Good Negative Predictive Value Research Articles

A Simple Risk Score Based on Routine Clinical Parameters Can Predict Frailty in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients.

Frailty syndrome (FS) has recently attracted attention as one of the major predictors of heart failure (HF) course severity. We aimed to develop a simple tool for predicting frailty in hospitalized HF patients using routine clinical parameters. A total of 153 hospitalized patients diagnosed with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were included in the study. Presence of FS was assessed with the SHARE-FI questionnaire. Clinical and biochemical parameters were collected. Using ROC curves and logistic regression analysis, a model predicting FS presence was developed and tested. Proposed model includes five variables with following cut-off values (1 point for each variable): age > 50 years, systolic pressure on admission < 110 mmHg, total cholesterol < 4.85 mmol/L, bilirubin ≥ 15.5 mmol/L, and alanine aminotransferase ≤ 34 U/L. Receiving 5 points was considered a high risk of FS with positive and negative predictive values (NPV), 83% and 72%, respectively, and specificity of 97%. Awarding 2 points or less ruled out FS in the studied group with negative predictive value 94%. The presented novel, simple score predicts FS in HFrEF patients with routine clinical parameters and has good positive and negative predictive values.

Good performance of bioimpedance in early pregnancy to predict preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) affects 2-8% of pregnancies and is one of the main causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early identification of pregnant women at higher risk for PE would allow the use of interventions to reduce adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. To assess the ability of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in pregnancy to predict the development of PE. This prospective cohort involved healthy nulliparas who underwent BIA at 17-20weekś gestation and were followed until delivery. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to assess the ability of BIA measures to predict the occurrence of PE. We used an adjusted regression model to estimate the probability of developing PE, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test to assess the adequacy of the final model, and ROC curves to assess the sensitivity and specificity of different BIA measures in the prediction of PE. Twelve (6.1%) of the 196 participants developed PE. In the final multivariate model, the following BIA measures were associated with the occurrence of PE: extracellular water/intracellular water≤0.618, skeletal muscle mass≥25 Kg, and body fat percentage≥44%. The combination of these three measures had a predictive accuracy of 83.7%, a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 83.7%, and a negative predictive value of 98.7% for PE. BIA done on nulliparous women at 17-20weekś gestation has a good accuracy and high negative predictive value for the risk of developing PE.

Immune-Checkpoint Inhibition in the Treatment of Gastro-Esophageal Cancer: A Closer Look at the Emerging Evidence.

To date, several trials have evaluated the safety and efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for the treatment of gastroesophageal cancers (GEC). In the US, ICIs have established indications for second-line treatment of microsatellite unstable tumors, while their use in third-line settings was recently withdrawn. Notably, the use of ICIs for first-line therapy of GEC is rapidly evolving, which currently includes high PD-L1 expressing tumors, irrespective of HER2 status, and in the adjuvant setting after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in select patients. In this article, we review the results of studies that have evaluated the utility of ICI in the third-line, second-line, first-line, and peri-operative treatment settings of GECs. Considerations should be made before making any cross-trial comparisons since these trials vary in chemotherapy backbone, anatomical and histological eligibility, biomarker assessment, PD-L1 diagnostic antibodies, and definition of PD-L1 positivity. Regardless, the totality of the data suggest that first-line ICI use may most benefit GEC patients with high PD-L1 combined positivity score (CPS) ≥5 or ≥10, irrespective of histology or anatomy. Moreover, although PD-L1 by CPS has a good negative predictive value for significant benefit from ICIs, it has a low positive predictive value. Therefore, there is a pressing need to identify better biomarkers to predict benefit from ICIs among these patients.

