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Background Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are associated with poor diet quality and chronic diseases. UPF falls into one of the four groups classified according to the extent and purpose of processing: Group 1 includes unprocessed and minimally processed foods (MPF); group 2 refers to processed culinary ingredients (PCI); group 3, processed foods (PF); and group 4, UPF. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative validity of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) compared to two 24-hour dietary recalls to estimate dietary intake per NOVA food group in Mexican children and adolescents. Design This study is a secondary analysis of dietary data from a subsample of children and adolescents who participated in the 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey Participants/setting The study participants were 217 children (5 to 11 years) and 165 adolescents (12 to 19 years) with complete information for the SFFQ and two 24 hour-dietary recalls (24DRs). Main outcome measures Daily averages of energy intake and % of energy intake for each NOVA category were calculated using the SFFQ and two 24DRs. Statistical analysis To assess relative validity, the SFFQ was compared with two 24DRs to estimate dietary intake per NOVA food group. Mean differences, Spearman correlations and intra-class correlations coefficients (ICC) and Bland–Altman plots for continuous variables and weighted kappa for ordinal variables were calculated. Results For percentage of energy intake, ICC in children and adolescents were moderate for MPF (ICC=0.47, ICC=0.56, respectively) and UPF (ICC=0.53, ICC=0.57, respectively). Bland–Altman plots indicated reasonably consistent agreement for UPF and MPF groups in children and adolescents. Classification by quintiles was acceptable in all groups. Conclusions Data from this study indicated reasonable relative validity of the SFFQ to rank the percentage of energy intake from MPF and UPF in Mexican children and adolescents.

Purpose To test the feasibility of using quantitative transport mapping (QTM) method, which is based on the inversion of transport equation using spatial deconvolution without any arterial input function, for automatically postprocessing dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) to differentiate malignant and benign breast tumors. Materials and methods Breast DCE-MRI data with biopsy confirmed malignant (n = 13) and benign tumors (n = 13) was used to assess QTM velocity (|u|) and diffusion coefficient (D), volume transfer constant (Ktrans), volume fraction of extravascular extracellular space (Ve) from kinetics method, and traditional enhancement curve characteristics (ECC: amplitude A, wash-in rate α, wash-out rate β). A Mann-Whitney U test and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of these parameters for distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors. Results Between malignant and benign tumors, there was a significant difference in |u| and Ktrans, (p = 0.0066, 0.0274, respectively), but not in D, Ve, A, α and β (p = 0.1119, 0.2382, 0.4418,0.2592 and 0.9591, respectively). ROC area-under-the-curve was 0.82, 0.75 (95% confidence level 0.60–0.95, 0.51–0.90) for |u| and Ktrans, respectively. Conclusion QTM postprocesses DCE-MRI automatically through deconvolution in space and time to solve the inverse problem of the transport equation. Comparing with traditional kinetics method and ECC, QTM method showed better diagnostic accuracy in differentiating benign from malignant breast tumors in this study.

BACKGROUND: The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is the method of choice for dietary assessment in epidemiological studies. FFQs focusing on mixed-dishes and simple food items are useful where mixed-dishes are an essential part of food consumption. OBJECTIVE: Regarding the fact that the nature of the Iranian diet is mixed-dish, the present study aimed to design and assess the validity and reproducibility of a dish-based semi-quantitative FFQ in the Iranian adult population. METHODS: A list of 302 food items was collected from four geographical areas around Iran. The validation study was conducted on 97 healthy adults. The FFQ was introduced at the beginning of the study and 10 months after; two three-day food records were collected during the study. Also, biomarkers including 24-hour urinary potassium and nitrogen, serum retinol, and alpha-tocopherol were measured. RESULTS: A 142-food-item FFQ was concluded. The correlation coefficient between the second FFQ and the second three-day food record ranged from 0.225 to 0.323 for macronutrients and 0.128 to 0.476 for micronutrients. The percentile agreements (same or adjacent quartile) between the two methods were more than 60% for all nutrients. The intraclass correlation coefficient between FFQs (except for vitamin E) ranged from 0.363 to 0.578. The correlation coefficient between the second FFQ and the second biomarker assessment was 0.241 for protein.

OBJECTIVE 123I metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy is a useful tool for the diagnosis of pheochromocytomas (PHEOs), but some PHEOs are difficult to differentiate from cortical adenoma (CA) or normal adrenal uptake by visual evaluation alone. A new semi-quantitative analysis using 123I MIBG SPECT/CT is thus expected. Herein, we introduce the tumor-to-liver count ratio (T/L) and the tumor-to-muscle count ratio (T/M). METHODS We examined the cases of 21 patients with PHEOs (10 males, 11 females; age 24-80, median 61 years) and 23 patients with CA (15 males and 8 females, age 30-78, median 58 years). The visual scoring based on 123I MIBG planar images (planar score) and SPECT images (SPECT score) was used as the conventional evaluation. Using 123I MIBG SPECT/CT findings, we calculated the semi-quantitative values of the count ratio using the maximum or mean count of the tumor and the liver or muscle as the reference organ (T/Lmax, T/Lmean, T/Mmax and T/Mmean). Each evaluation of the PHEOs and CAs was compared, and the diagnosing performance was evaluated based on an ROC analysis. RESULTS The area under curve (AUC) values were as follows: the planar score, 0.833; SPECT score, 0.813; T/Lmax, 0.986; T/Lmean, 0.975; T/Mmax, 0.955; and T/Mmean, 0.933. The AUC for T/Mmax was significantly higher than those of the planar score, and SPECT score by ROC analysis (p

Small scale and recreational fisheries often lack quantitative monitoring, highlighting potential for other reproducible ways of understanding state. The Fisher's Local Ecological Knowledge Surveillance Indicator (FLEKSI) method was developed here to express user's LEK as semi-quantitative fishery SI. FLEKSI was tested using an online questionnaire disseminated in 2021 to capture angler's knowledge of changing marine recreational fisheries around Ireland (Celtic Seas ecoregion). Sets of Likert questions evaluated four fishery descriptors (species, community, catch, and effort). Respondents were asked to report the subregion (Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, or West Coast) in which they usually fish, and the duration (y) of their angling “career.” Likert scores were reported as diverging bar charts, providing SI values that could be evaluated at different spatial or temporal scales. Respondents (N = 657) reported careers of up to > 41 years. ICES assessments of Celtic Seas demersal fish stocks targeted by anglers provide series of SSB/SSBBtrigger against which the FLEKSI SI were compared. FLEKSI suggested long term decline in all four fishery descriptors, and statistical analysis showed that this trend matched ICES assessment outputs averaged across target stocks of cod, pollack, whiting, and sea bass. FLEKSI provides a standardized framework for integrating user's ways of knowing into fishery monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Environmental hazards in healthcare institutions affect the quality of patient care as well as personnel and patient safety. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop and apply a semi-quantitative risk assessment method to calculate occupational health risk levels with regard to the sensitivities of healthcare institutions. METHODS: The present research was conducted in three phases. In phases 1 and 2, the model was developed using a review of different risk assessment methods, extracting expert opinions (N = 10) through semi-structured interviews, and using the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP). In phase 3, in order to validate the proposed method, one of the five public hospitals was randomly selected and a case study comprising 6 sections was performed. RESULTS: A total of 43 health risks were identified and evaluated using the present method, 41.86% of which were at very high levels, 16.27% at high levels, 30.23% at substantial ones, 9.3% at medium and 2.32% at low levels. The highest health risks were found in paraclinical and operating room wards. CONCLUSION: To overcome the shortcomings of the proposed health risk assessment methods, a semi-quantitative method was used in the present study to more accurately calculate the risk levels in the healthcare institutions and also calculate the risk level of each hospital unit. The proposed semi-quantitative method can be used as a tool for assessing occupational health risks as a key element of risk management. In addition, by focusing on an appropriate framework for occupational health risk assessment, specialists in the organization will be able to take significant and effective steps to implement an efficient risk management system.

