Clinical Chemistry Podcast

Can Mendelian Randomization Shift into Reverse Gear? 17.04.2019 13:28 ↓

Mendelian randomization is a genetic epidemiological approach that is made substantial inroads into our understanding of the causes and consequences of disease, but can that same technique be run in reverse? In the March 2019 issue of Clinical Chemistry , a paper investigated potential blood markers of early chronic kidney disease which are caused by loss of kidney function, using an innovative re...

Challenges in the Assessment and Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome 17.04.2019 16:11 ↓

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex endocrine-mediated disorder in women with an estimated prevalence of about 10%. Women with PCOS typically present with heterogeneous clinical signs and symptoms such as excess hair growth, irregular menstrual cycles, infertility and metabolic issues. Currently, there are no universal criteria for diagnosis of this condition and as a result, women with the dis...

A Mendelian Randomization-Based Approach to Identify Early and Sensitive Diagnostic Biomarkers of Disease 03.04.2019 11:52 ↓

Identifying markers of chronic kidney disease that occur early in the disease process and are specific to loss of kidney function may allow timely more accurate identification of patients who will eventually develop the disease. In the March 2019 issue of Clinical Chemistry , a paper investigated potential blood markers of early chronic kidney disease which are caused by loss of kidney function us...

Validation of a Metabolite Panel for a More Accurate Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate Using Quantitative LC-MS/MS 26.03.2019 8:33 ↓

Glomerular filtration rate, or GFR, is generally accepted as the best overall index of kidney function, and a decrease in GFR has important implications for prognosis in patient management.  GFR is most commonly estimated by calculation, using the serum concentration of an endogenous filtration marker such as creatinine and demographic variables such as age, sex, and race.  In the March 2019 issue...

Which Methods for Determining Glomerular Filtration Rate Most Strongly Associate with Risk of Progression of Kidney Disease? 26.03.2019 9:48 ↓

In the March 2019 issue of Clinical Chemistry , Professor Andrew Levey and others from a multinational consortium of institutions, published a study titled, "Validation of a Metabolite Panel for a More Accurate Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate Using Quantitative LC-MS-MS."  In fact, we have another podcast from one of the authors of that paper available.  But today, we're joined by Dr. And...

Inflammatory Biomarkers and Clinical Judgment in the Emergency Diagnosis of Urgent Abdominal Pain 19.03.2019 11:11 ↓

Acute abdominal pain is one of the most common presenting symptoms in emergency department patients and its differential diagnosis can be extensive and challenging.  Rapid and accurate diagnosis of urgent causes of abdominal pain is essential for the early initiation of effective therapy and efficient patient flow. To see how the clinical laboratory can help in this process, a recent study that ap...

Type III Hyperlipoproteinemia: The Forgotten, Disregarded, Neglected, Overlooked, Ignored but Highly Atherogenic, and Highly Treatable Dyslipoproteinemia 25.02.2019 12:41 ↓

Cardiovascular risk is so high in type III hyperlipoproteinemia that is typically a "treat immediately on diagnosis" disorder.  In the February 2019 issue of Clinical Chemistry , a paper presented the advantages of a non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio with apolipoprotein B as a diagnostic tool for type III hyperlipoproteinemia.  In the same issue, an accompanying editorial entitled "Ty...