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Editor-in-chief
Maria Stella Graziani

Deputy Director
Martina Zaninotto

Associate Editors
Ferruccio Ceriotti
Davide Giavarina
Bruna Lo Sasso
Giampaolo Merlini
Martina Montagnana
Andrea Mosca
Paola Pezzati
Rossella Tomaiuolo
Matteo Vidali

EIC Assistant
Francesco Busardò

International Advisory Board Khosrow Adeli Canada
Sergio Bernardini Italy
Marcello Ciaccio Italy
Eleftherios Diamandis Canada
Philippe Gillery France
Kjell Grankvist Sweden
Hans Jacobs The Netherlands
Eric Kilpatrick UK
Magdalena Krintus Poland
Giuseppe Lippi Italy
Mario Plebani Italy
Sverre Sandberg Norway
Ana-Maria Simundic Croatia
Tommaso Trenti Italy
Cas Weykamp The Netherlands
Maria Willrich USA
Paul Yip Canada


Publisher
Biomedia srl
Via L. Temolo 4, 20126 Milano

Responsible Editor
Giuseppe Agosta

Editorial Secretary
Chiara Riva
Biomedia srl
Via L. Temolo 4, 20126 Milano
Tel. 0245498282
email: biochimica.clinica@sibioc.it

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ISSN print: 0393 – 0564
ISSN digital: 0392- 7091



BC: Articoli scritti da G. Sancesario

Comunicare nell’infosfera: sfide e opportunità per la Medicina di Laboratorio
Communicating in the infosphere: challenges and opportunities for Laboratory Medicine
<p>Communication is becoming more important than ever for health care and health care professionals, as the recent COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically highlighted. The fast evolution of the mass and social media and the continuous development of new health-related platforms and applications are imposing new challenges that involve also laboratory medicine and that need to be carefully considered. In fact, these novel, fast and effective strategies of communication are inherently prone to the risk of publishing misleading, incorrect or fake information which can spread uncontrollably and diffuse all over the world in a very short time. However, social media are undoubtedly a great opportunity to communicate, in a responsible and credible way, health-related data and scientific updates and discoveries. As for the therapeutic alliance, it is now required to establish an &ldquo;information alliance&rdquo; between different healthcare professionals which, based on a trustworthy relationship, will allow the correct diffusion of health-related information and will contribute to citizens&rsquo; education.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 45(3) 290-298
Opinioni - Opinions
 
Raccomandazione CM/Rec(2016)6 della Commissione dei Ministri agli Stati Membri sull'utilizzo di campioni biologici di origine umana per scopi di ricerca (Adottata dalla Commissione dei Ministri l'11 maggio 2016 al 1256° incontro dei Delegati dei Ministri)
Biochimica Clinica ; 45(3) 305-311
Documenti - Documents
 
Ricerca sul materiale biologico: ritorno al futuro
Research on biological material: back to the future
<p>Research using biological specimens and health data can accelerate the understanding of many diseases and the effectiveness of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. However, researchers have to make a great effort to guarantee respect for transparency and protection of sensitive data of patients, or more generally, of donors whose biological material is collected and stored for future research purposes. Recently, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe proposed new recommendations for the use of biological materials of human origin for future research purposes. The Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)6 focuses on the safeguarding of fundamental rights of the persons, whose biological materials are stored for biomedical research, with particular regard to frail people, unable to provide consent, to guarantee their dignity, integrity and privacy. Furthermore, attention is paid to the transfer of material and data, to the transparency of access policies and to the security in the governance of the collections, in a dimension of globalization and internationalization of research that is a powerful tool to improve human health and healthcare systems.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 45(3) 299-304
Opinioni - Opinions
 
Il “Libro Bianco” dei Giovani Professionisti di Medicina di Laboratorio in Italia: risultati dell’indagine del Gruppo di Studio SIBioC Young Scientists
The "white paper" of young Laboratory Medicine professionals in Italy: results from a survey by the SIBioC - Young Scientists Working Group
<p>Introduction: Laboratory Medicine is continuously changing because of the advent of new technologies and perspectives, such as automation, Big Data and omics sciences. Professionals&rsquo; profiles are changing concurrently, developing the new technological, clinical and management skills required nowadays. In order to assess training needs as well as education and working conditions, the SIBioC Young Scientists Working Group (YS-WG) promoted a questionnaire directed to professionals &le;40 years old.<br />Methods: the questionnaire was prepared using Survey Monkey and was sent to the 587 SIBioC members &le;40 years old; it was also diffused via the YS-WG social media pages, and through personal e-mails with the help of Specialty School Offices. The questionnaire included 54 questions examining different aspects: participation in SIBioC activities, scientific interests, working conditions, evaluations of training and education experiences, expectations for the future professional life.<br />Results: during three months, 282 responses have been collected. The most represented professionals are Biologists (PhD) (46%), followed by Medical Doctors (24%). 33% of participants has an open-ended contract, 15% temporary, 17% freelance and 17% has a scholarship/research grant; 46% of them do not receive any remuneration. Around 60% work in public institutions (Universities or Hospitals); 52% are involved in clinical area, 29% in research. Residents&rsquo; evaluation on educational quality of Specialty Schools is rather heterogeneous. Among the 193 SIBioC members, 35% is actively participating in at least one of the society&rsquo;s Working Group. Most of the participants are regular readers of the SIBioC official journal (Biochimica Clinica), consult LabTestsOnline web site, and participate to SIBioC scientific events and/or to the Society e-learning courses.<br />Conclusions: the results of the survey are a key point for the Society, allowing to understand the young laboratory professionals needs, so that they can be accompanied and encouraged in a full development of their future professional life.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 44(4) 351-358
Contributi Scientifici - Scientific Paper
 
Impatto dell’emergenza COVID-19 nei laboratori: esperienze e opinioni dei SIBioC Young Scientists
The impact of COVID-19 emergency in clinical laboratories: experiences and opinions of SIBioC Young Scientists
<p>The recent pandemic status declared worldwide for the spreading of the new coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2 has emphasized the key role of the Laboratory Medicine in the health care process. In this context, the clinical laboratories needed to rapidly reorganize the internal workflow to face the emergency and to continue ensuring rapid and accurate responses. This has been possible only thanks to the contribution of all the personal working in the laboratory, including administrative staff, nurses, technical staff, and clinical chemists. The competence and the commitment of the Young Scientists (YS), can be considered an essential contribution to the efficient and successful management of the pandemic in clinical laboratories.<br />This paper reports the experiences and the opinions of some of the members of the SIBioC YS Study Group, who have been involved in the clinical laboratory management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper is focused to present and discuss the use of the molecular and serological tests for the screening and diagnosis of COVID-19, the reorganization of laboratories, the development of panels of biochemical markers for organ damage and cardiovascular involvement diagnosis. Finally, issues are addressed regarding the importance of safety procedures for biohazard containment, and of future research and development perspectives, thanks to the availability of biological specimens from patients affected by COVID-19, safely and correctly stored in biobanks, together with the associated clinical data.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 44(4) 021-022
COVID-19 - COVID-19
 
Raccomandazioni italiane di consenso per una diagnosi eziologica basata sui biomarcatori in pazienti con deterioramento cognitivo lieve
Italian consensus recommendations for a biomarker-based aetiological diagnosis in mild cognitive impairment patients
<p>Background and purpose: Biomarkers support the aetiological diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders in vivo. Incomplete evidence is available to drive clinical decisions; available diagnostic algorithms are generic and not very helpful in clinical practice. The aim was to develop a biomarker-based diagnostic algorithm for mild cognitive impairment patients, leveraging on knowledge from recognized national experts.<br />Methods: With a Delphi procedure, experienced clinicians making variable use of biomarkers in clinical practice and representing five Italian scientific societies (neurology &ndash; Societa Italiana di Neurologia per le Demenze; neuroradiology &ndash; Associazione Italiana di Neuroradiologia; biochemistry &ndash; Societa Italiana di Biochimica Clinica; psychogeriatrics &ndash; Associazione Italiana di Psicogeriatria; nuclear medicine &ndash; Associazione Italiana di Medicina Nucleare) defined the theoretical framework, relevant literature, the diagnostic issues to be addressed and the diagnostic algorithm. An N&ndash;1 majority defined consensus achievement.<br />Results: The panellists chose the 2011 National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer&rsquo;s Association diagnostic criteria as the reference theoretical framework and defined the algorithm in seven Delphi rounds. The algorithm includes baseline clinical and cognitive assessment, blood examination, and magnetic resonance imaging with exclusionary and inclusionary roles; dopamine transporter single-photon emission computed tomography (if no/unclear parkinsonism) or metaiodobenzylguanidine cardiac scintigraphy for suspected dementia with Lewy bodies with clear parkinsonism [round VII, votes (yes-no-abstained):3-1-1]; 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for suspected frontotemporal lobar degeneration and low diagnostic confidence of Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease (round VII, 4-0-1); cerebrospinal fluid for suspected Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease (round IV, 4-1-0); and amyloid positron emission tomography if cerebrospinal fluid was not possible/accepted (round V, 4-1-0) or inconclusive (round VI, 5-0-0).<br />Conclusions: These consensus recommendations can guide clinicians in the biomarker-based aetiological diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, whilst guidelines cannot be defined with evidence-to-decision procedures due to incomplete evidence.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 44(2) 194-205
Documenti SIBioC - SIBioC Documents
 
La Medicina di Laboratorio: gli specialisti di domani
Laboratory Medicine: specialists of tomorrow
<p>Laboratory Medicine rides the wave of technological progress, the metamorphosis of information systems and data management. The Young Specialist is not a mere observer, but rather takes a leading role in this change, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by &ldquo;omics&rdquo; technologies, capturing new ideas and innovative stimuli that lead to a new concept of work and research oriented to health and prevention. Thanks to the support of international web platforms, training and exchange programs supported by the International Scientific Societies and Federations that favor professional and scientific growth, Young Scientists work in a global context. In this scenario, the SIBioC Young Scientists Study Group, with the auspices of SIBioC, EFLM and IFCC, organized a meeting on &quot;Laboratory Medicine: Specialists of tomorrow&quot; with the aim of discussing and highlighting some of the most important challenges, such as technological progress, training and internationalization of young people. Finally, the future of laboratory medicine looks at a multidisciplinary approach that leads to integrated diagnosis, identification of the frail patient, the use of the Point of Care Testing as an indispensable tool in crisis areas, making the dialogue between physician and laboratory specialist a fundamental step for the diagnosis and treatment with the final aim of a better outcome for the patient.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 43(4) 424-434
Documenti - Documents
 
Medicina di laboratorio e Medicina d’urgenza: un connubio indissolubile
Laboratory Medicine and Emergency Medicine: an essential partnership
<p>Laboratory Medicine and Emergency Medicine: an essential partnership. A better understanding of the pathophysiological bases of many pathologies, along with the considerable technological advances occurred over last few years, have allowed to broaden number and complexity of in vitro diagnostic tests. The emergency department is the clinical setting with the highest risk of forensic disputes, and this explains the inclination that many emergency physicians have towards defensive medicine. Disproportionate request of laboratory tests, with poor awareness on the impact of inappropriateness, is one of the leading negative aftermath of this attitude. The predictable consequences are economic, but also encompass the risk of generating direct damage to the patients, especially in the presence of false positive test results. Since diagnostic appropriateness represents an essential element for patient safety and for sustainability of the National Healthcare System, the Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology (SIBioC) and the Academy of Emergency Medicine and Care (AcEMC) have organized a joint meeting entitled &quot;Laboratory Medicine and Emergency Medicine: an essential partnership&quot;, of which this document is a summary. The issues that have been discussed represent major diagnostic dilemmas faced by emergency physicians, and for which the contribution of laboratory medicine may be decisive. These include acute systemic infections, acute abdominal pain, acute chest pain, head injury and acute bleeding. Since timely transmission of test results is an additional critical element for the clinical decision making in emergency settings, the document will also include considerations on sample transportation from the emergency room to the laboratory.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 42(4) 335-342
Documenti - Documents
 
L’uso dei biomarcatori del liquido cerebrospinale nella diagnosi della malattia di Alzheimer: un’indagine tra i laboratori italiani
The clinical use of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis: an Italian survey
<p>The use of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers amyloid <span style="font-family:symbol; font-size:12.0pt">b</span><sub>1-42</sub> (A<span style="font-family:symbol; font-size:12.0pt">b</span><sub>42</sub>), tau (T-tau), and phosphorylated tau (p-tau<sub>181</sub>) for the diagnosis of Alzheimer&rsquo;s Disease is limited to a restricted number of neurological centers. By a survey, we aimed to do a &ldquo;selfie&rdquo; of the use and diffusion of CSF biomarkers of dementia in Italy, the standardization of pre-analytical procedures, the harmonization of ranges, and the participation to Quality Control programs. The members of SIBioC and of the Piattaforma Italiana per le Malattie Neurodegenerative della Societ&agrave; Italiana di Neurologia per le Demenze (SINdem-ITALPLANED) together with other neurological clinics all over Italy have received an online questionnaire. Forty neurological centers require CSF analyses while 7/20 regions (35%) lack CSF laboratories. Standardization of pre-analytical procedures is present in 62.02% of laboratories and only 56% participate to International Quality Control Programs. There is no harmonization of the reported cut-offs. A cost-benefit analysis, with a program for standardization and harmonization should be promoted by Scientific Societies and National Health Services.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 42(1) 39-43
Contributi scientifici - Scientific papers