Basically, the existing information security risk assessments use mathematics, statistics and computer science to analyze the information assets. Current academic risk assessment methodologies do not completely solve the risk from invisible cyber threats. More research and efforts are needed to fully complement the current risk assessment methodology. The most important things to be supplemented is to review the level of cyber threat blockade and level of appropriate security equipment. Unfortunately, existing methodologies are not concerned with the blockade of cyber threats and the operation of appropriate security equipment. In this paper, the new intrinsic risk assessment method by performing risk assessment is proposed in two directions. First, the risk level of the cyber threats’ influx path is evaluated. Second, the level of defense systems required to treat or quarantine cyber threats that have entered inside is evaluated.

Purpose To investigate the prognostic value of interim PET (PETi) in adult HL patients, comparing visual with semiquantitative analysis. Material and methods Retrospective analysis of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2016 in the Onco-hematology Department of Instituto Portugues de Oncologia – Porto (median follow-up: 46.5 months [2.6–66.4]). Fifty-eight patients with available PET at diagnosis (PET0) and PETi data were included. PETi scans were analyzed according to Deauville 5-point scale (5-PS), and cut-off values for changes in maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax], peak SUV [SUVpeak], metabolic tumour volume [MTV] and total lesion glycolysis index [TLG] between PETi and PET0 were computed using ROC analysis. Visual and semiquantitative data were compared with each other in the prediction of patient outcomes. Results Semiquantitative analysis obtained a higher sensitivity for persistent/relapsed disease compared to the 5-PS (70% vs. 10%, respectively), but lower specificity. It also demonstrated better predictive performance for response to first-line therapy (negative predictive value >92%). The positive predictive value was similar for all five measurements. At 60 months of follow-up, there was a significant difference between the progression free survival (PFS) curves of patients with positive and negative PETi according to ΔSUVmax (56.9% vs. 88.0%, p Discussion PETi interpretation according to a semiquantitative approach appears to discriminate HL patients better than the visual 5-PS analysis. This could allow better detection of persistent or early relapsed disease, while a negative PETi result could support de-escalating therapy intensity.

Mined Land Suitability Assessment (MLSA) is a critical step in mine reclamation planning for ensuring the sustainability of Post-Mining Land-Use (PMLU). In this study, a general semi-quantitative M...

Purpose CT findings of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were analyzed during both the first and the second waves of the pandemic, in order to detect any significant differences between the two groups. Methods In this observational, retrospective, monocentric study, all hospitalized patients who underwent CT for suspected COVID-19 pneumonia from February 27 to March 27, 2020 (first wave) and from October 26 to November 24, 2020 (second wave) were enrolled. Epidemiological data, radiological pattern according to the RSNA consensus statement and visual score extension using a semi-quantitative score were compared. Results Two hundred and eleven patients (mean age, 64.52 years ± 15.14, 144 males) were evaluated during the first wave while 455 patients (mean age, 68.26 years ± 16.34, 283 males) were studied during the second wave. The same prevalence of patterns was documented in both the first and the second waves (p = 0.916), with non-typical patterns always more frequently observed in elderly patients, especially the “indeterminate” pattern. Compared to those infected during the first wave, the patients of the second wave were older (64.52 vs.68.26, p = 0.005) and presented a slightly higher mean semi-quantitative score (9.0 ± 2.88 vs. 8.4 ± 3.06, p = 0.042). Age and semi-quantitative score showed a positive correlation (r = 0.15, p = 0.001). Conclusions There was no difference regarding CT pattern prevalence between the first and the second waves, confirming both the validity of the RSNA consensus and the most frequent radiological COVID-19 features. Non-typical COVID-19 features were more frequently observed in older patients, thus should not be underestimated in the elderly population.

espanolSe propone una nueva tecnica de modelado fractal, adaptando el modelo de concentracion-numero (C-N, segun sus siglas en ingles) y el concepto de puntos de ruptura de umbral para interpretar las medidas de sondeo electrico vertical (VES, segun sus siglas en ingles) distribuidas a lo largode un perfil dado. En consecuencia, se propone un enfoque semicuantitativo para diferenciar facilmente entre diversas poblaciones de resistividad aparente, donde se podria construir una interpretacion semicuantitativa bidimensional (2D) y un analisis geologico preliminar. La nueva tecnica se aplico en un estudio de caso de la region del valle de Khanasser, norte de Siria, donde se interpretaron diferentes perfiles (LP1, LP2, LP3 yTP5). La idoneidad y viabilidad del enfoque propuesto se confirman y aprueban a traves de diferentes comparaciones entre las secciones transversales establecidas de multiples fractales y los modelos de interpretacion VES unidimensionales (1D) tradicionales. Se recomienda utilizar de forma rutinaria este nuevo enfoque fractal propuesto en la investigacion geoelectrica para interpretar las mediciones de VES distribuidas a lo largo de un perfil determinado. EnglishA new fractal modeling technique, adapting the concentration-number (C-N) model and the threshold break points concept is proposed to interpret vertical electrical sounding (VES) measurements distributed along a given profile. A new semi-quantitative approach is consequently proposed to readily differentiate between different apparent resistivity populations, where two-dimensional (2D) semi-quantitative interpretation and a preliminary geological analysis could be constructed. The newtechnique is applied and tested on a case study from the Khanasser Valley region, Northern Syria, where different selected profiles (LP1, LP2, LP3, and TP5) are interpreted. The suitability and feasibility of the proposed approach are confirmed and approved through different comparisons between the multi-fractal established cross-sections and the traditional one-dimensional (1D) VES interpretation models. It is recommended to routinely use this new proposed fractal approach in geoelectrical research for interpreting VES measurements distributed along a given profile

Viral respiratory rapid multiplex PCR assays FilmArray® (FA) and ePlex® (eP) provide qualitative results which may not reflect clinical relevance. In a pilot study, we report retrospectively whether the semi-quantitative PCR assay R-GENE® would have facilitated clinical interpretation. Forty-four patients were hospitalized for various respiratory manifestations; all of them have benefited from a respiratory sample during acute symptoms. Among the 44 patients, FA detected 23 positive samples including 31 viruses, 26 of them gave high or moderate R-GENE® scores (cycle threshold

Background and Objective: The analysis of system resilience is one of the ways to increase the factor of safety. The present study aimed to develop a model for the assessment of safety resilience in process industries with a passive defense approach based on the Delphi method. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Phase 19 of the South Pars Gas Field Development Project in 2018-2020. This three-round Delphi study was performed in three rounds stages with the participation of 18 experts in the fields of chemical and process engineering, safety, occupational health, and environment. Results: After three rounds of the Delphi study, the safety resilience assessment model was developed based on the three components of preparedness, the likelihood of occurrence, and consequence. Based on the results, the preparedness component included the variables of hardware, software, and defensive preparedness, as well as access to external resources. The findings showed that experimental data, technical inspection, and the professional competence of individuals were among effective parameters in the likelihood component. Moreover, the parameters of human damage, property damage, process damage, environmental damage, and strategic and defense damage were among the effective parameters in the consequence component. In this Delphi study, all members of the expert panel confirmed the items in the algorithm, including resilience components and the variables of each component with a 75% acceptance level. Conclusion: Based on the opinions of the expert panel, the results of this Delphi study indicated that this semi-quantitative model has good reliability for the assessment of safety resilience in process industries. Therefore, the use of this model can be of great in the provision of an acceptable estimate of safety resilience in the process industry.

Purpose: To improve the understanding of the manifestations associated with computed tomography (CT) in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: An analysis of a retrospective nature was carried out on clinically-based data as well as CT manifestations in 102 patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis who were admitted to our hospital between the 24th of January, 2020 and the 5th of February, 2020. Scoring of CT manifestations was accomplished, and the total score was used to determine the severity of lung injury. Results: Of the 102 patients, 10 had mild COVID-19, 72 had COVID-19 that was classed as moderate, 16 had COVID-19 that was severe, and 4 had COVID-19 that was critically severe. In all, 92 patients developed lung lesions, among whom 85 showed bilateral lung involvement. Superior lobe lesions and lesions in the middle-inner zone of the lung less frequently affected patients who developed moderate COVID-19 as compared to patients who developed severe/critically severe COVID-19 (all P < 0.05). The lesion manifestations included ground-glass opacity shadows (98.9%) and mixed-density shadows with consolidation (45.7%). Lamellar lesions and interlobular septal thickening less frequently affected patients with COVID-19 that was moderate than in patients with COVID-19 that was severe or critically severe (P < 0.05). In terms of COVID-19 that was moderate, severe or critically severe, the average scores associated with CT were 10.68 ± 6.32, 22.31 ± 8.07, and 30.75 ± 1.89 points respectively. A cumulative CT score of ≤ 20 points was the critical point for distinguishing moderate COVID-19 from severe/critically severe COVID-19. Conclusion: With regards to CT manifestations that were associated with COVID-19, certain characteristics were demonstrated and these varied in relation to different classifications of COVID-19. Cumulative CT score could be used to evaluate the clinical classification and degree of lung damage in patients who develop COVID-19.

Numerous studies have examined the histology of metal-on-metal hip tissues for evidence of a dose response to metal wear but have often reported inconclusive or contradictory findings. The aim of the present study was to address these discrepancies using multiple histological scoring methods to characterize the tissue features of one large group of revised metal-on-metal total hips. Periprosthetic tissues from 165 metal-on-metal hip revisions were examined for features of aseptic lymphocytic vasculitis associated lesions (ALVAL) as rated using two scoring systems as well as rankings for macrophage and lymphocyte numbers, intracellular wear debris and necrosis. Correlations between histological features and clinical variables including gender and time to revision and implant variables including articular surface wear volume or visual taper corrosion scores were examined. Both ALVAL scores reflected the macrophage dominated histology with average scores of 5.9/10 and 1.5/3. There was a statistically significant correlation between the original ALVAL score and wear rate per year (correlation coefficient = 0.17, p = .05) and a moderate correlation between the number of macrophages and wear particles and wear volume. There was no statistically significant correlation between wear and any other feature including lymphocytic inflammation or necrosis. Strong correlations between combined cup and ball wear volume and histological characteristics were not observed, although the number of macrophages was more closely correlated with wear than lymphocytes or necrosis.

AIM To validate a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) and assess the dietary intake of Iranian adults. METHODS This study was conducted among 113 healthy adults in Iran. We administered twelve 24-hour dietary recalls (24DRs) during a year as a reference method. The 165-item SFFQ was administered twice, along with the first and last 24DRs. To examine validity and reproducibility of SFFQ, the correlation coefficients (r) and de-attenuated correlation coefficients and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) between 24DRs and SFFQ were calculated. The Bland-Altman method was used to assess agreement between the two methods. RESULTS De-attenuated correlations varied from 0.42 (polyunsaturated fatty acids) to 0.62 (energy) (all P

Background Accurate identification of foreign bodies (FB) using medical imaging is essential for diagnosis and determining the suitable retrieval technique. Purpose To compare the sensitivity of different imaging modalities for detecting various FB materials in soft tissue and assess the reproducibility of a scoring system for grading the conspicuity of FBs. Material and Methods Five FB materials (plastic, wood, glass, aluminum, and copper) were embedded in a tissue-mimicking phantom. