Rapid Screening Methods for Bleeding Disorders. A Three Year Survey

SummaryAn adaptation of “kaolin clotting time” and prothrombin time for use on haemolysed capillary blood provided simple and sensitive screening tests suitable for use in infants and children. A survey of three year’s experience shows that these are reliable routine laboratory tests for detection of latent coagulation disorders.

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Ochratoxin A Occurrence in Food

Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca Agriculture ◽

10.15835/buasvmcn-agr:5075 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Dana FEIER ◽

Maria TOFANA

Keyword(s):

Ochratoxin A ◽

Large Scale ◽

Poultry Meat ◽

Screening Tests ◽

Rapid Screening ◽

Screening Methods ◽

Ionization Mass ◽

Promising Alternative ◽

Analytical Technique ◽

Analytical Approaches

The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Ochratoxin A (OA) in food based on the results of the investigation about the Assessment of dietary intake of Ochratoxin A by the population of EU Member States. Ochratoxin A (OTA) can occur in a large variety of commodities (cereals, beans, groundnuts, spices, dried fruits, coffee, beer, wine) and, because of a carry-over effect, in milk, pig blood, liver, and kidney, and poultry meat from animals fed with contaminated feed. Because of the persistence of OTA in the food chain, exposure to the compound is a potential human health hazard. This has prompted adoption of regulatory limits in several countries which, in turn, implies the development of suitable validated and official analytical methods and rapid screening tests for cost-effective food control on a large scale. Liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC–FLD), coupled with immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up, is the most widely employed analytical technique. LC coupled with electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (MS) has detection limits comparable with those of LC– FLD and the selectivity of IAC can be achieved by tandem (MS–MS) or sequential (MSn) detection. Synthetic counterparts to natural antibodies in the form of molecularly imprinted polymers seem a promising alternative to IAC for sample preparation. New analytical approaches to rapid, low-cost screening methods, for example those based on biosensors and dip-stick-like kits, are a direction in which innovation can be expected.

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A study of prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women from rural areas attending to Obstetric Department in Akash Hospital, Karnataka, India

International Journal of Reproduction Contraception Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20193053 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 2845

Author(s):

Rohini N. S. ◽

Ravishankar S. N. ◽

Kala K. ◽

Rakshith N. R.

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Urine Culture ◽

Screening Method ◽

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Screening Tests ◽

Rapid Screening ◽

Screening Methods ◽

Gram Staining ◽

In Pregnancy

Background: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in pregnancy is a significant risk factor for developing upper urinary tract infection and pyelonephritis which is associated with significant maternal and fetal risks. The aim of this study was to know the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy, to identify the organisms and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns and to formulate a single or combined rapid screening method as an acceptable alternative to urine culture.Methods: A total of 375 pregnant women aged between 18 to 45 years were included in this study. Clean catch mid-stream urine samples were collected. Screening tests done were gram staining of uncentrifuged urine, pus cell count, nitrite test and leukocyte esterase test. Identification of pathogens and antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed as per standard urine culture and sensitivity methods.Results: Out of the 375 pregnant women, 31 (8.4%) had significant bacteriuria. High percentage of women with ASB were primigravidas (51.38%) and in 2nd trimester (43.86%). The most common organism isolated was E.coli (56.14%). In screening tests, gram staining of uncentrifuged urine had a sensitivity of 85.71%. Sensitivity of 71.42% was found in Nitrite and leucocyte esterase tests. However, the combination of these two tests, with either test positive, showed sensitivity and negative predictive value of 90.47% and 99.09% respectively.Conclusions: Early detection and treatment of ASB in pregnancy can prevent complications. ASB can be identified by simple and combined rapid screening methods and urine culture along with antibiogram. Therefore, screening and treatment of ASB may be incorporated as routine antenatal care for safe motherhood and healthy newborn.

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Comparative Evaluation of Ligation-Mediated PCR and Spoligotyping as Screening Methods for Genotyping ofMycobacterium tuberculosis Strains

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.37.10.3118-3123.1999 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 37 (10) ◽

pp. 3118-3123 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Stefano Bonora ◽

M. Cristina Gutierrez ◽

Giovanni Di Perri ◽

Francesca Brunello ◽

Benedetta Allegranzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Comparative Evaluation ◽

Screening Method ◽

Rflp Analysis ◽

Step Test ◽

Screening Tests ◽

Rapid Screening ◽

Screening Methods ◽

Typing Method ◽

Low Prevalence ◽

Discriminatory Index

Spoligotyping has been suggested as a screening test in multistep genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. Relying on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with IS6110 (IS6110 RFLP analysis) as a “gold standard,” we performed a comparative evaluation of spoligotyping and ligation-mediated PCR (LMPCR), a recently described PCR-based typing method, as rapid screening tests for fingerprinting of 158 M. tuberculosis strains collected in Verona, Italy. LMPCR seemed to be comparable to spoligotyping in terms both of feasibility with rapidly extracted DNA and of generation of software-analyzable images. Moreover, LMPCR grouped considerably fewer strains than spoligotyping (38 versus 67%) and was found to reduce the cluster overestimation rate (26.3 versus 58%) and to give a better discriminatory index (0.992 versus 0.970) compared to spoligotyping. In our geographical region, where there was no evidence of clustered strains carrying fewer than six IS6110 copies, LMPCR was found to be more discriminatory than spoligotyping. We also evaluated two models of three-step typing strategies, involving the use of spoligotyping and LMPCR as screening methods and IS6110 RFLP analysis as a further supporting test. LMPCR proved to be a more effective first-step test than spoligotyping, significantly reducing the need for subtyping. LMPCR should be considered an alternative to spoligotyping as a rapid screening method for M. tuberculosis fingerprinting, particularly in areas with a low prevalence of M. tuberculosis strains carrying few copies of IS6110.

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Detection of Carbapenemase Production in a Collection of Enterobacteriaceae with Characterized Resistance Mechanisms from Clinical and Environmental Origins by Use of Both Carba NP and Blue-Carba Tests: TABLE 1

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.02580-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 464-466 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Sergio García-Fernández ◽

María-Isabel Morosini ◽

Desirèe Gijón ◽

Lorena Beatobe ◽

Patricia Ruiz-Garbajosa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Sensitivity ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Resistance Mechanisms ◽

Rapid Screening ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Screening Methods ◽

Routine Laboratory ◽

Multidrug Resistant Bacteria ◽

Content Type

Rapid-screening methods to confirm the presence of resistance mechanisms in multidrug-resistant bacteria are currently recommended. Carba NP and Blue-Carba tests were evaluated in carbapenemase-producingEnterobacteriaceaefrom hospital (n= 102) and environmental (n= 57) origins for detecting the different molecular classes among them. Both methods showed to be fast and cost-effective, with high sensitivity (98% to 100%) and specificity (100%), and may be easily introduced in the routine laboratory.

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Scientific and Standardization Committee Communications Comparison of Test Methods for the Lupus Anticoagulant: International Survey on Lupus Anticoagulants-I (ISLA-1)

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1647340 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 64 (03) ◽

pp. 478-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Thomas Exner ◽

Douglas A Triplett ◽

David A Taberner ◽

Margaret A Howard ◽

E Nigel Harris

Keyword(s):

Lupus Anticoagulant ◽

Test Methods ◽

Positive Sample ◽

Direct Proportion ◽

Clotting Time ◽

Preliminary Screening ◽

Activated Platelets ◽

Tissue Thromboplastin ◽

Kaolin Clotting Time ◽

Induced Defects

SummarySix lyophilized plasma samples were sent to 20 “expert” laboratories for assessment of lupus anticoagulant (LA). Four samples contained pooled LA of graded potency mixed with aged normal plasma. One contained LA plus cephalin phospholipid and one contained a nonspecific venom anticoagulant. Sixteen methods were used overall with some participants using up to 8 methods. Results were scored in regard to the known potencies of LA in the samples and other known induced defects.Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) tests used by most participants for preliminary screening were relatively sensitive, but non-specific. Platelet or phospholipid neutralization procedures (PNP) appeared to be sensitive and specific but showed a non-linear response to increased LA content. Kaolin clotting time (KCT) tests showed the most sensitive response to increased LA content but the weaker LA were not scored as abnormal by most laboratories as the samples may have contained platelet fragments. Other commonly used tests such as the tissue thromboplastin inhibition (TTI) test and the dilute Russell’s viper venom test (DRVVT) were carried out somewhat inconsistently. The variability in performance of tests in different laboratories indicates that standardization of methodology is urgently required.Generally it seemed that most clotting tests were “bypassed” by the addition of phospholipid to a known LA-positive sample in apparently direct proportion to their sensitivity. Sample preparation, especially prevention of contamination with activated platelets is a vital preliminary part in the assay of LA.

