scholarly journals Testing for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence: experiences of a tertiary eye centre

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000688
Author(s):  
Focke Ziemssen ◽  
You-Shan Feng ◽  
Sven Schnichels ◽  
Tarek Bayyoud ◽  
Marius Ueffing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Kappa Statistics ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Individual Assessment ◽  
Hygiene Measures ◽  
Antibody Titres ◽  
Antiviral Antibody ◽  
Sequential Combination ◽  
The Individual

IntroductionThe actual prevalence of a SARS-CoV-2 infection and the individual assessment of being or having been infected may differ. Facing the great uncertainty—especially at the beginning of the pandemic—and the possibility of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, subclinical infections, we evaluate the experience of SARS-CoV-2 antibody screening at a tertiary clinical setting.Methods and analysisAll employees of a tertiary eye centre and a research institute of ophthalmology were offered antibody testing in May 2020, using a sequential combination of different validated assays/antigens and point-of-care (POC) testing for a subset (NCT04446338). Before taking blood, a systematic inquiry into past symptoms, known contacts and a subjective self-assessment was documented. The correlations between serostatus, patient contacts and demographic characteristics were analysed. Different tests were compared by Kappa statistics.ResultsAmong 318 participants, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 9 employees. Chemiluminescence assays (chemiluminescence immunoassay and electrochemiluminescence) showed superior specificity and high reproducibility, compared with ELISA and POC results.In contrast to the low seropositivity (2.8%) of healthcare workers, higher than that of the other departments of the hospital, a large proportion mistakenly assumed that they might have already been infected. Antiviral antibody titres increased and remained on a plateau for at least 3 months.ConclusionsThe great demand and acceptance confirmed the benefit of highly sensitive testing methods in the early phase of the pandemic. The coincidence of low seroprevalence and anxious employees may have contributed to internalising the need of hygiene measures.

scholarly journals Does Point-Of-Care SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Testing Have Similar Sensitivity and Specificity To High Complexity Serology?

2021 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. AB77
Author(s):  
Kelly O'Shea ◽  
Charles Schuler ◽  
Jesse Chen ◽  
Carmen Gherasim ◽  
Donald Giacherio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
High Complexity ◽  
Antibody Testing

scholarly journals Comparative physical activity as a global question to assess physical activity among university students

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Diehl ◽  
Alessia Brassat ◽  
Jennifer Hilger-Kolb
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
University Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Comparative Measurement ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Comparative Optimism ◽  
Individual Assessment ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Background To assess physical activity (PA), a comparative measurement – evaluating one’s own PA compared to others – may be an appropriate method. In previous studies, the use of comparative measurements led to an effect known as unrealistic comparative optimism (UCO) – people being unrealistically optimistic about their behavior. Our aim was to use this comparative measurement in university students to quantify the prevalence of UCO at the group level and to draw conclusions on its validity. Methods We used data from the Nutrition and Physical Activity in Adolescence Study (NuPhA), a cross-sectional online survey that included only self-reports (n = 689). To assess PA among students, they were asked to rate their PA level compared to that of their same-aged fellow students. In addition, we used the Godin-Shephard leisure-time PA questionnaire and other questions on PA for comparisons. We used bivariate and cluster-based analyses to identify potential UCO. Results We found that UCO at the group level led to an uneven distribution, with a higher proportion of students who rated themselves as being more physically active than average. However, the individual assessment of PA with a single and simple comparative question seemed to be valid. Discussion A global single comparative question seems useful for studies where PA is measured as a covariate in university students.

scholarly journals The Laboratory Diagnosis of HIV Infections

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Fearon
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Diagnostic Laboratory ◽  
Laboratory Results

HIV diagnostic testing has come a long way since its inception in the early 1980s. Current enzyme immunoassays are sensitive enough to detect antibody as early as one to two weeks after infection. A variety of other assays are essential to confirm positive antibody screens (Western blot, polymerase chain reaction [PCR]), provide an adjunct to antibody testing (p24 antigen, PCR), or provide additional information for the clinician treating HIV-positive patients (qualitative and quantitative PCR, and genotyping). Most diagnostic laboratories have complex testing algorithms to ensure accuracy of results and optimal use of laboratory resources. The choice of assays is guided by the initial screening results and the clinical information provided by the physician; both are integral to the laboratory's ability to provide an accurate laboratory diagnosis. Laboratories should also provide specific information on specimen collection, storage and transport so that specimen integrity is not compromised, thereby preserving the accuracy of laboratory results. Point of Care tests have become increasingly popular in the United States and some places in Canada over the past several years. These tests provide rapid, on-site HIV results in a format that is relatively easy for clinic staff to perform. However, the performance of these tests requires adherence to good laboratory quality control practices, as well as the backup of a licensed diagnostic laboratory to provide confirmation and resolution of positive or indeterminate results. Laboratory quality assurance programs and the participation in HIV proficiency testing programs are essential to ensure that diagnostic laboratories provide accurate, timely and clinically relevant laboratory results.

scholarly journals Countrywide survey on utilization of medical devices by GPs in Hungary: advantages of the cluster-practice model

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katalin Dózsa ◽  
Fruzsina Mezei ◽  
Tamás Tóth ◽  
Ábel Perjés ◽  
Péter Pollner
Keyword(s):  
Medical Devices ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Practice Model ◽  
Practice Models ◽  
Integrate State ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Further Development

Abstract Background: Expectations towards general practitioners (GPs) are continuously increasing to provide a more systematic preventive- and definitive-based care, a wider range of multidisciplinary team-based services and to integrate state-of-the-art digital solutions into daily practice. Aided by development programmes, Hungarian primary care is facing the challenge to fulfil its role as the provider of comprehensive, high quality, patient-centred, preventive care, answering the challenges caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Aim: The article aims to provide an insight into the utilization of simple, digital, medical devices. We show the relationship between the primary health care (PHC) practice models and the used types of devices. We point at further development directions of GP practices regarding the utilization of evidence-based medical technologies and how such devices support the screening and chronic care of patients with NCDs in everyday practice. Methods: Data were collected using an online self-assessment questionnaire from 1800 Hungarian GPs registered in Hungary. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon’s test and χ2 test were applied to analyze the ownership and utilization of 32 types of medical devices, characteristics of the GP practices and to highlight the differences between traditional and cluster-based operating model. Findings: Based on the responses from 27.7% of all Hungarian GPs, the medical device infrastructure was found to be limited especially in single GP-practices. Those involved in development projects of GP’s clusters in the last decade reported a wider range and significantly more intensive utilization of evidence-based technologies (average number of devices: 5.42 versus 7.56, P<.001), but even these GPs are not using some of their devices (e.g., various point of care testing devices) due to the lack of financing. In addition, GPs involved in GPs-cluster development model programmes showed significantly greater willingness for sharing relatively expensive, extra workforce-demanding technologies (χ2 = 24.5, P<.001).

scholarly journals O princípio da proteção da confiança como obstáculo à anulação de atos administrativos - The principle of the protection of confidence as an obstacle to the annulment of administrative acts

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Rúbia Mendonça Lôbo De Carvalho ◽  
Andressa Guimarães Freire
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
The State ◽  
Temporal Modulation ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Public Power ◽  
The Public ◽  
Legitimate Expectation ◽  
De Se ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
The Individual

<p>Os atos, condutas e comportamentos do Poder Público gozam de presunção de legitimidade, gerando, em diversas situações, expectativas nos indivíduos. Pode o Estado, no uso de suas prorrogativas, violar aquelas expectativas, causando efeitos negativos à ordem econômica, por despertarem desconfiança e instabilidade nas relações com o Poder Público. Delimitada a ênfase do presente trabalho à função administrativa do Estado, visou-se compreender o princípio da proteção da confiança como instrumento de tutela da expectativa legítima do indivíduo, por impor limites à Administração Pública na anulação de atos administrativos. Nessa situação, viu-se que referido princípio pode conflitar com a legalidade e a autotutela, sendo o caso de se buscar um juízo de ponderação, que resultará na manutenção do ato ou na sua anulação, esta podendo ser com efeitos <em>ex tunc</em>, com efeitos <em>ex nunc</em> ou com a modulação temporal dos efeitos para um determinado momento futuro.</p><p> </p><p>The acts, practices and behaviors of the Public Power in the exercise of legitimation, can generate, in several situations, expectations in individuals. The Estate, in use of its prerogatives, can breach expectations, generating a negative economic response, lack of confidence and instability in its relations. Thus, the principle of protection defends the preservations of these state acts, which effects extend in time, giving the individual an expectation of continuity, even if they are illegal or unconstitutional. Delimiting the emphasis of the present work on the administrative function of the State, it was intended to understand the principle of the protection of trust as an instrument to protect the legitimate expectation of the individual, for imposing limits to the Public Administration in the annulment of administrative acts. In this situation, it was seen that this principle may conflict with legality and self-assessment, being the case of seeking a weighing judgment, which will result in the maintenance of the act or its annulment, this being possible with the temporal modulation of the effects for a certain future moment.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Model of Group Peer Assessment on E-Learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Komang Oka Saputra ◽  
Putu Arya Mertasana ◽  
Pratolo Rahardjo
Keyword(s):  
Student Motivation ◽  
Peer Assessment ◽  
Student Interest ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Final Grade ◽  
Group Assignment ◽  
Individual Solution ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Personal Skills ◽  
The Individual

