Respective Positive Predictive Values Research Articles

Accurate preoperative evaluation of liver mass lesions without fine-needle biopsy.

Fine-needle biopsy (FNB) is associated with problems, such as tumor seeding, which are probably underestimated. The aim of this study was to validate prospectively the accuracy of our diagnostic work-up without FNB, for defining indications for surgery in a cohort of patients with focal liver lesions (FLLs). Between January 1997 and December 1998, 160 consecutive patients carrying 225 FLLs admitted to our department were evaluated prospectively. Preoperative diagnoses were established by means of clinical histories, serum tumor marker levels, ultrasonography, and spiral computed tomography (CT). Angiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Lipiodol-CT were performed when it was considered necessary to plan the surgical strategy. All the patients underwent surgery and results of pathological examinations were obtained for all of them. The preoperative diagnoses of 221 of the 225 lesions (98.2%) were confirmed, and the indications for liver resection in 156 of the 160 patients (97.5%) were correct. The respective accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 99.6%, 100%, 98.9%, 99.3%, and 100% for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); 99.1%, 100%, 98.8%, 96.9%, and 100% for metastases; 99.6%, 100%, 99.5%, 91%, and 100% for cholangiocellular carcinomas (CCCs); all 100% for mixed HCC-CCCs; and 98.7%, 57.1%, 100%, 100%, and 98.6% for benign tumors. In view of these results, the fact that the real risks of FNB have yet to be established and the possibility that tumor seeding has a major impact on patient prognosis, the use of FNB should be drastically limited.

Evaluation of three commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori in Chinese patients

Most of the commercial serological assays for H. pylori are developed and validated in western countries. We evaluated the accuracy of three popular commercial ELISA tests for H. pylori in the Chinese population. Eighty dyspeptic patients were recruited and diagnosis of H. pylori infection was based on biopsy urease test, histology and urea breath test. Thirty-six patients (45%) were positive for H. pylori infection by two or more positive reference tests. Anti- H. pylori IgG antibody was detected by three commercial ELISA tests: GAP IgG (Bio-Rad), HM-CAP (Enteric Products) and Pyloriset EIA-G (Orion). The respective sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the three tests were: GAP IgG (50%, 97.4%, 93.8%, 71.7%), HM-CAP (72.7%, 68.4%, 66.7%, 74.3%) and Pyloriset EIA-G (75%, 86.4%, 81.8%, 80.9%). Despite the high accuracy reported in the West, the performance of these commercial serological tests was unsatisfactory when used in Chinese patients.

Correlation Between Cervical Cytologic Results and Gram Stain as Diagnostic Tests for Bacterial Vaginosis

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to determine the reliability of the Papanicolaou smear in making the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis with the vaginal Gram stain used as the diagnostic standard. Study design: We conducted a prospective, blinded, cross-sectional study of 210 consecutive patients referred to the Colposcopy Clinic for evaluation of abnormal cervical cytologic results. Each patient had a standard Papanicolaou smear and Gram stain of vaginal discharge. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the Papanicolaou smear were determined with the Gram stain used as the standard for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. Results: Of the 210 patients, 80 (38.1%) had Gram stains that were positive for bacterial vaginosis and 118 (56.2%) had negative Gram stains. Twelve (5.7%) had intermediate Gram stains that were also considered negative. Of the 80 patients with positive Gram stains, 44 had cervical smears consistent with bacterial vaginosis and 36 had negative smears. Of the 130 patients with negative Gram stains, two had a positive cervical smear. Therefore, compared to the Gram stain, cervical cytologic test results had a sensitivity of 55% and a specificity of 98%. The respective positive predictive and negative predictive values were 96% and 78%. Conclusion: Compared to Gram stain of vaginal secretions, the cervical Papanicolaou smear has fair sensitivity (55%) and excellent positive predictive value (96%) in diagnosing bacterial vaginosis.

Prediction of MHC class II-binding peptides using an evolutionary algorithm and artificial neural network.

