Performance of the dipstick screening test as a predictor of negative urine culture

<div><p>ABSTRACT Objective To investigate whether the urine dipstick screening test can be used to predict urine culture results. Methods A retrospective study conducted between January and December 2014 based on data from 8,587 patients with a medical order for urine dipstick test, urine sediment analysis and urine culture. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were determined and ROC curve analysis was performed. Results The percentage of positive cultures was 17.5%. Nitrite had 28% sensitivity and 99% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 89% and 87%, respectively. Leukocyte esterase had 79% sensitivity and 84% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 51% and 95%, respectively. The combination of positive nitrite or positive leukocyte esterase tests had 85% sensitivity and 84% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 53% and 96%, respectively. Positive urinary sediment (more than ten leukocytes per microliter) had 92% sensitivity and 71% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 40% and 98%, respectively. The combination of nitrite positive test and positive urinary sediment had 82% sensitivity and 99% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 91% and 98%, respectively. The combination of nitrite or leukocyte esterase positive tests and positive urinary sediment had the highest sensitivity (94%) and specificity (84%), with positive and negative predictive values of 58% and 99%, respectively. Based on ROC curve analysis, the best indicator of positive urine culture was the combination of positives leukocyte esterase or nitrite tests and positive urinary sediment, followed by positives leukocyte and nitrite tests, positive urinary sediment alone, positive leukocyte esterase test alone, positive nitrite test alone and finally association of positives nitrite and urinary sediment (AUC: 0.845, 0.844, 0.817, 0.814, 0.635 and 0.626, respectively). Conclusion A negative urine culture can be predicted by negative dipstick test results. Therefore, this test may be a reliable predictor of negative urine culture.</p></div

Kinetics of colonization of peripheral tissues/organs.

*<p>First appearance of metachromatic mast cells.</p>1<p> <i>AA4−/BGD6+.</i></p>2<p> <i>(AA4+/BGD6+).</i></p>3<p>near blood vessels.</p

RT-PCR analyses of the expression pattern of the alpha and beta subunits of FcεRI and mast cell specific proteases.

<p>Lane A. MCcp (AA4−/BGD6+) isolated at E11.5; Lane B. Adult rat bone marrow MCcp (AA4−/BGD6+); Lane C. Adult rat bone marrow mast cells (AA4+/BGD6+); Lane D. RBL-2H3 mast cells. FcεRIα: α subunit of the high affinity IgE receptor; FcεRIβ: β subunit of the high affinity IgE receptor; RMCP1: rat mast cell protease-1; RMCP5: rat mast cell protease-5; RCPA: rat carboxypeptidase A.</p

AA4−/BGD6+ and AA4+/BGD6+ cells were immunomagnetically isolated from dissociated embryos.

<p>With increasing days of gestation the percent of AA4−/BGD6+ mast cells decreases and the percent of AA4+/BGD6+ mast cells increases. Data is expressed as the mean±SD of 6 independent experiments.</p

Representative fields of liver from E12.5embryos.

<p>(A) At this stage, several mast cells are labeled with mAb BGD6 conjugated to FITC (arrows). (B) In contrast, only one immature mast cell (arrow) is immunolabeled with mAb AA4 conjugated to FITC.</p

MCcps immunomagnetically isolated with mAb BGD6 from E11.5 embryos.

<p>(A) After 21 days in culture with SCF and IL-3 the MCcp grew as small colonies around the immunomagnetic beads (white arrows). (B) After 21 days in culture, many of the mast cells displayed metachromatic granules. Inset: A higher magnification of a metachromatic mast cell attached to a immunomagnetic bead. (Immunomagnetic beads, black arrows).</p

From E13.5–19.5 mast cells colonize peripheral sites.

<p>Very immature mast cells (AA4+/BGD6+) could be identified by immunostaining in the caudal mesenchyme (A) at E13.5. At E15.5, the first metachromatic mast cells (arrows) appeared in the caudal mesenchyme (B). At E18.5 mast cells first appear in the bone marrow (C). At this time mast cells could only be identified in the bone marrow and in the liver (D) by immunostaining. A, C and D immunostained with mAb AA4-FITC. B, toluidine blue.</p

Transversal section of aorta, gonads, and mesonephros region (AGM) of embryos at E11.5.

<p>(A) AGM region stained with Hematoxilin & Eosin (H.E) (B) Combined image of Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) and fluorescence microscopy showing a MCcp (arrow) labeled with mAb BGD6-FITC located near the inner face of the dorsal aorta wall. Inset: Clusters of MCcps are occasionally seen in the AGM.</p

Effects of High-Intensity Training of Professional Runners on Myocardial Hypertrophy and Subclinical Atherosclerosis

<div><p>To evaluate the effects of long-term exposure to high-intensity training among professional runners on cardiac hypertrophy and subclinical atherosclerosis.</p><p>Prospective study included runners of both sexes (n = 52) and age and gender matched controls (n = 57), without classical cardiovascular risk factors. Ventricular hypertrophy was quantified by echocardiography by linear method and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) by 2-D images obtained by ultrasonography. Endothelial function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Steroid hormones were quantified by HPLC followed by LC-MS/MS. Higher left ventricular (LV) mass index was found in male athletes (p<0.0001 vs. other groups). When adjusted for gender, the degree of left ventricular mass index classified as mildly, moderately or severely abnormal was obtained in 26%, 35%, and 30%, respectively, of female athletes, and in 39%, 14%, and 21%, respectively, of male athletes. Higher ratio of the early (E) to late (A) ventricular filling velocities was found in athletes of both genders. Male athletes presented lower cIMT in the right (p = 0.012 vs. male controls) and left (p<0.0001 vs. male controls) common carotid arteries, without differences in cIMT between female athletes and controls. FMD results were similar among groups. Higher serum testosterone levels were found in male athletes (p<0.0001 vs. other groups) and they were correlated with LV mass (r = 0.50, p<0.0001). The chronic exposure of high-intensity training among professional runners of both genders was associated with increased ventricular mass and adaptive remodeling. Less subclinical atherosclerosis was found in male athletes. Differences in steroid hormones may account in part for these findings.</p></div

Determination of rivaroxaban in patient’s plasma samples by anti-Xa chromogenic test associated to High Performance Liquid Chromatography tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) - Fig 4

<p>Method comparison HPLC-MS/MS assay and the anti-Xa assay from external laboratory (n = 19): (A) Spearman correlation of rivaroxaban results obtained by the HPLC-MS/MS assay and the anti-Xa assay used for rivaroxaban measurement from external laboratory; (B) Bland-Altman analyses.</p