Maternal serum CA-125 repeated measurement during pregnancy and how to use as a prognostic factor of first trimester pregnancy outcome

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the prognostic efficacy of repeated measurement of maternal serum CA125 in first trimester threatened miscarriage.Methods: Prospective case control study was conducted in the outpatient clinic. 100 pregnant women were divided into 50 women with normal course of pregnancy, and the other 50 were subdivided into 25 pregnant women with lower abdominal pain without vaginal bleeding and 25 presented with minimal vaginal bleeding. Repeated measuring of serum CA125 was done for each case on the 5th, 10th weeks of gestation.Results: Findings of this study suggested the possibility of using serum CA-125 for determining the prognosis of first trimester threatened miscarriage with cut-off value of CA125 38.25 U/ml on the 5th week of gestation and 53 U/ml on the 10th week of gestation in patients presented with pain only but in patients presented with minimal vaginal bleeding the cut-off value of CA125 on the 5th week of gestation become 45.6 U/ml and 68 U/ml on the 10th week of gestation.Conclusions: CA125, on its own, can discriminate between continued and non-continued pregnancy.

A New Method of Measuring Retinal Vessel Diameters from Fundus Photographs Based on Retinal Structure and Light Reflection

<p>We propose a new method and software for measuring blood vessel diameters from fundus photographs. In this method the edge of the blood vessel is the two minimum points in the luminance profile and diameter is distance between minimum points. We noticed the relation between W-shape of luminance profile at blood vessel transversal line and cylindrical shape, and analyzed the validity of this method using the diffuse reflection model of a cylinder shape based on the optics. The simulation image by the diffuse reflection model of the cylinder was similar to that of the blood vessel images. A newly developed software using the minimum points can measure repeated measurement in a series of photographs at the same point of the same person. The data of the repeated measurement of each person showed stability, and the coefficient of variation showed no affection of different diameter and arteriovenous distinction. Hence, we believe that the minimum points are valid as blood vessel edges. The software that measures these blood vessel edges has an extremely simple measurement procedure, possesses few errors, and is easy to automate. This method is relevant because the central reflex, which has not been utilized previously, optically represents the cylindrical three-dimensional structure of blood vessels.</p><div><div> </div> </div>

A New Method of Measuring Retinal Vessel Diameters from Fundus Photographs Based on Retinal Structure and Light Reflection

<p>We propose a new method and software for measuring blood vessel diameters from fundus photographs. In this method the edge of the blood vessel is the two minimum points in the luminance profile and diameter is distance between minimum points. We noticed the relation between W-shape of luminance profile at blood vessel transversal line and cylindrical shape, and analyzed the validity of this method using the diffuse reflection model of a cylinder shape based on the optics. The simulation image by the diffuse reflection model of the cylinder was similar to that of the blood vessel images. A newly developed software using the minimum points can measure repeated measurement in a series of photographs at the same point of the same person. The data of the repeated measurement of each person showed stability, and the coefficient of variation showed no affection of different diameter and arteriovenous distinction. Hence, we believe that the minimum points are valid as blood vessel edges. The software that measures these blood vessel edges has an extremely simple measurement procedure, possesses few errors, and is easy to automate. This method is relevant because the central reflex, which has not been utilized previously, optically represents the cylindrical three-dimensional structure of blood vessels.</p><div><div> </div> </div>

A New Method for a Shorter and Valid Assessment of Olfactory Threshold in Repeated Measurement Designs Based on the Sniffin’ Sticks Test

Introduction The Sniffin’ Sticks threshold test is widely used to assess olfactory threshold due to its high reliability and validity. Nevertheless, this test procedure is quite long with an average duration of 10 to 20 min. In study designs that require multiple olfactory threshold tests on short intervals, this could exhaust participants. To counteract this limitation, we developed the informed-four-reversal (INFOUR) short version of the Sniffin’ Sticks threshold test for repeated measurement designs and piloted it in a sample of normosmic participants. Methods Forty-two participants performed the original Sniffin’ Sticks version before being assigned either to the control group that repeated the original version or to the test group that conducted the INFOUR short version. Results The correlation between the original version at T1 and INFOUR at T2 was r = .75 and did not differ significantly from the retest reliability of the original version. Compared to the original version, the INFOUR took 42% less time to perform. Conclusion The INFOUR leads to a significant time saving, while maintaining good validity. Implications Therefore, this approach has the potential to be a useful tool for study protocols with repeated olfactory threshold measurements. In particular, when research protocols are time intensive or testing needs to the shortened, because the interventional effects are short or subtle.

A study on the use of henna plant (Lawsonia inermis Linn) for the treatment of fungal disease (Trichophypton verrucosum) in calves

The aim of this study was to investigate the usability of henna plant (Lawsonia inermis Linn) in the treatment of dermatophytosis lesions (Trichophypton verrucosum) in cattle. The animal material of the trial consisted of 50 holstein calves between the ages of 4 and 6 months, who were found to have a dermatophytosis lesion on their face and neck in their clinical examination. The experiment was organized on a three-group repeated measurement trial plan. I. Group: Trichlorfon (Neguvon 75%, Bayer) ointment, II. Group: Henna applied, and III. Group: Control Group, no treatment, and 20 (10 females, 10 males), 20 (10 females, 10 males), and 10 (5 females, 5 males) totally 50 calves used, respectively. The research was continued for 14 days until the lesions were completely healed. I. and II. Groups were observed the best healing in the calves, respectively. In the III. Group without any treatment, there was no improvement and the lesions were enlarged. In addition, the effect of gender in the treatment process of dermatophytosis lesions was insignificant. As a result of this study, it is thought that henna plant can be used in the treatment of dermatophytosis.