Architect c system

The milt was centrifuged to obtain the seminal plasma at 8,000 g for 10 min at 4°C, the supernatant was recentrifuged under the same conditions. In the seminal plasma the concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺_, Cl^- Ca^2+, ions and pH were determined by ion-selective electrodes (BM ISE Electrolyte Analyzer, BioMaxima). The concentrations of Mg²⁺ were determined by colorimetric methods (Architect cSystem, Abbott). Osmolality were determined using a Trident 800 cl osmometer.

Secondary outcomes included cardiometabolic parameters: body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, waist circumference, plasma glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Height was measured with a standard clinic stadiometer and body weight with a calibrated scale while wearing light clothing with bare feet in private areas of the fire houses by trained public safety medial clinical staff at each study visit. Waist circumference was assessed using a tape measure fitted around each participant’s waist at the level of the iliac crest and measuring the circumference after expiration. A bioelectrical impedance analyzer (Tanita Corporation of America) was used to estimate body fat. Fasting blood samples were collected during fire department medical examinations, timed to the 6-month and 12-month endpoints (within 45 days). Plasma and serum samples were collected in the 15-mL ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid tubes as appropriate for each assay, aliquoted, frozen at −80 °C, and then stored. Blood lipid profiles were determined using standardized automated high-throughput enzymatic analyses using cholesterol assay kit and reagents and triglyceride assay kit and reagents by ARCHITECT c System (Abbott Laboratories). LDL cholesterol was assessed using the Martin-Hopkins equation.

Serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, sodium, potassium, and glucose assays were measured using an enzymatic method (SIEMENS Advia 2400 Chemistry Analyzer). LDL cholesterol was calculated according to the Friedewald formula (LDL = total cholesterol–HDL cholesterol–triglycerides/5; mg/dL). Lp(a), Apo B100, and Apo A1 were determined by an immunoturbidimetry procedure (Abbott ARCHITECT cSystem). Serum total cortisol was measured by electrochemiluminescent assay (Cobas e411, ROCHE Diagnostic, Indianapolis, IN, USA), serum aldosterone by chemiluminescent immunoassay technology (LIAISON XL USA), PRA by ELISA competitive assay (IBL company, Minneapolis, MN, USA), and plasma ACTH by chemiluminescent assay (IMMULITE 2000XP SIEMENS Diagnostics, Manchester, UK).

Baseline lipid panels were collected in participants’ biochemical assessments from the fire department medical examinations at Public Safety Medical (PSM) clinics. Blood samples were collected after an overnight fast at baseline and at follow-up. Plasma and serum were collected in 15-mL specific tubes and were aliquoted, frozen at −80 °C, and stored. Blood lipid profiles were determined using standardized automated high-throughput enzymatic analyses, which achieved coefficients of variation of ≤3% for cholesterol and ≤5% for triglycerides, using a cholesterol assay kit and reagents Ref:7D62–21 and triglyceride assay kit and reagents Ref:7D74–21 by ARCHITECT c System, Abbott Laboratories, IL, USA. Baseline measures were gathered from the PSM electronic medical record database within the last year from enrollment in the study. The primary outcomes of this study were lipid profile measures, specifically TGs, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and ratios for LDL:HDL, TG:HDL, and total cholesterol:HDL.

At the initial visit, all of the participants underwent blood pressure and anthropometric assessments. An appropriately sized cuff was used to measure the resting blood pressure while the participants were in a seated position. BMI was recorded for all of the study subjects in kg/m² and the percentage of body fat was estimated by a Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer (BIA) [24 (link),25 (link)].
The firefighters had their biochemical indices assessed at the medical examinations. We used the measurements collected from the date closest to the date of study consent and within the same 12-month period. Blood samples were collected after an overnight fast. Using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) collection tubes, 15 mL of blood were collected. Plasma was frozen at −80 °C and the blood lipid profiles of the firefighters were determined using an automated high-throughput enzymatic analysis. Moreover, this analysis achieved the following values of the coefficient of variation: ≤3% for cholesterol and ≤5% for triglycerides, using the cholesterol assay kit and reagent (Ref: 7D62-21) and triglycerides assay kit and reagent (Ref: 7D74-21) by the ARCHITECT c System, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA.