Comprehensive real-time epidemiological data from respiratory infections in Finland between 2010 and 2014 obtained from an automated and multianalyte mariPOC® respiratory pathogen test.

Respiratory viruses cause seasonal epidemics every year. Several respiratory pathogens are circulating simultaneously and typical symptoms of different respiratory infections are alike, meaning it is challenging to identify and diagnose different respiratory pathogens based on symptoms alone. mariPOC® is an automated, multianalyte antigen test which allows the rapid detection of nine respiratory infection pathogens [influenza A and B viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza 1-3 viruses and pneumococci] from a single nasopharyngeal swab or aspirate samples, and, in addition, can be linked to laboratory information systems. During the study period from November 2010 to June 2014, a total of 22,485 multianalyte respi tests were performed in the 14 participating laboratories in Finland and, in total, 6897 positive analyte results were recorded. Of the tested samples, 25 % were positive for one respiratory pathogen, with RSV (9.8 %) and influenza A virus (7.2 %) being the most common findings, and 0.65 % of the samples were multivirus-positive. Only small geographical variations in seasonal epidemics occurred. Our results show that the mariPOC® multianalyte respi test allows simultaneous detection of several respiratory pathogens in real time. The results are reliable and give the clinician a picture of the current epidemiological situation, thus minimising guesswork.

The metabolic syndrome defined by modified International Diabetes Federation criteria and mortality: a 9-year follow-up of the aged in Finland.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and mortality in the aged population. METHODS: In this prospective population-based study with a 9-year follow-up, the participants were all residents of the municipality of Lieto, Finland, aged 64 and over in 1998-99 (n=1529). Altogether, 1260 (82%) were included in the study. Cox proportional-hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause, cardiovascular (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebrovascular (CV) mortality as predicted by MetS (defined by modified International Diabetes Federation criteria). RESULTS: At baseline, 17% of the men and 21% of the women had MetS. During the 9-year follow-up, 422 deaths occurred. After multivariable adjustment, no significant differences were found between subjects with and without MetS for all-cause, CVD, CHD or CV mortality in all study participants or by gender. On evaluating MetS components separately, elevated blood pressure was found to predict lower all-cause mortality in all participants [HR: 0.65; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.47-0.89], and lower CHD mortality in men (HR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.18-0.97). In women, high triglyceride levels predicted lower all-cause mortality (HR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47-0.95), whereas low HDL cholesterol predicted higher all-cause (HR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.15-2.24) and CV (HR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.05-5.67) mortality. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that MetS does not predict mortality later in life and, of the separate components of MetS, only low HDL cholesterol is predictive of mortality in women. Also, even markedly higher blood pressure values than those included in the criteria for MetS fail to predict mortality in this age group.

Association between markers of renal function and C-reactive protein level in the elderly: confounding by functional status.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the cross-sectional association between measures of renal function and inflammation in an elderly population and to evaluate the confounding effect of impaired physical functioning on these relationships. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cystatin C and creatinine were measured in serum samples from 1110 elderly subjects in a community-based cross-sectional survey (Lieto Study) in southwestern Finland. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated by means of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. Associations between renal measures and sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) and the impact of functional status were determined by multivariate linear models. RESULTS: Based on standardized coefficients, cystatin C (beta 0.19; p<0.001) showed the strongest association with CRP compared to creatinine (beta 0.14; p<0.001) and estimated GFR (beta -0.13; p<0.001). Levels of CRP linearly increased across quintiles of cystatin C, whereas for creatinine and estimated GFR the increase was less graded. Impaired physical functioning was strongly associated with elevated levels of cystatin C (p<0.001) and CRP (p<0.001), but not with creatinine (p = 0.45) or estimated GFR (p = 0.38). For persons with impaired physical functioning, the odds ratio for belonging to the highest compared to the lowest cystatin C quintile was 7.04 (95% confidence interval 3.49-14.9; p<0.001), whereas for creatinine and estimated GFR this difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: The weaker association observed between CRP and creatinine-based measures, as compared to cystatin C, reflects the misclassification of elderly frail subjects as having normal kidney function rather than suggests cystatin C itself to be a marker of inflammation.

Value of blood tests including serum group IIA phospholipase A2 and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein in Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Determination of the activity of Crohn's disease at a defined time-point is a challenging task since only endoscopy guidelines are given and secondary clinical findings, subjective symptoms and non-specific laboratory tests have therefore to be relied on. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the ability of blood tests to differentiate patient groups with different clinical disease activity and different clinical outcomes during follow-up in Crohn's disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During a visit to hospital, 73 outpatients with Crohn's disease were examined, a clinical score was calculated and blood samples were collected for 22 laboratory tests. The patients were also grouped according to clinical outcome during a 6-year follow-up. RESULTS: Serum group IIA phospholipase A2 and alpha-1-antitrypsin values were outside the reference interval more frequently (62% and 42%, respectively) than the other tests in active Crohn's disease. Only weak correlations were found between the clinical score and the test values, and the best correlation was found with serum lysozyme (r = 0.40). In a logistic regression model, the best prediction of disease activity at entry to the study was reached with a model including serum orosomucoid and serum lysozyme and the best prediction of clinical outcome during follow-up was reached using a model including serum albumin. CONCLUSIONS: Serum group IIA phospholipase A2 appeared to be the most sensitive marker of inflammation in Crohn's disease among the 22 blood tests compared. No reliable predictions of disease activity at the time of blood sampling or clinical outcome later during follow-up could be made from the blood tests studied.

Acute prolonged exercise reduces moderately oxidized LDL in healthy men.

We studied the effects of a 2-day walk exercise (6 h+6 h) on the serum concentration of circulating moderately oxidized LDL (LDL baseline conjugated dienes), lipids (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride), antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and ubiquinol-10), and antioxidant potential in serum (S-TRAP) and LDL (LDL-TRAP) in healthy well-trained men. The exercise was performed twice with an interval of 14 days. While 6 h walking the subjects drank 6 cl . kg (-1) water which contained either carbohydrate (CHO trial) or placebo (PLA trial). During the 2-day exercise the level of oxidized LDL decreased by 25 % (p=0.001) in the PLA trial. At the same time serum gamma-tocopherol decreased by 20 % (p=0.049), while the other measured antioxidants remained unchanged and the serum antioxidant potential increased by 22 % (p=0.018). Serum total cholesterol decreased by 3 % (p=0.017), serum triglycerides by 22 % (p=0.001), and LDL-cholesterol by 14 % (p=0.045). HDL cholesterol increased by 9 % (p=0.001). The results in the carbohydrate trial were similar to the ones in the PLA trial. The findings suggest that exercise of long duration but of low, non-exhaustive intensity decreases the concentration of circulating oxidized LDL simultaneously with an increase in serum antioxidant potential in healthy trained men. Carbohydrate ingestion during the exercise does not have any further effect on these changes.

Estimation of glomerular filtration rate in the elderly: a comparison of creatinine-based formulae with serum cystatin C.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of decreased kidney function in an elderly population and to evaluate the impact of using alternative markers of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), focusing on serum cystatin C (Cys C) and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study prediction equation. DESIGN AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional community-based survey renal function was assessed by serum creatinine (SCreat), Cys C and GFR predicted by the Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and the MDRD Study formulae. Associations with age, gender and proteinuria were analysed by linear models. SUBJECTS: A total of 1246 elderly residents in Lieto, Finland, 64-100 years of age. RESULTS: The prevalence of moderately or severely decreased renal function, estimated by the MDRD Study equation, was 35.7%; the CG formula yielded 58.6%. The profile of Cys C performance, including variation across age groups and level of health status, showed greater similarity to GFR estimated using the MDRD Study equation than to SCreat alone, or GFR estimated using the CG formula. Discordance between high Cys C levels and only mildly decreased GFR estimates was observed in subjects with functional limitations. Microalbuminuria was associated with Cys C levels only (P =0.047). CONCLUSION: Prevalence estimates of decreased renal function amongst the elderly vary considerably depending on prediction formula used. Variation in creatinine metabolism amongst elderly comorbid patients and the critical dependence on the SCreat assay and exact calibration, make the use of creatinine-based formulae to predict GFR questionable in geriatric clinical practice. In this setting, Cys C is a promising alternative.

Effect of medroxyprogesterone on arterial blood gases, leptin and neuropeptide Y in postmenopausal females.

Natural progesterone, a potent respiratory stimulant, stimulates leptin production in premenopausal females. Leptin and its counterpart neuropeptide Y (NPY) have recently been linked with respiration. The effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on arterial blood gases, serum leptin and NPY was evaluated in this study. Fourteen postmenopausal females with respiratory impairment, due mostly to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were recruited for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Arterial blood gases, serum leptin and NPY concentrations were measured at baseline and after 14 days of treatment with placebo and MPA, separated by a 6-week washout period. Thirteen patients completed the trial. The mean+/-SD carbon dioxide tension in arterial blood (Pa,CO2) was 5.4+/-0.6 kPa at baseline, and decreased by 0.8+/-0.3 kPa during treatment with MPA. The oxygen tension in arterial blood (Pa,O2) and pH did not change. At baseline, the mean base excess was 0.6+/-1.9 mmol x L(-1) and the mean bicarbonate (HCO3-) concentration was 25.1+/-1.6 mmol x L(-1). With MPA, base excess decreased by 2.2+/-1.2 mmol x L(-1) and HCO3- by 1.9+/-1.0 mmol x L(-1) from baseline. The mean concentrations of serum leptin (19.8+/-9.9 microg x L(-1) at baseline, 19.7+/-9.8 microg x L(-1) with MPA) or NPY (94.0+/-18.3 pmol x L(-1) at baseline, 85.1+/-41.2 pmol x L(-1) with MPA) did not change. However, the reduction in Pa,CO2 correlated with the reduction of serum leptin concentration. Medroxyprogesterone acetate effectively decreased the carbon dioxide tension in postmenopausal females with chronic respiratory impairment. The results suggest that a decrease in the carbon dioxide tension of > or = 0.9 kPa is necessary for a reduction in serum leptin concentration.

Effect of medroxyprogesterone on pulmonary arterial pressure, exhaled nitric oxide, ECG and arterial blood gases.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) therapy on pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), exhaled nitric oxide (NO), electrocardiogram (ECG), and on arterial blood gases (ABG). DESIGN: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled cross-over trial. SETTING: University hospital in Turku, Finland. SUBJECTS: Fourteen postmenopausal women with respiratory impairment. INTERVENTIONS: A 2-week placebo and a 2-week MPA period (60 mg day -1) followed by 6-week placebo or MPA washout periods. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The systolic PAP was estimated by Doppler echocardiography. PAP, ECG, NO and ABG were monitored at baseline, after 2-week placebo and MPA periods, and after 3- and 6-week placebo and MPA washout periods. RESULTS: The mean PaCO2 at baseline was 5.4 +/- 0.6 kPa (mean +/- SD). The average decrease of PaCO2 on MPA was -0.8 +/- 0.3 kPa (P < 0.001) and 0.3 +/- 1.0 kPa (P = 0.007) at the 3-week washout. The mean systolic PAP at baseline was 44.3 +/- 14.5 mm Hg. MPA did not change PAP until the 6-week washout, when the average increase of + 6.9 +/- 19.8 mm Hg (P = 0.002) was observed. No changes occurred in PaO2, exhaled NO or the ECG axes. The PR interval was shorter only on MPA (15.9 +/- 27.0 ms, P = 0.020) whereas the QRS duration remained shorter up to 3-week washout (3.9 +/0 5.5 ms, P = 0.008 and 4.0 +/- 14.3 ms, P = 0.032). The systolic and diastolic BP and the heart rate did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Despite prolonged decrease in PaCO2, short-term MPA had no effect on exhaled NO and did not decrease systolic PAP in postmenopausal women with respiratory impairment. MPA shortened the PR interval and the QRS duration, the latter effect being sustained at least up to 3 weeks.

The effect of conventional vitamin D(2) supplementation on serum 25(OH)D concentration is weak among peripubertal Finnish girls: a 3-y prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of vitamin D supplementation and the impact of summer season on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25(OH)D) in Finnish 9-15-y-old girls. DESIGN: Three-year follow-up study with vitamin D(2) supplementation using D(2) 10 microg daily from October to January for the first and from October to February for the second winter as well as 20 microg daily from October to March for the third winter. SETTING: Paavo Nurmi Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. SUBJECTS: A total of 171 female volunteers aged 9-15 y. METHODS: Vitamin D and calcium intakes were estimated by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). S-25(OH)D was measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The median daily dietary intakes of vitamin D and calcium were 3.8 microg (interquartile range (IQR) 2.7-5.0) and 1451 mg (IQR 1196-1812), respectively, over 3 y. The prevalence of severe hypovitaminosis D (S-25(OH)D<20 nmol/l) was 14% and of moderate hypovitaminosis D (20 nmol/l < or = S-25(OH)D < or = 37.5 nmol/l) 75% at baseline in winter. None of the participants had severe hypovitaminosis D in summer. The effect of 10 microg of D(2) daily was insufficient to raise S-25(OH)D from baseline. The daily supplementation of 20 microg of D(2) increased S-25(OH)D significantly in wintertime compared with the non-supplement users (to 45.5 vs 31.8 nmol/l; P<0.001). None of the subjects with vitamin D(2) supplementation approximately 20 microg daily had severe hypovitaminosis D; however, 38% of those participants had moderate hypovitaminosis D at 36 months. Sun exposure in summer raised mean S-25(OH)D to 62.0 nmol/l. Both the daily supplementation of approximately 20 microg of D(2) and summer sunlight exposure had more effect on those who had severe hypovitaminosis than those who had a normal vitamin D status (increase of 24.2 vs 0.9 nmol/l (P<0.001), and 38.8 vs 18.2 nmol/l (P<0.001), respectively). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D supplementation daily with 20 microg is needed to prevent hypovitaminosis D in peripubertal Finnish girls in winter. Sunlight exposure in summer is more effective than approximately 20 microg of D(2) supplementation daily in winter to raise S-25(OH)D. Both the daily supplementation with 20 microg of D(2) and summertime sunlight exposure had more effect on those who had severe hypovitaminosis D than those who had a normal vitamin D status. SPONSORSHIP: Supported by the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation and the Medical Research Foundation of the Turku University Central Hospital.

Pharmacokinetics of finrozole (MPV-2213ad), a novel selective aromatase inhibitor, in healthy men.

AIMS: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of finrozole (MPV-2213ad), a novel competitive aromatase enzyme inhibitor, in healthy male volunteers. METHODS: The study was an open, partly randomized cross-over study including 23 volunteers receiving single doses of 3, 9 mg or 30 mg of finrozole as tablets or solution with 14 days between the administrations. The highest dose was given as tablets only. Serum concentrations of finrozole were determined using high performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The mean time to peak serum concentration ranged from 2.5 to 3.1, and 0.6-0.7 h after tablets and solution, respectively. The Cmax values increased as the dose increased. The calculated apparent mean elimination half-life (t(1/2,z)) was approximately 3 h after the solution, and approximately 8 h after the tablet. The AUC(0,infinity) after finrozole tablets increased proportionally from 3 mg to 9 mg and from 3 to 30 mg. The calculated relative mean bioavailabilities (AUC(0,infinity)-ratio) for the 3 mg and 9 mg doses of finrozole as tablets were 89% and 78%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The absorption of finrozole from the tablet formulation was relatively rapid, and the apparent elimination half-life was longer after the tablet than after the solution, probably reflecting overlap of the absorption with the elimination phase.

Increased aortic intima-media thickness: a marker of preclinical atherosclerosis in high-risk children.

BACKGROUND: Autopsy studies in children have shown that atherosclerotic lesions begin to develop first in the intima of the aorta. Recent developments in ultrasound techniques have made it possible to visualize the intima-medial thickness of the abdominal aorta directly (aIMT). Therefore, we examined the feasibility of measuring aIMT in children and studied its value in distinguishing high-risk children from healthy controls compared with a more established marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, the common carotid artery intima-medial thickness (cIMT). METHODS AND RESULTS: IMTs were measured using high-resolution (13 MHz) ultrasound in 88 children (aged 11+/-2 years); 16 had hypercholesterolemia (LDL cholesterol, 5.1+/-1.2 mmol/L), 44 had type 1 diabetes (mean duration, 4.4+/-3.1 years; LDL cholesterol, 2.3+/-0.7 mmol/L), and 28 were healthy (controls; LDL cholesterol, 2.5+/-0.8 mmol/L). High-risk children had significantly increased aIMTs and cIMTs (both P<0.001) compared with controls. In controls, aIMT was similar to cIMT (P=NS), but aIMT was higher than cIMT in the children with hypercholesterolemia and diabetes (both P<0.01). Both markers showed excellent and approximately equal between-observer (<4%) and between-subject variation (<5%). CONCLUSIONS: Children with hypercholesterolemia and diabetes show increased IMTs compared with healthy controls, with a relatively greater increase in the aIMT than in the cIMT. Because atherosclerosis begins first in the intima of the aorta, these data suggest that the aIMT might provide the best currently available noninvasive marker of preclinical atherosclerosis in children.

Early effects of 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide therapy on common laboratory tests.

BACKGROUND: Combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) is now used for adjuvant therapy of breast cancer. The effects of FEC on common laboratory tests are important when interpreting test results during the treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Common hormonal tests (e.g., serum gonadotrophins, testosterone, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, cortisol, parathyroid hormone (PTH), thyroid function tests), haematological blood counts and biochemical tests including specific proteins and lipids of seven women with metastatic breast cancer were assessed at baseline and before the 3rd and the 5th cycles: RESULTS: Statistically significant increases were noted in serum PTH, free triiodothyronine, sodium, prealbumin and cholesterol, but decreases in white blood cell count, alpha-1-antitrypsin, as well as immunoglobulins A and M. CONCLUSION: Except for serum PTH, cholesterol and WBC count, the changes were small. The diagnoses of diseases based on serum PTH and cholesterol test results may be influenced by FEC treatment.

Serum total renin after tubal sterilization.

The effect of laparoscopic tubal sterilization by Hulka or Filshie clips on serum total renin levels was evaluated in 33 healthy, regularly menstruating women. Serum total renin levels were measured in the follicular (days 3 to 7) and in the luteal (days 20 to 24) phase during the cycle immediately preceeding the sterilization and 12 months after the procedure. The total renin secreted did not change after the sterilization. The follicular phase levels were lower (160 +/- 113 and 170 +/- 93 ng/l, respectively) than luteal phase levels (230 +/- 124 and 228 +/- 83 ng/l, respectively) in both cycles studied (p=0.0001 for both). The length of the menstrual cycle was not affected, either. Laparoscopic tubal sterilization caused no measurable changes in total renin secretion during one year follow-up.

Measurement of circulating forms of prostate-specific antigen in whole blood immediately after venipuncture: implications for point-of-care testing.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to validate the use of whole-blood samples in the determination of circulating forms of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). METHODS: Blood samples of hospitalized prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia patients were collected and processed to generate whole-blood and serum samples. Three different rapid two-site immunoassays were developed to measure the concentrations of total PSA (PSA-T), free PSA (PSA-F), and PSA-alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin complex (PSA-ACT) to detect in vitro changes in whole-blood samples immediately after venipuncture. The possible influence of muscle movement on the release of PSA from prostate gland was studied in healthy men by measuring the rapid in vitro whole-blood kinetics of PSA forms before and after 15 min of physical exercise on a stationary bicycle. RESULTS: Rapid PSA-T, PSA-F, and PSA-ACT assays were designed using a 10-min sample incubation. No significant changes were detected in the concentrations of PSA-T, PSA-F, and PSA-ACT from the earliest time point of 12-16 min compared with measurements performed up to 4 h after venipuncture. Physical exercise did not influence the concentrations of the circulating forms of PSA. Hematocrit-corrected whole-blood values of PSA-T and PSA-F forms were comparable to the respective serum values. Calculation of the percentage of PSA-F (PSA F/T ratio x 100) was similar irrespective of the sample format used, i.e., whole blood or serum. CONCLUSIONS: We found that immunodetectable PSA forms are likely at steady state immediately after venipuncture, thus enabling the use of anticoagulated whole-blood samples in near-patient settings for point-of-care testing, whereas determinations of PSA (e.g., PSA-T, PSA-F, or PSA-ACT) performed within the time frame of the office visit would provide results equivalent to conventional analyses performed in serum.

