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The electrical activities of the heart causes weak changes of the magnetic field, which can be recorded as magnetocardiogram (MCG). Fetal cardiac magnetic activity is measured in the order of less than 10 pT. An advance of the novel technology of a superconducting quantum interference device enabled the first recording of fetal MCG (FMCG) in 1974. In Japan, FMCG instrument (MC6400, Hitachi High-Technologies Ltd) was approved as a diagnostic tool by Japanese Government in 2003 owing to the cooperative studies of Tsukuba University, National Cardiovascular Center and Hitachi Ltd. FMCG offers similar information to a fetal electrocardiogram, which is difficult to be recorded because the fetal skin is covered with fatty caseous vernix of weak electrical conductivity in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Magnetic flux can pass through the fat layer, and thus FMCG can measure the electrical activity of the fetal heart. Besides FMCG has far higher resolutions in time domain than echocardiography does. The amplitude of FMCG signals depends on the size of fetal heart and the distance between the sensors and the fetal heart. The amplitudes of the QRS, P and T waves increases with gestational age. Since the amplitudes of P and T waves are often weak, averaging of FMCG signals is needed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Current-arrow map is a useful mapping technique even in FMCG. FMCG has been applied in the prenatal diagnosis of fetal arrhythmias such as bradyarrhythmia (atrioventricular block, long QT syndrome, etc), tachyarrhythmia (supraventricular tachycardia, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation and WPW syndrome, etc) and extrasystoles. Fetal cardiomegaly with myocardial abnormalities can be also diagnosed by FMCG. Applications of FMCG for fetal heart rate monitoring using beat-to-beat variability have been also studied to obtain better information on fetal well-beings.
The first year experience with a hospital-wide first-responder automated external defibrillator (AED) programme implemented in a 683-bed University Hospital is reported. Throughout the hospital, 14 "AED access spots" were identified which could be easily reached from all wards and diagnostic rooms within 30s. AEDs were installed (Lifepak 500; Medtronik PhysioControl Corp., Redmond, USA, equipped with a Biolog 3000i portable ECG monitor; Micromedical Industries Ltd., Labrador, Australia). Within 3 months, 120 medical officers, 750 nurses, and 50 administrative or technical staff underwent a 2h training programme. An AED was applied and activated by nurses/medical staff before the cardiac arrest team arrived in 27 of 33 cases (81.8%) of witnessed cardiac arrest. The median time from onset of the emergency call to the activation of the AED (record of ECG) was on average 2.1 min (range 1.0--4.5 min). In 18 of 27 cases in which the AED was installed promptly, the primary arrest rhythm was either VT or VF, and the AED delivered a shock. For this subgroup, the rate of return of spontaneous circulation and the rate of discharge at home were 88.9 and 55.6%, respectively. This encourages us to extend the concept of first-responder AED-defibrillation throughout our hospital.
The use of automatic Roentgen diagnostic reporting systems is limited. Therefore, the capabilities of these systems should be expanded, and should include an integral patient identification as well as relevant data regarding the clinical patient information. By this way, appropriate data considering payments and statistics can be collected. In addition, there is selective access to the data from previous investigations. Thus, the evaluation of the entire information about a patient, including a verification of previous diagnosis is possible. Based on the radiology reporting system of Wheeler (Sirep, Siemens Ltd.) and of Vadraux-Vernier (Sacre, CGR, Ltd.), an additional set of input and output parameter is described as well as their use in a system comprising a small central processor and large external storage unit.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Recently, pulmonologists have performed thoracoscopy under local anesthesia using rigid thoracoscopes or flexible bronchoscopes. The latter allow greater access within the pleural cavity but are difficult to manipulate. The Olympus LTF semiflexible fiberoptic thoracoscope combines features of both instruments, having a solid body and a flexible terminal section. In the first study with this instrument, we evaluated ease of use and compared diagnostic yield with closed needle biopsy. PATIENTS: Twenty-four patients with pleural effusion were investigated. SETTING: Scottish University Hospital. DESIGN: Thoracoscopy was performed in the bronchoscopy suite after premedication with atropine and papaveretum. Following a standard Abram's needle biopsy, the LTF thoracoscope was inserted through a flexible introducer (Olympus Optical Co Ltd; Tokyo, Japan). The pleura was inspected and biopsy specimens were taken of suspicious areas. RESULTS: The final diagnosis was malignant pleural effusion in 16 of 24 patients. Ten of 16 were positive by Abram's biopsy, giving a sensitivity of 62%. Thirteen of 16 were positive by fiberoptic thoracoscopy, giving an improved sensitivity of 81%. The LTF thoracoscope was easy to use for pulmonologists experienced in rigid thoracoscopy and flexible bronchoscopy. Excellent views of the pleura were obtained from a single entry point. The procedure was well tolerated and no complications were encountered. CONCLUSION: The LTF thoracoscope allows excellent pleural access but a larger biopsy channel (currently 2 mm) might increase the accuracy of diagnosis.
