An Automated Clinical Laboratory Decision Support System for Test Utilization, Medical Necessity Verification, and Payment Processing.

Physicians could improve the efficiency of the health care system if a reliable resource were available to aid them in better understanding, selecting, and interpreting the diagnostic laboratory tests. It has been well established and widely recognized that (1) laboratory testing provides 70%-85% of the objective data that physicians use in the diagnosis and treatment of their patients; (2) orders for laboratory tests in the United States have increased, with an estimated volume of 4-5 billion tests per year; (3) there is a lack of user-friendly tools to guide physicians in their test selection and ordering; and (4) laboratory test overutilization and underutilization continue to represent a pervasive source of inefficiency in the health care system. These inappropriate test orders not only lead to slower or incorrect diagnoses for patients but also add a significant financial burden.

Performance Evaluation of TaqMan SARS-CoV-2, Flu A/B, RSV RT-PCR Multiplex Assay for the Detection of Respiratory Viruses.

Purpose: To detect and differentiate co-infection with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus during the COVID pandemic, a rapid method that can detect multiple pathogens in a single test is a significant diagnostic advance to analyze the outcomes and clinical implications of co-infection. Therefore, we validated and evaluated the performance characteristics of TaqMan SARS-CoV-2, Flu A/B, RSV RT-PCR multiplex assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, Flu A/B, and RSV using nasopharyngeal and saliva samples.

Materials And Methods: The method validation was performed by using culture fluids of Influenza A virus (H3N2) (A/Wisconsin/67/2005), Influenza B virus (B/Virginia/ATCC4/2009), RSV A2 cpts-248, SARS-CoV-2 (USA-WA1/2020) and quantitative RNA controls of Influenza A virus (H1N1) strain A/PR/8/34 (VR-95DQ), RSV A2 (VR-1540DQ) and SARS-CoV-2 (MN908947.

Oxidative Stress and Lipid Dysregulation in Lipid Droplets: A Connection to Chronic Kidney Disease Revealed in Human Kidney Cells.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is defined as a condition causing the gradual loss of kidney function, shows renal lipid droplet (LD) accumulation that is associated with oxidative damage. There is a possibility that an LD abnormality in quality plays a role in CKD development. This study aimed to explore the chemical composition of LDs that are induced in human kidney cells during exposure to free fatty acids as an LD source and oxidized lipoproteins as oxidative stress.

SARS-CoV-2 Variants Detection Using TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Panel Molecular Genotyping Assays.

Purpose: For rapid detection and tracking of SARS-CoV-2, a simple screening method alternative to laborious and expensive sequencing is highly desirable. Here, we evaluated performance characteristics of TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 mutation panel genotyping molecular assay for detection of most common reported SARS-CoV-2 variants using specific RT-PCR assays targeting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP).

Patients And Methods: A total of 150 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples from March to July were included for this study.

Comparison of dimension reduction methods on fatty acids food source study.

Serum fatty acids (FAs) exist in the four lipid fractions of triglycerides (TGs), phospholipids (PLs), cholesteryl esters (CEs) and free fatty acids (FFAs). Total fatty acids (TFAs) indicate the sum of FAs in them. In this study, four statistical analysis methods, which are independent component analysis (ICA), factor analysis, common principal component analysis (CPCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), were conducted to uncover food sources of FAs among the four lipid fractions (CE, FFA, and TG + PL).

HPLC with spectrophotometric or mass spectrometric detection for quantifying very-long chain fatty acids in human plasma and its association with cardiac risk factors.

Background: We developed and compared two liquid chromatography methods, one with UV/Visible spectrophotometric detection (HPLC) and the other with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS), for quantifying very-long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) in human plasma. Association of VLCFA with various cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated.

Method: Fasting blood samples were collected from 541 human volunteers (242 men and 299 women; mean age ±SD, 58.

Evaluation of Analytical Performance of Seven Rapid Antigen Detection Kits for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus.

Background: Early diagnosis of the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients is crucial to identify infectious individuals and to help prevent the spread of the virus in the community. Several assays have been developed and are in use in today's clinical practice. These assays vary in their analytical and clinical performance.

A phase II, open-label clinical trial on the combination therapy with medium-chain triglycerides and ghrelin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of activated ghrelin with dietary octanoic acids or medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) administration to underweight patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Eleven severe and very severe COPD patients received a 5-day treatment with edible MCT. Sequentially, 10 patients received a 3-week combination treatment with MCT and intravenous acyl ghrelin.

Development of a simultaneous quantitation for short-, medium-, long-, and very long-chain fatty acids in human plasma by 2-nitrophenylhydrazine-derivatization and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Fatty acids (FA) have been important in clinical diagnosis for long, which makes the increasing need for a fast, reliable, and economic approach to determine FA of short-, medium-, long-, and very long-chain by widely available equipment and with high-throughput capacity. In the present work, 2‑nitrophenylhydrazine derivatization coupling with LC-MS/MS detection was utilized to simultaneously quantitate 18 FAs ranging from C4 to C26 in human plasma. The sample preparation protocol was optimized and extracting with diethyl ether‑potassium phosphate buffer twice was found as the highest efficiency along with economic feasibility.

Triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy: a rare cardiovascular disorder.

Triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy (TGCV) is a phenotype primarily reported in patients carrying genetic mutations in PNPLA2 encoding adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) which releases long chain fatty acid (LCFA) as a major energy source by the intracellular TG hydrolysis. These patients suffered from intractable heart failure requiring cardiac transplantation. Moreover, we identified TGCV patients without PNPLA2 mutations based on pathological and clinical studies.

Determination of total, free and esterified short-chain fatty acid in human serum by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Background: Short-chain fatty acids are primarily absorbed through the portal vein during lipid digestion, which is utilized as the energy source, as well as prevent type 2 diabetes and some cancers. However, reports on the determination of these short-chain fatty acids in human serum are limited.

Methods: Blood samples from human subjects ( n = 547, male/female = 246/301, age 58.

Lipidomic Profiling on Oxidized Phospholipids in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Model Zebrafish.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a serious metabolic disorder in the world. Oxidative stress, as a key role on the pathogenesis of diabetes, also results in the oxidation of phospholipids. However, studies on phospholipid oxidation in diabetes, especially directly focusing on oxidized and degraded phospholipid species, are quite limited.

Microwave-assisted Derivatization of Fatty Acids for Its Measurement in Milk Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.

Fatty acid (FA) profiling of milk has important applications in human health and nutrition. Conventional methods for the saponification and derivatization of FA are time-consuming and laborious. We aimed to develop a simple, rapid, and economical method for the determination of FA in milk.

In vitro biofilm formation by isolated from wounds of hospital-admitted patients and their association with antimicrobial resistance.

Introduction: including methicillin-resistant (MRSA) has the propensity to form biofilms, and causes significant mortality and morbidity in the patients with wounds. Our aim was to study the in vitro biofilm-forming ability of isolated from wounds of hospitalized patients and their association with antimicrobial resistance.

Materials And Methods: Forty-three clinical isolates of were obtained from 150 pus samples using standard microbiological techniques.

Change in Plasma Total, Esterified and Non-esterified Capric Acid Concentrations during a Short-term Oral Administration of Synthetic Tricaprin in Dogs.

We studied change in the plasma total, esterified and non-esterified capric acid (FA10:0) and its effect on longer fatty acid concentrations during the short-term oral administration of synthetic tricaprin in dogs. We administered 150 and 1500 mg tricaprin/kg body weight per day orally to dogs for 7 consecutive days. Blood samples were collected at 0, 0.

Absolute quantification of cholesteryl esters using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry uncovers novel diagnostic potential of urinary sediment.

Background: Urine has been utilized as a source of biomarkers in renal disease. However, urinary lipids have not attracted much attention so far. Here we studied urinary cholesteryl ester (CE) and its relevance in renal disease.

A fatty acid profiling method using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry for improvement of assisted reproductive technology.

Background: Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) can be useful to improve in vitro fertilization (IVF). This study aims to find out an association between embryonic growth and embryonic uptake of free fatty acid (FFA) from culture media by using LC-HRMS.

Methods: Embryos (n=55) from 15 couples undergoing IVF were studied.

Development of homogeneous assay for simultaneous measurement of apoE-deficient, apoE-containing, and total HDL-cholesterol.

Background: Pathophysiological role for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subclasses remains to be elucidated. Homogeneous assay for simultaneous measurements of apoE-deficient HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), apoE-containing HDL-C, and total HDL-C is desired, because apoE plays important roles in lipid metabolism.

Methods: The proposed assay consists of a primary reaction to remove non-HDL-C, a secondary reaction to measure apoE-deficient HDL-C, and a tertiary reaction to measure apoE-containing HDL-C.

Synthesis of (2β,3α,6-²H₃cholesteryl linoleate and cholesteryl oleate as internal standards for mass spectrometry.

The accurate analysis of trace component in complex biological matrices requires the use of reliable standards. For liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis, the stable isotope-labeled derivatives of the analyte molecules are the most appropriate internal standards. We report here the synthesis of (2β,3α,6-(2)H3)cholesteryl linoleate and oleate containing three non-exchangeable deuterium in the steroid ring.

Mass Spectrometric Quantification of Amphipathic, Polyphenolic Antioxidant of the Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas).

A novel amphipathic phenolic compound, 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (DHMBA), that can be isolated from the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) has been found to protect human hepatocytes against oxidative stress. This study aims to establish a method for the measurement of DHMBA for industrial application. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using deuterated DHMBA as an internal standard and a polar end-capped ODS (Hypersil GOLD aQ) as the solid phase was validated.

Identification of molecular species of oxidized triglyceride in plasma and its distribution in lipoproteins.

Background: The role of triglycerides carried in the triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) in the progression of atherosclerosis is uncertain. Identification of oxidized triglycerides and its possible association with atherosclerosis were largely ignored. Here we applied mass spectrometric approach to detect and identify triglyceride hydroperoxides (TGOOH) in human plasma and lipoproteins.

Plasma capric acid concentrations in healthy subjects determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Background: Capric acid (FA10:0, decanoic acid) is a medium-chain fatty acid abundant in tropical oils such as coconut oil, whereas small amounts are present in milk of goat, cow, and human. Orally ingested FA10:0 is transported to the liver and quickly burnt within it. Only few reports are available for FA10:0 concentrations in human plasma.

Association of high sensitivity C-reactive protein with the components of metabolic syndrome in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

Background And Objectives: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) has been associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components. Several studies have suggested hsCRP to be used as a marker for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. So, we aimed to evaluate the association between hsCRP levels and the components of MetS in diabetic and non-diabetic population.