ObjectiveTo set reference intervals of the levels of thyroid hormones among normal pregnant women without presence of thyroid antibodies during three trimesters of pregnancy in Quanzhou city, Fujian province. MethodsA total of 490 pregnant women during 4-39 week pregnancy without presence of thyroid antibodies were enrolled in Quanzhou city, Fujian province. Levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) were detected through the electrochemistry immunoassay (ECL) method. In addition, a total of 51 healthy women without pregnancy were enrolled to set the reference intervals of levels of thyroid hormones among normal pregnant women without presence of thyroid antibodies. ResultsThe median levels of TPO-Ab were in the reference intervals provided by the pharmaceutical factory. Levels of FT3 and FT4 gradually decreased from the first to the third trimester (P < 0.01), levels of serum TSH gradually increasd from the first to the third trimester (P < 0.01). Compared with those of pregnant women, levels of thyroid hormone in normal non-pregnant women were higher in the first trimester, lower in the second and the third trimesters (P < 0.01). During three trimesters, the reference intervals of FT3 in the three trimesters were (first: 3.75 to 7.23; second 3.31 to 4.9; and third: 3.16 to 4.48 pmol/L); the reference intervals of FT4 were (first: 12.85 to 25.3; second: 12.03 to 20.14; and third: 11.02 to 19.43 pmol/L); and the reference intervals of TSH were (first: 0.01 to 3.79; second: 1.09 to 4.19; and third: 1.08 to 5.95 mIU/L), respectively. ConclusionThrough this detection, we set the levels of thyroid hormones among normal pregnant women without presence of thyroid antibodies during three trimesters of pregnancy in Quanzhou city.
The American Thoracic Society Committee Task Force on Standards for Pulmonary Function had recommended a standardized reporting format for pulmonary function tests due to considerable variability in pulmonary function reports presented to end users, which might lead to potential confusion and miscommunication. This recommendation includes seven parts: overview, introduction, methods, report format, selecting and reporting reference values, grading the quality of pulmonary function tests and conclusions. This document presents a reporting format in test-specific units for spirometry, lung volumes, and diffusing capacity that can be assembled into a report appropriate for a laboratory’s practice. Recommended reference sources are updated, with especially emphasizing to adapt lower limit of normal (LLN) or z score instead of percent of prediction to estimate the abnormal results. This document provides detail and clear explanation on the recommendations, which might improve the interpretation, communication, and understanding of test results. However, parts of recommendation might not be used directly in our clinical practice owing to some specific conditions in China. We suggest to use appropriate normal predictions from Chinese population, to include small airway parameters such as mid-maximal expiratory flow for early detection of pulmonary function deterioration, and to include inspiratory flow volume curve, as well as strengthen the quality control data and figures in the report format.
ObjectiveTo establish a normal reference value range of specific thyroid function in pregnant women corresponding to Beckman reagent in Chengdu.MethodsWe randomly selected 120 non-pregnant women and 445 pregnant women who underwent routine examinations at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College from November 2016 to June 2017; tested for free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in serum; used SPSS 24.0 to calculate the bilateral limit of each index (Section 2.5, 97. 5 Quot); established the normal range of Beckman reagent.ResultsThe reference ranges of FT3, FT4, and TSH in the first, second, and third trimester of pregnancy were 4.41–6.33, 4.17–6.12, and 3.86–6.39 pmol/L; 7.64–14.63, 6.62–13.69, and 6.62–12.51 pmol/L; 0.21–3.62, 0.16–4.35, and 0.89–4.88 mU/L; respectively. There was no significant difference in serum TSH between the first and second trimester (P>0.05), and neither between the first and second trimesters and the controls in serum FT3 (P>0.05). The differences in serum FT3, FT4, and TSH among the rest of trimesters, and between each trimester and the normal control group were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was a significant correlation between TSH and FT4 in the early and middle stages of pregnancy (r=–0.277, –0.392, P<0.01).ConclusionThe reference value of FT3, FT4, and TSH in pregnant women with Beckman reagent was significantly different from that in non-pregnant women.