Risk assessment of thromboembolic events in hospitalized cancer patients

Hospitalized cancer patients are at increased risk for Thromboembolic Events (TEs). As untailored thromboprophylaxis is associated with hemorrhagic complications, the definition of a risk-assessment model (RAM) in this population is needed. INDICATE was a prospective observational study enrolling hospitalized cancer patients, with the primary objective of assessing the Negative Predictive Value (NPV) for TEs during hospitalization and within 45 days from discharge of low-grade Khorana Score (KS = 0). Secondary objectives were to assess KS Positive Predictive Value (PPV), the impact of TEs on survival and the development of a new RAM. Assuming 7% of TEs in KS = 0 patients as unsatisfactory percentage and 3% of as satisfactory, 149 patients were needed to detect the favorable NPV with one-sided α = 0.10 and power = 0.80. Stepwise logistic regression was adopted to identify variables included in a new RAM. Among 535 enrolled patients, 153 (28.6%) had a KS = 0. The primary study objective was met: 29 (5.4%) TEs were diagnosed, with 7 (4.6%) cases in the KS = 0 group (NPV = 95.4%, 95% CI 90.8–98.1%; one-sided p = 0.084). However, the PPV was low (5.7%, 95% CI 1.9–12.8%); a new RAM based on albumin (OR 0.34, p = 0.003), log(LDH) (OR 1.89, p = 0.023) and presence of vascular compression (OR 5.32, p < 0.001) was developed and internally validated. Also, TEs were associated with poorer OS (median, 5.7 vs 24.8 months, p < 0.001). INDICATE showed that the KS has a good NPV but poor PPV for TEs in hospitalized cancer patients. A new RAM was developed, and deserves further assessment in external cohorts.

A feasibility study investigating the utility of a point-of-care rapid immunoassay for detecting septic peritoneal effusion in dogs.

To determine the sensitivity (SN), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of a point-of-care urine bacterial rapid immunoassay (RIA) for a diagnosis of septic peritonitis, compared to more traditional diagnostic tools, such as cytology and bacterial culture. Prospective, cross-sectional feasibility study conducted from October 2016 to June 2017. Four locations within a private practice referral hospital. Sixty-four dogs with peritoneal effusion of any etiology were enrolled. Four dogs were excluded due to absent RIA or bacterial culture results. Two additional dogs were excluded because of an inability to definitively classify them as having septic peritonitis. Abdominocentesis was performed to obtain peritoneal effusion samples for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture, cytology, and RIA. Cytological slides were evaluated by a clinical pathologist following enrollment. Fifty-eight dogs were included in the study, 8 of which were classified as having septic peritonitis. Compared to final diagnosis of septic peritonitis, RIA had a low PPV (36.8%) but good NPV (97.4%) and was 77.5% accurate. SN of RIA (87.5%) to diagnose septic peritonitis was similar to cytology (85.7%) and bacterial culture (87.5%); however, SP was lower (76%, 100%, and 98%, respectively). Cytology had the best overall predictive values and accuracy for diagnosing septic peritonitis (PPV 100%, NPV 97.9%, and accuracy 98%) compared to RIA and bacterial culture. RIA testing was similarly sensitive in identifying septic peritonitis compared to cytology and bacterial culture but was not very specific or accurate. As a stand-alone test, RIA commonly had false-positive test results, making it unreliable in identifying septic peritonitis. Cytology was the most accurate diagnostic test and had no false-positive results. Further investigation with a larger sample size and prevalence of septic peritonitis may prove beneficial.

Predictive value of coagulation factor XIII on bleeding risk in ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has a known risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We aimed to identify the predictive value of coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) on post-thrombolytic ICH risk in AIS patients. The study cohort included 69 diagnosed AIS patients undergoing IVT treatment within 24 hours of symptom onset. Blood samples taken on admission were analyzed for FXIII antigen levels with an automated latex enhanced immunoassay. Conventional coagulation parameters including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), and D-dimer (DD) were also tested. Of the 69 AIS patients, 23 (33.3%) developed post-thrombolytic ICH. Plasma FXIII levels showed a significant decrease, accompanied with elevated FIB and DD levels in AIS patients with post-thrombolytic ICH. Multivariable logistic regression (LR) revealed that FXIII and FIB were independently associated with post-thrombolytic ICH progression. Area under receiver operating characteristic curve of FXIII selected by the further forward logistic regression was 0.823 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.712-0.904], and the cutoff value of 76.6% yielded good sensitivity at 91.3% and good negative predictive value (NPV) at 93.9%. Our findings indicated that plasma FXIII level may be an independent determinant for predicting post-thrombolytic bleeding risk in AIS patients.

Use of ultrasound to diagnose and monitor interstitial lung disease in rheumatic diseases.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most relevant extra-articular manifestations of rheumatic diseases resulting in a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and close monitoring to identify patients at high risk of progression are crucial to establish the need for targeted treatment with immunomodulatory and antifibrotic drugs, with potential ability to change the course of the disease. However, there are unmet needs in this field as pulmonary auscultation, chest radiography, or pulmonary function studies do not allow identification of the most incipient stages of the disease. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), which is the current gold standard for diagnosis and evolutionary control, is problematic owing to ionizing radiation, cost, and accessibility. In this context, lung ultrasound (LUS) is an attractive tool in a growing research and validation process. The identification of vertical artifacts, such as B lines, and alterations of the pleural line present a good correlation with the presence of ILD by HRCT and have a good concordance with the extent and severity of the disease, with sensitivity and negative predictive values of up to 100%. Regarding the monitoring of the evolution, the validation process of LUS is in a more preliminary phase but data is encouraging. All this, together with its safety, accessibility, low cost, and good patient acceptance, postulate LUS as a useful tool for the screening of ILD and for the optimization of the indications of HRCT. Key Points • The good sensitivity and negative predictive values of LUS postulate this technique as a useful tool for the screening of ILD and for the optimization of the indications of HRCT in rheumatic diseases.

Validation of ROS1 by immunohistochemistry against fluorescent in situ hybridisation on cytology and small biopsy samples in a large teaching hospital.

Rearranged ROS1, present in 1%-2% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, usually young, never or light smokers, is assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to determine eligibility for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the protein product of ROS1 rearrangement, a cost-effective alternative, is validated on cytology and small biopsy samples. From 1 March to 31 December 2019, cytology cell blocks and small biopsy samples from a selected cohort of NSCLC patients were concurrently tested for ROS1 gene rearrangement by Vysis 6q22 Break Apart FISH probe and IHC using Cell Signalling D4D6 antibody. Mismatch cases were tested by an RNA fusion next generation sequencing (NGS) panel. In a prospective population of 95 cases, 91 were negative and two were positive by both FISH and IHC. Both dual positive cases were female never smokers and benefited from TKI treatment. Another two cases were positive by FISH but negative by IHC and repeat by NGS showed one to be negative but one failed. Turnaround time for IHC was 0 to 8days from request to authorisation, whilst that of FISH was 9 to 42days at a cost of £51 and £159 respectively. IHC to assess for the protein product of ROS1 gene rearrangement on cytology cell blocks and small biopsy samples in a routine setting is a promising screening method to assess eligibility for TKI treatment with positive and indeterminate cases confirmed by FISH or NGS as it has good negative predictive value, faster turnaround time and is cost effective, with proven technical and clinical validation.

The utility of magnetic resonance imaging in prostate cancer diagnosis in the Australian setting

ObjectivesTo investigate the utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for prostate cancer diagnosis in the Australian setting.Patients and methodsAll consecutive men who underwent a prostate biopsy (transperineal or transrectal) at Royal Melbourne Hospital between July 2017 to June 2019 were included, totalling 332 patients. Data were retrospectively collected from patient records. For each individual patient, the risk of prostate cancer diagnosis at biopsy based on clinical findings was determined using the European Randomized study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) risk calculator, with and without incorporation of MRI findings.ResultsMRI has good diagnostic accuracy for clinically significant prostate cancer. A PI‐RADS 2 or lower finding has a negative predictive value of 96% for clinically significant cancer, and a PI‐RADS 3, 4 or 5 MRI scan has a sensitivity of 93%. However, MRI has a false negative rate of 6.5% overall for clinically significant prostate cancers. Pre‐ biopsy MRI may reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies, as up to 50.0% of negative or ISUP1 biopsies have MRI PI‐RADS 2 or lower. Incorporation of MRI findings into the ERSPC calculator improved predictive performance for all prostate cancer diagnoses (AUC 0.77 vs 0.71, P = .04), but not for clinically significant cancer (AUC 0.89 vs 0.87, P = .37).ConclusionMRI has good sensitivity and negative predictive value for clinically significant prostate cancers. It is useful as a pre‐biopsy tool and can be used to significantly reduce the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies. However, MRI does not significantly improve risk predictions for clinically significant cancers when incorporated into the ERSPC risk calculator.

Role of C11-FDG dual-tracer PET-CT scan in metastatic screening of hepatocellular carcinoma-a cost-effectiveness analysis.

We aimed to identify predictive factors for positron emission tomography (PET)-detected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis and a cost-effective approach to preoperative PET-computed tomography (CT) for detecting metastasis. Clinicopathological and survival data of HCC patients having PET-CT with 18F-fludeoxyglucose (FDG) and 11C-acetate (ACT) following contrast-enhanced CT/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for preoperative tumor staging were reviewed. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify predictive factors for PET-detected metastasis. A cost-benefit analysis model was built for the incurred costs and the impact of PET-CT findings on treatment strategy was studied. Totally 152 patients were analyzed. Dual-tracer PET-CT detected metastasis in 17 patients (11%). By multivariate analysis, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥400 ng/mL [relative risk (RR): 4.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.41-13.15, P=0.011] and bilobar disease (RR: 3.94, 95% CI: 1.24-12.52, P=0.014) were independent predictive factors for PET-detected metastasis. PET-CT findings altered the treatment strategy for 12 patients (7.9%); three partial hepatectomies, eight episodes of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and one episode of ablation were avoided, with an estimated cost-saving of US $91,000, $150,000 and $10,600 respectively. Had the PET-CT been performed only for patients with AFP ≥400 ng/mL or bilobar disease (n=74), metastasis would have been confirmed in 14 patients (18.9%), and the cost-saving per patient was estimated at US $1,070. Dual-tracer PET-CT is cost-effective and useful for preoperative HCC staging in patients with AFP ≥400 ng/mL or bilobar disease. Its routine use in preoperative workup for all HCC patients is not recommended. Unilobar disease with AFP <400 ng/mL can achieve good negative predictive value for PET-detected metastasis. Screening patients with either factor can avoid unnecessary procedures and is thus cost-effective for preoperative HCC workup.

Dia gnostická přesnost faktoru R při rozlišování novorozenecké hepatitidy a biliární atrezie

Introduction: Liver function test is a part of safe and aff ordable routine blood biochemical tests and provides useful information for the diagnosis and management of liver dysfunction. In this study we evaluated the value of the R factor in distinguishing between intrahepatic and extrahepatic causes of infant cholestasis. Methods: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the R factor in each group in comparison with liver biopsy as the gold standard of diagnosis. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software and P &lt; 0.05 indicated a significant difference. Results: The study included 37 neonatal hepatitis patients (group A) and 25 biliary atresia patients (group B). The R factor was calculated using the (ALT patient/ULN)/(ALP patient/ULN) formula; ROC analysis revealed that if the R factor was ≤ 0.09 the patient diagnosis would be biliary atresia with high sensitivity (92%) (p-value = 0.001). The corresponding specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), diagnostic accuracy and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were 75.7%, 72%, 93%, 82% and 0.87, respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed that the R factor is a good diagnostic marker for differentiating between the most common intrahepatic and extrahepatic causes of infant cholestasis and has good diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV, in comparison with liver biopsy as the gold standard of diagnosis.

Evaluation of a Telephone Version for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment: Establishing a Cutoff for Normative Data From a Cross-Sectional Study.

Compare a telephone version and full version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Cross-sectional analysis of a prospective study. A 20-point telephone version of MoCA (Tele-MoCA) was compared to the Full-MoCA and Mini Mental State Examination. Total of 140 participants enrolled. Mean scores for language were significantly lower with Tele-MoCA than with Full-MoCA (P = .003). Mean Tele-MoCA scores were significantly higher for participants with over 12 years of education (P < .001). Cutoff score of 17 for the Tele-MoCA yielded good specificity (82.2%) and negative predictive value (84.4%), while sensitivity was low (18.2%). Remote screening of cognition with a 20-point Tele-MoCA is as specific for defining normal cognition as the Full-MoCA. This study shows that telephone evaluation is adequate for virtual cognitive screening. Our sample did not allow accurate assessment of sensitivity for Tele-MoCA in detecting MCI or dementia. Further studies with representative populations are needed to establish sensitivity.

New sequential algorithm using Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer to detect advanced carotid artery atherosclerosis

Although carotid artery sonography is widely performed, most guidelines do not recommend this procedure in the general population. Appropriate indications and effective algorithms are needed to detect advanced carotid artery atherosclerosis in a community setting. This study was designed as cross-sectional study. Adult subjects (n=228) who underwent a health check-up at our healthcare centre were included in the final analysis. Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) quantification was based on a lectin antibody sandwich immunoassay. Subclinical atherosclerosis was diagnosed by carotid ultrasonography. The prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis and advanced atherosclerosis was 37.2% (85/228) and 11.8% (27/228), respectively, in a community-based setting. Serum M2BPGi level was significantly higher in subjects with calcified plaque (0.6317) and luminal stenosis (0.6373) than in control groups (0.4913, all P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis between M2BPGi and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk index (R=0.410, P<0.001) showed a positive relationship. The AUROC of serum M2BPGi for identifying calcified plaque or luminal stenosis was 0.679. The sequential algorithm using ASCVD and M2BPGi showed good negative predictive value (NPV) (93.6%) and reasonable positive predictive value (PPV) (53.8%) for identifying calcified plaque or luminal stenosis. When the sequential algorithm was used as an indicator for carotid ultrasonography, 35.0% (14/40) of subjects with intermediate-risk by ASCVD (≥7.5%) could avoid unnecessary carotid ultrasonography. The sequential algorithm using ASCVD (≥7.5) and M2BPGi (≥0.525) provided reasonable indication for carotid artery sonography in a community-based setting.

Monitoring patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis using health-related quality of life

BackgroundPediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are at risk for a lower health-related quality of life compared to their healthy peers. Remote monitoring of health-related quality of life using electronic patient-reported outcomes could provide important information to treating physicians. The aim of this study was to investigate if self-assessment with the EuroQol five-dimensional ‘youth’ questionnaire with five levels (EQ-5D-Y-5 L) inside a mobile E-health application could identify JIA patients in need of possible treatment adjustments.MethodsThe EQ-5D-Y-5 L was completed via a mobile application (Reuma2Go) between October 2017 and January 2019. The clinical juvenile arthritis disease activity score with 71 joint count (cJADAS-71) was reported at every corresponding visit as reference for disease activity. Previously described cJADAS-71 thresholds were used to identify patients in possible need of treatment adjustments. Discriminatory power of the EQ-5D-Y-5 L was assessed by ROC-curves and diagnostic characteristics.ResultsSixty-eight JIA patients completed the EQ-5D-Y-5 L questionnaire. Median cJADAS-71 indicated low disease activity overall in the studied population. ROC curves and diagnostic characteristics demonstrated that self-assessment with the EQ-5D-Y-5 L could distinguish between patients with inactive disease (or minimal disease activity) and moderate to high disease activity with good accuracy (87%), sensitivity (85%), specificity (89%) and negative predictive value (86%).ConclusionsResults demonstrate that the EQ-5D-Y-5 L was able to identify JIA patients in need of possible treatment adjustments in our studied population. Remote monitoring of health-related quality of life and patient-reported outcomes via E-health applications could provide important additional information to determine the frequency of clinical visits, assess therapeutic efficacy and guide treat-to-target strategies in pediatric patients with JIA.

Diagnostic accuracy of semiquantitative point of care urine albumin to creatinine ratio and urine dipstick analysis in a primary care resource limited setting in South Africa

BackgroundThe prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is predicted to rise over the next few decades. In resource-limited settings access to central laboratory services is limited. Point-of-care (POC) urine dipstick testing offers the potential to detect markers of kidney damage (albuminuria) as well as markers of other disease processes. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the semi-quantitative albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) Sysmex UC-1000 POC urine dipstick system as well as the extent of other abnormal dipstick findings in urine.Methods700 participants from a rural area in South Africa were screened for albuminuria. A spot urine sample was used to measure POC and central laboratory ACR. We determined the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the POC ACR, and recorded dipstick parameters.ResultsThe prevalence of albuminuria was 11.6% (95%CI; 9.3–14.2). Those with albuminuria had higher mean diastolic (82 vs 79 mmHg, p = 0.019) and systolic (133 vs 128 mmHg, p = 0.002) blood pressures and a higher proportion of diabetes mellitus (17.6 vs 4.9%, p < 0.001). The sensitivity of the POC ACR system was 0.79, specificity 0.84, positive predictive value 0.39 and negative predictive value 0.97. The sensitivity improved to 0.80, 0.85, 0.85 and 0.89 in those with elevated blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, HIV positive status, and those 65 years and older, respectively. Abnormalities other than albuminuria were detected in 240 (34.3%) of the samples; 88 (12.6%) were positive for haematuria, 113 (16.1%) for leucocytes, 66 (9.4%) for nitrites and 27 (3.9%) for glycosuria.ConclusionOur study shows that POC ACR has good negative predictive value and could be used to rule out albuminuria when screening for CKD. Additionally, a high proportion of participants had other urine abnormalities detected with dipsticks which may reflect kidney disease or co-morbid untreated genitourinary pathology such as urinary tract infections or endemic schistosomiasis with important implications for CKD.