Student motivation at class takes major role on achieving courses’ learning outcomes. Multimedia based content, game-based quiz, or self-assessment can maintain student interest to follow the learning process. Apart from the individual solution, working in group is one way to improve student motivation, however without proper arrangement, putting students in groups can degrade the competitive atmosphere of class, as less-smart students hang up to the more-smart students. Another alternative is implementing collaborative learning such as peer assessment that allows students to grade their fellows. However, objectivity between students must be concerned as students tend to give high-grade for their fellows. Combining group mode and peer assessment, this work proposed group peer assessment to improve student motivation on e-learning. Proposed method started by teacher open a group assignment on e-learning. Students then work on group to create solution. After the solutions are submitted, the extra-group peer assessment begins, where each group examines another group work. To maintain the objectivity of the peer assessment, final grade of each group obtained by combining grade from another group and grade from teacher.  In the meantime, cooperation atmosphere in each group is maintained by intra-group peer assessment, where each member asses all his/her teammates in terms of intra-personal and inter-personal skills.

scholarly journals Regional Difference in Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Tokyo: Results from the community point-of-care antibody testing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morihito Takita ◽  
Tomoko Matsumura ◽  
Kana Yamamoto ◽  
Erika Yamashita ◽  
Kazutaka Hosoda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regional Difference ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Entire Cohort ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Specific Igg ◽  
Polymerase Chain

AbstractThe serosurvey is an alternative way to know the magnitude of the population infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since the expansion of capacity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was delayed. We herein report seroprevalence of COVID-19 accessed in the two community clinics in Tokyo. The point-of-care immunodiagnostic test was implemented to detect the SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibody in the peripheral capillary blood. The overall positive percentage of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody is 3.83% (95% confidence interval: 2.76-5.16) for the entire cohort (n =1,071). The central Tokyo of 23 special wards exhibited a significantly higher prevalence compared to the other area of Tokyo (p =0.02, 4.68% [95%CI: 3.08-6.79] versus 1.83 [0.68-3.95] in central and suburban Tokyo, respectively). The seroprevalence of the cohort surveyed in this study is low for herd immunity, which suggests the need for robust disease control and prevention. A community-based approach, rather than state or prefectural levels, is of importance to figure out profiles of the SARS-COV-2 outbreak.

scholarly journals Assessment of Impact of Capital Acquisitions on the Economic Situation of Consolidated Entities in the Czech Republic

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 1335-1345
Author(s):  
Jaroslava Rajchlová ◽  
Anna Fedorová ◽  
Kristina Somerlíková ◽  
Libor Grega
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Consolidated Financial Statements ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Individual Assessment ◽  
Research Level ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Parent Companies

Business acquisition constitutes a fundamental aspect of business environment formation. Our research has focused on assessment of impact of capital acquisition on the economic condition of the company. Therefore, the second research level has been initiated, focusing on the individual assessment of the single companies to identify allocation of synergy between consolidated units and parent companies in the Czech Republic. For our research, taking into consideration availability of data and subsequent explanatory value of the results, we will consider synergistic effect as presented in the Ansoff’s concept. Consolidated financial statements of totally 719 groups of accounting entities – business concerns in the Czech Republic has been studied in the research. A composite indicator, as the modern tool for comparison and evaluation of development of entities, has been selected to compare individual economic indicators of parent companies and group of their companies. We believe that developed arguments allow us to formulate conclusion that capital acquisitions, resulting in the years 2008–2013 in the obligation to compile consolidated financial statement, have brought positive financial synergistic effects in majority of cases, and we can rank them among successful business activities.

scholarly journals SMART precision cancer medicine: a FHIR-based app to provide genomic information at the point of care

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy L Warner ◽  
Matthew J Rioth ◽  
Kenneth D Mandl ◽  
Joshua C Mandel ◽  
David A Kreda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Genomic Information ◽  
Clinical Workflow ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Cancer Medicine ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Background Precision cancer medicine (PCM) will require ready access to genomic data within the clinical workflow and tools to assist clinical interpretation and enable decisions. Since most electronic health record (EHR) systems do not yet provide such functionality, we developed an EHR-agnostic, clinico-genomic mobile app to demonstrate several features that will be needed for point-of-care conversations. Methods Our prototype, called Substitutable Medical Applications and Reusable Technology (SMART)® PCM, visualizes genomic information in real time, comparing a patient’s diagnosis-specific somatic gene mutations detected by PCR-based hotspot testing to a population-level set of comparable data. The initial prototype works for patient specimens with 0 or 1 detected mutation. Genomics extensions were created for the Health Level Seven® Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)® standard; otherwise, the prototype is a normal SMART on FHIR app. Results The PCM prototype can rapidly present a visualization that compares a patient’s somatic genomic alterations against a distribution built from more than 3000 patients, along with context-specific links to external knowledge bases. Initial evaluation by oncologists provided important feedback about the prototype’s strengths and weaknesses. We added several requested enhancements and successfully demonstrated the app at the inaugural American Society of Clinical Oncology Interoperability Demonstration; we have also begun to expand visualization capabilities to include cancer specimens with multiple mutations. Discussion PCM is open-source software for clinicians to present the individual patient within the population-level spectrum of cancer somatic mutations. The app can be implemented on any SMART on FHIR-enabled EHRs, and future versions of PCM should be able to evolve in parallel with external knowledge bases.

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