scholarly journals Dog Savior: Immediate Scent-Detection of SARS-COV-2 by Trained Dogs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Vesga ◽  
Andres F. Valencia ◽  
Alejandro Mira ◽  
Felipe Ossa ◽  
Esteban Ocampo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infected Individual ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
The Body ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Molecular Tests ◽  
Production And Distribution ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

AbstractMolecular tests for viral diagnostics are essential to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, but their production and distribution cannot satisfy the current high demand. Early identification of infected people and their contacts is the key to being able to isolate them and prevent the dissemination of the pathogen; unfortunately, most countries are unable to do this due to the lack of diagnostic tools. Dogs can identify, with a high rate of precision, unique odors of volatile organic compounds generated during an infection; as a result, dogs can diagnose infectious agents by smelling specimens and, sometimes, the body of an infected individual. We trained six dogs of three different breeds to detect SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory secretions of infected patients and evaluated their performance experimentally, comparing it against the gold standard (rRT-PCR). Here we show that viral detection takes one second per specimen. After scent-interrogating 9,200 samples, our six dogs achieved independently and as a group very high sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, accuracy, and likelihood ratio, with very narrow confidence intervals. The highest metric was the negative predictive value, indicating that with a disease prevalence of 7.6%, 99.9% of the specimens indicated as negative by the dogs did not carry the virus. These findings demonstrate that dogs could be useful to track viral infection in humans, allowing COVID-19 free people to return to work safely.

scholarly journals Evaluation of HiCrome KPC Agar for the Screening of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales Colonization in the ICU Setting of a Tertiary Care Hospital

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashoka Mahapatra ◽  
K Nikitha ◽  
Sutapa Rath ◽  
Bijayini Behera ◽  
Kavita Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Tertiary Care ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae Carbapenemase ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Rectal Swabs ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Indian Setting ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background Spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) is a significant concern in intensive care unit (ICU) settings. Approaches to routine screening for CRE colonization in all ICU patients vary depending on institutional epidemiology and resources. The present study was aimed to evaluate the performance of HiCrome Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) agar for the detection of CRE colonization in ICU settings taking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended method as reference. Methods Two-hundred and eighty rectal swabs (duplicate) from 140 patients were subjected to CRE detection in HiCrome KPC agar and MacConkey agar (CDC criteria). Results Using CDC method, total 41 CRE isolates were recovered comprising of 29 E scherichia coli, 11 Klebsiella, and 1 Enterobacter spp. On the other hand, 49 isolates of CRE recovered from 140 rectal swabs using HiCrome KPC agar, out of which 33 were E. coli, 15 Klebsiella, and 1 Enterobacter sp. Statistical Analysis Sensitivity, specificity, negative, and positive predictive values of CRE screening by HiCrome KPC agar were found to be 100% (91.4–100), 91.9% (84.8–95.8), 83.6% (70.9–91.4), and 100% (95.9–100), respectively, taking the CDC recommended method as reference. Conclusion HiCrome KPC agar has high sensitivity in screening CRE colonization. Further studies are needed to establish its applicability for detecting the predominant circulating carbapenemases in the Indian setting.

scholarly journals Evaluation of brain lesion distribution criteria at disease onset in differentiating MS from NMOSD and MOG-IgG-associated encephalomyelitis

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Won Hyun ◽  
So-Young Huh ◽  
Hyun-June Shin ◽  
Mark Woodhall ◽  
Su-Hyun Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immunoglobulin G ◽  
Brain Lesion ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
The Body ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Mri Scans ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
The Brain

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the utility of the recently described brain lesion distribution criteria to differentiate multiple sclerosis (MS) from aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein immunoglobulin G-associated encephalomyelitis (MOG-EM) at disease onset in an Asian cohort. Methods: A total of 214 patients who fulfilled the published criteria for MS, NMOSD, or MOG-EM and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 3 months of disease onset were enrolled. The brain lesion distribution criteria were defined as the presence of a lesion adjacent to the body of the lateral ventricle and in the inferior temporal lobe, or an S-shaped U-fiber lesion, or a Dawson’s finger-type lesion. Results: Brain lesions were identified in the initial MRI scans of 166/214 patients. The distribution criteria were applied to these scans (MS ( n = 94), NMOSD ( n = 64), and MOG-EM ( n = 8)). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the criteria for MS versus NMOSD were 79.8%, 87.5%, 90.4%, and 74.7%, and for MS versus MOG-EM these were 79.8%, 100%, 100%, and 29.6%, respectively. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the brain lesion distribution criteria are helpful in distinguishing MS from NMOSD and MOG-EM in an Asian population, even at disease onset.

