Efficacy of serum laminin measurement for diagnosis of fibrotic liver diseases.

1988 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 2026-2030 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Kropf ◽  
A M Gressner ◽  
A Negwer
Keyword(s):  
Liver Diseases ◽  
Reference Population ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Biochemical Tests ◽  
Diagnostic Efficacy ◽  
Fibrotic Liver ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Better Than

Abstract We examined the efficacy of laminin assay in serum for diagnosis of fibrotic liver diseases. Values for subjects with liver disease significantly (P less than 0.05) exceeded those for healthy subjects and patients with nonhepatic diseases. At a cutoff value of 1.45 kilo-units(arb.)/L (approximately 330 micrograms/L) and an assumed prevalence of fibrotic liver diseases of 0.5, positive and negative predictive values of the test were 0.97 and 0.83, respectively, for the comparison with a healthy reference population and 0.81 and 0.80 for nonhepatic diseased patients. Increases in laminin concentration were positively correlated with the extent of fibrotic transition of the liver. Discrimination between fibrotic and cirrhotic stages of chronic liver diseases by means of laminin assay was better than with the amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen. According to the criteria of diagnostic efficacy, we conclude that determination of laminin in serum improves the possibilities of clinical-chemical diagnosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, as commonly true for other biochemical tests, determination of laminin cannot replace conventional diagnostic methods.

scholarly journals Lung sonography is useful for the initial detection of left-sided double lumen tracheal tube position in both novice and expert; a randomized prospective crossover study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyungseok Seo ◽  
YoonJu Go ◽  
Yong Seok Jang ◽  
Bong-Jae Lee
Keyword(s):  
Double Lumen Tube ◽  
Characteristic Analysis ◽  
Double Lumen ◽  
Diagnostic Efficacy ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Lung Sonography ◽  
Chest Auscultation ◽  
Novices And Experts ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background Detecting the position of the double lumen tube (DLT), lung sonography, can be an effective technique and may provide more detailed information than chest auscultation. However, the diagnostic efficacy of lung sonography for determining DLT position can differ between novice and expert.Methods We enrolled and allocated ninety patients into two groups; one group using chest auscultation and the other using lung sonography for the determination of DLT position. In both groups, two repeat-assessments were provided by two independent examiners; first by a novice, and second by an expert. The primary outcome was the overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive or negative predictive values between novice and expert in confirming the position of the left-sided DLT. In both groups, final position was confirmed by a fiberoptic bronchoscopy.Results Both using auscultation and sonography, novices and experts showed similar diagnostic efficacy. However, in patients using sonography, both novice and expert showed better outcomes than in patients using chest auscultation. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, lung sonography seemed to showe a better predictability in incorrect DLT position than chest auscultation, especially by experts.Conclusion Lung sonography showed a better diagnostic efficacy for detecting DLT position than chest auscultation. Furthermore, using lung sonography, novice investigator may perform similar assessment for identifying incorrect DLT position to expert.

scholarly journals Limitations of the Current Microbial Identification System for Identification of Clinical Yeast Isolates

1998 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 1197-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Kellogg ◽  
David A. Bankert ◽  
Vishnu Chaturvedi
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Value ◽  
Yeast Species ◽  
Tween 80 ◽  
Identification System ◽  
Biochemical Tests ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Microbial Identification ◽  
Microbial Identification System ◽  
Microscopic Morphology

The ability of the rapid, computerized Microbial Identification System (MIS; Microbial ID, Inc.) to identify a variety of clinical isolates of yeast species was compared to the abilities of a combination of tests including the Yeast Biochemical Card (bioMerieux Vitek), determination of microscopic morphology on cornmeal agar with Tween 80, and when necessary, conventional biochemical tests and/or the API 20C Aux system (bioMerieux Vitek) to identify the same yeast isolates. The MIS chromatographically analyzes cellular fatty acids and compares the results with the fatty acid profiles in its database. Yeast isolates were subcultured onto Sabouraud dextrose agar and were incubated at 28°C for 24 h. The resulting colonies were saponified, methylated, extracted, and chromatographically analyzed (by version 3.8 of the MIS YSTCLN database) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Of 477 isolates of 23 species tested, 448 (94%) were given species names by the MIS and 29 (6%) were unidentified (specified as “no match” by the MIS). Of the 448 isolates given names by the MIS, only 335 (75%) of the identifications were correct to the species level. While the MIS correctly identified only 102 (82%) of 124 isolates of Candida glabrata, the predictive value of an MIS identification of unknown isolates asC. glabrata was 100% (102 of 102) because no isolates of other species were misidentified as C. glabrata. In contrast, while the MIS correctly identified 100% (15 of 15) of the isolates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the predictive value of an MIS identification of unknown isolates as S. cerevisiae was only 47% (15 of 32), because 17 isolates ofC. glabrata were misidentified as S. cerevisiae. The low predictive values for accuracy associated with MIS identifications for most of the remaining yeast species indicate that the procedure and/or database for the system need to be improved.

Time and Latitude in South Africa

1972 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
J. Hers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
Royal Observatory ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Astronomical Determination ◽  
Limited Accuracy ◽  
Better Than

In South Africa the modern outlook towards time may be said to have started in 1948. Both the two major observatories, The Royal Observatory in Cape Town and the Union Observatory (now known as the Republic Observatory) in Johannesburg had, of course, been involved in the astronomical determination of time almost from their inception, and the Johannesburg Observatory has been responsible for the official time of South Africa since 1908. However the pendulum clocks then in use could not be relied on to provide an accuracy better than about 1/10 second, which was of the same order as that of the astronomical observations. It is doubtful if much use was made of even this limited accuracy outside the two observatories, and although there may – occasionally have been a demand for more accurate time, it was certainly not voiced.

EVALUATION OF HYSTEROSALPINGOGRAPHY VERSUS LAPAROSCOPY IN THE DETERMINATION OF TUBAL FACTORS IN FEMALE INFERTILITY: A HOSPITAL BASED COMPARATIVE STUDY.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richa Choudhary ◽  
Rishikant Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Female Infertility ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Panoramic View ◽  
Tubal Patency ◽  
Pelvic Organs ◽  
Clinical Investigations ◽  
Detailed Assessment ◽  
Reproductive Anatomy ◽  
Tubal Pathology

Objectives: Hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy both are the diagnostic methods for assessment of female infertility.  The present study was to compare the evaluation of hysterosalpingography (HSG) versus laparoscopy in determination of tubal factors in female infertility. Methods: Detailed assessment, physical examination and clinical investigations were performed in all 100 infertile female with age 20 years to 40 years. All patients were advised to perform digital HSG. Patients with an abnormal HSG underwent laparoscopy without delay, whereas in patients with a normal HSG, laparoscopy was performed three months after HSG. HSG is best scheduled during the 2nd -5th day interval immediately following the end of menstruation, to minimize risk for infection, avoid interference from intrauterine blood and clot, and to prevent any possibility that the procedure might be performed after conception. Results: Data was analysed by using IBM SPSS version 23 software.  All data was tabulated and percentages were calculated. Mean ± standard deviation was observed. Conclusions: Diagnostic laparoscopy is the gold standard in diagnosing tubal pathology and other intra-abdominal causes of infertility. Other hand, Hysterosalpingography is a frequently utilized diagnostic tool in the assessment of tubal status and detection of uterine anatomical defects in infertility. Hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy are not alternatives but complimentary investigations. But, inadequacy of hysterosalpingography (HSG) in determining the state of tubal patency, emphasizes the need for laparoscopy. Laparoscopy provides both a panoramic view of the pelvic reproductive anatomy and a magnified view of pelvic organs and peritoneal surfaces. Keywords: Female infertility, Tubal patency, HSG, Laparoscopy

Determination of trace concentrations of copper by FIA-FAAS after preconcentration on chelating sorbents

1989 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 1785-1794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vlastimil Kubáň ◽  
Josef Komárek ◽  
Zbyněk Zdráhal
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Frequency ◽  
Copper Determination ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Sample Injection ◽  
Injection Flow ◽  
Chelating Sorbents ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Trace Concentrations ◽  
Better Than

