血清CD5L对肝脏疾病患者的临床意义研究

摘要 目的：检测CD5L水平在肝脏疾病患者血清中的变化,并分析其临床意义。方法：采用ELISA法检测41例慢性肝炎患者、192例肝硬化患者、69例肝癌患者和136例健康对照血清CD5L水平。全自动生化分析仪测定肝功能指标,Spearman相关性分析用于评估CD5L与肝功能指标的关系。受试者工作曲线（receiver operator characteristic, ROC）分析血清CD5L的潜在诊断价值。结果：与健康对照相比,CD5L水平在肝炎、肝硬化、肝癌患者中显著降低（P<0.01）。肝硬化患者血清CD5L水平较肝炎及肝癌患者显著降低（P<0.01）。肝硬化代偿期和失代偿期患者血清CD5L水平无显著差异。血清CD5L水平与FIB-4指数(肝纤维化评分)呈显著负相关（r=-0.2688,P=0.0001）。Spearman相关性分析结果显示：在肝炎患者中,血清CD5L与总胆红素（T-BIL）、直接胆红素（D-BIL）、间接胆红素（I-BIL）显著正相关;在肝硬化患者中,CD5L与其他肝功指标无显著相关性;在肝癌患者中,CD5L与碱性磷酸酶（ALP）显著正相关。以健康人为对照组,肝硬化患者为病例组,ROC分析显示血清CD5L的诊断特异性为85.3%,敏感性为77.1%。结论：CD5L水平在肝炎、肝硬化及肝癌患者血清中显著降低,且在肝硬化患者中最低。CD5L水平与肝纤维化评分FIB-4指数负相关,可作为监测肝纤维化进展的潜在生物标志物。     

Diagnostic value of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor as a tumor marker in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

We assessed the diagnostic value of circulating VEGF as a tumor marker in patients with lung cancer and compared its clinical utility with that of other markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 19 (CYFRA). One hundred and sixty non-small cell lung cancer patients and 70 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Circulating VEGF was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum concentrations of both CEA and CYFRA were measured by means of immunoradiometric assays. The diagnostic value of plasma VEGF (VEGFp) was better than that of CYFRA and similar to that of CEA. When the diagnostic value of VEGFp and CEA for the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was compared, the two markers proved to have nearly equal discriminatory power. In diagnosing squamous cell carcinoma, VEGFp showed less discrimination than CYFRA. When the diagnostic value of VEGFp was analyzed for stage I adenocarcinoma patients, VEGFp was slightly more discriminatory than CEA. The combination assay of VEGFp and CEA had a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 60% at a cutoff of 104.4 pg/mL for VEGFp and 5.2 ng/mL for CEA. The combination of VEGF and CEA was superior to CEA alone in the early diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the lung.     

Multicenter evaluation of the performance and clinical utility in longitudinal monitoring of the Bayer Immuno 1 complexed PSA assay.

We conducted a multicenter evaluation of the analytical and clinical performance of the automated Bayer Immuno 1 complexed PSA (cPSA) assay, and compared assay performance to the Bayer Immuno 1 PSA assay. We sought to determine whether measurements of cPSA could be of clinical utility in the management of patients with prostate cancer. Results of the 10-day imprecision across three evaluation sites produced total CV < 2.50% and an analytical sensitivity of 0.02 microgram/L. There was an increased trend in clinical sensitivity for prostate cancer with increasing stage of disease (71-86%). Clinical specificity for patients with benign urogenital disease was 74.8%, and for other nonprostate diseases ranged from 91.1-100%. Retrospective serial monitoring of 155 patients with prostate cancer demonstrated concordance of cPSA measurements to clinical status for 97% of the patients analyzed. Results from the clinical studies using the Bayer Immuno 1 cPSA assay were comparable to results obtained with the Bayer Immuno 1 PSA assay. The Bayer Immuno 1 cPSA assay demonstrates analytical performance and clinical effectiveness in the management of prostate cancer patients during the course of disease and therapy.     

Noninvasive diagnosis of liver cirrhosis using DNA sequencer-based total serum protein glycomics

We applied our 'clinical glycomics' technology, based on DNA sequencer/fragment analyzers, to generate profiles of serum protein N-glycans of liver disease patients. This technology yielded a biomarker that distinguished compensated cirrhotic from noncirrhotic chronic liver disease patients, with 79% sensitivity and 86% specificity (100% sensitivity and specificity for decompensated cirrhosis). In combination with the clinical chemistry-based Fibrotest biomarker, compensated cirrhosis was detected with 100% specificity and 75% sensitivity. The current 'gold standard' for liver cirrhosis detection is an invasive, costly, often painful liver biopsy. Consequently, the highly specific set of biomarkers presented could obviate biopsy in many cirrhosis patients. This biomarker combination could eventually be used in follow-up examinations of chronic liver disease patients, to yield a warning that cirrhosis has developed and that the risk of complications (such as hepatocellular carcinoma) has increased considerably. Our clinical glycomics technique can easily be implemented in existing molecular diagnostics laboratories.     

Monoclonal Antibody-Based Dipstick Assay: A Reliable Field Applicable Technique for Diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni Infection Using Human Serum and Urine Samples

A field applicable diagnostic technique, the dipstick assay, was evaluated for its sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing human Schistosoma mansoni infection. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) against S. mansoni adult worm tegumental antigen (AWTA) was employed in dipstick and sandwich ELISA for detection of circulating schistosome antigen (CSA) in both serum and urine samples. Based on clinical and parasitological examinations, 60 S. mansoni-infected patients, 30 patients infected with parasites other than schistosomiasis, and 30 uninfected healthy individuals were selected. The sensitivity and specificity of dipstick assay in urine samples were 86.7% and 90.0%, respectively, compared to 90.0% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity of sandwich ELISA. In serum samples, the sensitivity and specificity were 88.3% and 91.7% for dipstick assay vs. 91.7% and 95.0% for sandwich ELISA, respectively. The diagnostic efficacy of dipstick assay in urine and serum samples was 88.3% and 90.0%, while it was 90.8% and 93.3% for sandwich ELISA, respectively. The diagnostic indices of dipstick assay and ELISA either in serum or in urine were statistically comparable (P>0.05). In conclusion, the dipstick assay offers an alternative simple, rapid, non-invasive technique in detecting CSA or complement to stool examinations especially in field studies.     

Diagnostic significance of serum HMGB1 in colorectal carcinomas

High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), a nuclear protein, can be translocated to the cytoplasm and secreted in colon cancer cells. However, the diagnostic significance of HMGB1 has not been evaluated in colorectal carcinomas. For this purpose, we have screened the expression and secretion of HMGB1 in 10 colon cancer cell lines and 1 control cell line and found that HMGB1 was detected in the culture medium. To evaluate the diagnostic value of HMGB1, we performed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure HMGB1 levels and compared them to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in the serum samples of 219 colorectal carcinoma patients and 75 healthy control subjects. We found that the serum HMGB1 level was increased by 1.5-fold in patients with colorectal carcinoma compared to those in healthy controls. When HMGB1 and CEA levels were compared, HMGB1 had similar efficacy as CEA regarding cancer detection (the sensitivity was 20.1% for HMGB1 vs. 25.6% for CEA, and the specificity was 96% for HMGB1 vs. 90.7% for CEA). Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy of HMGB1 for stage I cancer was significantly higher than that of CEA (sensitivity: 41.2% vs. 5.9%; specificity: 96% vs. 90.7). When we combined HMGB1 and CEA, the overall diagnostic sensitivity was higher than that of CEA alone (42% vs. 25.6%), and the diagnostic sensitivity for stage I was also elevated (47% vs. 5.9%). However, the prognosis of patients was not related with serum HMGB1 concentrations. Our findings indicate that serum HMGB1 levels are increased in a subset of colorectal carcinomas, suggesting their potential utility as a supportive diagnostic marker for colorectal carcinomas.     

Molecular diagnosis of scabies using a novel probe-based polymerase chain reaction assay targeting high-copy number repetitive sequences in the Sarcoptes scabiei genome

BackgroundThe suboptimal sensitivity and specificity of available diagnostic methods for scabies hampers clinical management, trials of new therapies and epidemiologic studies. Additionally, parasitologic diagnosis by microscopic examination of skin scrapings requires sample collection with a sharp scalpel blade, causing discomfort to patients and difficulty in children. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic assays, combined with non-invasive sampling methods, represent an attractive approach. In this study, we aimed to develop a real-time probe-based PCR test for scabies, test a non-invasive sampling method and evaluate its diagnostic performance in two clinical settings.Methodology/Principal findingsHigh copy-number repetitive DNA elements were identified in draft Sarcoptes scabiei genome sequences and used as assay targets for diagnostic PCR. Two suitable repetitive DNA sequences, a 375 base pair microsatellite (SSR5) and a 606 base pair long tandem repeat (SSR6), were identified. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were tested using relevant positive and negative control materials and compared to a published assay targeting the mitochondrial cox1 gene. Both assays were positive at a 1:100 dilution of DNA from a single mite; no amplification was observed in DNA from samples from 19 patients with other skin conditions nor from house dust, sheep or dog mites, head and body lice or from six common skin bacterial and fungal species. Moderate sensitivity of the assays was achieved in a pilot study, detecting 5/7 (71.4% [95% CI: 29.0% - 96.3%]) of clinically diagnosed untreated scabies patients). Greater sensitivity was observed in samples collected by FLOQ swabs compared to skin scrapings.Conclusions/SignificanceThis newly developed qPCR assay, combined with the use of an alternative non-invasive swab sampling technique offers the possibility of enhanced diagnosis of scabies. Further studies will be required to better define the diagnostic performance of these tests.     

Evaluation of serum alpha fetoprotein-L3 as an accuracy novel biomarker for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian patients

BackgroundMost Hepatocellular Carcinomas (HCCs) are diagnosed at an advanced stage. However, HCC early diagnosis is complicated by the coexistence of inflammation and cirrhosis. The unsatisfactory sensitivity and specificity of Alpha-fetoprotien (AFP) for screening of early-stage HCC paved the way for new novel biomarkers to complement AFP such as AFP-L3. The aim of this study was the Evaluation of alpha fetoprotein-L3 (AFP-L3) as earlier marker in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian patients. This study was conducted on 80 patients categorized into 2 groups; group 2 (40 patients with chronic active hepatitis) and group 3 (40 patients with HCC). HCC diagnosis was done by clinical, triphasic CT and positive US for focal lesion, in addition to 20 healthy individuals as controls (group 1).ResultsThe median range of AFP and AFP-L3 were highly statistically significant difference between HCC group and other groups [p < 0.001]. In this study ALT, AST, Total & direct bilirubin and albumin results showed highly significant differences between HCC group and other groups. Serum AFP-L3 shows sensitivity 100%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100% and negative predictive value 100% with AUC = 1 in HCC cases.ConclusionSerum AFP-L3 may serve as a diagnostic biomarker for the detection of early stage of HCC and show higher sensitivity than AFP.     

Detection of Circulating B Cells Producing Anti-GPIb Autoantibodies in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia

Background

We previously reported that an enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay for detecting anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody-secreting B cells is a sensitive method for identifying patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Here we assessed the clinical significance of measuring circulating B cells producing antibodies to GPIb, another major platelet autoantigen.

Methods

Anti-GPIb and anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody-producing B cells were simultaneously measured using ELISPOT assays in 32 healthy controls and 226 consecutive thrombocytopenic patients, including 114 with primary ITP, 25 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 30 with liver cirrhosis, 39 with post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (post-HSCT), and 18 non-ITP controls (aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome).

Results

There were significantly more circulating anti-GPIb and anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody-producing B cells in primary ITP, SLE, liver cirrhosis, and post-HSCT patients than in healthy controls (P<0.05 for all comparisons). For diagnosing primary ITP, the anti-GPIb ELISPOT assay had 43% sensitivity and 89% specificity, whereas the anti-GPIIb/IIIa ELISPOT assay had 86% sensitivity and 83% specificity. When two tests were combined, the sensitivity was slightly improved to 90% without a reduction in specificity. In primary ITP patients, the anti-GPIb antibody response was associated with a low platelet count, lack of Helicobacter pylori infection, positive anti-nuclear antibody, and poor therapeutic response to intravenous immunoglobulin.

Conclusion

The ELISPOT assay for detecting anti-GPIb antibody-secreting B cells is useful for identifying patients with ITP, but its utility for diagnosing ITP is inferior to the anti-GPIIb/IIIa ELISPOT assay. Nevertheless, detection of the anti-GPIb antibody response is useful for subtyping patients with primary ITP.     

联合检测EB-IgG、IgM，EB-DNA在鼻咽癌中的诊断价值分析

摘要 目的：分析联合检测EB-IgG、IgM,EB-DNA在鼻咽癌中的诊断价值。方法：选择我院自2019年1月至2022年1月接诊的100例鼻咽癌患者作为观察组,另选同期的100例健康体检者作为对照组。使用化学发光免疫夹心法检测血清EB-IgG、IgM,实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应检测血浆EB-DNA表达水平;比较两组EB-IgG、IgM和EB-DNA的阳性率,分析不同临床分期的鼻咽癌患者EB-IgG、IgM和EB-DNA的阳性率及EB-DNA表达水平,使用AUC评价EB-IgG、IgM联合EB-DNA对鼻咽癌的诊断效能,计算单独和联合应用上述指标诊断鼻咽癌的敏感度和特异度。结果：观察组EB-IgG、IgM和EB-DNA的阳性率均明显高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;EB-IgG、IgM和EB-DNA的阳性率及EB-DNA表达水平在不同临床分期的鼻咽癌患者中差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,均随着临床分期升高而升高;经ROC曲线分析,EB-IgG、IgM联合EB-DNA诊断鼻咽癌的AUC为0.930,大于单一指标EB-IgG的0.755、IgM的0.740和EB-DNA的0.750,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;EB-IgG、IgM联合EB-DNA诊断鼻咽癌的敏感度为97.00 %,特异度为96.00 %,准确度为96.50 %。结论：EB-IgG、IgM和EB-DNA均对鼻咽癌具有一定的临床诊断价值,联合检测有助于提高鼻咽癌的诊断效能,值得予以重视应用。     

Inverse relationship between the level of miRNA 148a-3p and both TGF-β1 and FIB-4 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and aimHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health burden globally. Dysregulation of miRNA 148a-3p is engaged in carcinogenesis. TGF-β is a profibrogenic cytokine. This study assesses the expression level of miRNA 148a-3p and its relationship with serum TGF-β1 and fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4) in Egyptian patients with HCV-associated HCC.Subjectsand Methods: The study included 72 HCC patients with HCV, 48 HCV cirrhotic patients, and 47 healthy controls. Serum TGF-β1 was assessed by ELISA and the expression of miRNA 148a-3p was measured by RT-PCR.ResultsPatients with HCC had lower plasma miRNA 148a-3p, higher serum TGF-β1, and higher FIB-4 levels than patients with cirrhosis and controls. miRNA 148a-3p discriminated HCC either from control (AUC: 0.997, 95.83% sensitivity, 85.11% specificity) or from cirrhosis (AUC: 0.943, 91.67% sensitivity, 81.25% specificity). Moreover, it distinguished metastatic from nonmetastatic patients (AUC: 0.800, 88.89% sensitivity, 60.0% specificity). The decreased miRNA 148a-3p and the increased TGF-β1 levels were related to distant metastasis, multinodular lesions, advanced TNM stage, and BCLC score (C). A negative correlation between miRNA 148a-3p and each of FIB-4 and TGF-β1 was detected. The decreased miRNA 148a-3p was associated with poor overall survival and poor progression-free survival.ConclusionAn inverse relationship between miRNA 148a-3p and both TGF-β1 and FIB-4 was observed, which could be involved in HCC pathogenesis. Moreover, this miRNA is a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HCC.     

IgG antibody to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen-5 in cerebrospinal fluid and its diagnostic application in tuberculous meningitis

IgG antibody to M. tuberculosis antigen-5 was detected by non-competitive ELISA in cerebrospinal fluid specimens (CSF), from 40 patients with clinical diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis and in 42 patients of non-tuberculous neurological diseases. The geometric mean antibody titer in CSF specimen for tuberculous and non-tuberculous groups were 156 and 8 respectively. The antibody titer in CSF specimens showed no correlation to IgG levels, tuberculin reactor status and duration of chemotherapy in patients with tuberculous meningitis. At a dilution end-point 1:40, the assay had a sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 92%. However at dilution end-point 1:80, the specificity of the assay could be increased to 100% but sensitivity of the assay decreased to 75%. IgG antibody detection against M. tuberculosis antigen-5 by non-competitive ELISA, described in this communication has potential application in the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis, particularly in developing countries where the incidence and prevalence of tuberculous meningitis is still high. In culture-negative cases of tuberculous meningitis, non-competitive ELISA could be applied as an alternative diagnostic tool.     

Diagnostic Accuracy and Turnaround Time of the Xpert MTB/RIF Assay in Routine Clinical Practice

The Xpert MTB/RIF assay was introduced for timely and accurate detection of tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy and turnaround time (TAT) of Xpert MTB/RIF assay in clinical practice in South Korea. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients in whom Xpert MTB/RIF assay using sputum were requested. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and detection of rifampicin resistance were calculated. In addition, TAT of Xpert MTB/RIF assay was compared with those of other tests. Total 681 patients in whom Xpert MTB/RIF assay was requested were included in the analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of Xpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosis of PTB were 79.5% (124/156), 100.0% (505/505), 100.0% (124/124) and 94.0% (505/537), respectively. Those for the detection of rifampicin resistance were 57.1% (8/14), 100.0% (113/113), 100.0% (8/8) and 94.9% (113/119), respectively. The median TAT of Xpert MTB/RIF assay to the report of results and results confirmed by physicians in outpatient settings were 0 (0–1) and 6 (3–7) days, respectively. Median time to treatment after initial evaluation was 7 (4–9) days in patients with Xpert MTB/RIF assay, but was 21 (7–33.5) days in patients without Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Xpert MTB/RIF assay showed acceptable sensitivity and excellent specificity for the diagnosis of PTB and detection of rifampicin resistance in areas with intermediate TB burden. Additionally, the assay decreased time to the initiation of anti-TB drugs through shorter TAT.     

Association of Serum Level of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 with Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis are associated with high mortality worldwide. Currently, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is used as a standard serum marker for the detection of HCC, but its sensitivity and specificity are unsatisfactory, and optimal diagnostic markers for cirrhosis are lacking. We previously reported that growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) was significantly induced in HCV-infected hepatocytes. This study aimed to investigate GDF15 expression and its correlation with hepatitis virus-related liver diseases. A total of 412 patients with various liver diseases were studied. Healthy and Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected subjects were included as controls. Serum and tissue GDF15 levels were measured. Serum GDF15 levels were significantly increased in patients with HCC (6.66±0.67 ng/mL, p<0.0001) and cirrhosis (6.51±1.47 ng/mL, p<0.0001) compared with healthy controls (0.31±0.01 ng/mL), though the GDF15 levels in HBV and HCV carriers were moderately elevated (1.34±0.19 ng/mL and 2.13±0.53 ng/mL, respectively). Compared with HBV or HCV carriers, GDF15 had a sensitivity of 63.1% and a specificity of 86.6% at the optimal cut-off point of 2.463 ng/mL in patients with liver cirrhosis or HCC. In HCC patients, the area under the receiver operating curve was 0.84 for GDF15 and 0.76 for AFP, but 0.91 for the combined GDF15 and AFP. Serum GDF15 levels did not significantly differ between the high-AFP and low-AFP groups. GDF15 protein expression in HCC was significantly higher than that in the corresponding adjacent paracarcinomatous tissue and normal liver. Using a combination of GDF15 and AFP will improve the sensitivity and specificity of HCC diagnosis. Further research and the clinical implementation of serum GDF15 measurement as a biomarker for HCC and cirrhosis are recommended.     

A Plasma Long Noncoding RNA Signature for Early Detection of Lung Cancer

The early detection of lung cancer is a major clinical challenge. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have important functions in tumorigenesis. Plasma lncRNAs directly released from primary tumors or the circulating cancer cells might provide cell-free cancer biomarkers. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the lncRNAs could be used as plasma biomarkers for early-stage lung cancer. By using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction, we determined the diagnostic performance of 26 lung cancer–associated lncRNAs in plasma of a development cohort of 63 lung cancer patients and 33 cancer-free individuals, and a validation cohort of 39 lung cancer patients and 28 controls. In the development cohort, 7 of the 26 lncRNAs were reliably measured in plasma. Two (SNHG1 and RMRP) displayed a considerably high plasma level in lung cancer patients vs. cancer-free controls (all P?<?.001). Combined use of the plasma lncRNAs as a biomarker signature produced 84.13% sensitivity and 87.88% specificity for diagnosis of lung cancer, independent of stage and histological type of lung tumor, and patients' age and sex (all P?>?.05). The diagnostic value of the plasma lncRNA signature for lung cancer early detection was confirmed in the validation cohort. The plasma lncRNA signature may provide a potential blood-based assay for diagnosing lung cancer at the early stage. Nevertheless, a prospective study is warranted to validate its clinical value.     

肝纤维化程度及自身抗体表达对熊去氧胆酸单药治疗自身免疫性肝病重 叠综合征患者临床疗效的影响

目的:肝纤维化程度及自身抗体表达对熊去氧胆酸单药治疗自身免疫性肝病重叠综合征患者临床疗效的影响。方法:回顾性收集2007年-2011年住院的20例做过肝穿活检的经熊去氧胆酸单药治疗达到满意效果的自身免疫性肝炎和原发性胆汁性肝硬化重叠综合征患者的临床资料。结果:20例患者中,12例患者(60%)的肝穿标本活检评估处于肝纤维化S3或S4期,其初诊时基线特征与肝纤维化处于S0-S2期的患者基线特征无统计学差异。此外,该20例患者的血清抗平滑肌抗体的阳性率较低(1/20)。结论:肝脏纤维化程度不会引起熊去氧胆酸治疗效果的下降。     

Serodiagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigenic glycolipids were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The 720 sera were collected from adult patients under investigation, suspected with extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The test performance was estimated according to definitive diagnosis in terms of specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. These parameters calculated on 142 sera from patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis and on 578 sera from patients with different nontuberculosis diseases were 92%, 81.6%, 70.9% and 95.1%, respectively. The specificity decreased to 85% when tuberculosis was associated with cancer or hepatic cirrhosis. In reactivated tuberculosis the sensitivity and the positive predictive value were 86.9% and 83.3%, respectively. Our results showed that ELISA was conclusive for patients with active tuberculosis, before the initiation of the treatment. The sensitivity decreased to 30% in inactive forms. It was demonstrated that ELISA was positive in cases with negative microscopy genitourinary tuberculosis. ELISA could be used as a supporting test in the laboratory diagnosis of active extrapulmonary tuberculosis in adults, disregarding the site involved.     

AFP, CEA, CA 19-9 and TPA in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The present study is based on the assay of four markers (AFP, CEA, TPA, Ca 19-9) using IRMA methods in 36 normal subjects, 44 cirrhosis and 66 HCC patients. Parametric and non parametric tests were used to test differences and correlations. ROC curves and discriminant functions were also elaborated. Normal 95% "cut-off" was determined by the "boostrap" method yielding: CEA 3.4 ng/ml; Ca 19-9 55 U/ml; TPA 58U/l and AFP 5.2 ng/ml. In HCC patients the values of the four markers were, on average, significantly different from those of normal subjects. However, only AFP and TPA exhibited high diagnostic accuracy (90%) for detection of the tumor. Higher than normal mean values for all markers were, also observed in cirrhotic patients. Only AFP yielded effective discrimination between HCC and cirrhosis. The positive prediction for the presence of the tumor on cirrhotic ground was 95% for AFP values higher than 18.5 ng/ml, with a 78% negative predictive value with a 6 ng/ml threshold. Association of AFP with TPA showed only a marginal diagnostic improvement. Results were not improved at all by combining CEA and Ca 19-9 with AFP and/or TPA. In conclusion, AFP is and remains the best marker for HCC and the only one effective in discriminating of HCC from cirrhosis. TPA may be considered a valid alternative if cirrhosis is not present. CEA and Ca19-9 are of no use.     

血清CEA、CA19-9、CYFRA21-1与结直肠腺癌的相关性分析

目的:探究血清癌胚抗原(carcinoembryonic antigen,CEA)、糖类抗原19-9、细胞角蛋白19片段(cytokeratin19 fragements,CYFRA21-1)与结直肠腺癌的病理相关性。方法:选择于我院接受治疗的80例结直肠腺癌患者为病例组,选择同期于我院接受治疗的50例良性结直肠病变患者为良性对照组,选择我院体格检查的50例健康个体为对照组,分别采集三组个体的血样并进行CEA、CA19-9以及CYFRA21-1水平的检测,并比对三组个体上述因子阳性表达率、因子水平,同时分析三种因子同结直肠腺癌患者TNM分期相关性,最后探究三种因子对结直肠腺癌的诊断价值。结果:(1)以CEA≥2.805μg/L、CA19-9≥39 U/m L、CYFR21-1≥3.3 ng/mL为临界值,结果显示病例组CEA阳性率51.25%,CA19-9阳性率31.25%,CYFR21-1阳性率40.00%,明显高于良性组的10.00%、20.00%和10.00%,高于对照组的8.00%、12.00%和2.00%(P<0.05);(2)比较显示病例组患者的CEA、CA19-9以及CYFR21-1水平明显高于良性对照组以及对照组(P<0.05),良性对照组CEA、CA19-9以及CYFR21-1水平明显高于对照组(P<0.05);(3)比较显示IV期结直肠腺癌患者CEA、CA19-9以及CYFRA21-1水平明显高于III期以及I+II期(P<0.05),III期三种因子水平明显高于I+II期(P<0.05);(4)CEA对结直肠腺癌诊断一致性71.25%,灵敏度65.00%,特异度90.00%;CA19-9诊断一致性46.25%,灵敏度35.00%,特异度80.00%;CYFRA21-1诊断一致性55.00%,灵敏度46.67%,特异度80.00%;联合诊断一致性95.00%,灵敏度95.00%,特异度95.00%。结论:血清CEA、CA19-9以及CYFRA21-1对结直肠腺癌具有较明确的诊断价值,不同病理分期患者中表达差异明显,可以考虑将联合诊断作为结直肠腺癌鉴别方式之一,推广于临床中。