scholarly journals Searching for the Fetal Alcohol Behavioral Phenotype

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 2333794X2094133
Author(s):  
Gideon Koren ◽  
Asher Ornoy
Keyword(s):  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Behavioral Phenotype ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Fetal Alcohol ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

This narrative review presents the emerging published evidence on the existence of a phenotypic behavior in children with fetal alcohol spectrum behavior. Such a phenotype, exhibiting high sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values, may assist clinicians and families in identifying children who often miss some of the information needed for full diagnosis, but who may benefit from these screening tools in mobilizing help to these youngsters and their families.

scholarly journals Developments in the HCV Screening Technologies Based on the Detection of Antigens and Antibodies

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (19) ◽  
pp. 4257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warkad ◽  
Song ◽  
Pal ◽  
Nimse
Keyword(s):  
Acute Infection ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Chronic Hcv Infection ◽  
Hcv Screening ◽  
Chronic Hcv ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) accounts for 15%–20% of cases of acute infection, and chronic HCV infection is developed in about 50%–80% of HCV patients. Unfortunately, due to the lack of proper medical care, difficulty in screening for HCV infection, and lack of awareness resulted in chronic HCV infection in 71 million people on a global scale, and about 399,000 deaths in 2016. It is crucial to recognize that the effective use of antiviral medicines can cure more than 95% of HCV infected people. The Global Health Sector Strategy (GHSS) aim is to reduce the new HCV infections and the HCV associated mortality by 90% and 65%, respectively. Therefore, the methods that are simple, yet powerful enough to detect HCV infections with high sensitivity, specificity, and a shorter window period are crucial to restrain the global burden of HCV healthcare. This article focuses on the technologies used for the detection of HCV in clinical specimens.

scholarly journals Sensitivity, Specificity and Predictive Values of Molecular and Serological Tests for COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study in Emergency Room

Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeno Bisoffi ◽  
Elena Pomari ◽  
Michela Deiana ◽  
Chiara Piubelli ◽  
Niccolò Ronzoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Room ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Molecular Test ◽  
Clinical Context ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Molecular Tests ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Background: We assessed the sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV) of molecular and serological tests for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: A total of 346 patients were enrolled in the emergency room. We evaluated three Reverse Transcriptase-real time PCRs (RT-PCRs) including six different gene targets, five serologic rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and one ELISA. The final classification of infected/non-infected patients was performed using Latent Class Analysis combined with clinical re-assessment of incongruous cases. Results: Out of these, 24.6% of patients were classified as infected. The molecular test RQ-SARS-nCoV-2 showed the highest performance with 91.8% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100.0% PPV and 97.4% NPV respectively. Considering the single gene targets, S and RdRp of RQ-SARS-nCoV-2 had the highest sensitivity (94.1%). The in-house RdRp presented the lowest sensitivity (62.4%). The specificity ranged from 99.2% for in-house RdRp and N2 to 95.0% for E. The PPV ranged from 97.1% of N2 to 85.4% of E and the NPV from 98.1% of S to 89.0% of in-house RdRp. All serological tests had < 50% sensitivity and low PPV and NPV. VivaDiag IgM (RDT) had 98.5% specificity, with 84.0% PPV, but 24.7% sensitivity. Conclusion: Molecular tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection showed excellent specificity, but significant differences in sensitivity. Serological tests have limited utility in a clinical context.

scholarly journals Low sensitivity of ParaHIT-f rapid malaria test among patients with fever in rural health centers, Northern Tanzania

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (03) ◽  
pp. 204-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliningaya John Kweka ◽  
Asanterabi Lowassa ◽  
Shandala Msangi ◽  
Epiphania E Kimaro ◽  
Ester E Lyatuu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Test ◽  
Health Centers ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Rural Tanzania ◽  
Northern Tanzania ◽  
Low Sensitivity ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Malaria Test

Introduction: Several rapid diagnostic tools for malaria are currently available in local markets. However, diagnostic accuracy varies widely. The present study was conducted to evaluate a cheaply and easily available rapid diagnostic malaria test (ParaHIT-f) in rural Tanzania. Methodology: Participants presenting with fever at health centers in the Kilimanjaro and Manyara regions were eligible. Parasitological thin and thick smears were examined from finger-prick blood samples and compared to ParaHIT-f test results. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were calculated using microscopic parasitological examination as the gold standard. Results: In total, 236/743 (31.8%) individuals had a positive malaria microscopy, and 25/715 (3.4%) were positive in the rapid diagnostic test. The sensitivity of ParaHIT-f was 10.7% (95% CI, 6.7-14.7) and specificity was 100% (95% CI, 97.4-102), with positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of 100% (95% CI, 99.1-100.2) and 70.9% (95% CI, 66.9-74.9) respectively. Sensitivity of ParaHIT-f increased with increasing P. falciparum density (P > 0.003) from 5.8% (95% CI, 0-12.9) at < 100 parasites/μl to 20.5% (95% CI, 13.5-27) at ≥ 100 parasites/μl. Conclusions: Sensitivity of the ParaHIT-f rapid test was very low in this setting, therefore concomitant use of rapid diagnostic tests and microscopy is recommended. In the case of positive test results, confirmation by parasitological techniques is not necessary. Further monitoring of ParaHIT-f in various epidemiological settings in Tanzania is warranted. 

scholarly journals Accuracy of a new hysteroscopic method in the assessment of tubal patency: Hysteroscopic Chromotubation

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Burak Yucel ◽  
Emine Demirel ◽  
Sefa Kelekci ◽  
Kerem Doga Seckin ◽  
Osama Shawki
Keyword(s):  
Methylene Blue ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Uterine Cavity ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Office Hysteroscopy ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Tubal Patency ◽  
Infertile Women ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

<p><strong>Objective</strong></p><p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of hysteroscopic chromopertubation (HCT) in the assessment of tubal patency by comparing its results with laparoscopic chromopertubation (LCT).</p><p><strong>Study Design</strong></p><p>The population of this prospective cohort study consisted of both fertile and infertile women. Sixty-four women were included to the study. HCT was assessed by the observation of the transport of highly concentrated methylene blue from uterine cavity to tubal ostia. The results of HCT were compared with the results of LCT as a gold standard. The accuracy of HCT, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values in diagnosing tubal patency were calculated.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results</strong></p><p>The results of HCT and LCT were evaluated for right and left tubes, separately. One hundred and twenty-eight tubes were determined. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for HCT were; 85.85%, 59.09%, 91% and 46.43%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion </strong></p><p>This study’s result showed that HCT had high sensitivity and moderate specificity values in the assessment of tubal patency. HCT during office hysteroscopy could give the chance to practitioners to assess tubal patency without subjecting the patient to multiple procedures.<strong></strong></p>

Diagnostic Potential of Host Response Mediators

1993 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Offenbacher ◽  
J.G. Collins ◽  
P.A. Heasman
Keyword(s):  
Disease Activity ◽  
Host Response ◽  
Gingival Crevicular Fluid ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Diagnostic Measures ◽  
Diagnostic Potential ◽  
Crevicular Fluid ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Considerable Body

This review summarizes the data which relate the validation and application of host response markers as diagnostic tests forperiodontal diseases. Practical considerations regarding the general application and evaluation of a diagnostic test for periodontal disease are presented. Experiments which have documented the performance of host response markers as diagnostic measures of disease activity in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values are summarized. Particular emphasis is placed on the diagnostic potential of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) components. The considerable body of evidence supporting the potential application of GCF-PGE2 levels for predicting episodes of disease progression and reflecting disease activity is summarized and placed into perspective for the development of future diagnostic tools.

