scholarly journals May Antitransglutaminase Levels Predict Severity of Duodenal Lesions in Adults with Celiac Disease?

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 1212
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Losurdo ◽  
Milena Di Leo ◽  
Edoardo Santamato ◽  
Antonio Giangaspero ◽  
Maria Rendina ◽  
...  

Background and Objective: Pediatric guidelines on celiac disease (CD) state that children with anti-transglutaminase antibodies (TGAs) >×10 upper limit of normal (ULN) may avoid endoscopy and biopsy. We aimed to evaluate whether these criteria may be suitable for villous atrophy diagnosis in CD adults. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with CD aged >18 years. TGAs were expressed as xULN. Duodenal lesions were classified as atrophic or non-atrophic according to Marsh-Oberhuber. Fisher’s exact and t-test were used for variables comparison. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed with estimation of area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value (PPV/NPV). Results: One hundred and twenty-one patients were recruited. Sixty patients (49.6%) had TGA >×10 ULN, and 93 (76.8%) had villous atrophy. The cut-off of >×10 ULN had sensitivity = 53.7%, specificity = 64.3%, PPV = 83.3%, and NPV = 29.5% to predict atrophy. Therefore, considering pediatric criteria, in 50 (41.3%) patients, biopsy could have been avoided. Patient subgroup with atrophy had higher TGA levels despite being not significant (37.2 ± 15.3 vs. 8.0 ± 1.3 ULN, p = 0.06). In adults, a slightly better diagnostic performance was obtained using a cut-off of TGA >×6.2 ULN (sensitivity = 57.1%, specificity = 65.6%, and AUC = 0.62). Conclusions: Despite our confirmation that villous atrophy is linked to high TGA levels, CD and atrophy diagnosis based only on serology is not reliable in adults.

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 030006052096908
Author(s):  
Ting Song ◽  
Lili Wang ◽  
Ruopei Xin ◽  
Liping Zhang ◽  
Yun Tian

Objective This study compared the diagnostic performance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) in early-stage hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) under different backgrounds. Methods Patients were enrolled and divided in four groups: chronic HBV infection (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC), early-stage CHB-HCC, and early-stage LC-HCC. Serum AFP and DCP levels were measured. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were applied to compare the diagnostic performance of DCP and AFP for HCC. Results In total, 200 patients were enrolled, including 48, 64, 33, and 55 patients with CHB, LC, CHB-HCC, and LC-HCC, respectively. ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUCs of AFP, DCP, and their combination in differentiating early-stage LC-HCC from LC were 0.776, 0.758, and 0.786, respectively. The values of these markers in discriminating early-stage CHB-HCC from CHB were 0.828, 0.731, and 0.862, respectively. Conclusions DCP was inferior to AFP in differentiating early-stage CHB-HCC from CHB. However, AFP and DCP displayed similar performance in distinguishing early-stage LC-HCC and LC.


2021 ◽  
pp. 030089162110149
Author(s):  
Dragan Trivanovic ◽  
Stjepko Plestina ◽  
Lorena Honovic ◽  
Renata Dobrila-Dintinjana ◽  
Jelena Vlasic Tanaskovic ◽  
...  

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the eighth most common cause of cancer deaths in Croatia and one of the most common causes of cancer deaths worldwide. A reliable diagnostic tool for the early detection of GC is essential. Objective: We previously suggested a pepsinogen test method to reduce the mortality from GC by allowing early detection. Here, we report an updated analysis from a prospective single-center clinical study to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the pepsinogen test method and to determine whether this test can be used as a part of routine laboratory assessment of high-risk patients. Methods: We present mature data of the pepsinogen test method in the Croatian population after a median follow-up of 36 months. Statistical analyses were performed using a Mann-Whitney U test, multiple logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) to evaluate the predictive power of the assayed biomarkers. Results: Of the 116 patients, 25 patients had GC and 91 demonstrated a nonmalignant pathology based on tissue biopsy. Cutoff values were pepsinogen I ⩽70 and pepsinogen I/II ratio ⩽3.0. Using ROC curve analysis, the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were determined to be 87.22%, 78.12%, 90.10%, 71.43%, and 92.86%, respectively, for the diagnosis of GC. The area under the curve was 0.700 (95% confidence interval 0.57–0.83). Conclusion: Pepsinogen tests are valuable for screening a population in need of further diagnosis and could help to avoid unnecessary invasive endoscopic procedures.


2020 ◽  
pp. archdischild-2020-320549
Author(s):  
Fang Hu ◽  
Shuai-Jun Guo ◽  
Jian-Jun Lu ◽  
Ning-Xuan Hua ◽  
Yan-Yan Song ◽  
...  

BackgroundDiagnosis of congenital syphilis (CS) is not straightforward and can be challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of an algorithm using timing of maternal antisyphilis treatment and titres of non-treponemal antibody as predictors of CS.MethodsConfirmed CS cases and those where CS was excluded were obtained from the Guangzhou Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of syphilis programme between 2011 and 2019. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) in two situations: (1) receiving antisyphilis treatment or no-treatment during pregnancy and (2) initiating treatment before 28 gestational weeks (GWs), initiating after 28 GWs or receiving no treatment for syphilis seropositive women.ResultsAmong 1558 syphilis-exposed children, 39 had confirmed CS. Area under the curve, sensitivity and specificity of maternal non-treponemal titres before treatment and treatment during pregnancy were 0.80, 76.9%, 78.7% and 0.79, 69.2%, 88.7%, respectively, for children with CS. For the algorithm, ROC results showed that PPV and NPV for predicting CS were 37.3% and 96.4% (non-treponemal titres cut-off value 1:8 and no antisyphilis treatment), 9.4% and 100% (non-treponemal titres cut-off value 1:16 and treatment after 28 GWs), 4.2% and 99.5% (non-treponemal titres cut-off value 1:32 and treatment before 28 GWs), respectively.ConclusionsAn algorithm using maternal non-treponemal titres and timing of treatment during pregnancy could be an effective strategy to diagnose or rule out CS, especially when the rate of loss to follow-up is high or there are no straightforward diagnostic tools.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 30-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balkishan Sharma ◽  
Ravikant Jain

Objective: The clinical diagnostic tests are generally used to identify the presence of a disease. The cutoff value of a diagnostic test should be chosen to maximize the advantage that accrues from testing a population of human and others. When a diagnostic test is to be used in a clinical condition, there may be an opportunity to improve the test by changing the cutoff value. To enhance the accuracy of diagnosis is to develop new tests by using a proper statistical technique with optimum sensitivity and specificity. Method: Mean±2SD method, Logistic Regression Analysis, Receivers Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis and Discriminant Analysis (DA) have been discussed with their respective applications. Results: The study highlighted some important methods to determine the cutoff points for a diagnostic test. The traditional method is to identify the cut-off values is Mean±2SD method. Logistic Regression Analysis, Receivers Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis and Discriminant Analysis (DA) have been proved to be beneficial statistical tools for determination of cut-off points.Conclusion: There may be an opportunity to improve the test by changing the cut-off value with the help of a correctly identified statistical technique in a clinical condition when a diagnostic test is to be used. The traditional method is to identify the cut-off values is Mean ± 2SD method. It was evidenced in certain conditions that logistic regression is found to be a good predictor and the validity of the same can be confirmed by identifying the area under the ROC curve. Abbreviations: ROC-Receiver operating characteristics and DA-Discriminant Analysis. Asian Journal of Medical Science, Volume-5(3) 2014: 30-34 http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v5i3.9296      


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jimmy Espinoza ◽  
Michael A. Belfort ◽  
Alireza A. Shamshirsaz ◽  
Ahmed A. Nassr ◽  
Magdalena Sanz Cortes ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the association of intertwin differences in umbilical artery pulsatility index (DUAPI) and infant survival in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Methods Absolute DUAPI was calculated prior to laser surgery. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis provided an intertwin DUAPI cutoff of 0.4 for the prediction of double twin survival to 30 days of life. Infant survival was compared between women with an intertwin DUAPI <0.4 and ≥0.4 in the whole cohort, in TTTS cases with Quintero stages I/II and in those with Quintero stages III/IV. Regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of intertwin DUAPI <0.4 and infant survival adjusted for confounders. Results In total, 349 TTTS cases were included. Double twin survival to 30 days was observed in 67% (234/349) of cases. Significant differences in double twin survival was seen between intertwin DUAPI groups in the whole cohort (76.8 vs. 52.2%; p<0.001), in women with TTTS Quintero stage I or II (77.8 vs. 58.5%; p=0.015) as well as in women with TTTS Quintero stage III or IV (75 vs. 49.5%; p=0.001). Intertwin DUAPI <0.4 conferred a threefold increased chance for double twin survival. Conclusions Small intertwin DUAPI is associated with increased double infant survival in early and advanced TTTS stages.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Agnello ◽  
Caterina Maria Gambino ◽  
Bruna Lo Sasso ◽  
Giulia Bivona ◽  
Salvatore Milano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In this study, we investigated the possible role of 2 novel biomarkers of synaptic damage, namely, neurogranin and α-synuclein, in Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods The study was performed in a cohort consisting of patients with AD and those without AD, including individuals with other neurological diseases. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurogranin and α-synuclein levels were measured by sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Results We found significantly increased levels of CSF neurogranin and α-synuclein in patients with AD than those without AD. Neurogranin was correlated with total tau (tTau) and phosphorylated tau (pTau), as well as with cognitive decline, in patients with AD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed good diagnostic accuracy of neurogranin for AD at a cutoff point of 306 pg per mL with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.872 and sensitivity and specificity of 84.2% and 78%, respectively. Conclusions Our findings support the use of CSF neurogranin as a biomarker of synapsis damage in patients with AD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (e7) ◽  
pp. A2.3-A3
Author(s):  
Hue Mun Au Yong ◽  
Erica Minato ◽  
Eldho Paul ◽  
Udaya Seneviratne

IntroductionThis study aims to (i)evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of seizure-related heart rate (HR) in differentiating epileptic seizures(ES) from psychogenic non-epileptic seizures(PNES), (ii)define the most useful point of HR measurement: pre-ictal, ictal-onset, maximal-ictal or post-ictal, and (iii)define the HR cut-off points to differentiate ES from PNES.MethodsAll video EEG(VEEG) at Monash Health from May 2009 to November 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline(during wakefulness), one-minute pre-ictal, ictal-onset, maximal-ictal and one-minute post-ictal HR were measured for each ES and PNES event. Events less than ten seconds or with uninterpretable ECG due to artefacts were excluded. ROC curve analysis was performed to study the diagnostic accuracy reflected by area under the curve(AUC). The AUC was interpreted as follows; ≤0.5, differentiation of PNES from ES no better than chance; 0.80–0.89, good differentiation; and 0.9–1, excellent differentiation.ResultsVEEG of 341 ES and 265 PNES from 130 patients were analysed. The AUC for pre-ictal, ictal-onset, maximal-ictal and post-ictal HR were found to have poor differentiation between ES and PNES. Comparing PNES and bilateral tonic-clonic ES, AUC for absolute maximal-ictal HR was 0.84(CI 0.73–0.95) and for absolute post-ictal HR was 0.90(CI 0.81–1.00). Using Youden’s index, to diagnose tonic-clonic ES, the optimal cut-off point for absolute maximal-ictal HR was 114bpm (sensitivity 84%;specificity 82%;PPV 26.7%,NPV 98.5%) and for absolute post-ictal HR was 90bpm(sensitivity 91%;specificity 82%;PPV 30.3%;NPV 99.1%).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that seizure-related HR increase is useful in differentiating bilateral tonic-clonic ES from PNES. Based on the AUC, the best diagnostic measureme.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. De Luca ◽  
L. Ricciardiello ◽  
M. B. L. Rocchi ◽  
M. T. Fabi ◽  
M. L. Bianchi ◽  
...  

