Comparing Aluminum Concentrations in Adult and Pediatric Parenteral Nutrition Solutions: Multichamber-Bag versus Compounded Parenteral Nutrition.

Aluminum contamination in parenteral nutrition (PN) solutions can lead to neurotoxicity, reduced bone mass, and liver toxicity, especially in pediatric patients. Ingredients commonly used in PN compounding, such as vitamins, trace elements, calcium, and phosphate salts, contain significant amounts of aluminum. This study aimed to compare aluminum concentrations in multichamber-bag (MCB) and compounded PN for adults and pediatrics. A prospective study assessed aluminum concentrations in various types of MCB and compared them with compounded PN formulations with similar compositions. The types of MCB included Lipoflex® (without electrolytes), Omegaflex®, Finomel®, Smofkabiven® (with and without electrolytes), Olimel®, Clinimix®, and Numeta®. Overall, 80 aluminum determinations were included: 36 for MCBs and 44 for compounded PN. MCBs showed significantly lower aluminum concentrations than compounded PN: 11.37 (SD 6.16) vs. 21.45 (8.08) µg/L, respectively. Similar results were observed for adult (n = 40) and pediatric (n = 40) PN formulations (12.97 (7.74) vs. 20.78 (10.28) µg/L, and 9.38 (2.23) vs. 22.01 (5.82) µg/L, respectively). Significant differences were also found between MCBs depending on the manufacturing company. These findings suggest that MCBs PN offer a safer option for reducing aluminum contamination in PN. Harmonizing regulations concerning aluminum concentrations in PN solutions could help mitigate differences between PN formulations.

Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as early markers of anastomotic leakage in intestinal resections for advanced ovarian cancer (EDMOCS).

INTRODUCTION: Serum levels of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been used to predict anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery, but information is scarce in advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) surgery with bowel resection. This study aimed to assess the predictive value of procalcitonin and CRP in detecting anastomotic leakage after AOC surgery with bowel resection. The study also aimed to determine the optimal postoperative reference values and the best day for evaluating these markers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective, observational and multicentric trial included 92 patients with AOC undergoing debulking surgery with bowel resection between 2017 and 2020 in 10 reference hospitals in Spain. Procalcitonin and CRP levels were measured at baseline and on postoperative days 1-6. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of procalcitonin and CRP at each postoperative day. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. RESULTS: Anastomotic leakage was detected in six patients (6.5%). Procalcitonin and CRP values were consistently higher in patients with anastomotic leakage at all postoperative days. The maximum area under the curve (AUC) for procalcitonin was observed at postoperative day 1 (AUC = 0.823) with a cutoff value of 3.8 ng/mL (83.3% sensitivity, 81.3% specificity). For CRP, the maximum AUC was found at postoperative day 3 (AUC = 0.833) with a cutoff level of 30.5 mg/dL (100% sensitivity, 80.4% specificity). CONCLUSIONS: Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein are potential biomarkers for early detection of anastomotic leakage after ovarian cancer surgery with bowel resection. Further prospective studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm these findings.

Accuracy of a sequential algorithm based on FIB-4 and ELF to identify high-risk advanced liver fibrosis at the primary care level.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease, and liver fibrosis is the strongest predictor of morbimortality. We aimed to assess the performance of a sequential algorithm encompassing the Fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) and Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) scores for identifying patients at risk of advanced fibrosis. This cross-sectional study included one hospital-based cohort with biopsy-proven NAFLD (n = 140) and two primary care cohorts from different clinical settings: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) follow-up (n = 141) and chronic liver disease (CLD) initial study (n = 138). Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess liver fibrosis diagnosis models based on FIB-4 and ELF biomarkers. The sequential algorithm retrieved the following accuracy parameters in predicting stages F3-4 in the biopsy-confirmed cohort: sensitivity (85%), specificity (73%), negative predictive value (79%) and positive predictive value (81%). In both T2D and CLD cohorts, a total of 28% of patients were classified as stages F3-4. Furthermore, of all F3-4 classified patients in the T2D cohort, 80% had a diagnosis of liver disease and 44% were referred to secondary care. Likewise, of all F3-4 classified patients in the CLD cohort, 71% had a diagnosis of liver disease and 44% were referred to secondary care. These results suggest the potential utility of this algorithm as a liver fibrosis stratifying tool in primary care, where updating referral protocols to detect high-risk F3-4 is needed. FIB-4 and ELF sequential measurement is an efficient strategy to prioritize patients with high risk of F3-4 in populations with metabolic risk factors.

Dasatinib-Induced Chylothorax: A Clinical Laboratory's Perspective.

Dasatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug used for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) treatment. Chylothorax has been rarely reported as a secondary effect of dasatinib occurring especially in long-term treated patients, although its pathophysiology is not yet fully understood. Laboratory analysis of the pleural effusion is crucial for chylothorax diagnosis. We report a case of a 53-year-old male patient presenting a chylothorax after 14 years of dasatinib therapy where the clinical laboratory was key in the diagnosis.

Executive summary of the position statement of the Spanish Societies SEQCML/SEEN/SEEP. Recommendations for the measurement of sex steroids in clinical practice.

Accurate measurement of sex steroids, particularly testosterone and estradiol, is relevant for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions. Unfortunately, current chemiluminescent immunoassays have analytical limitations with important clinical consequences. This document reviews the current state of clinical assays for estradiol and testosterone measurements and their potential impact in different clinical situations. It also includes a series of recommendations and necessary steps to introduce steroid analysis by mass spectrometry into national health systems, a methodology recommended for more than a decade by international societies.

Aspirin Discontinuation at 24 to 28 Weeks' Gestation in Pregnancies at High Risk of Preterm Preeclampsia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Aspirin reduces the incidence of preterm preeclampsia by 62% in pregnant individuals at high risk of preeclampsia. However, aspirin might be associated with an increased risk of peripartum bleeding, which could be mitigated by discontinuing aspirin before term (37 weeks of gestation) and by an accurate selection of individuals at higher risk of preeclampsia in the first trimester of pregnancy. Objective: To determine whether aspirin discontinuation in pregnant individuals with normal soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 to placental growth factor (sFlt-1:PlGF) ratio between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation was noninferior to aspirin continuation to prevent preterm preeclampsia. Design, Setting, and Participants: Multicenter, open-label, randomized, phase 3, noninferiority trial conducted in 9 maternity hospitals across Spain. Pregnant individuals (n = 968) at high risk of preeclampsia during the first-trimester screening and an sFlt-1:PlGF ratio of 38 or less at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation were recruited between August 20, 2019, and September 15, 2021; of those, 936 were analyzed (intervention: n = 473; control: n = 463). Follow-up was until delivery for all participants. Interventions: Enrolled patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to aspirin discontinuation (intervention group) or aspirin continuation until 36 weeks of gestation (control group). Main Outcomes and Measures: Noninferiority was met if the higher 95% CI for the difference in preterm preeclampsia incidences between groups was less than 1.9%. Results: Among the 936 participants, the mean (SD) age was 32.4 (5.8) years; 3.4% were Black and 93% were White. The incidence of preterm preeclampsia was 1.48% (7/473) in the intervention group and 1.73% (8/463) in the control group (absolute difference, -0.25% [95% CI, -1.86% to 1.36%]), indicating noninferiority. Conclusions and Relevance: Aspirin discontinuation at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation was noninferior to aspirin continuation for preventing preterm preeclampsia in pregnant individuals at high risk of preeclampsia and a normal sFlt-1:PlGF ratio. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03741179 and ClinicalTrialsRegister.eu Identifier: 2018-000811-26.

