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Caffeine is an ergogenic substance that is consumed globally in many forms. The use of buccally absorbable formulations instead of gastrointestinal uptake has become increasingly popular over the years, especially when accelerated absorption with minimal gastrointestinal stress is desired. This study investigated the impact of five different formulations and administration routes of caffeine on the whole blood concentrations of caffeine, paraxanthine, and theobromine: caffeinated capsules, tablets, shots, pouches, and chewing gums. A uniform dose of caffeine (200 mg) was administered to 16 healthy recreational athletes (26.0 ± 2.1 years) using a randomized crossover design. Samples were taken in the form of dried blood spots at 16 different time points in a 2-hr timeframe after drug administration. The samples were analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. The results for caffeine showed no significant differences in the overall bioavailability (area under the concentration–time curve), maximal concentration, and time to maximum concentration. However, when analyzing the bioavailability of caffeine in the first 5, 10, and 15 min, the liquid caffeine formulation was superior to other administered forms (p <.05). This indicates that caffeine solubility has a major influence on its absorption rate. In sports, the rate of caffeine absorption must be considered, not only when ingesting anhydrous caffeine, but also when choosing buccal absorption. These findings imply that general guidelines for ergogenic caffeine use should consider the formulation used and, accordingly, the corresponding route of absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to screen 6 lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) in neonates using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), and establish cutoff values for these LSDs with 3000 dried blood spots (DBS) samples. Cutoff values for α-L-iduronidase (IDUA), α-galactosidase (GLA), acid beta glucosidase (ABG), β-galactocerebrosidase (GALC), acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), and acid alpha glucosidase (GAA) were as follows: GLA, > 2.06 μmol/L·h; ABG, > 1.78 μmol/L·h; ASM, > 0.99 μmol/L·h; IDUA, > 1.33 μmol/L·h; GALC, > 0.84 μmol/L·h; and GAA, > 2.06 μmol/L·h. There were 30 positives in initial MS/MS screening test, and 15 samples were still positive with repeat testing. Their parents/guardians were recontacted and DBS samples were collected again for test. Only 1 child showed abnormal GAA enzyme activity after recontacting process, and was diagnosed with Pompe disease after genetic screening. Eventually, cutoff values of 6 specific enzyme activities were established and MS/MS is effective for early LSDs screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The clinical data analysis found that, compared with the traditional obesity index, the waist-weight ratio (WWR) has more advantages in predicting abnormal bone mineral density in subjects with type 2 diabetes. WWR may serve as a new predictive indicator for osteoporosis in T2DM patients. Purpose: This study was designed to explore the correlation between obesity-related indices and bone mineral density (BMD) and its influencing factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Methods: A total of 528 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited. Glucose tolerance, insulin stimulation, and blood biochemical tests were conducted on all participants. All subjects underwent dual-energy X-ray bone density testing and were grouped based on the bone density results. Results: Compared with those in the normal BMD group, the waist-to-body weight ratio (WWR) and weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) in the osteopenia and osteoporosis groups were significantly greater, while body mass index (BMI) was significantly lower (P < 0.05). The logistic regression results showed that the WWR, WWI, and BMI were independently correlated with abnormal BMD in T2DM patients (P < 0.05). WWR and the WWI were negatively correlated with the T-value of bone density in various parts of the body, while BMI was positively correlated with the T-value of bone density (P < 0.05). The area under the working characteristic curve (AUC) for T2DM patients with abnormal bone mass predicted by the WWR [0.806, 95% CI = (0.770–0.843), P < 0.001] was greater than that for patients with other obesity indicators, such as the WWI and BMI. Conclusion: We found a positive correlation between the WWR and bone density in T2DM patients. Compared with other obesity indicators, such as BMI and WWI, the WWR has a stronger discriminative ability for T2DM patients with abnormal bone density. Therefore, more attention should be given to the WWR in T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Excess dietary salt causes increased urinary calcium and this may lead to bone loss. We proposed to study the association between dietary salt intake and bone health in postmenopausal women from southern India. Methods: An observational study in which community‐dwelling postmenopausal women were recruited. Daily salt intake and urine calcium/creatinine ratio were assessed. Bone biochemistry and densitometric parameters such as bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular bone score (TBS) vertebral fractures, and bone strain index (BSI) were assessed using Dual Energy X‐Ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Results: A total of 383 postmenopausal women with a mean ± SD age of 59.8 ± 7.2 years and BMI of 25.2 ± 4.6 kg/m2 were recruited. Among the participants, 165/383(43.1%) had osteoporosis at any site and 21% had moderate–severe vertebral fractures. The BMD at lumbar spine and femoral neck, TBS and BSI were significantly (p < 0.001) lower and the CTx was significantly (p = 0.008) higher among women with high salt intake (7.2 g/day) as compared to those with salt intake of <7.2 g/day. The prevalence of osteoporosis, low TBS, high BSI, and moderate–severe vertebral fractures significantly increased across low to high salt‐intake categories. An ROC analysis showed that excess dietary salt was significantly associated with osteoporosis at any site with an AUC of 0.870 (95% CI: 0.832–0.907). On a multivariate analysis, excess salt intake conferred the highest odds of osteoporosis (OR: 2.296; 95% CI: 1.909–2.761). Conclusions: Excess dietary salt is associated with high urinary calcium and