Corrected ESR/Albumin Ratio as a Simple, Practical Marker Predicts the Severity in Egyptian Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Background: Serum biomarkers are commonly used for diagnosing and monitoring the disease activity of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) patients. However, their role in predicting disease severity among Egyptian patients is unknown. Objectives: The aim of this study was to correlate these biomarkers with clinical, endoscopic and histologic severity. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey where 55 patients with UC were included to measure corrected Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), hematocrit (Hct), corrected ESR/albumin ratio and albumin, as well as colonoscopy and biopsy. Sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive values were correlated with clinical, endoscopic, histologic severity. Results: The mean age of patients was 33 ± 8.4 years. In total, 27 (49.1%) were males and 28 (50.9%) were females. Area Under the Curve (AUC) values for the diagnosis of severe clinical disease were 0.947, 0.932, 0.727 and 0.685 for corrected ESR/albumin ratio, corrected ESR, Hct and albumin, respectively. Cut-off value to determine endoscopic severity for Hct was 34 (sensitivity: 88.89%, specificity: 83.78%, PPV: 72.7%, NPV: 93.9%, AUC: 0.963, p<0.001). Conclusion: Corrected ESR/albumin ratio was the best predictor of severe clinical activity of UC disease. Hct may be a marker of endoscopic and histological severity due to its high sensitivity and specificity as a diagnostic test.

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Sensitivity and Specificity of Sheard and Percival’s Criteria for the Diagnosis of Young People with Near-heterophoria

Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3889/oamjms.2021.6399 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (B) ◽

pp. 1128-1134

Author(s):

Saif Hassan Alrasheed ◽

Amel Mohamed Yousif ◽

Majid A. Moafa ◽

Abd Elaziz Mohamed Elmadina ◽

Mohammad Alobaid

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Negative Predictive Value ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Binocular Vision ◽

Predictive Value ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

The Other ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Low Sensitivity

BACKGROUND: Sheard and Percival assumed that symptoms from latent strabismus can be avoided if the relevant fusional vergence is adequate to support the heterophoria. AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Sheard’s and Percival’s criterion for the diagnosis of heterophoria. METHODS: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was performed at Al-Neelain Eye Hospital Khartoum, Sudan from February to October 2019. Heterophoria was measured using Maddox Wing and fusional vergence using a prism bar. Thereafter, Sheard’s and Percival’s criteria were used for the diagnosis of heterophoria. RESULTS: A total of 230 participants (age = 15–30 years; mean age = 19.34 ± 3.325 years) were recruited for this study. The Sheard’s criteria showed a high sensitivity of 87.2% and a low specificity of 8.0% for the diagnosing of exophoria, with positive and negative predictive values of 65.5% and 26%, respectively. The criteria showed a relatively low sensitivity of 77.8% and a specificity of 9.0% in the diagnosis of esophoria, with a positive and negative predictive values of 56% and 20%, respectively. Percival criteria showed high sensitivity 84.2% and low specificity 9.1% in diagnosing esophoria, with a positive and negative predictive value of 61.5% and 25%, respectively. On the other hand, the criteria showed low sensitivity 67.4% and specificity 13.8% in diagnosing exophoria, with positive and negative predictive value 61.9% and 17%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Sheard’s and Percival’s criteria are useful in diagnosing binocular vision problems. Sheard’s criteria are accurate in diagnosing near exophoria and Percival’s criteria are more accurate in diagnosing near esophoria. Therefore, these criteria provide good clues and predictions for the diagnosis of binocular vision problems.

