7 research outputs found
Contribution of Candida biomarkers and DNA detection for the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis in ICU patients with severe abdominal conditions
Background: To assess the performance of Candida albicans germ tube antibody (CAGTA), (1???3)-Ăź-D-glucan (BDG), mannan antigen (mannan-Ag), anti-mannan antibodies (mannan-Ab), and Candida DNA for diagnosing invasive candidiasis (IC) in ICU patients with severe abdominal conditions (SAC).
Methods: A prospective study of 233 non-neutropenic patients with SAC on ICU admission and expected stay?=?7 days. CAGTA (cutoff positivity?=?1/160), BDG (=80, 100 and 200 pg/mL), mannan-Ag (=60 pg/mL), mannan-Ab (=10 UA/mL) were measured twice a week, and Candida DNA only in patients treated with systemic antifungals. IC diagnosis required positivities of two biomarkers in a single sample or positivities of any biomarker in two consecutive samples. Patients were classified as neither colonized nor infected (n?=?48), Candida spp. colonization (n?=?154) (low-grade, n?=?130; high-grade, n?=?24), and IC (n?=?31) (intra-abdominal candidiasis, n?=?20; candidemia, n?=?11).
Results: The combination of CAGTA and BDG positivities in a single sample or at least one of the two biomarkers positive in two consecutive samples showed 90.3 % (95 % CI 74.2–98.0) sensitivity, 42.1 % (95 % CI 35.2–98.8) specificity, and 96.6 % (95 % CI 90.5–98.8) negative predictive value. BDG positivities in two consecutive samples had 76.7 % (95 % CI 57.7–90.1) sensitivity and 57.2 % (95 % CI 49.9–64.3) specificity. Mannan-Ag, mannan-Ab, and Candida DNA individually or combined showed a low discriminating capacity.
Conclusions: Positive Candida albicans germ tube antibody and (1???3)-Ăź-D-glucan in a single blood sample or (1???3)-Ăź-D-glucan positivity in two consecutive blood samples allowed discriminating invasive candidiasis from Candida spp. colonization in critically ill patients with severe abdominal conditions. These findings may be helpful to tailor empirical antifungal therapy in this patient population
Influence of seamounts on control and triggering tsunamis in the Alboran basin (continental margins)
Contribution of Candida biomarkers and DNA detection for the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis in ICU patients with severe abdominal conditions
BACKGROUND: To assess the performance of Candida albicans germ tube antibody (CAGTA), (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucan (BDG), mannan antigen (mannan-Ag), anti-mannan antibodies (mannan-Ab), and Candida DNA for diagnosing invasive candidiasis (IC) in ICU patients with severe abdominal conditions (SAC). METHODS: A prospective study of 233 non-neutropenic patients with SAC on ICU admission and expected stay ≥ 7 days. CAGTA (cutoff positivity ≥ 1/160), BDG (≥80, 100 and 200 pg/mL), mannan-Ag (≥60 pg/mL), mannan-Ab (≥10 UA/mL) were measured twice a week, and Candida DNA only in patients treated with systemic antifungals. IC diagnosis required positivities of two biomarkers in a single sample or positivities of any biomarker in two consecutive samples. Patients were classified as neither colonized nor infected (n = 48), Candida spp. colonization (n = 154) (low-grade, n = 130; high-grade, n = 24), and IC (n = 31) (intra-abdominal candidiasis, n = 20; candidemia, n = 11). RESULTS: The combination of CAGTA and BDG positivities in a single sample or at least one of the two biomarkers positive in two consecutive samples showed 90.3 % (95 % CI 74.2–98.0) sensitivity, 42.1 % (95 % CI 35.2–98.8) specificity, and 96.6 % (95 % CI 90.5–98.8) negative predictive value. BDG positivities in two consecutive samples had 76.7 % (95 % CI 57.7–90.1) sensitivity and 57.2 % (95 % CI 49.9–64.3) specificity. Mannan-Ag, mannan-Ab, and Candida DNA individually or combined showed a low discriminating capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Positive Candida albicans germ tube antibody and (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucan in a single blood sample or (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucan positivity in two consecutive blood samples allowed discriminating invasive candidiasis from Candida spp. colonization in critically ill patients with severe abdominal conditions. These findings may be helpful to tailor empirical antifungal therapy in this patient population
Image analysis to identify objects in filters obtained from turbidity plumes
The study of turbidity plumes developed in front of the river mouth, have an increasing
scientific interest due to its contribution to infralittoral sediment transport and deposition. River
plume evolution and deposition in submarine fans related to environmental constrains could be
interpreted by the analysis of suspended particulate matter (SPM) retained during the filtering
process. In this study, a new methodology approach to obtain quantitative results in sediment filters,
using custom digital image processing techniques, is presented and some promising preliminary
results are obtained. This procedure could avoid time-consuming during SPM analysis allowing an
easy way to obtain fast and quantitative information, which might lead to a better interpretation and
comprehension of factors involved in the evolution of riverine turbidity plumes.VersiĂłn del edito