The STRATUS CS200 (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., USA) has recently been developed as an on-site diagnostic instrument for assaying several kinds of cardiac markers within a short duration. The precision, linearity, comparison, limit of quantification, and turnaround time (TAT) were evaluated for troponin I, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and myoglobin assays according to guidelines provided by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The total coefficients of variation of the four items were between 1.90% and 4.25%. All markers showed a linearity that was ≥0.99, and the values were within the manufacturer's range. All items showed a close correlation with E170 (Roche Diagnostics, Germany). The limits of quantification for troponin I, CK-MB, myoglobin, and NT-proBNP were 0.03 ng/mL, 0.3 ng/mL, 1 ng/mL, and 15 pg/mL, respectively. The TAT was 14 minutes. The performance of the STRATUS CS200 for assaying cardiac markers was highly satisfactory in terms of the precision, linearity, limit of quantification, and TAT, and it showed a good correlation with the comparative method.
Creatine ; Delivery of Health Care ; Methods ; Myoglobin ; Troponin I

BACKGROUND: Early detection of moderately increased albuminuria using the albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) test is very important for preventing renal insufficiency and cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes. The purpose of this study was to analyse the clinical usefulness of the Afinion AS100 Analyzer (Alere Technologies AS, Norway) for determining the ACR by evaluating its precision and linearity and comparing it with another conventional device. METHODS: Urine samples of patients and quality control materials were used for evaluation. The Afinion AS100 was used to measure albumin and creatinine, and the ACR was automatically calculated. The Cobas Integra 800 (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) was used as a reference instrument for correlation analysis. In accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, precision, linearity, and turnaround time were evaluated, and the Afinion AS100 was compared with another device. RESULTS: The total coefficients of variation of albumin and creatinine were 2.8% and 2.9% for high concentration and 2.9% and 2.5% for low concentration, respectively. Both albumin and creatinine showed coefficients of determination of 0.999 or higher in linearity. Correlation coefficients of albumin, creatinine, and ACR were higher than the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute recommended value of 0.975, suggesting a high correlation as well as showing significant correlation with a 24-hour urinary albumin level obtained using the Cobas Integra 800. Mean turnaround time was 5 minute 35 seconds. CONCLUSIONS: The albumin, creatinine, and ACR tests performed with the Afinion AS100 showed satisfactory performance in terms of precision and linearity and showed good correlation with the central laboratory instrument and a 24-hour urine albumin quantitative test using a conventional instrument.
Albuminuria ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Creatinine* ; Humans ; Quality Control ; Renal Insufficiency

Temporal and subcellular distributions of hyaluronic acid (HA) as a degradable nanoparticle (NP) in animals were investigated to determine if HA-NP could be utilized as an appropriate drug delivery system. After mice were intravenously injected with 5 mg/kg of Cy5.5-labeled HA-NP sized 350–400 nm or larger HA-polymers, the fluorescence intensity was measured in all homogenized organs from 0.5 h to 28 days. HA-NP was greatly detected in spleen, liver and kidney until day 28, while it was maintained at low levels in other organs. HA-polymer was observed at low levels in all organs. HA-NP quantities in spleen and liver were reduced until day 3, but increased sharply between days 3 and 7, then decreased again, while their HA-polymers were maintained at low levels until day 28. In kidneys, both HA-NP and HA-polymer showed high levels after 0.5 h of administration, but steadily decreased until day 28. According to ultrastructural analyses, HA-NP was engulfed in Kupffer cells of liver and macrophages of spleen and kidney at day 1 and was accumulated in the cytoplasm of kidney tubular cells at day 7. Overall, these findings suggest that HA-NP could be considered a desirable drug carrier in the liver, kidney, or spleen.
Animals ; Cytoplasm ; Drug Carriers* ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Fluorescence ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Kidney ; Kupffer Cells ; Liver ; Macrophages ; Mice* ; Nanoparticles* ; Pharmacokinetics ; Spleen

