bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measurement of urinary cystatin C by particle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay: precision, interferences, stability and reference range
Authors: Herget-Rosenthal Stefan , Feldkamp Thorsten , Volbracht Lothar , Kribben Andreas 
Published: March 2004

Background: Urinary excretion of the low molecular weight protein cystatin C is a marker of renal disorders and a good predictor of the severity of acute tubular necrosis. We evaluated the measurement of urinary cystatin C and determined its reference range. Methods: Measurement of urinary cystatin C by particle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay (PENIA) in 102 patients with various renal disorders and 133 healthy controls. We assessed the influence of pH and temperature, interferences on urinary cystatin C measurement, as well as cystatin C adsorption to plastic. Results: The upper reference value for urinary cystatin C was 0.28 mg/L, independent of age and gender. Accuracy and linearity ( r2=0.996) were excellent. Intra- and inter-assay precision were ≤4.8% and ≤5.2%, respectively. Albumin (≤160 g/L), bilirubin (≤500 µmol/L) and haemoglobin (≤210 µmol/L) did not show interferences. Urinary cystatin C was stable, at urine pH≥5, at -20°C and 4°C for 7 days, and at 20°C for 48 h. Freezing and thawing did not influence urinary cystatin C concentration. There was no adsorption of cystatin C to plastic. Conclusion: Urinary cystatin C measurement by PENIA is precise. High stability and no interference add to the practicability of urinary cystatin C as a routine biochemical test.
Spurious hyperphosphataemia caused by an IgA paraprotein: a topic revisited
Authors: Sinclair David , Smith Helen , Woodhead Pamela 
Published: March 2004

Background: There are reports in the literature describing artefactually raised phosphate concentrations in serum samples of patients with myeloma. However, IgA paraproteins have been reported only rarely as a potential cause. Methods: Following the detection of a grossly elevated phosphate concentration in a patient with an IgA paraprotein and another with an IgG paraprotein, we estimated phosphate concentrations in a further 73 patients with paraproteins using the Bayer ADVIA 1650 and Ortho Vitros 950 analysers. The latter method has been reported to be unaffected by pseudohyperphosphataemia. Results: Deproteinization of the serum samples containing the IgA and IgG paraproteins showed that they were responsible for the interference. No significant difference in serum phosphate concentrations measured by the two analysers was noted for the larger study of serum IgG or IgM paraproteins. However, a statistically significant but clinically trivial difference in phosphate concentration was noted for serum IgA paraproteins, with the Ortho Vitros 950 giving slightly higher phosphate concentrations. Deproteinization of these samples yielded similar phosphate concentrations. Phosphate estimation in serum samples without paraproteins using both analysers yielded results that were not statistically different. Conclusion: On occasion, serum samples containing IgA paraproteins may give rise to erroneous phosphate concentrations when the Bayer ADVIA is used
Serum amyloid A, C-reactive protein and remnant-like lipoprotein particle cholesterol in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Hamano M , Saito M , Eto M , Nishimatsu S , Suda H , Matsuda M , Matsuki M , Yamamoto S , Kaku K 
Published: March 2004

Background: Serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been suggested to be involved in the process of coronary heart disease (CHD) and to be potential markers and/or predictors of CHD. Remnant-like lipoprotein particles (RLPs), which are regarded as atherogenic remnant lipoprotein, are reported to be increased in type 2 diabetic patients. We assessed the association of CHD with SAA, CRP and RLP-cholesterol in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: One hundred and twenty-six diabetic patients without CHD and 41 patients with CHD were recruited from our hospital. Plasma SAA was measured by the latex agglutination nephelometric immunoassay. Plasma high-sensitivity CRP was measured by a latex immunoturbidity method. Plasma RLP-cholesterol was measured by an immunoabsorption enzyme method. Results: The mean standard deviation values of RLP-cholesterol in patients with and without CHD were 0.22 (0.26) mmol/L and 0.15 (0.10) mmol/L, respectively ( P <0.05). Median (interquartile ranges) for SAA in patients with and without CHD were 7.4 (4.2-11.2) mg/L and 3.9 (2.2-5.9) mg/L, respectively ( P <0.001). Median (interquartile ranges) for CRP in patients with and without CHD was 1.14 (0.45-2.08) mg/L and 0.43 (0.19-1.25) mg/L, respectively ( P <0.001). For all patients, the Spearman rank correlation statistics for RLP-cholesterol compared with SAA and with CRP were 0.213 ( P <0.05) and 0.301 ( P <0.01), respectively. Conclusion: These data suggest that SAA, CRP and RLP-cholesterol are increased in type 2 diabetic patients with CHD, and that the inflammatory proteins correlate with remnant lipoprotein.
Genotyping of hepatitis C virus by melting curve analysis with SYBR Green I
Authors: Fujigaki Hidetsugu , Takemura Masao , Takahashi Kanako , Yamada Yasuhiro , Fujii Hidehiko , Wada Hisayasu , Saito Kuniaki , Ohnishi Hiroo , Seishima Mitsuru 
Published: March 2004

Background: Recent studies have focused on whether different hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes are associated with different profiles of pathogenicity, infectivity, and response to antiviral therapy. We needed to develop a convenient screening test for HCV genotypes 1 and 2. Method: We tested 55 patients with known chronic HCV infection. Viral RNA was extracted from serum samples using an automatic viral RNA purification system, and HCV genotypes were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using LightCycler melting curve analysis with SYBR Green I. Results: HCV RNA was detected in all samples and each genotype was determined. The mean (standard deviation) melting temperatures for subtypes 1b ( n = 32), 2a ( n = 15) and 2b ( n = 8) were 93.14°C (0.51°C), 91.08°C (0.49°C) and 91.77°C (0.27°C), respectively. Genotypes 1 and 2 were differentiated within 3 h by this method. Conclusions: Our melting curve analysis is a rapid and convenient screening test for differential identification of HCV genotypes 1 and 2.
Assessment of thrombin in the urine of glomerulonephritic patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Authors: Kitamoto Yasunori , Tomita Kimio , Imamura Takahisa 
Published: March 2004

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that blood clotting occurs in inflamed glomeruli, although its role in the pathophysiology of glomerulonephritis remains to be elucidated. To address this issue, a simple and reliable method for evaluating clotting in glomeruli is necessary. Here, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for thrombin in urine to evaluate the degree of clotting activation in diseased glomeruli. Methods: Monoclonal antibodies against human α-thrombin were raised and used for sandwich ELISA to measure thrombin. Thrombin was measured in urine samples from normal volunteers and from patients with glomerulonephritis or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Results: Thrombin antigen was not detected in the urine of healthy volunteers or of patients with DIC, but was detected in the urine from two-thirds of glomerulonephritic patients. The average concentration in positive samples was 3.79 µg/L. Urinary thrombin concentrations measured by ELISA correlated well with thrombin activities measured by hydrolysis of a synthetic substrate. Conclusion: We suggest that thrombin antigen in urine measured by ELISA is not affected by systemic thrombin production in the vessels, and reflects blood clotting activation in glomerulonephritic lesions. A close relationship between urinary thrombin and glomerulonephritis indicates a possible involvement of clotting in disease development, and measurement of urinary thrombin may provide a real-time marker for monitoring renal diseases.
Micronutrient concentrations in patients with malignant disease: effect of the inflammatory response
Authors: Mayland C , Allen K R , Degg T J , Bennet M 
Published: March 2004

Background: Micronutrient deficiencies may occur in patients with malignancy due to a variety of possible causes, including unbalanced dietary intake and adverse effects of treatment. In addition, many patients show signs of a chronic inflammatory response, which can affect circulating concentrations of certain vitamins and trace elements. Our aim was to examine the effect of the inflammatory response, as determined by plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, on a range of micronutrients in patients with malignancy. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 50 patients with various malignancies for the measurement of vitamins A, E, C and B1, the trace elements copper, zinc, selenium and manganese and the inflammatory marker CRP. Vitamin A was measured as retinol and vitamin E as α-tocopherol. Vitamin C measurement included both ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid. The vitamins were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography and the trace elements by atomic-absorption spectroscopy. Results: Concentrations of zinc and selenium below their respective reference ranges and copper and manganese above their respective reference ranges were commonly found in the cancer group. However, none of these elements showed any significant correlation with CRP ( P >0.01). Reduced levels of vitamin A, C and B1 were commonly found in the cancer group. Vitamins A and C showed a significant negative correlation with CRP ( rs=-0.66, P <0.0001 and rs=-0.53, P = 0.0005, respectively). Vitamin E showed no correlation with CRP. Conclusion: The inflammatory response is a major consideration in the interpretation of vitamin A and C concentrations in patients with malignancy.
The predictive value of cumulative lactate dehydrogenase release within the first 72 h of acute myocardial infarction in patients treated with primary angioplasty
Authors: Elsman Peter , Zijlstra Felix , Miedema Kor , Hoorntje Jan C A , Dikkeschei Lambert D , Slingerland Robbert J , Reiffers Stoffer , de Boer Menko-Jan , Suryapranata Harry 
Published: March 2004

Background: In patients with acute myocardial infarction, estimation of infarct size by cumulative lactate dehydrogenase release at 72 h (LDHQ72) is a simple and widely used method. Our objective was to study the value of estimating infarct size, by the cumulative release of LDH over 72, 60, 48 and 36 h in predicting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVef) and cardiac death at 1 year. Methods: In the Zwolle Infarction Study infarct size estimated as LDHQ was calculated in 1224 patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction between December 1993 and June 2001. Patients were categorized as having small (LDHQ72<800 U/L), medium (LDHQ72 800-2500 U/L) or large (LDHQ72>2500 U/L) myocardial infarction. Results: LDHQ72 was closely correlated with LDHQ60, LDHQ48 and LDHQ36 ( r = 0.998, 0.993 and 0.987, respectively, P <0.0001). The relations between LDHQ infarct size classification and mean LVef (51% vs 45% vs 35%, P <0.001) or cardiac death at 1 year (0-0.3% vs 0.7-1% vs 6-8%) showed a similar pattern, irrespective of whether LDH was measured up to 36, 48, 60 or 72 h. Conclusion: Infarct size classification based on LDHQ36 is an objective and widely available method for early risk stratification in patients treated with primary angioplasty for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
Major method-specific differences in the measurement of intact parathyroid hormone: studies in patients with and without chronic renal failure
Authors: Worth G K , Vasikaran S D , Retallack R W , Musk A A , Gutteridge D H 
Published: March 2004

Background: Following the introduction of two-site immunometric assays for parathyroid hormone (PTH), the expectation of good inter-assay agreement has not been fulfilled. The reasons for this may include differences in standardization as well as fragment recognition between the assays. Methods: PTH values for healthy individuals, patients with renal failure and patients with normal renal function and elevated parathyroid hormone (hPTH) were compared using two commercial two-site immunochemiluminometric assays (Bayer Magic-lite® and DPC Immulite 2000®). Results: Immulite results had a mean value 50.4% greater than the corresponding Magic-lite values for the whole study population with individual values ranging from 17.5% below to 118.3% above the corresponding Magic-lite value. There was no significant difference in inter-assay bias between patients with renal failure and those with normal renal function, suggesting that variable cross-reactivity with circulating disease-specific PTH fragments was not the primary cause of the observed discrepancy. Cross-reactivity with the synthetic fragment hPTH (7-84) was 34±5% for Magic-lite and 62±2% for Immulite. We also studied the stability of synthetic hPTH on storage. Conclusion: The instability of synthetic hPTH over extended storage periods may affect primary standard material. The consistent inter-assay differences and the over-recovery observed in external quality assessment programmes for the Immulite assay may have best been explained by differences in calibration and the relative cross-reactivities and/or kinetics of the two assay systems for specific parathyroid fragments.
Pseudohyperkalaemia at commercial laboratories in Japan: a questionnaire survey
Authors: Hira Kenji , Aoki Noriaki , Fukui Tsuguya 
Published: March 2004

