Magic™ Anti-Chorionic Gonadotropin polyclonal antibody

ObjectiveChromogranin A (CgA) and B (CgB) are markers for monitoring disease status in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). These are specialized diagnostic tests often necessitating referral of specimens to a supraregional assay service (SAS) laboratory for analysis. The aim of this audit was to assess whether measurement of either plasma CgA or CgB alone provides sufficient clinical information in comparison with the current practice of measuring both markers together. DesignA retrospective analysis was undertaken for all chromogranin tests requested for patients with a known NET diagnosis. Results were categorized based on whether plasma concentrations were elevated for one or both CgA and CgB. ResultsA total of 325 sequential patients with a NET diagnosis had plasma chromogranin levels measured during the period of review. Baseline CgA was elevated in 609% of patients. Isolated elevations in CgA (with normal CgB) were found in 449% of patients, whilst combined elevations in both CgA and CgB were found in 16% of patients. Combined CgA and CgB concentrations within the normal range were observed for 385% of patients. Only two patients (06%) had an isolated elevation in CgB at baseline. Both patients had a diagnosis of pancreatic NET and were radiologically stable. Plasma CgA and CgB corresponded with disease stage (localized vs metastatic). CgB in addition to CgA did not provide any significant improvement in diagnostic performance for identification of metastatic disease compared to CgA alone. ConclusionsBased on this NET population and specific assay performance characteristics, CgA alone provides sufficient information for the management of NET patients; the routine estimation of CgB in all patients is not informative in clinical practice.

The aim of this study was to detemiine haptoglohin (Hp), serum amyloid-A (SAA) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) levels in naturally occurring cases of coryza gangrenosa bovum (CGB). The study was conducted on 14 animals, where 7 were sick cattle clinically diagnosed with CGB (patient group), and 7 healthy cattle from the same region (control group). It was determined that the general clinical examination results (rectal temperature, heart and respiratory frequency and rumen movement) detected in the patient group of animals showed significant differences (P(0.001) with respect to the animals in the control group. Serum Hp, SAA and Cp concentrations in the animals in the control group were detemiined as 0.22 +/- 0.02 mg/mL 13.96 +/- 0.79 mu g/mL, and 8.10 +/- 2.85 mg/dL respectively, but 0.75 +/- 0.20 mg'nI 182.25 +/- 22.63 mgMI, and 9.40 +/- 2.54 mg/dL respectively for the patient group. It was detennined that SAA(P<0.001) and Hp (P<0.05) concentrations of the cattle in the patient group were significantly enhanced, while the increase in Cp levels were observed to he insignificant (P>0.05). Consequently, serum SAA and Hp concentrations in the cattle with CGB infection increased significantly in the acute phase of the disease, and it was concluded that further in-depth studies should he conducted on more animals in order to reveal the clinical significance of these changes in CGB infections, and also for precise diagnosis of CGB.