Serum fructosamine concentrations in dogs with hypothyroidism.

PubMed

Reusch, C E; Gerber, B; Boretti, F S

2002-10-01

Serum fructosamine concentrations were measured in 11 untreated hypothyroid dogs with normal serum glucose and serum protein concentrations. The fructosamine level ranged between 276 and 441 micromol/L (median 376 micromol/L; reference range 207-340 micromol/L). Nine of the 11 dogs had fructosamine levels above the reference range. The fructosamine levels decreased significantly during treatment with levothyroxine. It is suggested that serum fructosamine concentrations may be high in hypothyroid dogs because of decelerated protein turnover, independent of the blood glucose concentration.

Hematological reference values of healthy Malaysian population.

PubMed

Roshan, T M; Rosline, H; Ahmed, S A; Rapiaah, M; Wan Zaidah, A; Khattak, M N

2009-10-01

Health and disease can only be distinguished by accurate and reliable reference values of a particular laboratory test. It is now a proven fact that there is considerable variation in hematology reference intervals depending on the demographic and preanalytical variables. There are evidences that values provided by manufacturers do not have appropriate application for all populations. Moreover, reference ranges provided by different laboratory manuals and books also do not solve this problem. We are presenting here normal reference ranges of Malaysian population. These values were determined by using Sysmex XE-2100 and ACL 9000 hematology and coagulation analyzers. Results from this study showed that there were considerable differences in the reference values from manufacturers, western population or laboratory manuals compared with those from the local population.

Reference values for TSH may be inadequate to define hypothyroidism in persons with morbid obesity: Di@bet.es study.

PubMed

Valdés, Sergio; Maldonado-Araque, Cristina; Lago-Sampedro, Ana; Lillo-Muñoz, Juan Antonio; Garcia-Fuentes, Eduardo; Perez-Valero, Vidal; Gutiérrez-Repiso, Carolina; Garcia-Escobar, Eva; Goday, Albert; Urrutia, Inés; Peláez, Laura; Calle-Pascual, Alfonso; Bordiú, Elena; Castaño, Luis; Castell, Conxa; Delgado, Elias; Menéndez, Edelmiro; Franch-Nadal, Josep; Gaztambide, Sonia; Girbés, Joan; Ortega, Emilio; Vendrell, Joan; Chacón, Matilde R; Javier Chaves, F; Soriguer, Federico; Rojo-Martínez, Gemma

2017-04-01

To analyze the reference range of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in different BMI categories and its impact on the classification of hypothyroidism. The study included 3,928 individuals free of thyroid disease (without previous thyroid disease, no interfering medications, TSH <10 µUI/mL and thyroid peroxidase antibodies [TPO Abs] <50 IU/mL) who participated in a national, cross-sectional, population-based study and were representative of the adult population of Spain. Data gathered included clinical and demographic characteristics, physical examination, and blood and urine sampling. TSH, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, and TPO Ab were analyzed by electrochemiluminescence (E170, Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland). The reference range (p2.5-97.5) for TSH was estimated as 0.6 to 4.8 µUI/mL in the underweight category (BMI<20 kg/m 2 ), 0.6 to 5.5 µUI/mL in the normal-weight category (BMI 20-24.9 kg/m 2 ), 0.6 to 5.5 µUI/mL in the overweight category (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m 2 ), 0.5 to 5.9 µUI/mL in the obesity category (BMI 30-39.9 kg/m 2 ), and 0.7 to 7.5 µUI/mL in the morbid obesity category (BMI ≥40). By using the reference criteria for the normal-weight population, the prevalence of high TSH levels increased threefold in the morbid obesity category (P < 0.01). Persons with morbid obesity might be inappropriately classified if the standard ranges of normality of TSH for the normal-weight population are applied to them. © 2017 The Obesity Society.

[Addison disease during pregnancy--a diagnostic dilemma. Symptoms are similar to normal pregnancy problems].

PubMed

Wålinder, Olov

The symptoms of primary adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison's disease) such as fatigue, anorexia, hypotension and hyperpigmentation are similar to those of normal pregnancy. Addison's disease is rare and the diagnosis can easily be overlooked during pregnancy. The concentration of corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) and cortisol in serum as well as urinary free cortisol increase 2-3 times during pregnancy. Therefore, the reference ranges for nonpregnant persons cannot be used during pregnancy. The diagnosis of Addison's disease in pregnancy should be based on analysis of p-ACTH which remains within the reference range in normal pregnancy until delivery. A case of Addison's disease diagnosed during pregnancy is presented and it illustrates the diagnostic difficulties. In patients taking oral estrogen containing contraceptives, serum levels of CBG and cortisol also increase 2-3 times, making s-cortisol values difficult to interpret. Also in these patients, analysis of p-ACTH is of value when suspecting Addison's disease.

Myxedema coma in a patient with subclinical hypothyroidism.

PubMed

Mallipedhi, Akhila; Vali, Hamza; Okosieme, Onyebuchi

2011-01-01

Myxedema coma is the extreme manifestation of hypothyroidism, typically seen in patients with severe biochemical hypothyroidism. Its occurrence in association with subclinical hypothyroidism is extremely unusual. We describe a patient with subclinical hypothyroidism who developed clinical manifestations of myxedema coma. A 47-year-old woman presented to our endocrine clinic with complaints of fatigue and biochemical findings of subclinical hypothyroidism. She was started on treatment with thyroxine (T4) but remained unwell and was later admitted to hospital with hormone profile showing persisting subclinical hypothyroidism (elevated thyrotropin and normal free T4 [FT4] and free triiodothyronine [FT3]): FT4 10.7 pmol/L (reference range 10.3-24.5), FT3 2.7 pmol/L (reference range 2.67-7.03), and thyrotropin 6.09 mU/L (reference range 0.4-4.0). She subsequently developed hypothermia (temperature 33.2°C), circulatory collapse, and coma. Biochemical profile showed hyponatremia, elevated creatinine phosphokinase, metabolic acidosis, and renal failure. An echocardiogram revealed a moderate-sized pericardial effusion. We diagnosed myxedema coma and started treatment with intravenous T3. She responded dramatically with improvement in level of consciousness and normalization of metabolic parameters. We found no explanation other than hypothyroidism to account for the presentation. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) stimulation tests excluded adrenal insufficiency, and serum gonadotrophins were within the normal reference range. FT4 estimation by equilibrium dialysis excluded analytical interference, and molecular analysis for the thyroid hormone receptor β gene associated with thyroid hormone resistance was negative. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of myxedema coma in a patient with subclinical hypothyroidism. The reason for normal thyroid hormone levels is unclear but may reflect deviation from a higher pre-morbid set-point. The case highlights the importance of careful clinical evaluation in patients with disparate clinical and laboratory findings.

Fetal nasal bone length and Down syndrome during the second trimester in a Chinese population.

PubMed

Hung, Jeng-Hsiu; Fu, Chong Yau; Chen, Chih-Yao; Chao, Kuan-Chong; Hung, Jamie

2008-08-01

The purpose of the present study was to build a database of reference ranges of fetal nasal bone length (NBL) in a Chinese population. The accuracy rate of detecting Down syndrome was also analyzed using fetal NBL as a marker. The control group of fetuses included 342 normal singleton pregnancies with no chromosomal or congenital anomalies. The present study was a cross-section study and the control group was used to construct percentile values of NBL from 13 to 29 gestational weeks of age. Two-dimensional ultrasonography was used for the nasal bone studies. Measurements of NBL were collected and each fetus contributed a single value to the reference sample. During the study period, 14 fetuses with Down syndrome were examined. Measurement of fetal NBL was made during amniocentesis, with gestational age ranging from 13 to 19 weeks. From 342 normal fetuses with gestational age ranging from 13 to 29 weeks, reference ranges of NBL were constructed. The reference ranges were constructed from the 100(1 - p)% reference range: Y +/- Zp x square root sigma 2, where Y = 25 - exp(3.58 - 0.044 x t + 0.0006 x t2), with Y being the fitted mean of regression model and t being gestational age (weeks). Using fetal NBL, the regression model was Pr(Down syndrome) = exp(W)/ [1 + exp(W)], where W = 0.62-4.80 x NBL (multiples of the median) in predicting Down syndrome. Fetal NBL was found to have a sensitivity and specificity of 0.78 and 0.78, respectively, in predicting Down syndrome in the second trimester of pregnancy. Fetal NBL measurement can provide a simple and useful algorithm to predict Down syndrome during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Nonparametric spirometry reference values for Hispanic Americans.

PubMed

Glenn, Nancy L; Brown, Vanessa M

2011-02-01

Recent literature sites ethnic origin as a major factor in developing pulmonary function reference values. Extensive studies established reference values for European and African Americans, but not for Hispanic Americans. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey defines Hispanic as individuals of Spanish speaking cultures. While no group was excluded from the target population, sample size requirements only allowed inclusion of individuals who identified themselves as Mexican Americans. This research constructs nonparametric reference value confidence intervals for Hispanic American pulmonary function. The method is applicable to all ethnicities. We use empirical likelihood confidence intervals to establish normal ranges for reference values. Its major advantage: it is model free, but shares asymptotic properties of model based methods. Statistical comparisons indicate that empirical likelihood interval lengths are comparable to normal theory intervals. Power and efficiency studies agree with previously published theoretical results.

Effect of Harm Anchors in Visual Displays of Test Results on Patient Perceptions of Urgency About Near-Normal Values: Experimental Study.

PubMed

Zikmund-Fisher, Brian J; Scherer, Aaron M; Witteman, Holly O; Solomon, Jacob B; Exe, Nicole L; Fagerlin, Angela

2018-03-26

Patient-facing displays of laboratory test results typically provide patients with one reference point (the "standard range"). To test the effect of including an additional harm anchor reference point in visual displays of laboratory test results, which indicates how far outside of the standard range values would need to be in order to suggest substantial patient risk. Using a demographically diverse, online sample, we compared the reactions of 1618 adults in the United States who viewed visual line displays that included both standard range and harm anchor reference points ("Many doctors are not concerned until here") to displays that included either (1) only a standard range, (2) standard range plus evaluative categories (eg, "borderline high"), or (3) a color gradient showing degree of deviation from the standard range. Providing the harm anchor reference point significantly reduced perceived urgency of close-to-normal alanine aminotransferase and creatinine results (P values <.001) but not generally for platelet count results. Notably, display type did not significantly alter perceptions of more extreme results in potentially harmful ranges. Harm anchors also substantially reduced the number of participants who wanted to contact their doctor urgently or go to the hospital about these test results. Presenting patients with evaluative cues regarding when test results become clinically concerning can reduce the perceived urgency of out-of-range results that do not require immediate clinical action. ©Brian J Zikmund-Fisher, Aaron M Scherer, Holly O Witteman, Jacob B Solomon, Nicole L Exe, Angela Fagerlin. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 26.03.2018.

Histogram-based normalization technique on human brain magnetic resonance images from different acquisitions.

PubMed

Sun, Xiaofei; Shi, Lin; Luo, Yishan; Yang, Wei; Li, Hongpeng; Liang, Peipeng; Li, Kuncheng; Mok, Vincent C T; Chu, Winnie C W; Wang, Defeng

2015-07-28

Intensity normalization is an important preprocessing step in brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) analysis. During MR image acquisition, different scanners or parameters would be used for scanning different subjects or the same subject at a different time, which may result in large intensity variations. This intensity variation will greatly undermine the performance of subsequent MRI processing and population analysis, such as image registration, segmentation, and tissue volume measurement. In this work, we proposed a new histogram normalization method to reduce the intensity variation between MRIs obtained from different acquisitions. In our experiment, we scanned each subject twice on two different scanners using different imaging parameters. With noise estimation, the image with lower noise level was determined and treated as the high-quality reference image. Then the histogram of the low-quality image was normalized to the histogram of the high-quality image. The normalization algorithm includes two main steps: (1) intensity scaling (IS), where, for the high-quality reference image, the intensities of the image are first rescaled to a range between the low intensity region (LIR) value and the high intensity region (HIR) value; and (2) histogram normalization (HN),where the histogram of low-quality image as input image is stretched to match the histogram of the reference image, so that the intensity range in the normalized image will also lie between LIR and HIR. We performed three sets of experiments to evaluate the proposed method, i.e., image registration, segmentation, and tissue volume measurement, and compared this with the existing intensity normalization method. It is then possible to validate that our histogram normalization framework can achieve better results in all the experiments. It is also demonstrated that the brain template with normalization preprocessing is of higher quality than the template with no normalization processing. We have proposed a histogram-based MRI intensity normalization method. The method can normalize scans which were acquired on different MRI units. We have validated that the method can greatly improve the image analysis performance. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that with the help of our normalization method, we can create a higher quality Chinese brain template.

[Treatment of primary hypothyroidism in adult patients].

PubMed

Salmela, Pasi; Metso, Saara; Moilanen, Leena; Niskanen, Leo; Nuutila, Pirjo; Schalin-Jäntti, Camilla

2016-01-01

The diagnosis of hypothyroidism is based on the findings of an increased serum TSH (above the reference range) and decreased serum free T4 (below the reference range) concentration. Treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism is indicated if serum THS is above 10 mU/l. For less severe forms of subclinical hypothyroidism, the treatment should be individually tailored. The treatment of choice is synthetic human levothyroxine. The goals for treatment are amelioration of symptoms and normalization of TSH and free T4 concentrations.

Spatial frequency discrimination learning in normal and developmentally impaired human vision

PubMed Central

Astle, Andrew T.; Webb, Ben S.; McGraw, Paul V.

2010-01-01

Perceptual learning effects demonstrate that the adult visual system retains neural plasticity. If perceptual learning holds any value as a treatment tool for amblyopia, trained improvements in performance must generalise. Here we investigate whether spatial frequency discrimination learning generalises within task to other spatial frequencies, and across task to contrast sensitivity. Before and after training, we measured contrast sensitivity and spatial frequency discrimination (at a range of reference frequencies 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 c/deg). During training, normal and amblyopic observers were divided into three groups. Each group trained on a spatial frequency discrimination task at one reference frequency (2, 4, or 8 c/deg). Normal and amblyopic observers who trained at lower frequencies showed a greater rate of within task learning (at their reference frequency) compared to those trained at higher frequencies. Compared to normals, amblyopic observers showed greater within task learning, at the trained reference frequency. Normal and amblyopic observers showed asymmetrical transfer of learning from high to low spatial frequencies. Both normal and amblyopic subjects showed transfer to contrast sensitivity. The direction of transfer for contrast sensitivity measurements was from the trained spatial frequency to higher frequencies, with the bandwidth and magnitude of transfer greater in the amblyopic observers compared to normals. The findings provide further support for the therapeutic efficacy of this approach and establish general principles that may help develop more effective protocols for the treatment of developmental visual deficits. PMID:20832416

Reference interval for thyrotropin in a ultrasonography screened Korean population

PubMed Central

Kim, Mijin; Kim, Soo Han; Lee, Yunkyoung; Park, Su-yeon; Kim, Hyung-don; Kwon, Hyemi; Choi, Yun Mi; Jang, Eun Kyung; Jeon, Min Ji; Kim, Won Gu; Shong, Young Kee; Kim, Won Bae

2015-01-01

Background/Aims The diagnostic accuracy of thyroid dysfunctions is primarily affected by the validity of the reference interval for serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Thus, the present study aimed to establish a reference interval for TSH using a normal Korean population. Methods This study included 19,465 subjects who were recruited after undergoing routine health check-ups. Subjects with overt thyroid disease, a prior history of thyroid disease, or a family history of thyroid cancer were excluded from the present analyses. The reference range for serum TSH was evaluated in a normal Korean reference population which was defined according to criteria based on the guidelines of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry, ultrasound (US) findings, and smoking status. Sex and age were also taken into consideration when evaluating the distribution of serum TSH levels in different groups. Results In the presence of positive anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies or abnormal US findings, the central 95 percentile interval of the serum TSH levels was widened. Additionally, the distribution of serum TSH levels shifted toward lower values in the current smokers group. The reference interval for TSH obtained using a normal Korean reference population was 0.73 to 7.06 mIU/L. The serum TSH levels were higher in females than in males in all groups, and there were no age-dependent shifts. Conclusions The present findings demonstrate that the serum TSH reference interval in a normal Korean reference population was higher than that in other countries. This result suggests that the upper and lower limits of the TSH reference interval, which was previously defined by studies from Western countries, should be raised for Korean populations. PMID:25995664

Is There a Relationship between Zinc and the Peculiar Comorbidities of Down Syndrome?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Romano, Corrado; Pettinato, Rosa; Ragusa, Letizia; Barone, Concetta; Alberti, Antonino; Failla, Pinella

2002-01-01

A comparison was made between a range of clinical and biochemical variables and zinc levels in 120 individuals with Down syndrome. No significant differences were found between the normal-zinc and low-zinc groups, except for IgG4 which was, unexpectedly, significantly decreased in the group with normal zinc levels. (Contains references.)…

Optical dynamic range maximization for humidity sensing by controlling growth of zinc oxide nanorods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yusof, Haziezol Helmi Mohd; Harun, Sulaiman Wadi; Dimyati, Kaharudin; Bora, Tanujjal; Mohammed, Waleed S.; Dutta, Joydeep

2018-07-01

An experimental study of the dynamic range maximization with Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanorods coated glass substrates for humidity and vapor sensing is reported. Growth time of the nanorods and the length of the coated segments were controlled to study the differences between a reference environmental condition (normal humidity or dry condition) and water vapor concentrations. In order to achieve long dynamic range of detection with respect to nanorods coverage, several substrates with triangular patterns of ZnO nanostructures were fabricated by selective hydrothermal growth over different durations of time (5 h, 10 h and 15 h). It was found that maximum dynamic range for the humidity sensing occurs for the combination parameters of normalized length (Z) of 0.23 and normalized scattering coefficient (ζ) of 0.3. A reduction in transmittance by 38% at humidity levels of 80% with reference point as 50% humidity was observed. The results could be correlated to a first order approximation model that assumes uniform growth and the optimum operating conditions for humidity sensing device. This study provides an option to correlate ZnO growth conditions for different vapor sensing applications which can set a platform for compact sensors where modulation of light intensity is followed.

The relationship of intelligence and memory to interrogative suggestibility: the importance of range effects.

PubMed

Gudjonsson, G H

1988-05-01

This paper looks at the relationship between intelligence, memory and interrogative suggestibility, particularly with reference to range effects. The subjects were 60 normal subjects and 100 forensic patients who had completed the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Clear range effects of IQ and memory were evident in their relationship with suggestibility.

Informative graphing of continuous safety variables relative to normal reference limits.

PubMed

Breder, Christopher D

2018-05-16

Interpreting graphs of continuous safety variables can be complicated because differences in age, gender, and testing site methodologies data may give rise to multiple reference limits. Furthermore, data below the lower limit of normal are compressed relative to those points above the upper limit of normal. The objective of this study is to develop a graphing technique that addresses these issues and is visually intuitive. A mock dataset with multiple reference ranges is initially used to develop the graphing technique. Formulas are developed for conditions where data are above the upper limit of normal, normal, below the lower limit of normal, and below the lower limit of normal when the data value equals zero. After the formulae are developed, an anonymized dataset from an actual set of trials for an approved drug is evaluated comparing the technique developed in this study to standard graphical methods. Formulas are derived for the novel graphing method based on multiples of the normal limits. The formula for values scaled between the upper and lower limits of normal is a novel application of a readily available scaling formula. The formula for the lower limit of normal is novel and addresses the issue of this value potentially being indeterminate when the result to be scaled as a multiple is zero. The formulae and graphing method described in this study provides a visually intuitive method to graph continuous safety data including laboratory values, vital sign data.

Reference ranges of lymphocyte subsets balanced for age and gender from a population of healthy adults in Chongqing District of China.

PubMed

Zhang, Kejun; Wang, Feng; Zhang, Mingxu; Cao, Xinglu; Yang, Shaojun; Jia, Shuangrong; Wang, Lixin; Luo, Jie; Deng, Shaoli; Chen, Ming

2016-11-01

The enumeration of lymphocyte subsets plays an essential role in the monitoring of immunological disorders. Immunophenotyping values have been found to be influenced by race, age, gender, and environmental conditions. Therefore, it is important to establish reference ranges for healthy adults from the local population for clinical decision-making. The current study aimed to establish a normal reference range for peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in healthy adults from the Chongqing District of China by using single-platform flow cytometry. Age- and gender-specific reference ranges were established in 268 healthy adult males and females between 21 and 60 years of age. The CD8+ cell counts decreased with age, CD4+ cell percentages and counts increased with age, and total T cell percentages were higher in the female population. Our results are similar to those reported from other parts of China but different from some results reported from other countries; this further stresses the need to establish local reference ranges by region. Our results will help in the management of patients with human immunodeficiency virus and other immunological disorders in Chongqing District. © 2015 International Clinical Cytometry Society. © 2015 International Clinical Cytometry Society.

Reference Ranges & What They Mean

MedlinePlus

... Time and International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR) PSEN1 Quantitative Immunoglobulins Red Blood Cell (RBC) Antibody Identification Red ... or should be treated. Through many years of research involving large, diverse populations, these limits have become ...

Reference Range of Platelet Delta Granules in the Pediatric Age Group: An Ultrastructural Study of Platelet Whole Mount Preparations from Healthy Volunteers.

PubMed

Sorokin, Victoria; Alkhoury, Razan; Al-Rawabdeh, Sura; Houston, Ronald H; Thornton, David; Kerlin, Bryce; O'Brien, Sarah; Baker, Peter; Boesel, Carl; Uddin, Minhaj; Yin, Han; Kahwash, Samir

This study sought to determine delta granule normal ranges for children and to validate methodology for the appropriate diagnosis of delta granule deficiency (storage pool disease) by using the whole-mount technique in electron microscopy. Specimens obtained from 40 healthy volunteers (2 months of age through 21 years old, 21 females and 19 males) were tested. Results showed dense granules/platelet (DG/Plt) ranged from 1.78 to 5.25. The 5th percentile was 1.96 DG/Plt with an overall mean ± SEM 3.07 ± 0.12 DG/Plt. In comparison, a previously published lower cutoff value, 3.68 DG/Plt, was significantly higher than the mean from our volunteers (P < 0.0001). We found no variability in dense granules/platelet based on race or sex and no significant variation by age subgroup. Pending wider studies, the value of 2 DG/Plt is a more appropriate lower limit of normal. In the absence of wider studies (in healthy volunteers and patients), laboratories should consider establishing their own reference ranges.

Normal reference ranges for left ventricular dimensions in preterm infants.

PubMed

Abushaban, Lulu; Vel, Mariappa Thinakar; Rathinasamy, Jebaraj; Sharma, Prem N

2014-09-01

To establish normal reference ranges for the left ventricular dimensions in preterm infants and their correlation with gestational age, body weight and chronological age. In a prospective study, 268 preterm babies, who fulfilled the criteria for inclusion, were examined in Kuwait during the years (2008-2010). Echocardiograms were performed to measure the left ventricular dimensions on 0-6 day(s) of life and at weekly intervals until they reached 36 weeks. The gestational age was grouped into three: 24-27, 28-31 and 32-35 weeks, and body weight into five: ⩽999, 1,000-1,499, 1,500-1,999, 2,000-2,499 and ≥2,500 grams. The overall group differences were compared for each period of life: 0-6 days, 1-2, 3-4 and ≥5 weeks. The mean gestational age was 29.8 (± 2.38 SD) weeks, ranging between 24 and 35, and the mean body weight 1,479 (± 413 SD) grams, ranging between 588 and 3380. At the first scan (0-6 days of life), all the left ventricular measurements correlated well (P < 0.001) with body weight, and the same was observed with gestational age, except for left ventricular posterior wall thickness at end-systole and end-diastole. A significant gradual increase was noticed in all the dimensions with body weight during each period of life. However, with respect to gestational age, an increase was observed in all the dimensions during first four weeks, but the rate of increase became less after 5 weeks of life. Overall, a progressive and significant increase in all left ventricle measurements was observed during the first nine weeks of life. The left ventricular dimension measurements were found to have significant correlation with both gestational age and body weight. The study also provides reference data, which can be used as normal reference tool for left ventricular dimensions for preterm infants against the gestational age, body weight and chronological age.

Reference right atrial dimensions and volume estimation by steady state free precession cardiovascular magnetic resonance

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) steady state free precession (SSFP) cine sequences with high temporal resolution and improved post-processing can accurately measure RA dimensions. We used this technique to define ranges for normal RA volumes and dimensions normalized, when necessary, to the influence of gender, body surface area (BSA) and age, and also to define the best 2D images-derived predictors of RA enlargement. Methods For definition of normal ranges of RA volume we studied 120 healthy subjects (60 men, 60 women; 20 subjects per age decile from 20 to 80 years), after careful exclusion of cardiovascular abnormality. We also studied 120 patients (60 men, 60 women; age range 20 to 80 years) with a clinical indication for CMR in order to define the best 1D and 2D predictors of RA enlargement. Data were generated from SSFP cine CMR, with 3-dimensional modeling, including tracking of the atrioventricular ring motion and time-volume curves analysis. Results In the group of healthy individuals, age influenced RA 2-chamber area and transverse diameter. Gender influenced most absolute RA dimensions and volume. Interestingly, right atrial volumes did not change with age and gender when indexed to body surface area. New CMR normal ranges for RA dimensions were modeled and displayed for clinical use with normalization for BSA and gender and display of parameter variation with age. Finally, the best 2D images-derived independent predictors of RA enlargement were indexed area and indexed longitudinal diameter in the 2-chamber view. Conclusion Reference RA dimensions and predictors of RA enlargement are provided using state-of-the-art CMR techniques. PMID:23566426

Regional reference values of thyroid gland volume in Turkish Adults.

PubMed

Şahin, Ertan; Elboğa, Umut; Kalender, Ebuzer

2015-01-01

It is important to know the size of the thyroid gland, and its normal value may vary among different geographic regions. In this study, we aimed to establish reference ranges for thyroid volume in euthyroid adults and to compare these results with the literature data. Between June 2011 and June 2012,461 patients with normal laboratory results (serum TSH, anti-TG, anti-TPO antibodies and urine iodine level) that underwent thyroid gland ultrasound examination were retrospectively analyzed.Two hundred and 92 patients were females and 169 were males; the age range was 18-61 years with mean age 30.84±9.97 years. Length, breadth and thickness were measured, and the volume of each lobe was estimated using the ellipsoid formula. The overall mean thyroid volume in all patients who were examined was 12.98±2.53 mL. The mean thyroid volume in females and males was 12.09±2.05 mL and 14.53±2.55, respectively (p<0.05). The right thyroid lobe volume was greater than the left in all patients of both sexes. In addition, the study establishes a significant correlation between the thyroid volume and height, weight and body surface area of the subjects of both sexes (p<0.05). In the light of our findings we can provide reference values in order to evaluate patients who have thyroid hyperplasia or who are considered as normal. We consider that further studies are necessary to establish national references thyroid volume for each country.

lpxC and yafS are the most suitable internal controls to normalize real time RT-qPCR expression in the phytopathogenic bacteria Dickeya dadantii.

PubMed

Hommais, Florence; Zghidi-Abouzid, Ouafa; Oger-Desfeux, Christine; Pineau-Chapelle, Emilie; Van Gijsegem, Frederique; Nasser, William; Reverchon, Sylvie

2011-01-01

Quantitative RT-PCR is the method of choice for studying, with both sensitivity and accuracy, the expression of genes. A reliable normalization of the data, using several reference genes, is critical for an accurate quantification of gene expression. Here, we propose a set of reference genes, of the phytopathogenic bacteria Dickeya dadantii and Pectobacterium atrosepticum, which are stable in a wide range of growth conditions. We extracted, from a D. dadantii micro-array transcript profile dataset comprising thirty-two different growth conditions, an initial set of 49 expressed genes with very low variation in gene expression. Out of these, we retained 10 genes representing different functional categories, different levels of expression (low, medium, and high) and with no systematic variation in expression correlating with growth conditions. We measured the expression of these reference gene candidates using quantitative RT-PCR in 50 different experimental conditions, mimicking the environment encountered by the bacteria in their host and directly during the infection process in planta. The two most stable genes (ABF-0017965 (lpxC) and ABF-0020529 (yafS) were successfully used for normalization of RT-qPCR data. Finally, we demonstrated that the ortholog of lpxC and yafS in Pectobacterium atrosepticum also showed stable expression in diverse growth conditions. We have identified at least two genes, lpxC (ABF-0017965) and yafS (ABF-0020509), whose expressions are stable in a wide range of growth conditions and during infection. Thus, these genes are considered suitable for use as reference genes for the normalization of real-time RT-qPCR data of the two main pectinolytic phytopathogenic bacteria D. dadantii and P. atrosepticum and, probably, of other Enterobacteriaceae. Moreover, we defined general criteria to select good reference genes in bacteria.

Stability Investigation of a Blunted Cone and a Blunted Ogive with a Flared Cylinder Afterbody at Mach Numbers from 0.30 to 2.85

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coltrane, Lucille C.

1959-01-01

A cone with a blunt nose tip and a 10.7 deg cone half angle and an ogive with a blunt nose tip and a 20 deg flared cylinder afterbody have been tested in free flight over a Mach number range of 0.30 to 2.85 and a Reynolds number range of 1 x 10(exp 6) to 23 x 10(exp 6). Time histories, cross plots of force and moment coefficients, and plots of the longitudinal force,coefficient, rolling velocity, aerodynamic center, normal- force-curve slope, and dynamic stability are presented. With the center-of-gravity location at about 50 percent of the model length, the models were both statically and dynamically stable throughout the Mach number range. For the cone, the average aerodynamic center moved slightly forward with decreasing speeds and the normal-force-curve slope was fairly constant throughout the speed range. For the ogive, the average aerodynamic center remained practically constant and the normal-force-curve slope remained practically constant to a Mach number of approximately 1.6 where a rising trend is noted. Maximum drag coefficient for the cone, with reference to the base area, was approximately 0.6, and for the ogive, with reference to the area of the cylindrical portion, was approximately 2.1.

ANCA / MPO / PR3 Antibodies Test

MedlinePlus

... normal limits." For more information, please read the article Reference Ranges and What They Mean . What is being tested? Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are autoantibodies produced by a person's immune system that mistakenly target and attack proteins within the ...

Age, gender, and percentage of circulating osteoprogenitor (COP) cells: The COP Study.

PubMed

Gunawardene, Piumali; Al Saedi, Ahmed; Singh, Lakshman; Bermeo, Sandra; Vogrin, Sara; Phu, Steven; Suriyaarachchi, Pushpa; Pignolo, Robert J; Duque, Gustavo

2017-10-01

Circulating osteoprogenitor (COP) cells are blood-borne cells which express a variety of osteoblastic markers and are able to form bone nodules in vivo. Whereas a high percentage of COP cells (%COP) is associated with vascular calcification, low %COP has been associated with disability and frailty. However, the reference range of %COP in age- and gender-matching populations, and the age-related changes in %COP remain unknown. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in 144 healthy volunteers in Western Sydney (20-90year-old, 10 male and 10 female subjects per decade). %COP was quantified by flow cytometry. A high inter-and intra-rater reliability was found. In average, in this healthy population average of %COP was 0.42. There was no significant difference in %COP among the age groups. Similarly, no significant difference was found in %COP with gender, weight, height or BMI. In addition, we identified a normal reference range of %COP of 0.1-3.8%. In conclusion, in addition to the identification of steady levels of COP cells with age, we also identified a normal reference range of %COP, which could be used in future studies looking at musculoskeletal diseases in older populations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fragmented red cells reference range for the Sysmex XN®-series of automated blood cell counters.

PubMed

Lesesve, J-F; Speyer, E; Perol, J-P

2015-10-01

Fragmented red cells (FRCs) are a new parameter determined automatically by the latest generation of blood cell counters. FRC counts may be of interest as they may reflect schistocyte counts measured on a stained peripheral blood smear observed under the microscope. However, FRC counts depend on the technical procedure used to detect them so that reference ranges are device dependent. The XN-9000® is one of the latest models from the Sysmex series of analysers. We aimed to establish a reference range for FRCs based on 1366 normal patient samples. The mean ± SD was 0.14 ± 0.35% and the median was 0% (95% confidence interval of the mean: 0.12-0.16%). We observed that the percentage of red blood cells with <17 pg of haemoglobin content (Hypo-He) was correlated to an FRC increase and that flagged results relating to red blood cells, reticulocytes or platelets might have presented with artefactually increased FRCs. The FRCs reference range (healthy subjects) should be useful for laboratory staff for selecting which blood smears to check optically. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

[Pyroglutamic acidemia associated with acetaminophen].

PubMed

Alados Arboledas, F J; de la Oliva Senovilla, P; García Muñoz, Ma J; Alonso Melgar, A; Ruza Tarrío, F

2007-12-01

We report a case of pyroglutamic acidemia probably related to acetaminophen administration. A 16-month boy recovering from hemolytic uremic syndrome abruptly developed unexplained high anion gap metabolic acidosis requiring hemodialysis. Septic shock, lactic acidosis and salicylate intoxication were ruled out. Betahydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate levels were within the normal range. No osmolarity gap or high amino acid levels were found. Urine and blood pyroglutamic acid levels were 392 mmol/mol creatinine (reference range: 9-55) and 9.8 mmol/L (reference range<0.16), respectively. The patient was receiving acetaminophen. We conclude that pyroglutamic acidosis should be considered in patients receiving acetaminophen who abruptly develop high anion gap metabolic acidosis not attributable to more common causes.

Automated Spatial Brain Normalization and Hindbrain White Matter Reference Tissue Give Improved [(18)F]-Florbetaben PET Quantitation in Alzheimer's Model Mice.

PubMed

Overhoff, Felix; Brendel, Matthias; Jaworska, Anna; Korzhova, Viktoria; Delker, Andreas; Probst, Federico; Focke, Carola; Gildehaus, Franz-Josef; Carlsen, Janette; Baumann, Karlheinz; Haass, Christian; Bartenstein, Peter; Herms, Jochen; Rominger, Axel

2016-01-01

Preclinical PET studies of β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation are of growing importance, but comparisons between research sites require standardized and optimized methods for quantitation. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate systematically the (1) impact of an automated algorithm for spatial brain normalization, and (2) intensity scaling methods of different reference regions for Aβ-PET in a large dataset of transgenic mice. PS2APP mice in a 6 week longitudinal setting (N = 37) and another set of PS2APP mice at a histologically assessed narrow range of Aβ burden (N = 40) were investigated by [(18)F]-florbetaben PET. Manual spatial normalization by three readers at different training levels was performed prior to application of an automated brain spatial normalization and inter-reader agreement was assessed by Fleiss Kappa (κ). For this method the impact of templates at different pathology stages was investigated. Four different reference regions on brain uptake normalization were used to calculate frontal cortical standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRCTX∕REF), relative to raw SUVCTX. Results were compared on the basis of longitudinal stability (Cohen's d), and in reference to gold standard histopathological quantitation (Pearson's R). Application of an automated brain spatial normalization resulted in nearly perfect agreement (all κ≥0.99) between different readers, with constant or improved correlation with histology. Templates based on inappropriate pathology stage resulted in up to 2.9% systematic bias for SUVRCTX∕REF. All SUVRCTX∕REF methods performed better than SUVCTX both with regard to longitudinal stability (d≥1.21 vs. d = 0.23) and histological gold standard agreement (R≥0.66 vs. R≥0.31). Voxel-wise analysis suggested a physiologically implausible longitudinal decrease by global mean scaling. The hindbrain white matter reference (R mean = 0.75) was slightly superior to the brainstem (R mean = 0.74) and the cerebellum (R mean = 0.73). Automated brain normalization with reference region templates presents an excellent method to avoid the inter-reader variability in preclinical Aβ-PET scans. Intracerebral reference regions lacking Aβ pathology serve for precise longitudinal in vivo quantification of [(18)F]-florbetaben PET. Hindbrain white matter reference performed best when considering the composite of quality criteria.

[Determination of normal reference value of pyrrole adducts in urine in young people in a university in Shandong, China].

PubMed

Wang, Hui; Wang, Yiping; Zhou, Zhenwei; Wang, Shuo; Yin, Hongyin; Xie, Keqin

2015-06-01

To determine the normal reference value of pyrrole adducts in urine in young people in a university in Shandong, China, and to provide a reliable basis for the clinical diagnosis of n-hexane poisoning. A total of 240 college students were randomly selected. After excluding 32 ineligible students, 208 subjects were included in this study, consisting of 104 males and 104 females, with a mean age of 21?3 years (range: 18 to 24 years). Morning urine was collected from each subject. The content of pyrrole adducts was determined by chromatometry. The content of pyrrole adducts in both male and female obeyed a positively skewed distribution. The median level of pyrrole adducts in male subjects was 0.88 nmol/ml, and the reference value was 0.14-3.92 nmol/ml. The median level of pyrrole adducts in female subjects was 0.93 nmol/ ml, and the reference value was 0.09-3.27 nmol/ml. Student's t test identified no statistical difference in pyrrole adduct level between male and female subjects (t=0.15, P>0.05). The median level of pyrrole adducts in normal young people is 0.91 nmol/ml, and the reference value is 0.11-3.95 nmol/ml.

Echocardiography parameters of clinically normal adult captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

PubMed

Sleeper, Meg M; Drobatz, Ken; Lee, D Richard; Lammey, Michael L

2014-04-15

To generate reference ranges for echocardiographic variables in clinically normal adult chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Retrospective cohort study. 88 clinically normal adult chimpanzees. Echocardiographic data obtained between 2002 and 2011 from chimpanzees at the Alamogordo Primate Facility were reviewed (263 echocardiograms obtained from 158 individuals). Data from clinically normal individuals (33 females and 55 males) were analyzed. Basic cardiac parameters measured in all individuals included aortic root diameter and left atrial diameter in the short and long axis during diastole. Left ventricular measurements included left ventricular internal diameter in systole and diastole and diastolic septal and posterior wall thickness. The E point to septal separation was also measured. Spectral Doppler measurements included the peak flow velocity of the pulmonary artery and aorta and diastolic transmitral flow. The presence of arrhythmias was also noted. Standard echocardiographic findings for a large group of adult female and male chimpanzees were obtained. Female and male chimpanzees were grouped by age in 10-year blocks, and echocardiographic findings were analyzed statistically by 10-year block. In male chimpanzees, cardiac arrhythmias were noted to increase with age. Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of morbidity and death in captive chimpanzees; however, basic echocardiographic measurements from a large cohort of clinically normal animals have not previously been reported. The number of animals in the present study was insufficient to generate reference ranges; however, data from a large cohort of clinically normal animals are presented. This information will be useful for veterinarians working in clinical and research settings with this species.

Reference values for leptin and adiponectin in children below the age of 10 based on the IDEFICS cohort.

PubMed

Erhardt, E; Foraita, R; Pigeot, I; Barba, G; Veidebaum, T; Tornaritis, M; Michels, N; Eiben, G; Ahrens, W; Moreno, L A; Kovács, E; Molnár, D

2014-09-01

To establish age- and sex-specific reference values for serum leptin and adiponectin in normal-weight 3.0-8.9-year old European children. Blood samples for hormone analysis were taken from 1338 children of the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health Effects in Children and infantS) study cohort. Only normal-weight children aged 3.0-8.9 years were included (n=539) in our analysis. Using the General Additive Model for Location Scale and Shape, age- and sex-specific percentiles were derived. The influence of under/overweight and obesity on the proposed reference curves based on normal-weight children was investigated in several sensitivity analyses using the sample without obese children (n=1015) and the whole study sample (n=1338). There was a negative age trend of adiponectin blood levels and a positive trend of leptin levels in boys and girls. Percentiles derived for girls were generally higher than those obtained for boys. The corresponding age-specific differences of the 97th percentile ranged from -2.2 to 4.6 μg ml(-1) and from 2.2 to 4.8 ng ml(-1) for adiponectin and leptin, respectively. According to our knowledge, these are the first reference values of leptin and adiponectin in prepubertal, normal-weight children. The presented adiponectin and leptin reference curves may allow for a more differentiated interpretation of children's hormone levels in epidemiological and clinical studies.

Rigorous Combination of GNSS and VLBI: How it Improves Earth Orientation and Reference Frames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lambert, S. B.; Richard, J. Y.; Bizouard, C.; Becker, O.

2017-12-01

Current reference series (C04) of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) are produced by a weighted combination of Earth orientation parameters (EOP) time series built up by combination centers of each technique (VLBI, GNSS, Laser ranging, DORIS). In the future, we plan to derive EOP from a rigorous combination of the normal equation systems of the four techniques.We present here the results of a rigorous combination of VLBI and GNSS pre-reduced, constraint-free, normal equations with the DYNAMO geodetic analysis software package developed and maintained by the French GRGS (Groupe de Recherche en GeÌodeÌsie Spatiale). The used normal equations are those produced separately by the IVS and IGS combination centers to which we apply our own minimal constraints.We address the usefulness of such a method with respect to the classical, a posteriori, combination method, and we show whether EOP determinations are improved.Especially, we implement external validations of the EOP series based on comparison with geophysical excitation and examination of the covariance matrices. Finally, we address the potential of the technique for the next generation celestial reference frames, which are currently determined by VLBI only.

Genetics Home Reference: DNMT3A overgrowth syndrome

MedlinePlus

... eyes (narrowed palpebral fissures). Additionally, the upper front teeth are often larger than normal. Intellectual disability in DNMT3A overgrowth syndrome ranges from mild to severe. Individuals may have features of autism spectrum disorder , which are characterized by impaired communication ...

Mitotane treatment in patients with adrenocortical cancer causes central hypothyroidism.

PubMed

Russo, Marco; Scollo, Claudia; Pellegriti, Gabriella; Cotta, Oana Ruxandra; Squatrito, Sebastiano; Frasca, Francesco; Cannavò, Salvatore; Gullo, Damiano

2016-04-01

Mitotane, a steroidogenesis inhibitor with adrenolytic properties used to treat adrenocortical cancer (ACC), can affect thyroid function. A reduction of FT4 levels with normal FT3 and TSH has been described in these patients. Using an in vitro murine model, the secretory capacity of thyrotrophic cells has been shown to be inhibited by mitotane. To investigate the pathogenesis of thyroid abnormalities in mitotane-treated patients with ACC. In five female patients with ACC (median age 47; range 31-65) treated with mitotane (dosage 1·5 g/day; 1·0-3·0), we analysed the pattern of TSH and thyroid function index (FT4, FT3 and FT3/FT4 ratio) compared to an age- and gender-matched control group. The in vivo secretory activity of the thyrotrophic cells was evaluated using a standard TRH test (200 μg), and the response was compared to both a group of age-matched female controls (n = 10) and central hypothyroid patients (n = 10). Basal TSH (median 1·54 mU/l; range 1·20-2·17) was normal and scattered around our median reference value, FT3 levels (median 3·80 pmol/l; 3·30-4·29) were normal but below the median reference value of 4·37 pmol/l and FT4 levels were below the normal range in all patients (median 8·40 pmol/l; 7·6-9·9). FT3/FT4 ratio was in the upper range in 4 patients and higher than normal in one patient. A blunted TSH response to TRH was observed in mitotane-treated patients. ΔTSH (absolute TSH response, peak TSH minus basal TSH) was 3·65 (range 3·53-5·26), 12·37 (range 7·55-19·97) and 1·32 mU/l (range 0·52-4·66) in mitotane-treated patients, controls and central hypothyroid patients, respectively. PRL secretion was normal. Mitotane-treated patients with ACC showed low FT4, normal FT3 and TSH and impaired TSH response to TRH, characteristic of central hypothyroidism. Furthermore, the elevated FT3/FT4 ratio of these subjects reflects an enhanced T4 to T3 conversion rate, a compensatory mechanism characteristic of thyroid function changes observed in hypothyroid conditions. This finding thus confirms in vitro studies and may have a therapeutic implication for treatment with thyroid hormones, as suggested by current guidelines for this specific condition. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effect of Feeding an Iodine-Restricted Diet in Cats with Spontaneous Hyperthyroidism.

PubMed

Hui, T Y; Bruyette, D S; Moore, G E; Scott-Moncrieff, J C

2015-01-01

Exclusive feeding of an iodine-restricted diet has been proposed as a method for controlling clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism in hyperthyroid cats. To determine the effect of feeding an iodine-restricted diet on TT4 concentrations and clinical signs in cats with spontaneous hyperthyroidism. Forty-nine client-owned cats with spontaneous hyperthyroidism. Retrospective case series. Hyperthyroid cats were exclusively fed a commercially available iodine-restricted diet. Clinical response was assessed by change in weight and heart rate and serum TT4, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine concentrations at various times during dietary management (21-60 days, 60-180 days). Serum TT4 normalized in 20/48 cats (42%) and 39/47 cats (83%) at 21-60 days and 61-180 days, respectively. Cats in which the TT4 concentrations were still above reference range at 21-60 days had a significantly higher starting TT4 than those that normalized their TT4 levels during the same time period (P = .038). Body weight did not significantly increase (P = .34) nor heart rate decrease (P = .64) during the study. There was a significant decrease in serum creatinine (P = .028). Cats in the low reference range for serum TT4 concentrations did not have a significant increase in body weight (P = .41) nor creatinine (P = .54) when compared to those with high reference range. Restricted-iodine diets were effective at maintaining serum TT4 concentrations within reference ranges for a majority of cats with spontaneous hyperthyroidism over 1 year, although not all clinical signs of hyperthyroidism improved. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Determination of reference values for intraocular pressure and Schirmer tear test results in clinically normal domestic donkeys (Equus asinus).

PubMed

Selk Ghaffari, Masoud; Sabzevari, Amin; Ghamsari, SeyedMehdi; Shad, Hussein

2017-11-25

This study was conducted to establish normal reference range for the Schirmer tear test (STT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in clinically normal donkeys for use in clinical practice. Sixteen adult Ethiopian domestic donkeys were used in this study. Complete ophthalmic examinations were performed without chemical restraint. STT values were evaluated in both eyes of all donkeys using a commercial STT strip. IOP was measured in both eyes with a Tono-Pen Vet (Reichert. USA) without using regional nerve blocks. STT values for all eyes (n=32) were 22.1±6.9 mm/minute with a range of 13-35 mm/minute. Comparison of mean STT values between right (n=16) and left eyes (n=16) showed no differences (P=0.6). Mean ±sd IOP values by applanation tonometry were 17.8±3.7 mmHg (range 13.5-24.5 mmHg). Comparison of mean IOP values between right (n=16) and left eyes (n=16) showed no differences (P=0.7). This initial survey provides means and ranges for IOP and STT values in donkeys. These data will assist veterinary ophthalmologists in more accurate diagnosis and management of ophthalmic diseases in donkeys, including keratoconjunctivitis sicca and glaucoma. © British Veterinary Association (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Activin B is a novel biomarker for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) diagnosis: a cross sectional study.

PubMed

Lidbury, Brett A; Kita, Badia; Lewis, Donald P; Hayward, Susan; Ludlow, Helen; Hedger, Mark P; de Kretser, David M

2017-03-16

Investigations of activin family proteins as serum biomarkers for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). CFS/ME is a disease with complex, wide-ranging symptoms, featuring persistent fatigue of 6 months or longer, particularly post exertion. No definitive biomarkers are available. A cross-sectional, observational study of CFS/ME patients fulfilling the 2003 Canadian Consensus Criteria, in parallel with healthy non-fatigued controls, was conducted. Comparisons with a previously defined activin reference population were also performed. For the total study cohort the age range was 18-65 years with a female: male participant ratio of greater than 3:1. All participants were assessed via a primary care community clinic. Blood samples were collected for pathology testing after physical examination and orthostatic intolerance assessment. Cytokines, activin A, activin B and follistatin were also measured in sera from these samples. All data were compared between the CFS/ME and control cohorts, with the activins and follistatin also compared with previously defined reference intervals. Serum activin B levels for CFS/ME participants were significantly elevated when compared to the study controls, as well as the established reference interval. Serum activin A and follistatin were within their normal ranges. All routine and special pathology markers were within the normal laboratory reference intervals for the total study cohort, with no significant differences detected between CFS/ME and control groups. Also, no significant differences were detected for IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, TNF or IFN-gamma. Elevated activin B levels together with normal activin A levels identified patients with the diagnostic symptoms of CFS/ME, thus providing a novel serum based test. The activins have multiple physiological roles and capture the diverse array of symptoms experienced by CFS/ME patients.

Postadoption Environmental Features

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Castle, Jennifer; Beckett, Celia; Rutter, Michael; Sonuga-Barke, Edmund J.

2010-01-01

There is an abundance of evidence showing relatively strong associations between family characteristics and a child's psychological functioning--both within the normal range and, also, with reference to psychopathology. That has sometimes led to the assumption that equally strong associations should be found within adoptive families. Nevertheless,…

Abnormal glomerular filtration rate in children, adolescents and young adults starts below 75 mL/min/1.73 m(2).

PubMed

Pottel, Hans; Hoste, Liesbeth; Delanaye, Pierre

2015-05-01

The chronic kidney disease (CKD) classification system for children is similar to that for adults, with both mainly based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) combined with fixed cut-off values. The main cut-off eGFR value used to define CKD is 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2), a value that is also applied for children older than 2 years of age, adolescents and young adults. Based on a literature search, we evaluated inclusion criteria for eGFR in clinical trials or research studies on CKD for children. We also collected information on direct measurements of GFR (mGFR) in children and adolescents, with the aim to estimate the normal reference range for GFR. Using serum creatinine (Scr) normal reference values and Scr-based eGFR-equations, we also evaluated the correspondence between Scr normal reference values and (e)GFR normal reference values. Based on our literature search, the inclusion of children in published CKD studies has been based on cut-off values for eGFR of >60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). The lower reference limits for mGFR far exceed this adult threshold. Using eGFR values calculated using Scr-based formulas, we found that abnormal Scr levels in children already correspond to eGFR values that are below a cut-off of 75 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Abnormal GFR in children, adolescents and young adults starts below 75 mL/min/1.73 m(2), and as abnormality is a sign of disease, we recommend referring children, adolescents and young adults with an (e)GFR of <75 mL/min/1.73 m(2) for further clinical assessment.

The CIRCORT database: Reference ranges and seasonal changes in diurnal salivary cortisol derived from a meta-dataset comprised of 15 field studies

PubMed Central

Miller, Robert; Stalder, Tobias; Jarczok, Marc; Almeida, David M.; Badrick, Ellena; Bartels, Meike; Boomsma, Dorret I.; Coe, Christopher L.; Dekker, Marieke C. J.; Donzella, Bonny; Fischer, Joachim E.; Gunnar, Megan R.; Kumari, Meena; Lederbogen, Florian; Oldehinkel, Albertine J.; Power, Christine; Rosmalen, Judith G.; Ryff, Carol D.; Subramanian, S V; Tiemeier, Henning; Watamura, Sarah E.; Kirschbaum, Clemens

2016-01-01

Diurnal salivary cortisol profiles are valuable indicators of adrenocortical functioning in epidemiological research and clinical practice. However, normative reference values derived from a large number of participants and across a wide age range are still missing. To fill this gap, data were compiled from 15 independently conducted field studies with a total of 104,623 salivary cortisol samples obtained from 18,698 unselected individuals (mean age: 48.3 years, age range: 0.5 to 98.5 years, 39% females). Besides providing a descriptive analysis of the complete dataset, we also performed mixed-effects growth curve modeling of diurnal salivary cortisol (i.e., 1 to 16 hours after awakening). Cortisol decreased significantly across the day and was influenced by both, age and sex. Intriguingly, we also found a pronounced impact of sampling season with elevated diurnal cortisol in spring and decreased levels in autumn. However, the majority of variance was accounted for by between-participant and between-study variance components. Based on these analyses, reference ranges (LC/MS-MS calibrated) for cortisol concentrations in saliva were derived for different times across the day, with more specific reference ranges generated for males and females in different age categories. This integrative summary provides important reference values on salivary cortisol to aid basic scientists and clinicians in interpreting deviations from the normal diurnal cycle. PMID:27448524

Development of certified reference materials for electrolytes in human serum (GBW09124-09126).

PubMed

Feng, Liuxing; Wang, Jun; Cui, Yanjie; Shi, Naijie; Li, Haifeng; Li, Hongmei

2017-05-01

Three reference materials, at relatively low, middle, and high concentrations, were developed for analysis of the mass fractions of electrolytes (K, Ca, Na, Mg, Cl, and Li) in human serum. The reference materials were prepared by adding high purity chloride salts to normal human serum. The concentration range of the three levels is within ±20% of normal human serum. It was shown that 14 units with duplicate analysis is enough to demonstrate the homogeneity of these candidate reference materials. The statistical results also showed no significant trends in both short-term stability test for 1 week at 40 °C and long-term stability test for 14 months. The certification methods of the six elements include isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), ion chromatography (IC), and ion-selective electrode (ISE). The certification methods were validated by international comparisons among a number of national metrology institutes (NMIs). The combined relative standard uncertainties of the property values were estimated by considering the uncertainties of the analytical methods, homogeneity, and stability. The range of the expanded uncertainties of all the elements is from 2.2% to 3.9%. The certified reference materials (CRMs) are primarily intended for use in the calibration and validation of procedures in clinical analysis for the determination of electrolytes in human serum or plasma. Graphical Abstract Certified reference materials for K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cl and Li in human serum (GBW09124-09126).

Blood platelet counts, morphology and morphometry in lions, Panthera leo.

PubMed

Du Plessis, L

2009-09-01

Due to logistical problems in obtaining sufficient blood samples from apparently healthy animals in the wild in order to establish normal haematological reference values, only limited information regarding the blood platelet count and morphology of free-living lions (Panthera leo) is available. This study provides information on platelet counts and describes their morphology with particular reference to size in two normal, healthy and free-ranging lion populations. Blood samples were collected from a total of 16 lions. Platelet counts, determined manually, ranged between 218 and 358 x 10(9)/l. Light microscopy showed mostly activated platelets of various sizes with prominent granules. At the ultrastructural level the platelets revealed typical mammalian platelet morphology. However, morphometric analysis revealed a significant difference (P < 0.001) in platelet size between the two groups of animals. Basic haematological information obtained in this study may be helpful in future comparative studies between animals of the same species as well as in other felids.

Geographic variation in left ventricular mass and mass index: a systematic review.

PubMed

Poppe, K K; Bachmann, M Edgerton; Triggs, C M; Doughty, R N; Whalley, G A

2012-07-01

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, defined as an abnormal increase in LV mass (LVM), is an important prognostic indicator and therapeutic target. LVM is often divided by body surface area to derive indexed mass; however, this does not correctly identify pathological LV hypertrophy in all people, especially when body composition is altered, or in different ethnic groups. We evaluated published ranges of echocardiographic LVM in healthy adult populations from different countries, excluding control groups, and compared them with the American Society of Echocardiography reference ranges. A total of 33 studies met the inclusion criteria. In men and women, there was wide variation in the ranges of LVM with a tendency for the upper limit to increase geographically westward; this variation remained for indexed mass. Several ranges fell outside the upper reference limits: in men, 13 of the mass ranges and 16 of indexed mass; and in women, 8 mass and 16 indexed mass. This review has shown that current guidelines may need revision as some published series suggest that greater LV mass should be considered normal. This may be explained by ethnic differences and supports the need for widely applicable and ethnically diverse reference ranges to be established.

rpb2 is a reliable reference gene for quantitative gene expression analysis in the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum.

PubMed

Jacob, Tiago R; Peres, Nalu T A; Persinoti, Gabriela F; Silva, Larissa G; Mazucato, Mendelson; Rossi, Antonio; Martinez-Rossi, Nilce M

2012-05-01

The selection of reference genes used for data normalization to quantify gene expression by real-time PCR amplifications (qRT-PCR) is crucial for the accuracy of this technique. In spite of this, little information regarding such genes for qRT-PCR is available for gene expression analyses in pathogenic fungi. Thus, we investigated the suitability of eight candidate reference genes in isolates of the human dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum subjected to several environmental challenges, such as drug exposure, interaction with human nail and skin, and heat stress. The stability of these genes was determined by geNorm, NormFinder and Best-Keeper programs. The gene with the most stable expression in the majority of the conditions tested was rpb2 (DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II), which was validated in three T. rubrum strains. Moreover, the combination of rpb2 and chs1 (chitin synthase) genes provided for the most reliable qRT-PCR data normalization in T. rubrum under a broad range of biological conditions. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on the selection of reference genes for qRT-PCR data normalization in dermatophytes and the results of these studies should permit further analysis of gene expression under several experimental conditions, with improved accuracy and reliability.

Harmonising Reference Intervals for Three Calculated Parameters used in Clinical Chemistry.

PubMed

Hughes, David; Koerbin, Gus; Potter, Julia M; Glasgow, Nicholas; West, Nic; Abhayaratna, Walter P; Cavanaugh, Juleen; Armbruster, David; Hickman, Peter E

2016-08-01

For more than a decade there has been a global effort to harmonise all phases of the testing process, with particular emphasis on the most frequently utilised measurands. In addition, it is recognised that calculated parameters derived from these measurands should also be a target for harmonisation. Using data from the Aussie Normals study we report reference intervals for three calculated parameters: serum osmolality, serum anion gap and albumin-adjusted serum calcium. The Aussie Normals study was an a priori study that analysed samples from 1856 healthy volunteers. The nine analytes used for the calculations in this study were measured on Abbott Architect analysers. The data demonstrated normal (Gaussian) distributions for the albumin-adjusted serum calcium, the anion gap (using potassium in the calculation) and the calculated serum osmolality (using both the Bhagat et al. and Smithline and Gardner formulae). To assess the suitability of these reference intervals for use as harmonised reference intervals, we reviewed data from the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia/Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists (RCPA/AACB) bias survey. We conclude that the reference intervals for the calculated serum osmolality (using the Smithline and Gardner formulae) may be suitable for use as a common reference interval. Although a common reference interval for albumin-adjusted serum calcium may be possible, further investigations (including a greater range of albumin concentrations) are needed. This is due to the bias between the Bromocresol Green (BCG) and Bromocresol Purple (BCP) methods at lower serum albumin concentrations. Problems with the measurement of Total CO 2 in the bias survey meant that we could not use the data for assessing the suitability of a common reference interval for the anion gap. Further study is required.

Rangefinder, Laser AN/GVS-5( )

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-06-01

capacitor, which is proportional to optical energy, is compared to two reference voltages. One comparison is made in the LO power comparator (U1-A...and the other in the NORMAL power comparator (U1-B). 108 OSC. FREQ. RANGE S1A ADJ. ADJ.SB O OSCILLATOR RANGE TIMER MLII:T 2 ELECTRON ICS BOARD PULSE (2...RCVR 1 PULSE and RCVR 2 PULSE modes an oscillator (U4A) is turned on by removal of a short across an integrator. This oscillator triggers the range timer

Observing Behavior and Atypically Restricted Stimulus Control

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dube, William V.; Dickson, Chata A.; Balsamo, Lyn M.; O'Donnell, Kristin Lombard; Tomanari, Gerson Y.; Farren, Kevin M.; Wheeler, Emily E.; McIlvane, William J.

2010-01-01

Restricted stimulus control refers to discrimination learning with atypical limitations in the range of controlling stimuli or stimulus features. In the study reported here, 4 normally capable individuals and 10 individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) performed two-sample delayed matching to sample. Sample-stimulus observing was recorded…

New reference materials for nitrogen-isotope-ratio measurements

USGS Publications Warehouse

Böhlke, John Karl; Gwinn, C. J.; Coplen, T. B.

1993-01-01

Three new reference materials were manufactured for calibration of relative stable nitrogen-isotope-ratio measurements: USGS25 (ammonium sulfate) d15N' = -30 per mil; USGS26 (ammonium sulfate) d15N' = +54 per mil; USGS32 (potassium nitrate) d15N' = +180 per mil, where d15N', relative to atmospheric nitrogen, is an approximate value subject to change following interlaboratory comparisons. These materials are isotopically homogeneous in aliquots at least as small as 10 µmol N2 (or about 1-2 mg of salt). The new reference materials greatly extend the range of d15N values of internationally distributed standards, and they allow normalization of d15N measurements over almost the full range of known natural isotope variation on Earth. The methods used to produce these materials may be adapted to produce homogeneous local laboratory standards for routine use.

Reference range of fetal transverse cerebellar diameter between 18 and 24 weeks of pregnancy in a Brazilian population.

PubMed

Araujo Júnior, Edward; Martins, Wellington P; Nardozza, Luciano Marcondes Machado; Pires, Claudio Rodrigues; Filho, Sebastião Marques Zanforlin

2015-02-01

To determine a reference range of fetal transverse cerebellar diameter in Brazilian population. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study with 3772 normal singleton pregnancies between 18 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. The transverse cerebellar diameter was measured on the axial plane of the fetal head at the level of the lateral ventricles, including the thalamus, cavum septum pellucidum, and third ventricle. To assess the correlation between transverse cerebellar diameter and gestational age, polynomial equations were calculated, with adjustments by the determination coefficient (R2). The mean of fetal transverse cerebellar diameter ranged from 18.49 ± 1.24 mm at 18 weeks to 25.86 ± 1.66 mm at 24 weeks of pregnancy. We observed a good correlation between transverse cerebellar diameter and gestational age, which was best represented by a linear equation: transverse cerebellar diameter: -6.21 + 1.307*gestational age (R2 = 0.707). We determined a reference range of fetal transverse cerebellar diameter for the second trimester of pregnancy in Brazilian population. © The Author(s) 2014.

The reference intervals of thyroid stimulating hormone in healthy individuals with normal levels of serum free thyroxine and without sonographic pathologies.

PubMed

Kutluturk, Faruk; Yildirim, Beytullah; Ozturk, Banu; Ozyurt, Huseyin; Bekar, Ulku; Sahin, Semsettin; Akturk, Yeliz; Akbas, Ali; Cetin, Ilhan; Etikan, Ilker

2014-01-01

The aim of the present study was to investigate the reference intervals for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in healthy individuals with normal levels of serum free thyroxine (fT4) and without sonographic pathologies, and determine the effects of age, gender, and residence on the TSH reference intervals. This research was a population-based study conducted in 70 regions. The random sampling method was used to select the 1095 subjects of the study among inhabitants aged 18 and above. Patients who had a previous history of thyroid disease and had been taking medication were excluded from the study as this may have affected their fT4 or TSH levels. In addition, subjects who had serum fT4 without a reference range and abnormal ultrasonography findings were also excluded. A total of 408 subjects were used for establishing the reference intervals for TSH. The data for TSH in the study group were not normally distributed according to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov index. The geometric mean was 1.62 mIU/L, the median was 1.40 mIU/L, and the 95% reference intervals were 0.38-4.22 mIU/L. The median TSH level was higher in females compared to males (p < 0.05). In the female subjects 2.5th percentile of TSH was lower and 97.5th percentile was higher than those of males. The reference intervals of TSH were of lower values in subjects over 50 years old (p < 0.001). Studies suggest that determination of the TSH reference intervals may differ due to environmental influences or due to age, gender, and race. It is suggested that the lower limit of normal TSH for the adult Turkish population would be 0.38 mIU/L and the upper limit similar to the traditional value of 4.2 mIU/L. If each clinician uses their population-specific reference interval for TSH, thyroid function abnormalities can be accurately estimated.

The CIRCORT database: Reference ranges and seasonal changes in diurnal salivary cortisol derived from a meta-dataset comprised of 15 field studies.

PubMed

Miller, Robert; Stalder, Tobias; Jarczok, Marc; Almeida, David M; Badrick, Ellena; Bartels, Meike; Boomsma, Dorret I; Coe, Christopher L; Dekker, Marieke C J; Donzella, Bonny; Fischer, Joachim E; Gunnar, Megan R; Kumari, Meena; Lederbogen, Florian; Power, Christine; Ryff, Carol D; Subramanian, S V; Tiemeier, Henning; Watamura, Sarah E; Kirschbaum, Clemens

2016-11-01

Diurnal salivary cortisol profiles are valuable indicators of adrenocortical functioning in epidemiological research and clinical practice. However, normative reference values derived from a large number of participants and across a wide age range are still missing. To fill this gap, data were compiled from 15 independently conducted field studies with a total of 104,623 salivary cortisol samples obtained from 18,698 unselected individuals (mean age: 48.3 years, age range: 0.5-98.5 years, 39% females). Besides providing a descriptive analysis of the complete dataset, we also performed mixed-effects growth curve modeling of diurnal salivary cortisol (i.e., 1-16h after awakening). Cortisol decreased significantly across the day and was influenced by both, age and sex. Intriguingly, we also found a pronounced impact of sampling season with elevated diurnal cortisol in spring and decreased levels in autumn. However, the majority of variance was accounted for by between-participant and between-study variance components. Based on these analyses, reference ranges (LC/MS-MS calibrated) for cortisol concentrations in saliva were derived for different times across the day, with more specific reference ranges generated for males and females in different age categories. This integrative summary provides important reference values on salivary cortisol to aid basic scientists and clinicians in interpreting deviations from the normal diurnal cycle. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Case of Unusual Clitoromegaly.

PubMed

Wooi Ch'ng, Tong; Umpaichitra, Vatcharapan

2018-05-03

Mild degree of clitoromegaly can be associated with patient with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). We describe an unusually significant clitoromegaly in a patient with PCOS. An 18-year old non-obese female referred for clitoromegaly. Her genitalia exam showed significant clitoral enlargement with a well-formed glans, clitoris measured at 35 mm for length and 10 mm for width. Pelvic ultrasound showed left ovarian cyst. Testosterone level ranged from 28.8 to 64.1 ng/dl (normal: 8.4-48.1 ng/dl) with normal sex hormone binding globulin. Other ovarian hormones were in acceptable ranges. This case demonstrates the coexistence of significant clitoromegaly, PCOS, and non-functioning ovarian cyst. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Chamber dimensions and functional assessment with coronary computed tomographic angiography as compared to echocardiography using American Society of Echocardiography guidelines

PubMed Central

Rose, Michael; Rubal, Bernard; Hulten, Edward; Slim, Jennifer N; Steel, Kevin; Furgerson, James L; Villines, Todd C

2014-01-01

Background: The correlation between normal cardiac chamber linear dimensions measured during retrospective coronary computed tomographic angiography as compared to transthoracic echocardiography using the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines is not well established. Methods: We performed a review from January 2005 to July 2011 to identify subjects with retrospective electrocardiogram-gated coronary computed tomographic angiography scans for chest pain and transthoracic echocardiography with normal cardiac structures performed within 90 days. Dimensions were manually calculated in both imaging modalities in accordance with the American Society of Echocardiography published guidelines. Left ventricular ejection fraction was calculated on echocardiography manually using the Simpson’s formula and by coronary computed tomographic angiography using the end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes. Results: We reviewed 532 studies, rejected 412 and had 120 cases for review with a median time between studies of 7 days (interquartile range (IQR25,75) = 0–22 days) with no correlation between the measurements made by coronary computed tomographic angiography and transthoracic echocardiography using Bland–Altman analysis. We generated coronary computed tomographic angiography cardiac dimension reference ranges for both genders for our population. Conclusion: Our findings represent a step towards generating cardiac chamber dimensions’ reference ranges for coronary computed tomographic angiography as compared to transthoracic echocardiography in patients with normal cardiac morphology and function using the American Society of Echocardiography guideline measurements that are commonly used by cardiologists. PMID:26770706

Cardiopulmonary fitness and muscle strength in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta type I.

PubMed

Takken, Tim; Terlingen, Heike C; Helders, Paul J M; Pruijs, Hans; Van der Ent, Cornelis K; Engelbert, Raoul H H

2004-12-01

To evaluate cardiopulmonary function, muscle strength, and cardiopulmonary fitness (VO 2 peak) in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). In 17 patients with OI type I (mean age 13.3 +/- 3.9 years) cardiopulmonary function was assessed at rest using spirometry, plethysmography, electrocardiography, and echocardiography. Exercise capacity was measured using a maximal exercise test on a bicycle ergometer and an expired gas analysis system. Muscle strength in shoulder abductors, hip flexors, ankle dorsal flexor, and grip strength were measured. All results were compared with reference values. Cardiopulmonary function at rest was within normal ranges, but when it was compared with normal height for age and sex, vital capacities were reduced. Mean absolute and relative VO 2 peak were respectively -1.17 (+/- 0.67) and -1.41 (+/- 1.52) standard deviations lower compared with reference values ( P < .01). Muscle strength also was significantly reduced in patients with OI, ranging from -1.24 +/- 1.40 to -2.88 +/- 2.67 standard deviations lower compared with reference values. In patients with OI type I, no pulmonary or cardiac abnormalities at rest were found. The exercise tolerance and muscle strength were significantly reduced in patients with OI, which might account for their increased levels of fatigue during activities of daily living.

Validation of reference genes for quantitative expression analysis by real-time RT-PCR in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

PubMed Central

Teste, Marie-Ange; Duquenne, Manon; François, Jean M; Parrou, Jean-Luc

2009-01-01

Background Real-time RT-PCR is the recommended method for quantitative gene expression analysis. A compulsory step is the selection of good reference genes for normalization. A few genes often referred to as HouseKeeping Genes (HSK), such as ACT1, RDN18 or PDA1 are among the most commonly used, as their expression is assumed to remain unchanged over a wide range of conditions. Since this assumption is very unlikely, a geometric averaging of multiple, carefully selected internal control genes is now strongly recommended for normalization to avoid this problem of expression variation of single reference genes. The aim of this work was to search for a set of reference genes for reliable gene expression analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Results From public microarray datasets, we selected potential reference genes whose expression remained apparently invariable during long-term growth on glucose. Using the algorithm geNorm, ALG9, TAF10, TFC1 and UBC6 turned out to be genes whose expression remained stable, independent of the growth conditions and the strain backgrounds tested in this study. We then showed that the geometric averaging of any subset of three genes among the six most stable genes resulted in very similar normalized data, which contrasted with inconsistent results among various biological samples when the normalization was performed with ACT1. Normalization with multiple selected genes was therefore applied to transcriptional analysis of genes involved in glycogen metabolism. We determined an induction ratio of 100-fold for GPH1 and 20-fold for GSY2 between the exponential phase and the diauxic shift on glucose. There was no induction of these two genes at this transition phase on galactose, although in both cases, the kinetics of glycogen accumulation was similar. In contrast, SGA1 expression was independent of the carbon source and increased by 3-fold in stationary phase. Conclusion In this work, we provided a set of genes that are suitable reference genes for quantitative gene expression analysis by real-time RT-PCR in yeast biological samples covering a large panel of physiological states. In contrast, we invalidated and discourage the use of ACT1 as well as other commonly used reference genes (PDA1, TDH3, RDN18, etc) as internal controls for quantitative gene expression analysis in yeast. PMID:19874630

Validation of reference genes for quantitative expression analysis by real-time RT-PCR in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Teste, Marie-Ange; Duquenne, Manon; François, Jean M; Parrou, Jean-Luc

2009-10-30

Real-time RT-PCR is the recommended method for quantitative gene expression analysis. A compulsory step is the selection of good reference genes for normalization. A few genes often referred to as HouseKeeping Genes (HSK), such as ACT1, RDN18 or PDA1 are among the most commonly used, as their expression is assumed to remain unchanged over a wide range of conditions. Since this assumption is very unlikely, a geometric averaging of multiple, carefully selected internal control genes is now strongly recommended for normalization to avoid this problem of expression variation of single reference genes. The aim of this work was to search for a set of reference genes for reliable gene expression analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. From public microarray datasets, we selected potential reference genes whose expression remained apparently invariable during long-term growth on glucose. Using the algorithm geNorm, ALG9, TAF10, TFC1 and UBC6 turned out to be genes whose expression remained stable, independent of the growth conditions and the strain backgrounds tested in this study. We then showed that the geometric averaging of any subset of three genes among the six most stable genes resulted in very similar normalized data, which contrasted with inconsistent results among various biological samples when the normalization was performed with ACT1. Normalization with multiple selected genes was therefore applied to transcriptional analysis of genes involved in glycogen metabolism. We determined an induction ratio of 100-fold for GPH1 and 20-fold for GSY2 between the exponential phase and the diauxic shift on glucose. There was no induction of these two genes at this transition phase on galactose, although in both cases, the kinetics of glycogen accumulation was similar. In contrast, SGA1 expression was independent of the carbon source and increased by 3-fold in stationary phase. In this work, we provided a set of genes that are suitable reference genes for quantitative gene expression analysis by real-time RT-PCR in yeast biological samples covering a large panel of physiological states. In contrast, we invalidated and discourage the use of ACT1 as well as other commonly used reference genes (PDA1, TDH3, RDN18, etc) as internal controls for quantitative gene expression analysis in yeast.

Normal probabilities for Vandenberg AFB wind components - monthly reference periods for all flight azimuths, 0- to 70-km altitudes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Falls, L. W.

1975-01-01

Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), California, wind component statistics are presented to be used for aerospace engineering applications that require component wind probabilities for various flight azimuths and selected altitudes. The normal (Gaussian) distribution is presented as a statistical model to represent component winds at Vandenberg AFB. Head tail, and crosswind components are tabulated for all flight azimuths for altitudes from 0 to 70 km by monthly reference periods. Wind components are given for 11 selected percentiles ranging from 0.135 percent to 99.865 percent for each month. The results of statistical goodness-of-fit tests are presented to verify the use of the Gaussian distribution as an adequate model to represent component winds at Vandenberg AFB.

Normal probabilities for Cape Kennedy wind components: Monthly reference periods for all flight azimuths. Altitudes 0 to 70 kilometers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Falls, L. W.

1973-01-01

This document replaces Cape Kennedy empirical wind component statistics which are presently being used for aerospace engineering applications that require component wind probabilities for various flight azimuths and selected altitudes. The normal (Gaussian) distribution is presented as an adequate statistical model to represent component winds at Cape Kennedy. Head-, tail-, and crosswind components are tabulated for all flight azimuths for altitudes from 0 to 70 km by monthly reference periods. Wind components are given for 11 selected percentiles ranging from 0.135 percent to 99,865 percent for each month. Results of statistical goodness-of-fit tests are presented to verify the use of the Gaussian distribution as an adequate model to represent component winds at Cape Kennedy, Florida.

Reference ranges for LVEF and LV volumes from electrocardiographically gated 82Rb cardiac PET/CT using commercially available software.

PubMed

Bravo, Paco E; Chien, David; Javadi, Mehrbod; Merrill, Jennifer; Bengel, Frank M

2010-06-01

Electrocardiographic gating is increasingly used for (82)Rb cardiac PET/CT, but reference ranges for global functional parameters are not well defined. We sought to establish reference values for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end systolic volume (ESV), and end diastolic volume (EDV) using 4 different commercial software packages. Additionally, we compared 2 different approaches for the definition of a healthy individual. Sixty-two subjects (mean age +/- SD, 49 +/- 9 y; 85% women; mean body mass index +/- SD, 34 +/- 10 kg/m(2)) who underwent (82)Rb-gated myocardial perfusion PET/CT were evaluated. All subjects had normal myocardial perfusion and no history of coronary artery disease (CAD) or cardiomyopathy. Subgroup 1 consisted of 34 individuals with low pretest probability of CAD (<10%), and subgroup 2 comprised 28 subjects who had no atherosclerosis on a coronary CT angiogram obtained concurrently during the PET/CT session. LVEF, ESV, and EDV were calculated at rest and during dipyridamole-induced stress, using CardIQ Physio (a dedicated PET software) and the 3 major SPECT software packages (Emory Cardiac Toolbox, Quantitative Gated SPECT, and 4DM-SPECT). Mean LVEF was significantly different among all 4 software packages. LVEF was most comparable between CardIQ Physio (62% +/- 6% and 54% +/- 7% at stress and rest, respectively) and 4DM-SPECT (64% +/- 7% and 56% +/- 8%, respectively), whereas Emory Cardiac Toolbox yielded higher values (71% +/- 6% and 65% +/- 6%, respectively, P < 0.001) and Quantitated Gated SPECT lower values (56% +/- 8% and 50% +/- 8%, respectively, P < 0.001). Subgroup 1 (low likelihood) demonstrated higher LVEF values than did subgroup 2 (normal CT angiography findings), using all software packages (P < 0.05). However, mean ESV and EDV at stress and rest were comparable between both subgroups (p = NS). Intra- and interobserver agreement were excellent for all methods. The reference range of LVEF and LV volumes from gated (82)Rb PET/CT varies significantly among available software programs and therefore cannot be used interchangeably. LVEF results were higher when healthy subjects were defined by a low pretest probability of CAD than by normal CT angiography results.

Evaluation of the thyroid status of Basenji dogs in Australia.

PubMed

Seavers, A; Snow, D H; Mason, K V; Malik, R

2008-11-01

To determine the thyroid status of Basenji dogs in Australia. Jugular or cephalic venipuncture blood samples were taken from 113 Basenji, comprising 47 males, 5 castrates, 48 entire and 13 spayed bitches, and sent on ice in plain and EDTA tubes to a single laboratory to determine haematocrit and serum concentrations of total thyroid hormone (thyroxine, TT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and cholesterol. In a subgroup of 8 dogs with abnormal elevated TSH concentrations and subnormal TT4 concentrations, 5 were further examined by dynamic endocrine testing using recombinant human (rh) TSH (54 microg). Ages ranged from 1 to 14 years and weight range was 6.5 to 14.0 kg. TT4 concentrations (nmol/L) ranged from 2 to 27, with a median of 13 and a mean +/- SD of 13.0 +/- 5.7. Importantly, 85/113 (75%) of TT4 values were lower than the normal laboratory reference range (17-37). TSH concentrations (ng/mL) ranged from 0.05 to 5.37, with a median of 0.16 and a mean +/- SD of 0.3 +/- 0.6. Basenji have a similar reference range for serum TSH, but a considerably lower reference range for TT4 (2-27 nmol/L) than most breeds and crossbreds, resembling the sight hounds in this respect. Given the difficulty of accurately measuring TT4 concentrations that are so low, concomitant serial TSH determinations are essential to properly asses thyroid function. Taken alone, TT4 determinations are only of use when the value is within the reference range, in which case a diagnosis of hypothyroidism is likely excluded.

Burden of hospital admission and repeat angiography in angina pectoris patients with and without coronary artery disease: a registry-based cohort study.

PubMed

Jespersen, Lasse; Abildstrom, Steen Z; Hvelplund, Anders; Madsen, Jan K; Galatius, Soren; Pedersen, Frants; Hojberg, Soren; Prescott, Eva

2014-01-01

To evaluate risk of hospitalization due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and repeat coronary angiography (CAG) in stable angina pectoris (SAP) with no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) versus obstructive CAD, and asymptomatic reference individuals. We followed 11,223 patients with no prior CVD having a first-time CAG in 1998-2009 due to SAP symptoms and 5,695 asymptomatic reference individuals from the Copenhagen City Heart Study through registry linkage for 7.8 years (median). In recurrent event survival analysis, patients with SAP had 3-4-fold higher risk of hospitalization for CVD irrespective of CAG findings and cardiovascular comorbidity. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios(95%CI) for patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries was 3.0(2.5-3.5), for angiographically diffuse non-obstructive CAD 3.9(3.3-4.6) and for 1-3-vessel disease 3.6-4.1(range)(all P<0.001). Mean accumulated hospitalization time was 3.5(3.0-4.0)(days/10 years follow-up) in reference individuals and 4.5(3.8-5.2)/7.0(5.4-8.6)/6.7(5.2-8.1)/6.1(5.2-7.4)/8.6(6.6-10.7) in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries/angiographically diffuse non-obstructive CAD/1-, 2-, and 3-vessel disease, respectively (all P<0.05, age-adjusted). SAP symptoms predicted repeat CAG with multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries being 2.3(1.9-2.9), for angiographically diffuse non-obstructive CAD 5.5(4.4-6.8) and for obstructive CAD 6.6-9.4(range)(all P<0.001). Patients with SAP symptoms and angiographically normal coronary arteries or angiographically diffuse non-obstructive CAD suffer from considerably greater CVD burdens in terms of hospitalization for CVD and repeat CAG compared with asymptomatic reference individuals even after adjustment for cardiac risk factors and exclusion of cardiovascular comorbidity as cause. Contrary to common perception, excluding obstructive CAD by CAG in such patients does not ensure a benign cardiovascular prognosis.

Reference values for clinical laboratory parameters in young adults in Maputo, Mozambique.

PubMed

Tembe, Nelson; Joaquim, Orvalho; Alfai, Eunice; Sitoe, Nádia; Viegas, Edna; Macovela, Eulalia; Gonçalves, Emilia; Osman, Nafissa; Andersson, Sören; Jani, Ilesh; Nilsson, Charlotta

2014-01-01

Clinical laboratory reference values from North American and European populations are currently used in most Africans countries due to the absence of locally derived reference ranges, despite previous studies reporting significant differences between populations. Our aim was to define reference ranges for both genders in 18 to 24 year-old Mozambicans in preparation for clinical vaccine trials. A cross-sectional study including 257 volunteers (102 males and 155 females) between 18 and 24 years was performedat a youth clinic in Maputo, Mozambique. All volunteers were clinically healthy and human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis B virus and syphilis negative.Median and 95% reference ranges were calculated for immunological, hematological and chemistry parameters. Ranges were compared with those reported based on populations in other African countries and the US. The impact of applying US NIH Division of AIDS (DAIDS) toxicity tables was assessed. The immunology ranges were comparable to those reported for the US and western Kenya.There were significant gender differences in CD4+ T cell values 713 cells/µL in males versus 824 cells/µL in females (p<0.0001). Hematologic values differed from the US values but were similar to reports of populations in western Kenya and Uganda. The lower and upper limits of the ranges for hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, white blood cells and lymphocytes were somewhat lower than those from these African countries. The chemistry values were comparable to US values, with few exceptions. The upper limits for ALT, AST, bilirubin, cholesterol and triglycerides were higher than those from the US. DAIDStables for adverse events predicted 297 adverse events and 159 (62%) of the volunteers would have been excluded. This study is the first to determine normal laboratory parameters in Mozambique. Our results underscore the necessity of establishing region-specific clinical reference ranges for proper patient management and safe conduct of clinical trials.

Speaker normalization for chinese vowel recognition in cochlear implants.

PubMed

Luo, Xin; Fu, Qian-Jie

2005-07-01

Because of the limited spectra-temporal resolution associated with cochlear implants, implant patients often have greater difficulty with multitalker speech recognition. The present study investigated whether multitalker speech recognition can be improved by applying speaker normalization techniques to cochlear implant speech processing. Multitalker Chinese vowel recognition was tested with normal-hearing Chinese-speaking subjects listening to a 4-channel cochlear implant simulation, with and without speaker normalization. For each subject, speaker normalization was referenced to the speaker that produced the best recognition performance under conditions without speaker normalization. To match the remaining speakers to this "optimal" output pattern, the overall frequency range of the analysis filter bank was adjusted for each speaker according to the ratio of the mean third formant frequency values between the specific speaker and the reference speaker. Results showed that speaker normalization provided a small but significant improvement in subjects' overall recognition performance. After speaker normalization, subjects' patterns of recognition performance across speakers changed, demonstrating the potential for speaker-dependent effects with the proposed normalization technique.

Evaluation of reference genes for gene expression studies in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) using quantitative real-time PCR.

PubMed

Xu, Yuanyuan; Zhu, Xianwen; Gong, Yiqin; Xu, Liang; Wang, Yan; Liu, Liwang

2012-08-03

Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) is a rapid and reliable method for gene expression studies. Normalization based on reference genes can increase the reliability of this technique; however, recent studies have shown that almost no single reference gene is universal for all possible experimental conditions. In this study, eight frequently used reference genes were investigated, including Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), Actin2/7 (ACT), Tubulin alpha-5 (TUA), Tubulin beta-1 (TUB), 18S ribosomal RNA (18SrRNA), RNA polymerase-II transcription factor (RPII), Elongation factor 1-b (EF-1b) and Translation elongation factor 2 (TEF2). Expression stability of candidate reference genes was examined across 27 radish samples, representing a range of tissue types, cultivars, photoperiodic and vernalization treatments, and developmental stages. The eight genes in these sample pools displayed a wide range of Ct values and were variably expressed. Two statistical software packages, geNorm and NormFinder showed that TEF2, RPII and ACT appeared to be relatively stable and therefore the most suitable for use as reference genes. These results facilitate selection of desirable reference genes for accurate gene expression studies in radish. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Attenuation Drift in the Micro-Computed Tomography System at LLNL

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dooraghi, Alex A.; Brown, William; Seetho, Isaac

2016-01-12

The maximum allowable level of drift in the linear attenuation coefficients (μ) for a Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) micro-computed tomography (MCT) system was determined to be 0.1%. After ~100 scans were acquired during the period of November 2014 to March 2015, the drift in μ for a set of six reference materials reached or exceeded 0.1%. Two strategies have been identified to account for or correct the drift. First, normalizing the 160 kV and 100 kV μ data by the μ of water at the corresponding energy, in contrast to conducting normalization at the 160 kV energy only, significantlymore » compensates for measurement drift. Even after the modified normalization, μ of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) increases linearly with scan number at an average rate of 0.00147% per scan. This is consistent with PTFE radiation damage documented in the literature. The second strategy suggested is the replacement of the PTFE reference with fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), which has the same effective atomic number (Ze) and electron density (ρe) as PTFE, but is 10 times more radiation resistant. This is important as effective atomic number and electron density are key parameters in analysis. The presence of a material with properties such as PTFE, when taken together with the remaining references, allows for a broad range of the (Ze, ρe) feature space to be used in analysis. While FEP is documented as 10 times more radiation resistant, testing will be necessary to assess how often, if necessary, FEP will need to be replaced. As radiation damage to references has been observed, it will be necessary to monitor all reference materials for radiation damage to ensure consistent x-ray characteristics of the references.« less

Reference range of fetal nasal bone length between 18 and 24 weeks of pregnancy in an unselected Brazilian population: experience from a single service.

PubMed

Araujo Júnior, Edward; Martins, Wellington P; Pires, Claudio Rodrigues; Moron, Antonio Fernandes; Zanforlin Filho, Sebastião Marques

2014-08-01

To determine reference range of fetal nasal bone length (NBL) during the second trimester of pregnancy in a Brazilian population. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study with 2681 normal singleton pregnancies between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation. The NBL was obtained in the mid-sagittal plane of the fetal face profile using the following landmarks: nasal bone, overlying skin and the tip of the nose. The NBL was measured by placing the calipers in the out-to-out position. To assess the correlation between NBL and gestational age (GA), polynomial equations were calculated, with adjustments by coefficient of determination (R(2)). The mean of NBL ranged from 5.72 ± 0.87 mm at 18-18 + 6 weeks to 7.45 ± 1.23 mm at 24-24+6 weeks of pregnancy. We observed a good correlation between NBL and GA, best represented by a linear equation: NBL = 0.080+0.276*GA (R(2 )= 0.16). We established a reference range of fetal NBL in the second trimester of pregnancy in a Brazilian population.

Normal CD4 Count Range among Healthy Nigerian Population in Ilorin.

PubMed

Afolabi, J K; Fadeyi, A; Desalu, O O; Durotoye, I A; Fawibe, A E; Adeboye, M A N; Olawumi, H O; Babatunde, A S; Ernest, S K; Aderibigbe, S A; Saadu, R; Salami, A K; Aboyeji, A P

For the establishment and monitoring of the immune status, CD4 count is critical. To determine the CD4 count range of apparently healthy Nigerians resident in Ilorin and compare with the national value. An automated blood analyzer was used to determine the full blood count and CD4 count. The percentage of CD4 count was derived by using other variables. Of the 1205 participants, the reference CD4 count (percentage of CD4) range for adult was 400 to 1288 cells/mm 3 (19%-48%) and for children was 582 to 3652 cells/mm 3 (17%-50%). CD4 count and percentage of CD4 were significantly ( P = .001) higher in females than in males, and the CD4 count declined significantly with increasing age ( r = -.174, P ≤ .0001). The percentage of CD4 count shows less variation with age ( r = -.051, P = .076). Adult residents of Ilorin had significantly lower absolute mean CD4 count (808 ± 260) than that of the national reference values of 847.0 ± 307.0 cells/mm 3 ( P = .001). We therefore advocate the use of CD4 count range derived in this study is lower than that of the national reference values.

Computerized analysis and duplication of mandibular motion.

PubMed

Knap, F J; Abler, J H; Richardson, B L

1975-05-01

A new digital system has been devised to analyze and duplicate jaw motion. The arrangement of the electronic system offers a range of versatility which includes graphic as well as numerical data analysis. The duplicator linkage is identical to the sensor linkage which, together with an accurate model transfer system, results in an encouraging level of accuracy in jaw-motion duplication. The data collected from normal subjects should offer some new knowledge in the normal motions of the mandible as well as establish a reference for comparison with abnormal masticatory function.

Two-dimensional color tissue Doppler imaging detects myocardial dysfunction before occurrence of hypertrophy in a young Maine Coon cat.

PubMed

Chetboul, Valerie; Sampedrano, Carolina Carlos; Gouni, Vassiliki; Nicolle, Audrey P; Pouchelon, Jean-Louis

2006-01-01

A 20-month-old healthy male Maine Coon cat was referred for a cardiovascular evaluation. Physical examination and electrocardiogram were normal. The end-diastolic subaortic interventricular septal thickness (6 mm; reference range: < or = 6mm) and the mitral flow late diastolic velocity (0.89 m/s; reference range: 0.2-0.8m/s) were within the upper ranges. However, M-mode echocardiography did not reveal any sign of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) identified a marked left ventricular free wall dysfunction characterized by decreased myocardial velocities in early diastole, increased myocardial velocities in late diastole and the presence of postsystolic contractions both at the base and the apex for the longitudinal motion. One year later, the diagnosis of HCM was confirmed by conventional echocardiography and the cat died suddenly 2 months later. This report demonstrates for the first time in spontaneous HCM the sensitivity of TDI for early diagnosis of myocardial dysfunction and suggests that TDI should form part of the screening techniques for early diagnosis of feline HCM.

Identification of Reference Genes for Real-Time Quantitative PCR Experiments in the Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha

PubMed Central

Dolan, Liam; Langdale, Jane A.

2015-01-01

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has become widely used as a method to compare gene transcript levels across different conditions. However, selection of suitable reference genes to normalize qPCR data is required for accurate transcript level analysis. Recently, Marchantia polymorpha has been adopted as a model for the study of liverwort development and land plant evolution. Identification of appropriate reference genes has therefore become a necessity for gene expression studies. In this study, transcript levels of eleven candidate reference genes have been analyzed across a range of biological contexts that encompass abiotic stress, hormone treatment and different developmental stages. The consistency of transcript levels was assessed using both geNorm and NormFinder algorithms, and a consensus ranking of the different candidate genes was then obtained. MpAPT and MpACT showed relatively constant transcript levels across all conditions tested whereas the transcript levels of other candidate genes were clearly influenced by experimental conditions. By analyzing transcript levels of phosphate and nitrate starvation reporter genes, we confirmed that MpAPT and MpACT are suitable reference genes in M. polymorpha and also demonstrated that normalization with an inappropriate gene can lead to erroneous analysis of qPCR data. PMID:25798897

Collateral Damage and Communicable Disease with Particular Reference to Tactical Nuclear War in Europe.

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-10-31

incidence of communicable disease attrib- utable to the radiation exposure. Measles, chicken pox , etc., did occur but were within the normal range. 4.4...SMALLPOX MEXICO MILLIONS 50 1603 BUBONIC PLAGUE LONDON 34,000 14 1628 TYPHUS LYONS, FRANCE 60,000 1665 BUBONIC PLAGUE LONDON 100,000 27 1711 BUBONIC PLAGUE

Autism and the Artistic Imagination: The Link between Visual Thinking and Intelligence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berube, Clair T.

2007-01-01

The author employs Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences to frame a discussion about the abilities of children on the Autism spectrum. Since children possess special gifts in visual/spatial areas, an argument is made to support this ability instead of "correcting" it into a more "normal" range. References from Dr. Temple Grandin's life…

Specific Immunoglobulin (Ig) G Reference Intervals for Common Food, Insect, and Mold Allergens.

PubMed

Martins, Thomas B; Bandhauer, Michael E; Wilcock, Diane M; Hill, Harry R; Slev, Patricia R

2016-12-01

The clinical utility of serum IgG measurement in the diagnosis of allergy and food-induced hypersensitivity has been largely discredited. Recent studies, however, have shown that specific IgG can inhibit IgE mediated allergies, and may play a role in allergen specific desensitization. Accurate reference intervals for IgG specific allergens have not been widely established and are needed for better interpretation of serum antibody concentrations. In this study we established 64 IgG reference intervals for 48 common food allergens, 5 venoms, and 11 molds. Specific IgG concentrations were determined employing an automated fluorescent enzyme immunoassay on serum samples from 130 normal adults (65 males and 65 females), age range 18-69 y, mean 37.3 y. The lower reference interval limit for all allergens tested (n=64) was <2 mcg/mL. The median upper reference interval value for all 64 allergens was 12.9 mcg/mL, with Tuna (f40) having the lowest upper interval limit at 3.8 mcg/mL, and the mold Setomelanomma rostrate (m8) demonstrating the highest upper interval limit at 131 mcg/L. The considerable variation observed among the upper reference interval limits emphasizes the need for the establishment of allergen specific ranges for IgG. These newly established ranges should be a useful aid for clinicians in the interpretation of laboratory serum IgG results. © 2016 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.

The structure of paranoia in the general population.

PubMed

Bebbington, Paul E; McBride, Orla; Steel, Craig; Kuipers, Elizabeth; Radovanovic, Mirjana; Brugha, Traolach; Jenkins, Rachel; Meltzer, Howard I; Freeman, Daniel

2013-06-01

Psychotic phenomena appear to form a continuum with normal experience and beliefs, and may build on common emotional interpersonal concerns. We tested predictions that paranoid ideation is exponentially distributed and hierarchically arranged in the general population, and that persecutory ideas build on more common cognitions of mistrust, interpersonal sensitivity and ideas of reference. Items were chosen from the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorders (SCID-II) questionnaire and the Psychosis Screening Questionnaire in the second British National Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity (n = 8580), to test a putative hierarchy of paranoid development using confirmatory factor analysis, latent class analysis and factor mixture modelling analysis. Different types of paranoid ideation ranged in frequency from less than 2% to nearly 30%. Total scores on these items followed an almost perfect exponential distribution (r = 0.99). Our four a priori first-order factors were corroborated (interpersonal sensitivity; mistrust; ideas of reference; ideas of persecution). These mapped onto four classes of individual respondents: a rare, severe, persecutory class with high endorsement of all item factors, including persecutory ideation; a quasi-normal class with infrequent endorsement of interpersonal sensitivity, mistrust and ideas of reference, and no ideas of persecution; and two intermediate classes, characterised respectively by relatively high endorsement of items relating to mistrust and to ideas of reference. The paranoia continuum has implications for the aetiology, mechanisms and treatment of psychotic disorders, while confirming the lack of a clear distinction from normal experiences and processes.

Variability of cytokine gene expression in intestinal tissue and the impact of normalization with the use of reference genes.

PubMed

McGowan, Ian; Janocko, Laura; Burneisen, Shaun; Bhat, Anand; Richardson-Harman, Nicola

2015-01-01

To determine the intra- and inter-subject variability of mucosal cytokine gene expression in rectal biopsies from healthy volunteers and to screen cytokine and chemokine mRNA as potential biomarkers of mucosal inflammation. Rectal biopsies were collected from 8 participants (3 biopsies per participant) and 1 additional participant (10 biopsies). Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to quantify IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p40, IL-8, IFN-γ, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, and TNF-α gene expression in the rectal tissue. The intra-assay, inter-biopsy and inter-subject variance was measured in the eight participants. Bootstrap re-sampling of the biopsy measurements was performed to determine the accuracy of gene expression data obtained for 10 biopsies obtained from one participant. Cytokines were both non-normalized and normalized using four reference genes (GAPDH, β-actin, β2 microglobulin, and CD45). Cytokine measurement accuracy was increased with the number of biopsy samples, per person; four biopsies were typically needed to produce a mean result within a 95% confidence interval of the subject's cytokine level approximately 80% of the time. Intra-assay precision (% geometric standard deviation) ranged between 8.2 and 96.9 with high variance between patients and even between different biopsies from the same patient. Variability was not greatly reduced with the use of reference genes to normalize data. The number of biopsy samples required to provide an accurate result varied by target although 4 biopsy samples per subject and timepoint, provided for >77% accuracy across all targets tested. Biopsies within the same subjects and between subjects had similar levels of variance while variance within a biopsy (intra-assay) was generally lower. Normalization of inflammatory cytokines against reference genes failed to consistently reduce variance. The accuracy and reliability of mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines will set a ceiling on the ability of these measures to predict mucosal inflammation. Techniques to reduce variability should be developed within a larger cohort of individuals before normative reference values can be validated. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Use of infrared emission detection thermometer in Chinese neonates.

PubMed

Ng, D K; Liu, Y S; Ho, J C

1999-07-01

To evaluate the reproducibility of Thermoscan, an infrared emission detection ear thermometer, and to establish the normal reference range of ear temperature in Chinese neonates. Neonates were recruited from the inpatients population with exclusion of those suffering from infections. Forty-nine neonates were recruited with 1,115 temperature taking sessions. Mean left ear temperature was 36.64 degrees C +/- 0.35 degree C. Mean right ear temperature was 36.64 degrees C +/- 0.37 degree C. Clinical repeatability for left and right ear was 0.17 degree C and 0.17 degree C, respectively. Thermoscan produced reproducible results in Chinese neonates. The normal range of ear temperature for Chinese neonates is 35 degrees C to 37 degrees C. Ear temperature > 37.8 degrees C should be regarded as fever.

Three-dimensional ultrasonography measurement of fetal nasal bone length during the midtrimester in Taiwanese women.

PubMed

Yang, Pei-Yin; Wu, Joung-Liang; Yeh, Guang-Perng; Tsung-Che Hsieh, Charles

2012-09-01

To evaluate the normal range of the fetal nasal bone length (NBL) in Taiwanese women using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound, and compare the NBL of normal fetuses with Down syndrome to determine its significance in screening for trisomy 21. A total of 102 consecutive fetuses and another 7 fetuses with trisomy 21, determined by karyotyping at 15-22 weeks' gestation, were evaluated with 3D ultrasound before amniocentesis at Changhua Christian Hospital between November 2003 and April 2004. The normal range for NBL in the second trimester in the Taiwanese population was investigated, and a linear relationship with gestational age was noted. The NBL increased with advancing gestational age (NBL in cm=0.0264×gestational age in weeks -0.042 (R(2)=0.2416). The median of the biparietal diameter/nasal bone length ratio had a stable value which tended to change minimally between 15 and 22 weeks of gestation. Chromosomally normal fetuses had statistically longer nasal bones than fetuses with Down syndrome (p=0.014). We present a reference range for 3D ultrasound measurement of the fetal NBL. A short nasal bone at 15 to 22 weeks is associated with a high risk of trisomy 21. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Suggested nomenclature change and new reference locality for Dequeen Formation, Pike County, Arkansas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ham, T.L.; Landry, R.J.

1983-09-01

The DeQueen Formation of the Trinity Group, Comanchean Cretaceous, crops out in southwestern Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. The outcrop, located in the Highland gypsum quarry of Pike County, southwestern Arkansas, is described in detail in this paper and presented as a reference locality. Data from the locality provide the basis for a nomenclature change from the DeQueen Limestone Member to the DeQueen Formation. The formation consists of 64.23% clastic sediments, 24.72% gypsum, and 11.05% limestone. Hopper salt casts, ripple marks, scattered pyrite and marcasite nodules, celestite, and chickenwire gypsum can also be found. The DeQueen Formation is underlain by claysmore » and the Ultima Thule Gravel lentil, while the top is unconformably overlain by Upper Cretaceous Tokio gravels. The general paleoenvironment represents a normally low-energy subtidal environment ranging from brackish to normal to hypersaline waters in a lagoonal setting that shallows upward.« less

Psychometric Evaluation of Children with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD): Comparison with Normal-Hearing and Clinical Non-APD Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iliadou, Vasiliki; Bamiou, Doris Eva

2012-01-01

Purpose: To investigate the clinical utility of the Children's Auditory Processing Performance Scale (CHAPPS; Smoski, Brunt, & Tannahill, 1992) to evaluate listening ability in 12-year-old children referred for auditory processing assessment. Method: This was a prospective case control study of 97 children (age range = 11;4 [years;months] to…

Critical laboratory values in hemostasis: toward consensus.

PubMed

Lippi, Giuseppe; Adcock, Dorothy; Simundic, Ana-Maria; Tripodi, Armando; Favaloro, Emmanuel J

2017-09-01

The term "critical values" can be defined to entail laboratory test results that significantly lie outside the normal (reference) range and necessitate immediate reporting to safeguard patient health, as well as those displaying a highly and clinically significant variation compared to previous data. The identification and effective communication of "highly pathological" values has engaged the minds of many clinicians, health care and laboratory professionals for decades, since these activities are vital to good laboratory practice. This is especially true in hemostasis, where a timely and efficient communication of critical values strongly impacts patient management. Due to the heterogeneity of available data, this paper is hence aimed to analyze the state of the art and provide an expert opinion about the parameters, measurement units and alert limits pertaining to critical values in hemostasis, thus providing a basic document for future consultation that assists laboratory professionals and clinicians alike. KEY MESSAGES Critical values are laboratory test results significantly lying outside the normal (reference) range and necessitating immediate reporting to safeguard patient health. A broad heterogeneity exists about critical values in hemostasis worldwide. We provide here an expert opinion about the parameters, measurement units and alert limits pertaining to critical values in hemostasis.

Transient hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in an amateur kickboxer after head trauma.

PubMed

Tanriverdi, F; Unluhizarci, K; Selcuklu, A; Casanueva, F F; Kelestimur, F

2007-02-01

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a frequent health problem and increased prevalence of neurendocrine dysfunction in patients with TBI has been reported. Sports injuries and particularly boxing may result in pituitary dysfunction. However, transient hypogonadotropic hypogonadism after an acute head trauma due to boxing and/or kickboxing has not been defined yet. We describe the case of a 20-yr-old male amateur kickboxer who was admitted to hospital complaining of decreased libido and impotence 2 weeks after an intensive bout. Basal hormone levels were compatible with mild hyperprolactinemia and hypogonadotpopic hypogonadism. GH axis was evaluated by GHRH+GHRP-6 test and peak GH level was within normal reference range. Three months later his complaints improved and abnormalities in basal hormone levels normalized. He was also re-evaluated 9 months after the first evaluation; basal hormone levels were within normal ranges and he had no complaints. In conclusion acute head trauma due to kickboxing may cause transient gonadotropin deficiency. Therefore, screening the pituitary functions of sportsmen dealing with combative sports is crucial.

Anismus in patients with normal and slow transit constipation.

PubMed

Miller, R; Duthie, G S; Bartolo, D C; Roe, A M; Locke-Edmunds, J; Mortensen, N J

1991-06-01

This study examined differences in anorectal function, with particular reference to anismus, which might explain why some patients with intractable constipation have slow and others have normal whole gut transit times. Twenty-four patients were studied; 13 with slow transit (all female, median age 32 years, range 16-52 years) and 11 with normal transit (eight women, three men, median age 37 years, range 21-60 years). Videoproctography with synchronous sphincteric electromyography and anorectal manometry was performed. There were no differences between the two groups, suggesting that slow transit constipation is not secondary to any abnormality in anorectal function and may therefore be a primary disorder of colonic motility. There was no correlation between electromyographic evidence of anismus (pelvic floor contraction on defaecation) and the ability of the patient to evacute the rectum or symptoms of obstructed defaecation. Electromyography findings alone can be misleading and should be related to proctographic evidence of incomplete rectal evacuation before functional anismus can be said to be present.

TH-AB-207A-06: The Use of Realistic Phantoms to Predict CT Dose to Pediatric Patients

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carver, D; Kost, S; Fraser, N

Purpose: To predict pediatric patient dose from diagnostic CT scans using Monte Carlo simulation of realistic reference phantoms of various ages, weights, and heights. Methods: A series of deformable pediatric reference phantoms using Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) was developed for a large range of ages, percentiles, and reference anatomy. Individual bones were modeled using age-dependent factors, and red marrow was modeled as functions of age and spatial distribution based on Cristy1. Organ and effective doses for the phantom series were calculated using Monte Carlo simulation of chest, abdominopelvic, and chest-abdomen-pelvis CT exams. Non-linear regression was performed to determine the relationshipmore » between dose-length-product (DLP)-normalized organ and effective doses and phantom diameter. Patient-specific voxel computational phantoms were also created by manual segmentation of previously acquired CT images for 40 pediatric patients (0.7 to 17 years). Organ and effective doses were determined by Monte Carlo simulation of these patient-specific phantoms. Each patient was matched to the closest pediatric reference phantom based primarily on age and diameter for all major organs within the torso. Results: A total of 80 NURBS phantoms were created ranging from newborn to 15 years with height/weight percentiles from 10 to 90%. Organ and effective dose normalized by DLP correlated strongly with exponentially decreasing average phantom diameter (R{sup 2} > 0.95 for most organs). A similar relationship was determined for the patient-specific voxel phantoms. Differences between patient-phantom matched organ-dose values ranged from 0.37 to 2.39 mGy (2.87% to 22.1%). Conclusion: Dose estimation using NURBS-based pediatric reference phantoms offers the ability to predict patient dose before and after CT examinations, and physicians and scientists can use this information in their analysis of dose prescriptions for particular subjects and study types. This may lead to practices that minimize radiation dose while still achieving high quality images and, ultimately, improved patient care. NIH/NCI 1 R01 CA155400-01A1.« less

Reference values of lymphocyte sub-populations in healthy human immunodeficiency virus-negative Iranian adults.

PubMed

Kamallou, Atefeh; Haji Abdolbaghi, Mahbobeh; Mohraz, Minoo; Rasolinejad, Mernaz; Karbasi, Ehsan; Ansaripour, Bita; Soltani, Samaneh; Rezaei, Arezou; Khalili, Neda; Amirzargar, Aliakbar

2014-12-01

Lymphocyte subsets enumeration is considered prominent in the management of primary and acquired immunodeficiency disorders. Because of local variations due to race, age, gender, and environmental conditions on lymphocyte subsets, and to improve the accuracy of interpretation of laboratory findings, reference intervals must be determined in every population. To establish a normal reference range for CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+ and CD56+ lymphocytes in a healthy Iranian adult population using flowcytometry. Blood samples were collected from 221 HIV seronegative individuals, including 112 females and 109 males, with ages ranging from 20 to 40 years old. The percentage of lymphocytes expressing either of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19 and CD56 surface markers were determined by flowcytometry assay. Total mean percentage and absolute count of lymphocyte subsets were as follows: CD3+: 70.90 ± 7.54%, 1800.87 ± 471.09 cells/µl; CD4+: 41.04 ± 7.86%, 1039.99 ± 338.02 cells/µl; CD8+: 31.11 ± 6.60%, 783.95 ± 234.87 cells/µl; CD19+: 12.77 ± 4.56%, 328.37 ± 153.17 cells/µl; CD56+: 15.53 ± 6.34%, 388.62 ± 176.17 cells/µl, respectively. The ratio of CD4+/CD8+ lymphocytes for the studied population was 1.39 ± 0.48. Significant differences were observed between male and female subjects indicating that the average percentage of CD3+ cells (p=0.017) and CD4+ T cells (p=0.003) were higher in the female population, whereas the average percentage of CD19+ cells (p=0.02) tended to be higher among males. However, investigations on the CD56+ NK cell and CD8+ T cell sub-populations did not show any statistical differences between the two genders. In comparison with reports of other populations, we were confronted with different results. Establishing reference values of lymphocyte subsets for each population is helpful in achieving standard criteria for the prognosis of HIV infection. Therefore, normal ranges established by this survey can be used as a reference for decisions made in clinical practice.

Reference-Free Assessment of Speech Intelligibility Using Bispectrum of an Auditory Neurogram.

PubMed

Hossain, Mohammad E; Jassim, Wissam A; Zilany, Muhammad S A

2016-01-01

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs due to damage to the inner and outer hair cells of the peripheral auditory system. Hearing loss can cause decreases in audibility, dynamic range, frequency and temporal resolution of the auditory system, and all of these effects are known to affect speech intelligibility. In this study, a new reference-free speech intelligibility metric is proposed using 2-D neurograms constructed from the output of a computational model of the auditory periphery. The responses of the auditory-nerve fibers with a wide range of characteristic frequencies were simulated to construct neurograms. The features of the neurograms were extracted using third-order statistics referred to as bispectrum. The phase coupling of neurogram bispectrum provides a unique insight for the presence (or deficit) of supra-threshold nonlinearities beyond audibility for listeners with normal hearing (or hearing loss). The speech intelligibility scores predicted by the proposed method were compared to the behavioral scores for listeners with normal hearing and hearing loss both in quiet and under noisy background conditions. The results were also compared to the performance of some existing methods. The predicted results showed a good fit with a small error suggesting that the subjective scores can be estimated reliably using the proposed neural-response-based metric. The proposed metric also had a wide dynamic range, and the predicted scores were well-separated as a function of hearing loss. The proposed metric successfully captures the effects of hearing loss and supra-threshold nonlinearities on speech intelligibility. This metric could be applied to evaluate the performance of various speech-processing algorithms designed for hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Reference-Free Assessment of Speech Intelligibility Using Bispectrum of an Auditory Neurogram

PubMed Central

Hossain, Mohammad E.; Jassim, Wissam A.; Zilany, Muhammad S. A.

2016-01-01

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs due to damage to the inner and outer hair cells of the peripheral auditory system. Hearing loss can cause decreases in audibility, dynamic range, frequency and temporal resolution of the auditory system, and all of these effects are known to affect speech intelligibility. In this study, a new reference-free speech intelligibility metric is proposed using 2-D neurograms constructed from the output of a computational model of the auditory periphery. The responses of the auditory-nerve fibers with a wide range of characteristic frequencies were simulated to construct neurograms. The features of the neurograms were extracted using third-order statistics referred to as bispectrum. The phase coupling of neurogram bispectrum provides a unique insight for the presence (or deficit) of supra-threshold nonlinearities beyond audibility for listeners with normal hearing (or hearing loss). The speech intelligibility scores predicted by the proposed method were compared to the behavioral scores for listeners with normal hearing and hearing loss both in quiet and under noisy background conditions. The results were also compared to the performance of some existing methods. The predicted results showed a good fit with a small error suggesting that the subjective scores can be estimated reliably using the proposed neural-response-based metric. The proposed metric also had a wide dynamic range, and the predicted scores were well-separated as a function of hearing loss. The proposed metric successfully captures the effects of hearing loss and supra-threshold nonlinearities on speech intelligibility. This metric could be applied to evaluate the performance of various speech-processing algorithms designed for hearing aids and cochlear implants. PMID:26967160

Measurement of urinary metanephrines to screen for pheochromocytoma in an unselected hospital referral population.

PubMed

Brain, Keith L; Kay, Jonathan; Shine, Brian

2006-11-01

Despite the rarity of pheochromocytoma, diagnosis is important because of the dangers of uncontrolled severe hypertension and the availability of very effective surgical treatment. Urinary or plasma catecholamines or catecholamine derivatives are commonly used to screen for pheochromocytomas before imaging, but data from 24-h urinary metanephrine results, patient age, and sex may better predict tumors in populations with a low pretest probability. We retrospectively studied outcomes of an unselected population (1819 patients) referred to a tertiary hospital laboratory for urinary metanephrine testing and investigated the usefulness of some simple derivative measures for detecting pheochromocytoma. We normalized values for urinary 24-h excretion of metanephrine, normetanephrine, and 3-methoxytyramine by dividing by an age- and sex-specific reference range. We then compared pheochromocytoma prediction by the use of products of these normalized measures with the gold standard of biopsy-confirmed tumor. The product of the excretion of normalized metanephrine (nMAD) and normalized normetanephrine (nNMT) (nMAD.nNMT) was a highly sensitive (100%) and specific (99.1%) measure, yielding a positive predictive value of 82%. ROC curves were not improved by including the normalized 3-methoxytyramine concentrations in the product. The test for nMAD.nNMT gave higher sensitivity and specificity than the tests for either substance alone. The test for nMAD.nNMT is a useful measure for identifying pheochromocytoma in a population with a low pretest probability.

Comparing age-wise reference intervals for serum creatinine concentration in a "Reality check" of the recommended cut-off.

PubMed

Verma, Mascha; Khadapkar, Rashmi; Sahu, Priyadarshi Soumyaranjan; Das, Bibhu Ranjan

2006-09-01

An increase in the communication within the healthcare services, both nationally and internationally, has strengthened the need for harmonization of measurements and reference intervals in laboratory medicine. In the present report, the calculated reference interval for serum creatinine (sCr) levels of healthy normal individuals (n=1121) in different sex and age groups are compared with the established interval. The calculated reference interval for sCr level was 0.4-1.3 mg/dL and 0.6 to 1.3 mg/dL in the age groups of 21-40 and 41-60 years respectively. The difference between the mean sCr values in total males and total females (age range 21-60 years) was statistically significant (p<0.0001); When male and female subjects were analyzed age-group wise, the data showed a significant difference in mean sCr values (p<0.0001) in three age groups (21-30, 31-40 and 41-50 years) however, in older age group (51-60 years), the difference was non-significant (p=0.07). The reference ranges were 0.7-1.3 and 0.4-1.0 mg/dL for males and females respectively where the lower limit was 0.1-0.2 units less than that of standard limits. An increase in the mean value of sCr was observed particularly in females with an increase in age. Hence it is of interest to validate an age specific reference ranges for sCr in our population.

[Reference interval in preliminary investigation of maternal thyroid function during pregnancy in Shenzhen China].

PubMed

Yu, Lian; Yue, Huakui; Lin, Haoyun; Wu, Wenyuan

2014-11-04

To explore the thyroid function distribution of different trimesters among normal pregnant women and establish the reference interval for maternal thyroid function during pregnancy in Shenzhen, China. A prospective study was conducted for healthy pregnant women in first trimester (n = 334), second trimester (n = 272), third trimester (n = 271) and non-pregnant controls (n = 77) from December 2012 to June 2013 at our hospital. Free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (TT3) and thyroxine (T4) of four groups were measured and analyzed. And the reference intervals for different trimesters were established. TSH declined in the first trimester and then rose in the second trimester. The reference ranges of TSH for early, middle and late pregnancy were 0.08-4.39, 0.41-4.16 and 0.30-5.46 mIU/L respectively. FT4 and healthy control groups showed no significant difference in the first trimester. But it declined in the second trimester. The reference ranges of FT4 for early, middle and late pregnancy were 7.74-14.58, 6.81-12.00 and 6.36-10.99 pmol/L respectively. FT3 rose slightly in the first trimester and then gradually decreased. The reference ranges of FT3 for early, middle and late pregnancy were 3.59-5.59, 3.34-4.91 and 3.09-4.58 pmol/L respectively. As compared with healthy control women in Shenzhen, thyroid function indicators of pregnant women show statistically significant differences. And the establishment of indicators of women's thyroid function reference intervals for different trimesters has important clinical significance in Shenzhen.

Measurements of normal joint angles by goniometry in calves.

PubMed

Sengöz Şirin, O; Timuçin Celik, M; Ozmen, A; Avki, S

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to establish normal reference values of the forelimb and hindlimb joint angles in normal Holstein calves. Thirty clinically normal Holstein calves that were free of any detectable musculoskeletal abnormalities were included in the study. A standard transparent plastic goniometer was used to measure maximum flexion, maximum extension, and range-of-motion of the shoulder, elbow, carpal, hip, stifle, and tarsal joints. The goniometric measurements were done on awake calves that were positioned in lateral recumbency. The goniometric values were measured and recorded by two independent investigators. As a result of the study it was concluded that goniometric values obtained from awake calves in lateral recumbency were found to be highly consistent and accurate between investigators (p <0.05). The data of this study acquired objective and useful information on the normal forelimb and hindlimb joint angles in normal Holstein calves. Further studies can be done to predict detailed goniometric values from different diseases and compare them.

Transdisciplinary unifying implications of circadian findings in the 1950s

PubMed Central

Halberg, Franz; Cornélissen, Germaine; Katinas, George; Syutkina, Elena V; Sothern, Robert B; Zaslavskaya, Rina; Halberg, Francine; Watanabe, Yoshihiko; Schwartzkopff, Othild; Otsuka, Kuniaki; Tarquini, Roberto; Frederico, Perfetto; Siggelova, Jarmila

2003-01-01

A few puzzles relating to a small fraction of my endeavors in the 1950s are summarized herein, with answers to a few questions of the Editor-in-Chief, to suggest that the rules of variability in time complement the rules of genetics as a biological variability in space. I advocate to replace truisms such as a relative constancy or homeostasis, that have served bioscience very well for very long. They were never intended, however, to lower a curtain of ignorance over everyday physiology. In raising these curtains, we unveil a range of dynamics, resolvable in the data collection and as-one-goes analysis by computers built into smaller and smaller devices, for a continued self-surveillance of the normal and for an individualized detection of the abnormal. The current medical art based on spotchecks interpreted by reference to a time-unqualified normal range can become a science of time series with tests relating to the individual in inferential statistical terms. This is already doable for the case of blood pressure, but eventually should become possible for many other variables interpreted today only based on the quicksand of clinical trials on groups. These ignore individual differences and hence the individual's needs. Chronomics (mapping time structures) with the major aim of quantifying normalcy by dynamic reference values for detecting earliest risk elevation, also yields the dividend of allowing molecular biology to focus on the normal as well as on the grossly abnormal. PMID:14728726

Method performance and multi-laboratory assessment of a normal phase high pressure liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection method for the quantitation of flavanols and procyanidins in cocoa and chocolate containing samples.

PubMed

Robbins, Rebecca J; Leonczak, Jadwiga; Johnson, J Christopher; Li, Julia; Kwik-Uribe, Catherine; Prior, Ronald L; Gu, Liwei

2009-06-12

The quantitative parameters and method performance for a normal-phase HPLC separation of flavanols and procyanidins in chocolate and cocoa-containing food products were optimized and assessed. Single laboratory method performance was examined over three months using three separate secondary standards. RSD(r) ranged from 1.9%, 4.5% to 9.0% for cocoa powder, liquor and chocolate samples containing 74.39, 15.47 and 1.87 mg/g flavanols and procyanidins, respectively. Accuracy was determined by comparison to the NIST Standard Reference Material 2384. Inter-lab assessment indicated that variability was quite low for seven different cocoa-containing samples, with a RSD(R) of less than 10% for the range of samples analyzed.

Sphericity index and E-point-to-septal-separation (EPSS) to diagnose dilated cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers.

PubMed

Holler, P J; Wess, G

2014-01-01

E-point-to-septal-separation (EPSS) and the sphericity index (SI) are echocardiographic parameters that are recommended in the ESVC-DCM guidelines. However, SI cutoff values to diagnose dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) have never been evaluated. To establish reference ranges, calculate cutoff values, and assess the clinical value of SI and EPSS to diagnose DCM in Doberman Pinschers. One hundred seventy-nine client-owned Doberman Pinschers. Three groups were formed in this prospective longitudinal study according to established Holter and echocardiographic criteria using the Simpson method of disk (SMOD): control group (97 dogs), DCM with echocardiographic changes (75 dogs) and "last normal" group (n = 7), which included dogs that developed DCM within 1.5 years, but were still normal at this time point. In a substudy, dogs with early DCM based upon SMOD values above the reference range but still normal M-Mode measurements were selected, to evaluate if EPSS or SI were abnormal using the established cutoff values. ROC-curve analysis determined <1.65 for the SI (sensitivity 86.8%; specificity 87.6%) and >6.5 mm for EPSS (sensitivity 100%; specificity 99.0%) as optimal cutoff values to diagnose DCM. Both parameters were significantly different between the control group and the DCM group (P < 0.001), but were not abnormal in the "last normal" group. In the substudy, EPSS was abnormal in 13/13 dogs and SI in 2/13 dogs. E-point-to-septal-separation is a valuable additional parameter for the diagnosis of DCM, which can enhance diagnostic capabilities of M-Mode and which performs similar as well as SMOD. Copyright © 2013 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Longitudinal Stream Profile Morphology and Patterns of Knickpoint Propagation in the Bighorn Range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Safran, E. B.; Anderson, R. S.; Riihimaki, C. A.; Armstrong, J.

2005-12-01

The northern U. S. Rocky Mountains and the adjacent sedimentary basins are in a transient state of response to regional, Late Cenozoic exhumation. Assembling the history of landscape change there requires interpreting the morphology and genesis of transient landforms such as knickpoints in longitudinal stream profiles. We used concavity and normalized channel steepness indices to quantify the longitudinal profile morphology of >75 streams draining the east side of the Bighorn Range and the adjacent Powder River Basin. Our analyses show that individual units in the range-margin sedimentary cover rock exert a strong influence on longitudinal profile morphology. In the Tongue River and Crazy Woman Creek drainages, more than 50% of the streams examined had knickpoints localized within a resistant, siliceous dolomite. Knickpoints on most streams with drainage areas greater than ~100 km2 at the range front have migrated headward into the gneissic and plutonic core of the range. In the Clear Creek drainage, where the lateral extent of sedimentary cover rock is more restricted than in the adjacent drainages, knickpoints do not align with any particular unit. River profiles in the Powder River Basin beyond 10-20 km from the range front exhibit concavities of ~0.3-0.6 and normalized channel steepness indices of 40-60 (using 0.45 as a reference concavity). All profiles analyzed that extend into the mountain range exhibit at least one reach with exceptionally high (>2) concavity and relatively high (100-600) normalized channel steepness index, highlighting zones of transient adjustment to local base-level drop in the basin. Headwater reaches of range-draining streams exhibit variable but moderate values of concavity (0.15-0.9) and normalized channel steepness index (20-100). The varied morphology of these reaches reflects their passage across a relict surface of low relief but also the effects of glaciation and/or the signature of the narrow summit spine that caps the range.

Mesh size selectivity of the gillnet in East China Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, L. Z.; Tang, J. H.; Xiong, Y.; Huang, H. L.; Wu, L.; Shi, J. J.; Gao, Y. S.; Wu, F. Q.

2017-07-01

A production test using several gillnets with various mesh sizes was carried out to discover the selectivity of gillnets in the East China Sea. The result showed that the composition of the catch species was synthetically affected by panel height and mesh size. The bycatch species of the 10-m nets were more than those of the 6-m nets. For target species, the effect of panel height on juvenile fish was ambiguous, but the number of juvenile fish declined quickly with the increase in mesh size. According to model deviance (D) and Akaike’s information criterion, the bi-normal model provided the best fit for small yellow croaker (Larimichthy polyactis), and the relative retention was 0.2 and 1, respectively. For Chelidonichthys spinosus, the log-normal was the best model; the right tilt of the selectivity curve was obvious and well coincided with the original data. The contact population of small yellow croaker showed a bi-normal distribution, and body lengths ranged from 95 to 215 mm. The contact population of C. spinosus showed a normal distribution, and the body lengths ranged from 95 to 205 mm. These results can provide references for coastal fishery management.

Are vaginal symptoms ever normal? a review of the literature.

PubMed

Anderson, Matthew; Karasz, Alison; Friedland, Sarah

2004-11-22

Vaginal symptoms such as discharge, odor, and itch are among the most common presenting complaints in primary care. We undertook to determine if the symptoms associated with vaginitis (discharge, odor, irritation) occur in normal women. To answer this question, we performed a literature review. We conducted a Medline search using the following terms: "vagina," "vaginal discharge," "secretion," "odors," discharge," "pruritus," "normal," "irritation," "itch," "physical examination," "healthy," "asymptomatic," "quantity," and "physiology." To find additional references we reviewed textbooks in gynecology, primary care, and physical diagnosis and contacted authors. There are few primary studies, and most are not of high quality. Existing data show that the quantity and quality of vaginal discharge in healthy women vary considerably both across individuals and in the same individual during the menstrual cycle. Most studies indicate that discharge is greatest at midcycle. Vaginal fluid contains malodorants, and one study of intact vaginal fluid found it to be malodorous. Two studies found that normal women reported irritative symptoms in the course of their menstrual cycle. The primary literature indicates that there is a wide variation in the normal vagina and that some of the symptoms associated with vaginal abnormality are found in well women. Both clinicians and their patients would benefit from a better understanding of the range of normal as well as what constitutes a meaningful departure from that range.

Reference left atrial dimensions and volumes by steady state free precession cardiovascular magnetic resonance

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Left atrial (LA) size is related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides high quality images of the left atrium with high temporal resolution steady state free precession (SSFP) cine sequences. We used SSFP cines to define normal ranges for LA volumes and dimensions relative to gender, age and body surface area (BSA), and examine the relative value of 2D atrial imaging techniques in patients. For definition of normal ranges of LA volume we studied 120 healthy subjects after careful exclusion of cardiovascular abnormality (60 men, 60 women; 20 subjects per age decile from 20 to 80 years). Data were generated from 3-dimensional modeling, including tracking of the atrioventricular ring motion and time-volume curves analysis. For definition of the best 2D images-derived predictors of LA enlargement, we studied 120 patients (60 men, 60 women; age range 20 to 80 years) with a clinical indication for CMR. Results In the healthy subjects, age was associated with LA 4-chamber transverse and 3-chamber anteroposterior diameters, but not with LA volume. Gender was an independent predictor of most absolute LA dimensions and volume, but following normalization to BSA, some associations became non-significant. CMR normal ranges were modeled and are tabled for clinical use with normalization, where appropriate, for BSA and gender and display of parameter variation with age. The best 2D predictors of LA volume were the 2-chamber area and 3-chamber area (both r = 0.90, p < 0.001). Conclusions These CMR data show that LA dimensions and volume in healthy, individuals vary significantly by BSA, with lesser effects of age and gender. PMID:21070636

Reference H Piloted Assessment (LaRC.1) Pilot Briefing Guide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jackson, E. Bruce; Raney, David L.; Hahne, David E.; Derry, Stephen D.; Glaab, Louis J.

1999-01-01

This document describes the purpose of and method by which an assessment of the Boeing Reference H High-Speed Civil Transport design was evaluated in the NASA Langley Research Center's Visual/Motion Simulator in January 1997. Six pilots were invited to perform approximately 60 different Mission Task Elements that represent most normal and emergency flight operations of concern to the High Speed Research program. The Reference H design represents a candidate configuration for a High-Speed Civil Transport, a second generation supersonic civilian transport aircraft. The High-Speed Civil Transport is intended to be economically sound and environmentally safe while carrying passengers and cargo at supersonic speeds with a trans-Pacific range. This simulation study was designated "LaRC. 1" for the purposes of planning, scheduling and reporting within the Guidance and Flight Controls super-element of the High-Speed Research program. The study was based upon Cycle 3 release of the Reference H simulation model.

Sonographic Assessment of the Normal Dimensions of Liver, Spleen, and Kidney in Healthy Children at Tertiary Care Hospital.

PubMed

Thapa, N B; Shah, S; Pradhan, A; Rijal, K; Pradhan, A; Basnet, S

2015-01-01

Background Ultrasonography is one of the most common imaging modality to measure dimensions of visceral organs in children. However, the normal limit of size of visceral organs according to age and body habitus has not been specified in the standard textbooks. This might result in under detection of organomegaly in pediatrics population. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the normal range of dimensions for the liver, spleen, and kidney in healthy children. Method This is prospective cross-sectional, hospital-based study done at Tertiary-care teaching hospital. Participants included 272 pediatric subjects (152 male and 120 female) with normal physical or sonographic findings who were examined because of problems unrelated to the measured organs. The subjects were one month to 15 year (180 months) old. All measured organs were sonographically normal. Relationships of the dimensions of these organs with sex, age, body weight and height were investigated. Limits of normal dimensions of these organs were defined. Result Normal length of liver, kidneys and spleen were obtained sonographically for 272 children (152 male [55.9%] and 120 female [44.1%]) in the age group from 1 months to 15 (180 months) years. The mean age was 45.78 months (SD, 44.73). The measured dimensions of all these organs showed highest correlation with height and age so the descriptive analysis of the organ dimensions (mean, minimum, and maximum values, SD and 5th and 95th percentiles) were expressed in 10 age groups along with height range of the included children. The mean length of right kidney was shorter than the left kidney length, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Conclusion This study provides practical and comprehensive guide to the normal visceral organ dimension in pediatric population. The normal range limit of the liver, spleen, and kidney determined in this study could be used as a reference in daily practice in local radiology clinics.

Reference Genes for Accurate Transcript Normalization in Citrus Genotypes under Different Experimental Conditions

PubMed Central

Mafra, Valéria; Kubo, Karen S.; Alves-Ferreira, Marcio; Ribeiro-Alves, Marcelo; Stuart, Rodrigo M.; Boava, Leonardo P.; Rodrigues, Carolina M.; Machado, Marcos A.

2012-01-01

Real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) has emerged as an accurate and widely used technique for expression profiling of selected genes. However, obtaining reliable measurements depends on the selection of appropriate reference genes for gene expression normalization. The aim of this work was to assess the expression stability of 15 candidate genes to determine which set of reference genes is best suited for transcript normalization in citrus in different tissues and organs and leaves challenged with five pathogens (Alternaria alternata, Phytophthora parasitica, Xylella fastidiosa and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus). We tested traditional genes used for transcript normalization in citrus and orthologs of Arabidopsis thaliana genes described as superior reference genes based on transcriptome data. geNorm and NormFinder algorithms were used to find the best reference genes to normalize all samples and conditions tested. Additionally, each biotic stress was individually analyzed by geNorm. In general, FBOX (encoding a member of the F-box family) and GAPC2 (GAPDH) was the most stable candidate gene set assessed under the different conditions and subsets tested, while CYP (cyclophilin), TUB (tubulin) and CtP (cathepsin) were the least stably expressed genes found. Validation of the best suitable reference genes for normalizing the expression level of the WRKY70 transcription factor in leaves infected with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus showed that arbitrary use of reference genes without previous testing could lead to misinterpretation of data. Our results revealed FBOX, SAND (a SAND family protein), GAPC2 and UPL7 (ubiquitin protein ligase 7) to be superior reference genes, and we recommend their use in studies of gene expression in citrus species and relatives. This work constitutes the first systematic analysis for the selection of superior reference genes for transcript normalization in different citrus organs and under biotic stress. PMID:22347455

Technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine clearance: reference values for infants and children.

PubMed

Schofer, O; König, G; Bartels, U; Bockisch, A; Piepenburg, R; Beetz, R; Meyer, G; Hahn, K

1995-11-01

Six hundred and thirty-nine clearance studies performed in children aged 7 days to 19 years utilizing technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG 3) were retrospectively analysed. Standardized conditions for the investigation included: parenteral hydration (60 ml/hxm2 body surface) in addition to normal oral fluid intake, weight-related dose of 99mTc-MAG 3 (1 MBq/kg body weight, minimum 15 MBq) and calculation of clearance according to Bubeck et al. Of the 513 children, 169 included in this analysis could be classified as "normal" with regard to their renal function. Normal kidney function was judged by the following criteria: normal GFR for age, normal tubular function (absence of proteinuria and glucosuria), normal renal parenchyma (on ultrasonography, MAG 3 scan and intravenous pyelography), absence of significant obstruction and gross reflux (>grade I), no single kidney and no difference in split renal function >20%. Results showed increasing MAG 3 clearance values for infants during the first months of life, reaching the normal range for older children and adults between 7 and 12 months.

Measurement of myocardial native T1 in cardiovascular diseases and norm in 1291 subjects.

PubMed

Liu, Joanna M; Liu, Alexander; Leal, Joana; McMillan, Fiona; Francis, Jane; Greiser, Andreas; Rider, Oliver J; Myerson, Saul; Neubauer, Stefan; Ferreira, Vanessa M; Piechnik, Stefan K

2017-09-28

Native T1-mapping provides quantitative myocardial tissue characterization for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), without the need for gadolinium. However, its translation into clinical practice is hindered by differences between techniques and the lack of established reference values. We provide typical myocardial T1-ranges for 18 commonly encountered CVDs using a single T1-mapping technique - Shortened Look-Locker Inversion Recovery (ShMOLLI), also used in the large UK Biobank and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Registry study. We analyzed 1291 subjects who underwent CMR (1.5-Tesla, MAGNETOM-Avanto, Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) between 2009 and 2016, who had a single CVD diagnosis, with mid-ventricular T1-map assessment. A region of interest (ROI) was placed on native T1-maps in the "most-affected myocardium", characterized by the presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), or regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) on cines. Another ROI was placed in the "reference myocardium" as far as possible from LGE/RWMA, and in the septum if no focal abnormality was present. To further define normality, we included native T1 of healthy subjects from an existing dataset after sub-endocardial pixel-erosions. Native T1 of patients with normal CMR (938 ± 21 ms) was similar compared to healthy subjects (941 ± 23 ms). Across all patient groups (57 ± 19 yrs., 65% males), focally affected myocardium had significantly different T1 value compared to reference myocardium (all p < 0.001). In the affected myocardium, cardiac amyloidosis (1119 ± 61 ms) had the highest native T1 compared to normal and all other CVDs, while iron-overload (795 ± 58 ms) and Anderson-Fabry disease (863 ± 23 ms) had the lowest native reference T1 (all p < 0.001). Future studies designed to detect the large T1 differences between affected and reference myocardium are estimated to require small sample-sizes (n < 50). However, studies designed to detect the small T1 differences between reference myocardium in CVDs and healthy controls can require several thousand of subjects. We provide typical T1-ranges for common clinical cardiac conditions in the largest cohort to-date, using ShMOLLI T1-mapping at 1.5 T. Sample-size calculations from this study may be useful for the design of future studies and trials that use T1-mapping as an endpoint.

Neural correlates of free recall of "famous events" in a "hypermnestic" individual as compared to an age- and education-matched reference group.

PubMed

Fehr, Thorsten; Staniloiu, Angelica; Markowitsch, Hans J; Erhard, Peter; Herrmann, Manfred

2018-06-19

Memory performance of an individual (within the age range: 50-55 years old) showing superior memory abilities (protagonist PR) was compared to an age- and education-matched reference group in a historical facts ("famous events") retrieval task. Contrasting task versus baseline performance both PR and the reference group showed fMRI activation patterns in parietal and occipital brain regions. The reference group additionally demonstrated activation patterns in cingulate gyrus, whereas PR showed additional widespread activation patterns comprising frontal and cerebellar brain regions. The direct comparison between PR and the reference group revealed larger fMRI contrasts for PR in right frontal, superior temporal and cerebellar brain regions. It was concluded that PR generally recruits brain regions as normal memory performers do, but in a more elaborate way, and furthermore, that he applied a memory-strategy that potentially includes executively driven multi-modal transcoding of information and recruitment of implicit memory resources.

Selection of reference genes for gene expression studies related to intramuscular fat deposition in Capra hircus skeletal muscle.

PubMed

Zhu, Wuzheng; Lin, Yaqiu; Liao, Honghai; Wang, Yong

2015-01-01

The identification of suitable reference genes is critical for obtaining reliable results from gene expression studies using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) because the expression of reference genes may vary considerably under different experimental conditions. In most cases, however, commonly used reference genes are employed in data normalization without proper validation, which may lead to incorrect data interpretation. Here, we aim to select a set of optimal reference genes for the accurate normalization of gene expression associated with intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition during development. In the present study, eight reference genes (PPIB, HMBS, RPLP0, B2M, YWHAZ, 18S, GAPDH and ACTB) were evaluated by three different algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper) in two types of muscle tissues (longissimus dorsi muscle and biceps femoris muscle) across different developmental stages. All three algorithms gave similar results. PPIB and HMBS were identified as the most stable reference genes, while the commonly used reference genes 18S and GAPDH were the most variably expressed, with expression varying dramatically across different developmental stages. Furthermore, to reveal the crucial role of appropriate reference genes in obtaining a reliable result, analysis of PPARG expression was performed by normalization to the most and the least stable reference genes. The relative expression levels of PPARG normalized to the most stable reference genes greatly differed from those normalized to the least stable one. Therefore, evaluation of reference genes must be performed for a given experimental condition before the reference genes are used. PPIB and HMBS are the optimal reference genes for analysis of gene expression associated with IMF deposition in skeletal muscle during development.

Protein electrophoresis as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in raptor medicine.

PubMed

Tatum, L M; Zaias, J; Mealey, B K; Cray, C; Bossart, G D

2000-12-01

Plasma proteins of 139 healthy adult birds of prey from 10 species were separated by electrophoresis to characterize and document normal reference ranges and species-specific electrophoretic patternsand to evaluate the value of this technique for health screening, disease diagnosis, and prognostic indication. Species studied included bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), barn owl (Tyto alba), great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), Harris' hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus), Stellar's sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus), barred owl (Strix varia), screech owl (Otus asio), and black vulture (Coragyps atratus). Several clinical cases show the diagnostic/therapeutic value of protein electrophoresis in raptors. This study establishes species-specific reference ranges for several birds of prey and discusses the benefit of electrophoresis as a diagnostic technique in health screens, as a diagnostic aid in conjunction with other tests, and as a prognostic indicator in clinical evaluation of raptors.

Normal Range of Fetal Nasal Bone Length during the Second Trimester in an Afro-Caribbean Population and Likelihood Ratio for Trisomy 21 of Absent or Hypoplastic Nasal Bone.

PubMed

Gautier, Manuella; Gueneret, Michèle; Plavonil, Corinne; Jolivet, Eugénie; Schaub, Bruno

2017-01-01

To establish the normal reference range of fetal nasal bone length (NBL) during the second trimester in an Afro-Caribbean population and the likelihood ratio (LR) for fetal trisomy 21. Prenatal records of euploid, non-malformed singleton fetuses who underwent second-trimester ultrasonographic scans at 20-24 weeks of gestation were retrospectively analyzed for NBL and gestational age (GA). Only Afro-Caribbean couples were selected. The relationship between fetal NBL and GA was determined. The data of all fetuses with Down syndrome were provided by the French West Indies Register of Congenital Malformations (REMALAN). There was a significant linear association between fetal NBL and GA (R2 = 0. 354). The 50th percentile for NBL increased from 5.0 to 7.0 mm from week 20 to 24 of gestation. The nasal bone (NB) was absent or hypoplastic in 8.6% of the euploid fetuses and in 69.2% of the trisomy 21 fetuses. The LR for trisomy 21 of absent or hypoplastic NB in an Afro-Caribbean population was 8.02, but only 2.32 when this sign was isolated. The reference range for fetal NBL at 20-24 weeks of gestation in an Afro-Caribbean population and the LR for trisomy 21 of absent or hypoplastic NB differed from the other populations. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Psychological symptom profiles in patients with chest pain.

PubMed

Tennant, C; Mihailidou, A; Scott, A; Smith, R; Kellow, J; Jones, M; Hunyor, S; Lorang, M; Hoschl, R

1994-05-01

Five-hundred and thirty-two patients with ischaemic-like chest pain referred for symptom-limited exercise thallium myocardial perfusion studies, were assessed on a range of psychosocial measures. Three groups of patients were identified on the basis of their perfusion studies: (1) normal thallium perfusion; (2) current myocardial ischaemia; and (3) past myocardial infarction (but no current ischaemia). There were no significant psychological differences between these groups on a wide range of measures which included depression, state and trait anxiety, Type A behaviour, personality, suppression of affect, locus of control, alexythymia, and hypochondriasis. Significant differences were identified, however, on measures of anger and coping style. Subjects with no current ischaemia (normal thallium perfusion and those with past myocardial infarction) had higher scores on 'immature coping' and 'anger in', than subjects with current myocardial ischaemia. These findings are discussed in the light of other published research.

Prevention and anthropology.

PubMed

Jopp, Eilin; Scheffler, Christiane; Hermanussen, Michael

2014-01-01

Screening is an important issue in medicine and is used to early identify unrecognised diseases in persons who are apparently in good health. Screening strongly relies on the concept of "normal values". Normal values are defined as values that are frequently observed in a population and usually range within certain statistical limits. Screening for obesity should start early as the prevalence of obesity consolidates already at early school age. Though widely practiced, measuring BMI is not the ultimate solution for detecting obesity. Children with high BMI may be "robust" in skeletal dimensions. Assessing skeletal robustness and in particularly assessing developmental tempo in adolescents are also important issues in health screening. Yet, in spite of the necessity of screening investigations, appropriate reference values are often missing. Meanwhile, new concepts of growth diagrams have been developed. Stage line diagrams are useful for tracking developmental processes over time. Functional data analyses have efficiently been used for analysing longitudinal growth in height and assessing the tempo of maturation. Convenient low-cost statistics have also been developed for generating synthetic national references.

Hemodiafiltration improves free light chain removal and normalizes κ/λ ratio in hemodialysis patients.

PubMed

Bourguignon, Chloé; Chenine, Leïla; Bargnoux, Anne Sophie; Leray-Moragues, Hélène; Canaud, Bernard; Cristol, Jean-Paul; Morena, Marion

2016-04-01

Serum free light chain (FLC) levels are correlated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages and are highest in patients on hemodialysis (HD). Aim of this study was to assess the FLC removal efficiency of Elisio™-210H dialyzer using either high-flux HD or on line high efficiency hemodiafiltration (HDF) modalities in CKD-5D patients. In this prospective and comparative study, 20 CKD-5D patients free from multiple myeloma were randomized in two groups: HD versus on line HDF. All patients were dialyzed with Elisio™-210H dialyzer. Serum samples were collected before and after the midweek dialysis session, before randomization and at the end of the study to measure κ and λ FLC concentrations. Reduction ratios were corrected for net ultrafiltration. For both HD and HDF mode, κ and λ FLC concentrations were significantly lower after dialysis than before but median reductions in κ and λ FLC levels were significantly higher in HDF versus HD groups (κ 73.5 vs. 65.5 %, p = 0.04 and λ 51.0 vs. 36.6 %, p = 0.07). After dialysis, all κ/λ ratio values were between 0.26 and 1.65 which is the reference range described in subjects with normal kidney function, for both HD and HDF groups (median κ/λ ratios were 0.80 [0.47-1.22] and 0.67 [0.50-0.79] respectively). This study shows the superiority of on line HDF compared with HD to remove both κ and λ FLC. Moreover, all post-dialysis κ/λ ratios reached normal reference range.

2014 European Thyroid Association Guidelines for the Management of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy and in Children

PubMed Central

Lazarus, John; Brown, Rosalind S.; Daumerie, Chantal; Hubalewska-Dydejczyk, Alicja; Negro, Roberto; Vaidya, Bijay

2014-01-01

This guideline has been produced as the official statement of the European Thyroid Association guideline committee. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) in pregnancy is defined as a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level above the pregnancy-related reference range with a normal serum thyroxine concentration. Isolated hypothyroxinaemia (defined as a thyroxine level below the 2.5th centile of the pregnancy-related reference range with a normal TSH level) is also recognized in pregnancy. In the majority of SCH the cause is autoimmune thyroiditis but may also be due to iodine deficiency. The cause of isolated hypothyroxinaemia is usually not apparent, but iodine deficiency may be a factor. SCH and isolated hypothyroxinaemia are both associated with adverse obstetric outcomes. Levothyroxine therapy may ameliorate some of these with SCH but not in isolated hypothyroxinaemia. SCH and isolated hypothyroxinaemia are both associated with neuro-intellectual impairment of the child, but there is no evidence that maternal levothyroxine therapy improves this outcome. Targeted antenatal screening for thyroid function will miss a substantial percentage of women with thyroid dysfunction. In children SCH (serum TSH concentration >5.5-10 mU/l) normalizes in >70% and persists in the majority of the remaining patients over the subsequent 5 years, but rarely worsens. There is a lack of studies examining the impact of SCH on the neuropsychological development of children under the age of 3 years. In older children, the evidence for an association between SCH and impaired neuropsychological development is inconsistent. Good quality studies examining the effect of treatment of SCH in children are lacking. PMID:25114871

Anodonta imbecillis copper sulfate reference toxicant test, Clinch River - Environmental Restoration Program (CR-ERP)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Simbeck, D.J.

1997-06-01

Reference toxicant testing using juvenile freshwater mussels was conducted as part of the CR-ERP biomonitoring study of Clinch River sediments to assess the sensitivity of test organisms and the overall performance of the test. Tests were conducted using moderately hard synthetic water spiked with known concentrations of copper as copper sulfate. Toxicity testing of copper sulfate reference toxicant was conducted from May 12-21, 1993. The organisms used for testing were juvenile fresh-water mussels (Anodonta imbecillis). Results from this test showed an LC{sub 50} value of 1.12 mg Cu/L which is lower than the value of 2.02 mg Cu/L obtained inmore » a previous test. Too few tests have been conducted with copper as the toxicant to determine a normal range of values.« less

Thyroid aplasia in male sibling of heterozygotic twins born to the hyperthyroid mother treated with propylthiouracil during pregnancy (case report).

PubMed

Almarzouki, A A

2012-01-01

A 30-year-old pregnant female was diagnosed to have thyrotoxicosis (TSH= 0.005 µU/ml) at 13th week of gestation. Propylthiouracil (PTU; 200 mg daily) was prescribed to her and four weekly follow ups by the endocrinologist and obstetrician were ensured. At each examination TSH, FT4 and FT3 levels were normal and she became symptom free. Repeated ultrasound examination throughout the pregnancy did not reveal any fetal abnormality. The lady normally delivered heterozygotic twins. Umbilical cord blood of the baby boy twin showed a high TSH (541 µU/ml; reference range 0.270 - 4.20 μU/ml). He was started on thyroxine therapy (50 µg once daily). Ultrasound reported the absence of the thyroid gland. One month later TSH was within normal range and thyroxine dose was adjusted to 25 µg once daily. Repeated ultrasound confirmed the absence of thyroid gland. TSH was repeatedly normal. The boy is currently doing well on thyroxine replacement therapy. The other non-identical twin was a healthy girl with normal thyroid function tests and always thereafter. This case report suggested that PTU could be a hazardous drug to the fetus, since the mother gave birth to a baby with thyroid aplasia. PTU, Thyroid aplasia, Thyrotoxicosis, TSH.

Using RNA-seq data to select reference genes for normalizing gene expression in apple roots.

PubMed

Zhou, Zhe; Cong, Peihua; Tian, Yi; Zhu, Yanmin

2017-01-01

Gene expression in apple roots in response to various stress conditions is a less-explored research subject. Reliable reference genes for normalizing quantitative gene expression data have not been carefully investigated. In this study, the suitability of a set of 15 apple genes were evaluated for their potential use as reliable reference genes. These genes were selected based on their low variance of gene expression in apple root tissues from a recent RNA-seq data set, and a few previously reported apple reference genes for other tissue types. Four methods, Delta Ct, geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper, were used to evaluate their stability in apple root tissues of various genotypes and under different experimental conditions. A small panel of stably expressed genes, MDP0000095375, MDP0000147424, MDP0000233640, MDP0000326399 and MDP0000173025 were recommended for normalizing quantitative gene expression data in apple roots under various abiotic or biotic stresses. When the most stable and least stable reference genes were used for data normalization, significant differences were observed on the expression patterns of two target genes, MdLecRLK5 (MDP0000228426, a gene encoding a lectin receptor like kinase) and MdMAPK3 (MDP0000187103, a gene encoding a mitogen-activated protein kinase). Our data also indicated that for those carefully validated reference genes, a single reference gene is sufficient for reliable normalization of the quantitative gene expression. Depending on the experimental conditions, the most suitable reference genes can be specific to the sample of interest for more reliable RT-qPCR data normalization.

Using RNA-seq data to select reference genes for normalizing gene expression in apple roots

PubMed Central

Zhou, Zhe; Cong, Peihua; Tian, Yi

2017-01-01

Gene expression in apple roots in response to various stress conditions is a less-explored research subject. Reliable reference genes for normalizing quantitative gene expression data have not been carefully investigated. In this study, the suitability of a set of 15 apple genes were evaluated for their potential use as reliable reference genes. These genes were selected based on their low variance of gene expression in apple root tissues from a recent RNA-seq data set, and a few previously reported apple reference genes for other tissue types. Four methods, Delta Ct, geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper, were used to evaluate their stability in apple root tissues of various genotypes and under different experimental conditions. A small panel of stably expressed genes, MDP0000095375, MDP0000147424, MDP0000233640, MDP0000326399 and MDP0000173025 were recommended for normalizing quantitative gene expression data in apple roots under various abiotic or biotic stresses. When the most stable and least stable reference genes were used for data normalization, significant differences were observed on the expression patterns of two target genes, MdLecRLK5 (MDP0000228426, a gene encoding a lectin receptor like kinase) and MdMAPK3 (MDP0000187103, a gene encoding a mitogen-activated protein kinase). Our data also indicated that for those carefully validated reference genes, a single reference gene is sufficient for reliable normalization of the quantitative gene expression. Depending on the experimental conditions, the most suitable reference genes can be specific to the sample of interest for more reliable RT-qPCR data normalization. PMID:28934340

Selection of reliable reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR gene expression analysis in Jute (Corchorus capsularis) under stress treatments

PubMed Central

Niu, Xiaoping; Qi, Jianmin; Zhang, Gaoyang; Xu, Jiantang; Tao, Aifen; Fang, Pingping; Su, Jianguang

2015-01-01

To accurately measure gene expression using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), reliable reference gene(s) are required for data normalization. Corchorus capsularis, an annual herbaceous fiber crop with predominant biodegradability and renewability, has not been investigated for the stability of reference genes with qRT-PCR. In this study, 11 candidate reference genes were selected and their expression levels were assessed using qRT-PCR. To account for the influence of experimental approach and tissue type, 22 different jute samples were selected from abiotic and biotic stress conditions as well as three different tissue types. The stability of the candidate reference genes was evaluated using geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper programs, and the comprehensive rankings of gene stability were generated by aggregate analysis. For the biotic stress and NaCl stress subsets, ACT7 and RAN were suitable as stable reference genes for gene expression normalization. For the PEG stress subset, UBC, and DnaJ were sufficient for accurate normalization. For the tissues subset, four reference genes TUBβ, UBI, EF1α, and RAN were sufficient for accurate normalization. The selected genes were further validated by comparing expression profiles of WRKY15 in various samples, and two stable reference genes were recommended for accurate normalization of qRT-PCR data. Our results provide researchers with appropriate reference genes for qRT-PCR in C. capsularis, and will facilitate gene expression study under these conditions. PMID:26528312

Determination of Zn/Cu ratio and oligoelements in serum samples by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for cancer diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marcó P., L. M.; Jiménez, E.; Hernández C., E. A.; Rojas, A.; Greaves, E. D.

2001-11-01

The method of quantification using the Compton peak as an internal standard, developed in a previous work, was applied to the routine determination of Fe, Cu, Zn and Se in serum samples from normal individuals and cancer patients by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Samples were classified according to age and sex of the donor, in order to determine reference values for normal individuals. Results indicate that the Zn/Cu ratio and the Cu concentration could prove to be useful tools for cancer diagnosis. Significant differences in these parameters between the normal and cancer group were found for all age ranges. The multielemental character of the technique, coupled with the small amounts of sample required and the short analysis time make it a valuable tool in clinical analysis.

Male infertility associated with adult dominant polycystic kidney disease: a case series.

PubMed

Shefi, Shai; Levron, Jacob; Nadu, Andrei; Raviv, Gil

2009-09-01

Although described earlier, the association of male infertility with adult dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is quite rare and unfamiliar to some of the multidisciplinary team members caring for affected men. Infertile men diagnosed to have ADPKD were evaluated by clinical characteristics including testis volume, as well as serum hormone levels, semen analysis, and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) because of low volume ejaculate. Semen analysis revealed low-normal volume, normal pH, and azoospermia/virtual azoospermia. Serum hormones were within the normal range. Transrectal ultrasonography demonstrated cystic dilatation of the seminal vesicles in all three men. Patients should be referred for andrological evaluation of a presentation similar to obstructive azoospermia. Their potential to achieve paternity by surgical sperm retrieval combined with assisted reproductive technology is another example of cooperation between andrologists and gynecologists.

Effect of therapy on the neutropenia of hyperthyroidism

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eakin, D.L.; Peake, R.L.; Weiss, G.B.

Observations in a patient with recurrent hyperthyroidism, each time associated with neutropenia which resolved after therapy, prompted a chart review of other patients referred for radioactive iodine therapy. Of 99 untreated patients, 18 had neutrophil counts of less than 2,000/cu mm. After therapy with either thionamides or /sup 131/I, 41 of 53 (77%) evaluable patients had an increase in neutrophil count. Eleven of these evaluable patients had neutropenia before therapy; after therapy, all 11 had an increase in their neutrophil counts into the normal range, with a mean increase of 170%. In one patient, studies on the mechanism of neutropeniamore » indicate that bone marrow production and reserve remain normal and that circulating neutrophils are normally marginated. A decreased neutrophil circulation time may be the cause of neutropenia associated with hyperthyroidism.« less

Indentation stiffness does not discriminate between normal and degraded articular cartilage.

PubMed

Brown, Cameron P; Crawford, Ross W; Oloyede, Adekunle

2007-08-01

Relative indentation characteristics are commonly used for distinguishing between normal healthy and degraded cartilage. The application of this parameter in surgical decision making and an appreciation of articular cartilage biomechanics has prompted us to hypothesise that it is difficult to define a reference stiffness to characterise normal articular cartilage. This hypothesis is tested for validity by carrying out biomechanical indentation of articular cartilage samples that are characterised as visually normal and degraded relative to proteoglycan depletion and collagen disruption. Compressive loading was applied at known strain rates to visually normal, artificially degraded and naturally osteoarthritic articular cartilage and observing the trends of their stress-strain and stiffness characteristics. While our results demonstrated a 25% depreciation in the stiffness of individual samples after proteoglycan depletion, they also showed that when compared to the stiffness of normal samples only 17% lie outside the range of the stress-strain behaviour of normal samples. We conclude that the extent of the variability in the properties of normal samples, and the degree of overlap (81%) of the biomechanical properties of normal and degraded matrices demonstrate that indentation data cannot form an accurate basis for distinguishing normal from abnormal articular cartilage samples with consequences for the application of this mechanical process in the clinical environment.

[Establishment of Assessment Method for Air Bacteria and Fungi Contamination].

PubMed

Zhang, Hua-ling; Yao, Da-jun; Zhang, Yu; Fang, Zi-liang

2016-03-15

In this paper, in order to settle existing problems in the assessment of air bacteria and fungi contamination, the indoor and outdoor air bacteria and fungi filed concentrations by impact method and settlement method in existing documents were collected and analyzed, then the goodness of chi square was used to test whether these concentration data obeyed normal distribution at the significant level of α = 0.05, and combined with the 3σ principle of normal distribution and the current assessment standards, the suggested concentrations ranges of air microbial concentrations were determined. The research results could provide a reference for developing air bacteria and fungi contamination assessment standards in the future.

Note on the artefacts in SRIM simulation of sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shulga, V. I.

2018-05-01

The computer simulation program SRIM, unlike other well-known programs (MARLOWE, TRIM.SP, etc.), predicts non-zero values of the sputter yield at glancing ion bombardment of smooth amorphous targets and, for heavy ions, greatly underestimates the sputter yield at normal incidence. To understand the reasons for this, the sputtering of amorphous silicon bombarded with different ions was modeled here using the author's program OKSANA. Most simulations refer to 1 keV Xe ions, and angles of incidence cover range from 0 (normal incidence) to almost 90°. It has been shown that SRIM improperly simulates the initial stage of the sputtering process. Some other artefacts in SRIM calculations of sputtering are also revealed and discussed.

Splanchnic, Thoracoabdominal, and Cerebral Blood Flow Volumes in Healthy Children and Young Adults in Fasting and Postprandial States: Determining Reference Ranges by Using Phase-Contrast MR Imaging.

PubMed

Muthusami, Prakash; Yoo, Shi-Joon; Chaturvedi, Rajiv; Gill, Navjot; Windram, Jonathan; Schantz, Daryl; Prsa, Milan; Caro-Dominguez, Pablo; Seed, Mike; Grosse-Wortmann, Lars; Ling, Simon C; Chavhan, Govind B

2017-10-01

Purpose To estimate reference ranges for blood flow volume (BFV) in major splanchnic, thoracoabdominal, and neck vessels by using phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in children and young adults in fasting and postprandial states. Materials and Methods In this institutional research ethics board-approved prospective study, healthy volunteers underwent phase-contrast MR imaging in a fasting state and again after a standardized meal. BFV values were reported as medians and ranges, and postmeal to premeal BFV ratios were calculated. BFVs in volunteers divided into two groups according to age (≤18 years old and >18 years old) were compared by using the Mann-Whitney test adjusted for multiple comparisons. Linear regression for internal validation of BFV and Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman analysis for interobserver agreement were used. Results Reference ranges for BFVs were estimated in 39 volunteers (23 male and 16 female; mean age, 21.2 years ± 8.5; range, 9-40 years) and were indexed according to body surface area, with internal validation (R 2 = 0.84-0.92) and excellent interobserver agreement (R 2 = 0.9928). There was an almost 30% increase in total abdominal BFV (P < .0001) in response to a meal, which was the result of a threefold increase in superior mesenteric artery BFV (P < .0001). BFV after the meal remained unaffected in the celiac artery and cerebral circulation. Significantly higher normalized BFVs in the cerebral circulation were measured in children with both preprandial (P = .039) and postprandial (P = .008) status than those in adults. Conclusion Reference ranges for BFVs and changes in BFVs in response to a meal in major splanchnic, thoracoabdominal, and neck vessels were estimated by using phase-contrast MR imaging in healthy volunteers to allow hemodynamic assessment of children and young adults with various diseases. © RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Assessment of the accuracy of global geodetic satellite laser ranging observations and estimated impact on ITRF scale: estimation of systematic errors in LAGEOS observations 1993-2014

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Appleby, Graham; Rodríguez, José; Altamimi, Zuheir

2016-12-01

Satellite laser ranging (SLR) to the geodetic satellites LAGEOS and LAGEOS-2 uniquely determines the origin of the terrestrial reference frame and, jointly with very long baseline interferometry, its scale. Given such a fundamental role in satellite geodesy, it is crucial that any systematic errors in either technique are at an absolute minimum as efforts continue to realise the reference frame at millimetre levels of accuracy to meet the present and future science requirements. Here, we examine the intrinsic accuracy of SLR measurements made by tracking stations of the International Laser Ranging Service using normal point observations of the two LAGEOS satellites in the period 1993 to 2014. The approach we investigate in this paper is to compute weekly reference frame solutions solving for satellite initial state vectors, station coordinates and daily Earth orientation parameters, estimating along with these weekly average range errors for each and every one of the observing stations. Potential issues in any of the large number of SLR stations assumed to have been free of error in previous realisations of the ITRF may have been absorbed in the reference frame, primarily in station height. Likewise, systematic range errors estimated against a fixed frame that may itself suffer from accuracy issues will absorb network-wide problems into station-specific results. Our results suggest that in the past two decades, the scale of the ITRF derived from the SLR technique has been close to 0.7 ppb too small, due to systematic errors either or both in the range measurements and their treatment. We discuss these results in the context of preparations for ITRF2014 and additionally consider the impact of this work on the currently adopted value of the geocentric gravitational constant, GM.

The relationship between total cholinesterase activity and mortality in four butterfly species

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bargar, Timothy A.

2012-01-01

The relationship between total cholinesterase activity (TChE) and mortality in four butterfly species (great southern white [Ascia monuste], common buckeye [Junonia coenia], painted lady [Vanessa cardui], and julia butterflies [Dryas julia]) was investigated. Acute contact toxicity studies were conducted to evaluate the response (median lethal dose [LD50] and TChE) of the four species following exposure to the organophosphate insecticide naled. The LD50 for these butterflies ranged from 2.3 to 7.6 μg/g. The average level of TChE inhibition associated with significant mortality ranged from 26 to 67%, depending on the species. The lower bounds of normal TChE activity (2 standard deviations less than the average TChE for reference butterflies) ranged from 8.4 to 12.3 μM/min/g. As a percentage of the average reference TChE activity for the respective species, the lower bounds were similar to the inhibition levels associated with significant mortality, indicating there was little difference between the dose resulting in significant TChE inhibition and that resulting in mortality.

Identification of appropriate reference genes for human mesenchymal stem cell analysis by quantitative real-time PCR.

PubMed

Li, Xiuying; Yang, Qiwei; Bai, Jinping; Xuan, Yali; Wang, Yimin

2015-01-01

Normalization to a reference gene is the method of choice for quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis. The stability of reference genes is critical for accurate experimental results and conclusions. We have evaluated the expression stability of eight commonly used reference genes found in four different human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Using geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper algorithms, we show that beta-2-microglobulin and peptidyl-prolylisomerase A were the optimal reference genes for normalizing RT-qPCR data obtained from MSC, whereas the TATA box binding protein was not suitable due to its extensive variability in expression. Our findings emphasize the significance of validating reference genes for qPCR analyses. We offer a short list of reference genes to use for normalization and recommend some commercially-available software programs as a rapid approach to validate reference genes. We also demonstrate that the two reference genes, β-actin and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, are frequently used are not always successful in many cases.

Gene expression studies of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR: an overview in insects.

PubMed

Shakeel, Muhammad; Rodriguez, Alicia; Tahir, Urfa Bin; Jin, Fengliang

2018-02-01

Whenever gene expression is being examined, it is essential that a normalization process is carried out to eliminate non-biological variations. The use of reference genes, such as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, actin, and ribosomal protein genes, is the usual method of choice for normalizing gene expression. Although reference genes are used to normalize target gene expression, a major problem is that the stability of these genes differs among tissues, developmental stages, species, and responses to abiotic factors. Therefore, the use and validation of multiple reference genes are required. This review discusses the reasons that why RT-qPCR has become the preferred method for validating results of gene expression profiles, the use of specific and non-specific dyes and the importance of use of primers and probes for qPCR as well as to discuss several statistical algorithms developed to help the validation of potential reference genes. The conflicts arising in the use of classical reference genes in gene normalization and their replacement with novel references are also discussed by citing the high stability and low stability of classical and novel reference genes under various biotic and abiotic experimental conditions by employing various methods applied for the reference genes amplification.

Afterbody Heating Characteristics of a Proposed Mars Sample Return Orbiter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horvath, Thomas J.; Heiner, Nicholas C.; Olguin, Daniella M.; Cheatwood, F. McNeil; Gnoffo, Peter A.

2001-01-01

Aeroheating wind-tunnel tests were conducted on a 0.028 scale model of an orbiter concept considered for a possible Mars sample return mission. The primary experimental objectives were to characterize hypersonic near wake closure and determine if shear layer impingement would occur on the proposed orbiter afterbody at incidence angles necessary for a Martian aerocapture maneuver. Global heat transfer mappings, surface streamline patterns, and shock shapes were obtained in the NASA Langley 20-inch Mach 6 Air and CF4 Tunnels for post-normal shock Reynolds numbers (based on forebody diameter) ranging from 1,400 to 415,000, angles of attack ranging from -5 to 10 degrees at 0, 3, and 6 deg sideslip, and normal-shock density, ratios of 5 and 12. Laminar, transitional, and turbulent shear layer impingement on the cylindrical afterbody was inferred from the measurements and resulted in a localized heating maximum that ranged from 40 to 75% of the reference forebody stagnation point heating. Comparison of laminar heating prediction to experimental measurement along the orbiter afterbody highlight grid alignment challenges associated with numerical simulation of three-dimensional separated wake flows.

Hyaline cartilage thickness in radiographically normal cadaveric hips: comparison of spiral CT arthrographic and macroscopic measurements.

PubMed

Wyler, Annabelle; Bousson, Valérie; Bergot, Catherine; Polivka, Marc; Leveque, Eric; Vicaut, Eric; Laredo, Jean-Denis

2007-02-01

To assess spiral multidetector computed tomographic (CT) arthrography for the depiction of cartilage thickness in hips without cartilage loss, with evaluation of anatomic slices as the reference standard. Permission to perform imaging studies in cadaveric specimens of individuals who had willed their bodies to science was obtained from the institutional review board. Two independent observers measured the femoral and acetabular hyaline cartilage thickness of 12 radiographically normal cadaveric hips (from six women and five men; age range at death, 52-98 years; mean, 76.5 years) on spiral multidetector CT arthrographic reformations and on coronal anatomic slices. Regions of cartilage loss at gross or histologic examination were excluded. CT arthrographic and anatomic measurements in the coronal plane were compared by using Bland-Altman representation and a paired t test. Differences between mean cartilage thicknesses at the points of measurement were tested by means of analysis of variance. Interobserver and intraobserver reproducibilities were determined. At CT arthrography, mean cartilage thickness ranged from 0.32 to 2.53 mm on the femoral head and from 0.95 to 3.13 mm on the acetabulum. Observers underestimated cartilage thickness in the coronal plane by 0.30 mm +/- 0.52 (mean +/- standard error) at CT arthrography (P < .001) compared with the anatomic reference standard. Ninety-five percent of the differences between CT arthrography and anatomic values ranged from -1.34 to 0.74 mm. The difference between mean cartilage thicknesses at the different measurement points was significant for coronal spiral multidetector CT arthrography and anatomic measurement of the femoral head and acetabulum and for sagittal and transverse CT arthrography of the femoral head (P < .001). Changes in cartilage thickness from the periphery to the center of the joint ("gradients") were found by means of spiral multidetector CT arthrography and anatomic measurement. Spiral multidetector CT arthrography depicts cartilage thickness gradients in radiographically normal cadaveric hips. (c) RSNA, 2007.

Evaluation of Reference Genes for RT qPCR Analyses of Structure-Specific and Hormone Regulated Gene Expression in Physcomitrella patens Gametophytes

PubMed Central

Le Bail, Aude; Scholz, Sebastian; Kost, Benedikt

2013-01-01

The use of the moss Physcomitrella patens as a model system to study plant development and physiology is rapidly expanding. The strategic position of P. patens within the green lineage between algae and vascular plants, the high efficiency with which transgenes are incorporated by homologous recombination, advantages associated with the haploid gametophyte representing the dominant phase of the P. patens life cycle, the simple structure of protonemata, leafy shoots and rhizoids that constitute the haploid gametophyte, as well as a readily accessible high-quality genome sequence make this moss a very attractive experimental system. The investigation of the genetic and hormonal control of P. patens development heavily depends on the analysis of gene expression patterns by real time quantitative PCR (RT qPCR). This technique requires well characterized sets of reference genes, which display minimal expression level variations under all analyzed conditions, for data normalization. Sets of suitable reference genes have been described for most widely used model systems including e.g. Arabidopsis thaliana, but not for P. patens. Here, we present a RT qPCR based comparison of transcript levels of 12 selected candidate reference genes in a range of gametophytic P. patens structures at different developmental stages, and in P. patens protonemata treated with hormones or hormone transport inhibitors. Analysis of these RT qPCR data using GeNorm and NormFinder software resulted in the identification of sets of P. patens reference genes suitable for gene expression analysis under all tested conditions, and suggested that the two best reference genes are sufficient for effective data normalization under each of these conditions. PMID:23951063

Characterization of reference genes for RT-qPCR in the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis in response to abiotic stress and desiccation/rehydration

PubMed Central

Li, Xiaoshuang; Zhang, Daoyuan; Li, Haiyan; Gao, Bei; Yang, Honglan; Zhang, Yuanming; Wood, Andrew J.

2015-01-01

Syntrichia caninervis is the dominant bryophyte of the biological soil crusts found in the Gurbantunggut desert. The extreme desert environment is characterized by prolonged drought, temperature extremes, high radiation and frequent cycles of hydration and dehydration. S. caninervis is an ideal organism for the identification and characterization of genes related to abiotic stress tolerance. Reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) expression analysis is a powerful analytical technique that requires the use of stable reference genes. Using available S. caninervis transcriptome data, we selected 15 candidate reference genes and analyzed their relative expression stabilities in S. caninervis gametophores exposed to a range of abiotic stresses or a hydration-desiccation-rehydration cycle. The programs geNorm, NormFinder, and RefFinder were used to assess and rank the expression stability of the 15 candidate genes. The stability ranking results of reference genes under each specific experimental condition showed high consistency using different algorithms. For abiotic stress treatments, the combination of two genes (α-TUB2 and CDPK) were sufficient for accurate normalization. For the hydration-desiccation-rehydration process, the combination of two genes (α-TUB1 and CDPK) were sufficient for accurate normalization. 18S was among the least stable genes in all of the experimental sets and was unsuitable as reference gene in S. caninervis. This is the first systematic investigation and comparison of reference gene selection for RT-qPCR work in S. caninervis. This research will facilitate gene expression studies in S. caninervis, related moss species from the Syntrichia complex and other mosses. PMID:25699066

Evaluating acoustic speaker normalization algorithms: evidence from longitudinal child data.

PubMed

Kohn, Mary Elizabeth; Farrington, Charlie

2012-03-01

Speaker vowel formant normalization, a technique that controls for variation introduced by physical differences between speakers, is necessary in variationist studies to compare speakers of different ages, genders, and physiological makeup in order to understand non-physiological variation patterns within populations. Many algorithms have been established to reduce variation introduced into vocalic data from physiological sources. The lack of real-time studies tracking the effectiveness of these normalization algorithms from childhood through adolescence inhibits exploration of child participation in vowel shifts. This analysis compares normalization techniques applied to data collected from ten African American children across five time points. Linear regressions compare the reduction in variation attributable to age and gender for each speaker for the vowels BEET, BAT, BOT, BUT, and BOAR. A normalization technique is successful if it maintains variation attributable to a reference sociolinguistic variable, while reducing variation attributable to age. Results indicate that normalization techniques which rely on both a measure of central tendency and range of the vowel space perform best at reducing variation attributable to age, although some variation attributable to age persists after normalization for some sections of the vowel space. © 2012 Acoustical Society of America

Total and segmental colon transit time in constipated children assessed by scintigraphy with 111In-DTPA given orally.

PubMed

Vattimo, A; Burroni, L; Bertelli, P; Messina, M; Meucci, D; Tota, G

1993-12-01

Serial colon scintigraphy using 111In-DTPA (2 MBq) given orally was performed in 39 children referred for constipation, and the total and segmental colon transit times were measured. The bowel movements during the study were recorded and the intervals between defecations (ID) were calculated. This method proved able to identify children with normal colon morphology (no. = 32) and those with dolichocolon (no. = 7). Normal children were not included for ethical reasons and we used the normal range determined by others using x-ray methods (29 +/- 4 hours). Total and segmental colon transit times were found to be prolonged in all children with dolichocolon (TC: 113.55 +/- 41.20 hours; RC: 39.85 +/- 26.39 hours; LC: 43.05 +/- 18.30 hours; RS: 30.66 +/- 26.89 hours). In the group of children with a normal colon shape, 13 presented total and segmental colon transit times within the referred normal value (TC: 27.79 +/- 4.10 hours; RC: 9.11 +/- 2.53 hours; LC: 9.80 +/- 3.50 hours; RS: 8.88 +/- 4.09 hours) and normal bowel function (ID: 23.37 +/- 5.93 hours). In the remaining children, 5 presented prolonged retention in the rectum (RS: 53.36 +/- 29.66 hours), and 14 a prolonged transit time in all segments. A good correlation was found between the transit time and bowel function. From the point of view of radiation dosimetry, the most heavily irradiated organs were the lower large intestine and the ovaries, and the level of radiation burden depended on the colon transit time. We can conclude that the described method results safe, accurate and fully diagnostic.

The comparability of oxalate excretion and oxalate:creatinine ratio in the investigation of primary hyperoxaluria: review of data from a referral centre.

PubMed

Clifford-Mobley, Oliver; Tims, Christopher; Rumsby, Gill

2015-01-01

Urine oxalate measurement is an important investigation in the evaluation of renal stone disease. Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is a rare inherited metabolic disease characterised by persistently elevated urine oxalate, but the diagnosis may be missed in adults until renal failure has developed. Urine oxalate results were reviewed to compare oxalate:creatinine ratio and oxalate excretion, and to estimate the potential numbers of undiagnosed PH. Urine oxalate results from August 2011 to April 2013 were reviewed. Oxalate excretion and oxalate:creatinine ratio were evaluated for 24 h collections and ratio alone for spot urine samples. Oxalate:creatinine ratio and oxalate excretion were moderately correlated (R=0.63) in 24-h urine collections from patients aged 18 years and above. Sex-related differences were found requiring implementation of male and female reference ranges for oxalate:creatinine ratio. Of samples with both ratio and excretion above the reference range, 7% came from patients with confirmed PH. There were 24 patients with grossly elevated urine oxalate who had not been evaluated for PH. Oxalate:creatinine ratio and oxalate excretion were discordant in many patients, which is likely to be a result of intra-individual variation in creatinine output and imprecision in the collection itself. Some PH patients had urine oxalate within the reference range on occasion, and therefore it is not possible to exclude PH on the finding of a single normal result. A significant number of individuals had urine oxalate results well above the reference range who potentially have undiagnosed PH and are consequently at risk of renal failure. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Establishing a reference range for triiodothyronine levels in preterm infants.

PubMed

Oh, Ki Won; Koo, Mi Sung; Park, Hye Won; Chung, Mi Lim; Kim, Min-ho; Lim, Gina

2014-10-01

Thyroid dysfunction affects clinical complications in preterm infants and older children. However, thyroid hormone replacement in preterm infants has no proven benefits, possibly owing to the lack of an appropriate reference range for thyroid hormone levels. We aimed to establish a reference range for triiodothyronine (T3) levels at 1-month postnatal age (PNA) in preterm infants. This retrospective study included preterm infants born at a tertiary referral neonatal center at gestational age (GA)<35 weeks with no apparent thyroid dysfunction, for 6 consecutive years, with follow-up from PNA 2 weeks to 16 weeks. Using thyroid function tests (TFT), the relationships between T3 levels and thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels, birth weight, GA, postmenstrual age (PMA), and PNA were examined. The conversion trend for fT4 to T3 was analyzed using the T3/fT4 ratio. Overall, 464 TFTs from 266 infants were analyzed, after excluding 65 infants with thyroid dysfunction. T3 levels increased with fT4 levels, birth weight, GA, PMA, and PNA but not with TSH levels. The T3/fT4 ratio also increased with GA, PNA, and PMA. The average T3 level at 1 month PNA was 72.56 ± 27.83 ng/dL, with significant stratifications by GA. Relatively low T3 and fT4 levels in preterm infants were considered normal, with T3 levels and conversion trends increasing with GA, PMA, and PNA. Further studies are required to confirm the role of the present reference range in thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Age-related changes in bone biochemical markers and their relationship with bone mineral density in normal Chinese women.

PubMed

Pi, Yin-Zhen; Wu, Xian-Ping; Liu, Shi-Ping; Luo, Xiang-Hang; Cao, Xing-Zhi; Xie, Hui; Liao, Er-Yuan

2006-01-01

Measurements of bone biochemical markers are increasingly being used to evaluate the state of bone turnover in the management of bone metabolic diseases, especially osteoporosis. However, changes in the bone turnover rate vary with age. The aim of this study was to establish the laboratory reference range of serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (sBAP), serum type I collagen cross-linked C-terminal telopeptide (sCTx), and urine CTx (uCTx), based on values from 665 healthy Chinese women aged 20-80 years. We measured the levels of sBAP, sCTx, serum alkaline phosphatase (sALP), and uCTx and evaluated the age-related changes and their relationship with bone mineral density (BMD) in the anteroposterior (AP) lumbar spine, hip, and left forearm. We found significant correlations between biochemical markers and age, with coefficients of determination (R (2)) of 0.358 for sBAP, 0.126 for sCTx, 0.125 for uCTx, and 0.336 for sALP. The net changes in different biochemical markers were inversely correlated with the rates of BMD loss in the AP lumbar spine. After correction for age, body weight, and height, the levels of the markers had significant negative correlations with the BMD of the AP lumbar spine, femoral neck, and ultradistal forearm. All four biochemical markers had the highest negative correlation with BMD of the AP lumbar spine (partial correlation coefficients of -0.366, -0.296, -0.290, and -0.258 for sBAP, sCTx, uCTx, and sALP, respectively). The mean and SD values of these markers in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with normal BMD values were used as the normal reference ranges. The reference ranges of sBAP, sCTx, and uCTx for pre- vs postmenopausal women were 17.3 +/- 6.23 vs 18.9 +/- 7.52 U/l, 3.18 +/- 1.49 vs 3.23 +/- 1.57 nmol/l, and 15.5 +/- 11.4 vs 16.2 +/- 12.4 nM bone collagen equivalents/mM urinary creatinine, respectively. Levels of the bone formation marker (sBAP) and bone resorption markers (sCTx, uCTx) increased rapidly in women with osteopenia or osteoporosis, indicating that they may be sensitive markers to determine the bone turnover rate in healthy Chinese women.

Fusion of range camera and photogrammetry: a systematic procedure for improving 3-D models metric accuracy.

PubMed

Guidi, G; Beraldin, J A; Ciofi, S; Atzeni, C

2003-01-01

The generation of three-dimensional (3-D) digital models produced by optical technologies in some cases involves metric errors. This happens when small high-resolution 3-D images are assembled together in order to model a large object. In some applications, as for example 3-D modeling of Cultural Heritage, the problem of metric accuracy is a major issue and no methods are currently available for enhancing it. The authors present a procedure by which the metric reliability of the 3-D model, obtained through iterative alignments of many range maps, can be guaranteed to a known acceptable level. The goal is the integration of the 3-D range camera system with a close range digital photogrammetry technique. The basic idea is to generate a global coordinate system determined by the digital photogrammetric procedure, measuring the spatial coordinates of optical targets placed around the object to be modeled. Such coordinates, set as reference points, allow the proper rigid motion of few key range maps, including a portion of the targets, in the global reference system defined by photogrammetry. The other 3-D images are normally aligned around these locked images with usual iterative algorithms. Experimental results on an anthropomorphic test object, comparing the conventional and the proposed alignment method, are finally reported.

Sexual dichotomy of gonadal function in Prader-Willi syndrome from early infancy through the fourth decade.

PubMed

Hirsch, H J; Eldar-Geva, T; Bennaroch, F; Pollak, Y; Gross-Tsur, V

2015-11-01

At what age does the type of hypogonadism, namely hypothalamic or primary gonadal defect, become established in men and women with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)? The type of hypogonadism becomes established only in late adolescence and early adulthood. The etiology of hypogonadism in PWS is heterogeneous and the clinical expression is variable. Primary testicular failure is common in PWS men, while combinations of ovarian dysfunction and gonadotrophin deficiency are seen in women. This is a prospective study of a cohort of 106 PWS patients followed for a mean duration of 4.5 years. Serial blood samples were obtained and assayed for gonadotrophins, inhibin B, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone (males), and estradiol (females). Results were compared with normal reference values obtained from the literature. For the purpose of this study, we defined the following age groups: infants <1 year; children 1-10 years; adolescents 11-20 years and adults >20 years. Study participants were 49 males (aged 2 months to 36 years) and 57 females (aged 1 month to 37 years) with genetically confirmed diagnoses of PWS (deletions 60, uniparental disomy 54, imprinting center defect 2) followed in the Israel national multidisciplinary PWS clinic. Serum LH levels were in the normal range (1.0-6.0 mIU/ml) for 7/10 adult men, and high in 3, while FSH (normal range 1.0-6.1 mIU/ml) was elevated (34.4 ± 11.5 mIU/ml) in 6 and normal (3.5 ± 1.6 mIU/ml) in 4 men. Testosterone was low (5.7 ± 3.4 nmol/l) compared with the normal range of 12.0-34.5 nmol/l in the reference population in all men >20 years. AMH showed a normal decrease with age, despite low testosterone levels. Inhibin B was normal (241 ± 105 pg/ml) in infant boys, but low or undetectable in most adult men. Hormonal profiles were more heterogeneous in women than in men. Estradiol was consistently detectable in only 7/13 adult women. Inhibin B was low or undetectable in all PWS females although occasional samples showed levels within the normal range of 15-95 pg/ml. Vaginal bleeding was reported to occur for the first time in eight women at a median age of 20 years (13-34 years), but only one had regular monthly menses. The type of hypogonadism (primary or secondary) in PWS can be determined only after age 20 years. The study cohort was heterogeneous, showing variability in BMI, cognitive disability and medical treatment. Demonstration of the natural history of reproductive hormone development in PWS suggests that androgen replacement may be indicated for most PWS boys in mid-adolescence. Recommendations for hormone replacement in PWS women need to be individually tailored, serial measurements of inhibin B should be performed, and contraception should be considered in those women who may have the potential for fertility. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Creatine and guanidinoacetate reference values in a French population.

PubMed

Joncquel-Chevalier Curt, Marie; Cheillan, David; Briand, Gilbert; Salomons, Gajja S; Mention-Mulliez, Karine; Dobbelaere, Dries; Cuisset, Jean-Marie; Lion-François, Laurence; Des Portes, Vincent; Chabli, Allel; Valayannopoulos, Vassili; Benoist, Jean-François; Pinard, Jean-Marc; Simard, Gilles; Douay, Olivier; Deiva, Kumaran; Tardieu, Marc; Afenjar, Alexandra; Héron, Delphine; Rivier, François; Chabrol, Brigitte; Prieur, Fabienne; Cartault, François; Pitelet, Gaëlle; Goldenberg, Alice; Bekri, Soumeya; Gerard, Marion; Delorme, Richard; Porchet, Nicole; Vianey-Saban, Christine; Vamecq, Joseph

2013-11-01

Creatine and guanidinoacetate are biomarkers of creatine metabolism. Their assays in body fluids may be used for detecting patients with primary creatine deficiency disorders (PCDD), a class of inherited diseases. Their laboratory values in blood and urine may vary with age, requiring that reference normal values are given within the age range. Despite the long known role of creatine for muscle physiology, muscle signs are not necessarily the major complaint expressed by PCDD patients. These disorders drastically affect brain function inducing, in patients, intellectual disability, autistic behavior and other neurological signs (delays in speech and language, epilepsy, ataxia, dystonia and choreoathetosis), being a common feature the drop in brain creatine content. For this reason, screening of PCDD patients has been repeatedly carried out in populations with neurological signs. This report is aimed at providing reference laboratory values and related age ranges found for a large scale population of patients with neurological signs (more than 6 thousand patients) previously serving as a background population for screening French patients with PCDD. These reference laboratory values and age ranges compare rather favorably with literature values for healthy populations. Some differences are also observed, and female participants are discriminated from male participants as regards to urine but not blood values including creatine on creatinine ratio and guanidinoacetate on creatinine ratio values. Such gender differences were previously observed in healthy populations; they might be explained by literature differential effects of testosterone and estrogen in adolescents and adults, and by estrogen effects in prepubertal age on SLC6A8 function. Finally, though they were acquired on a population with neurological signs, the present data might reasonably serve as reference laboratory values in any future medical study exploring abnormalities of creatine metabolism and transport. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Increased concentrations of bone sialoprotein in joint fluid after knee injury.

PubMed Central

Lohmander, L S; Saxne, T; Heinegård, D

1996-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To detect evidence for localised changes in bone matrix metabolism after joint trauma and in post-traumatic osteoarthritis by quantification of bone sialoprotein in joint fluid and serum after knee injury in a cross sectional study. METHODS: Samples of knee joint fluid and serum were obtained from volunteers with normal knees (n = 19), patients with rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament isolated or combined with tear of a meniscus (n = 114), and patients with isolated meniscus lesions (n = 80). Concentrations of bone sialoprotein were determined by ELISA. Concentrations of other markers of joint tissue metabolism in these samples were determined in previous investigations. RESULTS: The median concentrations of bone sialoprotein in joint fluid from healthy volunteers was 122 ng ml-1 (range 41 to 183). Concentrations of bone sialoprotein were increased in both injury groups compared with the reference group (median for cruciate ligament injury 146 ng ml-1, range 72 to 339; median for meniscus injury 166 ng ml-1, range 75 to 376). After injury, bone sialoprotein increased quickly and remained increased for six months. Bone sialoprotein in joint fluid was increased only in samples from joints with normal or nearly normal (fibrillated) cartilage, and was within reference range in joints with radiographic signs of osteoarthritis. Bone sialoprotein concentrations in joints with cruciate ligament injury were positively correlated with levels of aggrecan and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein fragments, and with levels of stromelysin-1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. The ratios between the concentrations of bone sialoprotein in joint fluid and serum were > 1 in the majority of the cruciate ligament injury cases. CONCLUSIONS: The release of significant amounts of bone sialoprotein into joint fluid in connection with acute joint trauma may be associated with injury to, and active remodelling of, the cartilage-bone interface and subchondral bone. The findings are consistent with dramatic shifts in cartilage, bone, and synovial metabolism following joint injury. Bone sialoprotein concentrations in synovial fluid may be a useful marker of subchondral injury and remodelling following joint injury. PMID:8882132

Effect of inlet-air humidity, temperature, pressure, and reference Mach number on the formation of oxides of nitrogen in a gas turbine combustor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marchionna, N. R.; Diehl, L. A.; Trout, A. M.

1973-01-01

Tests were conducted to determine the effect of inlet air humidity on the formation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from a gas turbine combustor. Combustor inlet air temperature ranged from 506 K (450 F) to 838 K (1050 F). The tests were primarily run at a constant pressure of 6 atmospheres and reference Mach number of 0.065. The NOx emission index was found to decrease with increasing inlet air humidity at a constant exponential rate: NOx = NOx0e-19H (where H is the humidity and the subscript 0 denotes the value at zero humidity). the emission index increased exponentially with increasing normalized inlet air temperature to the 1.14 power. Additional tests made to determine the effect of pressure and reference Mach number on NOx showed that the NOx emission index varies directly with pressure to the 0.5 power and inversely with reference Mach number.

Reference tissue normalization in longitudinal (18)F-florbetapir positron emission tomography of late mild cognitive impairment.

PubMed

Shokouhi, Sepideh; Mckay, John W; Baker, Suzanne L; Kang, Hakmook; Brill, Aaron B; Gwirtsman, Harry E; Riddle, William R; Claassen, Daniel O; Rogers, Baxter P

2016-01-15

Semiquantitative methods such as the standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) require normalization of the radiotracer activity to a reference tissue to monitor changes in the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques measured with positron emission tomography (PET). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of reference tissue normalization in a test-retest (18)F-florbetapir SUVR study using cerebellar gray matter, white matter (two different segmentation masks), brainstem, and corpus callosum as reference regions. We calculated the correlation between (18)F-florbetapir PET and concurrent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ1-42 levels in a late mild cognitive impairment cohort with longitudinal PET and CSF data over the course of 2 years. In addition to conventional SUVR analysis using mean and median values of normalized brain radiotracer activity, we investigated a new image analysis technique-the weighted two-point correlation function (wS2)-to capture potentially more subtle changes in Aβ-PET data. Compared with the SUVRs normalized to cerebellar gray matter, all cerebral-to-white matter normalization schemes resulted in a higher inverse correlation between PET and CSF Aβ1-42, while the brainstem normalization gave the best results (high and most stable correlation). Compared with the SUVR mean and median values, the wS2 values were associated with the lowest coefficient of variation and highest inverse correlation to CSF Aβ1-42 levels across all time points and reference regions, including the cerebellar gray matter. The selection of reference tissue for normalization and the choice of image analysis method can affect changes in cortical (18)F-florbetapir uptake in longitudinal studies.

R-wave peak time at lead II in Chinese healthy adults.

PubMed

Deng, Jinhua; Chen, Tingting; Zeng, Chujuan; Lu, Nan; Zhou, Lihong; Tan, Xuerui; Yu, Min

2016-05-10

Wide QRS complex tachycardia (WCT) is a common arrhythmia. How to differentiate between WCTs is a challenge in clinical practice. Recently R-wave peak time (RWPT) at lead II was reported to be a helpful and simple tool for differentiating WCTs. However, it has remained unknown about the reference range of RWPT at lead II. In present study, we aimed to investigate the reference range of RWPT at lead II in Chinese healthy adults. A retrospective study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College in Southern China. Two thousand four hundred healthy adults aged 21-80 years with no history of structural heart diseases were included. RWPT at lead II was determined. Of 2400 healthy adults, 1200 men and 1200 women were included. The differences of age, mean heart rate and mean QRS duration at lead II between male and female were not significant. RWPT ranged from 16 to 42 ms in male while from 16 to 44 ms in female. The 95 % reference range of RWPT in normal male and female are 19.91 ~ 39.55 ms and 21.75 ~ 37.67 ms, respectively. Compared with the female, the male had a significantly longer RWPT at lead II (29.73 ± 5.01 ms vs 29.71 ± 4.06 ms in female, P = 0.000). Our study showed that RWPT at lead II is different between male and female. The male had a significantly longer RWPT at lead II than the female.

Computing the Risk of Postprandial Hypo- and Hyperglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Considering Intrapatient Variability and Other Sources of Uncertainty

PubMed Central

García-Jaramillo, Maira; Calm, Remei; Bondia, Jorge; Tarín, Cristina; Vehí, Josep

2009-01-01

Objective The objective of this article was to develop a methodology to quantify the risk of suffering different grades of hypo- and hyperglycemia episodes in the postprandial state. Methods Interval predictions of patient postprandial glucose were performed during a 5-hour period after a meal for a set of 3315 scenarios. Uncertainty in the patient's insulin sensitivities and carbohydrate (CHO) contents of the planned meal was considered. A normalized area under the curve of the worst-case predicted glucose excursion for severe and mild hypo- and hyperglycemia glucose ranges was obtained and weighted accordingly to their importance. As a result, a comprehensive risk measure was obtained. A reference model of preprandial glucose values representing the behavior in different ranges was chosen by a ξ2 test. The relationship between the computed risk index and the probability of occurrence of events was analyzed for these reference models through 19,500 Monte Carlo simulations. Results The obtained reference models for each preprandial glucose range were 100, 160, and 220 mg/dl. A relationship between the risk index ranges <10, 10–60, 60–120, and >120 and the probability of occurrence of mild and severe postprandial hyper- and hypoglycemia can be derived. Conclusions When intrapatient variability and uncertainty in the CHO content of the meal are considered, a safer prediction of possible hyper- and hypoglycemia episodes induced by the tested insulin therapy can be calculated. PMID:20144339

Hypoglycemia in a dog with a leiomyoma of the gastric wall producing an insulin-like growth factor II-like peptide.

PubMed

Boari, A; Barreca, A; Bestetti, G E; Minuto, F; Venturoli, M

1995-06-01

A 12-year-old mixed-breed male dog was referred to the Clinica Medica Veterinaria of Bologna University for recurrent episodes of seizures due to hypoglycemia with abnormally low plasma insulin levels (18 pmol/l). Resection of a large leiomyoma (780 g) of the gastric wall resulted in a permanent resolution of the hypoglycemic episodes. Insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and -II) were measured by RIA in serum before and after surgery and in tumor tissue. Results were compared to the serum concentration of 54 normal and to the tissue concentration observed in eight non-hypoglycemic dog gastric wall extracts. Before surgery, circulating immunoreactive IGF-I was 0.92 nmol/l, which is significantly lower than the control values (16.92 +/- 8.44 nmol/l, range 3.53-35.03), while IGF-II was 152 nmol/l, which is significantly higher than the control values (42.21 +/- 3.75, range 31.99-50.74). After surgery, IGF-I increased to 6.80 nmol/l while IGF-II decreased to 45.52 nmol/l. Tumor tissue IGF-II concentration was higher than normal (5.66 nmol/kg tissue as compared to a range in normal gastric wall tissue of 1.14-3.72 nmol/kg), while IGF-I was 0.08 nmol/kg tissue, which is close to the lowest normal value (range in controls, 0.08-1.18 nmol/kg). Partial characterization of IGF-II immunoreactivity extracted from tissue evidenced a molecular weight similar to that of mature IGF-II, thus excluding that peptide released by the tumor is a precursor molecule.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation and Selection of Appropriate Reference Genes for Real-Time Quantitative PCR Analysis of Gene Expression in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) during Vaccination and Infection

PubMed Central

Wang, Erlong; Wang, Kaiyu; Chen, Defang; Wang, Jun; He, Yang; Long, Bo; Yang, Lei; Yang, Qian; Geng, Yi; Huang, Xiaoli; Ouyang, Ping; Lai, Weimin

2015-01-01

qPCR as a powerful and attractive methodology has been widely applied to aquaculture researches for gene expression analyses. However, the suitable reference selection is critical for normalizing target genes expression in qPCR. In the present study, six commonly used endogenous controls were selected as candidate reference genes to evaluate and analyze their expression levels, stabilities and normalization to immune-related gene IgM expression during vaccination and infection in spleen of tilapia with RefFinder and GeNorm programs. The results showed that all of these candidate reference genes exhibited transcriptional variations to some extent at different periods. Among them, EF1A was the most stable reference with RefFinder, followed by 18S rRNA, ACTB, UBCE, TUBA and GAPDH respectively and the optimal number of reference genes for IgM normalization under different experiment sets was two with GeNorm. Meanwhile, combination the Cq (quantification cycle) value and the recommended comprehensive ranking of reference genes, EF1A and ACTB, the two optimal reference genes, were used together as reference genes for accurate analysis of immune-related gene expression during vaccination and infection in Nile tilapia with qPCR. Moreover, the highest IgM expression level was at two weeks post-vaccination when normalized to EF1A, 18S rRNA, ACTB, and EF1A together with ACTB compared to one week post-vaccination before normalizing, which was also consistent with the IgM antibody titers detection by ELISA. PMID:25941937

Performance of coagulation tests in patients on therapeutic doses of rivaroxaban. A cross-sectional pharmacodynamic study based on peak and trough plasma levels.

PubMed

Francart, Suzanne J; Hawes, Emily M; Deal, Allison M; Adcock, Dorothy M; Gosselin, Robert; Jeanneret, Cheryl; Friedman, Kenneth D; Moll, Stephan

2014-06-01

Knowledge of anticoagulation status during rivaroxaban therapy is desirable in certain clinical situations. It was the study objective to determine coagulation tests most useful for assessing rivaroxaban's anticoagulant effect. Peak and trough blood samples from 29 patients taking rivaroxaban 20 mg daily were collected. Mass spectrometry and various coagulation assays were performed. "On-therapy range" was defined as the rivaroxaban concentrations determined by LC-MS/MS. A "misprediction percentage" was calculated based on how often results of each coagulation assay were in the normal reference range, while the rivaroxaban concentration was in the "on-therapy" range. The on-therapy range was 8.9-660 ng/ml. The misprediction percentages for prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), using multiple reagents and coagulometers, ranged from 10%-52% and 31%-59%, respectively. PT, aPTT and activated clotting time (ACT) were insensitive to trough rivaroxaban: 59%, 62%, and 80% of samples had a normal result, respectively. Over 95% of PT and ACT values were elevated at peak. Four different rivaroxaban calibrated anti-Xa assays had R² values >0.98, demonstrating strong correlations with rivaroxaban drug levels. In conclusion, PT, aPTT and ACT are often normal in patients on therapeutic doses of rivaroxaban. However, PT and ACT may have clinical utility at higher drug plasma levels. Rivaroxaban calibrated anti-factor Xa assays can accurately identify low and high on-therapy rivaroxaban drug levels and, therefore, have superior utility in all clinical situations where assessment of anticoagulation status may be beneficial.

Optimal Cut-Offs of Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) to Identify Dysglycemia and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A 15-Year Prospective Study in Chinese

PubMed Central

Lee, C. H.; Shih, A. Z. L.; Woo, Y. C.; Fong, C. H. Y.; Leung, O. Y.; Janus, E.; Cheung, B. M. Y.; Lam, K. S. L.

2016-01-01

Background The optimal reference range of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in normal Chinese population has not been clearly defined. Here we address this issue using the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study (CRISPS), a prospective population-based cohort study with long-term follow-up. Material & Methods In this study, normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were defined according to the 1998 World Health Organization criteria. Dysglycemia referred to IFG, IGT or T2DM. This study comprised two parts. Part one was a cross-sectional study involving 2,649 Hong Kong Chinese subjects, aged 25–74 years, at baseline CRISPS-1 (1995–1996). The optimal HOMA-IR cut-offs for dysglycemia and T2DM were determined by the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Part two was a prospective study involving 872 subjects who had persistent NGT at CRISPS-4 (2010–2012) after 15 years of follow-up. Results At baseline, the optimal HOMA-IR cut-offs to identify dysglyceia and T2DM were 1.37 (AUC = 0.735; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.713–0.758; Sensitivity [Se] = 65.6%, Specificity [Sp] = 71.3%] and 1.97 (AUC = 0.807; 95% CI = 0.777–0.886; Se = 65.5%, Sp = 82.9%) respectively. These cut-offs, derived from the cross-sectional study at baseline, corresponded closely to the 75th (1.44) and 90th (2.03) percentiles, respectively, of the HOMA-IR reference range derived from the prospective study of subjects with persistent NGT. Conclusions HOMA-IR cut-offs, of 1.4 and 2.0, which discriminated dysglycemia and T2DM respectively from NGT in Southern Chinese, can be usefully employed as references in clinical research involving the assessment of insulin resistance. PMID:27658115

Optimal Cut-Offs of Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) to Identify Dysglycemia and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A 15-Year Prospective Study in Chinese.

PubMed

Lee, C H; Shih, A Z L; Woo, Y C; Fong, C H Y; Leung, O Y; Janus, E; Cheung, B M Y; Lam, K S L

The optimal reference range of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in normal Chinese population has not been clearly defined. Here we address this issue using the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study (CRISPS), a prospective population-based cohort study with long-term follow-up. In this study, normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were defined according to the 1998 World Health Organization criteria. Dysglycemia referred to IFG, IGT or T2DM. This study comprised two parts. Part one was a cross-sectional study involving 2,649 Hong Kong Chinese subjects, aged 25-74 years, at baseline CRISPS-1 (1995-1996). The optimal HOMA-IR cut-offs for dysglycemia and T2DM were determined by the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Part two was a prospective study involving 872 subjects who had persistent NGT at CRISPS-4 (2010-2012) after 15 years of follow-up. At baseline, the optimal HOMA-IR cut-offs to identify dysglyceia and T2DM were 1.37 (AUC = 0.735; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.713-0.758; Sensitivity [Se] = 65.6%, Specificity [Sp] = 71.3%] and 1.97 (AUC = 0.807; 95% CI = 0.777-0.886; Se = 65.5%, Sp = 82.9%) respectively. These cut-offs, derived from the cross-sectional study at baseline, corresponded closely to the 75th (1.44) and 90th (2.03) percentiles, respectively, of the HOMA-IR reference range derived from the prospective study of subjects with persistent NGT. HOMA-IR cut-offs, of 1.4 and 2.0, which discriminated dysglycemia and T2DM respectively from NGT in Southern Chinese, can be usefully employed as references in clinical research involving the assessment of insulin resistance.

Pressure-flow characteristics of normal and disordered esophageal motor patterns.

PubMed

Singendonk, Maartje M J; Kritas, Stamatiki; Cock, Charles; Ferris, Lara F; McCall, Lisa; Rommel, Nathalie; van Wijk, Michiel P; Benninga, Marc A; Moore, David; Omari, Taher I

2015-03-01

To perform pressure-flow analysis (PFA) in a cohort of pediatric patients who were referred for diagnostic manometric investigation. PFA was performed using purpose designed Matlab-based software. The pressure-flow index (PFI), a composite measure of bolus pressurization relative to flow and the impedance ratio, a measure of the extent of bolus clearance failure were calculated. Tracings of 76 pediatric patients (32 males; 9.1 ± 0.7 years) and 25 healthy adult controls (7 males; 36.1 ± 2.2 years) were analyzed. Patients mostly had normal motility (50%) or a category 4 disorder and usually weak peristalsis (31.5%) according to the Chicago Classification. PFA of healthy controls defined reference ranges for PFI ≤142 and impedance ratio ≤0.49. Pediatric patients with pressure-flow (PF) characteristics within these limits had normal motility (62%), most patients with PF characteristics outside these limits also had an abnormal Chicago Classification (61%). Patients with high PFI and disordered motor patterns all had esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction. Disordered PF characteristics are associated with disordered esophageal motor patterns. By defining the degree of over-pressurization and/or extent of clearance failure, PFA may be a useful adjunct to esophageal pressure topography-based classification. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prevalence and causes of abnormal liver function in patients with coeliac disease.

PubMed

Casella, Giovanni; Antonelli, Elisabetta; Di Bella, Camillo; Villanacci, Vincenzo; Fanini, Lucia; Baldini, Vittorio; Bassotti, Gabrio

2013-08-01

Coeliac disease patients frequently display mild elevation of liver enzymes and this abnormality usually normalizes after gluten-free diet. To investigate the cause and prevalence of altered liver function tests in coeliac patients, basally and after 1 year of gluten-free diet. Data from 245 untreated CD patients (196 women and 49 men, age range 15-80 years) were retrospectively analysed and the liver function tests before and after diet, as well as associated liver pathologies, were assessed. Overall, 43/245 (17.5%) patients had elevated values of one or both aminotransferases; the elevation was mild (<5 times the upper reference limit) in 41 (95%) and marked (>10 times the upper reference limit) in the remaining 2 (5%) patients. After 1 year of gluten-free diet, aminotransferase levels normalized in all but four patients with HCV infection or primary biliary cirrhosis. In coeliac patients, hypertransaminaseaemia at diagnosis and the lack of normalization of liver enzymes after 12 months of diet suggest coexisting liver disease. In such instance, further evaluation is recommended to exclude the liver disease. Early recognition and treatment of coeliac disease in patients affected by liver disease are important to improve the liver function and prevent complications. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Clinical Applications of Wavefront Refraction

PubMed Central

Bruce, Adrian S.; Catania, Louis J.

2014-01-01

ABSTRACT Purpose To determine normative reference ranges for higher-order wavefront error (HO-WFE), compare these values with those in common ocular pathologies, and evaluate treatments. Methods A review of 17 major studies on HO-WFE was made, involving data for a total of 31,605 subjects. The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) for HO-WFE was calculated from the most comprehensive of these studies using normal healthy patients aged 20 to 80 years. There were no studies identified using the natural pupil size for subjects, and for this reason, the HO-WFE was tabulated for pupil diameters of 3 to 7 mm. Effects of keratoconus, pterygium, cataract, and dry eye on HO-WFE were reviewed and treatment efficacy was considered. Results The calculated upper limit of the 95% CI for HO-WFE in a healthy normal 35-year-old patient with a mesopic pupil diameter of 6 mm would be 0.471 μm (471 nm) root-mean-square or less. Although the normal HO-WFE increases with age for a given pupil size, it is not yet completely clear how the concurrent influence of age-related pupillary miosis affects these findings. Abnormal ocular conditions such as keratoconus can induce a large HO-WFE, often in excess of 3.0 μm, particularly attributed to coma. For pterygium or cortical cataract, a combination of coma and trefoil was more commonly induced. Nuclear cataract can induce a negative spherical HO-WFE, usually in excess of 1.0 μm. Conclusions The upper limit of the 95% CI for HO-WFE root-mean-square is about 0.5 μm with normal physiological pupil sizes. With ocular pathologies, HO-WFE can be in excess of 1.0 μm, although many devices and therapeutic and surgical treatments are reported to be highly effective at minimizing HO-WFE. More accurate normative reference ranges for HO-WFE will require future studies using the subjects’ natural pupil size. PMID:25216319

Reference ranges of HOMA-IR in normal-weight and obese young Caucasians.

PubMed

Shashaj, Blegina; Luciano, Rosa; Contoli, Benedetta; Morino, Giuseppe Stefano; Spreghini, Maria Rita; Rustico, Carmela; Sforza, Rita Wietrzycowska; Dallapiccola, Bruno; Manco, Melania

2016-04-01

Insulin resistance (IR) may develop very early in life being associated with occurrence of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs). Aim of the present study was to identify in young Caucasians normative values of IR as estimated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and cutoffs diagnostic of CMRFs. Anthropometrics and biochemical parameters were assessed in 2753 Caucasians (age 2-17.8 years; 1204 F). Reference ranges of HOMA-IR were defined for the whole population and for samples of normal-weight and overweight/obese individuals. The receiver operator characteristic analysis was used to find cutoffs of HOMA-IR accurately identifying individuals with any CMRF among total cholesterol and/or triglycerides higher than the 95th percentile and/or HDL cholesterol lower than the 5th for age and sex, impaired glucose tolerance, and alanine aminotransferase levels ≥40 U/l. Overweight/obese individuals had higher HOMA-IR levels compared with normal-weight peers (p < 0.0001) at any age. HOMA-IR index rose progressively with age, plateaued between age 13 and 15 years and started decreasing afterward. HOMA-IR peaked at age 13 years in girls and at 15 years in boys. The 75th percentile of HOMA-IR in the whole population (3.02; AUROC = 0.73, 95 % CI = 0.70-0.75), in normal-weight (1.68; AUROC = 0.76, 95 % CI = 0.74-0.79), and obese (3.42; AUROC = 0.71, 95 % CI = 0.69-0.72) individuals identified the cutoffs best classifying individuals with any CMRF. Percentiles of HOMA-IR varied significantly in young Caucasians depending on sex, age, and BMI category. The 75th percentile may represent an accurate cutoff point to suspect the occurrence of one or more CMRFs among high total cholesterol and triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and ALT ≥ 40 UI/l.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Subclinical Thyroid Disease

PubMed Central

Kim, Ye An

2014-01-01

Subclinical thyroid disease is defined biochemically by an abnormal thyrotropin (TSH) level and normal serum-free thyroxine level. The prevalence of this condition varies according to the reference range for TSH and geographic or demographic factors. Recently, several studies, including our community-based cohort studies, have reported on the incidence of subclinical thyroid disease in Korea. Using these studies, we reviewed the prevalence and risk factors of subclinical thyroid disease, focusing on subclinical hypothyroidism. PMID:24741450

Localized Energy-Based Normalization of Medical Images: Application to Chest Radiography.

PubMed

Philipsen, R H H M; Maduskar, P; Hogeweg, L; Melendez, J; Sánchez, C I; van Ginneken, B

2015-09-01

Automated quantitative analysis systems for medical images often lack the capability to successfully process images from multiple sources. Normalization of such images prior to further analysis is a possible solution to this limitation. This work presents a general method to normalize medical images and thoroughly investigates its effectiveness for chest radiography (CXR). The method starts with an energy decomposition of the image in different bands. Next, each band's localized energy is scaled to a reference value and the image is reconstructed. We investigate iterative and local application of this technique. The normalization is applied iteratively to the lung fields on six datasets from different sources, each comprising 50 normal CXRs and 50 abnormal CXRs. The method is evaluated in three supervised computer-aided detection tasks related to CXR analysis and compared to two reference normalization methods. In the first task, automatic lung segmentation, the average Jaccard overlap significantly increased from 0.72±0.30 and 0.87±0.11 for both reference methods to with normalization. The second experiment was aimed at segmentation of the clavicles. The reference methods had an average Jaccard index of 0.57±0.26 and 0.53±0.26; with normalization this significantly increased to . The third experiment was detection of tuberculosis related abnormalities in the lung fields. The average area under the Receiver Operating Curve increased significantly from 0.72±0.14 and 0.79±0.06 using the reference methods to with normalization. We conclude that the normalization can be successfully applied in chest radiography and makes supervised systems more generally applicable to data from different sources.

Identification of appropriate reference genes for normalizing transcript expression by quantitative real-time PCR in Litsea cubeba.

PubMed

Lin, Liyuan; Han, Xiaojiao; Chen, Yicun; Wu, Qingke; Wang, Yangdong

2013-12-01

Quantitative real-time PCR has emerged as a highly sensitive and widely used method for detection of gene expression profiles, via which accurate detection depends on reliable normalization. Since no single control is appropriate for all experimental treatments, it is generally advocated to select suitable internal controls prior to use for normalization. This study reported the evaluation of the expression stability of twelve potential reference genes in different tissue/organs and six fruit developmental stages of Litsea cubeba in order to screen the superior internal reference genes for data normalization. Two softwares-geNorm, and NormFinder-were used to identify stability of these candidate genes. The cycle threshold difference and coefficient of variance were also calculated to evaluate the expression stability of candidate genes. F-BOX, EF1α, UBC, and TUA were selected as the most stable reference genes across 11 sample pools. F-BOX, EF1α, and EIF4α exhibited the highest expression stability in different tissue/organs and different fruit developmental stages. Besides, a combination of two stable reference genes would be sufficient for gene expression normalization in different fruit developmental stages. In addition, the relative expression profiles of DXS and DXR were evaluated by EF1α, UBC, and SAMDC. The results further validated the reliability of stable reference genes and also highlighted the importance of selecting suitable internal controls for L. cubeba. These reference genes will be of great importance for transcript normalization in future gene expression studies on L. cubeba.

Array-based comparative genomic hybridization-guided identification of reference genes for normalization of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay data for lymphomas, histiocytic sarcomas, and osteosarcomas of dogs.

PubMed

Tsai, Pei-Chien; Breen, Matthew

2012-09-01

To identify suitable reference genes for normalization of real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay data for common tumors of dogs. Malignant lymph node (n = 8), appendicular osteosarcoma (9), and histiocytic sarcoma (12) samples and control samples of various nonneoplastic canine tissues. Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) data were used to guide selection of 9 candidate reference genes. Expression stability of candidate reference genes and 4 commonly used reference genes was determined for tumor samples with RT-qPCR assays and 3 software programs. LOC611555 was the candidate reference gene with the highest expression stability among the 3 tumor types. Of the commonly used reference genes, expression stability of HPRT was high in histiocytic sarcoma samples, and expression stability of Ubi and RPL32 was high in osteosarcoma samples. Some of the candidate reference genes had higher expression stability than did the commonly used reference genes. Data for constitutively expressed genes with high expression stability are required for normalization of RT-qPCR assay results. Without such data, accurate quantification of gene expression in tumor tissue samples is difficult. Results of the present study indicated LOC611555 may be a useful RT-qPCR assay reference gene for multiple tissue types. Some commonly used reference genes may be suitable for normalization of gene expression data for tumors of dogs, such as lymphomas, osteosarcomas, or histiocytic sarcomas.

Maturation of the auditory system in clinically normal puppies as reflected by the brain stem auditory-evoked potential wave V latency-intensity curve and rarefaction-condensation differential potentials.

PubMed

Poncelet, L C; Coppens, A G; Meuris, S I; Deltenre, P F

2000-11-01

To evaluate auditory maturation in puppies. Ten clinically normal Beagle puppies. Puppies were examined repeatedly from days 11 to 36 after birth (8 measurements). Click-evoked brain stem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEP) were obtained in response to rarefaction and condensation click stimuli from 90 dB normal hearing level to wave V threshold, using steps of 10 dB. Responses were added, providing an equivalent to alternate polarity clicks, and subtracted, providing the rarefaction-condensation differential potential (RCDP). Steps of 5 dB were used to determine thresholds of RCDP and wave V. Slope of the low-intensity segment of the wave V latency-intensity curve was calculated. The intensity range at which RCDP could not be recorded (ie, pre-RCDP range) was calculated by subtracting the threshold of wave V from threshold of RCDP RESULTS: Slope of the wave V latency-intensity curve low-intensity segment evolved with age, changing from (mean +/- SD) -90.8 +/- 41.6 to -27.8 +/- 4.1 micros/dB. Similar results were obtained from days 23 through 36. The pre-RCDP range diminished as puppies became older, decreasing from 40.0 +/- 7.5 to 20.5 +/- 6.4 dB. Changes in slope of the latency-intensity curve with age suggest enlargement of the audible range of frequencies toward high frequencies up to the third week after birth. Decrease in the pre-RCDP range may indicate an increase of the audible range of frequencies toward low frequencies. Age-related reference values will assist clinicians in detecting hearing loss in puppies.

Best-Matched Internal Standard Normalization in Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Metabolomics Applied to Environmental Samples.

PubMed

Boysen, Angela K; Heal, Katherine R; Carlson, Laura T; Ingalls, Anitra E

2018-01-16

The goal of metabolomics is to measure the entire range of small organic molecules in biological samples. In liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, formidable analytical challenges remain in removing the nonbiological factors that affect chromatographic peak areas. These factors include sample matrix-induced ion suppression, chromatographic quality, and analytical drift. The combination of these factors is referred to as obscuring variation. Some metabolomics samples can exhibit intense obscuring variation due to matrix-induced ion suppression, rendering large amounts of data unreliable and difficult to interpret. Existing normalization techniques have limited applicability to these sample types. Here we present a data normalization method to minimize the effects of obscuring variation. We normalize peak areas using a batch-specific normalization process, which matches measured metabolites with isotope-labeled internal standards that behave similarly during the analysis. This method, called best-matched internal standard (B-MIS) normalization, can be applied to targeted or untargeted metabolomics data sets and yields relative concentrations. We evaluate and demonstrate the utility of B-MIS normalization using marine environmental samples and laboratory grown cultures of phytoplankton. In untargeted analyses, B-MIS normalization allowed for inclusion of mass features in downstream analyses that would have been considered unreliable without normalization due to obscuring variation. B-MIS normalization for targeted or untargeted metabolomics is freely available at https://github.com/IngallsLabUW/B-MIS-normalization .

Psychological assessment in children and adolescents with Benign Paroxysmal Vertigo.

PubMed

Reale, Laura; Guarnera, Manuela; Grillo, Caterina; Maiolino, Luigi; Ruta, Liliana; Mazzone, Luigi

2011-02-01

Migraine in childhood and adolescence has been associated with the presence of behavioural and emotional difficulties, but only few data are available with respect to unusual types of headache syndromes such as Benign Paroxysmal Vertigo of Childhood (BPVC). Aim of the present study was to evaluate the behavioural and emotional profiles of clinically referred children and adolescents suffering from BPVC and migraine, as compared to normal controls. According to the revised International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-2) the BPVC belongs to the category of "primary headache", as a migraine equivalent, in a subset that is called "periodic syndromes of childhood". A total of 60 clinically referred children and adolescents (4-15 years) 21 suffering from BPVC and 20 from migraine, according to the diagnostic criteria of the ICHD-2, and 19 normal control (NC) were recruited in this study. Psychological assessment were performed using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC). Although most of the patients suffering from headache had scores within the normative non-pathological range, both BPVC and migraine patients had significantly higher CBCL total, internalizing, and externalizing scores, as compared to NC. Furthermore, both BPVC and migraine groups displayed significantly higher CDI and MASC scores than NC group. No differences were found between the two types of headache. In conclusion, clinically referred children and adolescents with BPVC and migraine showed higher indices of behavioural and emotional symptoms, both internalizing and externalizing, as compared to normal peers. Copyright © 2010 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preserved pontine glucose metabolism in Alzheimer disease: A reference region for functional brain image (PET) analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Minoshima, Satoshi; Frey, K.A.; Foster, N.L.

1995-07-01

Our goal was to examine regional preservation of energy metabolism in Alzheimer disease (AD) and to evaluate effects of PET data normalization to reference regions. Regional metabolic rates in the pons, thalamus, putamen, sensorimotor cortex, visual cortex, and cerebellum (reference regions) were determined stereotaxically and examined in 37 patients with probable AD and 22 normal controls based on quantitative {sup 18}FDG-PET measurements. Following normalization of metabolic rates of the parietotemporal association cortex and whole brain to each reference region, distinctions of the two groups were assessed. The pons showed the best preservation of glucose metabolism in AD. Other reference regionsmore » showed relatively preserved metabolism compared with the parietotemporal association cortex and whole brain, but had significant metabolic reduction. Data normalization to the pons not only enhanced statistical significance of metabolic reduction in the parietotemporal association cortex, but also preserved the presence of global cerebral metabolic reduction indicated in analysis of the quantitative data. Energy metabolism in the pons in probable AD is well preserved. The pons is a reliable reference for data normalization and will enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of quantitative and nonquantitative functional brain imaging. 39 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.« less

The impact of US versus Indian BMD reference standards on the diagnosis of osteoporosis among South Asian Indians living in the United States

PubMed Central

Melamed, Alexander; Vittinghoff, Eric; Sriram, Usha; Schwartz, Ann V.; Kanaya, Alka M.

2010-01-01

The relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk is not well-established for non-white populations. There is no established BMD reference standard for South Asians. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure BMD at total hip and lumbar spine in 150 US-based South Asian Indians. For each subject T-scores were calculated using BMD reference values based on US white, North Indian and South Indian populations, and the resulting WHO BMD category assignments were compared. Reference standards derived from Indian populations classified a larger proportion of US-based Indians as normal than did US white-based standards. The percentage of individuals reclassified when changing between reference standards varied by skeletal site and reference population origin, ranging from 13% (95% CI, 7–18%), when switching from US-white- to North Indian-based standard for total hip, to 40% (95% CI, 32–48%), when switching from US white to South Indian reference values for lumbar spine. These finding illustrate that choice of reference standard has a significant effect on the diagnosis of osteoporosis in South Asians, and underscore the importance of future research to quantify the relationship between BMD and fracture risk in this population. PMID:20663699

Development of Normalization Factors for Canada and the United States and Comparison with European Factors.

EPA Science Inventory

In Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), normalization calculates the magnitude of an impact (midpoint or endpoint) relative to the total effect of a given reference. Using a country or a continent as a reference system is a first step towards global normalization. The goal of this work ...

Development of Normalization Factors for Canada and the United States and Comparison with European Factors

EPA Science Inventory

In Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), normalization calculates the magnitude of an impact (midpoint or endpoint) relative to the total effect of a given reference. Using a country or a continent as a reference system is a first step towards global normalization. The goal of this wor...

Normalization of Reverse Transcription Quantitative PCR Data During Ageing in Distinct Cerebral Structures.

PubMed

Bruckert, G; Vivien, D; Docagne, F; Roussel, B D

2016-04-01

Reverse transcription quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) has become a routine method in many laboratories. Normalization of data from experimental conditions is critical for data processing and is usually achieved by the use of a single reference gene. Nevertheless, as pointed by the Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments (MIQE) guidelines, several reference genes should be used for reliable normalization. Ageing is a physiological process that results in a decline of many expressed genes. Reliable normalization of RT-qPCR data becomes crucial when studying ageing. Here, we propose a RT-qPCR study from four mouse brain regions (cortex, hippocampus, striatum and cerebellum) at different ages (from 8 weeks to 22 months) in which we studied the expression of nine commonly used reference genes. With the use of two different algorithms, we found that all brain structures need at least two genes for a good normalization step. We propose specific pairs of gene for efficient data normalization in the four brain regions studied. These results underline the importance of reliable reference genes for specific brain regions in ageing.

Radioimmunoassay and tandem mass spectrometry measurement of bedtime salivary cortisol levels: a comparison of assays to establish hypercortisolism.

PubMed

Baid, Smita K; Sinaii, Ninet; Wade, Matt; Rubino, Domenica; Nieman, Lynnette K

2007-08-01

Although bedtime salivary cortisol measurement has been proposed as the optimal screening test for the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome, its performance using commercially available assays has not been widely evaluated. Our objective was to compare RIA and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) measurement of salivary cortisol in obese subjects and healthy volunteers. We conducted a cross-sectional prospective study of outpatients. We studied 261 obese subjects (186 female) with at least two additional features of Cushing's syndrome and 60 healthy volunteers (30 female). Subjects provided split bedtime salivary samples for cortisol measurement by commercially available RIA and LC-MS/MS. Results were considered normal or abnormal based on the laboratory reference range. Subjects with abnormal results underwent evaluation for Cushing's syndrome. In paired samples, RIA gave a lower specificity than LC-MS/MS in obese subjects (86 vs. 94%, P = 0.008) but not healthy volunteers (86 vs. 82%, P = 0.71). Among subjects with at least one abnormal result, both values were abnormal in 44% (confidence interval 26-62%) of obese and 75% (confidence interval 33-96%) of healthy volunteers. In obese subjects, salivary cortisol concentrations were less than 4.0 to 643 ng/dl (<0.11-17.7 nmol/liter; normal, < or =100 ng/dl, 2.80 nmol/liter) by LC-MS/MS and less than 50 to 2800 ng/dl (1.4-77.3 nmol/liter; normal, < or =170 ng/dl, 4.7 nmol/liter) by RIA. Cushing's syndrome was not diagnosed in any subject. Salivary cortisol levels should not be used as the sole test to diagnose Cushing's syndrome if laboratory-provided reference ranges are used for diagnostic interpretation.

Gastric emptying of solids in children: reference values for the (13) C-octanoic acid breath test.

PubMed

Hauser, B; Roelants, M; De Schepper, J; Veereman, G; Caveliers, V; Devreker, T; De Greef, E; Vandenplas, Y

2016-10-01

(99m) Technetium scintigraphy ((99m) TS) is the 'gold standard' for measuring gastric emptying (GE), but it is associated with a radiation exposure. For this reason, the (13) C-octanoic acid breath test ((13) C-OBT) was developed for measuring GE of solids. The objective of this study was to determine normal values for gastric half-emptying time (t1/2 GE) of solids in healthy children. Gastric emptying of a standardized solid test meal consisting of a pancake evaluated with (99m) TS and (13) C-OBT was compared in 22 children aged between 1 and 15 years with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Subsequently, the (13) C-OBT was used to determine normal values for GE of the same solid test meal in 120 healthy children aged between 1 and 17 years. The results showed a significant correlation (r = 0.748, p = 0.0001) between t1/2 GE measured with both techniques in the group of children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. In the group of healthy children, mean t1/2 GE was 157.7 ± 54.0 min (range 71-415 min), but t1/2 GE decreased with age between 1 and 10 years and remained stable afterward. There was no influence of gender, weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area on t1/2 GE. Normal values for GE of solids measured with the (13) C-OBT using a standardized methodology were determined in healthy children. We propose to use this method and corresponding reference ranges to study GE of solids in children with gastrointestinal problems. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

In vitro comparison of the effect of two factor XI (FXI) concentrates on thrombin generation in major FXI deficiency.

PubMed

Pike, G N; Cumming, A M; Hay, C R M; Sempasa, B; Sutherland, M; Thachil, J; Burthem, J; Bolton-Maggs, P H B

2016-05-01

Bleeding risk in factor XI (FXI) deficiency following surgery may be reduced by treatment with either of two FXI concentrates, but indications for their use are unclear and treatment has been associated with thrombosis. To quantify and compare the effects of two different FXI concentrates on thrombin generation (TG) in major FXI deficiency (FXI:C < 15 IU dL(-1) ). Thrombin generation was measured in controls (n = 50), FXI-deficient individuals pre and post in vitro spiking with FXI concentrates (n = 10), and in ex vivo samples following treatment with FXI concentrate (n = 3). Thrombin generation was significantly impaired in FXI deficiency but improved following FXI replacement in vitro and in vivo. LFB Hemoleven(®) had greater effect on TG than BPL FXI concentrate in vitro (equivalent in vivo doses 10, 20 and 30 U kg(-1) ): higher endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) (P < 0.0001), peak height (P < 0.01) velocity (P < 0.0002) and shorter lag time and time to peak (both P < 0.003). Some measurements with LFB Hemoleven(®) exceeded the reference range. At lower dose (5 U kg(-1) ), BPL FXI concentrate normalized all TG parameters and LFB Hemoleven(®) normalized the ETP but exceeded the reference range with other parameters. Both FXI concentrates improve TG in vitro in major FXI deficiency but differ in dose response, and for both products, doses lower than previously recommended normalized TG in vitro. Comparison of in vitro spiked and ex vivo samples suggest that in vitro results could be used to estimate an expected in vivo response to FXI replacement. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Establishing normal plasma and 24-hour urinary biochemistry ranges in C3H, BALB/c and C57BL/6J mice following acclimatization in metabolic cages.

PubMed

Stechman, Michael J; Ahmad, Bushra N; Loh, Nellie Y; Reed, Anita A C; Stewart, Michelle; Wells, Sara; Hough, Tertius; Bentley, Liz; Cox, Roger D; Brown, Steve D M; Thakker, Rajesh V

2010-07-01

Physiological studies of mice are facilitated by normal plasma and 24-hour urinary reference ranges, but variability of these parameters may increase due to stress that is induced by housing in metabolic cages. We assessed daily weight, food and water intake, urine volume and final day measurements of the following: plasma sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, creatinine, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, cholesterol and glucose; and urinary sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate, glucose and protein in 24- to 30-week-old C3H/HeH, BALB/cAnNCrl and C57BL/6J mice. Between 15 and 20 mice of each sex from all three strains were individually housed in metabolic cages with ad libitum feeding for up to seven days. Acclimatization was evaluated using general linear modelling for repeated measures and comparison of biochemical data was by unpaired t-test and analysis of variance (SPSS version 12.0.1). Following an initial 5-10% fall in body weight, daily dietary intake, urinary output and weight in all three strains reached stable values after 3-4 days of confinement. Significant differences in plasma glucose, cholesterol, urea, chloride, calcium and albumin, and urinary glucose, sodium, phosphate, calcium and protein were observed between strains and genders. Thus, these results provide normal reference values for plasma and urinary biochemistry in three strains housed in metabolic cages and demonstrate that 3-4 days are required to reach equilibrium in metabolic cage studies. These variations due to strain and gender have significant implications for selecting the appropriate strain upon which to breed genetically-altered models of metabolic and renal disease.

The Short Cosyntropin Test Revisited: New Normal Reference Range Using LC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Ueland, Grethe Å; Methlie, Paal; Øksnes, Marianne; Thordarson, Hrafnkell B; Sagen, Jørn; Kellmann, Ralf; Mellgren, Gunnar; Ræder, Maria; Dahlqvist, Per; Dahl, Sandra R; Thorsby, Per M; Løvås, Kristian; Husebye, Eystein S

2018-04-01

The cosyntropin test is used to diagnose adrenal insufficiency (AI) and nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH). Current cutoffs for cortisol and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) are derived from nonstandardized immunoassays. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) offers direct measurement of steroids, prompting the need to re-establish normal ranges. The goal of this study was to define cutoff values for cortisol and 17-OHP in serum by LC-MS/MS 30 and 60 minutes after intravenous administration of 250 µg tetracosactide acetate to healthy volunteers and to compare the results with LC-MS/MS with routine immunoassays. Cosyntropin testing was performed in healthy subjects (n = 138) and in patients referred for evaluation of adrenocortical function (n = 94). Steroids were assayed by LC-MS/MS and compared with two immunoassays used in routine diagnostics (Immulite and Roche platforms). The cutoff level for cortisol was defined as the 2.5% percentile in healthy subjects not using oral estrogens (n = 121) and for 17-OHP as the 97.5% percentile. Cortisol cutoff levels for LC-MS/MS were 412 and 485 nmol/L at 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. Applying the new cutoffs, 13 of 60 (22%) subjects who had AI according to conventional criteria now had a normal test result. For 17-OHP, the cutoff levels were 8.9 and 9.0 nmol/L at 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. LC-MS/MS provides cutoff levels for cortisol and 17-OHP after cosyntropin stimulation that are lower than those based on immunoassays, possibly because cross-reactivity between steroid intermediates and cortisol is eliminated. This reduces the number of false-positive tests for AI and false-negative tests for NCCAH.

Fracture risk among older men: osteopenia and osteoporosis defined using cut-points derived from female versus male reference data.

PubMed

Pasco, J A; Lane, S E; Brennan, S L; Timney, E N; Bucki-Smith, G; Dobbins, A G; Nicholson, G C; Kotowicz, M A

2014-03-01

We explored the effect of using male and female reference data in a male sample to categorise areal bone mineral density (BMD). Using male reference data, a large proportion of fractures arose from osteopenia, whereas using female reference data shifted the fracture burden into normal BMD. The purpose of this study was to describe fracture risk associated with osteopenia and osteoporosis in older men, defined by areal BMD and using cut-points derived from male and female reference data. As part of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study, we followed 619 men aged 60-93 years after BMD assessments (performed 2001-2006) until 2010, fracture, death or emigration. Post-baseline fractures were radiologically confirmed, and proportions of fractures in each BMD category were age-standardised to national profiles. Based on World Health Organization criteria, and using male reference data, 207 men had normal BMD at the femoral neck, 357 were osteopenic and 55 were osteoporotic. Using female reference data, corresponding numbers were 361, 227 and 31. During the study, 130 men died, 15 emigrated and 63 sustained at least one fracture. Using male reference data, most (86.5 %) of the fractures occurred in men without osteoporosis on BMD criteria (18.4 % normal BMD, 68.1 % osteopenia). The pattern differed when female reference data were used; while most fractures arose from men without osteoporosis (88.2 %), the burden shifted from those with osteopenia (34.8 %) to those with normal BMD (53.4 %). Decreasing BMD categories defined increasing risk of fracture. Although men with osteoporotic BMD were at greatest risk, they made a relatively small contribution to the total burden of fractures. Using male reference data, two-thirds of the fractures arose from men with osteopenia. However, using female reference data, approximately half of the fractures arose from those with normal BMD. Using female reference data to define osteoporosis in men does not appear to be the optimal approach.

Measurement of urinary metanephrines to screen for pheochromocytoma in an unselected hospital referral population

PubMed Central

Brain, Keith L.; Kay, Jonathan; Shine, Brian

2009-01-01

Background Despite the rarity of pheochromocytoma, the dangers of uncontrolled severe hypertension and the very effective surgical treatment of this condition mean that diagnosis is important. Urinary or plasma catecholamines or catecholamine-derivatives are commonly used to screen for pheochromocytomas prior to imaging. This study investigates whether derived measures obtained from 24-hour urinary metanephrine results, patient age and sex can better predict tumors in populations with a low pre-test probability. Methods This study takes a pragmatic approach by retrospectively studying the outcomes of an unselected population referred for urinary metanephrine testing (1819 patients) to a tertiary hospital laboratory, and investigates the usefulness of some simple derivative measures for detecting pheochromocytoma. Urinary 24-hour excretion of metanephrine, normetanephrine and 3-methoxytyramine were normalized by dividing by an age- and sex- specific reference range. The ability of products of these normalized measures to predict pheochromocytomas was assessed, compared to a gold standard of biopsy-confirmed tumor. Results The normalized product of urinary metanephrine and normetanephrine excretion (nMAD.nNMT) proved to be a highly sensitive (100%) and specific (99.1%) measure yielding a positive predictive value 82%. Receiver-operator characteristic curves were not improved by including the normalized 3-methoxytyramine concentrations in the product. nMAD.nNMT gave higher sensitivity and specificity than either test alone. Conclusion We suggest that nMAD.nNMT is a useful measure for identifying pheochromocytoma in a population with a low pre-test probability. PMID:16990424

Craniofacial morphologic parameters in a Persian population: an anthropometric study.

PubMed

Amini, Fariborz; Mashayekhi, Ziba; Rahimi, Hajir; Morad, Golnaz

2014-09-01

Limited data are available regarding the reference ranges of facial proportions of the Persian population in Iran. This study aimed to establish the reference range of craniofacial anthropometric measurements in an adult Iranian population. On 100 individuals (men = women), aged 18 to 30 years with normal faces and occlusions, 34 linear and 7 angular measurements as well as 24 indices were calculated. The difference of measurements between men and women were evaluated by paired t-test. The data were compared with the norms of North American whites using 1-sample t-test. The subjects belonged to 5 ethnic groups (57% from Fars, 14% from Kord, 11% from Azari, 10% from Gilaki-Mazani, and 2% from Lor). All head measurements were greater in men except for the head index and the head height. The subjects had leptoprosopic faces. The intercanthal width was almost one third of the biocular width and greater than the eye fissure length. Although the nose width of women was significantly smaller, both sexes had leptorrhine noses. The chin height and lower chin height were greater in men. In comparison with North American whites, considerable differences were found regarding head height and width, biocular width, nose height, face height, mouth width, and upper chin height. In conclusion, the reference range of craniofacial anthropometric measurements established for the Iranian population might be efficiently used for esthetic treatments.

Canine and feline hematology reference values for the ADVIA 120 hematology system.

PubMed

Moritz, Andreas; Fickenscher, Yvonne; Meyer, Karin; Failing, Klaus; Weiss, Douglas J

2004-01-01

The ADVIA 120 is a laser-based hematology analyzer with software applications for animal species. Accurate reference values would be useful for the assessment of new hematologic parameters and for interlaboratory comparisons. The goal of this study was to establish reference intervals for CBC results and new parameters for RBC morphology, reticulocytes, and platelets in healthy dogs and cats using the ADVIA 120 hematology system. The ADVIA 120, with multispecies software (version 1.107-MS), was used to analyze whole blood samples from clinically healthy dogs (n=46) and cats (n=61). Data distribution was determined and reference intervals were calculated as 2.5 to 97.5 percentiles and 25 to 75 percentiles. Most data showed Gaussian or log-normal distribution. The numbers of RBCs falling outside the normocytic-normochromic range were slightly higher in cats than in dogs. Both dogs and cats had reticulocytes with low, medium, and high absorbance. Mean numbers of large platelets and platelet clumps were higher in cats compared with dogs. Reference intervals obtained on the ADVIA 120 provide valuable baseline information for assessing new hematologic parameters and for interlaboratory comparisons. Differences compared with previously published reference values can be attributed largely to differences in methodology.

The influence of different referencing methods on the accuracy of δ(13) C value measurement of ethanol fuel by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Neves, Laura A; Rodrigues, Janaína M; Daroda, Romeu J; Silva, Paulo R M; Ferreira, Alexandre A; Aranda, Donato A G; Eberlin, Marcos N; Fasciotti, Maíra

2015-11-15

Brazil is the largest producer of sugar cane bioethanol in the world. Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) is the technique of choice to certify the origin/raw materials for ethanol production, but the lack of certified reference materials (CRMs) for accurate measurements of δ(13) C values traceable to Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (VPDB), the international zero point for (13) C/(12) C measurements, certified and compatible with gas chromatography (GC)/IRMS instruments may compromise the accuracy of δ(13) C determinations. We evaluated the influence of methods for the calibration and normalization of raw δ(13) C values of ethanol samples. Samples were analyzed by GC/C/IRMS using two different GC columns. Different substances were used as isotopic standards for the working gas calibration. The δ(13) C values obtained with the three methods of normalization were statistically compared with those obtained with elemental analyzer (EA)/IRMS, since the δ(13) C results obtained using EA are traceable to VPDB via the NBS 22 reference material. It was observed that both the isotopic reference material for CO2 calibration and the GC column have a major effect on the δ(13) C measurements, leading to a bias of almost 2-3 ‰ in the δ(13) C values. All three methods of normalization were equivalent in performance, enabling an improvement in the GC/C/IRMS accuracy, compared with the EA/IRMS reference values for the samples. All the methods of CO2 calibration, chromatography and normalization presented in this work demonstrated several sources of traceability and accuracy loss for the determination of δ(13) C values in ethanol fuel samples by GC/C/IRMS. This work has also shown the importance of using proper CRMs traceable to VPBD that should be compatible and certified using GC/C/IRMS, ideally in a wide range of δ(13) C values. This is important not only for bioethanol fuel samples, but also for many analytes commonly analyzed by IRMS. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Transcript and protein environmental biomarkers in fish--a review.

PubMed

Tom, Moshe; Auslander, Meirav

2005-04-01

The levels of contaminant-affected gene products (transcripts and proteins) are increasingly utilized as environmental biomarkers, and their appropriate implementation as diagnostic tools is discussed. The required characteristics of a gene product biomarker are accurate evaluation using properly normalized absolute units, aiming at long-term comparability of biomarker levels over a wide geographical range and among many laboratories. Quantitative RT-PCR and competitive ELISA are suggested as preferred evaluation methods for transcript and protein, respectively. Constitutively expressed RNAs or proteins which are part of the examined homogenate are suggested as normalizing agents, compensating for variable processing efficiency. Essential characterization of expression patterns is suggested, providing reference values to be compared to the monitored levels. This comparison would enable estimation of the intensity of biological effects of contaminants. Contaminant-independent reference expression patterns should include natural fluctuations of the biomarker level. Contaminant-dependent patterns should include dose response to model contaminants chronically administered in two environmentally-realistic routes, reaching extreme sub-lethal affected levels. Recent studies using fish as environmental sentinel species, applying gene products as environmental biomarkers, and implementing at least part of the depicted methodologies are reviewed.

Reference Ranges of Left Ventricular Strain Measures by Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Levy, Philip T; Machefsky, Aliza; Sanchez, Aura A; Patel, Meghna D; Rogal, Sarah; Fowler, Susan; Yaeger, Lauren; Hardi, Angela; Holland, Mark R; Hamvas, Aaron; Singh, Gautam K

2016-03-01

Establishment of the range of reference values and associated variations of two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE)-derived left ventricular (LV) strain is a prerequisite for its routine clinical adoption in pediatrics. The aims of this study were to perform a meta-analysis of normal ranges of LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), and global radial strain (GRS) measurements derived by 2DSTE in children and to identify confounding factors that may contribute to variance in reported measures. A systematic review was launched in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane Library. Search hedges were created to cover the concepts of pediatrics, STE, and left-heart ventricle. Two investigators independently identified and included studies if they reported 2DSTE-derived LV GLS, GCS, or GRS. The weighted mean was estimated by using random effects models with 95% CIs, heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran Q statistic and the inconsistency index (I(2)), and publication bias was evaluated using the Egger test. Effects of demographic (age), clinical, and vendor variables were assessed in a metaregression. The search identified 2,325 children from 43 data sets. The reported normal mean values of GLS among the studies varied from -16.7% to -23.6% (mean, -20.2%; 95% CI, -19.5% to -20.8%), GCS varied from -12.9% to -31.4% (mean, -22.3%; 95% CI, -19.9% to -24.6%), and GRS varied from 33.9% to 54.5% (mean, 45.2%; 95% CI, 38.3% to 51.7%). Twenty-six studies reported longitudinal strain only from the apical four-chamber view, with a mean of -20.4% (95% CI, -19.8% to -21.7%). Twenty-three studies reported circumferential strain (mean, -20.3%; 95% CI, -19.4% to -21.2%) and radial strain (mean, 46.7%; 95% CI, 42.3% to 51.1%) from the short-axis view at the midventricular level. A significant apex-to-base segmental longitudinal strain gradient (P < .01) was observed in the LV free wall. There was significant between-study heterogeneity and inconsistency (I(2) > 94% and P < .001 for each strain measure), which was not explained by age, gender, body surface area, blood pressure, heart rate, frame rate, frame rate/heart rate ratio, tissue-tracking methodology, location of reported strain value along the strain curve, ultrasound equipment, or software. The metaregression showed that these effects were not significant determinants of variations among normal ranges of strain values. There was no evidence of publication bias (P = .40). This study defines reference values of 2DSTE-derived LV strain in children on the basis of a meta-analysis. In healthy children, mean LV GLS was -20.2% (95% CI, -19.5% to -20.8%), mean GCS was -22.3% (95% CI, -19.9% to -24.6%), and mean GRS was 45.2% (95% CI, 38.3% to 51.7%). LV segmental longitudinal strain has a stable apex-to-base gradient that is preserved throughout maturation. Although variations among different reference ranges in this meta-analysis were not dependent on differences in demographic, clinical, or vendor parameters, age- and vendor-specific referenced ranges were established as well. Copyright © 2016 American Society of Echocardiography. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

PubMed Central

McCartney, Christopher R.; Marshall, John C.

2017-01-01

A 22-year-old woman reports having hirsutism and irregular menses. She describes unpredictable and infrequent menses (five or six per year) since menarche at 11 years of age. Dark, coarse facial hair began to develop at 13 years of age. The symptoms worsened after she gained weight in college. The physical examination includes a body-mass index (BMI; the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) of 29, blood pressure of 135/85 mm Hg, and moderate hirsutism without virilization. Laboratory tests reveal a total testosterone level of 65 ng per deciliter (2.3 nmol per liter) (assay reference range, 14 to 53 ng per deciliter [0.5 to 1.8 nmol per liter]), calculated free testosterone level of 15.3 pg per milliliter (53.1 pmol per liter) (assay reference range, 0.6 to 6.8 pg per milliliter [2.1 to 23.6 pmol per liter]), and glycated hemoglobin level of 5.7% (normal value, ≤5.6%). How should this case be evaluated and managed? PMID:27406348

Lower white blood cell counts in elite athletes training for highly aerobic sports.

PubMed

Horn, P L; Pyne, D B; Hopkins, W G; Barnes, C J

2010-11-01

White cell counts at rest might be lower in athletes participating in selected endurance-type sports. Here, we analysed blood tests of elite athletes collected over a 10-year period. Reference ranges were established for 14 female and 14 male sports involving 3,679 samples from 937 females and 4,654 samples from 1,310 males. Total white blood cell counts and counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes were quantified. Each sport was scaled (1-5) for its perceived metabolic stress (aerobic-anaerobic) and mechanical stress (concentric-eccentric) by 13 sports physiologists. Substantially lower total white cell and neutrophil counts were observed in aerobic sports of cycling and triathlon (~16% of test results below the normal reference range) compared with team or skill-based sports such as water polo, cricket and volleyball. Mechanical stress of sports had less effect on the distribution of cell counts. The lower white cell counts in athletes in aerobic sports probably represent an adaptive response, not underlying pathology.

Digital computer program DF1758 fully coupled natural frequencies and mode shapes of a helicopter rotor blade

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, R. L.

1975-01-01

The analytical techniques and computer program developed in the fully-coupled rotor vibration study are described. The rotor blade natural frequency and mode shape analysis was implemented in a digital computer program designated DF1758. The program computes collective, cyclic, and scissor modes for a single blade within a specified range of frequency for specified values of rotor RPM and collective angle. The analysis includes effects of blade twist, cg offset from reference axis, and shear center offset from reference axis. Coupled inplane, out-of-plane, and torsional vibrations are considered. Normalized displacements, shear forces and moments may be printed out and Calcomp plots of natural frequencies as a function of rotor RPM may be produced.

A multi-disciplinary approach to the removal of emerging contaminants in municipal wastewater treatment plants in New York state (2003-2004)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Philips, Patrick J.; Stinson, Beverley; Zaugg, Steven D.; Furlong, Edward T.; Kolpin, Dana W.; Esposito, Kathleen; Bodniewicz, B.; Pape, R.; Anderson, J.

2008-01-01

Across the United States, there is a rapidly growing awareness of the occurrence and the toxicological impacts of natural and synthetic trace compounds in the environment. These trace compounds, referred to as emerging contaminants (ECs), are reported to cause a range of negative impacts in the environment, such as adverse effects on biota in receiving streams and interference with the normal functions of the endocrine system, which controls growth and development in living organisms.

Mineralocorticoid before glucocorticoid deficiency in a dog with primary hypoadrenocorticism and hypothyroidism.

PubMed

McGonigle, Kathryn M; Randolph, John F; Center, Sharon A; Goldstein, Richard E

2013-01-01

A dog with an unexpected presentation of primary hypoadrenocorticism was evaluated for clinical signs and electrolyte abnormalities characteristic of Addison's disease. Although the initial adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test documented serum cortisol concentrations within the reference range, subsequent assessments confirmed hypoaldosteronism. Mineralocorticoid replacement promptly normalized electrolytes and transiently improved clinical illness. Six weeks after initial ACTH stimulation testing, the dog became glucocorticoid deficient. Concurrent primary hypothyroidism was also documented. Hypoaldosteronism preceding hypocortisolemia is a unique presentation of canine Addison's disease.

Reference intervals of citrated-native whole blood thromboelastography in premature neonates.

PubMed

Motta, Mario; Guaragni, Brunetta; Pezzotti, Elena; Rodriguez-Perez, Carmen; Chirico, Gaetano

2017-12-01

Bleeding due to acquired coagulation disorders is a common complication in premature neonates. In this clinical setting, standard coagulation laboratory tests might be unsuitable to investigate the hemostatic function as they reflect the concentration of pro-coagulant proteins but not of anti-coagulant proteins. Thromboelastography (TEG), providing a more complete assessment of hemostasis, may be able to overcome some of these limitations. Unfortunately, experience on the use of TEG in premature neonates is very limited and, in particular in this population, reference ranges of TEG parameters have not been yet evaluated. To evaluate TEG in preterm neonates, and to assess their reference ranges. One hundred and eighteen preterm neonates were analyzed for TEG in a retrospective cohort study. Double-sided 95% reference intervals were calculated using a bootstrap method after Box-Cox transformation. TEG parameters were compared between early-preterm and moderate-/late-preterm neonates and between bleeding and non-bleeding preterm neonates. Comparing early-preterm with moderate-/late-preterm neonates, TEG parameters were not statistically different, except for fibrinolysis which was significantly higher in early preterm neonates. Platelet count significantly correlated with α angle and MA parameters. Bleeding and non-bleeding neonates had similar TEG values. These results reinforce the concept that in stable preterm neonates, in spite of lower concentration of pro- and anti-coagulants proteins, the hemostasis is normally balanced and well functioning. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Time dependent reduction in platelet aggregation using the multiplate analyser and hirudin blood due to platelet clumping.

PubMed

Chapman, Kent; Favaloro, Emmanuel J

2018-05-01

The Multiplate is a popular instrument that measures platelet function using whole blood. Potentially considered a point of care instrument, it is also used by hemostasis laboratories. The instrument is usually utilized to assess antiplatelet medication or as a screen of platelet function. According to the manufacturer, testing should be performed within 0.5-3 hours of blood collection, and preferably using manufacturer provided hirudin tubes. We report time-associated reduction in platelet aggregation using the Multiplate and hirudin blood collection tubes, for all the major employed agonists. Blood for Multiplate analysis was collected into manufacturer supplied hirudin tubes, and 21 consecutive samples assessed using manufacturer supplied agonists (ADP, arachidonic acid, TRAP, collagen and ristocetin), at several time-points post-sample collection within the recommended test time period. Blood was also collected into EDTA as a reference method for platelet counts, with samples collected into sodium citrate and hirudin used for comparative counts. All platelet agonists showed a diminution of response with time. Depending on the agonist, the reduction caused 5-20% and 22-47% of responses initially in the normal reference range to fall below the reference range at 120min and 180min, respectively. Considering any agonist, 35% and 67% of initially "normal" responses became 'abnormal' at 120 min and 180 min, respectively. Platelet counts showed generally minimal changes in EDTA blood, but were markedly reduced over time in both citrate and hirudin blood, with up to 40% and 60% reduction, respectively, at 240 min. The presence of platelet clumping (micro-aggregate formation) was also observed in a time dependent manner, especially for hirudin. In conclusion, considering any platelet agonist, around two-thirds of samples can, within the recommended 0.5-3 hour testing window post-blood collection, yield a reduction in platelet aggregation that may lead to a change in interpretation (i.e., normal to reduced). Thus, the stability of Multiplate testing can more realistically be considered as being between 30-120 min of blood collection for samples collected into hirudin.

Normal order and extended Wick theorem for a multiconfiguration reference wave function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kutzelnigg, Werner; Mukherjee, Debashis

1997-07-01

A generalization of normal ordering and of Wick's theorem with respect to an arbitrary reference function Φ as some generalized "physical vacuum" is formulated in a different (but essentially equivalent) way than that suggested previously by one of the present authors. Guiding principles are that normal order operators with respect to any reference state must be expressible as linear combinations of those with respect to the genuine vacuum, that the vacuum expectation value of a normal order operator must vanish (with respect to the vacuum to which it is in normal order), and that the well-known formalism for a single Slater determinant as physical vacuum must be contained as a special case. The derivation is largely based on the concepts of "Quantum Chemistry in Fock space," which means that particle-number-conserving operators (excitation operators) play a central role. Nevertheless, the contraction rules in the frame of a generalized Wick theorem are derived, that hold for non-particle-number-conserving operators as well. The contraction rules are formulated and illustrated in terms of diagrams. The contractions involve the "residual n-particle density matrices" λ, which are the irreducible (non-factorizable) parts of the conventional n-particle density matrices γ, in the sense of a cumulant expansion for the density. A spinfree formulation is presented as well. The expression of the Hamiltonian in normal order with respect to a multiconfiguration reference function leads to a natural definition of a generalized Fock operator. MC-SCF-theory is easily worked out in this context. The paper concludes with a discussion of the excited configurations and the first-order interacting space, that underlies a perturbative coupled cluster type correction to the MCSCF function for an arbitrary reference function, and with general implications of the new formalism, that is related to "internally contracted multireference configuration interaction." The present generalization of normal ordering is not only valid for arbitrary reference functions, but also if the reference state is an ensemble state.

Chinese life cycle impact assessment factors.

PubMed

Yang, J X; Nielsen, P H

2001-04-01

The methodological basis and procedures for determination of Chinese normalization references and weighting factors according to the EDIP-method is described. According to Chinese industrial development intensity and population density, China was divided into three regions and the normalization references for each region were calculated on the basis of an inventory of all of the region's environmental emissions in 1990. The normalization reference was determined as the total environmental impact potential for the area in question in 1990 (EP(j)90) divided by the population. The weighting factor was determined as the normalization reference (ER(j)90) divided by society's target contribution in the year 2000 based on Chinese political reduction plans, ER(j)T2000. This paper presents and discuss results obtained for eight different environmental impact categories relevant for China: global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, acidification, nutrient enrichment, photochemical ozone formation and generation of bulk waste, hazardous waste and slag and ashes.

Variability of Late-Night Salivary Cortisol in Cushing Disease: A Prospective Study.

PubMed

Sandouk, Zahrae; Johnston, Philip; Bunch, Dustin; Wang, Sihe; Bena, James; Hamrahian, Amir; Kennedy, Laurence

2018-03-01

The frequency of variable hormonogenesis in patients with Cushing disease (CD) but without cyclical symptoms is unclear. To assess the frequency of variable hormonogenesis in patients presenting with CD. Over a 6-month period, patients with confirmed or suspected CD provided late-night salivary samples for up to 42 consecutive nights. Of 19 patients confirmed to have CD, 16 provided at least 7 consecutive salivary samples, and 13 provided at least 21; these 16 patients are the subjects of this report. Twelve patients had at least three peak and two trough levels of late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC) but in only two patients were strict criteria for cyclical hormonogenesis fulfilled; variation was assessed as random in the others. Eight patients had de novo CD, and eight had recurrent/persistent disease. All patients with recurrent/persistent CD had two or more normal results, and in four of these patients, >50% of LNSC were normal. In six patients with de novo disease with at least one normal LNSC level, the maximum levels ranged from 1.55 to 15.5 times the upper limit of normal. Extreme fluctuations of cortisol production, measured by sequential LNSC, are common in CD. In newly diagnosed disease, this may only occasionally impair diagnostic ability, whereas in most patients with recurrent/persistent disease after pituitary surgery, LNSC is frequently within the reference range, with potential to cause diagnostic problems.

Computed Tomography of the Abdomen in Eight Clinically Normal Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).

PubMed

du Plessis, W M; Groenewald, H B; Elliott, D

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to provide a detailed anatomical description of the abdomen in the clinically normal common marmoset by means of computed tomography (CT). Eight clinically healthy mature common marmosets ranging from 12 to 48 months and 235 to 365 g bodyweight were anesthetized and pre- and post-contrast CT examinations were performed using different CT settings in dorsal recumbency. Abdominal organs were identified and visibility noted. Diagnostic quality abdominal images could be obtained of the common marmoset despite its small size using a dual-slice CT scanner. Representative cross-sectional images were chosen from different animals illustrating the abdominal CT anatomy of clinically normal common marmosets. Identification or delineation of abdominal organs greatly improved with i.v. contrast. A modified high-frequency algorithm with edge enhancement added valuable information for identification of small structures such as the ureters. The Hounsfield unit (HU) of major abdominal organs differed from that of small animals (domestic dogs and cats). Due to their size and different anatomy, standard small animal CT protocols need to be critically assessed and adapted for exotics, such as the common marmoset. The established normal reference range of HU of major abdominal organs and adapted settings for a CT protocol will aid clinical assessment of the common marmoset. © 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Assessment of reference gene stability in Rice stripe virus and Rice black streaked dwarf virus infection rice by quantitative Real-time PCR.

PubMed

Fang, Peng; Lu, Rongfei; Sun, Feng; Lan, Ying; Shen, Wenbiao; Du, Linlin; Zhou, Yijun; Zhou, Tong

2015-10-24

Stably expressed reference gene(s) normalization is important for the understanding of gene expression patterns by quantitative Real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), particularly for Rice stripe virus (RSV) and Rice black streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) that caused seriously damage on rice plants in China and Southeast Asia. The expression of fourteen common used reference genes of Oryza sativa L. were evaluated by RT-qPCR in RSV and RBSDV infected rice plants. Suitable normalization reference gene(s) were identified by geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. UBQ 10 + GAPDH and UBC + Actin1 were identified as suitable reference genes for RT-qPCR normalization under RSV and RBSDV infection, respectively. When using multiple reference genes, the expression patterns of OsPRIb and OsWRKY, two virus resistance genes, were approximately similar with that reported previously. Comparatively, by using single reference gene (TIP41-Like), a weaker inducible response was observed. We proposed that the combination of two reference genes could obtain more accurate and reliable normalization of RT-qPCR results in RSV- and RBSDV-infected plants. This work therefore sheds light on establishing a standardized RT-qPCR procedure in RSV- and RBSDV-infected rice plants, and might serve as an important point for discovering complex regulatory networks and identifying genes relevant to biological processes or implicated in virus.

Evaluation of New Reference Genes in Papaya for Accurate Transcript Normalization under Different Experimental Conditions

PubMed Central

Chen, Weixin; Chen, Jianye; Lu, Wangjin; Chen, Lei; Fu, Danwen

2012-01-01

Real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) is a preferred method for rapid and accurate quantification of gene expression studies. Appropriate application of RT-qPCR requires accurate normalization though the use of reference genes. As no single reference gene is universally suitable for all experiments, thus reference gene(s) validation under different experimental conditions is crucial for RT-qPCR analysis. To date, only a few studies on reference genes have been done in other plants but none in papaya. In the present work, we selected 21 candidate reference genes, and evaluated their expression stability in 246 papaya fruit samples using three algorithms, geNorm, NormFinder and RefFinder. The samples consisted of 13 sets collected under different experimental conditions, including various tissues, different storage temperatures, different cultivars, developmental stages, postharvest ripening, modified atmosphere packaging, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment, hot water treatment, biotic stress and hormone treatment. Our results demonstrated that expression stability varied greatly between reference genes and that different suitable reference gene(s) or combination of reference genes for normalization should be validated according to the experimental conditions. In general, the internal reference genes EIF (Eukaryotic initiation factor 4A), TBP1 (TATA binding protein 1) and TBP2 (TATA binding protein 2) genes had a good performance under most experimental conditions, whereas the most widely present used reference genes, ACTIN (Actin 2), 18S rRNA (18S ribosomal RNA) and GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) were not suitable in many experimental conditions. In addition, two commonly used programs, geNorm and Normfinder, were proved sufficient for the validation. This work provides the first systematic analysis for the selection of superior reference genes for accurate transcript normalization in papaya under different experimental conditions. PMID:22952972

Electrocardiogram reference intervals for clinically normal wild-born chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

PubMed

Atencia, Rebeca; Revuelta, Luis; Somauroo, John D; Shave, Robert E

2015-08-01

To generate reference intervals for ECG variables in clinically normal chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). 100 clinically normal (51 young [< 10 years old] and 49 adult [≥ 10 years old]) wild-born chimpanzees. Electrocardiograms collected between 2009 and 2013 at the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Centre were assessed to determine heart rate, PR interval, QRS duration, QT interval, QRS axis, P axis, and T axis. Electrocardiographic characteristics for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and morphology of the ST segment, T wave, and QRS complex were identified. Reference intervals for young and old animals were calculated as mean ± 1.96•SD for normally distributed data and as 5th to 95th percentiles for data not normally distributed. Differences between age groups were assessed by use of unpaired Student t tests. RESULTS Reference intervals were generated for young and adult wild-born chimpanzees. Most animals had sinus rhythm with small or normal P wave morphology; 24 of 51 (47%) young chimpanzees and 30 of 49 (61%) adult chimpanzees had evidence of LVH as determined on the basis of criteria for humans. Cardiac disease has been implicated as the major cause of death in captive chimpanzees. Species-specific ECG reference intervals for chimpanzees may aid in the diagnosis and treatment of animals with, or at risk of developing, heart disease. Chimpanzees with ECG characteristics outside of these intervals should be considered for follow-up assessment and regular cardiac monitoring.

Pulse Wave Velocity as Marker of Preclinical Arterial Disease: Reference Levels in a Uruguayan Population Considering Wave Detection Algorithms, Path Lengths, Aging, and Blood Pressure

PubMed Central

Farro, Ignacio; Bia, Daniel; Zócalo, Yanina; Torrado, Juan; Farro, Federico; Florio, Lucía; Olascoaga, Alicia; Alallón, Walter; Lluberas, Ricardo; Armentano, Ricardo L.

2012-01-01

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) has emerged as the gold standard for non-invasive evaluation of aortic stiffness; absence of standardized methodologies of study and lack of normal and reference values have limited a wider clinical implementation. This work was carried out in a Uruguayan (South American) population in order to characterize normal, reference, and threshold levels of PWV considering normal age-related changes in PWV and the prevailing blood pressure level during the study. A conservative approach was used, and we excluded symptomatic subjects; subjects with history of cardiovascular (CV) disease, diabetes mellitus or renal failure; subjects with traditional CV risk factors (other than age and gender); asymptomatic subjects with atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries; patients taking anti-hypertensives or lipid-lowering medications. The included subjects (n = 429) were categorized according to the age decade and the blood pressure levels (at study time). All subjects represented the “reference population”; the group of subjects with optimal/normal blood pressures levels at study time represented the “normal population.” Results. Normal and reference PWV levels were obtained. Differences in PWV levels and aging-associated changes were obtained. The obtained data could be used to define vascular aging and abnormal or disease-related arterial changes. PMID:22666551

1000 Norms Project: protocol of a cross-sectional study cataloging human variation.

PubMed

McKay, Marnee J; Baldwin, Jennifer N; Ferreira, Paulo; Simic, Milena; Vanicek, Natalie; Hiller, Claire E; Nightingale, Elizabeth J; Moloney, Niamh A; Quinlan, Kate G; Pourkazemi, Fereshteh; Sman, Amy D; Nicholson, Leslie L; Mousavi, Seyed J; Rose, Kristy; Raymond, Jacqueline; Mackey, Martin G; Chard, Angus; Hübscher, Markus; Wegener, Caleb; Fong Yan, Alycia; Refshauge, Kathryn M; Burns, Joshua

2016-03-01

Clinical decision-making regarding diagnosis and management largely depends on comparison with healthy or 'normal' values. Physiotherapists and researchers therefore need access to robust patient-centred outcome measures and appropriate reference values. However there is a lack of high-quality reference data for many clinical measures. The aim of the 1000 Norms Project is to generate a freely accessible database of musculoskeletal and neurological reference values representative of the healthy population across the lifespan. In 2012 the 1000 Norms Project Consortium defined the concept of 'normal', established a sampling strategy and selected measures based on clinical significance, psychometric properties and the need for reference data. Musculoskeletal and neurological items tapping the constructs of dexterity, balance, ambulation, joint range of motion, strength and power, endurance and motor planning will be collected in this cross-sectional study. Standardised questionnaires will evaluate quality of life, physical activity, and musculoskeletal health. Saliva DNA will be analysed for the ACTN3 genotype ('gene for speed'). A volunteer cohort of 1000 participants aged 3 to 100 years will be recruited according to a set of self-reported health criteria. Descriptive statistics will be generated, creating tables of mean values and standard deviations stratified for age and gender. Quantile regression equations will be used to generate age charts and age-specific centile values. This project will be a powerful resource to assist physiotherapists and clinicians across all areas of healthcare to diagnose pathology, track disease progression and evaluate treatment response. This reference dataset will also contribute to the development of robust patient-centred clinical trial outcome measures. Copyright © 2015 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Impact of aerosol size representation on modeling aerosol-cloud interactions

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Y.; Easter, R. C.; Ghan, S. J.; ...

2002-11-07

In this study, we use a 1-D version of a climate-aerosol-chemistry model with both modal and sectional aerosol size representations to evaluate the impact of aerosol size representation on modeling aerosol-cloud interactions in shallow stratiform clouds observed during the 2nd Aerosol Characterization Experiment. Both the modal (with prognostic aerosol number and mass or prognostic aerosol number, surface area and mass, referred to as the Modal-NM and Modal-NSM) and the sectional approaches (with 12 and 36 sections) predict total number and mass for interstitial and activated particles that are generally within several percent of references from a high resolution 108-section approach.more » The modal approach with prognostic aerosol mass but diagnostic number (referred to as the Modal-M) cannot accurately predict the total particle number and surface areas, with deviations from the references ranging from 7-161%. The particle size distributions are sensitive to size representations, with normalized absolute differences of up to 12% and 37% for the 36- and 12-section approaches, and 30%, 39%, and 179% for the Modal-NSM, Modal-NM, and Modal-M, respectively. For the Modal-NSM and Modal-NM, differences from the references are primarily due to the inherent assumptions and limitations of the modal approach. In particular, they cannot resolve the abrupt size transition between the interstitial and activated aerosol fractions. For the 12- and 36-section approaches, differences are largely due to limitations of the parameterized activation for non-log-normal size distributions, plus the coarse resolution for the 12-section case. Differences are larger both with higher aerosol (i.e., less complete activation) and higher SO2 concentrations (i.e., greater modification of the initial aerosol distribution).« less

Electro-oculography-based detection of sleep-wake in sleep apnea patients.

PubMed

Virkkala, Jussi; Toppila, Jussi; Maasilta, Paula; Bachour, Adel

2015-09-01

Recently, we have developed a simple method that uses two electro-oculography (EOG) electrodes for the automatic scoring of sleep-wake in normal subjects. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of this method on 284 consecutive patients referred for a suspicion of sleep apnea who underwent a polysomnography (PSG). We applied the AASM 2007 scoring rules. A simple automatic sleep-wake classification algorithm based on 18-45 Hz beta power was applied to the calculated bipolar EOG channel and was compared to standard polysomnography. Epoch by epoch agreement was evaluated. Eighteen patients were excluded due to poor EOG quality. One hundred fifty-eight males and 108 females were studied, their mean age was 48 (range 17-89) years, apnea-hypopnea index 13 (range 0-96) /h, BMI 29 (range 17-52) kg/m(2), and sleep efficiency 78 (range 0-98) %. The mean agreement in sleep-wake states between EOG and PSG was 85% and the Cohen's kappa was 0.56. Overall epoch-by-epoch agreement was 85%, and the Cohen's kappa was 0.57 with positive predictive value of 91% and negative predictive value of 65%. The EOG method can be applied to patients referred for suspicion of sleep apnea to indicate the sleep-wake state.

Commutability of NIST SRM 1955 Homocysteine and Folate in Frozen Human Serum with selected total homocysteine immunoassays and enzymatic assays.

PubMed

Nelson, Bryant C; Pfeiffer, Christine M; Zhang, Ming; Duewer, David L; Sharpless, Katherine E; Lippa, Katrice A

2008-09-01

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has recently developed Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1955 Homocysteine and Folate in Frozen Human Serum with certified values for total homocysteine (tHcy) and 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic acid. NIST has performed an international, interlaboratory assessment of SRM 1955 commutability; results are reported for tHcy only. Total Hcy was measured in 20 patient sera and in 3 levels of SRM 1955 using 14 immunoassays and/or enzymatic assays. Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry was utilized as the reference assay. An "errors-in-variables" statistical model was utilized to assess the commutability of SRM 1955. Normalized residuals ranged from -2.65 to 2.19 for SRM 1955. The median interlaboratory/interassay imprecision (CV) was approximately 4% for patient specimens and ranged from approximately 3% to approximately 7% for SRM 1955. The median intra-assay imprecision ranged from approximately 1% to approximately 13%. Orthogonal residuals, as a descriptor of assay accuracy, ranged from 0.29 to 7.71 and from 0.20 to 2.22 for patient specimens and SRM 1955 samples, respectively. The current study suggests that SRM 1955 is commutable with the investigated tHcy assays; however, a broader specimen set needs to be evaluated to completely substantiate this conclusion.

Reference Values for TSH and Free Thyroid Hormones in Healthy Pregnant Women in Poland: A Prospective, Multicenter Study.

PubMed

Kostecka-Matyja, Marta; Fedorowicz, Anna; Bar-Andziak, Ewa; Bednarczuk, Tomasz; Buziak-Bereza, Monika; Dumnicka, Paulina; Górska, Maria; Krasnodębska, Małgorzata; Niedźwiedzka, Beata; Pach, Dorota; Ruchała, Marek; Siewko, Katarzyna; Solnica, Bogdan; Sowiński, Jerzy; Szelachowska, Małgorzata; Trofimiuk-Müldner, Małgorzata; Wachowiak-Ochmańska, Katarzyna; Hubalewska-Dydejczyk, Alicja

2017-04-01

The diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases in pregnant women remains a challenge. Various medical associations recommend establishing the reference intervals for thyroid hormones by a local laboratory. Considering differences within geophysical, socioeconomic conditions, and iodine prophylaxis in various populations, it is advisable to assess reference intervals for thyroid hormones specific to a region of residence. The objective was to assess trimester-specific reference intervals for TSH, fT 3 , and fT 4 for pregnant women in the Polish population. We conducted a prospective study in 4 centers representing different regions of Poland (Krakow, Warsaw, Poznan, and Bialystok). Our study included consecutive, healthy pregnant women (172 patients), with an age range of 27-47 years. All women had a negative history for thyroid diseases, normal thyroid peroxidase antibody levels, and proper iodine prophylaxis. All newborns had TSH levels in the appropriate reference range. Serum TSH, fT 3 , fT 4 , and thyroid-peroxidase antibodies were measured in each trimester. The reference intervals were calculated using the percentile method, as recommended by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry. The reference values calculated were 0.009-3.177, 0.05-3.442, and 0.11-3.53 mIU/L for TSH; 3.63-6.55, 3.29-5.45, and 3.1-5.37 pmol/L for fT 3 ; and 11.99-21.89, 10.46-16.67, and 8.96-17.23 pmol/L for fT 4 in consecutive trimesters of pregnancy. Reference intervals for pregnant women when compared to the general population showed a lower concentration of TSH in every trimester of pregnancy and lower fT 4 in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Using appropriate trimester-specific reference intervals may improve care of pregnant women by preventing misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment.

Safety analysis of proposed data-driven physiologic alarm parameters for hospitalized children.

PubMed

Goel, Veena V; Poole, Sarah F; Longhurst, Christopher A; Platchek, Terry S; Pageler, Natalie M; Sharek, Paul J; Palma, Jonathan P

2016-12-01

Modification of alarm limits is one approach to mitigating alarm fatigue. We aimed to create and validate heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) percentiles for hospitalized children, and analyze the safety of replacing current vital sign reference ranges with proposed data-driven, age-stratified 5th and 95th percentile values. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, nurse-charted HR and RR data from a training set of 7202 hospitalized children were used to develop percentile tables. We compared 5th and 95th percentile values with currently accepted reference ranges in a validation set of 2287 patients. We analyzed 148 rapid response team (RRT) and cardiorespiratory arrest (CRA) events over a 12-month period, using HR and RR values in the 12 hours prior to the event, to determine the proportion of patients with out-of-range vitals based upon reference versus data-driven limits. There were 24,045 (55.6%) fewer out-of-range measurements using data-driven vital sign limits. Overall, 144/148 RRT and CRA patients had out-of-range HR or RR values preceding the event using current limits, and 138/148 were abnormal using data-driven limits. Chart review of RRT and CRA patients with abnormal HR and RR per current limits considered normal by data-driven limits revealed that clinical status change was identified by other vital sign abnormalities or clinical context. A large proportion of vital signs in hospitalized children are outside presently used norms. Safety evaluation of data-driven limits suggests they are as safe as those currently used. Implementation of these parameters in physiologic monitors may mitigate alarm fatigue. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015;11:817-823. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine.

Prediction of microcephaly at birth using three reference ranges for fetal head circumference: can we improve prenatal diagnosis?

PubMed

Leibovitz, Z; Daniel-Spiegel, E; Malinger, G; Haratz, K; Tamarkin, M; Gindes, L; Schreiber, L; Ben-Sira, L; Lev, D; Shapiro, I; Bakry, H; Weizman, B; Zreik, A; Egenburg, S; Arad, A; Tepper, R; Kidron, D; Lerman-Sagie, T

2016-05-01

To evaluate the prediction of microcephaly at birth (micB) using established and two new reference ranges for fetal head circumference (HC) and to assess whether integrating additional parameters can improve prediction. Microcephaly in utero was defined as a fetal HC 3SD below the mean for gestational age according to Jeanty et al.'s reference range. The records of cases with fetal microcephaly (Fmic) were evaluated for medical history, imaging findings, biometry and postnatal examination/autopsy findings. Microcephaly was confirmed at birth (micB) by an occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) or a brain weight at autopsy 2SD below the mean for gestational age. The new INTERGROWTH-21(st) Project and a recent Israeli reference for fetal growth were applied for evaluation of the Fmic positive predictive value (PPV) for diagnosis of micB cases. Optimal HC cut-offs were determined for each of the new references with the aim of detecting all micB cases whilst minimizing the number of false positives found to have a normal HC at birth. We also assessed the difference between the Z-scores of the prenatal HC and the corresponding OFC at birth, the frequency of small-for-gestational age (SGA), decreased HC/abdominal circumference (AC) and HC/femur length (FL) ratios, the prevalence of associated malformations and family history. Forty-two fetuses were diagnosed as having Fmic according to the Jeanty reference, but micB was confirmed in only 24 (PPV, 57.1%). The optimal INTERGROWTH and Israeli reference HC cut-offs for micB diagnosis were mean - 3SD and mean - 2.3SD, resulting in a statistically non-significant improvement in PPV to 61.5% and 66.7%, respectively. The presence of a family history of microcephaly, SGA, associated malformations and application of stricter HC cut-offs resulted in a higher PPV of micB, although not statistically significant and with a concurrent increase in the number of false-negative results. The deviation of the HC from the mean, by all references, was significantly larger compared with the actual deviation of the OFC at birth, with mean differences between the corresponding Z-scores of -1.15, -1.95 and -0.74 for the Jeanty, INTERGROWTH and Israeli references, respectively. The evaluated reference ranges all result in considerable over-diagnosis of fetal microcephaly. The use of the two new HC reference ranges did not significantly improve micB prediction compared with that of Jeanty et al., whilst use of additional characteristics and stricter HC cut-offs could improve the PPV with an increase in false negatives. The postnatal OFC deviates significantly less from the mean compared with the prenatal HC, and we propose that adjustment for this would enable better prediction of the actual OFC deviation at birth. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Normalization for Relative Quantification of mRNA and microRNA in Soybean Exposed to Various Abiotic Stresses

PubMed Central

Zhou, Yonggang; Chen, Huan; Dong, Yuanyuan; Wang, Nan; Li, Xiaowei; Jameel, Aysha; Yang, He; Zhang, Min; Chen, Kai; Wang, Fawei; Li, Haiyan

2016-01-01

Plant microRNAs are small non-coding, endogenic RNA molecule (containing 20–24 nucleotides) produced from miRNA precursors (pri-miRNA and pre-miRNA). Evidence suggests that up and down regulation of the miRNA targets the mRNA genes involved in resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. Reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a powerful technique to analyze variations in mRNA levels. Normalizing the data using reference genes is essential for the analysis of reliable RT-qPCR data. In this study, two groups of candidate reference mRNAs and miRNAs in soybean leaves and roots treated with various abiotic stresses (PEG-simulated drought, salinity, alkalinity, salinity+alkalinity, and abscisic acid) were analyzed by RT-qPCR. We analyzed the most appropriate reference mRNA/miRNAs using the geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper algorithms. According to the results, Act and EF1b were the most suitable reference mRNAs in leaf and root samples, for mRNA and miRNA precursor data normalization. The most suitable reference miRNAs found in leaf and root samples were 166a and 167a for mature miRNA data normalization. Hence the best combinations of reference mRNAs for mRNA and miRNA precursor data normalization were EF1a + Act or EF1b + Act in leaf samples, and EF1a + EF1b or 60s + EF1b in root samples. For mature miRNA data normalization, the most suitable combinations of reference miRNAs were 166a + 167d in leaf samples, and 171a + 156a or 167a + 171a in root samples. We identified potential reference mRNA/miRNAs for accurate RT-qPCR data normalization for mature miRNA, miRNA precursors, and their targeted mRNAs. Our results promote miRNA-based studies on soybean plants exposed to abiotic stress conditions. PMID:27176476

Selection of Reference Genes for Quantitative Real Time PCR (qPCR) Assays in Tissue from Human Ascending Aorta

PubMed Central

Rueda-Martínez, Carmen; Lamas, Oscar; Mataró, María José; Robledo-Carmona, Juan; Sánchez-Espín, Gemma; Jiménez-Navarro, Manuel; Such-Martínez, Miguel; Fernández, Borja

2014-01-01

Dilatation of the ascending aorta (AAD) is a prevalent aortopathy that occurs frequently associated with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), the most common human congenital cardiac malformation. The molecular mechanisms leading to AAD associated with BAV are still poorly understood. The search for differentially expressed genes in diseased tissue by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is an invaluable tool to fill this gap. However, studies dedicated to identify reference genes necessary for normalization of mRNA expression in aortic tissue are scarce. In this report, we evaluate the qPCR expression of six candidate reference genes in tissue from the ascending aorta of 52 patients with a variety of clinical and demographic characteristics, normal and dilated aortas, and different morphologies of the aortic valve (normal aorta and normal valve n = 30; dilated aorta and normal valve n = 10; normal aorta and BAV n = 4; dilated aorta and BAV n = 8). The expression stability of the candidate reference genes was determined with three statistical algorithms, GeNorm, NormFinder and Bestkeeper. The expression analyses showed that the most stable genes for the three algorithms employed were CDKN1β, POLR2A and CASC3, independently of the structure of the aorta and the valve morphology. In conclusion, we propose the use of these three genes as reference genes for mRNA expression analysis in human ascending aorta. However, we suggest searching for specific reference genes when conducting qPCR experiments with new cohort of samples. PMID:24841551

Urinary mRNA for the Diagnosis of Renal Allograft Rejection: The Issue of Normalization.

PubMed

Galichon, P; Amrouche, L; Hertig, A; Brocheriou, I; Rabant, M; Xu-Dubois, Y-C; Ouali, N; Dahan, K; Morin, L; Terzi, F; Rondeau, E; Anglicheau, D

2016-10-01

Urinary messenger RNA (mRNA) quantification is a promising method for noninvasive diagnosis of renal allograft rejection (AR), but the quantification of mRNAs in urine remains challenging due to degradation. RNA normalization may be warranted to overcome these issues, but the strategies of gene normalization have been poorly evaluated. Herein, we address this issue in a case-control study of 108 urine samples collected at time of allograft biopsy in kidney recipients with (n = 52) or without (n = 56) AR by comparing the diagnostic value of IP-10 and CD3ε mRNAs-two biomarkers of AR-after normalization by the total amount of RNA, normalization by one of the three widely used reference RNAs-18S, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT)-or normalization using uroplakin 1A (UPK) mRNA as a possible urine-specific reference mRNA. Our results show that normalization based on the total quantity of RNA is not substantially improved by additional normalization and may even be worsened with some classical reference genes that are overexpressed during rejection. However, considering that normalization by a reference gene is necessary to ensure polymerase chain reaction (PCR) quality and reproducibility and to suppress the effect of RNA degradation, we suggest that GAPDH and UPK1A are preferable to 18S or HPRT RNA. © Copyright 2016 The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.

Organic Reference Materials for Hydrogen, Carbon, and Nitrogen Stable Isotope-Ratio Measurements: Caffeines, n-Alkanes, Fatty Acid Methyl Esters, Glycines, L-Valines, Polyethylenes, and Oils.

PubMed

Schimmelmann, Arndt; Qi, Haiping; Coplen, Tyler B; Brand, Willi A; Fong, Jon; Meier-Augenstein, Wolfram; Kemp, Helen F; Toman, Blaza; Ackermann, Annika; Assonov, Sergey; Aerts-Bijma, Anita T; Brejcha, Ramona; Chikaraishi, Yoshito; Darwish, Tamim; Elsner, Martin; Gehre, Matthias; Geilmann, Heike; Gröning, Manfred; Hélie, Jean-François; Herrero-Martín, Sara; Meijer, Harro A J; Sauer, Peter E; Sessions, Alex L; Werner, Roland A

2016-04-19

An international project developed, quality-tested, and determined isotope-δ values of 19 new organic reference materials (RMs) for hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen stable isotope-ratio measurements, in addition to analyzing pre-existing RMs NBS 22 (oil), IAEA-CH-7 (polyethylene foil), and IAEA-600 (caffeine). These new RMs enable users to normalize measurements of samples to isotope-δ scales. The RMs span a range of δ(2)H(VSMOW-SLAP) values from -210.8 to +397.0 mUr or ‰, for δ(13)C(VPDB-LSVEC) from -40.81 to +0.49 mUr and for δ(15)N(Air) from -5.21 to +61.53 mUr. Many of the new RMs are amenable to gas and liquid chromatography. The RMs include triads of isotopically contrasting caffeines, C16 n-alkanes, n-C20-fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), glycines, and l-valines, together with polyethylene powder and string, one n-C17-FAME, a vacuum oil (NBS 22a) to replace NBS 22 oil, and a (2)H-enriched vacuum oil. A total of 11 laboratories from 7 countries used multiple analytical approaches and instrumentation for 2-point isotopic normalization against international primary measurement standards. The use of reference waters in silver tubes allowed direct normalization of δ(2)H values of organic materials against isotopic reference waters following the principle of identical treatment. Bayesian statistical analysis yielded the mean values reported here. New RMs are numbered from USGS61 through USGS78, in addition to NBS 22a. Because of exchangeable hydrogen, amino acid RMs currently are recommended only for carbon- and nitrogen-isotope measurements. Some amino acids contain (13)C and carbon-bound organic (2)H-enrichments at different molecular sites to provide RMs for potential site-specific isotopic analysis in future studies.

Anthropometrics and body composition by dual energy X-ray in children of obese women: a follow-up of a randomized controlled trial (the Lifestyle in Pregnancy and Offspring [LiPO] study).

PubMed

Tanvig, Mette; Vinter, Christina A; Jørgensen, Jan S; Wehberg, Sonja; Ovesen, Per G; Lamont, Ronald F; Beck-Nielsen, Henning; Christesen, Henrik T; Jensen, Dorte M

2014-01-01

In obese women, 1) to assess whether lower gestational weight gain (GWG) during pregnancy in the lifestyle intervention group of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) resulted in differences in offspring anthropometrics and body composition, and 2) to compare offspring outcomes to a reference group of children born to women with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI). The LiPO (Lifestyle in Pregnancy and Offspring) study was an offspring follow-up of a RCT with 360 obese pregnant women with a lifestyle intervention during pregnancy including dietary advice, coaching and exercise. The trial was completed by 301 women who were eligible for follow-up. In addition, to the children from the RCT, a group of children born to women with a normal BMI were included as a reference group. At 2.8 (range 2.5-3.2) years, anthropometrics were measured in 157 children of the RCT mothers and in 97 reference group children with Body Mass Index (BMI) Z-score as a primary outcome. Body composition was estimated by Dual Energy X-ray (DEXA) in 123 successful scans out of 147 (84%). No differences between randomized groups were seen in mean (95% C.I.) BMI Z-score (intervention group 0.06 [-0.17; 0.29] vs. controls -0.18 [-0.43; 0.05]), in the percentage of overweight or obese children (10.9% vs. 6.7%), in other anthropometrics, or in body composition values by DEXA. Outcomes between children from the RCT and the reference group children were not significantly different. The RCT with lifestyle intervention in obese pregnant women did not result in any detectable effect on offspring anthropometrics or body composition by DEXA at 2.8 years of age. This may reflect the limited difference in GWG between intervention and control groups. Offspring of obese mothers from the RCT were comparable to offspring of mothers with a normal BMI.

New organic reference materials for hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen stable isotope-ratio measurements: caffeines, n-alkanes, fatty acid methyl esters, glycines, L-valines, polyethylenes, and oils

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schimmelmann, Arndt; Qi, Haiping; Coplen, Tyler B.; Brand, Willi A.; Fong, Jon; Meier-Augenstein, Wolfram; Kemp, Helen F.; Toman, Blaza; Ackermann, Annika; Assonov, Sergey; Aerts-Bijma, Anita; Brejcha, Ramona; Chikaraishi, Yoshito; Darwish, Tamim; Elsner, Martin; Gehre, Matthias; Geilmann, Heike; Gröning, Manfred; Hélie, Jean-François; Herrero-Martín, Sara; Meijer, Harro A.J.; Sauer, Peter E.; Sessions, Alex L.; Werner, Roland A.

2016-01-01

An international project developed, quality-tested, and determined isotope−δ values of 19 new organic reference materials (RMs) for hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen stable isotope-ratio measurements, in addition to analyzing pre-existing RMs NBS 22 (oil), IAEA-CH-7 (polyethylene foil), and IAEA-600 (caffeine). These new RMs enable users to normalize measurements of samples to isotope−δ scales. The RMs span a range of δ2HVSMOW-SLAP values from −210.8 to +397.0 mUr or ‰, for δ13CVPDB-LSVEC from −40.81 to +0.49 mUr and for δ15NAir from −5.21 to +61.53 mUr. Many of the new RMs are amenable to gas and liquid chromatography. The RMs include triads of isotopically contrasting caffeines, C16 n-alkanes, n-C20-fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), glycines, and l-valines, together with polyethylene powder and string, one n-C17-FAME, a vacuum oil (NBS 22a) to replace NBS 22 oil, and a 2H-enriched vacuum oil. A total of 11 laboratories from 7 countries used multiple analytical approaches and instrumentation for 2-point isotopic normalization against international primary measurement standards. The use of reference waters in silver tubes allowed direct normalization of δ2H values of organic materials against isotopic reference waters following the principle of identical treatment. Bayesian statistical analysis yielded the mean values reported here. New RMs are numbered from USGS61 through USGS78, in addition to NBS 22a. Because of exchangeable hydrogen, amino acid RMs currently are recommended only for carbon- and nitrogen-isotope measurements. Some amino acids contain 13C and carbon-bound organic 2H-enrichments at different molecular sites to provide RMs for potential site-specific isotopic analysis in future studies.

Identification and evaluation of reference genes for accurate gene expression normalization of fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

PubMed

Ashish, Shende; Bhure, S K; Harikrishna, Pillai; Ramteke, S S; Muhammed Kutty, V H; Shruthi, N; Ravi Kumar, G V P P S; Manish, Mahawar; Ghosh, S K; Mihir, Sarkar

2017-04-01

The quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) has become an important tool for gene-expression analysis for a selected number of genes in life science. Although large dynamic range, sensitivity and reproducibility of qRT-PCR is good, the reliability majorly depend on the selection of proper reference genes (RGs) employed for normalization. Although, RGs expression has been reported to vary considerably within same cell type with different experimental treatments. No systematic study has been conducted to identify and evaluate the appropriate RGs in spermatozoa of domestic animals. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze suitable stable RGs in fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa. We have assessed 13 candidate RGs (BACT, RPS18s, RPS15A, ATP5F1, HMBS, ATP2B4, RPL13, EEF2, TBP, EIF2B2, MDH1, B2M and GLUT5) of different functions and pathways using five algorithms. Regardless of the approach, the ranking of the most and the least candidate RGs remained almost same. The comprehensive ranking by RefFinder showed GLUT5, ATP2B4 and B2M, MDH1 as the top two stable and least stable RGs, respectively. The expression levels of four heat shock proteins (HSP) were employed as a target gene to evaluate RGs efficiency for normalization. The results demonstrated an exponential difference in expression levels of the four HSP genes upon normalization of the data with the most stable and the least stable RGs. Our study, provides a convenient RGs for normalization of gene-expression of key metabolic pathways effected during freezing and thawing of spermatozoa of buffalo and other closely related bovines. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Normal gravity field in relativistic geodesy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kopeikin, Sergei; Vlasov, Igor; Han, Wen-Biao

2018-02-01

Modern geodesy is subject to a dramatic change from the Newtonian paradigm to Einstein's theory of general relativity. This is motivated by the ongoing advance in development of quantum sensors for applications in geodesy including quantum gravimeters and gradientometers, atomic clocks and fiber optics for making ultra-precise measurements of the geoid and multipolar structure of the Earth's gravitational field. At the same time, very long baseline interferometry, satellite laser ranging, and global navigation satellite systems have achieved an unprecedented level of accuracy in measuring 3-d coordinates of the reference points of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame and the world height system. The main geodetic reference standard to which gravimetric measurements of the of Earth's gravitational field are referred is a normal gravity field represented in the Newtonian gravity by the field of a uniformly rotating, homogeneous Maclaurin ellipsoid of which mass and quadrupole momentum are equal to the total mass and (tide-free) quadrupole moment of Earth's gravitational field. The present paper extends the concept of the normal gravity field from the Newtonian theory to the realm of general relativity. We focus our attention on the calculation of the post-Newtonian approximation of the normal field that is sufficient for current and near-future practical applications. We show that in general relativity the level surface of homogeneous and uniformly rotating fluid is no longer described by the Maclaurin ellipsoid in the most general case but represents an axisymmetric spheroid of the fourth order with respect to the geodetic Cartesian coordinates. At the same time, admitting a post-Newtonian inhomogeneity of the mass density in the form of concentric elliptical shells allows one to preserve the level surface of the fluid as an exact ellipsoid of rotation. We parametrize the mass density distribution and the level surface with two parameters which are intrinsically connected to the existence of the residual gauge freedom, and derive the post-Newtonian normal gravity field of the rotating spheroid both inside and outside of the rotating fluid body. The normal gravity field is given, similarly to the Newtonian gravity, in a closed form by a finite number of the ellipsoidal harmonics. We employ transformation from the ellipsoidal to spherical coordinates to deduce a more conventional post-Newtonian multipolar expansion of scalar and vector gravitational potentials of the rotating spheroid. We compare these expansions with that of the normal gravity field generated by the Kerr metric and demonstrate that the Kerr metric has a fairly limited application in relativistic geodesy as it does not match the normal gravity field of the Maclaurin ellipsoid already in the Newtonian limit. We derive the post-Newtonian generalization of the Somigliana formula for the normal gravity field measured on the surface of the rotating spheroid and employed in practical work for measuring Earth's gravitational field anomalies. Finally, we discuss the possible choice of the gauge-dependent parameters of the normal gravity field model for practical applications and compare it with the existing EGM2008 model of a gravitational field.

Gene Expression Profile Analysis is Directly Affected by the Selected Reference Gene: The Case of Leaf-Cutting Atta Sexdens

PubMed Central

Máximo, Wesley P. F.; Zanetti, Ronald; Paiva, Luciano V.

2018-01-01

Although several ant species are important targets for the development of molecular control strategies, only a few studies focus on identifying and validating reference genes for quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) data normalization. We provide here an extensive study to identify and validate suitable reference genes for gene expression analysis in the ant Atta sexdens, a threatening agricultural pest in South America. The optimal number of reference genes varies according to each sample and the result generated by RefFinder differed about which is the most suitable reference gene. Results suggest that the RPS16, NADH and SDHB genes were the best reference genes in the sample pool according to stability values. The SNF7 gene expression pattern was stable in all evaluated sample set. In contrast, when using less stable reference genes for normalization a large variability in SNF7 gene expression was recorded. There is no universal reference gene suitable for all conditions under analysis, since these genes can also participate in different cellular functions, thus requiring a systematic validation of possible reference genes for each specific condition. The choice of reference genes on SNF7 gene normalization confirmed that unstable reference genes might drastically change the expression profile analysis of target candidate genes. PMID:29419794

Selection of Reliable Reference Genes for Gene Expression Studies on Rhododendron molle G. Don.

PubMed

Xiao, Zheng; Sun, Xiaobo; Liu, Xiaoqing; Li, Chang; He, Lisi; Chen, Shangping; Su, Jiale

2016-01-01

The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) approach has become a widely used method to analyze expression patterns of target genes. The selection of an optimal reference gene is a prerequisite for the accurate normalization of gene expression in qRT-PCR. The present study constitutes the first systematic evaluation of potential reference genes in Rhododendron molle G. Don. Eleven candidate reference genes in different tissues and flowers at different developmental stages of R. molle were assessed using the following three software packages: GeNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper. The results showed that EF1- α (elongation factor 1-alpha), 18S (18s ribosomal RNA), and RPL3 (ribosomal protein L3) were the most stable reference genes in developing rhododendron flowers and, thus, in all of the tested samples, while tublin ( TUB ) was the least stable. ACT5 (actin), RPL3 , 18S , and EF1- α were found to be the top four choices for different tissues, whereas TUB was not found to favor qRT-PCR normalization in these tissues. Three stable reference genes are recommended for the normalization of qRT-PCR data in R. molle . Furthermore, the expression profiles of RmPSY (phytoene synthase) and RmPDS (phytoene dehydrogenase) were assessed using EF1- α, 18S , ACT5 , RPL3 , and their combination as internals. Similar trends were found, but these trends varied when the least stable reference gene TUB was used. The results further prove that it is necessary to validate the stability of reference genes prior to their use for normalization under different experimental conditions. This study provides useful information for reliable qRT-PCR data normalization in gene studies of R. molle .

Selection of symptomatic patients with Crohn's disease for abdominopelvic computed tomography: role of serum C-reactive protein.

PubMed

Desmond, Alan N; O'Regan, Kevin; Malik, Neera; McWilliams, Sebastian; O'Neill, Siobhan; Quigley, Eamonn M; Shanahan, Fergus; Maher, Michael M

2012-11-01

Results of previous studies have shown that repeated abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) examinations can lead to substantial cumulative diagnostic radiation exposure in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Improved selection of patients referred for CT will reduce unnecessary radiation exposure. This study examines if serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration predicts which symptomatic patients with CD are likely to have significant disease activity or disease complications (such as abscess) detected on abdominopelvic CT. All abdominopelvic CTs performed on patients with CD at a tertiary referral centre during the period June 2003 to June 2008 were identified. CT findings were coded by a pair of independent blinded senior radiologists for (i) small bowel luminal disease, (ii) large bowel luminal disease, (iii) mesenteric inflammatory changes, (iv) penetrating disease (fistulas, abscess, or phlegmon), (v) acute disease complications (obstruction or perforation), and (vi) acute non-CD findings. Imaging findings were correlated with serum CRP checked within 14 days before imaging. The reference range for CRP was defined as 0-5 mg/L. A total of 147 patients with symptomatic CD had a CRP assay performed within 14 days before undergoing abdominopelvic CT. The median time from CRP assay to imaging was 2 days (interquartile range, 0-6 days). Median CRP before imaging was 24 mg/L (interquartile range, 6-88 mg/L). CT was normal in 34 of 147 case (23.1%). Patients with normal CRP (n = 36) were significantly less likely to have penetrating disease (odds ratio [OR], 0.04 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.01-0.7]; P < .001) or large bowel luminal disease (OR, 0.3 [95% CI, 0.1-0.8]; P < .05). Normal CRP excluded penetrating disease with a sensitivity of 1.0 (95% CI, 0.87-1.0). CRP levels did not correlate with the presence of small bowel luminal disease (n = 82), mesenteric inflammatory changes (n = 68), or acute disease complications (n = 10). Symptomatic patients with CD and normal serum CRP are unlikely to have evidence of abscess, fistulating disease, or large bowel luminal disease detected on abdominopelvic CT. However, abdominopelvic CT may demonstrate evidence of clinically significant non-penetrating CD or complications, including perforation and acute obstruction, regardless of serum CRP concentration. Copyright © 2012 Canadian Association of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Validation of reference genes for real-time quantitative PCR normalization in soybean developmental and germinating seeds.

PubMed

Li, Qing; Fan, Cheng-Ming; Zhang, Xiao-Mei; Fu, Yong-Fu

2012-10-01

Most of traditional reference genes chosen for real-time quantitative PCR normalization were assumed to be ubiquitously and constitutively expressed in vegetative tissues. However, seeds show distinct transcriptomes compared with the vegetative tissues. Therefore, there is a need for re-validation of reference genes in samples of seed development and germination, especially for soybean seeds. In this study, we aimed at identifying reference genes suitable for the quantification of gene expression level in soybean seeds. In order to identify the best reference genes for soybean seeds, 18 putative reference genes were tested with various methods in different seed samples. We combined the outputs of both geNorm and NormFinder to assess the expression stability of these genes. The reference genes identified as optimums for seed development were TUA5 and UKN2, whereas for seed germination they were novel reference genes Glyma05g37470 and Glyma08g28550. Furthermore, for total seed samples it was necessary to combine four genes of Glyma05g37470, Glyma08g28550, Glyma18g04130 and UKN2 [corrected] for normalization. Key message We identified several reference genes that stably expressed in soybean seed developmental and germinating processes.

Relationship Between Circulating Concentrations of Thyrotropin, Free Thyroxine, and Free Triiodothyronine and 9-Year Mortality in Euthyroid Elderly Subjects

PubMed Central

Ceresini, Graziano; Marina, Michela; Lauretani, Fulvio; Maggio, Marcello; Bandinelli, Stefania; Ceda, Gian Paolo; Ferrucci, Luigi

2015-01-01

Objectives Thyroid dysfunction in the elderly is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, with mortality being associated with low TSH. However, it is still unknown whether variability of thyroid function test within the reference range is associated with mortality in older adults. We studied the association between plasma levels of TSH, free T3 (FT3), and free T4 (FT4), and all-cause mortality in older adults who had all three hormones within the normal range. Design Longitudinal study Setting Community-based Participants Total of 815 euthyroid participants of the InCHIANTI study, aged 65 years or older Measurements All subjects had TSH, FT3, and FT4 within the reference range at baseline. Plasma TSH, FT3 and FT4 were predictors and 9-year all-cause mortality was the outcome. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for confounders were used to examine the relationship between quartiles of TSH, FT3, and FT4 and all-cause mortality over 9 years of follow-up. Results During the follow-up (mean persons-years 8643.74 [min-max, 35.36-16985.00]), 181 deaths occurred (22.2%). Participants with TSH in the lower quartile had higher mortality than the rest of the population. After adjusting for multiple confounders, participants with TSH in the lowest quartile (Hazard Ratio: 2.22; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.19–4.22) had significantly higher all-cause mortality than those with TSH in the highest quartile. Neither FT3 nor FT4 were associated with mortality. Conclusions In euthyroid elderly subjects, normal-low TSH represents an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality. PMID:27000328

Communication: Density functional theory model for multi-reference systems based on the exact-exchange hole normalization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laqua, Henryk; Kussmann, Jörg; Ochsenfeld, Christian

2018-03-01

The correct description of multi-reference electronic ground states within Kohn-Sham density functional theory (DFT) requires an ensemble-state representation, employing fractionally occupied orbitals. However, the use of fractional orbital occupation leads to non-normalized exact-exchange holes, resulting in large fractional-spin errors for conventional approximative density functionals. In this communication, we present a simple approach to directly include the exact-exchange-hole normalization into DFT. Compared to conventional functionals, our model strongly improves the description for multi-reference systems, while preserving the accuracy in the single-reference case. We analyze the performance of our proposed method at the example of spin-averaged atoms and spin-restricted bond dissociation energy surfaces.

Communication: Density functional theory model for multi-reference systems based on the exact-exchange hole normalization.

PubMed

Laqua, Henryk; Kussmann, Jörg; Ochsenfeld, Christian

2018-03-28

The correct description of multi-reference electronic ground states within Kohn-Sham density functional theory (DFT) requires an ensemble-state representation, employing fractionally occupied orbitals. However, the use of fractional orbital occupation leads to non-normalized exact-exchange holes, resulting in large fractional-spin errors for conventional approximative density functionals. In this communication, we present a simple approach to directly include the exact-exchange-hole normalization into DFT. Compared to conventional functionals, our model strongly improves the description for multi-reference systems, while preserving the accuracy in the single-reference case. We analyze the performance of our proposed method at the example of spin-averaged atoms and spin-restricted bond dissociation energy surfaces.

Uncertainty evaluation in normalization of isotope delta measurement results against international reference materials.

PubMed

Meija, Juris; Chartrand, Michelle M G

2018-01-01

Isotope delta measurements are normalized against international reference standards. Although multi-point normalization is becoming a standard practice, the existing uncertainty evaluation practices are either undocumented or are incomplete. For multi-point normalization, we present errors-in-variables regression models for explicit accounting of the measurement uncertainty of the international standards along with the uncertainty that is attributed to their assigned values. This manuscript presents framework to account for the uncertainty that arises due to a small number of replicate measurements and discusses multi-laboratory data reduction while accounting for inevitable correlations between the laboratories due to the use of identical reference materials for calibration. Both frequentist and Bayesian methods of uncertainty analysis are discussed.

Gestation-specific reference intervals for comprehensive spot urinary steroid hormone metabolite analysis in normal singleton pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum.

PubMed

Mistry, Hiten D; Eisele, Nicole; Escher, Geneviève; Dick, Bernhard; Surbek, Daniel; Delles, Christian; Currie, Gemma; Schlembach, Dietmar; Mohaupt, Markus G; Gennari-Moser, Carine

2015-09-04

Normal pregnancy depends on pronounced adaptations in steroid hormone concentrations. Although in recent years, the understanding of these hormones in pregnancy has improved, the interpretation is hampered by insufficient reference values. Our aim was to establish gestation-specific reference intervals for spot urinary steroid hormone levels in normal singleton pregnancies and 6 weeks postpartum. Cross-sectional multicentre observational study. Women recruited between 2008 and 2013 at 3 University Hospitals in Switzerland (Bern), Scotland (Glasgow) and Austria (Graz). Spot urine was collected from healthy women undergoing a normal pregnancy (age, 16-45 years; mean, 31 years) attending routine antenatal clinics at gestation weeks 11, 20, and 28 and approximately 6 weeks postpartum. Urine steroid hormone levels were analysed using gas-chromatography mass spectrometry. Creatinine was also measured by routine analysis and used for normalisation. From the results, a reference interval was calculated for each hormone metabolite at each trimester and 6 weeks postpartum. Changes in these concentrations between trimesters and postpartum were also observed for several steroid hormones and followed changes proposed for index steroid hormones. Normal gestation-specific reference values for spot urinary steroid hormones throughout pregnancy and early postpartum are now available to facilitate clinical management and research approaches to steroid hormone metabolism in pregnancy and the early postpartum period.

Estimating Air-Manganese Exposures in Two Ohio Towns ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Manganese (Mn), a nutrient required for normal metabolic function, is also a persistent air pollutant and a known neurotoxin at high concentrations. Elevated exposures can result in a number of motor and cognitive deficits. Quantifying chronic personal exposures in residential populations studied by environmental epidemiologists can be time-consuming and expensive. We developed an approach for quantifying chronic exposures for two towns (Marietta and East Liverpool, Ohio) with elevated air Mn concentrations (air-Mn) related to ambient emissions from industrial processes. This was accomplished through the use of measured and modeled data in the communities studied. A novel approach was developed because one of the facilities lacked emissions data for the purposes of modeling. A unit emission rate was assumed over the surface area of both source facilities, and offsite concentrations at receptor residences and air monitoring sites were estimated with the American Meteorological Society/Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model (AERMOD). Ratios of all modeled receptor points were created, and a long-running air monitor was identified as a reference location. All ratios were normalized to the reference location. Long-term averages at all residential receptor points were calculated using modeled ratios and data from the reference monitoring location. Modeled five-year average air-Mn exposures ranged from 0.03-1.61 µg/m3 in Marietta and 0.01-6.32 µg/m3 in E

Normal reference ranges for and variability in the levels of blood manganese and selenium by gender, age, and race/ethnicity for general U.S. population.

PubMed

Jain, Ram B; Choi, Y Sammy

2015-04-01

Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the period 2011-2012 were used to determine normal reference ranges and percentile distributions for manganese (Mn) and selenium (Se) in blood by gender, age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status as determined by annual family income, and smoking status. The effect of gender, age, race/ethnicity, family income, and smoking status on the levels of Mn and Se was also determined by fitting regression models. Males had lower adjusted levels of Mn and higher adjusted levels of Se than females. Adjusted levels of Mn decreased with increase in age but adjusted levels of Se were lower in adolescents aged 12-19 years than adults aged 20-64 years. Non-Hispanic black (NHB) had the lowest levels of both Mn and Se and non-Hispanic Asians (NHAS) had the highest levels of both Mn and Se. Non-Hispanic white (NHW) and NHB had lower levels of Mn than Hispanics (HISP) and NHAS. NHB and HISP had lower levels of Se than NHW and NHAS. Low annual income (<$20,000) was associated with lower levels of Se than high annual income (≥$55,000). Smoking negatively affected the adjusted levels of Se among seniors aged ≥65 years but this was not observed in other age groups. Mn levels were not affected by smoking. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

Empirical Reference Distributions for Networks of Different Size

PubMed Central

Smith, Anna; Calder, Catherine A.; Browning, Christopher R.

2016-01-01

Network analysis has become an increasingly prevalent research tool across a vast range of scientific fields. Here, we focus on the particular issue of comparing network statistics, i.e. graph-level measures of network structural features, across multiple networks that differ in size. Although “normalized” versions of some network statistics exist, we demonstrate via simulation why direct comparison is often inappropriate. We consider normalizing network statistics relative to a simple fully parameterized reference distribution and demonstrate via simulation how this is an improvement over direct comparison, but still sometimes problematic. We propose a new adjustment method based on a reference distribution constructed as a mixture model of random graphs which reflect the dependence structure exhibited in the observed networks. We show that using simple Bernoulli models as mixture components in this reference distribution can provide adjusted network statistics that are relatively comparable across different network sizes but still describe interesting features of networks, and that this can be accomplished at relatively low computational expense. Finally, we apply this methodology to a collection of ecological networks derived from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey activity location data. PMID:27721556

Characterizing functional lung heterogeneity in COPD using reference equations for CT scan-measured lobar volumes.

PubMed

Come, Carolyn E; Diaz, Alejandro A; Curran-Everett, Douglas; Muralidhar, Nivedita; Hersh, Craig P; Zach, Jordan A; Schroeder, Joyce; Lynch, David A; Celli, Bartolome; Washko, George R

2013-06-01

CT scanning is increasingly used to characterize COPD. Although it is possible to obtain CT scan-measured lung lobe volumes, normal ranges remain unknown. Using COPDGene data, we developed reference equations for lobar volumes at maximal inflation (total lung capacity [TLC]) and relaxed exhalation (approximating functional residual capacity [FRC]). Linear regression was used to develop race-specific (non-Hispanic white [NHW], African American) reference equations for lobar volumes. Covariates included height and sex. Models were developed in a derivation cohort of 469 subjects with normal pulmonary function and validated in 546 similar subjects. These cohorts were combined to produce final prediction equations, which were applied to 2,191 subjects with old GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) stage II to IV COPD. In the derivation cohort, women had smaller lobar volumes than men. Height positively correlated with lobar volumes. Adjusting for height, NHWs had larger total lung and lobar volumes at TLC than African Americans; at FRC, NHWs only had larger lower lobes. Age and weight had no effect on lobar volumes at TLC but had small effects at FRC. In subjects with COPD at TLC, upper lobes exceeded 100% of predicted values in GOLD II disease; lower lobes were only inflated to this degree in subjects with GOLD IV disease. At FRC, gas trapping was severe irrespective of disease severity and appeared uniform across the lobes. Reference equations for lobar volumes may be useful in assessing regional lung dysfunction and how it changes in response to pharmacologic therapies and surgical or endoscopic lung volume reduction.

Plasma biochemical and PCV ranges for healthy, wild, immature hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles.

PubMed

Whiting, S D; Guinea, M L; Fomiatti, K; Flint, M; Limpus, C J

2014-06-14

In recent years, the use of blood chemistry as a diagnostic tool for sea turtles has been demonstrated, but much of its effectiveness relies on reference intervals. The first comprehensive blood chemistry values for healthy wild hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles are presented. Nineteen blood chemistry analytes and packed cell volume were analysed for 40 clinically healthy juvenile hawksbill sea turtles captured from a rocky reef habitat in northern Australia. We used four statistical approaches to calculate reference intervals and to investigate their use with non-normal distributions and small sample sizes, and to compare upper and lower limits between methods. Eleven analytes were correlated with curved carapace length indicating that body size should be considered when designing future studies and interpreting analyte values. British Veterinary Association.

Selection of reference genes for microRNA analysis associated to early stress response to handling and confinement in Salmo salar.

PubMed

Zavala, Eduardo; Reyes, Daniela; Deerenberg, Robert; Vidal, Rodrigo

2017-05-11

MicroRNAs are key non-coding RNA molecules that play a relevant role in the regulation of gene expression through translational repression and/or transcript cleavage during normal development and physiological adaptation processes like stress. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) has become the approach normally used to determine the levels of microRNAs. However, this approach needs the use of endogenous reference. An improper selection of endogenous references can result in confusing interpretation of data. The aim of this study was to identify and validate appropriate endogenous reference miRNA genes for normalizing RT-qPCR survey of miRNAs expression in four different tissues of Atlantic salmon, under handling and confinement stress conditions associated to early or primary stress response. Nine candidate reference normalizers, including microRNAs and nuclear genes, normally used in vertebrate microRNA expression studies were selected from literature, validated by RT-qPCR and analyzed by the algorithms geNorm and NormFinder. The results revealed that the ssa-miR-99-5p gene was the most stable overall and that ssa-miR-99-5p and ssa-miR-23a-5p genes were the best combination. Moreover, the suitability of ssa-miR-99-5p and ssa-miR-23a-5p as endogeneuos reference genes was demostrated by the expression analysis of ssa-miR-193-5p gene.

Normal limits of the electrocardiogram derived from a large database of Brazilian primary care patients.

PubMed

Palhares, Daniel M F; Marcolino, Milena S; Santos, Thales M M; da Silva, José L P; Gomes, Paulo R; Ribeiro, Leonardo B; Macfarlane, Peter W; Ribeiro, Antonio L P

2017-06-13

Knowledge of the normal limits of the electrocardiogram (ECG) is mandatory for establishing which patients have abnormal ECGs. No studies have assessed the reference standards for a Latin American population. Our aim was to establish the normal ranges of the ECG for pediatric and adult Brazilian primary care patients. This retrospective observational study assessed all the consecutive 12-lead digital electrocardiograms of primary care patients at least 1 year old in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, recorded between 2010 and 2015. ECGs were excluded if there were technical problems, selected abnormalities were present or patients with selected self-declared comorbidities or on drug therapy. Only the first ECG from patients with multiple ECGs was accepted. The University of Glasgow ECG analysis program was used to automatically interpret the ECGs. For each variable, the 1st, 2nd, 50th, 98th and 99th percentiles were determined and results were compared to selected studies. A total of 1,493,905 ECGs were recorded. 1,007,891 were excluded and 486.014 were analyzed. This large study provided normal values for heart rate, P, QRS and T frontal axis, P and QRS overall duration, PR and QT overall intervals and QTc corrected by Hodges, Bazett, Fridericia and Framingham formulae. Overall, the results were similar to those from other studies performed in different populations but there were differences in extreme ages and specific measurements. This study has provided reference values for Latinos of both sexes older than 1 year. Our results are comparable to studies performed in different populations.

Characteristics of lip-mouth region in smiling position from 80 persons with acceptable faces and individual normal occlusions.

PubMed

Zhang, Jiangheng; Chen, Yangxi; Zhou, Xiukun

2002-09-01

The characteristics of lip-mouth region including the soft and hard tissues in smiling position with frontal fixed position photographic computer-aided analysis were studied. The subjects were 80 persons (40 male and 40 females, age range: 17 to approximately 25 years) with acceptable faces and individual normal occlusions. The subjects were asked to take maximum smiling position to accept photographic measurement with computer-aided analysis. The maximum smile line could be divided into 3 categories: low smile line (16.25%), average smile line (68.75%), and high smile line (15%). The method adopting maximum smiling position to study the lip-month region is reproducible and comparable. This study would be helpful to provide a quantitative reference for clinical investigation, diagnosis, treatment and efficacy appraisal.

An assessment of gravity model improvements using TOPEX/Poseidon TDRSS observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Putney, B. H.; Teles, J.; Eddy, W. F.; Klosko, S. M.

1992-01-01

The contribution of TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) TDRSS data to geopotential model recovery is assessed. Simulated TDRSS one-way and Bilateration Ranging Transponder System (BRTS) observations have been generated and orbitally reduced to form normal equations for geopotential parameters. These normals have been combined with those of the latest prelaunch T/P gravity model solution using data from over 30 satellites. A study of the resulting solution error covariance shows that TDRSS can make important contributions to geopotential recovery, especially for improving T/P specific effects like those arising from orbital resonance. It is argued that future effort is desirable both to establish TDRSS orbit determination limits in a reference frame compatible with that used for the precise laser/DORIS orbits, and the reduction of these TDRSS data for geopotential recovery.

The Relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Melatonin during Fetal Development.

PubMed

Jin, Yunho; Choi, Jeonghyun; Won, Jinyoung; Hong, Yonggeun

2018-01-18

The aim of this review is to clarify the interrelationship between melatonin and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during fetal development. ASD refers to a diverse range of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social deficits, impaired communication, and stereotyped or repetitive behaviors. Melatonin, which is secreted by the pineal gland, has well-established neuroprotective and circadian entraining effects. During pregnancy, the hormone crosses the placenta into the fetal circulation and transmits photoperiodic information to the fetus allowing the establishment of normal sleep patterns and circadian rhythms that are essential for normal neurodevelopment. Melatonin synthesis is frequently impaired in patients with ASD. The hormone reduces oxidative stress, which is harmful to the central nervous system. Therefore, the neuroprotective and circadian entraining roles of melatonin may reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD.

Physiology and pathophysiology of potassium homeostasis.

PubMed

Palmer, Biff F; Clegg, Deborah J

2016-12-01

Total body potassium content and proper distribution of potassium across the cell membrane is of critical importance for normal cellular function. Potassium homeostasis is maintained by several different methods. In the kidney, total body potassium content is achieved by alterations in renal excretion of potassium in response to variations in intake. Insulin and beta-adrenergic tone play critical roles in maintaining the internal distribution of potassium under normal conditions. Despite homeostatic pathways designed to maintain potassium levels within the normal range, disorders of altered potassium homeostasis are common. The clinical approach to designing effective treatments relies on understanding the pathophysiology and regulatory influences which govern the internal distribution and external balance of potassium. Here we provide an overview of the key regulatory aspects of normal potassium physiology. This review is designed to provide an overview of potassium homeostasis as well as provide references of seminal papers to guide the reader into a more in depth discussion of the importance of potassium balance. This review is designed to be a resource for educators and well-informed clinicians who are teaching trainees about the importance of potassium balance. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

Fluoroscopic study of the normal gastrointestinal motility and measurements in the Hispaniolan Amazon parrot (Amazona ventralis).

PubMed

Beaufrère, Hugues; Nevarez, Javier; Taylor, W Michael; Jankowski, Gwendolyn; Rademacher, Nathalie; Gaschen, Lorrie; Pariaut, Romain; Tully, Thomas N

2010-01-01

Contrast fluoroscopy is a valuable tool to examine avian gastrointestinal motility. However, the lack of a standardized examination protocol and reference ranges prevents the objective interpretation of motility disorders and other gastrointestinal abnormalities. Our goals were to evaluate gastrointestinal motility in 20 Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) by contrast fluoroscopy. Each parrot was crop-fed an equal part mixture of barium sulfate and hand-feeding formula and placed in a cardboard box for fluoroscopy. Over a 3-h period, 1.5 minute segments of lateral and ventrodorsal fluoroscopy were recorded every 30 min. The gastric cycle and patterns of intestinal motility were described. The frequency of crop contractions, esophageal boluses, and gastric cycles were determined in lateral and ventrodorsal views. A range of 3.4-6.6 gastric cycles/min was noted on the lateral view and 3.0-6.6 gastric cycles/min on the ventrodorsal view. Circular measurements of the proventriculus diameter, ventriculus width, and length were obtained using the midshaft femoral diameter as a standard reference unit. The upper limits of the reference ranges were 3.6 and 4.7 femoral units for the proventriculus diameter in the lateral and ventrodorsal view, respectively. Two consecutive measurements were obtained and the measurement technique was found to have high reproducibility. In this study, we established a standardized protocol for contrast fluoroscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract and a reliable measurement method of the proventriculus and ventriculus using femoral units in the Hispaniolan Amazon parrot.

Making sense of listening: the IMAP test battery.

PubMed

Barry, Johanna G; Ferguson, Melanie A; Moore, David R

2010-10-11

The ability to hear is only the first step towards making sense of the range of information contained in an auditory signal. Of equal importance are the abilities to extract and use the information encoded in the auditory signal. We refer to these as listening skills (or auditory processing AP). Deficits in these skills are associated with delayed language and literacy development, though the nature of the relevant deficits and their causal connection with these delays is hotly debated. When a child is referred to a health professional with normal hearing and unexplained difficulties in listening, or associated delays in language or literacy development, they should ideally be assessed with a combination of psychoacoustic (AP) tests, suitable for children and for use in a clinic, together with cognitive tests to measure attention, working memory, IQ, and language skills. Such a detailed examination needs to be relatively short and within the technical capability of any suitably qualified professional. Current tests for the presence of AP deficits tend to be poorly constructed and inadequately validated within the normal population. They have little or no reference to the presenting symptoms of the child, and typically include a linguistic component. Poor performance may thus reflect problems with language rather than with AP. To assist in the assessment of children with listening difficulties, pediatric audiologists need a single, standardized child-appropriate test battery based on the use of language-free stimuli. We present the IMAP test battery which was developed at the MRC Institute of Hearing Research to supplement tests currently used to investigate cases of suspected AP deficits. IMAP assesses a range of relevant auditory and cognitive skills and takes about one hour to complete. It has been standardized in 1500 normally-hearing children from across the UK, aged 6-11 years. Since its development, it has been successfully used in a number of large scale studies both in the UK and the USA. IMAP provides measures for separating out sensory from cognitive contributions to hearing. It further limits confounds due to procedural effects by presenting tests in a child-friendly game-format. Stimulus-generation, management of test protocols and control of test presentation is mediated by the IHR-STAR software platform. This provides a standardized methodology for a range of applications and ensures replicable procedures across testers. IHR-STAR provides a flexible, user-programmable environment that currently has additional applications for hearing screening, mapping cochlear implant electrodes, and academic research or teaching.

Identification of Suitable Reference Genes for Gene Expression Normalization in qRT-PCR Analysis in Watermelon

PubMed Central

Gao, Lingyun; Zhao, Shuang; Jiang, Wei; Huang, Yuan; Bie, Zhilong

2014-01-01

Watermelon is one of the major Cucurbitaceae crops and the recent availability of genome sequence greatly facilitates the fundamental researches on it. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT–PCR) is the preferred method for gene expression analyses, and using validated reference genes for normalization is crucial to ensure the accuracy of this method. However, a systematic validation of reference genes has not been conducted on watermelon. In this study, transcripts of 15 candidate reference genes were quantified in watermelon using qRT–PCR, and the stability of these genes was compared using geNorm and NormFinder. geNorm identified ClTUA and ClACT, ClEF1α and ClACT, and ClCAC and ClTUA as the best pairs of reference genes in watermelon organs and tissues under normal growth conditions, abiotic stress, and biotic stress, respectively. NormFinder identified ClYLS8, ClUBCP, and ClCAC as the best single reference genes under the above experimental conditions, respectively. ClYLS8 and ClPP2A were identified as the best reference genes across all samples. Two to nine reference genes were required for more reliable normalization depending on the experimental conditions. The widely used watermelon reference gene 18SrRNA was less stable than the other reference genes under the experimental conditions. Catalase family genes were identified in watermelon genome, and used to validate the reliability of the identified reference genes. ClCAT1and ClCAT2 were induced and upregulated in the first 24 h, whereas ClCAT3 was downregulated in the leaves under low temperature stress. However, the expression levels of these genes were significantly overestimated and misinterpreted when 18SrRNA was used as a reference gene. These results provide a good starting point for reference gene selection in qRT–PCR analyses involving watermelon. PMID:24587403

Identification of suitable reference genes for gene expression normalization in qRT-PCR analysis in watermelon.

PubMed

Kong, Qiusheng; Yuan, Jingxian; Gao, Lingyun; Zhao, Shuang; Jiang, Wei; Huang, Yuan; Bie, Zhilong

2014-01-01

Watermelon is one of the major Cucurbitaceae crops and the recent availability of genome sequence greatly facilitates the fundamental researches on it. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) is the preferred method for gene expression analyses, and using validated reference genes for normalization is crucial to ensure the accuracy of this method. However, a systematic validation of reference genes has not been conducted on watermelon. In this study, transcripts of 15 candidate reference genes were quantified in watermelon using qRT-PCR, and the stability of these genes was compared using geNorm and NormFinder. geNorm identified ClTUA and ClACT, ClEF1α and ClACT, and ClCAC and ClTUA as the best pairs of reference genes in watermelon organs and tissues under normal growth conditions, abiotic stress, and biotic stress, respectively. NormFinder identified ClYLS8, ClUBCP, and ClCAC as the best single reference genes under the above experimental conditions, respectively. ClYLS8 and ClPP2A were identified as the best reference genes across all samples. Two to nine reference genes were required for more reliable normalization depending on the experimental conditions. The widely used watermelon reference gene 18SrRNA was less stable than the other reference genes under the experimental conditions. Catalase family genes were identified in watermelon genome, and used to validate the reliability of the identified reference genes. ClCAT1and ClCAT2 were induced and upregulated in the first 24 h, whereas ClCAT3 was downregulated in the leaves under low temperature stress. However, the expression levels of these genes were significantly overestimated and misinterpreted when 18SrRNA was used as a reference gene. These results provide a good starting point for reference gene selection in qRT-PCR analyses involving watermelon.

A survey of coagulation laboratory practices and satisfaction ratings of member laboratories of the Thailand National External Quality Assessment Scheme for blood coagulation.

PubMed

Chuntarut, A; Tientadakul, P; Wongkrajang, P

2016-06-01

The Thailand National External Quality Assessment Scheme (NEQAS) for blood coagulation was established in 2005. The objective of this study was to collect data of coagulation laboratory practices and satisfaction of NEQAS member. Two hundred seventy-six questionnaires were sent to laboratories that are members of NEQAS to obtain data relating to coagulation laboratory practice and satisfaction in 2014. Data from this survey were compared with data from the survey conducted in 2005 to evaluate levels of improvement. Of 276 questionnaires sent, 212 (76.8%) were returned. Improvements were characterized by the number of laboratories that (i) decreased use of 3.8% sodium citrate as anticoagulant; (ii) implemented use of at least two control levels for internal quality control; and (iii) implemented reporting of reference values with results, as well as establishing their own reference range and using geometric mean as the denominator for international normalized ratio calculation. For overall satisfaction, 179 of 206 (86.9%) participant laboratories reported being satisfied or very satisfied. Improvements in coagulation laboratory practices in Thailand were observed in every step of the total testing process. However, additional improvements are still needed, such as determination and use of a local reference range. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Selection of suitable reference genes for normalization of genes of interest in canine soft tissue sarcomas using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

PubMed

Zornhagen, K W; Kristensen, A T; Hansen, A E; Oxboel, J; Kjaer, A

2015-12-01

Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a sensitive technique for quantifying gene expression. Stably expressed reference genes are necessary for normalization of RT-qPCR data. Only a few articles have been published on reference genes in canine tumours. The objective of this study was to demonstrate how to identify suitable reference genes for normalization of genes of interest in canine soft tissue sarcomas using RT-qPCR. Primer pairs for 17 potential reference genes were designed and tested in archival tumour biopsies from six dogs. The geNorm algorithm was used to analyse the most suitable reference genes. Eight potential reference genes were excluded from this final analysis because of their dissociation curves. β-Glucuronidase (GUSB) and proteasome subunit, beta type, 6 (PSMB6) were most stably expressed with an M value of 0.154 and a CV of 0.053 describing their average stability. We suggest that choice of reference genes should be based on specific testing in every new experimental set-up. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The softest sound levels of the human voice in normal subjects.

PubMed

Šrámková, Hana; Granqvist, Svante; Herbst, Christian T; Švec, Jan G

2015-01-01

Accurate measurement of the softest sound levels of phonation presents technical and methodological challenges. This study aimed at (1) reliably obtaining normative data on sustained softest sound levels for the vowel [a:] at comfortable pitch; (2) comparing the results for different frequency and time weighting methods; and (3) refining the Union of European Phoniatricians' recommendation on allowed background noise levels for scientific and equipment manufacturers' purposes. Eighty healthy untrained participants (40 females, 40 males) were investigated in quiet rooms using a head-mounted microphone and a sound level meter at 30 cm distance. The one-second-equivalent sound levels were more stable and more representative for evaluating the softest sustained phonations than the fast-time-weighted levels. At 30 cm, these levels were in the range of 48-61 dB(C)/41-53 dB(A) for females and 49 - 64 dB(C)/35-53 dB(A) for males (5% to 95% quantile range). These ranges may serve as reference data in evaluating vocal normality. In order to reach a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 10 dB for more than 95% of the normal population, the background noise should be below 25 dB(A) and 38 dB(C), respectively, for the softest phonation measurements at 30 cm distance. For the A-weighting, this is 15 dB lower than the previously recommended value.

Identification of Reference Genes for Normalizing Quantitative Real-Time PCR in Urechis unicinctus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Yajiao; Zhou, Di; Wei, Maokai; Xie, Yueyang; Gao, Beibei; Qin, Zhenkui; Zhang, Zhifeng

2018-06-01

The reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) has become one of the most important techniques of studying gene expression. A set of valid reference genes are essential for the accurate normalization of data. In this study, five candidate genes were analyzed with geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and ΔCt methods to identify the genes stably expressed in echiuran Urechis unicinctus, an important commercial marine benthic worm, under abiotic (sulfide stress) and normal (adult tissues, embryos and larvae at different development stages) conditions. The comprehensive results indicated that the expression of TBP was the most stable at sulfide stress and in developmental process, while the expression of EF- 1- α was the most stable at sulfide stress and in various tissues. TBP and EF- 1- α were recommended as a suitable reference gene combination to accurately normalize the expression of target genes at sulfide stress; and EF- 1- α, TBP and TUB were considered as a potential reference gene combination for normalizing the expression of target genes in different tissues. No suitable gene combination was obtained among these five candidate genes for normalizing the expression of target genes for developmental process of U. unicinctus. Our results provided a valuable support for quantifying gene expression using RT-qPCR in U. unicinctus.

Geographical distribution of reference value of aging people's left ventricular end systolic diameter based on the support vector regression.

PubMed

Han, Xiao; Ge, Miao; Dong, Jie; Xue, Ranying; Wang, Zixuan; He, Jinwei

2014-09-01

The aim of this paper is to analyze the geographical distribution of reference value of aging people's left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVDs), and to provide a scientific basis for clinical examination. The study is focus on the relationship between reference value of left ventricular end systolic diameter of aging people and 14 geographical factors, selecting 2495 samples of left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVDs) of aging people in 71 units of China, in which including 1620 men and 875 women. By using the Moran's I index to make sure the relationship between the reference values and spatial geographical factors, extracting 5 geographical factors which have significant correlation with left ventricular end systolic diameter for building the support vector regression, detecting by the method of paired sample t test to make sure the consistency between predicted and measured values, finally, makes the distribution map through the disjunctive kriging interpolation method and fits the three-dimensional trend of normal reference value. It is found that the correlation between the extracted geographical factors and the reference value of left ventricular end systolic diameter is quite significant, the 5 indexes respectively are latitude, annual mean air temperature, annual mean relative humidity, annual precipitation amount, annual range of air temperature, the predicted values and the observed ones are in good conformity, there is no significant difference at 95% degree of confidence. The overall trend of predicted values increases from west to east, increases first and then decreases from north to south. If geographical values are obtained in one region, the reference value of left ventricular end systolic diameter of aging people in this region can be obtained by using the support vector regression model. It could be more scientific to formulate the different distributions on the basis of synthesizing the physiological and the geographical factors. -Use Moran's index to analyze the spatial correlation. -Choose support vector machine to build model that overcome complexity of variables. -Test normal distribution of predicted data to guarantee the interpolation results. -Through trend analysis to explain the changes of reference value clearly. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Particle size distributions by transmission electron microscopy: an interlaboratory comparison case study

PubMed Central

Rice, Stephen B; Chan, Christopher; Brown, Scott C; Eschbach, Peter; Han, Li; Ensor, David S; Stefaniak, Aleksandr B; Bonevich, John; Vladár, András E; Hight Walker, Angela R; Zheng, Jiwen; Starnes, Catherine; Stromberg, Arnold; Ye, Jia; Grulke, Eric A

2015-01-01

This paper reports an interlaboratory comparison that evaluated a protocol for measuring and analysing the particle size distribution of discrete, metallic, spheroidal nanoparticles using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The study was focused on automated image capture and automated particle analysis. NIST RM8012 gold nanoparticles (30 nm nominal diameter) were measured for area-equivalent diameter distributions by eight laboratories. Statistical analysis was used to (1) assess the data quality without using size distribution reference models, (2) determine reference model parameters for different size distribution reference models and non-linear regression fitting methods and (3) assess the measurement uncertainty of a size distribution parameter by using its coefficient of variation. The interlaboratory area-equivalent diameter mean, 27.6 nm ± 2.4 nm (computed based on a normal distribution), was quite similar to the area-equivalent diameter, 27.6 nm, assigned to NIST RM8012. The lognormal reference model was the preferred choice for these particle size distributions as, for all laboratories, its parameters had lower relative standard errors (RSEs) than the other size distribution reference models tested (normal, Weibull and Rosin–Rammler–Bennett). The RSEs for the fitted standard deviations were two orders of magnitude higher than those for the fitted means, suggesting that most of the parameter estimate errors were associated with estimating the breadth of the distributions. The coefficients of variation for the interlaboratory statistics also confirmed the lognormal reference model as the preferred choice. From quasi-linear plots, the typical range for good fits between the model and cumulative number-based distributions was 1.9 fitted standard deviations less than the mean to 2.3 fitted standard deviations above the mean. Automated image capture, automated particle analysis and statistical evaluation of the data and fitting coefficients provide a framework for assessing nanoparticle size distributions using TEM for image acquisition. PMID:26361398

Optimal consistency in microRNA expression analysis using reference-gene-based normalization.

PubMed

Wang, Xi; Gardiner, Erin J; Cairns, Murray J

2015-05-01

Normalization of high-throughput molecular expression profiles secures differential expression analysis between samples of different phenotypes or biological conditions, and facilitates comparison between experimental batches. While the same general principles apply to microRNA (miRNA) normalization, there is mounting evidence that global shifts in their expression patterns occur in specific circumstances, which pose a challenge for normalizing miRNA expression data. As an alternative to global normalization, which has the propensity to flatten large trends, normalization against constitutively expressed reference genes presents an advantage through their relative independence. Here we investigated the performance of reference-gene-based (RGB) normalization for differential miRNA expression analysis of microarray expression data, and compared the results with other normalization methods, including: quantile, variance stabilization, robust spline, simple scaling, rank invariant, and Loess regression. The comparative analyses were executed using miRNA expression in tissue samples derived from subjects with schizophrenia and non-psychiatric controls. We proposed a consistency criterion for evaluating methods by examining the overlapping of differentially expressed miRNAs detected using different partitions of the whole data. Based on this criterion, we found that RGB normalization generally outperformed global normalization methods. Thus we recommend the application of RGB normalization for miRNA expression data sets, and believe that this will yield a more consistent and useful readout of differentially expressed miRNAs, particularly in biological conditions characterized by large shifts in miRNA expression.

Establishment of reference values in a healthy population and interpretation of serum PTH concentrations in hemodialyzed patients according to the KDIGO Guidelines using the Lumipulse® G whole PTH (3rd generation) assay.

PubMed

Cavalier, Etienne; Salsé, Margot; Dupuy, Anne-Marie; Bargnoux, Anne-Sophie; Watar, Florence; Souberbielle, Jean-Claude; Delanaye, Pierre; Cristol, Jean-Paul

2018-04-01

3rd generation PTH assays only detect the bioactive 1-84 fragment. Since standardization is still lacking, each new PTH assay requires to establish reference values and to assess the impact in the medical care of the mineral and bone disorders in hemodialyzed patients. Using Fujirebio Lumipulse G wPTH assay, serum PTH levels were measured in a population of 439 healthy subjects from France and Belgium PTH levels were also determined in 119 hemodialyzed patients. These patients were classified according to the KDIGO recommendation. Reference range was found to be 6.5 (90%CI: 6.0-7.0) - 41.8 (90% CI: 38.1-43.7). In hemodialysis patients, Passing-Bablock regression between 3rd generation PTH from Fujirebio and DiaSorin was DiaSorin = 1.01 xFujirebio-2.4 with a slope not different from 1.0(95%CI: 0.96-1.04) and a non-significant intercept, ranging from -6.0 to 0.1. Hemodialysis patients with a PTH concentration below 2-fold the Upper Limit of Normality (ULN), within the KDIGO range and upper 9-fold upper limit were respectively 33.6%, 54.6%, 11.8% (Fujirebio Lumipulse) and 36.1%, 51.3% and 12.6% (Diasorin Liaison). We determined a reference range with the 3rd generation PTH assay from Fujirebio. In a hemodialysis population, 3rd generation assays from Fujirebio and DiaSorin provide similar results. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that we can show similar PTH results obtained by 2 different 3rd generation PTH assays in healthy subjects and hemodialyzed patients without mathematically processing them. Copyright © 2018 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Insulin resistance in obesity can be reliably identified from fasting plasma insulin.

PubMed

ter Horst, K W; Gilijamse, P W; Koopman, K E; de Weijer, B A; Brands, M; Kootte, R S; Romijn, J A; Ackermans, M T; Nieuwdorp, M; Soeters, M R; Serlie, M J

2015-12-01

Insulin resistance is the major contributor to cardiometabolic complications of obesity. We aimed to (1) establish cutoff points for insulin resistance from euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps (EHCs), (2) identify insulin-resistant obese subjects and (3) predict insulin resistance from routinely measured variables. We assembled data from non-obese (n=112) and obese (n=100) men who underwent two-step EHCs using [6,6-(2)H2]glucose as tracer (insulin infusion dose 20 and 60 mU m(-2) min(-1), respectively). Reference ranges for hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity were calculated from healthy non-obese men. Based on these reference values, obese men with preserved insulin sensitivity or insulin resistance were identified. Cutoff points for insulin-mediated suppression of endogenous glucose production (EGP) and insulin-stimulated glucose disappearance rate (Rd) were 46.5% and 37.3 μmol kg(-)(1) min(-)(1), respectively. Most obese men (78%) had EGP suppression within the reference range, whereas only 12% of obese men had Rd within the reference range. Obese men with Rd <37.3 μmol kg(-1) min(-1) did not differ from insulin-sensitive obese men in age, body mass index (BMI), body composition, fasting glucose or cholesterol, but did have higher fasting insulin (110±49 vs 63±29 pmol l(-1), P<0.001) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (4.5±2.2 vs 2.7±1.4, P=0.004). Insulin-resistant obese men could be identified with good sensitivity (80%) and specificity (75%) from fasting insulin >74 pmol l(-1). Most obese men have hepatic insulin sensitivity within the range of non-obese controls, but below-normal peripheral insulin sensitivity, that is, insulin resistance. Fasting insulin (>74 pmol l(-1) with current insulin immunoassay) may be used for identification of insulin-resistant (or metabolically unhealthy) obese men in research and clinical settings.

Baseline reference range for trace metal concentrations in whole blood of wild and managed West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Florida and Belize

USGS Publications Warehouse

Takeuchi, Noel Y.; Walsh, Michael T; Bonde, Robert K.; Powell, James A.; Bass, Dean A.; Gaspard, Joseph C.; Barber, David S.

2016-01-01

The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is exposed to a number of anthropogenic influences, including metals, as they inhabit shallow waters with close proximity to shore. While maintaining homeostasis of many metals is crucial for health, there is currently no baseline reference range that can be used to make clinical and environmental decisions for this endangered species. In this study, whole blood samples from 151 manatees were collected during health assessments performed in Florida and Belize from 2008 through 2011. Whole blood samples (n = 37) from managed care facilities in Florida and Belize from 2009 through 2011 were also used in this study. The concentrations of 17 metals in whole blood were determined, and the data were used to derive a baseline reference range. Impacts of capture location, age, and sex on whole blood metal concentrations were examined. Location and age were related to copper concentrations as values were significantly higher in habitats near urban areas and in calves. Copper may also be a husbandry concern as concentrations were significantly higher in managed manatees (1.17 ± 0.04 ppm) than wild manatees (0.73 ± 0.02 ppm). Zinc (11.20 ± 0.30 ppm) was of special interest as normal concentrations were two to five times higher than other marine mammal species. Arsenic concentrations were higher in Belize (0.43 ± 0.07 ppm), with Placencia Lagoon having twice the concentration of Belize City and Southern Lagoon. Selenium concentrations were lower (0.18 ± 0.09 ppm) than in other marine mammal species. The lowest selenium concentrations were observed in rehabilitating and managed manatees which may warrant additional monitoring in managed care facilities. The established preliminary baseline reference range can be used by clinicians, biologists, and managers to monitor the health of West Indian manatees.

Identification of Appropriate Reference Genes for Normalization of miRNA Expression in Grafted Watermelon Plants under Different Nutrient Stresses

PubMed Central

Wu, Weifang; Deng, Qin; Shi, Pibiao; Yang, Jinghua; Hu, Zhongyuan; Zhang, Mingfang

2016-01-01

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a globally important crop belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. The grafting technique is commonly used to improve its tolerance to stress, as well as to enhance its nutrient uptake and utilization. It is believed that miRNA is most likely involved in its nutrient-starvation response as a graft-transportable signal. The quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction is the preferred method for miRNA functional analysis, in which reliable reference genes for normalization are crucial to ensure the accuracy. The purpose of this study was to select appropriate reference genes in scion (watermelon) and rootstocks (squash and bottle gourd) of grafted watermelon plants under normal growth conditions and nutrient stresses (nitrogen and phosphorus starvation). Under nutrient starvation, geNorm identified miR167c and miR167f as two most stable genes in both watermelon leaves and squash roots. miR166b was recommended by both geNorm and NormFinder as the best reference in bottle gourd roots under nutrient limitation. Expression of a new Cucurbitaceae miRNA, miR85, was used to validate the reliability of candidate reference genes under nutrient starvation. Moreover, by comparing several target genes expression in qRT-PCR analysis with those in RNA-seq data, miR166b and miR167c were proved to be the most suitable reference genes to normalize miRNA expression under normal growth condition in scion and rootstock tissues, respectively. This study represents the first comprehensive survey of the stability of miRNA reference genes in Cucurbitaceae and provides valuable information for investigating more accurate miRNA expression involving grafted watermelon plants. PMID:27749935

Identification of Appropriate Reference Genes for Normalization of miRNA Expression in Grafted Watermelon Plants under Different Nutrient Stresses.

PubMed

Wu, Weifang; Deng, Qin; Shi, Pibiao; Yang, Jinghua; Hu, Zhongyuan; Zhang, Mingfang

2016-01-01

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a globally important crop belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. The grafting technique is commonly used to improve its tolerance to stress, as well as to enhance its nutrient uptake and utilization. It is believed that miRNA is most likely involved in its nutrient-starvation response as a graft-transportable signal. The quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction is the preferred method for miRNA functional analysis, in which reliable reference genes for normalization are crucial to ensure the accuracy. The purpose of this study was to select appropriate reference genes in scion (watermelon) and rootstocks (squash and bottle gourd) of grafted watermelon plants under normal growth conditions and nutrient stresses (nitrogen and phosphorus starvation). Under nutrient starvation, geNorm identified miR167c and miR167f as two most stable genes in both watermelon leaves and squash roots. miR166b was recommended by both geNorm and NormFinder as the best reference in bottle gourd roots under nutrient limitation. Expression of a new Cucurbitaceae miRNA, miR85, was used to validate the reliability of candidate reference genes under nutrient starvation. Moreover, by comparing several target genes expression in qRT-PCR analysis with those in RNA-seq data, miR166b and miR167c were proved to be the most suitable reference genes to normalize miRNA expression under normal growth condition in scion and rootstock tissues, respectively. This study represents the first comprehensive survey of the stability of miRNA reference genes in Cucurbitaceae and provides valuable information for investigating more accurate miRNA expression involving grafted watermelon plants.

The use of laser microdissection in the identification of suitable reference genes for normalization of quantitative real-time PCR in human FFPE epithelial ovarian tissue samples.

PubMed

Cai, Jing; Li, Tao; Huang, Bangxing; Cheng, Henghui; Ding, Hui; Dong, Weihong; Xiao, Man; Liu, Ling; Wang, Zehua

2014-01-01

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is a powerful and reproducible method of gene expression analysis in which expression levels are quantified by normalization against reference genes. Therefore, to investigate the potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for epithelial ovarian cancer by qPCR, it is critical to identify stable reference genes. In this study, twelve housekeeping genes (ACTB, GAPDH, 18S rRNA, GUSB, PPIA, PBGD, PUM1, TBP, HRPT1, RPLP0, RPL13A, and B2M) were analyzed in 50 ovarian samples from normal, benign, borderline, and malignant tissues. For reliable results, laser microdissection (LMD), an effective technique used to prepare homogeneous starting material, was utilized to precisely excise target tissues or cells. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and nonparametric (Kruskal-Wallis) tests were used to compare the expression differences. NormFinder and geNorm software were employed to further validate the suitability and stability of the candidate genes. Results showed that epithelial cells occupied a small percentage of the normal ovary indeed. The expression of ACTB, PPIA, RPL13A, RPLP0, and TBP were stable independent of the disease progression. In addition, NormFinder and geNorm identified the most stable combination (ACTB, PPIA, RPLP0, and TBP) and the relatively unstable reference gene GAPDH from the twelve commonly used housekeeping genes. Our results highlight the use of homogeneous ovarian tissues and multiple-reference normalization strategy, e.g. the combination of ACTB, PPIA, RPLP0, and TBP, for qPCR in epithelial ovarian tissues, whereas GAPDH, the most commonly used reference gene, is not recommended, especially as a single reference gene.

Reference Intervals of Common Clinical Chemistry Analytes for Adults in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Lo, Y C; Armbruster, David A

2012-04-01

Defining reference intervals is a major challenge because of the difficulty in recruiting volunteers to participate and testing samples from a significant number of healthy reference individuals. Historical literature citation intervals are often suboptimal because they're be based on obsolete methods and/or only a small number of poorly defined reference samples. Blood donors in Hong Kong gave permission for additional blood to be collected for reference interval testing. The samples were tested for twenty-five routine analytes on the Abbott ARCHITECT clinical chemistry system. Results were analyzed using the Rhoads EP evaluator software program, which is based on the CLSI/IFCC C28-A guideline, and defines the reference interval as the 95% central range. Method specific reference intervals were established for twenty-five common clinical chemistry analytes for a Chinese ethnic population. The intervals were defined for each gender separately and for genders combined. Gender specific or combined gender intervals were adapted as appropriate for each analyte. A large number of healthy, apparently normal blood donors from a local ethnic population were tested to provide current reference intervals for a new clinical chemistry system. Intervals were determined following an accepted international guideline. Laboratories using the same or similar methodologies may adapt these intervals if deemed validated and deemed suitable for their patient population. Laboratories using different methodologies may be able to successfully adapt the intervals for their facilities using the reference interval transference technique based on a method comparison study.

Whole Blood Cholinesterase Activity in 20 Species of Wild Birds.

PubMed

Horowitz, Igal H; Yanco, Esty G; Landau, Shmulik; Nadler-Valency, Rona; Anglister, Nili; Bueller-Rosenzweig, Ariela; Apelbom-Halbersberg, Tal; Cuneah, Olga; Hanji, Vera; Bellaiche, Michel

2016-06-01

Clinical signs of organophosphate and carbamate intoxication in wild birds can be mistaken for those of other diseases, thus potentially delaying diagnosis and implementation of life-saving treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the reference interval for blood cholinesterase activity in 20 different wild avian species from 7 different orders, thereby compiling a reference database for wildlife veterinarians. Blood was collected from birds not suspected of having organophosphate or carbamate toxicosis, and the modified Michel method, which determines the change in blood pH that directly correlates with cholinesterase activity, was used to measure blood cholinesterase levels. Results of change in blood pH values ranged from 0.11 for the white-tailed eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla ) to 0.90 for the honey buzzard ( Pernis apivorus ). The results showed that even within the same family, interspecies differences in normal cholinesterase blood activity were not uncommon. The findings emphasized the importance of determining reference intervals for avian blood cholinesterase activity at the species level.

Static renewal tests using Anodonta imbecillus (freshwater mussels). Anodonta imbecillis copper sulfate reference toxicant test, Clinch River-Environmental Restoration Program (CR-ERP)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Simbeck, D.J.

1993-12-31

Reference toxicant testing using juvenile freshwater mussels was conducted as part of the CR-ERP biomonitoring study of Clinch River sediments to assess the sensitivity of test organisms and the overall performance of the test. Tests were conducted using moderately hard synthetic water spiked with known concentrations of copper as copper sulfate. Toxicity testing of copper sulfate reference toxicant was conducted from May 12--21, 1993. The organisms used for testing were juvenile fresh-water mussels (Anodonta imbecillis). Results from this test showed an LC{sub 50} value of 1.12 mg Cu/L which is lower than the value of 2.02 mg Cu/L obtained inmore » a previous test. Too few tests have been conducted with copper as the toxicant to determine a normal range of values. Attachments to this report include: Toxicity test bench sheets and statistical analyses; Copper analysis request and results; and Personnel training documentation.« less

Diagnostic Usefulness of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 in Children with Suspected Pituitary Dwarfism.

PubMed

Zelazowska-Rutkowska, Beata; Trusiak, Marta; Bossowski, Artur; Cylwik, Bogdan

2018-05-01

Pituitary dwarfism (also known as short stature) is a medical condition in which the pituitary gland does not produce enough growth hormone (GH). To confirm the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency the overnight profile of GH secretion and GH provocative tests are usually performed; however, due to wide GH fluctuations throughout the day and night and the invasiveness of stimulation tests, their clinical utility is limited. Therefore, screening for IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) and IGFBP-3 (insulin-like growth factor binding protein type 3) is proposed, suggesting that these tests provide a more accurate reflection of the mean plasma GH level, although the results of these tests are still problematic. In this context, the aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic usefulness of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in children with suspected pituitary dwarfism. Studies were carried out in 127 children with abnormal growth and low spontaneous 24-hour plasma GH profiles and abnormal results of GH stimulation tests. Fasting serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were determined by chemiluminescent quantitative measurement using the IMMULITE 1000 IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 kits (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, United Kingdom) on the IMMULITE 1000 analyzer (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, USA). Results were compared to the normal range by children's age. Mean serum IGF-1 concentrations were within the lower normal range (41.7% cases), and 58.3% results were below the normal reference range in the study group. The average serum IGFBP-3 levels were within the lower normal range. We conclude that IGF-1 test can be a useful tool in the diagnosis of pituitary dwarfism in children suspected of this condition, but due to relatively poor sensitivity the testing cannot be performed alone, but in combination with other tests. The IGFBP-3 test is not useful for the diagnosis of this disease.

Credibility of the measurement of serum ferritin and transferrin receptor as indicators of iron deficiency anemia in hemodialysis patients.

PubMed

Mahdavi, M R; Makhlough, A; Kosaryan, M; Roshan, P

2011-10-01

Anemia is a common complication in uremic patients. Erythropoietin therapy is prescribed in these cases; however, this treatment is not successful in iron deficient patients. Ferritin-based diagnosis of iron deficiency in these patients is a challenging task, as serum ferritin level may be high due to chronic inflammation and mask iron deficiency. In the current study we evaluated the credibility of another indicator of body iron supply, serum transferrin receptor, in hemodialysis patients in two University-based Hospitals in North of Iran. In a cross-sectional study, 53 hemodialysis patients with a mean age of 56 +/- 18.7 years and 30 persons with iron deficiency and normal renal function with a mean age of 20.1 +/- 14.4 years were examined. All hemodialysis patients were on hemodialysis 2-3 times per week for 3-4 hours. All cases were examined for blood hemoglobin content, serum iron, CRP, serum ferritin and serum transferrin receptor levels. The reference ranges introduced by manufacturers were considered as standard ranges for analysis of the results. Using one sample T-test and Fisher's exact test, data were analyzed. p<0.05 was considered as significant. Hemodialysis patients had blood hemoglobin content below normal range (p<0.05 for men, p<0.001 for women) and CRP levels above normal range (p<0.001). In hemodialysis patients, serum ferritin level was significantly higher than control group (p<0.001), whilst serum transferrin receptor levels in the two groups were not significantly different (p=0.69), and both were above defined normal upper limit (p<0.001 for iron deficient patients; p<0.05 for hemodialysis patients). This study showed measurement of serum ferritin in the presence of chronic inflammation induced by renal failure cannot be a credible indicator of body iron supply, while under this certain condition serum transferrin receptor can more appropriately reflect the amount of body iron supply.

Reference Values of Impulse Oscillometric Lung Function Indices in Adults of Advanced Age

PubMed Central

Schulz, Holger; Flexeder, Claudia; Behr, Jürgen; Heier, Margit; Holle, Rolf; Huber, Rudolf M.; Jörres, Rudolf A.; Nowak, Dennis; Peters, Annette; Wichmann, H.-Erich; Heinrich, Joachim; Karrasch, Stefan

2013-01-01

Background Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a non-demanding lung function test. Its diagnostic use may be particularly useful in patients of advanced age with physical or mental limitations unable to perform spirometry. Only few reference equations are available for Caucasians, none of them covering the old age. Here, we provide reference equations up to advanced age and compare them with currently available equations. Methods IOS was performed in a population-based sample of 1990 subjects, aged 45–91 years, from KORA cohorts (Augsburg, Germany). From those, 397 never-smoking, lung healthy subjects with normal spirometry were identified and sex-specific quantile regression models with age, height and body weight as predictors for respiratory system impedance, resistance, reactance, and other parameters of IOS applied. Results Women (n = 243) showed higher resistance values than men (n = 154), while reactance at low frequencies (up to 20 Hz) was lower (p<0.05). A significant age dependency was observed for the difference between resistance values at 5 Hz and 20 Hz (R5–R20), the integrated area of low-frequency reactance (AX), and resonant frequency (Fres) in both sexes whereas reactance at 5 Hz (X5) was age dependent only in females. In the healthy subjects (n = 397), mean differences between observed values and predictions for resistance (5 Hz and 20 Hz) and reactance (5 Hz) ranged between −1% and 5% when using the present model. In contrast, differences based on the currently applied equations (Vogel & Smidt 1994) ranged between −34% and 76%. Regarding our equations the indices were beyond the limits of normal in 8.1% to 18.6% of the entire KORA cohort (n = 1990), and in 0.7% to 9.4% with the currently applied equations. Conclusions Our study provides up-to-date reference equations for IOS in Caucasians aged 45 to 85 years. We suggest the use of the present equations particularly in advanced age in order to detect airway dysfunction. PMID:23691036

Prenatal diagnosis of LAD-I on cord blood by flowcytometry.

PubMed

Madkaikar, Manisha Rajan; Gupta, Maya; Rao, Meghana; Ghosh, Kanjaksha

2012-12-01

To optimize a simple flowcytometric technique for Prenatal diagnosis (PND) for Leukocyte adhesions defect (LAD-I) on cordocentesis sample at 18 wk gestation. Normal reference ranges for expression of CD18/CD11-integrins in neutrophils and lymphocytes at 18 wk of gestation were established by flowcytometry. PND for LAD-I was then performed on the cordocentesis samples in three 'at risk' pregnancies after ruling out maternal contamination. CD18 and CD11a expression on fetal lymphocytes were found to be the most useful parameters for PND of LAD-I. All the three fetuses tested showed normal expression of CD18/CD11-integrins and thus were unaffected. This was confirmed by testing the cord blood (CB) samples after delivery and normal growth and absence of serious infections on follow-up. Flowcytometry offers a rapid and sensitive technique for PND of LAD-I in the absence of facilities for molecular diagnosis. Obstetricians, even in developing countries with modest facilities, can offer considerable relief for the families.

Biomechanics of normal and pathological gait: implications for understanding human locomotor control.

PubMed

Winter, D A

1989-12-01

The biomechanical (kinetic) analysis of human gait reveals the integrated and detailed motor patterns that are essential in pinpointing the abnormal patterns in pathological gait. In a similar manner, these motor patterns (moments, powers, and EMGs) can be used to identify synergies and to validate theories of CNS control. Based on kinetic and EMG patterns for a wide range of normal subjects and cadences, evidence is presented that both supports and negates the central pattern generator theory of locomotion. Adaptive motor patterns that are evident in peripheral gait pathologies reinforce a strong peripheral rather than a central control. Finally, a three-component subtask theory of human gait is presented and is supported by reference to the motor patterns seen in a normal gait. The identified subtasks are (a) support (against collapse during stance); (b) dynamic balance of the upper body, also during stance; and (c) feedforward control of the foot trajectory to achieve safe ground clearance and a gentle heel contact.

A novel ultrasound technique for detection of osteochondral defects in the ankle joint: a parametric and feasibility study.

PubMed

Sarkalkan, Nazli; Loeve, Arjo J; van Dongen, Koen W A; Tuijthof, Gabrielle J M; Zadpoor, Amir A

2014-12-24

(Osteo)chondral defects (OCDs) in the ankle are currently diagnosed with modalities that are not convenient to use in long-term follow-ups. Ultrasound (US) imaging, which is a cost-effective and non-invasive alternative, has limited ability to discriminate OCDs. We aim to develop a new diagnostic technique based on US wave propagation through the ankle joint. The presence of OCDs is identified when a US signal deviates from a reference signal associated with the healthy joint. The feasibility of the proposed technique is studied using experimentally-validated 2D finite-difference time-domain models of the ankle joint. The normalized maximum cross correlation of experiments and simulation was 0.97. Effects of variables relevant to the ankle joint, US transducers and OCDs were evaluated. Variations in joint space width and transducer orientation made noticeable alterations to the reference signal: normalized root mean square error ranged from 6.29% to 65.25% and from 19.59% to 8064.2%, respectively. The results suggest that the new technique could be used for detection of OCDs, if the effects of other parameters (i.e., parameters related to the ankle joint and US transducers) can be reduced.

Nonequilibrium radiation and chemistry models for aerocapture vehicle flowfields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carlson, Leland A.

1993-01-01

The period from Jan. 1993 thru Aug. 1993 is covered. The primary tasks during this period were the development of a single and multi-vibrational temperature preferential vibration-dissociation coupling model, the development of a normal shock nonequilibrium radiation-gasdynamic coupling model based upon the blunt body model, and the comparison of results obtained with these models with experimental data. In addition, an extensive series of computations were conducted using the blunt body model to develop a set of reference results covering a wide range of vehicle sizes, altitudes, and entry velocities.

Selection and Validation of Reference Genes for qRT-PCR Expression Analysis of Candidate Genes Involved in Olfactory Communication in the Butterfly Bicyclus anynana

PubMed Central

Arun, Alok; Baumlé, Véronique; Amelot, Gaël; Nieberding, Caroline M.

2015-01-01

Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is a technique widely used to quantify the transcriptional expression level of candidate genes. qRT-PCR requires the selection of one or several suitable reference genes, whose expression profiles remain stable across conditions, to normalize the qRT-PCR expression profiles of candidate genes. Although several butterfly species (Lepidoptera) have become important models in molecular evolutionary ecology, so far no study aimed at identifying reference genes for accurate data normalization for any butterfly is available. The African bush brown butterfly Bicyclus anynana has drawn considerable attention owing to its suitability as a model for evolutionary ecology, and we here provide a maiden extensive study to identify suitable reference gene in this species. We monitored the expression profile of twelve reference genes: eEF-1α, FK506, UBQL40, RpS8, RpS18, HSP, GAPDH, VATPase, ACT3, TBP, eIF2 and G6PD. We tested the stability of their expression profiles in three different tissues (wings, brains, antennae), two developmental stages (pupal and adult) and two sexes (male and female), all of which were subjected to two food treatments (food stress and control feeding ad libitum). The expression stability and ranking of twelve reference genes was assessed using two algorithm-based methods, NormFinder and geNorm. Both methods identified RpS8 as the best suitable reference gene for expression data normalization. We also showed that the use of two reference genes is sufficient to effectively normalize the qRT-PCR data under varying tissues and experimental conditions that we used in B. anynana. Finally, we tested the effect of choosing reference genes with different stability on the normalization of the transcript abundance of a candidate gene involved in olfactory communication in B. anynana, the Fatty Acyl Reductase 2, and we confirmed that using an unstable reference gene can drastically alter the expression profile of the target candidate genes. PMID:25793735

Selection and validation of reference genes for qRT-PCR expression analysis of candidate genes involved in olfactory communication in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana.

PubMed

Arun, Alok; Baumlé, Véronique; Amelot, Gaël; Nieberding, Caroline M

2015-01-01

Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is a technique widely used to quantify the transcriptional expression level of candidate genes. qRT-PCR requires the selection of one or several suitable reference genes, whose expression profiles remain stable across conditions, to normalize the qRT-PCR expression profiles of candidate genes. Although several butterfly species (Lepidoptera) have become important models in molecular evolutionary ecology, so far no study aimed at identifying reference genes for accurate data normalization for any butterfly is available. The African bush brown butterfly Bicyclus anynana has drawn considerable attention owing to its suitability as a model for evolutionary ecology, and we here provide a maiden extensive study to identify suitable reference gene in this species. We monitored the expression profile of twelve reference genes: eEF-1α, FK506, UBQL40, RpS8, RpS18, HSP, GAPDH, VATPase, ACT3, TBP, eIF2 and G6PD. We tested the stability of their expression profiles in three different tissues (wings, brains, antennae), two developmental stages (pupal and adult) and two sexes (male and female), all of which were subjected to two food treatments (food stress and control feeding ad libitum). The expression stability and ranking of twelve reference genes was assessed using two algorithm-based methods, NormFinder and geNorm. Both methods identified RpS8 as the best suitable reference gene for expression data normalization. We also showed that the use of two reference genes is sufficient to effectively normalize the qRT-PCR data under varying tissues and experimental conditions that we used in B. anynana. Finally, we tested the effect of choosing reference genes with different stability on the normalization of the transcript abundance of a candidate gene involved in olfactory communication in B. anynana, the Fatty Acyl Reductase 2, and we confirmed that using an unstable reference gene can drastically alter the expression profile of the target candidate genes.

Hip strength and range of motion: Normal values from a professional football league.

PubMed

Mosler, Andrea B; Crossley, Kay M; Thorborg, Kristian; Whiteley, Rod J; Weir, Adam; Serner, Andreas; Hölmich, Per

2017-04-01

To determine the normal profiles for hip strength and range of motion (ROM) in a professional football league in Qatar, and examine the effect of leg dominance, age, past history of injury, and ethnicity on these profiles. Cross-sectional cohort study. Participants included 394 asymptomatic, male professional football players, aged 18-40 years. Strength was measured using a hand held dynamometer with an eccentric test in side-lying for hip adduction and abduction, and the squeeze test in supine with 45° hip flexion. Range of motion measures included: hip internal and external rotation in 90° flexion, hip IR in prone, bent knee fall out and hip abduction in side-lying. Demographic information was collected and the effect on the profiles was analysed using linear mixed models with repeated measures. Strength values (mean±SD) were: adduction=3.0±0.6Nm/kg, abduction=2.6±0.4Nm/kg, adduction/abduction ratio=1.2±0.2, Squeeze test=3.6±0.8N/kg. Range of motion values: internal rotation in flexion=32±8°, external rotation=38±8°, internal rotation in prone=38±8°, bent knee fall out=13±4.4cm, abduction in side-lying=50±7.3°. Leg dominance had no clinically relevant effect on these profiles. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age had a minor influence on squeeze strength (-0.03N/kg/year), external rotation (-0.30°/year) and abduction range (-0.19°/year) but past history of injury, and ethnicity did not. Normal values are documented for hip strength and range of motion that can be used as reference profiles in the clinical assessment, screening, and management of professional football players. Leg dominance, recent past injury history and ethnicity do not need to be accounted for when using these profiles for comparison purposes. Copyright © 2016 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Audiometric Characteristics of Hyperacusis Patients

PubMed Central

Sheldrake, Jacqueline; Diehl, Peter U.; Schaette, Roland

2015-01-01

Hyperacusis is a frequent auditory disorder where sounds of normal volume are perceived as too loud or even painfully loud. There is a high degree of co-morbidity between hyperacusis and tinnitus, most hyperacusis patients also have tinnitus, but only about 30–40% of tinnitus patients also show symptoms of hyperacusis. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of hyperacusis, detailed measurements of loudness discomfort levels (LDLs) across the hearing range would be desirable. However, previous studies have only reported LDLs for a restricted frequency range, e.g., from 0.5 to 4 kHz or from 1 to 8 kHz. We have measured audiograms and LDLs in 381 patients with a primary complaint of hyperacusis for the full standard audiometric frequency range from 0.125 to 8 kHz. On average, patients had mild high-frequency hearing loss, but more than a third of the tested ears had normal hearing thresholds (HTs), i.e., ≤20 dB HL. LDLs were found to be significantly decreased compared to a normal-hearing reference group, with average values around 85 dB HL across the frequency range. However, receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that LDL measurements are neither sensitive nor specific enough to serve as a single test for hyperacusis. There was a moderate positive correlation between HTs and LDLs (r = 0.36), i.e., LDLs tended to be higher at frequencies where hearing loss was present, suggesting that hyperacusis is unlikely to be caused by HT increase, in contrast to tinnitus for which hearing loss is a main trigger. Moreover, our finding that LDLs are decreased across the full range of audiometric frequencies, regardless of the pattern or degree of hearing loss, indicates that hyperacusis might be due to a generalized increase in auditory gain. Tinnitus on the other hand is thought to be caused by neuroplastic changes in a restricted frequency range, suggesting that tinnitus and hyperacusis might not share a common mechanism. PMID:26029161

Serum creatine kinase after exercise: drawing the line between physiological response and exertional rhabdomyolysis.

PubMed

Kenney, Kimbra; Landau, Mark E; Gonzalez, Rodney S; Hundertmark, Julie; O'Brien, Karen; Campbell, William W

2012-03-01

In this investigation we assessed the spectrum of creatine kinase (CK) responses in military recruits undergoing basic training. Musculoskeletal examination data, questionnaire findings, and CK levels were obtained from 499 recruits at days 0, 3, 7, and 14 of training. Correlations of CK with ethnicity, age, body mass index, exercise, muscle pain, and climate were obtained. None of the subjects developed clinical exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER). The mean/median serum CK values were 223/157, 734/478, 1226/567, and 667/486 IU/L at days 0, 3, 7, and 14, respectively, with a wide overall range (34-35,056 IU/L). African-American subjects had higher mean CK levels. CK elevations and muscle pain are common during basic training. Widely accepted laboratory diagnostic values for ER are routinely exceeded in this military recruits, suggesting that CK levels >50 times the upper limit of normal are more specific. The findings support using CK as a marker for ER. Normal laboratory reference ranges for CK should be published by ethnicity. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The normal-equivalent: a patient-specific assessment of facial harmony.

PubMed

Claes, P; Walters, M; Gillett, D; Vandermeulen, D; Clement, J G; Suetens, P

2013-09-01

Evidence-based practice in oral and maxillofacial surgery would greatly benefit from an objective assessment of facial harmony or gestalt. Normal reference faces have previously been introduced, but they describe harmony in facial form as an average only and fail to report on harmonic variations found between non-dysmorphic faces. In this work, facial harmony, in all its complexity, is defined using a face-space, which describes all possible variations within a non-dysmorphic population; this was sampled here, based on 400 healthy subjects. Subsequently, dysmorphometrics, which involves the measurement of morphological abnormalities, is employed to construct the normal-equivalent within the given face-space of a presented dysmorphic face. The normal-equivalent can be seen as a synthetic identical but unaffected twin that is a patient-specific and population-based normal. It is used to extract objective scores of facial discordancy. This technique, along with a comparing approach, was used on healthy subjects to establish ranges of discordancy that are accepted to be normal, as well as on two patient examples before and after surgical intervention. The specificity of the presented normal-equivalent approach was confirmed by correctly attributing abnormality and providing regional depictions of the known dysmorphologies. Furthermore, it proved to be superior to the comparing approach. Copyright © 2013 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Careful Selection of Reference Genes Is Required for Reliable Performance of RT-qPCR in Human Normal and Cancer Cell Lines

PubMed Central

Jacob, Francis; Guertler, Rea; Naim, Stephanie; Nixdorf, Sheri; Fedier, André; Hacker, Neville F.; Heinzelmann-Schwarz, Viola

2013-01-01

Reverse Transcription - quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) is a standard technique in most laboratories. The selection of reference genes is essential for data normalization and the selection of suitable reference genes remains critical. Our aim was to 1) review the literature since implementation of the MIQE guidelines in order to identify the degree of acceptance; 2) compare various algorithms in their expression stability; 3) identify a set of suitable and most reliable reference genes for a variety of human cancer cell lines. A PubMed database review was performed and publications since 2009 were selected. Twelve putative reference genes were profiled in normal and various cancer cell lines (n = 25) using 2-step RT-qPCR. Investigated reference genes were ranked according to their expression stability by five algorithms (geNorm, Normfinder, BestKeeper, comparative ΔCt, and RefFinder). Our review revealed 37 publications, with two thirds patient samples and one third cell lines. qPCR efficiency was given in 68.4% of all publications, but only 28.9% of all studies provided RNA/cDNA amount and standard curves. GeNorm and Normfinder algorithms were used in 60.5% in combination. In our selection of 25 cancer cell lines, we identified HSPCB, RRN18S, and RPS13 as the most stable expressed reference genes. In the subset of ovarian cancer cell lines, the reference genes were PPIA, RPS13 and SDHA, clearly demonstrating the necessity to select genes depending on the research focus. Moreover, a cohort of at least three suitable reference genes needs to be established in advance to the experiments, according to the guidelines. For establishing a set of reference genes for gene normalization we recommend the use of ideally three reference genes selected by at least three stability algorithms. The unfortunate lack of compliance to the MIQE guidelines reflects that these need to be further established in the research community. PMID:23554992

IDLN-MSP: Idiolocal normalization of real-time methylation-specific PCR for genetic imbalanced DNA specimens.

PubMed

Santourlidis, Simeon; Ghanjati, Foued; Beermann, Agnes; Hermanns, Thomas; Poyet, Cédric

2016-02-01

Sensitive, accurate, and reliable measurements of tumor cell-specific DNA methylation changes are of fundamental importance in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring. Real-time methylation-specific PCR (MSP) using intercalating dyes is an established method of choice for this purpose. Here we present a simple but crucial adaptation of this widely applied method that overcomes a major obstacle: genetic abnormalities in the DNA samples, such as aneuploidy or copy number variations, that could result in inaccurate results due to improper normalization if the copy numbers of the target and reference sequences are not the same. In our idiolocal normalization (IDLN) method, the locus for the normalizing, methylation-independent reference amplification is chosen close to the locus of the methylation-dependent target amplification. This ensures that the copy numbers of both the target and reference sequences will be identical in most cases if they are close enough to each other, resulting in accurate normalization and reliable comparative measurements of DNA methylation in clinical samples when using real-time MSP.

Oxygen saturation in healthy children aged 5 to 16 years residing in Huayllay, Peru at 4340 m.

PubMed

Schult, Sandra; Canelo-Aybar, Carlos

2011-01-01

Hypoxemia is a major life-threatening complication of childhood pneumonia. The threshold points for hypoxemia vary with altitude. However, few published data describe that normal range of variation. The purpose of this study was to establish reference values of normal mean Sao(2) levels and an approximate cutoff point to define hypoxemia for clinical purposes above 4300 meters above sea level (masl). Children aged 5 to 16 yr were examined during primary care visits at the Huayllay Health Center. Huayllay is a rural community located at 4340 m in the province of Pasco in the Peruvian Andes. We collected basic sociodemographic data and evaluated three outcomes: arterial oxygen saturation (Sao(2)) with a pulse oximeter, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Comparisons of main outcomes among age groups (5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-16 yr) and sex were performed using linear regression models. The correlation of Sao(2) with heart rate and respiration rate was established by Pearson's correlation test. We evaluated 583 children, of whom 386 were included in the study. The average age was 10.3 yr; 55.7% were female. The average Sao(2), heart rate, and respiratory rate were 85.7% (95% CI: 85.2-86.2), 80.4/min (95% CI: 79.0-81.9), and 19.9/min (95% CI: 19.6-20.2), respectively. Sao(2) increased with age (p < 0.001). No differences by sex were observed. The mean minus two standard deviations of Sao(2) (threshold point for hypoxemia) ranged from 73.8% to 81.8% by age group. At 4300 m, the reference values for hypoxemia may be 14.2% lower than at sea level. This difference must be considered when diagnosing hypoxemia or deciding oxygen supplementation at high altitude. Other studies are needed to determine whether this reference value is appropriate for clinical use.

Reference Standard Test and the Diagnostic Ability of Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma.

PubMed

Rao, Harsha L; Yadav, Ravi K; Addepalli, Uday K; Begum, Viquar U; Senthil, Sirisha; Choudhari, Nikhil S; Garudadri, Chandra S

2015-08-01

To evaluate the relationship between the reference standard used to diagnose glaucoma and the diagnostic ability of spectral domain optical coherence tomograph (SDOCT). In a cross-sectional study, 280 eyes of 175 consecutive subjects, referred to a tertiary eye care center for glaucoma evaluation, underwent optic disc photography, visual field (VF) examination, and SDOCT examination. The cohort was divided into glaucoma and control groups based on 3 reference standards for glaucoma diagnosis: first based on the optic disc classification (179 glaucoma and 101 control eyes), second on VF classification (glaucoma hemifield test outside normal limits and pattern SD with P-value of <5%, 130 glaucoma and 150 control eyes), and third on the presence of both glaucomatous optic disc and glaucomatous VF (125 glaucoma and 155 control eyes). Relationship between the reference standards and the diagnostic parameters of SDOCT were evaluated using areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, and specificity. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve and sensitivities of most of the SDOCT parameters obtained with the 3 reference standards (ranging from 0.74 to 0.88 and 72% to 88%, respectively) were comparable (P>0.05). However, specificities of SDOCT parameters were significantly greater (P<0.05) with optic disc classification as reference standard (74% to 88%) compared with VF classification as reference standard (57% to 74%). Diagnostic parameters of SDOCT that was significantly affected by reference standard was the specificity, which was greater with optic disc classification as the reference standard. This has to be considered when comparing the diagnostic ability of SDOCT across studies.

The skeletal consequences of thyrotoxicosis.

PubMed

Nicholls, Jonathan J; Brassill, Mary Jane; Williams, Graham R; Bassett, J H Duncan

2012-06-01

Euthyroid status is essential for normal skeletal development and the maintenance of adult bone structure and strength. Established thyrotoxicosis has long been recognised as a cause of high bone turnover osteoporosis and fracture but more recent studies have suggested that subclinical hyperthyroidism and long-term suppressive doses of thyroxine (T4) may also result in decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased risk of fragility fracture, particularly in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, large population studies of euthyroid individuals have demonstrated that a hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis set point at the upper end of the normal reference range is associated with reduced BMD and increased fracture susceptibility. Despite these findings, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of thyroid hormone action in bone remain controversial and incompletely understood. In this review, we discuss the role of thyroid hormones in bone and the skeletal consequences of hyperthyroidism.

Serum Creatinine: Not So Simple!

PubMed

Delanaye, Pierre; Cavalier, Etienne; Pottel, Hans

2017-01-01

Measuring serum creatinine is cheap and commonly done in daily practice. However, interpretation of serum creatinine results is not always easy. In this review, we will briefly remind the physiological limitations of serum creatinine due notably to its tubular secretion and the influence of muscular mass or protein intake on its concentration. We mainly focus on the analytical limitations of serum creatinine, insisting on important concept such as reference intervals, standardization (and IDMS traceability), analytical interferences, analytical coefficient of variation (CV), biological CV and critical difference. Because the relationship between serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate is hyperbolic, all these CVs will impact not only the precision of serum creatinine but still more the precision of different creatinine-based equations, especially in low or normal-low creatinine levels (or high or normal-high glomerular filtration rate range). © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Analysis of serum and cerebrospinal fluid in clinically normal adult miniature donkeys.

PubMed

Mozaffari, A A; Samadieh, H

2013-09-01

To establish reference intervals for serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters in clinically healthy adult miniature donkeys. Experiments were conducted on 10 female and 10 male clinically normal adult miniature donkeys, randomly selected from five herds. Lumbosacral CSF collection was performed with the sedated donkey in the standing position. Cell analysis was performed immediately after the samples were collected. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein immediately after CSF sample collection. Sodium, potassium, glucose, urea nitrogen, total protein, calcium, chloride, phosphorous and magnesium concentrations were measured in CSF and serum samples. A paired t-test was used to compare mean values between female and male donkeys. The CSF was uniformly clear, colourless and free from flocculent material, with a specific gravity of 1.002. The range of total nucleated cell counts was 2-4 cells/μL. The differential white cell count comprised only small lymphocytes. No erythrocytes or polymorphonuclear cells were observed on cytological examination. Reference values were obtained for biochemical analysis of serum and CSF. Gender had no effect on any variables measured in serum or CSF (p>0.05). CSF analysis can provide important information in addition to that gained by clinical examination. CSF analysis has not previously been performed in miniature donkeys; this is the first report on the subject. In the present study, reference intervals for total nucleated cell count, total protein, glucose, urea nitrogen, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorous and magnesium concentrations of serum and CSF were determined for male and female miniature donkeys.

Do mental speed and musical abilities interact?

PubMed

Gruhn, Wilfried; Galley, Niels; Kluth, Christine

2003-11-01

The relation between mental speed and musical ability was investigated. Seventeen subjects aged 3-7 years were divided into two subgroups: one (G1; n = 9) consisted of children who participated in an early childhood music program and who received informal musical guidance, but no special training; the other (G2; n = 8) consisted of highly talented young violin players who received intensive parental support and special training by daily deliberate practice. Mental and musical abilities of both groups were controlled by standardized tests (Kaufman's ABC and Gordon's PMMA) and compared with data taken from recordings of saccadic eye movement using online identification from an electrooculogram (EOG). Results of EOG measurement are referred to as "mental speed," which correlates highly with general mental abilities (intelligence). These results were compared with EOG scores taken from a larger sample of children of the same age range (n = 82) who received no music instruction. The grand average of their scores served as a reference line for mental speed, which is normally expected to be performed by an equivalent age group. Data in the two experimental groups did not differ statistically; however, all musically experienced children had a highly significant advantage in mental age (P <0.01) compared to the reference line of the normal population who did not exhibit any effect of training and practice. This indicates strong interaction between mental speed and music ability, which can be interpreted in terms of the expertise model and cognitive transfer effects.

EFFECT ON PERFUSION VALUES OF SAMPLING INTERVAL OF CT PERFUSION ACQUISITIONS IN NEUROENDOCRINE LIVER METASTASES AND NORMAL LIVER

PubMed Central

Ng, Chaan S.; Hobbs, Brian P.; Wei, Wei; Anderson, Ella F.; Herron, Delise H.; Yao, James C.; Chandler, Adam G.

2014-01-01

Objective To assess the effects of sampling interval (SI) of CT perfusion acquisitions on CT perfusion values in normal liver and liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors. Methods CT perfusion in 16 patients with neuroendocrine liver metastases were analyzed by distributed parameter modeling to yield tissue blood flow, blood volume, mean transit time, permeability, and hepatic arterial fraction, for tumor and normal liver. CT perfusion values for the reference sampling interval of 0.5s (SI0.5) were compared with those of SI datasets of 1s, 2s, 3s and 4s, using mixed-effects model analyses. Results Increases in SI beyond 1s were associated with significant and increasing departures of CT perfusion parameters from reference values at SI0.5 (p≤0.0009). CT perfusion values deviated from reference with increasing uncertainty with increasing SIs. Findings for normal liver were concordant. Conclusion Increasing SIs beyond 1s yield significantly different CT perfusion parameter values compared to reference values at SI0.5. PMID:25626401

Reference values for CSF outflow resistance and intracranial pressure in healthy elderly.

PubMed

Malm, Jan; Jacobsson, Johan; Birgander, Richard; Eklund, Anders

2011-03-08

The intracranial pressure (ICP) and CSF outflow resistance (R(out)) are essential to describe the dynamics of the CSF system. R(out) affects ICP, pulse amplitudes, CSF absorption, and the compliance of the system. The objective of this study was to determine the reference values in healthy elderly subjects. Elderly people (60-82 years), who considered themselves healthy, were recruited through an advertisement in the local newspaper. All were evaluated with a 3-T MRI. Subjects were eligible if they did not have any psychiatric or neurologic disorder or signs of advanced atherosclerotic disease. CSF resting pressure (ICP) and R(out) were determined by a constant pressure infusion method with the patient in the supine position. The study population consisted of 40 subjects (mean age 70 years; 23 women). The median ICP was 11.6 mm Hg (15.8 cmH(2)O) and the reference interval was ICP 7.8-14.3 mm Hg (10.6-19.4 cmH(2)O) (defined as 5th to 95th percentiles). The median R(out) was 8.6 mm Hg/mL/min. The variation in R(out) was large and not normally distributed. The 90th percentile of R(out) was 17.4 mm Hg/mL/min. This study reports reference values for ICP and R(out) and should be used for comparison when investigating disorders with suspected CSF dynamic disturbances in the elderly. ICP was in the same range as that reported in the young and middle-aged. The upper limit of R(out) was higher than previously believed to be the upper limit of normal for this age group.

Quality of life after percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale in patients after cryptogenic stroke compared to a normative sample.

PubMed

Mirzada, Naqibullah; Ladenvall, Per; Hansson, Per-Olof; Eriksson, Peter; Taft, Charles; Dellborg, Mikael

2018-04-15

Despite the widespread use of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients after a cryptogenic stroke, little is known about its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to assess HRQoL in these patients compared to PFO patients not considered candidates for percutaneous closure, and to a normal population. A total of 402 patients with cryptogenic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) who had been referred to our center for PFO closure were invited to a long-term clinical follow-up (mean follow-up 5.5 years; range 3-13 years). HRQoL was assessed using the SF-36 Health Survey and data were compared with an age- and gender-matched reference group from the Swedish SF-36 normative database. Fifteen patients had died and 43 did not answer the SF-36. Of the remaining 344 patients, 208 had undergone PFO closure, and 136 had not. The closure group and reference group reported similar HRQoL levels. However, the non-closure group showed significantly lower HRQoL in role limitation - physical, vitality, general health, mental health (p < 0.05) and social functioning (p = 0.05) than the reference group and also had significantly lower scores than the closure group, correcting for age differences, on physical functioning, role limitation - physical, vitality and general health (p < 0.05). Non-closure patients had lower HRQoL than their counterparts in the normal population and the closure group. Percutaneous PFO closure is associated with a favorable quality of life. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development and Validation of a Rapid (13)C6-Glucose Isotope Dilution UPLC-MRM Mass Spectrometry Method for Use in Determining System Accuracy and Performance of Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices.

PubMed

Matsunami, Risë K; Angelides, Kimon; Engler, David A

2015-05-18

There is currently considerable discussion about the accuracy of blood glucose concentrations determined by personal blood glucose monitoring systems (BGMS). To date, the FDA has allowed new BGMS to demonstrate accuracy in reference to other glucose measurement systems that use the same or similar enzymatic-based methods to determine glucose concentration. These types of reference measurement procedures are only comparative in nature and are subject to the same potential sources of error in measurement and system perturbations as the device under evaluation. It would be ideal to have a completely orthogonal primary method that could serve as a true standard reference measurement procedure for establishing the accuracy of new BGMS. An isotope-dilution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (ID-UPLC-MRM) assay was developed using (13)C6-glucose as a stable isotope analogue to specifically measure glucose concentration in human plasma, and validated for use against NIST standard reference materials, and against fresh isolates of whole blood and plasma into which exogenous glucose had been spiked. Assay performance was quantified to NIST-traceable dry weight measures for both glucose and (13)C6-glucose. The newly developed assay method was shown to be rapid, highly specific, sensitive, accurate, and precise for measuring plasma glucose levels. The assay displayed sufficient dynamic range and linearity to measure across the range of both normal and diabetic blood glucose levels. Assay performance was measured to within the same uncertainty levels (<1%) as the NIST definitive method for glucose measurement in human serum. The newly developed ID UPLC-MRM assay can serve as a validated reference measurement procedure to which new BGMS can be assessed for glucose measurement performance. © 2015 Diabetes Technology Society.

Development and Validation of a Rapid 13C6-Glucose Isotope Dilution UPLC-MRM Mass Spectrometry Method for Use in Determining System Accuracy and Performance of Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices

PubMed Central

Matsunami, Risë K.; Angelides, Kimon; Engler, David A.

2015-01-01

Background: There is currently considerable discussion about the accuracy of blood glucose concentrations determined by personal blood glucose monitoring systems (BGMS). To date, the FDA has allowed new BGMS to demonstrate accuracy in reference to other glucose measurement systems that use the same or similar enzymatic-based methods to determine glucose concentration. These types of reference measurement procedures are only comparative in nature and are subject to the same potential sources of error in measurement and system perturbations as the device under evaluation. It would be ideal to have a completely orthogonal primary method that could serve as a true standard reference measurement procedure for establishing the accuracy of new BGMS. Methods: An isotope-dilution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (ID-UPLC-MRM) assay was developed using 13C6-glucose as a stable isotope analogue to specifically measure glucose concentration in human plasma, and validated for use against NIST standard reference materials, and against fresh isolates of whole blood and plasma into which exogenous glucose had been spiked. Assay performance was quantified to NIST-traceable dry weight measures for both glucose and 13C6-glucose. Results: The newly developed assay method was shown to be rapid, highly specific, sensitive, accurate, and precise for measuring plasma glucose levels. The assay displayed sufficient dynamic range and linearity to measure across the range of both normal and diabetic blood glucose levels. Assay performance was measured to within the same uncertainty levels (<1%) as the NIST definitive method for glucose measurement in human serum. Conclusions: The newly developed ID UPLC-MRM assay can serve as a validated reference measurement procedure to which new BGMS can be assessed for glucose measurement performance. PMID:25986627

Murine colon proteome and characterization of the protein pathways

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Most of the current proteomic researches focus on proteome alteration due to pathological disorders (i.e.: colorectal cancer) rather than normal healthy state when mentioning colon. As a result, there are lacks of information regarding normal whole tissue- colon proteome. Results We report here a detailed murine (mouse) whole tissue- colon protein reference dataset composed of 1237 confident protein (FDR < 2) with comprehensive insight on its peptide properties, cellular and subcellular localization, functional network GO annotation analysis, and its relative abundances. The presented dataset includes wide spectra of pI and Mw ranged from 3–12 and 4–600 KDa, respectively. Gravy index scoring predicted 19.5% membranous and 80.5% globularly located proteins. GO hierarchies and functional network analysis illustrated proteins function together with their relevance and implication of several candidates in malignancy such as Mitogen- activated protein kinase (Mapk8, 9) in colorectal cancer, Fibroblast growth factor receptor (Fgfr 2), Glutathione S-transferase (Gstp1) in prostate cancer, and Cell division control protein (Cdc42), Ras-related protein (Rac1,2) in pancreatic cancer. Protein abundances calculated with 3 different algorithms (NSAF, PAF and emPAI) provide a relative quantification under normal condition as guidance. Conclusions This highly confidence colon proteome catalogue will not only serve as a useful reference for further experiments characterizing differentially expressed proteins induced from diseased conditions, but also will aid in better understanding the ontology and functional absorptive mechanism of the colon as well. PMID:22929016

Evaluation of a rebound tonometer (Tonovet) in clinically normal cat eyes.

PubMed

Rusanen, Elina; Florin, Marion; Hässig, Michael; Spiess, Bernhard M

2010-01-01

To determine the accuracy of and to establish reference values for a rebound tonometer (Tonovet) in normal feline eyes, to compare it with an applanation tonometer (Tonopen Vet) and to evaluate the effect of topical anesthesia on rebound tonometry. Six enucleated eyes were used to compare both tonometers with direct manometry. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured in 100 cats to establish reference values for rebound tonometry. Of these, 22 cats were used to compare rebound tonometry with and without topical anesthesia and 33 cats to compare the rebound and applanation tonometers. All evaluated eyes were free of ocular disease. Both tonometers correlated well with direct manometry. The best agreement with the rebound tonometer was achieved between 25-50 mmHg. The applanation tonometer was accurate at pressures between 0 and 30 mmHg. The mean IOP in clinically normal cats was 20.74 mmHg with the rebound tonometer and 18.4 mmHg with the applanation tonometer. Topical anesthesia did not significantly affect rebound tonometry. As the rebound tonometer correlated well with direct manometry in the clinically important pressure range and was well tolerated by cats, it appears suitable for glaucoma diagnosis. The mean IOP obtained with the rebound tonometer was 2-3 mmHg higher than that measured with the applanation tonometer. This difference is within clinically acceptable limits, but indicates that the same type of tonometer should be used in follow-up examinations in a given cat.

MicroRNA Expression in Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded Cancer Tissue: Identifying Reference MicroRNAs and Variability.

PubMed

Boisen, Mogens Karsbøl; Dehlendorff, Christian; Linnemann, Dorte; Schultz, Nicolai Aagaard; Jensen, Benny Vittrup; Høgdall, Estrid Vilma Solyom; Johansen, Julia Sidenius

2015-12-29

Archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cancer tissue samples are a readily available resource for microRNA (miRNA) biomarker identification. No established standard for reference miRNAs in FFPE tissue exists. We sought to identify stable reference miRNAs for normalization of miRNA expression in FFPE tissue samples from patients with colorectal (CRC) and pancreatic (PC) cancer and to quantify the variability associated with sample age and fixation. High-throughput miRNA profiling results from 203 CRC and 256 PC FFPE samples as well as from 37 paired frozen/FFPE samples from nine other CRC tumors (methodological samples) were used. Candidate reference miRNAs were identified by their correlation with global mean expression. The stability of reference genes was analyzed according to published methods. The association between sample age and global mean miRNA expression was tested using linear regression. Variability was described using correlation coefficients and linear mixed effects models. Normalization effects were determined by changes in standard deviation and by hierarchical clustering. We created lists of 20 miRNAs with the best correlation to global mean expression in each cancer type. Nine of these miRNAs were present in both lists, and miR-103a-3p was the most stable reference miRNA for both CRC and PC FFPE tissue. The optimal number of reference miRNAs was 4 in CRC and 10 in PC. Sample age had a significant effect on global miRNA expression in PC (50% reduction over 20 years) but not in CRC. Formalin fixation for 2-6 days decreased miRNA expression 30-65%. Normalization using global mean expression reduced variability for technical and biological replicates while normalization using the expression of the identified reference miRNAs reduced variability only for biological replicates. Normalization only had a minor impact on clustering results. We identified suitable reference miRNAs for future miRNA expression experiments using CRC- and PC FFPE tissue samples. Formalin fixation decreased miRNA expression considerably, while the effect of increasing sample age was estimated to be negligible in a clinical setting.

Intrahepatic and hilar mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma: Qualitative and quantitative evaluation with diffusion-weighted MR imaging.

PubMed

Fattach, Hassan El; Dohan, Anthony; Guerrache, Youcef; Dautry, Raphael; Boudiaf, Mourad; Hoeffel, Christine; Soyer, Philippe

2015-08-01

To qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the presentation of intrahepatic and hilar mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI). Twenty-eight patients with histopathologically proven mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (hilar, n=17; intrahepatic, n=11) underwent hepatic DW-MRI at 1.5-T using free-breathing acquisition and three b-values (0,400,800s/mm(2)). Cholangiocarcinomas were evaluated qualitatively using visual analysis of DW-MR images and quantitatively with conventional ADC and normalized ADC measurements using liver and spleen as reference organs. All cholangiocarcinomas (28/28; 100%) were visible on DW-MR images. DW-MRI yielded best conspicuity of cholangiocarcinomas than the other MRI sequences (P<0.001). Seven cholangiocarcinomas (7/11; 64%) showed hypointense central area on DW-MR images. Conventional ADC value of cholangiocarcinomas (1.042×10(-3)mm(2)/s±0.221×10(-3)mm(2)/s; range: 0.616×10(-3)mm(2)/s to 2.050×10(-3)mm(2)/s) was significantly lower than that of apparently normal hepatic parenchyma (1.362×10(-3)mm(2)/s±0.187×10(-3)mm(2)/s) (P<0.0001), although substantial overlap was found. No significant differences in ADC and normalized ADC values were found between intrahepatic and hilar cholangiocarcinomas. The use of normalized ADC using the liver as reference organ resulted in the most restricted distribution of ADC values of cholangiocarcinomas (variation coefficient=16.6%). There is a trend towards a common appearance of intrahepatic and hilar mass-forming cholangiocarcinomas on DW-MRI but variations may be observed. Familiarity with these variations may improve the diagnosis of mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Head circumference: the forgotten tool for hydrocephalus management. A reference interval study in the Spanish population.

PubMed

Poca, Maria A; Martínez-Ricarte, Francisco R; Portabella, Mireia; Torné, Ramon; Fuertes, Maria L; González-Tartiere, Pilar; Sahuquillo, Juan

2013-11-01

In children, deviations from the normal range of head circumference (HC) have traditionally been related with CSF dynamics abnormalities. In adults, this neglected parameter is helpful in the diagnosis and understanding of the pathophysiology of some CSF abnormalities. It has been demonstrated that HC is related to height. Because humans have increased in stature dramatically during the last 50 years, pediatric charts for head growth physiology and normal HC values in adults should be reevaluated. The main aim of the present study was to assess HC in a series of 270 normal healthy Spanish adults and to determine any differences between sexes and age groups. A secondary aim was to discuss the relevance of this parameter in the management of hydrocephalus in adult people. HC measurements were taken using a measuring tape placed over the greatest frontal and occipital protuberances. The reference interval and the upper and lower thresholds for HC were calculated by 3 different methods: normal distribution, the non-parametrical percentile method, and the "robust method". The results were consistent and showed that Spanish adult men with a HC greater than 60 cm, and Spanish adult women with a HC greater than 58 cm should be considered macrocephalic. Microcephaly should be considered when HC is 53.6 cm in men and 51.3 cm in women. Adult age groups of either sex do not present any statistically significant differences in HC. HC obtained in Spanish adult people are greater than those reported in the classical Nellhaus graphs in both men and women aged 18. These findings should be considered in the management of hydrocephalus in adults today. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Carbamazepine-induced hyperammonemia.

PubMed

Adams, Erin N; Marks, Alla; Lizer, Mitsi H

2009-08-15

A case of carbamazepine-induced hyperammonemia is presented. A 26-year-old man with bipolar disorder, seizures, and mild mental retardation secondary to a traumatic brain injury began treatment with carbamazepine for aggression and seizure control. After three weeks of carbamazepine therapy, the patient arrived at the emergency department (ED) with severe agitation and aggressive behavior. His oral medications included topiramate, carbamazepine, olanzapine, quetiapine, guanfacine, and desmopressin acetate. The patient's medications had been stable for at least six months except for the addition of carbamazepine one month before his arrival at the ED. Upon admission, the patient's vital signs were found to be within normal limits, as were his liver profile results, complete blood count, thyroid-stimulating-hormone level, and serum chemistry panel. His serum carbamazepine concentration was 3.9 microg/mL (reference range, 4-12 microg/mL), and his serum ammonia concentration was 127 microg/dL (reference range, 19-60 microg/dL). Carbamazepine was discontinued upon admission, and the patient was treated with oral lactulose. Since carbamazepine was discontinued and had been prescribed for bipolar disorder, his olanzapine dosage was increased, and trazodone was added at bedtime for insomnia. Of note, the patient had been on carbamazepine therapy one year earlier and had experienced the same adverse event. He had also developed elevated serum ammonia levels while on valproic acid. The patient's serum ammonia level returned to normal by hospital day 4, and he was discharged to his group home. A 26-year-old man with bipolar disorder developed hyperammonemia three weeks after initiating carbamazepine therapy.

Absolute Determination of High DC Voltages by Means of Frequency Measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peier, Dirk; Schulz, Bernd

1983-01-01

A novel absolute measuring procedure is presented for the definition of fixed points of the voltage in the 100 kV range. The method is based on transit time measurements with accelerated electrons. By utilizing the selective interaction of a monoenergetic electron beam with the electromagnetic field of a special cavity resonator, the voltage is referred to fundamental constants and the base unit second. Possible balance voltages are indicated by a current detector. Experimental investigations are carried out with resonators in the normal conducting range. With a copper resonator operating at the temperature of boiling nitrogen (77 K), the relative uncertainty of the voltage points is estimated to be +/- 4 × 10-4. The technically realizable uncertainty can be reduced to +/- 1 × 10-5 by the proposed application of a superconducting niobium resonator. Thus this measuring device becomes suitable as a primary standard for the high-voltage range.

Hypothyroidism and Mortality among Dialysis Patients

PubMed Central

Rhee, Connie M.; Alexander, Erik K.; Bhan, Ishir

2013-01-01

Summary Background and objectives Hypothyroidism is highly prevalent among ESRD patients, but its clinical significance and the benefits of thyroid hormone replacement in this context remain unclear. Design, setting, participants, & measurements This study examined the association between hypothyroidism and all-cause mortality among 2715 adult dialysis patients with baseline thyrotropin levels measured between April of 2005 and April of 2011. Mortality was ascertained from Social Security Death Master Index and local registration systems. The association between hypothyroidism (thyrotropin greater than assay upper limit normal) and mortality was estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. To reduce the risk of observing reverse-causal associations, models included a 30-day lag between thyrotropin measurement and at-risk time. Results Among 350 (12.9%) hypothyroid and 2365 (87.1%) euthyroid (assay within referent range) patients, 917 deaths were observed during 5352 patient-years of at-risk time. Hypothyroidism was associated with higher mortality. Compared with thyrotropin in the low-normal range (0.4–2.9 mIU/L), subclinical hypothyroidism (thyrotropin >upper limit normal and ≤10.0 mIU/L) was associated with higher mortality; high-normal thyrotropin (≥3.0 mIU/L and ≤upper limit normal) and overt hypothyroidism (thyrotropin >10.0 mIU/L) were associated with numerically greater risk, but estimates were not statistically significant. Compared with spontaneously euthyroid controls, patients who were euthyroid while on exogenous thyroid replacement were not at higher mortality risk, whereas patients who were hypothyroid were at higher mortality risk. Sensitivity analyses indicated that effects on cardiovascular risk factors may mediate the observed association between hypothyroidism and death. Conclusions These data suggest that hypothyroidism is associated with higher mortality in dialysis patients, which may be ameliorated by thyroid hormone replacement therapy. PMID:23258793

Evaluation and Validation of Reference Genes for qRT-PCR Normalization in Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera:Thripidae)

PubMed Central

Zheng, Yu-Tao; Li, Hong-Bo; Lu, Ming-Xing; Du, Yu-Zhou

2014-01-01

Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) has emerged as a reliable and reproducible technique for studying gene expression analysis. For accurate results, the normalization of data with reference genes is particularly essential. Once the transcriptome sequencing of Frankliniella occidentalis was completed, numerous unigenes were identified and annotated. Unfortunately, there are no studies on the stability of reference genes used in F. occidentalis. In this work, seven candidate reference genes, including actin, 18S rRNA, H3, tubulin, GAPDH, EF-1 and RPL32, were evaluated for their suitability as normalization genes under different experimental conditions using the statistical software programs BestKeeper, geNorm, Normfinder and the comparative ΔCt method. Because the rankings of the reference genes provided by each of the four programs were different, we chose a user-friendly web-based comprehensive tool RefFinder to get the final ranking. The result demonstrated that EF-1 and RPL32 displayed the most stable expression in different developmental stages; RPL32 and GAPDH showed the most stable expression at high temperatures, while 18S and EF-1 exhibited the most stable expression at low temperatures. In this study, we validated the suitable reference genes in F. occidentalis for gene expression profiling under different experimental conditions. The choice of internal standard is very important in the normalization of the target gene expression levels, thus validating and selecting the best genes will help improve the quality of gene expression data of F. occidentalis. What is more, these validated reference genes could serve as the basis for the selection of candidate reference genes in other insects. PMID:25356721

Evaluation and validation of reference genes for qRT-PCR normalization in Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

PubMed

Zheng, Yu-Tao; Li, Hong-Bo; Lu, Ming-Xing; Du, Yu-Zhou

2014-01-01

Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) has emerged as a reliable and reproducible technique for studying gene expression analysis. For accurate results, the normalization of data with reference genes is particularly essential. Once the transcriptome sequencing of Frankliniella occidentalis was completed, numerous unigenes were identified and annotated. Unfortunately, there are no studies on the stability of reference genes used in F. occidentalis. In this work, seven candidate reference genes, including actin, 18S rRNA, H3, tubulin, GAPDH, EF-1 and RPL32, were evaluated for their suitability as normalization genes under different experimental conditions using the statistical software programs BestKeeper, geNorm, Normfinder and the comparative ΔCt method. Because the rankings of the reference genes provided by each of the four programs were different, we chose a user-friendly web-based comprehensive tool RefFinder to get the final ranking. The result demonstrated that EF-1 and RPL32 displayed the most stable expression in different developmental stages; RPL32 and GAPDH showed the most stable expression at high temperatures, while 18S and EF-1 exhibited the most stable expression at low temperatures. In this study, we validated the suitable reference genes in F. occidentalis for gene expression profiling under different experimental conditions. The choice of internal standard is very important in the normalization of the target gene expression levels, thus validating and selecting the best genes will help improve the quality of gene expression data of F. occidentalis. What is more, these validated reference genes could serve as the basis for the selection of candidate reference genes in other insects.

Evaluation of Candidate Reference Genes for Quantitative Gene Expression Analysis in Spodoptera exigu a after Long-time Exposure to Cadmium.

PubMed

Płachetka-Bożek, Anna; Augustyniak, Maria

2017-08-21

Studies on the transcriptional control of gene expression play an important role in many areas of biology. Reference genes, which are often referred to as housekeeping genes, such as GAPDH, G3PDH, EF2, RpL7A, RpL10, TUBα and Actin, have traditionally been assumed to be stably expressed in all conditions, and they are frequently used to normalize mRNA levels between different samples in qPCR analysis. However, it is known that the expression of these genes is influenced by numerous factors, such as experimental conditions. The difference in gene expression underlies a range of biological processes, including development, reproduction and behavior. The aim of this study was to show the problems associated with using reference genes in the qPCR technique, in a study on inbred strains of Spodoptera exigua selected toward cadmium resistance. We present and discuss our results and observations, and give some recommendations concerning the use and limitations of housekeeping genes as internal standards, especially in research on insects. Our results suggest that holometabolism and poikilothermia, as well as time since metamorphosis and the level of exposure to the selective factor (cadmium in this case), have a significant effect on the expression of reference genes.

Evaluation of Suitable Reference Genes for Normalization of qPCR Gene Expression Studies in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) During Fruit Developmental Stages.

PubMed

Kanakachari, Mogilicherla; Solanke, Amolkumar U; Prabhakaran, Narayanasamy; Ahmad, Israr; Dhandapani, Gurusamy; Jayabalan, Narayanasamy; Kumar, Polumetla Ananda

2016-02-01

Brinjal/eggplant/aubergine is one of the major solanaceous vegetable crops. Recent availability of genome information greatly facilitates the fundamental research on brinjal. Gene expression patterns during different stages of fruit development can provide clues towards the understanding of its biological functions. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) has become one of the most widely used methods for rapid and accurate quantification of gene expression. However, its success depends on the use of a suitable reference gene for data normalization. For qPCR analysis, a single reference gene is not universally suitable for all experiments. Therefore, reference gene validation is a crucial step. Suitable reference genes for qPCR analysis of brinjal fruit development have not been investigated so far. In this study, we have selected 21 candidate reference genes from the Brinjal (Solanum melongena) Plant Gene Indices database (compbio.dfci.harvard.edu/tgi/plant.html) and studied their expression profiles by qPCR during six different fruit developmental stages (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 days post anthesis) along with leaf samples of the Pusa Purple Long (PPL) variety. To evaluate the stability of gene expression, geNorm and NormFinder analytical softwares were used. geNorm identified SAND (SAND family protein) and TBP (TATA binding protein) as the best pairs of reference genes in brinjal fruit development. The results showed that for brinjal fruit development, individual or a combination of reference genes should be selected for data normalization. NormFinder identified Expressed gene (expressed sequence) as the best single reference gene in brinjal fruit development. In this study, we have identified and validated for the first time reference genes to provide accurate transcript normalization and quantification at various fruit developmental stages of brinjal which can also be useful for gene expression studies in other Solanaceae plant species.

Reference genes for real-time PCR quantification of messenger RNAs and microRNAs in mouse model of obesity.

PubMed

Matoušková, Petra; Bártíková, Hana; Boušová, Iva; Hanušová, Veronika; Szotáková, Barbora; Skálová, Lenka

2014-01-01

Obesity and metabolic syndrome is increasing health problem worldwide. Among other ways, nutritional intervention using phytochemicals is important method for treatment and prevention of this disease. Recent studies have shown that certain phytochemicals could alter the expression of specific genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) that play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of obesity. For study of the obesity and its treatment, monosodium glutamate (MSG)-injected mice with developed central obesity, insulin resistance and liver lipid accumulation are frequently used animal models. To understand the mechanism of phytochemicals action in obese animals, the study of selected genes expression together with miRNA quantification is extremely important. For this purpose, real-time quantitative PCR is a sensitive and reproducible method, but it depends on proper normalization entirely. The aim of present study was to identify the appropriate reference genes for mRNA and miRNA quantification in MSG mice treated with green tea catechins, potential anti-obesity phytochemicals. Two sets of reference genes were tested: first set contained seven commonly used genes for normalization of messenger RNA, the second set of candidate reference genes included ten small RNAs for normalization of miRNA. The expression stability of these reference genes were tested upon treatment of mice with catechins using geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper algorithms. Selected normalizers for mRNA quantification were tested and validated on expression of quinone oxidoreductase, biotransformation enzyme known to be modified by catechins. The effect of selected normalizers for miRNA quantification was tested on two obesity- and diabetes- related miRNAs, miR-221 and miR-29b, respectively. Finally, the combinations of B2M/18S/HPRT1 and miR-16/sno234 were validated as optimal reference genes for mRNA and miRNA quantification in liver and 18S/RPlP0/HPRT1 and sno234/miR-186 in small intestine of MSG mice. These reference genes will be used for mRNA and miRNA normalization in further study of green tea catechins action in obese mice.

Serum biochemistry of captive and free-ranging gray wolves (Canis lupus)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Constable, Peter; Hinchcliff, Ken; Demma, Nick; Callahan, Margaret; Dale, B.W.; Fox, Kevin; Adams, Layne G.; Wack, Ray; Kramer, Lynn

1998-01-01

Normal serum biochemistry values are frequently obtained from studies of captive sedentary (zoo) or free-ranging (wild) animals. It is frequently assumed that values from these two populations are directly referable to each other. We tested this assumption using 20 captive gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Minnesota, USA, and 11 free-ranging gray wolves in Alaska, USA. Free-ranging wolves had significantly (P<0.05) lower sodium, chloride, and creatine concentrations and significantly higher potassium and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations; BUN to creatine ratios; and alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase activities relative to captive wolves. Corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase activity (a marker of stress in domestic dogs) was detected in 3 of 11 free-ranging wolves and in 0 of 20 captive wolves (P = 0.037). This study provides clear evidence that serum biochemical differences can exist between captive and free-ranging populations of one species. Accordingly, evaluation of the health status of an animal should incorporate an understanding of the potential confounding effect that nutrition, activity level, and environmental stress could have on the factor(s) being measured.

Identification of Importin 8 (IPO8) as the most accurate reference gene for the clinicopathological analysis of lung specimens

PubMed Central

Nguewa, Paul A; Agorreta, Jackeline; Blanco, David; Lozano, Maria Dolores; Gomez-Roman, Javier; Sanchez, Blas A; Valles, Iñaki; Pajares, Maria J; Pio, Ruben; Rodriguez, Maria Jose; Montuenga, Luis M; Calvo, Alfonso

2008-01-01

Background The accurate normalization of differentially expressed genes in lung cancer is essential for the identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers by real time RT-PCR and microarrays. Although classical "housekeeping" genes, such as GAPDH, HPRT1, and beta-actin have been widely used in the past, their accuracy as reference genes for lung tissues has not been proven. Results We have conducted a thorough analysis of a panel of 16 candidate reference genes for lung specimens and lung cell lines. Gene expression was measured by quantitative real time RT-PCR and expression stability was analyzed with the softwares GeNorm and NormFinder, mean of |ΔCt| (= |Ct Normal-Ct tumor|) ± SEM, and correlation coefficients among genes. Systematic comparison between candidates led us to the identification of a subset of suitable reference genes for clinical samples: IPO8, ACTB, POLR2A, 18S, and PPIA. Further analysis showed that IPO8 had a very low mean of |ΔCt| (0.70 ± 0.09), with no statistically significant differences between normal and malignant samples and with excellent expression stability. Conclusion Our data show that IPO8 is the most accurate reference gene for clinical lung specimens. In addition, we demonstrate that the commonly used genes GAPDH and HPRT1 are inappropriate to normalize data derived from lung biopsies, although they are suitable as reference genes for lung cell lines. We thus propose IPO8 as a novel reference gene for lung cancer samples. PMID:19014639

Rotation of the vermis as a cause of enlarged cisterna magna on prenatal imaging.

PubMed

Zalel, Y; Gilboa, Y; Gabis, L; Ben-Sira, L; Hoffman, C; Wiener, Y; Achiron, R

2006-05-01

Dandy-Walker complex is a continuum of developmental anomalies of the posterior fossa which includes vermian rotation. However, vermian rotation alone may be benign. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with sagittal-plane prenatal ultrasound in the diagnosis of rotation of the vermis in cases of suspected enlarged cisterna magna on routine antenatal imaging, and to describe the follow-up of these patients. Seven women, who were referred to our ultrasound unit for evaluation of an enlarged fetal cisterna magna and suspected agenesis of the vermis on axial-plane imaging, underwent further multiplanar studies of the posterior fossa and measurements of the vermis. The mean maternal age was 27 (range, 20-33) years and the mean gestational age at diagnosis was 19.5 (range, 18-31) weeks. The standard axial plane image showed a 'direct communication' between the cisterna magna and the fourth ventricle. In the mid-sagittal plane, the vermis was clearly delineated, with posterosuperior rotation. Vermis size was within normal limits for gestational age in all cases. Findings were confirmed by prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in two cases and postnatal MRI and/or sonography in five. During a mean follow-up of 4.5 (range, 1-7.5) years, all children developed normally, with no neurological complications. The finding of an enlarged cisterna magna on standard- (axial-)plane ultrasound should be evaluated further in the sagittal plane to determine whether the cause is rotation of a normal vermis. This may spare patients unnecessary tests, anxiety and, in some cases, pregnancy termination. Copyright 2006 ISUOG

Establishment and characterization of a new and stable collagen-binding assay for the assessment of von Willebrand factor activity

PubMed Central

Ni, Y; Nesrallah, J; Agnew, M; Geske, F J; Favaloro, E J

2013-01-01

Introduction Laboratory diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD) requires determination of both von Willebrand factor (VWF) protein levels and activity. Current VWF activity tests include the ristocetin cofactor assay and the collagen-binding assay (VWF:CB). The goal of this investigation is to characterize a new collagen-binding assay and to determine its effectiveness in identifying VWD. Methods Analytical studies were carried out to characterize the performance of a new VWF:CB ELISA. Additionally, samples from a normal population were tested as were well-characterized type 1 and type 2 VWD samples. Results Repeatability and within-laboratory precision studies resulted in coefficients of variation (CVs) of ≤11%. A linear range of 1–354% (0.01–3.54 IU/mL) was determined, along with a limit of detection and a lower limit of quantitation of 1.6% and 4.0% (0.016 and 0.04 IU/mL), respectively. Samples tested from apparently healthy individuals resulted in a normal range of 54–217% (0.54–2.17 IU/mL). Known VWD type 1 and type 2 samples were also analyzed by the ELISA, with 99% of samples having VWF:CB below the normal reference range and an estimated 96% sensitivity and 87% specificity using a VWF collagen-binding/antigen cutoff ratio of 0.50. Conclusion This new VWF:CB ELISA provides an accurate measure of collagen-binding activity that aids in the diagnosis and differentiation of type 1 from type 2 VWD. PMID:23107512

Why non-invasive maternal hemodynamics assessment is clinically relevant in early pregnancy: a literature review.

PubMed

Vonck, Sharona; Staelens, Anneleen Simone; Bollen, Ine; Broekx, Lien; Gyselaers, Wilfried

2016-10-12

The maternal cardiovascular system adapts quickly when embryo implantation is recognized by the body. Those adaptations play an important role, as a normal cardiovascular adaptation is a requirement for a normal course of pregnancy. Disturbed adaptations predispose to potential hypertensive disorders further in pregnancy [1-3]. This report aims to briefly inform the obstetricians, general practitioners and midwives, who are the key players in detecting and treating hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. The PubMed database was used as main tool to find studies involving clearly defined first trimester hemodynamic changes in normal pregnancies and hypertensive pregnancies. In addition, the bibliographies of these studies were investigated for further relevant literature. A comprehensive overview is given concerning the normal adaptations in the cardiovascular tree in a first trimester pregnancy. Additionally, signs of abnormal cardiovascular changes observed in first trimester are described together with the normal reference range for each non-invasive, easily applicable technique for maternal hemodynamics assessment. With a combination of techniques, it is possible to integrate and evaluate the maternal heart, veins and arteries at 12 weeks of pregnancy. Applying those techniques into the daily clinic opens perspectives to prevention and prophylactic treatment, aiming for a reduction of the risk for hypertension during pregnancy.

The Normal Fetal Pancreas.

PubMed

Kivilevitch, Zvi; Achiron, Reuven; Perlman, Sharon; Gilboa, Yinon

2017-10-01

The aim of the study was to assess the sonographic feasibility of measuring the fetal pancreas and its normal development throughout pregnancy. We conducted a cross-sectional prospective study between 19 and 36 weeks' gestation. The study included singleton pregnancies with normal pregnancy follow-up. The pancreas circumference was measured. The first 90 cases were tested to assess feasibility. Two hundred ninety-seven fetuses of nondiabetic mothers were recruited during a 3-year period. The overall satisfactory visualization rate was 61.6%. The intraobserver and interobserver variability had high interclass correlation coefficients of of 0.964 and 0.967, respectively. A cubic polynomial regression described best the correlation of pancreas circumference with gestational age (r = 0.744; P < .001) and significant correlations also with abdominal circumference and estimated fetal weight (Pearson r = 0.829 and 0.812, respectively; P < .001). Modeled pancreas circumference percentiles for each week of gestation were calculated. During the study period, we detected 2 cases with overgrowth syndrome and 1 case with an annular pancreas. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of sonography for measuring the fetal pancreas and established a normal reference range for the fetal pancreas circumference throughout pregnancy. This database can be helpful when investigating fetomaternal disorders that can involve its normal development. © 2017 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Predictive value and efficiency of laboratory testing.

PubMed

Galen, R S

1980-11-01

Literature on determining reference values and reference intervals on "normal" or "healthy" individuals is abundant. It is impossible, however, to evaluate a data set of reference values and select a suitable reference interval that will be meaningful for the practice of medicine. The reference interval, no matter how derived statistically, tells us nothing about disease. This is the main reason the concepts of "normal values" have failed us and why "reference values" will prove similarly disappointing. By studying these same constituents in a variety of disease states as well, it will be possible to select "referent values" that will make the test procedure meaningful for diagnostic purposes. In order to obtain meaningful referent values for predicting disease, it is necessary to study not only the "healthy" reference population, but patients with the disease in question, and patients who are free of the disease in question but who have other diseases. Studies of this type are not frequently found for laboratory tests that are in common use today.

Contributions to reference systems from Lunar Laser Ranging using the IfE analysis model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hofmann, Franz; Biskupek, Liliane; Müller, Jürgen

2018-01-01

Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) provides various quantities related to reference frames like Earth orientation parameters, coordinates and velocities of ground stations in the Earth-fixed frame and selenocentric coordinates of the lunar retro-reflectors. This paper presents the recent results from LLR data analysis at the Institut für Erdmessung, Leibniz Universität Hannover, based on all LLR data up to the end of 2016. The estimates of long-periodic nutation coefficients with periods between 13.6 days and 18.6 years are obtained with an accuracy in the order of 0.05-0.7 milliarcseconds (mas). Estimations of the Earth rotation phase Δ UT are accurate at the level of 0.032 ms if more than 14 normal points per night are included. The tie between the dynamical ephemeris frame to the kinematic celestial frame is estimated from pure LLR observations by two angles and their rates with an accuracy of 0.25 and 0.02 mas per year. The estimated station coordinates and velocities are compared to the ITRF2014 solution and the geometry of the retro-reflector network with the DE430 solution. The given accuracies represent 3 times formal errors of the parameter fit. The accuracy for Δ UT is based on the standard deviation of the estimates with respect to the reference C04 solution.

Rapid discrimination and quantification of alkaloids in Corydalis Tuber by near-infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Lu, Hai-yan; Wang, Shi-sheng; Cai, Rui; Meng, Yu; Xie, Xin; Zhao, Wei-jie

2012-02-05

With the application of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a convenient and rapid method for determination of alkaloids in Corydalis Tuber extract and classification for samples from different locations have been developed. Five different samples were collected according to their geographical origin, 2-Der with smoothing point of 17 was applied as the spectral pre-treatment, and the 1st to scaling range algorithm was adjusted to be optimal approach, classification model was constructed over the wavelength range of 4582-4270 cm⁻¹, 5562-4976 cm⁻¹ and 7000-7467 cm⁻¹ with a great recognition rate. For prediction model, partial least squares (PLS) algorithm was utilized referring to HPLC-UV reference method, the optimum models were obtained after adjustment. Pre-processing methods of calibration models were COE for protopine and min-max normalization for palmatine and MSC for tetrahydropalmatine, respectively. The root mean square errors of cross-validation (RMSECV) for protopine, palmatine, tetrahydropalmatine were 0.884, 1.83, 3.23 mg/g. The correlation coefficients (R²) were 99.75, 98.41 and 97.34%. T test was applied, in the model of tetrahydropalmatine; there is no significant difference between NIR prediction and HPLC reference method at 95% confidence interval with t=0.746

Applicability of the Old European Respiratory Society/European Community for Steel and Coal reference equations for spirometry interpretation in Tunisian adult population.

PubMed

El Attar, Mohamed Nour; Hadj Mabrouk, Khaoula; Ben Abdelaziz, Ahmed; Abdelghani, Ahmed; Bousarssar, Mohamed; Limam, Khélifa; Maatoug, Chiraz; Bouslah, Hmida; Charrada, Ameur; Rouatbi, Sonia; Ben Saad, Helmi

2014-01-01

Tunisian pulmonary functional laboratories accept the default settings for reference equations (European Respiratory Society/European Community for Steel and Coal (ERS/ECSC1983) offered by the manufacturer even though adult Tunisian reference equations (Tunisian1995) are available. To compare the spirometric profile of Tunisian subjects, according to the two reference equations. Spirometric data were recorded from 1192 consecutive spirometry procedures in adults aged 18-60 years. Reference values and lower limits of normality (LLN) were calculated using the two reference equations. Applied definitions: large airway obstructive ventilatory defect (LAOVD): ratio between the 1st second expiratory volume and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) < LLN. Small AOVD (SAOVD): FEV1/FVC > LLN and FVC > LLN and maximal midexpiratory flow < LLN. Tendency through a restrictive ventilatory defect (TRVD): FEV1 and FVC < LLN. The spirometric profile, according the two reference equations, was determined. Using Tunisian1995 reference equations, 34%, 7%, 37% and 19% of spirometry records were interpreted as normal, and as having, LAOVD, SAOVD and TRVD, respectively. Using ERS/ECSC1983 reference equations, 85%, 3%, 9% and 2% of spirometry records were interpreted as normal, and as having, LAOVD, SAOVD and TRVD, respectively. Using the ERS/ECSC1983 reference equations, misclassification was worse for LAOVD, for SAOVD and for TRVD, respectively, 68%, 94% and 89%. Our results showed that the use of the old Caucasian reference equations resulted in misinterpretation of spirometry data in a significant proportion of subjects. This could result in inappropriate diagnosis and/or management.

Cortical Thinning in Network-Associated Regions in Cognitively Normal and Below-Normal Range Schizophrenia

PubMed Central

Pinnock, Farena; Parlar, Melissa; Hawco, Colin; Hanford, Lindsay; Hall, Geoffrey B.

2017-01-01

This study assessed whether cortical thickness across the brain and regionally in terms of the default mode, salience, and central executive networks differentiates schizophrenia patients and healthy controls with normal range or below-normal range cognitive performance. Cognitive normality was defined using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) composite score (T = 50 ± 10) and structural magnetic resonance imaging was used to generate cortical thickness data. Whole brain analysis revealed that cognitively normal range controls (n = 39) had greater cortical thickness than both cognitively normal (n = 17) and below-normal range (n = 49) patients. Cognitively normal controls also demonstrated greater thickness than patients in regions associated with the default mode and salience, but not central executive networks. No differences on any thickness measure were found between cognitively normal range and below-normal range controls (n = 24) or between cognitively normal and below-normal range patients. In addition, structural covariance between network regions was high and similar across subgroups. Positive and negative symptom severity did not correlate with thickness values. Cortical thinning across the brain and regionally in relation to the default and salience networks may index shared aspects of the psychotic psychopathology that defines schizophrenia with no relation to cognitive impairment. PMID:28348889

Selecting and validating reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR in Plutella xylostella (L.).

PubMed

You, Yanchun; Xie, Miao; Vasseur, Liette; You, Minsheng

2018-05-01

Gene expression analysis provides important clues regarding gene functions, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is a widely used method in gene expression studies. Reference genes are essential for normalizing and accurately assessing gene expression. In the present study, 16 candidate reference genes (ACTB, CyPA, EF1-α, GAPDH, HSP90, NDPk, RPL13a, RPL18, RPL19, RPL32, RPL4, RPL8, RPS13, RPS4, α-TUB, and β-TUB) from Plutella xylostella were selected to evaluate gene expression stability across different experimental conditions using five statistical algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, Delta Ct, BestKeeper, and RefFinder). The results suggest that different reference genes or combinations of reference genes are suitable for normalization in gene expression studies of P. xylostella according to the different developmental stages, strains, tissues, and insecticide treatments. Based on the given experimental sets, the most stable reference genes were RPS4 across different developmental stages, RPL8 across different strains and tissues, and EF1-α across different insecticide treatments. A comprehensive and systematic assessment of potential reference genes for gene expression normalization is essential for post-genomic functional research in P. xylostella, a notorious pest with worldwide distribution and a high capacity to adapt and develop resistance to insecticides.

Regional ADC values of the normal brain: differences due to age, gender, and laterality.

PubMed

Naganawa, Shinji; Sato, Kimihide; Katagiri, Toshio; Mimura, Takeo; Ishigaki, Takeo

2003-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of measurement for apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in normal brain, to clarify the effect of aging on ADC values, to compare ADC values between men and women, and to compare ADC values between right and left sides of the brain. To evaluate the stability of measurements, five normal volunteers (four men and one woman) were examined five times on different days. Then, 294 subjects with normal MR imaging (147 men and 147 women; age range 20-89 years) were measured. The ADC measurement in normal volunteers was stable. The ADC values stayed within the 5% deviation of average values in all volunteers (mean+/-standard deviation 2.3+/-1.2%). The ADC values gradually increased by aging in all regions. In thalamus, no significant difference was seen between right and left in the subjects under 60 years; however, right side showed higher values in the subjects over 60 years (p<0.01). In the subjects under 60 years, women showed higher values in right frontal, bilateral thalamus, and temporal (p<0.01); however, in the subjects over 60 years, no region showed difference between men and women. The knowledge obtained in this study may be helpful to understand the developmental and aging mechanisms of normal brain and may be useful for the future quantitative study as a reference.

Defining suitable reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis on human sertoli cells after 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure.

PubMed

Ribeiro, Mariana Antunes; dos Reis, Mariana Bisarro; de Moraes, Leonardo Nazário; Briton-Jones, Christine; Rainho, Cláudia Aparecida; Scarano, Wellerson Rodrigo

2014-11-01

Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qPCR) has proven to be a valuable molecular technique to quantify gene expression. There are few studies in the literature that describe suitable reference genes to normalize gene expression data. Studies of transcriptionally disruptive toxins, like tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), require careful consideration of reference genes. The present study was designed to validate potential reference genes in human Sertoli cells after exposure to TCDD. 32 candidate reference genes were analyzed to determine their applicability. geNorm and NormFinder softwares were used to obtain an estimation of the expression stability of the 32 genes and to identify the most suitable genes for qPCR data normalization.

Selection of reference genes is critical for miRNA expression analysis in human cardiac tissue. A focus on atrial fibrillation.

PubMed

Masè, Michela; Grasso, Margherita; Avogaro, Laura; D'Amato, Elvira; Tessarolo, Francesco; Graffigna, Angelo; Denti, Michela Alessandra; Ravelli, Flavia

2017-01-24

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of complex biological processes in several cardiovascular diseases, including atrial fibrillation (AF). Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction is a powerful technique to quantitatively assess miRNA expression profile, but reliable results depend on proper data normalization by suitable reference genes. Despite the increasing number of studies assessing miRNAs in cardiac disease, no consensus on the best reference genes has been reached. This work aims to assess reference genes stability in human cardiac tissue with a focus on AF investigation. We evaluated the stability of five reference genes (U6, SNORD48, SNORD44, miR-16, and 5S) in atrial tissue samples from eighteen cardiac-surgery patients in sinus rhythm and AF. Stability was quantified by combining BestKeeper, delta-C q , GeNorm, and NormFinder statistical tools. All methods assessed SNORD48 as the best and U6 as the worst reference gene. Applications of different normalization strategies significantly impacted miRNA expression profiles in the study population. Our results point out the necessity of a consensus on data normalization in AF studies to avoid the emergence of divergent biological conclusions.

Subnormal energy expenditure: a putative causal factor in the weight gain induced by treatment of hyperthyroidism.

PubMed

Jacobsen, R; Lundsgaard, C; Lorenzen, J; Toubro, S; Perrild, H; Krog-Mikkelsen, I; Astrup, A

2006-03-01

To examine the causes of weight gain occurring as an adverse effect of treatment of hyperthyroidism. We measured 24-h energy expenditure (EE), body composition and spontaneous physical activity (SPA) in eight patients before and 1 year after treatment of hyperthyroidism was initiated, and eight controls. One year after initiation of treatment thyrotropin was normalized, thyroid hormones had fallen to the lower end of the reference range and fat mass had increased by 3.5 kg (p < 0.001). Twenty-four hour EE adjusted for fat-free mass (FFM) was 15% higher in hyperthyroid patients before treatment than in controls (p = 0.003), and treatment decreased 24-h EE by 1.9 MJ/day (p = 0.001). After treatment, 24-h EE, adjusted for FFM, was similar to the controls. Multiple regression analyses showed that the suppressed EE could partly be attributed to an iatrogenic suppression of thyroid hormones, resulting in lower sleeping EE. Twenty-four hour SPA was normal in the hyperthyroid state, but decreased after treatment by 21% (p = 0.045), to a level not significantly different, but still below that of the controls. The study suggests that weight gain during treatment of hyperthyroidism might be due to subnormal levels of EE and SPA caused by a suppression of the thyroid hormone to a level in the lower end of the normal range.

Assessment of Knowledge of Critical Cardiovascular Risk Indicators among College Students: Does Stage of Education Matter?

PubMed Central

Sarpong, Daniel F.; Curry, India Y.; Williams, Melinda

2017-01-01

The health risk of college students in the United States (US) is on the rise, with a significant increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US, costing approximately $475.3 billion yearly. The goals of this “Know Your Numbers” study were to: (1) estimate the awareness of college students of their critical health numbers (CHN); and (2) compare a college of pharmacy entry class (IP1) with second semester non-commuter freshman college students (FCS) in knowing their numbers. A cross-sectional 15-item pre-test survey was conducted among a convenience sample of IP1 and FCS. All statistical tests were performed at α = 0.05. Awareness of their: cholesterol (7%), blood pressure (BP) (35%), glucose (8%), and body mass index (BMI) (42%) were low. The IP1, compared to FCS, were more knowledgeable of: (1) their BP (46% vs. 28%, p = 0.01); (2) BP normal range (74% vs. 63%, p = 0.02); and (3) BMI normal range (39% vs. 23%, p = 0.04). The IP1s maintained a healthier diet than the FCS (64% vs. 36%, p < 0.0001). Awareness of knowing CHN was very low. Knowledge of one’s CHN was significantly associated with knowledge of normal reference values for BP, glucose, and BMI. PMID:28257080

Prognostic Significance of Baseline Serum Sodium in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

PubMed

Patel, Yash R; Kurgansky, Katherine E; Imran, Tasnim F; Orkaby, Ariela R; McLean, Robert R; Ho, Yuk-Lam; Cho, Kelly; Gaziano, J Michael; Djousse, Luc; Gagnon, David R; Joseph, Jacob

2018-06-13

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum sodium at the time of diagnosis and long term clinical outcomes in a large national cohort of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We studied 25 440 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction treated at Veterans Affairs medical centers across the United States between 2002 and 2012. Serum sodium at the time of heart failure diagnosis was analyzed as a continuous variable and in categories as follows: low (115.00-134.99 mmol/L), low-normal (135.00-137.99 mmol/L), referent group (138.00-140.99 mmol/L), high normal (141.00-143.99 mmol/L), and high (144.00-160.00 mmol/L). Multivariable Cox regression and negative binomial regression were performed to estimate hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) and incidence density ratios (95% CI) for the associations of serum sodium with mortality and hospitalizations (heart failure and all-cause), respectively. The average age of patients was 70.8 years, 96.2% were male, and 14% were black. Compared with the referent group, low, low-normal, and high sodium values were associated with 36% (95% CI, 28%-44%), 6% (95% CI, 1%-12%), and 9% (95% CI, 1%-17%) higher risk of all-cause mortality, respectively. Low and low-normal serum sodium were associated with 48% (95% CI, 10%-100%) and 38% (95% CI, 8%-77%) higher risk of number of days of heart failure hospitalizations per year, and with 44% (95% CI, 32%-56%) and 18% (95% CI, 10%-27%) higher risk of number of days of all-cause hospitalizations per year, respectively. Both elevated and reduced serum sodium, including values currently considered within normal range, are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. © 2018 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley.

Selection and Validation of Reference Genes for Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Studies in Mossy Maze Polypore, Cerrena unicolor (Higher Basidiomycetes).

PubMed

Yang, Jie; Lin, Qi; Lin, Juan; Ye, Xiuyun

2016-01-01

With its ability to produce ligninolytic enzymes such as laccases, white-rot basidiomycete Cerrena unicolor, a medicinal mushroom, has great potential in biotechnology. Elucidation of the expression profiles of genes encoding ligninolytic enzymes are important for increasing their production. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is a powerful tool to study transcriptional regulation of genes of interest. To ensure accuracy and reliability of qPCR analysis of C. unicolor, expression levels of seven candidate reference genes were studied at different growth phases, under various induction conditions, and with a range of carbon/nitrogen ratios and carbon and nitrogen sources. The stability of the genes were analyzed with five statistical approaches, namely geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, the ΔCt method, and RefFinder. Our results indicated that the selection of reference genes varied with sample sets. A combination of four reference genes (Cyt-c, ATP6, TEF1, and β-tubulin) were recommended for normalizing gene expression at different growth phases. GAPDH and Cyt-c were the appropriate reference genes under different induction conditions. ATP6 and TEF1 were most stable in fermentation media with various carbon/nitrogen ratios. In the fermentation media with various carbon or nitrogen sources, 18S rRNA and GAPDH were the references of choice. The present study represents the first validation analysis of reference genes in C. unicolor and serves as a foundation for its qPCR analysis.

Time-domain study of acoustic pulse propagation in an ocean waveguide using a new normal mode model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sidorovskaia, Natalia Anatol'evna

1997-11-01

This study is focused on issues of numerical modeling of sound propagation in diverse ocean waveguides. A new normal mode acoustical model (Shallow Water Acoustic Mode Propagation-SWAMP) has been developed. The algorithm for obtaining the vertical modal solution is based on a warping matrix transformation of the solution of an isovelocity (reference) waveguide to one of arbitrary velocity profile. An efficient mode coupling scheme with an adaptive step-size in range has been implemented for range-dependent environments. The new algorithm allows fairly arbitrary ocean layering and readily works at high frequency. An important advantage of the new procedure is that vertical modal eigenfunctions can easily be transformed to a spherical representation suitable for coupling in object scattering problems. Benchmarking results of the new code against established acoustic models based on parabolic equation and existing normal mode approaches show good agreement for range-independent and up-slope and down-slope bathymetries and a very competitive calculation speed. Broad-band pulse propagation in deep and shallow water with double (surface and bottom) ducts has been modeled using the new normal mode model for a variety of ocean waveguide parameters and different frequency bands. The surface duct generates a series of the surface-duct-trapped- modes, which form amplitude-modulated precursors in the far field pulse response. It has been found that the arrival times of the precursors could not be explained by the conventional concept of group velocity so that a more general principle based on the rate of energy transfer has been used. The Airy function solution was found to explain the amplitude modulation of the precursors. It has been learned from the numerical simulation that for a range-independent environment the time separation between precursors is fixed and any variations from this have been a result of range-dependence and mode coupling in the model. The time separation between precursors is in a good agreement with experimental data. The pulse energy distribution in space and time has been used to obtain source localization in depth and range, bottom integrated impedance and an outline of the sound speed profile in the water column. Further model development will lead to a unified approach to propagation and scattering problems in an ocean waveguide, with some aspects of immersed object identification and localization accomplished.

Lake Louise Water (USGS47): A new isotopic reference water for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope measurements

USGS Publications Warehouse

Qi, Haiping; Lorenz, Jennifer M.; Coplen, Tyler B.; Tarbox, Lauren V.; Mayer, Bernhard; Taylor, Steve

2014-01-01

RESULTS: The δ2H and δ18O values of this reference water are –150.2 ± 0.5 ‰ and –19.80 ± 0.02 ‰, respectively, relative to VSMOW on scales normalized such that the δ2H and δ18O values of SLAP reference water are, respectively, –428 and –55.5 ‰. Each uncertainty is an estimated expanded uncertainty (U = 2uc) about the reference value that provides an interval that has about a 95-percent probability of encompassing the true value. CONCLUSION: This isotopic reference material, designated as USGS47, is intended as one of two isotopic reference waters for daily normalization of stable hydrogen and stable oxygen isotopic analysis of water with a mass spectrometer or a laser absorption spectrometer. "

Identification and validation of reference genes for normalization of gene expression analysis using qRT-PCR in Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

PubMed

Zhang, Songdou; An, Shiheng; Li, Zhen; Wu, Fengming; Yang, Qingpo; Liu, Yichen; Cao, Jinjun; Zhang, Huaijiang; Zhang, Qingwen; Liu, Xiaoxia

2015-01-25

Recent studies have focused on determining functional genes and microRNAs in the pest Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Most of these studies used quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Suitable reference genes are necessary to normalize gene expression data of qRT-PCR. However, a comprehensive study on the reference genes in H. armigera remains lacking. Twelve candidate reference genes of H. armigera were selected and evaluated for their expression stability under different biotic and abiotic conditions. The comprehensive stability ranking of candidate reference genes was recommended by RefFinder and the optimal number of reference genes was calculated by geNorm. Two target genes, thioredoxin (TRX) and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), were used to validate the selection of reference genes. Results showed that the most suitable candidate combinations of reference genes were as follows: 28S and RPS15 for developmental stages; RPS15 and RPL13 for larvae tissues; EF and RPL27 for adult tissues; GAPDH, RPL27, and β-TUB for nuclear polyhedrosis virus infection; RPS15 and RPL32 for insecticide treatment; RPS15 and RPL27 for temperature treatment; and RPL32, RPS15, and RPL27 for all samples. This study not only establishes an accurate method for normalizing qRT-PCR data in H. armigera but also serve as a reference for further study on gene transcription in H. armigera and other insects. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Selection and validation of suitable reference genes for miRNA expression normalization by quantitative RT-PCR in citrus somatic embryogenic and adult tissues.

PubMed

Kou, Shu-Jun; Wu, Xiao-Meng; Liu, Zheng; Liu, Yuan-Long; Xu, Qiang; Guo, Wen-Wu

2012-12-01

miRNAs have recently been reported to modulate somatic embryogenesis (SE), a key pathway of plant regeneration in vitro. For expression level detection and subsequent function dissection of miRNAs in certain biological processes, qRT-PCR is one of the most effective and sensitive techniques, for which suitable reference gene selection is a prerequisite. In this study, three miRNAs and eight non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) were selected as reference candidates, and their expression stability was inspected in developing citrus SE tissues cultured at 20, 25, and 30 °C. Stability of the eight non-miRNA ncRNAs was further validated in five adult tissues without temperature treatment. The best single reference gene for SE tissues was snoR14 or snoRD25, while for the adult tissues the best one was U4; although they were not as stable as the optimal multiple references snoR14 + U6 for SE tissues and snoR14 + U5 for adult tissues. For expression normalization of less abundant miRNAs in SE tissues, miR3954 was assessed as a viable reference. Single reference gene snoR14 outperformed multiple references for the overall SE and adult tissues. As one of the pioneer systematic studies on reference gene identification for plant miRNA normalization, this study benefits future exploration on miRNA function in citrus and provides valuable information for similar studies in other higher plants. Three miRNAs and eight non-coding RNAs were tested as reference candidates on developing citrus SE tissues. Best single references snoR14 or snoRD25 and optimal multiple references snoR14 + U6, snoR14 + U5 were identified.

Normal sensory and range of motion (ROM) responses during Thoracic Slump Test (ST) in asymptomatic subjects.

PubMed

Joshi, Ketaki C; Eapen, Charu; Kumar, Senthil P

2013-02-01

The purpose of the study was to determine the normal sensory and range of motion (ROM) responses during the movement components of Thoracic Slump Test (Thoracic ST) in asymptomatic subjects. Sixty asymptomatic subjects were included in the study. Thoracic ST was performed in two sequences, proximal initiation, which was proximal to distal and distal initiation, which was distal to proximal. Subjects were randomized into four groups depending on the order of sequences and sides. Outcome measures of sensory responses (intensity, type, and location) and ROM responses were recorded after each sequence. Friedman's test was done to compare between sensory responses of the subjects. Between-component comparison for prevalence of sensory responses within each sequence was done using Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxonsigned ranks test was used for between-component comparisons of intensity of symptoms within each sequence of testing. Independent t test was used to assess the ROM responses. Results show the prevalence of sensory responses, its nature, area and intensity. These sensory and ROM responses may be considered as normal response of Thoracic ST. The intensity of the symptoms of proximal initiation sequence (1.09±1.35 cm) was significant (P<0.05) when compared to distal initiation sequence (0.08±1.26 cm). The change in the ROM was significant (P<0.05) for distal initiation (7.55±4.51 degrees) when compared to proximal initiation (4.96±3.76 degrees). These normal responses may be used as a reference when using the Thoracic ST as an assessment technique.

Normal sensory and range of motion (ROM) responses during Thoracic Slump Test (ST) in asymptomatic subjects

PubMed Central

Joshi, Ketaki C; Eapen, Charu; Kumar, Senthil P

2013-01-01

The purpose of the study was to determine the normal sensory and range of motion (ROM) responses during the movement components of Thoracic Slump Test (Thoracic ST) in asymptomatic subjects. Sixty asymptomatic subjects were included in the study. Thoracic ST was performed in two sequences, proximal initiation, which was proximal to distal and distal initiation, which was distal to proximal. Subjects were randomized into four groups depending on the order of sequences and sides. Outcome measures of sensory responses (intensity, type, and location) and ROM responses were recorded after each sequence. Friedman’s test was done to compare between sensory responses of the subjects. Between-component comparison for prevalence of sensory responses within each sequence was done using Kruskal–Wallis test and Wilcoxonsigned ranks test was used for between-component comparisons of intensity of symptoms within each sequence of testing. Independent t test was used to assess the ROM responses. Results show the prevalence of sensory responses, its nature, area and intensity. These sensory and ROM responses may be considered as normal response of Thoracic ST. The intensity of the symptoms of proximal initiation sequence (1.09±1.35 cm) was significant (P<0.05) when compared to distal initiation sequence (0.08±1.26 cm). The change in the ROM was significant (P<0.05) for distal initiation (7.55±4.51 degrees) when compared to proximal initiation (4.96±3.76 degrees). These normal responses may be used as a reference when using the Thoracic ST as an assessment technique. PMID:24421610

Modeling and control of a brushless DC axial flow ventricular assist device.

PubMed

Giridharan, Guruprasad A; Skliar, Mikhail; Olsen, Donald B; Pantalos, George M

2002-01-01

This article presents an integrated model of the human circulatory system that incorporates circulatory support by a brushless DC axial flow ventricular assist device (VAD), and a feedback VAD controller designed to maintain physiologically sufficient perfusion. The developed integrated model combines a network type model of the circulatory system with a nonlinear dynamic model of the brushless DC pump We show that maintaining a reference differential pressure between the left ventricle and aorta leads to adequate perfusion for different pathologic cases, ranging from normal heart to left heart asystole, and widely varying physical activity scenarios from rest to exercise.

Range Reference Atmosphere 0-70 Km Altitude. Kwajalein Missile Range, Kwajalein, Marshall Islands

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-01-01

DOCUMENT 360-82 KWAJALEIN MISSILE RANGE KWAJALEIN, MARSHALL ISLANDS RANGE REFERENCE ATMOSPHERE 0-70 KM ALTITUDE, C00 L’’I METEOROLOGY GROUP .RANGE...34Reference Atmosphere (Part 1), Kwajale 4n Missile Range, Kwajalein, Marshall Islands ," ADA002664. * 19. KEY WORDS (Continue on revorsae d. If necoeewy...CLASSIFICATION OF TIlS PAGE (Whe~n Data EnterecD -v DOCUMENT 360-82 Vo- KWAJALEIN MISSILE RANGE KWAJALEIN, MARSHALL ISLANDS RANGE REFERENCE ATMOSPHERE 0-70 km

The application of the piecewise linear approximation to the spectral neighborhood of soil line for the analysis of the quality of normalization of remote sensing materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulyanitsa, A. L.; Rukhovich, A. D.; Rukhovich, D. D.; Koroleva, P. V.; Rukhovich, D. I.; Simakova, M. S.

2017-04-01

The concept of soil line can be to describe the temporal distribution of spectral characteristics of the bare soil surface. In this case, the soil line can be referred to as the multi-temporal soil line, or simply temporal soil line (TSL). In order to create TSL for 8000 regular lattice points for the territory of three regions of Tula oblast, we used 34 Landsat images obtained in the period from 1985 to 2014 after their certain transformation. As Landsat images are the matrices of the values of spectral brightness, this transformation is the normalization of matrices. There are several methods of normalization that move, rotate, and scale the spectral plane. In our study, we applied the method of piecewise linear approximation to the spectral neighborhood of soil line in order to assess the quality of normalization mathematically. This approach allowed us to range normalization methods according to their quality as follows: classic normalization > successive application of the turn and shift > successive application of the atmospheric correction and shift > atmospheric correction > shift > turn > raw data. The normalized data allowed us to create the maps of the distribution of a and b coefficients of the TSL. The map of b coefficient is characterized by the high correlation with the ground-truth data obtained from 1899 soil pits described during the soil surveys performed by the local institute for land management (GIPROZEM).

Tissue-specific selection of stable reference genes for real-time PCR normalization in an obese rat model.

PubMed

Cabiati, Manuela; Raucci, Serena; Caselli, Chiara; Guzzardi, Maria Angela; D'Amico, Andrea; Prescimone, Tommaso; Giannessi, Daniela; Del Ry, Silvia

2012-06-01

Obesity is a complex pathology with interacting and confounding causes due to the environment, hormonal signaling patterns, and genetic predisposition. At present, the Zucker rat is an eligible genetic model for research on obesity and metabolic syndrome, allowing scrutiny of gene expression profiles. Real-time PCR is the benchmark method for measuring mRNA expressions, but the accuracy and reproducibility of its data greatly depend on appropriate normalization strategies. In the Zucker rat model, no specific reference genes have been identified in myocardium, kidney, and lung, the main organs involved in this syndrome. The aim of this study was to select among ten candidates (Actb, Gapdh, Polr2a, Ywhag, Rpl13a, Sdha, Ppia, Tbp, Hprt1 and Tfrc) a set of reference genes that can be used for the normalization of mRNA expression data obtained by real-time PCR in obese and lean Zucker rats both at fasting and during acute hyperglycemia. The most stable genes in the heart were Sdha, Tbp, and Hprt1; in kidney, Tbp, Actb, and Gapdh were chosen, while Actb, Ywhag, and Sdha were selected as the most stably expressed set for pulmonary tissue. The normalization strategy was used to analyze mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α, the main inflammatory mediator in obesity, whose variations were more significant when normalized with the appropriately selected reference genes. The findings obtained in this study underline the importance of having three stably expressed reference gene sets for use in the cardiac, renal, and pulmonary tissues of an experimental model of obese and hyperglycemic Zucker rats.

Comprehensive reference ranges for hematology and clinical chemistry laboratory parameters derived from normal Nigerian adults.

PubMed

Miri-Dashe, Timzing; Osawe, Sophia; Tokdung, Monday; Daniel, Monday Tokdung Nenbammun; Daniel, Nenbammun; Choji, Rahila Pam; Mamman, Ille; Deme, Kurt; Damulak, Dapus; Abimiku, Alash'le

2014-01-01

Interpretation of laboratory test results with appropriate diagnostic accuracy requires reference or cutoff values. This study is a comprehensive determination of reference values for hematology and clinical chemistry in apparently healthy voluntary non-remunerated blood donors and pregnant women. Consented clients were clinically screened and counseled before testing for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis. Standard national blood donors' questionnaire was administered to consented blood donors. Blood from qualified volunteers was used for measurement of complete hematology and chemistry parameters. Blood samples were analyzed from a total of 383 participants, 124 (32.4%) males, 125 (32.6%) non-pregnant females and 134 pregnant females (35.2%) with a mean age of 31 years. Our results showed that the red blood cells count (RBC), Hemoglobin (HB) and Hematocrit (HCT) had significant gender difference (p = 0.000) but not for total white blood count (p>0.05) which was only significantly higher in pregnant verses non-pregnant women (p = 0.000). Hemoglobin and Hematocrit values were lower in pregnancy (P = 0.000). Platelets were significantly higher in females than men (p = 0.001) but lower in pregnant women (p =  .001) with marked difference in gestational period. For clinical chemistry parameters, there was no significant difference for sodium, potassium and chloride (p>0.05) but gender difference exists for Bicarbonate (HCO3), Urea nitrogen, Creatinine as well as the lipids (p<0.05). Total bilirubin was significantly higher in males than females (p = 0.000). Significant differences exist for all chemistry parameters between pregnant and non-pregnant women in this study (p<0.05), except Amylase and total cholesterol (p>0.05). Hematological and Clinical Chemistry reference ranges established in this study showed significant gender differences. Pregnant women also differed from non-pregnant females and during pregnancy. This is the first of such comprehensive study to establish reference values among adult Nigerians and difference observed underscore the need to establish reference values for different populations.

Selection and evaluation of novel reference genes for quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) based on genome and transcriptome data in Brassica napus L.

PubMed

Yang, Hongli; Liu, Jing; Huang, Shunmou; Guo, Tingting; Deng, Linbin; Hua, Wei

2014-03-15

Selection of reference genes in Brassica napus, a tetraploid (4×) species, is a very difficult task without information on genome and transcriptome. By now, only several traditional reference genes which show significant expression differentiation under different conditions are used in B. napus. In the present study, based on genome and transcriptome data of the rapeseed Zhongshuang-11 cultivar, 14 candidate reference genes were screened for investigation in different tissues, cultivars, and treated conditions of B. napus. These genes were as follows: ELF5, ENTH, F-BOX7, F-BOX2, FYPP1, GDI1, GYF, MCP2d, OTP80, PPR, SPOC, Unknown1, Unknown2 and UBA. Among them, excluding GYF and FYPP1, another 12 genes, were identified to perform better than traditional reference genes ACTIN7 and GAPDH. To further validate the accuracy of the newly developed reference genes in normalization, expression levels of BnCAT1 (B. napus catalase 1) in different rapeseed tissues and seedlings under stress conditions were normalized by the three most stable reference genes PPR, GDI1, and ENTH and little difference existed in normalization results. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time B. napus reference genes have been provided with the help of complete genome and transcriptome information. The new reference genes provided in this study are more accurate than previously reported reference genes in quantifying expression levels of B. napus genes. Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of reference gene suitability for quantitative expression analysis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the mandibular condyle of sheep.

PubMed

Jiang, Xin; Xue, Yang; Zhou, Hongzhi; Li, Shouhong; Zhang, Zongmin; Hou, Rui; Ding, Yuxiang; Hu, Kaijin

2015-10-01

Reference genes are commonly used as a reliable approach to normalize the results of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and to reduce errors in the relative quantification of gene expression. Suitable reference genes belonging to numerous functional classes have been identified for various types of species and tissue. However, little is currently known regarding the most suitable reference genes for bone, specifically for the sheep mandibular condyle. Sheep are important for the study of human bone diseases, particularly for temporomandibular diseases. The present study aimed to identify a set of reference genes suitable for the normalization of qPCR data from the mandibular condyle of sheep. A total of 12 reference genes belonging to various functional classes were selected, and the expression stability of the reference genes was determined in both the normal and fractured area of the sheep mandibular condyle. RefFinder, which integrates the following currently available computational algorithms: geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and the comparative ΔCt method, was used to compare and rank the candidate reference genes. The results obtained from the four methods demonstrated a similar trend: RPL19, ACTB, and PGK1 were the most stably expressed reference genes in the sheep mandibular condyle. As determined by RefFinder comprehensive analysis, the results of the present study suggested that RPL19 is the most suitable reference gene for studies associated with the sheep mandibular condyle. In addition, ACTB and PGK1 may be considered suitable alternatives.

Does platelet count in platelet-rich plasma influence slope, maximal amplitude and lag phase in healthy individuals? Results of light transmission aggregometry.

PubMed

Chandrashekar, Vani

2015-01-01

Light transmission aggregometry lacks in standardisation and normal reference values are not widely available. The aims of our study were to establish reference ranges for aggregation, slope and lag phase in healthy controls with platelet counts between 150 and 450 × 10(9)/l in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as well as evaluate the influence of platelet count. Ninety-nine subjects were evaluated with four agonists and divided into two groups based on platelet count and the groups were compared by Student's t-test. There was no difference between the means of the two groups for amplitude and slope barring the lag phase for collagen. Platelet counts between 150 and 450 × 10(9)/l have no effects on light transmission aggregometry and hence adjustment of platelet count is not necessary.

Robust label-free biosensing using microdisk laser arrays with on-chip references.

PubMed

Wondimu, S F; Hippler, M; Hussal, C; Hofmann, A; Krämmer, S; Lahann, J; Kalt, H; Freude, W; Koos, C

2018-02-05

Whispering-gallery mode (WGM) microdisk lasers show great potential for highly sensitive label-free detection in large-scale sensor arrays. However, when used in practical applications under normal ambient conditions, these devices suffer from temperature fluctuations and photobleaching. Here we demonstrate that these challenges can be overcome by a novel referencing scheme that allows for simultaneous compensation of temperature drift and photobleaching. The technique relies on reference structures protected by locally dispensed passivation materials, and can be scaled to extended arrays of hundreds of devices. We prove the viability of the concept in a series of experiments, demonstrating robust and sensitive label-free detection over a wide range of constant or continuously varying temperatures. To the best of our knowledge, these measurements represent the first demonstration of biosensing in active WGM devices with simultaneous compensation of both photobleaching and temperature drift.

Measurement of superficial and deep abdominal muscle thickness: an ultrasonography study.

PubMed

Tahan, Nahid; Khademi-Kalantari, Khosro; Mohseni-Bandpei, Mohammad Ali; Mikaili, Saeed; Baghban, Alireza Akbarzadeh; Jaberzadeh, Shapour

2016-08-23

Real-time ultrasound imaging is a valid method in the field of rehabilitation. The ultrasound imaging allows direct visualization for real-time study of the muscles as they contract over the time. Measuring of the size of each abdominal muscle in relation to the others provides useful information about the differences in structure, as well as data on trunk muscle activation patterns. The purpose of this study was to assess the size and symmetry of the abdominal muscles at rest in healthy adults and to provide a reference range of absolute abdominal muscle size in a relatively large population. A total 156 healthy subjects with the age range of 18-44 years were randomly recruited. The thickness of internal oblique, external oblique, transverse abdominis, and rectus abdominis muscles was measured at rest on both right and left sides using ultrasound. Independent t test was used to compare the mean thickness of each abdominal muscle between males and females. Differences on side-to-side thicknesses were assessed using paired t test. The association between abdominal muscle thicknesses with gender and anthropometric variables was examined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. A normal pattern of increasing order of mean abdominal muscle thickness was found in both genders at both right and left sides: transverse abdominis < external oblique < internal oblique < rectus abdominis. There was a significant difference on the size of transverse abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles between right and left sides in both genders. Males had significantly thicker abdominal muscles than females. Age was significantly correlated with the thickness of internal oblique, external oblique, and rectus abdominis muscles. Body mass index was also positively correlated with muscle thickness of rectus abdominis and external oblique. The results provide a normal reference range for the abdominal muscles in healthy subjects and may be used as an index to find out abnormalities and also to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions.

Close-range hyperspectral image analysis for the early detection of stress responses in individual plants in a high-throughput phenotyping platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohd Asaari, Mohd Shahrimie; Mishra, Puneet; Mertens, Stien; Dhondt, Stijn; Inzé, Dirk; Wuyts, Nathalie; Scheunders, Paul

2018-04-01

The potential of close-range hyperspectral imaging (HSI) as a tool for detecting early drought stress responses in plants grown in a high-throughput plant phenotyping platform (HTPPP) was explored. Reflectance spectra from leaves in close-range imaging are highly influenced by plant geometry and its specific alignment towards the imaging system. This induces high uninformative variability in the recorded signals, whereas the spectral signature informing on plant biological traits remains undisclosed. A linear reflectance model that describes the effect of the distance and orientation of each pixel of a plant with respect to the imaging system was applied. By solving this model for the linear coefficients, the spectra were corrected for the uninformative illumination effects. This approach, however, was constrained by the requirement of a reference spectrum, which was difficult to obtain. As an alternative, the standard normal variate (SNV) normalisation method was applied to reduce this uninformative variability. Once the envisioned illumination effects were eliminated, the remaining differences in plant spectra were assumed to be related to changes in plant traits. To distinguish the stress-related phenomena from regular growth dynamics, a spectral analysis procedure was developed based on clustering, a supervised band selection, and a direct calculation of a spectral similarity measure against a reference. To test the significance of the discrimination between healthy and stressed plants, a statistical test was conducted using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. The proposed analysis techniques was validated with HSI data of maize plants (Zea mays L.) acquired in a HTPPP for early detection of drought stress in maize plant. Results showed that the pre-processing of reflectance spectra with the SNV effectively reduces the variability due to the expected illumination effects. The proposed spectral analysis method on the normalized spectra successfully detected drought stress from the third day of drought induction, confirming the potential of HSI for drought stress detection studies and further supporting its adoption in HTPPP.

Determination of reference ranges for elements in human scalp hair.

PubMed

Druyan, M E; Bass, D; Puchyr, R; Urek, K; Quig, D; Harmon, E; Marquardt, W

1998-06-01

Expected values, reference ranges, or reference limits are necessary to enable clinicians to apply analytical chemical data in the delivery of health care. Determination of references ranges is not straightforward in terms of either selecting a reference population or performing statistical analysis. In light of logistical, scientific, and economic obstacles, it is understandable that clinical laboratories often combine approaches in developing health associated reference values. A laboratory may choose to: 1. Validate either reference ranges of other laboratories or published data from clinical research or both, through comparison of patients test data. 2. Base the laboratory's reference values on statistical analysis of results from specimens assayed by the clinical reference laboratory itself. 3. Adopt standards or recommendations of regulatory agencies and governmental bodies. 4. Initiate population studies to validate transferred reference ranges or to determine them anew. Effects of external contamination and anecdotal information from clinicians may be considered. The clinical utility of hair analysis is well accepted for some elements. For others, it remains in the realm of clinical investigation. This article elucidates an approach for establishment of reference ranges for elements in human scalp hair. Observed levels of analytes from hair specimens from both our laboratory's total patient population and from a physician-defined healthy American population have been evaluated. Examination of levels of elements often associated with toxicity serves to exemplify the process of determining reference ranges in hair. In addition the approach serves as a model for setting reference ranges for analytes in a variety of matrices.

Study of sensor spectral responses and data processing algorithms and architectures for onboard feature identification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huck, F. O.; Davis, R. E.; Fales, C. L.; Aherron, R. M.

1982-01-01

A computational model of the deterministic and stochastic processes involved in remote sensing is used to study spectral feature identification techniques for real-time onboard processing of data acquired with advanced earth-resources sensors. Preliminary results indicate that: Narrow spectral responses are advantageous; signal normalization improves mean-square distance (MSD) classification accuracy but tends to degrade maximum-likelihood (MLH) classification accuracy; and MSD classification of normalized signals performs better than the computationally more complex MLH classification when imaging conditions change appreciably from those conditions during which reference data were acquired. The results also indicate that autonomous categorization of TM signals into vegetation, bare land, water, snow and clouds can be accomplished with adequate reliability for many applications over a reasonably wide range of imaging conditions. However, further analysis is required to develop computationally efficient boundary approximation algorithms for such categorization.

Cerebrovascular regulation in the postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Low, P. A.; Novak, V.; Spies, J. M.; Novak, P.; Petty, G. W.

1999-01-01

Patients with the postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) have symptoms of orthostatic intolerance despite having a normal orthostatic blood pressure (BP), which suggests some impairment of cerebrovascular regulation. Cerebrovascular autoregulation refers to the maintenance of normal cerebral blood flow in spite of changing BP. Mechanisms of autoregulation include myogenic, metabolic and neurogenic vasoregulation. Beat-to-beat recording of blood-flow velocity (BFV) is possible using transcranial Doppler imaging. It is possible to evaluate autoregulation by regressing deltaBFV to deltaBP during head-up tilt. A number of dynamic methods, relating deltaBFV to deltaBP during sudden induced changes in BP by occluding then releasing peripheral arterial flow or by the Valsalva maneuver. The deltaBFV to deltaBP provides an index of autoregulation. In orthostatic hypotension, the autoregulated range is typically expanded. In contrast, paradoxical vasoconstriction occurs in POTS because of an increased depth of respiration, resulting in hypocapnic cerebrovascular constriction, and impaired autoregulation.

Imipramine treatment differentially affects platelet /sup 3/H-imipramine binding and serotonin uptake in depressed patients

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Suranyi-Cadotte, B.E.; Quirion, R.; Nair, N.P.V.

1985-02-25

Uptake of serotonin and /sup 3/H-imipramine binding in platelets of depressed patients were investigated simultaneously with changes in clinical state. Both V/sub max/ for serotonin uptake and B/sub max/ for /sup 3/H-imipramine binding were significantly lower in unmedicated depressed patients with respect to normal subjects. Successful treatment with imipramine led to a significant increase in B/sub max/ for /sup 3/H-imipramine binding, without significant change in V/sub max/ for serotonin uptake. B/sub max/ values increased to the normal range following complete, rather than partial clinical improvement. These data indicate that successful antidepressant treatment may increase the density of /sup 3/H-imipramine bindingmore » sites on platelets by a process which is independent of the uptake of serotonin. 29 references, 1 table.« less

Subclinical hyperthyroidism: current concepts and scintigraphic imaging.

PubMed

Intenzo, Charles; Jabbour, Serge; Miller, Jeffrey L; Ahmed, Intekhab; Furlong, Kevin; Kushen, Medina; Kim, Sung M; Capuzzi, David M

2011-09-01

Subclinical hyperthyroidism is defined as normal serum free thyroxine and a free triiodothyronine level, with a thyroid-stimulating hormone level suppressed below the normal range and is usually undetectable. Although patients with this diagnosis have no or few signs and symptoms of overt thyrotoxicosis, there is sufficient evidence that it is associated with a relatively higher risk of supraventricular arrhythmias as well as the acceleration or the development of osteoporosis. Consequently, the approach to the patient with subclinical hyperthyroidism is controversial, that is, therapeutic intervention versus watchful waiting. Regardless, it is imperative for the referring physician to identify the causative thyroid disorder. This is optimally accomplished by a functional study, namely scintigraphy. Recognition of the scan findings of the various causes of subclinical hyperthyroidism enables the imaging specialist to help in diagnosing the underlying condition causing thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression thereby facilitating the workup and management of this thyroid disorder.

46,XY hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and myasthenia gravis.

PubMed

Lichiardopol, Corina; Herlea, V; Ioan, Virginia; Tomulescu, V; Mixich, F

2006-01-01

Both hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and myasthenia gravis can be parts of type II autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome and association between the two disorders has been reported in few cases. A 14 year old male patient with a personal history of bilateral cryptorchidism and ptosis was referred for delayed puberty. Clinical examination revealed eunuchoid habitus, small, soft testes, gynecomastia, ptosis, a myasthenic deficit score of 22.5 points and an IQ of 84 points. Decreased testosterone (0.064 ng/mL) and elevated LH (64.5 mUI/mL) were consistent with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and karyotype was normal: 46,XY. Thyroid function, haematologic evaluation, BUN, electrolytes, and glycemia were in the normal range. Therapy consisted of anticholinesterase inhibitors, immunosuppressants, corticotherapy, testosterone; thoracoscopic thymectomy was performed showing thymic lymphoid hyperplasia on histopathologic examination. Myasthenic score improved (12.5 points), progressive virilization occurred, and a year later the patient presented with cushingoid features and obesity.

Ecological comparison of cellular stress responses among populations - normalizing RT-qPCR values to investigate differential environmental adaptations.

PubMed

Koenigstein, Stefan; Pöhlmann, Kevin; Held, Christoph; Abele, Doris

2013-05-16

Rising temperatures and other environmental factors influenced by global climate change can cause increased physiological stress for many species and lead to range shifts or regional population extinctions. To advance the understanding of species' response to change and establish links between individual and ecosystem adaptations, physiological reactions have to be compared between populations living in different environments. Although changes in expression of stress genes are relatively easy to quantify, methods for reliable comparison of the data remain a contentious issue. Using normalization algorithms and further methodological considerations, we compare cellular stress response gene expression levels measured by RT-qPCR after air exposure experiments among different subpopulations of three species of the intertidal limpet Nacella. Reference gene assessment algorithms reveal that stable reference genes can differ among investigated populations and / or treatment groups. Normalized expression values point to differential defense strategies to air exposure in the investigated populations, which either employ a pronounced cellular stress response in the inducible Hsp70 forms, or exhibit a comparatively high constitutive expression of Hsps (heat shock proteins) while showing only little response in terms of Hsp induction. This study serves as a case study to explore the methodological prerequisites of physiological stress response comparisons among ecologically and phylogenetically different organisms. To improve the reliability of gene expression data and compare the stress responses of subpopulations under potential genetic divergence, reference gene stability algorithms are valuable and necessary tools. As the Hsp70 isoforms have been shown to play different roles in the acute stress responses and increased constitutive defenses of populations in their different habitats, these comparative studies can yield insight into physiological strategies of adaptation to environmental stress and provide hints for the prudent use of the cellular stress response as a biomarker to study environmental stress and stress adaptation of populations under changing environmental conditions.

Ecological comparison of cellular stress responses among populations – normalizing RT-qPCR values to investigate differential environmental adaptations

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Rising temperatures and other environmental factors influenced by global climate change can cause increased physiological stress for many species and lead to range shifts or regional population extinctions. To advance the understanding of species’ response to change and establish links between individual and ecosystem adaptations, physiological reactions have to be compared between populations living in different environments. Although changes in expression of stress genes are relatively easy to quantify, methods for reliable comparison of the data remain a contentious issue. Using normalization algorithms and further methodological considerations, we compare cellular stress response gene expression levels measured by RT-qPCR after air exposure experiments among different subpopulations of three species of the intertidal limpet Nacella. Results Reference gene assessment algorithms reveal that stable reference genes can differ among investigated populations and / or treatment groups. Normalized expression values point to differential defense strategies to air exposure in the investigated populations, which either employ a pronounced cellular stress response in the inducible Hsp70 forms, or exhibit a comparatively high constitutive expression of Hsps (heat shock proteins) while showing only little response in terms of Hsp induction. Conclusions This study serves as a case study to explore the methodological prerequisites of physiological stress response comparisons among ecologically and phylogenetically different organisms. To improve the reliability of gene expression data and compare the stress responses of subpopulations under potential genetic divergence, reference gene stability algorithms are valuable and necessary tools. As the Hsp70 isoforms have been shown to play different roles in the acute stress responses and increased constitutive defenses of populations in their different habitats, these comparative studies can yield insight into physiological strategies of adaptation to environmental stress and provide hints for the prudent use of the cellular stress response as a biomarker to study environmental stress and stress adaptation of populations under changing environmental conditions. PMID:23680017

Coagulation profiles of healthy Andalusian donkeys are different than those of healthy horses.

PubMed

Mendoza, F J; Perez-Ecija, R A; Monreal, L; Estepa, J C

2011-01-01

Coagulation disorders are frequently diagnosed, especially in hospitalized equidae, and result in increased morbidity and mortality. However, hemostatic reference intervals have not been established for donkeys yet. To determine whether the most common coagulation parameters used in equine practice are different between healthy donkeys and horses. Thirty-eight healthy donkeys and 29 healthy horses. Blood samples were collected to assess both coagulation and fibrinolytic systems by determination of platelet count, fibrinogen concentration, clotting times (prothrombin time [PT] and activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT]), fibrin degradation products (FDP) and D-Dimer concentrations. PT and aPTT in donkeys were significantly (P < .05) shorter than those of horses. In contrast, FDP and D-Dimer concentrations were significantly (P < .05) higher in donkeys than in horses. The coagulation parameters most commonly determined in equine practice are different in donkeys compared with horses. Thus, the use of normal reference ranges reported previously for healthy horses in donkeys might lead to a misdiagnosis of coagulopathy in healthy donkeys, and unnecessary treatments in sick donkeys. This is the first report of normal coagulation profile results in donkeys, and further studies are warranted to elucidate the physiological mechanisms of the differences observed between donkeys and horses. Copyright © 2011 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Validation of the β-amy1 transcription profiling assay and selection of reference genes suited for a RT-qPCR assay in developing barley caryopsis.

PubMed

Ovesná, Jaroslava; Kučera, Ladislav; Vaculová, Kateřina; Štrymplová, Kamila; Svobodová, Ilona; Milella, Luigi

2012-01-01

Reverse transcription coupled with real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is a frequently used method for gene expression profiling. Reference genes (RGs) are commonly employed to normalize gene expression data. A limited information exist on the gene expression and profiling in developing barley caryopsis. Expression stability was assessed by measuring the cycle threshold (Ct) range and applying both the GeNorm (pair-wise comparison of geometric means) and Normfinder (model-based approach) principles for the calculation. Here, we have identified a set of four RGs suitable for studying gene expression in the developing barley caryopsis. These encode the proteins GAPDH, HSP90, HSP70 and ubiquitin. We found a correlation between the frequency of occurrence of a transcript in silico and its suitability as an RG. This set of RGs was tested by comparing the normalized level of β-amylase (β-amy1) transcript with directly measured quantities of the BMY1 gene product in the developing barley caryopsis. This panel of genes could be used for other gene expression studies, as well as to optimize β-amy1 analysis for study of the impact of β-amy1 expression upon barley end-use quality.

Application of normal fluorescence and stability-indicating derivative synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy for the determination of gliquidone in presence of its fluorescent alkaline degradation product

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-ghobashy, Mohamed R.; Yehia, Ali M.; Helmy, Aya H.; Youssef, Nadia F.

2018-01-01

Simple, smart and sensitive normal fluorescence and stability-indicating derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetric methods have been developed and validated for the determination of gliquidone in the drug substance and drug product. Normal spectrofluorimetric method of gliquidone was established in methanol at λ excitation 225 nm and λ emission 400 nm in concentration range 0.2-3 μg/ml with LOD equal 0.028. The fluorescence quantum yield of gliquidone was calculated using quinine sulfate as a reference and found to be 0.542. Stability-indicating first and third derivative synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy were successfully utilized to overcome the overlapped spectra in normal fluorescence of gliquidone and its alkaline degradation product. Derivative synchronous methods are based on using the synchronous fluorescence of gliquidone and its degradation product in methanol at Δ λ50 nm. Peak amplitude in the first derivative of synchronous fluorescence spectra was measured at 309 nm where degradation product showed zero-crossing without interference. The peak amplitudes in the third derivative of synchronous fluorescence spectra, peak to trough were measured at 316,329 nm where degradation product showed zero-crossing. The different experimental parameters affecting the normal and synchronous fluorescence intensity of gliquidone were studied and optimized. Moreover, the cited methods have been validated as per ICH guidelines. The peak amplitude-concentration plots of the derivative synchronous fluorescence were linear over the concentration range 0.05-2 μg/ml for gliquidone. Limits of detection were 0.020 and 0.022 in first and third derivative synchronous spectra, respectively. The adopted methods were successfully applied to commercial tablets and the results demonstrated that the derivative synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy is a powerful stability-indicating method, suitable for routine use with a short analysis time. Statistical comparison between the results obtained by normal fluorescence and derivative synchronous methods and the official one using student's t-test and F-ratio showed no significant difference regarding accuracy and precision.

The Value Range of Contact Stiffness Factor between Pile and Soil Based on Penalty Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Sandy H. L.; Wu, Xinliu

2018-03-01

The value range of contact stiffness factor based on penalty function is studied when we use finite element software ANSYS to analyze contact problems, take single pile and soil of a certain project for example, the normal contact between pile and soil is analyzed with 2D simplified model in horizontal load. The study shows that when adopting linear elastic model to simulate soil, the maximum contact pressure and penetration approach steady value as the contact stiffness factor increases. The reasonable value range of contact stiffness factor reduces as the underlying element thickness decreases, but the rule reverses when refers to the soil stiffness. If choose DP model to simulate soil, the stiffness factor should be magnified 100 times compares to the elastic model regardless of the soil bears small force and still in elastic deformation stage or into the plastic deformation stage. When the soil bears big force and into plastic deformation stage, the value range of stiffness factor relates to the plastic strain range of the soil, and reduces as the horizontal load increases.

Extracellular micronutrient levels and pro-/antioxidant status in trauma patients with wound healing disorders: results of a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Blass, Sandra C; Goost, Hans; Burger, Christof; Tolba, René H; Stoffel-Wagner, Birgit; Stehle, Peter; Ellinger, Sabine

2013-12-05

Disorders in wound healing (DWH) are common in trauma patients, the reasons being not completely understood. Inadequate nutritional status may favor DWH, partly by means of oxidative stress. Reliable data, however, are lacking. This study should investigate the status of extracellular micronutrients in patients with DWH within routine setting. Within a cross-sectional study, the plasma/serum status of several micronutrients (retinol, ascorbic acid, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, α-tocopherol, β-carotene, selenium, and zinc) were determined in 44 trauma patients with DWH in addition to selected proteins (albumin, prealbumin, and C-reactive protein; CRP) and markers of pro-/antioxidant balance (antioxidant capacity, peroxides, and malondialdehyde). Values were compared to reference values to calculate the prevalence for biochemical deficiency. Correlations between CRP, albumin and prealbumin, and selected micronutrients were analyzed by Pearson's test. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Mean concentrations of ascorbic acid (23.1 ± 15.9 μmol/L), 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (46.2±30.6 nmol/L), β-carotene (0.6 ± 0.4 μmol/L), selenium (0.79±0.19 μmol/L), and prealbumin (24.8 ± 8.2 mg/dL) were relatively low. Most patients showed levels of ascorbic acid (<28 μmol/L; 64%), 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (<50 μmol/L; 59%), selenium (≤ 94 μmol/L; 71%) and β-carotene (<0.9 μmol/L; 86%) below the reference range. Albumin and prealbumin were in the lower normal range and CRP was mostly above the reference range. Plasma antioxidant capacity was decreased, whereas peroxides and malondialdehyde were increased compared to normal values. Inverse correlations were found between CRP and albumin (P < 0.05) and between CRP and prealbumin (P < 0.01). Retinol (P < 0.001), ascorbic acid (P < 0.01), zinc (P < 0.001), and selenium (P < 0.001) were negatively correlated with CRP. Trauma patients with DWH frequently suffer from protein malnutrition and reduced plasma concentrations of several micronutrients probably due to inflammation, increased requirement, and oxidative burden. Thus, adequate nutritional measures are strongly recommended to trauma patients.

Utility of serum IGF-1 for diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency following traumatic brain injury and sport-related concussion.

PubMed

Lithgow, Kirstie; Chin, Alex; Debert, Chantel T; Kline, Gregory A

2018-04-02

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a potential consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), including sport-related concussion (SRC). GH stimulation testing is required for definitive diagnosis; however, this is resource intensive and can be associated with adverse symptoms or risks. Measurement of serum IGF-1 is more practical and accessible, and pituitary tumour patients with hypopituitarism and low serum IGF-1 have been shown to have a high probability of GHD. We aimed to evaluate IGF-1 measurement for diagnosing GHD in our local TBI population. We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients evaluated for GHD at the TBI clinic and referred for GH stimulation testing with insulin tolerance test (ITT) or glucagon stimulation test (GST) since December 2013. We obtained demographics, TBI severity, IGF-1, data pertaining to pituitary function, and GH stimulation results. IGF-1 values were used to calculate z-scores per age and gender specific reference ranges. Receiver operator curve analysis was performed to evaluate diagnostic threshold of IGF-1 z-score for determining GHD by GST or ITT. Sixty four patient charts were reviewed. 48 patients had mild, six had moderate, eight had severe TBI, and two had non-traumatic brain injuries. 47 patients underwent ITT or GST. 27 were confirmed to have GHD (peak hGH < 5 μg/L). IGF-1 level was within the age and gender specific reference range for all patients with confirmed GHD following GH stimulation testing. Only one patient had a baseline IGF-1 level below the age and gender specific reference range; this patient had a normal response to GH stimulation testing. ROC analysis showed IGF-1 z-score AUC f, confirming lack of diagnostic utility. Baseline IGF-1 is not a useful predictor of GHD in our local TBI population, and therefore has no value as a screening tool. TBI patients undergoing pituitary evaluation will require a dynamic test of GH reserve.

The physical signs of impending dehydration among elderly people in nursing homes: The association with axillary skin temperature, humidity, intraoral moisture content, and salivary components.

PubMed

Okuyama, Mayumi; Nishida, Masumi

2016-01-01

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between impending dehydration among elderly people in nursing homes and physical signs, including the axillary skin temperature, humidity, intraoral moisture content, and salivary components. The study included 78 elderly individuals who required long-term care in a nursing home (11 men and 67 women; average age, 86.6±7.3 years). The elderly subjects were classified in two groups according to their serum osmolality levels: those with levels between the upper limit reference value (292 mOsm/kg H2O) and the diagnostic reference value of dehydration (300 mOsm/kg H2O) were classified into the boundary zone group and those with levels of <292 mOsm/kg H2O were classified into the normal range group. The following parameters were measured: basic attributes (age, gender and level of care required), body mass index, diet, daily fluid intake per kilogram of body weight, physiological indicators (blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, axillary skin temperature, humidity, total body water, body water rate, internal liquid rate, external solution rate, blood components, intraoral water amount, and salivary components), and the indoor environment (room temperature and humidity). We then performed a statistical analysis to compare the boundary zone group with the normal range group. After adjusting for age and the daily fluid intake per kilogram of body weight (<25 ml/≥25 ml), we performed a logistic regression analysis (the boundary zone group was used as an independent variable) for variables that had significance levels of <0.05 (except for blood components). The univariate analysis revealed significant differences in the following parameters: the serum sodium, chloride, and creatinine levels; the blood sugar level; the urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio; the axillary skin temperature; and room humidity. Only the axillary skin temperature showed a significant association in the final model of the logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 3.664; 95% confidence interval, 1.101-12.197; p = 0.034). As the axillary skin temperature increased by 1°C, there was a 3.67-fold risk of being classified into the boundary zone group instead of the normal range group. Thus, the axillary skin temperature was associated with impending dehydration.

White cell count in the normal range and short-term and long-term mortality: international comparisons of electronic health record cohorts in England and New Zealand.

PubMed

Shah, Anoop Dinesh; Thornley, Simon; Chung, Sheng-Chia; Denaxas, Spiros; Jackson, Rod; Hemingway, Harry

2017-02-17

Electronic health records offer the opportunity to discover new clinical implications for established blood tests, but international comparisons have been lacking. We tested the association of total white cell count (WBC) with all-cause mortality in England and New Zealand. Primary care practices in England (ClinicAl research using LInked Bespoke studies and Electronic health Records (CALIBER)) and New Zealand (PREDICT). Analysis of linked electronic health record data sets: CALIBER (primary care, hospitalisation, mortality and acute coronary syndrome registry) and PREDICT (cardiovascular risk assessments in primary care, hospitalisations, mortality, dispensed medication and laboratory results). People aged 30-75 years with no prior cardiovascular disease (CALIBER: N=686 475, 92.0% white; PREDICT: N=194 513, 53.5% European, 14.7% Pacific, 13.4% Maori), followed until death, transfer out of practice (in CALIBER) or study end. HRs for mortality were estimated using Cox models adjusted for age, sex, smoking, diabetes, systolic blood pressure, ethnicity and total:high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio. We found 'J'-shaped associations between WBC and mortality; the second quintile was associated with lowest risk in both cohorts. High WBC within the reference range (8.65-10.05×10 9 /L) was associated with significantly increased mortality compared to the middle quintile (6.25-7.25×10 9 /L); adjusted HR 1.51 (95% CI 1.43 to 1.59) in CALIBER and 1.33 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.65) in PREDICT. WBC outside the reference range was associated with even greater mortality. The association was stronger over the first 6 months of follow-up, but similar across ethnic groups. Clinically recorded WBC within the range considered 'normal' is associated with mortality in ethnically different populations from two countries, particularly within the first 6 months. Large-scale international comparisons of electronic health record cohorts might yield new insights from widely performed clinical tests. NCT02014610. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Ghost detection and removal based on super-pixel grouping in exposure fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Shenyu; Xu, Zhihai; Li, Qi; Chen, Yueting; Feng, Huajun

2014-09-01

A novel multi-exposure images fusion method for dynamic scenes is proposed. The commonly used techniques for high dynamic range (HDR) imaging are based on the combination of multiple differently exposed images of the same scene. The drawback of these methods is that ghosting artifacts will be introduced into the final HDR image if the scene is not static. In this paper, a super-pixel grouping based method is proposed to detect the ghost in the image sequences. We introduce the zero mean normalized cross correlation (ZNCC) as a measure of similarity between a given exposure image and the reference. The calculation of ZNCC is implemented in super-pixel level, and the super-pixels which have low correlation with the reference are excluded by adjusting the weight maps for fusion. Without any prior information on camera response function or exposure settings, the proposed method generates low dynamic range (LDR) images which can be shown on conventional display devices directly with details preserving and ghost effects reduced. Experimental results show that the proposed method generates high quality images which have less ghost artifacts and provide a better visual quality than previous approaches.

Validation of endogenous internal real-time PCR controls in renal tissues.

PubMed

Cui, Xiangqin; Zhou, Juling; Qiu, Jing; Johnson, Martin R; Mrug, Michal

2009-01-01

Endogenous internal controls ('reference' or 'housekeeping' genes) are widely used in real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analyses. Their use relies on the premise of consistently stable expression across studied experimental conditions. Unfortunately, none of these controls fulfills this premise across a wide range of experimental conditions; consequently, none of them can be recommended for universal use. To determine which endogenous RT-PCR controls are suitable for analyses of renal tissues altered by kidney disease, we studied the expression of 16 commonly used 'reference genes' in 7 mildly and 7 severely affected whole kidney tissues from a well-characterized cystic kidney disease model. Expression levels of these 16 genes, determined by TaqMan RT-PCR analyses and Affymetrix GeneChip arrays, were normalized and tested for overall variance and equivalence of the means. Both statistical approaches and both TaqMan- and GeneChip-based methods converged on 3 out of the 4 top-ranked genes (Ppia, Gapdh and Pgk1) that had the most constant expression levels across the studied phenotypes. A combination of the top-ranked genes will provide a suitable endogenous internal control for similar studies of kidney tissues across a wide range of disease severity. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Spliced synthetic genes as internal controls in RNA sequencing experiments.

PubMed

Hardwick, Simon A; Chen, Wendy Y; Wong, Ted; Deveson, Ira W; Blackburn, James; Andersen, Stacey B; Nielsen, Lars K; Mattick, John S; Mercer, Tim R

2016-09-01

RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) can be used to assemble spliced isoforms, quantify expressed genes and provide a global profile of the transcriptome. However, the size and diversity of the transcriptome, the wide dynamic range in gene expression and inherent technical biases confound RNA-seq analysis. We have developed a set of spike-in RNA standards, termed 'sequins' (sequencing spike-ins), that represent full-length spliced mRNA isoforms. Sequins have an entirely artificial sequence with no homology to natural reference genomes, but they align to gene loci encoded on an artificial in silico chromosome. The combination of multiple sequins across a range of concentrations emulates alternative splicing and differential gene expression, and it provides scaling factors for normalization between samples. We demonstrate the use of sequins in RNA-seq experiments to measure sample-specific biases and determine the limits of reliable transcript assembly and quantification in accompanying human RNA samples. In addition, we have designed a complementary set of sequins that represent fusion genes arising from rearrangements of the in silico chromosome to aid in cancer diagnosis. RNA sequins provide a qualitative and quantitative reference with which to navigate the complexity of the human transcriptome.

Longitudinal Urinary Protein Variability in Participants of the Space Flight Simulation Program.

PubMed

Khristenko, Nina A; Larina, Irina M; Domon, Bruno

2016-01-04

Urine is a valuable material for the diagnosis of renal pathologies and to investigate the effects of their treatment. However, the variability in protein abundance in the context of normal homeostasis remains a major challenge in urinary proteomics. In this study, the analysis of urine samples collected from healthy individuals, rigorously selected to take part in the MARS-500 spaceflight simulation program, provided a unique opportunity to estimate normal concentration ranges for an extended set of urinary proteins. In order to systematically identify and reliably quantify peptides/proteins across a large sample cohort, a targeted mass spectrometry method was developed. The performance of parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) analyses was improved by implementing tight control of the monitoring windows during LC-MS/MS runs, using an on-the-fly correction routine. Matching the experimentally obtained MS/MS spectra with reference fragmentation patterns allowed dependable peptide identifications to be made. Following optimization and evaluation, the targeted method was applied to investigate protein abundance variability in 56 urine samples, collected from six volunteers participating in the MARS-500 program. The intrapersonal protein concentration ranges were determined for each individual and showed unexpectedly high abundance variation, with an average difference of 1 order of magnitude.

[The reference of normal values of the sacroiliac joint index in bone scintigraphy].

PubMed

Sebastjanowicz, Przemysław; Iwanowski, Jacek; Piwowarska-Bilska, Hanna; Elbl, Bogumiła; Birkenfeld, Bożena

Scintigraphy of sacroiliac joints as functional imaging provides unique information on the existing disease process. By using radiopharmaceuticals that allow imaging of the metabolic activity within the joint, it is possible to assess the stage of the disease, even when there are no lesions in radiological images. Quantitative analysis of scintigrams of sacroiliac joints is performed by comparing the uptake in both of them in relation to the uptake in the sacral bone area. The values of sacroiliac (SI/S) indices are influenced by the age of the patient, sex, state of health, and a range of individual biological features. Therefore, reference values of SI/S ratios are very important for medical specialists who describe and diagnose locomotor system diseases. The aim of this paper is to develop a reference range of sacroiliac ratios. The innovativeness of this paper involves examining sacroiliac ratios for various age groups, in children and adult patients, taking their sex into consideration. The study comprised a group of 335 people with proper bone scintigraphy. These people were divided into children and patients aged ≥21. Children were divided into 4 age groups (1–5; 6–10; 11–15; 16–20) and adults into 6 age groups (21–30; 31–40; 41–50; 51–60; 61–70; ≥71). Sacroiliac ratios were calculated using the method of three rectangular region of interests located on the left and right sacroiliac joint and on the sacral bone. The sacroiliac ratio was calculated for both joints by dividing the average number of counts within a selected sacroiliac joint by the average number of counts within the sacral bone. SI/S borderline reference values covered the range of 1.18÷2.28 that was obtained for children aged ≤5 and for the group of 11–15-year-olds. Considerable discrepancies in the values of the coefficient for women and men were seen among 31–50-year-olds. Borderline reference results for the entire control group cover the range of 1.18 ±2.28. The lower reference value applies to ≤5-year-olds, whereas the higher value applies to the group of 11–15-year-olds. The standard deviation value obtained was highest in paediatric patients. The results indicate the occurrence of significant individual differences between patients in this age group.

Characterization of reference genes for qPCR analysis in various tissues of the Fujian oyster Crassostrea angulata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pu, Fei; Yang, Bingye; Ke, Caihuan

2015-07-01

Accurate quantification of transcripts using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) depends on the identification of reliable reference genes for normalization. This study aimed to identify and validate seven reference genes, including actin-2 ( ACT-2), elongation factor 1 alpha ( EF-1α), elongation factor 1 beta ( EF-1β), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ( GAPDH), ubiquitin ( UBQ), β-tubulin ( β-TUB), and 18S ribosomal RNA, from Crassostrea angulata, a valuable marine bivalve cultured worldwide. Transcript levels of the candidate reference genes were examined using qPCR analysis and showed differential expression patterns in the mantle, gill, adductor muscle, labial palp, visceral mass, hemolymph and gonad tissues. Quantitative data were analyzed using the geNorm software to assess the expression stability of the candidate reference genes, revealing that β-TUB and UBQ were the most stable genes. The commonly used GAPDH and 18S rRNA showed low stability, making them unsuitable candidates in this system. The expression pattern of the G protein β-subunit gene ( Gβ) across tissue types was also examined and normalized to the expression of each or both of UBQ and β-TUB as internal controls. This revealed consistent trends with all three normalization approaches, thus validating the reliability of UBQ and β-TUB as optimal internal controls. The study provides the first validated reference genes for accurate data normalization in transcript profiling in Crassostrea angulata, which will be indispensable for further functional genomics studies in this economically valuable marine bivalve.

14 CFR 23.73 - Reference landing approach speed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Reference landing approach speed. 23.73... Reference landing approach speed. (a) For normal, utility, and acrobatic category reciprocating engine-powered airplanes of 6,000 pounds or less maximum weight, the reference landing approach speed, VREF, must...

14 CFR 23.73 - Reference landing approach speed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Reference landing approach speed. 23.73... Reference landing approach speed. (a) For normal, utility, and acrobatic category reciprocating engine-powered airplanes of 6,000 pounds or less maximum weight, the reference landing approach speed, VREF, must...

First trimester examination of fetal nasal bone in the Turkish population.

PubMed

Ozer, Alev; Ozaksit, Gulnur; Kanat-Pektas, Mine; Ozer, Serdar

2010-08-01

The present study aims to assign the reference values for nasal bone length (NBL) screened at 11-14 weeks of pregnancy in the Turkish population, determining whether the NBLs specified for Caucasians can be validated for Turkish people. The values of NBL were investigated in a total of 415 singleton fetuses that had Turkish parents and normal neonatal outcome. Sonographic measurements of NBL were done on a transabdominal midsagittal plane at 11-14 weeks' gestation. Regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between NBL and crown-rump length (CRL). Reference values, including the 5(th), 50(th) and 95(th)percentiles, were calculated for each gestational age. The mean NBL was estimated to be 2.5 mm for 11-11 + 6/7 weeks, 2.9 mm for 12-12 + 6/7 and 3.4 mm for 13-13 + 6/7 weeks' gestation. The measurements of NBL showed a significant increase with CRL so that a linear and direct correlation was found between NBL and CRL (NBL = 0.267 + 0.043 x CRL, P < 0.001). Moreover, a significant and linear relationship was detected between NBL and gestational age (NBL = -3.858 + 0.537 x gestational age, P < 0.001). The measurement of NBL is found to be achievable in the majority of first trimester pregnancies. The reference range of NBL in normal Turkish fetuses is established so that basic data can be recorded for further studies related to NBL measurements in screening for various chromosomal abnormalities including Down syndrome within Turkish population.

Selection of reference genes is critical for miRNA expression analysis in human cardiac tissue. A focus on atrial fibrillation

PubMed Central

Masè, Michela; Grasso, Margherita; Avogaro, Laura; D’Amato, Elvira; Tessarolo, Francesco; Graffigna, Angelo; Denti, Michela Alessandra; Ravelli, Flavia

2017-01-01

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of complex biological processes in several cardiovascular diseases, including atrial fibrillation (AF). Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction is a powerful technique to quantitatively assess miRNA expression profile, but reliable results depend on proper data normalization by suitable reference genes. Despite the increasing number of studies assessing miRNAs in cardiac disease, no consensus on the best reference genes has been reached. This work aims to assess reference genes stability in human cardiac tissue with a focus on AF investigation. We evaluated the stability of five reference genes (U6, SNORD48, SNORD44, miR-16, and 5S) in atrial tissue samples from eighteen cardiac-surgery patients in sinus rhythm and AF. Stability was quantified by combining BestKeeper, delta-Cq, GeNorm, and NormFinder statistical tools. All methods assessed SNORD48 as the best and U6 as the worst reference gene. Applications of different normalization strategies significantly impacted miRNA expression profiles in the study population. Our results point out the necessity of a consensus on data normalization in AF studies to avoid the emergence of divergent biological conclusions. PMID:28117343

Percentiles of fasting serum insulin, glucose, HbA1c and HOMA-IR in pre-pubertal normal weight European children from the IDEFICS cohort.

PubMed

Peplies, J; Jiménez-Pavón, D; Savva, S C; Buck, C; Günther, K; Fraterman, A; Russo, P; Iacoviello, L; Veidebaum, T; Tornaritis, M; De Henauw, S; Mårild, S; Molnár, D; Moreno, L A; Ahrens, W

2014-09-01

The aim of this study is to present age- and sex-specific reference values of insulin, glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and the homeostasis model assessment to quantify insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) for pre-pubertal children. The reference population consists of 7074 normal weight 3- to 10.9-year-old pre-pubertal children from eight European countries who participated in at least one wave of the IDEFICS ('identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants') surveys (2007-2010) and for whom standardised laboratory measurements were obtained. Percentile curves of insulin (measured by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay), glucose, HbA1c and HOMA-IR were calculated as a function of age stratified by sex using the general additive model for location scale and shape (GAMLSS) method. Levels of insulin, fasting glucose and HOMA-IR continuously show an increasing trend with age, whereas HbA1c shows an upward trend only beyond the age of 8 years. Insulin and HOMA-IR values are higher in girls of all age groups, whereas glucose values are slightly higher in boys. Median serum levels of insulin range from 17.4 and 13.2 pmol l(-1) in 3-<3.5-year-old girls and boys, respectively, to 53.5 and 43.0 pmol l(-1) in 10.5-<11-year-old girls and boys. Median values of glucose are 4.3 and 4.5 mmol l(-1) in the youngest age group and 49.3 and 50.6 mmol l(-1) in the oldest girls and boys. For HOMA-IR, median values range from 0.5 and 0.4 in 3-<3.5-year-old girls and boys to 1.7 and 1.4 in 10.5-<11-year-old girls and boys, respectively. Our study provides the first standardised reference values for an international European children's population and provides the, up to now, largest data set of healthy pre-pubertal children to model reference percentiles for markers of insulin resistance. Our cohort shows higher values of Hb1Ac as compared with a single Swedish study while our percentiles for the other glucose metabolic markers are in good accordance with previous studies.

[Clinical, hematological, biochemical and endocrinological aspects of 32 dogs with hypothyroidism].

PubMed

Boretti, F S; Breyer-Haube, I; Kaspers, B; Reusch, C E

2003-04-01

During the years of 1996-2001, hypothyroidism was diagnosed at the clinic for small animal internal medicine, University of Zurich, in 32 dogs. Most of the dogs were large breeds. The most frequent clinical characteristics observed were exercise intolerance, obesity, dermatological, neurological and gastrointestinal signs. Predominant laboratory abnormalities were a low red blood cell count, increased concentration of cholesterol, triglycerides and fructosamin. 29 dogs had a T4 below the reference range (< 1.5 micrograms/dl), one dog had a T4 at the lower limit thereof (1.6 micrograms/dl). One dog had a T4 within the reference range (3.4 micrograms/dl), another had a very high T4 of 206.8 micrograms/dl; the results of the latter 2 dogs were interpreted as incorrectly increased T4 values due to in vitro interference with T4-autoantibodies. Diagnosis was confirmed in all of the dogs based on TSH-stimulation testing. Endogenous TSH (cTSH) measured parallelly, was elevated in only 60% of the dogs. In about 67% of the dogs, hypothyroidism was associated with thyroglobulin-autoantibodies. Canine hypothyroidism is a rather rare endocrine disorder in Switzerland. The TSH-stimulation test remains the gold standard in confirming the disease; a definitive diagnosis can be challenging for practitioners because bovine TSH, used for the TSH-stimulation test is not licensed for use in dogs. Since assessment of cTSH using current assays shows normal values in a high percentage of hypothyroid dogs, the diagnostic value is only limited. In most of the hypothyroid dogs T4 is decreased, with the presence of autoantibodies to T4, it can be normal or increased.

Multiples of Median-Transformed, Normalized Reference Ranges of Steroid Profiling Data Independent of Age, Sex, and Units.

PubMed

Zalas, Dominika; Reinehr, Thomas; Niedziela, Marek; Borzikowsky, Christoph; Flader, Maciej; Simic-Schleicher, Gunter; Akkurt, Halit Ilker; Heger, Sabine; Hornig, Nadine; Holterhus, Paul-Martin; Kulle, Alexandra E

2018-01-01

The high complexity of pediatric reference ranges across age, sex, and units impairs clinical application and comparability of steroid hormone data, e.g., in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). We developed a multiples-of-median (MoM) normalization tool to overcome this major drawback in pediatric endocrinology. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry data comprising 10 steroid hormones representing 905 controls (555 males, 350 females, 0 to > 16 years) from 2 previous datasets were MoM transformed across age and sex. Twenty-three genetically proven CAH patients were included (21-hydroxylase deficiency [21OHD], n = 19; 11β-hydroxylase deficiency [11OHD], n = 4). MoM cutoffs for single steroids predicting 21OHD and 11OHD were computed and validated through new, independent patients (21OHD, n = 8; adrenal cortical carcinoma, n = 6; obesity, n = 40). 21OHD and 11OHD patients showed disease-typical, easily recognizable MoM patterns independent of age, sex, and concentration units. Two single-steroid cutoffs indicated 21OHD: 3.87 MoM for 17-hydroxyprogesterone (100% sensitivity and 98.83% specificity) and 12.28 MoM for 21-deoxycortisol (94.74% sensitivity and 100% specificity). A cutoff of 13.18 MoM for 11-deoxycortisol indicated 11OHD (100% sensitivity and 100% specificity). Age- and sex-independent MoMs are straightforward for a clinically relevant display of multi-steroid patterns. In addition, defined single-steroid MoMs can serve alone as predictors of 21OHD and 11OHD. Finally, MoM transformation offers substantial enhancement of routine and scientific steroid hormone data exchange due to improved comparability. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

A meta-analysis of clinical electro-oculography values.

PubMed

Constable, Paul A; Ngo, David; Quinn, Stephen; Thompson, Dorothy A

2017-12-01

The aim of the meta-analysis was to derive a range of mean normal clinical electrooculogram (EOG) values from a systematic review of published EOG studies that followed the guidelines of the ISCEV standard for clinical electro-oculography. A systematic literature review was performed using four relevant databases limited to peer-reviewed articles in English between 1967 and February 2017. Studies reporting clinical EOG or FO normal values were included when the report used a standard 30° horizontal saccade, a retinal luminance of between 100 and 250 cd m -2 , and had > 10 subjects in their normative values. The search identified 1145 articles after duplicates were removed with subsequent screening of the abstracts excluding a further 1098, resulting in 47 full-text articles that were then assessed by the author (PC) with a final nine articles meeting the inclusion criteria. An overall effect estimate using inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis was performed to estimate the mean values for the light peak/dark trough ratio (LP:DT ratio) (dilated and undilated), the time to the LP, the amplitude of the LP, dark trough (DT) and the fast oscillation (FO) peak-to-trough ratio from the included studies. The mean dilated LP:DT ratio was 2.35 (95% CI 2.28-2.42); undilated LP:DT ratio was 2.37 (95% CI 2.28-2.45); LP amplitude was 835 (95% CI 631-1039) µV and the mean time to the LP being 8.2 (95% CI 7.7-8.7) min. The mean DT amplitude was 358 (95% CI 292-424) µV, and the mean FO peak-to-trough ratio was 1.13 (95% CI 1.11-1.16). The results of the LP/DT ratio are drawn from studies with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 34.08 ± 12.93 years for dilated and 33.65 ± 12.28 years for undilated LP/DT ratios. The meta-analysis of EOG studies has generated a reference range of normal mean values for clinicians to refer to when using the ISCEV clinical EOG. It provides a potential method to generate similar data sets from published normal values in related visual electrophysiology tests.

Determination of 17OHPreg and DHEAS by LC-MS/MS: Impact of Age, Sex, Pubertal Stage, and BMI on the Δ5 Steroid Pathway.

PubMed

Kulle, Alexandra E; Reinehr, Thomas; Simic-Schleicher, Gunter; Hornig, Nadine C; Holterhus, Paul-Martin

2017-01-01

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17OHPreg) are important for understanding the Δ5 pathway (e.g., in adrenarche and obesity). Although mass spectrometry has become the state-of-the-art method for quantifying steroids, there are few comprehensive age-, sex-, and pubertal stage-specific reference ranges for children. To develop a sensitive and reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous quantification of DHEAS and 17OHPreg and to establish entire age-, sex- and pubertal stage-specific reference ranges in children. A total of 684 children, 453 (243 female, 210 male) with normal body mass index (BMI; <90th) and 231 (132 female, 99 male) obese subjects (>97th), were categorized into 11 age groups, and age- and Tanner stage (PH)-specific reference ranges were determined. The limit of detection was 0.05 nmol/L for 17OHPreg and 0.5 nmol/L for DHEAS. Levels of both steroids declined after the neonatal period. Comparisons with RIA assays (Siemens, Munich, Germany) (DHEAS) and an in-house kit (17OHPreg) revealed 0.95 and 0.93, respectively, as coefficients of determination. Although DHEAS-generally higher in boys-increased continuously starting at 3 to 6 years, 17OHPreg remained largely constant. In obese patients, both were significantly elevated, also in part after alignment to Tanner stages (PH). UPLC-MS/MS is sensitive and reliable for quantifying DHEAS and 17OHPreg. Our data support differential maturation of CYP17 during adrenarche with successively increasing 17,20-lyase activity but largely constant 17α-hydroxylation activity. Endocrine interpretation of 17OHPreg and DHEAS must consider differential patterns for age, sex, pubertal stage, and BMI. Copyright © 2017 by the Endocrine Society

Reference-tissue correction of T2-weighted signal intensity for prostate cancer detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Yahui; Jiang, Yulei; Oto, Aytekin

2014-03-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether correction with respect to reference tissue of T2-weighted MRimage signal intensity (SI) improves its effectiveness for classification of regions of interest (ROIs) as prostate cancer (PCa) or normal prostatic tissue. Two image datasets collected retrospectively were used in this study: 71 cases acquired with GE scanners (dataset A), and 59 cases acquired with Philips scanners (dataset B). Through a consensus histology- MR correlation review, 175 PCa and 108 normal-tissue ROIs were identified and drawn manually. Reference-tissue ROIs were selected in each case from the levator ani muscle, urinary bladder, and pubic bone. T2-weighted image SI was corrected as the ratio of the average T2-weighted image SI within an ROI to that of a reference-tissue ROI. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of T2-weighted image SIs for differentiation of PCa from normal-tissue ROIs. AUC (+/- standard error) for uncorrected T2-weighted image SIs was 0.78+/-0.04 (datasets A) and 0.65+/-0.05 (datasets B). AUC for corrected T2-weighted image SIs with respect to muscle, bladder, and bone reference was 0.77+/-0.04 (p=1.0), 0.77+/-0.04 (p=1.0), and 0.75+/-0.04 (p=0.8), respectively, for dataset A; and 0.81+/-0.04 (p=0.002), 0.78+/-0.04 (p<0.001), and 0.79+/-0.04 (p<0.001), respectively, for dataset B. Correction in reference to the levator ani muscle yielded the most consistent results between GE and Phillips images. Correction of T2-weighted image SI in reference to three types of extra-prostatic tissue can improve its effectiveness for differentiation of PCa from normal-tissue ROIs, and correction in reference to the levator ani muscle produces consistent T2-weighted image SIs between GE and Phillips MR images.

Development of a Genomic DNA Reference Material Panel for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) Genetic Testing

PubMed Central

Kalman, Lisa; Tarleton, Jack; Hitch, Monica; Hegde, Madhuri; Hjelm, Nick; Berry-Kravis, Elizabeth; Zhou, Lili; Hilbert, James E.; Luebbe, Elizabeth A.; Moxley, Richard T.; Toji, Lorraine

2014-01-01

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by expansion of a CTG triplet repeat in the 3′ untranslated region of the DMPK gene that encodes a serine-threonine kinase. Patients with larger repeats tend to have a more severe phenotype. Clinical laboratories require reference and quality control materials for DM1 diagnostic and carrier genetic testing. Well-characterized reference materials are not available. To address this need, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-based Genetic Testing Reference Material Coordination Program, in collaboration with members of the genetic testing community, the National Registry of Myotonic Dystrophy and Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Patients and Family Members, and the Coriell Cell Repositories, has established and characterized cell lines from patients with DM1 to create a reference material panel. The CTG repeats in genomic DNA samples from 10 DM1 cell lines were characterized in three clinical genetic testing laboratories using PCR and Southern blot analysis. DMPK alleles in the samples cover four of five DM1 clinical categories: normal (5 to 34 repeats), mild (50 to 100 repeats), classical (101 to 1000 repeats), and congenital (>1000 repeats). We did not identify or establish Coriell cell lines in the premutation range (35 to 49 repeats). These samples are publicly available for quality control, proficiency testing, test development, and research and should help improve the accuracy of DM1 testing. PMID:23680132

Ovarian morphology and function during growth hormone therapy of short girls born small for gestational age.

PubMed

Tinggaard, Jeanette; Jensen, Rikke Beck; Sundberg, Karin; Birkebæk, Niels; Christiansen, Peter; Ellermann, Annie; Holm, Kirsten; Jeppesen, Eva Mosfeldt; Kremke, Britta; Marcinski, Pawel; Pedersen, Carsten; Saurbrey, Nina; Thisted, Ebbe; Main, Katharina M; Juul, Anders

2014-12-01

To study the effect of growth hormone (GH) treatment on ovarian and uterine morphology and function in short, prepubertal small-for-gestational-age (SGA) girls. A multinational, randomized controlled trial on safety and efficacy of GH therapy in short, prepubertal children born SGA. Not applicable. A subgroup of 18 Danish girls born SGA included in North European SGA Study (NESGAS). One year of GH treatment (67 μg/kg/day) followed by 2 years of randomized GH treatment (67 μg/kg/day, 35 μg/kg/day, or IGF-I titrated). Data on anthropometrics, reproductive hormones, and ultrasonographic examination of the internal genitalia were collected during 36 months of GH treatment. Uterine and ovarian volume increased significantly during 3 years of treatment (64% and 110%, respectively) but remained low within normal reference ranges. Ovarian follicles became visible in 58% after 1 year compared with 28% before GH therapy. Anti-Müllerian hormone increased significantly during the 3 years of GH therapy but remained within the normal range. Precocious puberty was observed in one girl; another girl developed multicystic ovaries. GH treatment was associated with statistically significant growth of the internal genitalia, but remained within the normal range. As altered pubertal development and ovarian morphology were found in 2 of 18 girls, monitoring of puberty and ovarian function during GH therapy in SGA girls is prudent. Altogether, the findings are reassuring. However, long-term effects of GH treatment on adult reproductive function remain unknown. EudraCT 2005-001507-19. Copyright © 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Identification and evaluation of reference genes for qRT-PCR normalization in Ganoderma lucidum.

PubMed

Xu, Jiang; Xu, ZhiChao; Zhu, YingJie; Luo, HongMei; Qian, Jun; Ji, AiJia; Hu, YuanLei; Sun, Wei; Wang, Bo; Song, JingYuan; Sun, Chao; Chen, ShiLin

2014-01-01

Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is a rapid, sensitive, and reliable technique for gene expression studies. The accuracy and reliability of qRT-PCR results depend on the stability of the reference genes used for gene normalization. Therefore, a systematic process of reference gene evaluation is needed. Ganoderma lucidum is a famous medicinal mushroom in East Asia. In the current study, 10 potential reference genes were selected from the G. lucidum genomic data. The sequences of these genes were manually curated, and primers were designed following strict criteria. The experiment was conducted using qRT-PCR, and the stability of each candidate gene was assessed using four commonly used statistical programs-geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder. According to our results, PP2A was expressed at the most stable levels under different fermentation conditions, and RPL4 was the most stably expressed gene in different tissues. RPL4, PP2A, and β-tubulin are the most commonly recommended reference genes for normalizing gene expression in the entire sample set. The current study provides a foundation for the further use of qRT-PCR in G. lucidum gene analysis.

Prenatal Brain MR Imaging: Reference Linear Biometric Centiles between 20 and 24 Gestational Weeks.

PubMed

Conte, G; Milani, S; Palumbo, G; Talenti, G; Boito, S; Rustico, M; Triulzi, F; Righini, A; Izzo, G; Doneda, C; Zolin, A; Parazzini, C

2018-05-01

Evaluation of biometry is a fundamental step in prenatal brain MR imaging. While different studies have reported reference centiles for MR imaging biometric data of fetuses in the late second and third trimesters of gestation, no one has reported them in fetuses in the early second trimester. We report centiles of normal MR imaging linear biometric data of a large cohort of fetal brains within 24 weeks of gestation. From the data bases of 2 referral centers of fetal medicine, accounting for 3850 examinations, we retrospectively collected 169 prenatal brain MR imaging examinations of singleton pregnancies, between 20 and 24 weeks of gestational age, with normal brain anatomy at MR imaging and normal postnatal neurologic development. To trace the reference centiles, we used the CG-LMS method. Reference biometric centiles for the developing structures of the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, and theca were obtained. The overall interassessor agreement was adequate for all measurements. Reference biometric centiles of the brain structures in fetuses between 20 and 24 weeks of gestational age may be a reliable tool in assessing fetal brain development. © 2018 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

Construction and comparative evaluation of different activity detection methods in brain FDG-PET.

PubMed

Buchholz, Hans-Georg; Wenzel, Fabian; Gartenschläger, Martin; Thiele, Frank; Young, Stewart; Reuss, Stefan; Schreckenberger, Mathias

2015-08-18

We constructed and evaluated reference brain FDG-PET databases for usage by three software programs (Computer-aided diagnosis for dementia (CAD4D), Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) and NEUROSTAT), which allow a user-independent detection of dementia-related hypometabolism in patients' brain FDG-PET. Thirty-seven healthy volunteers were scanned in order to construct brain FDG reference databases, which reflect the normal, age-dependent glucose consumption in human brain, using either software. Databases were compared to each other to assess the impact of different stereotactic normalization algorithms used by either software package. In addition, performance of the new reference databases in the detection of altered glucose consumption in the brains of patients was evaluated by calculating statistical maps of regional hypometabolism in FDG-PET of 20 patients with confirmed Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and of 10 non-AD patients. Extent (hypometabolic volume referred to as cluster size) and magnitude (peak z-score) of detected hypometabolism was statistically analyzed. Differences between the reference databases built by CAD4D, SPM or NEUROSTAT were observed. Due to the different normalization methods, altered spatial FDG patterns were found. When analyzing patient data with the reference databases created using CAD4D, SPM or NEUROSTAT, similar characteristic clusters of hypometabolism in the same brain regions were found in the AD group with either software. However, larger z-scores were observed with CAD4D and NEUROSTAT than those reported by SPM. Better concordance with CAD4D and NEUROSTAT was achieved using the spatially normalized images of SPM and an independent z-score calculation. The three software packages identified the peak z-scores in the same brain region in 11 of 20 AD cases, and there was concordance between CAD4D and SPM in 16 AD subjects. The clinical evaluation of brain FDG-PET of 20 AD patients with either CAD4D-, SPM- or NEUROSTAT-generated databases from an identical reference dataset showed similar patterns of hypometabolism in the brain regions known to be involved in AD. The extent of hypometabolism and peak z-score appeared to be influenced by the calculation method used in each software package rather than by different spatial normalization parameters.

Impact of age and sex on normal left heart structure and function.

PubMed

Hagström, Linn; Henein, Michael Y; Karp, Kjell; Waldenström, Anders; Lindqvist, Per

2017-11-01

Accurate age- and sex-related normal reference values of ventricular structure and function are important to determine the level of dysfunction in patients. The aim of this study therefore was to document normal age range sex-related measurements of LV structural and functional measurements to serve such purpose. We evaluated left ventricular structure and function in 293 healthy subjects between 20 and 90 years with equally distributed gender. Doppler echocardiography was used including measure of both systolic and diastolic functions. Due to systolic LV function, only long axis function correlated with age (r = 0·55, P<0·01) and the correlation was stronger in females. Concerning diastolic function, there was a strong age correlation in all parameters used (r = 0·40-0·74, P<0·001). Due to LV structural changes over age, females showed a larger reduction in end-diastolic volumes, but no or trivial difference in wall thickness after the age of 60 years. Age is associated with significant normal changes in left ventricular structure and function, which should be considered when deciding on normality. These changes are related to systemic arterial changes as well as body stature, thus reflecting overall body ageing process. Furthermore, normal cardiac ageing in females might partly explain the higher prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection in females. © 2016 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Oxygen isotopes in nitrate: New reference materials for 18O:17O:16O measurements and observations on nitrate-water equilibration

USGS Publications Warehouse

Böhlke, J.K.; Mroczkowski, S.J.; Coplen, T.B.

2003-01-01

Despite a rapidly growing literature on analytical methods and field applications of O isotope-ratio measurements of NO3− in environmental studies, there is evidence that the reported data may not be comparable because reference materials with widely varying δ18O values have not been readily available. To address this problem, we prepared large quantities of two nitrate salts with contrasting O isotopic compositions for distribution as reference materials for O isotope-ratio measurements: USGS34 (KNO3) with low δ18O and USGS35 (NaNO3) with high δ18O and ‘mass-independent’ δ17O. The procedure used to produce USGS34 involved equilibration of HNO3 with 18O-depleted meteoric water. Nitric acid equilibration is proposed as a simple method for producing laboratory NO3− reference materials with a range of δ18O values and normal (mass-dependent) 18O:17O:16O variation. Preliminary data indicate that the equilibrium O isotope-fractionation factor (α) between [NO3−] and H2O decreases with increasing temperature from 1.0215 at 22°C to 1.0131 at 100°C. USGS35 was purified from the nitrate ore deposits of the Atacama Desert in Chile and has a high 17O:18O ratio owing to its atmospheric origin. These new reference materials, combined with previously distributed NO3− isotopic reference materials IAEA-N3 (=IAEA-NO-3) and USGS32, can be used to calibrate local laboratory reference materials for determining offset values, scale factors, and mass-independent effects on N and O isotope-ratio measurements in a wide variety of environmental NO3− samples. Preliminary analyses yield the following results (normalized with respect to VSMOW and SLAP, with reproducibilities of ±0.2–0.3‰, 1σ): IAEA-N3 has δ18O = +25.6‰ and δ17O = +13.2‰; USGS32 has δ18O = +25.7‰; USGS34 has δ18O = −27.9‰ and δ17O = −14.8‰; and USGS35 has δ18O = +57.5‰ and δ17O = +51.5‰.

Selection of Reference Genes for Normalization of MicroRNA Expression by RT-qPCR in Sugarcane Buds under Cold Stress

PubMed Central

Yang, Yuting; Zhang, Xu; Chen, Yun; Guo, Jinlong; Ling, Hui; Gao, Shiwu; Su, Yachun; Que, Youxiong; Xu, Liping

2016-01-01

Sugarcane, accounting for 80% of world's sugar, originates in the tropics but is cultivated mainly in the subtropics. Therefore, chilling injury frequently occurs and results in serious losses. Recent studies in various plant species have established microRNAs as key elements in the post-transcriptional regulation of response to biotic and abiotic stresses including cold stress. Though, its accuracy is largely influenced by the use of reference gene for normalization, quantitative PCR is undoubtedly a popular method used for identification of microRNAs. For identifying the most suitable reference genes for normalizing miRNAs expression in sugarcane under cold stress, 13 candidates among 17 were investigated using four algorithms: geNorm, NormFinder, deltaCt, and Bestkeeper, and four candidates were excluded because of unsatisfactory efficiency and specificity. Verification was carried out using cold-related genes miR319 and miR393 in cold-tolerant and sensitive cultivars. The results suggested that miR171/18S rRNA and miR171/miR5059 were the best reference gene sets for normalization for miRNA RT-qPCR, followed by the single miR171 and 18S rRNA. These results can aid research on miRNA responses during sugarcane stress, and the development of sugarcane tolerant to cold stress. This study is the first report concerning the reference gene selection of miRNA RT-qPCR in sugarcane. PMID:26904058

Isolation and selection of suitable reference genes for real-time PCR analyses in the skeletal muscle of the fine flounder in response to nutritional status: assessment and normalization of gene expression of growth-related genes.

PubMed

Fuentes, Eduardo N; Safian, Diego; Valdés, Juan Antonio; Molina, Alfredo

2013-08-01

In the present study, different reference genes were isolated, and their stability in the skeletal muscle of fine flounder subjected to different nutritional states was assessed using geNorm and NormFinder. The combinations between 18S and ActB; Fau and 18S; and Fau and Tubb were chosen as the most stable gene combinations in feeding, long-term fasting and refeeding, and short-term refeeding conditions, respectively. In all periods, ActB was identified as the single least stable gene. Subsequently, the expression of the myosin heavy chain (MYH) and the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) was assessed. A large variation in MYH and IGF-IR expression was found depending on the reference gene that was chosen for normalizing the expression of both genes. Using the most stable reference genes, mRNA levels of MYH decreased and IGF-IR increased during fasting, with both returning to basal levels during refeeding. However, the drop in mRNA levels for IGF-IR occurred during short-term refeeding, in contrast with the observed events in the expression of MYH, which occurred during long-term refeeding. The present study highlights the vast differences incurred when using unsuitable versus suitable reference genes for normalizing gene expression, pointing out that normalization without proper validation could result in a bias of gene expression.

Abnormal ranges of vital signs in children in Japanese prehospital settings.

PubMed

Nosaka, Nobuyuki; Muguruma, Takashi; Knaup, Emily; Tsukahara, Kohei; Enomoto, Yuki; Kaku, Noriyuki

2015-10-01

The revised Fire Service Law obliges each prefectural government in Japan to establish a prehospital acuity scale. The Foundation for Ambulance Service Development (FASD) created an acuity scale for use as a reference. Our preliminary survey revealed that 32 of 47 prefectures directly applied the FASD scale for children. This scale shows abnormal ranges of heart rate and respiratory rate in young children. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of the abnormal ranges on the FASD scale to assess its overall performance for triage purposes in paediatric patients. We evaluated the validity of the ranges by comparing published centile charts for these vital signs with records of 1,296 ambulance patients. A large portion of the abnormal ranges on the scale substantially overlapped with the normal centile charts. Triage decisions using the FASD scale of vital signs properly classified 22% ( n  = 287) of children. The sensitivity and specificity for high urgency were as high as 91% (95% confidence interval, 82-96%) and as low as 18% (95% confidence interval, 16-20%). We found there is room for improvement of the abnormal ranges on the FASD scale.

Comparative Analysis of Red-Edge Hyperspectral Indices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, R.; Vijayan, D.; Prasad, T.

The spectrally continuous observations of 3 nm bandwidth in 680 to 800 nm range over the growth cycle of wheat were subjected to first order differentiation to identify the point of inflection in red to near-IR transition zone. During 40 to 84 days after sowing (DAS), the point of inflection was observed in 723 to 735 nm region with peak response at 729 nm for 64 DAS . For differentiated curve pertaining to 25 DAS (initial vegetative) and 90 DAS (initial senescence) phenological stages, the point of inflection was in 690-693 and 744-747 nm spectral region, respectively. The ratios corresponding to 1dB (RI1dB = R 735 /R720), 2dB (RI 2dB = R738/R 720), 3dB (RI3dB = R741 /R 717) down signal levels and half signal level (RIhalf = R747/R 708 ) were computed. For nomenclature point of view, R41 refers to reflectance for 3 nm7 bandwidth centered at 741 nm. Correlations for these developed RIs were studied with reference to indices given by Vogelmann i.e., VOG a = R 740 /R720 , VOG b = [(R 734-R747)/(R715+R720)] and red edge spectral parameter (RESP) = R750 /R 710. VOG a and RESP conceptually resemble with developed RI 2dB and RIhalf , respectively. All RIs were found correlated with VOGa , VOG b and RESP with r2 in the range of 0.96 to 0.99; r2 was 0.998 for RI2dB and VOG a pair and 0.996 for RI half and RESP pair; the slope factor of regression relationship improved by about 50% from RI dB to2 RI3dB and by about 125% from RI3dB to RIhalf with r2 in 0.97-0.99 range. Thus, theoretical basis for VOG a and RESP in terms of dB based indices has been provided. The wavelengths used in VOGb are noticed in dB based indices ; to provide stability to small magnitude R720, the sum of R720 and R715 has been used in VOGb. Based on regression analysis of these indices with LAI in its growth and decline phases separately, the slope value for VOG b, RI 2dB, VOG a, RIhalf, RESP and area under 680 to 760 nm for first order derivative curve (area) were in 0.08-0.11, 0.24 - 0.34, 0.27-0.38, 0.86-1.18, 0.89-1.27 and 7.6-13.87 range, respectively. Here, the first value in the range refers to slope value for the growth phase of LAI while the second value in the range refers to that for the decline phase of LAI. To judge the sensitivity for the rate of change in red - edge, the change in area for ratio indices and normalized indices in 680 to 760 nm (red-near IR transition region) with 673 nm were analysed. The rate of change for area under the red edge as a function of DAS was more for ratio indices as compared to that for normalized indices.

Pressure-Drop Considerations in the Characterization of Dew-Point Transfer Standards at High Temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitter, H.; Böse, N.; Benyon, R.; Vicente, T.

2012-09-01

During calibration of precision optical dew-point hygrometers (DPHs), it is usually necessary to take into account the pressure drop induced by the gas flow between the "point of reference" and the "point of use" (mirror or measuring head of the DPH) either as a correction of the reference dew-point temperature or as part of the uncertainty estimation. At dew-point temperatures in the range of ambient temperature and below, it is sufficient to determine the pressure drop for the required gas flow, and to keep the volumetric flow constant during the measurements. In this case, it is feasible to keep the dry-gas flow into the dew-point generator constant or to measure the flow downstream the DPH at ambient temperature. In normal operation, at least one DPH in addition to the monitoring DPH are used, and this operation has to be applied to each instrument. The situation is different at high dew-point temperatures up to 95 °C, the currently achievable upper limit reported in this paper. With increasing dew-point temperatures, the reference gas contains increasing amounts of water vapour and a constant dry-gas flow will lead to a significant enhanced volume flow at the conditions at the point of use, and therefore, to a significantly varying pressure drop depending on the applied dew-point temperature. At dew-point temperatures above ambient temperature, it is also necessary to heat the reference gas and the mirror head of the DPH sufficiently to avoid condensation which will additionally increase the volume flow and the pressure drop. In this paper, a method is provided to calculate the dry-gas flow rate needed to maintain a known wet-gas flow rate through a chilled mirror for a range of temperature and pressures.

Hematology and serum chemistry reference ranges of free-ranging moose (Alces alces) in Norway.

PubMed

Rostal, Melinda K; Evans, Alina L; Solberg, Erling J; Arnemo, Jon M

2012-07-01

Baseline reference ranges of serum chemistry and hematology data can be important indicators for the status of both individuals or populations of wild animals that are affected by emerging pathogens, toxicants, or other causes of disease. Frequently, reference ranges for these values are not available for wildlife species or subspecies. We present hematologic and serum chemistry reference ranges for moose (Alces alces) adults, yearlings, and calves in Norway sampled from 1992-2000. Additionally, we demonstrated that both induction time and chase time were correlated with initial rectal temperature, although they were not significantly correlated with cortisol, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, or creatine kinase. Overall, the reference ranges given here are similar to those given for American moose, with a few differences that can be attributed to environment, testing methodology, or subspecies or species status. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of reference ranges for moose in Norway.

Factors influencing flap and INTACS decentration after femtosecond laser application in normal and keratoconic eyes.

PubMed

Ertan, Aylin; Karacal, Humeyra

2008-10-01

To compare accuracy of LASIK flap and INTACS centration following femtosecond laser application in normal and keratoconic eyes. This is a retrospective case series comprising 133 eyes of 128 patients referred for refractive surgery. All eyes were divided into two groups according to preoperative diagnosis: group 1 (LASIK group) comprised 74 normal eyes of 72 patients undergoing LASIK with a femtosecond laser (IntraLase), and group 2 (INTACS group) consisted of 59 eyes of 39 patients with keratoconus for whom INTACS were implanted using a femtosecond laser (IntraLase). Decentration of the LASIK flap and INTACS was analyzed using Pentacam. Temporal decentration was 612.56 +/- 384.24 microm (range: 30 to 2120 microm) in the LASIK group and 788.33 +/- 500.34 microm (range: 30 to 2450 microm) in the INTACS group. A statistically significant difference was noted between the groups in terms of decentration (P < .05). Regression analysis showed that the amount of decentration of the LASIK flap and INTACS correlated with the central corneal thickness in the LASIK group and preoperative sphere and cylinder in the INTACS group, respectively. Decentration with the IntraLase occurred in most cases, especially in keratoconic eyes. The applanation performed for centralization during IntraLase application may flatten and shift the pupil center, and thus cause decentralization of the LASIK flap and INTACS. Central corneal thickness in the LASIK group and preoperative sphere and cylinder in the INTACS group proved to be statistically significant parameters associated with decentration.

Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children.

PubMed

Wakefield, A J; Murch, S H; Anthony, A; Linnell, J; Casson, D M; Malik, M; Berelowitz, M; Dhillon, A P; Thomson, M A; Harvey, P; Valentine, A; Davies, S E; Walker-Smith, J A

1998-02-28

We investigated a consecutive series of children with chronic enterocolitis and regressive developmental disorder. 12 children (mean age 6 years [range 3-10], 11 boys) were referred to a paediatric gastroenterology unit with a history of normal development followed by loss of acquired skills, including language, together with diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Children underwent gastroenterological, neurological, and developmental assessment and review of developmental records. Ileocolonoscopy and biopsy sampling, magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and lumbar puncture were done under sedation. Barium follow-through radiography was done where possible. Biochemical, haematological, and immunological profiles were examined. Onset of behavioural symptoms was associated, by the parents, with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination in eight of the 12 children, with measles infection in one child, and otitis media in another. All 12 children had intestinal abnormalities, ranging from lymphoid nodular hyperplasia to aphthoid ulceration. Histology showed patchy chronic inflammation in the colon in 11 children and reactive ileal lymphoid hyperplasia in seven, but no granulomas. Behavioural disorders included autism (nine), disintegrative psychosis (one), and possible postviral or vaccinal encephalitis (two). There were no focal neurological abnormalities and MRI and EEG tests were normal. Abnormal laboratory results were significantly raised urinary methylmalonic acid compared with age-matched controls (p=0.003), low haemoglobin in four children, and a low serum IgA in four children. We identified associated gastrointestinal disease and developmental regression in a group of previously normal children, which was generally associated in time with possible environmental triggers.

Is It Time to Change Our Reference Curve for Femur Length? Using the Z-Score to Select the Best Chart in a Chinese Population

PubMed Central

Yang, Huixia; Wei, Yumei; Su, Rina; Wang, Chen; Meng, Wenying; Wang, Yongqing; Shang, Lixin; Cai, Zhenyu; Ji, Liping; Wang, Yunfeng; Sun, Ying; Liu, Jiaxiu; Wei, Li; Sun, Yufeng; Zhang, Xueying; Luo, Tianxia; Chen, Haixia; Yu, Lijun

2016-01-01

Objective To use Z-scores to compare different charts of femur length (FL) applied to our population with the aim of identifying the most appropriate chart. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in Beijing. Fifteen hospitals in Beijing were chosen as clusters using a systemic cluster sampling method, in which 15,194 pregnant women delivered from June 20th to November 30th, 2013. The measurements of FL in the second and third trimester were recorded, as well as the last measurement obtained before delivery. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we identified FL measurements from 19996 ultrasounds from 7194 patients between 11 and 42 weeks gestation. The FL data were then transformed into Z-scores that were calculated using three series of reference equations obtained from three reports: Leung TN, Pang MW et al (2008); Chitty LS, Altman DG et al (1994); and Papageorghiou AT et al (2014). Each Z-score distribution was presented as the mean and standard deviation (SD). Skewness and kurtosis and were compared with the standard normal distribution using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The histogram of their distributions was superimposed on the non-skewed standard normal curve (mean = 0, SD = 1) to provide a direct visual impression. Finally, the sensitivity and specificity of each reference chart for identifying fetuses <5th or >95th percentile (based on the observed distribution of Z-scores) were calculated. The Youden index was also listed. A scatter diagram with the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile curves calculated from and superimposed on each reference chart was presented to provide a visual impression. Results The three Z-score distribution curves appeared to be normal, but none of them matched the expected standard normal distribution. In our study, the Papageorghiou reference curve provided the best results, with a sensitivity of 100% for identifying fetuses with measurements < 5th and > 95th percentile, and specificities of 99.9% and 81.5%, respectively. Conclusions It is important to choose an appropriate reference curve when defining what is normal. The Papageorghiou reference curve for FL seems to be the best fit for our population. Perhaps it is time to change our reference curve for femur length. PMID:27458922

Whole eye wavefront aberrations in Mexican male subjects.

PubMed

Cantú, Roberto; Rosales, Marco A; Tepichín, Eduardo; Curioca, Andrée; Montes, Victor; Bonilla, Julio

2004-01-01

To analyze the characteristics, incidence, and appearance of wavefront aberrations in undilated, normal, unoperated eyes. Eighty-eight eyes of 44 healthy male Mexican subjects (mean age 25.32 years, range 18 to 36 yr) were divided into three groups based on uncorrected visual acuity of greater than or equal to 20/20, 20/30, or 20/40. UCVA measurements were obtained using an Acuity Max computer screen chart. Wavefront aberrations were measured with the Nidek OPD-Scan ARK 10000, Ver. 1.11b. All measurements were carried out at the same center by the same technician during a single session, following manufacturer instructions. Background illumination was 3 Lux. Wavefront aberration measurements for each group were statistically analyzed using StatView; an average eye was characterized and the resulting aberrations were simulated using MATLAB. We obtained wavefront aberration maps for the 20/20 undilated normal unoperated eyes for total, low, and high order aberration coefficients. Wavefront maps for right eyes were practically the same as those for left eyes. Higher aberrations did not contribute substantially to total wavefront analysis. Average aberrations of this "normal eye" will be used as criteria to decide the necessity of wavefront-guided ablation in our facilities. We will focus on the nearly zero average of high order aberrations in this normal whole eye as a reference to be matched.

Mean Normal Portal Vein Diameter Using Sonography among Clients Coming to Radiology Department of Jimma University Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia.

PubMed

Geleto, Gemechu; Getnet, Wondim; Tewelde, Tsegaye

2016-05-01

Mean portal vein diameter is considered as the best indicator for portal hypertension. However, the cutoff point differs from study to study (above 10-15 mm) despite the existence of normal mean portal vein diameter between 10-15 mm in different settings.This implies the existence of limited evidence on normal portal vein diameter for all populations in all countries prior to setting the cutoff points. Therefore, the aim of this study was sonographic assessment of normal mean portal vein diameter among patients referred to The Department of Radiology in Jimma University Hospital. A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2014 at Jimma University Hospital on a total of 195 clients. Data about portal vein diameter for eligible clients were collected by radiologists using Sonography. Data were edited manually, entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Data were collected from a total of 195 participants. Among these, 121(62.1%) were males and the median age of the participants was 35 years. The study revealed a normal mean portal vein diameter of 10.6 mm ±1.8 SD with a respirophasic variation of 25.6%. Likewise, the normal mean portal vein diameter seemed to have varied significantly by age and sex. The study revealed a normal mean portal vein diameter ranging below 13 mm. Hence, decisions made in clinical settings should base on these findings. Besides, there is a need for large scale study to determine portal vein diameter variation by age and sex, controlling other confounders.

Measurement of immature platelets with Abbott CD-Sapphire and Sysmex XE-5000 in haematology and oncology patients.

PubMed

Meintker, Lisa; Haimerl, Maria; Ringwald, Jürgen; Krause, Stefan W

2013-11-01

Measurement of immature platelets was introduced into routine diagnostics by Sysmex as immature platelet fraction (IPF) some years ago and recently by Abbott as reticulated platelet fraction (rPT). Here, we compare both methods. We evaluated the precision and agreement of these parameters between Sysmex XE-5000 and Abbott CD-Sapphire in three distinct thrombocytopaenic cohorts: 30 patients with beginning thrombocytopaenia and 64 patients with recovering platelets (PLT) after chemotherapy, 16 patients with immune thrombocytopaenia (ITP) or heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia type 2 (HIT) and 110 additional normal controls. Furthermore, we analysed, how IPF/rPT differed between these thrombocytopaenic cohorts and controls. Both analysers demonstrated acceptable overall precision (repeatability) of IPF/rPT with lower precision at low PLT counts. IPF/rPT artificially increased during storage of blood samples overnight. Inter-instrument comparison showed a moderate correlation (Pearson r²=0.38) and a systematic bias of 1.04 towards higher IPF-values with the XE-5000. IPF/rPT was highest in recovering thrombopoesis after chemotherapy and moderately increased in ITP/HIT. The normal range deduced from control samples was much narrower with CD-Sapphire (1.0%-3.8%, established here for the first time) in comparison to XE-5000 (0.8%-7.9%) leading to a smaller overlap of samples with increased PLT turnover and normal controls. IPF and rPT both give useful information on PLT turnover, although the two analysers only show a moderate inter-instrument correlation and have different reference ranges. A better separation of patient groups with high PLT turnover like ITP/HIT from normal controls is obtained by CD-Sapphire.

Validation of reference genes aiming accurate normalization of qRT-PCR data in Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro.

PubMed

Liu, Mingying; Jiang, Jing; Han, Xiaojiao; Qiao, Guirong; Zhuo, Renying

2014-01-01

Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro distributes widely in subtropical areas and plays vital roles as valuable natural resources. The transcriptome sequencing for D. latiflorus Munro has been performed and numerous genes especially those predicted to be unique to D. latiflorus Munro were revealed. qRT-PCR has become a feasible approach to uncover gene expression profiling, and the accuracy and reliability of the results obtained depends upon the proper selection of stable reference genes for accurate normalization. Therefore, a set of suitable internal controls should be validated for D. latiflorus Munro. In this report, twelve candidate reference genes were selected and the assessment of gene expression stability was performed in ten tissue samples and four leaf samples from seedlings and anther-regenerated plants of different ploidy. The PCR amplification efficiency was estimated, and the candidate genes were ranked according to their expression stability using three software packages: geNorm, NormFinder and Bestkeeper. GAPDH and EF1α were characterized to be the most stable genes among different tissues or in all the sample pools, while CYP showed low expression stability. RPL3 had the optimal performance among four leaf samples. The application of verified reference genes was illustrated by analyzing ferritin and laccase expression profiles among different experimental sets. The analysis revealed the biological variation in ferritin and laccase transcript expression among the tissues studied and the individual plants. geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper analyses recommended different suitable reference gene(s) for normalization according to the experimental sets. GAPDH and EF1α had the highest expression stability across different tissues and RPL3 for the other sample set. This study emphasizes the importance of validating superior reference genes for qRT-PCR analysis to accurately normalize gene expression of D. latiflorus Munro.

Optimal Reference Genes for Gene Expression Normalization in Trichomonas vaginalis.

PubMed

dos Santos, Odelta; de Vargas Rigo, Graziela; Frasson, Amanda Piccoli; Macedo, Alexandre José; Tasca, Tiana

2015-01-01

Trichomonas vaginalis is the etiologic agent of trichomonosis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. This infection is associated with several health consequences, including cervical and prostate cancers and HIV acquisition. Gene expression analysis has been facilitated because of available genome sequences and large-scale transcriptomes in T. vaginalis, particularly using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), one of the most used methods for molecular studies. Reference genes for normalization are crucial to ensure the accuracy of this method. However, to the best of our knowledge, a systematic validation of reference genes has not been performed for T. vaginalis. In this study, the transcripts of nine candidate reference genes were quantified using qRT-PCR under different cultivation conditions, and the stability of these genes was compared using the geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. The most stable reference genes were α-tubulin, actin and DNATopII, and, conversely, the widely used T. vaginalis reference genes GAPDH and β-tubulin were less stable. The PFOR gene was used to validate the reliability of the use of these candidate reference genes. As expected, the PFOR gene was upregulated when the trophozoites were cultivated with ferrous ammonium sulfate when the DNATopII, α-tubulin and actin genes were used as normalizing gene. By contrast, the PFOR gene was downregulated when the GAPDH gene was used as an internal control, leading to misinterpretation of the data. These results provide an important starting point for reference gene selection and gene expression analysis with qRT-PCR studies of T. vaginalis.

Optimal Reference Genes for Gene Expression Normalization in Trichomonas vaginalis

PubMed Central

dos Santos, Odelta; de Vargas Rigo, Graziela; Frasson, Amanda Piccoli; Macedo, Alexandre José; Tasca, Tiana

2015-01-01

Trichomonas vaginalis is the etiologic agent of trichomonosis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. This infection is associated with several health consequences, including cervical and prostate cancers and HIV acquisition. Gene expression analysis has been facilitated because of available genome sequences and large-scale transcriptomes in T. vaginalis, particularly using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), one of the most used methods for molecular studies. Reference genes for normalization are crucial to ensure the accuracy of this method. However, to the best of our knowledge, a systematic validation of reference genes has not been performed for T. vaginalis. In this study, the transcripts of nine candidate reference genes were quantified using qRT-PCR under different cultivation conditions, and the stability of these genes was compared using the geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. The most stable reference genes were α-tubulin, actin and DNATopII, and, conversely, the widely used T. vaginalis reference genes GAPDH and β-tubulin were less stable. The PFOR gene was used to validate the reliability of the use of these candidate reference genes. As expected, the PFOR gene was upregulated when the trophozoites were cultivated with ferrous ammonium sulfate when the DNATopII, α-tubulin and actin genes were used as normalizing gene. By contrast, the PFOR gene was downregulated when the GAPDH gene was used as an internal control, leading to misinterpretation of the data. These results provide an important starting point for reference gene selection and gene expression analysis with qRT-PCR studies of T. vaginalis. PMID:26393928

Cobalamin deficiency associated with erythroblastic anemia and methylmalonic aciduria in a border collie.

PubMed

Morgan, L W; McConnell, J

1999-01-01

Anemia due to cobalamin deficiency is a rare genetic disorder that has been recognized in dogs only recently. This report concerns a 14-month-old border collie that presented for chronic, nonregenerative anemia. Cytological examination of a peripheral blood smear showed the presence of erythroblasts. Serum cobalamin levels were below reference ranges reported for clinically normal dogs. A methylmalonic aciduria was found on urinalysis. These signs are consistent with the anemia in Imerslund-Graesbeck syndrome reported in humans. Anemia due to cobalamin deficiency responds to parenteral vitamin B12 therapy, and affected animals have a good prognosis for recovery.

Catheter based mid-infrared reflectance and reflectance generated absorption spectroscopy

DOEpatents

Holman, Hoi-Ying N

2013-10-29

A method of characterizing conditions in a tissue, by (a) providing a catheter that has a light source that emits light in selected wavenumbers within the range of mid-IR spectrum; (b) directing the light from the catheter to an area of tissue at a location inside a blood vessel of a subject; (c) collecting light reflected from the location and generating a reflectance spectra; and (d) comparing the reflectance spectra to a reference spectra of normal tissue, whereby a location having an increased number of absorbance peaks at said selected wavenumbers indicates a tissue inside the blood vessel containing a physiological marker for atherosclerosis.

Metabolism and Distribution of 131 I-labelled Albumin in the Pig *

PubMed Central

Dich, John; Nielsen, Knud

1963-01-01

The biological behaviour of porcine 131I-albumin has been investigated in 11 normal pigs, weight appr. 20 kg. Mean values obtained from the experiments are: Albumin degradation: 15.1 ± 2.1 per cent/day (0.18 ± 0.01 g/kg/day), extravascular: intravascular albumin ratio: 1.71 ± 0.29. Fecal excretion of radio-activity ranged from 0.77—1.87 per cent of the dose (mean: 1.11 per cent) during the first 4 days of the experiment. The results are discussed with special reference to the rôle of the gastrointestinal tract in health and in various digestive disorders. PMID:17649473

Reference Levels for Patient Radiation Doses in Interventional Radiology: Proposed Initial Values for U.S. Practice1

PubMed Central

Miller, Donald L.; Kwon, Deukwoo; Bonavia, Grant H.

2009-01-01

Purpose: To propose initial values for patient reference levels for fluoroscopically guided procedures in the United States. Materials and Methods: This secondary analysis of data from the Radiation Doses in Interventional Radiology Procedures (RAD-IR) study was conducted under a protocol approved by the institutional review board and was HIPAA compliant. Dose distributions (percentiles) were calculated for each type of procedure in the RAD-IR study where there were data from at least 30 cases. Confidence intervals for the dose distributions were determined by using bootstrap resampling. Weight banding and size correction methods for normalizing dose to patient body habitus were tested. Results: The different methods for normalizing patient radiation dose according to patient weight gave results that were not significantly different (P > .05). The 75th percentile patient radiation doses normalized with weight banding were not significantly different from those that were uncorrected for body habitus. Proposed initial reference levels for various interventional procedures are provided for reference air kerma, kerma-area product, fluoroscopy time, and number of images. Conclusion: Sufficient data exist to permit an initial proposal of values for reference levels for interventional radiologic procedures in the United States. For ease of use, reference levels without correction for body habitus are recommended. A national registry of radiation-dose data for interventional radiologic procedures is a necessary next step to refine these reference levels. © RSNA, 2009 Supplemental material: http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.2533090354/-/DC1 PMID:19789226

Nonprimate Hepaciviruses in Domestic Horses, United Kingdom

PubMed Central

Lyons, Sinéad; Kapoor, Amit; Sharp, Colin; Schneider, Bradley S.; Wolfe, Nathan D.; Culshaw, Geoff; Corcoran, Brendan; McGorum, Bruce C.

2012-01-01

Although the origin of hepatitis C virus infections in humans remains undetermined, a close homolog of this virus, termed canine hepacivirus (CHV) and found in respiratory secretions of dogs, provides evidence for a wider distribution of hepaciviruses in mammals. We determined frequencies of active infection among dogs and other mammals in the United Kingdom. Samples from dogs (46 respiratory, 99 plasma, 45 autopsy samples) were CHV negative by PCR. Screening of 362 samples from cats, horses, donkeys, rodents, and pigs identified 3 (2%) positive samples from 142 horses. These samples were genetically divergent from CHV and nonprimate hepaciviruses that horses were infected with during 2012 in New York state, USA. Investigation of infected horses demonstrated nonprimate hepacivirus persistence, high viral loads in plasma (105–107 RNA copies/mL), and liver function test results usually within reference ranges, although several values ranged from high normal to mildly elevated. Disease associations and host range of nonprimate hepaciviruses warrant further investigation. PMID:23171728

Monoclonal protein reference change value as determined by gel-based serum protein electrophoresis.

PubMed

Salamatmanesh, Mina; McCudden, Christopher R; McCurdy, Arleigh; Booth, Ronald A

2018-01-01

The International Myeloma Working Group recommendations for monitoring disease progression or response include quantitation of the involved monoclonal immunoglobulin. They have defined the minimum change criteria of ≧25% with an absolute change of no <5g/L for either minimal response or progression. Limited evidence is available to accurately determine the magnitude of change in a monoclonal protein to reflect a true change in clinical status. Here we determined the analytical and biological variability of monoclonal proteins in stable monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) patients. Analytical variability (CVa) of normal protein fractions and monoclonal proteins were assessed agarose gel-based serum protein electrophoresis. Sixteen clinically stable MGUS patients were identified from our clinical hematology database. Individual biological variability (CVi) was determined and used to calculate a monoclonal protein reference change value (RCV). Analytical variability of the normal protein fractions (albumin, alpha-1, alpha-2, beta, total gamma) ranged from 1.3% for albumin to 5.8% for the alpha-1 globulins. CVa of low (5.6g/L) and high (32.2g/L) concentration monoclonal proteins were 3.1% and 22.2%, respectively. Individual CVi of stable patients ranged from 3.5% to 24.5% with a CVi of 12.9%. The reference change value (RCV) at a 95% probability was determined to be 36.7% (low) 39.6% (high) using our CVa and CVi. Serial monitoring of monoclonal protein concentration is important for MGUS and multiple myeloma patients. Accurate criteria for interpreting a change in monoclonal protein concentration are required for appropriate decision making. We used QC results and real-world conditions to assess imprecision of serum protein fractions including low and high monoclonal protein fractions and clinically stable MGUS patients to determine CVi and RCV. The calculated RCVs of 36.7% (low) and 39.6% (high) in this study were greater that reported previously and greater than the established criteria for relapse. Response criteria may be reassessed to increase sensitivity and specificity for detection of response. Copyright © 2017 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Serum chemistry comparisons between captive and free-ranging giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis).

PubMed

Schmidt, Debra A; Barbiers, Robyn B; Ellersieck, Mark R; Ball, Ray L; Koutsos, Elizabeth A; Griffin, Mark E; Grobler, Douw; Citino, Scott B; Bush, Mitchell

2011-03-01

Serum chemistry analyses were compared between captive and free-ranging giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) in an attempt to better understand some of the medical issues seen with captive giraffes. Illnesses, including peracute mortality, energy malnutrition, pancreatic disease, urolithiasis, hoof disease, and severe intestinal parasitism, may be related to zoo nutrition and management issues. Serum samples were collected from 20 captive giraffes at 10 United States institutions. Thirteen of the captive animal samples were collected from animals trained for blood collection; seven were banked samples obtained from a previous serum collection. These samples were compared with serum samples collected from 24 free-ranging giraffes in South Africa. Differences between captive and free-ranging giraffes, males and females, and adults and subadults were analyzed by using a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial and Fisher's least significant difference for mean separation; when necessary variables were ranked and analyzed via analysis of variance. Potassium and bilirubin concentrations and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were different between captive and free-ranging giraffes, but all fell within normal bovid reference ranges. The average glucose concentration was significantly elevated in free-ranging giraffes (161 mg/dl) compared with captive giraffes (113 mg/dl). All giraffes in this study had glucose concentrations higher than bovine (42-75 mg/ dl) and caprine (48-76 mg/dl) reference ranges. Differences were also seen in lipase, chloride, and magnesium though these findings are likely not clinically significant. There were no differences detected between sexes. Adults had higher concentrations of potassium, total protein, globulins, and chloride and higher gamma glutamyltransferase activities, whereas subadults had higher concentrations of phosphorus. Within the captive group, nonimmobilized animals had higher concentrations of total protein and globulins. Captive giraffe diets need further investigation to determine if the differences seen in this study, especially glucose and bilirubin concentrations and ALT activities, may result in some health problems often seen in captive giraffes.

Stability evaluation of reference genes for gene expression analysis by RT-qPCR in soybean under different conditions.

PubMed

Wan, Qiao; Chen, Shuilian; Shan, Zhihui; Yang, Zhonglu; Chen, Limiao; Zhang, Chanjuan; Yuan, Songli; Hao, Qinnan; Zhang, Xiaojuan; Qiu, Dezhen; Chen, Haifeng; Zhou, Xinan

2017-01-01

Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR is a sensitive and widely used technique to quantify gene expression. To achieve a reliable result, appropriate reference genes are highly required for normalization of transcripts in different samples. In this study, 9 previously published reference genes (60S, Fbox, ELF1A, ELF1B, ACT11, TUA5, UBC4, G6PD, CYP2) of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] were selected. The expression stability of the 9 genes was evaluated under conditions of biotic stress caused by infection with soybean mosaic virus, nitrogen stress, across different cultivars and developmental stages. ΔCt and geNorm algorithms were used to evaluate and rank the expression stability of the 9 reference genes. Results obtained from two algorithms showed high consistency. Moreover, results of pairwise variation showed that two reference genes were sufficient to normalize the expression levels of target genes under each experimental setting. For virus infection, ELF1A and ELF1B were the most stable reference genes for accurate normalization. For different developmental stages, Fbox and G6PD had the highest expression stability between two soybean cultivars (Tanlong No. 1 and Tanlong No. 2). ELF1B and ACT11 were identified as the most stably expressed reference genes both under nitrogen stress and among different cultivars. The results showed that none of the candidate reference genes were uniformly expressed at different conditions, and selecting appropriate reference genes was pivotal for gene expression studies with particular condition and tissue. The most stable combination of genes identified in this study will help to achieve more accurate and reliable results in a wide variety of samples in soybean.

Selection of suitable reference genes for gene expression studies in Staphylococcus capitis during growth under erythromycin stress.

PubMed

Cui, Bintao; Smooker, Peter M; Rouch, Duncan A; Deighton, Margaret A

2016-08-01

Accurate and reproducible measurement of gene transcription requires appropriate reference genes, which are stably expressed under different experimental conditions to provide normalization. Staphylococcus capitis is a human pathogen that produces biofilm under stress, such as imposed by antimicrobial agents. In this study, a set of five commonly used staphylococcal reference genes (gyrB, sodA, recA, tuf and rpoB) were systematically evaluated in two clinical isolates of Staphylococcus capitis (S. capitis subspecies urealyticus and capitis, respectively) under erythromycin stress in mid-log and stationary phases. Two public software programs (geNorm and NormFinder) and two manual calculation methods, reference residue normalization (RRN) and relative quantitative (RQ), were applied. The potential reference genes selected by the four algorithms were further validated by comparing the expression of a well-studied biofilm gene (icaA) with phenotypic biofilm formation in S. capitis under four different experimental conditions. The four methods differed considerably in their ability to predict the most suitable reference gene or gene combination for comparing icaA expression under different conditions. Under the conditions used here, the RQ method provided better selection of reference genes than the other three algorithms; however, this finding needs to be confirmed with a larger number of isolates. This study reinforces the need to assess the stability of reference genes for analysis of target gene expression under different conditions and the use of more than one algorithm in such studies. Although this work was conducted using a specific human pathogen, it emphasizes the importance of selecting suitable reference genes for accurate normalization of gene expression more generally.

The National Football League Scouting Combine from 1999 to 2014: normative reference values and an examination of body mass normalization techniques.

PubMed

Nuzzo, James L

2015-02-01

The primary purpose of this study was to identify the most appropriate method for normalizing physical performance measures to body mass in American football players. Data were obtained from the population of players (n = 4,603) that completed the vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yd sprint, 20-yd shuttle, 3-cone drill, and bench press at the National Football League Scouting Combine from 1999 to 2014. Correlation coefficients were used to assess relationships between body mass and physical performance measures. For the entire group and each playing position, absolute (i.e., non-normalized) performance measures were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) correlated with body mass, indicating that normalization is warranted. Ratio scaling, however, was not appropriate for normalizing most performance measures because it merely reversed (and increased in magnitude) the significant correlations between body mass and performance. Allometric scaling with derived allometric parameters was appropriate for normalizing all performance measures because correlations between body mass and performance were near to zero and no longer statistically significant. However, the derived allometric parameters differed by playing position. Thus, when normalizing physical performance measures to body mass, strength and conditioning professionals should use allometric scaling with test- and position-specific allometric parameters. Additionally, in the current study, percentile rankings were generated to provide test- and position-specific normative reference values for the absolute measures. Until body mass normalization techniques are adopted more broadly, strength and conditioning professionals can use these normative references values to compare current players with those who have already participated in the Scouting Combine.

[Preliminary establishment of cytological examination and the normal reference values for hypertonic saline solution-induced sputum of healthy children in Guangzhou].

PubMed

Chen, De-hui; Zhong, Guo-yu; Luo, Wei; Chen, Qiao-li; Chen, Ru-chong; Lin, Yu-neng; Pan, Xiao-an; Li, Jin-ying; Wu, Shang-zhi; Lai, Ke-fang; Zhong, Nan-shan

2012-07-01

To establish the method of cytological examination and the normal reference values for hypertonic saline solution-induced sputum of healthy children (age range from 5 to 15 years) with physical examination in Guangzhou. A total of 352 children, 5 to 15 years old, were enrolled from primary school and middle school in Guangzhou from January to December, 2010. All subjects completed a standardized questionnaire on the presence of respiratory, allergic symptoms and family history, the medical history and the physical examination was performed by doctors, lung function (forced expiratory volume at 1 s in predicted normal, FEV(1)%) was determined. There were 266 healthy children (137 males, 129 females) who were selected and undergone hypertonic saline solution induction of sputum, and cytological examination was performed. Hypertonic saline (5%) was nebulized and inhaled for 15 - 30 min. No expectoration within 30 min was defined as failure, and the procedure was terminated. The part of opaque and higher density sputum samples was detected by cytology. The proportion of neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, macrophages and monocytes was calculated. This study was approved by the institutional Ethics Review Committee of First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College. Informed consent was obtained from the legal guardians of all participants following a detailed description of the purpose and potential benefits of the study. There were 175 subjects' induced sputum specimens (175/266, 65.8%), non-qualified sputum samples were obtained from 16 of the subjects. The proportions of median (IQR) of lymphocytes were 0.012 (0.020), 95%CI were ranged from 0.015 to 0.022; neutrophils 0.207 (0.330), 95%CI 0.266 - 0.356 macrophages 0.761 (0.327), 95%CI 0.607 - 0.699; eosinophils 0.004 (0.019), 95%CI 0.013 - 0.022. There were no significant differences in proportions of cytological findings of female or male, different age groups and second-hand smoking or not (all P > 0.05). The incidence of adverse event was 4.40% (7/159). The method and the preliminary data may be used for research, diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic cough and airway inflammation.

Estimating patient-specific and anatomically correct reference model for craniomaxillofacial deformity via sparse representation

PubMed Central

Wang, Li; Ren, Yi; Gao, Yaozong; Tang, Zhen; Chen, Ken-Chung; Li, Jianfu; Shen, Steve G. F.; Yan, Jin; Lee, Philip K. M.; Chow, Ben; Xia, James J.; Shen, Dinggang

2015-01-01

Purpose: A significant number of patients suffer from craniomaxillofacial (CMF) deformity and require CMF surgery in the United States. The success of CMF surgery depends on not only the surgical techniques but also an accurate surgical planning. However, surgical planning for CMF surgery is challenging due to the absence of a patient-specific reference model. Currently, the outcome of the surgery is often subjective and highly dependent on surgeon’s experience. In this paper, the authors present an automatic method to estimate an anatomically correct reference shape of jaws for orthognathic surgery, a common type of CMF surgery. Methods: To estimate a patient-specific jaw reference model, the authors use a data-driven method based on sparse shape composition. Given a dictionary of normal subjects, the authors first use the sparse representation to represent the midface of a patient by the midfaces of the normal subjects in the dictionary. Then, the derived sparse coefficients are used to reconstruct a patient-specific reference jaw shape. Results: The authors have validated the proposed method on both synthetic and real patient data. Experimental results show that the authors’ method can effectively reconstruct the normal shape of jaw for patients. Conclusions: The authors have presented a novel method to automatically estimate a patient-specific reference model for the patient suffering from CMF deformity. PMID:26429255

ESTABLISHMENT OF A FIBRINOGEN REFERENCE INTERVAL IN ORNATE BOX TURTLES (TERRAPENE ORNATA ORNATA).

PubMed

Parkinson, Lily; Olea-Popelka, Francisco; Klaphake, Eric; Dadone, Liza; Johnston, Matthew

2016-09-01

This study sought to establish a reference interval for fibrinogen in healthy ornate box turtles ( Terrapene ornata ornata). A total of 48 turtles were enrolled, with 42 turtles deemed to be noninflammatory and thus fitting the inclusion criteria and utilized to estimate a fibrinogen reference interval. Turtles were excluded based upon physical examination and blood work abnormalities. A Shapiro-Wilk normality test indicated that the noninflammatory turtle fibrinogen values were normally distributed (Gaussian distribution) with an average of 108 mg/dl and a 95% confidence interval of the mean of 97.9-117 mg/dl. Those turtles excluded from the reference interval because of abnormalities affecting their health had significantly different fibrinogen values (P = 0.313). A reference interval for healthy ornate box turtles was calculated. Further investigation into the utility of fibrinogen measurement for clinical usage in ornate box turtles is warranted.

Infrared trace element detection system

DOEpatents

Bien, F.; Bernstein, L.S.; Matthew, M.W.

1988-11-15

An infrared trace element detection system includes an optical cell into which the sample fluid to be examined is introduced and removed. Also introduced into the optical cell is a sample beam of infrared radiation in a first wavelength band which is significantly absorbed by the trace element and a second wavelength band which is not significantly absorbed by the trace element for passage through the optical cell through the sample fluid. The output intensities of the sample beam of radiation are selectively detected in the first and second wavelength bands. The intensities of a reference beam of the radiation are similarly detected in the first and second wavelength bands. The sensed output intensity of the sample beam in one of the first and second wavelength bands is normalized with respect to the other and similarly, the intensity of the reference beam of radiation in one of the first and second wavelength bands is normalized with respect to the other. The normalized sample beam intensity and normalized reference beam intensity are then compared to provide a signal from which the amount of trace element in the sample fluid can be determined. 11 figs.

Infrared trace element detection system

DOEpatents

Bien, Fritz; Bernstein, Lawrence S.; Matthew, Michael W.

1988-01-01

An infrared trace element detection system including an optical cell into which the sample fluid to be examined is introduced and removed. Also introduced into the optical cell is a sample beam of infrared radiation in a first wavelength band which is significantly absorbed by the trace element and a second wavelength band which is not significantly absorbed by the trace element for passage through the optical cell through the sample fluid. The output intensities of the sample beam of radiation are selectively detected in the first and second wavelength bands. The intensities of a reference beam of the radiation are similarly detected in the first and second wavelength bands. The sensed output intensity of the sample beam in one of the first and second wavelength bands is normalized with respect to the other and similarly, the intensity of the reference beam of radiation in one of the first and second wavelength bands is normalized with respect to the other. The normalized sample beam intensity and normalized reference beam intensity are then compared to provide a signal from which the amount of trace element in the sample fluid can be determined.

Quantification of normative ranges and baseline predictors of aortoventricular interface dimensions using multi-detector computed tomographic imaging in patients without aortic valve disease.

PubMed

Gooley, Robert P; Cameron, James D; Soon, Jennifer; Loi, Duncan; Chitale, Gauri; Syeda, Rifath; Meredith, Ian T

2015-09-01

Multidetector computed tomographic (MDCT) assessment of the aortoventricular interface has gained increased importance with the advent of minimally invasive treatment modalities for aortic and mitral valve disease. This has included a standardised technique of identifying a plane through the nadir of each coronary cusp, the basal plane, and taking further measurements in relation to this plane. Despite this there is no published data defining normal ranges for these aortoventricular metrics in a healthy cohort. This study seeks to quantify normative ranges for MDCT derived aortoventricular dimensions and evaluate baseline demographic and anthropomorphic associates of these measurements in a normal cohort. 250 consecutive patients undergoing MDCT coronary angiography were included. Aortoventricular dimensions at multiple levels of the aortoventricular interface were assessed and normative ranges quantified. Multivariate linear regression was performed to identify baseline predictors of each metric. The mean age was 59±12 years. The basal plane was eccentric (EI=0.22±0.06) while the left ventricular outflow tract was more eccentric (EI=0.32±0.06), with no correlation to gender, age or hypertension. Male gender, height and body mass index were consistent independent predictors of larger aortoventricular dimensions at all anatomical levels, while age was predictive of supra-annular measurements. Male gender, height and BMI are independent predictors of all aortoventricular dimensions while age predicts only supra-annular dimensions. Use of defined metrics such as the basal plane and formation of normative ranges for these metrics allows reference for clinical reporting and for future research studies by using a standardised measurement technique. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Safety and efficacy of Implanon, a single-rod implantable contraceptive containing etonogestrel.

PubMed

Funk, Sidney; Miller, Michael M; Mishell, Daniel R; Archer, David F; Poindexter, Alfred; Schmidt, Juergen; Zampaglione, Edio

2005-05-01

The safety and efficacy of a single-rod implantable contraceptive containing etonogestrel (Implanontrade mark) were investigated in a multicenter clinical trial. Sexually active American women (N=330) with apparently normal menstrual cycles used the implant for up to 2 years. All subjects recorded bleeding and/or spotting daily in a diary. Safety was assessed through adverse experiences (AEs), laboratory tests and physical and gynecologic examinations. Total exposure was 474 woman-years (6186 cycles), and 68% of subjects had at least 1 year of exposure. No pregnancies occurred. The most common bleeding pattern observed throughout the study was infrequent bleeding, defined as less than three episodes of bleeding in a reference period (excluding amenorrhea). The least common pattern was frequent bleeding, defined as more than five episodes of bleeding in a reference period. Infrequent, prolonged and frequent bleeding patterns were most common early in the study and declined thereafter. During the 3-month Reference Periods 2-8 (Months 4-24), the incidence of amenorrhea ranged from 14% to 20%. Forty-three subjects (13%) withdrew from the study because of bleeding pattern changes and 76 subjects (23%) discontinued because of other AEs. Other common AEs leading to discontinuation, besides bleeding irregularities, were emotional lability (6.1%), weight increase (3.3%), depression (2.4%) and acne (1.5%). Use of Implanon (etonogestrel subdermal implant, referred to herein as ENG implant) for up to 2 years had no clinically significant effects on laboratory parameters, physical and pelvic examinations, vital signs or body mass index. The average length of time required for ENG implant insertion and that for removal were 0.5 and 3.5 min, respectively, and all the procedures were uncomplicated. The return to normal menstrual cycles and fertility was rapid after removal. Implanon is a safe, highly effective and rapidly reversible new method of contraception.

Hamstring-and-Lower-Back Flexibility in Male Amateur Soccer Players.

PubMed

van der Horst, Nick; Priesterbach, Annique; Backx, Frank; Smits, Dirk-Wouter

2017-01-01

This study investigated the hamstring-and-lower-back flexibility (HLBF) of male adult amateur soccer players, using the sit-and-reach test (SRT), with a view to obtaining population-based reference values and to determining whether SRT scores are associated with player characteristics. Cross-sectional cohort study. Teams from high-level Dutch amateur soccer competitions were recruited for participation. Dutch male high-level amateur field soccer players (n = 449) of age 18 to 40 years. Players with a hamstring injury at the moment of SRT-measurement or any other injury that prevented them from following the SRT protocol were excluded. Sit-and-reach test scores were measured and then population-based reference values were calculated as follows: >2SD below mean (defining "very low" HLBF), 1SD-2SD below mean ("low" HLBF), 1SD below mean to 1SD above mean ("normal" HLBF), 1SD-2SD above mean ("high" HLBF), and >2SD above mean ("very high" HLBF). Whether SRT scores were correlated with player characteristics was determined using a Pearson correlation coefficient or Spearman rho. Sit-and-reach test scores ranged from 0 to 43.5 cm (mean 22.0 cm, SD 9.2). The cutoff points for population-based reference values were <3.5 cm for "very low", 3.5 to 13.0 cm for "low", 13.0 to 31.0 cm for "normal", 31.0 to 40.5 cm for "high", and >40.5 cm for "very high". Sit-and-reach test scores were significantly associated with players' height (ρ = -0.132, P = 0.005), body mass index (r = 0.114, P = 0.016), and history of anterior cruciate ligament surgery (P < 0.001). This study is the first to describe the HLBF of amateur soccer players. The SRT reference values with cutoff points may facilitate evidence-based decision making regarding HLBF, and the SRT might be a useful tool to assess injury risk, performance, or for diagnostic purposes.

The calculated influence of atmospheric conditions on solar cell ISC under direct and global solar irradiances

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mueller, Robert L.

1987-01-01

Calculations of the influence of atmospheric conditions on solar cell short-circuit current (Isc) are made using a recently developed computer model for solar spectral irradiance distribution. The results isolate the dependence of Isc on changes in the spectral irradiance distribution without the direct influence of the total irradiance level. The calculated direct normal irradiance and percent diffuse irradiance are given as a reference to indicate the expected irradiance levels. This method can be applied to the calibration of photovoltaic reference cells. Graphic examples are provided for amorphous silicon and monocrystalline silicon solar cells under direct normal and global normal solar irradiances.

Unexpected marked seizure improvement in paediatric epilepsy surgery candidates.

PubMed

Hoei-Hansen, Christina E; Mathiasen, René; Uldall, Peter

2017-02-01

Epilepsy surgery is performed based on the assumption that medical refractory epilepsy will continue. Rarely seizure freedom occurs before surgery is performed, while the patient is being evaluated as an epilepsy surgery candidate. The aim of this study was to describe the number of children withdrawn from an epilepsy surgery programme due to unexpected seizure improvement. We retrospectively studied 173 children under 18 years with medical refractory epilepsy referred for epilepsy surgery between 1996 and 2010. Medical records were reviewed in 2012 and 2015. At the first evaluation point in 2012, 13 patients were withdrawn from the epilepsy surgery programme due to unexpected marked improvement. In 2015, 6 of them were still seizure free. They had unexpected seizure freedom due to change in AED treatment (n=3) or after a febrile episode (n=3). The mean number of years they had had seizures was 3.4 years (range 0.6-6.2 years) and the number of seizures at inclusion was 209 per month (range 6-750 per month). The duration of follow-up was 6.6 years after inclusion into the epilepsy surgery programme (range 4.0-13.0 years). The aetiology of the epilepsy for these patients was heterotopia (n=1), focal cortical dysplasia (n=3), infarction (n=1) and unknown, with normal MRI (n=1). They all had an IQ in the normal range. Two of the remaining 7 children were operated later. Unexpected seizure control may occur during epilepsy surgery evaluation. Copyright © 2016 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NOTE: A feasibility study of markerless fluoroscopic gating for lung cancer radiotherapy using 4DCT templates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ruijiang; Lewis, John H.; Cerviño, Laura I.; Jiang, Steve B.

2009-10-01

A major difficulty in conformal lung cancer radiotherapy is respiratory organ motion, which may cause clinically significant targeting errors. Respiratory-gated radiotherapy allows for more precise delivery of prescribed radiation dose to the tumor, while minimizing normal tissue complications. Gating based on external surrogates is limited by its lack of accuracy, while gating based on implanted fiducial markers is limited primarily by the risk of pneumothorax due to marker implantation. Techniques for fluoroscopic gating without implanted fiducial markers (markerless gating) have been developed. These techniques usually require a training fluoroscopic image dataset with marked tumor positions in the images, which limits their clinical implementation. To remove this requirement, this study presents a markerless fluoroscopic gating algorithm based on 4DCT templates. To generate gating signals, we explored the application of three similarity measures or scores between fluoroscopic images and the reference 4DCT template: un-normalized cross-correlation (CC), normalized cross-correlation (NCC) and normalized mutual information (NMI), as well as average intensity (AI) of the region of interest (ROI) in the fluoroscopic images. Performance was evaluated using fluoroscopic and 4DCT data from three lung cancer patients. On average, gating based on CC achieves the highest treatment accuracy given the same efficiency, with a high target coverage (average between 91.9% and 98.6%) for a wide range of nominal duty cycles (20-50%). AI works well for two patients out of three, but failed for the third patient due to interference from the heart. Gating based on NCC and NMI usually failed below 50% nominal duty cycle. Based on this preliminary study with three patients, we found that the proposed CC-based gating algorithm can generate accurate and robust gating signals when using 4DCT reference template. However, this observation is based on results obtained from a very limited dataset, and further investigation on a larger patient population has to be done before its clinical implementation.

Construction and validation of the midsagittal reference plane based on the skull base symmetry for three-dimensional cephalometric craniofacial analysis.

PubMed

Kim, Hak-Jin; Kim, Bong Chul; Kim, Jin-Geun; Zhengguo, Piao; Kang, Sang Hoon; Lee, Sang-Hwy

2014-03-01

The objective of this study was to determine the reliable midsagittal (MS) reference plane in practical ways for the three-dimensional craniofacial analysis on three-dimensional computed tomography images. Five normal human dry skulls and 20 normal subjects without any dysmorphoses or asymmetries were used. The accuracies and stability on repeated plane construction for almost every possible candidate MS plane based on the skull base structures were examined by comparing the discrepancies in distances and orientations from the reference points and planes of the skull base and facial bones on three-dimensional computed tomography images. The following reference points of these planes were stable, and their distribution was balanced: nasion and foramen cecum at the anterior part of the skull base, sella at the middle part, and basion and opisthion at the posterior part. The candidate reference planes constructed using the aforementioned reference points were thought to be reliable for use as an MS reference plane for the three-dimensional analysis of maxillofacial dysmorphosis.

Selection of relatively exact reference genes for gene expression studies in goosegrass (Eleusine indica) under herbicide stress.

PubMed

Chen, Jingchao; Huang, Zhaofeng; Huang, Hongjuan; Wei, Shouhui; Liu, Yan; Jiang, Cuilan; Zhang, Jie; Zhang, Chaoxian

2017-04-21

Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) is one of the most serious annual grassy weeds worldwide, and its evolved herbicide-resistant populations are more difficult to control. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is a common technique for investigating the resistance mechanism; however, there is as yet no report on the systematic selection of stable reference genes for goosegrass. This study proposed to test the expression stability of 9 candidate reference genes in goosegrass in different tissues and developmental stages and under stress from three types of herbicide. The results show that for different developmental stages and organs (control), eukaryotic initiation factor 4 A (eIF-4) is the most stable reference gene. Chloroplast acetolactate synthase (ALS) is the most stable reference gene under glyphosate stress. Under glufosinate stress, eIF-4 is the best reference gene. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (UCE) is the most stable reference gene under quizalofop-p-ethyl stress. The gene eIF-4 is the recommended reference gene for goosegrass under the stress of all three herbicides. Moreover, pairwise analysis showed that seven reference genes were sufficient to normalize the gene expression data under three herbicides treatment. This study provides a list of reliable reference genes for transcript normalization in goosegrass, which will facilitate resistance mechanism studies in this weed species.

In vitro tympanic membrane position identification with a co-axial fiber-optic otoscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sundberg, Mikael; Peebo, Markus; Strömberg, Tomas

2011-09-01

Otitis media diagnosis can be assisted by measuring the shape of the tympanic membrane. We have developed an ear speculum for an otoscope, including spatially distributed source and detector optical fibers, to generate source-detector intensity matrices (SDIMs), representing the curvature of surfaces. The surfaces measured were a model ear with a latex membrane and harvested temporal bones including intact tympanic membranes. The position of the tympanic membrane was shifted from retracted to bulging by air pressure and that of the latex membrane by water displacement. The SDIM was normalized utilizing both external (a sheared flat plastic cylinder) and internal references (neutral position of the membrane). Data was fitted to a two-dimensional Gaussian surface representing the shape by its amplitude and offset. Retracted and bulging surfaces were discriminated for the model ear by the sign of the Gaussian amplitude for both internal and external reference normalization. Tympanic membranes were separated after a two-step normalization: first to an external reference, adjusted for the distance between speculum and the surfaces, and second by comparison with an average normally positioned SDIM from tympanic membranes. In conclusion, we have shown that the modified otoscope can discriminate between bulging and retracted tympanic membranes in a single measurement, given a two-step normalization.

Spatial averaging of fields from half-wave dipole antennas and corresponding SAR calculations in the NORMAN human voxel model between 65 MHz and 2 GHz.

PubMed

Findlay, R P; Dimbylow, P J

2009-04-21

If an antenna is located close to a person, the electric and magnetic fields produced by the antenna will vary in the region occupied by the human body. To obtain a mean value of the field for comparison with reference levels, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) recommend spatially averaging the squares of the field strength over the height the body. This study attempts to assess the validity and accuracy of spatial averaging when used for half-wave dipoles at frequencies between 65 MHz and 2 GHz and distances of lambda/2, lambda/4 and lambda/8 from the body. The differences between mean electric field values calculated using ten field measurements and that of the true averaged value were approximately 15% in the 600 MHz to 2 GHz range. The results presented suggest that the use of modern survey equipment, which takes hundreds rather than tens of measurements, is advisable to arrive at a sufficiently accurate mean field value. Whole-body averaged and peak localized SAR values, normalized to calculated spatially averaged fields, were calculated for the NORMAN voxel phantom. It was found that the reference levels were conservative for all whole-body SAR values, but not for localized SAR, particularly in the 1-2 GHz region when the dipole was positioned very close to the body. However, if the maximum field is used for normalization of calculated SAR as opposed to the lower spatially averaged value, the reference levels provide a conservative estimate of the localized SAR basic restriction for all frequencies studied.

Manual discrimination of force

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pang, Xiao-Dong; Tan, HONG-Z.; Durlach, Nathaniel I.

1991-01-01

Optimal design of human-machine interfaces for teleoperators and virtual-environment systems which involve the tactual and kinesthetic modalities requires knowledge of the human's resolving power in these modalities. The resolution of the interface should be appropriately matched to that of the human operator. We report some preliminary results on the ability of the human hand to distinguish small differences in force under a variety of conditions. Experiments were conducted on force discrimination with the thumb pushing an interface that exerts a constant force over the pushing distance and the index finger pressing against a fixed support. The dependence of the sensitivity index d' on force increment can be fit by a straight line through the origin and the just-noticeable difference (JND) in force can thus be described by the inverse of the slope of this line. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was measured by varying the a priori probabilities of the two alternatives, reference force and reference force plus an increment, in one-interval, two-alternative, forced-choice experiments. When plotted on normal deviate coordinates, the ROC's were roughly straight lines of unit slope, thus supporting the assumption of equal-variance normal distributions and the use of the conventional d' measure. The JND was roughly 6-8 percent for reference force ranging from 2.5 to 10 newtons, pushing distance from 5 to 30 mm, and initial finger-span from 45 to 125 mm. Also, the JND remained the same when the subjects were instructed to change the average speed of pushing from 23 to 153 mm/sec. The pushing was terminated by reaching either a wall or a well, and the JND's were essentially the same in both cases.

Measurement of the IgG2 response to Pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides may identify an antibody deficiency in individuals referred for immunological investigation.

PubMed

Parker, Antony; Irure Ventura, Juan; Sims, Dawn; Echeverría de Carlos, Ainara; Gómez de la Torre, Ricardo; Tricas Aizpún, Lourdes; Ocejo-Vinyals, J Gonzalo; López-Hoyos, Marcos; Wallis, Gregg; Harding, Stephen

2017-01-01

IgG2 is the most efficient subclass for providing protection against pneumococcal pathogens. We hypothesised that some individuals may be unable to mount an effective pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PCP) IgG2 response despite having a normal PCP IgG concentration (PCP IgG2 deficient). The median pre-vaccination PCP IgG2 concentration was significantly lower in individuals referred for immunological investigation compared to healthy controls (2.8 mg/L range, 95% CI 1.1-88 vs. 29.5mg/L, 95% CI 13.5-90, p = 0.0002). PCP IgG:IgG2 ratios were significantly higher for the referral population than for healthy controls suggesting the increased production of PCP specific subclasses other than IgG2. The percentage of individuals with PCP IgG2 deficiency was significantly higher in referral groups compared to controls (31% vs. 5%; p = 0.0009) and in an individual with PCP IgG2 deficiency, the balance of PCP specific IgG subclass antibodies post vaccination changed from IgG2>IgG1>IgG3>IgG4 to IgG1>IgG3>IgG2>IgG4. The median PCP IgG2 concentration in those with PCP IgG2 deficiency was significantly lower in the referral groups compared to controls (7.8 mg/L, 95% CI 1.1-12 vs. 12.7 mg/L, 95% CI 11.8-13.1; p = 0.006). The data suggests a defect in the production PCP IgG2 may be present in individuals with normal PCP IgG referred for immunological investigation.

Current Practices of Measuring and Reference Range Reporting of Free and Total Testosterone in the United States.

PubMed

Le, Margaret; Flores, David; May, Danica; Gourley, Eric; Nangia, Ajay K

2016-05-01

The evaluation and management of male hypogonadism should be based on symptoms and on serum testosterone levels. Diagnostically this relies on accurate testing and reference values. Our objective was to define the distribution of reference values and assays for free and total testosterone by clinical laboratories in the United States. Upper and lower reference values, assay methodology and source of published reference ranges were obtained from laboratories across the country. A standardized survey was reviewed with laboratory staff via telephone. Descriptive statistics were used to tabulate results. We surveyed a total of 120 laboratories in 47 states. Total testosterone was measured in house at 73% of laboratories. At the remaining laboratories studies were sent to larger centralized reference facilities. The mean ± SD lower reference value of total testosterone was 231 ± 46 ng/dl (range 160 to 300) and the mean upper limit was 850 ± 141 ng/dl (range 726 to 1,130). Only 9% of laboratories where in-house total testosterone testing was performed created a reference range unique to their region. Others validated the instrument recommended reference values in a small number of internal test samples. For free testosterone 82% of laboratories sent testing to larger centralized reference laboratories where equilibrium dialysis and/or liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry was done. The remaining laboratories used published algorithms to calculate serum free testosterone. Reference ranges for testosterone assays vary significantly among laboratories. The ranges are predominantly defined by limited population studies of men with unknown medical and reproductive histories. These poorly defined and variable reference values, especially the lower limit, affect how clinicians determine treatment. Copyright © 2016 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

RADIOGRAPHIC THORACIC ANATOMY OF THE RED PANDA (AILURUS FULGENS).

PubMed

Makungu, Modesta; du Plessis, Wencke M; Barrows, Michelle; Groenewald, Hermanus B; Koeppel, Katja N

2016-09-01

The red panda ( Ailurus fulgens ) is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. The natural distribution of the red panda is in the Himalayas and southern China. Thoracic diseases such as dirofilariasis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, tracheal obstruction, lung worm infestation, and pneumonia have been reported in the red panda. The aim of this study was to describe the normal radiographic thoracic anatomy of captive red pandas as a species-specific reference for routine health examinations and clinical cases. Right lateral (RL) and dorsoventral (DV) inspiratory phase views of the thorax were obtained in 11 adult captive red pandas. Measurements were made and ratios calculated to establish reference ranges for the mean vertebral heart score on the RL (8.34 ± 0.25) and DV (8.78 ± 0.34) views and the mean ratios of the caudal vena cava diameter to the vertebral body length above tracheal bifurcation (0.67 ± 0.05) and tracheal diameter to the width of the third rib (2.75 ± 0.24). The majority of animals (10/11) had 14 thoracic vertebrae, except for one animal that had 15 thoracic vertebrae. Rudimentary clavicles were seen in 3/11 animals. The ovoid, oblique cardiac silhouette was more horizontally positioned and elongated in older animals. A redundant aortic arch was seen in the oldest animal. The trachea was seen with mineralized cartilage rings in all animals. The carina was clearly seen in the majority of animals (10/11). Variations exist in the normal radiographic thoracic anatomy of different species. Knowledge of the normal radiographic thoracic anatomy of the red panda should prove useful for routine health examinations and in the diagnosis of thoracic diseases.

Assessing the clinical utility of combined movement examination in symptomatic degenerative lumbar spondylosis.

PubMed

Monie, A P; Price, R I; Lind, C R P; Singer, K P

2015-07-01

The aim of this study is to report the development and validation of a low back computer-aided combined movement examination protocol in normal individuals and record treatment outcomes of cases with symptomatic degenerative lumbar spondylosis. Test-retest, following intervention. Self-report assessments and combined movement examination were used to record composite spinal motion, before and following neurosurgical and pain medicine interventions. 151 normal individuals aged from 20 years to 69 years were assessed using combined movement examination between L1 and S1 spinal levels to establish a reference range. Cases with degenerative low back pain and sciatica were assessed before and after therapeutic interventions with combined movement examination and a battery of self-report pain and disability questionnaires. Change scores for combined movement examination and all outcome measures were derived. Computer-aided combined movement examination validation and intraclass correlation coefficient with 95% confidence interval and least significant change scores indicated acceptable reliability of combined movement examination when recording lumbar movement in normal subjects. In both clinical cases lumbar spine movement restrictions corresponded with self-report scores for pain and disability. Post-intervention outcomes all showed significant improvement, particularly in the most restricted combined movement examination direction. This study provides normative reference data for combined movement examination that may inform future clinical studies of the technique as a convenient objective surrogate for important clinical outcomes in lumbar degenerative spondylosis. It can be used with good reliability, may be well tolerated by individuals in pain and appears to change in concert with validated measures of lumbar spinal pain, functional limitation and quality of life. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fish-based indicators of estuarine condition that do not require reference data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tweedley, James R.; Warwick, Richard M.; Hallett, Chris S.; Potter, Ian C.

2017-05-01

The species composition of fish communities in 15 microtidal estuaries in south-western Australia, ranging from permanently-open to normally-closed, is shown to be related to the geomorphological and hydrological regimes and not to environmental condition. This study then explored the effectiveness of using qualitative taxonomic distinctness and ABC curves for fish data as indicators of the environmental condition in nearshore, shallow waters of these estuaries and, in the case of taxonomic distinctness, also of their offshore, deeper waters. Neither of these indices require spatial or temporal reference data, which may be either prohibitively expensive and time-consuming to collect or unavailable. Taxonomic distinctness, in both nearshore and offshore waters, varied consistently among estuaries in relation to their recorded environmental status, and is thus a good indicator of overall estuarine condition. ABC analyses, however, did not prove a good measure of the environmental condition of the estuaries, because their results largely reflect differences in accessibility of the estuary to marine estuarine-opportunist species and especially those that grow to a larger size. It is concluded that taxonomic distinctness indices provide a rapid and cost-effective method for assessing the environmental condition of estuaries, particularly those with limited spatial or temporal reference data.

Atmosphere: On the Phenomenology of "Atmospheric" Alterations in Schizophrenia - Overall Sense of Reality, Familiarity, Vitality, Meaning, or Relevance (Ancillary Article to EAWE Domain 5).

PubMed

Sass, Louis; Ratcliffe, Matthew

2017-01-01

"Atmospheric" alterations are key aspects of altered subjectivity in mental disorder. Karl Jaspers famously described the "delusional mood": a sense of uncanny salience and ominousness that often precedes the onset of schizophrenic psychosis or of delusions. Such experiences, he writes, involve "a transformation in our total awareness of reality" that often verges on ineffability. In psychiatry, these experiential alterations are often referred to in terms of "derealization." Though derealization most obviously refers to a decline in the sense of objective presence or felt actuality, it can also refer to other unusual experiences in which things seem unlike normal or standard reality, including altered familiarity, vitality, meaning, or relevance. This paper first describes two complementary ways of approaching these phenomena: the notion of an "ontological" dimension (Sass) and that of "existential feeling" (Ratcliffe). It then offers a wider-ranging synopsis of work in phenomenological psychopathology that has sought to address atmospheric alterations believed to be especially characteristic of schizophrenia spectrum conditions, focusing on the themes of a diminished sense of reality, altered sense of meaning, disrupted feeling of familiarity, and diminished vitality and relevance. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Multivariate approaches for stability control of the olive oil reference materials for sensory analysis - part I: framework and fundamentals.

PubMed

Valverde-Som, Lucia; Ruiz-Samblás, Cristina; Rodríguez-García, Francisco P; Cuadros-Rodríguez, Luis

2018-02-09

Virgin olive oil is the only food product for which sensory analysis is regulated to classify it in different quality categories. To harmonize the results of the sensorial method, the use of standards or reference materials is crucial. The stability of sensory reference materials is required to enable their suitable control, aiming to confirm that their specific target values are maintained on an ongoing basis. Currently, such stability is monitored by means of sensory analysis and the sensory panels are in the paradoxical situation of controlling the standards that are devoted to controlling the panels. In the present study, several approaches based on similarity analysis are exploited. For each approach, the specific methodology to build a proper multivariate control chart to monitor the stability of the sensory properties is explained and discussed. The normalized Euclidean and Mahalanobis distances, the so-called nearness and hardiness indices respectively, have been defined as new similarity indices to range the values from 0 to 1. Also, the squared mean from Hotelling's T 2 -statistic and Q 2 -statistic has been proposed as another similarity index. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Reaction time norms as measured by ruler drop method in school-going South Asian children: A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Aranha, V P; Saxena, S; Moitra, M; Narkeesh, K; Arumugam, N; Samuel, A J

2017-01-01

This study aimed to estimate normative range for reaction time using ruler drop method for school-going South Asian children between 6 and 12 years of age. A cross-sectional study was used to evaluate the reaction time for 204 children. Normal values for each age group were obtained. The results of multiple linear regressions showed a decrease in the reaction time values with age, and a significant change occurring between six and eight years of age. No difference in reaction time was obtained between boys and girls. Ruler drop method is an easy to use test and the results of this study provide a normative data for age groups 6-12 years ranging from 214.2ms to 248.8ms. These values can serve as a reference to screen children with delayed reaction time. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Implementation of Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) for the Real-driving Emissions (RDE) Regulation in Europe.

PubMed

Giechaskiel, Barouch; Vlachos, Theodoros; Riccobono, Francesco; Forni, Fausto; Colombo, Rinaldo; Montigny, Francois; Le-Lijour, Philippe; Carriero, Massimo; Bonnel, Pierre; Weiss, Martin

2016-12-04

Vehicles are tested in controlled and relatively narrow laboratory conditions to determine their official emission values and reference fuel consumption. However, on the road, ambient and driving conditions can vary over a wide range, sometimes causing emissions to be higher than those measured in the laboratory. For this reason, the European Commission has developed a complementary Real-Driving Emissions (RDE) test procedure using the Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) to verify gaseous pollutant and particle number emissions during a wide range of normal operating conditions on the road. This paper presents the newly-adopted RDE test procedure, differentiating six steps: 1) vehicle selection, 2) vehicle preparation, 3) trip design, 4) trip execution, 5) trip verification, and 6) calculation of emissions. Of these steps, vehicle preparation and trip execution are described in greater detail. Examples of trip verification and the calculations of emissions are given.

Reentrant Resistive Behavior and Dimensional Crossover in Disordered Superconducting TiN Films.

PubMed

Postolova, Svetlana V; Mironov, Alexey Yu; Baklanov, Mikhail R; Vinokur, Valerii M; Baturina, Tatyana I

2017-05-11

A reentrant temperature dependence of the normal state resistance often referred to as the N-shaped temperature dependence, is omnipresent in disordered superconductors - ranging from high-temperature cuprates to ultrathin superconducting films - that experience superconductor-to-insulator transition. Yet, despite the ubiquity of this phenomenon its origin still remains a subject of debate. Here we investigate strongly disordered superconducting TiN films and demonstrate universality of the reentrant behavior. We offer a quantitative description of the N-shaped resistance curve. We show that upon cooling down the resistance first decreases linearly with temperature and then passes through the minimum that marks the 3D-2D crossover in the system. In the 2D temperature range the resistance first grows with decreasing temperature due to quantum contributions and eventually drops to zero as the system falls into a superconducting state. Our findings demonstrate the prime importance of disorder in dimensional crossover effects.

Implementation of Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) for the Real-driving Emissions (RDE) Regulation in Europe

PubMed Central

Giechaskiel, Barouch; Vlachos, Theodoros; Riccobono, Francesco; Forni, Fausto; Colombo, Rinaldo; Montigny, Francois; Le-Lijour, Philippe; Carriero, Massimo; Bonnel, Pierre; Weiss, Martin

2016-01-01

Vehicles are tested in controlled and relatively narrow laboratory conditions to determine their official emission values and reference fuel consumption. However, on the road, ambient and driving conditions can vary over a wide range, sometimes causing emissions to be higher than those measured in the laboratory. For this reason, the European Commission has developed a complementary Real-Driving Emissions (RDE) test procedure using the Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) to verify gaseous pollutant and particle number emissions during a wide range of normal operating conditions on the road. This paper presents the newly-adopted RDE test procedure, differentiating six steps: 1) vehicle selection, 2) vehicle preparation, 3) trip design, 4) trip execution, 5) trip verification, and 6) calculation of emissions. Of these steps, vehicle preparation and trip execution are described in greater detail. Examples of trip verification and the calculations of emissions are given. PMID:28060306

The effects of growth hormone deficiency and growth hormone replacement therapy on intellectual ability, personality and adjustment in children.

PubMed

Puga González, B; Ferrández Longás, A; Oyarzábal, M; Nosas, R

2010-06-01

Traditionally, it has been assumed that intellectual development in children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is distributed between ranges of a normal population based on the observation that it does not differ substantially from that of children of the same age. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated this assumption. This Spanish Collaborative study was prospectively planned with two main purposes: to study a possible influence of GHD on intelligence quotient (IQ), personality traits and adaptative capacity and to study the evolution of these parameters during substitution therapy with growth hormone (GH). Although the overall intellectual ability of children with GHD is comparable to that of a normal reference population, some areas such the motor-component scale (evaluated by McCarthy test) and performance IQ (evaluated by WISC-R) were below the mean at the beginning of the study, showing significant improvement during therapy. Emotional adjustment (normal at study start) also improved significantly during treatment. Females showed better adjustment capacity before and during GH therapy. Longer studies with an increased number of cases are needed to confirm these effects of GHD and its treatment in children.

Ultrasonography of umbilical structures in clinically normal foals.

PubMed

Reef, V B; Collatos, C

1988-12-01

The umbilical arteries, urachus, and umbilical vein were scanned ultrasonographically in 13 clinically normal foals that ranged in age from 6 hours to 4 weeks. Sonograms were obtained using a 7.5-MHz sector scanner transducer placed across the midline of the ventral portion of the foal's abdominal wall. The umbilical vein was scanned from the umbilical stalk to its entrance into the hepatic parenchyma. The mean (+/- SD) diameter of the umbilical vein was 0.61 +/- 0.20 cm immediately cranial to the umbilical stalk, 0.52 +/- 0.19 cm midway between the umbilicus and liver, and 0.6 +/- 0.19 cm at the liver. The urachus and umbilical arteries were scanned from the umbilical stalk to the apex of the urinary bladder and had a mean total diameter of 1.75 +/- 0.37 cm at the bladder apex. The umbilical arteries also were scanned along either side of the bladder and had a mean diameter of 0.85 +/- 0.21 cm. These measurements and the ultrasonographic appearance of the internal umbilical structures from clinically normal foals can be used as references to diagnose abnormalities of the umbilical structures in neonatal foals.

Reference intervals for 24 laboratory parameters determined in 24-hour urine collections.

PubMed

Curcio, Raffaele; Stettler, Helen; Suter, Paolo M; Aksözen, Jasmin Barman; Saleh, Lanja; Spanaus, Katharina; Bochud, Murielle; Minder, Elisabeth; von Eckardstein, Arnold

2016-01-01

Reference intervals for many laboratory parameters determined in 24-h urine collections are either not publicly available or based on small numbers, not sex specific or not from a representative sample. Osmolality and concentrations or enzymatic activities of sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose, creatinine, citrate, cortisol, pancreatic α-amylase, total protein, albumin, transferrin, immunoglobulin G, α1-microglobulin, α2-macroglobulin, as well as porphyrins and their precursors (δ-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen) were determined in 241 24-h urine samples of a population-based cohort of asymptomatic adults (121 men and 120 women). For 16 of these 24 parameters creatinine-normalized ratios were calculated based on 24-h urine creatinine. The reference intervals for these parameters were calculated according to the CLSI C28-A3 statistical guidelines. By contrast to most published reference intervals, which do not stratify for sex, reference intervals of 12 of 24 laboratory parameters in 24-h urine collections and of eight of 16 parameters as creatinine-normalized ratios differed significantly between men and women. For six parameters calculated as 24-h urine excretion and four parameters calculated as creatinine-normalized ratios no reference intervals had been published before. For some parameters we found significant and relevant deviations from previously reported reference intervals, most notably for 24-h urine cortisol in women. Ten 24-h urine parameters showed weak or moderate sex-specific correlations with age. By applying up-to-date analytical methods and clinical chemistry analyzers to 24-h urine collections from a large population-based cohort we provide as yet the most comprehensive set of sex-specific reference intervals calculated according to CLSI guidelines for parameters determined in 24-h urine collections.

Learning about WAGR Syndrome

MedlinePlus

... children who have WAGR syndrome may have normal intelligence. Other symptoms of WAGR syndrome may also include: ... mild. Some individuals with WAGR syndrome have normal intelligence. Children with WAGR syndrome should be referred for ...

Preoperative thyroid function and weight loss after bariatric surgery.

PubMed

Neves, João Sérgio; Souteiro, Pedro; Oliveira, Sofia Castro; Pedro, Jorge; Magalhães, Daniela; Guerreiro, Vanessa; Costa, Maria Manuel; Bettencourt-Silva, Rita; Santos, Ana Cristina; Queirós, Joana; Varela, Ana; Freitas, Paula; Carvalho, Davide

2018-05-16

Thyroid function has an important role on body weight regulation. However, the impact of thyroid function on weight loss after bariatric surgery is still largely unknown. We evaluated the association between preoperative thyroid function and the excess weight loss 1 year after surgery, in 641 patients with morbid obesity who underwent bariatric surgery. Patients with a history of thyroid disease, treatment with thyroid hormone or antithyroid drugs and those with preoperative evaluation consistent with overt hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism were excluded. The preoperative levels of TSH and FT4 were not associated with weight loss after bariatric surgery. The variation of FT3 within the reference range was also not associated with weight loss. In contrast, the subgroup with FT3 above the reference range (12.3% of patients) had a significantly higher excess weight loss than patients with normal FT3. This difference remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, type of surgery, TSH and FT4. In conclusion, we observed an association between high FT3 and a greater weight loss after bariatric surgery, highlighting a group of patients with an increased benefit from this intervention. Our results also suggest a novel hypothesis: the pharmacological modulation of thyroid function may be a potential therapeutic target in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Patterns of language and auditory dysfunction in 6-year-old children with epilepsy.

PubMed

Selassie, Gunilla Rejnö-Habte; Olsson, Ingrid; Jennische, Margareta

2009-01-01

In a previous study we reported difficulty with expressive language and visuoperceptual ability in preschool children with epilepsy and otherwise normal development. The present study analysed speech and language dysfunction for each individual in relation to epilepsy variables, ear preference, and intelligence in these children and described their auditory function. Twenty 6-year-old children with epilepsy (14 females, 6 males; mean age 6:5 y, range 6 y-6 y 11 mo) and 30 reference children without epilepsy (18 females, 12 males; mean age 6:5 y, range 6 y-6 y 11 mo) were assessed for language and auditory ability. Low scores for the children with epilepsy were analysed with respect to speech-language domains, type of epilepsy, site of epileptiform activity, intelligence, and language laterality. Auditory attention, perception, discrimination, and ear preference were measured with a dichotic listening test, and group comparisons were performed. Children with left-sided partial epilepsy had extensive language dysfunction. Most children with partial epilepsy had phonological dysfunction. Language dysfunction was also found in children with generalized and unclassified epilepsies. The children with epilepsy performed significantly worse than the reference children in auditory attention, perception of vowels and discrimination of consonants for the right ear and had more left ear advantage for vowels, indicating undeveloped language laterality.

Construction of measurement uncertainty profiles for quantitative analysis of genetically modified organisms based on interlaboratory validation data.

PubMed

Macarthur, Roy; Feinberg, Max; Bertheau, Yves

2010-01-01

A method is presented for estimating the size of uncertainty associated with the measurement of products derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The method is based on the uncertainty profile, which is an extension, for the estimation of uncertainty, of a recent graphical statistical tool called an accuracy profile that was developed for the validation of quantitative analytical methods. The application of uncertainty profiles as an aid to decision making and assessment of fitness for purpose is also presented. Results of the measurement of the quantity of GMOs in flour by PCR-based methods collected through a number of interlaboratory studies followed the log-normal distribution. Uncertainty profiles built using the results generally give an expected range for measurement results of 50-200% of reference concentrations for materials that contain at least 1% GMO. This range is consistent with European Network of GM Laboratories and the European Union (EU) Community Reference Laboratory validation criteria and can be used as a fitness for purpose criterion for measurement methods. The effect on the enforcement of EU labeling regulations is that, in general, an individual analytical result needs to be < 0.45% to demonstrate compliance, and > 1.8% to demonstrate noncompliance with a labeling threshold of 0.9%.

The Renilla luciferase gene as a reference gene for normalization of gene expression in transiently transfected cells.

PubMed

Jiwaji, Meesbah; Daly, Rónán; Pansare, Kshama; McLean, Pauline; Yang, Jingli; Kolch, Walter; Pitt, Andrew R

2010-12-31

The importance of appropriate normalization controls in quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) experiments has become more apparent as the number of biological studies using this methodology has increased. In developing a system to study gene expression from transiently transfected plasmids, it became clear that normalization using chromosomally encoded genes is not ideal, at it does not take into account the transfection efficiency and the significantly lower expression levels of the plasmids. We have developed and validated a normalization method for qPCR using a co-transfected plasmid. The best chromosomal gene for normalization in the presence of the transcriptional activators used in this study, cadmium, dexamethasone, forskolin and phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate was first identified. qPCR data was analyzed using geNorm, Normfinder and BestKeeper. Each software application was found to rank the normalization controls differently with no clear correlation. Including a co-transfected plasmid encoding the Renilla luciferase gene (Rluc) in this analysis showed that its calculated stability was not as good as the optimised chromosomal genes, most likely as a result of the lower expression levels and transfection variability. Finally, we validated these analyses by testing two chromosomal genes (B2M and ActB) and a co-transfected gene (Rluc) under biological conditions. When analyzing co-transfected plasmids, Rluc normalization gave the smallest errors compared to the chromosomal reference genes. Our data demonstrates that transfected Rluc is the most appropriate normalization reference gene for transient transfection qPCR analysis; it significantly reduces the standard deviation within biological experiments as it takes into account the transfection efficiencies and has easily controllable expression levels. This improves reproducibility, data validity and most importantly, enables accurate interpretation of qPCR data.

Identifying optimal reference genes for the normalization of microRNA expression in cucumber under viral stress

PubMed Central

Liang, Chaoqiong; Hao, Jianjun; Meng, Yan; Luo, Laixin; Li, Jianqiang

2018-01-01

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is an economically important pathogen and causes significant reduction of both yield and quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Currently, there were no satisfied strategies for controlling the disease. A better understanding of microRNA (miRNA) expression related to the regulation of plant-virus interactions and virus resistance would be of great assistance when developing control strategies for CGMMV. However, accurate expression analysis is highly dependent on robust and reliable reference gene used as an internal control for normalization of miRNA expression. Most commonly used reference genes involved in CGMMV-infected cucumber are not universally expressed depending on tissue types and stages of plant development. It is therefore crucial to identify suitable reference genes in investigating the role of miRNA expression. In this study, seven reference genes, including Actin, Tubulin, EF-1α, 18S rRNA, Ubiquitin, GAPDH and Cyclophilin, were evaluated for the most accurate results in analyses using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Gene expression was assayed on cucumber leaves, stems and roots that were collected at different days post inoculation with CGMMV. The expression data were analyzed using algorithms including delta-Ct, geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper as well as the comparative tool RefFinder. The reference genes were subsequently validated using miR159. The results showed that EF-1α and GAPDH were the most reliable reference genes for normalizing miRNA expression in leaf, root and stem samples, while Ubiquitin and EF-1α were the most suitable combination overall. PMID:29543906

A diagnostic for determining the quality of single-reference electron correlation methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Timothy J.; Taylor, Peter R.

1989-01-01

It was recently proposed that the Euclidian norm of the t(sub 1) vector of the coupled cluster wave function (normalized by the number of electrons included in the correlation procedure) could be used to determine whether a single-reference-based electron correlation procedure is appopriate. This diagnostic, T(sub 1) is defined for use with self-consistent-field molecular orbitals and is invariant to the same orbital rotations as the coupled cluster energy. T(sub 1) is investigated for several different chemical systems which exhibit a range of multireference behavior, and is shown to be an excellent measure of the importance of non-dynamical electron correlation and is far superior to C(sub 0) from a singles and doubles configuration interaction wave function. It is further suggested that when the aim is to recover a large fraction of the dynamical electron correlation energy, a large T(sub 1) (i.e., greater than 0.02) probably indicates the need for a multireference electron correlation procedure.

A diagnostic for determining the quality of single-reference electron correlation methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Timothy J.; Taylor, Peter R.

1989-01-01

It was recently proposed that the Euclidian norm of the t sub 1 vector of the coupled cluster wave function (normalized by the number of electrons included in the correlation procedure) could be used to determine whether a single-reference-based electron correlation procedure is appropriate. This diagnostic, T sub 1, is defined for use with self consistent field molecular orbitals and is invariant to the same orbital rotations as the coupled cluster energy. T sub 1 is investigated for several different chemical systems which exhibit a range of multireference behavior, and is shown to be an excellent measure of the importance of nondynamical electron correlation and is far superior to C sub 0 from a singles and doubles configuration interaction wave function. It is further suggested that when the aim is to recover a large fraction of the dynamical electron correlation energy, a large T sub 1 (i.e., greater than 0.02) probably indicates the need for a multireference electron correlation procedure.

Infrared absorptivities of transition metals at room and liquid-helium temperatures.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, M. C.; Palmer, D. C.; Tien, C. L.

1972-01-01

Evaluation of experimental data concerning the normal spectral absorptivities of the transition metals, nickel, iron, platinum, and chromium, at both room and liquid-helium temperatures in the wavelength range from 2.5 to 50 microns. The absorptivities were derived from reflectivity measurements made relative to a room-temperature vapor-deposited gold reference mirror. The absorptivity of the gold reference mirror was measured calorimetrically, by use of infrared laser sources. Investigation of various methods of sample-surface preparation resulted in the choice of a vacuum-annealing process as the final stage. The experimental results are discussed on the basis of the anomalous-skin-effect theory modified for multiple conduction bands. As predicted, the results approach a single-band model toward the longer wavelengths. Agreement between theory and experiment is considerably improved by taking into account the modification of the relaxation time due to the photon-electron-phonon interaction proposed by Holstein (1954) and Gurzhi (1958); but, particularly at helium temperatures, the calculated curve is consistently below the experimental results.

A Guideline to Family-Wide Comparative State-of-the-Art Quantitative RT-PCR Analysis Exemplified with a Brassicaceae Cross-Species Seed Germination Case Study[W][OA

PubMed Central

Graeber, Kai; Linkies, Ada; Wood, Andrew T.A.; Leubner-Metzger, Gerhard

2011-01-01

Comparative biology includes the comparison of transcriptome and quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) data sets in a range of species to detect evolutionarily conserved and divergent processes. Transcript abundance analysis of target genes by qRT-PCR requires a highly accurate and robust workflow. This includes reference genes with high expression stability (i.e., low intersample transcript abundance variation) for correct target gene normalization. Cross-species qRT-PCR for proper comparative transcript quantification requires reference genes suitable for different species. We addressed this issue using tissue-specific transcriptome data sets of germinating Lepidium sativum seeds to identify new candidate reference genes. We investigated their expression stability in germinating seeds of L. sativum and Arabidopsis thaliana by qRT-PCR, combined with in silico analysis of Arabidopsis and Brassica napus microarray data sets. This revealed that reference gene expression stability is higher for a given developmental process between distinct species than for distinct developmental processes within a given single species. The identified superior cross-species reference genes may be used for family-wide comparative qRT-PCR analysis of Brassicaceae seed germination. Furthermore, using germinating seeds, we exemplify optimization of the qRT-PCR workflow for challenging tissues regarding RNA quality, transcript stability, and tissue abundance. Our work therefore can serve as a guideline for moving beyond Arabidopsis by establishing high-quality cross-species qRT-PCR. PMID:21666000

Development of a genomic DNA reference material panel for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) genetic testing.

PubMed

Kalman, Lisa; Tarleton, Jack; Hitch, Monica; Hegde, Madhuri; Hjelm, Nick; Berry-Kravis, Elizabeth; Zhou, Lili; Hilbert, James E; Luebbe, Elizabeth A; Moxley, Richard T; Toji, Lorraine

2013-07-01

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by expansion of a CTG triplet repeat in the 3' untranslated region of the DMPK gene that encodes a serine-threonine kinase. Patients with larger repeats tend to have a more severe phenotype. Clinical laboratories require reference and quality control materials for DM1 diagnostic and carrier genetic testing. Well-characterized reference materials are not available. To address this need, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-based Genetic Testing Reference Material Coordination Program, in collaboration with members of the genetic testing community, the National Registry of Myotonic Dystrophy and Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Patients and Family Members, and the Coriell Cell Repositories, has established and characterized cell lines from patients with DM1 to create a reference material panel. The CTG repeats in genomic DNA samples from 10 DM1 cell lines were characterized in three clinical genetic testing laboratories using PCR and Southern blot analysis. DMPK alleles in the samples cover four of five DM1 clinical categories: normal (5 to 34 repeats), mild (50 to 100 repeats), classical (101 to 1000 repeats), and congenital (>1000 repeats). We did not identify or establish Coriell cell lines in the premutation range (35 to 49 repeats). These samples are publicly available for quality control, proficiency testing, test development, and research and should help improve the accuracy of DM1 testing. Copyright © 2013 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Serum enzymes levels and influencing factors in three indigenous Ethiopian goat breeds.

PubMed

Tibbo, M; Jibril, Y; Woldemeskel, M; Dawo, F; Aragaw, K; Rege, J E O

2008-12-01

Serum enzymes were studied in 163 apparently healthy goats from three indigenous goat breeds of Ethiopia. The effect of breed, age, sex and season on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) / glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) / glutamic oxalacetic transaminases (GOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (AcP) levels was assessed. The mean serum enzymes levels of the indigenous Arsi-Bale, Central Highland and Long-eared Somali goat breeds ranged from 14.0-20.2 iu L(-1) for ALT/GPT, from 43.2-49.3 iu L(-1) for AST/GOT, from 83.7-98.8 iu L(-1) for ALP, and from 2.99-4.23 iu L(-1) for AcP, were within the normal range for goats elsewhere. Breed had significant influence on AST/GOT values. Sex had significant effect on ALT/GPT for Arsi-Bale goats with higher values in males than females. Age was significant on all serum enzymes studied in the Arsi-Bale goats and on ALP in the Central Highland goats. Season had significant influence on all serum enzymes except for ALT/GPT in the Arsi-Bale goats. The serum enzyme levels of these indigenous goat breeds can be used as normal reference values for Ethiopian goat breeds adapted to similar agro-ecology and production system.

Screening of lysosomal storage disorders: application of the online trapping-and-cleanup liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for mucopolysaccharidosis I.

PubMed

Ombrone, Daniela; Malvagia, Sabrina; Funghini, Silvia; Giocaliere, Elisa; Della Bona, Maria Luisa; Forni, Giulia; De Luca, Alessio; Villanelli, Fabio; Casetta, Bruno; Guerrini, Renzo; la Marca, Giancarlo

2013-01-01

In recent years, new treatments have become available to treat some lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) and many studies suggest that there is a benefit with starting therapy early. Newborn screening should detect diseases early enough for prompt treatment. Some countries include additional conditions, such as some LSDs, into their newborn screening panels. Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I (MPS I) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of α-L-iduronidase (IDUA) activity. Currently, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) or bone marrow transplantation is available and this has raised a growing interest for the development of a newborn screening test. In 2009, we reported a new fast and simplified tandem mass spectrometry-based method for quantifying five enzyme activities on dried blood spots. Here, we describe the inclusion of IDUA activity determination for the simultaneous detection of six lysosomal storage diseases. We have defined reference normal ranges by testing 680 healthy newborns and 240 adults. The assay was checked through three confirmed MPS I patients whose IDUA activity was below the normal range. Reproducibility of the assays has been established by assessing the intra-day and inter-day assay imprecisions. This quick assay has been devised to be implemented in newborn screening by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

A new kid on the block: The Memory Validity Profile (MVP) in children with neurological conditions.

PubMed

Brooks, Brian L; Fay-McClymont, Taryn B; MacAllister, William S; Vasserman, Marsha; Sherman, Elisabeth M S

2018-06-06

Determining the validity of obtained data is an inherent part of a neuropsychological assessment. The purpose of this study was investigate the failure rate of the Memory Validity Profile (MVP) in a large clinical sample of children and adolescents with neurological diagnoses. Data were obtained from 261 consecutive patients (mean age = 12.0, SD = 3.9, range = 5-19) who were referred for a neuropsychological assessment in a tertiary care pediatric hospital and were administered the MVP. In this sample, 4.6% of youth failed the MVP. Mean administration time for the MVP was 7.4 min, although time to complete was not associated with failure rates. Failure rates were held relatively consistent at approximately 5% across age ranges, diagnoses, and psychomotor processing speed abilities. Having very low, below normal, or above normal intellectual abilities did not alter failure rate on the MVP. However, those with intellectual disability (i.e., IQ<70) had a higher fail rate at 12% on MVP Total Score, but only 6% on the MVP Visual portion. Failure rates on the MVP were associated with lower scores on memory tests. This study provides support for using the MVP in children as young as 5 years with neurological diagnoses.

Rare earth elements in core marine sediments of coastal East Malaysia by instrumental neutron activation analysis.

PubMed

Ashraf, Ahmadreza; Saion, Elias; Gharibshahi, Elham; Mohamed Kamari, Halimah; Chee Kong, Yap; Suhaimi Hamzah, Mohd; Suhaimi Elias, Md

2016-01-01

A study was carried out on the concentration of REEs (Dy, Sm, Eu,Yb, Lu, La and Ce) that are present in the core marine sediments of East Malaysia from three locations at South China Sea and one location each at Sulu Sea and Sulawesi Sea. The sediment samples were collected at a depth of between 49 and 109 m, dried, and crushed to powdery form. The entire core sediments prepared for Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) were weighted approximately 0.0500 g to 0.1000 g for short irradiation and 0.1500 g to 0.2000 g for long irradiation. The samples were irradiated with a thermal neutron flux of 4.0×10(12) cm(-2) s(-1) in a TRIGA Mark II research reactor operated at 750 kW. Blank samples and standard reference materials SL-1 were also irradiated for calibration and quality control purposes. It was found that the concentration of REEs varies in the range from 0.11 to 36.84 mg/kg. The chondrite-normalized REEs for different stations suggest that all the REEs are from similar origins. There was no significant REEs contamination as the enrichment factors normalized for Fe fall in the range of 0.42-2.82. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Validation of Reference Genes for Relative Quantitative Gene Expression Studies in Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) by Using Quantitative Real-Time PCR

PubMed Central

Hu, Meizhen; Hu, Wenbin; Xia, Zhiqiang; Zhou, Xincheng; Wang, Wenquan

2016-01-01

Reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR, also referred to as quantitative RT-PCR or RT-qPCR) is a highly sensitive and high-throughput method used to study gene expression. Despite the numerous advantages of RT-qPCR, its accuracy is strongly influenced by the stability of internal reference genes used for normalizations. To date, few studies on the identification of reference genes have been performed on cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). Therefore, we selected 26 candidate reference genes mainly via the three following channels: reference genes used in previous studies on cassava, the orthologs of the most stable Arabidopsis genes, and the sequences obtained from 32 cassava transcriptome sequence data. Then, we employed ABI 7900 HT and SYBR Green PCR mix to assess the expression of these genes in 21 materials obtained from various cassava samples under different developmental and environmental conditions. The stability of gene expression was analyzed using two statistical algorithms, namely geNorm and NormFinder. geNorm software suggests the combination of cassava4.1_017977 and cassava4.1_006391 as sufficient reference genes for major cassava samples, the union of cassava4.1_014335 and cassava4.1_006884 as best choice for drought stressed samples, and the association of cassava4.1_012496 and cassava4.1_006391 as optimal choice for normally grown samples. NormFinder software recommends cassava4.1_006884 or cassava4.1_006776 as superior reference for qPCR analysis of different materials and organs of drought stressed or normally grown cassava, respectively. Results provide an important resource for cassava reference genes under specific conditions. The limitations of these findings were also discussed. Furthermore, we suggested some strategies that may be used to select candidate reference genes. PMID:27242878

Health and mineral nutrition status of yaks in southern Mustang, Nepal.

PubMed

Kumagai, Hajime; Nakajima, Mitsumi; Anzai, Hiroki; Sakai, Takashi; Oishi, Kazato; Hirooka, Hiroyuki; Shah, Manoj Kumar

2017-08-01

Biochemical values and mineral concentrations in blood plasma were investigated to evaluate the statuses of health and mineral nutrition among yaks in Mustang District, Nepal. In total, 118 plasma samples of female yaks collected in April and September/October of 2013-2015 were offered. Seventy-four percent of yaks showed lower plasma total-cholesterol concentrations than the lowest limit of reference range (100 mg/dL) and the values in spring (83.41 mg/dL) were lower (P < 0.05) than those in autumn (95.05 mg/dL). All the yaks had lower plasma albumin concentrations than the lowest limit of reference range (3.0 g/dL) and 66% of yaks showed lower plasma inorganic phosphorus concentrations than the critical level of phosphorus deficiency (4.5 mg/dL). Thirty-five percent of yaks showed lower plasma calcium concentrations than the lowest limit of normal range (8 mg/dL) and the concentrations were lower in spring than in autumn (P < 0.01). Seventy-five percent of yaks presented lower copper concentrations than the critical level (0.65 mg/L) and the concentrations were lower in spring than in autumn (P < 0.01). Since the low plasma total-cholesterol might have indicated shortage of dry matter and energy intake, attention should be paid to the nutritional statuses of energy, phosphorus, calcium and copper in winter and early spring. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

The feasibility of universal DLP-to-risk conversion coefficients for body CT protocols

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiang; Samei, Ehsan; Segars, W. Paul; Paulson, Erik K.; Frush, Donald P.

2011-03-01

The effective dose associated with computed tomography (CT) examinations is often estimated from dose-length product (DLP) using scanner-independent conversion coefficients. Such conversion coefficients are available for a small number of examinations, each covering an entire region of the body (e.g., head, neck, chest, abdomen and/or pelvis). Similar conversion coefficients, however, do not exist for examinations that cover a single organ or a sub-region of the body, as in the case of a multi-phase liver examination. In this study, we extended the DLP-to-effective dose conversion coefficient (k factor) to a wide range of body CT protocols and derived the corresponding DLP-to-cancer risk conversion coefficient (q factor). An extended cardiactorso (XCAT) computational model was used, which represented a reference adult male patient. A range of body CT protocols used in clinical practice were categorized based on anatomical regions examined into 10 protocol classes. A validated Monte Carlo program was used to estimate the organ dose associated with each protocol class. Assuming the reference model to be 20 years old, effective dose and risk index (an index of the total risk for cancer incidence) were then calculated and normalized by DLP to obtain the k and q factors. The k and q factors varied across protocol classes; the coefficients of variation were 28% and 9%, respectively. The small variation exhibited by the q factor suggested the feasibility of universal q factors for a wide range of body CT protocols.

Quantitative aspects of 1-norepinephrine induced pathologic changes: a study in normal dogs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Szakacs, J.E.; Mehlman, B.

1959-08-01

The effects of constant rate intravenous infusions of norepinephrine were studied in 28 normal dogs, sedated with morphine. The range of dose rates in this experiment was from 0.5 to 15 mcg/min/kg. Blood levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine were determined in 12 animals up to 10 hours during constant rate infusions. The heart rate and blood pressure were recorded in frequent intervals. The reflex bradycardia was reversed in the animals by prolonged infusions of one or more mcg/min/kg of norepinephrine. Tachycardia and arrhythmia were regularly present in the animals that developed myocardial lesions. Death occurred due to cardiac arrest, massivemore » cerebral hemorrhage or pulmonary edema in the animals infused with 10 mcg/min/kg for 1/2 to 3 hours, or 5 mcg/min/kg for 6 hours. Post mortem examination was performed on all animals. The tissue changes were described and correlated with dosage rate and blood catecholamine levels. 17 references, 8 figures.« less

Normal 24-hour ambulatory proximal and distal gastroesophageal reflux parameters in Chinese.

PubMed

Hu, W H C; Wong, N Y H; Lai, K C; Hui, W M; Lam, K F; Wong, B C Y; Xia, H H X; Chan, C K; Chan, A O O; Wong, W M; Tsang, K W T; Lam, S K

2002-06-01

To quantify normal proximal and distal oesophageal acid parameters in healthy Chinese. Observational study. University teaching hospital, Hong Kong. Twenty healthy adults who were not on medication and were free from gastrointestinal symptoms were recruited by advertisement. Ambulatory oesophageal acid (pH<4) exposure parameters were recorded at distal and proximal sites, 5 and 20 cm, respectively above the lower oesophageal sphincter. The 95th percentile for reflux parameters assessed in the distal/proximal oesophagus were: percent total time pH<4, 4.6/0.7%; percent upright time pH<4, 7.0/1.1%; percent supine time pH<4, 4.5/0.5%; number of reflux episodes, 73/12; number of reflux episodes with pH<4 for >5 minutes, 4/0; and the longest single acid exposure episode, 11.2/3.0 minutes. Physiological gastroesophageal reflux occurs in healthy Chinese. These initial data provide a preliminary reference range that could be utilised by laboratories studying Chinese subjects.

Presumed primary thiamine deficiency in a young African lion (Panthera leo).

PubMed

DiGesualdo, Cynthia L; Hoover, John P; Lorenz, Michael D

2005-09-01

A 1-yr-old intact male African lion (Panthera leo) fed only beef muscle meat was evaluated for episodes of hypermetric ataxia, generalized weakness and tonic-clonic front limb movements. A hemogram, biochemical profile, blood lead, electrocardiogram, survey radiographs, and brain computed tomography were normal. Cerebral spinal fluid analyses suggested mild inflammation. Acetylcholine receptor antibody and serologic tests for all infectious agents tested were negative. Clinical signs resolved completely 9 days after instituting oral thiamine (3 mg/kg/day) and a completely nutritional diet. This lion's pretreatment thiamine blood value (11 nmol/L) was markedly lower than that of a healthy lion (191 nmol/L) and a proposed reference range for adult African lions (160-350 nmol/L). The lion remained clinically normal 2 yr later when his blood thiamine value was 340 nmol/L. African lions can develop clinical primary thiamine deficiency and may respond favorably when thiamine treatment and adequate diet are instituted prior to irreversible neuronal necrosis.

Broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric phenotypes associated with white matter disease in PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome.

PubMed

Balci, Tugce B; Davila, Jorge; Lewis, Denice; Boafo, Addo; Sell, Erick; Richer, Julie; Nikkel, Sarah M; Armour, Christine M; Tomiak, Eva; Lines, Matthew A; Sawyer, Sarah L

2018-01-01

White matter lesions have been described in patients with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS). How these lesions correlate with the neurocognitive features associated with PTEN mutations, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or developmental delay, has not been well established. We report nine patients with PTEN mutations and white matter changes on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), eight of whom were referred for reasons other than developmental delay or ASD. Their clinical presentations ranged from asymptomatic macrocephaly with normal development/intellect, to obsessive compulsive disorder, and debilitating neurological disease. To our knowledge, this report constitutes the first detailed description of PTEN-related white matter changes in adult patients and in children with normal development and intelligence. We present a detailed assessment of the neuropsychological phenotype of our patients and discuss the relationship between the wide array of neuropsychiatric features and observed white matter findings in the context of these individuals. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Type I female genital mutilation: a cause of completely closed vagina.

PubMed

Rouzi, Abdulrahim A; Sahly, Nora; Alhachim, Estabraq; Abduljabbar, Hassan

2014-09-01

Female genital mutilation (FGM) ranges in severity from a nick of the clitoris to partial or total removal of the external genitalia. Sexual complications after FGM include sexual dysfunction, difficult intercourse, and dyspareunia. We report a case of Type I FGM presenting as complete vaginal closure and urinary retention. A 16-year-old adolescent was referred for obliterated vagina and urinary retention. She had recurrent urinary tract infections, difficulty in voiding, and cyclic hematuria. At the age of 1 year she had been taken by her mother to a pediatric surgeon to have a Type I FGM procedure. On examination, the urethral meatus and vaginal orifices were completely closed by the FGM scar. She underwent uneventful surgical opening of the vagina. A normal vaginal orifice was created and normal flow of urine and menses occurred. Type I FGM can present as complete vaginal closure and urinary retention. Proper diagnosis and treatment are of paramount importance. © 2014 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

Co-pyrolysis kinetics of sewage sludge and bagasse using multiple normal distributed activation energy model (M-DAEM).

PubMed

Lin, Yan; Chen, Zhihao; Dai, Minquan; Fang, Shiwen; Liao, Yanfen; Yu, Zhaosheng; Ma, Xiaoqian

2018-07-01

In this study, the kinetic models of bagasse, sewage sludge and their mixture were established by the multiple normal distributed activation energy model. Blending with sewage sludge, the initial temperature declined from 437 K to 418 K. The pyrolytic species could be divided into five categories, including analogous hemicelluloses I, hemicelluloses II, cellulose, lignin and bio-char. In these species, the average activation energies and the deviations situated at reasonable ranges of 166.4673-323.7261 kJ/mol and 0.1063-35.2973 kJ/mol, respectively, which were conformed to the references. The kinetic models were well matched to experimental data, and the R 2 were greater than 99.999%y. In the local sensitivity analysis, the distributed average activation energy had stronger effect on the robustness than other kinetic parameters. And the content of pyrolytic species determined which series of kinetic parameters were more important. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Prostatic granulomas revealing a peripheral T-cell lymphoma].

PubMed

Foguem, C; Curlier, E; Rouamba, M-M; Regent, A; Philippe, P

2009-02-01

The presence of granulomas on tissue biopsie has been reported in a wide range of disorders. The clinical presentation and the diagnostic work-up of granulomatosis can be difficult as it is illustrated in the following report. A 59-year-old patient was referred in 2002 for a granulomatous prostatitis. Physical examination was normal. Except for the increase of prostate-specific antigen (which motivated a biopsy), the laboratory results were normal. Thoracic CT-scan disclosed mediastinal lymph nodes. A minor salivary gland biopsy was consistent with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. In 2004, the patient presented an epidermal necrolysis, and in 2005 the deterioration of general status raised suspicion of a lymphoproliferative disorder. Liver and bone marrow biopsies revealed a granulomatous process. Despite steroid therapy, the patient died. Autopsy discloses a anaplasic T cell lymphoma. This report illustrates the relationship between sarcoidosis and lymphoma as a mode of presentation, a complication, or an accidental but misleading association? The association between anaplastic lymphoma and sarcoidosis is exceptional.

Genetics Home Reference: Pfeiffer syndrome

MedlinePlus

... individuals with type 1 Pfeiffer syndrome have normal intelligence and a normal life span. Types 2 and ... factor receptors 1 and 2, respectively. Among their multiple functions, these proteins signal immature cells to become ...

Elastic intramedullary nailing and DBM-Bone marrow injection for the treatment of simple bone cysts

PubMed Central

Kanellopoulos, Anastasios D; Mavrogenis, Andreas F; Papagelopoulos, Panayiotis J; Soucacos, Panayotis N

2007-01-01

Background Simple or unicameral bone cysts are common benign fluid-filled lesions usually located at the long bones of children before skeletal maturity. Methods We performed demineralized bone matrix and iliac crest bone marrow injection combined with elastic intramedullary nailing for the treatment of simple bone cysts in long bones of 9 children with a mean age of 12.6 years (range, 4 to 15 years). Results Two of the 9 patients presented with a pathological fracture. Three patients had been referred after the failure of previous treatments. Four patients had large lesions with impending pathological fractures that interfered with daily living activities. We employed a ratio to ascertain the severity of the lesion. The extent of the lesion on the longitudinal axis was divided with the normal expected diameter of the long bone at the site of the lesion. The mean follow-up was 77 months (range, 5 to 8 years). All patients were pain free and had full range of motion of the adjacent joints at 6 weeks postoperatively. Review radiographs showed that all 7 cysts had consolidated completely (Neer stage I) and 2 cysts had consolidated partially (Neer stage II). Until the latest examination there was no evidence of fracture or re-fracture. Conclusion Elastic intramedullary nailing has the twofold benefits of continuous cyst decompression, and early immediate stability to the involved bone segment, which permits early mobilization and return to the normal activities of the pre-teen patients. PMID:17916249

Reference ranges for foetal nasal bone length, prenasal thickness, and interocular distance at 18 to 24 weeks' gestation in low-risk pregnancies.

PubMed

Altunkeser, Ayşegül; Körez, M Kazım

2017-12-12

The aim of the present study was to establish the normal ranges for foetal nasal bone length (NBL), prenasal skin thickness (PNT), interocular distance (IOD), and ratio of prenasal thickness to- nasal bone length (PNT/ NBL) at 18-24 weeks using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound. This study was a retrospective study of prenatal ultrasonographic records from 407 foetuses between 18 and 24 weeks gestational age (GA). The NBL, PNT, IOD, PNT/ NBL ratio, biparietal diameter (BPD), and femur length (FL) were investigated. The relationships among NBL, PNT, IOD, PNT/ NBL, and GA were evaluated. Additionally, descriptive statistics for NBL, PNT, and IOD values for each gestational week were obtained. There was a significant association between GA and NBL, PNT, and IOD between 18 and 24 weeks. NBL increased from a mean of 5.5 mm to 8.3 mm, PNT increased from a mean of 3.5 mm to 5.1 mm, and IOD increased from a mean of 11.1 mm to 14.5 mm. PNT/NBL ratio did not change with gestational age. This study showed normal ranges for NBL, PNT, IOD, and PNT/ NBL ratios for foetuses between 18 and 24 weeks in low-risk pregnancies. There was a positive linear relationship between GA and NBL, PNT, and IOD. The PNT/NBL ratio might be a more useful measurement than NBL or PNT alone.

Intoxication from an accidentally ingested lead shot retained in the gastrointestinal tract.

PubMed

Gustavsson, Per; Gerhardsson, Lars

2005-04-01

A 45-year-old woman was referred to the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health in January 2002 because of increased blood lead concentrations of unknown origin. She suffered from malaise, fatigue, and diffuse gastrointestinal symptoms. She had a blood lead level of 550 microg/L (normal range < 40 microg/L). The patient had not been occupationally exposed to lead, and no potential lead sources, such as food products or lead-glazed pottery, could be identified. Her food habits were normal, but she did consume game occasionally. Clinical examination, including standard neurologic examination, was normal. No anemia was present. Laboratory tests showed an increased excretion of lead in the urine, but there were no signs of microproteinuria. An abdominal X ray in October 2002 revealed a 6-mm rounded metal object in the colon ascendens. Before the object could be further localized, the patient contracted winter vomiting disease (gastroenteritis) and the metal object was spontaneously released from the colon during a diarrhea attack. The object was a lead shot pellet, possibly but not normally used in Sweden for hunting wild boar or roe deer. Blood lead levels slowly decreased. Nine months later the patient's blood lead levels were almost normal (approximately 70 microg/L) and her symptoms had almost completely disappeared. In this case, a rare source of lead exposure was found. In investigations of blood lead elevations of unknown origin, we recommend abdominal X ray in parallel with repeated blood lead determinations.

Radioimmunoassay of erythropoietin: circulating levels in normal and polycythemic human beings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Garcia, J.F.; Ebbe, S.N.; Hollander, L.

1982-05-01

Techniques are described in detail for the RIA of human Ep in unextracted plasma or serum. With 100 ..mu..l of sample, the assay is sensitive at an Ep concentration of approximately 4 mU/ml, and when required, the sensitivity can be increased to 0.4 mU/ml, a range considerably less than the concentration observed in normal human beings. This is approximately 100 times more sensitive than existing in vivo bioassays for this hormone. Studies concerned with the validation of the Ep RIA show a high degree of correlation with the polycythemic mouse bioassay. Dilutions of a variety of human serum samples showmore » a parallel relationship with the standard reference preparation for Ep. Validation of the RIA is further confirmed by observations of appropriate increases or decreases of circulating Ep levels in physiological and clinical conditions known to be associated with stimulation or suppression of Ep secretion. Significantly different mean serum concentrations of 17.2 mU/ml for normal male subjects and 18.8 mU/ml for normal female subjects were observed. Mean plasma Ep concentrations in patients with polycythemia vera are significantly decreased, and those of patients with secondary polycythemia are significantly increased as compared to plasma levels in normal subjects. These results demonstrate an initial practical value of the Ep RA in the hematology clinic, which will most certainly be expanded with its more extensive use.« less

THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NORMAL AND ANOMALOUS OSMOSIS TO THE OSMOTIC EFFECTS ARISING ACROSS CHARGED MEMBRANES WITH SOLUTIONS OF ELECTROLYTES

PubMed Central

Grim, Eugene; Sollner, Karl

1957-01-01

The osmotic effect arising across a porous membrane separating the solution of an electrolyte from water (or a more dilute solution) is ordinarily due to both normal osmosis, as it occurs also with non-electrolytes, and to "anomalous" osmosis. It is shown that the normal osmotic component cannot be measured quantitatively by the conventional comparison with a non-electrolytic reference solute. Anomalous osmosis does not occur with electroneutral membranes. Accordingly, with membranes which can be charged and discharged reversibly (without changes in geometrical structure), such as many proteinized membranes, the osmotic effects caused by an electrolyte can be measured both when only normal osmosis arises (with the membrane in the electroneutral state) and when normal as well as anomalous osmosis occurs (with the membrane in a charged state). The difference between these two effects is the true anomalous osmosis. Data are presented on the osmotic effects across an oxyhemoglobin membrane in the uncharged state at pH 6.75 and in two charged states, positive at pH 4.0 and negative at pH 10.0, with solutions of a variety of electrolytes using a concentration ratio of 2:1 over a wide range of concentrations. The rates of the movement of liquid across the membrane against an inconsequentially small hydrostatic head are recorded instead of, as conventional, the physiologically less significant pressure rises after a standard time. PMID:13439166

Arterial spin-labeling assessment of normalized vascular intratumoral signal intensity as a predictor of histologic grade of astrocytic neoplasms.

PubMed

Furtner, J; Schöpf, V; Schewzow, K; Kasprian, G; Weber, M; Woitek, R; Asenbaum, U; Preusser, M; Marosi, C; Hainfellner, J A; Widhalm, G; Wolfsberger, S; Prayer, D

2014-03-01

Pulsed arterial spin-labeling is a noninvasive MR imaging perfusion method performed with the use of water in the arterial blood as an endogenous contrast agent. The purpose of this study was to determine the inversion time with the largest difference in normalized intratumoral signal intensity between high-grade and low-grade astrocytomas. Thirty-three patients with gliomas, histologically classified as low-grade (n = 7) or high-grade astrocytomas (n = 26) according to the World Health Organization brain tumor classification, were included. A 3T MR scanner was used to perform pulsed arterial spin-labeling measurements at 8 different inversion times (370 ms, 614 ms, 864 ms, 1114 ms, 1364 ms, 1614 ms, 1864 ms, and 2114 ms). Normalized intratumoral signal intensity was calculated, which was defined by the signal intensity ratio of the tumor and the contralateral normal brain tissue for all fixed inversion times. A 3-way mixed ANOVA was used to reveal potential differences in the normalized vascular intratumoral signal intensity between high-grade and low-grade astrocytomas. The difference in normalized vascular intratumoral signal intensity between high-grade and low-grade astrocytomas obtained the most statistically significant results at 370 ms (P = .003, other P values ranged from .012-.955). The inversion time by which to differentiate high-grade and low-grade astrocytomas by use of normalized vascular intratumoral signal intensity was 370 ms in our study. The normalized vascular intratumoral signal intensity values at this inversion time mainly reflect the labeled intra-arterial blood bolus and therefore could be referred to as normalized vascular intratumoral signal intensity. Our data indicate that the use of normalized vascular intratumoral signal intensity values allows differentiation between low-grade and high-grade astrocytomas and thus may serve as a new, noninvasive marker for astrocytoma grading.

A randomized, crossover pharmacokinetic study comparing generic tacrolimus vs. the reference formulation in subpopulations of kidney transplant patients.

PubMed

Bloom, R D; Trofe-Clark, J; Wiland, A; Alloway, R R

2013-01-01

An exploratory, post hoc analysis was performed using data from a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized, two-period (14 d per period), two-sequence, crossover, steady-state pharmacokinetic study comparing generic tacrolimus (Sandoz) vs. reference tacrolimus in stable renal transplant patients receiving their pre-study twice-daily dose. Pharmacokinetic parameters were compared in 68 patients according to gender, African American ethnicity, the presence or absence of diabetes, and use of steroids. The ratios of tacrolimus AUC0-12 h , Cmax , and C12 with generic vs. reference tacrolimus were calculated using the geometric mean (GM) of dose-normalized values at days 14 and 28. Mean (SD) tacrolimus dose at baseline was 5.7 (4.2) mg/d. There were no consistent differences in dose-normalized AUC0-12 h , C12 , Cmax, or tmax between the generic and reference preparations within subpopulations. The 90% confidence intervals (CI) for the ratios of dose-normalized AUC0-12 h and C12 with generic vs. reference tacrolimus were within 80-125% for all subpopulations, as were 90% CIs for Cmax other than for females, African Americans, and non-diabetics, which is not unexpected given the wide variability of tacrolimus Cmax and the small subpopulation sizes. These exploratory results suggest that this generic tacrolimus preparation would be expected to offer comparable bioavailability to the reference drug in these patient subpopulations. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

[Investigation of adolescents' bone metabolism in the western part of Transdanubia].

PubMed

Csákváry, Violetta; Puskás, Tamás; Bödecs, Tamás; Lôcsei, Zoltán; Oroszlán, György; Kovács, L Gábor; Toldy, Erzsébet

2009-10-25

Childhood reference range based on the age is not available in Hungary, therefore the diagnosis and therapy of bone metabolic diseases of childhood are subject to difficulties. The aim of this work is to provide information about the adolescents' results of bone mineral density and bone biomarkers. Measurements were performed in 169 healthy adolescents (98 girls, 71 boys, age: 17.0+/-1.2 years). Bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine were measured using Double X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA, LUNAR, GE Health Care, USA) and Z-score values were analyzed using different reference population. In the serum, bone biomarkers osteocalcin (OC) and beta-crosslaps (beta-Cl) were measured by a fully automated, electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method (Elecsys-2010, Roche). Data were analyzed according to gender and the Tanner stage and grade system. Associations between body mass index (BMI), calcium intake, consumption of soft drinks and coke, and physical exercise were investigated. BMC values for both age groups were significantly elevated in boys of the Tanner stage V. (15-16 years: 62.9+/-14.3 g; 17-19 years: 69.8+/-9.3g) than in girls (58.1+/-10.4; 61.6+/-8.5 g) (p<0.001). BMD values were higher in girls, than in boys (1.17+/-0.12 g/cm 2 vs. 1.13+/-0.11 g/cm 2) (p<0.05). OC and beta-Cl levels showed negative correlation with age in both gender (p<0.01), while OC and beta-Cl levels were higher in boys, than in girls (p<0.001). Elevation of BMC and BMD values were associated with increase of BMI in both gender (p<0.05), but the biomarkers in thin girls were higher, than in overweight girls (p<0.05). Authors obtained excellent correlations between the BMD-Z-score values compared to the German standard and to their own population (girls: r=0.97, boys: 0.88), but the absolute values significantly differed from one another. 80% of adolescents are on a diet with insufficient calcium intake, while 38% of them do not play sport regularly. Excessive intake of soft drinks was determined in 60% of adolescents. In the case of insufficient calcium intake (4.7%, 6/127), low bone mass was measured using the Z-score of the German reference values. Among children with adequate calcium intake, BMD assessed by DXA was normal. These data help to determine normal reference values among healthy high school students. Further studies are needed in wider range of young population for the establishment of Hungarian reference values of bone markers.

Genetics Home Reference: Jackson-Weiss syndrome

MedlinePlus

... People with Jackson-Weiss syndrome usually have normal intelligence and a normal life span. Related Information What ... called fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. Among its multiple functions, this protein signals immature cells to become ...

Normalization of CT scans reconstructed with different kernels to reduce variability in emphysema measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallardo Estrella, L.; van Ginneken, B.; van Rikxoort, E. M.

2013-03-01

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease characterized by progressive air flow limitation caused by emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is quantified from chest computed tomography (CT) scans as the percentage of attentuation values below a fixed threshold. The emphysema quantification varies substantially between scans reconstructed with different kernels, limiting the possibilities to compare emphysema quantifications obtained from scans with different reconstruction parameters. In this paper we propose a method to normalize scans reconstructed with different kernels to have the same characteristics as scans reconstructed with a reference kernel and investigate if this normalization reduces the variability in emphysema quantification. The proposed normalization splits a CT scan into different frequency bands based on hierarchical unsharp masking. Normalization is performed by changing the energy in each frequency band to the average energy in each band in the reference kernel. A database of 15 subjects with COPD was constructed for this study. All subjects were scanned at total lung capacity and the scans were reconstructed with four different reconstruction kernels. The normalization was applied to all scans. Emphysema quantification was performed before and after normalization. It is shown that the emphysema score varies substantially before normalization but the variation diminishes after normalization.

Lumbar vertebral pedicles: radiologic anatomy and pathology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Patel, N.P.; Kumar, R.; Kinkhabwala, M.

1988-01-01

With the advancement of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scanning the spine has added new knowledge to the various conditions affecting the pedicles. We wish to review the entire spectrum of pedicular lesions: the embryology, normal anatomy, normal variants, pitfalls, congenital anomalies, and pathological conditions are discussed. Different imaging modalities involving CT, isotope bone scanning, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are used to complement plain films of the lumbar spine. This subject review is an excellent source for future reference to lumbar pedicular lesions. 27 references.

Sport concussion assessment tool-Third edition normative reference values for professional Rugby Union players.

PubMed

Fuller, G W; Govind, O; Tucker, R; Raftery, M

2018-04-01

To establish normative reference data for the SCAT3 in professional Rugby Union players. A cross sectional study in professional Rugby Union players competing in national and international professional competitions between 2015 and 2016. The SCAT3 was administered pre-season or prior to tournaments. Data was collected electronically using a custom tablet application. SCAT3 subcomponents distributions were described and normative ranges determined using percentile cut-offs for average, unusually low/high, and extremely low/high scores. The association between player characteristics and performance in SCAT3 subcomponents was also investigated in exploratory analyses. A total of 3611 professional Rugby Union players were included. The most common baseline symptom was fatigue (14%). The symptom score median (md) was 0 (interquartile range (IQR)=0-1). Symptom severity md was 0 (IQR=0-1). The md of the SAC score was 28 (IQR=26-29). The md of the MBESS was 2 (IQR=0-4). The Tandem gait md was 11.1s (IQR=10.0-12.7s). Upper limb coordination was normal in 98.4%. Younger age and lower educational level were associated with worse performance on delayed recall and reverse month sub-components of the SCAT3 (p<0.0001). No statistically significant differences in SCAT3 subcomponents were evident across gender. Representative normative reference values for the SCAT3 among professional Rugby Union players are provided. Baseline performance on concentration and delayed recall tests may be lower in younger athletes or in those with lower educational level. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Right ventricular volumes and function in thalassemia major patients in the absence of myocardial iron overload

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Aim We aimed to define reference ranges for right ventricular (RV) volumes, ejection fraction (EF) in thalassemia major patients (TM) without myocardial iron overload. Methods and results RV volumes, EF and mass were measured in 80 TM patients who had no myocardial iron overload (myocardial T2* > 20 ms by cardiovascular magnetic resonance). All patients were receiving deferoxamine chelation and none had evidence of pulmonary hypertension or other cardiovascular comorbidity. Forty age and sex matched healthy non-anemic volunteers acted as controls. The mean RV EF was higher in TM patients than controls (males 66.2 ± 4.1% vs 61.6 ± 6%, p = 0.0009; females 66.3 ± 5.1% vs 62.6 ± 6.4%, p = 0.017), which yielded a raised lower threshold of normality for RV EF in TM patients (males 58.0% vs 50.0% and females 56.4% vs 50.1%). RV end-diastolic volume index was higher in male TM patients (mean 98.1 ± 17.3 mL vs 88.4 ± 11.2 mL/m2, p = 0.027), with a higher upper limit (132 vs 110 mL/m2) but this difference was of borderline significance for females (mean 86.5 ± 13.6 mL vs 80.3 ± 12.8 mL/m2, p = 0.09, with upper limit of 113 vs 105 mL/m2). The cardiac index was raised in TM patients (males 4.8 ± 1.0 L/min vs 3.4 ± 0.7 L/min, p < 0.0001; females 4.5 ± 0.8 L/min vs 3.2 ± 0.8 L/min, p < 0.0001). No differences in RV mass index were identified. Conclusion The normal ranges for functional RV parameters in TM patients with no evidence of myocardial iron overload differ from healthy non-anemic controls. The new reference RV ranges are important for determining the functional effects of myocardial iron overload in TM patients. PMID:20416084

Targeted RNA-Sequencing with Competitive Multiplex-PCR Amplicon Libraries

PubMed Central

Blomquist, Thomas M.; Crawford, Erin L.; Lovett, Jennie L.; Yeo, Jiyoun; Stanoszek, Lauren M.; Levin, Albert; Li, Jia; Lu, Mei; Shi, Leming; Muldrew, Kenneth; Willey, James C.

2013-01-01

Whole transcriptome RNA-sequencing is a powerful tool, but is costly and yields complex data sets that limit its utility in molecular diagnostic testing. A targeted quantitative RNA-sequencing method that is reproducible and reduces the number of sequencing reads required to measure transcripts over the full range of expression would be better suited to diagnostic testing. Toward this goal, we developed a competitive multiplex PCR-based amplicon sequencing library preparation method that a) targets only the sequences of interest and b) controls for inter-target variation in PCR amplification during library preparation by measuring each transcript native template relative to a known number of synthetic competitive template internal standard copies. To determine the utility of this method, we intentionally selected PCR conditions that would cause transcript amplification products (amplicons) to converge toward equimolar concentrations (normalization) during library preparation. We then tested whether this approach would enable accurate and reproducible quantification of each transcript across multiple library preparations, and at the same time reduce (through normalization) total sequencing reads required for quantification of transcript targets across a large range of expression. We demonstrate excellent reproducibility (R2 = 0.997) with 97% accuracy to detect 2-fold change using External RNA Controls Consortium (ERCC) reference materials; high inter-day, inter-site and inter-library concordance (R2 = 0.97–0.99) using FDA Sequencing Quality Control (SEQC) reference materials; and cross-platform concordance with both TaqMan qPCR (R2 = 0.96) and whole transcriptome RNA-sequencing following “traditional” library preparation using Illumina NGS kits (R2 = 0.94). Using this method, sequencing reads required to accurately quantify more than 100 targeted transcripts expressed over a 107-fold range was reduced more than 10,000-fold, from 2.3×109 to 1.4×105 sequencing reads. These studies demonstrate that the competitive multiplex-PCR amplicon library preparation method presented here provides the quality control, reproducibility, and reduced sequencing reads necessary for development and implementation of targeted quantitative RNA-sequencing biomarkers in molecular diagnostic testing. PMID:24236095

SU-E-T-169: Initial Investigation into the Use of Optically Stimulated Luminescent Dosimeters (OSLDs) for In-Vivo Dosimetry of TBI Patients.

PubMed

Paloor, S; Aland, T; Mathew, J; Al-Hammadi, N; Hammoud, R

2012-06-01

To report on an initial investigation into the use of optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs) for in-vivo dosimetry for total body irradiation (TBI) treatments. Specifically, we report on the determination of angular dependence, sensitivity correction factors and the dose calibration factors. The OSLD investigated in our work was InLight/OSL nanoDot dosimeters (Landauer Inc.). Nanodots are 5 mm diameter, 0.2 mm thick disk-shaped Carbon-doped Al2O3, and were read using a Landauer InLight microstar reader and associated software.OSLDs were irradiated under two setup conditions: a) typical clinical reference conditions (95cm SSD, 5cm depth in solid water, 10×10 cm field size), and b) TBI conditions (520cm SSD, 5cm depth in solid water, 40×40 cm field size,). The angular dependence was checked for angles ranging ±60 degree from normal incidence. In order to directly compare the sensitivity correction factors, a common dose was delivered to the OSLDs for the two setups. Pre- and post-irradiation readings were acquired. OSLDs were optically annealed under various techniques (1) by keeping over a film view box, (2) Using multiple scan on a flat bed optical scanner and (3) Using natural room light. Under reference conditions, the calculated sensitivity correction factors of the OSLDs had a SD of 2.2% and a range of 5%. Under TBI conditions, the SD increased to 3.4% and the range to 6.0%. The variation in sensitivity correction factors between individual OSLDs across the two measurement conditions was up to 10.3%. Angular dependence of less than 1% is observed. The best bleaching method we found is to keep OSLDs for more than 3 hours on a film viewer which will reduce normalized response to less than 1%. In order to obtain the most accurate results when using OSLDs for in-vivo dosimetry for TBI treatments, sensitivity correction factors and dose calibration factors should all be determined under clinical TBI conditions. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Metabolic responses to high protein diet in Korean elite bodybuilders with high-intensity resistance exercise.

PubMed

Kim, Hyerang; Lee, Saningun; Choue, Ryowon

2011-07-04

High protein diet has been known to cause metabolic acidosis, which is manifested by increased urinary excretion of nitrogen and calcium. Bodybuilders habitually consumed excessive dietary protein over the amounts recommended for them to promote muscle mass accretion. This study investigated the metabolic response to high protein consumption in the elite bodybuilders. Eight elite Korean bodybuilders within the age from 18 to 25, mean age 21.5 ± 2.6. For data collection, anthropometry, blood and urinary analysis, and dietary assessment were conducted. They consumed large amounts of protein (4.3 ± 1.2 g/kg BW/day) and calories (5,621.7 ± 1,354.7 kcal/day), as well as more than the recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals, including potassium and calcium. Serum creatinine (1.3 ± 0.1 mg/dl) and potassium (5.9 ± 0.8 mmol/L), and urinary urea nitrogen (24.7 ± 9.5 mg/dl) and creatinine (2.3 ± 0.7 mg/dl) were observed to be higher than the normal reference ranges. Urinary calcium (0.3 ± 0.1 mg/dl), and phosphorus (1.3 ± 0.4 mg/dl) were on the border of upper limit of the reference range and the urine pH was in normal range. Increased urinary excretion of urea nitrogen and creatinine might be due to the high rates of protein metabolism that follow high protein intake and muscle turnover. The obvious evidence of metabolic acidosis in response to high protein diet in the subjects with high potassium intake and intensive resistance exercise were not shown in this study results. However, this study implied that resistance exercise with adequate mineral supplementation, such as potassium and calcium, could reduce or offset the negative effects of protein-generated metabolic changes. This study provides preliminary information of metabolic response to high protein intake in bodybuilders who engaged in high-intensity resistance exercise. Further studies will be needed to determine the effects of the intensity of exercise and the level of mineral intakes, especially potassium and calcium, which have a role to maintain acid-base homeostasis, on protein metabolism in large population of bodybuilders.

Reference values of left heart echocardiographic dimensions and mass in male peri-pubertal athletes.

PubMed

Cavarretta, Elena; Maffessanti, Francesco; Sperandii, Fabio; Guerra, Emanuele; Quaranta, Federico; Nigro, Antonia; Minati, Monia; Rebecchi, Marco; Fossati, Chiara; Calò, Leonardo; Pigozzi, Fabio

2018-01-01

Background Several articles have proposed reference values in healthy paediatric subjects, but none of them has evaluated a large population of healthy trained adolescents. Design The study purpose was to establish normal echocardiographic measurements of left heart (aortic root, left atrium and left ventricular dimensions and mass) in relation to age, weight, height, body mass index, body surface area and training hours in this specific population. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 2151 consecutive, healthy, peri-pubertal athletes (100% male, mean age 12.4 ± 1.4 years, range 8-18) referred to a single centre for pre-participation screening. All participants were young soccer athletes who trained for a mean of 7.2 ± 1.1 h per week. Results Left ventricular internal diameters, wall thickness, left ventricular mass, aortic root and left atrium diameters were significantly correlated to age, body surface area, height and weight ( p < 0.01). Age, height, weight and body surface area were found associated with chamber size, while body mass index and training hours were not. Inclusion of both age and body size parameters in the statistical models resulted in improved overall explained variance for diameters and left ventricular mass. Conclusion Equations, mean values and percentile charts for the different age groups may be useful as reference data in efficiently assessing left ventricular parameters in young athletes.

Histomorphometric reference data of transiliac bone biopsy in children from 8 to 17 years old.

PubMed

Velásquez-Forero, Francisco H; Jiménez-Brau, Daniel A; Esparza-García, Mariela

2018-01-01

Histomorphometric analysis of bone samples is a key tool for studying bone metabolism; however, only a few pediatric reference data exist. The aim of the present study is to report more reference data and to investigate if histomorphometric differences exist between age and gender. We obtained 19 transiliac bone samples previously marked with tetracycline, from children between 8 and 17 years (13 were male), with normal blood test results and urine biochemical bone markers. We evaluated bone histomorphometric parameters using a digitalizing table with osteomeasure to obtain normative data of means and standard deviations, as well as median and range. Due to the small sample, a Monte Carlo simulation was applied. Structural, static, dynamic, and resorptic histomorphometric parameters were evaluated by age and gender following the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research recommendations. Bone volume (in the older children) and mineral apposition rate (in the younger children), the eroded surface (in boys), and the new bone wall thickness (in girls) were significantly increased. On the trabecular area of mineralization front, the modeling and the remodeling bone formation were similar (16 and 18%). The rest of the histomorphometric bone parameters by age and gender showed no significant difference. In healthy children, these bone histomorphometric findings, with these techniques and for this ages could be used as reference values. Copyright: © 2018 Permanyer.

Quantitative real-time PCR normalization for gene expression studies in the plant pathogenic fungi Lasiodiplodia theobromae.

PubMed

Paolinelli-Alfonso, Marcos; Galindo-Sánchez, Clara Elizabeth; Hernandez-Martinez, Rufina

2016-08-01

Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a highly virulent plant pathogen. It has been suggested that heat stress increases its virulence. The aim of this work was to evaluate, compare, and recommend normalization strategies for gene expression analysis of the fungus growing with grapevine wood under heat stress. Using RT-qPCR-derived data, reference gene stability was evaluated through geNorm, NormFinder and Bestkeeper applications. Based on the geometric mean using the ranking position obtained for each independent analysis, genes were ranked from least to most stable as follows: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), actin (ACT), β-tubulin (TUB) and elongation factor-1α (EF1α). Using RNAseq-derived data based on the calculated tagwise dispersion these genes were ordered by increasing stability as follows: GAPDH, ACT, TUB, and EF1α. The correlation between RNAseq and RTqPCR results was used as criteria to identify the best RT-qPCR normalization approach. The gene TUB is recommended as the best option for normalization among the commonly used reference genes, but alternative fungal reference genes are also suggested. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Reference values in the usual laboratory data for sub-Saharan immigrants. Importance in the management of infectious diseases].

PubMed

Sanz-Peláez, O; Angel-Moreno, A; Tapia-Martín, M; Conde-Martel, A; Carranza-Rodríguez, C; Carballo-Rastrilla, S; Soria-López, A; Pérez-Arellano, J L

2008-09-01

The progressive increase in the number of immigrants to Spain in recent years has made it necessary for health-care professionals to be aware about the specific characteristics of this population. An attempt is made in this study to define the normal range of common laboratory values in healthy sub-Saharan adults. Common laboratory values were studied (blood cell counts, clotting tests and blood biochemistry values) and were measured in 150 sub-Saharan immigrants previously defined as healthy according to a complete health evaluation that included a clinical history, physical examination, serologic tests and study of stool parasites. These results were compared to those from a control group consisting of 81 age-and-sex matched healthy blood donors taken from the Spanish native population. Statistically significant differences were obtained in the following values. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), total leukocytes, and serum levels of creatinine, uric acid, total protein content, creatin-kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT), Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM). If evaluated according to the normal values in native people, a considerable percentage of healthy sub-Saharan immigrants would present values (with potential clinical relevance) in the following parameters. MCV, RDW, total leukocyte counts and serum levels of CK, IgG and IgM. A proper interpretation of the common laboratory values in sub-Saharan immigrants, and probably in other foreign collectives, requires a previously-established range of normality in these parameters for those populations in order to avoid diagnostic mistakes and inadequate work-up and management.

Validation of reference genes for gene expression studies in soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is a common tool for quantifying mRNA transcripts. To normalize results, a reference gene is mandatory. Aphis glycines is a significant soybean pest, yet gene expression and functional genomics studies are hindered by a lack of stable reference genes. We evalu...

Incorporating geographical factors with artificial neural networks to predict reference values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The measurement of the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) value is a standard procedure performed during a typical blood test. In order to formulate a unified standard of establishing reference ESR values, this paper presents a novel prediction model in which local normal ESR values and corresponding geographical factors are used to predict reference ESR values using multi-layer feed-forward artificial neural networks (ANN). Methods and findings Local normal ESR values were obtained from hospital data, while geographical factors that include altitude, sunshine hours, relative humidity, temperature and precipitation were obtained from the National Geographical Data Information Centre in China. The results show that predicted values are statistically in agreement with measured values. Model results exhibit significant agreement between training data and test data. Consequently, the model is used to predict the unseen local reference ESR values. Conclusions Reference ESR values can be established with geographical factors by using artificial intelligence techniques. ANN is an effective method for simulating and predicting reference ESR values because of its ability to model nonlinear and complex relationships. PMID:23497145

Incorporating geographical factors with artificial neural networks to predict reference values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

PubMed

Yang, Qingsheng; Mwenda, Kevin M; Ge, Miao

2013-03-12

The measurement of the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) value is a standard procedure performed during a typical blood test. In order to formulate a unified standard of establishing reference ESR values, this paper presents a novel prediction model in which local normal ESR values and corresponding geographical factors are used to predict reference ESR values using multi-layer feed-forward artificial neural networks (ANN). Local normal ESR values were obtained from hospital data, while geographical factors that include altitude, sunshine hours, relative humidity, temperature and precipitation were obtained from the National Geographical Data Information Centre in China.The results show that predicted values are statistically in agreement with measured values. Model results exhibit significant agreement between training data and test data. Consequently, the model is used to predict the unseen local reference ESR values. Reference ESR values can be established with geographical factors by using artificial intelligence techniques. ANN is an effective method for simulating and predicting reference ESR values because of its ability to model nonlinear and complex relationships.

Visualising Astronomy: Visualising Exoplanets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wyatt, R.

2012-05-01

In my previous column1, I described some of the varied means of diagramming the data about exoplanets and exoplanetary systems. Frankly, however, those methods don't do justice to the bigger picture: we need a wider range of tools to help people grok2 (to understand intuitively) what astronomical observations have revealed. (Normally, I use the term "visualisation" to refer to the visual representation of data, but I'm going to relax that a little in this context; instead, I'll interpret the word in its more commonplace usage of creating a mental image.) How can we help people comprehend the scope, the breadth, and the impact of the spectacular observations of planets around other stars?

[Subclinical hyperthyroidism].

PubMed

Feldkamp, J

2013-10-01

Subclinical hyperthyroidism is defined as abnormal low TSH level with thyroid hormones within their reference range. This laboratory condition may be symptomatic in a relevant number of patients leading to tachycardia, sweating, nervousness, anxiety and insomnia. The risk for cardiovascular disease is increased with more frequent atrial fibrillation and increased left ventricular mass including diastolic dysfunction. Cardiovascular mortality and overall mortality surmounts the average of the normal population. Longterm TSH suppression leads to decreased bone mineral density and an increased fracture rate in the hip and in the spine. After evaluation of underlying causes, therapy should be considered, especially if TSH levels are below 0.1 mIU/l. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Plasma concentrations of parathyroid hormone-related protein in dogs with potential disorders of calcium metabolism.

PubMed

Mellanby, R J; Craig, R; Evans, H; Herrtage, M E

2006-12-16

The plasma concentrations of total calcium, ionised calcium, albumin, parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrp) were measured in 25 dogs with lymphoma, nine dogs with primary hyperparathyroidism and seven dogs with adenocarcinoma of the apocrine gland of the anal sac. Plasma total calcium, ionised calcium, albumin and parathyroid hormone-related protein were measured in 18 clinically normal control dogs. The concentration of PTHrp was high in 12 of the 14 dogs that were hypercalcaemic because of an underlying malignancy but was within the reference range in all the control dogs, in the 17 normocalcaemic dogs with lymphoma and in the seven dogs which were hypercalcaemic because of a parathyroid adenoma.

Selection of relatively exact reference genes for gene expression studies in goosegrass (Eleusine indica) under herbicide stress

PubMed Central

Chen, Jingchao; Huang, Zhaofeng; Huang, Hongjuan; Wei, Shouhui; Liu, Yan; Jiang, Cuilan; Zhang, Jie; Zhang, Chaoxian

2017-01-01

Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) is one of the most serious annual grassy weeds worldwide, and its evolved herbicide-resistant populations are more difficult to control. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is a common technique for investigating the resistance mechanism; however, there is as yet no report on the systematic selection of stable reference genes for goosegrass. This study proposed to test the expression stability of 9 candidate reference genes in goosegrass in different tissues and developmental stages and under stress from three types of herbicide. The results show that for different developmental stages and organs (control), eukaryotic initiation factor 4 A (eIF-4) is the most stable reference gene. Chloroplast acetolactate synthase (ALS) is the most stable reference gene under glyphosate stress. Under glufosinate stress, eIF-4 is the best reference gene. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (UCE) is the most stable reference gene under quizalofop-p-ethyl stress. The gene eIF-4 is the recommended reference gene for goosegrass under the stress of all three herbicides. Moreover, pairwise analysis showed that seven reference genes were sufficient to normalize the gene expression data under three herbicides treatment. This study provides a list of reliable reference genes for transcript normalization in goosegrass, which will facilitate resistance mechanism studies in this weed species. PMID:28429727

31 CFR 586.508 - Entries in certain accounts for normal service charges authorized.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... institution by the owner of such blocked account. (b) As used in this section, the term normal service charge..., and Statements of Licensing Policy § 586.508 Entries in certain accounts for normal service charges... by way of limitation, minimum balance charges, notary and protest fees, and charges for reference...

A patient with thyrotropinoma cosecreting growth hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone with low alpha-glycoprotein: a new subentity?

PubMed

Elhadd, Tarik A; Ghosh, Sujoy; Teoh, Wei Leng; Trevethick, Katy Ann; Hanzely, Zoltan; Dunn, Laurence T; Malik, Iqbal A; Collier, Andrew

2009-08-01

Thyrotropinomas are rare pituitary tumors. In 25 percent of cases there is autonomous secretion of a second pituitary hormone, adding to the clinical complexity. We report a patient with thyrotropin (TSH)-dependant hyperthyroidism along with growth hormone (GH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) hypersecretion but low alpha-glycoprotein (alpha-subunit) concentrations, a hitherto unique constellation of findings. A 67-year-old Scottish lady presented with longstanding ankle edema, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, uncontrolled hypertension, fine tremors, warm peripheries, and agitation. Initial findings were a small goiter, elevated serum TSH of 7.37 mU/L (normal range, 0.30-6.0 mU/L), a free-thyroxine concentration of 34.9 pmol/L (normal range, 9.0-24.0 pmol/L), a flat TSH response to TSH-releasing hormone, and serum alpha-subunit of 3.1 IU/L (normal, <3.0 IU/L). There was no evidence of an abnormal thyroid hormone beta receptor by genotyping. Serum FSH was 56.8 U/L, but the luteinizing hormone (LH) was 23.6 U/L (postmenopausal FSH and LH reference ranges both >30 U/L) Basal insulin-like growth factor I was elevated to 487 microg/L with the concomitant serum GH being 14.1 mU/L, and subsequent serum GH values 30 minutes after 75 g oral glucose being 19.1 mU/L and 150 minutes later being 13.7 mU/L. An magnetic resonance imaging pituitary revealed a macroadenoma. Pituitary adenomectomy was performed with the histology confirming a pituitary adenoma, and the immunohistochemistry staining showed positive reactivity for FSH with scattered cells staining for GH and TSH. Staining for other anterior pituitary hormones was negative. After pituitary surgery she became clinically and biochemically euthyroid, the serum IFG-1 became normal, but the pattern of serum FSH and LH did not change. This case of plurihormonal thyrotropinoma is unique in having hypersecretion of TSH, GH, and FSH with low alpha-subunit. Such a combination may represent a new subentity of TSHomas.

Analysis of semen parameters in male referrals: impact of reference limits, stratification by fertility categories, predictors of change, and comparison of normal semen parameters in subfertile couples.

PubMed

Baker, Karen; Li, Jianbo; Sabanegh, Edmund

2015-01-01

To [1] determine the impact of semen reference limits on referrals for male fertility evaluations, [2] analyze the stratification of subjects based on published "normal" thresholds, [3] analyze the odds of changing fertility categories during serial tests and thereby the potential impact of inherent variability of semen parameters on referrals, and [4] determine variable(s) predictive of change. Retrospective chart review. Academic referral center for male fertility. New encounters in a male fertility clinic over a 5-year period that straddles the publication of World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 reference values. None. Demographic and clinical variables, semen values, and fertility categories as follows: BE (below WHO 2010 criteria), BTWN (above WHO 2010 but below WHO 1999 criteria), and N (above WHO 1999 criteria). A total of 82.3% of initial semen tests were categorized as BE, and the predominance of this category was unchanged by publication of the WHO 2010 criteria. Men with initial semen analysis categorized as BTWN or N represented 16.2% and 1.5% of the referral population, respectively. Subjects initially categorized as BTWN were more likely to change fertility categories, and overwhelmingly this migration was downward. Analysis of normal individual semen parameters revealed statistically worse mean concentration and motility when at least one other parameter fell below the WHO 2010 criteria. Men with semen results above reference criteria are underrepresented, indicating that reference limits influence referral patterns for male fertility evaluations. Normal mean concentration and motility were lower in men with at least one other individual semen parameter below the 2010 criteria, suggesting global dysfunction in spermatogenesis. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Prenasal thickness to nasal bone length ratio in normal and trisomy 21 fetuses at 11-14 weeks of gestation.

PubMed

Manegold-Brauer, Gwendolin; Bourdil, Lucas; Berg, Christoph; Schoetzau, Andreas; Gembruch, Ulrich; Geipel, Annegret

2015-11-01

To show the feasibility and to create a reference range for prenasal thickness (PT) and for the PT to nasal bone length (NBL) ratio in normal fetuses at 11-14 gestational weeks and to compare the findings to fetuses with trisomy 21. PT, NBL and PT/NBL ratio were measured retrospectively in stored two-dimensional images of 1155 normal fetuses and 44 fetuses with trisomy 21. Mid-sagittal images were acquired at first trimester ultrasound examinations and were selected from our digital database. The PT increased with CRL from 1.0 mm at 45-mm CRL to 1.6 mm at 84-mm CRL. The mean PT/NBL ratio was 0.6 and was not altered by CRL. The mean PT/NBL ratio in fetuses with trisomy 21 was significantly higher than in normal fetuses (p < 0.0001). For a cut-off value of 0.8 the PT/NBL yielded a sensitivity of 86.4% and a specificity of 98.4% for trisomy 21. The assessment of PT between 11 and 14 gestational weeks is feasible with high intraclass correlation. The PT to NBL ratio seems to be a promising marker for trisomy 21 in the first trimester and was superior to the isolated contribution of NBL and PT measurements. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Genetics Home Reference: Waardenburg syndrome

MedlinePlus

... more common in particular ethnic groups? Genetic Changes Mutations in the EDN3 , EDNRB , MITF , PAX3 , SNAI2 , and ... in the normal function of the inner ear. Mutations in any of these genes disrupt the normal ...

Reference Gene Selection for qPCR Normalization of Kosteletzkya virginica under Salt Stress

PubMed Central

Tang, Xiaoli; Wang, Hongyan; Shao, Chuyang; Shao, Hongbo

2015-01-01

Kosteletzkya virginica (L.) is a newly introduced perennial halophytic plant. Presently, reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is regarded as the best choice for analyzing gene expression and its accuracy mainly depends on the reference genes which are used for gene expression normalization. In this study, we employed qPCR to select the most stable reference gene in K. virginica which showed stable expression profiles under our experimental conditions. The candidate reference genes were 18S ribosomal RNA (18SrRNA), β-actin (ACT), α-tubulin (TUA), and elongation factor (EF). We tracked the gene expression profiles of the candidate genes and analyzed their stabilities through BestKeeper, geNorm, and NormFinder software programs. The results of the three programs were identical and 18SrRNA was assessed to be the most stable reference gene in this study. However, TUA was identified to be the most unstable. Our study proved again that the traditional reference genes indeed displayed a certain degree of variations under given experimental conditions. Importantly, our research also provides guidance for selecting most suitable reference genes and lays the foundation for further studies in K. virginica. PMID:26581422

Molecular pathology of brain edema after severe burns in forensic autopsy cases with special regard to the importance of reference gene selection.

PubMed

Wang, Qi; Ishikawa, Takaki; Michiue, Tomomi; Zhu, Bao-Li; Guan, Da-Wei; Maeda, Hitoshi

2013-09-01

Brain edema is believed to be linked to high mortality incidence after severe burns. The present study investigated the molecular pathology of brain damage and responses involving brain edema in forensic autopsy cases of fire fatality (n = 55) compared with sudden cardiac death (n = 11), mechanical asphyxia (n = 13), and non-brain injury cases (n = 22). Postmortem mRNA and immunohistochemical expressions of aquaporins (AQPs), claudin5 (CLDN5), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were examined. Prolonged deaths due to severe burns showed an increase in brain water content, but relative mRNA quantification, using different normalization methods, showed inconsistent results: in prolonged deaths due to severe burns, higher expression levels were detected for all markers when three previously validated reference genes, PES1, POLR2A, and IPO8, were used for normalization, higher for AQP1 and MMP9 when GAPDH alone was used for normalization and higher for MMP9, but lower for MMP2 when B2M alone was used for normalization. Additionally, when B2M alone was used for normalization, higher expression of AQP4 was detected in acute fire deaths. Furthermore, the expression stability values of these five reference genes calculated by geNorm demonstrated that B2M was the least stable one, followed by GAPDH. In immunostaining, only AQP1 and MMP9 showed differences among the causes of death: they were evident in most prolonged deaths due to severe burns. These findings suggest that systematic analysis of gene expressions using real-time PCR might be a useful procedure in forensic death investigation, and validation of reference genes is crucial.

Assessment of fracture risk: value of random population-based samples--the Geelong Osteoporosis Study.

PubMed

Henry, M J; Pasco, J A; Seeman, E; Nicholson, G C; Sanders, K M; Kotowicz, M A

2001-01-01

Fracture risk is determined by bone mineral density (BMD). The T-score, a measure of fracture risk, is the position of an individual's BMD in relation to a reference range. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of change in the T-score when different sampling techniques were used to produce the reference range. Reference ranges were derived from three samples, drawn from the same region: (1) an age-stratified population-based random sample, (2) unselected volunteers, and (3) a selected healthy subset of the population-based sample with no diseases or drugs known to affect bone. T-scores were calculated using the three reference ranges for a cohort of women who had sustained a fracture and as a group had a low mean BMD (ages 35-72 yr; n = 484). For most comparisons, the T-scores for the fracture cohort were more negative using the population reference range. The difference in T-scores reached 1.0 SD. The proportion of the fracture cohort classified as having osteoporosis at the spine was 26, 14, and 23% when the population, volunteer, and healthy reference ranges were applied, respectively. The use of inappropriate reference ranges results in substantial changes to T-scores and may lead to inappropriate management.

Identification and evaluation of new reference genes in Gossypium hirsutum for accurate normalization of real-time quantitative RT-PCR data.

PubMed

Artico, Sinara; Nardeli, Sarah M; Brilhante, Osmundo; Grossi-de-Sa, Maria Fátima; Alves-Ferreira, Marcio

2010-03-21

Normalizing through reference genes, or housekeeping genes, can make more accurate and reliable results from reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Recent studies have shown that no single housekeeping gene is universal for all experiments. Thus, suitable reference genes should be the first step of any qPCR analysis. Only a few studies on the identification of housekeeping gene have been carried on plants. Therefore qPCR studies on important crops such as cotton has been hampered by the lack of suitable reference genes. By the use of two distinct algorithms, implemented by geNorm and NormFinder, we have assessed the gene expression of nine candidate reference genes in cotton: GhACT4, GhEF1alpha5, GhFBX6, GhPP2A1, GhMZA, GhPTB, GhGAPC2, GhbetaTUB3 and GhUBQ14. The candidate reference genes were evaluated in 23 experimental samples consisting of six distinct plant organs, eight stages of flower development, four stages of fruit development and in flower verticils. The expression of GhPP2A1 and GhUBQ14 genes were the most stable across all samples and also when distinct plants organs are examined. GhACT4 and GhUBQ14 present more stable expression during flower development, GhACT4 and GhFBX6 in the floral verticils and GhMZA and GhPTB during fruit development. Our analysis provided the most suitable combination of reference genes for each experimental set tested as internal control for reliable qPCR data normalization. In addition, to illustrate the use of cotton reference genes we checked the expression of two cotton MADS-box genes in distinct plant and floral organs and also during flower development. We have tested the expression stabilities of nine candidate genes in a set of 23 tissue samples from cotton plants divided into five different experimental sets. As a result of this evaluation, we recommend the use of GhUBQ14 and GhPP2A1 housekeeping genes as superior references for normalization of gene expression measures in different cotton plant organs; GhACT4 and GhUBQ14 for flower development, GhACT4 and GhFBX6 for the floral organs and GhMZA and GhPTB for fruit development. We also provide the primer sequences whose performance in qPCR experiments is demonstrated. These genes will enable more accurate and reliable normalization of qPCR results for gene expression studies in this important crop, the major source of natural fiber and also an important source of edible oil. The use of bona fide reference genes allowed a detailed and accurate characterization of the temporal and spatial expression pattern of two MADS-box genes in cotton.

Identification and evaluation of new reference genes in Gossypium hirsutum for accurate normalization of real-time quantitative RT-PCR data

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Normalizing through reference genes, or housekeeping genes, can make more accurate and reliable results from reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Recent studies have shown that no single housekeeping gene is universal for all experiments. Thus, suitable reference genes should be the first step of any qPCR analysis. Only a few studies on the identification of housekeeping gene have been carried on plants. Therefore qPCR studies on important crops such as cotton has been hampered by the lack of suitable reference genes. Results By the use of two distinct algorithms, implemented by geNorm and NormFinder, we have assessed the gene expression of nine candidate reference genes in cotton: GhACT4, GhEF1α5, GhFBX6, GhPP2A1, GhMZA, GhPTB, GhGAPC2, GhβTUB3 and GhUBQ14. The candidate reference genes were evaluated in 23 experimental samples consisting of six distinct plant organs, eight stages of flower development, four stages of fruit development and in flower verticils. The expression of GhPP2A1 and GhUBQ14 genes were the most stable across all samples and also when distinct plants organs are examined. GhACT4 and GhUBQ14 present more stable expression during flower development, GhACT4 and GhFBX6 in the floral verticils and GhMZA and GhPTB during fruit development. Our analysis provided the most suitable combination of reference genes for each experimental set tested as internal control for reliable qPCR data normalization. In addition, to illustrate the use of cotton reference genes we checked the expression of two cotton MADS-box genes in distinct plant and floral organs and also during flower development. Conclusion We have tested the expression stabilities of nine candidate genes in a set of 23 tissue samples from cotton plants divided into five different experimental sets. As a result of this evaluation, we recommend the use of GhUBQ14 and GhPP2A1 housekeeping genes as superior references for normalization of gene expression measures in different cotton plant organs; GhACT4 and GhUBQ14 for flower development, GhACT4 and GhFBX6 for the floral organs and GhMZA and GhPTB for fruit development. We also provide the primer sequences whose performance in qPCR experiments is demonstrated. These genes will enable more accurate and reliable normalization of qPCR results for gene expression studies in this important crop, the major source of natural fiber and also an important source of edible oil. The use of bona fide reference genes allowed a detailed and accurate characterization of the temporal and spatial expression pattern of two MADS-box genes in cotton. PMID:20302670

SU-F-R-32: Evaluation of MRI Acquisition Parameter Variations On Texture Feature Extraction Using ACR Phantom

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xie, Y; Wang, J; Wang, C

Purpose: To investigate the sensitivity of classic texture features to variations of MRI acquisition parameters. Methods: This study was performed on American College of Radiology (ACR) MRI Accreditation Program Phantom. MR imaging was acquired on a GE 750 3T scanner with XRM explain gradient, employing a T1-weighted images (TR/TE=500/20ms) with the following parameters as the reference standard: number of signal average (NEX) = 1, matrix size = 256×256, flip angle = 90°, slice thickness = 5mm. The effect of the acquisition parameters on texture features with and without non-uniformity correction were investigated respectively, while all the other parameters were keptmore » as reference standard. Protocol parameters were set as follows: (a). NEX = 0.5, 2 and 4; (b).Phase encoding steps = 128, 160 and 192; (c). Matrix size = 128×128, 192×192 and 512×512. 32 classic texture features were generated using the classic gray level run length matrix (GLRLM) and gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCOM) from each image data set. Normalized range ((maximum-minimum)/mean) was calculated to determine variation among the scans with different protocol parameters. Results: For different NEX, 31 out of 32 texture features’ range are within 10%. For different phase encoding steps, 31 out of 32 texture features’ range are within 10%. For different acquisition matrix size without non-uniformity correction, 14 out of 32 texture features’ range are within 10%; for different acquisition matrix size with non-uniformity correction, 16 out of 32 texture features’ range are within 10%. Conclusion: Initial results indicated that those texture features that range within 10% are less sensitive to variations in T1-weighted MRI acquisition parameters. This might suggest that certain texture features might be more reliable to be used as potential biomarkers in MR quantitative image analysis.« less