A FIA-FAAS apparatus containing a six-channel sorption equipment with five 3 x 26 mm microcolumns packed with Spheron Oxin 1 000, Ostsorb Oxin and Ostsorb DTTA was set up. Combined with sorption from 0.002M acetate buffer at pH 4.2 and desorption with 2M-HCl, copper can be determined at concentrations up to 100, 150 and 200 μg l-1, respectively. For sample and eluent flow rates of 5.0 and 4.0 ml min-1, respectively, and a sample injection time of 5 min, the limit of copper determination is LQ = 0.3 μg l-1, repeatability sr is better than 2% and recovery is R = 100 ± 2%. The enrichment factor is on the order of 102 and is a linear function of time (volume) of sample injection up to 5 min and of the sample injection flow rate up to 11 ml min-1 for Spheron Oxin 1 000 and Ostsorb DTTA. For times of sorption of 60 and 300 s, the sampling frequency is 70 and 35 samples/h, respectively. The parameters of the FIA-FAAS determination (acetylene-air flame) are comparable to or better than those achieved by ETA AAS. The method was applied to the determination of traces of copper in high-purity water.

scholarly journals Measuring the quartic Higgs self-coupling at a multi-TeV muon collider

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Chiesa ◽  
F. Maltoni ◽  
L. Mantani ◽  
B. Mele ◽  
F. Piccinini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higgs Boson ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Mass Energy ◽  
Simple Analysis ◽  
Proton Proton ◽  
Coupling Interaction ◽  
Center Of Mass Energy ◽  
Muon Collider ◽  
Better Than

Abstract Measuring the shape of the Higgs boson potential is of paramount importance, and will be a challenging task at current as well as future colliders. While the expectations for the measurement of the trilinear Higgs self-coupling are rather promising, an accurate measurement of the quartic self-coupling interaction is presently considered extremely challenging even at a future 100 TeV proton-proton collider. In this work we explore the sensitivity that a muon collider with a center of mass energy in the multi-TeV range and luminosities of the order of 1035cm−2s−1, as presently under discussion, might provide, thanks to a rather large three Higgs-boson production and to a limited background. By performing a first and simple analysis, we find a clear indication that a muon collider could provide a determination of the quartic Higgs self-coupling that is significantly better than what is currently considered attainable at other future colliders.

scholarly journals Performance of the SoLid reactor neutrino detector

2019 ◽  
Vol 219 ◽  
pp. 08003
Author(s):  
Maja Verstraeten
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Energy Resolution ◽  
Neutrino Detector ◽  
Channel Response ◽  
In Situ Calibration ◽  
Reactor Neutrino ◽  
Li Isotope ◽  
Better Than

The SoLid Collaboration is currently operating a 1.6 ton neutrino detector near the Belgian BR2 reactor. Its main goal is the observation of the oscillation of electron antineutrinos to previously undetected flavour states. The highly segmented SoLid detector employs a compound scintillation technology based on PVT scintillator in combination with LiF-ZnS(Ag) screens containing the 6Li isotope. The experiment has demonstrated a channel-to-channel response that can be controlled to the level of a few percent, an energy resolution of better than 14% at 1 MeV, and a determination of the interaction vertex with a precision of 5 cm. This contribution highlights the major outcomes of the R&D program, the quality control during component manufacture and integration, the current performance and stability of the full-scale system, as well as the in-situ calibration of the detector with various radioactive sources.

SENSITIVE AND SPECIFIC ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY FOR UROKINASE-TYPE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR IN HUMAN PLASMA

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Grøndahl-HANSEN ◽  
N Agerlin ◽  
L S Nielsen ◽  
K Danø
Keyword(s):  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Healthy Donors ◽  
Urokinase Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
The Mean

