Nasal Cytology: A Comparative Study of Two Different Techniques of Processing—Smeared versus Cytocentrifuged Slides

Nasal cytology is a precious tool to study nasal disorders, but in current literature, there is no consensus on the standardization of the processing procedure of the obtained samples. Therefore, we decided to test on specimens obtained by nasal scraping, a common way of nasal specimen sampling, two different processing techniques, smear and cytocentrifugation, and compare them in terms of inflammatory cell content, quality of slides, and validity on clinical assessment. We analyzed 105 patients with suspected sinonasal diseases, and in each patient, we performed nasal cytology with both techniques. Our analysis showed a good correlation between the two techniques for neutrophil and eosinophil percentages, both returned well-preserved cells, and showed higher neutrophil percentage in males and in smokers and higher eosinophil percentage in patients with polyposis, with a good concordance with clinical symptoms, as measured by a specific disease-related questionnaire (Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22). Technically speaking, smeared slides were easier to prepare, with no need of dedicated equipment, but cell distribution was better in cytocentrifuged slides allowing shorter reading time. In conclusion, both techniques can be considered superimposable and worthy to be used.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Exercise Improves Clinical Symptoms, Quality of Life, Global Functioning, and Depression in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.725921587.793518131 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

J Daniel Ragland

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Global Functioning

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Impact of Raw Materials and Processing Techniques on The Microbiological Quality of Egyptian Domiati Cheese

International Journal of Veterinary Science ◽

10.37422/ijvs/20.060 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Raw Materials ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Raw Milk ◽

Plate Count ◽

E Coli ◽

Fresh Cheese ◽

Processing Techniques ◽

The Impact ◽

Total Yeast

Domiati cheese is the most popular brand of cheese ripened in brine in the Middle East in terms of consumed quantities. This study was performed to investigate the impact of the microbiological quality of the used raw materials, the applied traditional processing techniques and ripening period on the quality and safety of the produced cheese. Three hundred random composite samples were collected from three factories at Fayoum Governorate, Egypt. Collected samples represent twenty-five each of: raw milk, table salt, calf rennet, microbial rennet, water, environmental air, whey, fresh cheese, ripened cheese & swabs from: worker hands; cheese molds and utensils; tanks. All samples were examined microbiologically for Standard Plate Count (SPC), coliforms count, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) count, total yeast & mould count, presence of E. coli, Salmonellae and Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). The mean value of SPC, coliforms, S. aureus and total yeast & mould counts ranged from (79×102 CFU/m3 for air to 13×108 CFU/g for fresh cheese), (7×102 MPN/ cm2 for tank swabs to 80×106 MPN/ml for raw milk), (9×102 CFU/g for salt to 69×106 CFU/g for fresh cheese) and (2×102 CFU/cm2 for hand swabs to 60×104 CFU/g for fresh cheese), respectively. Whereas, E. coli, Salmonella and L. monocytogenes failed to be detected in all examined samples. There were significant differences in all determined microbiological parameters (p ≤0.05) between fresh and ripened cheese which may be attributed to different adverse conditions such as water activity, pH, salt content and temperature carried out to improve the quality of the product.

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New Monitoring Strategy for the Quality Control in the Processing Practice of Scutellariae Radix

Current Pharmaceutical Analysis ◽

10.2174/1573412915666190314121434 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 303-311

Author(s):

Qi Huang ◽

Chunsong Cheng ◽

Lili Li ◽

Daiyin Peng ◽

Cun Zhang

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Monitoring Strategy ◽

Scutellariae Radix ◽

Chromatographic Fingerprints ◽

New Strategy ◽

Processed Products ◽

Main Components ◽

Processing Techniques ◽

Multivariate Monitoring

Background: Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) is commonly processed into 3 products for different clinical applications. However, a simple analytical method for quality control has rarely been reported to quickly estimate the degree of processing Huangqin or distinguish differently processed products or unqualified Huangqin products. Objective: To study a new strategy for quality control in the processing practice of Huangqin. Methods: Seven kinds of flavonoids that mainly exist in Huangqin were determined by HPLC-DAD. Chromatographic fingerprints were established to study the variation and discipline of the 3 processed products of Huangqin. PCA and OPLS-DA were used to classify differently processed products of Huangqin. Results: The results showed that baicalin and wogonoside were the main components in the crude and the alcohol Huangqin herb while baicalein and wogonin mainly existed in carbonized Huangqin. The results of mathematical statistics revealed that the processing techniques can make the quality of medicinal materials more uniform. Conclusion: This multivariate monitoring strategy is suitable for quality control in the processing of Huangqin.

