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Commercially available immunoassays have been developed for sensitive and specific detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. While high sensitivity has been reported in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, little is known about the performance of the assays in ambulatory patients. Therefore, we evaluated the SARS-CoV-2-IgG response in 5SR-CoV-2-PCR-confirmed outpatients with five commercial immunoassays. The sensitivity in serum samples, collected at a median of 2ys after onset of symptoms, detected by the Anti-SARS-CoV-2-ELISA IgG (Euroimmun), EDI™ Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 IgG ELISA (Epitope Diagnostics), Liaison SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG (Diasorin), SARS-CoV-2 IgG on the Architect™ i2000 (Abbott), and Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (IgM/IgA/IgG) on the cobas™ e801 (Roche) was 84.3%, 78.4%, 74.5%, 86.3%, and 88.2%, respectively. The sensitivity in serum samples, collected >20 days after onset of symptoms, varied between 75.0% and 90.0%, and in samples, collected at least 28 days after onset of symptoms, did not increase, except in the Anti-SARS-CoV-2-ELISA IgG by Euroimmun (90.0%). There was not an obvious association between the type of the antigen (N versus S protein) and the overall sensitivity of the assays. Our results show significant individual differences of the IgG response against SARS-CoV-2, additionally confirmed in three patients with follow-up serum samples and seven asymptomatic but PCR-positive contact persons. In conclusion, our study shows that commercially available immunoassays detect SARS-CoV-2-IgG or total antibodies in outpatients with a satisfying sensitivity, but lower than that reported for hospitalized patients. In asymptomatic persons the SARS-CoV-2-IgG response may even be absent in a relevant percentage of persons.

Serological detection of echinococcosis is crucial for diagnosis and management. We evaluated the new blot assay Euroline-WB (ELB, Euroimmun) which consists of a Western blot with vesicle antigens and a line blot part with recombinant antigens from (, genus-specific EgAgB) and (species-specific Em18 and Em95), in comparison to a commercial Western Blot (EWB, LDBio) for detection and species differentiation of echinococcosis within routine laboratory diagnostics. Thirty-five serum samples from 35 patients classified according to a standardized classification were included in the analysis. Out of 24 cases of proven and probable infection with or 16 (66.7%) and 15 (62.5%) were correctly identified on species level by EWB and ELB, respectively. False species were assigned in two cases by EWB but none by ELB. Negative blot results in patients with proven infections were noticed in 8.3% (ELB) compared to 4.2% (EWB), but were limited to patients with antiparasitic therapy or post-surgery indicating a treatment-induced loss of antibody activity. Thus, identification of infection at least on the genus level was possible in 23/24 (95.8%) and 19/24 (79.2%) of patients by EWB and ELB (or 22/24 patients (91.7%) including borderline results of ELB), respectively. Recombinant Em18 and Em95 were highly specific for detection of infection but differed in sensitivity (Em18 56% and 80 %, and Em95 22% and 20% in proven and probable infections, respectively). Advantages of ELB are the standardized analysis of the banding pattern by EUROLineScan software and a faster turn-around-time.

Background: To retrospectively investigate scatter radiation (SCR) exposure among staff in the endourology operating theatre. Methods: During surgeries under fluoroscopic guidance, five professional groups (urological surgeon [US], surgical nurse [SN], assistant surgical nurse [ASN], anaesthetist [A], and anaesthesia care [AC]) wore real-time dosimeters (Philips DoseAware System) on their head and chest over lead aprons between July 2023 and February 2024. The SCR data were analysed and correlated with procedural and patient factors. Results: In total, 249 procedures were performed, including 86 retrograde intrarenal surgeries and 10 percutaneous nephrolithotomies. Median SCR exposure was 38.81, 17.20, 7.71, 11.58, 0.63, 0.23, 0.12, and 0.15 Microsievert (µSv) for US chest (USC), US head (USH), SN chest (SNC), SN head (SNH), A chest (AC), AC chest (ACC), ASN chest (ASNC), and ASN head (ASNH), respectively. There was a significant correlation between DAP and SCR doses detected by USC, USH, SNC, SNH, AC, and ACC dosimeters (p < 0.05). The median chest-to-eye conversion factor (CECF) was 2.11 for the US and 0.71 for the SN. Conclusions: This study, using real-time dosimetry, is among the first to assess staff occupational SCR exposure in endourology. It highlights a substantial SCR exposure, indicating an occupational health hazard that warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to prospectively assess the extent to which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can differentiate malignant from benign lesions of the testis. Materials and Methods: All included patients underwent multiparametric testicular MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and subtraction dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Subsequently, all patients underwent a histopathological examination via orchiectomy or testicular biopsy/partial resection. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression were applied for statistical analysis. Results: We included 48 male patients (median age 37.5 years [range 18–69]) with testicular tumors. The median tumor size on MRI was 2.0 cm for malignant tumors and 1.1 cm for benign tumors (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed for the type (type 0-III curve, p < 0.05) and pattern of enhancement (homogeneous, heterogeneous, or rim-like, p < 0.01) between malignant and benign tumors. The minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value was 0.9 for benign tumors and 0.7 for malignant tumors (each ×103 mm2/s, p < 0.05), while the mean ADC was 0.05. The mean ADC value was significantly lower for malignant tumors; the mean ADC value was 1.1 for benign tumors and 0.9 for malignant tumors (each ×103 mm2/s, p < 0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of multiparametric MRI for differentiating malignant from benign testicular lesions were 94.3%, 76.9%, 91.7%, and 83.3%, respectively. The surgical procedures performed included orchiectomy (n = 33; 71.7%) and partial testicular resection (n = 11; 23.9%). Histopathology (HP) revealed malignancy in 35 patients (72.9%), including 26 with seminomas and 9 with non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs). The HP was benign in 13 (27.1%) patients, including 5 with Leydig cell tumors. Conclusions: Malignant and benign tumors differ in MRI characteristics in terms of the type and pattern of enhancement and the extent of diffusion restriction, indicating that MRI can be an important imaging modality for the accurate diagnosis of testicular lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercially available immunoassays have been developed for detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. However, equivocal and discrepant results between different immunoassay can occur requiring further assessment by confirmatory tests.

Background: Cranio-maxillofacial (CMF) injuries represent a significant challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure, resources, and training. This systematic review aims to evaluate the current strategies and solutions proposed in the literature to improve CMF fracture care in LMICs, focusing on education, patient transfer, and off-label solutions. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed/Medline from January 2000 to June 2023. Studies were selected based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Statement (PRISMA). Solutions were categorized into three main areas: education (digital and on-site teaching, fellowships abroad), patient transfer to specialized clinics, and off-label/non-operative solutions. Results: Twenty-three articles were included in the review, revealing a consensus on the necessity for enhanced education and training for local surgeons as the cornerstone for sustainable improvements in CMF care in LMICs. Digital platforms and on-site teaching were identified as key methods for delivering educational content. Furthermore, patient transfer to specialized national clinics and innovative off-label techniques were discussed as immediate solutions to provide quality care despite resource constraints. Conclusions: Effective CMF fracture care in LMICs requires a multifaceted approach, prioritizing the education and training of local healthcare professionals, facilitated patient transfer to specialized centers, and the adoption of off-label solutions to leverage available resources. Collaborative efforts between international organizations, local