compromised bone health among postmenopausal women from southern India. This may be a modifiable risk factor in osteoporosis and warrants further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation can result in hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome. Currently, there is no radiation medical countermeasure approved by the U.S. FDA which can be used before radiation exposure to protect exposed individuals. Here we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of an aqueous suspension of synthetic genistein nanoparticles (BIO 300) as a radioprotectant in a pilot efficacy study using a nonhuman primate model of total body irradiation. Materials and Methods Eight rhesus macaques were divided into two groups; four received vehicle and four received BIO 300 Injectable Suspension 24 h before 5.8 Gy total-body irradiation. Survival, blood cell counts, blood chemistry, and clinical parameters were monitored over the 60 days of the study. Tissues were collected at necropsy 60 days post-irradiation or from animals that met unscheduled euthanasia criteria and subjected to histopathological analysis. Tissues analyzed included the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, sternum, lung, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, gut-associated lymphoid tissue, and urinary bladder. Results In this pilot study, all BIO 300 Injectable Suspension treated animals survived to day 60, while only 50% of the vehicle-treated animals survived. We found that BIO 300 Injectable Suspension did not mediate an improvement in blood cell counts (e.g. neutrophils, platelets, white blood cells). However, BIO 300 Injectable Suspension treated animals had a lower incidence of fever and febrile neutropenia, were able to better maintain their body weight post radiation exposure, and exhibited less anemia and faster recovery from anemia. Histopathological analysis revealed that BIO 300-treated animals had less irradiation-induced damage to the sternum and other tissues compared to vehicle controls. Conclusions BIO 300's mechanism of action is complex and protection against irradiation is attainable without much improvement in the complete blood count (CBC) profile. BIO 300's mechanism for radioprotection involves multiple biological pathways and systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lege Artis Medicine (LAM) is the property of LifeTime Media Kft. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This randomized controlled study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of the PrEP iT! mHealth intervention designed to improve PrEP adherence among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). A national sample of 80 YMSM in the U.S. (Mage = 25 years; 54% racial/ethnic minority), recruited through social media ads, were randomized to either the PrEP iT! or usual PrEP care conditions. Participants completed online surveys and submitted self-collected dried blood sample (DBS) data as measures of PrEP adherence. Differences in PrEP adherence across treatment arms and between participants with high versus low engagement in PrEP iT! were assessed. Retention was high at the three (94%) and six (93%) month assessment, and participants in PrEP iT! reported satisfactory acceptability of the intervention. There were no significant differences in self-reported or DBS-derived PrEP adherence between randomized groups. However, YMSM in the PrEP iT! group with high PrEP adherence (the equivalent of four or more doses/week through self-report and DBS-derived measures) demonstrated significantly higher engagement in the intervention than those with low PrEP adherence (the equivalent of 3 or fewer doses/week). Overall, the PrEP iT! intervention demonstrated strong feasibility and acceptability. The finding that high PrEP iT! intervention engagement was associated with protective levels of PrEP adherence suggests it is a viable adherence support tool that should be further evaluated in definitive trial among YMSM who need basic support, or as part of a more comprehensive adherence support package for those who need greater assistance. Trial registration Clinical Trials # NCT04509076 (registered August 10, 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Home healthcare services play a crucial role in reducing health expenditure, providing tailored care, and improving the quality of healthcare, particularly for managing chronic diseases. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed the blood test and laboratory results of 1,461 patients who were evaluated by the home health services unit in Ankara between May 1, 2020, and July 31, 2020. The patients' ages, genders, and laboratory data were collected, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 1,461 patients, of whom 64.06% were female and 35.94% were male. Significant age differences were observed among the patients (p<0.001). Home visits were conducted for medical examinations and laboratory tests, and the results showed age-related variations in several parameters, such as albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, creatine-kinase, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), calcium (Ca), free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, total protein, triglycerides, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, urea, uric acid, creatinine, and potassium. Gender differences were also observed, with varying levels of amylase, activated partial thromboplastin time, ALT, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, GGT, C-reactive protein, albumin, phosphorus, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Ca, and unsaturated iron binding capacity. Conclusion: Considering age-related laboratory test results is crucial in home healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is often associated with metabolic disorders. Statin drugs are potent inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin on the concentrations of methylglyoxal (MGO), glyoxalase 1 (GLO-1), and aldo–keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) in patients with T2DM and prediabetes. Methods: This study was conducted on 80 subjects with and without T2DM and prediabetics divided into 5 groups: patients with T2DM receiving statins (group A, n = 17), patients with T2DM not receiving statins (group B, n = 17), patients with prediabetes receiving statins (group C, n = 12), patients with prediabetes not receiving statins (group D, n = 17), and