Evaluation of a Novel Parent-Rated Scale for Selective Mutism

Assessment ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1007-1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelika Gensthaler ◽  
Julia Dieter ◽  
Susanne Raisig ◽  
Boris Hartmann ◽  
Marc Ligges ◽  
...  

Assessment of selective mutism (SM) is hampered by the lack of diagnostic measures. The Frankfurt Scale of Selective Mutism was developed for kindergarteners, schoolchildren, and adolescents, including the diagnostic scale (DS) and the severity scale (SS). The objective of this study was to evaluate this novel, parent-rated questionnaire among individuals aged 3 to 18 years ( n = 334) with SM, social phobia, internalizing disorders, and a control group. Item analysis resulted in high item-total correlations, and internal consistency in both scales was excellent with Cronbach’s α = .90-.98. Exploratory factor analysis of the SS consistently yielded a one-factor solution. Mean sum scores of the DS differed significantly between the diagnostic groups, and the receiver operating characteristic analysis resulted in optimal cutoffs for distinguishing SM from all other groups with the area under the curves of 0.94-1.00. The SS sum scores correlated significantly with SM’s clinician-rated symptom severity.

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S277-S277
Author(s):  
Katherine C Jankousky ◽  
Peter Hyson ◽  
Jin Huang ◽  
Daniel B Chastain ◽  
Carlos Franco-Paredes ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Accurate, rapid, inexpensive biomarkers are needed to differentiate COVID-19 from bacterial pneumonia, allowing effective treatment and antibiotic stewardship. We hypothesized that the ratio of ferritin to procalcitonin (F/P) reflects greater viral activity and host response with COVID-19 pneumonia, while bacterial pneumonia would be associated with less cytolysis (lower ferritin) and more inflammation (higher procalcitonin), thus a lower F/P ratio. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of adult patients admitted to a single University hospital in the US through May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We compared F/P ratio of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 or bacterial pneumonia, excluding patients with COVID-19 and bacterial co-infections. In a logistic regression, we controlled for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), diabetes (DM), and hypertension (HTN). We used a receiver operating characteristic analysis to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of F/P values for the diagnosis of COVID-19 versus bacterial pneumonia. Results Of 218 patients with COVID-19 and 17 with bacterial pneumonia, COVID-19 patients were younger (56 vs 66 years, p=0.04), male (66% vs 24%, p=0.009), had higher BMI (31 vs 27 kg/m2, p=0.03), and similar rates of HTN (59% vs 45%, p=0.3) and DM (32% vs 18%, p=0.2). The median F/P ratio was significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 (3195 vs 860, p=0.0003, Figure 1). An F/P ratio cut-off of ≥ 1250 generated a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 59% to correctly classify a COVID-19 case (Figure 2). When adjusted for age, gender, BMI, DM, and HTN, a ratio ≥ of 1250 was associated with significantly greater odds of COVID-19 versus bacterial pneumonia (OR: 4.9, CI: 1.5, 16.1, p=0.009). Figure 1. Ferritin to Procalcitonin Ratios of patients with COVID-19 and patients with Bacterial Pneumonia (controls). Figure 2. Receiver Operating Characteristic Analysis of Ferritin to Procalcitonin Ratio Cut-off Values Predicting COVID-19 Diagnosis. Conclusion We observed an elevated F/P ratio in patients with COVID-19 compared to those with bacterial pneumonia. A F/P ratio ≥ 1250 provides a clinically relevant increase in pre-test probability of COVID-19. Prospective studies evaluating the discriminatory characteristics of F/P ratio in larger cohorts is warranted. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


Author(s):  
Amal A Gharamti ◽  
Fei Mei ◽  
Katherine C Jankousky ◽  
Jin Huang ◽  
Peter Hyson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background There is an urgent need for accurate, rapid, inexpensive biomarkers that can differentiate COVID-19 from bacterial pneumonia. We assess the role of the ferritin-to-procalcitonin (F/P) ratio to classify pneumonia cases into those due to COVID-19 or due to bacterial pathogens. Methods This multicenter case-control study compared patients with either COVID-19 and bacterial pneumonia, admitted between March 1 and May 31, 2020. Patients with COVID-19 and bacterial pneumonia co-infection were excluded. The F/P in patients with COVID-19 or with bacterial pneumonia were compared. Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined the sensitivity and specificity of various cut-off F/P values for COVID-19 versus bacterial pneumonia. Results A total of 242 COVID-19 pneumonia cases and 34 bacterial pneumonia controls were included. Patients with COVID-19 pneumonia had a lower mean age (57.11 vs 64.4 years, p=0.02) and a higher BMI (30.74 vs 27.15 kg/m 2, p=0.02) compared to patients with bacterial pneumonia. Cases and controls had a similar proportion of women (47% vs 53%, p=0.5) and COVID-19 patients had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (32.6% vs 12%, p=0.01). The median F/P was significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 (4037.5) compared to the F/P in bacterial pneumonia (802, p<0.001). An F/P ≥ 877 used to diagnose COVID-19 resulted in a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 56%, with a positive predictive value of 93.2%, and a likelihood ratio of 1.92. In multivariable analyses, an F/P ≥ 877 was associated with greater odds of identifying a COVID-19 case (OR: 11.27, CI: 4-31.2, p<0.001). Conclusion An F/P ≥ 877 increases the likelihood of COVID-19 pneumonia compared to bacterial pneumonia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fuquan Lin ◽  
Wenting Hu ◽  
Wen Xu ◽  
Miaoni Zhou ◽  
Ai‑E. Xu

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the potential biomarkers of vitiligo by evaluating the disease activity and curative effect of autologous cultured pure melanocyte transplantation (CMT) on patients. Altogether, 36patients with stable vitiligo were treated with CMT. Blister fluid samples were collected from patients with stable vitiligo. Patients with active vitiligo were matched with healthy controls. The chemokine levels in the serum and blister fluid samples were measured using Luminex. The curative effect on patients with stable vitiligo was evaluated 6 months after treatment. Treatment responses were defined according to the extent of repigmentation as effective (if 50% or more repigmentation was achieved) or ineffective (if less than 50% or worse repigmentation was achieved). Patients received re-transplantation if the initial treatment was ineffective. The levels of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)9 and CXCL10 in blister fluid samples were significantly lower in stable patients than in active participants. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 were sensitive and specific in diagnosing active vitiligo. Further, 65.6% (21/32) of patients who received CMT had effective treatment responses. The high CXCL9 level in the blister fluid was a significant predictor of ineffective treatment responses. The treatment response was significantly enhanced after treatment. Four patients with ineffective treatment responses received anti-inflammatory treatment and re-transplantation. The CXCL9 and CXCL10 levels in the blister fluid were related to the presence of active vitiligo. Also, the CXCL9 level was a predictor of the effectiveness of CMT in treating vitiligo.


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