Analytical validation of automated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) analyzers is necessary prior to their implementation into routine practice. Our aim was to perform the analytical validation of ...the modified Westergren method applied on the CUBE 30 touch analyzer (Diesse, Siena, Italy).
Validation included determination of within-run and between-run precision following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute EP15-A3 protocol, comparison with the reference Westergren method, sample stability assessment at both room temperature and 4 °C, after 4, 8 and 24-h storage, and checking the extent of hemolysis and lipemia interference.
Coefficients of variation (CVs) for within-run precision were 5.2% for the normal and 2.6% for the abnormal range, while between-run CVs were 9.4 and 2.2%, respectively. Comparison with the Westergren method (n=191) yielded Spearman's correlation coefficient of 0.93, no constant nor proportional difference y=0.4 (95% CI: -1.7-1.0) + 1.06 (95% CI: 1.00-1.14)x and a non-significant mean absolute bias of -2.6 mm (95% CI: -5.3-0.2). Lower comparability was evidenced with increasing ESR values, with both constant and proportional differences for ESR values between 40 and 80 mm, and above 80 mm. Sample stability was not compromised up to 8-h storage both at room temperature (p=0.054) and 4 °C (p=0.421). Hemolysis did not affect ESR measurement up to 1.0 g/L of free hemoglobin (p=0.089), while lipemia index above 5.0 g/L affects the ESR result (p=0.004).
This study proved that CUBE 30 touch provides reliable ESR measurement and satisfactory comparability with the reference Westergren methods, with minor variation related to methodological differences.
Blood cells are involved in systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to assess differences in leukocyte subsets and their ratios between COPD patients and ...healthy individuals as well as their association with disease severity, smoking status and therapy in COPD.
One hundred and nine patients in the stable phase of COPD and 95 controls participated in the study. After blood sampling, white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils (NEUTRO), monocytes (MO), lymphocytes (LY) and basophils (BA) were determined on a Sysmex XN-1000 analyser, and ratios were calculated afterwards.
White blood cells, NEUTRO, MO and BA were higher in COPD patients than in controls. Also, COPD patients had increased neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived NLR (dNLR), monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), basophil to lymphocyte ratio (BLR), basophil to monocyte ratio (BMR) and monocyte/granulocyte to lymphocyte ratio (M/GLR). Smoking has an impact on leukocyte counts, with BA, BLR and BMR being higher in COPD smokers vs. ex-smokers. Patients with very severe COPD were distinguished from moderate COPD by NLR, dNLR and M/GLR. In addition, those parameters were associated with lung function and dyspnoea, and NLR and dNLR also with multicomponent COPD indices BODCAT and DOSE. Great potential of dNLR, NLR and M/GLR in identifying COPD patients was observed regarding their odds ratios (OR) of 5.07, 2.86, 2.60, respectively (
< 0.001). Common COPD therapy did not affect any of the parameters investigated.
Leukocyte subsets and their ratios could be implemented in COPD assessment, especially in evaluating disease severity and prediction.
The aim of this study is to determine a development of humoral response after COVID-19 vaccination in persons with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (pwSPMS) on siponimod, compared to healthy ...controls (HC).Methods: In 13 pwSPMS taking siponimod and 11 HC, testing for SARS-CoV2 antibodies was performed after vaccination against COVID-19.Results: pwSPMS taking siponimod had a significantly lower titer of SARS-CoV2 antibodies compared to healthy controls (19.4 (0-250) vs. 250 (250), p>0.001). Two (15.4%) pwSPMS on siponimod had unmeasurable titers of SARS-CoV2-2 antibodies, while all HC had positive titers.Conclusion: Although the results of this study are limited by a small sample size, results have consistently shown low titers of SARS-CoV-2 IgG after COVID-19 vaccinations in pwSPMS on siponimod.
The present study aimed to clarify unusual total antibody kinetics in three female individuals observed during longitudinal monitoring of antibody response to BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine in 54 healthy ...volunteers. Total and IgG antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein were measured using Roche and Abbott quantitative assays, respectively, a day before and 8, 71, 135 and 217 days after the second dose. Samples showing unusual kinetics were additionally tested with Beckman Coulter and Euroimmun IgG assays, as well as IgA assay. Antibody levels peaked 8 days after the second dose (total:2769 U/mL; IgG:20022 AU/mL) and declined to 611 U/mL (total) and 783 AU/mL (IgG), after 217 days. A delayed increase of total but not IgG antibodies evidenced in three females, was in two cases coupled with an increase in IgA antibodies. This study identified a previously unknown contribution of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA antibodies to a delayed total antibody increase in a subgroup of vaccinated individuals. It also emphasizes that different commercially available serological assays do not provide uniform information about the post-vaccination immune status and that thorough understanding the assays' features is crucial for the proper interpretation of antibody response monitoring.
Introduction
iSED is an alternate automated analyzer for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) based on photometric rheology technology that estimates ESR by measuring rouleaux formation. The aim was ...to evaluate the analytical performance of the iSED analyzer and compare the results with the Westergren method and another alternate ESR analyzer, TEST1.
Methods
Validation was performed at two study sites according to the recommendations by the International Council for Standardization in Haematology and included determination of intrarun precision and inter‐run precision, bias, carryover, and method comparison, which was further assessed for samples with normal and low hematocrit, as well as per low, middle, and upper third of the analytical range.
Results
Intrarun coefficients of variation (CVs) with commercial controls were 4.0% and 1.8%, while inter‐run CVs 7.5% and 0.7%, for the normal and pathological range, respectively. Intrarun CVs obtained with patient samples were 19.9%, 9.9%, 10.3%, and 9.4%, the highest being for the lowest ESR value. Correlation coefficients for the comparison between iSED and Westergren were 0.862 (Site‐1) and 0.916 (Site‐2). While proportional difference with a positive bias was revealed at Site‐1, comparison at Site‐2 showed both constant and proportional difference and a negligible negative bias. Higher correlation was obtained for samples with low than normal hematocrit. Comparison between iSED and TEST1 yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.986, constant and proportional difference, and positive bias. Carryover was 3.2%.
Conclusion
This study proved the analytical validity of the iSED analyzer, despite minor discrepancies to the Westergren method that can be attributed to methodological differences.
Limited number of studies investigated lipid profile in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with inconsistent results. This study aimed to investigate lipid parameters in sera of patients ...with stable COPD and their associations with disease severity, smoking, comorbidities and therapy.
The study included 137 COPD patients and 95 controls. Triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were assessed. Non-HDL-C (NHC), atherogenic coefficient (AC), TG/HDL-C, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli's risk index I and II (CRI-I, CRI-II), and monocyte to HDL ratio (MHR) were calculated.
HDL-C and MHR were increased, while other lipid parameters and indices were decreased in COPD patients compared to healthy individuals. Smoking did not influence lipid parameters. However, lipid profile was altered only in more severe disease stages. AC, CRI-I and CRI-II showed positive association with lung function parameters in COPD patients, and negative with COPD multicomponent indices (ADO, BODCAT, BODEx, CODEx and DOSE). Combined model that included CRI-II, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and white blood cells showed great diagnostic performances, and correctly classified 72% of study participants with an AUC of 0.800 (0.742–0.849), P < 0.001. Bronchodilator monotherapy and statins have opposite impact on TC, LDL-C and NHC, while TG, TG/HDL-C and AIP were increased in COPD patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Lipid disbalance is present in COPD, and it seems to occur later as the disease progresses. Further studies are needed to illuminate the underlying mechanism of dyslipidaemia.
•Lipid disbalance is present in COPD.•Lipid disbalance seems to occur later during the COPD progression.•Combined model of lipid and inflammatory parameters might identify COPD patients.
IgA vasculitis (IgAV) is the most common childhood vasculitis. The main cause of morbidity and mortality in children with IgAV is nephritis (IgAVN), but the risk of its development, severity, and ...chronicity remain unclear. Erythrocyte glutathione S-transferase (e-GST) activity has been previously detected as a sensitive marker of kidney function impairment in several diseases. We spectrophotometrically assessed and correlated e-GST activity between 55 IgAV patients without nephritis (IgAVwN), 42 IgAVN patients, and 52 healthy controls. At disease onset, e-GST activity was significantly higher in IgAVN patients (median (interquartile range)) (5.7 U/gHb (4.4-7.5)) than in IgAVwN patients (3.1 U/gHb (2.2-4.2);
< 0.001), and controls (3.1 U/gHb (1.9-4.2);
< 0.001). Therewithal, there were no differences between the IgAVwN patients and controls (
= 0.837). e-GST activity was also significantly higher in the IgAVN patients than in the IgAVwN patients after 3 months (5.0 U/gHb (4.2-6.2) vs. 3.3 U/gHb (2.3-4.1);
< 0.001) and 6 months (4.2 U/gHb (3.2-5.8) vs. 3.3 U/gHb (2.1-4.1);
< 0.001) since the disease onset. Consistent correlations between e-GST activity and serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and proteinuria levels were not detected. In conclusion, increased e-GST activity can serve as a subtle indicator of kidney function impairment in children with IgAV.
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