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A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test

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A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Laboratory Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 8425

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Dr. Beata Želazowska-Rutkowska

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Department of Pediatric Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona 17, 15-274 Białystok, Poland
Interests: chronic infection; children; endocrinology disease; cytokine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Karolina Orywal

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Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona 15 A, 15-276 Białystok, Poland
Interests: alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes; aldehyde dehydrogenase; cancer diseases; protein; cytokine
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are guest editing a Special Issue entitled "A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test" in collaboration with Diagnostics, an open access journal published by MDPI, Switzerland.

A blood test is one of the most common tests healthcare providers use to monitor overall health or help diagnose medical conditions. Blood tests are used to measure or examine cells; biochemical, protein, cytokine, hormone, and tumor markers; and enzymes in the blood. Blood tests are also used to help diagnose certain diseases; monitor acute and chronic disease; monitor conditions such high cholesterol, glucose, thyroid hormones; and help diagnose bleeding or clotting disorders. Blood tests can identify rheumatoid diseases such as RZS, Sjogrena Syndrome, and Lupus Erythematosus.

This Special Issue welcomes your contributions covering the current aspects of prevention, diagnosis, and management of all diseases. Submissions may include articles of current original research, experimental methodology, reviews, and perspectives. I look forward to accepting your contributions.

Dr. Beata Želazowska-Rutkowska
Dr. Karolina Orywal
Guest Editors

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

blood test
infection diseases
PCR
immunochemical methods

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 499 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Secondary Retrospective Analysis of the Predictive Value of Neutrophil-Reactive Intensity (NEUT-RI) in Septic and Non-Septic Patients in Intensive Care

by Paolo Formenti, Letizia Isidori, Stefano Pastori, Vincenzo Roccaforte, Elena Alessandra Mantovani, Massimiliano Iezzi, Alessandro Menozzi, Rossella Panella, Andrea Galimberti, Giovanni Brenna, Michele Umbrello, Angelo Pezzi, Francesco Vetrone, Giovanni Sabbatini and Miriam Gotti

Diagnostics 2024, 14(8), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14080821 - 16 Apr 2024

Viewed by 446

Abstract

Background: Effective identification and management in the early stages of sepsis are critical for achieving positive outcomes. In this context, neutrophil-reactive intensity (NEUT-RI) emerges as a promising and easily interpretable parameter. This study aimed to assess the predictive value of NEUT-RI in diagnosing sepsis and to evaluate its prognostic significance in distinguishing 28-day mortality outcomes. Materials: This study is a secondary, retrospective, observational analysis. Clinical data upon ICU admission were collected. We enrolled septic patients and a control group of critically ill patients without sepsis criteria. The patients were divided into subgroups based on renal function for biomarker evaluation with 28-day outcomes reported for septic and non-septic patients. Results: A total of 200 patients were included in this study. A significant difference between the “septic” and “non-septic” groups was detected in the NEUT-RI plasma concentration (53.80 [49.65–59.05] vs. 48.00 [46.00–49.90] FI, p < 0.001, respectively). NEUT-RI and procalcitonin (PCT) distinguished between not complicated sepsis and septic shock (PCT 1.71 [0.42–12.09] vs. 32.59 [8.83–100.00], <0.001 and NEUT-RI 51.50 [47.80–56.30] vs. 56.20 [52.30–61.92], p = 0.005). NEUT-RI, PCT, and CRP values were significantly different in patients with “renal failure”. NEUT-RI and PCT at admission in the ICU in the septic group were higher in patients who died (58.80 [53.85–73.10] vs. 53.05 [48.90–57.22], p = 0.005 and 39.56 [17.39–83.72] vs. 3.22 [0.59–32.32], p = 0.002, respectively). Both NEUT-RI and PCT showed a high negative predictive value and low positive predictive value. Conclusions: The inflammatory biomarkers assessed in this study offer valuable support in the early diagnosis of sepsis and could have a possible role in anticipating the outcome. NEUT-RI elevation appears particularly promising for early sepsis detection and severity discrimination upon admission. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test)

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12 pages, 256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pan-Immune-Inflammation Value Could Be a New Marker to Predict Amyloidosis and Disease Severity in Familial Mediterranean Fever

by Tuğba Ocak, Ahmet Görünen, Belkıs Nihan Coşkun, Burcu Yağız, Sebnem Ozemri Sağ, Gökhan Ocakoğlu, Ediz Dalkılıç and Yavuz Pehlivan

Diagnostics 2024, 14(6), 634; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14060634 - 16 Mar 2024

