Aggravation of symptom severity in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder by latent Toxoplasma gondii infection: a case-control study.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) has a high worldwide prevalence and an underestimated impact on neuropsychiatric disorders. Previous studies related T. gondii to disorders associated with the dysfunctional dopaminergic system. However, an association between T. gondii infection and adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not yet been studied. In a sex- and age-matched case-control study, we investigated the seropositivity, serointensity, and avidity of latent T. gondii infection in adult ADHD patients and examined the influence of those variables on the symptomatology of ADHD. Of 140 participants, 20.0% were seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgG and 0% for anti-T. gondii IgM. T. gondii seropositivity was associated with 2.8-fold increase in the odds of ADHD in a confounder-adjusted multivariable analysis. Age and consumption of raw/undercooked meat were confirmed as significant predictors of T. gondii seropositivity. Multiple linear regression analysis of self-rated ADHD-related symptom severity in all participants revealed a significant association with T. gondii seropositivity, elevated IgG titers (serointensity), and stronger anti-T. gondii IgG avidity. Overall symptom severity was increased in seropositive ADHD patients compared to seronegative subjects with ADHD. In particular, hyperactivity was significantly associated with serointensity. We conclude that there is a high rate of T. gondii seropositivity in adults with ADHD. Additionally, our results suggest a clinical impact of latent T. gondii infection on ADHD-related symptoms in a serointensity- and avidity-dependent manner.

EC4 European Syllabus for Post-Graduate Training in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine: version 3 - 2005.

The EC4 Syllabus for Postgraduate Training is the basis for the European Register of Specialists in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. The syllabus: Indicates the level of requirements in postgraduate training to harmonise the postgraduate education in the European Union (EU); Indicates the level of content of national training programmes to obtain adequate knowledge and experience; Is approved by all EU societies for clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine. The syllabus is not primarily meant to be a training guide, but on the basis of the overview given (common minimal programme), national societies should formulate programmes that indicate where knowledge and experience is needed. The main points of this programme are: Indicates the level of requirements in postgraduate training to harmonise the postgraduate education in the European Union (EU); Indicates the level of content of national training programmes to obtain adequate knowledge and experience; Is approved by all EU societies for clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine. Knowledge in biochemistry, haematology, immunology, etc.; Pre-analytical conditions; Evaluation of results; Interpretations (post-analytical phase); Laboratory management; and Quality insurance management. The aim of this version of the syllabus is to be in accordance with the Directive of Professional Qualifications published on 30 September 2005. To prepare the common platforms planned in this directive, the disciplines are divided into four categories: Indicates the level of requirements in postgraduate training to harmonise the postgraduate education in the European Union (EU); Indicates the level of content of national training programmes to obtain adequate knowledge and experience; Is approved by all EU societies for clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine. Knowledge in biochemistry, haematology, immunology, etc.; Pre-analytical conditions; Evaluation of results; Interpretations (post-analytical phase); Laboratory management; and Quality insurance management. General chemistry, encompassing biochemistry, endocrinology, chemical (humoral), immunology, toxicology, and therapeutic drug monitoring; Haematology, covering cells, transfusion serology, coagulation, and cellular immunology; Microbiology, involving bacteriology, virology, parasitology, and mycology; Genetics and IVF.

The European Register for Specialists in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine: guide to the Register Version 2-2003 and procedure for re-registration.

The European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EC4) opened a Register for European Chemists in 1997. The operation of the Register is undertaken by a Register Committee (EC4RC). During the last 5 years more than 1,400 clinical chemists entered the register. In this article an update of the first Guide to the Register is given, based on the experience of 5 years of operation and the development of the discipline. The registration is valid for 5 years. In a second part the procedure and the conditions for re-registration are presented.

Whole blood interleukin-8 concentrations in capillary and cord blood of neonates for the diagnosis of systemic inflammatory states.

An assay is described for the determination of interleukin 8 (IL-8) in whole blood lysate instead of plasma or serum. EDTA-anticoagulated umbilical cord blood or capillary blood was added to a detergent-containing lysing reagent. This sample was used directly for determination of IL-8 using the Immulite IL-8 assay kit (DPC, Bad Nauheim, Germany) and the Immulite Analyzer. Linearity was confirmed for cord blood as well as for venous blood, at a whole blood to lysing agent ratio from 1:20 to 1:1. IL-8 was stable in whole blood hemolysate at 4 degrees C for at least 3 days; thereafter, concentrations decreased remarkably to 32% of the initial concentration after 8 days. Storage of whole blood prior to hemolysis led to increases in IL-8 concentrations of up to 4 fold the original values. The intra-assay CV was 3.4% (at 234 ng/l) and 7.4 % (at 1080 ng/l) using hemolysate samples. Inter-assay CVs of 13.3% (at 108 ng/l) and 11.7 % (at 506 ng/l) were found using control material. Concentrations of IL-8 in whole blood were significantly higher than in the corresponding plasma. In 70% of 135 apparently healthy neonates' cord blood samples, plasma IL-8 concentrations were below the detection limit of the assay (5 ng/l), whereas a range of 69 - 3150 ng/l IL-8 (median, 266 ng/l) was found in the hemolysate samples of these neonates. A preliminary reference range for IL-8 in whole blood may be set at 132 to 820 ng/l (5th and 95th percentile). In 78 neonates, IL-8 concentrations in hemolysate from capillary blood ranged from 120 ng/l to 2000 ng/A (median, 416 ng/l). The fact that concentrations of IL-8 can be determined using only a very small sample volume (10 microl of whole blood) makes the assay format especially suitable for use in neonatal intensive care.

Septic shock caused by Streptococcus suis: case report and investigation of a risk group.

A case of septic shock caused by Streptococcus suis type 2 occurred in a 36-year-old truck driver who transported pigs. Here, as well as in nearly all other cases of S. suis infections reported to date, close occupational contact with pork or pigs preceded the incident. This epidemiological link may be explained by the frequent occurrence of S. suis as a commensal and opportunistic germ in pigs. In order to assess the potential risk for an infection with S. suis, 132 workers in pig slaughtering, pork dissecting and processing industries were examined in a cross sectional study for the occurrence of S. suis in their pharynx, and compared with an age and sex matched control group. The evaluation of the pharyngeal swabs showed an atypical colonisation by a variety of microorganisms in some of the employees who were so far healthy, but potentially at risk. The colonisation of the case group with S. suis amounted to 5.3%.

The practice of clinical chemistry in the European Union.

The European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry has been actively engaged in raising the level of clinical chemistry in the European Union. Closer contacts between the national societies for clinical chemistry have resulted in more comparable programs for postgraduate training of clinical chemists, closer similarity of contents and practice of the profession in the different countries, and the official registration of professionals. This article reviews some of the characteristics of professional organisation, practice, and regulation in the fifteen European Union countries. Many similarities appear. In half of the countries microbiology, blood-banking and transfusion medicine fall within the domain of clinical chemistry. The minimum number of years for training (university and postgraduate) is eight, but in practice this will extend to 10 or more years. Official regulation of the profession by law exists in a minority of countries. Continuing education and re-registration have not been officially instituted yet in any country, but these issues will be the next steps forward. In those countries that prepare themselves for entering the European Union, training and practice of clinical chemistry are moving towards the common standards of the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry.