(2000). European Urinalysis Guidelines. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation: Vol. 60, No. sup231, pp. 1-96.

European Urinalysis Guidelines

To minimize differences in apolipoprotein measurements among laboratories and methods, a standardization program involving common suitable reference material is needed. The Committee on Apolipoproteins of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry initiated a collaborative study for the standardization of test systems for measuring apolipoproteins (apo) A-I and B, with 25 company laboratories and three research laboratories involved in apolipoprotein analysis to: (a) evaluate calibration differences among the test systems; (b) evaluate whether comparability of the data can be achieved with the use of frozen serum pools to recalibrate the different systems; and (c) evaluate and select suitable candidate reference material. We used 26 test systems for apo A-I and 28 for apo B. Relatively modest differences were found in calibration for apo A-I, but very wide differences were observed for apo B methods. After uniform calibration, the overall among-laboratory CV for apo B decreased from 19% to 6%. Three lyophilized serum preparations for apo A-I and three liquid-stabilized serum preparations for apo B were selected for further evaluation as candidate international reference materials.

International Federation of Clinical Chemistry standardization project for measurements of apolipoproteins A-I and B

The need to have equitable access to quality healthcare is enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which defines the developmental agenda of the UN for the next 15 years. In particular, the third SDG focuses on the need to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. In this paper, we build the case that 5G wireless technology, along with concomitant emerging technologies (such as IoT, big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning), will transform global healthcare systems in the near future. Our optimism around 5G-enabled healthcare stems from a confluence of significant technical pushes that are already at play: apart from the availability of high-throughput low-latency wireless connectivity, other significant factors include the democratization of computing through cloud computing; the democratization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cognitive computing (e.g., IBM Watson); and the commoditization of data through crowdsourcing and digital exhaust. These technologies together can finally crack a dysfunctional healthcare system that has largely been impervious to technological innovations. We highlight the persistent deficiencies of the current healthcare system and then demonstrate how the 5G-enabled healthcare revolution can fix these deficiencies. We also highlight open technical research challenges, and potential pitfalls, that may hinder the development of such a 5G-enabled health revolution.

https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/9/4/93/pdf

How 5G Wireless (and Concomitant Technologies) Will Revolutionize Healthcare

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem, with a greater burden and prohibitive cost of care particularly in developing countries. This study determined the prevalence of chronic kidney disease and identified its associated risk factors in patients attending the Family Practice Clinic, Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria.Method: Consecutive newly-registered patients who attended the Family Practice Clinic of Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa from August 2005 to January 2006 were recruited and studied. Relevant data were collected by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, and determining the spot urinary ACR (albumin-creatinine ratio) of the subjects by using Microalbustix™ reagent strips and using their serum creatinine concentration. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of each subject was estimated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. A repeat urine test was done three months after the initial screening to identify subjects with...

/pdf/prevalence-of-chronic-kidney-disease-in-a-nigerian-family-1wsjfe72vj.pdf

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in a Nigerian family practice population

Kidney Function Tests

We describe a new dip- and read dipstick that detects urine albumin at concentrations of 10 mg/l and above and urine creatinine at concentrations of 300 mg/l and above The albumin assay is based on a high-affinity, dye-binding technique while the creatinine assay is based on the peroxidase-like activity of copper creatinine complexes With these two-test dipsticks, urines from normal adults supplemented with albumin and creatinine were correctly identified to within +/- 15% of the expected value for both analytes; the between-day coefficients of variation ranged from 71% to 161% We tested 275 patients' unmodified urines by the Bayer and Boehringer Mannheim Micral-Test albumin dipsticks and for albumin with the Beckman Array on the same specimens We also analyzed 42 selected urines from the group of 275 for albumin by another quantitative immunochemical method and by electrophoresis plus a total protein method to estimate the albumin concentration The quantitative immunochemical methods appear to underestimate the urine albumin concentrations; in these 42 urines measured as negative, ie, or = 16 mg/l at an 80% rate At a cutoff of 20 mg/l, the rate increased to 87% We also determined the urinary albumin/creatinine ratios on the 275 patients using the Bayer two-pad dipstick and found agreement 84% of the time with the same ratio obtained from a quantitative immunochemical method for albumin and a rate-Jaffe method for creatinine; an albumin/creatinine ratio (mg/g) of 30 was used as the discrimination point Albumin stability studies performed on the Beckman Array patients with six fresh urines showed small but consistent decreases at -20 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C after one month of storage The albumin in contrived urines, as estimated by electrophoreses/total protein and by the dipsticks did not change at these storage conditions Boric acid at 1 g/l as a urine preservative had no effect on the measurement of albumin by any of the methods described here nor of the assay of creatinine Other urinary proteins present at abnormal excretion rates did not interfere with the Bayer albumin dipstick Abnormal concentrations of bilirubin, citrate, creatine, ascorbic acid, albumin, hemoglobin and myoglobin in urine did not interfere with the creatinine dipstick measurements The first four of the above did not affect the Bayer dipstick results for albumin

J F Wallace

Papers

Comparison of urine dipsticks with quantitative methods for microalbuminuria