Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay Research Articles

CHARTING IMMUNE DEFENSE: ANALYZING ANTI-SARS-COV-2 SPIKE ANTIBODY LEVELS POST SPUTNIK V VACCINATION IN PAKISTAN

Rapid ramp up of immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 during pandemic enables adequate prevention and treatment for COVID-19. Estimating levels of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies post vaccination is crucial for designing mass-vaccination strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of Sputnik V first dose in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study of 1000 participants was conducted for examining Gam-COVID-Vac or Sputnik V first dose effects at 21st days post administration at Islamabad Diagnostic Center, Islamabad, Pakistan. From 1000 real-time PCR negative (SARS-CoV-2 RNA) individuals, samples were collected and analyzed for antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using Electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (Elecsys # 09289267190 Roche, USA). 85% of the participants showed strong positive results with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies >1.5 AU/ml. The individuals with antibody titer >250 AU/ml were 34.9%. While participants with >100 AU/ml of antibodies were 12.7%. However 9.5% showed antibody titer of >25 AU/ml. 27% of participants had antibody titers of >1.5-2.5 AU/ml. While antibody titers of <1.5 AU/ml were observed among 15.9% of participants. Majority of the individuals represented significantly strong antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 even before second booster dose of Ad5 based Sputnik V vaccine. Continuous monitoring of antibody levels among COVID-19 vaccinated populations are deemed to assess humoral immunity status against SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Serum Placental Growth Factor as a Marker of Cerebrovascular Disease Burden in Alzheimer's Disease.

Concomitant cerebrovascular diseases (CeVD) have been identified as an important determinant of Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. Development of robust blood-based biomarkers will provide critical tools to evaluate prognosis and potential interventional strategies for AD with CeVD. This study investigated circulating placental growth factor (PlGF), a potent pro-angiogenic factor related to endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation, in an Asian memory clinic cohort of non-demented individuals as well as AD, including its associations with neuroimaging markers of CeVD. 109 patients with AD, 76 cognitively impaired with no dementia (CIND), and 56 non-cognitively impaired (NCI) were included in this cross-sectional study. All subjects underwent 3T brain magnetic resonance imaging to assess white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, cortical infarcts, and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs). Serum PlGF concentrations were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. Serum PlGF was elevated in AD, but not CIND, compared to the NCI controls. Adjusted concentrations of PlGF were associated with AD only in the presence of significant CeVD. Elevated PlGF was significantly associated with higher burden of WMH and with CMBs in AD patients. Serum PlGF has potential utility as a biomarker for the presence of CeVD, specifically WMH and CMBs, in AD. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms linking PlGF to CeVD, as well as to further assess PlGF's clinical utility.

Immunogenicity and safety of concomitant bivalent COVID-19 and quadrivalent influenza vaccination: implications of immune imprinting and interference

ObjectivesConcomitant COVID-19 and influenza vaccination would be an efficient strategy. Although the co-administration of monovalent COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations showed acceptable immunogenicity, it remains unknown whether the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine could intensify immune interference. We aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of concomitant BA.5-based bivalent COVID-19 and influenza vaccination. MethodsAn open-label, nonrandomized clinical trial was conducted for 154 age-matched and sex-matched healthy adults between October 2022 and December 2022. Participants received either a concomitant bivalent COVID-19 mRNA booster and quadrivalent influenza vaccination (group C) or separate vaccinations (group S) at least 4 weeks apart. Solicited and unsolicited adverse events were reported up to 6 months postvaccination. Immunogenicity was evaluated by anti-spike (S) IgG electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, focus reduction neutralization test, and hemagglutination inhibition assay. ResultsGroup C did not meet the noninferiority criteria for the seroconversion rates of anti-S IgG and neutralizing antibodies against the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 strain compared with group S (44.2% vs. 46.8%, difference of −2.6% [95% CI, −18 to 13.4]; 44.2% vs. 57.1%, difference of −13.0% [95% CI to −28.9 to 2.9]). However, group C showed a stronger postvaccination neutralizing antibody response against Omicron BA.5 (72.7% vs. 64.9%). Postvaccination geometric mean titers for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza strains were similar between groups, except for influenza B/Victoria. Most adverse events were mild and comparable between the study groups. DiscussionConcomitant administration of bivalent COVID-19 mRNA and quadrivalent influenza vaccines showed tolerable safety profiles and sufficient immunogenicity, particularly attenuating immune imprinting induced by previous ancestral vaccine strains.

