Significant Difference In Detection Rate Research Articles

Contamination Status and Serotypes Distribution of Salmonella in Food in Yantai City, China: A 14-Year Continuous Monitoring Study.

Salmonella is a foodborne zoonotic pathogen that threatens food safety and public health. However, few people have conducted long-term and systematic studies on Salmonella contamination in food in Yantai City. In order to investigate the situation of Salmonella contamination in food and improve the ability of early warning and control of foodborne diseases, a total of 3420 samples from 20 categories were collected from 13 monitoring points in Yantai City, from 2010 to 2023. The difference in detection rate and bacterial strain of different monitoring points, different types, and different sources of samples was compared. Of the 3420 samples, 80 were positive with a detection rate of 2.34%. Salmonella detection rates were significantly different for samples collected at different monitoring sites. Salmonella was detected only in meat and meat products and catering food, and none of the other types were detected. The detection rate of Salmonella was higher in raw animal meat and raw poultry. Samples collected at the market stage had the highest detection rate (5.81%), and there was a significant difference in detection rate between samples from different sources (χ2 = 36.93, p < 0.05). Eighty-one strains of Salmonella were detected out of 3420 samples (2 different strains were detected in 1 positive sample). The serological test identified 8 groups and 27 serotypes. The dominant serum groups were group B 30.86% (25/81), group E1 23.46% (19/81), and group D 16.05% (13/81). The main dominant serotypes were Salmonella give 17.28% (14/81), Salmonella enteritidis 16.05% (13/81), and Salmonella derby 13.58% (11/81). Meat and meat products and catering food were the main food products contaminated with Salmonella. The resulting secondary contamination is the hidden threat of foodborne diseases and should be given sufficient attention.

Associations between left-behind children’s characteristics and psychological symptoms: a cross-sectional study from China

BackgroundParent-child separation poses a significant challenge for left-behind children (LBC). However, limited empirical evidence exists regarding the correlation between left-behind characteristics and the psychological symptoms of LBC. This study investigated psychological symptoms among LBC and explored associations between left-behind characteristics and those symptoms.MethodsUsing stratified cluster sampling, 1,832 LBC aged 13–18 years from three cities in East China were selected for analysis. Participants’ depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 and the General Anxiety Disorder 7, respectively. Chi-square tests were used to compare differences in detection rates of psychological symptoms among LBC in different groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to infer associations between left-behind characteristics and psychological symptoms.ResultsDepression and anxiety symptoms were detected in 32.86% and 33.24%, respectively, of participating LBC. Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences in detection rates of depression symptoms by sex, grade, and timing of parent-child separation. Statistically significant differences were observed in anxiety symptom rates by sex, grade, type of caregiver, and timing of mother-child separation. Multivariate analysis indicated a positive association between LBC’s anxiety symptoms and mother-child separation that occurred during post-primary school, and type of caregiver (father only or mother only). Our findings confirm a positive association between left-behind characteristics and anxiety symptoms among LBC.ConclusionThe timing of mother-child separation and type of caregiver are potential risk factors for the development of anxiety symptoms in this population.

Imaging characteristics of gubernaculum tracts in patients with cleidocranial dysplasia: a computed tomography study

ObjectivesTo elucidate the imaging characteristics of the gubernaculum tract (GT) in patients with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) as visualized with computed tomography (CT). Study DesignThis was a retrospective analysis of the presence and shape of GTs of unerupted permanent teeth and supernumerary teeth on CT in 9 patients with CCD. ResultsThe overall GT detection rate for unerupted permanent teeth was 83.5% (81/97), with no significant difference between permanent teeth without and with adjacent supernumerary teeth (P=0.414). The overall GT detection rate for unerupted supernumerary teeth was 83.1% (49/59). Of the 156 total unerupted teeth analyzed, 83.3% (130/156) were judged to have GTs. No significant difference in detection rate of GTs was found between permanent and supernumerary teeth (P=1.000). A composite GT morphology consisted of a single tract for a permanent unerupted tooth with one or two supernumerary teeth in which the dental follicles of the permanent and supernumerary teeth were confluent. In total, 44 groups consisted of one permanent and one or two supernumerary teeth; 79.5% (35/44) had GTs. ConclusionsA specific composite structure of GTs and dental follicles may signify that two or three teeth are derived from a single dental lamina in patients with CCD. In such cases, tooth eruption may fail due to the presence of only one GT for multiple teeth.

Comparing Participation and Interim Effectiveness of Endoscopy and Biomarker-Based Screening for Gastric Cancer: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: To improve compliance with endoscopic screening for gastric cancer (GC), we assessed five biomarkers-pepsinogen I (PG I), pepsinogen II (PG II), PG I/II ratio, helicobacter pylori antibody (HP-Ab), and gastrin 17 (G17) - for secondary GC screening by comparing participation and effectiveness of traditional endoscopy and biomarker-based screening in a randomized trial with baseline results. Methods: Seventy-four communities were randomly assigned to traditional endoscopy arm (TEA) or biomarker-based endoscopy arm (BEA). TEA uses a questionnaire for risk assessment, and BEA combines a questionnaire with biomarker detection. High-risk individuals in both arms underwent endoscopic screening. Participation and interim screening effectiveness in two arms were reported with baseline analysis. Results: In total, 5,798 participants in TEA and 5,158 in BEA were recruited, with a participation rate of 26.9%. BEA showed a significantly lower high-risk rate than TEA (15.2% vs. 38.9%) and a higher endoscopic participation rate for high-risk individuals (64.9% vs. 53.0%). The endoscopic screening results showed that there was no significant difference in detection rate of GC abnormalities between the two arms. Education level, frequent drinking, hot, rough and hard food consumption, family history of GC, and history of reflux esophagitis or gastropathy influenced participation rates in biomarker-based screening. Age group, sex and regular consumption of meat, eggs and milk products were associated with stomach abnormalities.Cumulative incidence and specific death rates did not significantly differ in intention-to-screen and per-protocol analyses. Conclusions: Biomarker-based screening effectively identifies high-risk individuals and increases endoscopic participation, providing value insights for improving screening efficiency as a secondary procedure.

HPV DNA Testing and Mobile Colposcopy for Cervical Precancer Screening in HIV Positive Women: A Comparison Between Two Settings in Ghana and Recommendation for Screening.

Women living with HIV (WLHIV) have higher prevalence and persistence rates of high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) infection with a six-fold increased risk of cervical cancer. Thus, more frequent screening is recommended for WLHIV. This retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate and compare the prevalence of hr-HPV infection and abnormal findings on mobile colposcopy in two cohorts of WLHIV following cervical screening in rural and urban settings in Ghana. Through the mPharma 10 000 Women Initiative, WLHIV were screened via concurrent hr-HPV DNA testing (MA-6000; Sansure Biotech Inc., Hunan, China) and visual inspection (Enhanced Visual Assessment [EVA] mobile colposcope; MobileODT, Tel Aviv, Israel) by trained nurses. The women were screened while undergoing routine outpatient reviews at HIV clinics held at the Catholic Hospital, Battor (rural setting) and Tema General Hospital (urban setting), both in Ghana. Two-hundred and fifty-eight WLHIV were included in the analysis (rural, n = 132; urban, n = 126). The two groups were comparable in terms of age, time since HIV diagnosis, and duration of treatment for HIV. The hr-HPV prevalence rates were 53.7% (95% CI, 45.3-62.3) and 48.4% (95% CI, 39.7-57.1) among WLHIV screened in the rural vs urban settings (p-value = .388). Abnormal colposcopy findings were found in 8.5% (95% CI, 5.1-11.9) of the WLHIV, with no significant difference in detection rates between the two settings (p-value = .221). Three (13.6%) of 22 women who showed abnormal colposcopic findings underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), leaving 19/22 women from both rural and urban areas with pending treatment/follow-up results, which demonstrates the difficulty faced in reaching early diagnosis and treatment, regardless of their area of residence. Histopathology following LEEP revealed CIN III in 2 WLHIV (urban setting, both hr-HPV negative) and CIN I in 1 woman in the rural setting (hr-HPV positive). There is a high prevalence of hr-HPV among WLHIV in both rural and urban settings in this study in Ghana. Concurrent HPV DNA testing with a visual inspection method (colposcopy/VIA) reduces loss to follow-up compared to performing HPV DNA testing as a standalone test and recalling hr-HPV positive women for follow up with a visual inspection method. Concurrent HPV DNA testing and a visual inspection method may also pick up precancerous cervical lesions that are hr-HPV negative and may be missed if HPV DNA testing is performed alone.

Study on the Effect of Bee Strain and Pollination Method on the Hygienic Behavior of Honey Bee Colonies Tested by Liquid Nitrogen Freezing Method

Bee queen breeding was conducted for local and Carniolan honey bee strains, as well as hybrids resulting from cross-pollination, using both natural and artificial insemination methods. The hygienic behavior test was conducted using liquid nitrogen freezing method. The results showed that the hybrid bee strain T3 outperformed with detection and removal rates of 92.66% and 87.50% respectively, 48 hours after the study, regardless of the insemination method. The results also demonstrated the superiority of the natural insemination method, regardless of the studied strain, with detection and removal rates of 85.66% and 78.66% respectively, 48 hours after the killing process. The results also showed the interaction between the bee strain and the insemination method, 48 hours after the killing process, with significant superiority for treatment T2A1 in terms of detection and removal rates at 98.00% and 96.66% respectively. It was followed by treatment T3A2, which had no significant difference in detection rate (94.33%) and a removal rate of 89.00%, which was not significantly different from treatment T3A1 with a removal rate of 86.00%.

Incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated genetic variants: a clinic-based study.

This study is to determine the incidence of genetic forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in clinic-based population. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of whole exome sequencing (WES) was conducted among a total of 374 patients with definite or probable ALS to identify ALS-associated genes based on ALSoD database ( https://alsod.ac.uk ) [2023-07-01]. Variants of ALS-associated genes were detected in 54.01% (202/374) ALS patients, among which 8.29% (31/374) were pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP). The detection rates of P/LP variants were significantly higher in familial ALS than sporadic ALS (42.31% vs 5.75%, p < 0.001), while VUS mutations were more commonly detected in sporadic ALS (23.07% vs 47.13%, p = 0.018). There is no significant difference in detection rate between patients with and without early onset (8.93% vs 7.77%), rapid progression (9.30% vs 8.91%), cognitive decline (15.00% vs 7.93%), and cerebellar ataxia (20.00% vs 8.15%) (p > 0.05). Over half of our ALS patients carried variants of ALS-related genes, most of which were variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Family history of ALS could work as strong evidence for carrying P/LP variants regarding ALS. There was no additionally suggestive effect of indicators including early onset, progression rate, cognitive decline, or cerebellar ataxia on the recommendation of genetic testing in clinical practice.

Independent evaluation of a DNA microarray system for Salmonella detection in ground beef

A new DNA microarray test kit has been developed to detect foodborne pathogens in various food matrices. This study focuses on evaluating the PathogenDx microarray-based system to detect Salmonella in ground beef and verify critical parameters that could interfere with the method's effectiveness, such as enrichment incubation time, ground beef fat content, inclusivity, exclusivity, and analytical sensitivity. Sample preparation protocols were evaluated at 6, 8, 12, 18, and 24 h enrichment times at varying bacterial levels to identify optimal conditions to detect the invA gene using the PathogenDx microarray. An 8 h enrichment step was selected based on 100% detection when initial inoculum levels were ≥5 CFU/g, and fractional detection was achieved when the concentration was as low as 1 CFU/g. Thus, the detection of Salmonella using the PathogenDx microarray system can be conducted in 12.5 h, including sample preparation, labeling PCR, hybridization, and analysis. Regarding fat content, there was no significant difference in detection rates of PathogenDx protocol among the highest and lowest commercially sold lean-to-fat ratios of ground beef. Inclusivity and exclusivity experiments showed that Salmonella was correctly identified 100% of the time. Using the ground beef matrix, PathogenDx method is comparable to the United States Department of Agriculture's Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook methodology for detection, which correctly identified Salmonella in 100% of the samples. Salmonella was detected between 93.33 and 100% when ground beef was inoculated with 1 and 5 CFU/g, respectively.

B-326 Home Collected Oral Fluid Specimens Are a Viable Option for Telemedicine Based Toxicology Testing

Abstract Background A standard treatment for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) consisting of a buprenorphine-naloxone combination medication. Typically, a urine specimen is collected during the in-office visit for the patient to receive MAT. Urine drug testing (UDT) ensures compliance and adherence with the treatment protocol and is often mandated for MAT. However, access to in-office visits and the ability to provide a specimen for UDT can be problematic for individuals undergoing MAT for SUD due to factors such as limited access to reliable transportation or distance to facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has eased restrictions around telemedicine, including for the administration of MAT. Telemedicine can be a valuable tool to provide greater access to MAT for individuals by removing transportation barriers to treatment. Gravity Diagnostics partnered with various facilities to provide a telemedicine observed oral fluid toxicology (OFT) collection process. To understand if telemedicine OFT could provide the same information as in-office collected specimens, we compared telemedicine OFT to in-office OFT specimens and for one facility telemedicine-OFT to in-office UDT. Methods Gravity Diagnostics provides OFT through LC-MS/MS quantitative testing for over 72 analytes. Using a deidentified data set from our LIS, we identified OFT specimens that were collected either in-office or through telemedicine during a 6 month period. The ability to determine the effectiveness of telemedicine OFT was measured by examining the unexpected positivity rate of 72 analytes when compared to in-office OFT. We used 2-way ANOVA to determine if the detection rate of unexpected analytes between two collection methods were significantly different. Additionally, we identified a facility that conducted in-office UDT and telemedicine OFT on the same patient population. These data were compared in a similar manner with the unexpected positivity rate for 47 analytes subjected to 2-way ANOVA. Results When the unexpected detection rates between the in-office and telemedicine OFT were compared with a 2-way ANOVA, a P-value of 0.554 was found between the collection methods. This result indicated that the detection rates of unexpected analytes between the in-office and telemedicine collections were not significantly different. Similarly, when the unexpected detection rates between the UDT and the telemedicine-OFT were compared, a P-value of 0.391 was found between the collection methods. This result indicated that the detection rates between in office UDT and telemedicine OFT were not significantly different when compared within the same patient population. Conclusion Our data showed that telemedicine-OFT are comparable to in-office OFT for the detection of unexpected positive analytes. In addition, when the same patient population was tested by either telemedicine-OFT or in-office UDT, no significant difference in detection rates of unexpected positives is observed. Therefore, we are confident that we can utilize telemedicine-OFT to provide greater access to health care for patients undergoing MAT for SUD.

Exome sequencing improves genetic diagnosis of congenital orofacial clefts.

Objective: This retrospective study aims to evaluate the utility of exome sequencing (ES) in identifying genetic causes of congenital orofacial clefts (OFCs) in fetuses with or without other structural abnormalities, and to further explore congenital OFCs genetic causes. Methods: The study enrolled 107 singleton pregnancies diagnosed with fetal OFCs between January 2016 and May 2022, and categorized them into two groups: isolated cleft lip and/or palate (CL/CP) and syndromic CL/CP. Cases with positive karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis results were excluded. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on eligible fetuses and their parents. Monogenic variants identified by ES and perinatal outcomes were recorded and evaluated during postnatal follow-up. Results: Clinically significant variants were identified in 11.2% (12/107) of fetuses, with no significant difference in detection rate between the isolated CL/CP group and the syndromic CL/CP group (8/83, 9.6% vs. 4/24, 16.7%, p = 0.553). Additionally, sixteen (16/107, 15.0%) fetuses had variants of uncertain significance. We identified 12 clinically significant variations that correlated with clinical phenotypes in 11 genes from 12 fetuses, with CHD7 being the most frequently implicated gene (n = 2). Furthermore, we observed a significant difference in termination rates and survival rates between the isolated CL/CP and syndromic CL/CP groups (41.0% vs. 70.8% and 56.6% vs. 20.8%, p < 0.05 for both). Conclusion: Based on our findings, it is clear that ES provides a significant increase in diagnostic yield for the molecular diagnosis of congenital OFCs, thereby substantially improving the existing prenatal diagnostic capabilities. This study also sheds light on seven novel pathogenic variants, broadening our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of OFCs and expanding the disease spectrums of relevant genes.

Feasibility and Performance of Free-Hand Single-Photon Computed Tomography/Ultrasonography for Preoperative Parathyroid Adenoma Localization: A Pilot Study.

The aim of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of a new hybrid imaging modality, free-hand single-photon computed tomography/ultrasonography (fhSPECT/US), for preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas and to compare its performance with conventional ultrasonography and SPECT/CT. Twelve patients diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent sequentially US and parathyroid scintigraphy, including SPECT/CT, followed by fhSPECT/US, allowing for real-time fusion between US and freehand-generated gamma-camera images. The fhSPECT/US detection rates were correlated with histopathology, when available, or with the imaging modality showing the most lesions. Based on a per patient analysis, the detection rate was significantly different when comparing SPECT/CT to fhSPECT/US (p = 0.03), and not significantly different when comparing SPECT/CT to US (p = 0.16) and US to fhSPECT/US (p = 0.08). Based on a per-lesion analysis, the detection rate of SPECT/CT was significantly higher than that of US (p = 0.01) and fhSEPCT/US (p = 0.003), and there was no significant difference in detection rate when comparing US to fhSPECT/US (p = 0.08). The main perceived limitations of fhSPECT/US in lesion detection were: (i) lesions localized at a depth ≥4.5 cm; (ii) imperfect image fusion due to tissue compression; (iii) limited spatial manipulation ability of the SPECT mobile camera handheld probe; and (iv) a wide spread of detected activity. In conclusion, clinical use of fhSPECT/US for localization of parathyroid adenomas is feasible, but shows lower sensitivity than conventional modalities and requires technical improvements.

Comparative analysis of the mutation detection using malignant pleural effusion and blood cell-free DNA samples in lung cancer.

e20518 Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is an abnormal amount of fluid to collect between the chest wall and the lung, and it denotes an advanced malignant disease process. MPE presents a severe medical condition which can result in breathlessness, pain, cachexia and reduced physical activity. MPE is considered to bear cancer signatures because it contains tumor cells released from malignancies, thus can be applied in high-throughput sequencing for cancer screening. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in blood consists of small fragments released from apoptotic cells or cancer cells, and pathological conditions can influence this process. Therefore, detection of cfDNA in peripheral blood can identify abnormalities of individuals in a noninvasive manner. Here, we wonder the difference of MPE and cfDNA in lung cancer-related mutation detection. Methods: In this study, MPE and blood samples from 216 patients with late-stage lung cancer were collected and applied to library construction and next-generation sequencing. All samples were collected during August 2018 to December 2022. We focused on the key mutations in cancer-causing genes and drug treatment-related genes (e.g., EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, ERBB2, etc.). Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the detection results between MPE and cfDNA samples by Fisher’s exact test. Results: Among the 216 patients, 60 patients (60/216 = 27.8%) were identified as negative detection with no mutation detected in cancer-causing genes in MPE and blood samples. Of the remaining 156 pairs of samples, there were 118 (118/216 = 54.6%) pairs showing the positive detection in both MPE and blood samples. 12 patients (12/216 = 5.6%) demonstrated the positive detection in blood samples while negative detection in MPE samples. The other 26 patients (26/216 = 12%) demonstrated the positive detection in MPE but negative detection in blood samples. There is no significant difference in detection rates between two types of samples (p = 0.194). Similarity, we next focused on the mutations in drug treatment-related genes and identified 91 patients (91/216 = 42.1%) as negative detection. There were 85 patients (85/216 = 39.4%) showing the same positive detection both in MPE and blood samples. 13 patients (13/216 = 6%) demonstrated the positive detection in blood samples but negative detection in MPE samples. The other 27 patients (27/216 = 12.5%) demonstrated the positive detection in MPE but negative detection in blood samples. No significant difference in detection rates was observed between two types of samples (p = 0.211). Conclusions: The mutation detection results in MPE and blood samples turned out to be consistent in most conditions, suggesting an alternative application of MPE or blood samples in cancer screening. Nonetheless, it is still valuable to integrate the information in both MPE and blood samples for a higher detection sensitivity.

