Acute venous catheterization for integrated plasma sample collection in monkey

5039 Background: Plasma ctDNA is a promising minimally invasive biomarker in mCRPC. Pre-treatment high levels of ctDNA reflect poor prognosis (Romanel et al, Sci Transl Med 2015; Annala et al, Cancer Discov 2018). However, the role of plasma ctDNA in prostate tumour monitoring is largely unexplored. We aimed to determine if monitoring tumour response by quantifying ctDNA levels in plasma could enable early assessment of therapy efficacy for mCRPC. Methods: Between January 2011 and June 2016, 132 sequential plasma samples from 54 mCRPC patients (pts) (30 pre- and 24 post-chemotherapy) treated with abiraterone (abi) were collected. Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed on the PGM Ion Torrent using a 316 or 318 Chip to account for 1000X expected coverage per target. We estimated the global tumour content for each sequential plasma sample from study patients by using the approach developed in (Carreira et al, Sci Trasl Med 2014; Romanel et al, Sci Transl Med 2015 ), which extends the CLONET framework (Prandi et al, Genome Biol 2014). Prostate Cancer Working Group -3 (PCWG3) criteria were used to assess clinical, biochemical (PSA) and radiographic (RAD) progression disease (PD). We considered ctDNA PD any increase of ctDNA from baseline value. Results: In our cohort of 54 pts (median age: 75 years, range 70-78), we observed 17 (31.5%) PD, 14 (25.9%) stable disease, and 23 (42.6%) partial/complete response after the first 3 months (mo) abi therapy. The odds ratio (OR) for PD having any increase in ctDNA and a PSA decline < 50% at ~3-mo therapy was 10.83, 95% CI 2.55-45.95, P = 0.001, and 3.27, 95% CI 0.89-12.3, P = 0.074, respectively. In addition, we assessed all 3 types of median PD time from starting abi treatment, suggesting the ability of ctDNA variation to predict overall PD [RAD PD = 6.8 mo, PSA PD = 4.4 mo, and ctDNA PD = 3.0 mo, P = 0.008). An increase of ctDNA levels during the first 3-mo abi treatment was significantly associated with a long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) before plasma sample collection (previous ADT > 24 mo vs 12 > previous ADT ≤23 mo vs < 12 mo: P = 0.036). Conclusions: In mCRPC, an early change in ctDNA fraction may be considered as a predictive biomarker playing a key role in individualized disease monitoring. Prospective evaluation of treatment decisions based on ctDNA is now required.

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Allopregnanolone reduces neuroendocrine response to acute stressful stimuli in sheep

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1530/joe-19-0376 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 244 (1) ◽

pp. 201-211 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tomasz Misztal ◽

Patrycja Młotkowska ◽

Elżbieta Marciniak ◽

Anna Misztal

Keyword(s):

Hpa Axis ◽

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ◽

Plasma Sample ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Plasma Acth ◽

Movement Restriction ◽

Stress Control ◽

Pomc Mrna ◽

Collection Period ◽

Hpa Axis Activity

The verified hypothesis assumed that centrally administered neurosteroid, allopregnanolone (AL), could affect basal and/or stress-induced activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in sheep. Four groups (n = 6 each) of luteal-phase sheep were intracerebroventricularly infused for 3 days with a vehicle without stress (control); a vehicle treated with stressful stimuli (isolation and partial movement restriction) on the third day; AL (4 × 15 µg/60 µL/30 min, at 30-min intervals) treated with stressful stimuli, and AL alone. Simultaneously, the push-pull perfusion of the infundibular nucleus/median eminence and plasma sample collection were performed. After the experiment, the sheep were killed to collect the hypothalamic and anterior pituitary (AP) tissues. Stressful stimuli evoked an increase in the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) mRNA in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and AVP receptor (V1b) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA in the AP; the concentrations of perfusate CRH, and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol compared to controls. Conversely, the expression of the CRH receptor (CRHR1) mRNA in the AP was downregulated. AL decreased the expression of CRH and AVP mRNA in the PVN, and AVPRV1b and POMC mRNA in the AP in stressed sheep, compared to only stressed ones. There was also a reduction in perfusate CRH, and plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations. AL alone decreased the expression of CRHR1 mRNA in the AP, and plasma cortisol concentration at the beginning of the collection period compared to controls. In conclusion, AL may function centrally as a suppressor of HPA axis activity in stressed sheep.

