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Screening Methods (screening + methods)
Kinds of Screening Methods Selected AbstractsEvaluation of Drought-Related Traits and Screening Methods at Different Developmental Stages in Spring BarleyJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008F. Szira Abstract Despite intensive research and breeding efforts, the physiological and quantitative genetic bases of drought tolerance are still poorly understood. The comparison of results obtained from different sources is also complex, because different testing methods may lead to controversial conclusions. This report discusses various drought stress experiments (hydroponics and in soil) in which the plant tolerance was studied at different developmental stages. Tests were performed in the germination, seedling and adult plant stages on the parental lines of five well-known barley-mapping populations. The results suggest that drought tolerance is a stage-specific trait and changes during the life cycle. The effect of drought stress depended not only on the duration and intensity of water deficiency, but also on the developmental phase in which it began. To induce the same type of stress and to obtain comparable tolerance information from the replications, it is recommended that drought stress should be induced at the same growth stage. Correlations between the traits, commonly associated with improved drought resistance (high relative water content under stress, proline accumulation, osmoregulation) with stress tolerance indexes, are also presented, while the advantages and disadvantages of the most frequently used screening methods are discussed. [source] The mitochondrial proteome: A dynamic functional program in tissues and disease states,ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 5 2010Robert S. Balaban Abstract The nuclear DNA transcriptional programming of the mitochondria proteome varies dramatically between tissues depending on its functional requirements. This programming generally regulates all of the proteins associated with a metabolic or biosynthetic pathway associated with a given function, essentially regulating the maximum rate of the pathway while keeping the enzymes at the same molar ratio. This may permit the same regulatory mechanisms to function at low- and high-flux capacity situations. This alteration in total protein content results in rather dramatic changes in the mitochondria proteome between tissues. A tissues mitochondria proteome also changes with disease state, in Type 1 diabetes the liver mitochondrial proteome shifts to support ATP production, urea synthesis, and fatty acid oxidation. Acute flux regulation is modulated by numerous posttranslational events that also are highly variable between tissues. The most studied posttranslational modification is protein phosphorylation, which is found all of the complexes of oxidative phosphorylation and most of the major metabolic pathways. The functional significance of these modifications is currently a major area of research along with the kinase and phosphatase regulatory network. This near ubiquitous presence of protein phosphorylations, and other posttranslational events, in the matrix suggest that not all posttranslational events have functional significance. Screening methods are being introduced to detect the active or dynamic posttranslational sites to focus attention on sites that might provide insight into regulatory mechanisms. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2010. Published 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Community-based multiple screening model,,§¶CANCER, Issue 8 2004387 participants Taiwan community-based integrated screening group, Design, analysis of 4, implementation Abstract BACKGROUND Multiple disease screening may have several advantages over single disease screening because of the economics of scale, with the high yield of detecting asymptomatic diseases, the identification of multiple diseases or risk factors simultaneously, the enhancement of the attendance rate, and the efficiency of follow-up. METHODS An integrated model of community-based multiple screening was designed and conducted between 1999 and 2001 in Keelung, Taiwan. The authors used a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear screening program as a base to integrate other screening regimens encompassing four other neoplastic diseases and three nonneoplastic chronic diseases. Screening methods, the interscreening interval, and the follow-up for each screening regimen were designed based on evidence-based literature and current national screening policy. RESULTS A total of 42,387 subjects participated in the screening activities. A 25% increase in the attendance rate for Pap smear screening was demonstrated after the introduction of multiple disease screening programs. At the first screen, this program yielded a total of 677 asymptomatic neoplasms (16.0 per 1000), including a large proportion of precancerous lesions and small presymptomatic tumors without lymph node involvement. The association between the occurrence of neoplasm and the presence of comorbid nonneoplastic chronic disease was found to be statistically significant (odds ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.38,1.94 [P < 0.05]). The authors also identified 5314 subjects with metabolic syndrome who were at a greater risk for colorectal and oral neoplasias. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study demonstrate that an outreach and community-based multiple screening program not only enhances attendance rates but also has a high yield of early cases of various diseases simultaneously, and provides a natural opportunity to elucidate the correlation between neoplastic disease and nonneoplastic chronic disease. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society. [source] A European interlaboratory testing of three well-known procedures for immunocytochemical detection of epithelial cells in bone marrow.CYTOMETRY, Issue 6 2006Results from analysis of normal bone marrow Abstract Background: This investigation intended to study the unspecific background to be expected in normal bone marrow (BM), comparing three well recognized protocols for immunocytochemical detection of disseminated carcinoma cells. The interlaboratory variation in screening and evaluation of stained cells was analyzed and different screening methods were compared. Methods: BM mononuclear cells (BM MNC) from 48 normal BMs were immunostained in parallel by three participating laboratories. The protocols, based on three different anti-cytokeratin antibodies, have all been in common use for detection of disseminated carcinoma cells: the A45-B/B3 protocol (Hamburg), the CK2 protocol (Augsburg) and the AE1AE3 protocol (Oslo). For all protocols, the immunostained cells were visualized by the same alkaline-phosphatase (AP) detection system (APAAP) followed by detection of the cells by manual screening and by two different automated screening systems (ACIS from Chromavision and MDS1 from Applied Imaging). Detected AP-visualized cells were morphologically classified into unambiguous hematopoietic (Uhc) and questionable cells (Qc, potentially interpreted as tumor cells). Results: Seven of 48 BMs (15%) harbored ,1 AP-visualized cell(s) among 1 × 106 BM MNC, both for the A45-B/B3- and for the AE1AE3 protocol, while for CK2 a higher proportion of BMs (21 BMs; 44%) harbored AP-visualized cells (P < 0.01, McNemar's test). The number of Qc was, for all protocols, 1 log lower than the total number of AP-visualized cells. On average, the frequency of Qc was 0.04, 0.08, and 0.02 per 106 BM MNC with A45-B/B3, CK2 and AE1AE3, respectively, and the number of Qc-positive BMs 1, 4, and 1. The MDS1 screening sensitivity was similar to manual screening, while ACIS detected fewer cells (P < 0.001, McNemar's test). Conclusions: All protocols resulted in AP-visualization of occasional hematopoietic cells. However, morphological classification brings the specificity to a satisfactory high level. Approximately 10% of AP-visualized cells were categorized "questionable". The CK2 protocol turned out less specific than the A45-B/B3 and AE1AE3 protocols. © 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology. [source] A comparative evaluation of digital imaging, retinal photography and optometrist examination in screening for diabetic retinopathyDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 7 2003J. A. Olson Abstract Aims To compare the respective performances of digital retinal imaging, fundus photography and slit-lamp biomicroscopy performed by trained optometrists, in screening for diabetic retinopathy. To assess the potential contribution of automated digital image analysis to a screening programme. Methods A group of 586 patients recruited from a diabetic clinic underwent three or four mydriatic screening methods for retinal examination. The respective performances of digital imaging (n = 586; graded manually), colour slides (n = 586; graded manually), and slit-lamp examination by specially trained optometrists (n = 485), were evaluated against a reference standard of slit-lamp biomicroscopy by ophthalmologists with a special interest in medical retina. The performance of automated grading of the digital images by computer was also assessed. Results Slit-lamp examination by optometrists for referable diabetic retinopathy achieved a sensitivity of 73% (52,88) and a specificity of 90% (87,93). Using two-field imaging, manual grading of red-free digital images achieved a sensitivity of 93% (82,98) and a specificity of 87% (84,90), and for colour slides, a sensitivity of 96% (87,100) and a specificity of 89% (86,91). Almost identical results were achieved for both methods with single macular field imaging. Digital imaging had a lower technical failure rate (4.4% of patients) than colour slide photography (11.9%). Applying an automated grading protocol to the digital images detected any retinopathy, with a sensitivity of 83% (77,89) and a specificity of 71% (66,75) and diabetic macular oedema with a sensitivity of 76% (53,92) and a specificity of 85% (82,88). Conclusions Both manual grading methods produced similar results whether using a one- or two-field protocol. Technical failures rates, and hence need for recall, were lower with digital imaging. One-field grading of fundus photographs appeared to be as effective as two-field. The optometrists achieved the lowest sensitivities but reported no technical failures. Automated grading of retinal images can improve efficiency of resource utilization in diabetic retinopathy screening. Diabet. Med. 20, 528,534 (2003) [source] Awareness of breast and cervical cancer risk factors and screening behaviours among nurses in rural region of TurkeyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 3 2008A. YAREN md Breast and cervical cancer are the most common causes of cancer mortality among women worldwide, but actually they are largely preventable diseases. There is limited data on breast and cervical cancer knowledge, screening practices and attitudes of nurses in Turkey. A self-administered questionnaire was used to investigate the knowledge and attitude of nurses on risk factors of the breast and cervical cancer as well as screening programmes such as breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination, mammography (MMG) and papanicolaou (pap) smear test. In total, 125 out of 160 nurses participated in the study (overall response rate was 80.6%). The risk factors and symptoms of breast cancer