A new multi-channel series piezoelectric quartz crystal (MSPQC) system for detection of pathogens in clinical sample was proposed. Some factors, which affect the detection of pathogens by using MSPQC, were all investigated. A total of 650 clinical samples were detected by MSPQC and compared with licensed BACTEC 9120 system (Becton Dickinson Diagnostic Instrument Systems, Sparks, MD, USA) simultaneously in the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, China. When the incubation period was 5 days, two systems had similar detected results: the MSPQC system detected 123 growth of 650 (18.92%) bottles while the BACTEC 9120 detected 125 growth of 650 (19.23%) bottles. The MSPQC had 2 false-positive signals and 2 false-negative signals. However, BACTEC 9120 had 3 false-positive signals and 0 false-negative signals. Further identifications of bacteria were run by VITEK-2 (bioMérieux China Ltd.), 5% sheep blood trypticase soy agar (SBA) and chocolate agar (CA). Comparing with BACTEC 9120, MSPQC system possesses following advantages: shorter average detection time, less blood volume needed, less false-positive results and low cost. It can also provide information in real time. So MSPQC has a wonderful perspective in clinical application.
A new clotting assay, Pefakit APC-R Factor V Leiden (Pentapharm Ltd., Switzerland), for the detection of an increased resistance of coagulation factor V against degradation by activated protein C, caused mainly by the factor V Leiden mutation, was evaluated in clinical studies at two University Centers in Europe and the US. The performance was compared with the performance of the routinely used predicate device COATEST APC Resistance V (Chromogenix IL, USA). Both tests were run in parallel on a STA-R analyzer (Diagnostica Stago, France). Samples from subjects undergoing routine laboratory thrombophilia screening were examined, 187 at the Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics (IMCLD), University of Vienna, Austria, and 236 at the Duke University Medical Center (DUMC), Durham/Raleigh NC, USA. All samples were analyzed for factor V Leiden mutation and prothrombin 20210 G/A mutation using standard PCR methods. The data show that the Pefakit APC-R Factor V Leiden assay discriminates very well between healthy controls and carriers of the factor V Leiden mutation, even in patients with lupus anticoagulant or with deficiency in Protein C or Protein S. Furthermore, this new test is able to discriminate well between heterozygous and homozygous carriers of the factor V Leiden mutation. In both studies the Pefakit assay showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detection of the factor V Leiden mutation, compared to 93.1% sensitivity and 93.0% specificity for the COATEST APC Resistance V in the IMCLD study and 93.9% sensitivity and 95.6% specificity in the DUMC study. The new test has PCR-like discrimination power which will help to decrease costs by reducing the need for PCR verification of borderline cases.
We implemented a total laboratory automation (TLA) system, currently used in Chungnam National University Hospital (CNUH), designed around the A&T Corporation to perform the general and specific laboratory testing throughout the system in a timely and cost-effective manner. The system consists of two major lines: chemistry and hematology. The analyzers attached to the hematology line include one SE 9000 hematology analyzer (Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan), one SP-100 slide maker (Sysmex), and one R9000 reticulocyte counter (Sysmex). The chemistry line consists of preanalytic system and linked analyzers. The analyzers attached to chemistry line are one Hitachi 747 chemistry analyzer (Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), one A&T 502X analyzer (A&T Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) and one Architect i2000 immunochemistry analyzer (Abbott Diagnostics Division, Santa Clara, USA). The preanaytic system including start stocker, centrifuge, de-cap unit and aliquoting unit were connected with analyzers. The turn around time (TAT) of all tests was shortened in comparison to manual systems. Consequently it makes feasible one-day care clinic and makes reduced inherent errors in sample identification, dispensing, and reporting. In addition, real-time re-run can make test quality more reliable. As many as 12 departments can be reduced to 7 departments. The subsidiary advantages of smaller size were incorporated into reduced working steps facilitating workflow. Overall, better qualified and quicker results can be provided to the clinicians, and proper cost-effectiveness and better quality services can be anticipated as a result of much easier system management and higher reliability. In conclusion, the TLA has been successful within our laboratory.
The Clearview Chlamydia test (CV; Unipath Ltd., Bedford, United Kingdom), the Magic Lite Chlamydia test (ML; CIBA Corning, Medfield, Mass.), a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and cell culture (CC) were evaluated for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urogenital specimens. Specimens were collected from 283 men and 724 women visiting the outpatient clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases at the University Hospital Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. ML, PCR, and CC were all performed on the same sample to prevent swab-to-swab variability. CV was performed on a separate sample. Analysis of discordant results was performed by application of the following confirmatory assays: first, PCR on the CC, second, ML was repeated, and third, PCR was repeated by using a different DNA extraction protocol. If more than one test was positive, the sample was considered true positive. If only one test was positive, which was confirmed by the confirmatory assay, the sample was also considered true positive. By using these interpretations, the following results were obtained. The sensitivity and specificity of CV for samples from men were 60.4 and 86.3%, respectively. For samples from women, these values were 62.3 and 99.7%, respectively. The low specificity for samples from men was caused by unidentified substances in the swab that was used. The use of CV on samples from men is not recommended by the manufacturer. For samples from women, the specificity of CV was high, but the low sensitivity of CV limits its use for diagnostic purposes. The sensitivities of ML were low for samples from both men and women (68.8% and 50.9% respectively), while specificities were excellent for samples from both groups (100 and 99.9%, respectively). The low sensitivity of ML limits its diagnostic value. The PCR technique was highly specific for samples from both men (99.6%) and women (99.9%). The sensitivity of PCR, however, was unexpectedly low for samples from both groups (men, 87.5%; women, 79.2%), most likely because of the sample treatment method used. The sensitivity and specificity values of CC for samples from men were 95.8 and 100%, respectively. For samples from women, these values were 100 and 99.9%, respectively. In the present study, CC was the most reliable technique for the detection of C. trachomatis.
PURPOSE: To quantify differences between monocular and binocular pupil size measurement under scotopic and mesopic conditions. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, and Department of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. METHODS: Computerized dynamic pupillometry (P2000 SA, Procyon Instruments Ltd.) was used at 3 illumination levels: scotopic at 0.03 lux, mesopic low at 0.82 lux, and mesopic high at 6.4 lux. One hundred forty eyes of 70 healthy volunteers without ocular pathology were examined. The subjects were divided into 2 groups. In the first group, the pupil diameter was measured binocularly first. In the second group, monocular measurement was performed first. For statistical analysis, data description was based on medians and quartiles of the respective pupil diameter measurements. Intraindividual significance was based on sign tests, and interindividual comparison were based on 2-sample Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS: In all eyes, statistically significant differences were found in pupil size, with higher values for the monocular measurement under low and high mesopic conditions (P=.000). For scotopic conditions, a trend toward higher values in monocular measurement was observed that approached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that binocular measurement may imitate the patient's life conditions more realistically. Therefore, in eyes with a large pupil diameter with the risk for postoperative scotopic phenomena, binocular measurement should be considered before refractive surgery.
Detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum allows monitoring of HBV replication and assessing responses to antiviral treatment. HBV DNA quantification measures virus replication and can be used as a prognosis indicator of liver disease and an index of response to antiviral drugs. The aim of this study was to compare the performances of three HBV DNA detection and/or quantification techniques for assessing HBV replication. Three hundred unselected sera with a request for HBV DNA detection and quantification were tested with a molecular hybridisation technique without amplification (Digene Hybrid-Capture, Murex Diagnostics Ltd), a signal amplification assay based on branched DNA technology (Quantiplex HBV DNA, Chiron diagnostics), and an 'in-house' qualitative, non quantitative target amplification assay based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers located in the S gene of the HBV genome. Hybrid-capture and branched DNA gave concordant results in 278 cases (93%). In the 128 samples positive by both assays, DNA titres in pg/ml were related significantly (r = 0.70, P < 0.0001). but branched DNA titres increased more rapidly than hybrid-capture titres when the amount of HBV DNA in the sample increased. Twenty-two sera (7%) were negative by hybrid-capture, but positive in branched DNA (detection rate gain: 15%). In these 22 patients, DNA titres were low, HBsAg was present in all instances and alanine aminotransferase activity was elevated in 18 patients (82%); HBeAg was present in seven patients (32%) and anti-HBe antibodies in 18 patients (82%); liver biopsy, undertaken in 18 patients, revealed chronic active hepatitis in all instances, associated with cirrhosis in eight cases. Qualitative, non-quantitative HBV DNA PCR was positive in 75 (50%) of the 150 hybrid-capture-negative, branched DNA-negative samples, including a significant proportion of patients without evidence of ongoing HBV-related liver disease. The results show that in general, the branched DNA assay detects HBV DNA in more patients than hybrid-capture and that this improved detection rate is relevant clinically and genome equivalents/ml are preferred to pg/ml to quantify HBV DNA in clinical specimens and finally qualitative, non-quantitative polymerase chain reaction can detect HBV DNA in patients without evidence of active HBV-related liver disease. This study emphasizes the need for more sensitive, university standardised quantitative HBV DNA assays and for the definition of clinically relevant cutoffs with these assays.