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Continuous venous catheterization in children

JAMA ◽

10.1001/jama.197.8.658 ◽

1966 ◽

Vol 197 (8) ◽

pp. 658-660 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. R. Hohn

Keyword(s):

Venous Catheterization

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Evaluation of Acoustic Analyses of Voice in Nonoptimized Conditions

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2020_jslhr-20-00212 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (12) ◽

pp. 3991-3999

Author(s):

Benjamin van der Woerd ◽

Min Wu ◽

Vijay Parsa ◽

Philip C. Doyle ◽

Kevin Fung

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Voice Quality ◽

Data Sets ◽

Acoustic Measurements ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Environment Analysis ◽

Acoustic Measures ◽

Recording Conditions ◽

Cepstral Peak Prominence

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the fidelity and accuracy of a smartphone microphone and recording environment on acoustic measurements of voice. Method A prospective cohort proof-of-concept study. Two sets of prerecorded samples (a) sustained vowels (/a/) and (b) Rainbow Passage sentence were played for recording via the internal iPhone microphone and the Blue Yeti USB microphone in two recording environments: a sound-treated booth and quiet office setting. Recordings were presented using a calibrated mannequin speaker with a fixed signal intensity (69 dBA), at a fixed distance (15 in.). Each set of recordings (iPhone—audio booth, Blue Yeti—audio booth, iPhone—office, and Blue Yeti—office), was time-windowed to ensure the same signal was evaluated for each condition. Acoustic measures of voice including fundamental frequency ( f o ), jitter, shimmer, harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR), and cepstral peak prominence (CPP), were generated using a widely used analysis program (Praat Version 6.0.50). The data gathered were compared using a repeated measures analysis of variance. Two separate data sets were used. The set of vowel samples included both pathologic ( n = 10) and normal ( n = 10), male ( n = 5) and female ( n = 15) speakers. The set of sentence stimuli ranged in perceived voice quality from normal to severely disordered with an equal number of male ( n = 12) and female ( n = 12) speakers evaluated. Results The vowel analyses indicated that the jitter, shimmer, HNR, and CPP were significantly different based on microphone choice and shimmer, HNR, and CPP were significantly different based on the recording environment. Analysis of sentences revealed a statistically significant impact of recording environment and microphone type on HNR and CPP. While statistically significant, the differences across the experimental conditions for a subset of the acoustic measures (viz., jitter and CPP) have shown differences that fell within their respective normative ranges. Conclusions Both microphone and recording setting resulted in significant differences across several acoustic measurements. However, a subset of the acoustic measures that were statistically significant across the recording conditions showed small overall differences that are unlikely to have clinical significance in interpretation. For these acoustic measures, the present data suggest that, although a sound-treated setting is ideal for voice sample collection, a smartphone microphone can capture acceptable recordings for acoustic signal analysis.

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Issues in Language Sample Collection and Analysis With Children Using AAC

Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.1044/aac23.2.65 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 65-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Gail Van Tatenhove

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽

Language Production ◽

Expressive Language ◽

Sample Analysis ◽

Alternative Communication ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

Language Sample Analysis ◽

Language Sample

Language sample analysis is considered one of the best methods of evaluating expressive language production in speaking children. However, the practice of language sample collection and analysis is complicated for speech-language pathologists working with children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. This article identifies six issues regarding use of language sample collection and analysis in clinical practice with children who use AAC devices. The purpose of this article is to encourage speech-language pathologists practicing in the area of AAC to utilize language sample collection and analysis as part of ongoing AAC assessment.

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Concerning the Representativeness of Psychiatric Catamnestical Studies - The Influence of Various Approach Strategies on the Response of Former Patients

Methods of Information in Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1635462 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 25 (03) ◽

pp. 171-175

Author(s):

I. Steinhart ◽

G. Bosch ◽

Th. Muhr ◽

E. Mohlfeld

Keyword(s):

Total Population ◽

Social Psychiatry ◽

Personal Contact ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Careful Planning ◽

Research Project ◽

Phone Calls ◽

Registration Procedure

SummaryThe possible conclusions reached by catamnestical studies are often significantly restricted because of the lack of representativeness of the sample. The example of an investigation of former patients of the Department of Social Psychiatry proves that positive responses to an interview are influenced by various factors. As expected, patients were more inclined to participate in the research project the closer their discharge was to the time of the project itself. Further, it became clear that various different approach strategies, such as letters, enquiries with the registration authorities, phone calls and house visits, effectively increased the motivation of former patients, and that only this kind of graded registration procedure guarantees motivation leading to a sample representative of the total population. Personal contact plays an especially important role. These empirical findings indicate the necessity of careful planning and implementation of sample collection in catamnestical studies. Without this approach, representative results cannot be expected.