Influence of Type 2 Diabetes in the Association of PNPLA3 rs738409 and TM6SF2 rs58542926 Polymorphisms in NASH Advanced Liver Fibrosis.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of cirrhosis in western countries. Insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and the polymorphisms patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 and transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) rs58542926 are independent risk factors of NASH. Nevertheless, little is known about the interaction between IR and T2D with these polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of NASH and the development of advanced fibrosis. Thus, our study aimed to investigate this relationship. This is a cross-sectional study including NASH patients diagnosed by liver biopsy, at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital. A total of 140 patients were included (93 T2D, 47 non-T2D). T2D (OR = 4.67; 95%CI 2.13−10.20; p < 0.001), PNPLA3 rs738409 and TM6SF2 rs58542926 polymorphisms (OR = 3.94; 95%CI 1.63−9.54; p = 0.002) were independently related with advanced liver fibrosis. T2D increased the risk of advance fibrosis on top of the two polymorphisms (OR = 14.69; 95%CI 3.03−77.35; p = 0.001 for PNPLA3 rs738409 and OR = 11.45; 95%CI 3.16−41.55; p < 0.001 for TM6SF2 rs58542926). In non-T2D patients, the IR (HOMA-IR ≥ 5.2, OR = 14.33; 95%CI 2.14−18.66; p = 0.014) increased the risk of advanced fibrosis when the polymorphisms were present (OR = 19.04; 95%CI 1.71−650.84; p = 0.042). The T2D and IR status increase the risk of advanced fibrosis in patients with NASH carrying the PNPLA3 rs738409 and/or TM6SF2 rs58542926 polymorphisms, respectively.

Hepatitis B Virus Variants with Multiple Insertions and/or Deletions in the X Open Reading Frame 3' End: Common Members of Viral Quasispecies in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

Deletions in the 3' end region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) X open reading frame (HBX) may affect the core promoter (Cp) and have been frequently associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of variants with deletions and/or insertions (Indels) in this region in the quasispecies of 50 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients without HCC. We identified 103 different Indels in 47 (94%) patients, in a median of 3.4% of their reads (IQR, 1.3-8.4%), and 25% (IQR, 13.1-40.7%) of unique sequences identified in each quasispecies (haplotypes). Of those Indels, 101 (98.1%) caused 44 different altered stop codons, the most commonly observed were at positions 128, 129, 135, and 362 (putative position). Moreover, 39 (37.9%) Indels altered the TATA-like box (TA) sequences of Cp; the most commonly observed caused TA2 + TA3 fusion, creating a new putative canonical TATA box. Four (8%) patients developed negative clinical outcomes after a median follow-up of 9.4 (8.7-12) years. In conclusion, we observed variants with Indels in the HBX 3' end in the vast majority of our CHB patients, some of them encoding alternative versions of HBx with potential functional roles, and/or alterations in the regulation of transcription.

Macroprolactin: From laboratory to clinical practice.

Prolactin measurement is very common in standard clinical practice. It is indicated not only in the study of pituitary adenomas, but also when there are problems with fertility, decreased libido, or menstrual disorders, among other problems. Inadequate interpretation of prolactin levels without contextualizing the laboratory results with the clinical, pharmacological, and gynecological/urological history of patients leads to erroneous diagnoses and, thus, to poorly based studies and treatments. Macroprolactinemia, defined as hyperprolactinemia due to excess macroprolactin (an isoform of a greater molecular weight than prolactin but with less biological activity), is one of the main causes of such erroneous diagnoses, resulting in poor patient management when not recognized. There is no unanimous agreement as to when macroprolactin screening is required in patients with hyperprolactinemia. At some institutions, macroprolactin testing by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation is routinely performed in all patients with hyperprolactinemia, while others use a clinically based approach. There is also no consensus on how to express the results of prolactin/macroprolactin levels after PEG, which in some cases may lead to an erroneous interpretation of the results. The objectives of this study were: 1. To establish the strategy for macroprolactin screening by serum precipitation with PEG in patients with hyperprolactinemia: universal screening versus a strategy guided by the alert generated by the clinician based on the absence or presence of clinical symptoms or by the laboratory when hyperprolactinemia is detected. 2. To create a consensus document that standardizes the reporting of prolactin results after precipitation with PEG to minimize errors in the interpretation of the results, in line with international standards.