Surveillance imaging with FDG-PET/CT in the post-operative follow-up of stage 3 melanoma.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9563-9563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Sayers ◽  
Jeremy Howard Lewin ◽  
Damien Kee ◽  
Imogen Walpole ◽  
Alexandra Sanelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Disease Relapse ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Pet Ct ◽  
Relapsed Disease ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

9563 Background: With the evolving treatment landscape in metastatic melanoma, approaches to disease surveillance post resection in stage 3 disease requires reconsideration. We previously reported the outcomes of sub-stage-specific schedules of combined fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission and computerized tomography (PET/CT) surveillance at high risk of relapse following surgery. The aim of this study was to provide an update on our surveillance protocol with an extended sample size and longer duration of follow-up. Methods: From 2009, patients with AJCC stage 3 melanoma underwent PET/CT scans according to pre-specified schedules based on Bayesian probabilities of sub-stage-specific relapse. Schedules were stage 3A: 6, 18 mo; stage 3B: 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60 months; stage 3C: 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 months. Contingency tables were used to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of these schedules. Results: In total, 171 patients (3A: 34; 3B: 93; 3C:44) underwent 553 PET/CT scans with a median follow up of 47 months. Relapses were identified in 65 (38%) patients of which (72%) were asymptomatic at the time of radiologically documented relapse. False positive results occurred in 8%. The positive predictive value (PPV) of an individual scan for diagnosing true recurrence was 77% (64-87%). Negative scans at 6 months had negative predictive values (NPV) between 57% in Stage 3A to 69% in Stage 3B for relapse. Sensitivity and specificity of the overall approach of sub-stage-specific PET/CT surveillance for detecting disease relapse were 70% and 89%, respectively. Evaluable predictive values for detecting disease relapse were: stage 3A: PPV:56%, NPV:76%; 3B: PPV 83%, NPV 86%; stage 3C: PPV 84%, NPV 84%. 32 of 65 patients (49%; 3A: 1; 3B: 7; 3C: 2) underwent resection of relapsed disease and 10 of these patients remained free of disease with a median follow-up of 24 months. Conclusions: Sub-stage-specific PET/CT is effective in detecting asymptomatic recurrence in stage 3 melanoma, and is associated with a high rate of disease resection at relapse.

Validation of plasma miR-371a-3p expression in patients with metastatic and early stage germ cell tumor.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (7_suppl) ◽  
pp. 526-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Nappi ◽  
Marisa Thi ◽  
Amy Lum ◽  
David Huntsman ◽  
Bernhard J. Eigl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Validation Cohort ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Clinical Stage ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Cell Malignancy

526 Background: Identification of relapsing/residual viable germ cell malignancy (GCM) is often challenging in patients with CSI on surveillance or with residual post-chemotherapy disease. The presence of a biomarker for GCM would overcome the uncertainty of the current methods and improve the quality of care of those patients. Methods: A 2-cohorts pilot study involving patients with clearcut evidence of GCM (clinical stage IS, metastatic and GCM prior orchiectomy) for the development cohort and patients with CSI with or without signs of tumor relapse and patients with metastatic GCM post-chemotherapy for the validation cohort. Blood samples collected in Streck tubes were obtained prior to chemotherapy for the development cohort and post-orchiectomy, at the time of suspicious relapse or post-chemotherapy in the validation cohort. Plasma miR-371a-3p (miR371) was analyzed by RT-PCR. Positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive values (NPV) and AUC of the ROC for miR371 and standard diagnostic tools (CT scan, AFP, BHCG and LDH) were calculated correlating qualitative miR371 expression to the presence of viable GCM. Results: 132 patients were enrolled into the development (33 pts) and validation (99 pts) cohorts. Within the development cohort 31/33 pts were miR371 positive, 2/33 pts were negative. 31 true positives were found among the 31 miR371 positive patients for a PPV of 100% (31/31). Two true negatives were found among the 2 patients who had no miR371 expression identified (teratoma, lymphoma). The validation cohort was chosen to evaluate the methodology among patients with predicted lower volumes or no clinically apparent disease. 13/99 patients within the validation cohort were miR371 positive and all 13 had subsequent confirmation of viable GCM. For the overall study of 132 pts, PPV was 100% (46/46), NPV 98%, sensitivity 96% and specificity 100%, the AUC of the ROC was 0.96. Conclusions: Detectable circulating miR-371a-3p levels predict viable GCM and may represent a strategy for biological rather than radiographic assessment for surveillance of early stage and for post-treatment patients. Larger studies to validate these and like results have been planned.

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