AIMS Right atrial (RA) size predicts the outcome in some pathological conditions but reference values for RA volumes and myocardial function remain to be defined. Thus, we used two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) and three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) to define normative reference values of RA volumes and function. METHODS AND RESULTS Two hundreds healthy voluntee...

Introduction In the original evaluation of the Nova 2 analyser [1] inter-electrode differences were shown which would have necessitated the re-establishment of the ionised calcium reference range each time that the calcium ion-selective electrode was changed. The manufacturers (Nova Biomedical, Newtown, Mass, USA) have now replaced the electrodes which showed slow and variable response times to...

The muon anomalous magnetic moment measurement, when compared with theory, can be used to test many extensions to the standard model. The most recent measurement made by the Brookhaven E821 Collaboration reduces the uncertainty on the world average of aμ to 0.7 ppm, comparable in precision to theory. This paper describes the experiment and the current theoretical efforts to establish a correct ...

BACKGROUND Studies of biological variation provide insight into the physiological changes that occur within and between study participants. Values obtained from such investigations are important for patient monitoring and for establishing quality specifications. In this study we evaluated the short-term biological variation of 38 chemistry, lipid, enzyme, and protein analytes in a pediatric pop...

This paper reviews regulatory requirements and recent case studies to illustrate how the risk assessment (RA) of chemical mixtures is conducted, considering both the effects on human health and on the environment. A broad range of chemicals, regulations and RA methodologies are covered, in order to identify mixtures of concern, gaps in the regulatory framework, data needs, and further work to b...

OBJECTIVE In current literature and guidelines, there is a tendency to define absolute TSH concentrations at which patient follow-up or even pharmaceutical intervention should be initiated. As TSH concentrations depend on the analytical method/platform used for TSH quantification, absolute cut-off values may pose threats for uniform clinical decision-making. In this study we therefore set out t...

The undisputed increase of the relevance of mental work load is confronted with a lack of qualified or at least well documented measuring instruments covering all important aspects.The COPSOQ (Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire), a comprehensive instrument for the assessment of psychosocial factors at work, was tested in a partly modified version in a large German sample (N = 2561 employees)...

BACKGROUND/AIM The aim of this study is to determine the reference ranges of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)vitD3) by an indirect method using data obtained from patients over the course of 3 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS The 25(OH)vitD3 test results of the patients who applied to the medical biochemistry laboratory of Balıkesir State Hospital between the years of 2010 and 2014 were analyzed. Pat...

The Rank Forum on Vitamin D was held on 2nd and 3rd July 2009 at the University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. The workshop consisted of a series of scene-setting presentations to address the current issues and challenges concerning vitamin D and health, and included an open discussion focusing on the identification of the concentrations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) (a marker of vitamin D ...

Biological monitoring of exposure to chemicals in the workplace is an important component of exposure assessment and prevention of adverse health effects. It should be employed in conjunction with ambient air monitoring to provide information on the absorbed dose of a chemical agent and the effect of all routes of exposure. Judgments regarding the acceptable level of a chemical or its metabolit...