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Relationship between retinopathy and microalbuminuria among diabetics in Senegal

*Aynina Cisse, Marguerite de Medeiros, Philomène Lopez Sall, Saïd Norou Diop, Aïssatou Magatte Wane, Mariama Safiétou Ka Cisse, Anna Sarr, Ndèye Maïmouna Ndour Mbaye, Papa Amadou Ndiaye, Madoune Robert Ndiaye, Alassane Wade
*Laboratoire de Biochimie Pharmaceutique - Faculté de Médecine, Pharmacie et d'Odonto - Stomatologie - Université de Dakar (Sénégal)

Biochimica Clinica: 2002; 26(2): 71-73 [Article in french]

ABSTRACT. In diabetes, retinopathy constitutes a major complication because of its evolution to blindness: many risk factors are considered, among which HbA1c and microalbuminuria. Three hundred and twenty seven (327) diabetics were recruited. Eighty eight (88) among them, with a duration of diabetes of at least five years, attended the ophtalmologic clinic for a fluoro-angiographic examination. In the same time, HbA1c and microalbuminuria were determined. Studying the diabetics all together, there was no correlation of retinopathy with either HbA1c or microalbuminuria. But when the type of diabetes was considered, a strong association of microalbuminuria to retinopathy in type 1 diabetes appeared (p<0.01; R.R.=6.77). Nevertheless the sequence was not established in which retinopathy and nephropathy would occur. It is then suggested that all diabetics should be monitored by eye examination and by biology (HbA1c and microalbuminuria) as well, to better prevent micro-angiopathic lesions.

Intéret de l'haptoglobine comme meilleur marqueur de l'hémolyse intravasculaire et de la réaction inflammatoire en pratique pédiatrique en Afrique noire

Papa Amadou Diop*, Philomène Sall-Lopez, Papa Madièye Gueye, Maguette Sylla-Niang
*Laboratoire de Biochimie Pharmaceutique, Universté Cheikh A. Diop, Dakar - Senegal

Biochimica Clinica: 2002; 26(2): 74-76 [Article in french]

ABSTRACT. Serum haptoglobin (Hp) concentration is a useful marker of haemolysis (decreased values) and of inflammation (increased values). Our study concerned 59 patients, hospitalised in the paediatric service of Hopital Principal in Dakar, and 28 healthy children, taken as the reference group. Patients were divided into two different groups according their pathology, either different inflammatory diseases (n=41) or haemolytic anaemias (n=18). Serum Hp concentration was measured by liquid phase immunoprecipitation, in the immunoturbidimetric format adapted to a RA 1000 analyzer. In inflammatory diseases serum Hp concentration showed increased over the reference interval (0.5-1.9 mg/L), and normalized following treatment, as shown in second and third measurements. In the haemolytic situations serum Hp was lowered. Malaria is the first cause for children mortality and morbility, whilst sickle cell anaemia has a 10% prevalence in our black African countries. Because of meaningful information given, Hp measurements should be included in any protein profile. The occurrence of liver insufficiency, as an additional cause for decreased serum Hp, should however be taken into consideration.

Analisi automatica del metabolita della buprenorfina, N-dealchil buprenorfina, su campioni d'urina con Sistema Remedi HS

Salvatore Sambataro*, Antonino Signorelli, Signorino Barbaria, Candia Corsaro
*Sezione di Chimica Clinica e Tossicologica, Laboratorio di Igiene e Profilassi, Azienda USL n. 3 - Catania

Biochimica Clinica: 2002; 26(2): 77-80 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. The determination of N-desalchil-buprenorphine (or nor-buprenorphine), major metabolite of buprenorphine (Temgesic, Subutex) in urine samples, has been studied. By using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection, therapeutic concentrations of conjugated and unconjugated N-desalchil-buprenorphine down to 50 ng/ml for the metabolite, or down to 5 ng/ml with selective extraction in SPE and following concentration, can be detected in urine samples. This method has been applaied to a variety of urine samples from drug users. The possible analytical interference from several other drugs has been studied.

Misura della concentrazione della albumina del siero: differenti approcci statistici applicati al confronto intermetodi

Cosimo Ottomano*, Paolo Amboni, Arialdo Vernocchi, Giampaolo Cattozzo, Carlo Franzini
*Laboratorio Analisi, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo

Biochimica Clinica: 2002; 26(2): 81-85 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. Data from a comparative evaluation of four methods for serum albumin measurement (immunonephelometry, agarose gel and capillary electrophoresis, dye-binding), applied to 100 serum samples covering a wide interval af albumin concentration, were used as a real (non-simulated) model for comparing five methods of statistical analysis. These last included: 4 regression analysis methods (ordinary least-squares regression; Deming and Passing/Bablok regressions; standardized principal component analysis) and the analysis of the differences' distribution. The three distribution-free regression methods gave consistent results, as far as value of the regression coefficients and their significance. Results from the ordinary regression were, on the contrary, somewhat different. Regression analysis, giving separate estimates of both the proportional and the constant components of systematic errror, were of some advantage over the differences' distribution approach, but this last gave overall results in substantial agreement with distribution-free regression models. The two basic approaches, regression and differences' analysis gave also similar estimates of the dispersion of single values around the mean estimate of agreement.

Valutazione comparativa di due contaglobuli automatici

Simona Brambilla*, Fabio Campielli, Irene Moraschinelli, Vittorio Grazioli
*Laboratorio Analisi, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano (Milano)

Biochimica Clinica: 2002; 26(2): 86-90 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. On occasion of the change of our haematological analyzer, we were faced with the problem of assessing if such a change could be the cause for significant variation in the measurement of haematological parameters. A comparative evaluation of the 'new' (Coulter Analyzer LH-750) versus the 'old' (Abbott Cell-Dyn 4000) instrument was therefore carried out, by measuring common haematological parameters (WBC, RBC, Hb, MCV, platelets, RDW and haematocrit) in 184 fresh patient blood samples, covering wide intervals of values. Statistical comparison was performed by regression analysis (non-parametric linear regression, according to Passing and Bablok), and by the distribution of the differences approach. Statistically significant differences, generally lower than 3% and mainly due to slope values different from 1, were observed with most parameters, with the exception of RDW. With this exception, however, the average differences were lower than the critical difference calculated on the basis of biological variation, and were consistent with the inter-instruments variation recorded by external quality assessment scheme in haematology of the Regione Lombardia. It is concluded that changing the instrument may produce variation of results not interfering with their clinical interpretation, although statistically significant. There was no explanation for the inter-instrument differences observed for RDW: it is recommended that method-specific reference value are used for such haematological parameter.

Difetti di 'signalling' in linfociti T di pazienti con neoplasie: ruolo delle colture cellulari in biologia molecolare diagnostica

Massimiliano M. Corsi*, Vanna Chigorno
*Istituto di Patologia Generale, Laboratorio di Patologia Clinica, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Milano

Preparato per il Gruppo di Studio 04-Colture Cellulari in Biochimica Clinica-SIBioC

Biochimica Clinica: 2002; 26(2): 91-94 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this brief review is to summarize current evidence for the possibility that tumor induces abnormalities in the signalling pathways mediated via TCR in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) as well as peripheral blood T cells (PBL-T) of patients with cancer. In addition, the mechanisms that might be responsible for TCR-associated signalling defects in these T cell are discussed. The overall objective is to emphasize the unlikely possibility that human tumors can and do induce immune cell dysfunction, and that the understanding of the mechanisms involved in subversion of antitumor responses is important for the design of future clinical trials with biological agents, which are expected to upregulate host antitumor responses.

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