Electrolytes Levels (Na, K, Cl) in Serum Stored at 4°C Temperature

The samples used for serum electrolyte measurement should be analyzed immediately after being received in the laboratory within 1-2 hours to avoid an increase in the error of the results. Serum should be stored at 4°C for a period to prevent damage. The analyst should consider maximum delay time in the examination to maintain the serum's quality. This study compared the 2-hour and 3-hour delays in sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chlorine (Cl) tests. The method used in this study is an observational analysis with a cross-sectional study design. The samples in this study used 35 patient serum residues. The study was conducted in November 2020 with a continuous sampling technique. Electrolyte levels in the sample were measured by AVL 9180 Electrolyte Analyzer using Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE) method. The differences in electrolyte (Na, K, Cl) levels were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis Statistical test at a 95% confidence level. The results showed that the content of sodium, potassium, and chlorine were 0.719; 0.976; and 0.772. This study showed that there was no significant difference in the electrolyte content of sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chlorine (Cl) in the serum directly detected from the serum stored at 4°C for 2 hours and 3 hours. In conclusion, it is acceptable to postpone the serum test for 3 hours with various considerations.

Outpatient Assessment of Mechanical Load, Heat Strain and Dehydration as Causes of Transitional Acute Kidney Injury in Endurance Trail Runners

Background: This study aimed to globally assess heat strain, dehydration, and mechanical load as acute kidney injury (AKI) indicators in amateur endurance trail athletes during a 35.3 km run. Methods: Thirty amateur experienced trail runners completed an endurance trail run (total positive ascend 1815 m). The following assessments were performed at four measurement time points (pre-, during, immediately post [-post0h], and after 24 h of the finish of the run [-post24h]): serum test (creatinine, blood ureic nitrogen, albumin, creatine kinase, blood ureic nitrogen: creatinine ratio, creatinine clearance, and glomerular filtration rate), mechanical load (impacts and Player Load), heat strain and dehydration (hematocrit, urine solids, body weight and urine specific gravity), pain and exertion perception (rate of perceived exertion, lumbar and bipodal, and one-leg squat pain), and urinalysis (pH, protein, glucose, erythrocytes, and urine specific gravity). Results: There were pre vs. post0h changes in all serum biomarkers (F = 5.4–34.45, p < 0.01). The change in these biomarkers correlated with an increase in mechanical load indicators (r = 0.47–59, p < 0.05). A total of 40% and 23.4% of participants presented proteinuria and hematuria, respectively. Pain and perceived exertion increased significantly due to effort made during the endurance trail running (F = 4.2–176.4, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Endurance trail running may lead to an increase in blood and urine indicators of transitional AKI. The difference in blood and urine markers was significantly related to the mechanical load during running, suggesting potential kidney overload and cumulative mechanical load.

Association of Elevated Serum Tryptase with Cutaneous Photodamage and Skin Cancers

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Mast cells and their major protein, the serine proteinase tryptase, can be involved in cutaneous photodamage and carcinogenesis. The serum test of tryptase (S-tryptase) measures total tryptase protein (active tryptase and inactive protryptases), and S-tryptase is elevated in a variety of diseases, for example, in mastocytosis and α-tryptasemia. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The objective of this study is to study whether S-tryptase is a marker of cutaneous photodamage and carcinogenesis. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Adult subjects (<i>n</i> = 399, aged 21–79) evaluated to be at risk for skin cancers were recruited at the dermatological policlinic and examined for photodamage severity, mole count, actinic keratoses (AKs), skin cancers, and immunosuppression (IS). A blood sample was analyzed for S-tryptase using the ImmunoCAP® Tryptase fluoroenzymeimmunoassay. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There was no difference in S-tryptase between non-IS (<i>n</i> = 321) and IS (<i>n</i> = 78) subjects or between genders. S-tryptase correlated slightly to photodamage and AKs in 321 non-IS subjects, and this association can be related, in part, to the age of subjects. In 34 subjects, S-tryptase was elevated (≥13.5 ng/mL), and in 20 males, but not in 14 females, the photodamage level was significantly (<i>p</i> = 0.031) more severe than in 179 males with normal S-tryptase. In contrast, there were more frequently subjects (<i>n</i> = 12) with past or present skin cancer (basal or squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma) in 14 females with elevated S-tryptase than in 186 female controls. So far, no explanation has been found for the elevated S-tryptase. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> There are significant associations between elevated S-tryptase and skin carcinogenesis, but the molecular mechanisms are unclear and gender differences can exist.

Evaluation of 1,2-O-dilauryl-rac-glycero glutaric acid-(6′-methylresorufin) ester (DGGR) and 1,2-diglyceride lipase assays in dogs with naturally occurring hypercortisolism

1,2-O-dilauryl-rac-glycero glutaric acid-(6′-methylresorufin) ester (DGGR) lipase activity has been proposed as a faster and less expensive test used in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) compared to canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI), which is considered the most sensitive and specific serum test available for dogs. Elevations in lipase activity have been observed in dogs with naturally occurring hypercortisolism (HC) and in those treated with exogenous steroids, which complicates the diagnosis of AP in dogs with HC. We compared lipase activity measured by DGGR and 1,2-diglyceride (1,2-DiG) assays in 22 dogs with HC, 22 with AP, and 22 healthy dogs. The dogs with HC had no clinical signs or ultrasonographic findings consistent with AP. DGGR lipase activity was elevated in 64% and 73% of the dogs with HC and AP, respectively, and in 18% of healthy dogs. 1,2-DiG lipase activity was high in 23% and 36% of the dogs with HC and AP, respectively, and in 5% of the healthy dogs. Both DGGR and 1,2-DiG lipase activities were significantly different between the healthy dogs and the other 2 groups, whereas no differences were detected between the dogs with HC and those with AP. Our results support a lack of specificity for both DGGR and 1,2-DiG lipase activity assays in aiding the diagnosis of AP in dogs with HC.

Comparative analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters of autoimmune and idiopathic chronic urticaria patients

Background: According to the cause, chronic urticaria is most frequently divided into autoimmune and idiopathic urticaria. Aim of the paper was to determine the frequency of autoimmune urticaria using autologous serum skin testing and a comparative analysis of chronic idiopathic and chronic autoimmune urticaria by disease course, severity and most common comorbidities. Methods: Analysis covered 64 adult patients of both sexes with chronic urticaria, divided into two groups according to their positivity in autologous serum skin testing (group I with positive test and group II with negative test). General haematological and biochemical parameters, antithyroid antibodies, hepatitis serum markers, Helicobacter pylori and Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies were performed for patients in both groups. First group patients were treated by autologous blood therapy (autohaemotherapy). The analytical statistical tool SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions) version 20 for descriptive statistics and statistical methods was used. The significance level used was p = 0.05. Results: The frequency of positive autologous serum test in total population of patients with chronic urticaria was 43.8 %. The average duration of urticaria was 20 months in both groups. Statistically significant difference was found in weekly scores between the studied groups (p = 0.032) in favour of chronic autoimmune urticaria with a positive autologous serum test. Subjects with chronic autoimmune urticaria had a significantly higher association with autoimmune thyroid diseases. Conclusions: Direct relation was established between the use of autologous blood therapy in patients with autoimmune chronic urticaria and improvement of the clinical picture.

The Role of Helicobacter Pylori in The Causation of Laryngopharyngeal Disorder in Specialized Allergic Center /Kirkuk-Iraq

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease is a common manifestation of GERD, about 10% of cases presented to ENT department. Out of 56 cases tested for H.pylori ,36 were positive for serum test and 20 cases were positive for both serum and stool.75% of cases responded to treatment of GERD with no recurrence