In celiac disease (CD), the intestinal lesions can be patchy and partial villous atrophy may elude detection at standard endoscopy (SE). Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) system in combination with a magnifying endoscope (ME) is a simple tool able to obtain targeted biopsy specimens. The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between NBI-ME and histology in CD diagnosis and to compare diagnostic accuracy between NBI-ME and SE in detecting villous abnormalities in CD. Forty-four consecutive patients with suspected CD undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy have been prospectively evaluated. Utilizing both SE and NBI-ME, observed surface patterns were compared with histological results obtained from biopsy specimens using the k-Cohen agreement coefficient. NBI-ME identified partial villous atrophy in 12 patients in whom SE was normal, with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 100%, 92.6%, and 95%, respectively. The overall agreement between NBI-ME and histology was significantly higher when compared with SE and histology (kappa score: 0.90 versus 0.46; P=0.001) in diagnosing CD. NBI-ME could help identify partial mucosal atrophy in the routine endoscopic practice, potentially reducing the need for blind biopsies. NBI-ME was superior to SE and can reliably predict in vivo the villous changes of CD.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pokpong Piriyakhuntorn ◽  
Adisak Tantiworawit ◽  
Thanawat Rattanathammethee ◽  
Chatree Chai-Adisaksopha ◽  
Ekarat Rattarittamrong ◽  
...  

This study aims to find the cut-off value and diagnostic accuracy of the use of RDW as initial investigation in enabling the differentiation between IDA and NTDT patients. Patients with microcytic anemia were enrolled in the training set and used to plot a receiving operating characteristics (ROC) curve to obtain the cut-off value of RDW. A second set of patients were included in the validation set and used to analyze the diagnostic accuracy. We recruited 94 IDA and 64 NTDT patients into the training set. The area under the curve of the ROC in the training set was 0.803. The best cut-off value of RDW in the diagnosis of NTDT was 21.0% with a sensitivity and specificity of 81.3% and 55.3% respectively. In the validation set, there were 34 IDA and 58 NTDT patients using the cut-off value of >21.0% to validate. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 84.5%, 70.6%, 83.1% and 72.7% respectively. We can therefore conclude that RDW >21.0% is useful in differentiating between IDA and NTDT patients with high diagnostic accuracy


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 971-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asif ◽  
Muhammad Aslam ◽  
Saima Altaf

Abstract Background Different anthropometric parameters have been proposed for assessing central obesity in children, but the ability of these anthropometric parameters to correctly measure central obesity in Pakistani children is questionable and needs to be assessed. The aims of this investigation were to examine the diagnostic performance of anthropometric parameters as indicators of central obesity in Pakistani children as measured by waist circumference (WC) and to determine the sex-specific best cut-off values for these parameters that would identify obese children. Methods Anthropometric measurements – height, weight, WC, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), conicity index (CI) and neck circumference (NC) – from a cross-sectional sample of 5964 Pakistani children aged 5–12 years were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to examine the diagnostic performance and to determine the optimal cut-off point of each anthropometric parameter for identifying centrally obese children. Results It was found that WC had a significantly positive correlation with all studied anthropometric parameters. The ROC curve analysis indicated that all the parameters analyzed had good performance but WHtR had the highest value of the area under the curve (AUC). Optimal cut-off points associated with central obesity for boys and girls were, respectively, 0.47 and 0.48 for WHtR, 1.20 and 1.23 for CI, 0.96 and 0.96 for WHR and 26.36 and 26.54 cm for NC. Conclusions The sex-specific cut-off points for WHtR, CI, WHR and NC can be used to detect central obesity in Pakistani children.


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