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Screening Data (screening + data)
Selected AbstractsComparison of different methods of bacterial detection in blood componentsISBT SCIENCE SERIES: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTRACELLULAR TRANSPORT, Issue 1 2009M. Schmidt Background, Over the last two decades, the residual risk of acquiring a transfusion-transmitted viral infection has been reduced to less than 1 : 1 000 000 via improvements in different techniques (e.g. donor selection, leuco-depletion, introduction of 3rd or 4th generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and mini-pool nucleic acid testing (MP-NAT). In contrast, the risk for transfusion-associated bacterial infections has remained fairly stable, and is estimated to be in a range between 1 : 2000 and 1 : 3000. Platelets are at an especially higher risk for bacterial contamination, because they are stored at room temperature, which provides good culture conditions for a broad range of bacterial strains. To improve bacterial safety of blood products, different detection systems have been developed that can be divided into culture systems like BacT/ALERT or Pall eBDS, rapid detection systems like NAT systems, immunoassays and systems based on the FACS technique. Culture systems are used for routine bacterial screening of platelets in many countries, whereas rapid detection systems so far are mainly used in experimental spiking studies. Nevertheless, pathogen-reduction systems are currently available for platelet concentrates and plasma, and are under investigation for erythrocytes. Methods, In this review, the functional principles of the different assays are described and discussed with regard to their analytical sensitivity, analytical specificity, diagnostic sensitivity, diagnostic specificity and clinical efficiency. The detection methods were clustered into three groups: (i) detection systems currently used for routine screening of blood products, (ii) experimental detection systems ready to use for routine screening of blood products, and (iii) new experimental detection systems that need to be investigated in additional spiking studies and clinical trials. Results, A recent International Society of Blood Transfusion international forum reported on bacterial detection methods in 12 countries. Eight countries have implemented BacT/ALERT into blood donor screening, whereas in three countries only quality controls were done by culture methods. In one country, shelf-life was reduced to 3 days, so no bacterial screening was implemented. Screening data with culture methods can be used to investigate the prevalence of bacterial contamination in platelets. Differing results between the countries could be explained by different test definitions and different test strategies. Nevertheless, false-negative results causing severe transfusion-related septic reactions have been reported all over the world due to a residual risk of sample errors. Rapid screening systems NAT and FACS assays have improved over the last few years and are now ready to be implemented in routine screening. Non-specific amplification in NAT can be prevented by pre-treatment with Sau3AI, filtration of NAT reagents, or reduction of the number of polymerase chain reaction cycles. FACS systems offer easy fully automated handling and a handling time of only 5 min, which could be an option for re-testing day-5 platelets. New screening approaches like immunoassays, detection of bacterial adenosine triphosphate, or detection of esterase activity need to be investigated in additional studies. Conclusion, Bacterial screening of blood products, especially platelets, can be done with a broad range of technologies. The ideal system should be able to detect one colony-forming unit per blood bag without a delay in the release process. Currently, we are far away from such an ideal screening system. Nevertheless, pathogen-inactivation systems are available, but a system for all blood components will not be expected in the next few years. Therefore, existing culture systems should be complemented by rapid systems like NAT or FACS especially for day-5 platelets. [source] Synthesis and evaluation of novel ferrocene-substituted triadimenol analoguesAPPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2006Jianxin Fang Abstract In search of potent 1H -1,2,4-triazole derivatives with improving antifungal activity, a class of novel ferrocene,triadimenol analogues was synthesized and their biological potential evaluated. Screening data revealed that these new derivatives did not have the antifungal activities of parent compounds, but showed unexpectedly promising plant growth regulatory activity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dutch solutions for liquid-based cytology: Analysis of unsatisfactory slides and HPV testing of equivocal cytologyDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 9 2006Mathilde E. Boon M.D., Ph.D. Abstract The liquid-based techniques to obtain microscopy slides