healthy controls without T2DM (control group, n = 17). Patients with T2DM and prediabetes received atorvastatin 20 mg/day for 3 months. The measurement of MGO and AKR1B10 was performed with a non-competitive sandwich-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 450 nm. The measurement of GLO-1 was performed by an enzymatic method at 240 nm. Results: The serum level of MGO was significantly higher in patients with T2DM and prediabetes than that of healthy controls (p = 0.001). In patients with T2DM, statins decreased the serum level of MGO, but in patients with prediabetes, statins increased the serum level of MGO (p = 0.001). The level of GLO-1 activity was significantly higher in healthy controls than that of patients with T2DM and prediabetes (p = 0.001). Furthermore, the level of GLO-1 activity was significantly higher in patients with T2DM and prediabetes receiving statins than that of patients with T2DM and prediabetes not receiving statins (p = 0.002). The serum level of AKR1B10 was significantly higher in groups C and D than that of the other groups (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Atorvastatin can improve the level of GLO-1 activity and thereby prevent diabetic complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis, a complex condition characterized by dysregulated immune response and organ dysfunction, is a leading cause of mortality in ICU patients. Current diagnostic and prognostic approaches primarily rely on non-specific biomarkers and illness severity scores, despite early endothelial activation being a key feature of sepsis. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of soluble thrombomodulin and soluble endoglin in seriously ill surgical septic patients and explore their association with organ dysfunction and disease severity. Methodology: A case control study was conducted from March 2022 to November 2022, involving seriously ill septic surgical patients. Baseline clinical and laboratory data were collected within 24 h of admission to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. This included information such as age, sex, hemodynamic parameters, blood chemistry, SOFA score, qSOFA score, and APACHE-II score. A proforma was filled out to record these details. The outcome of each patient was noted at the time of discharge. Results: The study found significantly elevated levels of soluble thrombomodulin and soluble endoglin in seriously ill surgical septic patients. The RTqPCR analysis revealed a positive correlation between soluble thrombomodulin and soluble endoglin levels with the qSOFA score, as well as, there was a positive association between RTqPCR soluble thrombomodulin and the SOFA score. These findings indicate a correlation between these biomarkers and organ dysfunction and disease severity. Conclusion: The study concludes that elevated levels of soluble thrombomodulin and soluble endoglin can serve as endothelial biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognostication in seriously ill surgical septic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The objective of this study was to assess differentially expressed blood proteins between patients with active RA and patients in remission after MTX treatment, with the aim of identifying a biomarker of MTX resistance (MTXR). Methods Two populations of RA patients treated with a stable dose of s.c. MTX for at least 3 months were constituted according to the DAS28: remission (DAS28 < 2.6; n  = 24) and active disease (DAS28 > 3.2; n  = 32). The two groups of RA patients were homogeneous regarding their epidemiological characteristics, except for the duration of treatment, which was longer in the remission group. After collection of a blood sample, plasma protein digestion was performed, followed by untargeted proteomics analysis. Then, a targeted analysis was performed to confirm the results of the untargeted approach. Results Untargeted proteomics analysis revealed eight plasma proteins that were differentially expressed between the two groups of patients. Among them, triosephosphate isomerase (TPI-1) and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI), which are main actors in glycolysis, were found down-regulated in the active group. This result was confirmed for TPI-1 in the targeted proteomics analysis. Conclusion A first step was achieved in the search for biomarkers of MTXR, with the identification of two actors in glycolysis (TPI-1 and GPI). The next step will be to confirm these results in a larger cohort, including samples from treatment-naive patients, to assess the predictive potential of these protein markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In our center, an unusual rate of patients had abnormalities of hemostasis in immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery. Our objectives were to identify the cause of these sudden hemostasis abnormalities and to evaluate the performances of point of care coagulation testing. Methods: In this prospective and descriptive study, we included 33 consecutive patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery for 1 month. Heparin-induced anticoagulation and calculation of the protamine dose were tested by the Hemostasis Management System Plus device (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Fifteen minutes after the end of the protamine infusion, activated clotting time (ACT), activated partial thromboplastin time and anti Xa activity were measured. In case of unusual clinical bleeding, a Quantra analysis (Stago, HemoSonics LLC, Charlottesville, VA) was added. Results: Residual antiXa activity >0.2 IU/mL after neutralization was present in 44% of patients. Our investigation concluded incomplete heparin reversal. There was no association between cellular reinfusate and the presence of heparin. The unusual rate of hemostasis abnormalities was explained by a less efficient protamine reversal of heparin. ACT and Clot Time Ratio (CTR, Quantra system) correlated with AntiXa with Spearman's coefficients of 0.85 (p <.0001) and 0.95 (p =.0012), respectively. About ACT, a threshold of 150 seconds had a sensitivity of 85% [58–97] and a specificity of 85% [58–97%] for detection of AntiXa>0.2. For CTR, a threshold of 1.4 had a sensitivity of 67% [30–94] and a specificity of 100% [18–100]. Conclusion: The use of point of care coagulation testing is effective in detecting incomplete reversal of heparin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Manganese (Mn) plays a significant role in both human health and global industries. Epidemiological studies of exposed populations demonstrate a dose-dependent association between Mn and neuromotor effects ranging from subclinical effects to a clinically defined syndrome. However, little is known about the relationship between early life Mn biomarkers and adolescent postural balance OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the associations between childhood and adolescent Mn biomarkers and adolescent postural balance in participants from the longitudinal Marietta Communities Actively Researching Exposures Study (CARES) cohort. METHODS: Participants were recruited into CARES when they were 7–9 y old, and reenrolled at 13–18 years of age. At both time points, participants provided samples of blood, hair, and toenails that were analyzed for blood Mn and lead (Pb), serum cotinine, hair Mn, and toenail Mn. In adolescence, participants completed a postural balance assessment. Greater sway indicates postural instability (harmful effect), whereas lesser sway indicates postural stability (beneficial effect). Multivariable linear regression models were conducted to investigate the associations between childhood and adolescent Mn biomarkers and adolescent postural balance adjusted for age, sex, height–weight ratio, parent/caregiver intelligence quotient, socioeconomic status, blood Pb, and serum cotinine. RESULTS: CARES participants who completed the adolescent postural balance assessment (푛 = 123) were 98% White and 54% female and had a mean age of 16 y (range: 13–18 y). In both childhood and adolescence, higher Mn biomarker concentrations were significantly associated with greater adolescent sway measures. Supplemental analyses revealed sex-specific associations; higher childhood Mn biomarker concentrations were significantly associated with greater sway in females compared with males DISCUSSION: This study found childhood and adolescent Mn biomarkers were associated with subclinical neuromotor effects in adolescence. This study demonstrates postural balance as a sensitive measure to assess the association between Mn biomarkers and neuromotor function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Trauma & Emergency Surgery / Ulusal Travma ve Acil Cerrahi Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Psychosocial consequences of false-positive results following newborn bloodspot screening have been identified as a potential risk to this highly successful public health initiative. A scoping review was undertaken in October 2023 underpinned by the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Twenty-four papers were included in the review, many of which focused on cystic fibrosis. The results indicated that impact of false-positive results is variable; some studies suggest false-positive results have the potential to result in negative sequelae including increased stress and changes in parental perceptions of their child, while others suggest these impacts are transient and, in some instances, may even lead to positive outcomes. Further evidence is needed to ensure the representation of other conditions included in newborn bloodspot screening and to support strategies to overcome potential negative sequela. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia is a major public health issue and a heavy economic burden. It is urgently necessary to understand the underlying biological processes and to identify biomarkers predicting risk of dementia in the preclinical stage for prevention and treatment. By using the data of the 367,093 white British individuals from UK Biobank, we investigated the relationship between 56 laboratory measures and 5-year dementia incidence using logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios for dementia incidence with values below or above the 95 % confidence interval (<2.5th or > 97.5th percentile) on each of clinical laboratory tests were computed. We observed that markers of endocrine dysregulation: elevated hemoglobin A1C (AOR = 2.01 [1.35, 2.88]) was associated with increased dementia incidence. Indicators of liver dysfunction: elevated gamma glutamyltransferase (AOR = 2.28 [1.49, 3.32]), and albumin (AOR = 2.01 [1.15, 3.25]), indicators of renal impairment: high urea (AOR = 1.69 [1.15, 2.40]), and cystatin C (AOR = 1.89 [1.30, 2.67]), and some immune markers, like elevated neutrophill count, low lymphocyte count, and indicators of anemia were also observed to be associated with increased dementia incidence. Both low and high concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 were found to be risk factors for dementia. This is an observational study. Several systemic biomarkers were associated with dementia incidence. These results implicate a contributory role of diverse biological processes to dementia onset, and enrich our understanding of potential dementia prevention strategy. • We examined associations of serum lab tests with dementia incidence longitudinally. • Endocrine, liver, renal dysfunction, immunity, and anemia markers are linked to dementia. • Our findings suggest diverse biological processes contribute to dementia onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Southern and Eastern Africa, initiation of daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention has been high among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) offered PrEP. However, persistence and prevention-effective use of PrEP among this critical group continues to be a challenge. We conducted a qualitative sub-study of AGYW from the Community PrEP Study in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa who had high rates of pick up for monthly PrEP refills over two years, but differing levels of PrEP adherence based on tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) measurements in dried blood spots (DBS). Contrasting 22 AGYW with low versus high levels of TFV-DP in DBS, we qualitatively explored factors which influenced PrEP persistence vs. non-persistence, unique patterns of PrEP use (e.g., discarding or stockpiling), and participant recommendations for improving AGYW prevention-effective use of PrEP in the future. Results showed that PrEP misconceptions and mistrust among participants' social networks negatively influenced adherence. In comparison, supportive families and/or partners and personal trust that PrEP works positively influenced adherence. Those with low adherence described being motivated to come to the site for other study benefits (e.g., reimbursement money, snacks, sanitary pads) and discarding PrEP to avoid stigma associated with being seen with pills. Future PrEP implementation strategies should focus on involving families and partners in PrEP support for AGYW and minimizing PrEP stigma at a community level. Trial registration NCT03977181. Retrospectively registered on June 6, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) in immunomodulation on non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mice, as the model for Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Methods: Carbon quantum dots were generated from Setaria viridis via a hydrothermal process. Their toxic effects were tested by cell viability and blood chemistry analysis, meanwhile therapeutic effects were investigated in NOD mice in the aspects of saliva flow, histology, and immune cell distribution. Results: Carbon quantum dots, with rich surface chemistry and unique optical properties, showed non‐cytotoxicity in vitro or no damage in vivo. Intravenously applied CQDs alleviated inflammation in the submandibular glands in NOD mice after 6‐week treatments. The inflammatory area index and focus score were significantly decreased in CQD‐treated mice. Besides, the levels of anti‐SSA and anti‐SSB were decreased in the presence of CQDs. The stimulated saliva flow rates and weight of submandibular glands were significantly increased in CQD‐treated mice by reducing the apoptosis of cells. The CD3+ and CD4+ T cells distributed around the ducts of submandibular glands were significantly decreased, while the percentage of Foxp3+ cells was higher in CQD‐treated mice than that in the control group. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that CQDs may ameliorate the dysregulated immune processes in NOD mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the field of oncology pharmacotherapy has progressed rapidly with the introduction of novel targeted therapies, there are many unintended side effects that require knowledge of laboratory monitoring for appropriate management. The purpose of this article is to summarize the importance of appropriately interpreting laboratory test results, understanding the implications of blood chemistries, and using resources available for monitoring the parameters of novel oncologic therapies. AT A GLANCE * Novel targeted drugs used in cancer treatment can have off-target effects that may affect many organ systems, depending on the drug. * Off-target effects create less predictable side effect profiles compared with cytotoxic chemotherapy. * Nurses can manage treatment side effects through monitoring of laboratory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The clinical laboratory testing process has three phases, and one of the most common errors that adversely affect the accuracy of laboratory test results occurs in the pre-analytical phase. Different brands of blood collection tubes used in laboratories can adversely affect the accuracy of the parameters. This study aims to compare the clot activator gel biochemistry tubes for selected clinical parameters. Methods: Fifty healthy volunteers aged between 18-70 years were included who didn't have any chronic or inflammatory disease, any clinical or pathological disease, and didn't use any medication. The biochemical parameters such as serum albumin, creatinine (crea), urea, triglyceride (TG), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chloride (Cl) levels; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured by an autoanalyzer. Student's t-test and Bland-Altman plot methods were used for statistical data analysis by SPSS software. Results: There was no statistical difference between the two different tube brands in terms of all evaluated clinical parameters that could affect the accuracy of the test results. Discussion and Conclusion: When the BD® brand tube is taken as a reference, it is thought that AYSET® tubes give the same or close values, and the clinical use of AYSET® brand tubes will not cause an error in laboratory tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) become available to clinicians for routine clinical decision-making, many wonder how to define a meaningful change in a patient's PROM score. Some PROMs have a specific threshold that indicates meaningful change, but since those numbers are based on population averages, they do not necessarily apply to the varying experiences of each individual patient. Rather than viewing this as a weakness of PROMs, it is worth considering how clinicians use other existing measures in clinical decision-making—and whether PROMs can be used similarly. Body: An informal survey of 43 clinicians reported using measures such as weight, blood pressure, and blood chemistry to inform clinical decision-making. Although clinicians were very consistent with what constituted a meaningful change for some measures (e.g., ECOG performance status), other measures had considerable variability (e.g., weight), often informed by their specialization (for example, differing thresholds for meaningful weight change for adult primary care, pediatrics, and oncology). For interpreting change in measures, they relied on clinical experience (44%), published literature (38%), and established guidelines (35%). In open-response comments, many clarified that the results of any measure had to be taken in the context of each individual patient before making treatment decisions. In short, clinicians already apply individualized clinical judgment when interpreting score changes in existing clinical measures. As clinicians gain familiarity with PROMs, PROMs will likely be utilized in the same way. Conclusion: Like other clinical measures from weight to blood chemistry, change in a PROM score is but one piece of a patient's clinical story. Rather than relying on a hard-and-fast number for defining clinically meaningful change in a PROM score, providers should—and many already do—consider the full scope of a patient's experience as they make treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the liver and renal function, blood lipids, and blood glucose at 3 months after blood donation in long-term blood donors aged 45-65 years, as well as the possibility of continuing to donate blood after exceeding the age for blood donation. Methods The long-term blood donors who donated blood at our station from September to December 2016 were selected, and according to the age, they were divided into group A (45-49 years of age), group B (50-54 years of age), group C (55-59 years of age), and group D (60-65 years of age). Liver and renal function, blood glucose, and blood lipid levels were measured at 3 months after the most recent blood donation and were compared between groups. Results There was a significant difference in the serum level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at 3 months after blood donation between groups A/B/C and group D (t=2.45-4.61,P0.05). Conclusion The long-term blood donors, aged 45-59 years, tend to have stable liver and renal function, blood lipids, and blood glucose at 3 months after blood donation, and long-term blood donation does not affect the above indicators. The blood donors aged 60-65 years have a higher level of LDL-C after blood donation, with other indicators remaining stable, and therefore, they may be considered as potential blood donors.

