Search results for "Specificity."
showing 10 items of 2232 documents
Rasch scalability of the somatosensory amplification scale: a mixture distribution approach.
2012
Abstract Objective Somatosensory amplification refers to a person's tendency to experience somatic sensations as inappropriately intense and involves hypervigilance concerning bodily sensations. We applied the Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS) in an Internet sample of young adults (N = 3031) to test whether the SSAS is Rasch scalable. Methods We applied mixture distribution extensions of the partial credit and rating scale models to identify possible subgroups that use the response set of the SSAS in different ways. Results A partial credit model, with two latent classes, showed a superior fit to all other models. Still, one of the SSAS items had to be removed because it showed sever…
Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurement Is Not Useful for Predicting the Response to Inhaled Corticosteroids in Subjects With Chronic Cough
2009
Background Increased concentrations of exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) are identified predominantly in subjects with chronic cough due to conditions that habitually respond well to therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of ENO in predicting the response to ICS therapy in subjects with chronic cough and to determine the relationship between either methacholine or adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP) responsiveness and the response to ICS therapy. Methods A total of 43 patients with chronic cough were studied. During the baseline period, ENO measurement, spirometry, and concentration-response studies with both methacholine and AMP were performed…
Differences in sensitivity, maximal response and position of the concentration-response curve to methacholine between asthmatics, patients with aller…
1998
The aim of this study was to detect differences in maximal response and position of the concentration-response curves to methacholine between asthmatics and subjects with allergic rhinitis. A total of 228 adults (107 mild asthmatics, 96 allergic rhinitics and 25 healthy control subjects) were challenged with methacholine. The test was interrupted when FEV1 dropped by more than 40% or when the highest concentration of methacholine (200 mg ml-1) had been administered. Concentration-response curves were characterized by their PC20 (concentration of methacholine that produced 20% fall in FEV1 = airway sensitivity), and if possible, by their EC50 (concentration of methacholine that produced 50% …
Prospective evaluation of current asthma control using ACQ and ACT compared with GINA criteria
2011
Background The goal of asthma treatment is to achieve and maintain current best control and reduce future risk of exacerbations and long-term morbidity. Objective To prospectively compare current asthma control as defined by ACQ (asthma control questionnaire) and ACT (asthma control test) criteria with the GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) classification in treated patients in a real-life setting. Methods In 150 adult patients (48% male, age 46.3 ± 14.4 years., forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV 1 ], 2.3 ± 0.9 L or 78.5 ± 21.8% pred.), asthma control was evaluated using the GINA classification as the "true" and ACQ-7, ACQ-5, and ACT as "predictor" criteria. The relationship between…
Heparin-based ELISA reduces background reactivity in virus-like particle-based papillomavirus serology.
2004
The interaction between human papillomavirus (HPV) particles and cell surface heparan sulfate requires intact conformation of the HPV particles. Type-specific HPV serology is currently based on virus-like particles (VLPs) with intact conformation. Presence of incorrectly folded VLPs in VLP preparations is recognized as an important cause of cross-reactivity in HPV serology. Heparin-coated microtitre plates were evaluated for capturing conformationally correct VLPs and improving the type specificity of HPV serology. Hybrid VLPs between HPV16 and HPV11, which had been found to have significant reactivity with children's sera and a batch of HPV18 VLPs that had failed the quality control becaus…
TC perfusionale nell'ischemia cerebrale acuta: Valore predittivo dei parametri di perfusione cerebrale nel discriminare il tessuto vitale da quello i…
2007
Purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the value of computed tomography (CT) perfusion parameters in differentiating tissue viability in acute stoke patients. Materials and methods. Thirteen patients (mean age 63.3 years) with nonhaemorrhagic stroke underwent multidetector perfusion CT within 3 h of symptom onset. Images were continuously acquired at the basal ganglia over 40 s during injection of 90 ml of iodinated contrast medium injected at a rate of 9 ml/s with a 9-s delay. Z-axis coverage was 20 mm. All patients underwent diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) within 12 h of perfusion CT to define the extent of the infarct. Perfusion CT data were analysed in regions …
Reduced stretch-reflex sensitivity after exhausting stretch-shortening cycle exercise.
1996
The stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) is an effective and natural form of muscle function but, when repeated with sufficient intensity or duration, it may lead to muscle damage and functional defects. A reduced tolerance to impact has been reported, which may be partly attributed to a reduced stretch-reflex potentiation. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of SSC-induced metabolic fatigue and muscle damage on the efficacy of stretch reflexes, as judged by the electromyograph (EMG) response of two shank muscles (lateral gastrocnemius LG, soleus SOL) to controlled ramp stretches. These EMG responses were recorded before and immediately after exhausting SSC-type leg exercise…
Peripapillary Choroidal Thickness and Choroidal Area in Glaucoma, Ocular Hypertension and Healthy Subjects by SD-OCT.
2015
Background: The exact pathogenesis of open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension remains unclear. Hemodynamic influences are discussed as potential risk factors and the choroid may play an important role in the pathogenesis of open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The current study investigates peripapillary choroidal thickness and choroidal area in patients with open angle glaucoma, subjects with ocular hypertension and healthy subjects using spectral-domain OCT. It furthermore assesses the association between peripapillary choroidal thickness and age, central corneal thickness, refractive error and intraocular pressure. Patients and Methods: Prospectively recorded data of 213 eyes …
Comparison of CT and magnetic resonance mDIXON-Quant sequence in the diagnosis of mild hepatic steatosis
2018
Objective: To determine the diagnostic performance of CT in the assessment of mild hepatic steatosis by comparison with MR mDIXON-Quant as a reference standard, and to explore their clinical applications. Methods: In this prospective study 169 volunteers were included. Each subject underwent CT and MR mDIX-ON-Quant examinations. Hepatic steatosis evaluations were performed via liver attenuation alone (CT L), liver to spleen attenuation ratio (CT L/S), difference between liver and spleen attenuation (CT L-S), and MR mDIX-ON-Quant imaging. The effectiveness of CT L, CT L/S, and CT L-S in diagnosing hepatic steatosis severity of ≥5%, ≥10%, and ≥15% was compared, using mDIX-ON-Quant results as …
Calreticulin Mutations in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Comparison of Three Diagnostic Methods
2015
International audience; Calreticulin (CALR) mutations have recently been reported in 70-84% of JAK2V617F-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), and this detection has become necessary to improve the diagnosis of MPN. In a large single-centre cohort of 298 patients suffering from Essential Thrombocythemia (ET), the JAK2V617F, CALR and MPL mutations were noted in 179 (60%), 56 (18.5%) and 13 (4.5%) respectively. For the detection of the CALR mutations, three methods were compared in parallel: high-resolution melting-curve analysis (HRM), product-sizing analysis and Sanger sequencing. The sensitivity for the HRM, product-sizing analysis and Sanger sequencing was 96.4%, 98.2% and 89.3% re…