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A comparison of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and immature to total neutrophil ratio for diagnosing early-onset neonatal sepsis

Paediatrica Indonesiana ◽

10.14238/pi56.2.2016.107-10 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (2) ◽

pp. 107

Author(s):

Rocky Wilar ◽

Dasril Daud ◽

Suryani As’ad ◽

Dwi Bahagia Febriani ◽

Mina Mina

Keyword(s):

Early Diagnosis ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Neonatal Sepsis ◽

Early Onset ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Clinical Syndrome ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin ◽

Neutrophil Gelatinase

Background Neonatal sepsis is a clinical syndrome caused by the invasion of microorganisms into the bloodstream. Early diagnosis of early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) is difficult. Laboratory tests with high sensitivity and specificity are needed in order to make early diagnoses in newborns.Objective To compare the sensitivity and specificity of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and immature to total (IT) neutrophil ratio for the diagnosis of early-onset neonatal sepsis.Methods This observational study with cross-sectional design was conducted in the Neonatology Division, Prof. R. D. Kandou General Hospital from November 2012 to April 2014. Consecutive sampling was applied. There were 103 newborns with suspected EONS who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Complete blood counts, blood cultures, as well as NGAL and IT ratio measurements were performed.Results NGAL was not significantly more sensitive than IT ratio [80.4% vs. 67.3%, respectively; (P=0.058)]. However, NGAL had lower specificity than IT ratio (27.7% vs. 50.0%, respectively; P=0.016). The positive predictive values (57.0% vs. 64.9%, respectively; P=0.176), and negative predictive values (54.2% vs. 52.6%, respectively; P=0.451) were similar in both diagnostic tests.Conclusion Immature to total neutrophil (IT) ratio has higher specificity compared to NGAL for early diagnosis of EONS. However, the difference in sensitivity between the two test is not statistically significant.

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The Economic Cost of Diet and Its Association with Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in a Cohort of Spanish Primary Schoolchildren

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031282 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1282

Author(s):

Rosario Pastor ◽

Noemi Pinilla ◽

Josep A. Tur

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Fast Food ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Economic Cost ◽

Food Prices ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Old Spanish ◽

Total Economic Cost ◽

Data Frequency

Background: Adoption of a certain dietary pattern is determined by different factors such as taste, cost, convenience, and nutritional value of food. Objective: To assess the association between the daily cost of a diet and its overall quality in a cohort of 6–12-year-old Spanish schoolchildren. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a cohort (n = 130; 47% female) of 6–12-year-old children schooled in primary education in the central region of Spain. Three-day 24 h records were administered, and the nutritional quality of the diet was also determined by means of Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI). A questionnaire on sociodemographic data, frequency of eating in fast-food restaurants, and supplement intake were also recorded. The person responsible for the child’s diet and the schooler himself completed the questionnaires, and homemade measures were used to estimate the size of the portions. Food prices were obtained from the Household Consumption Database of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The economic cost of the diet was calculated by multiplying the amount in grams of the food consumed by each child by the corresponding price in grams and adding up the total amount for each participant. The total economic cost of the diet was calculated in €/day and in €/1000 kcal/day. Results: The area under the curve (AUC) for €/day and €/1000 kcal/day represent 62.6% and 65.6%, respectively. According to AUC values, adherence to Mediterranean diet (MD) is a moderate predictor of the monetary cost of the diet. A direct relationship between the cost of the diet and the adherence to MD was observed [OR (€/1000 kcal/day) = 3.012; CI (95%): 1.291; 7.026; p = 0.011]. Conclusions: In a cohort of Spanish schoolchildren with low adherence to the MD, a higher cost of the diet standardized to 1000 kcal was associated with above-average MAI values.

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PvMSP8 as a Novel Plasmodium vivax Malaria Sero-Marker for the Peruvian Amazon

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10030282 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 282

Author(s):

Elizabeth Villasis ◽

Katherine Garro ◽

Angel Rosas-Aguirre ◽

Pamela Rodriguez ◽

Jason Rosado ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasmodium Vivax ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Surface Protein ◽

Merozoite Surface Protein ◽

Population Based ◽

Peruvian Amazon ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Malaria Exposure ◽

Plasmodium Vivax Malaria

The measurement of recent malaria exposure can support malaria control efforts. This study evaluated serological responses to an in-house Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 8 (PvMSP8) expressed in a Baculovirus system as sero-marker of recent exposure to P. vivax (Pv) in the Peruvian Amazon. In a first evaluation, IgGs against PvMSP8 and PvMSP10 proteins were measured by Luminex in a cohort of 422 Amazonian individuals with known history of Pv exposure (monthly data of infection status by qPCR and/or microscopy over five months). Both serological responses were able to discriminate between exposed and non-exposed individuals in a good manner, with slightly higher performance of anti-PvMSP10 IgGs (area under the curve AUC = 0.78 [95% CI = 0.72–0.83]) than anti-PvMSP8 IgGs (AUC = 0.72 [95% CI = 0.67–0.78]) (p = 0.01). In a second evaluation, the analysis by ELISA of 1251 plasma samples, collected during a population-based cross-sectional survey, confirmed the good performance of anti-PvMSP8 IgGs for discriminating between individuals with Pv infection at the time of survey and/or with antecedent of Pv in the past month (AUC = 0.79 [95% CI = 0.74–0.83]). Anti-PvMSP8 IgG antibodies can be considered as a good biomarker of recent Pv exposure in low-moderate transmission settings of the Peruvian Amazon.

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Fecal calprotectin is a useful biomarker for predicting the clinical outcome of granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis in ulcerative colitis patients: a prospective observation study

BMC Gastroenterology ◽

10.1186/s12876-021-01889-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nobuhiro Ueno ◽

Yuya Sugiyama ◽

Yu Kobayashi ◽

Yuki Murakami ◽

Takuya Iwama ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ulcerative Colitis ◽

Clinical Outcome ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Reduction Rate ◽

Fecal Calprotectin ◽

Remission Induction ◽

Clinical Activity ◽

Observation Study ◽

Mayo Score ◽

Adsorptive Apheresis

Abstract Background Granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) is widely used as a remission induction therapy for active ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. However, there are no available biomarkers for predicting the clinical outcome of GMA. We investigated the utility of Fecal calprotectin (FC) as a biomarker for predicting the clinical outcome during GMA therapy in active UC patients. Methods In this multicenter prospective observation study, all patients received 10 sessions of GMA, twice a week, for 5 consecutive weeks. FC was measured at entry, one week, two weeks, and at the end of GMA. Colonoscopy was performed at entry and after GMA. The clinical activity was assessed based on the partial Mayo score when FC was measured. Clinical remission (CR) was defined as a partial Mayo score of ≤ 2 and endoscopic remission (ER) was defined as Mayo endoscopic subscore of either 0 or 1. We analyzed the relationships between the clinical outcome (CR and ER) and the change in FC concentration. Result Twenty-six patients were included in this study. The overall CR and ER rates were 50.0% and 19.2%, respectively. After GMA, the median FC concentration in patients with ER was significantly lower than that in patients without ER (469 mg/kg vs. 3107 mg/kg, p = 0.03). When the cut-off value of FC concentration was set at 1150 mg/kg for assessing ER after GMA, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.8 and 0.81, respectively. The FC concentration had significantly decreased by one week. An ROC analysis demonstrated that the reduction rate of FC (ΔFC) at 1 week was the most accurate predictor of CR at the end of GMA (AUC = 0.852, P = 0.002). When the cut-off value of ΔFC was set at ≤ 40% at 1 week for predicting CR at the end of GMA, the sensitivity and specificity were 76.9% and 84.6%, respectively. Conclusion We evaluated the utility of FC as a biomarker for assessing ER after GMA and predicting CR in the early phase during GMA in patients with active UC. Our findings will benefit patients with active UC by allowing them to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures and will help establish new strategies for GMA.

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A diabetes risk score for Qatar utilizing a novel mathematical modeling approach to identify individuals at high risk for diabetes

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81385-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Susanne F. Awad ◽

Soha R. Dargham ◽

Amine A. Toumi ◽

Elsy M. Dumit ◽

Katie G. El-Nahas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Risk Score ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Diabetes Risk ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Predictive Variables ◽

Comparable Performance ◽

Representative Random Sample ◽

Diabetes Risk Score

AbstractWe developed a diabetes risk score using a novel analytical approach and tested its diagnostic performance to detect individuals at high risk of diabetes, by applying it to the Qatari population. A representative random sample of 5,000 Qataris selected at different time points was simulated using a diabetes mathematical model. Logistic regression was used to derive the score using age, sex, obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity as predictive variables. Performance diagnostics, validity, and potential yields of a diabetes testing program were evaluated. In 2020, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.79 and sensitivity and specificity were 79.0% and 66.8%, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) were 36.1% and 93.0%, with 42.0% of Qataris being at high diabetes risk. In 2030, projected AUC was 0.78 and sensitivity and specificity were 77.5% and 65.8%. PPV and NPV were 36.8% and 92.0%, with 43.0% of Qataris being at high diabetes risk. In 2050, AUC was 0.76 and sensitivity and specificity were 74.4% and 64.5%. PPV and NPV were 40.4% and 88.7%, with 45.0% of Qataris being at high diabetes risk. This model-based score demonstrated comparable performance to a data-derived score. The derived self-complete risk score provides an effective tool for initial diabetes screening, and for targeted lifestyle counselling and prevention programs.

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Machine learning using clinical data at baseline predicts the efficacy of vedolizumab at week 22 in patients with ulcerative colitis

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-96019-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jun Miyoshi ◽

Tsubasa Maeda ◽

Katsuyoshi Matsuoka ◽

Daisuke Saito ◽

Sawako Miyoshi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Ulcerative Colitis ◽

Prediction Model ◽

Clinical Features ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Patient Treatment ◽

Clinical Activity ◽

Prediction Tool ◽

Real World Data ◽

Predictive Values

AbstractPredicting the response of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) to a biologic such as vedolizumab (VDZ) before administration is an unmet need for optimizing individual patient treatment. We hypothesized that the machine-learning approach with daily clinical information can be a new, promising strategy for developing a drug-efficacy prediction tool. Random forest with grid search and cross-validation was employed in Cohort 1 to determine the contribution of clinical features at baseline (week 0) to steroid-free clinical remission (SFCR) with VDZ at week 22. Among 49 clinical features including sex, age, height, body weight, BMI, disease duration/phenotype, treatment history, clinical activity, endoscopic activity, and blood test items, the top eight features (partial Mayo score, MCH, BMI, BUN, concomitant use of AZA, lymphocyte fraction, height, and CRP) were selected for logistic regression to develop a prediction model for SFCR at week 22. In the validation using the external Cohort 2, the positive and negative predictive values of the prediction model were 54.5% and 92.3%, respectively. The prediction tool appeared useful for identifying patients with UC who would not achieve SFCR at week 22 during VDZ therapy. This study provides a proof-of-concept that machine learning using real-world data could permit personalized treatment for UC.

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Study of the sensitivity and specificity of smell and taste disorders as a predictive factor of SARS-CoV-2 infection among primary care healthcare professionals

BJGP Open ◽

10.3399/bjgpo.2021.0141 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. BJGPO.2021.0141

Author(s):

Anna Ruiz-Comellas ◽

Pere Roura Poch ◽

Glòria Sauch Valmaña ◽

Víctor Guadalupe-Fernández ◽

Jacobo Mendioroz Peña ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Strong Predictor ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Low Grade ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Standard Value ◽

Taste Disorders ◽

Smell Disorders ◽

Taste And Smell

Backgroundamong the manifestations of COVID-19 are Taste and Smell Disorders (TSDs).AimThe aim of the study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of TSDs and other associated symptoms to estimate predictive values for determining SARS-CoV-2 infection.Design and settingRetrospective observational study.Methodsa study of the sensitivity and specificity of TSDs has been carried out using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 as the Gold Standard value. Logistic regressions adjusted for age and sex were performed to identify additional symptoms that might be associated with COVID-19.Resultsthe results are based on 226 healthcare workers with clinical symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, 116 with positive PCR and 111 with negative PCR. TSDs had an OR of 12.43 (CI 0.95 6.33–26.19), sensitivity 60.34% and specificity 89.09%. In the logistic regression model, the association of TSD, fever or low-grade fever, shivering, dyspnoea, arthralgia and myalgia obtained an area under the curve of 85.7% (CI 0.95: 80.7 % - 90.7 %), sensitivity 82.8 %, specificity 80% and positive predictive values 81.4% and negative 81.5%.ConclusionsTSDs are a strong predictor of COVID-19. The association of TSD, fever, low-grade fever or shivering, dyspnoea, arthralgia and myalgia correctly predicts 85.7% of the results of the COVID-19 test.