The role of complement in human autoimmune, inflammatory, and infectious diseases is reviewed, focusing on clinical applicability. A typical case is presented in which serum testing for C3 and C4 is performed to help assess a syndrome with a broad differential diagnosis. The review includes a discussion of complement deficiency states, consumption of complement by diseases characterized by immune‐complex formation and deposition, usefulness and interpretation of laboratory tests for complement, and development of drugs targeting specific components of the complement pathway for a growing number of indications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the relationship of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in adolescents with a parental history of premature coronary artery disease (PCAD). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 healthy adolescents, aged 14–18 years, both sexes, with a parental history of PCAD, that were compared to 50 controls without this history. Questionnaires regarding information of CRFs were applied. Blood chemistry analyses, included lipid profile, lipoprotein (a), low density lipoprotein (LDL) susceptibility to oxidation, and inflammatory cytokine levels. The IMT was evaluated by ultrasound. Results: The mean age of all participants was 15.9 years. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and lipid profile were similar in both groups. However, the parental history of PCAD group exhibited lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, shorter LDL particle oxidation time, and higher lipoprotein (a) levels compared to the control group. IMT was significantly higher in adolescents with a parental history of PCAD compared to controls, (0.53 ± 0.04 mm vs 0.47 ± 0.02 mm, p = 0.001). Among adolescents with a parental history of PCAD, those with ≥ 3 CRFs had significantly higher IMT values (0.56 mm) than those with < 3 CRFs (0.52 mm) and controls (0.48 mm). Multivariable analyses identified that systolic blood pressure and parental history of PCAD explained 26.8% and 16.1% of the variation in IMT. Furthermore, body mass index, LDL-C, ApoB-100, triglycerides and lipoprotein (a) interact with blood pressure levels to explain the IMT values. Conclusion: Adolescents with a parental history of PCAD had higher IMT values than the control group, primary explained by systolic blood pressure and the parental inheritance. Adolescents with parental history of PCAD and ≥ 3 CRFs exhibited the highest IMT values. Notably, lipids and systolic blood pressure jointly contribute to explain IMT in these adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a step-by-step guide for nurses to interpret arterial blood gas (ABG) results, focusing on five key components: SaO2, PaO2, pH, PaCO2, and HCO3-. It explains how to assess a patient's oxygenation status, compensation levels, and determine if there is an acid-base disturbance and if that disturbance is respiratory or metabolic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The management of severe burns remains a complex challenge. Adenosine, lidocaine, and magnesium (ALM) resuscitation therapy has been shown to protect against hemorrhagic shock and traumatic injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate the early protective effects of small-volume ALM fluid resuscitation in a rat model of 30% total body surface area (TBSA) thermal injury. Male Sprague–Dawley rats (320–340 g; n = 25) were randomly assigned to: 1) Sham (surgical instrumentation and saline infusion, without burn, n = 5), 2) Saline resuscitation group (n = 10), or 3) ALM resuscitation group (n = 10). Treatments were initiated 15-min after burn trauma, including 0.7 mL/kg 3% NaCl ± ALM bolus and 0.25–0.5 mL/kg/h 0.9% NaCl ± ALM drip, with animals monitored to 8.25-hr post-burn. Hemodynamics, cardiac function, blood chemistry, hematology, endothelial injury markers and histopathology were assessed. Survival was 100% for Shams and 90% for both ALM and Saline groups. Shams underwent significant physiological, immune and hematological changes over time as a result of surgical traums. ALM significantly reduced malondialdehyde levels in the lungs compared to Saline (P =.023), and showed minimal alveolar destruction and inflammatory cell infiltration (P <.001). ALM also improved cardiac function and oxygen delivery (21%, P =.418 vs Saline), reduced gut injury (P <.001 vs Saline), and increased plasma adiponectin (P <.001 vs baseline). Circulating levels of the acute phase protein alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) increased 1.6-times (P <.001), which may have impacted ALM's therapeutic efficacy. We conclude that small-volume ALM therapy significantly reduced lung oxidative stress and preserved alveolar integrity following severe burn trauma. Further studies are required to assess higher ALM doses with longer monitoring periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has become a crucial innovation in forensic science, particularly for analysing bodily fluids. This advanced technology captures both spectral and spatial data across a wide spectrum of wavelengths, offering comprehensive insights into the composition and distribution of bodily fluids found at crime scenes. In this review, we delve into the forensic applications of HSI, emphasizing its role in detecting, identifying, and distinguishing various bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, vaginal fluid, semen, and menstrual blood. We examine the benefits of HSI compared to traditional methods, noting its non-destructive approach, high sensitivity, and capability to differentiate fluids even in complex mixtures. Additionally, we discuss recent advancements in HSI technology and their potential to enhance forensic investigations. This review highlights the importance of HSI as a valuable tool in forensic science, opening new pathways for improving the accuracy and efficiency of crime scene analyses., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in the manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Symphysodon discus is known in the world of aquariums for its market value, beauty, and behavior. However, more substantial information about its physiology and biology must be available, which can hinder its development and maintenance in breeding systems. The study evaluated the blood biochemistry and erythrogram of 20 specimens of S. discus captured in the municipality of Barcelos, Amazonas, with an average weight of 89.80 ± 7.13 g and an average length of 13.48 ± 0.55 cm. The erythrogram evaluated variables such as hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Blood biochemistry was analyzed, including cholesterol levels, total proteins, triglycerides, glucose, urea, and chlorides. Intra-specific variations were observed between the surveyed individuals about the Hb, MCV, and MCH values. The values of triglycerides, cholesterol, and chlorides were elevated compared to other cichlids. This study may be useful to serve as a parameter to indicate the normal health conditions of this Amazonian cichlid. It can be applied in studies for ornamental fish farming and actions for managing and conserving the species.

Objectives: To compare the hematologic, blood chemistry, and coagulation test results between two blood sampling methods via central venous access devices (CVADs) and venipuncture., Method: The authors searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) for controlled studies that compared the differences in hematologic, blood chemistry, and coagulation test results between venipuncture and CVADs from the date of database establishment to July 2022. Two researchers independently performed the literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. The standardized mean difference was used as the effect size for continuous variables and a 95% confidence interval was provided. The random-effects model was used for an I 2  > 50%, otherwise the fixed-effects model was used. Sources of heterogeneity were determined by subgroup analysis or sensitivity analysis, as indicated., Results: This review ultimately identified 17 studies for systematic review, of which 12 were selected for meta-analysis. A total of 541 adult participants were included in the meta-analysis. With the exception of the activated partial thromboplastin time, there were no significant differences in hematologic, blood chemistry, and coagulation test results between blood sampling via venipuncture and CVADs., Conclusions: The results of this study provide substantial evidence that blood sampling via venipuncture and CVADs had equal reliability in most laboratory tests. Serial blood sampling via CVADs will reduce the risk of bleeding episodes and pain at the blood collection site, and safety for healthcare professionals., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer., a famous and valuable traditional Chinese medicine with thousand years of history for its healthcare and therapeutic effects. It is necessary and meaningful to study the pharmacokinetic behavior of ginsenosides in vivo as they are the most active components. Dried blood spots (DBS) are a mature and advanced blood collection method with meet the needs for the measurement of numerous analytes. This study aimed to explore the feasibility on DBS in the metabolic profile analysis of complex herbal products. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of ginsenosides. The preparation of DBS samples was conducted by spiking the whole blood with analytes to obtain 20 μL of blood spots on Whatman 903 collection card. A punched dish of 10 mm in diameter was extracted with 70 % methanol aqueous solution, digoxin was used as an internal standard. Target compounds were separated on a Waters T3 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.8 μm) with acetonitrile and water (0.1 % formic acid) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The various ginsenosides showed good linearity in the range of 1–2000 ng/mL. The extraction recoveries and matrix effects of the target analytes were above 82.2%. The intra- and inter-batch accuracy and precision were within the limits of ≤15% for all tested concentrations. Moreover, the collected dried blood spot samples could be stably stored at room temperature for 14 days and 4 °C for 1 month without being affected. And it is delightful that the DBS-based analysis is compatible or even superior to the conventional protein precipitation in terms of sensitivity, linearity, and stability. In particular, the target analytes are stable in the DBS sampling under normal storing condition and the sensitivity for some trace metabolites of ginsenosides, such as 20(S)-Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, F1, Rk1, Rg5, etc. increases 3–4 folds as evaluated by LLOQ. The established method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies of ginseng extract in mice, this suggests a more feasible strategy for pharmacokinetic study of traditional and natural medicines both in animal tests and clinical trials. [Display omitted] • A new strategy using DBS with 20 μL of blood for pharmacokinetics of ginseng extract. • Ginsenosides were quantified with comprehensive advantages by DBS treatment. • Four pairs of epimeric rare ginsenosides metabolites were monitored at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the sources of biosamples found at crime scenes is crucial for forensic investigations. Among the markers used for body fluid identification (BFI), mRNA has emerged as a well-studied marker because of its high specificity and remarkable stability. Despite this potential, commercially available mRNA kits specifically designed for BFI are lacking. Therefore, we developed an mRNA kit that includes 21 specific mRNA markers of body fluids, along with three housekeeping genes for BFI, to identify four forensic-relevant fluids (blood, semen, saliva, and vaginal fluids). In this study, we tested 451 single-body-fluid samples, validated the universality of the mRNA kit, and obtained a gene expression profile. We performed the validation studies in triplicates and determined the sensitivity, specificity, stability, precision, and repeatability of the mRNA kit. The sensitivity of the kit was found to be 0.1 ng. Our validation process involved the examination of 59 RNA mixtures, 60 body fluids mixtures, and 20 casework samples, which further established the reliability of the kit. Furthermore, we constructed five classifiers that can handle single-body fluids and mixtures using this kit. The classifiers output possibility values and identify the specific body fluids of interest. Our results showed the reliability and suitability of the BFI kit, and the Random Forest classifier performed the best, with 94% precision. In conclusion, we developed an mRNA kit for BFI which can be a promising tool for forensic practice., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Fascioliasis is a trematodiasis that affects domestic and wild animals as well as humans worldwide. It is a well-recognized disease in livestock, were it produces serious economic losses. Yet in cattle, there is limited information about the burden of liver flukes and its relation to the eggs per gram shed to the environment. There is also lack of knowledge on the effect of parasite load in blood parameters of infected animals, which is important to evaluate the severity and progression of the disease. The objective of this work was to gain insight in these aspects. Cattle from Mendoza province, Argentina, were inspected at a farm and at the abattoir determining the presence or absence of Fasciola hepatica. Each animal was sampled for blood and feces and in the slaughterhouse the livers were inspected. Hematology and blood chemistry parameters were determined, feces were examined for F. hepatica eggs by a quantitative sedimentation technique and livers were thoroughly inspected to determine the number of flukes. Infected cattle presented a mild burden of liver flukes per animal, strongly correlated (r = 0.72) to the number of eggs per gram of feces. The total number of eggs (X̄=35,100) shed per animal to the environment and the type of livestock management techniques in the region exacerbate the role of cattle as efficient reservoirs of this disease. Statistically significant lower red blood cell, lymphocyte and neutrophil counts were observed in infected compared to uninfected animals. All hepatic parameters tested showed highly statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) as well as proteins by cause of rise of globulins in infected cattle. The correlation between the amount of flukes in the liver and the number of eggs per gram of faces indicates coprology as a reliable and cost-effective method to infer parasite burden. The impact of fascioliasis on blood parameters can be of aid for the veterinary practitioner on the assessment of this disease on cattle., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Criminal investigations, particularly sexual assaults, frequently require the identification of body fluid type in addition to body fluid donor to provide context. In most cases this can be achieved by conventional methods, however, in certain scenarios, alternative molecular methods are required. An example of this is the detection of menstrual fluid and vaginal material, which are not able to be identified using conventional techniques. Endpoint reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) is currently used for this purpose to amplify body fluid specific messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts in forensic casework. Real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) is a similar method but utilises fluorescent markers to generate quantitative results in the form of threshold cycle (C q ) values. Despite the uncertainty surrounding body fluid identification, most interpretation guidelines utilise categorical statements. Probabilistic modelling is more realistic as it reflects biological variation as well as the known performance of the method. This research describes the application of various machine learning models to single-source mRNA profiles obtained by RT-qPCR and assesses their performance. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR), Naïve Bayes (NB), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used to discriminate between the following body fluid categories: saliva, circulatory blood, menstrual fluid, vaginal material, and semen. We identified that the performance of MLR was somewhat improved when the quantitative dataset of the original C q values was used (overall accuracy of approximately 0.95) rather than presence/absence coded data (overall accuracy of approximately 0.94). This indicates that the quantitative information obtained by RT-qPCR amplification is useful in assigning body fluid class. Of the three classification methods, MLR performed the best. When we utilised receiver operating characteristic curves to observe performance by body fluid class, it was clear that all methods found difficulty in classifying menstrual blood samples. Future work will involve the modelling of body fluid mixtures, which are common in samples analysed as part of sexual assault investigations., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hematological and biochemical blood parameters are important tools for evaluating animals' health. They might be crucial in assessing the health of entire populations of wild animals, such as European bison (Bison bonasus). The aim of this study was to establish hematological and biochemical values for healthy European bison and to determine whether there were significant relations with age and sex. Blood samples were collected from 79 animals and tested according to generally accepted standards and the results were subjected to statistical analysis. Most of the age and gender-related correlations found in our study were predictable based on previous reports. Due to bone growth, juvenile animals have typically higher ALP and P concentrations relative to adults. Several age-related dependencies were surprising, like higher Na concentration in younger European bison. Determination of hematological and biochemical blood parameters of healthy European bison may significantly contribute to the further restitution of this endangered species., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Didkowska et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)