Clinical Pathology
SR | Biomarkers for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
1 Jun, 2023 | 12:06h | UTC
Cluster RCT | Point-of-care CRP testing cuts antibiotic prescriptions in respiratory illnesses in primary care
1 Jun, 2023 | 11:58h | UTCCommentary: Use of CRP testing reduced antibiotics for respiratory infections, trial finds – CIDRAP
Cohort Study | NT‐proBNP and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality
31 May, 2023 | 13:59h | UTC
Guideline | Use of non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia
10 May, 2023 | 15:46h | UTC
AACC Guidance document on the clinical use of procalcitonin
8 May, 2023 | 13:12h | UTCAACC Guidance Document on the Clinical Use of Procalcitonin – The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine (free for a limited period)
Commentary on Twitter
Special Report: AACC Guidance Document on the Clinical Use of Procalcitonin https://t.co/RAjvJF6Q0e #LabMed #PathTwitter #Pathology #ClinChem pic.twitter.com/oKMnlhl8a0
— JournApplLabMed (@JALM_AACC) May 4, 2023
Review | Transforming tuberculosis diagnosis
5 May, 2023 | 15:18h | UTCTransforming tuberculosis diagnosis – Nature Microbiology (if the link is paywalled, try this one)
Commentary on Twitter
Diagnosis is the weakest aspect of tuberculosis care and control. A Comment article in @NatureMicrobiol describes seven critical transitions that can close the diagnostic gap and enable TB programmes worldwide to recover from the pandemic setbacks. 🔒 https://t.co/hZyBmVJfRR pic.twitter.com/NDgXF8O9W5
— Nature Portfolio (@NaturePortfolio) May 2, 2023
Diagnostic Stewardship | A continuum of antibiotic stewardship in combating antimicrobial resistance
4 May, 2023 | 13:58h | UTC
Scientific Statement | Role of natriuretic peptides in the diagnosis and management of heart failure
2 May, 2023 | 14:05h | UTC
RCT | Molecular point-of-care testing for gastroenteritis reduced isolation time but increased antibiotic use
28 Apr, 2023 | 13:15h | UTC
Cohort Study | Circulating tumor DNA methylation may enable early detection of recurrence in colorectal cancer
24 Apr, 2023 | 13:12h | UTCEarly Detection of Molecular Residual Disease and Risk Stratification for Stage I to III Colorectal Cancer via Circulating Tumor DNA Methylation – JAMA Oncology (free for a limited period)
Editorial: Liquid Biopsy Assessment of Molecular Residual Disease in Localized Colorectal Cancer: Is It Ready for Prime Time? – JAMA Oncology (free for a limited period)
Commentary on Twitter
Cohort study of 299 pts w/stage I-III colorectal cancer, evaluating ctDNA evaluation w/methylation markers, showed ctDNA before & after surgery, after adjuvant chemo, & during longitudinal monitoring is highly associated w/recurrence. https://t.co/csHNz5kWz3 #CRCSM #GICSM
— JAMA Oncology (@JAMAOnc) April 21, 2023
M-A | Comparison of the diagnostic accuracies of monocyte distribution width, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein for sepsis
6 Apr, 2023 | 13:00h | UTC
M-A | Rapid antigen-based and rapid molecular tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2
4 Apr, 2023 | 13:52h | UTCRelated:
Interpreting a lateral flow SARS-CoV-2 antigen test – The BMJ
Lateral flow devices maintain detection sensitivity across Alpha, Delta, and Omicron waves
3 Apr, 2023 | 13:53h | UTCSummary: The study assessed the performance of antigen lateral flow devices (LFDs) during the alpha, delta, and omicron waves of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the UK. Researchers aimed to understand LFD performance concerning changes in variant infections, vaccination, viral load, and LFD use, as well as the devices’ ability to detect infectious individuals. Paired LFD and RT-PCR test results were collected from both asymptomatic and symptomatic participants between November 2020 and March 2022.
When compared to RT-PCR testing, the overall LFD sensitivity was 63.2%, and specificity was 99.71%. The sensitivity was higher in symptomatic participants (68.7%) than in asymptomatic participants (52.8%). The study found that increased viral load was independently associated with a higher likelihood of being LFD positive. There was no evidence of a significant difference in LFD sensitivity between the alpha and delta variants, but sensitivity increased during the omicron wave. Vaccination status did not show an independent association with LFD sensitivity.
The study concluded that LFDs can detect most SARS-CoV-2 infections across different viral variants and during vaccine roll-out, contributing to reduced transmission risk. However, LFD performance is lower in asymptomatic individuals, which should be taken into account when designing testing programs.
Invited Commentary: The performance of rapid antigen tests against SARS-CoV-2 variants – The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Related:
Interpreting a lateral flow SARS-CoV-2 antigen test – The BMJ
Review | Diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
22 Mar, 2023 | 13:39h | UTCDiagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Review – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Audio clinical review: Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia – JAMA
Elevated pre- & postoperative BNP tied to complications in hypertensive & diabetic patients undergoing surgery
22 Mar, 2023 | 13:28h | UTCSummary: This study aimed to assess if preoperative and postoperative serum B-type natriuretic peptide levels (BNP) could predict postoperative complications in hypertensive and diabetic patients after non-cardiac surgery. The study involved 260 adult participants and measured BNP levels before and after surgery. The primary outcome was the change in BNP levels and the development of postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery.
Results showed that patients who developed postoperative complications had significantly higher serum BNP levels both before and after surgery. The preoperative BNP levels (baseline BNP) in patients with complications were 152.02 pg/mL ± 106.56 compared to 44.90 pg/mL ± 44.22 in patients without complications. Similarly, postoperative BNP levels in patients with complications were 313.99 pg/mL ± 121.29, while in patients without complications, they were 83.95 pg/mL ± 70.19.
Although the study does not provide specific cutoff values, higher BNP levels both preoperatively and postoperatively are associated with an increased risk of complications in hypertensive and diabetic patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Further multicenter prospective studies with a larger population are needed to confirm the role of BNP in predicting surgical prognosis.
Related:
AACC Guidance document on cervical cancer detection: screening, surveillance, and diagnosis
16 Mar, 2023 | 13:21h | UTC
Circulating microparticle proteins predict pregnancies complicated by placenta accreta spectrum
16 Mar, 2023 | 13:05h | UTCNews Release: Researchers Identify blood panel to predict placenta accreta – Brigham and Women’s Hospital
DNA sequencing may identify an increased risk of relapse in adults with AML prior to hematopoietic cell transplantation
13 Mar, 2023 | 14:47h | UTCDNA Sequencing to Detect Residual Disease in Adults With Acute Myeloid Leukemia Prior to Hematopoietic Cell Transplant – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Commentary on Twitter
Among patients w AML in first remission prior to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant, the persistence of residual variants in the blood at an allele fraction ≥0.01% was assoc'd w increased relapse & worse survival vs those w/o these variants. https://t.co/KCnaQ1NRXJ
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) March 11, 2023
Health technology assessment of diagnostic tests: a state of the art review of methods guidance from international organizations
27 Feb, 2023 | 12:34h | UTC
AGA Guideline | Role of biomarkers for the management of ulcerative colitis
22 Feb, 2023 | 12:38h | UTC
Diagnostic accuracy study | Natriuretic peptide testing and heart failure diagnosis in primary care
3 Feb, 2023 | 14:04h | UTC
M-A | Diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid galactomannan assay for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis
2 Feb, 2023 | 14:50h | UTC
Accuracy of a Cystatin C–based equation to estimate GFR without the inclusion of race and sex
30 Jan, 2023 | 01:16h | UTCCystatin C–Based Equation to Estimate GFR without the Inclusion of Race and Sex – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Cystatin C-Based Equation Accurate for Estimating Glomerular Filtration Rate – HealthDay
Commentary on Twitter
Estimating equations for the glomerular filtration rate — EKFC eGFRcr (creatinine) and EKFC eGFRcys (cystatin C) — were tested. EKFC eGFRcys was unbiased and accurate, irrespective of the inclusion of race or sex. https://t.co/uMhwDPCDAJ pic.twitter.com/r455YMrJo2
— NEJM (@NEJM) January 26, 2023
M-A | Assessing the diagnostic performance of new commercial IGRAs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
24 Jan, 2023 | 14:25h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Assessing the diagnostic performance of new commercial IGRAs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis
✅ Just Accepted
🔓 Open Access
🔗 https://t.co/8eO3ugZdfl pic.twitter.com/Fc2AjJyIw9— Clinical Infectious Diseases (@CIDJournal) January 23, 2023
M-A | Diagnostic value of four biomarkers in detecting neonatal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries
24 Jan, 2023 | 14:21h | UTC