healthcare providers, and educational institutions are essential to implement these solutions effectively and improve patient outcomes in LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to compare the sperm quality in different cancer types and benign diseases before gonadotoxic treatment, and assess the usage rate of cryopreserved sperm for assisted reproductive treatment (ART). This retrospective study was conducted at two university clinics between January 2008 and July 2018. A total of 545 patients suffering from cancer or benign diseases were included in the study. The pretreatment sperm analyses were based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Patients with testicular malignancy (TM) showed a significantly lower sperm count (median [interquartile range]: 18.7 × 106 [5.3 × 106–43.0 × 106] ml−1; P = 0.03) as well as total sperm count (42.4 × 106 [13.3 × 106–108.5 × 106] per ejaculate; P = 0.007) compared to other malignant and benign diseases. In addition, patients with nonseminomatous TM showed the lowest sperm count (14.3 × 106 [6.0 × 106–29.9 × 106] ml−1, vs seminomas: 16.5 × 106 [4.6 × 106–20.3 × 106] ml−1; P = 0.001). With reference to the WHO 2010 guidelines, approximately 48.0% of the patients with TM and 23.0% with hematological malignancies (HM) had oligozoospermia. During the observation period, only 29 patients (5.3%) used their frozen sperms for 48 ART cycles, resulting in 15 clinical pregnancies and 10 live births. The sperm quality varies with the type of underlying disease, with TM and HM patients showing the lowest sperm counts. Due to the observed low usage rate of cryopreserved sperm, further patient interviews and sperm analyses should be included in the routine oncologic protocols to avoid unnecessary storage expenses. However, sperm banking is worth the effort as it provides hope for men who cannot reproduce naturally after gonadotoxic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) and free PSA (fPSA) are important tools for diagnosing prostate cancer (PC). Efforts are continuously undertaken to provide more patient-centered healthcare. The application of point-of-care (POC) systems for laboratory analyses represents a step in this direction. Previous investigations on total PSA measurements using a POC system (concile® O100 POC reader) showed good concordance with standard laboratory measurements. For the same POC reader a novel system for fPSA was developed. In the current study, we prospectively evaluated the quality of the POC system for fPSA. Methods: Sixty-four patients undergoing PSA measurements in our outpatient clinic between 06/2015 and 09/2015 were enrolled in the study. We measured total PSA (tPSA) and fPSA with a POC reader system (concile® O100) and a standard laboratory system (Siemens Immulite 2000®) and compared the respective results using linear regression analyses for PSA, fPSA, and fPSA/tPSA ratio (%fPSA). Results: The coefficients of determination (r²) for fPSA and %fPSA were 0.85 (p < 0.001) and 0.82 (p < 0.001) in the subgroup with total PSA between 4 and 10 ng/mL. In the subgroup with tPSA = 4 ng/mL, r² for fPSA concile® was 0.55 (p < 0.001) and 0.10 (p = 0.088) for %fPSA. In the subgroup of tPSA > 10 ng/mL the r² for fPSA and %fPSA was 0.50 (p = 0.022) and 0.50 (p = 0.022), respectively. Conclusions: The POC fPSA values correlated well with the laboratory analyses, specifically in the clinically relevant diagnostic range of tPSA 4 - 10 ng/mL. These results complement the tPSA data obtained previously and indicate the reliability of the fPSA method and the resulting %fPSA score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The performance of urinary markers for detecting bladder cancer (BC) is influenced by various factors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of smoking habits on the performance of four commonly used urine markers.Methods: Urine samples of 723 patients with suspected BC were analysed using urine cytology, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), immunocytology (uCyt+ test), and quantitative nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) immunoassay. The smoking habits of all patients were recorded and a cystoscopy performed within 2 weeks after urinary marker testing. Rates of false negative and false positive results were compared between non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers by contingency analyses.Results: We included 723 patients in this study, 431 (59.6%) of which were non-smokers, 215 former smokers (29.7%), and 77 (10.7%) current smokers. 148 patients (20.5%) had a tumour at the time of urinary marker testing. Respective rates of false positive test results among non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers were: 16.3, 19.1, and 11.5% (p = 0.81) for urine cytology; 36.8, 42.0, and 32.7% for the uCyt+ test (p = 0.88); 18.0, 19.1, and 13.5% for FISH (p = 0.66); and 69.5, 71.6, and 71.2% for NMP22 (p = 0.67). Respective rates of false negatives among non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers were: 31.4, 15.1, and 28.0% for cytology (p = 0.34); 21.4, 22.6, and 16.0% for uCyt+ test (p = 0.67); 24.3, 13.2, and 28.0% for FISH (p = 0.88); and 10.0, 18.9, and 8.0% for NMP22 (p = 0.80).Conclusions: Our results strongly suggest that smoking habits do not affect performance characteristics of urinary markers in the diagnostics of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]