scholarly journals Determination of the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis among migrant workers in Kuwait by detecting circulating filarial antigen

2006 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamshaid Iqbal ◽  
Ali Sher

The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of filarial infection among migrant workers in Kuwait. The study was conducted from April 2000 to November 2003. A total of 1050 migrant workers (>90 % from the Indian subcontinent) from filarial endemic countries and 260 individuals residing in Kuwait as controls (50 healthy Kuwaiti blood donors, 50 microfilaria-negative individuals from endemic areas and 160 patients with other parasitic infections) were screened for filarial infection. All specimens were tested for microfilaraemia by microscopy of nucleopore-filtered blood (NFB) and detection of circulating filarial antigen (CFA) by an immunochromatographic test (ICT) and the TropBio assay. The overall prevalence of filarial antigenaemia was 18·3 % (192 individuals) using the ICT and 20·3 % (213 individuals) using the TropBio assay. Thirty-two cases (3 %) of Wuchereria bancrofti were detected by microscopy and the mean microfilaria count in these cases was 816 microfilariae ml−1. CFA was detected only in two of the 260 control subjects. Statistical analysis to calculate the sensitivity, specificity and prevalence of infection was carried out using maximum-likelihood statistical methods. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the ICT and TropBio assay to detect CFA were comparable. Compared with NFB microscopy, the sensitivity of the ICT was 93·8 % and specificity ranged from 84 to 100 %. The sensitivity and specificity of the TropBio assay were 90·1 and 100 %, respectively. However, the ICT failed to detect CFA in two cases with a microfilarial load of <20 microfilariae ml−1. In conclusion, the prevalence of filarial infection among the migrant workers in Kuwait was 18·3 % as determined by the ICT.

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1237-1239
Author(s):  
A. Ammar ◽  
M. A. Z. Husnain ◽  
M. Arshad ◽  
T. M. Mirza ◽  
Z. Arshad ◽  
...  

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound in determining the phenotypic foetal gender in all three trimesters. Study design: Cross sectional study. Place and duration of study: Department of Diagnostic Radiology Combined Military Hospital Lahore from 1st January 2020 to 30th April 2020. Methodology: Three hundred and seventy two patients in the inclusion criteria were selected. Ages of patients, gestational ages of foetuses and their genders were determined according to the ultrasonographic signs using ultrasound examination. Patients were contacted 3 weeks after the estimated date of delivery and phenotypic sex recorded. Results: Mean age was 34 years. Median gestational age was 21 weeks 3 days. Accuracy of gender determination by ultrasound in 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters was 62%, 97% and 95% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in 1st trimester for males are 66% and 72%; and for females are 72% and 66% respectively. Positive and negative predictive values for male are 69% and 71%; and for female are 71% and 69% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in 2nd trimester for males are 95% and 100%; and for females are 100% and 95% respectively. Positive and negative predictive values for male are 100% and 94%; and for female are 94% and 100% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in 3rd trimester for males are 94% and 96%; and for females are 96% and 94% respectively. Positive and negative predictive values for male are 97% and 93%; and for female are 93% and 97% respectively. Conclusion: There is a high accuracy of ultrasound in determination of fetal gender in second and third trimesters. Keywords: Ultrasound, Gender, Trimester, Sensitivity, Specificity, Predictive Value


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aysun FENDAL TUNCA ◽  
Derya Ece Iliman ◽  
Aysegul Akdogan Gemici ◽  
Cihan Kaya

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intraoperative findings of deep infiltrating endometriosis using the #ENZIAN score. Methods This retrospective study included 64 patients who underwent surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis between January 2017 and August 2020. Preoperative abdominopelvic MRI assessment was evaluated and scored using the #ENZIAN classification. Operative scores were considered the gold standard, and the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of MRI for each category were calculated. Results MRI has higher sensitivity and specificity in showing the lesions of the compartments O (ovarian lesions), A (rectovaginal septum and posterior vaginal fornix), and B (uterosacral ligaments and parametrium) (100–100%, 100–100%, and 97–100%, respectively, p<0.001) compared to the other compartments. The lowest sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and PPV of the MRI was found in compartment P (14%, 76%, 70%, and 7%, respectively). Conclusion We demonstrated that the #ENZIAN classification in MRI reports has significant sensitivity and specificity in compartments A, B (uterosacral ligaments and parametrium), and O. Furthermore, the determination of peritoneal lesions via MRI is inadequate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (6) ◽  
pp. 959-963

Background: The quality of anticoagulation control is an important determination of thromboembolism and bleeding in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Previous trials have shown that SAMe-TT₂R₂ score could be used for prediction of anticoagulation control. Objective: To predict labile international normalized ratio (INR) by SAMe-TT₂R₂ score in Thai patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Materials and Methods: The author retrospectively studied patients with non-valvularatrial fibrillation at Pranangklao Hospital between January 2019 and October 2020. Results: One hundred thirty patients were enrolled. The average ages of the patients were 67.5±10.2 years. The average SAMe-TT₂R₂ scores were 3.2±0.8 and the average CHA₂DS₂-VASc score was 3.3±1.4. Most patients had hypertension and dyslipidemia. Most patients were prescribed betablockers. Most patients had time in therapeutic range (TTR) lower than 65. The present study has shown that patients with SAMe-TT₂R₂ score of 3 or more has also had high proportion of labile INR with statical significance. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of different cut-offs of SAMe-TT₂R₂ score greater than 2 and SAMe-TT₂R₂ score when excluding race showed improvement of the sensitivity and specificity for prediction of labile INR. Conclusion: Labile INR was predicted by SAMe-TT₂R₂ score and the sensitivity and specificity increased in SAMe-TT₂R₂ score when excluding race. Keywords: SAMe-TT₂R₂ score; Non-valvular atrial fibrillation; Anticoagulation control


2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-290
Author(s):  
M.S. Bal ◽  
M.K. Beuria ◽  
N.N. Mandal ◽  
M.K. Das

AbstractLevels of circulating filarial antigen (Og4C3) and IgG4antibodies to a filarial protease were determined in subjects ofWuchereria bancroftiexposed sera from Orissa, India. In addition to all individuals with antigenaemia (microfilaraemia), IgG4antibodies were also detected in some individuals without antigenaemia. A 2-year longitudinal follow-up indicated that IgG4seropositivity in asymptomatic amicrofilaraemics could be a risk factor for acquiring infection (antigenaemia).


2021 ◽  
pp. 112972982110087
Author(s):  
Junren Kang ◽  
Wenyan Sun ◽  
Hailong Li ◽  
En ling Ma ◽  
Wei Chen

Background: The Michigan Risk Score (MRS) was the only predicted score for peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICC) associated upper extremity venous thrombosis (UEVT). Age-adjusted D-dimer increased the efficiency for UEVT. There were no external validations in an independent cohort. Method: A retrospective study of adult patients with PICC insertion was performed. The primary objective was to evaluate the performance of the MRS and age-adjusted D-dimer in estimating risk of PICC-related symptomatic UEVT. The sensitivity, specificity and areas under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) of MRS and age-adjusted D-dimer were calculated. Results: Two thousand one hundred sixty-three patients were included for a total of 206,132 catheter days. Fifty-six (2.6%) developed PICC-UEVT. The incidences of PICC-UEVT were 4.9% for class I, 7.5% for class II, 2.2% for class III, 0% for class IV of MRS ( p = 0.011). The incidences of PICC-UEVT were 4.5% for D-dimer above the age-adjusted threshold and 1.5% for below the threshold ( p = 0.001). The areas under ROC of MRS and age-adjusted D-dimer were 0.405 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.303–0.508) and 0.639 (95% CI 0.547–0.731). The sensitivity and specificity of MRS were 0.82 (95% CI, 0.69–0.91), 0.09 (95% CI, 0.08–0.11), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of age-adjusted D-dimer were 0.64 (95% CI, 0.46–0.79) and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.61–0.66), respectively. Conclusions: MRS and age-adjusted D-dimer have low accuracy to predict PICC-UEVT. Further studies are needed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynep Cetiner-Alpay ◽  
Fatma Kulali ◽  
Aslihan Semiz-Oysu ◽  
Yasar Bukte ◽  
Kamil Ozdil

Background: Although endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is accepted as the gold standard, there is a place for magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of obstructive biliary disorders.Aim: To compare the findings of MRCP with ERCP in patients with obstructive biliary disorders and to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of MRCP combined with DWI.Study design: Retrospective, analytic, cross-sectional study.Methods: The MRCP images of 126 patients who underwent both MRCP and ERCP owing to biliary obstruction were reviewed. Nine patients were excluded because of incomplete diagnostic workup or a long period (>3 months) between MRCP and ERCP. Ninety-two patients underwent DWI, which was also evaluated. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRCP and DWI were analysed.Results: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRCP according to ERCP results as the gold standard was 97%, 71% and 93% for assessment of biliary dilatation; 100%, 94.7% and 97.5% for the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis; 93.7%, 100% and 99% for the identification of benign strictures; 100%, 100% and 100% for the diagnosis of malignant tumours; and 100%, 100% and 100% for the detection of complicated hydatid cysts; respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of DWI for the diagnosis of malignant tumour was 100%. In the detection of choledocholithiasis, the sensitivity and specificity of DWI was 70.8% and 100%.Conclusions: MRCP is an alternative, non-invasive, diagnostic modality, comparable with ERCP for the evaluation of pancreaticobiliary diseases. DWI can be helpful for diagnosis of choledocholithiasis and tumours.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saverio Paltrinieri ◽  
Marco Fossati ◽  
Valentina Menaballi

Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performances of manual and instrumental measurement of reticulocyte percentage (Ret%), reticulocyte number (Ret#) and reticulocyte production index (RPI) to differentiate regenerative anaemia (RA) from non-regenerative anaemia (NRA) in cats. Methods Data from 106 blood samples from anaemic cats with manual counts (n = 74; 68 NRA, six RA) or instrumental counts of reticulocytes (n = 32; 25 NRA, seven RA) collected between 1995 and 2013 were retrospectively analysed. Sensitivity, specificity and positive likelihood ratio (LR+) were calculated using either cut-offs reported in the literature or cut-offs determined from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results All the reticulocyte parameters were significantly higher in cats with RA than in cats with NRA. All the ROC curves were significantly different ( P <0.001) from the line of no discrimination, without significant differences between the three parameters. Using the cut-offs published in literature, the Ret% (cut-off: 0.5%) was sensitive (100%) but not specific (<75%), the RPI (cut-off: 1.0) was specific (>92%) but not sensitive (<15%), and the Ret# (cut-off: 50 × 10³/µl) had a sensitivity and specificity >80% and the highest LR+ (manual count: 14; instrumental count: 6). For all the parameters, sensitivity and specificity approached 100% using the cut-offs determined by the ROC curves. These cut-offs were higher than those reported in the literature for Ret% (manual: 1.70%; instrumental: 3.06%), lower for RPI (manual: 0.39; instrumental: 0.59) and variably different, depending on the method (manual: 41 × 10³/µl; instrumental: 57 × 10³/µl), for Ret#. Using these cut-offs, the RPI had the highest LR+ (manual: 22.7; instrumental: 12.5). Conclusions and relevance This study indicated that all the reticulocyte parameters may confirm regeneration when the pretest probability is high, while when this probability is moderate, RA should be identified using the RPI providing that cut-offs <1.0 are used.


2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (12) ◽  
pp. 1661-1667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichi Kasai ◽  
Koichiro Morishita ◽  
Eiji Kawakita ◽  
Tetsushi Kondo ◽  
Atsumasa Uchida

Abstract Background and PurposeAlthough many studies have described clinical examination measures for the diagnosis of lumbar spinal instability, few of them have investigated the sensitivity and specificity of the measures that were used. The authors devised a passive lumbar extension (PLE) test for assessing lumbar spinal instability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the sensitivity, specificity, and positive likelihood ratio of this test. Subjects and Methods. The PLE test as well as the instability catch sign, painful catch sign, and apprehension sign tests were done for 122 subjects with lumbar degenerative diseases. The subjects were divided into 2 groups—instability positive and instability negative—on the basis of findings on flexion-extension films of the lumbar spine. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and positive likelihood ratio of each test were investigated. Results. The sensitivity and specificity of the PLE test were 84.2% and 90.4%, respectively. These values were higher than those of other signs. The positive likelihood ratio of the PLE test was 8.84 (95% confidence interval=4.51–17.33). Discussion and Conclusion. The PLE test is an effective method for examining patients for lumbar spinal instability and can be performed easily in an outpatient clinic.


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