Rapid and accurate method for quantifying busulfan in plasma samples by isocratic liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Objectives: Administration of busulfan is extending rapidly as a part of a conditioning regimen in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Monitoring blood plasma levels of busulfan is recommended for identifying the optimal dose in patients and for minimizing toxicity. The aim of this research was to validate a simple, rapid, and cost-effective analytical tool for measuring busulfan in human plasma that would be suitable for routine clinical use. This novel tool was based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Methods: Human plasma samples were prepared using a one-step protein precipitation protocol. These samples were then resolved by isocratic elution in a C18 column. The mobile phase consisted 2 mM ammonium acetate and 0.1% formic acid dissolved in a 30:70 ratio of methanol/water. Busulfan-d8 was used as the internal standard. Results: The run time was optimized at 1.6 min. Standard curves were linear from 0.03 to 5 mg/L. The coefficient of variation (%CV) was less than 8%. The accuracy of this method had an acceptable bias that fell within 85-115% range. No interference between busulfan and the interfering compound hemoglobin, lipemia, or bilirubin not even at the highest concentrations of compound was tested. Neither carryover nor matrix effects were observed using this method. The area under the plasma drug concentration-time curves obtained for 15 pediatric patients who received busulfan therapy prior to HSCT were analyzed and correlated properly with the administered doses. Conclusions: This method was successfully validated and was found to be robust enough for therapeutic drug monitoring in a clinical setting.

Assessing Liver Fibrosis Using the FIB4 Index in the Community Setting.

Liver disease is frequently asymptomatic, challenging early identification in the primary care setting. The fibrosis 4 (FIB4) index is a liver fibrosis biomarker that is a potential alternative to liver biopsy for diagnosing and managing liver disease. This study aimed to calculate the FIB4 index for screening individuals at high risk of liver disease at the community level. This was a retrospective real-world study analyzing blood and serum test results from a central laboratory. The primary outcome was the number of individuals within each risk category for hepatic fibrosis: high risk (FIB4 ≥ 3.25) and low risk (FIB4 < 1.3). The analysis included samples from 31,753 patients, of which 18,102 were aged 40 to 75 years. In these patients, the FIB4 index had been explicitly requested in 1852 (10.2%) cases and estimated ad hoc in the rest. Of the 263 (1.5%) cases with FIB4 ≥ 3.25, the FIB4 index was requested in 46 (17.5%), and 52 (19.8%) showed evidence of liver fibrosis in their medical records, while the rest did not report any data regarding liver fibrosis. FIB4 is a simple score that can play a role as a "red flag" for early identification of patients at high risk of advanced liver fibrosis and their referral to specialized care.

Macroprolactin: From laboratory to clinical practice. / Macroprolactina: del laboratorio a la práctica clínica. Recomendaciones del grupo de trabajo de laboratorio de la SEEN y de la comisión de hormonas de la SEQCML sobre la medición e informe del resultado de la macroprolactina.

Prolactin measurement is very common in standard clinical practice. It is indicated not only in the study of pituitary adenomas, but also when there are problems with fertility, decreased libido, or menstrual disorders, among other problems. Inadequate interpretation of prolactin levels without contextualizing the laboratory results with the clinical, pharmacological, and gynecological/urological history of patients leads to erroneous diagnoses and, thus, to poorly based studies and treatments. Macroprolactinemia, defined as hyperprolactinemia due to excess macroprolactin (an isoform of a greater molecular weight than prolactin but with less biological activity), is one of the main causes of such erroneous diagnoses, resulting in poor patient management when not recognized. There is no unanimous agreement as to when macroprolactin screening is required in patients with hyperprolactinemia. At some institutions, macroprolactin testing by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation is routinely performed in all patients with hyperprolactinemia, while others use a clinically based approach. There is also no consensus on how to express the results of prolactin/macroprolactin levels after PEG, which in some cases may lead to an erroneous interpretation of the results. The objectives of this study were: 1. To establish the strategy for macroprolactin screening by serum precipitation with PEG in patients with hyperprolactinemia: universal screening versus a strategy guided by the alert generated by the clinician based on the absence or presence of clinical symptoms or by the laboratory when hyperprolactinemia is detected. 2. To create a consensus document that standardizes the reporting of prolactin results after precipitation with PEG to minimize errors in the interpretation of the results, in line with international standards.

[50 years of the Neonatal Screening Program in Catalonia.] / 50 años del Programa de Cribado Neonatal en Cataluña.

