459 research outputs found
Component-resolved diagnosis of pollen allergy based on skin testing with profilin, polcalcin and lipid transfer protein pan-allergens
BACKGROUND Allergy diagnosis needs to be improved in patients suffering from pollen polysensitization due to the existence of possible confounding factors in this type of patients. OBJECTIVE To evaluate new diagnostic strategies by comparing skin responses to pan-allergens and conventional allergenic extracts with specific IgE (sIgE) to purified allergen molecules. METHODS One thousand three hundred and twenty-nine pollen-allergic patients were diagnosed by a combination of an in vitro method with a panel of 13 purified allergens, including major allergens and pan-allergens, using a high-capacity screening technology (ADVIA-CentaurÂź) and skin prick test (SPT) to pan-allergens and conventional extracts. RESULTS There was a high concordance (Îș index) between in vitro (sIgE to major allergens) and in vivo (SPT to conventional extracts) methods in patients who were not sensitized to pan-allergens, but SPT with conventional extracts failed to diagnose patients with sensitization to pan-allergens. In patients who were simultaneously sensitized to polcalcins and profilins, there was a duplication both in the number of sensitizations to major allergens and in the years of disease evolution. There was a statistical association between sensitization to profilins and/or lipid transfer proteins and food allergy (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION The novel diagnostic strategy has proven to be a valuable tool in daily clinical practice. Introduction of routine SPT to pan-allergens is a simple and feasible way of improving diagnostic efficacy. Patients sensitized to pan-allergens should be tested by an adequate panel of allergenic molecules in order to identify the allergens that are responsible for the allergic disease
Stochastic Analysis and Regeneration of Rough Surfaces
We investigate Markov property of rough surfaces. Using stochastic analysis
we characterize the complexity of the surface roughness by means of a
Fokker-Planck or Langevin equation. The obtained Langevin equation enables us
to regenerate surfaces with similar statistical properties compared with the
observed morphology by atomic force microscopy.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figure
An algebraic approach to logarithmic conformal field theory
A comprehensive introduction to logarithmic conformal field theory, using an
algebraic point of view, is given. A number of examples are explained in
detail, including the c=-2 triplet theory and the k=-4/3 affine su(2) theory.
We also give some brief introduction to the work of Zhu.Comment: 55 pages, LaTeX, 2 figures; notes of lectures delivered at the school
on Logarithmic Conformal Field Theory and its Applications, IPM Tehran,
September 200
Clinical findings, neurological manifestations and survival of dogs with insulinoma: 116 cases (2009-2020)
The impact of population-based faecal occult blood test screening on colorectal cancer mortality:a matched cohort study
BACKGROUND: Randomised trials show reduced colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality with faecal occult blood testing (FOBT). This outcome is now examined in a routine, population-based, screening programme. METHODS: Three biennial rounds of the UK CRC screening pilot were completed in Scotland (2000â2007) before the roll out of a national programme. All residents (50â69 years) in the three pilot Health Boards were invited for screening. They received a FOBT test by post to complete at home and return for analysis. Positive tests were followed up with colonoscopy. Controls, selected from non-pilot Health Boards, were matched by age, gender, and deprivation and assigned the invitation date of matched invitee. Follow-up was from invitation date to 31 December 2009 or date of death if earlier. RESULTS: There were 379â655 people in each group (median age 55.6 years, 51.6% male). Participation was 60.6%. There were 961 (0.25%) CRC deaths in invitees, 1056 (0.28%) in controls, rate ratio (RR) 0.90 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83â0.99) overall and 0.73 (95% CI 0.65â0.82) for participants. Non-participants had increased CRC mortality compared with controls, RR 1.21 (95% CI 1.06â1.38). CONCLUSION: There was a 10% relative reduction in CRC mortality in a routine screening programme, rising to 27% in participants
Long range correlation in cosmic microwave background radiation
We investigate the statistical anisotropy and Gaussianity of temperature
fluctuations of Cosmic Microwave Background radiation (CMB) data from {\it
Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe} survey, using the multifractal detrended
fluctuation analysis, rescaled range and scaled windowed variance methods. The
multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis shows that CMB fluctuations has a
long range correlation function with a multifractal behavior. By comparing the
shuffled and surrogate series of CMB data, we conclude that the multifractality
nature of temperature fluctuation of CMB is mainly due to the long-range
correlations and the map is consistent with a Gaussian distribution.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, V2: Added comments, references and major
correction
Temperature dependence of surface reconstructions of Au on Pd(110)
Surface reconstructions of Au film on Pd(110) substrate are studied using a
local Einstein approximation to quasiharmonic theory with the Sutton-Chen
interatomic potential. Temperature dependent surface free energies for
different coverages and surface structures are calculated. Experimentally
observed transformations from to and
structures can be explained in the framework of this model. Also conditions for
Stranski-Krastanov growth mode are found to comply with experiments. The domain
of validity of the model neglecting mixing entropy is analyzed.Comment: 7 pages, REVTeX two-column format, 3 postscript figures available on
request from [email protected] To appear in Phys. Rev. Letter
Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of breast cancer: Is overdiagnosis an issue for radiologists?
Overdiagnosis is diagnosis of cancers that would not present within the life of the patient and is one of the downsides of screening. This applies to low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ and some small grade 1 invasive cancers. Radiologists are responsible for cancer diagnosis, but at the time of diagnosis they cannot determine whether a particular low-grade diagnosis is one to which the definition of overdiagnosis applies. Overdiagnosis is likely to be driven by technological developments, including digital mammography, computer-aided detection and improved biopsy techniques. It is also driven by the patient's fear that cancer will be missed and the doctor's fear of litigation. It is therefore an issue of importance for radiologists, presenting them with difficult fine-tuned decisions in every assessment clinic that are ultimately counted later by those who evaluate their screening
Dirac Spectrum in Piecewise Constant One-Dimensional Potentials
We study the electronic states of graphene in piecewise constant potentials
using the continuum Dirac equation appropriate at low energies, and a transfer
matrix method. For superlattice potentials, we identify patterns of induced
Dirac points which are present throughout the band structure, and verify for
the special case of a particle-hole symmetric potential their presence at zero
energy. We also consider the cases of a single trench and a p-n junction
embedded in neutral graphene, which are shown to support confined states. An
analysis of conductance across these structures demonstrates that these
confined states create quantum interference effects which evidence their
presence.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures, additional references adde
Two-Scale Kirchhoff Theory: Comparison of Experimental Observations With Theoretical Prediction
We introduce a non-perturbative two scale Kirchhoff theory, in the context of
light scattering by a rough surface. This is a two scale theory which considers
the roughness both in the wavelength scale (small scale) and in the scales much
larger than the wavelength of the incident light (large scale). The theory can
precisely explain the small peaks which appear at certain scattering angles.
These peaks can not be explained by one scale theories. The theory was assessed
by calculating the light scattering profiles using the Atomic Force Microscope
(AFM) images, as well as surface profilometer scans of a rough surface, and
comparing the results with experiments. The theory is in good agreement with
the experimental results.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure
- âŠ