Knowlesnorris6315

Although immunoassays are the more widely used method, mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods have proven to be more sensitive, specific, and reliable. Advances in MS technology and its applications for therapeutic hormone monitoring have been significant, hence integration of these methods in the clinical setting is desired. Here, we provide a general overview of HT and ART, and the immunoassay and MS-based methods currently utilized for monitoring sex hormones. Additionally, we highlight recent advances in MS-based methods and discuss future applications and considerations for MS-based hormone assays. BACKGROUND Interleukin-18 (IL-18), a proinflammatory and proatherogenic cytokine, has been associated with type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke and coronary artery disease. Some studies have indicated that the IL-18 promoter -137 G/C polymorphism seems to be associated with changes in the IL-18 expression and may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between -137 G/C polymorphism and the levels of IL-18, biochemical markers for cardiovascular disorders, anthropometric profile and cardiovascular disease in Brazilian patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). DESIGN & METHODS Study subjects comprised 125 T2DM patients undergoing follow-up at a reference endocrinology service in northeastern Brazil. SKF38393 price The -137G/C polymorphism in the IL-18 gene and serum IL-18 levels were determined by using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immune assay (ELISA), respectively. The anthropometric parameters were assessed using a Body Composition Monitor with Scale, and the laboratory data were measured using an automatic analyzer as well as spectrophotometric analysis. RESULTS The genotype distribution of IL-18 -137 G/C genetic polymorphism was significantly different among T2DM patients with and without CVD. The results show an association between the CC genotype of -137G/C polymorphism and CVD in T2DM patients (p  less then  0.001). Serum levels of IL-18 were significantly higher in CC carriers (843.1 pg/mL) compared with GG or GC carriers (303.6 pg/mL and 292.0 pg/mL, respectively). In addition, the present study showed that carriers of the CC genotype also had significantly higher concentrations of creatinine and albuminuria than carriers of the GG or GC genotypes (p  less then  0.05 in both). CONCLUSION These results suggest that Brazilian T2DM patients with the CC genotype seem to show a predisposition to CVD, as well as an elevation in markers of renal function. Published by Elsevier Inc.INTRODUCTION To compare the efficacy and safety of generic and branded imatinib in adults with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase (CML-CP), we retrospectively reviewed data from patients CML-CP who received generic or branded imatinib. PATIENTS AND METHODS A propensity score matching (PSM) study was performed. A Cox regression model was used to identify factors associated with responses and outcomes. RESULTS Four hundred forty-two adults receiving generic imatinib (n = 236) or Glivec (Novartis, Basel, Switzerland; n = 206) were included. There were more patients with rural household registration (P  less then .001), lower education level (P  less then .001), divorced or widowed status (P = .009), higher white blood cell counts (P = .019), splenomegaly (P  less then .001), and longer intervals from diagnosis to imatinib initiation (P = .033) in the generic cohort. During the follow-up, there was no significant difference between the 2 cohorts in the 4-year probabilities of achieving a complete cytogenetic response (97.0% vs. 97.3%; P = .736), major molecular response (87.8% vs. 90.1%; P = .113), and molecular response4.5 (32.5% vs. 38.8%; P = .186), as well as failure-free survival (77.3% vs. 81.4%; P = .313), progression-free survival (94.4% vs. 95.8%; P = .489), and overall survival (96.8% vs. 98.3%; P = .088). Multivariate analyses showed that the drug type was not associated with responses and outcomes. After the PSM procedure, 177 pairs of patients with comparable baseline characteristics were reanalyzed. Multivariate analyses confirmed that generic or branded imatinib used as first-line therapy was not associated with either responses or outcomes. CONCLUSION Sociodemographic characteristics might influence the tyrosine kinase inhibitor that patients chose. Generic and branded imatinib as first-line therapy had comparable efficacy and safety in CML-CP patients. INTRODUCTION Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare clonal myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm of early childhood. Historically, it was difficult to diagnose clinically, as patients present with manifestations shared with other hematologic malignancies or viral infections. It is now clear that JMML is a disease of hyperactive RAS signaling. PATIENTS AND METHODS We examined the bone marrow of 41 Egyptian children with JMML by direct sequencing for mutations in the RAS pathway genes. RESULTS Mutations were detected in 33 (80%) of 41 patients. We identified 12 (29%) of 41 patients with PTPN11 mutation; 18 (44%) of 41 with RAS mutation; 9 (22%) of 41 with NRAS mutation; 9 (22%) of 41 with KRAS mutation; and 3 (7%) of 41 with CBL mutation. Eleven (92%) of the PTPN11 mutations were detected in exon 3 and 1 (8%) in exon 13. Seven of the NRAS mutations were in exon 2, and 2 were in exon 3. All KRAS mutations were in exon 2. The 3 cases with CBL mutation were homozygous mutations in exon 8. All the mutations detected in PTPN11, NRAS/KRAS, and the CBL genes were previously reported missense mutations in JMML. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that Egyptian children diagnosed with JMML have high frequency of NRAS/KRAS mutations and lower frequency of PTPN11 mutations as compared with previous studies. The concept of mutually exclusive RAS pathway mutations was clearly observed in our patients. All cancer centers in our region should start implementing molecular diagnostic methods before confirming the diagnosis of JMML and before offering hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.