Estrogen replacement therapy and nocturnal periodic limb movements: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of estrogen replacement therapy on nocturnal periodic limb movements in a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. METHODS: Seventy-one healthy postmenopausal women volunteered in answer to a newspaper announcement; 62 women completed the follow-up. Frequency of nocturnal body movements was measured with the static-charge-sensitive bed and all-night polysomnographic recordings. Serum estradiol (E2) and FSH concentrations were also measured at baseline and after each treatment period. The power of the study setup was 94%. RESULTS: Nearly half the women presented with episodes of periodic limb movements (30 of 62 women, or 48%, during placebo and 27, or 44%, during estrogen therapy). In 17 (27%) during placebo and 19 (31%) during estrogen therapy, frequency of periodic limb movements exceeded index level 5 per hour while subjects were in bed. Incidence or intensity of movements, movement durations, and movement intervals did not change with estrogen therapy. The arousal index was similar during the two treatments (medians = 1.7 for placebo and 1.3 for estrogen, P =.758). Variations in serum E2 concentration, age, and body mass index did not explain variations in movement activity. CONCLUSION: Estrogen replacement therapy in doses used to control climacteric symptoms does not alter the incidence or intensity of nocturnal periodic limb movements.

Oxidized LDL and thickness of carotid intima-media are associated with coronary atherosclerosis in middle-aged men: lower levels of oxidized LDL with statin therapy.

We investigated the relation between serum lipids including oxidized LDL and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Serum lipids and oxidized LDL was measured in 62 men (33-66 years), who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography and sonography to measure the carotid intima-media thickness. LDL oxidation was found in chemical analyses to be due to conjugated fatty acids in cholesteryl esters and triglycerides. Regression analysis indicated that the carotid intima-media thickness and the ratio of LDL diene conjugation to LDL cholesterol (the ox-LDL:LDL ratio) were the only factors associated independently with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. The patients with multi-vessel disease who did not use lipid lowering therapy had a 50% thicker carotid intima media (P = 0.030) and a 41% higher ox-LDL:LDL ratio (P = 0.020) than patients with normal vessels. Further, patients with multi-vessel disease on statin therapy had a 24% lower ox-LDL:LDL ratio than the subjects with multi-vessel disease who did not use lipid lowering drugs (P = 0.027), although the concentration of LDL cholesterol did not differ between the groups. This study supports the hypothesis that lipid oxidation plays a role in the development of atherosclerosis.

Time-resolved fluorometry (TRF)-based immunoassay concept for rapid and quantitative determination of biochemical myocardial infarction markers from whole blood, serum and plasma.

We report the development of a time-resolved fluorometry-based immunoassay concept for the rapid measurement of three cardiac markers from whole blood, serum or plasma. Using a universal all-in-one (AIO) dry reagent concept, all the analyte specific reagents are built into a single microtire well, to which an identical assay protocol is applied. Addition of 5-20 microL sample (whole blood, serum or plasma) together with a universal buffer initiates the reaction, which is brought close to equilibrium in 15 min. After the wash step the Eu chelate-derived signal is measured directly from the dried surface. Application of this concept to the three cardiac markers illustrates its ability to provide rapid, highly sensitive and fully quantitative results over a large dynamic range with good reproducibility. Such a performance, especially when using whole blood specimens, is largely a consequence of the inherently fluorescent and stable Eu-chelate employed in the system. Correlation to commercial assays was excellent for all three analytes, as was between-sample matrix correlation using the AIO assays. The presented assay concept enabling a simple automation is particularly suited for point-of-care applications, where the performance characteristics are fully comparable to state-of-the-art central laboratory immunoassays.