A human neudesin ELISA has been developed and validated by BioVendor to measure circulating neudesin levels. Neudesin plays roles in neural functions, energy metabolism, and tumourigenesis and is considered to be a novel target for obesity and cancer treatments. Human neudesin (neuron-derived neurotrophic factor) is a unique secreted protein with a conserved cytochrome 5-like heme/steroid-binding domain belonging to the MAPR (membrane- associated progesterone receptor) family with multiple roles. Neudesin is expressed in the mouse embryonic cerebral cortex and the neural precursor cells where it significantly promotes neural cell differentiation and also transiently promotes neural cell proliferation during the early stages of development. Neudesin is also abundantly expressed in white adipose tissue of adult mice and also in hypothalamic nuclei that regulate food intake. The appetite-suppressing effect of neudesin was abrogated in obese mice fed a high-fat diet, demonstrating a diet-dependent modulation of neudesin function. Neudesin knockout mice were resistant to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity due to elevated systemic sympathetic activity, heat production, and adipocytic lipolysis. Finally, neudesin is over-expressed in multiple human cancers including carcinoma of the breast, colon, lung, uterine cervix, skin and malignant lymphoma. The tumourigenesis mechanism involving neudesin might be mediated by activation via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways.
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Hologic’s Aptima Combo 2 Assay for Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea) has received new CE-marked claims in Europe. These additional claims allow for testing of both clinician- and patient-collected throat and rectal swabs. These new samples, which can now be collected by the patient or the clinician using the Aptima Multitest Swab Specimen Collection Kit, broaden the range of patient-collected samples available. The excellent performance of the assay across sample types is reflected in throat and rectal samples, where Aptima Combo 2 demonstrates up to 100% sensitivity and specificity in detecting chlamydia and gonorrhoea. The APTIMA Combo 2 Assay can be used to test endocervical, throat, rectal, and male urethral swab specimens; female and male urine specimens; and cervical samples collected in PreservCyt Solution from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. The Aptima Combo 2 assay provides an upfront biological advantage compared to assays that detect DNA – up to 1,000-fold more rRNA than DNA per cell. The assay can be run as a standalone test or run simultaneously with other assays, providing clinicians with more flexibility. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common notifiable sexually transmitted infections, and most chlamydial infections in the throat and rectum are asymptomatic. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that in 2013, 384,555 cases of chlamydia infection were reported in 26 EU/EEA Member States, translating into an overall rate of 182 notifications per 100 000 population. Two-thirds (67%) of all chlamydia infections were reported in young people between 15 and 24 years of age, with the highest rates reported among women aged 20 to 24 years (1,717 cases per 100,000 population). The study also stated that the true incidence of chlamydia is likely to be considerably higher than the reported rates due to the asymptomatic nature of the infection. The ECDC also stated that in 2013, 52,995 gonorrhea cases were reported in 28 countries of the EU/EEA, with three times more cases in men than in women. Nearly half of all gonorrhea cases in 2013 (43%) were reported in men who have sex with men. Incidences of gonorrhea have increased 79% since 2008, a trend seen in most EU/EEA Member States.
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Siemens Healthineers announced recently the CE Mark and global commercial availability of its Atellica Solution – flexible, scalable, automation-ready immunoassay and chemistry analysers. The solution is now available across the globe in Europe, the United States, South America and Asia. The Atellica Solution is comprised of sample management, as well as immunoassay and chemistry analysers, and is an excellent fit for mid-and high-volume labs. It delivers unprecedented flexibility to adapt to changing testing needs and space constraints. The solution can combine up to 10 components into more than 300 customizable configurations – including linear, L and U shapes. It can operate as a stand-alone system or connect to Aptio Automation to provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary testing solution that could include clinical chemistry, immunoassay, hemostasis, hematology, and plasma protein analysers. Further, with an immunoassay analyser that runs up to 440 tests per hour, the Atellica Solution delivers industry-leading productivity per square meter.
One key feature is the Atellica Magline Transport, the patented bi-directional, magnetic transport technology that is 10 times faster than conventional sample conveyors, and provides innovative and unique sample management capabilities. The transport technology, together with a multi-camera vision system, intelligent sample routing, and automatic quality control (QC) and calibration, give laboratories independent control over every individual sample – from routine to STAT – to deliver rapid, high quality patient results to clinicians. The Atellica Solution simplifies laboratory operations through intelligent sample management. It can process more than 30 different sample container types, including pediatric and tube-top sample cups that can be aspirated from the primary tube. Further, by using the same reagents and consumables across different analyser configurations, laboratories can streamline inventory and deliver consistent patient results no matter where patients are tested. Powering the Atellica Solution is a comprehensive menu of 170 assays, including 10-minute turnaround times for key cardiac, reproductive and thyroid tests, with 50 more assays in the pipeline. The immunoassay analyser features a patent-pending dual incubation ring design, temperature and humidity controls of the reaction environment, powerful magnets for relevant particle separation and robust washing protocols – all of which enable delivery of rapid, high precision results.
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Fecal calprotectin (fCAL) is the most important marker for in vitro diagnostic detection of gut inflammation. Immunological quantitation is well established and is used in the diagnostic work-up of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and in the lifelong monitoring of these chronic conditions.
fCAL testing today requires a raised level of lab resources including stool sample handling, extraction and the use of traditional immunological testing methods, i.e. ELISA.
The BÜHLMANN fCAL turbo assay is a big step towards full automation. It reduces the time to result to 10 minutes and the total hands-on time significantly. It offers the possibility of random access on your existing clinical chemistry platform. Validated applications are available for many analysers.
The combination with the proprietary extraction device CALEX Cap for pre-analytical sample preparation simplifies and accelerates stool diagnostics significantly. The BÜHLMANN fCAL turbo utilizes the well-established standardization of the BÜHLMANN fCAL ELISA to provide reliability, comparability and continuity of measurements.

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