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Evaluating Specivity, Sensitivity, Positive and Negative Predictive Values of CA125 for Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer

Journal of Arak University of Medical Sciences ◽

10.32598/jams.24.2.6002.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 196-203

Author(s):

Elahe Fini ◽

◽

Neda Nasirian ◽

Bahram Hosein Beigy ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Positive Predictive Value ◽

Tumor Marker ◽

Negative Predictive Value ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Screening Test ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Medical Community ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Predictive Values

Background and Aim: Ovarian cancer is among the most common cancers in women worldwide. CA125 is the most frequent biomarker used in the screening for ovarian cancer. CA125 has no high sensitivity and specificity as a screening test in the medical community; however, because of being simple and noninvasive, it is almost always requested for evaluation and ruling out cancer. It plays an important role in the treatment and post-treatment process, the prediction of prognosis, and the relapse of the disease. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between a high level of CA125 tumor marker and ovarian cancer by detecting spesivity, sensivity, positive and negative predictive values. Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, all cases undergoing CA125 test in Velayat Hospital in 2017-1028 were evaluated for having ovarian cancer. In addition, the CA125 level was compared between healthy individuals and patients with ovarian cancer. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS. Ethical Considerations: The present study was approved by the Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (Ethics Code: IR.QUMS.REC.1396.316). Results: In this study, 35.3% of the study participants received a definite diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Generally, CA125 values were negative in 41.8% and positive in.58.2% of the study subjects. The sensitivity of the test was measured as 80.1%, the specivity as 53.6%, the positive predictive value equaled 48.4%, and the negative predictive value was measured as 83%. There was a significant relationship between age and the presence of ovarian cancer, and serum CA125 levels. Conclusion: The present study suggested that age and the serum level of CA125 were statistically significant. Finally, CA125 levels were significantly related to ovarian cancer. It provided moderate specivity and specivity as well as low positive predictive value and high negative predictive value as a tumor marker; it is valuable for ruling out of tumor but not appropriate as a screening test.

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Simple, Mobile-based Artificial Intelligence Algorithm in the detection of Diabetic Retinopathy (SMART) study

BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care ◽

10.1136/bmjdrc-2019-000892 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. e000892 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Bhavana Sosale ◽

Sosale Ramachandra Aravind ◽

Hemanth Murthy ◽

Srikanth Narayana ◽

Usha Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Diabetic Retinopathy ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Smart Phone ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Ground Truth ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Retinal Images ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Smart Study

IntroductionThe aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of the offline smart phone-based Medios artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm in the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) using non-mydriatic (NM) retinal images.MethodsThis cross-sectional study prospectively enrolled 922 individuals with diabetes mellitus. NM retinal images (disc and macula centered) from each eye were captured using the Remidio NM fundus-on-phone (FOP) camera. The images were run offline and the diagnosis of the AI was recorded (DR present or absent). The diagnosis of the AI was compared with the image diagnosis of five retina specialists (majority diagnosis considered as ground truth).ResultsAnalysis included images from 900 individuals (252 had DR). For any DR, the sensitivity and specificity of the AI algorithm was found to be 83.3% (95% CI 80.9% to 85.7%) and 95.5% (95% CI 94.1% to 96.8%). The sensitivity and specificity of the AI algorithm in detecting referable DR (RDR) was 93% (95% CI 91.3% to 94.7%) and 92.5% (95% CI 90.8% to 94.2%).ConclusionThe Medios AI has a high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of RDR using NM retinal images.

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