for cervical screening have replaced conventional smears almost completely in the USA, but not in all European countries. The decision making process to use liquid-based cytology (LBC) for nationwide screening programs depends on the health system. In a pilot study of over 7,000 screenees, we analyzed the unsatisfactory LBC slides and tested the equivocal cytologies for HPV by using the LiPA test. For comparison over 48,000 conventional screening data were used. Compared to conventional smears, the LBC slides were highly cellular, the state of fixation was much better, and obscuring blood did not exist. The unsatisfactory rate showed an increase from 262/100,000 (conventional smears) to 357/100,000 (LBC slides) due to too thick, undiagnosable epithelial fragments on the LBC slides. HPV testing of the equivocal cytology leads to a better patient management and less unnecessary referrals. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2006;34:644,648. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Quinolone analogues 10: Synthesis of antimalarial quinolones having pyridyl moiety in N1-side chainJOURNAL OF HETEROCYCLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2010Yoshihisa Kurasawa Novel 4-quinolone-3-carboxylates 6,7 and 4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acids 8,11 were synthesized from 4-hydroxyquinoline-3-carboxylates. Ethyl 1-[1-ethoxycarbonyl-2-(4-pyridyl)vinyl]-6-fluoro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylate 7a was found to show antimalarial activity from the screening data. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2010). [source] PETROLEUM POTENTIAL, THERMAL MATURITY AND THE OIL WINDOW OF OIL SHALES AND COALS IN CENOZOIC RIFT BASINS, CENTRAL AND NORTHERN THAILANDJOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 4 2006H. I. Petersen Oil shales and coals occur in Cenozoic rift basins in central and northern Thailand. Thermally immature outcrops of these rocks may constitute analogues for source rocks which have generated oil in several of these rift basins. A total of 56 oil shale and coal samples were collected from eight different basins and analysed in detail in this study. The samples were analysed for their content of total organic carbon (TOC) and elemental composition. Source rock quality was determined by Rock-Eval pyrolysis. Reflected light microscopy was used to analyse the organic matter (maceral) composition of the rocks, and the thermal maturity was determined by vitrinite reflectance (VR) measurements. In addition to the 56 samples, VR measurements were carried out in three wells from two oil-producing basins and VR gradients were constructed. Rock-Eval screening data from one of the wells is also presented. The oil shales were deposited in freshwater (to brackish) lakes with a high preservation potential (TOC contents up to 44.18 wt%). They contain abundant lamalginite and principally algal-derived fluorescing amorphous organic matter followed by liptodetrinite and telalginite (Botryococcus-type). Huminite may be present in subordinate amounts. The coals are completely dominated by huminite and were formed in freshwater mires. VR values from 0.38 to 0.47%Ro show that the exposed coals are thermally immature. VR values from the associated oil shales are suppressed by 0.11 to 0.28%Ro. The oil shales have H/C ratios >1.43, and Hydrogen Index (HI) values are generally >400 mg HC/g TOC and may reach 704 mg HC/ gTOC. In general, the coals have H/C ratios between about 0.80 and 0.90, and the HI values vary considerably from approximately 50 to 300 mg HC/gTOC. The HImax of the coals, which represent the true source rock potential, range from ,160 to 310 mg HC/g TOC indicating a potential for oil/gas and oil generation. The steep VR curves from the oil-producing basins reflect high geothermal gradients of ,62°C/km and ,92°C/km. The depth to the top oil window for the oil shales at a VR of ,0.70%Ro is determined to be between ,1100 m and 1800 m depending on the geothermal gradient. The kerogen composition of the oil shales and the high geothermal gradients result in narrow oil windows, possibly spanning only ,300 to 400 m in the warmest basins. The effective oil window of the coals is estimated to start from ,0.82 to 0.98%Ro and burial depths of ,1300 to 1400 m (,92°C/km) and ,2100 to 2300 m (,62°C/km) are necessary for efficient oil expulsion to occur. [source] SOURCE ROCK PROPERTIES OF LACUSTRINE MUDSTONES AND COALS (OLIGOCENE DONG HO FORMATION), ONSHORE SONG HONG BASIN, NORTHERN VIETNAMJOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 1 2005H. I. Petersen Oligocene lacustrine mudstones and coals of the Dong Ho Formation outcropping around Dong Ho, at the northern margin of the mainly offshore Cenozoic Song Hong Basin (northern Vietnam), include highly oil-prone potential source rocks. Mudstone and coal samples were collected and analysed for their content of total organic carbon and total sulphur, and source rock screening data were obtained by Rock-Eval pyrolysis. The organic matter composition in a number of samples was analysed by reflected light microscopy. In addition, two coal samples were subjected to progressive hydrous pyrolysis in order to study their oil generation characteristics, including the compositional evolution in the extracts from the pyrolysed samples. The organic material in the mudstones is mainly composed of fluorescing amorphous organic matter, liptodetrinite and alginite with Botryococcus-morphology (corresponding to Type I kerogen). The mudstones contain up to 19.6 wt.