The sensitivity and specificity of fluorescent leprosy antibody absorption (FLA-ABS) test for detecting subclinical infection with Mycobacterium leprae

SUMMARYThis paper examines the sensitivity and specificity of two ELISA assays for IgM antibodies toMycobacterium leprae, one employing natural phenolic glycolipid and the other employing a synthetic disaccharide glycoconjugate as antigen. Estimates of sensitivity and specificity are derived, based on a panel of sera from leprosy cases in Malawi and various non-leprosy controls from the UK. Though both assays were able to identify a high proportion of multibacillary patients, neither was able to detect a high proportion of paucibacillary patients without considerable loss of specificity. The implications of the inverse relationship between sensitivity and specificity are discussed with reference to the predictive value of such tests in such areas as Malawi, where the large majority of cases are paucibacillary.

Download Full-text

Activation of isolated heterophils from chicks stimulated in vivo with salmonella enteritidis-immune lymphokines

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100166269 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 760-761

Author(s):

R. B. Moyes ◽

R. E. Droleskey ◽

M. H. Kogut ◽

J. R. DeLoach

Keyword(s):

Lamina Propria ◽

Intestinal Mucosa ◽

Salmonella Enteritidis ◽

Intestinal Tract ◽

Polymorphonuclear Cells ◽

Subclinical Infection ◽

Egg Products ◽

Immune Lymphokines ◽

Organ Invasion

Salmonella enteritidis (SE) is of great concern to the poultry industry due to the organism's ability to penetrate the intestinal mucosa of the laying hen and subsequently colonize the ovaries and yolk membrane. The resultant subclinical infection can lead to SE infection of raw eggs and egg products. Interference with the ability of the organism to invade has been linked to the activation and recruitment of inflammatory polymorphonuclear cells, heterophils, to the lamina propria of the intestinal tract.Recently it has been established that heterophil activation and increased resistance to SE organ invasion can be accomplished by the administration of SE-immune lymphokines (SE-ILK) obtained from supernatants of concanavalin-A stimulated SE immune T lymphocytes from SE hyperimmunized hens. Invasion of SE into the lamina propria provides a secondary signal for directing activated heterophils to the site of SE invasion.

Download Full-text

Applying Item Response Theory Modeling to Identify Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2020_jslhr-19-00284 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (6) ◽

pp. 1916-1932 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Haiying Yuan ◽

Christine Dollaghan

Keyword(s):

Item Response Theory ◽

Item Response ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Social Communication ◽

National Database ◽

Communication Disorder ◽

Social Communication Questionnaire ◽

Autism Research ◽

The Social ◽

Pragmatic Communication

Purpose No diagnostic tools exist for identifying social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SPCD), a new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition category for individuals with social communication deficits but not the repetitive, restricted behaviors and interests (RRBIs) that would qualify them for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We explored the value of items from a widely used screening measure of ASD for distinguishing SPCD from typical controls (TC; Aim 1) and from ASD (Aim 2). Method We applied item response theory (IRT) modeling to Social Communication Questionnaire–Lifetime ( Rutter, Bailey, & Lord, 2003 ) records available in the National Database for Autism Research. We defined records from putative SPCD ( n = 54), ASD ( n = 278), and TC ( n = 274) groups retrospectively, based on National Database for Autism Research classifications and Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised responses. After assessing model assumptions, estimating model parameters, and measuring model fit, we identified items in the social communication and RRBI domains that were maximally informative in differentiating the groups. Results IRT modeling identified a set of seven social communication items that distinguished SPCD from TC with sensitivity and specificity > 80%. A set of five RRBI items was less successful in distinguishing SPCD from ASD (sensitivity and specificity < 70%). Conclusion The IRT modeling approach and the Social Communication Questionnaire–Lifetime item sets it identified may be useful in efforts to construct screening and diagnostic measures for SPCD.

Download Full-text