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Monitoring Heparin Therapy: Relationships between the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time and Heparin Assays Based on Ex-Vivo Heparin Samples

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1645678 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 63 (01) ◽

pp. 016-023 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

A M H P van den Bessekaar ◽

J Meeuwisse-Braun ◽

R M Bertina

Keyword(s):

Partial Thromboplastin Time ◽

Plasma Sample ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Heparin Therapy ◽

Thromboembolic Disease ◽

Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time ◽

Venous Thromboembolic Disease ◽

Venous Thromboembolic

SummaryFive different APTT reagents, two amidolytic anti-ITa assays, one amidoiytic anti-Xa assay, and one coagulometric anti-Xa/ anti-IIa assay were used to assess the effect of heparin in patients treated for venous thromboembolic disease. Good correlations were observed between lug-transformed APYE> determined with the various reagents (correlation coefficients: 0.92-0.96).Nevertheless there were important differences in the slopes of the lines of relationship between the APTT reagents.Good correlations were observed between the anti-Xa and anti-IIa assay results (correlation coefficients: 0.92-0.97). However, the amidolytic anti-Xa activity was significantly higher (p <0.001) than the two amidolytic anti-IIa activities. Less good correlations were observed between the log-transformed APTTs and the anti-Xa or anti-IIa activities (correlation coefficients: 0.64-0.78). The correlations were improved by transforming the APTT into APTT-ratio, i.e. the ratio of the patient’s APTT to the same patient’s APTT after removal of heparin from the plasma sample by means of ECTEOLA-cellulose treatment. The correlation coefficients of log (AFTT-ratio) with anti-Xa or anti-IIa ranged from 0.76 to 0.87.For both APTT and amidolytic heparin assay, the response to in vitro heparin was different from the response to ex vivo heparin.Therefore, equivalent therapeutic ranges should be assessed by using ex vivo samples rather than in vitro heparin. Because of the response differences between the APTT reagents, it is not adequate to define a therapeutic range for heparin therapy without specification of the reagent.

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Questions and Answers on Prothrombin Time Standardisation in Oral Anticoagulant Control

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1657886 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 54 (02) ◽

pp. 515-517 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

E A Loeliger ◽

L Poller ◽

M Samama ◽

J M Thomson ◽

A M H P Van den Besselaar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasma Sample ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Sensitivity Index ◽

International Normalised Ratio ◽

Questions And Answers ◽

Reference Preparation ◽

Tissue Thromboplastin ◽

The Individual ◽

International Sensitivity Index ◽

New System

SummaryOne of the reasons why oral anticoagulants fell into disrepute is the absence of internationally accepted standardised procedures for controlling the level of anticoagulatiori. This deplorable situation resulted in over- and under-coagulation and uncertainty in the therapeutic range. International conformity can now be obtained by using an International Normalised Ratio (INR) which is derived from the individual result obtained in a given plasma sample and the International Sensitivity Index (ISI) of the tissue thromboplastin reagent used. Any thromboplastin reagent can be calibrated against an international primary or secondary W.H.O. reference preparation, so as to obtain its International Sensitivity Index. The new system of reporting the level of anticoagulation was designed and can only safely be applied in patients taking oral anticoagulants.

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Procedures for the Quantitative Determination of Autoprothrombin C

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1655441 ◽

1962 ◽

Vol 08 (03) ◽

pp. 434-441 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Edmond R Cole ◽

Ewa Marciniak ◽

Walter H Seegers

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Determination ◽

Plasma Sample ◽

Quantitative Measure ◽

The Other ◽

Clotting Time ◽

Bovine Plasma ◽

Autoprothrombin C

SummaryTwo quantitative procedures for autoprothrombin C are described. In one of these purified prothrombin is used as a substrate, and the activity of autoprothrombin C can be measured even if thrombin is in the preparation. In this procedure a reaction mixture is used wherein the thrombin titer which develops in 20 minutes is proportional to the autoprothrombin C in the reaction mixture. A unit is defined as the amount which will generate 70 units of thrombin in the standardized reaction mixture. In the other method thrombin interferes with the result, because a standard bovine plasma sample is recalcified and the clotting time is noted. Autoprothrombin C shortens the clotting time, and the extent of this is a quantitative measure of autoprothrombin C activity.

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