Background: Pseudohyperkalaemia caused by recentrifugation after storage or delay in separation of serum from blood cells is not uncommon. The purpose of this study was to audit pseudohyperkalaemia at commercial laboratories in Japan. Methods: A questionnaire asking about how samples are handled for potassium measurement and information on pseudohyperkalaemia was sent to 431 commercial laboratories. Results: A total of 263 (response rate 61%) questionnaires were returned and suitable for analysis. Pseudohyperkalaemia caused by recentrifugation was seen at 145 (70%) laboratories. Pseudohyperkalaemia caused by delay in separation of serum was also seen in many laboratories. Blood samples were centrifuged on site in only 46% of hospitals and in 17% of clinics served by these laboratories. The longest average time from venesection to centrifugation was 18 h. Although half the laboratories had asked their client facilities to centrifuge blood samples on site, very few complied. Conclusion: Pseudohyperkalaemia is not uncommon at commercial laboratories in Japan. Further efforts are necessary to avoid inappropriate handling at blood collection sites and in laboratories.
New approaches towards laboratory diagnosis of isolated sulphite oxidase deficiency
Authors: Sass Jörn Oliver , Nakanishi Toyofumi , Sato Takako , Shimizu Akira 
Published: March 2004

Background: Molybdenum cofactor deficiency (resulting in combined deficiencies of the enzymes sulphite oxidase, xanthine dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase) and isolated sulphite oxidase deficiency are inherited metabolic diseases which follow an autosomal recessive trait of inheritance. Detection of these diseases in selective screening for inborn errors of metabolism is not easy because relevant metabolites are either not routinely determined or are unstable. Methods: We have searched for additional markers for these diseases and studied plasma total homocysteine (determined by enzyme immunoassay) and S-sulphonation of transthyretin (assessed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry). Results and conclusion: We found total homocysteine concentrations below the limit of quantification (<1 µmol/L) in all samples of patients with sulphite oxidase deficiency studied in this regard and that the proportion of S-sulphonated transthyretin is clearly increased in such samples. Our observations suggest additional tools for selective screening and diagnostic work-up of patients suspected of having sulphite oxidase deficiency.
The role of the biochemistry department in the diagnosis of pituitary apoplexy
Authors: Williams H R T , Oliver N S , Murphy F , Howell M , Badman M K , Hillson R M , Thomas D J B 
Published: March 2004

A 47-year-old man presented with severe clinical hypoglycaemia. He had long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes with previously good glycaemic control. Intense headaches and vomiting initiated hospitalization. A brain computed tomography (CT) scan was normal, and a lumbar puncture showed elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein [0.67 g/L; normal range (NR) 0.15-0.45 g/L], suggesting resolving viral meningitis. Routine thyroid function tests were abnormal (free thyroxine 10.6 pmol/L, NR 9-22.5 pmol/L; thyroid-stimulating hormone 0.16 mU/L, NR 0.35-5 mU/L). In the absence of evident thyroid therapy, the laboratory policy required an urgent cortisol assay to be added; this was very abnormal (42 nmol/L), suggesting hypopituitarism. Later analysis showed that concentrations of gonadotrophins and adrenocorticotrophin were low. An urgent pituitary magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed an unsuspected pituitary tumour with recent haemorrhage (pituitary apoplexy). The patient was given intravenous hydrocortisone and then stabilized on oral hydrocortisone, thyroxine and mesterolone. He made a full recovery and the hypoglycaemia resolved. The normal brain CT scan was falsely reassuring and the CSF protein was not due to viral meningitis but to haemorrhage into the pituitary tumour. If laboratory policy had not required the urgent cortisol assay be added, the diagnosis of hypopituitarism would have been delayed or even missed altogether. This could have led to the death of the patient.
The contribution of metaphor and metonymy to delusions
Authors: Rhodes John E. , Jakes S. 
Published: March 2004

This article investigates the possible role of metaphorical thinking in psychotic delusions. Twenty‐five participants with delusions were asked to give an account of how their ideas had formed and to describe recent experiences relevant to their delusional beliefs. The data suggest that for some participants there may have been a crucial period when the person has unusual experiences, psychosocial difficulties, and made attempts involving metaphor/metonymy to understand these experiences. Furthermore, some participants reported very recent unusual experiences using metaphorical terms, and we speculate on the possibility that the content of the metaphors contributes to a continuation of psychotic experience. The data form a series of case illustrations and are exploratory. No generalizations can be made, but the presence of significant metaphors and metonymy in 11 out of 25 case histories suggests the process may be an important one.We end by outlining a theoretical model of how metaphors might contribute to the formation of delusions: it is suggested that delusional statements are intended to be literal statements, but report on experiences transformed by metaphorical meaning. This transformation involves the ‘fusion’ of conceptual domains.
A report on the first year of the INitiative for the Evaluation of XML retrieval (INEX'02)
Authors: Kazai Gabriella , Lalmas Mounia , Fuhr Norbert , Gövert Norbert 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe INitiative for the Evaluation of XML retrieval (INEX) aims at providing an infrastructure to evaluate the effectiveness of content‐oriented XML retrieval systems. To this end, in the first round of INEX in 2002, a test collection of real world XML documents along with a set of topics and respective relevance assessments have been created with the collaboration of 36 participating organizations. In this article, we provide an overview of the first round of the INEX initiative.
A classification of author co‐citations: Definitions and search strategies
Authors: Rousseau Ronald , Zuccala Alesia 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe term author co‐citation is defined and classified according to four distinct forms: the pure first‐author co‐citation, the pure author co‐citation, the general author co‐citation, and the special co‐author/co‐citation. Each form can be used to obtain one count in an author co‐citation study, based on a binary counting rule, which either recognizes the co‐citedness of two authors in a given reference list (1) or does not (0). Most studies using author co‐citations have relied solely on first‐author co‐citation counts as evidence of an author's oeuvre or body of work contributed to a research field. In this article, we argue that an author's contribution to a selected field of study should not be limited, but should be based on his/her complete list of publications, regardless of author ranking. We discuss the implications associated with using each co‐citation form and show where simple first‐author co‐citations fit within our classification scheme. Examples are given to substantiate each author co‐citation form defined in our classification, including a set of sample Dialog™ searches using references extracted from the SciSearch database.
Design of cataloging rules using conceptual modeling of cataloging process
Authors: Taniguchi Shoichi 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThis article proposes a method to design cataloging rules by utilizing conceptual modeling of the cataloging process and also by applying the concept “orientedness.” It also proposes a general model for the cataloging process at the conceptual level, which is independent of any situation/system or cataloging code. A design method is made up of the following phases, including the development of a general model. Functional and non‐functional requirements are first specified by use of orientedness. Also, cataloger tasks are defined, which are constituents of the cataloging process. Second, a core model is built, which consists of (1) basic event patterns under each task, (2) action patterns applicable to each event, and (3) orientedness involved in an event‐action pair. Third, the core model is propagated to reflect the characteristics of an individual data element and also a certain class of materials. Finally, the propagated model is defined by choosing pairs of event and action patterns in the model while referring to orientedness indicated in each event‐action pair, in order to match a particular situation. As a result, a set of event‐action pairs reflecting specific requirements through categories of orientedness is obtained, and consistent and scalable design can, therefore, be attained.
Measuring retrieval effectiveness: A new proposal and a first experimental validation
Authors: Mea Vincenzo Della , Mizzaro Stefano 
Published: March 2004

AbstractMost common effectiveness measures for information retrieval systems are based on the assumptions of binary relevance (either a document is relevant to a given query or it is not) and binary retrieval (either a document is retrieved or it is not). In this article, these assumptions are questioned, and a new measure named ADM (average distance measure) is proposed, discussed from a conceptual point of view, and experimentally validated on Text Retrieval Conference (TREC) data. Both conceptual analysis and experimental evidence demonstrate ADM's adequacy in measuring the effectiveness of information retrieval systems. Some potential problems about precision and recall are also highlighted and discussed.