Establishment, verification, and application of concentration intervals corresponding to dipstick grades for urinary protein.

BACKGROUND: To address the situation that the accuracy of concentration intervals (CI) corresponding to dipstick grades is not given by the manufacturers or literature, we developed a method that determined reasonable dipstick grades with concentration intervals (GCIs) based on the percent agreement (PA) and discussed the GCI application to comparability among currently dipstick tests. METHODS: By comparing the results of 2 dipstick tests (iChem and KU-500) with the quantitative test (AU5800), the GCIs were verified and established based on the PAs, which were calculated and used as an indicator of GCI's accuracy. The overlap (percent) between the 2 GCIs with the same grade (2 dipstick devices), was calculated and used to evaluate the agreement between their test results. RESULTS: After verification and adjustment, the GCI and PA combinations for iChem Velocity were as follows: - (<0.1 g/l, 85 %), ± (0.1-0.3 g/l, 66 %), 1+ (0.3-1 g/l, 78 %), 2+ (1-3 g/l, 74 %), 3+ (3-6 g/l, 77 %), and 4+ (≥6 g/l, 84 %). The determined GCI and PA combinations for KU-500 were: - (<0.1.2 g/l, 75 %), ± (0.12-0.5 g/l, 63 %), 1+ (0.5-1.2 g/l, 69 %), 2+ (1.2-3.2 g/l, 76 %), and 3+ (≥3.2 g/l, 82 %). The GCI overlaps between the 2 dipstick devices were - (83 %), ± (45 %), 1+ (56 %), 2+ (82 %), and 3+ or ≥3+ (94 %). The overall overlap was 72 %. Since the overlaps ± (45 %) and 1+ (56 %) were within the overlap reject limit for any grade (70 %), and the overall overlap (72 %) was within the overall overlap reject limit (80 %), the test results of the 2 devices were not comparable. CONCLUSIONS: GCIs can be verified and established correctly based on PAs, and industry standards for dipstick tests can be established based on GCIs and PAs. Comparability between dipstick devices, historical data, and literature data can be roughly determined based on the overlap.

The association of serum vitamin D-binding protein and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in pre-operative and post-operative colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The association between vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 (OH)D) with colorectal cancer (CRC) is still ambiguous. This study was to further investigate the relationship between serum VDBP, 25 (OH)D levels and the clinical and pathological features of patients with CRC. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and chemiluminescence immunoassay were used to analyze the VDBP and 25(OH)D concentrations in serum. Pearson's correlation analysis was applied to evaluate the association between serum VDBP and 25(OH)D levels in CRC. Conditional logistic regression was performed to analyze the prediction value of serum VDBP or 25(OH)D as a risk factor for CRC. RESULTS: The serological levels of 25(OH)D in patients were significantly lower than in healthy individuals, while VDBP levels were significantly higher than in healthy controls. The serum VDBP in pre-operative was significantly lower than in post-operative samples, while the serum 25(OH)D from pre-operative patients was significantly higher than post-operative patients. Patients with tumors with higher stage and increased lymph node involvement had lower serum post-operative VDBP levels. In addition, our results showed that the pre-operative VDBP level is a risk factor of CRC. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of serum 25(OH)D and VDBP were both associated with CRC. Thus, serum 25(OH)D and VDBP levels might be of value in evaluating the pathogenesis and risk of CRC in the future. Moreover, serum VDBP or 25(OH)D levels were associated with patient's clinical and pathological features providing data for risk and prognostic prediction.

Alteration of Serum 25(OH) Vitamin D, Vitamin D Binding Protein, and C-reactive Protein Levels in Acute Leukemia Patients.

BACKGROUND: Acute leukemia is a common hematologic malignancy with poorly differentiated leukocytes. Alteration of circulating vitamin D (VD) and its carrier vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) have been reported in certain types of cancers and may play a role in the course of the disease. Understanding of the status of serum VD and VDBP, as well as the acute phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in pre- and post-treatment of acute leukemia patients, may be helpful in the management of acute leukemia. METHODS: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), chemiluminescence immunoassay, and immunofluorescent assay were used to analyze the 25(OH) vitamin D (25(OH)D), VDBP, and CRP in the serum of a cohort of leukemia patients. RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D levels in patients (pre- and post-treatment) were significantly lower than in control subjects. There was no significant difference in 25(OH)D levels between pre- and post-treatment. Serum VDBP level was raised in both pre- and post-treatment of acute leukemia patients, with that of pre-treatment being higher. The average serum VDBP was reduced in post-treatment; however, no significant difference was found. Elevated serum CRP levels in both pre- and post-treatment patient groups have been observed but were reduced significantly after treatment. Results also revealed that serum VDBP levels in acute myeloid leukemia patients were significantly higher than in acute lymphoid leukemia patients, while 25(OH)D levels in acute myeloid leukemia were significantly lower than in acute lymphoid leukemia. No significant difference between the serum CRP levels of acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoid leukemia was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Serum 25(OH)D, VDBP, and CRP may be used together and could be potential indicators of the disease course of acute leukemia and assist in its management which merits further investigation.

Age and Gender-Specific Reference Intervals for ProGRP in Healthy Chinese Han Ethnic Adults using the Roche Cobas Immunoassay.

BACKGROUND: Pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) is a kind of tumor marker applied more and more commonly in recent years. This study was aimed at determining the age and gender-specific reference intervals (RIs) for ProGRP in healthy Han ethnic adults from Guangxi, China. METHODS: A total of 2,045 apparently healthy males and 1,740 apparently healthy females aged from 21 to 90 years were included in this study. The serum ProGRP values were determined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). The one-sided upper 95th percentile of ProGRP concentrations were used to define the RIs. RESULTS: The reference limits in different age groups (21 - 40, 41 - 50, 51 - 60, 61 - 70, and > 70 years) were 37.3, 39.7, 45.7, 47.3, and 61.3 pg/mL for males, and 36.3, 38.1, 42.7, 53.5, and 60.1 pg/mL for females, respectively. There was no significant difference in the levels of ProGRP between males and females. The serum ProGRP levels were positively correlated with age. CONCLUSIONS: We established the age and gender-specific RIs for ProGRP in the adults from Guangxi, China. It will be valuable for future clinical and laboratory studies.

[Changes in myocardial enzyme spectrum and electrocardiogram after Salmonella food poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in myocardial enzyme spectrum in relation to electrocardiogram (ECG) in Salmonella food poisoning. METHODS: The myocardial enzyme spectrum and ECG of 56 patients with Salmonella food poisoning were examined, with 34 normal subjects serving as the control group. RESULTS: In the food poisoning group, the myocardial enzyme activities was increased in 36 cases (64.29%) within 2 days after the poisoning and the ECG of 33 cases (58.93%) showed abnormal changes within 1-4 days. The levels of creatine phosphoskinase (CPK) and alpha-hydroxybutyrate acid dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH) in poisoning group were obviously higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Routine examination of myocardial enzyme spectrum and ECG helps define early changes in patients with Salmonella food poisoning for clinical treatment decision.