A comparison of three fingerstick, whole blood antibody tests for Helicobacter pylori infection: a United States, multicenter trial

We compared three whole blood antibody tests for Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) in a United States, multicenter trial. Methods Patients referred for EGD at three medical centers were recruited. During EGD, biopsies were taken for histology and rapid urease testing (RUT). Immediately after endoscopy, patients underwent the antibody tests (FlexPack HP, Abbott Diagnostics; QuikVue, Quidel Corporation; AccuMeter, ChemTrak) using whole blood obtained by two to three fingersticks. Performance characteristics were calculated for each antibody test using the biopsy-based methods as a gold standard. Results A total of 131 patients participated; 50 (38%) patients had histological evidence of H. pylori infection. Using histology as a gold standard, the sensitivities of FlexPack HP, QuikVue, and Accumeter were 76%, 78%, and 84%, respectively. Specificity was 79% with FlexPack HP and 90% with QuikVue and Accumeter. There were no significant differences in the performance of the three antibody tests though there was a trend toward superior performance for AccuMeter compared to FlexPack HP ( p = 0.019 ). However, RUT proved superior to FlexPack HP using histology as a gold standard ( p = 0.008 ). Using either concordant histology and RUT results or a positive histology or RUT to define active H. pylori infection, there was no statistically significant difference between the antibody tests. Conclusions There were no statistically significant differences in the performance of the three antibody tests. These tests proved only marginally sensitive in detecting patients infected with H. pylori . Clinicians should be aware of the limitations of these tests, particularly when using them as a sole means of testing for H. pylori .Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72148/1/j.1572-0241.1999.1135_x.x.pd

The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Quality of Life scale (PCOSQOL): Development and preliminary validation

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an endocrine disorder amongst women, which can negatively impact quality of life. Research proposes that a more sensitive PCOS quality of life measure is needed. This study aims to develop and initially validate a quality of life scale for women with the condition in the United Kingdom. Women with PCOS (n = 714) took part in the development and initial validation of the 35-item polycystic ovary syndrome quality of life scale (PCOSQOL)(α = .95). Subscales include Impact of PCOS (α = .95), Infertility (α = .95), Hirsutism (α = .97) and Mood (α = .89). The PCOSQOL scale represents aspects of quality of life important to women with PCOS and may be more sensitive for use in the clinical and research settings

Diffusion Thermopower at Even Denominator Fractions

We compute the electron diffusion thermopower at compressible Quantum Hall states corresponding to even denominator fractions in the framework of the composite fermion approach. It is shown that the deviation from the linear low temperature behavior of the termopower is dominated by the logarithmic temperature corrections to the conductivity and not to the thermoelectric coefficient, although such terms are present in both quantities. The enhanced magnitude of this effect compared to the zero field case may allow its observation with the existing experimental techniques.Comment: Latex, 12 pages, Nordita repor

Exercise and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrinopathy affecting both the metabolism and reproductive system of women of reproductive age. Prevalence ranges from 6.1-19.9% depending on the criteria used to give a diagnosis. PCOS accounts for approximately 80% of women with anovulatory infer-tility, and causes disruption at various stages of the reproductive axis. Evidence suggests lifestyle modification should be the first line of therapy for women with PCOS. Several studies have examined the impact of exercise interventions on reproductive function, with results indicating improvements in menstrual and/or ovulation frequency following exercise. Enhanced insulin sensitivity underpins the mechanisms of how exercise restores reproductive function. Women with PCOS typically have a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that are risk factors for CVD. There is irrefutable evidence that exercise mitigates CVD risk factors in women with PCOS. The mechanism by which exercise improves many CVD risk factors is again associated with improved insulin sensitivity and decreased hyperinsulinemia. In addition to cardiometabolic and reproductive complications, PCOS has been associated with an increased prevalence of mental health disorders. Exercise improves psychological well-being in women with PCOS, dependent on certain physiological factors. An optimal dose-response relationship to exercise in PCOS may not be feasible because of the highly individualised characteristics of the disorder. Guidelines for PCOS suggest at least 150 min of physical activity per week. Evidence confirms that this should form the basis of any clinician or healthcare professional prescription

Current status of the FASTGRASS/PARAGRASS models for fission product release from LWR fuel during normal and accident conditions

The theoretical FASTGRASS model for the prediction of the behavior of the gaseous and volatile fission products in nuclear fuels under normal and transient conditions has undergone substantial improvements. The major improvements have been in the atomistic and bubble diffusive flow models, in the models for the behavior of gas bubbles on grain surfaces, and in the models for the behavior of the volatile fission products iodine and cesium. The thoery has received extensive verification over a wide range of fuel operating conditions, and can be regarded as a state-of-the-art model based on our current level of understanding of fission product behavior. PARAGRASS is an extremely efficient, mechanistic computer code with the capability of modeling steady-state and transient fission-product behavior. The models in PARAGRASS are based on the more detailed ones in FASTGRASS. PARAGRASS updates for the FRAPCON (PNL), FRAP-T (INEL), and SCDAP (INEL) codes have recently been completed and implemented. Results from an extensive FASTGRASS verification are presented and discussed for steady-state and transient conditions. In addition, FASTGRASS predictions for fission product release rate constants are compared with those in NUREG-0772. 21 references, 13 figures