Prediction methods for identifying binding peptides could minimize the number of peptides required to be synthesized and assayed, and thereby facilitate the identification of potential T-cell epitopes. We developed a bioinformatic method for the prediction of peptide binding to MHC class II molecules. Experimental binding data and expert knowledge of anchor positions and binding motifs were combined with an evolutionary algorithm (EA) and an artificial neural network (ANN): binding data extraction --> peptide alignment --> ANN training and classification . This method, termed PERUN, was implemented for the prediction of peptides that bind to HLA-DR4(B1*0401). The respective positive predictive values of PERUN predictions of high-, moderate-, low- and zero-affinity binders were assessed as 0.8, 0.7, 0.5 and 0.8 by cross-validation, and 1.0, 0.8, 0.3 and 0.7 by experimental binding. This illustrates the synergy between experimentation and computer modeling, and its application to the identification of potential immunotherapeutic peptides. Software and data are available from the authors upon request. vladimir@wehi.edu. au

Correlation between cervical cytologic results and Gram stain as diagnostic tests for bacterial vaginosis

Objective: Our purpose was to determine the reliability of the Papanicolaou smear in making the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis with the vaginal Gram stain used as the diagnostic standard. Study design: We conducted a prospective, blinded, cross-sectional study of 210 consecutive patients referred to the Colposcopy Clinic for evaluation of abnormal cervical cytologic results. Each patient had a standard Papanicolaou smear and Gram stain of vaginal discharge. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the Papanicolaou smear were determined with the Gram stain used as the standard for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. Results: Of the 210 patients, 80 (38.1%) had Gram stains that were positive for bacterial vaginosis and 118 (56.2%) had negative Gram stains. Twelve (5.7%) had intermediate Gram stains that were also considered negative. Of the 80 patients with positive Gram stains, 44 had cervical smears consistent with bacterial vaginosis and 36 had negative smears. Of the 130 patients with negative Gram stains, two had a positive cervical smear. Therefore, compared to the Gram stain, cervical cytologic test results had a sensitivity of 55% and a specificity of 98%. The respective positive predictive and negative predictive values were 96% and 78%. Conclusion: Compared to Gram stain of vaginal secretions, the cervical Papanicolaou smear has fair sensitivity (55%) and excellent positive predictive value (96%) in diagnosing bacterial vaginosis.

Estimation of Total Daily Creatinine Clearance in Capd from Serum Creatinine Concentration

To establish whether estimation of creatinine clearance (CrCl) from serum creatinine, gender, age, and weight might reduce the number of 24-hour urine and dialysate collections required to monitor adequacy of delivered dialysis on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Retrospective single-center study. University Hospital. Creatinine excretion and CrCl were measured in 187 24-hour urine and dialysate collections from 99 CAPD patients (55 male, 44 female). Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate creatinine excretion from age and weight in males and females. CrCl was derived and also calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault and Mitch-Walser formulas. Positive and negative predictive values for indicating adequacy of dialysis were determined. Measured and derived CrCl were correlated (males: r = 0.85; females: r = 0.83; p < 0.001), but agreement was poor (95% limits of agreement: males, 26.05 to -25.75 L/wk; females, 37.47 to -19.49 L/wk). Taking the minimum acceptable CrCl as 60 L/week, the respective positive predictive values of the derived, Cockcroft, and Mitch methods in predicting underdialysis were 88%, 100%, and 100% in males and 88%, 88%, and 89% in females. Negative predictive values were 83%, 57%, and 53% in males and 53%, 48%, and 45% in females. A derived CrCl > 60 was not predictive of adequate dialysis. Because the detection of underdialysis is our objective, formal clearance studies should be performed in this group. A derived CrCl < 60 L/wk was predictive of underdialysis in males and females and an increase in dialysis dose without formal clearance measurements could be suggested in these patients. The use of this approach could allow an important reduction in the number of clearance studies required to monitor CAPD adequacy.

The continuous measurement of transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension (TcPCO2), an atraumatic tool to verify fetal acidosis?

TcPCO2 monitoring of the fetus during labour was evaluated as an atraumatic tool to identify or exclude fetal acidosis in 224 high-risk deliveries. A heated electrochemical sensor with a measuring temperature of 39 degrees C (n = 105) or 44 degrees C (n = 119) was applied to the fetal scalp. There was a statistically significant correlation between the TcPCO2 and the fetal blood pH at both temperatures. The sensitivity of the method was 0.90 and 0.61 at the two measuring temperatures of 44 degrees or 39 degrees respectively and the specificity was 0.93 and 0.79 respectively. The negative predictive value was high (0.99 and 0.95 respectively), but the respective positive predictive values were only 0.53 and 0.24. We conclude that the continuous measurement of the TcPCO2 is a valid additional tool to exclude fetal acidosis in most cases where fetal distress is indicated by the heart rate pattern but a TcPCO2 value above the cut-off point should be verified by an additional method to avoid unnecessary operative deliveries.