scholarly journals Latent leprosy infection identified by dual RLEP and anti-PGL-I positivity: Implications for new control strategies

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251631
Author(s):  
Moises Batista da Silva ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Raquel Carvalho Bouth ◽  
Angélica Rita Gobbo ◽  
Ana Caroline Cunha Messias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Latent Disease ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

The number of new cases of leprosy reported worldwide has remained essentially unchanged for the last decade despite continued global use of free multidrug therapy (MDT) provided to any diagnosed leprosy patient. In order to more effectively interrupt the chain of transmission, new strategies will be required to detect those with latent disease who contribute to furthering transmission. To improve the ability to diagnose leprosy earlier in asymptomatic infected individuals, we examined the combined use of two well-known biomarkers of M. leprae infection, namely the presence of M. leprae DNA by PCR from earlobe slit skin smears (SSS) and positive antibody titers to the M. leprae-specific antigen, Phenolic Glycolipid I (anti-PGL-I) from leprosy patients and household contacts living in seven hyperendemic cities in the northern state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon. Combining both tests increased sensitivity, specificity and accuracy over either test alone. A total of 466 individuals were evaluated, including 87 newly diagnosed leprosy patients, 52 post-treated patients, 296 household contacts and 31 healthy endemic controls. The highest frequency of double positives (PGL-I+/RLEP+) were detected in the new case group (40/87, 46%) with lower numbers for treated (12/52, 23.1%), household contacts (46/296, 15.5%) and healthy endemic controls (0/31, 0%). The frequencies in these groups were reversed for double negatives (PGL-I-/RLEP-) for new cases (6/87, 6.9%), treated leprosy cases (15/52, 28.8%) and the highest in household contacts (108/296, 36.5%) and healthy endemic controls (24/31, 77.4%). The data strongly suggest that household contacts that are double positive have latent disease, are likely contributing to shedding and transmission of disease to their close contacts and are at the highest risk of progressing to clinical disease. Proposed strategies to reduce leprosy transmission in highly endemic areas may include chemoprophylactic treatment of this group of individuals to stop the spread of bacilli to eventually lower new case detection rates in these areas.

scholarly journals TIRADS, SRE and SWE in INDETERMINATE thyroid nodule characterization: Which has better diagnostic performance?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Celletti ◽  
Daniele Fresilli ◽  
Corrado De Vito ◽  
Marco Bononi ◽  
Sara Cardaccio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Nodule ◽  
Preoperative Staging ◽  
Shear Wave Elastography ◽  
Roc Curves ◽  
Strain Ratio ◽  
Multicenter Studies ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Bonferroni Test ◽  
Indeterminate Cytology ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Purpose To assess Strain Ratio (SRE) and Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) accuracy alone and with TIRADS classification, for the risk stratification of indeterminate thyroid nodules. Materials and methods 128 Patients with 128 indeterminate nodules candidates for thyroidectomy underwent preoperative staging neck ultrasound and were classified according to K-TIRADS score. After TIRADS evaluation, semi-quantitative (SRE) and quantitative (SWE expressed in kPa) elastosonography were performed and relative diagnostic performances, alone and in combination, were compared through ROC curves analysis. In order to maximize the SRE and SWE sensitivity and specificity, their cut-off values were calculated using the Liu test. Bonferroni test was used to evaluate statistically significant differences with a p value < 0.05. Results Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were, respectively, 71.4%, 82.4%, 62.5%, 87.5% for K-TIRADS baseline US, 85.7%, 94.1%, 85.7%, 94.1% for SRE and 57.1%, 79.4%, 53.3%, 81.8% for SWE (kPa expressed). SRE evaluation showed the best diagnostic accuracy compared to the SWE (kPa expressed) (p < 0.05) and to the K-TIRADS (p > 0.05). The association of SRE with conventional ultrasound with K-TIRADS score increased sensitivity (92.9% vs 71.4%) but decreased the specificity than conventional US alone (76.5% vs 82.4%). Conclusion Strain Elastosonography can be associated with K-TIRADS US examination in the thyroid nodule characterization with indeterminate cytology; in fact, adding the SRE to K-TIRADS assessment significantly increases its sensitivity and negative predictive value. However, further multicenter studies on larger population are warranted.

scholarly journals Comparison of swept-source versus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography for detection of macular neovascularization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Lentzsch ◽  
Laura Schöllhorn ◽  
Christel Schnorr ◽  
Robert Siggel ◽  
Sandra Liakopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Optical Coherence Tomography ◽  
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography ◽  
Spectral Domain ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Swept Source ◽  
En Face ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Subretinal Hyperreflective Material

Abstract Purpose To compare swept-source (SS) versus spectral-domain (SD) optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) for the detection of macular neovascularization (MNV). Methods In this prospective cohort study, 72 eyes of 54 patients with subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM) and/or pigment epithelial detachment (PED) on OCT possibly corresponding to MNV in at least one eye were included. OCTA scans were acquired using two devices, the PLEX Elite 9000 SS-OCTA and the Spectralis SD-OCTA. Fluorescein angiography (FA) was used as reference. Two graders independently evaluated en face OCTA images using a preset slab as well as a manually modified slab, followed by a combination of en face and cross-sectional OCTA. Results Sensitivity (specificity) for the automated slabs was 51.7% (93.0%) for SS-OCTA versus 58.6% (95.3%) for SD-OCTA. Manual modification of segmentation increased sensitivity to 79.3% for SS-OCTA but not for SD-OCTA (58.6%). The combination of en face OCTA with cross-sectional OCTA reached highest sensitivity values (SS-OCTA: 82.8%, SD-OCTA: 86.2%), and lowest number of cases with discrepancies between SS-OCTA and SD-OCTA (4.2%). Fleiss kappa as measure of concordance between FA, SS-OCTA, and SD-OCTA was 0.56 for the automated slabs, 0.60 for the manual slabs, and 0.73 (good agreement) for the combination of en face OCTA with cross-sectional OCTA. Concordance to FA was moderate for the automated slabs and good for manual slabs and combination with cross-sectional OCTA of both devices. Conclusion Both devices reached comparable results regarding the detection of MNV on OCTA. Sensitivity for MNV detection and agreement between devices was best when evaluating a combination of en face and cross-sectional OCTA.

scholarly journals Clinical use of the SelectMDx urinary-biomarker test with or without mpMRI in prostate cancer diagnosis: a prospective, multicenter study in biopsy-naïve men

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rianne J. Hendriks ◽  
Marloes M. G. van der Leest ◽  
Bas Israël ◽  
Gerjon Hannink ◽  
Anglita YantiSetiasti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Risk Stratification ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Diagnostic Study ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Net Benefit ◽  
Conditional Strategy ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Guided Biopsy

Abstract Background Risk stratification in men with suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa) requires reliable diagnostic tests, not only to identify high-grade PCa, also to minimize the overdetection of low-grade PCa, and reduction of “unnecessary” prostate MRIs and biopsies. This study aimed to evaluate the SelectMDx test to detect high-grade PCa in biopsy-naïve men. Subsequently, to assess combinations of SelectMDx test and multi-parametric (mp) MRI and its potential impact on patient selection for prostate biopsy. Methods This prospective multicenter diagnostic study included 599 biopsy-naïve patients with prostate-specific antigen level ≥3 ng/ml. All patients underwent a SelectMDx test and mpMRI before systematic transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy (TRUSGB). Patients with a suspicious mpMRI also had an in-bore MR-guided biopsy (MRGB). Histopathologic outcome of TRUSGB and MRGB was used as reference standard. High-grade PCa was defined as ISUP Grade Group (GG) ≥ 2. The primary outcome was the detection rates of low- and high-grade PCa and number of biopsies avoided in four strategies, i.e., (1) SelectMDx test-only, (2) mpMRI-only, (3) SelectMDx test followed by mpMRI when SelectMDx test was positive (conditional strategy), and (4) SelectMDx test and mpMRI in all (joint strategy). A positive SelectMDx test outcome was a risk score of ≥−2.8. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to assess clinical utility. Results Prevalence of high-grade PCa was 31% (183/599). Thirty-eight percent (227/599) of patients had negative SelectMDx test in whom biopsy could be avoided. Low-grade PCa was not detected in 35% (48/138) with missing 10% (18/183) high-grade PCa. Yet, mpMRI-only could avoid 49% of biopsies, not detecting 4.9% (9/183) of high-grade PCa. The conditional strategy reduces the number of mpMRIs by 38% (227/599), avoiding biopsy in 60% (357/599) and missing 13% (24/183) high-grade PCa. Low-grade PCa was not detected in 58% (80/138). DCA showed the highest net benefit for the mpMRI-only strategy, followed by the conditional strategy at-risk thresholds >10%. Conclusions SelectMDx test as a risk stratification tool for biopsy-naïve men avoids unnecessary biopsies in 38%, minimizes low-grade PCa detection, and misses only 10% high-grade PCa. Yet, using mpMRI in all patients had the highest net benefit, avoiding biopsy in 49% and missing 4.9% of high-risk PCa. However, if mpMRI availability is limited or expensive, using mpMRI-only in SelectMDx test positive patients is a good alternative strategy.

scholarly journals Analysis of risk factors for determining the need for prostate biopsy in patients with negative MRI

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linghui Liang ◽  
Feng Qi ◽  
Yifei Cheng ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Dongliang Cao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Detection Efficiency ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Digital Rectal Examination ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Prostate Biopsies ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Medical University

AbstractTo analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with negative biparametric magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI) who didn’t need prostate biopsies (PBs). A total of 1,012 male patients who underwent PBs in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from March 2018 to November 2019, of 225 had prebiopsy negative bpMRI (defined as Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS 2.1) score less than 3). The detection efficiency of clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPCa) was assessed according to age, digital rectal examination (DRE), prostate volume (PV) on bpMRI, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and PSA density (PSAD). The definition of CSPCa for Gleason score > 6. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to identify predictive factors of absent CSPCa on PBs. Moreover, absent CSPCa contained clinically insignificant prostate cancer (CIPCa) and benign result. The detection rates of present prostate cancer (PCa) and CSPCa were 27.11% and 16.44%, respectively. Patients who were diagnosed as CSPCa had an older age (P < 0.001), suspicious DRE (P < 0.001), a smaller PV (P < 0.001), higher PSA value (P = 0.008) and higher PSAD (P < 0.001) compared to the CIPCa group and benign result group. PSAD < 0.15 ng/ml/cm3 (P = 0.004) and suspicious DRE (P < 0.001) were independent predictors of absent CSPCa on BPs. The negative forecast value of bpMRI for BP detection of CSPCa increased with decreasing PSAD, mainly in patients with naive PB (P < 0.001) but not in prior negative PB patients. 25.33% of the men had the combination of negative bpMRI, PSAD < 0.15 ng/ml/cm3 and PB naive, and none had CSPCa on repeat PBs. The incidence of PB was determined, CSPCa was 1.59%, 0% and 16.67% in patients with negative bpMRI and PSAD < 0.15 ng/ml/cm3, patients with negative bpMRI, PSAD < 0.15 ng/ml/cm3 and biopsy naive and patients with negative bpMRI, PSAD < 0.15 ng/ml/cm3 and prior negative PB, separately. We found that a part of patients with negative bpMRI, a younger age, no suspicious DRE and PSAD < 0.15 ng/ml/cm3 may securely avoid PBs. Conversely PB should be considered in patients regardless of negative bpMRI, especially who with a greater age, obviously suspicious DRE, significantly increased PSA value, a significantly small PV on MRI and PSAD > 0.15 ng/ml/cm3.

scholarly journals Combined detection of CA15-3, CEA, and SF in serum and tissue of canine mammary gland tumor patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuying Fan ◽  
Xiaoli Ren ◽  
Xuesong Liu ◽  
Dongmei Shi ◽  
Enshuang Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Malignant Tumor ◽  
Reference Value ◽  
Detection Sensitivity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tumor Group ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Canine Mammary Gland ◽  
Combined Detection

