scholarly journals Application of a Global Multiparameter Scoring System for the Prenatal Prediction of Coarctation of the Aorta

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. 3690
Author(s):  
Enery Gómez-Montes ◽  
Ignacio Herraiz García ◽  
David Escribano Abad ◽  
Jesús Rodríguez Calvo ◽  
Cecilia Villalaín González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
False Positive ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Coarctation Of The Aorta ◽  
Maximum Sensitivity ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Echocardiographic Assessment ◽  
Predicted Risk

To assess prospectively the capability of our previously reported global multiparameter scoring system to predict coarctation of the aorta (CoAo) in fetuses with cardiac asymmetry, we applied and analyzed the performance of our scoring system in predicting postnatal CoAo in fetuses undergoing prenatal echocardiographic assessment because of cardiac asymmetry between 2011 and 2021, and we determined the cut-off points of the score with the best balance between specificity and sensitivity, and of maximum sensitivity and specificity. CoAo was confirmed in 39/179 newborns (21.8%). We found a significantly higher probability of CoAo in fetuses with CoAo than in cases without CoAo (84.2 ± 18.2% vs. 26.0 ± 28.6%, p < 0.001). The AUC of the ROC of the score was 0.93 (95% CI 0.89–0.97). The cut-off value with the best balance between specificity and sensitivity was a predicted risk of ≥53% (sensitivity 92.3% and specificity 80.0%). The cut-off point of maximum sensitivity was ≥35% (sensitivity 100% and specificity 72.9%), and that of maximum specificity was ≥96% (sensitivity 43.6% and specificity 96.4%). In none of the fetuses with a probability of CoAo < 35% was this condition confirmed after birth. This occurred in 102 fetuses in the whole study population (57%) and in 84 of the 111 in whom CoAo was suspected beyond 28 weeks (75.7%). This multiparameter score allows an adequate discrimination between fetuses without CoAo and those with CoAo, reducing the false positive diagnoses in cardiac asymmetry.

scholarly journals Detection of AmpC β-lactamases in Escherichia coli using different screening agars

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evert den Drijver ◽  
Jaco J. Verweij ◽  
Carlo Verhulst ◽  
Joke Soer ◽  
Kees Veldman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
False Positive ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Positive Results

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the performance of both cefotaxime and ceftazidime containing agars on the specificity and sensitivity for chromosomal AmpC-hyperproducing and plasmid AmpC harboring Escherichia coli compared to ESBL-producing E. coli and E. coli without ESBL, pAmpC or cAmpC hyperproduction. Second, we evaluated the influence of adding cefoxitin to these agars for detection of both chromosomal AmpC-hyperproducing and plasmid AmpC harboring E. coli.Four different homemade screening agars with cefotaxime (1mg/L), ceftazidime (1mg/L), cefotaxime (1mg/L) with cefoxitin (8mg/L), and ceftazidime (1mg/L) with cefoxitin (8mg/L) were compared to each other for the identification of AmpC producing E. coli. A total of 40 isolates with plasmid encoded AmpC β-lactamases, 40 isolates with alterations in the promoter/attenuator region of the AmpC gene leading to hyperproduction of the β-lactamase, 40 isolates with ESBL genes and 39 isolates lacking both a AmpC and ESBL genotype were used to test the four agars.The sensitivity and specificity were 100% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 96.1% to 100%) and 48.1% (95% CI 38.6%-60.2%), respectively, for the cefotaxime agar; 100% (95% CI 96.1% to 100%) and 49.41% (95% CI 39.8%-61.4%), respectively, for the ceftazidime agar; 96.3% (95% CI 89.1% to 99.2%) and 77.2% (95% CI 66.7%-85.2%) respectively, for the cefotaxime with cefoxitin agar; 98.8% (95% CI) 92.6% to 99.6%) and 81.0% (95% CI 70.9%-88.3%) respectively, for the ceftazidime agar with cefoxitin. The main reason for false-positive results were ESBL-harboring strains that grew on various agars; therefore, the specificity of each agar reported here was influenced mainly by the proportion of ESBL isolates tested. In conclusion addition of cefoxitin to cefotaxime and ceftazidime containing agars had little influence on sensitivity, but increased specificity for the detection of AmpC in E. coli.

scholarly journals An Ensemble Feature Selection Approach to Identify Relevant Features from EEG Signals

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 6983
Author(s):  
Maritza Mera-Gaona ◽  
Diego M. López ◽  
Rubiel Vargas-Canas
Keyword(s):  
Feature Selection ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Eeg Signals ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Selection Approach ◽  
Feature Selection Approach ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Selection Algorithms ◽  
Epileptiform Events

Identifying relevant data to support the automatic analysis of electroencephalograms (EEG) has become a challenge. Although there are many proposals to support the diagnosis of neurological pathologies, the current challenge is to improve the reliability of the tools to classify or detect abnormalities. In this study, we used an ensemble feature selection approach to integrate the advantages of several feature selection algorithms to improve the identification of the characteristics with high power of differentiation in the classification of normal and abnormal EEG signals. Discrimination was evaluated using several classifiers, i.e., decision tree, logistic regression, random forest, and Support Vecctor Machine (SVM); furthermore, performance was assessed by accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity metrics. The evaluation results showed that Ensemble Feature Selection (EFS) is a helpful tool to select relevant features from the EEGs. Thus, the stability calculated for the EFS method proposed was almost perfect in most of the cases evaluated. Moreover, the assessed classifiers evidenced that the models improved in performance when trained with the EFS approach’s features. In addition, the classifier of epileptiform events built using the features selected by the EFS method achieved an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 97.64%, 96.78%, and 97.95%, respectively; finally, the stability of the EFS method evidenced a reliable subset of relevant features. Moreover, the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the EEG detector are equal to or greater than the values reported in the literature.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a New Immunochromatography Technology Test (LDBio Diagnostics) To Detect Toxoplasma IgG and IgM: Comparison with the Routine Architect Technique

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 3395-3404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Mahinc ◽  
Pierre Flori ◽  
Edouard Delaunay ◽  
Cécile Guillerme ◽  
Sana Charaoui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Blot ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Blot Analysis ◽  
False Positive ◽  
Automated System ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Automated Screening ◽  
Commercial Kits ◽  
Fully Automated System

ABSTRACTA study comparing the ICT (immunochromatography technology)ToxoplasmaIgG and IgM rapid diagnostic test (LDBio Diagnostics, France) with a fully automated system, Architect, was performed on samples from university hospitals of Marseille and Saint-Etienne. A total of 767 prospective sera and 235 selected sera were collected. The panels were selected to test various IgG and IgM parameters. The reference technique,ToxoplasmaIgGII Western blot analysis (LDBio Diagnostics), was used to confirm the IgG results, and commercial kits Platelia Toxo IgM (Bio-Rad) and Toxo-ISAgA (bioMérieux) were used in Saint-Etienne and Marseille, respectively, as the IgM reference techniques. Sensitivity and specificity of the ICT and the Architect IgG assays were compared using a prospective panel. Sensitivity was 100% for the ICT test and 92.1% for Architect (cutoff at 1.6 IU/ml). The low-IgG-titer serum results confirmed that ICT sensitivity was superior to that of Architect. Specificity was 98.7% (ICT) and 99.8% (Architect IgG). The ICT test is also useful for detecting IgM without IgG and is both sensitive (100%) and specific (100%), as it can distinguish nonspecific IgM from specificToxoplasmaIgM. In comparison, IgM sensitivity and specificity on Architect are 96.1% and 99.6%, respectively (cutoff at 0.5 arbitrary units [AU]/ml). To conclude, this new test overcomes the limitations of automated screening techniques, which are not sensitive enough for IgG and lack specificity for IgM (rare IgM false-positive cases).

The Four-Point Scoring System for the Clock Drawing Test Does Not Differentiate between Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia

2010 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 941-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
April R. Wiechmann ◽  
James R. Hall ◽  
Sid O'bryant
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Vascular Dementia ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Cutoff Score ◽  
Characteristic Analysis ◽  
Clock Drawing Test ◽  
Clock Drawing ◽  
Drawing Test

The purpose of this study was to explore the sensitivity and specificity of the Clock Drawing Test by using a widely employed four-point scoring system to discriminate between patients with Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that the Clock Drawing Test was able to distinguish between normal elders and those with a dementia diagnosis. The cutoff score for differentiating patients with Alzheimer's disease from normal participants was = 3. The cutoff score for differentiating those with vascular disease from normal participants was = 3. Overall, the four-point scoring system demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity for identifying cognitive dysfunction associated with dementia; however, the current findings do not support the utility of the four-point scoring system in discriminating Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Specificity and Sensitivity of Hemosiderin-Laden Macrophages in Routine Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Children

2006 ◽  
Vol 130 (11) ◽  
pp. 1684-1686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynep N. Salih ◽  
Afreen Akhter ◽  
Javeed Akhter
Keyword(s):  
Bronchoalveolar Lavage ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
Pulmonary Hemosiderosis ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Long Term Prognosis

Abstract Context.—The presence of iron or hemosiderin in macrophages obtained in routine bronchoalveolar lavage is considered crucial in the diagnosis of the clinical syndrome of hemosiderosis. However, there do not appear to be any data on the sensitivity and specificity of the finding of hemosiderin-laden macrophages (HLMs) in bronchoalveolar lavage in children. Objective.—To review data from bronchoalveolar lavage studies done in children to correlate the presence of HLMs with pneumonia and hemosiderosis and to determine what proportion of HLMs has the optimal sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of hemosiderosis. Design.—One hundred ten bronchoalveolar lavage specimens obtained via flexible bronchoscopy were reviewed retrospectively. The data collected for demographics, indication for the bronchoscopy, diagnosis of pneumonia, anemia, and bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage findings were compared between patients diagnosed with hemosiderosis and those diagnosed with other diseases. Results.—Six patients were diagnosed with hemosiderosis by clinical findings, lung biopsy, or autopsy. There were no statistical differences in pneumonia (P &gt; .99), anemia (P &gt; .99), or coughing (P = .08) between patients with hemosiderosis and other patients. Hemoptysis was the only symptom that was significantly different between the 2 groups (P = .04). The mean HLM index for patients with hemosiderosis was 56% ± 16.17% and for other patients, 7.5% ± 10.74% (P &lt; .001). A HLM index of 35% gave a sensitivity of 1% and a specificity of .96%. Conclusions.—These results confirm a strong association between HLM index and diagnosis of hemosiderosis in a pediatric population. Availability of this HLM index will result in accurate and timely diagnosis of pulmonary hemosiderosis, which may influence treatment and long-term prognosis.

scholarly journals Expression of tumor pyruvate kinase M2 isoform in plasma and stool of patients with colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farideh Rigi ◽  
Aliakbar Jannatabad ◽  
Azra Izanloo ◽  
Reza Roshanravan ◽  
Hamid Reza Hashemian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Pyruvate Kinase ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Adenomatous Polyps ◽  
Plasma Samples ◽  
Proliferating Cells ◽  
Pyruvate Kinase M2 ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Tumor Group ◽  
Stool Samples

Abstract Background: Tumor pyruvate kinase M2 isoform (tM2-PK), which is an isoform of PK-glycolytic enzyme and appears on the surface of cancerous proliferating cells, has been used as a diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the tM2-PK measurement test for the diagnosis of CRCs and adenomatous polyps in plasma and stool samples in an Iranian population. Methods: In this prospective study, a total of 226 stool and 178 plasma samples were received from patients referred to colonoscopy units. tM2-PK enzyme was measured using two separate ScheBo-Biotech-AG ELISA kits for stool and plasma samples. Results: At the cut-off value of 4 U/ml, in tumor group, the sensitivity of fecal tM2-PK test was 100% and the specificity was 68%, and in polyp group, the sensitivity and specificity were 87% and 68%, respectively. At the cut-off value of 15 U/ml in tumor group, the sensitivity of plasma tM2-PK test was 98% and specificity was 74% and in polyp group the sensitivity and specificity were 98% and 74%, respectively. Based on our results, a cut-off range of 4.8-8 U/ml and >8 U/ml could be used to detect polyp and tumor in stool samples, respectively. Similarly, a cut-off range of 19-25 U/ml and >25 U/ml is recommended in plasma samples for polyp and tumor detection, respectively. Conclusions: This study revealed a high specificity and sensitivity of tM2-PK test for stool and plasma samples in patients with CRC and polyps suggesting it as a non-invasive assay to diagnose CRC and adenomatous polyps.

scholarly journals Comparison of BISAP and Ranson’s score for predicting severe acute pancreatitis and establish the validity of BISAP score

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1473
Author(s):  
Amulya Aggarwal ◽  
Alok V. Mathur ◽  
Ram K. Verma ◽  
Megha Gupta ◽  
Dheeraj Raj
Keyword(s):  
Acute Pancreatitis ◽  
Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Severe Acute Pancreatitis ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Positive Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Negative Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Clinical Scoring

Background: Pancreatitis can lead to serious complications with severe morbidity and mortality. So an early, quick and accurate scoring system is necessary to stratify the patients according to their severity so as to enable early initiation of required management and care. Scoring system commonly used have some drawbacks. This study aimed to compare bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP) and Ranson’s score to predict severe acute pancreatitis and establish the validity of a simple and accurate clinical scoring system for stratifying patients.Methods: This is a prospective comparative study on 100 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis admitted in department of general surgery. Parameters included in the BISAP and Ranson’s criteria were studied at the time of admission and after 48 hours. Result of these two were compared with that of revised Atlanta classification.Results: As per the BISAP score, the sensitivity and specificity were 95.8 % (95% CI, 76.8-99.8), 94.7 % (95% CI, 86.3-98.3) whereas positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio 18.21 (95% CI, 6.9-47.44), 0.04 (95% CI, 0.01-0.30) and accuracy was 95 % (95% CI, 88.72%-98.36%). On using Ranson’s score, the sensitivity and specificity were 91.6 (95% CI, 71.5-98.5) and 89.4 (95% CI, 79.8-95) with a positive predictive value 8.71 (95% CI, 4.47-18.96) and negative predictive value of 0.09 (95% CI, 0.02-0.35) and accuracy of 90% (95% CI, 82.38%-95.10%)..Conclusions: BISAP score outperformed Ranson’s score in terms of Sensitivity and specificity of prediction of severe pancreatitis. The authors recommend inclusion of BISAP Scoring system in standard treatment protocol of management of acute pancreatitis.

A Preliminary Evaluation of a Prototype Western Blot Confirmatory Test Kit for Syphilis

1994 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 409-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Young ◽  
P J Walker ◽  
D Merry ◽  
A Mifsud
Keyword(s):  
Western Blot ◽  
False Positive ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Confirmatory Test ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Western Blot Test ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Test Kit

A prototype Western blot kit was evaluated as a confirmatory test for syphilis using 131 sera characterized by other serological tests for syphilis. There were 114 treponemal sera (including 94 cases of early syphilis, 83 of which were untreated) and 17 non-treponemal problem sera (11 gave false positive reactions on screening with the TmpA recombinant antigen enzyme immunoassay (EIA), 3 gave false positive fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed (FTA-abs) tests, and 3 false positive Captia Syphilis G EIA results). Based on the manufacturer's criteria of reactivity in multiple bands for designating a positive result the Western blot test gave a sensitivity of 99.1% (113/114) and a specificity of 88.2% (15/17) when indeterminate reactions were scored positive and 98.2% (112/114) and 100% (17/17) when indeterminate reactions were scored negative. Sensitivity was high in both treated and untreated infection. Corresponding sensitivities for the TPHA and FTA-abs when equivocal reactions were scored negative were 97.5% (111/114) and 99.1% (113/114). The high sensitivity of the FTA-abs in this study is probably due to the large number of untreated primary infections. Our results with the Western blot, confirm earlier studies using ‘in-house’ test systems and, support a role for a commercial Western blot test in the confirmatory diagnosis of syphilis. Further studies are required to confirm the high specificity and sensitivity of the kit in a larger series including a wider variety of non-treponemal cases as well as patients with untreated and treated infection.

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