Cho EH, et al. J Gynecol Oncol. 2024 Mar;35:e72. https://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2024.35.e72

With the development of the automated treponemal test, new syphilis serodiagnosis algorithms, reverse algorithm, and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) algorithm have been recommended recently. We investigated the efficacy of an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) as an initial screening test in the reverse and ECDC algorithms. Samples from 4,771 subjects were included in this study. We performed rapid plasma reagin (RPR), ECLIA, and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) according to these three algorithms. The fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed (FTA-ABS) test was additionally applied for discordant cases between the RPR and ECLIA results. The FTA-ABS results and the consensus of three algorithms were considered a gold standard. A total of 208 subjects were diagnosed with syphilis. The traditional algorithm had a sensitivity of 25.96%, specificity of 100%, and accuracy of 96.77%. Both the reverse and ECDC algorithms showed the same diagnostic performance, sensitivity of 95.19%, specificity of 99.96%, and accuracy of 99.75%. The agreements between the traditional algorithm and the other algorithms were 96.9% with a kappa value of 0.415. The diagnostic accuracy of the reverse and ECDC algorithms using the ECLIA as a first-line screening test was superior to that of the traditional algorithm.

Min-Kyeong Kim, M.D., Kyunghoon Lee, M.D., Hee-Yeon Woo M.D., Ph.D., Hyosoon Park, M.D., Ph.D., Suho Ro, M.D., Won Tae Yoon, M.D., Ph.D., and Min-Jung Kwon, M.D., Ph.D.. Ann Lab Med 2020;40:500-3. https://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2020.40.6.500

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Accurate assessment of liver fibrosis is essential for the prognosis and management of NAFLD. Mean platelet volume (MPV), an index of platelet activation, has been associated with liver fibrosis in various chronic liver diseases; however, its role in NAFLD remains uncertain. Methods: This study analyzed data from 70,830 patients with NAFLD who underwent a comprehensive health examination between 2015 and 2019. Patients were stratified into three groups based on the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index: low (2.67). We evaluated the differences in MPV among these groups and analyzed the association between MPV and the FIB-4 index. Results: MPV varied significantly across the three groups categorized by the FIB-4 index (p < 0.001). Additionally, a weak but statistically significant positive correlation was observed between MPV and the FIB-4 index (rho = 0.170, p < 0.001). Multivariable linear regression adjusted for multiple covariates showed that MPV remained significantly associated with the FIB-4 index (β = 0.01, p < 0.001). Conclusions: MPV may serve as a supplementary non-invasive marker for assessing liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. Further studies are required to validate these findings and explore the utility of MPV in conjunction with other non-invasive markers.