Screening the key pathogenic mutations in Chinese patients with colorectal cancers using liquid and tissue biopsy.

e15637 Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Over the past decades, significant progress has been made in the clinical treatment of CRC. Targeted therapy is an optional approach that has successfully prolonged overall survival for CRC patients. It is necessary to determine the personalized targets for guiding the usage of specific drugs, which requires biopsy to obtain pathological samples for analysis. Both tissue biopsy and liquid biopsy are commonly used in clinical diagnosis, while each has its own advantages and limitations. The mutation detection rate of tissue biopsy is usually higher, and more genes can be detected, but most tissue biopsies require surgery to obtain samples and may be biased due to the intra-tumor heterogeneity. Liquid biopsy is less harmful to patients, but the detection sensitivity is much lower than tissue biopsy. Methods: In this study, 353 paraffin tissue section samples were used as tissue biopsy samples and 112 blood samples were used as liquid biopsy samples. All samples are from Chinese patients and are collected from December 2021 to August 2022. Whole-genome sequencing was performed, and several processes have been conducted to eliminate noise, duplicates and reads with low depth, therefore the gene mutations detected in the samples were considerably reliable. We selected APC, TP53, KRAS, PIK3CA and BRAF as the key pathogenic genes for CRC, analyzed the mutation detection results in tissue and blood samples. The detection difference between two types of biopsies was assessed using Pearson's Chi-squared test. Results: Among all samples, 21 (5.95%) tissue biopsy samples and 37 (33.04%) liquid biopsy samples did not contain any key pathogenic genes. For all biopsy samples, the detection rates for APC in tissue biopsy samples (n = 236, 66.86%) and liquid biopsy samples (n = 49, 43.75%) demonstrate significant difference (p = 2.02e-05). The differential detection rates were also observed in TP53 (n = 223 vs. n = 51, 63.17% vs. 45.54%, p = 0.0014) and KRAS (n = 183 vs. n = 39, 51.84% vs. 34.82%, p = 0.0024). There is no significant difference in detection rates of PIK3CA (n = 77 vs. n = 15, 21.81% vs. 13.39%, p = 0.0699) and BRAF. Only 25 (7.08%) tissue biopsy samples and 8 (7.14%) liquid biopsy samples were found to detect BRAF (p = 1). Conclusions: Generally, there is no doubt that the overall detection sensitivity of tissue biopsy is higher than that of liquid biopsy for CRC, and our analysis provided the statistical support. But for some relatively rare disease-causing genes, there is not much difference between the two biopsy methods. For patients, tissue biopsies can be more painful than liquid biopsies, so how to improve the detection of liquid biopsy in CRC is still a subject that requires efforts.

Preparticipation Screening of Athletes: The Prevalence of Positive Family History

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a leading cause of death among athletes, and those with a positive family history (FH) of SCD and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be at increased risk. The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and predictors of positive FH of SCD and CVD in athletes using four widely used preparticipation screening (PPS) systems. The secondary objective was to compare the functionality of the screening systems. In a cohort of 13,876 athletes, 1.28% had a positive FH in at least one PPS system. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the maximum heart rate as significantly associated with positive FH (OR = 1.042, 95% CI = 1.027-1.056, p < 0.001). The highest prevalence of positive FH was found using the PPE-4 system (1.20%), followed by FIFA, AHA, and IOC systems (1.11%, 0.89%, and 0.71%, respectively). In conclusion, the prevalence of positive FH for SCD and CVD in Czech athletes was found to be 1.28%. Furthermore, positive FH was associated with a higher maximum heart rate at the peak of the exercise test. The findings of this study revealed significant differences in detection rates between PPS protocols, so further research is needed to determine the optimal method of FH collection.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Angiography Versus Catheter Angiography for Annual Follow-up of Pediatric Moyamoya Patients: A Cost Outcomes Analysis.

