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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 M. Varani

Alte concentrazioni di IL-6 nel liquido di dialisi peritoneale in un paziente affetto da peritonite
High levels of IL-6 on peritoneal dialysate in a patient with peritonitis.
G. Canu  |  G. Alfano  |  S. Tagliavini  |  T. Trenti  |  M. Varani  | 
<p><span style="font-family:arialmt,sans-serif; font-size:9.0pt">Icodextrin has been associated with sterile peritonitis in patients on peritoneal dialysis. This peritonitis causes a cloudy effluent and mild abdominal discomfort, both resolved after the discontinuation of icodextrin. We report here a case of icodextrin-associated peritonitis coupled with high level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on peritoneal dialysate. After the rechallenge with icodextrin, the Interleukin -6 (IL-6) increase was 9.8 fold higher, while the increase of the leucocyte count was only 4.3 fold higher compared to baseline. The icodextrin discontinuation induced a decrease of IL-6 and leucocyte count to baseline values while the peritoneal dialysate became clear.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family:arialmt,sans-serif; font-size:9pt">In conclusion, IL-6 could be considered a sensitive biomarker for the diagnosis of icodextrin-associated peritonitis.</span></p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 46(4) e22
Casi Clinici - Case Report
 
Confronto tra un metodo nefelometrico ed un metodo turbidimetrico per la determinazione delle catene leggere libere sieriche: punti di forza e criticità
Comparison between a turbidimetric and a nephelometric method for the measurement of serum free light chains: strengths and weaknesses
<p>Background: monoclonal gammopathies include a broad spectrum of pathologies, and free light chains (FLC) measurement is recommended by guidelines for the diagnosis, follow up and prognosis of plasma cell dyscrasia. The aim of the study is to compare the measurement of FLC performed with two different analytical platforms, a nephelometer and a turbidimeter, in order to assess the analytical and diagnostic agreement.<br />Methods: 87 consecutive samples received by the laboratory with a request of FLC measurement were analyzed on nephelometer Immage 800 (Beckman Coulter, USA) and turbidimeter Optilite (The Binding Site, UK), using the same antibodies (Freelite, The Binding Site, UK).<br />Results: by applying the Passing-Bablok regression and the Bland-Altman analysis, a proportional and constant systematic error but non-significant bias for FLC ratio (rFLC) has been observed. By applying the Weighted Cohen&rsquo;s Kappa (WK) test to the rFLC values, an excellent diagnostic agreement between the two instruments has been shown, considering both the normal range (0.26 &ndash; 1.65) (WK=0.87) and the diagnostic range for multiple myeloma (&lt;0.01 or &gt;100) (WK=0.84).<br />Conclusions: Although there are statistical differences between the measurements performed by the two instruments, these do not affect the diagnostic agreement, that is excellent. Nevertheless, the turbidimeter is provided with a software that can automatically detect the antigen excess; by diluting further the samples automatically, it performs fewer dilutions than the nephelometer and provides a wider range of measurement, especially for low concentrations. These characteristics assist the operator both during the analysis and the validation phases of the results, saving time and resources. On the basis of the results of the study, it can be concluded that the turbidimeter shows better performances compared to the nephelometer.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 44(2) 149-156
Contributi Scientifici - Scientific Papers
 
Una paziente con dolori ossei diffusi: il ruolo del laboratorio nel diagnosticarne la causa
A female patient with diffuse bone pain: the role of the clinical laboratory in the diagnostic process
D. Debbia  |  P. Natali  |  L. Ferrara  |  M. Varani  |  G. Longo  |  T. Trenti  | 
<p>Multiple myeloma (MM) represents 10% of all hematologic malignancies; in 15% of MM the monoclonal component consists of only free light chains. A 53 year-old patient performs at the Corelab laboratory (AOU-AUSL Modena) blood tests for bone pain. Serum electrophoresis shows hypogammaglobulinemia (5,5 g/L). The laboratory professional decides to carry on further studies: a serum immunofixation that highlighted the presence of kappa free light chains not traceable to any heavy chain and the measure of the serum free light chains (sFLC) with the following results: FLC-&kappa; 26 777 mg/L (i.r. 3.3-19.4); FLC-&lambda; 6.15 mg/L (i.r. 5.7-26.3); ratio FLC (rFLC), 435.31 (i.r. 0.26-1.65). The light chain MM is a type of MM difficult to recognize. The laboratory professional&#39;s own initiative defines a procedure of &quot;personalized medicine&quot; oriented to to the patient&#39;s needs. The expertise of the laboratory professional is crucial in assuring the patient the best outcome when carried out on the basis of the available guidelines.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 43(4) e35-e36
Casi Clinici - Case Report
 
Paziente pediatrico con oliguria e adenopatia cervicale: il ruolo degli analizzatori a cattura di immagine per l’esame standard delle urine
Urinalysis in a pediatric patient with oliguria and cervical lymphadenopathy: role of automated imageanalysis systems.
<p>Automated urinalysis instruments image-based for cell analysis can identify non-squamousepithelial cells (NSE). Among these elements, expert pathologists can distinguish the so called Decoy Cells (DC),Polyomavirus BK (BKV)-infected elements primarily seen in immunocompromised patients. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)infection can induce a transient immunosuppression in immunocompetent patients, and this could lead to areactivation of a latent BKV infection in urothelial cells: this is a rare event in pediatric patients. This study reports thecase of a 4 year-old child with lateral lymphadenopathy, fever and oliguria. Automated urinary sediment analysisevidenced the presence of many NSEs identifed as DC, generating a subsequent virological investigation with a finaldiagnosis of concomitant BKV and EBV infection. The combination of an automated technology, an efficientmiddleware and the expertise of the laboratory professionals , allowed the proper identification of these peculiarreactive elements, which could easily be mistaken for malignant atypical cells.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 43(2) e20-e23
Casi Clinici - Case Report
 
Accuratezza dell’immunonefelometria come metodo di screening per la determinazione della proteinuria di Bence Jones
Accuracy of immunonephelometry as a screening method for Bence Jones proteinuria
<p>The Bence Jones protein (BJP) is an important biomarker for the identification and management of patients with plasma cell dyscrasia. The recommended method for BJP detection is the immunofixation, which is a time consuming and expensive procedure. The aim of the study was to evaluate immunonephelometry (INA) as a screening method for the identification of urine samples negative for BJP and to compare it to a simplified immunofixation method (uIFE-3). First morning urine samples were collected from 1000 consecutive patients and analyzed by INA. Samples with free light chain concentrations &gt;10 mg/L and &gt;5 mg/L were considered positive. All samples were further analyzed by uIFE-3 using 3 antisera (anti-GAM, -&kappa; and -&lambda;). The INA results (at both cut-off levels) were compared with the uIFE-3, showing a poor accuracy due to the high number of false positives and false negatives. Consequently, INA resulted unable to accurately screen BJP.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 41(2) 148-153
Contributi scientifici - Scientific papers