multi-omic analyses identified coordinated associations among microbiota-derived metabolites, immune markers, and clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>VSL#3® supplementation improved fatigue and selected clinical outcomes in patients with long COVID and was associated with coordinated microbiota and immune changes. These findings support further investigation of microbiota-targeted interventions in long COVID.</p>","PeriodicalId":9236,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Biomedical Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"16993"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13455643/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148705578","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":"Pleiotropic effects of GDF-15 to regulate nutritional status: perspectives from body composition to nutrition-related disorders.","authors":"Binbin Peng, Wei Zhao, Ming Kong, Yu Chen, Chao Sun","doi":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16085","DOIUrl":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a stressful cytokine of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, plays pivotal roles in diverse physiological and pathological processes. Most recently, its pleiotropic effects regarding energy metabolism and nutritional modulation are of intense scrutiny. Its physiological functions involve signaling pathways such as GDF-15/glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor α-like protein (GFRAL)/rearranged during transfection (RET), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The mechanism of action involves regulation of energy metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and muscle-fat-bone metabolism, and it holds important prognostic value and potential therapeutic significance. Mounting evidence has suggested that GDF-15 levels are significantly increased in the context of cancer cachexia, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and amongst older patients, paralleling multiple indicators of nutrition. Notably, this association appears to be gender- and age-specific, therefore serving as a good biomarker alongside a therapeutic target to mitigate or even reverse disease-related nutritional deficiency and aggravation. However, the precise contribution of GDF-15 to evaluate nutritional status and its mechanistic basis across varying disorders is not fully elucidated. In light of these knowledge gaps, we sought to delve into basic research, clinical information and translational evidence, aiming to analyze the molecular regulatory network of GDF-15 and clarify its clinical implications as a novel diagnostic tool and assessment metric, and in turn provide a theoretical basis for early intervention and personalized treatment. Future research should focus on elucidating GDF-15's neuroanatomical basis and signaling pathways, validating gender-disparity mechanisms, establishing clinical diagnostic thresholds, optimizing targeted therapeutic strategies, and developing dynamic monitoring approaches, so as to bridge the gap from biomarker discovery to precision intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":9236,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Biomedical Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"16085"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13437516/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148676584","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":"Immunohistochemical testing of GISTs using CD117 markers: the UK NEQAS ICC & ISH external quality assessment data show significant differences in the performance of methods in regular use.","authors":"Andrew Dodson, Suzanne Parry","doi":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16506","DOIUrl":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16506","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>CD117 (c-KIT) is a tyrosine kinase receptor protein, mutations in which are important in the tumourigenesis of gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST). Immunohistochemical detection of CD117 is the primary identifying feature in its diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Introduction: </strong>UK NEQAS ICC & ISH conducts an EQA programme for CD117 expression in GIST. Between May-2020 and May-2025, 20 runs of this EQA were undertaken. The archived data was analysed to look for evidence regarding the quality of testing and associations between primary antibodies and stain quality.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Total submissions were 2,656 (mean per run = 132.8; range = 125-140). The number of submissions awarded a quality score indicating at least acceptable stain quality was 2,642 (99.5%). The total number of submissions that failed was 14 (mean proportion per run = 0.5%; range = 0.0%-2.4%); those obtaining a borderline score totalled 158 (mean proportion = 5.9%; range = 0.7%-10.9%); those obtaining an acceptable score totalled 394 (mean proportion = 14.8%; range = 4.3-24.4%); and those obtaining a good/excellent score totalled 2,090 (mean proportion = 78.7%; range = 57.7%-94.2%). There was a strong trend for the proportion of submissions obtaining a good/excellent quality score to increase over time. Four primary antibodies were used: Clone 9.7 (102 submissions, 3.9%), YR145 (263 submissions, 10.0%), EP10 supplied by Leica Biosystems (EP10(LB), 415 submissions, 15.8%), EP10 supplied by Roche Diagnostics (EP10(RD), 505 submissions, 19.2%), and a polyclonal antiserum supplied by Agilent Dako (1,263 submissions, 48.1%). A total of 76 submissions (2.9%) that used other primaries or suppliers were excluded from analysis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Demonstration of CD117 overexpression in GIST was undertaken to a very high quality standard in the majority of laboratories. For users of Dako Agilent supplied automation the highest quality staining was produced by using the polyclonal antiserum from the same supplier. Among users of Leica Biosystems and Roche Diagnostics automation the best staining was produced by using primary sourced from the same supplier that provided their automation. It is recommended that Clone 9.7 (Roche Diagnostics) should not be used as the results it produced were statistically significantly inferior to those of all other antibodies.</p>","PeriodicalId":9236,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Biomedical Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"16506"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13423735/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148653186","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":"Concordance between crude extract and component allergens in a multiple allergen simultaneous test: a large-scale retrospective analysis.","authors":"Hyejin Ryu, Kuenyoul Park, Kina Kim, Dohsik Minn","doi":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16596","DOIUrl":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.16596","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Multiple allergen simultaneous tests (MAST) increasingly incorporate both crude extract and molecular component allergens for specific IgE testing. However, systematic data on the diagnostic concordance between these two approaches remain limited. We evaluated the agreement between crude extract and corresponding component allergen results using a MAST panel in a large clinical laboratory cohort.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analysed deduplicated MAST results from a high-volume referral laboratory over a two-month period. For 29 crude extract allergens paired with 48 corresponding component allergens, positivity rates were assessed using a cutoff of class 2 or higher (≥0.70 IU/mL). Concordance was defined as both crude extract and at least one component allergen being positive, or both being negative. Agreement was evaluated using percent agreement and Cohen's kappa coefficient.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 19,949 patients were included. The highest positivity rates were observed for <i>Dermatophagoides farinae</i> (31.8%), <i>D. pteronyssinus</i> (29.9%), rDer f 2 (24.2%), and cat epithelium (12.2%). Overall percent agreement exceeded 90% for most allergen pairs, primarily driven by high negative agreement. Cohen's kappa revealed substantial agreement (κ ≥ 0.6) for ten allergens including <i>D. farinae</i>, cat dander, and birch pollen, whereas eight allergens including <i>D. pteronyssinus</i> and milk showed poor agreement (κ < 0.1) due to low component allergen positivity despite positive crude extract results.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Diagnostic concordance between crude extract and component allergen testing in MAST varies substantially across allergen sources. These findings underscore the need for allergen-specific interpretation guidelines when reporting MAST results incorporating component allergens in clinical laboratories.</p>","PeriodicalId":9236,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Biomedical Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"16596"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422201/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148629393","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":"Evaluation of analytical performance of the Revvity sFlt-1 and PlGF methods for the assessment of preeclampsia.","authors":"Rhiannon Marr, Ana Sofia Cerdeira, Ian Smith, Manu Vatish, Tim James","doi":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.15950","DOIUrl":"10.3389/bjbs.2026.15950","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The measurement of the angiogenic biomarkers placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) are increasingly used to support the prediction and diagnosis of preeclampsia (PE) in routine clinical practice. There are an increasing number of methods available for the analysis of these markers but data showing their analytical comparability is limited.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The assays for PlGF and sFlt-1 from Revvity were evaluated and compared against Roche methods that are used in current clinical practice in Oxford. Imprecision and paired analytical comparisons studies were undertaken and data evaluated for numeric agreement and concordance relative to manufacturer recommended rule-in and rule-out thresholds for PE.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Imprecision estimates for the Revvity PlGF and sFlt-1 methods calculated from quality control material analysed during the evaluation were between 3.2 and 9.0 CV%. Revvity method precision profiles derived from 581 clinical specimens analysed in duplicate had a median CV% for PlGF of 1.8%, IQR 2.3% and for sFlt-1 a median CV% of 1.1%, IQR 1.5%. Comparison against the Roche PlGF and sFlt-1 methods in 437 clinical specimens showed an overall Passing-Bablok regression relationship for PlGF of y = -23.4 + 0.73x (r = 0.983) and for sFlt-1, y = -87.7 + 0.40x (r = 0.971). However, there was statistically significant (<i>p < 0.0001</i>) concentration dependant relative bias for both methods and the calculated ratio. Concordance of the sFlt-1:PlGF ratio relative to manufacturer specific rule-in and rule-out thresholds was 95.2%.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The Revvity methods for PlGF and sFlt-1 are precise and correlate with the Roche methods. However, numeric agreement precludes result interchangeability and the use of common rule-in and rule-out thresholds. The manufacturer specific thresholds should be applied in clinical practice. Further work is required to understand how method differences impact clinical outcomes and their causes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9236,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Biomedical Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"15950"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13415015/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148618646","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}