was generally well known, except for early menarche (23.2%) and late menopause (28.8%). For cervical cancer, the correct risk factors mostly indicated by the nurses were early age at first sexual intercourse (56%), smoking (76%), multiple sexual partners (71.2%). As for screening methods, it was believed that BSE was a beneficial method to identify the early breast changes (84.8%) and MMG was able to detect the cancer without a palpable mass (57.6%). Little was known about the fact that women should begin cervical cancer screening approximately 3 years after the onset of sexual intercourse (23.2%) and if repeated pap smear test were normal, it could be done every 2,3 years. Most of the nurses considered that MMG decreases the mortality in breast cancer (65.6%) and also believed that pap smear test decreases the mortality in cervical cancer (75.2%). Despite high level of knowledge of breast cancer risk factors, symptoms and screening methods, inadequate knowledge of cervical cancer screening method were found among nurses. [source] Rapid detection of fungal endophytes in grasses for large-scale studiesFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2006S. KOH Summary 1Standard visual screening methods for determining the qualitative and quantitative presence of fungal endophytes are too time-consuming for large-scale ecological studies. 2We investigated whether commercially available immunoblot kits, using monoclonal antibody techniques and designed for rapid-screening of the presence of Neotyphodium endophytes in fresh samples of the pasture grasses Festuca arundinacea and Lolium perenne, could be used for Neotyphodium detection using other grasses and preserved samples. We also determined whether immunoblot kits could provide quantitative information about the amount of Neotyphodium in the grass. 3The kits accurately detected endophyte presence in F. rubra, F. ovina, F. pratensis and F. altaica, in both preserved samples (dried and fixed), including 12-year-old stored, dried samples of F. rubra. 4Endophytes were detected in 7-day-old seedlings of Lolium perenne, 3 days (30%) earlier than previously recognized. 5The intensity of the coloured tissue prints on scanned immunoblot cards was significantly positively correlated with hyphal density, demonstrating a previously unrecognized accurate quantitative application. 6These findings greatly reduce logistical barriers to large-scale field research into the broader ecological significance of Neotyphodium in temperate and arctic grasses in non-agricultural ecosystems (particularly in remote areas) and suggest potential for estimating historical infection rates using stored and herbarium specimens. [source] Automated mutation screening using dideoxy fingerprinting and capillary array electrophoresisHUMAN MUTATION, Issue 5 2001Lars Allan Larsen Abstract The rapid progress in the isolation of genes associated with human disease has resulted in an increasing demand for mutation screening methods. The molecular diagnosis of the long QT syndrome (LQTS), a cardiac disorder characterized by prolongation of the QTc interval in the ECG, syncopes, and sudden death, requires mutation screening of all exons in at least five genes, encoding cardiac Na+ and K+ channel subunits. A method for automated dideoxy fingerprinting (ddF) using capillary array electrophoresis (CAE) was developed and the efficiency of the method was tested by analyzing 24 DNA samples with mutations in one of the genes KCNQ1 and KCNH2, which are involved in 50% of LQTS cases. One of these mutations, 362insQK in KCNQ1, is novel. The sensitivity was 100% using a single electrophoresis temperature of 18°C or 25°C. However, analysis of the samples in both the sense and anti-sense direction were required for high sensitivity. Analysis in a single direction resulted in a decrease of the sensitivity to 74% and 70%, respectively. The throughput of the ddF method, if performed with a 16 capillary CAE instrument, is 288 samples per seven hr if each sample is analyzed on both strands. Hum Mutat 18:451,457, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A study on the multiswing instability region using Hopf bifurcation theory considering energy thresholdIEEJ TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2006Takao Tsuji Member Abstract Transient stability is treated as one of the important constraints for calculating available transfer capability (ATC), especially in Japan. Therefore, to improve the time required for ATC calculation, development of high-speed transient stability analysis is required. For this analysis, a screening method that can recognize the serious case of fault will be greatly effective to solve the problem. Many screening methods on the first swing instability are proposed these days. However, a method based on multiswing instability has not been developed and its characteristic is not understood clearly. In this paper, the relationship between the nonlinear limit cycle and the energy function of a power system is examined using the Hopf bifurcation theory. A calculation method, which gives the critical transfer capability considering multiswing instability, is proposed. © 2006 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] Specificity of TP53 mutation screening methods in cancerous tissuesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2006Jean Breton No abstracts. [source] Response to Breton et al. specificity of TP53 mutation screening methods in cancerous tissuesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2006Osamu Yamanoshita No abstract is available for this article. [source] Screening of domestic violence against women in the perinatal setting: A systematic reviewJAPAN JOURNAL OF NURSING SCIENCE, Issue 2 2004Yaeko KATAOKA Abstract Aim:, To review published