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) assesses revascularization in pediatric moyamoya patients after surgery, but MRI and angiography (MRI/A) may provide comparable data. To evaluate DSA and MRI/A with respect to clinical utility in postoperative follow-up, complication profile, and relative cost at 1 year. All pediatric moyamoya patients who received bilateral indirect revascularization between 2011 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed at 1 institution. Patients who underwent MRI/A-only, DSA-only, or both after 1 year were compared. Eighty-two patients were included. At 1 year, patients who underwent either MRI/A (n = 29) or DSA (n = 40) had no significant differences in detection rate of new at-risk hypovascular territories (6.9% vs 2.5%, P = .568) or need for subsequent revascularization beyond the mean 40 ± 24-month follow-up period (3.4% vs 5.0%, P > .9). Among patients who underwent both MRI/A and DSA (n = 13), both studies identified the same at-risk territories. No patients experienced MRI/A-related complications, compared with 3 minor DSA-related complications. The use of MRI/A yielded a 6.5-fold reduction in cost per study vs DSA at 1 year. Using DSA to follow moyamoya patients after indirect revascularization is generally safe but associated with a low rate of minor complications and a 6.5-fold greater financial cost relative to MRI/A. These data support changing practice to eliminate the use of DSA when following routine bilateral moyamoya cases in the absence of clinical symptoms or specific concerns. Using MRI/A as the primary postoperative follow-up modality in this select population provides noninferior care and greater patient access, while reducing cost and potentially decreasing risk.

A New Culture Method for the Detection of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria in Water Samples from Heater-Cooler Units and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Machines.

The isolation of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from cultures is particularly laborious due to the potential overgrowth of coexisting non-acid fast bacilli. To reduce the overgrowth of these non-mycobacterial organisms, a decontamination step with NaOH or cetylpyridinium chloride is highly recommended before plating the samples on the culture medium. However, due to their toxicity, decontamination solutions tend to decrease NTM recovery from clinical and environmental samples. Here, we tested an alternative method for NTM recovery based on the use of NTM Elite agar, a selective medium that does not require a decontamination step. Using NTM Elite agar, we were able to detect non-tuberculous mycobacteria in 27.7% (30/108) of water samples analyzed. The average time to NTM detection was 18 days, but some strains required longer to grow, perhaps due to the stressful environmental conditions (periodical disinfection of devices). NTM Elite agar’s effectiveness in inhibiting background flora was proven by the isolation of NTM from samples with and without background flora, showing no statistically significant differences in detection rates for different total viable counts of background flora (p = 0.4989). In conclusion, our findings indicate that effective NTM recovery from HCU- and ECMO-derived water samples can be achieved via filtration and direct culture of the filters on NTM Elite agar. This simple procedure can speed up laboratory work and provide an improved method, successfully resulting in low contamination and high detection rate, in addition to being less time-consuming. Its sensitivity and lack of a decontamination step make this protocol particularly useful for monitoring the effectiveness of device disinfection in hospital settings, even in the presence of low NTM loads. Reading timeframes should probably be extended to 7 weeks (i.e., well beyond the standard 4 weeks advised by the manufacturer), in order to isolate even the slow-growing mycobacteria. However, an extended incubation period is not necessary for exclusion of M. chimaera contamination of the devices, as M. chimaera isolation times do not generally exceed 3 weeks.

Efficacy comparison among high risk factors questionnaire and Asia-Pacific colorectal screening score and their combinations with fecal immunochemical test in screening advanced colorectal tumor

Efficacy comparison among high risk factors questionnaire and Asia-Pacific colorectal screening score and their combinations with fecal immunochemical test in screening advanced colorectal tumor

18F-rhPSMA-7 PET for the Detection of Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer After Curative-Intent Radiation Therapy: A Bicentric Retrospective Study.

This bicentric, retrospective analysis investigated the efficacy of PET/CT with a novel theranostic prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)--targeting ligand, 18F-rhPSMA-7, in patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer after curative-intent primary radiotherapy. Methods: Datasets from patients with BCR of prostate cancer after external-beam radiation therapy or brachytherapy who underwent 18F-rhPSMA-7 PET/CT at either Technical University Munich or Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich were retrospectively reviewed by experienced nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists at both centers. The median injected activity was 299 MBq (range, 204-420 MBq), and the median uptake time was 77 min (range, 46-120 min). All lesions suggestive of recurrent prostate cancer were noted. Detection rates were correlated with patients' prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, primary Gleason score, and prior use of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT). Results: Ninety-seven patients were included (65 at Technical University Munich and 32 at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich). The median prescan PSA was 4.19 ng/mL (range, 0.1-159 ng/mL). The primary Gleason score was ≤6 in 19 patients, 7 in 25, ≥8 in 33, and unknown in 20. Thirty patients received ADT in the 6 mo preceding PET/CT. 18F-rhPSMA-7 identified lesions in 91 of 97 (94%) patients. Detection rates stratified by PSA were 88% (22/25), 97% (30/31), 90% (19/21), and 100% (20/20) for a PSA of <2, 2-<5, 5-<10, and ≥10 ng/mL, respectively. Detection rates in the subgroup of patients not meeting the Phoenix criteria for BCR were 80% (4/5), 90% (9/10), 100% (4/4), and 83% (5/6) for a PSA of <0.5, 0.5-<1, 1-<1.5, and 1.5-2 ng/mL, respectively. There were no significant differences in detection rates between patients with and without prior ADT (100% vs. 91%, P = 0.173) or patients with a Gleason score of ≤7 and a Gleason score of ≥8 (98% vs. 91%, P = 0.316).18F-rhPSMA-7 revealed local recurrence in 80% (78/97); pelvic lymph node metastases in 38% (37/97); retroperitoneal and supradiaphragmatic lymph node metastases in 9% (9/97) and 4% (4/97), respectively; bone metastases in 27% (26/97); and visceral metastases in 3% (3/97). In the subgroup of patients with a PSA of <2 ng/mL above nadir, local recurrence occurred in 76% (19/25) and pelvic lymph node metastases in 36% (9/25). Conclusion:18F-rhPSMA-7 PET/CT demonstrates high detection rates in prostate cancer patients with BCR after primary radiation therapy, even at low PSA values. Its diagnostic efficacy is comparable to published data for other PSMA ligands.

Detection Rate of Bird Species and What It Depends on: Tips for Field Surveys

Bird counting inevitably suffers from imperfect detection, which varies across species, habitats, period of the day, and seasons. Although various modeling techniques have recently been developed to account for this phenomenon, the biological basis of natural variation in detection remains insufficiently known. This study examined the bird species’ detection rate throughout the day, considering their body mass and diet type, concerning the environment and weather characteristics. Species detection rates were significantly affected by the number of individuals of that species but were unrelated to body mass. Overall, species with the highest detection rate were Corn bunting, Blackbird, European robin, House sparrow and Common chiffchaff. Granivores-insectivores and insectivores showed significant differences in detection rates throughout the day among habitats, with higher detection rates in grasslands during the afternoon. Insectivores showed higher detection rates in farmland during midday (warmest time of the day). Granivores, omnivores and scavengers did not show changes in detection rates in different day periods. Such patterns in daily detection rates were significant even when considering abundance and total species richness in each community. Finally, cloudiness was unrelated to the overall detection rate of birds, while temperature and wind affected detection rates in some guilds. Our findings provide some advice for choosing a suitable ornithological sampling method by considering the avian communities composition in combination with the type of environment, the diet of bird species, and the period of the day.

Body CT and PET/CT detection of extracranial lymphoma in patients with newly diagnosed central nervous system lymphoma.

We aimed to investigate the detection rate of body CT or PET/CT for sites of extracranial disease in patients with a new pathological diagnosis of CNS DLBCL and to identify factors associated with sites of extracranial disease. An international multicenter cohort study of consecutive immunocompetent patients with a new diagnosis of CNS DLBCL confirmed by brain biopsy who underwent CT and/or PET/CT to evaluate for sites of extracranial disease between 1998 and 2019. The primary outcome was the detection rate of extracranial lymphoma by CT or PET/CT. Subgroup analyses according to age and EBV status were also performed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors related to sites of extracranial disease. Detection rates of CT and PET/CT were compared. One thousand and forty-three patients were included. The overall detection rate of CT or PET/CT was 2.6% (27/1043). The treatment approach was adjusted in 74% of these patients. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that age >61 years (OR, 3.10; P = .016) and EBV positivity (OR, 3.78; P = .045) were associated with greater odds of extracranial lymphoma. There was no statistically significant difference in detection rate between CT and PET/CT (P = .802). In patients ≤61 years old, the false-referral rates were significantly higher than the detection rates (P < .001). Our results showed increased odds of extracranial lymphoma in patients with older age or EBV-positive lymphoma. Treatment was adjusted in a majority of patients diagnosed with extracranial lymphoma, thereby supporting the current guidelines for the use of contrast-enhanced body CT or PET/CT in patients with newly diagnosed CNS DLBCL.