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The effect of smoking and alcohol intake on routine laboratory tests in male white collor workers

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.35371/kjoem.1992.4.2.199 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 199 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kang Sook Lee ◽

Yun Chul Hong ◽

Chung Yill Park

Keyword(s):

Laboratory Tests ◽

Alcohol Intake ◽

Routine Laboratory

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The Role of Laboratory Tests in Crohn's Disease

Clinical Medicine Insights Gastroenterology ◽

10.4137/cgast.s38203 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. CGast.S38203 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Maria Cappello ◽

Gaetano Cristian Morreale

Keyword(s):

Crohn’S Disease ◽

Crohn's Disease ◽

Laboratory Tests ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Latent Tuberculosis ◽

Fecal Calprotectin ◽

Screening Tests ◽

Hematological Toxicity ◽

Therapeutic Drug ◽

Personalized Care

In the past, laboratory tests were considered of limited value in Crohn's disease (CD). In the era of biologics, laboratory tests have become essential to evaluate the inflammatory burden of the disease (C-reactive protein, fecal calprotectin) since symptoms-based scores are subjective, to predict the response to pharmacological options and the risk of relapse, to discriminate CD from ulcerative colitis, to select candidates to anti-tumor necrosis factors [screening tests looking for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus status and latent tuberculosis], to assess the risk of adverse events (testing for thiopurine metabolites and thiopurine-methyltransferase activity), and to personalize and optimize therapy (therapeutic drug monitoring). Pharmacogenetics, though presently confined to the assessment of thiopurineme methyltransferase polymorphisms and hematological toxicity associated with thiopurine treatment, is a promising field that will contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the variability in response to the drugs used in CD with the attempt to expand personalized care and precision medicine strategies.

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Identification of TGF-β receptor-1 as a key regulator of carbon nanotube-induced fibrogenesis

AJP Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajplung.00002.2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 309 (8) ◽

pp. L821-L833 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Anurag Mishra ◽

Todd A. Stueckle ◽

Robert R. Mercer ◽

Raymond Derk ◽

Yon Rojanasakul ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Fibrosis ◽

Human Lung ◽

Lung Fibroblasts ◽

Screening Tests ◽

Rapid Screening ◽

Interstitial Tissue ◽

Collagen Production ◽

Human Lung Fibroblasts ◽

Β Receptor ◽

Tgf Β1

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) induce rapid interstitial lung fibrosis, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Previous studies indicated that the ability of CNTs to penetrate lung epithelium, enter interstitial tissue, and stimulate fibroblasts to produce collagen matrix is important to lung fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the activation of transforming growth factor-β receptor-1 [TGF-β R1; i.e., activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) receptor] and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in CNT-induced collagen production in human lung fibroblasts. Human lung fibroblasts and epithelial cells were exposed to low, physiologically relevant concentrations (0.02–0.6 μg/cm2) of single-walled CNTs (SWCNT) and multiwalled CNTs (MWCNT) in culture and analyzed for collagen, TGF-β1, TGF-β R1, and SMAD proteins by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Chemical inhibition of ALK5 and short-hairpin (sh) RNA targeting of TGF-β R1 and Smad2 were used to probe the fibrogenic mechanism of CNTs. Both SWCNT and MWCNT induced an overexpression of TGF-β1, TGF-β R1 and Smad2/3 proteins in lung fibroblasts compared with vehicle or ultrafine carbon black-exposed controls. SWCNT- and MWCNT-induced collagen production was blocked by ALK5 inhibitor or shRNA knockdown of TGF-β R1 and Smad2. Our results indicate the critical role of TGF-β R1/Smad2/3 signaling in CNT-induced fibrogenesis by upregulating collagen production in lung fibroblasts. This novel finding may aid in the design of mechanism-based risk assessment and development of rapid screening tests for nanomaterial fibrogenicity.

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