PURPOSE: To characterize macular edema that occurs after uneventful cataract surgery. SETTING: Centre of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Institute of Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. METHODS: Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients had uneventful phacoemulsification with implantation of a foldable intraocular lens. Postoperatively, patients were examined at 3, 6, 12, and 30 weeks. The examinations included retinal leakage analysis (Zeiss CSLO), optical coherence tomography (Humphrey Instruments), and retinal thickness analysis (Talia Technology, Ltd.). Results were compared with those in a control group comprising healthy subjects. RESULTS: Increases in retinal thickness (ie, over the mean +/- 2 SD in the control group) reached a maximum at 6 weeks in 13 of 32 eyes (41%), after which recovery was progressive. At 30 weeks, all eyes had good visual acuity, but 7 eyes (22%) still had macular edema. The edema was located primarily in the central macular region. Leaking sites involving the vascular areas of the macula, which indicated areas of abnormal blood-retinal barrier permeability, were a frequent finding. The number of sites remained relatively stable during the first 12 weeks (88%) and decreased to 68% at 30 weeks, indicating a trend toward recovery. CONCLUSION: Macular edema after cataract surgery occurred primarily in the central region of the macula and was associated with the presence of leaking sites, which were located predominantly in the vascular regions of the central macula.
PURPOSE: To compare a monocular and a binocular multiple-measurement digital infrared pupillometers for measuring scotopic pupil diameter. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA. METHODS: Scotopic pupil size was measured after 1 minute of dark adaptation in 42 eyes of 21 volunteers. Measurements were taken twice each with 2 multiple-measurement digital infrared pupillometers, the monocular pupillometer (Neuroptics, Inc.), and the binocular pupillometer (P2000D, Procyon, Ltd.) Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and limits of agreement (LOA) were used to measure repeatability and agreement of measures with each instrument and between instruments. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare variability of measurements within each instrument. RESULTS: The mean scotopic pupil size was 4.79 mm +/- 0.95 (SD) with the Procyon and 4.86 +/- 0.93 mm with the Neuroptics. Repeatability and agreement tests for the Procyon measures showed the following: ICC, 0.954; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.916-0.975; LOA, -0.60 to 0.56; range, 1.16. The Wilcoxon signed rank test of variability gave a Z score of -2.53 (P = .01, 2 tailed). The repeated measures testing with the Neuroptics pupillometer showed the following: ICC, 0.985; 95% CI, 0.972-0.992; LOA, -0.39 to 0.26; range, 0.64; Z score, -1.15 (P = .25, 2-tailed). Repeatability and agreement tests for measures between instruments showed the following: ICC, 0.954; 95% CI, 0.916-0.975; LOA, -0.60 to 0.50; range 1.11. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high repeatability and agreement in scotopic pupil diameter for repeated measures within each device and measurements between the devices. Differences in variability in scotopic pupil diameter evaluated by the Wilcoxon signed rank test were significant only with the Procyon pupillometer.
PURPOSE: To compare 2 infrared pupillometers with a videokeratographer and 2 aberrometers for the determination of scotopic pupil size. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. METHODS: The pupil diameter was measured in 100 eyes of 51 patients after 2 minutes of dark adaptation using the following devices: digital infrared pupillometer (Procyon Instruments Ltd.), handheld infrared pupillometer (Colvard) (Oasis Medical), Zywave aberrometer (Bausch & Lomb), Wasca aberrometer (Asclepion-Meditec-Zeiss), and Orbscan II topography system (Bausch & Lomb Surgical). Measurements taken with the Procyon pupillometer were considered reference values for comparison with the other devices. Statistical evaluation was performed using the Bland-Altmann method for comparison of measurement techniques. RESULTS: The mean pupil size was 6.10 mm +/- 0.86 (SD) with the Procyon pupillometer, 5.68 +/- 1.07 mm with the Colvard pupillometer, 5.91 +/- 1.01 mm with the Zywave aberrometer with the fixating target turned off, 5.09 +/- 1.14 mm with the Zywave aberrometer with the fixating target turned on, 5.59 +/- 0.99 mm with the Wasca aberrometer, and 3.75 +/- 0.67 mm with the Orbscan topographer. The limits of agreement were smallest for measurements between Procyon and Colvard and largest for measurements between Procyon and Orbscan. The sign test revealed statistically significant differences for all devices compared with the Procyon pupillometer (P<.001 in all cases) except the Zywave aberrometer with the fixating target turned off (P=.13). CONCLUSIONS: The Zywave wavefront sensor with the fixating target turned off using the study settings and light conditions provided measurements of scotopic pupil diameter that were closest to the reference values (Procyon). With the other devices (Colvard pupillometer, Zywave aberrometer with the fixating target switched on, Wasca aberrometer, and Orbscan topographer), the difference was statistically significant.
PURPOSE: To measure macular thickness using the Retinal Thickness Analyzer (RTA) (Talia Technologies, Ltd.) before and after routine phacoemulsification. SETTING: Ophthalmology Clinic, Ambulatory Care Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, and the University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. METHODS: Thirty-five nonconsecutive patients scheduled for phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation were recruited. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and macular thickness in the surgical and nonsurgical eyes were measured with the RTA prior to surgery and 1 and 6 weeks after surgery. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to evaluate each index of macular thickness--the mean posterior pole, perifoveal, and foveal thicknesses--over the 3 time periods and to compare the indices before surgery in surgical and nonsurgical eyes. Spearman correlations were computed for each index and the BCVA. Significance was assessed at the 5% level. RESULTS: Preoperatively, all indices were higher in surgical [corrected] eyes than in nonsurgical [corrected] eyes. In surgical eyes, all indices decreased from preoperatively to 6 weeks after surgery. In nonsurgical eyes, there was no change. The BCVA in surgical eyes improved from before surgery to 1 week and 6 weeks after surgery. In surgical eyes, there were nonsignificant negative correlations between each index and the BCVA before surgery and 1 and 6 weeks after surgery. In nonsurgical eyes, there were nonsignificant negative correlations between each index and the BCVA preoperatively and 6 weeks after surgery, except for a significant negative correlation for the foveal index at 6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements by the RTA indicate that the decrease in macular thickness indices in surgical eyes from before surgery to 6 weeks after routine phacoemulsification is an artifact of imaging the retina through hazy media. Therefore, the results must be interpreted in the context of the clinical situation.
From December 1997 to March 1998, 25 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates exhibiting negative Staphylase (Oxoid Ltd., Basingstoke, England) reactions were identified from various clinical specimens from 13 patients in six intensive care units (ICUs) or in wards following a stay in an ICU at the National Taiwan University Hospital. The characteristics of these isolates have not been previously noted in other MRSA isolates from this hospital. Colonies of all these isolates were grown on Trypticase soy agar supplemented with 5% sheep blood and were nonhemolytic and unpigmented. Seven isolates, initially reported as Staphylococcus haemolyticus (5 isolates) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (2 isolates) by the routine identification scheme and with the Vitek GPI system (bioMerieux Vitek, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.), were subsequently identified as S. aureus by positive tube coagulase tests, standard biochemical reactions, and characteristic cellular fatty acid chromatograms. The antibiotypes obtained by the E test, coagulase types, restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles of the staphylococcal coagulase gene, and random amplified polymorphic DNA patterns generated by arbitrarily primed PCR of the isolates disclosed that two major clones disseminated in the ICUs. Clone 1 (16 isolates) was resistant to clindamycin and was susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) and was coagulase type II. Clone 2 (eight isolates) was resistant to clindamycin and TMP-SMZ and was coagulase type IV. These two epidemic clones from ICUs are unique and underline the need for caution in identifying MRSA strains with colonial morphologies not of the typical type and with negative Staphylase reactions.