Non invasive diagnosis of fibrosis in HCV infection: Role in the treatment indication, follow-up, and the assessment of the prognosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (05) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Pár ◽  
Á Vincze ◽  
G Pár
Keyword(s):  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Treatment Indication

scholarly journals Taxonomic signatures of cause-specific mortality risk in human gut microbiome

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaro Salosensaari ◽  
Ville Laitinen ◽  
Aki S. Havulinna ◽  
Guillaume Meric ◽  
Susan Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Human Gut Microbiome ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Sequencing Technologies

AbstractThe collection of fecal material and developments in sequencing technologies have enabled standardised and non-invasive gut microbiome profiling. Microbiome composition from several large cohorts have been cross-sectionally linked to various lifestyle factors and diseases. In spite of these advances, prospective associations between microbiome composition and health have remained uncharacterised due to the lack of sufficiently large and representative population cohorts with comprehensive follow-up data. Here, we analyse the long-term association between gut microbiome variation and mortality in a well-phenotyped and representative population cohort from Finland (n = 7211). We report robust taxonomic and functional microbiome signatures related to the Enterobacteriaceae family that are associated with mortality risk during a 15-year follow-up. Our results extend previous cross-sectional studies, and help to establish the basis for examining long-term associations between human gut microbiome composition, incident outcomes, and general health status.

scholarly journals Non-Invasive Dengue Diagnostics—The Use of Saliva and Urine for Different Stages of the Illness

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1345
Author(s):  
Mahathir Humaidi ◽  
Wei Ping Tien ◽  
Grace Yap ◽  
Choon Rong Chua ◽  
Lee Ching Ng
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Detection Algorithm ◽  
Acute Stage ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Fever Onset ◽  
Dengue Transmission ◽  
Dengue Diagnostics ◽  
Potential Tool

Dengue diagnosis is largely dependent on clinical symptoms and routinely confirmed with laboratory detection of dengue virus in patient serum samples collected via phlebotomy. This presents a challenge to patients not amenable to venipuncture. Non-invasive methods of dengue diagnosis have the potential to enhance the current dengue detection algorithm. In this study, samples from dengue infected patients were collected between January 2012 until September 2012 and September 2013 until December 2013 in two different setups. Panel A samples (blood, urine, and saliva) were collected daily when the 39 patients were hospitalised and during their follow-up visits while Panel B samples (saliva) were collected from 23 patients during the acute stage of dengue. Using DENV PCR on Panel A, from day 2 to day 4 post fever onset, serum showed the best overall positivity followed by saliva and urine (100%/82.1%/67.9%). From day 5 until day 10 post fever onset, serum and urine had similar positivity (67.4%/61.2%), followed by saliva (51.3%). Beyond day 10 post fever onset, DENV was undetectable in sera, but urine and saliva showed 56.8% and 28.6% positivity, respectively. DENV in urine was detectable up until 32 days post fever. Panel B results showed overall sensitivity of 32.4%/36% (RNA/NS1) for DENV detection in saliva. Our results suggest that the urine-based detection method is useful especially for late dengue detection, where DENV is undetected in sera but still detectable in urine. This provides a potential tool for the physician to pick up new cases in an area where there is ongoing dengue transmission and subsequently prompt for intensified vector control activities.

scholarly journals Risk assessment in precapillary pulmonary hypertension: a comparative analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Sonnweber ◽  
Eva-Maria Schneider ◽  
Manfred Nairz ◽  
Igor Theurl ◽  
Günter Weiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Risk Stratification ◽  
Risk Prediction ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Risk Models ◽  
Non Invasive

Abstract Background Risk stratification is essential to assess mortality risk and guide treatment in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). We herein compared the accuracy of different currently used PH risk stratification tools and evaluated the significance of particular risk parameters. Methods We conducted a retrospective longitudinal observational cohort study evaluating seven different risk assessment approaches according to the current PH guidelines. A comprehensive assessment including multi-parametric risk stratification was performed at baseline and 4 yearly follow-up time-points. Multi-step Cox hazard analysis was used to analyse and refine risk prediction. Results Various available risk models effectively predicted mortality in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension. Right-heart catheter parameters were not essential for risk prediction. Contrary, non-invasive follow-up re-evaluations significantly improved the accuracy of risk estimations. A lack of accuracy of various risk models was found in the intermediate- and high-risk classes. For these patients, an additional evaluation step including assessment of age and right atrium area improved risk prediction significantly. Discussion Currently used abbreviated versions of the ESC/ERS risk assessment tool, as well as the REVEAL 2.0 and REVEAL Lite 2 based risk stratification, lack accuracy to predict mortality in intermediate- and high-risk precapillary pulmonary hypertension patients. An expanded non-invasive evaluation improves mortality risk prediction in these individuals.

scholarly journals Identification of miR-20a-5p as Robust Normalizer for Urine microRNA Studies in Renal Cell Carcinoma and A Profile of Dysregulated microRNAs

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7913
Author(s):  
Julia Oto ◽  
Raquel Herranz ◽  
Emma Plana ◽  
José Vicente Sánchez-González ◽  
Javier Pérez-Ardavín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Diagnostic Model ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Good Expression ◽  
Independent Cohort

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the third most frequent urinary malignancy and one of the most lethal. Current diagnostic and follow-up techniques are harmful and unspecific in low-grade tumors. Novel minimally invasive markers such as urine microRNAs (miRNAs) are under study. However, discrepancies arise among studies in part due to lack of consent regarding normalization. We aimed to identify the best miRNA normalizer for RCC studies performed in urine samples together with a miRNA profile with diagnostic value and another for follow-up. We evaluated the performance of 120 candidate miRNAs in the urine of 16 RCC patients and 16 healthy controls by RT-qPCR followed by a stability analysis with RefFinder. In this screening stage, miR-20a-5p arose as the most stably expressed miRNA in RCC and controls, with a good expression level. Its stability was validated in an independent cohort of 51 RCC patients and 32 controls. Using miR-20a-5p as normalizer, we adjusted and validated a diagnostic model for RCC with three miRNAs (miR-200a-3p, miR-34a-5p and miR-365a-3p) (AUC = 0.65; Confidence Interval 95% [0.51, 0.79], p = 0.043). let-7d-5p and miR-205-5p were also upregulated in patients compared to controls. Comparing RCC samples before surgery and fourteen weeks after, we identified let-7d-5p, miR-152-3p, miR-30c-5p, miR-362-3p and miR-30e-3p as potential follow-up profile for RCC. We identified validated targets of most miRNAs in the renal cell carcinoma pathway. This is the first study that identifies a robust normalizer for urine RCC miRNA studies, miR-20a-5p, which may allow the comparison of future studies among laboratories. Once confirmed in a larger independent cohort, the miRNAs profiles identified may improve the non-invasive diagnosis and follow-up of RCC.

NON-INVASIVE DIAGNOSIS AND FOLLOW-UP OF PRIMARY BILIARY CHOLANGITIS

2021 ◽  
pp. 101770
Author(s):  
Christophe Corpechot ◽  
Alexandra Heurgue ◽  
Marie Decraecker ◽  
Florence Tanne ◽  
Pascal Potier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Biliary Cholangitis ◽  
Non Invasive

scholarly journals Diagnostic and prognostic value of coronary artery calcium score of zero: is it time for guidelines to change?

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Arbas Redondo ◽  
D Tebar Marquez ◽  
I.D Poveda Pinedo ◽  
R Dalmau Gonzalez-Gallarza ◽  
S.C Valbuena Lopez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Coronary Angiography ◽  
Coronary Artery Calcium ◽  
Cardiac Ct ◽  
Invasive Coronary Angiography ◽  
Agatston Score ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Artery Disease

Abstract Introduction Cardiac computed tomography (CT) use has progressively increased as the preferred initial test to rule out coronary artery disease (CAD) when clinical likelihood is low. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) detected by CT is a well-established marker for cardiovascular risk. However, it is not recommended for diagnosis of obstructive CAD. Absence of CAC, defined as an Agatston score of zero, has been associated to good prognosis despite underestimation of non-calcified plaques. Purpose To evaluate whether zero CAC score could help ruling out obstructive CAD in a safely manner. Methods Observational study based on a prospective database of patients (pts) referred to cardiac CT between 2017 and 2019. Pts with an Agatston score of zero were selected. Results We included 176 pts with zero CAC score and non-invasive coronary angiography performed. The median duration of follow-up was 23.9 months. Baseline characteristics of the population are shown in Table 1. In 117 pts (66.5%), cardiac CT was indicated as part of their chest pain evaluation. Mean age was 57.2 years old, 68.2% were women and only and 9.4% were active smokers. Normal coronary arteries were found in 173 pts (98.3%). Obstructive CAD, defined as ≥50% luminal diameter stenosis of a major vessel, was present in 1/176 (0.6%); while non-obstructive atherosclerotic plaques were found in 2 pts (1.1%). During follow-up, one patient died of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. None either suffered from myocardial infarction or needed coronary revascularization. Conclusions In our cohort, a zero CAC score detected by cardiac CT rules out obstructive coronary artery disease in 98.3%, with only 1.7% of non-calcified atherosclerosis plaques and 0.6% of major adverse events. Although further research on this topic is needed, these results support the fact that non-invasive coronary angiography could be avoided in patients with low clinical likelihood of CAD and zero CAC score, facilitating the management of the increasing demand for coronary CT and reduction of radiation dose. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

The acceptance of hearing aids for children with otitis media with effusion

1999 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. Jardine ◽  
M. V. Griffiths ◽  
E. Midgley
Keyword(s):  
Otitis Media ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Otitis Media With Effusion ◽  
Binaural Hearing ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Binaural Hearing Aids

AbstractConservative treatment for otitis media with effusion (OME) led us to consider the use of hearing aids as a way of managing the associated hearing loss. This study aimed to assess the compliance of patients and acceptance of hearing aids for the management of children with OME.Thirty-nine children who had been given binaural hearing aids to manage OME were assessed at routine follow-up after six months. A clinician who did not prescribe the aid administered a questionnaire to assess compliance, change in symptoms and acceptance of the aids.Thirty-eight parents thought the aids were easy to use and 25 (66 per cent) were completely satisfied with the management. Aided hearing improved by a mean of 17 dB (Range 10–30) over three frequencies, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 Khz and all parents reported subjective hearing improvement in their children. The stigma of an aid was reported as minimal under the age of seven.Hearing aids provide a non-invasive way of managing the problems associated with OME which is acceptable to certain parents and children. Long-term effects of using aids need to be evaluated before they can be recommended.

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