NGF and nitrosative stress in patients with Huntington's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by expansion of polyglutamine repeats in the huntingtin gene and characterised by the loss of striatal and cortical neurons. Few studies to date have focussed on peripheral neurotrophic-factor levels in patients with HD. OBJECTIVE: To measure plasma NGF levels in Huntington's disease and investigate their correlation with disease intensity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with HD and nineteen age- and sex-matched healthy subjects took part in this cross-sectional study. Plasma levels of NGF, BDNF, GDNF, nitrotyrosine, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were determined and white blood cell (WBC) counts were evaluated. RESULTS: NGF levels were significantly lower, nitrotyrosine levels were higher and LDH activity was greater in HD patients than in healthy subjects. There was no significant difference in MPO levels or WBC counts, whereas the MPO/WBC ratio was considerably higher in HD patients. The data obtained suggested that biochemical and haematological changes correlated with disease severity. CONCLUSION: NGF levels are lower in HD patients than in healthy subjects. However, further research is required to confirm the role of NGF in HD.

Estado de la certificación/acreditación de los laboratorios clínicos españoles: estudio inicial / State of certification/accreditation in Spanish clinical laboratorios: an initial study

No disponible

Gestión de los procesos preanalíticos en los laboratorios clínicos según los requisitos de la Norma UNE-EN ISO 15189: 2013. Recomendación (2015) / Management of pre-analytical processes in clinical laboratories as required by Rule UNE-EN ISO 15189: 2013. Recommendation (2015)

No disponible

Recomendación del uso de ecuaciones de corrección de valores de potasio en presencia de interferencia por hemólisis / Recommendation on the use of correction equations for potassium levels in haemolysed samples

No disponible

No disponible

Utilidad de dos marcadores biológicos de infección bacteriana en niños menores de 2 años / Use of two bacterial infection biomarkers in children under 2 years old

Introducción. la procalcitonina (PCT) es una molécula que aumenta en infecciones bacterianas. La proteína C reactiva (PCR) se eleva en procesos inflamatorios independientemente de su origen. Debido a la vida media más corta y una elevación más rápida, la PCT ofrece potenciales ventajas sobre la PCR en el diagnóstico precoz de infección bacteriana. Objetivo. evaluar el rendimiento diagnóstico de la PCT y la PCR en infecciones bacterianas en niños menores de 2 años, usando como referencia el cultivo bacteriano positivo. Material y método. se estudió a 68 niños con síndrome febril y sospecha de infección bacteriana aguda. Al ingreso, se determinó su PCT y su PCR, además de cultivos bacteriológicos, virus respiratorio sincitial, rotavirus y adenovirus. Resultados. la PCT presentó una sensibilidad del 50%, una especificidad del 70,8%, un valor predictivo positivo (VPP) del 35% y un valor predictivo negativo (VPN) del 70,8%, todos ellos superiores a los de la PCR. Conclusiones. la PCT presenta una buena especificidad, y una sensibilidad mejorable si su determinación fuese cuantitativa y el valor umbral inferior. Así, se detectarían infecciones localizadas o una generalizada en sus etapas iniciales. En nuestro estudio, la determinación aislada de PCT ofrece más especificidad y sensibilidad que la PCR, si bien respecto a la sensibilidad hay trabajos que la igualan a la de la PCR y otros indican que esta última sería mayor y más practicable. No obstante, la implantación de la PCT como marcador de infección bacteriana en el laboratorio de urgencias nos permitiría descartar las infecciones generalizadas bacterianas en niños gracias a su buen VPN y, por lo tanto, racionalizar el uso de antibióticos, costes de tratamiento y estancias hospitalarias(AU)

Introduction. Procalcitonin (PCT) increases in bacterial infections. C reactive protein (CRP) rises in inflammatory processes regardless of origin. Due to its shorter half-life and a more rapid increase, PCT offers potential advantages over CRP in the early diagnosis of bacterial infection. Objective. To evaluate PCT and CRP diagnostic performance in children under 2 years old. We used positive bacterial culture as gold standard. Material and method. A total of 68 children with febrile syndrome and a suspected bacterial infection were studied. At admission, PCT and CRP were performed, along with microbiology cultures, respiratory syncytial virus, rotavirus and adenovirus. Results. PCT had a sensitivity of 50%, a specificity 70.8%, a predictive positive value (PPV) of 35% and a predictive negative value (PNV) of 70.8%. All of them higher than CRP. Conclusions. PCT had good specificity and an improvable sensitivity with a quantitative determination and a lower threshold value. Thus, we could detect local or generalised infections at initial stages. In our study, isolated PCT determination had a greater specificity and sensitivity than CRP. Although, there are studies that show that CRP is as sensitive as PCT, there are others that show CRP to have a higher and more practicable sensitivity. However, the introduction of PCT as bacterial infection marker at urgency laboratories could rule out generalised bacterial infections in children due to its better PNV, and therefore, could rationalise the use of antibiotics, and reduce treatment costs and hospital admissions(AU)