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the measurement of human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) in plasma and serum. Microtiter plates were coated with a monoclonal antibody and incubated with standard or sample. Bound u-PA was quantitated with polyclonal antibodies conjugated with biotin, followed by avidin-peroxidase. The assay was 10-fold as sensitive as other previously reported ELISAs, the detection limit being approximately 1 pg of u-PA in a volume of 100 μl with a linear dose-response up to 15 pg of u-PA. The assay detected active u-PA and its inactive proenzyme form equally well and the recovery of both forms was higher than 90% in plasma. A variety of structurally related proteins, including t-PA, were tested, but no reaction with proteins other than u-PA and its amino-terminal degradation product were observed. The intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation for determination of u-PA in plasma were 7.6% and 8.4%, respectively. The assay was equally applicable to serum. The values obtained with plasma and serum were similar, and the results were not affected by small variations in the preparation of the samples. The ELISA was used to measure the concentration of u-PA in plasma from 34 healthy donors. The mean values for u-PA in plasma from healthy donors was 1.1 ng/ml ± 0.3 ng/ml (SD) (range 0.6 - 1.5 ng/ml). No significant differences were found between men and women and no correlation between u-PA concentration and age could be demonstrated.The mean u-PA concentration in plasma from healthy donors obtained in this study is substantially lower than that reported by others. This might be due to different methods of determination of the protein content of the standard preparations or to differences in the specificity of the assays.

scholarly journals Evaluation of diagnostic efficacy for localization of parathyroid adenoma in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism undergoing repeat surgery

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Hendricks ◽  
Christina Lenschow ◽  
Matthias Kroiss ◽  
Andreas Buck ◽  
Ralph Kickuth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Hyperparathyroidism ◽  
Parathyroid Adenoma ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Mri Imaging ◽  
Diagnostic Efficacy ◽  
Repeat Surgery ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Biochemical Cure ◽  
Diagnostic Modalities

Abstract Purpose Repeat surgery in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is associated with an increased risk of complications and failure. This stresses the need for optimized strategies to accurately localize a parathyroid adenoma before repeat surgery is performed. However, evidence on the extent of required diagnostics for a structured approach is sparse. Methods A retrospective single-center evaluation of 28 patients with an indication for surgery due to pHPT and previous thyroid or parathyroid surgery was performed. Diagnostic workup, surgical approach, and outcome in terms of complications and successful removement of parathyroid adenoma with biochemical cure were evaluated. Results Neck ultrasound, sestamibi scintigraphy, C11-methionine PET-CT, and selective parathyroid hormone venous sampling, but not MRI imaging, effectively detected the presence of a parathyroid adenoma with high positive predictive values. Biochemical cure was revealed by normalization of calcium and parathormone levels 24–48h after surgery and was achieved in 26/28 patients (92.9%) with an overall low rate of complications. Concordant localization by at least two diagnostic modalities enabled focused surgery with success rates of 100%, whereas inconclusive localization significantly increased the rate of bilateral explorations and significantly reduced the rate of biochemical cure to 80%. Conclusion These findings suggest that two concordant diagnostic modalities are sufficient to accurately localize parathyroid adenoma before repeat surgery for pHPT. In cases of poor localization, extended diagnostic procedures are warranted to enhance surgical success rates. We suggest an algorithm for better orientation when repeat surgery is intended in patients with pHPT.

scholarly journals The Application of Baum-Welch Algorithm in Multistep Attack

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanxue Zhang ◽  
Dongmei Zhao ◽  
Jinxing Liu
Keyword(s):  
Markov Model ◽  
Hidden Markov Model ◽  
Hidden Markov Models ◽  
Viterbi Algorithm ◽  
Markov Models ◽  
Hidden Markov ◽  
Simulation Experiments ◽  
Forward Algorithm ◽  
Better Than

The biggest difficulty of hidden Markov model applied to multistep attack is the determination of observations. Now the research of the determination of observations is still lacking, and it shows a certain degree of subjectivity. In this regard, we integrate the attack intentions and hidden Markov model (HMM) and support a method to forecasting multistep attack based on hidden Markov model. Firstly, we train the existing hidden Markov model(s) by the Baum-Welch algorithm of HMM. Then we recognize the alert belonging to attack scenarios with the Forward algorithm of HMM. Finally, we forecast the next possible attack sequence with the Viterbi algorithm of HMM. The results of simulation experiments show that the hidden Markov models which have been trained are better than the untrained in recognition and prediction.

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