BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on optimal Vitamin D status. The objective of this study was to estimate the extent to which vitamin D status predicts illness duration and treatment failure in children with severe pneumonia by using different cutoffs for vitamin D concentration. METHODS:We measured the plasma concentration of 25(OH)D in 568 children hospitalized with World Health Organization-defined severe pneumonia. The associations between vitamin D status, using the most frequently used cutoffs for vitamin D insufficiency (25(OH)Do50 and o75 nmol/l), and risk for treatment failure and time until recovery were analyzed in multiple logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 568 children, 322 (56.7%) had plasma 25(OH) D levels ≥ 75 nmol/l, 179 (31.5%) had levels of 50-74.9 nmol/l, and 67 (%) had levels o50 nmol/l. Plasma 25(OH)D o50 nmol/l was associated with increased risk for treatment failure and longer time until recovery. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that low vitamin D status (25(OH)Do50 nmol/l) is an independent risk factor for treatment failure and delayed recovery from severe lower respiratory infections in children.

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Accu-Chek Mobile is a user-friendly glucometer that in a normo- and hyperglycemic range fulfils the ISO 15197 accuracy requirement, also in the hands of diabetes patients.

Tverrfaglig laboratoriemedisin og medisinsk biokjemi Akershus universitetssykehus Hun har videreutviklet førsteutkastet, gjennomgått litteraturen inkludert referansene og tilpasset manuskriptet til Tidsskriftets krav. Ingrid Marie Hardang (f. 1976) er overlege i medisinsk biokjemi. Forfatter har fylt ut ICMJE-skjemaet og oppgir ingen interessekonflikter. KRISTIN LILLEHOLT Avdeling for medisinsk biokjemi Sørlandet sykehus Hun har gjort litteratursøk, bidratt med utarbeidingen av manuskriptet og godkjent den innsendte manusversjonen. Kristin Lilleholt (f. 1966) er overlege i medisinsk biokjemi. Forfatter har fylt ut ICMJE-skjemaet og oppgir ingen interessekonflikter.

Background Phosphorylated tau (pTau), total tau (tTau), and β-amyloid (Aβ) are established cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers used to help diagnose Alzheimer disease. Preanalytic workups of CSF samples lack harmonization, making interlaboratory comparison of these biomarkers challenging. The Aβ adsorbs to sample tubes, yielding underestimated concentrations, and may result in false Alzheimer disease diagnosis. Our primary aim was to compare Aβ recovery across multiple polypropylene tubes and to test the stability of tTau, pTau, and Aβ in the best performing tube. Methods Eight polypropylene tubes were tested using 3 CSF pools with Aβ concentrations <500, 500–1000, and >1000 ng/L. All samples were analyzed in duplicate. Tubes were cut open to assess their different infrared adsorption spectra. Freshly drawn CSF from 14 patients was distributed into 4 Sarstedt 5-mL (no. 63.504.027; Sar5CSF) tubes, left at room temperature for up to 7 days, and analyzed for pTau, tTau, and Aβ by ELISA. Results Two Sarstedt 5-mL tubes and a Sarstedt 10-mL (Sar10CSF) tube showed significantly higher Aβ recovery at all 3 concentrations compared with the 5 other tubes. The infrared adsorption spectra of Sar10CSF and Sar5CSF tubes were practically identical, unlike the other tubes. No significant loss of pTau, tTau, and Aβ was observed in CSF left at room temperature for up to 7 days (P > 0.05). Conclusions Recovery of Aβ from Sar5CSF tubes is equivalent to Aβ recovery from Sar10CSF tubes. Levels of pTau, tTau, and Aβ were stable for at least 7 days at room temperature but not at 37 °C.