The Catalonian Newborn Screening Program (CNSP) began in 1969, in Barcelona. It was promoted by Dr. Juan Sabater Tobella and supported by Barcelona Provincial Council and Juan March Foundation. That is how the Institute of Clinical Biochemistry was born, whose aims were diagnosis, research and teaching, along with the spirit of contributing to the prevention of mental retardation. The CNSP began with the detection of phenylketonuria (PKU), and, in 1982, the Program was expanded with the inclusion of congenital hypothyroidism detection. Towards 1990, the Program covered almost 100% of all newborns (NB) in Catalonia. In 1999, the CNSP was expanded with the incorporation of cystic fibrosis. It took fourteen years, until 2013, to make the largest expansion so far, with the incorporation of 19 metabolic diseases to the screening panel. The detection of sickle cell disease began in 2015 and in 2017 the detection of severe combined immunodeficiency was included. Currently, the CNSP includes 24 diseases in its main panel. Since 1969, 2,787,807 NBs have been screened, of whom 1,724 have been diagnosed with any of these diseases, and 252 of other disorders by differential diagnosis with those included in the main panel. The global prevalence is 1: 1,617 NBs affected by any of the diseases included in the CNSP and 1: 1,140 NBs if incidental findings diagnosed through the CNSP are included.

El Programa de Cribado Neonatal de Cataluña (PCNC) se inició en el año 1969, en Barcelona, impulsado por el Dr. Juan Sabater Tobella y apoyado por la Diputación de Barcelona y la Fundación Juan March. Así nació el Instituto de Bioquímica Clínica para acometer funciones asistenciales, de investigación y docencia, con el espíritu de contribuir a la prevención del retraso mental. El PCNC se inició con la detección de la fenilcetonuria (PKU) y en el año 1982 se amplió con la detección del hipotiroidismo congénito. Hacia el año 1990 la cobertura territorial llegó casi al 100% de todos los recién nacidos en Cataluña. En 1999 se amplió el PCNC con la incorporación de la fibrosis quística y tras catorce años, en 2013, se realizó la ampliación más numerosa hasta ahora, con la incorporación de la detección de 19 enfermedades metabólicas hereditarias. En el año 2015 comenzó la detección de la enfermedad de células falciformes y en el 2017 la detección de la inmunodeficiencia combinada grave. Actualmente, el PCNC incluye la detección de 24 enfermedades. Desde su inicio en el año 1969, se han cribado 2.787.807 recién nacidos, de los cuales 1.724 han sido diagnosticados de alguna de las 24 enfermedades que componen nuestro panel principal y 252 por diagnóstico diferencial de las primeras. En total la prevalencia global es de 1:1.617 RN afectos de alguna de las enfermedades incluidas en el PCNC y de 1:1.140 RN si se incluyen los hallazgos incidentales encontrados.

Performance comparison of two next-generation sequencing panels to detect actionable mutations in cell-free DNA in cancer patients.

Background Genomic alterations studies in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) have increasing clinical use in oncology. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology provides the most complete mutational analysis, but nowadays limited data are available related to the comparison of results reported by different platforms. Here we compare two NGS panels for cfDNA: Oncomine™ Pan-Cancer Cell-Free Assay (Thermo Fisher Scientific), suitable for clinical laboratories, and Guardant360® (GuardantHealth), with more genes targeted but only available in an outsourcing laboratory. Methods Peripheral blood was obtained from 16 advanced cancer patients in which Guardant360® (G360) was requested as part of their clinical assistance. Blood samples were sent to be analyzed with G360 panel, and an additional blood sample was drawn to obtain and analyze cfDNA with Oncomine™ Pan-Cancer (OM) panel in an Ion GeneStudio S5™ System. Results cfDNA analysis globally rendered 101 mutations. Regarding the 55/101 mutations claimed to be included by manufacturers in both panels, 17 mutations were reported only by G360, 10 only by OM and 28 by both. In those coincident cases, there was a high correlation between the variant allele fractions (VAFs) calculated with each panel (r = 0.979, p < 0.01). Regarding the six actionable mutations with an FDA-approved therapy reported by G360, one was missed with OM. Also, 12 mutations with clinical trials available were reported by G360 but not by OM. Conclusions In summary, G360 and OM can produce different mutational profile in the same sample, even in genes included in both panels, which is especially important if these mutations are potentially druggable.