Basal cortisol in relation to metyrapone confirmation in predicting adrenal insufficiency after pituitary surgery

PurposePituitary surgery can lead to post-surgical adrenal insufficiency with the need for glucocorticoid replacement and significant disease related burden. In patients who do not receive hydrocortisone replacement before surgery, at our center, an early morning plasma cortisol concentration using a cut-off value of 450 nmol/L 3 days after surgery (POD3) is used to guide the need for hydrocortisone replacement until dynamic confirmatory testing using metyrapone. The aim of this study was to critically assess the currently used diagnostic and treatment algorithm in patients undergoing pituitary surgery in our pituitary reference center.MethodsRetrospective analysis of all patients with a POD3 plasma cortisol concentration < 450 nmol/L who received hydrocortisone replacement and a metyrapone test after 3 months. Plasma cortisol concentration was measured using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (Roche). All patients who underwent postoperative testing using metyrapone at Amsterdam UMC between January 2018 and February 2022 were included. Patients with Cushing’s disease or those with hydrocortisone replacement prior to surgery were excluded.ResultsNinety-five patients were included in the analysis. The postoperative cortisol concentration above which no patient had adrenal insufficiency (i.e. 11-deoxycortisol > 200 nmol/L) was 357 nmol/L (Sensitivity 100%, Specificity 31%, PPV:32%, NPV:100%). This translates into a 28% reduction in the need for hydrocortisone replacement compared with the presently used cortisol cut-off value of 450 nmol/L.ConclusionEarly morning plasma cortisol cut-off values lower than 450 nmol/L can safely be used to guide the need for hydrocortisone replacement after pituitary surgery.

Silver Nanocluster-Tagged Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay with a Sole and Narrow Triggering Potential Window.

The commercialized electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay is carried out by holding luminophore Ru(bpy)32+ at a given potential. Designing an electrochemiluminophore with a narrow triggering potential window is strongly anticipated to decrease the electrochemical cross-talk and improve the flux of the commercialized ECL immunoassay in a potential-resolved way. Herein, L-penicillamine-capped silver nanoclusters (LPA-AgNCs) are facilely synthesized and utilized as tags to perform the ECL immunoassay with a sole and narrow triggering potential window of 0.24 V by employing hydrazine (N2H4) as a coreactant. The maximum ECL emission of the LPA-AgNCs/N2H4 system is located ca. +1.27 V. Upon immobilizing LPA-AgNCs onto the electrode surface via forming a sandwich immunocomplex, the ECL of LPA-AgNCs/N2H4 can be utilized to sensitively and selectively determine human carcinoembryonic antigen from 0.5 to 1000 pg/mL with a low limit of detection of 0.1 pg/mL (S/N = 3). This work might open a way to screen electrochemiluminophores for the multiple ECL immunoassay in a potential-resolved way.

The role of preoperative serum CA-125 levels in predicting lymph node metastasis in patients undergoing treatment for endometrial cancer

Aims: Endometrial cancer stands as the most prevalent gynecological malignancy in developed nations, often detected at an early stage, and generally carries a positive prognosis. The stage of the disease is important for survival, but many factors such as tumor grade, histopathology, myometrial invasion, age, and spread are also effective. Our objective was to assess the significance of preoperative Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) concentrations in the prediction of lymph node metastasis in patients with endometrial cancer and to identify a suitable threshold value. Methods: This retrospective analysis was carried out on 286 female patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer at a specialized gynecologic oncology facility from 2012 to 2022. We examined clinical-pathological and demographic attributes, including preoperative serum CA-125 concentrations, surgical interventions conducted for each patient, post-treatment physical assessments, imaging findings, and cytological outcomes. CA-125 was measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in CA-125 levels among patients in terms of grade, invasion depth, lymph node involvement, cervical involvement, and stage (respectively, p&amp;lt;0.001, p=0.042, p&amp;lt;0.001, p&amp;lt;0.001, p&amp;lt;0.001). The FIGO advanced stage ratio was 30.6 times higher for serum CA-125 concentrations above the cutoff of 21 IU/ml (95% CI: 10.7-87.6) (p&amp;lt;0.001). Lymph node involvement was 29.7 times more likely for serum CA-125 values above the cutoff of 35 IU/ml (95% CI: 25.3-74.8) (p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion: Early identification of high-risk endometrial cancer patients is vital for prognosis and guiding adjuvant therapy. CA-125, a tumor marker, has been found useful in assessing myometrial invasion depth, lymph node involvement, stage differentiation, and tumor grade.

Pemeriksaan Imunologi Terhadap Kadar Hormon Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Pada Pasien Gangguan Tiroid Di RSUD Panembahan Senopati Periode 2020-2022

Thyroid disorders are conditions of abnormalities in thyroid gland. According to function, thyroid disorders are divided into three, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and euthyroidism. To detect thyroid disorders, can use laboratory test examination of TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) hormone. The aim is to determine the description of TSH levels checked periodically in patients with thyroid disorders using immunological methods. Research method is a case series method or case-by-case using secondary data from TSH hormone examination results in 2020-2022. The results were from 93 respondents based on age showed that 20-30 years old 11.8%, 31-40 years old 26.9%, 41-50 years old 26.9% and 51-60 years old 34.4%. Based on gender, 20.4% were male and 79.6% were female. Then we looked at changes in TSH hormone in patients with thyroid disorders by randomization 10 respondents. It was found that the changes were caused by consumption of anti-thyroid drugs, Thiamazole, Propranolol, Thyrozol, Propylthiouracil, Levothyroxine. Respondents with thyroid disorders were mostly found in 51-60 years and were female. There are changes in TSH hormone levels in patients with thyroid disorders were anti-thyroid drugs. The immunological method used ECLIA (Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay) method. Factors that influence examination are the condition of sample and patient.

Effect of high in comparison to low dairy intake intervention on markers of bone and cartilage remodeling and phosphate metabolism in healthy adults with overweight.

In the ageing population, issues with bone and joint health are highly prevalent. Both beneficial and potential risks of dairy products on bone and joint health are reported in epidemiological studies. Furthermore, the phosphorus (P) load from dairy could potentially lead to unfavorable changes in P metabolism. To investigate the effect of dairy intake on markers of bone and joint metabolism and P metabolism in an intervention study with high and low dairy intake. In a post hoc analysis of a randomized cross-over trial with overweight adults, the effect of a standardized high dairy intake [HDI (5-6 dairy portions per day) versus low dairy intake (LDI, ≤ 1 dairy portion/day)] for 6weeks on markers of bone and joint health was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. Markers indicative for cartilage breakdown, including urinary CTX-II, serum COMP and 4-hydroxyproline, and markers indicative for bone remodeling, such as serum CTX-I, PTH, 25(OH)D, osteocalcin, P1NP and FGF23, were investigated using linear mixed models. Furthermore, changes in P metabolism, including the main phosphate-regulating hormone FGF23 were explored. This study was completed by 46 adults (57% female, age 59 ± 4 years, BMI 28 ± 2kg/m2). Following HDI, markers such as urinary CTX-II excretion, COMP, 25(OH)D, PTH and CTX-I were significantly lower after HDI, as compared to LDI. For example, CTX-II excretion was 1688ng/24h at HDI, while it was 2050ng/24h at LDI (p < 0.001). Concurrently, P intake was higher at HDI than at LDI (2090 vs 1313mg/day, p < 0.001). While plasma P levels did not differ (1.03 vs 1.04mmol/L in LDI, p = 0.36), urinary P excretion was higher at HDI than at LDI (31 vs 28mmol/L, p = 0.04). FGF23 levels tended to be higher at HDI than at LDI (76.3 vs. 72.9 RU/mL, p = 0.07). HDI, as compared to LDI, reduced markers that are indicative for joint and bone resorption and bone turnover. No changes in P metabolism were observed. This trial was registered at https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=NTR4899 as NTR4899.

Half-life of serum anti-Müllerian hormone and changes after gonadectomy in adult female and male dogs with normal and abnormal gonads

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a biomarker for the presence of gonadal tissue. Changes in serum AMH after gonadectomy are not well established, and its serum half-life is unknown in dogs. We measured serum AMH with a validated electro-chemiluminescent immunoassay in adult female (n = 12) and male (n = 7) dogs with normal gonads, as well as in dogs with gonadal pathology (ovarian remnant syndrome, ORS n = 3, testicular tumor [Leydig cell, Sertoli cell, seminoma] n = 3, unilateral abdominal cryptorchid n = 4) on the day of gonadectomy (D0), and on D3, D7, D14 (females and males), and D21, D28 (males only). Males had higher AMH concentrations than females independent of gonadal status (P < 0.001). Dogs with ORS had lower initial AMH (0.45 ± 0.43 ng/ml) than bitches with normal gonads (1.16 ± 0.44 ng/ml; P = 0.027). Cryptorchid dogs had higher initial concentrations (80.57 ± 52.81 ng/ml) than males with normal gonads (7.92 ± 2.45 ng/ml; P = 0.004), and those with testicular tumors (18.63 ± 5.04 ng/ml) were intermediate (P ≥ 0.250). AMH decreased over time (P ≤ 0.012) and was 0.01–0.04 ng/ml by D14 in females and 0.02–0.12 ng/ml by D28 in males. Serum half-life in the whole study population was 2.85 ± 0.51 days and did not differ between groups. In conclusion, serum AMH can differentiate between intact and gonadectomized status of adult dogs by 14 days after ovario(hyster)ectomy in females and by 28 days after surgical castration in males.

The diagnostic value of GICA used for intraoperative lymph node FNA-Tg measurement to evaluate thyroid cancer metastases.

It is crucial to diagnose lymph node (LN) metastases (LNM) before or during thyroid carcinoma surgery. Measurement of thyroglobulin (Tg) in the fine needle aspirate washout (FNA-Tg) is useful to assist in the diagnosis of LNM for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of a new technique based on a colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic assay (GICA) for intraoperative FNA-Tg in diagnosing LNM. This study is registered with chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2200063561 (registered 11 September, 2022). This prospective study enrolled 51 PTC patients who underwent cervical LN dissection. A total of 150 LNs dissected from the central and lateral compartments were evaluated by FNA-Tg-GICA at three different time points and compared with frozen sections and the conventional Tg measurement method electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC), cutoff value to discriminate benign and malignant LNs, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were provided. The cutoff value of FNA-Tg to predict LNM was 110.83 ng/mL for ECLIA and 13.19 ng/mL, 38.69 ng/mL, and 77.17 ng/mL for GICA at 3, 10, and 15 min, respectively. There was no significant difference between the AUCs of GICA at different time points compared to using ECLIA and frozen sections. Besides, the diagnostic performance of GICA and ECLIA showed no significant difference in evaluating LNM from central and lateral compartments or between the TgAb-positive subgroup and TgAb-negative subgroup. GICA is a promising method for intraoperative FNA-Tg measurement and has high value in predicting LNM. It may be a novel alternative or supplementary method to frozen section or ECLIA.

Clinical evaluation of a novel plasma pTau217 electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in Alzheimer’s disease

A growing literature suggests that plasma levels of tau phosphorylated at amino acid 217 (pTau217) performs similarly to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and PET imaging to detect amyloid pathology and to provide diagnostic and prognostic information in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but a significant limiting factor thus far has been a lack of widely available immunoassays. We evaluated a novel pTau217 S-PLEX® assay developed by Meso Scale Discovery (MSD; Rockville, MD) in plasma from 131 individuals with AD confirmed by CSF biomarkers and controls. Technical performance of the assay was excellent with an LLOQ of 1.84 pg/mL and intra/interplate CVs of 5.5% (0.3–15.0%) and 5.7% (range 0.3–13.4%), respectively. The pTau217 plasma assay differentiated AD and controls with an AUC of 0.98 (95% CI 0.96–1.0) and pTau217 levels were 3.9-fold higher in individuals with AD. This performance was significantly better than what was observed for plasma pTau181, performed in parallel, and comparable to published data on existing pTau217 assays. While further clinical validation and head-to-head comparisons are needed to fully establish the role for the novel pTau217 S-PLEX assay, these data demonstrate the utility of the assay to detect AD pathology.

SERS-Temperature Dual-Mode T-type Lateral Flow Strip for Accurate Detection of Free and Total Prostate-Specific Antigens in Blood.

Accurate point-of-care (POC) analysis of cancer markers is the essence in the comprehensive early screening and treatment of cancer. Dual-mode synchronous detection is one of the effective approaches to reduce the probability of false negatives or false positives. As a result, this can greatly improve the accuracy of diagnosis. In this work, a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-temperature dual-mode T-type lateral flow strip was fabricated to direct and simultaneous POC detection of total and free prostate-specific antigens (t-PSA and f-PSA) in blood. With the advantage of high stability of T-type lateral flow strip and simultaneous acquirement of assay results for t-PSA and f:t PSA ratio, the proposed method has high accuracy in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, especially in the diagnostic gray zone between 4.0 and 10.0 ng/mL. The SERS-temperature dual-signal has a good linear correlation with either f-PSA or t-PSA. To evaluate the clinical diagnostic performance of the proposed method, spiked human serum samples and the whole blood sample were analyzed. The assay results showed good recovery, and compared with traditional electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method (t-PSA: 43.151; f/t ratio: 0.08), the results obtained by the proposed method were similar (t-PSA: 40.15 (SERS), 36.21 (temperature); f/t ratio: 0.08 (SERS), 0.08 (temperature), but the detection time (15 min) and cost ($0.05) had been greatly reduced. Therefore, the proposed SERS-temperature synchronous dual-mode T-type lateral flow strip has a strong application potential in the field of accurate large-scale diagnostics of prostate cancer on-site by simultaneous POC detection of t-PSA and f-PSA in blood.

Assessment of Serum Prolactin Levels in Patients with Liver Disease: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Prolactin is a hormone released from the anterior pituitary gland under tonic inhibitory control by dopamine. A decrease in dopamine levels is usually observed in decompensated liver disease, which could be due to its inhibition by the increased synthesis of false neurotransmitters. However, the level of serum prolactin in liver disease patients still remains disputed. Aim: To evaluate the serum prolactin levels in patients with liver disease of different aetiologies and compare them with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry from August 2021 to August 2022 at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi, Kerala, India. A total of 100 patients with liver disease and 100 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum prolactin was estimated using the Electro- Chemiluminescence Immuno Assay (ECLIA) technique. The serum prolactin levels were compared among patients with liver disease of different aetiologies and with healthy controls. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Dun Bonferroni test. Results: The median serum prolactin levels were significantly elevated in the cases {40.61 (29.13-70.24 ng/mL)} compared to the controls {17 (10.95-20.70 ng/mL)}, This p-value is correct as the median levels for cases is {40.61 (29.13-70.24 ng/mL)}. Comparison of prolactin levels showed no statistically significant difference based on the distribution of age and gender. In the present study, prolactin levels were found to be most prominent in patients with fatty liver disease. Conclusion: The serum prolactin level increased significantly in liver disease patients, particularly in patients with fatty liver. Hence, prolactin levels can be used as a useful predictive biomarker for fatty liver.

PoCOsteo: generic novel platform for bone turnover marker measurement & monitoring.

Despite the increasing efforts in improving bone health assessments, current diagnostics suffer from critical shortcomings. The present article therefore describes a multiplex label-free immunosensor designed and validated for the assessment of two bone turnover markers (BTMs), namely beta isomerized C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx) and Procollagen I Intact N-Terminal (PINP), the combination of which is needed to illustrate an accurate overview of bone health. The immunosensor was then tested outside and inside of a microsystem, with the aim of becoming compatible with a point of care system fabricated for automated assessment of these biomarkers later-on at patient side. Custom-made monoclonal antibodies were specifically designed for this purpose in order to guarantee the selectivity of the immunosensor. In the final platform, a finger prick blood sample is introduced into the microfluidic manifolds without any need for sample preparation step, making the tool suitable for near patient and outside of the central laboratory applications. The platform was exploited in 30 real blood samples with the results validated using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The results revealed the platform was capable of measuring the target analyte with high sensitivity and beyond the recommended clinical reference range for each biomarker (CTx: 104-1028 ng L-1 and PINP: 16-96 μg L-1, correspondingly). They also showed the platform to have a limit of detection of 15 (ng L-1) and 0.66 (μg L-1), a limit of quantification of 49 (ng L-1) and 2.21 (μg L-1), and an inter- and intra-assay coefficient of variance of 5.39-6.97% and 6.81-5.37%, for CTx and PINP respectively, which is comparable with the gold standard. The main advantage of the platform over the state-of-the art was the capability of providing the results for two markers recommended for assessing bone health within 15 minutes and without the need for skilled personnel or costly infrastructure.

Diurnal production of cortisol and prediction of treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis: a 6-month, real-life prospective cohort study

ObjectivesA reduced adrenal reserve-associated cortisol production relative to the enhanced needs of chronic inflammation (disproportion principle) has been observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined the possible clinical value of...

Anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies – Comparative analysis of two automatic methods, ECLIA and CMIA

Abstract Introduction: Anti-thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPO) is an essential diagnostic tool for autoimmune disorders of the thyroid gland. However, TPO results are not always comparable due to differences between methods. Here, we aimed to investigate the differences between two modern laboratory methods for TPO measurement: electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) and chemiluminescence microparticle (CMIA) immunoassays. Methods: A total of 234 serum samples were tested on two methods: Cobas-e601 (ECLIA) and Alinity i (CMIA). TPO results were compared statistically both quantitatively and qualitatively (results were coded as positive/negative, according to ECLIA/CMIA reference ranges. Results: The precisions of both methods were acceptable compared with the claims of the manufacturer. There was a very strong, but unsatisfactory correlation between the two methods (Pearson r=0.85). Passing-Bablok regression revealed a significant deviation from linearity (Cusum p&lt;0.01) and an unacceptable quantitative relationship: intercept −7.61, slope 1.10. Moreover, a visual analysis of overall and medical decision level-focused Bland-Altman plots confirmed the lack of quantitative agreement. As for the qualitative analysis, the concordance rate between methods was 218/234 (93.1%). The agreement was considered good to very good according to the inter-rater agreement test: weighted Cohen κ = 0.805. Conclusions: The qualitative agreement between Cobas-e601 (ECLIA) and Alinity i (CMIA) was good, therefore the two methods may be used indiscriminately for initial testing of patients suspected of thyroid gland autoimmune diseases. However, due to poor quantitative agreement, the two methods should not be used interchangeably for monitoring as the results may mislead both physicians and patients, possibly leading to medical errors.

Evaluation of a new Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay System for Measuring High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T.

The aim of this study was to verify the analytical performance of the UD90DT electrochemiluminescence immunoassay system (the UD90DT system) for measuring high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT). According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, the imprecision, linearity, reference interval, limit of blank (LoB), limit of detection (LoD), and functional sensitivity (FS) of hs-cTnT using the UD90DT system were verified. The trueness was validated using the Proficiency Testing (PT) materials. The within-run and between-run coefficients of variations (CVs) of two hs-cTnT levels were 7.2% and 1.5%, and 7.1% and 2.6%, respectively. The biases of the PT samples (n = 6) all fell within the allowable total error. The linearity satisfied the requirements, with a slope of 0.9963 and an R12 value of 0.9998. The hs-cTnT levels of the healthy volunteers (n = 20) ranged from 3.0 ng/L to 7.7 ng/L. All blank calibrator measurements (n = 20) fell within the LoD claim, and none of the samples (n = 25) had a LoB value ≤ 3.0 ng/L. The FS was 5.3 ng/L. Furthermore, a good correlation between the UD90DT system and the Cobas e 601 module was observed for hs-cTnT. The analytical performance of hs-cTnT using the UD90DT system is acceptable and satisfies clinical needs.

Dietary Iodine Intake and Pattern of Thyroid Disorders among the Ethnic Population of Eastern Himalayan Ranges of India

Background and Aim: In the present study, dietary iodine intake and thyroid functioning were assessed among the ethnic adolescent group of Eastern Himalayan range with the hypothesis that insufficient iodine intake negatively affects normal thyroid functions. The aim of the study was to see the prevalence and relation between iodine deficiency and thyroid functioning. Materials and Methods: It is a hospital-based study conducted in the health care facilities of Dima Hasao district, Assam, from April 2021 to March 2022. The study included 821 subjects including both male and female of adolescent age group (10–19 years). The thyroid profiling, anti-Thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO Ab), and urinary iodine content (UIC) were carried out. Thyroid hormone analysis was carried out by chemiluminescence assay. The anti-TPO Ab was determined using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer. The dietary iodine intake was measured on the basis of UIC and was determined by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry method by the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. Results: The prevalence of thyroid disorder among the studied population was found to be 13.8%. Among different conditions of thyroid disorders, hypothyroidism was present in 10.6% and hyperthyroidism in 3.13%. 4.18% had elevated anti-TPO Ab. Among the euthyroid subjects with different thyroid disorders, 1.48% and 21% had anti-TPO Ab positivity, respectively. The median UIC was 99.97 µg/l. 25.78% of the population had iodine deficiency. Thyroid disorders were common in subjects with iodine deficiency (61.34%) than iodine sufficient subjects (20%). Conclusion: The work was an attempt to demonstrate how the dietary iodine intake influences thyroid functioning among the adolescent ethnic population of Eastern Himalayas which is manifested as high prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism with iodine deficiency. The work underscores region specific recommendation on iodine supplementation for populations living in geographically remote locations.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination Coverage and Seropositivity amongst Nigerians 18 Years Old and Above.

This was a cross-sectional community-based survey to study the prevalence of serum antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-COV-1) and determine possible source of antibodies as to whether from vaccination or from natural infection as well as attempt to compare antibody levels in response to the different four types of vaccines administered in Nigeria. A cross-sectional community-based study of the prevalence of serum antibodies against all four vaccine types used in Nigeria amongst a representative sample of people aged 18 years and above in the six geopolitical zones of the country using a multistage sampling technique covering 12 states of the country with two states being randomly selected from each geopolitical zone. High-throughput Roche electrochemiluminescence immunoassay system (Elecsys Anti-SARS-COV-1 Cobas) was used for qualitative and quantitative detection of antibodies to SARS-COV-1 in human plasma. There was no statistically significant difference between the proportions with seropositivity for both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated (P = 0.95). The nucleocapsid antibody (anti-Nc) titres were similar in both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, whereas the Spike protein antibody (anti-S) titres were significantly higher amongst the vaccinated than amongst the unvaccinated. Antibody levels in subjects who received different vaccines were compared to provide information for policy. While only 45.9% of the subjects were reported to have been vaccinated, 98.7% of the subjects had had contact with the SARS-COV-1 as evidenced by the presence of nucleocapsid (NC) antibodies in their plasma. The 1.3% who had not been exposed to the virus, had spike protein antibodies which most likely resulted from vaccination in the absence of NC antibodies. Successive vaccination and booster doses either through heterogeneous or homologous vaccines increased antibody titres, and this stimulation of immune memory may offer greater protection against coronavirus disease 2019.

Diagnostic Value of CRP, H-FABP, PCT, Lp-PLA2 and Cytokines in Stable Angina

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a significant cause of worldwide mortality and morbidity. This study aims to evaluate the levels of serum H-FABP (fatty acid-binding protein), hs-CRP (high sensitivity- CPR), Lp-PLA2 (lipoprotein PLA2), PCT (procalcitonin) and cytokines, in addition to routinely used diagnostic tests, Troponin I (Trop I), Myoglobin (MYO) and Creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) in patients with stable angina to determine their sensitivity in diagnosing stable angina and facilitating faster decision-making in the emergency unit. The current study was performed on 86 patients complaining stable angina, at Nasiriyah Heart Center from October 2021 to October 2022. Eighty-six, healthy subjects (age-matched) were taken as a control group. Blood samples were collected in the emergency department. Serum levels of hs CRP, H-FABP, CK-MB, Trop I, MYO, Lp-PLA2 and PCT were determined using electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay. Blood sugar and serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and HDL were determined using Cobas C311 photometric assays. Serum IL-6 was determined by using electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay, while, IL-9, IL-1β and TNF-α were assayed by ELISA. The study showed that the level of troponin I didn’t significantly change in patients with stable angina. However, compared with healthy controls, patients showed a significant increase in serum levels of CK-MB, myoglobin, hs-CRP, H-FABP, Lp-PLA2 and PCT. Significantly elevated levels of serum IL-6, IL1β, IL-9 and TNF-α were also recorded in patients with stable angina compared to healthy controls. The results also revealed that patients with stable angina had significantly elevated serum levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL with a significant decline of serum HDL compared to healthy controls. We can concluded that, in addition to cTnI, CK-MB and MYO, other biomarkers such as hs-CRP, H-FABP, Lp-PLA2 and PCT are sensitive; and can serve as diagnostic indicators of stable angina pectoris for fast treatment. Furthermore, the detection of inflammatory biomarkers was found to be an additional diagnostic parameter in stable angina.