Diagnostic Value, Oncologic Outcomes, and Safety Profile of Image-Guided Surgery Technologies During Robot-Assisted Lymph Node Dissection with Sentinel Node Biopsy for Prostate Cancer.

Despite good sensitivity and a good negative predictive value, the implementation of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) for prostate cancer is still controversial. For this reason, we aimed to define the added value of SNB (with different tracer modalities) to ePLND in the identification of nodal metastases. Complication rates and oncologic outcomes were also assessed. Methods: From January 2006 to December 2019, prospectively collected data were retrospectively analyzed from a single-institution database regarding prostate cancer patients treated with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and ePLND with or without additional use of SNB, either with the hybrid tracer indocyanine green (ICG)-99mTc-nanocolloid or with free ICG. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression models tested the impact of adding SNB (either with the hybrid tracer or with free ICG) on lymph nodal invasion detection, complications, and oncologic outcomes. Results: Overall, 1,680 patients were included in the final analysis: 1,168 (69.5%) in the non-SNB group, 161 (9.6%) in the ICG-SNB group, and 351 (20.9%) in the hybrid-SNB group. The hybrid-SNB group (odds ratio, 1.61; 95%CI, 1.18-2.20; P = 0.002) was an independent predictor of nodal involvement, whereas the ICG-SNB group did not reach independent predictor status when compared with the non-SNB group (odds ratio, 1.35; 95%CI, 0.89-2.03; P = 0.1). SNB techniques were not associated with higher rates of complications. Lastly, use of hybrid SNB was associated with lower rates of biochemical recurrence (0.79; 95%CI, 0.63-0.98) and of clinical recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.76, P = 0.035) than were seen in the non-SNB group. Conclusion: The implementation of hybrid-SNB technique with ICG-99mTc-nanocolloid in prostate cancer improves detection of positive nodes and potentially lowers recurrence rates with subsequent optimization of patient management, without harming patient safety.

Role of manual Immature to Total Neutrophil (I/T) ratio and automated Immature Granulocyte Count (IGC)and percentage (ig%) in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis

Background: The diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is challenging due to non-specific and subtle clinical features, low sensitivity and delay in routine laboratory tests. Current study was conducted to evaluate the role of manual Immature/Total (I/T) neutrophil ratio and automated Immature Granulocyte Count (IGC) and Immature Granulocyte percentage (IG%) in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Materials and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was done during a period of 6 months with a sample of 55 neonates admitted to Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka. A combination of clinical and laboratory parameters including full blood count, C-reactive protein and blood culture were used to identify the neonates with probable sepsis. The population was subcategorized into five (5) groups and manual Immature/Total neutrophil (I/T) ratio, Immature Granulocyte Count (IGC) and Immature Granulocyte percentage (IG %) were done. Results: The sensitivity of manual I/T ratio was 93.8% and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 95.2%. The sensitivity for lower cut off values, IGC of 0.03 × 103/µL and IG% of 0.5% was 80% and 73.3% respectively. The NPV for above cut-off values were 25% and 0.5% respectively. The NPV was improved with higher cut-off values with 70.9% for IGC 0.3 and 70.6% for IG 3%, but sensitivity remained low with 40% and 33.3% respectively. Conclusion: Manual I/T ratio remain as a useful diagnostic tool in diagnosing and excluding neonatal sepsis with a very good sensitivity and NPV. However, further studies and well-defined reference intervals are required in automated IGC and IG%.

