Urine Reagent Strip (Urobilinogen-Blood-Ketone-Glucose-Protein-pH-Bilirubin-Nitrite)

Purpose Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours (siNETs) with a Ki-67 proliferation index between 3 and 20% belong to WHO grade 2. Response to treatment may be monitored by blood chromogranin A (CgA) and urine 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA). The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the prognostic value of baseline CgA and 5HIAA and of the early biochemical response to treatment, and to compare different cut-off values used in the literature. Methods A retrospective cohort study of 184 patients with siNET Grade 2 treated with somatostatin analogues (SSA), interferon-alpha (IFN) or peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). Results Baseline CgA was a statistically significant prognostic marker for both cancer-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS). A cut-off of 5 x ULN (upper limit of normal) was best discriminative in most cases, but 2 x ULN discriminated better for SSA. Baseline 5HIAA was a prognostic marker for CSS in treatment with IFN and PRRT, but not for single SSA. Early changes of CgA and 5HIAA correlated well with CSS (HR 3.18, 95% CI 1.82-5.56 and HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.16-1.86) and PFS (HR 3.08, 95% CI 1.86-5.10 and HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.11-1.68) for SSA, but not for PRRT. Conclusions Baseline CgA and to a lesser extent 5HIAA are associated with CSS irrespective of treatment used, and with PFS after PRRT, and 5 x ULN provides best discrimination in many, but not all, cases. Early reductions of CgA and 5HIAA are prognostic for treatment with SSA, but not PRRT.

Nano-sized electrodes have their special advantages for sensing applications, such as small overall dimension, fast response and low background current. In this work, single gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) were controllably prepared on single Pt nanoelectrode surface by electrodeposition method. The AuNCs covered Pt nanoelectrode (AuNCs/PtNE) had steady-state voltammetric response in redox species solution, which was similar to micro-/ nano-sized electrodes. It was interesting to find isonicotinic acid hydrazide (INH, also known as isoniazid) showed good electrochemical response on AuNCs/PtNE surface, which had investigated carefully by square wave voltammetry (SWV) and chronoamperometry. Moreover, the prepared single AuNCs/PtNEs showed the capability for INH sensing with good sensitivity, reproducibility and selectivity, which was demonstrated for INH detection in human urine samples.