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Accurate Test (accurate + test)
Selected AbstractsResection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer: does preoperative chemotherapy affect the accuracy of PET in preoperative planning?ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 5 2009Sam Adie Abstract Background:, Preoperative scanning for hepatic colorectal metastases surgery remains a challenge, especially in the age of preoperative chemotherapy, which has marked biochemical and physical effects on the liver. Integrated fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) has applications for detecting extrahepatic disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate FDG-PET/CT as a preoperative planning tool for detecting liver lesions in patients with and without preoperative chemotherapy. Methods:, Patients who had resection of hepatic colorectal metastases between January 2004 and June 2006 were included. Patients were divided into those who received preoperative chemotherapy and those who did not. Malignant hepatic lesions found on each scan were compared with those found on histopathology, intraoperative examination and/or intraoperative ultrasound. Accurate scans (scan lesions corresponded to true lesions), false positives (scan lesions detected at least one non-lesion) and false negatives (scan lesions missed at least one true lesions) were recorded. Results were also compared on a per lesion basis. Results:, A total of 21 patients had preoperative FDG-PET/CT scans with preoperative chemotherapy and 53 without. Accurate tests were six (29%) for the chemotherapy group versus 28 (53%) for the non-chemotherapy group (P= 0.06). Notably, there were 11 (52%) underestimations in the chemotherapy group versus 18 (34%) in the non-chemotherapy group. A total of 1.7 lesions were missed per patient in the chemotherapy group versus 0.7 in those who did not receive chemotherapy. Conclusion:, Preoperative assessment with FDG-PET/CT is not useful for hepatic colorectal metastases, particularly when preoperative chemotherapy is used, with a trend towards underestimation of lesions. [source] The impact of endoscopic ultrasonography with fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) on esophageal cancer staging: a survey of thoracic surgeons and gastroenterologistsDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 6 2008J. T. Maple SUMMARY., Accurate staging of esophageal cancer is critical to achieving optimal treatment outcomes. End-oscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has emerged as a valuable tool for locoregional staging. However, it is unclear how different physician specialties perceive the benefit of EUS-FNA for esophageal cancer staging, and thus utilize this modality in clinical practice. A survey regarding utilization of EUS-FNA in esophageal cancer was distributed to 211 thoracic surgeons and 251 EUS-capable gastroenterologists. Seventy-six thoracic surgeons (36%) and 78 gastroenterologists (31%) responded to the survey. Most surgeons (75%) use EUS to stage potentially resectable esophageal cancer 75% of the time. Surgeons using EUS less often are less likely to have access to high-quality EUS services than their peers. Fewer surgeons believe EUS is the most accurate test for T and N-staging (84% and 71%, respectively) as compared with gastroenterologists (97% and 96%, P < 0.01 for both). Most endosonographers (68%) decide whether to dilate a malignant esophageal stricture to complete the staging exam on a case-by-case basis. Surgeons disagree as to whether involvement of celiac lymph nodes should preclude esophagectomy in distal esophageal cancer. While most thoracic surgeons have embraced EUS-FNA as the most accurate locoregional staging modality in esophageal cancer, this attitude is not fully reflected in utilization patterns due to a lack of quality EUS services in some centers. Controversial areas that warrant further study include dilation of malignant strictures to facilitate EUS staging, and the implication of involved celiac lymph nodes on management. [source] Photobleaching-based flow measurement in a commercial capillary electrophoresis chip instrumentELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 6 2008Guiren R. Wang Professor Abstract For microfluidic analytical instruments, a facile, fast, and accurate instrument test is highly demanded. The test includes the quantitative verification of the relationship between pressure drop and flow velocity for the hydrodynamic pump, between the electric voltage and electroosmotic flow (EOF) for the high-voltage supply, and the chip quality. The key point for the test is the measurement of the flow velocity. However, most currently available velocimetries cannot be directly used without any instrumental modification or adding extra instruments. We applied a recently developed Laser Induced Fluorescence Photobleaching Anemometer (LIFPA) for the instrument test through measuring fluid flow velocity in a microfluidic instrument with optical measurement without any modification and extra instrument. We have successfully used the method to test Caliper HTS 250 System from Caliper Life Sciences (Hopkinton, MA) with its own light source and detector. The experimental result demonstrates that this single-point method of measuring flow velocity can be easily used for accurate test of a microfluidic instrument in less than 10,min at extremely low cost without any modification and extra instrument. [source] Mutation Causing von Willebrand's Disease in Scottish TerriersJOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2000Patrick J. Venta Von Willebrand's Disease (vWD) in the Scottish Terrier breed is a serious, often fatal, hereditary bleeding disorder. Elimination of the mutated gene by selective breeding is an important goal for the health of this breed. Although the standard protein-based tests are accurate for identification of affected Scottish Terriers, they are not reliable for the identification of carriers of the mutant gene unless multiple replicate assays are performed. A simple, highly accurate test for carriers of the disease is needed so that veterinarians can counsel clients on which animals to use in their breeding programs. The complete coding region of von Willebrand factor (vWF) complementary DNA (cDNA) was sequenced from an affected animal, and a single base deletion in the codon for amino acid 85 of the prepro-vWF cDNA that leads to Scottish Terrier vWD was identified. A highly accurate polymerase chain reaction assay was developed that can distinguish homozygous normal animals from those that are homozygous affected or heterozygous. In a voluntary survey of 87 animals provided by Scottish Terrier owners, 15 were carriers and 4 were affected with vWD, 2 of which had previously been shown to have undetectable vWF. The determination of the complete canine vWF cDNA sequence should facilitate the identification of additional vWD alleles in other breeds and other species. [source] Cerebrospinal fluid brain-derived proteins in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and Creutzfeldt,Jakob diseaseNEUROPATHOLOGY & APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2002A. J. E. GreenArticle first published online: 24 NOV 200 The differential diagnosis of dementia can be difficult in the early stages of disease, and with the emergence of new therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease (AD) there is an increasing need for reliable and accurate diagnostic tests. The concept of brain-specific proteins was first proposed in the 1960s and, since that time, methods have developed to measure these proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The concentration of individual brain-specific proteins can be altered in disease, and these changes are thought to reflect the underlying pathology. CSF tau protein and amyloid peptide A,42 concentrations are altered in AD and have been proposed as early diagnostic tests for this disease. The data from a number of studies suggest that these proteins may be of value, but are less specific than previously thought and further studies with neuropathological confirmation are required before these tests can be introduced into clinical practice. The detection of 14-3-3 in the CSF is an accurate test for sporadic Creutzfeldt,Jakob disease (CJD) and this accuracy has lead the World Health Organization to revise the clinical criteria for probable sporadic CJD to include a positive CSF 14-3-3. However, CSF 14-3-3 is less useful in the diagnosis of variant CJD, where studies are underway investigating the value of other CSF proteins. [source] Should complete blood count be part of the evaluation of febrile infants aged ,2 months?ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 9 2010Efraim Bilavsky ABSTRACT Objective:, To determine the utility and importance of total white blood cell count (WBC) and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) as markers of serious bacterial infection (SBI) in hospitalized febrile infants aged ,2 months. Patients and methods:, Data on WBC and ANC were collected prospectively for all infants aged ,2 months who were hospitalized for fever at our centre. The patients were divided into two groups by the presence or absence of SBI. Results:, A total of 1257 infants met the inclusion criteria, of whom 134 (10.7%) had a SBI. The area under the ROC curve was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.67,0.78) for ANC, 0.70 (95% CI: 0.65,0.76) for %ANC and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.61,0.73) for WBC. The independent contribution of these three tests in reducing the number of missed cases of SBI was significant. Conclusion:, Complete blood cell count should remain as part of the routine laboratory assessment in this age group as it is reducing the number of missing infants with SBI. Of the three parameters, ANC and %ANC serve as better diagnostic markers of SBI than total WBC. However, more accurate tests such as C-reactive protein and procalcitonin should also be part of the evaluation of febrile infants in these age group as they perform better than WBC or ANC for predicting SBI. [source] | ||||||||||