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The use of Lactobacillus casei DG® prevents symptomatic episodes and reduces the antibiotic use in patients affected by chronic bacterial prostatitis: results from a phase IV study

World Journal of Urology ◽

10.1007/s00345-020-03580-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tommaso Cai ◽

Luca Gallelli ◽

Erika Cione ◽

Gianpaolo Perletti ◽

Francesco Ciarleglio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Clinical Status ◽

Well Being ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis ◽

Symptomatic Recurrence ◽

Bacterial Prostatitis ◽

Phase Iv

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-1572 (L. casei DG®) in both prevention of symptomatic recurrences and improvement of quality of life in patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP). Methods Patients with CBP attending a single Urological Institution were enrolled in this phase IV study. At enrollment, all patients were treated with antibiotics in agreement with EAU guidelines and then were treated with L. casei DG® (2 capsules/day for 3 months). Clinical and microbiological analyses were carried out before (enrollment, T0) and 6 months (T2) after the treatment. Both safety and adherence to the treatment were evaluated 3 months (T1) after the enrollment. NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Quality of Well-Being (QoL) questionnaires were used. The outcome measures were the rate of symptomatic recurrence, changes in questionnaire symptom scores and the reduction of antibiotic use. Results Eighty-four patients were included. At T2, 61 patients (72.6%) reported a clinical improvement of symptoms with a return to their clinical status before symptoms. A time dependent improvement in clinical symptoms with significant changes in NIH-CPSI, IPSS and QoL (mean difference T2 vs T0: 16.5 ± 3.58; − 11.0 ± 4.32; + 0.3 ± 0.09; p < 0.001), was reported. We recorded that L. casei DG® treatment induced a statistically significant decrease in both (p < 0.001) symptomatic recurrence [1.9/3 months vs 0.5/3 months] and antibiotic use [− 7938 UDD]. No clinically relevant adverse effects were reported. Conclusions L. casei DG® prevents symptomatic recurrences and improves the quality of life in patients with CBP, reducing the antibiotic use.

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Evaluation of the Content Quality of YouTube Videos on Alternate Therapies for Prevention or Treatment of COVID-19

Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet ◽

10.1080/15398285.2021.1902226 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 133-155

Author(s):

Sarvesh Sawant ◽

Aswathi Nair ◽

Shaik Aisha Sultana ◽

Arjun Rajendran ◽

Kapil Chalil Madathil

Keyword(s):

Content Quality ◽

Youtube Videos

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Clay-Based Brick Porosity Estimation Using Image Processing Techniques

Journal of Intelligent Systems ◽

10.1515/jisys-2018-0191 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 1226-1234

Author(s):

Safa Jida ◽

Hassan Ouallal ◽

Brahim Aksasse ◽

Mohammed Ouanan ◽

Mohamed El Amraoui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Image Processing ◽

Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽

Computer Vision ◽

Image Processing Techniques ◽

Processing Techniques ◽

Porosity Estimation ◽

Microscopy Images ◽

Scanning Electron

Abstract This work intends to apprehend and emphasize the contribution of image-processing techniques and computer vision in the treatment of clay-based material known in Meknes region. One of the various characteristics used to describe clay in a qualitative manner is porosity, as it is considered one of the properties that with “kill or cure” effectiveness. For this purpose, we use scanning electron microscopy images, as they are considered the most powerful tool for characterising the quality of the microscopic pore structure of porous materials. We present various existing methods of segmentation, as we are interested only in pore regions. The results show good matching between physical estimation and Voronoi diagram-based porosity estimation.

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Widespread gaps in the quality of care for primary biliary cholangitis in UK

Frontline Gastroenterology ◽

10.1136/flgastro-2020-101713 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. flgastro-2020-101713

Author(s):

Mathuri Sivakumar ◽

Akash Gandhi ◽

Eathar Shakweh ◽

Yu Meng Li ◽

Niloufar Safinia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Care ◽

Medical Records ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Primary Biliary Cholangitis ◽

Cholestatic Liver Disease ◽

Patient Demographics ◽

Risk Patients ◽

Wide Scale ◽

The Uk

ObjectivePrimary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a progressive, autoimmune, cholestatic liver disease affecting approximately 15 000 individuals in the UK. Updated guidelines for the management of PBC were published by The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in 2017. We report on the first national, pilot audit that assesses the quality of care and adherence to guidelines.DesignData were collected from 11 National Health Service hospitals in England, Wales and Scotland between 2017 and 2020. Data on patient demographics, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) dosing and key guideline recommendations were captured from medical records. Results from each hospital were evaluated for target achievement and underwent χ2 analysis for variation in performance between trusts.Results790 patients’ medical records were reviewed. The data demonstrated that the majority of hospitals did not meet all of the recommended EASL standards. Standards with the lowest likelihood of being met were identified as optimal UDCA dosing, assessment of bone density and assessment of clinical symptoms (pruritus and fatigue). Significant variations in meeting these three standards were observed across UK, in addition to assessment of biochemical response to UDCA (all p<0.0001) and assessment of transplant eligibility in high-risk patients (p=0.0297).ConclusionOur findings identify a broad-based deficiency in ‘real-world’ PBC care, suggesting the need for an intervention to improve guideline adherence, ultimately improving patient outcomes. We developed the PBC Review tool and recommend its incorporation into clinical practice. As the first audit of its kind, it will be used to inform a future wide-scale reaudit.

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COVID-19 and gastrointestinal symptoms in Mexico, a systematic review: does location matter?

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-06252-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Antonio Pizuorno ◽

Nora A. Fierro ◽

Edgar D. Copado-Villagrana ◽

María E. Herrera-Solís ◽

Gholamreza Oskrochi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Abdominal Pain ◽

Mortality Rate ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽

Northwest Mexico ◽

Obesity And Diabetes ◽

West Mexico ◽

Southeast Mexico

Abstract Background Covid-19 in Mexico is on the rise in different parts of the country. We aimed to study the symptoms and comorbidities that associate with this pandemic in 3 different regions of Mexico. Methods We analyzed data from SARS-CoV-2 positive patients evaluated at healthcare centers and hospitals of Mexico (n = 1607) including Northwest Mexico (Sinaloa state), Southeast Mexico (Veracruz state) and West Mexico (Jalisco state) between March 1 and July 30, 2020. Mexico consists of a total population that exceeds 128 million. Demographics, comorbidities and clinical symptoms were collected. Statistical descriptive analysis and correlation analyses of symptoms, comorbidities and mortality were performed. Results A total of 1607 hospitalized patients positive for COVID-19 across all 3 regions of Mexico were included. The average age was 54.6 years and 60.4% were male. A mortality rate of 33.1% was observed. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (43.2%), obesity (30.3%) and diabetes (31.4%). Hypertension was more frequent in West (45%), followed by Northwest (37%) and Southeast Mexico (29%). Obesity was around 30% in Northwest and West whereas an 18% was reported in Southeast. Diabetes was most common in West (34%) followed by Northwest (22%) and Southeast (13%). This might be related to the highest mortality rate in Northwest (31%) and West (37%) when compared to Southeast. Most common symptoms in our overall cohort were fever (80.8%), cough (79.8%), headache (66%), dyspnea (71.1%), myalgia (53.8%), joints pain (50.8%) and odynophagia (34.8%). Diarrhea was the main gastrointestinal (GI) symptom (21.3%), followed by abdominal pain (18%), and nausea/ vomiting (4.5%). Diarrhea and abdominal pain were more common in West (23.1 and 21%), followed by Southeast (17.8, and 9.8%) and Northwest (11.4 and 3.1%). Conclusion Our study showed a high mortality rate likely related to high frequencies of comorbidities (hypertension, obesity and diabetes). Mortality was different across regions. These discrepancies might be related to the differences in the frequencies of comorbidities, and partially attributed to differences in socio-economic conditions and quality of care. Thus, our findings stress the need for improved strategies to get better outcomes in our population.

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Defining and Measuring News Media Quality: Comparing the Content Perspective and the Audience Perspective

The International Journal of Press/Politics ◽

10.1177/1940161221999666 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 194016122199966

Author(s):

Philipp Bachmann ◽

Mark Eisenegger ◽

Diana Ingenhoff

Keyword(s):

News Media ◽

Social Scientists ◽

Content Quality ◽

Media System ◽

Evaluative Criteria ◽

Political Implications ◽

Multimethod Approach ◽

Media Systems ◽

Measurement Approach

High-quality news is important, not only for its own sake but also for its political implications. However, defining, operationalizing, and measuring news media quality is difficult, because evaluative criteria depend upon beliefs about the ideal society, which are inherently contested. This conceptual and methodological paper outlines important considerations for defining news media quality before developing and applying a multimethod approach to measure it. We refer to Giddens' notion of double hermeneutics, which reveals that the ways social scientists understand constructs inevitably interact with the meanings of these constructs shared by people in society. Reflecting the two-way relationship between society and social sciences enables us to recognize news media quality as a dynamic, contingent, and contested construct and, at the same time, to reason our understanding of news media quality, which we derive from Habermas' ideal of deliberative democracy. Moreover, we investigate the Swiss media system to showcase our measurement approach in a repeated data collection from 2017 to 2020. We assess the content quality of fifty news media outlets using four criteria derived from the deliberative ideal ( N = 20,931 and 18,559 news articles and broadcasting items, respectively) and compare the results with those from two representative online surveys ( N = 2,169 and 2,159 respondents). The high correlations between both methods show that a deliberative understanding of news media quality is anchored in Swiss society and shared by audiences. This paper shall serve as a showcase to reflect and measure news media quality across other countries and media systems.

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