The results of a basic biochemical examination performed 2 weeks earlier were normal. Serum protein electrophoresis revealed hypoproteinemia (65 g/L; reference interval, 68– 73 g/L), associated with decreased γ globulins (4 g/L; reference interval, 9–15 g/L) but without a detectable paraprotein band. An assay for serum free light chain showed decreased κ light chains (0.5 mg/L; reference interv...

PURPOSE Elevation in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels is a biomarker for metabolic syndrome (MS); however, the relationship has not been fully investigated within the reference interval of ALT levels. Our objective was to explore the relationship between serum ALT levels within the reference interval and MS in Chinese adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study include...

The theory of reference values was developed more than 30 years ago, but its application in most clinical laboratories is still incomplete today. This is for several reasons, the most relevant ones being the lack of standardisation of the analytical methods, resulting in method-dependent values, and the difficulty in recruiting the proper number of reference subjects for establishment of refere...

Objective(s): There is controversial evidence about the effect of methamphetamine (METH) on spatial memory. We tested the time- dependent effects of METH on spatial short-term (working) and long-term (reference) memory in METH –sensitized and withdrawn rats in the Morris water maze. Materials and Methods: Rats were sensitized to METH (2 mg/kg, daily/5 days, SC). Rats were trained in water maze ...

A four-day-old boy with a positive result in newborn-screening testing was referred to the hospital for further evaluation. He was the product of a 39-week gestation and appeared well at birth. His laboratory results included the following plasma findings: ammonia, 109 g/dL (reference interval, 20 – 65 g/dL); citrulline, 169 mol/L (reference interval, 2–50 mol/L); and leucine, 278 mol/L (refere...