Applicability of the Platelia EIA® Aspergillus test for the diagnosis of aspergilosis in penguins

Abstract Even today, an effective diagnostic test for aspergillosis in penguins is unknown, being the gold standard post-mortem examinations. The fungal antigen galactomannan (GM) has been used as a biomarker of disease in humans and is detected by the Platelia Aspergillus EIA (BioRad)®, a commercial kit based on the sandwich ELISA technique. It is standardized for use in neutropenic patients, however studies have demonstrated its usefulness also possible for birds. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Platelia Aspergillus EIA® test (BioRad-US) in the diagnosis of aspergillosis in Magellanic penguins, determining sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for different cut-off points. Were included in the study, blood serum samples (n = 29) Magellanic penguins in captivity that died by aspergillosis. Detection of GM was performed following manufacturer's instructions and the GM index was obtained by dividing the average value of OD of the duplicate of the clinical sample by duplicate OD of the average value of the cut-off sample provided by the kit. Through information database results were obtained for the presence of anti-Aspergillus fumigatus antibodies detected by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) for all serum samples. Results were analyzed using chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis from SPSS 20.0, IBM®. ROC curve was obtained and from this, rates of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also calculated based on four different cutoff points (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0). The serum GM index did not differ between animals of the case and control group (pkw =0.097). In determining the ROC curve for serum GM detection the value of area under the curve was 0.635. From the values determined by the coordinate of the curve, four different cut points (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0) were analyzed, resulting in sensitivity rates ranging from 86.2 to 34.5% % and specificity between 87% and 26.1%. By comparing the serum GM index in group case as the presence or absence of antibodies detected by AGID was found p=0.503. The detection of GM the Platelia Aspergillus EIA® test seems is not be useful for the diagnosis of aspergillosis in naturally infected penguins.

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Establishment and Characterization of an Empirical Biomarker SS/PV-ROC Plot Using Results of the UBC® Rapid Test in Bladder Cancer

Entropy ◽

10.3390/e22070729 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 729 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Peter Oehr ◽

Thorsten Ecke

Keyword(s):

Bladder Cancer ◽

Roc Curve ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Rapid Test ◽

Roc Curves ◽

Threshold Value ◽

Control Group ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Background: This investigation included both a study of potential non-invasive diagnostic approaches for the bladder cancer biomarker UBC® Rapid Test and a study including comparative methods about sensitivity–specificity characteristic (SS-ROC) and predictive receiver operating characteristic (PV-ROC) curves that used bladder cancer as a useful example. Methods: The study included 289 urine samples from patients with tumors of the urinary bladder, patients with non-evidence of disease (NED) and healthy controls. The UBC® Rapid Test is a qualitative point of care assay. Using a photometric reader, quantitative data can also be obtained. Data for pairs of sensitivity/specificity as well as positive/negative predictive values were created by variation of threshold values for the whole patient cohort, as well as for the tumor-free control group. Based on these data, sensitivity–specificity and predictive value threshold distribution curves were constructed and transformed into SS-ROC and PV-ROC curves, which were included in a single SS/PV-ROC plot. Results: The curves revealed TPP-asymmetric improper curves which cross the diagonal from above. Evaluation of the PV-ROC curve showed that two or more distinct positive predictive values (PPV) can correspond to the same value of a negative predictive value (NPV) and vice versa, indicating a complexity in PV-ROC curves which did not exist in SS-ROC curves. In contrast to the SS-ROC curve, the PV-ROC curve had neither an area under the curve (AUC) nor a range from 0% to 100%. Sensitivity of the qualitative assay was 58.5% and specificity 88.2%, PPV was 75.6% and NPV 77.3%, at a threshold value of approximately 12.5 µg/L. Conclusions: The SS/PV-ROC plot is a new diagnostic approach which can be used for direct judgement of gain and loss of predictive values, sensitivity and specificity according to varied threshold value changes, enabling characterization, comparison and evaluation of qualitative and quantitative bioassays.

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The Diagnostic Significance of PDGF, EphA7, CCR5, and CCL5 Levels in Colorectal Cancer

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom9090464 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 464 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Üçüncü ◽

Serilmez ◽

Sarı ◽

Bademler ◽

Karabulut

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Early Diagnosis ◽

Colorectal Carcinoma ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Diagnostic Significance ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Sensitivity Specificity ◽

Potential Biomarkers

In this study, we compared the levels of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5), C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and EphrinA7 (EphA7) in patients with colorectal carcinoma and healthy controls in order to investigate the significance and usability of these potential biomarkers in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer. The study included 70 colorectal carcinoma patients and 40 healthy individuals. The CCR5, CCL5, PDGF, and EphA7 levels were measured using ELISA in blood samples. PDGF-BB, EphA7, CCR5, and CCL5 levels of the patients with colorectal carcinoma were significantly higher compared to the control group (p < 0.001 for each comparison). Our logistic regression analysis (the area under the curve was 0.958) supports the notion that PDGF-BB, EphA7, and CCL5 are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of colon cancer. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were found to be 87.9%, 87.5%, 92.1%, and 81.4%, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the relationship between colorectal carcinoma and the four biomarkers CCL5, CCR5, PDGF, and EphA7. The significantly elevated levels of all these parameters in the patient group compared to the healthy controls indicate that they can be used for the early diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma.

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Evaluation of urea and creatinine levels in vaginal wash fluid for the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes

International Journal of Reproduction Contraception Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20203340 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 3449

Author(s):

Abha Sharma ◽

Richa Sharma ◽

Tannavi Agarwal

Keyword(s):

Roc Curve ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Control Group ◽

Study Group ◽

Premature Rupture ◽

Predictive Values ◽

The Mean ◽

Sensitivity Specificity ◽

Vaginal Wash ◽

Group 1

Background: Evaluation of urea and creatinine levels in vaginal wash fluid for the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes.Methods: The study was conducted on150 pregnant patients, 50 in each group. Confirmed PROM and unconfirmed PROM. Per speculum examination was done to look for pooling, pH tested using the Pehanon paper and vaginal wash fluid was collected. Vaginal wash fluid urea and creatinine levels were tested by a kit based on spectrophotometry.Results: The mean urea levels were 26.35 mg/dl in the study Group 1 and 3.12 mg/dl in the control group. ROC curve was plotted and the cut off value of vaginal wash fluid urea was found to be 8.55 mg/dl. The vaginal wash fluid urea levels of >8.55 mg/dl detected PROM with a sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value of 100%. The mean creatinine levels were 0.62 mg/dl in study Group 1 and 0.20 mg/dl in the control group. ROC curve was plotted and the cut off value of vaginal wash fluid creatinine was found to be 0.405 mg/dl. Vaginal wash fluid creatinine levels detected PROM with a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 100%. The negative predictive value and positive predictive values were 80.4% and 100%.Conclusions: Urea can be used as a definite marker of PROM and creatinine can be used as a supportive marker.

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Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy. Evaluation of latex–protein complexes by immnunoagglutination

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182017000294 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 144 (8) ◽

pp. 1073-1078 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

LEANDRO E. PERETTI ◽

VERÓNICA D. G. GONZALEZ ◽

IVÁN S. MARCIPAR ◽

LUIS M. GUGLIOTTA

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Protein Complexes ◽

Physical Adsorption ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Latex Particles ◽

Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves ◽

Acute Toxoplasmosis ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

SUMMARYThe aim of this work was to obtain a reagent based on latex particles for ruling out acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women by immunoagglutination (IA). Latex–protein complexes (LPC) were previously synthesized coupling the recombinant protein ofToxoplasma gondiiP22Ag and the homogenate of the parasite to latex particles with different size, chemical functionality and charge density. LPC were tested in IA assays against a panel of 72 pregnant women serum samples. Results were analysed through receiver operating characteristic curves, determining area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively). It was observed that the antigenicity of proteins was not affected during sensitization by either physical adsorption or covalent coupling. The best results in the sense of maximizing discrimination of low avidity sera from chronic ones were observed for the IA test based on latex particles with carboxyl functionality and the recombinant P22Ag, obtaining an AUC of 0·94, a sensitivity of 100% and a NPV of 100%. In this way, the proposed test could be useful for the toxoplasmosis diagnosis in pregnant women, with the advantages of being cheap, rapid and easy to be implemented.

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Comparative Analysis of the Wako β-Glucan Test and the Fungitell Assay for Diagnosis of Candidemia and Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.00464-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (9) ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Ricarda Friedrich ◽

Elfriede Rappold ◽

Christian Bogdan ◽

Jürgen Held

Keyword(s):

Invasive Fungal Disease ◽

Western Hemisphere ◽

Pneumocystis Jirovecii ◽

Control Group ◽

Pneumocystis Jirovecii Pneumonia ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Content Type ◽

Sensitivity Specificity ◽

Control Study

ABSTRACT (1→3)-β-d-Glucan (BDG) is a biomarker for invasive fungal disease. Until now, all BDG data in the Western Hemisphere were obtained using the Fungitell assay (FA). How it compares to the Wako β-glucan test (GT), which was recently launched in Europe, is largely unknown. We conducted a case-control study to compare the two assays in serum samples from 120 candidemia and 63 Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) patients. Two hundred patients with bacteremia or negative blood cultures served as candidemia control group. In patients with candidemia the median BDG values of the FA and the GT were 351 and 8.4 pg/ml, respectively. With both assays, the BDG levels in candidemia were significantly higher than those measured in the control group (P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the diagnosis of candidemia were 86.7%, 85.0%, 6.0%, and 99.8% for the FA and 42.5%, 98.0%, 19.0%, and 99.4% for the GT, respectively. In PCP patients the median BDG values of the FA and the GT were 963 and 57.7 pg/ml, respectively. The sensitivities for PCP diagnosis were 100% for the FA and 88.9% for the GT. In practical terms, the GT proved to be robust and applicable for testing single samples, whereas for economic reasons the FA required the samples to be tested in batch. The sensitivity of the FA is superior to that of the GT. However, the GT is a valuable alternative to the FA, especially for patients with suspected PCP and in laboratories with low sample throughput.

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Discriminating Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules: The Nomogram Versus the Kwak and ACR TI-RADS

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599820939071 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 163 (6) ◽

pp. 1156-1165

Author(s):

Juan Xiao ◽

Qiang Xiao ◽

Wei Cong ◽

Ting Li ◽

Shouluan Ding ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Nodules ◽

Characteristic Curve ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Diagnostic Study ◽

Diagnostic Efficiency ◽

Training Set ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression Model ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Validation Set ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Objective To develop an easy-to-use nomogram for discrimination of malignant thyroid nodules and to compare diagnostic efficiency with the Kwak and American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS). Study Design Retrospective diagnostic study. Setting The Second Hospital of Shandong University. Subjects and Methods From March 2017 to April 2019, 792 patients with 1940 thyroid nodules were included into the training set; from May 2019 to December 2019, 174 patients with 389 nodules were included into the validation set. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to develop a nomogram for discriminating malignant nodules. To compare the diagnostic performance of the nomogram with the Kwak and ACR TI-RADS, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results The nomogram consisted of 7 factors: composition, orientation, echogenicity, border, margin, extrathyroidal extension, and calcification. In the training set, for all nodules, the area under the curve (AUC) for the nomogram was 0.844, which was higher than the Kwak TI-RADS (0.826, P = .008) and the ACR TI-RADS (0.810, P < .001). For the 822 nodules >1 cm, the AUC of the nomogram was 0.891, which was higher than the Kwak TI-RADS (0.852, P < .001) and the ACR TI-RADS (0.853, P < .001). In the validation set, the AUC of the nomogram was also higher than the Kwak and ACR TI-RADS ( P < .05), each in the whole series and separately for nodules >1 or ≤1 cm. Conclusions When compared with the Kwak and ACR TI-RADS, the nomogram had a better performance in discriminating malignant thyroid nodules.

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Wideband Absorbance in Ears with Retraction Pockets and Cholesteatomas: A Preliminary Study

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1719130 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sreedevi Aithal ◽

Venkatesh Aithal ◽

Joseph Kei ◽

Shane Anderson

Keyword(s):

Prospective Study ◽

Roc Curve ◽

Operating Characteristic ◽

Peak Pressure ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Ambient Pressure ◽

Control Group ◽

Retraction Pockets ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Difference

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to describe wideband absorbance (WBA) findings in patients with cholesteatomas and retraction pockets (RPs). Design In this prospective study, tympanometry, audiometry, and wideband tympanometry (WBT) were performed on 27 ears with an RP (eight with epitympanic RP and 19 ears with mesotympanic RP), 39 ears with a cholesteatoma (23 ears with epitympanic and 16 ears with mesotympanic cholesteatomas [MCs]), and 49 healthy ears serving as controls. Results Mean WBA at ambient pressure (WBAamb) of both experimental groups was reduced significantly between 0.8 and 5 kHz relative to the control group. The difference between mean WBAamb and mean WBA at tympanometric peak pressure (WBATPP) was greater for the RP (0.12–0.16 between 0.5 and 1.5 kHz) than for the cholesteatoma group (0.03–0.11 between 0.6 and 3 kHz). Mean WBAamb of both epitympanic RP (ERP) and epitympanic cholesteatoma (EC) subgroups was significantly lower than that of the control group. Mean WBATPP of the ERP subgroup attained normal levels as per the control group, while mean WBATPP of EC subgroup was significantly lower than that of the control group at 0.8 to 1.5 kHz and 4 to 5 kHz. In contrast, both mesotympanic RP and MC subgroups demonstrated similar mean WBAamb and WBATPP values. No significant differences in WBAamb and WBATPP results between the RP and cholesteatomas groups were observed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses indicated that the area under the ROC curve for distinguishing between the RP and cholesteatomas groups ranged from 0.44 to 0.60, indicating low accuracy in separating the two groups. Conclusion While it is not possible to distinguish between the RP and cholesteatomas groups based on the WBAamb and WBATPP results, it is potentially feasible to differentiate between the EC and ERP conditions. Further study using a large clinical sample is recommended to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the WBA test to identify the EC and ERP conditions.

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Investigation of the rapid immunochromatographic test performance in the diagnosis of syphilis; comparison of four serological methods

LaboratoriumsMedizin ◽

10.1515/labmed-2019-0012 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Huseyin Agah Terzi ◽

Ozlem Aydemir ◽

Engin Karakece ◽

Huseyin Hatipoglu ◽

Mehmet Olmez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Test Performance ◽

Gold Standard ◽

Treponema Pallidum ◽

Rapid Test ◽

Immunochromatographic Test ◽

Rapid Plasma Reagin ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Hemagglutination Assay ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

AbstractObjectivesTo test the performance of the newly available rapid test for syphilis, we compared it with Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA). Additionally, we investigated the performance of rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassays (CMIA) at our laboratory using TPHA as a gold standard.MethodsThe serum samples of 595 patients with the pre-diagnosis of syphilis were studied by four serological methods. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of RPR, CMIA, and syphilis rapid test were assessed by utilizing TPHA as a gold standard for the diagnosis of syphilis.ResultsOf the patients, 6.2% (37/595) had positive RPR, 5.5% (33/595) had positive CMIA, 5.5% (33/595) had a positive rapid immunochromatographic method and 5% (30/595) had positive TPHA. When TPHA results were taken as the reference, the sensitivity of the rapid test for syphilis was 100%, the specificity was 99.5%, PPV was 90.9%, and NPV was 100.0%.ConclusionsIt was observed that the rapid test for syphilis used in the study was quite successful, its cost was appropriate, and the test was very fast and easy to apply. At the same time, the agreement between syphilis rapid test and TPHA was found to be excellent.

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Value and Diagnostic Efficacy of Fetal Morphology Assessment Using Ultrasound in A Poor-Resource Setting

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics9030109 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 109 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ukweh ◽

Ugbem ◽

Okeke ◽

Ekpo

Keyword(s):

Predictive Value ◽

Performance Metrics ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Youden Index ◽

Likelihood Ratios ◽

Diagnostic Efficacy ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Resource Setting ◽

Post Test ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Background: Ultrasound is operator-dependent, and its value and efficacy in fetal morphology assessment in a low-resource setting is poorly understood. We assessed the value and efficacy of fetal morphology ultrasound assessment in a Nigerian setting. Materials and Methods: We surveyed fetal morphology ultrasound performed across five facilities and followed-up each fetus to ascertain the outcome. Fetuses were surveyed in the second trimester (18th–22nd weeks) using the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) guideline. Clinical and surgical reports were used as references to assess the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound in livebirths, and autopsy reports to confirm anomalies in terminated pregnancies, spontaneous abortions, intrauterine fetal deaths, and still births. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, Area under the curve (AUC), Youden index, likelihood ratios, and post-test probabilities. Results: In total, 6520 fetuses of women aged 15–46 years (mean = 31.7 years) were surveyed. The overall sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 77.1 (95% CI: 68–84.6), 99.5 (95% CI: 99.3–99.7), and 88.3 (95% CI: 83.7–92.2), respectively. Other performance metrics were: positive predictive value, 72.4 (95% CI: 64.7–79.0), negative predictive value, 99.6 (95% CI: 99.5–99.7), and Youden index (77.1%). Abnormality prevalence was 1.67% (95% CI: 1.37–2.01), and the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 254 (95% CI: 107.7–221.4) and 0.23 (95% CI: 0.16–0.33), respectively. The post-test probability for positive test was 72% (95% CI: 65–79). Conclusion: Fetal morphology assessment is valuable in a poor economics setting, however, the variation in the diagnostic efficacy across facilities and the limitations associated with the detection of circulatory system anomalies need to be addressed.

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Development of in-house serological methods for diagnosis and surveillance of chikungunya

Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública ◽

10.26633/rpsp.2017.56 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ángel Balmaseda ◽

Saira Saborío Galo ◽

Karla González ◽

Yolanda Téllez ◽

Nadezna García ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Evaluation ◽

Epidemiological Surveillance ◽

Diagnostic Systems ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Hyperimmune Serum ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Processing Times ◽

Igm Elisa ◽

Sensitivity Specificity ◽

Research Demands

Objective.To develop and evaluate serological methods for chikungunya diagnosis and research in Nicaragua.Methods.Two IgM ELISA capture systems (MAC-ELISA) for diagnosis of acute chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infections, and two Inhibition ELISA Methods (IEM) to measure total antibodies against CHIKV were developed using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and hyperimmune serum at the National Virology Laboratory of Nicaragua in 2014–2015. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and agreement of the MAC-ELISAs were obtained by comparing the results of 198 samples (116 positive; 82 negative) with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s IgM ELISA (Atlanta, Georgia, United States; CDC-MAC-ELISA). For clinical evaluation of the four serological techniques, 260 paired acute and convalescent phase serum samples of suspected chikungunya cases were used.Results.All four assays were standardized by determining the optimal concentrations of the different reagents. Processing times were substantially reduced compared to the CDC-MAC-ELISA. For the MAC-ELISA systems, a sensitivity of 96.6% and 97.4%, and a specificity of 98.8% and 91.5% were obtained using mAb and hyperimmune serum, respectively, compared with the CDC method. Clinical evaluation of the four serological techniques versus the CDC real-time RT-PCR assay resulted in a sensitivity of 95.7% and a specificity of 88.8%–95.9%.Conclusion.Two MAC-ELISA and two IEM systems were standardized, demonstrating very good quality for chikungunya diagnosis and research demands. This will achieve more efficient epidemiological surveillance in Nicaragua, the first country in Central America to produce its own reagents for serological diagnosis of CHIKV. The methods evaluated here can be applied in other countries and will contribute to sustainable diagnostic systems to combat the disease.

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