Modern Medical Laboratory Journal
Volume:5 Issue: 1, Winter-Spring 2022

This study aims to estimate and compare the time-course change in blood glucose levels by blood cells in serum, and plasma with or without preservatives, which may reflect the rate of glucose utilization by blood cells.

This laboratory-based cross-sectional study was carried out using a blood specimen of 28 participants among which 14 were diagnosed with diabetes and 14 were non-diabetic. Fasting blood specimen was collected in a plain tube, Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid (EDTA) tube, and EDTA+ Sodium Fluoride (NaF) tube. The test was performed by hourly estimation of glucose for 24 hours. Time-course changes in glucose levels in serum and plasma with or without NaF preservative were statistically compared using ANOVA test.

Serum and EDTA plasma glucose levels decreased gradually after the 3rd hour to 24th hour in comparison to EDTA+NaF plasma (p<0.05).  The rate of glucose utilization by blood cells was significantly higher in clotted blood and anticoagulated blood (EDTA) specimens in comparison with anticoagulated blood (EDTA) containing preservative (NaF) ((p<0.05). In addition, decreased rate of glucose utilization was observed in hyperglycemic specimens compared to that of normoglycemic blood.

Higher rate of glucose utilization by blood cells observed in serum and EDTA plasma represents a pre-analytical error in a long-standing specimen. The use of preservative NaF with EDTA significantly prevents cellular glucose utilization and stabilize plasma glucose level.  In contrast, this study also shows further insight into the reduced cellular metabolic rate of glucose utilization in diabetes mellitus.

The verification/validation of analytical equipment and methods is both part of this reasoning and an indispensable condition for their use and is one of the priorities of the medical biologist. The aim of our study is to verify the electrophoresis of serum proteins on the Cappilarys 2 Flex Piercing automaton.

The evaluation methodology concerned the scope A which is based on the recommendations of the Valtec protocol of the French Society of Clinical Biology, as well as those of the SH-GTA O4 protocol of the COFRAC (Comité français d’accréditation). We studied the repeatability on normal and pathological serum samples, and the reproducibility on normal and pathological internal quality control samples.

The values of the coefficient of variation of repeatability and reproducibility obtained by our study for each serum protein fraction (Albumin, Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, Beta-2, Gamma globulins), are overall satisfactory and are in accordance with the requirements issued by the supplier and those issued by RICOS. In addition, these results are consistent with those of other similar studies.

This type of study will provide a solid basis for the realization of an accreditation procedure for the tests used in our laboratory. For any laboratory wishing to be accredited according to the ISO 15189 standard, the validation/verification of methods is a determining criterion. It is an essential step to be taken before the implementation of the newly acquired equipment.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) represents the most common oral cavity cancer worldwide, being among the 10 most frequent cancers of all types. Only around 50% of patients survive longer than 5 years in view of currently applied medical procedures of diagnosis and treatment. The delay in diagnosis accounts for the shortening of survival despite advances in treatment protocols. The poor prognosis as well as high occurrence rate exerts a burden on both patients and clinicians. Cancer biomarkers may possibly present cancer profiles of different patients and foreseeing each upcoming therapy response and the subsequent outcomes. Identification of the most fundamental biomarkers in OSCC may lead us to precise detection, which can give rise to earlier diagnosis, more effective treatment options, and more patient oriented prognostic decisions, alleviating the current situation regarding the failure in effectual OSCC management.  In this review, we have outlined the molecular biomarkers for early diagnosis of OSCC and suggested inhibitors through which metastasis and its molecular pathways could potentially be inhibited.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is more common in patients with multiple sclerosis because of receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). On the other hand, some of these drugs may interact on COVID-19 vaccines. In this commentary, first we introduce some available COVID-19 vaccines and then discuss the effect of different DMTs on immune responses after vaccination. We have not found a connection between vaccination and MS relapses, so we suggest that the benefit from the vaccine outweighs any potential risks in these patients.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women. One of these toxins that inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells in 2D cell culture and has significant anti-tumor effects is Dianthin-30. Therefore, in this manuscript, for the first time, the anti-cancer effect of Dianthin-30 toxin against breast cancer cells (MCF-7) in 3D culture has been studied.

In order to evaluate the anti-cancer effects and cytotoxicity of the toxin at concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10μg/ml, MTT methods were used and a Neutral red test was used to validate the results of this test. Nitric oxide, Catalase, GSH assays, cytochrome c, Caspase-3 and Comet assay tests were also used to determine the type of mortality in cancer cells.

This toxin did not induce nitric oxide production, but at concentrations higher than 5μg/ml increased catalase production compared to the control. However, the level of GSH produced in all of the concentrations was significant compared to the control. In addition, Dianthin-30 increased cytochrome 30 and activation of caspase-3 in the above concentrations, but this effect was not significant compared to the control. The results of alkaline comet test also showed that the rate of induction of apoptosis by toxin was upward compared to the control.

The results of this study show that Dianthin-30 has anti-cancer effects and has caused death in breast cancer cells and this toxin probably induced apoptosis in cancer cells more than the non-mitochondrial pathway.