Emodin is an anthraquinone derivative from the roots of Rheum officinale Baill that possesses a variety of biological activities, including inhibition of 5α-reductase and prostaglandin D2. In this study, we investigated whether emodin promotes hair growth. After emodin was topically applied to the shaved dorsal skin of telogenic C57BL/6 N mice, the hair growth rate and morphological analysis were evaluated in dorsal skin for 15 days. After 13 days of treatment, minoxidil or emodin (0.01% or 0.1%)-treated groups showed remarkable regrowth of hairs relative to the vehicle control group. Scoring of the hair growth and rate of hair growth area for 15 days revealed that groups treated with minoxidil and 0.1% emodin were significantly higher than the vehicle control group. Histological examination revealed the emodin and minoxidil groups markedly recovered the number and morphology of hair follicles, including the subcutis depth, relative to the vehicle group. These results suggest that emodin has an excellent promoting effect in hair growth similar to that of minoxidil and might be useful for treatment of baldness or alopecia.
Alopecia ; Animals ; Emodin* ; Hair Follicle ; Hair* ; Mice* ; Minoxidil ; Prostaglandin D2 ; Rheum ; Skin

We investigated whether β-carotene (β-CA) or ellagic acid (EA), originating from various fruits and vegetables, has a preventive effect against male infertility induced by exogenous scrotal hyperthermia. ICR adult mice were intraperitoneally treated with 10 mg/kg of β-CA or EA daily for 13 days consecutively. During this time, mice were subjected to transient scrotal heat stress in a water bath at 43℃ for 20 min on day 7, and their testes and blood were obtained on day 14 for histopathologic and biochemical analyses. Heat stress induced significant testicular weight reduction, germ cell loss and degeneration, as well as abnormal localization of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in spermatogenic and Leydig cells. Heat stress also altered the levels of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, SOD activity, and PHGPx, MnSOD, and HIF-1α mRNAs), apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-xL, caspase 3, NF-κB, and TGF-β1 mRNAs), and androgen biosynthesis (serological testosterone concentration and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA) in testes. These changes were all improved significantly by β-CA treatment, but only slightly improved by EA treatment. These findings indicate that β-CA, through modulations of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and androgen biosynthesis, is a potent preventive agent against testicular injuries induced by scrotal hyperthermia.

We investigated whether β-carotene (β-CA) or ellagic acid (EA), originating from various fruits and vegetables, has a preventive effect against male infertility induced by exogenous scrotal hyperthermia. ICR adult mice were intraperitoneally treated with 10 mg/kg of β-CA or EA daily for 13 days consecutively. During this time, mice were subjected to transient scrotal heat stress in a water bath at 43℃ for 20 min on day 7, and their testes and blood were obtained on day 14 for histopathologic and biochemical analyses. Heat stress induced significant testicular weight reduction, germ cell loss and degeneration, as well as abnormal localization of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in spermatogenic and Leydig cells. Heat stress also altered the levels of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, SOD activity, and PHGPx, MnSOD, and HIF-1α mRNAs), apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-xL, caspase 3, NF-κB, and TGF-β1 mRNAs), and androgen biosynthesis (serological testosterone concentration and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA) in testes. These changes were all improved significantly by β-CA treatment, but only slightly improved by EA treatment. These findings indicate that β-CA, through modulations of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and androgen biosynthesis, is a potent preventive agent against testicular injuries induced by scrotal hyperthermia.
Adult ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Baths ; beta Carotene ; Caspase 3 ; Ellagic Acid ; Fever ; Fruit ; Germ Cells ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Infertility, Male ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxidoreductases ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Testis ; Testosterone ; Vegetables ; Water ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of prophylactic uterine artery embolization (UAE) before obstetrical procedures with high risk for massive bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 29 female patients who underwent prophylactic UAE from June 2009 to February 2014 was performed. Indications for prophylactic UAE were as follows: dilatation and curettage (D&C) associated with ectopic pregnancy (cesarean scar pregnancy, n = 9; cervical pregnancy, n = 6), termination of pregnancy with abnormal placentation (placenta previa, n = 8), D&C for retained placenta with vascularity (n = 5), and D&C for suspected gestational trophoblastic disease (n = 1). Their medical records were reviewed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of UAE. RESULTS: All women received successful bilateral prophylactic UAE followed by D&C with preservation of the uterus. In all patients, UAE followed by obstetrical procedure prevented significant vaginal bleeding on gynecologic examination. There was no major complication related to UAE. Vaginal spotting continued for 3 months in three cases. Although oligomenorrhea continued for six months in one patient, normal menstruation resumed in all patients afterwards. During follow-up, four had subsequent successful natural pregnancies. Spontaneous abortion occurred in one of them during the first trimester. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic UAE before an obstetrical procedure in patients with high risk of bleeding or symptomatic bleeding may be a safe and effective way to manage or prevent serious bleeding, especially for women who wish to preserve their fertility.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Cicatrix ; Dilatation and Curettage ; Female ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Trophoblastic Disease ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Menstruation ; Metrorrhagia ; Oligomenorrhea ; Placenta, Retained ; Placentation ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Artery Embolization* ; Uterine Artery* ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterus

In 2016, the clinical chemistry proficiency-testing program consisted of 21 programs, including the general chemistry program of the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service. The general chemistry program consisted of 28 test items and was conducted using two level control materials four times per year. Based on the information and results for each test item entered by each institution, statistical analysis data according to test method, instrument, and reagent were reported. The report comprised a general statistics report showing the characteristics of all participating institutions and a separate institutional report showing the evaluation data of individual institutions. The statistics included the number of participating institutions and the mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, median, minimum, and maximum values for each group. Each report was composed of a table, histogram, and Levey-Jennings chart showing the statistics for each test item. The results of each institution and the statistics for each classification are presented in the table showing the statistics, and a standard deviation index is presented together with a method classification and a classification by reagent companies. A total of 14 items, including albumin, were evaluated by more than 1,000 institutions. There was no significant difference in the distribution of the measurement methods compared with those used in the previous year. The coefficient of variation showed a tendency to increase as the concentration of the level control material decreased and as the number of participating institutions decreased for each test item. Most of them showed a coefficient of variation within 10%. These statistical data will be useful when interpreting the survey results from the institutions and selecting a test method.
Chemistry ; Chemistry, Clinical* ; Classification ; Korea* ; Methods

The relationship between neoplastic disease and thromboembolic disorders has been recognized since 1865, when Armand Trousseau first reported a high incidence of venous thrombosis in a series of patients with gastric carcinoma. The overall incidence of thromboembolic disease in patients with cancer has been reported to vary 1% to 15%. In a prospective study, Ambrus and associates reported that thrombosis and/or bleeding was the second most common cause of death in hospitalized cancer patients. We report a case who presented as a thromboembolic disease and subsequently confirmed to have an underlying lung malignancy. This 45 years old male patient visited our hospital with abdominal pain and distention of 3 days duration. Abdominal CT scan revealed multiple splenic and renal infarctions. On 20th hospital day, drowsy mental status was developed and hemorrhagic cerebral infarction was noted in brain CT scan. Chest CT scan revealed a 4cm sized spiculated mass on left lung apex and multiple paratracheal lymph adenopathy. With surgical biopsy of left supraclavicular lymph nodes, this patient was confirmed to have adenocarcinoma.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Cause of Death ; Cerebral Infarction ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infarction* ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Venous Thrombosis

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has been investigated for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. This study was conducted to determine the distributions of HA nanoparticles (NPs; size 350–400 nm) and larger HA polymers in mice at intervals after application. ¹⁷⁷Lutetium (Lu)-labeled HA-NPs or HA polymers were intravenously injected (5 mg/kg) into male ICR mice, and radioactivity levels in blood and target organs were measured from 0.25 h to 28 days post-injection. In blood, the radioactivities of HA-NPs and HA polymer peaked at 0.5 h after injection but were remarkably decreased at 2 h; subsequently, they maintained a constant level until 6 days post-injection. HA-NPs and HA polymers were observed in the liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and heart (in ascending order) but were seldom observed in other organs. After 3 days, both the HA-NP and HA polymer levels showed similar steady decreases in lung, kidney, and heart. However, in liver and spleen, the HA-NP levels tended to decrease gradually after 1 day and both were very low after 14 days, whereas the HA polymer level accumulated for 28 days. The results indicate that HA-NPs, with their faster clearance pattern, may act as a better drug delivery system than HA polymers, especially in the liver and spleen.
Animals ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Heart ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nanoparticles* ; Polymers* ; Radioactivity ; Spleen