% TOC and Hydrogen Index values range from 436,572 mg HC/g TOC. From a pyrolysis S2 versus TOC plot it is estimated that about 55% of the mudstones'TOC can be pyrolised into hydrocarbons; the plot also suggests that a minimum content of only 0.5 wt.% TOC is required to saturate the source rock to the expulsion threshold. Humic coals and coaly mudstones have Hydrogen Index values of 318,409 mg HC/g TOC. They are dominated by huminite (Type III kerogen) and generally contain a significant proportion of terrestrial-derived liptodetrinite. Upon artificial maturation by hydrous pyrolysis, the coals generate significant quantities of saturated hydrocarbons, which are probably expelled at or before a maturity corresponding to a vitrinite reflectance of 0.97%R0. This is earlier than previously indicated from Dong Ho Formation coals with a lower source potential. The composition of a newly discovered oil (well B10-STB-1x) at the NE margin of the Song Hong Basin is consistent with contributions from both source rocks, and is encouraging for the prospectivity of offshore half-grabens in the Song Hong Basin. [source] Combined Use of PCA and QSAR/QSPR to Predict the Drugs Mechanism of Action.MOLECULAR INFORMATICS, Issue 4 2009An Application to the NCI ACAM Database Abstract During the years the National Cancer Institute (NCI) accumulated an enormous amount of information through the application of a complex protocol of drugs screening involving several tumor cell lines, grouped into panels according to the disease class. The Anti-cancer Agent Mechanism (ACAM) database is a set of 122 compounds with anti-cancer activity and a reasonably well known mechanism of action, for which are available drug screening data that measure their ability to inhibit growth of a panel of 60 human tumor lines, explicitly designed as a training set for neural network and multivariate analysis. The aim of this work is to adapt a methodology (previously developed for the analysis of DNA minor groove binders) for the analysis of NCI ACAM database, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and QSAR/QSPR for the prediction of the mechanism of action of anti-cancer drugs. The entire database was splitted in a training set of 60 structures and a test set of 48 ones, and each set was expressed in form of a matrix on which further procedures were performed. Three statistical parameters were calculated: First Attempt of Prediction (FAP) expresses the percentage of correct predictions at first attempt, Total Attempt of Prediction (TAP) expresses the total percentage of correct predictions across all the three attempts, Non-Classified (NC) expresses the percentage of compounds whose mechanism of action has failed to be predicted. The predictive ability of this approach is variable, but the results obtained are generally good; using 50% Growth Inhibiting concentration (GI50) values as training data, we were able to assign a correct mechanism of action with a good degree of reliability (more than 79%). [source] Characteristics of participants with self-reported hemochromatosis or iron overload at HEIRS study initial screeningAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2008James C. Barton There are few descriptions of young adults with self-reported hemochromatosis or iron overload (H/IO). We analyzed initial screening data in 7,343 HEmochromatosis and IRon Overload Screening (HEIRS) Study participants ages 25,29 years, including race/ethnicity and health information; transferrin saturation (TS) and ferritin (SF) measurements; and HFE C282Y and H63D genotypes. We used denaturing high-pressure liquid chromatography and sequencing to detect mutations in HJV, TFR2, HAMP, SLC40A1, and FTL. Fifty-one participants reported previous H/IO; 23 (45%) reported medical conditions associated with H/IO. Prevalences of reports of arthritis, diabetes, liver disease or liver cancer, heart failure, fertility problems or impotence, and blood relatives with H/IO were significantly greater in participants with previous H/IO reports than in those without. Only 7.8% of the 51 participants with previous H/IO reports had elevated TS; 13.7% had elevated SF. Only one participant had C282Y homozygosity. Three participants aged 25,29 years were heterozygous for potentially deleterious mutations in HFE2, TFR2, and HAMP promoter, respectively. Prevalences of self-reported conditions, screening iron phenotypes, and C282Y homozygosity were similar in 1,165 participants aged 30 years or greater who reported previous H/IO. We conclude that persons who report previous H/IO diagnoses in screening programs are unlikely to have H/IO phenotypes or genotypes. Previous H/IO reports in some participants could be explained by treatment that induced iron depletion before initial screening, misdiagnosis, or participant misunderstanding of their physician or the initial screening questionnaire. Am. J. Hematol., 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Interpreting longitudinal spirometry: Weight gain and other factors affecting the recognition of excessive FEV1 decline,,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 10 2009Mei Lin Wang MD Abstract Background Excessive FEV1 loss in an individual or a group can reflect hazardous exposures and development of lung disease. However, multiple factors may affect FEV1 measurements. Methods Using medical screening data collected in 1884 chemical plant workers between 1973 and 2003, the influence of multiple factors on repeated measurements of FEV1 was examined. Results The FEV1 level was associated with age, height, race, sex, cigarette smoking, changes in body weight, and spirometer model. After controlling for these factors, longitudinal FEV1 decline averaged 23.8,ml/year for white males; an additional loss of 8.3,ml was associated with one pack-year smoking and 5.4,ml with a one pound weight gain. Depending on the spirometer model, FEV1 differed by up to 95,ml. Conclusions The study results provide quantitative estimates of the effect of specific factors on FEV1, and should be useful to health professionals in the evaluation of accelerated lung function declines. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:782,789, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Populations at Risk Across the Lifespan: Case Studies: Psychological and Physical Abuse Among Pregnant Women in a Medicaid-Sponsored Prenatal ProgramPUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 5 2010Jennifer E. Raffo ABSTRACT Objectives: To document psychological and physical abuse during pregnancy among women enrolled in enhanced prenatal services (EPS); explore the associations between maternal risk factors and type of abuse; and examine the relationship between abuse and EPS participation. Design and Sample: Cross-sectional study utilizing screening data collected between 2005 and 2008. Convenience sample of Medicaid-insured pregnant women enrolled in EPS selected from urban and rural providers. Measures: A prenatal screening tool that included measures such as Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale-4, Patient Health Questionnaire-2, and Abuse Assessment Screen was used. Results: Logistic regressions showed that high perceived stress and lack of father support were associated with all types of abuse and abuse history. Women with risk factors, such as a positive depression screen (odds ratio [OR]=2.36), were associated with psychological abuse but not with physical abuse during pregnancy. Less than a 12th-grade education was associated with physical abuse (OR=1.64) but not psychological abuse during pregnancy. The amount or the timing of EPS participation was not significantly associated with abuse history or abuse during pregnancy. Conclusions: Risk factors, such as high perceived stress and lack of father support, may alert nurses to further explore abuse during pregnancy. Additional research is needed for understanding the relationship between abuse and EPS participation. [source] Identifying Modifier Loci in Existing Genome Scan DataANNALS OF HUMAN GENETICS, Issue 5 2008E. W. Daw Summary In many genetic disorders in which a primary disease-causing locus has been identified, evidence exists for additional trait variation due to genetic factors. These findings have led to studies seeking secondary ,modifier' loci. Identification of modifier loci provides insight into disease mechanisms and may provide additional screening and treatment targets. We believe that modifier loci can be identified by re-analysis of genome screen data while controlling for primary locus effects. To test this hypothesis, we simulated multiple replicates of typical genome screening data on to two real family structures from a study of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. With this marker data, we simulated two trait models with characteristics similar to one measure of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Both trait models included 3 genes. In the first, the trait was influenced by a primary gene, a secondary ,modifier' gene, and a third very small effect gene. In the second, we modeled an interaction between the first two genes. We examined power and false positive rates to map the secondary locus while controlling for the effect of the primary locus with two types of analyses. First, we examined Monte Carlo Markov chain (MCMC) simultaneous segregation and linkage analysis as implemented in Loki, for which we calculated two scoring statistics. Second, we calculated LOD scores using an individual-specific liability class based on the quantitative trait value. We found that both methods produced scores that are significant on a genome-wide level in some replicates. We conclude that mapping of modifier loci in existing samples is possible with these methods. [source] Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of a Novel Series of 2,3-Diaryl-substituted-imidazo(2,1- b)-benzothiazole DerivativesARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE, Issue 6 2010Mahesh Palkar Abstract Benzothiazole and imidazole compounds are extensively studied heterocyclics due to their wide spectrum of bioactivities. Among them, the imidazo(2,1- b)-benzothiazole derivatives are pharmacologically important because of their immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, antitumor, and other activities. In the present research work, a novel series of 2,3-diaryl-substituted imidazo(2,1- b)-benzothiazoles 13a,o have been synthesized by reaction of substituted 2-aminobenzothiazoles 1,8 and an appropriately substituted ,-bromo-1-(4,,-substituted)-phenyl-2-(4,-substituted)-phenyl-1-ethanones 9,12 in the presence of anhydrous acetonitrile. They were characterized by physicochemical, elemental, and spectral (IR, 1H-NMR, and Mass) data. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their in-vitro antibacterial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria. The investigation of antibacterial screening data revealed that most of the compounds tested have demonstrated congruent activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as compared with the standard ampicillin. Among the series, compounds 13d, 13h, and 13m exhibited excellent an antibacterial activity profile as compared with the standard. In summary, preliminary results indicate that some of the newly synthesized title compounds exhibited promising antibacterial activities and they warrant more consideration as prospective antimicrobials. [source] Growth rates of small abdominal aortic aneurysms correlate with clinical eventsBRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 1 2010A. R. Thompson Background: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening data aimed to identify predictors of AAA-related events (surgery or death) with a view to better targeting of screening. Methods: For the interval 1984,2007, data for 1649 subjects with an AAA were collected prospectively as part of the Chichester AAA screening programme. This included serial aortic size measurements, blood pressure, risk factors for arterial disease and concurrent medications. AAA growth rates were adjusted for risk factor confounders using flexible hierarchical modelling. AAA growth distribution was analysed using Silverman's test of multimodality. Results: Some 1231 subjects met the inclusion criteria of having more than one scan and a surveillance interval of over 3 months. AAA growth showed a bimodal pattern with nearly 50 per cent of all aneurysms never progressing to surgery or rupture. Adjusted annual AAA growth rates of at least 2 mm significantly predicted AAA-related events. Conclusion: This analysis identified a bimodal growth pattern for AAA, with a significant association between annual AAA growth rate of at least 2 mm and AAA-related events. Copyright © 2010 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Outcome of Newborn Hearing Screening Programme delivered by health visitorsCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2008S. Basu Abstract Background The Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP) was introduced in England in 2001 to detect congenital hearing loss in the newborn. The screen is either hospital- or community-based. Objectives This is the first large-scale study of community-based NHSP published in the United Kingdom which aims to evaluate the performance of the community-based screen and compare it against national targets for NHSP and the outcome of national pilot projects. Method Hearing screening data recorded for 10 074 well babies between March 2004 and December 2005 were analysed. Babies who were admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit were excluded. The case notes of all children who failed the initial hearing screen, either unilateral or bilateral, were reviewed retrospectively. Specific performance measures include coverage rate, referral rate and yield. Reasons for failure to complete the screen were identified. Results The community programme met all the standards set by the NHSP and the results are comparable with the average of the pilot sites reported in 2004. Conclusion The data demonstrate that a community-based hearing screening programme conducted by Health Visitors meets all the current national standards and could be implemented across wider areas in this country. Its advantages include a low false positive rate and convenience for parents living in rural areas. The babies identified can be diagnosed and rehabilitated in a time which meets national standards. [source] | |||||||||||||