Folate receptor-mediated cervical staining as an adjunct to colposcopy which can improve the diagnostic accuracy of detecting high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions

Objectives: Cervical cancer is rated fourth in terms of incidence and cancer-related mortality in women. Cytology-basedscreening programs and colposcopy provided insufficient rates of detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) promptingresearchers to develop new tools. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether folate receptor-mediated staining isuseful in detecting CIN2+ during gynecological examination with colposcopy.Material and methods: In total 96 women with abnormal cytology findings were enrolled. The study was conducted on thePolish population. The diagnostic process consisted of colposcopy, receptor-mediated diagnosis (FRD), and histopathologyexamination. All women were subjected to the same diagnostic procedure.Results: The patient mean age of 96 women was 38 ± 14.5 years. On colposcopy, high-grade lesions were detected in83 women. The FRD gave positive results in 63 women. Histopathology revealed 1 case of carcinoma plano epithelial akeratodes,21 cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 13 cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. A totalof 61 cases presented no pathology. FRD as an adjunct to colposcopy gave the following test results in detecting CIN2+lesions: sensitivity — 94.29%, specificity — 46.67%, PPV — 50.77%, NPV — 93.33%, and accuracy — 64.21%. Using bothtechniques provided better results than using each of the tests alone.Conclusions: FRD is a promising test for the diagnosing CIN2+ cervical pathologies because it can increase the probabilityof detecting CIN2+ without any additional burden posed on patients. Further studies should be conducted on large andvarious populations to complement current evidence

Use of electrical impedance spectroscopy as an adjunct to colposcopy in a pathway of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia diagnostics

Objectives: Screening with cytology decreases cervical cancer burden, but new methods have emerged. We assessed the diagnostic value of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the real-world gynecological setting. The study aimed to determine the diagnostic usefulness of EIS used as an adjunct to colposcopies in the diagnosis of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in women with abnormal cytology findings. Material and methods: A cross-sectional, single center, observational study considered 143 women. All were subjected to a colposcopy and EIS with ZedScan. ZedScan-guided or colposcopically-guided biopsies were carried out. Results: Data from 118 women were analyzed. The average age of the included women was 38.29 } 12.52 years (range: 22–86 years). Overall, 27 had a diagnosis of CIN2+ and above on histopathological examination, 99 had low-grade colposcopy results, 18 had high-grade colposcopy results, and 80 had positive ZedScan examination. No adverse events related to the examination with ZedScan were observed. EIS used as an adjunct to colposcopies showed sensitivity of 96.30% (95% CI: 81.03–99.91) and specificity of 39.56% (95% CI: 29.46–50.36), and accuracy of 52.54% (95% CI: 43.15–61.81). The procedure allowed to detect 11 additional cases with positive histo-pathological result in comparison to colposcopies alone. Conclusions: Colposcopies performed with ZedScan as an adjunct were effective in detecting high-grade cervical lesions. Advantages of ZedScan include real-time result display, no additional diagnostic burden posed on the patient, and good safety profile. Studies on large patient cohorts are needed for further evaluations of this diagnostic procedure and factors which may affect its diagnostic accuracy

The correlation of vitamin D level with body mass index in women with PCOS

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze correlation between vitamin D level and BMI in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 311 patients with PCOS. Patients were categorized according to four phenotypes. All of the women participating in the study had their blood tested in the appropriate phase of the menstrual cycle and after proper preparation for the tests. The ultrasound examination and anthropometric measurements were performed. Results: Vitamin D concentration was assessed in all study subgroups. The majority of patients had vitamin D deficiency or insufficient level. Variables included in the study, such as level of vitamin D, low density lipoprotein (LDL), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone, androstenedione, Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and BMI were correlated. A negative correlation was observed with the the level of SHBG, vitamin D and AMH. Subsequently, positive correlations were shown with testosterone, LDL and free testosterone level. An analysis of the correlation between BMI and vitamin D concentration showed that in phenotype I of PCOS this correlation was statistically significant and in the remaining PCOS phenotypes the correlation was close to statistical significance. Conclusions: Most PCOS patients have a deficiency or insufficient level of vitamin D. Women with PCOS have shown a significant negative correlation between BMI and SHBG serum level and between BMI and AMH level. A positive correlation exists between BMI and total and free testosterone and LDL. There is a negative correlation between BMI and vitamin D level in PCOS patients and in phenotype I this correlation was statistically significant

A New Method of Reducing the Inrush Current and Improving the Starting Performance of a Line-Start Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor

This paper presents a new method of reducing the inrush current and improving the starting performance of a line-start permanent-magnet synchronous motor (LSPMSM). The novelty of the proposed method relies on the selection of the time instant of the connection of the stator winding to the grid, for which the smallest values of the amplitudes of inrush currents are obtained. To confirm the effectiveness of the developed method of limiting the inrush current, simulations and experimental studies were carried out. The algorithm and dedicated computer code developed by the authors for the analysis of transient coupled phenomena in the LSPMSM were used to study the impact of the time instant of connection of the winding to the grid on the motor start-up process. The algorithm was based on a field model of coupled electromagnetic and thermal phenomena in the studied motor. To verify the developed model of the phenomena and the proposed method, experimental research was carried out on a purpose-built computerised test stand. Good concordance between the results of the experiments and simulations confirmed the high reliability of the proposed model, as well as the effectiveness of the developed approach in limiting the inrush current and improving the starting performance of LSPMSMs

An analysis of a start-up process in LSPMSMs with aluminum and copper rotor bars considering the coupling of electromagnetic and thermal phenomena

The paper presents an FE model of coupled electromagnetic and thermal phenomena in Line Start Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (LSPMSMs). An algorithm for solving equations of a discrete model using the FEM has been presented. On the basis of this algorithm the author’s personally developed software for the analysis of coupled electromagnetic-thermal phenomena in the LSPMS motors was elaborated. This software was used to analyze the start-up process of motors with identical stator and rotor magnetic circuits and different materials of the starting cage. The start-up process of motors with the squirrel-cage made of aluminum and copper was considered. The influence of temperature on the start-up process has been taken into account. The results of simulation tests were compared with the results of measurements

Analysis of the Partial Demagnetization Process of Magnets in a Line Start Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor

The paper justifies the validity of analyzing the impact of temperature and the process of partial demagnetization of magnets on the operating parameters of machines. To analyze this impact, a field model of coupled electromagnetic and thermal phenomena in a permanent magnet synchronous motor was proposed. The non-linearity of the magnetic circuit, the effect of temperature on the magnetic, electrical and thermal properties of the materials as well as the developed method of modeling the process of partial demagnetization of the magnet were taken into account. Based on this model, an algorithm and software were developed to analyze the effect of temperature and the process of partial demagnetization of magnets on the work of the line start permanent magnet synchronous motor (LSPMSM). The elaborated software was used to study the effect of temperature during the motor starting phase on the magnetization state of the magnets after the start-up process. The calculation results were compared to the results of experimental studies. The experimental tests were carried out on a specially constructed test stand. The results of the research on the process of partial demagnetization of the magnets are presented and the conclusions resulting therefrom formulated

Analysis of Triboelectrostatic Separation Process of Mixed Poly(ethylene terephthalate) and High-Density Polyethylene

The aim of this study was to investigate and analyze the separation process of poly (ethylene terephthalate) and high-density polyethylene mixture. The research studied the influence of parameters of tribocharging and separation processes on the quality of separation. The research was carried out using a developed test stand consisting of a test tribocharger and a dedicated drum-type electrostatic separator. Both the separator and the tribocharger have been designed as automated test benches to assess the quality of plastic separation. In order to assess the quality of electrostatic separation of plastics, an original method based on the use of a dedicated vision system was used. The research was conducted in two stages. Firstly, the influence of the tribocharging process parameters on the efficiency of the process, i.e., the charge collected, was investigated. The next stage of the research was focused on the analysis of the influence of the separation process parameters on its effectiveness. The obtained results were presented and discussed. On the basis of the conducted research, the parameters of the tribocharging and separation processes affecting their effectiveness were determined

Analysis of Triboelectrostatic Separation Process of Mixed Poly(ethylene terephthalate) and High-Density Polyethylene

The aim of this study was to investigate and analyze the separation process of poly (ethylene terephthalate) and high-density polyethylene mixture. The research studied the influence of parameters of tribocharging and separation processes on the quality of separation. The research was carried out using a developed test stand consisting of a test tribocharger and a dedicated drum-type electrostatic separator. Both the separator and the tribocharger have been designed as automated test benches to assess the quality of plastic separation. In order to assess the quality of electrostatic separation of plastics, an original method based on the use of a dedicated vision system was used. The research was conducted in two stages. Firstly, the influence of the tribocharging process parameters on the efficiency of the process, i.e., the charge collected, was investigated. The next stage of the research was focused on the analysis of the influence of the separation process parameters on its effectiveness. The obtained results were presented and discussed. On the basis of the conducted research, the parameters of the tribocharging and separation processes affecting their effectiveness were determined