Viewed by 781

Abstract

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and serositis. Blood-based biomarkers determined in FMF patients during attack-free periods could be used to predict the risk of amyloidosis and the severity of the disease. The recently defined pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) comprises four distinct subsets of blood cells and serves as an easily accessible and cost-effective marker. The objective of this study was to assess the role of PIV in predicting amyloidosis and moderate-to-severe disease. Clinical characteristics and laboratory values during the attack-free period were retrospectively analyzed in 321 patients over 18 years of age diagnosed with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). In our tertiary adult rheumatology outpatient clinic, disease severity and laboratory markers were evaluated during the first attack-free interval. At baseline, patients with amyloidosis were excluded. Patients were categorized based on the presence of amyloidosis and the severity of the disease. When focusing on amyloidosis in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, optimal cut-off values for pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were determined as ≥518.1, ≥2.3, and ≥127.2, respectively. In multivariate analysis, PIV, C-reactive protein (CRP), and the presence of the M694V homozygous mutation emerged as independent risk factors for both amyloidosis and moderate-to-severe disease. Additionally, NLR was identified as an independent risk factor for amyloidosis, while red blood cell distribution width was associated with moderate-to-severe disease. In patients with FMF, especially in the presence of the M694V homozygous mutation, CRP and PIV may be useful in predicting both amyloidosis and moderate-to-severe disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test)

15 pages, 690 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Role of New Morphological Parameters Provided by the BC 6800 Plus Analyzer in the Early Diagnosis of Sepsis

by Sara Sacchetti, Matteo Vidali, Teresa Esposito, Stefano Zorzi, Alessia Burgener, Lorenzo Ciccarello, Gianmaria Cammarota, Valentina Zanotti, Luca Giacomini, Mattia Bellan, Mario Pirisi, Ramon Simon Lopez, Umberto Dianzani, Rosanna Vaschetto and Roberta Rolla

Diagnostics 2024, 14(3), 340; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14030340 - 4 Feb 2024

Viewed by 913

Abstract

Background: Late diagnosis of sepsis is associated with adverse consequences and high mortality rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of hematologic research parameters, that reflect the cell morphology of blood cells, available on the BC 6800 plus automated analyzer (Mindray) for the early detection of sepsis. Materials and Methods: A complete blood count (CBC) was performed by Mindray BC 6800 Plus Analyzer in 327 patients (223 with a confirmed diagnosis of sepsis following sepsis-3 criteria, 104 without sepsis), admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of the Novara’s Hospital (Italy) and in 56 patients with localized infection. Results: In univariate logistic regression, age, Hb, RDW, MO#, NMR, NeuX, NeuY, NeuZ, LymX, MonX, MonY, MonZ were associated with sepsis (p < 0.005). In multivariate analysis, only RDW, NeuX, NeuY, NeuZ, MonX and MonZ were found to be independent predictors of sepsis (p < 0.005). Morphological research parameters are confirmed to be predictors of sepsis even when analyzing the group with localized infection. Conclusions: In addition to already established biomarkers and basic CBC parameters, new morphological cell parameters can be a valuable aid in the early diagnosis of sepsis at no additional cost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test)

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13 pages, 561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diagnostic Precision in Lyme borreliosis: Assessing VlsE and C6 Antigens in a Pediatric Cohort

by Marta Wozinska, Kacper Toczylowski, Dawid Lewandowski, Ewa Bojkiewicz, Robert Milewski and Artur Sulik

Diagnostics 2023, 13(23), 3547; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13233547 - 28 Nov 2023

Viewed by 961

Abstract

(1) Background: Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a tick-borne disease known for its diagnostic challenges. Conventional two-tiered testing (CTTT) for antibodies is time-consuming, has low sensitivity in the early stages of disease, and sometimes generates false-positive IgM immunoblots. To tackle this issue, modified two-tiered testing (MTTT) was introduced, incorporating recombinant VlsE and C6 antigens to enhance diagnostic accuracy. (2) Methods: In this prospective study, we enrolled children exhibiting symptoms indicative of LB. We collected serum samples at various intervals and subjected them to analysis using standard enzyme immunoassays. We then compared these results with the outcomes from the VlsE and C6 assays. (3) Results: In our study, all 33 patients displaying erythema migrans (EM), a characteristic symptom of LB, exhibited positive responses to the C6 antigen. This finding underscores the potential utility of the C6 antigen as a reliable diagnostic tool for LB. Additionally, we observed a significant reduction in anti-VlsE antibody levels following antibiotic treatment in EM patients. (4) Conclusions: The utilization of recombinant VlsE and C6 antigens in LB diagnostics and monitoring has yielded promising results. Nonetheless, it is imperative for clinicians to exercise caution and interpret results in conjunction with clinical findings, considering the dynamic nature of medical guidelines. Even with recombinant antigen tests, some children with EM tested negative, highlighting the importance of clinical diagnosis for treatment decisions. Furthermore, clinicians should be mindful of the possibility of persistently positive VlsE/C6 test results during LB treatment monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test)

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12 pages, 547 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Atherogenic Index of Plasma Predicts Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris

by Haci Ali Kurklu, Turkan Seda Tan, Nil Ozyuncu, Emir Baskovski and Cagdas Ozdol

Diagnostics 2023, 13(20), 3249; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13203249 - 19 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 804

Abstract

Aims: Chronic coronary syndrome is associated with several risk factors, such as dyslipidemia and hypertension. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been demonstrated to be a biochemical risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to determine whether the AIP is an effective parameter for estimating obstructive CAD. Methods and Results: A total of 345 patients (with a mean age of 62.2 ± 10.3; 63% male) who underwent coronary angiography were included in this study. Obstructive CAD is defined as having one or more vessels with a stenosis level of ≥50%. Depending on the presence of obstructive CAD, all patients were divided into two groups. The mean AIP value was found to be 0.538 ± 0.26 in the study group. The AIP values were significantly higher in the obstructive coronary artery group (AIP; 0.49 ± 0.26 vs. 0.58 ± 0.27, p = 0.002). According to a univariable analysis, AIP values were significantly associated with obstructive coronary artery disease [OR: 3.74 (CI 95% 1.62–8.64), p = 0.020]. The AIP was further adjusted for confounding risk factors in three multivariable analysis models and, all three models showed a significant association. According to an ROC analysis, 0.49 is the cut-off value for AIP, and a value above 0.49 indicates 50% coronary artpery stenosis. Conclusions: The AIP may be used in the assessment of cardiovascular risk for patients with stable angina pectoris, and it may also be used to estimate obstructive CAD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test)

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14 pages, 1703 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prognostic Role of Preoperative Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Recurrence at First Evaluation after Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) Induction in Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

by Junghoon Lee, Sangjun Yoo, Min Soo Choo, Min Chul Cho, Hwancheol Son and Hyeon Jeong

Diagnostics 2023, 13(19), 3114; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13193114 - 2 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 865

Abstract

We investigated the prognosis of BCG induction-only treatment and non-complete response (CR) at the first 3-month evaluation and examined factors associated with CR. In total, 209 patients with moderate- and high-risk NMIBC who received BCG induction-only treatment between 2008 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed based on the initial NMIBC stage. PFS and associated factors of non-CR compared to CR were also assessed. Initial T1 high-grade (HG) (n = 93) had poorer RFS and PFS after BCG induction-only treatment than Ta low-grade (LG) (p = 0.029, p = 0.002). Non-CR (n = 37) had a different neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (2.81 ± 1.02 vs. 1.97 ± 0.92) and T staging from CR (p < 0.001, p = 0.008). T1HG recurrence was associated with a worse PFS compared to non-T1HG (13.7 months vs. 101.7 months, p < 0.001). There was no difference in PFS between T1HG and T1LG. T1 and NLR were predictors of response at 3 months in multivariable analysis (p = 0.004, p = 0.029). NLR was also found to be an associated factor with RFS and PFS of bladder cancer (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). BCG induction-only treatment was effective for high-risk TaLG but not for T1HG. T1HG recurrence at 3 months after BCG induction has a poor prognosis for bladder cancer. Preoperative NLR and T1 were predictors of non-CR, and NLR was also associated with the long-term prognosis of bladder cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test)

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13 pages, 1905 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analytical Performance of a Novel Latex Turbidimetric Immunoassay, “Nanopia TARC”, for TARC/CCL17 Measurement: A Retrospective Observational Study

by Keita Yamashita, Shiori Takebayashi, Wataru Murata, Nao Hirai, Yui Ito, Mayuka Mitsui, Mina Saito, Kei Sato, Miyuki Terada, Noriyasu Niizeki, Akira Suzuki, Kenya Ogitani, Toshihiko Fujikawa, Marie Komori, Nozomi Inoue, Norimitsu Arai and Masato Maekawa

Diagnostics 2023, 13(18), 2935; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13182935 - 13 Sep 2023

Viewed by 930

Abstract

Thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC, also known as CCL17) is used as a biomarker for atopic dermatitis. The methods currently used for its measurement are complex, time-consuming, and require large machinery, warranting the need for a method that is simple, has a quick turnaround time, and requires less complex machinery. We evaluated the analytical performance of a novel latex turbidimetric immunoassay method, “Nanopia TARC”, on 174 residual serum samples from patients with skin or allergic diseases. This evaluation included the assessment of the limit of blank/detection/quantification (LOB/D/Q), precision, accuracy, linearity, interference, and commutability between Nanopia TARC and “HISCL TARC”, based on the chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) method. The LOB/D/Q values were 13, 57, and 141 pg/mL, respectively. The coefficient of variation of the repeatability was 0.9–3.8%, and that of the intermediate precision was 2.1–5.4%. The total error of the accuracy was 1.9–13.4%. The linearity was 141 and 19,804 pg/mL for TARC. The correlation coefficient between Nanopia TARC and HISCL TARC determined using the Passing–Bablok regression analysis was 0.999. Furthermore, the concordance of diagnostic criteria with AD was 92%. Nanopia TARC was confirmed to have the same analytical performance for TARC measurement as the existing CLEIA method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test)

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Review

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12 pages, 1636 KiB

Open AccessReview

Visual Function Improvement after Plasma Exchange Therapy for Acute Optic Neuritis in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders: Case Series and Review

by Raluca Iancu, Ruxandra Pirvulescu, Nicoleta Anton, George Iancu, Sinziana Istrate, Mihaela Oana Romanitan, Aida Geamanu and Matei Popa Cherecheanu

Diagnostics 2024, 14(9), 863; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14090863 - 23 Apr 2024

Viewed by 411

Abstract

Objective: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are autoimmune-mediated central nervous system disorders distinguished by the presence of serum aquaporine-4 IgG antibody (AQP4-Ab). The clinical panel comprises severe optic neuritis (ON) and transverse myelitis, which can result in incomplete recovery and a high risk of recurrence. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the visual outcomes of three patients with severe acute ON in NMOSD that was non-responsive to intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP), who received plasma exchange therapy (PLEX). We included three patients (P1, P2 and P3) with severe acute ON who had no improvement after IVMP treatment and were admitted to the ophthalmology department at the Emergency University Hospital Bucharest from January 2022 to September 2023. All three patients with ON were diagnosed in accordance with the criteria described by the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. All the subjects were experiencing their first attack. Results: The mean recruitment age was 35.3 ± 7.71. All patients were seropositive for the AQP4 antibody. All patients were tested for serum myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody but only one showed a positive test (P3). Lesions visible in orbital MRI indicated the involvement of retrobulbar, canalicular and/or intracranial segments. All three subjects had no response or incomplete remission after an IVMP protocol (5 days of 1000 mg intravenous methylprednisolone in sodium chloride 0.9%). The mean time from onset of optic neuritis to PLEX was 37.6 days. The PLEX treatment protocol comprised five cycles of plasma exchange treatment over 10 days, with a plasma exchange session every other day. An amount of 1 to 1.5 volumes of circulating plasma were dialyzed for 2–4 h. At 1 month after the completion of PLEX therapy, BCVA and VF parameters were improved in all three patients. Conclusion: The treatment of ON remains subject to debate and is somewhat controversial. Plasma exchange must be considered as a rescue therapy when IVMP is insufficient for AQP4-ON patients. This study revealed that PLEX treatment effectively improves the visual outcomes of patients experiencing their first attack of severe acute isolated ON after high-dose IVMP treatment. This study suggests that PLEX may be associated with improved visual outcomes in NMOSD acute optic neuritis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test)

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Other

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3 pages, 182 KiB

Open AccessReply

Reply to Ishikura, H. What Does Soluble C-Type Lectin-like Receptor 2 (sCLEC-2) × D-Dimer/Platelet (PLT) (sCLEC-2 × D-Dimer/PLT) Mean for Coagulation/Fibrinolysis Conditions? Comment on “Yamamoto et al. Super Formula for Diagnosing Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Using Soluble C-Type Lectin-like Receptor 2. Diagnostics 2023, 13, 2299”

by Hideo Wada, Akitaka Yamamoto, Katsuya Shiraki and Hideto Shimpo

Diagnostics 2024, 14(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14010042 - 25 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1069

Abstract

We would like to thank Dr. Ishikura for his kind comment [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test)

4 pages, 660 KiB

Open AccessComment

What Does Soluble C-Type Lectin-like Receptor 2 (sCLEC-2) × D-Dimer/Platelet (PLT) (sCLEC-2 × D-Dimer/PLT) Mean for Coagulation/Fibrinolysis Conditions? Comment on Yamamoto et al. Super Formula for Diagnosing Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Using Soluble C-Type Lectin-like Receptor 2. Diagnostics 2023, 13, 2299

by Hiroyasu Ishikura

Diagnostics 2024, 14(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14010041 - 25 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 449

Abstract

I read with great interest the article by Akitaka Yamamoto et al. that was recently published in Diagnostics [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Useful Diagnostic Method: Blood Test)

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