Home respiratory polygraphy in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children: Comparison with a screening questionnaire

ObjectivesThe prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children referred for sleep-disordered breathing reaches up to 59%. We aimed to test the adequacy of a questionnaire compared to home respiratory polygraphy (HRP), in 45 subjects (5–16 years-old), without maxillofacial malformations nor other comorbidities, presenting with symptoms compatible with OSAS. MethodsAll children passed a 12-items questionnaire (Obstructive Airway Child test: OACT) and the HRP. OSAS was classified in severity according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). ResultsWith HRP, 60% and 15% children were detected to have at least mild (AHI ≥1) and moderate (AHI >5) OSAS, respectively. The sensitivity of the questionnaire to detect mild and moderate OSAS was good (93% and 71%, respectively) but the specificity was very low (11% and 34%). However, an OACT score under 61 showed a very good negative predictive value for moderate and severe OSAS (87%). With the questionnaire, we could have avoided a complementary PSG or HRP in 25/45 (56%) of our subjects as in children with mild OSAS and without comorbidities only clinical observation is usually advised. ConclusionsThe OACT questionnaire has shown to be a good and quick instrument to exclude moderate and severe OSAS in our population of children without maxillofacial malformations. Indeed children scoring under 61 could avoid a constraining and expensive sleep exam. However, if the score is above this cut-off, the performance to recognize OSAS is low and the child's evaluation must be completed by a HRP or PSG.

Acute abdominal pain in triage: A retrospective observational study of the Manchester triage system's validity.

Roughly 5% to 10% of patients admitted to the emergency department suffer from acute abdominal pain. Triage plays a key role in patient stratification, identifying patients who need prompt treatment versus those who can safely wait. In this regard, the aim of this study was to estimate the performance of the Manchester Triage System in classifying patients with acute abdominal pain. A total of 9,851 patients admitted at the Emergency Department of the Merano Hospital with acute abdominal pain were retrospectively enrolled between 1 January 2017 and 30 June 2019. The study was conducted and reported according to the STROBE statement. The sensitivity and specificity of the Manchester Triage System were estimated by verifying the triage classification received by the patients and their survival at seven days or the need for acute surgery within 72h after emergency department access. Among the patients with acute abdominal pain (median age 50years), 0.4% died within seven days and 8.9% required surgery within 72 hours. The sensitivity was 44.7% (29.9-61.5), specificity was 95.4% (94.9-95.8), and negative predictive value was 99.7% (99.2-100) in relation to death at seven days. The Manchester Triage System shows good specificity and negative predictive value. However, its sensitivity was low due to the amount of incorrect triage prediction in patients with high-priority codes (red/orange), suggesting overtriage in relation to seven-day mortality. This may be a protective measure for the patient. In contrast, the need for acute surgery within 72h was affected by under-triage. The triage nurse using Manchester Triage System can correctly prioritise the majority of patients with acute abdominal pain, especially in low acuity patients. The Manchester Triage System is safe and does not underestimate the severity of the patients.

Alcoholic liver disease and autoimmune hepatitis: Sometimes a closer look under the surface is needed

AimsDifferential diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) incorporates various liver diseases, including alcoholic liver disease (ALD). We report on clinical, laboratory and outcome characteristics of AIH patients who were initially referred as ALD based on increased alcohol consumption (AIH/ALD). MethodsFrom 2000-2019, we retrospectively identified 12 AIH/ALD patients [9 males, age: 61 (30-73) years] in our prospective data base of 317 AIH patients. ResultsAIH diagnosis was based on aminotransferases elevation in 10 patients, high IgG in 8, compatible autoantibody profile in all and typical/compatible histology in all 9 with available biopsy. There were no significant differences of baseline demographics, presentation, cirrhosis at diagnosis, response to treatment and simplified score compared to 45 age- and sex-matched AIH patients without alcohol consumption and 44 age- and sex-matched ALD patients. However, the AIH/ALD cohort was characterized by more frequent progression to cirrhosis, higher liver-related deaths and overall mortality compared to AIH, though similar to the ALD group. AST/ALT ratio>1 seems to bear a good positive (0.84) and negative predictive value (0.88) for ALD and AIH diagnosis, respectively, but cannot help in discriminating the AIH/ALD variant. ConclusionsAIH should not be forgotten in patients with alcohol use when clinical and laboratory features hint towards the diagnosis of AIH/ALD variant as this group seems to have worse outcome compared to those with AIH alone suggesting the need for closer follow-up and surveillance. Reliable autoantibody testing and cautious interpretation of liver histology appear mandatory for AIH diagnosis in these difficult to diagnose cases.