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the levels and clinical diagnosis value of CA15-3, CEA, and SF in canine mammary gland tumors (CMGTs). In this study, the levels of tissues/serum CA15-3, CEA, and SF in 178 CMGT patients or healthy dogs were determined by ELISA and qRT-PCR assay. CA15-3, CEA, and SF levels of the malignant tumor group were significantly higher than that of the benign tumor group and the healthy control group. In the malignant tumor group, CA15-3 held a sensitivity of 51.8%, a specificity of 93.9%, and an accuracy of 76.8%. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CEA were 44.6%, 84.1%, and 68.1% respectively. SF held a sensitivity of 62.5%, a specificity of 85.4%, and an accuracy of 76.1%. SF showed the highest sensitivity and CA15-3 showed the highest specificity. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the combined detection of the three biomarkers in malignant tumor groups were 80.4%, 78.0%, and 80.0%, respectively, therefore combined detection increased sensitivity and accuracy but decreased specificity. In conclusion, the combined detection of serum/tissue markers CA15-3, CEA, and SF may improve the detection sensitivity of CMGTs, providing reference value for clinical application.

scholarly journals Factors associated with seropositivity for APGL-Iamong household contacts of leprosy patients

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Gustavo Wambier ◽  
Sarah Perillo de Farias Wambier ◽  
Renata Bazan Furini ◽  
João Carlos Lopes Simão ◽  
Marco Andrey Cipriani Frade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Factors Associated ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Leprosy Patients

scholarly journals Screening for Prostate Cancer: To Screen or Not To Screen? A Review of The State-of-The Art

2019 ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Lajos Döbrőssy
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Digital Rectal Examination ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Average Risk ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Prostate cancer is a major public health concern, particularly in the welfare countries, for this reason, screening should be considered to reduce the number of deaths. Screening tests are available, i.e. digital rectal examination; trans-rectal ultrasonography and prostate specific antigen, nevertheless their sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value are far from being perfect. Evidences from randomized screening trials are still indebted for conclusive evidence. The screening might cause more harm than good due to over diagnosis and over-treatment as a result of limited specificity of the screening tests. According to our point a view, opportunistic screening as part of diagnostics of patients having suspicion for uncertain symptoms of prostatic disorder is fully justified but mass screening of the population of average risk should not be introduced until supportive evidence from randomized controlled trials would be available.

scholarly journals Usefulness of Prostate-Specific Antigen Density as an Indicator for Recommending Prebiopsy Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Prevent Missed Prostate Cancer Diagnoses

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-163
Author(s):  
Jin Hyung Jeon ◽  
Kyo Chul Koo ◽  
Byung Ha Chung ◽  
Kwang Suk Lee
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Prostate Specific Antigen ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Psa Density ◽  
Systematic Biopsy ◽  
Target Biopsy

Purpose: To identify the indication for recommending prebiopsy magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to prevent prostate cancer missed diagnoses in cases without prebiopsy MRI.Materials and Methods: Between January 2017 and September 2020, 585 patients suspected with prostate cancer underwent prostate biopsy after MRI. For patients with visible lesions, MRI-targeted biopsy using an image-based fusion program was performed in addition to the 12- core systematic biopsy. Patients for whom MRI was performed in other institutions (n=4) and patients who underwent target biopsy alone (n=7) were excluded.Results: Of 574 patients (median prostate-specific antigen [PSA] level, 6.88 ng/mL; mean age, 68.2 years), 342 (59.6%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer (visible lesions=312/449 [69.5%]; nonvisible lesions=30/123 [24.0%]). The detection rates of visible lesions stratified using the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score (3 vs. 4 vs. 5) were 30.9% (54 of 175), 61.2% (150 of 245), and 90.1% (127 of 141), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that PSA density was a significant factor for presence of visible lesions, prostate cancer, and significant prostate cancer diagnosis. Among patients with positive lesions, 27 (8.2%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer concomitant with negative systematic biopsy results. A PSA density of 0.15 ng/mL/cm<sup>3</sup> was identified as the significant cutoff value for predicting positive target biopsy in groups with negative systematic biopsy. Sixty of the negative target lesions (26.1%) were diagnosed using systematic biopsy.Conclusions: To maximize cancer detection rates, both targeted and systematic biopsies should be implemented. PSA density was identified as a useful factor for recommending prebiopsy MRI to patients suspected with prostate cancer.

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