NephroCheck® Quality Test

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Thummaporn Naorungroj ◽  
Ary Serpa Neto ◽  
Fumitaka Yanase ◽  
Intissar Bittar ◽  
Glenn M. Eastwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Score ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Urine Storage ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Fresh Urine

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The acute kidney injury (AKI) risk score helps detect moderate and severe AKI in the next 12–24 h. However, inappropriate urine collection may impact its results. <b><i>Aim:</i></b> The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of NephroCheck® after urine storage at different temperatures. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The urine sample was centrifuged and split into 3 tubes. One was tested as soon as possible by the laboratory. The other 2 samples were frozen at −20 and −80°C, and the NephroCheck® test was performed 8 weeks later. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The mean values of the AKI risk score were 1.19 ± 0.93, 1.15 ± 1.14, and 1.20 ± 1.11 (ng/mL)<sup>2</sup>/1,000 for fresh urine, −20, and −80°C, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.70). Spearman’s rank correlation for −20 and −80°C versus immediate processing was strong with a rho of 0.82 and 0.98, respectively. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The AKI risk score was relatively stable. Urine could be collected without dry ice or liquid nitrogen and kept for up to 8 weeks with either −20 or −80°C freezing with stable NephroCheck® results.

A comparison of three commercial platforms for urinary NGAL in critically ill adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinna N. Cruz ◽  
Grazia Maria Virzì ◽  
Alessandra Brocca ◽  
Claudio Ronco ◽  
Davide Giavarina
Keyword(s):  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
The Other ◽  
Urine Samples ◽  
Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Critically Ill Adults ◽  
Neutrophil Gelatinase

AbstractEarly biomarkers for acute kidney injury (AKI) diagnosis are needed since an increase in serum creatinine levels is a late marker. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is one of the most promising AKI biomarkers. Prior to routine clinical use, it is necessary to evaluate and validate a high-throughput commercially available method for NGAL detection. The aim of this study was to do an independent validation and comparison of the analytical performance of three different commercially available urine NGAL (uNGAL) assays.Urine samples (n=110) were obtained from various patient groups with and without AKI. All urine samples were processed using Architect NGAL assay, Siemens AdviaOverall, there was good agreement among the three assays: Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between Architect and Vista was 0.989 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.983–0.993), between Architect and Advia, 0.962 (95% CI, 0.937–0.977), between Vista and Advia 2400, 0.975 (95% CI, 0.961–0.984). We observed a negative bias of Architect compared with the other assays: comparing Architect to Vista, the mean bias was –55.7 ng/mL (95% CI, –74.3 to –37.0 ng/mL); comparing Architect to Advia 2400, the mean bias was –40.9 ng/mL (95% CI, –56.4 to –25.4 ng/nL). The bias is proportional to the concentration of uNGAL and is more pronounced at higher levels, while irrelevant near the tested cutoff levels of 100 and 190 ng/mL. Comparing Vista and Advia 2400, the mean bias was 10.1 ng/mL (95% CI, 1.5–18.8 ng/mL). Intra-assay imprecision was generally acceptable across all assays; coefficient of variation ranged from 0.8% to 5.3%.All three methods for uNGAL showed acceptable performance for the tested parameters and are comparable with each other at clinically relevant cutoffs. However, Architect yields lower results than the other two methods, with a bias more pronounced at higher uNGAL concentrations, suggesting additional standardization efforts will likely be necessary to better harmonize the uNGAL methods at various clinically relevant cutoffs.

scholarly journals Molecular Encapsulation of Herbicide Terbuthylazine in Native and Modifiedβ-Cyclodextrin

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Manuela Garrido ◽  
Daniela Rodrigues ◽  
Nuno Milhazes ◽  
Fernanda Borges ◽  
Jorge Garrido
Keyword(s):  
Water Solubility ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Aqueous Solubility ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
H Nmr ◽  
Nmr Data ◽  
Kneading Method ◽  
Other Substances ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Stability

The herbicide terbuthylazine (TBA) is widely used for preemergence or postemergence control of many grass and broadleaf weeds and has, besides other issues, a poor aqueous solubility profile that results in reduced bioavailability. Cyclodextrins and modified cyclodextrins were considered, among other substances, appropriate agents for improving pesticide water solubility. Therefore, the inclusion complex formation of terbuthylazine withβ-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was studied to attain its aqueous solubility enhancement. Their characterization was accomplished with different analytical techniques, namely, by UV-Vis, DSC, FTIR, and1H NMR. From the analysis of the complexation performance of the herbicide it was concluded that the interaction of terbuthylazine with CDs leads to the formation of inclusion complexes with a stoichiometry of 1 : 1. The association constants of the TBA/β-CD and TBA/HP-β-CD complexes were determined by UV. The mean values obtained for the stability constants are 460.4 ± 26.5 and 532.1 ± 27.6 to TBA/β-CD and TBA/HP-β-CD, respectively.1H NMR data corroborate the formation of the TBA/β-CD and TBA/HP-β-CD complexes synthesized by the kneading method. A formulation incorporating TBA cyclodextrin complexes might lead to an improvement in terbuthylazine bioavailability. The development of TBA-CD formulations may be interesting since it would enable, through their inclusion into the hydrophobic cavity of CDs, enhancement of solubility, bioavailability, and stability of the herbicide.

The analysis of temperature fluctuations by pulse-counting techniques

1959 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Townsend
Keyword(s):  
Time Derivative ◽  
Temperature Fluctuations ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Electrical Pulses ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Better Than

To determine experimentally the mean value of a randomly fluctuating quantity, it may be necessary to measure the average value over a considerable interval of time. This problem arose in a recent study of the temperature fluctuations over a heated horizontal plate, and a system was used that depended on the counting of electrical pulses generated at a rate proportional to the quantity being measured. The advantage of this technique is that mean values may be measured over time intervals of almost unlimited length with little added difficulty for the experimenter. Circuits are described which measure: (a) the mean square of a fluctuating quantity and of its time-derivative, (b) the statistical distribution of the fluctuations, (c) the mean frequency of the fluctuation assuming a particular value, and (d) the mean product of two fluctuating quantities. Over the range of use, the stability and linearity of the calibrations is better than 1%, more than sufficient for work on natural convection. In its present form, the equipment responds uniformly to all frequencies below 100 c/s, but it would not be difficult to extend this range of response to higher frequencies.

The influence of age on valve disease in patients with varicose veins analysed by transmission electron microscopy and stereology

VASA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 409-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang G. Mouton ◽  
Michael O. Wagner ◽  
Beat Haenni ◽  
Kim T. Mouton ◽  
Matthias Ochs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Varicose Veins ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Venous Valve ◽  
Ultrastructural Morphology ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Venous Disorders

Abstract. Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of age on the ultrastructure of venous valve morphology in patients with C2 classified chronic venous disorders according to the CEAP classification. Patients and methods: The study population consisted of 16 consecutive patients with varicose veins (C2). The mean age was 49.8 years (30–66). The (pre-) terminal valve including the vessel wall was harvested within the proximal 2 centimetres of the great saphenous vein. The mean thickness (volume-to-surface ratio = V/S ratio) of elastin, collagen, endothelium and of the entire valve was determined. A blinded morphologist performed the examination by transmission electron microscopy and stereology. Analyses by Pearson’s product moment correlation, Kendall’s tau and Spearman’s rank correlation were performed to investigate whether there is a correlation between age and the ultrastructural morphology. Results: Stereological analysis of the valves demonstrated a mean V/S ratio (signifying a thickness estimation) for elastin of 0.87 μm3/μm2, for collagen of 18.0 μm3/μm2, for endothelium of 0.65 μm3/μm2, and for the entire valve of 25.2 μm³/μm². Statistical analyses showed no statistically significant correlation between age and the ultrastructural morphology in this patient group. Conclusions: The ultrastructural morphology of the venous valves in chronic venous disorders may not depend on age in patients presenting with C2 disease. This conclusion may or may not apply to all C classes as we investigated a homogenous group of patients with C2 limbs.

Effects of Nutrient Enrichment on a Realistic Food Web

2014 ◽  
Vol 700 ◽  
pp. 711-714
Author(s):  
Lei Zhao ◽  
Hua Yong Zhang ◽  
Fang Zhao ◽  
Wang Tian
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Nutrient Supply ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Applied Ecology ◽  
Limiting Nutrient ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Consumer Interactions

Nutrients supplies play a crucial role in population distribution of food webs, and it is one of the most important challenges in both theoretical and applied ecology to better understand the ‘bottom-up’ effect. Here we analyzed a realistic food web containing one limiting nutrient and two producer-consumer interactions. Through the simulations of the mean population size and the variability of each species, we found that 1) in infertile environment the coexistence of species increases with nutrient supply; 2) the mean values of species abundance increase dramatically at then remain constant with the increase of nutrient supply; and 3) the stability of each population also increases and then remains constant. These results are inconsistent with the traditional predictions known as the ‘paradox of enrichment’, and our analysis may provide a solution to this paradox.

scholarly journals Epistaxis limits the performed activities of daily living in proportion to its severity: a cross-sectional survey among patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 120-126
Author(s):  
M. Hayama ◽  
Y. Maeda ◽  
T. Tsuda ◽  
H. Akazawa ◽  
A. Nakatani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽  
The Mean

Background: We examined the severity of epistaxis in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and its relationship with the performed activities of daily living. Methodology: This cross-sectional survey included 36 patients with HHT in Japan. An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted regarding the severity of epistaxis, the measures adopted to prevent epistaxis, and the limitations in the performed activities of daily living. The latter was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The correlation between epistaxis severity and the VAS score was analysed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results: Of the 36 participants surveyed, 94.4% had >1 episode of epistaxis/week. The mean epistaxis severity score (ESS) was 4.3 (range, 0.9–8.4). Limitations in daily life, going out (within a day), meeting with others, eating with others, and going on overnight trips were positively correlated with the ESS. To prevent nosebleeds, 44.4% and 41.7% of the participants used medications and avoided drying their nasal cavities, respectively. Conclusions: Epistaxis impacted the daily life of patients with HHT in proportion to its severity. Nonetheless, less than half of the patients used medications or took precautions. Hence, further educational activities should be considered for medical professionals and patients.

Daily set up variation in patients receiving radiation with tomotherapy for lung tumors

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 17005-17005
Author(s):  
N. Mohammed ◽  
M. P. Mehta ◽  
S. M. Bentzen ◽  
D. Khuntia ◽  
W. A. Tome
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Score ◽  
Error Minimization ◽  
Lung Cancer Patients ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Set Up

17005 Background: The on-board megavoltage (MV) computed tomography (CT) capabilities of a Tomotherapy unit were used to obtain the daily MVCT images of lung cancer patients. For daily patient alignment, differences between the MVCT scan and planning CT were resolved by calculating the necessary couch shifts in the X = mediolateral, Y = craniocaudal, and Z = anteriorposterior directions. Daily shifts were analyzed. Methods: 583 alignments from 36 patients with lung cancer were available for analysis. The systematic (Σ) and random (σ) errors were calculated and a covariate analysis was performed with tumor size, Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS), and presence of atelectasis. Two error minimization strategies were applied to the data - 1) shifts from fraction 1 were subtracted from subsequent shifts, and 2) the average of shifts 1–3 were subtracted from shifts 4 onward. Σ and σ were calculated for each of the 3 data sets and applied to van Herk’s margin recipe 2.5 Σ + 0.7σ. The mean, standard deviation, and standard error of the magnitude shifts for 13 patients who each received 23 fractions were analyzed by Spearman’s rank correlation test for the relationship between shift magnitude and fraction number. Results: The presence of atelectasis was significantly related to a smaller σ in millimeters, 2.8 ± 0.08 vs. 3.5 ± 0.09 (p = 1.1 × 10−8). The other covariates were not significantly related to set-up error. The 2nd error minimization strategy decreased Σ in the X, Y, and Z directions from 4.7 ± 0.6, 5.8 ± 0.9, 4.9 ± 0.6 to 2.1 ± 0.1, 4.2 ± 0.5, 3.4 ± 0.3 (p = 2.0 × 10−5, 0.13, 0.02) respectively. Calculated margins from van Herk’s equation for all data reported as (x, y, z) in mm were (13.8, 19.6, and 15.9). For strategies 1 and 2 respectively, calculated margins were reduced by (27.2%, 11.5%, 10.6%) and (46.7%, 21.5%, 23.2%). The mean magnitude of isocenter shift and the standard deviation were found to increase with fraction number (p = 1.0 × 10−6 and 5.0 × 10−5 respectively). Conclusion: The error correction strategies significantly reduced Σ but did not reduce the margins dramatically. Drift in accuracy during a long treatment course and an inability to identify subgroups of patients based on our covariates who may not need daily imaging suggests that daily image verification + correction will help reduce error and margins. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Impact of Weekly Climatic Variables on Weekly Malaria Incidence throughout Thailand: A Country-Based Six-Year Retrospective Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manas Kotepui ◽  
Kwuntida Uthaisar Kotepui
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Malaria Incidence ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Mean Temperature ◽  
The Mean

Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate climatic data, including mean temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall, and their association with malaria incidence throughout Thailand from 2012 to 2017. The correlation of climatic parameters including temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall in each province and the weekly malaria incidence was analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation. The results showed that the mean temperature correlated with malaria incidence (p value < 0.05) in 44 provinces in Thailand. These correlations were frequently found in the western and southern parts of Thailand. Relative humidity correlated with malaria incidence (p value < 0.05) in 35 provinces. These correlations were frequently found in the northern and northeastern parts of Thailand. Rainfall correlated with malaria incidence (p value < 0.05) in 38 provinces. These correlations were frequently found in the northern parts and some western parts of Thailand. The impacts of the mean temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall were observed frequently in specific provinces, including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Trat, Kanchanaburi, Ubonratchathani, and Si Sa Ket. This is the first study to report areas where climatic data are associated with malaria incidence throughout Thailand from 2012 to 2017. These results can map out the climatic change process over time and across the country, which is the foundation for effective early warning systems for malaria, public health awareness campaigns, and the adoption of proper adaption measures that will help in malaria detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

Free fatty acid levels in Ontario-grown summer rape cultivars

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 589-593
Author(s):  
W. E. May ◽  
D. J. Hume
Keyword(s):  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Spring Canola ◽  
Stress Environment ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Key Words:Brassica ◽  
Selection Of

High levels of FFA have been a recurring problem in the seed oil of Ontario-grown, canola-quality summer rape (Brassica napus L.). Examination of seed samples from the Eastern Canadian Co-operative Cultivar Trials conducted at several locations in 1988–1993 showed significant, consistent differences in FFA levels among cultivars. In each year from 1988 to 1991 the cultivars Kristina, Delta and Westar had FFA levels that were about 40% of those of Global and the triazine-tolerant cultivars Stallion, OAC Triton and OAC Triumph. Pearson's correlations and Spearman's rank correlation between years for FFA levels of genotypes were all significant, with the exception of the Spearman's rank correlation between 1992 and 1993. Significant differences in FFA occurred among locations in southern Ontario, but location differences were not consistent across years. Cultivars grown in western Canada, however, had FFA levels between 2 and 41% of their FFA levels at the southern Ontario locations. The FFA levels of cultivars at one Ontario location were significantly correlated with the mean FFA levels of the same cultivars from all the other Ontario locations in the same year, 28 out of 34 times. Correlations were higher before the high-FFA cultivars were removed from the trials in 1991. Screening of lines in a breeding program for susceptibility to high FFA at one southern Ontario location appeared to be predictive of FFA levels at other southern Ontario locations. Selection of cultivars that have low FFA levels should reduce the FFA problem in Ontario-grown spring canola. Key words:Brassica napus, canola, free fatty acids, cultivars, stress, environment

Assessment of genotype × environment interactions for yield and morphine content in opium poppy ( Papaver somniferum L.)

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-338
Author(s):  
H. Yadav ◽  
S. Shukla ◽  
S. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Seed Yield ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Opium Poppy ◽  
Breeding Lines ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Commercial Cultivation ◽  
Breeding Programmes ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
Morphine Content

The analysis of the genotype × environmental interaction, which indicates the stability of genotypes, has always been part of plant breeding programmes before the release of varieties for commercial cultivation. In the present investigation the stability of seed yield, opium yield and morphine content in 11 advanced breeding lines of opium poppy was evaluated over five years. Combined ANOVA showed that both the main effects and interactions were significant, indicating the presence of genotype × environment interactions. The average seed yield and opium yield ranged from 10.41–16.92 q/ha and 45.21–59.85 kg/ha, respectively. Stability analysis involving the parameters bi, S 2 di, λi, s 2 , δ 2 , Wi, r 2 and CV identified four genotypes (BR330, BR333, BR229 and BR243) as ideal and stable for the traits studied. The level of association among different parameters obtained using Spearman’s rank correlation showed that Eberhart and Russell’s deviation from regression (S 2 di) was significantly and positively associated with s 2 , λi, δ 2 i and CV and negatively with r 2 . The parameters λi, s 2 , δ 2 i and CV also showed positive mutual association.

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