studies focusing on the screening of domestic violence (DV) against women, in particular, the instruments, the screening methods and the interventions used to help abused women after screening. Based on the results of the review, the suitability of introducing routine screening for DV in the perinatal setting in Japan would be assessed. Methods:, National Guideline Clearinghouse database, HSTAT, PubMed, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library and the Ichushi-Web were all used to searched from when records were first held until February 2003 for eligible primary studies and systematic reviews for this literature review. Each selected article was independently read and appraised by two reviewers who finally selected 12 primary studies and three systematic reviews that fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. Results:, Three studies evaluated screening instruments for DV (i.e. Abuse Assessment Screen, Partner Violence Screen and Violence Against Women Screen) and of these, the Violence Against Women Screen was the most valid, reliable and suitable for use in the clinical setting in Japan. The three studies that examined the screening method had differing results, but the one conducted in Japan showed a significantly higher rate of identification in the self-administered questionnaire group compared with the interview group. The six studies that tested the effectiveness of interventions for abused women showed that counseling sessions after screening and the advocacy program for postsheltered women were effective in reducing DV. Conclusion:, Routine screening of all pregnant women in Japan for DV should be introduced, considering the high burden of suffering that women expose to DV experience, and the existence of both acceptable screening instruments and effective interventions. [source] Evaluation of Drought-Related Traits and Screening Methods at Different Developmental Stages in Spring BarleyJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008F. Szira Abstract Despite intensive research and breeding efforts, the physiological and quantitative genetic bases of drought tolerance are still poorly understood. The comparison of results obtained from different sources is also complex, because different testing methods may lead to controversial conclusions. This report discusses various drought stress experiments (hydroponics and in soil) in which the plant tolerance was studied at different developmental stages. Tests were performed in the germination, seedling and adult plant stages on the parental lines of five well-known barley-mapping populations. The results suggest that drought tolerance is a stage-specific trait and changes during the life cycle. The effect of drought stress depended not only on the duration and intensity of water deficiency, but also on the developmental phase in which it began. To induce the same type of stress and to obtain comparable tolerance information from the replications, it is recommended that drought stress should be induced at the same growth stage. Correlations between the traits, commonly associated with improved drought resistance (high relative water content under stress, proline accumulation, osmoregulation) with stress tolerance indexes, are also presented, while the advantages and disadvantages of the most frequently used screening methods are discussed. [source] A Comparison of Two Methods for Identifying Frail Medicare-Aged PersonsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 3 2002Kathleen K. Brody BSN This article compares the efficacy of two screening methods to identify frail Medicare-aged persons using self-report questionnaire data: a clinical judgment method developed by nurse and social worker professionals in a community-based long-term care department and an empirical research method previously developed by the Center for Health Research using computer formulas and stepwise logistic regression coefficients. A sub-aim was to see whether the empirical method proved robust over time by measuring aggregate utilization and mortality in frail and nonfrail cohorts, which would increase the interest of physicians, managed care organizations, and other agencies providing service to Medicare beneficiaries. [source] Cyanobacteria from benthic mats of Antarctic lakes as a source of new bioactivitiesJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008N. Biondi Abstract Aims:, To exploit the cyanobacterial diversity of microbial mats growing in the benthic environment of Antarctic lakes for the discovery of novel antibiotic and antitumour activities. Methods and results:, In all, 51 Antarctic cyanobacteria isolated from benthic mats were cultivated in the laboratory by optimizing temperature, irradiance and mixing. Productivity was generally very low (,60 mg l,1 d,1) with growth rates (,) in the range of 0·02,0·44 d,1. Growth rates were limited by photosensitivity, sensitivity to air bubbling, polysaccharide production or cell aggregation. Despite this, 126 extracts were prepared from 48 strains and screened for antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Seventeen cyanobacteria showed antimicrobial activity (against the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, the filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus or the yeast Cryptococcus neoformans), and 25 were cytotoxic. The bioactivities were not in accordance with the phylogenetic grouping, but rather strain-specific. One active strain was cultivated in a 10-l photobioreactor. Conclusions:, Isolation and mass cultivation of Antarctic cyanobacteria and LC-MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry) fractionation of extracts from a subset of those strains (hits) that exhibited relatively potent antibacterial and/or antifungal activities, evidenced a chemical novelty worthy of further investigation. Significance and impact of the study:, Development of isolation, cultivation and screening methods for Antarctic cyanobacteria has led to the discovery of strains endowed with interesting antimicrobial and antitumour activities. [source] Phytate degradation by micro-organisms in synthetic media and pea flourJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2002M. Fredrikson Aims: To screen micro-organisms for the ability to produce phytase enzyme(s) and to use promising strains for the fermentation of pea flour. Methods and Results: Two methods using the indirect estimation of phytate degradation were evaluated and both shown to be inadequate. A third method, measuring the inositol phosphate (IP3,IP6) content directly during fermentation, was used instead of the indirect estimations of phytate degradation. In synthetic media, some strains required customized conditions, with no accessible phosphorus sources other than phytate, to express phytase activity. The repression of phytase synthesis by inorganic phosphorus was not detected during fermentation with pea flour as substrate and seemed to be less significant with a higher composition complexity of the substrate. None of the tested lactic acid bacteria strains showed phytase activity. Conclusions: The methodology for the phytase screening procedure was shown to be critical. Some of the screening methods and media used in previous publications were found to be inadequate. Significance and Impact of the Study: This paper highlights the pitfalls and difficulties in the evaluation of phytase production by micro-organisms. The study is of great importance for future studies in this area. [source] Application of Raman spectroscopy for cervical dysplasia diagnosisJOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS, Issue 1-2 2009Elizabeth M. Kanter Abstract Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy among women worldwide, with over 490 000 cases diagnosed and 274 000 deaths each year. Although current screening methods have dramatically reduced cervical cancer incidence and mortality in developed countries, a "See and Treat" method would be preferred, especially in developing countries. Results from our previous work have suggested that Raman spectroscopy can be used to detect cervical precancers; however, with a classification accuracy of 88%, it was not clinically applicable. In this paper, we describe how incorporating a woman's hormonal status, particularly the point in menstrual cycle and menopausal state, into our previously developed classification algorithm improves the accuracy of our method to 94%. The results of this paper bring Raman spectroscopy one step closer to being utilized in a clinical setting to diagnose cervical dysplasia. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Mapping space for water: screening for urban flash floodingJOURNAL OF FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2008B. Hankin Abstract This paper builds on the ,Flooding from Other Sources' project (HA4a), funded as part of Defra's Making Space for Water strategy. The HA4a study concluded that flood risk mapping is feasible for many of the sources of flooding that were investigated, which are not currently covered by the Environment Agency Flood Map, using existing flow modelling and GIS tools. However, there are some major constraints in terms of the need to undertake extensive data collection to allow the generation of useful flood maps that are not dominated by modelling uncertainties. The project anticipated that different levels of data collection and modelling might be needed for different purposes, given the hierarchical nature of UK flood risk assessment and management in the United Kingdom under PPS25 and the EC Floods Directive. This paper compares and contrasts three different approaches to urban flood modelling using topographic analysis, blanket extreme rainfall and semi-coupled sewer/overland routing. The UK summer floods 2007 have highlighted the pressing need for mapping the risk from urban flash flooding, and the Pitt Review has recommended that areas at high risk from surface waters should be urgently identified. This can be done now at some level of detail, and we can be guided as to what level, from our increasing knowledge of vulnerable populations, from records of historical flooding and by using some of the screening methods described herein. [source] Detection of human bocavirus in respiratory, fecal, and blood samples by real-time PCR,JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 3 2009Sarah J. Tozer Abstract Human bocavirus (HBoV) has been detected worldwide in respiratory samples. Two real-time PCR assays, targeting the non-structural protein (NP-1) and viral protein (VP-1) genes, were designed and validated to detect HBoV in patients with respiratory disease, gastroenteritis, or systemic illness. Sensitivity of the NP-1 and VP-1 assays were equal to the conventional PCR assay previously described by Allander et al. [2005: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102: 12891,12896] being 100%, and giving specificity of 94% and 93%, respectively. There was no cross-reaction identified with unrelated respiratory agents, or to human DNA. The limits of detection were 10 copies of genomic DNA equivalents per reaction for both assays. The assays were used to screen three different sample populations, combined nose, and throat swabs (n,=,96) from children with acute respiratory disease, fecal samples (n,=,375) from adults, and children with gastroenteritis and whole blood (n,=,229) collected from 31 immunocompromised children taken over an 18-month period. In total 17 (18%) respiratory samples and 18 (4.8%) fecal samples were identified as having HBoV present. Of the pediatric whole blood specimens investigated, HBoV was detected in six (2.6%) samples from four patients. In summary, two real-time PCR assays targeting different genes were designed and validated for use as screening methods for the detection of HBoV. HBoV was found in three different specimen types: parent-collected combined nose,throat swabs, fecal samples collected from symptomatic individuals and whole blood from immunocompromised children. J. Med. Virol. 81:488,493, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Screening for Hazardous Drinking Using the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test,Geriatric Version (MAST-G) in Elderly Persons With Acute Cerebrovascular AccidentsALCOHOLISM, Issue 9 2009Doug Johnson-Greene Background:, Effective and valid screening methods are needed to identify hazardous drinking in elderly persons with new onset acute medical illness. The goal of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test,Geriatric Version (MAST-G) in identifying hazardous drinking among elderly patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) and to compare the effectiveness of 2 shorter versions of the MAST-G with the full instrument. Methods:, The study sample included 100 men and women who averaged 12 days posthemorrhagic or ischemic CVA admitted to a rehabilitation unit and who were at least 50 years of age and free of substance use other than alcohol. This cross-sectional validation study compared the 24-item full MAST-G, the 10-item Short MAST-G (SMAST-G), and a 2-item regression analysis derived Mini MAST-G (MMAST-G) to the reference standard of hazardous drinking during the past 3 months. Alcohol use was collected using the Timeline Followback (TLFB). Recent and lifetime alcohol-related consequences were collected using the Short Inventory of Problems (SIP). Results:, Nearly one-third (28%) of the study sample met the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for hazardous drinking. Moderately strong associations were found for the MAST-G, SMAST-G, and MMAST-G with alcohol quantity and frequency and recent and lifetime alcohol consequences. All 3 MAST-G versions could differentiate hazardous from nonhazardous drinkers and had nearly identical area under the curve characteristics. Comparable sensitivity was found across the 3 MAST-G measures. The optimal screening threshold for hazardous drinking was 5 for the MAST-G, 2 for the SMAST-G, and 1 for the MMAST-G. Conclusions:, The 10-item SMAST-G and 2-item MMAST-G are brief screening tests that show comparable effectiveness in detecting hazardous drinking in elderly patients with acute CVA compared with the full 24-item MAST-G. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed. [source] Blanching and long-term freezing affect various bioactive compounds of vegetables in different waysJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 14 2003Riitta Puupponen-Pimiä Abstract An extensive study on the effects of blanching/freezing and long-term freezer storage on various bioactive compounds of more than 20 commonly used vegetables was performed. Effects were strongly plant species-dependent. Contents of dietary fibre components either were not affected or increased slightly. Minerals in general were also stable, but some losses of soluble minerals by leaching were observed. Phenolic antioxidants and vitamins were clearly more sensitive. Significant losses (20,30%) of antioxidant activity and total phenolics were detected in many vegetables. A qualitative HPLC profiling method for phenolic antioxidants was developed which proved to be very useful when evaluating the complex behaviour of phenolics during food processing. Up to one-third of vitamin C contents were lost during blanching, and further slight losses were detected during storage. Folic acid turned out to be very sensitive to blanching, with more than half of the vitamin being lost, but was stable during freezer storage. Carotenoids and sterols were not affected by blanching or freezer storage. The usefulness of the applied screening methods for evaluation of the effects of processing on vegetables is shown. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Analysis of mRNA in hemophilia A patients with undetectable mutations reveals normal splicing in the factor VIII geneJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 2 2005O. EL-MAARRI Summary.,Background: haemophilia A (HA) is characterized by partial or total deficiency of factor VIII (FVIII) protein activity. It is caused by a broad spectrum of mutations in the FVIII gene. Despite tremendous improvements in mutation screening methods, in about 2% of HA patients no DNA change could be found, even after sequencing the whole coding part of the FVIII gene including the flanking splice sites, as well as the promotor and the 3, UTR regions. Objectives, patients and methods: In the present study we performed a detailed RNA analysis of three groups of patients. The first included control patients with known splicing defects, the second included two patients with already identified nucleotide changes close to splicing sites, that could potentially alter the normal splicing process, and a third group of 11 unrelated patients whose genomic DNA have already been screened for mutations by DHPLC and direct sequencing with no mutation being identified. Results: Both candidate splice site mutations were shown to result in either skipping or alternative splicing of at least one exon, therefore these DNA changes must be considered as causal for the patients' HA phenotype. In contrast, no abnormalities on the RNA level were observed in any of 11 unrelated patients without mutations in the FVIII gene. Conclusions: These findings exclude mutations that could be located deep in the introns and affecting either normal splicing or lead to mechanisms causing some unknown rearrangements of the FVIII gene. In fact, our results point to the presence of still unknown factor(s) causing HA, which might be either allelic or in the close proximity of the FVIII gene or non-allelic associated with other genetic loci that are involved in the processing of the FVIII protein. [source] Human astrovirus diagnosis and typing: current and future prospectsLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005S. Guix Summary Human astroviruses (HAstV) are important human pathogens causing gastroenteritis worldwide. The increased recognition of astroviruses as the cause of sporadic outbreaks of disease is due to the recent availability of improved diagnostic methods. During the last decade, most epidemiological surveys have chosen astrovirus-specific RT-PCR as screening methods. In addition to serotyping by molecular techniques, new typing methods are being developed that may also identify other viral properties related to virulence. The information provided by different typing assays is required for a better understanding of both the antigenic diversity and the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity. [source] SNPs in ecological and conservation studies: a test in the Scandinavian wolf populationMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2005J. M. SEDDON Abstract Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have the potential to become the genetic marker of choice in studies of the ecology and conservation of natural populations because of their capacity to access variability across the genome. In this study, we provide one of the first demonstrations of SNP discovery in a wild population in order to address typical issues of importance in ecology and conservation in the recolonized Scandinavian and neighbouring Finnish wolf Canis lupus populations. Using end sequence from BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) clones specific for dogs, we designed assays for 24 SNP loci, 20 sites of which had previously been shown to be polymorphic in domestic dogs and four sites were newly identified as polymorphic in wolves. Of the 24 assayed loci, 22 SNPs were found to be variable within the Scandinavian population and, importantly, these were able to distinguish individual wolves from one another (unbiased probability of identity of 4.33 × 10,8), providing equivalent results to that derived from 12 variable microsatellites genotyped in the same population. An assignment test shows differentiation between the Scandinavian and neighbouring Finnish wolf populations, although not all known immigrants are accurately identified. An exploration of the misclassification rates in the identification of relationships shows that neither 22 SNP nor 20 microsatellite loci are able to discriminate across single order relationships. Despite the remaining obstacle of SNP discovery in nonmodel organisms, the use of SNPs in ecological and conservation studies is encouraged by the advent of large scale screening methods. Furthermore, the ability to amplify extremely small fragments makes SNPs of particular use for population monitoring, where faecal and other noninvasive samples are routinely used. [source] Development and Applications of Topologically Segregated Bilayer Beads in One-bead One-compound Combinatorial LibrariesMOLECULAR INFORMATICS, Issue 10 2005Ruiwu Liu Abstract Using a "split,mix" synthesis approach, "One-Bead One-Compound" (OBOC) combinatorial libraries can be generated such that each bead displays only one chemical entity. Tens of thousands to millions of compound-beads can be screened concurrently using a variety of biochemical and cell-based screening methods. Positive beads are then physically isolated for structure determination. Peptide beads or peptoid beads consisting of ,-amino acids and with a free N -terminus can be routinely sequenced by an automatic microsequencer using Edman chemistry. Libraries with N -terminally blocked peptides, peptides with unsequenceable building blocks, or small molecules require encoding. To fully exploit the OBOC combinatorial library methods, we have developed topologically segregated bilayer beads. Such bilayer beads allow us to prepare library compound on the outer layer of each bead and the coding tags in the bead interior. In addition, we can use these bilayer beads to prepare OBOC combinatorial libraries that are down-substituted on the bead surface but fully substituted in the bead interior. This configuration enables one to screen at a much higher stringency and yet have enough peptides or coding tags retained in the bead interior for structure determination. [source] Premotor Parkinson's disease: Clinical features and detection strategies,MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue S2 2009Randolph Stephenson MD Abstract In many areas of medicine, the focus has shifted from treating existing disease to screening and prevention. The technology to screen for Parkinson's disease (PD) already exists. The current challenge is to define the appropriate use of predictive testing for PD. Imaging technologies currently offer the highest degree of accuracy for identifying premotor PD, but they are expensive as screening tools. Efficiency is greatly enhanced by combining imaging with a prescreening test, such as olfactory testing. This two-step process has the potential to greatly reduce costs while retaining diagnostic accuracy. Ultimately, the role of preclinical detection of PD will be determined by the ability of emerging therapies to influence clinical outcomes. As such, implementation of large-scale screening strategies awaits the arrival of clearly safe and effective therapies that address the underlying pathogenesis of PD. Current research to evaluate efficient screening methods and to understand the clinical and physiological features of "premotor" PD will lay the foundation for the screening and prevention strategies of the future. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society [source] A hybrid method for simulation factor screeningNAVAL RESEARCH LOGISTICS: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2010Hua Shen Abstract Factor screening is performed to eliminate unimportant factors so that the remaining important factors can be more thoroughly studied in later experiments. Controlled sequential bifurcation (CSB) and controlled sequential factorial design (CSFD) are two new screening methods for discrete-event simulations. Both methods use hypothesis testing procedures to control the Type I Error and power of the screening results. The scenarios for which each method is most efficient are complementary. This study proposes a two-stage hybrid approach that combines CSFD and an improved CSB called CSB-X. In Phase 1, a prescreening procedure will estimate each effect and determine whether CSB-X or CSFD will be used for further screening. In Phase 2, CSB-X and CSFD are performed separately based on the assignment of Phase 1. The new method usually has the same error control as CSB-X and CSFD. The efficiency, on the other hand, is usually much better than either component method. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2010 [source] An ecological risk assessment for spinosad use on cottonPEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 1 2002Cheryl B Cleveland Abstract Spinosad is a reduced-risk insecticide with a novel mode of action that provides an alternative to older classes of insecticides such as organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids. A comprehensive ecological risk assessment for spinosad use in US cotton crops is presented within a framework of tiered levels of refinement following the guidelines of the US EPA for ecological risk assessments. Toxicity information for a variety of species is documented and utilized, environmental concentrations estimated, and risk characterizations in the form of risk quotients are quantified. Results indicate that spinosad use in cotton does not exceed the most conservative Tier I levels of concern (LOC) values for groundwater, mammals and birds or acute risk to aquatic organisms. Use of very conservative Tier I screening methods resulted in exceeding LOC values for chronic exposure for some aquatic organisms, thus prompting further refinement. When the exposure prediction was refined using less conservative, Tier II mechanistic environmental fate transport models to predict off-site transport and environmental concentrations, chronic risk was not predicted for these species. Spinosad is acutely toxic to bees under laboratory conditions, but toxicity of residue studies and field studies indicate that under actual use conditions the impact on bees is minimal. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Phosphate sensing in higher plantsPHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM, Issue 1 2002Steffen Abel Phosphate (Pi) plays a central role as reactant and effector molecule in plant cell metabolism. However, Pi is the least accessible macronutrient in many ecosystems and its low availability often limits plant growth. Plants have evolved an array of molecular and morphological adaptations to cope with Pi limitation, which include dramatic changes in gene expression and root development to facilitate Pi acquisition and recycling. Although physiological responses to Pi starvation have been increasingly studied and understood, the initial molecular events that monitor and transmit information on external and internal Pi status remain to be elucidated in plants. This review summarizes molecular and developmental Pi starvation responses of higher plants and the evidence for coordinated regulation of gene expression, followed by a discussion of the potential involvement of plant hormones in Pi sensing and of molecular genetic approaches to elucidate plant signalling of low Pi availability. Complementary genetic strategies in Arabidopsis thaliana have been developed that are expected to identify components of plant signal transduction pathways involved in Pi sensing. Innovative screening methods utilize reporter gene constructs, conditional growth on organophosphates and the inhibitory properties of the Pi analogue phosphite, which hold the promise for significant advances in our understanding of the complex mechanisms by which plants regulate Pi-starvation responses. [source] Evaluation of carrot resistance to alternaria leaf blight in controlled environmentsPLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2006A. Pawelec The objective of this study was to find a technique for plant resistance screening to alternaria leaf blight (ALB), caused by the fungus Alternaria dauci, in controlled environments. Glasshouse and laboratory screening methods were compared using three cultivars and F2 genotypes segregating for ALB resistance evaluated against self-pollinated F3 field-grown plants. Plant disease was assessed through a disease index obtained from the size and number of symptoms on carrot leaves. The results indicated the value of glasshouse evaluation and the inadequacy of detached leaf and hypocotyl assays for carrot screening for ALB resistance. Spearman's rank correlation, applied to results obtained with both F2 plants and their progeny, indicated that the optimal evaluation stage for ALB resistance in carrot is 20 days after inoculation. This test was powerful enough to be used as a prescreening test in breeding programmes. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||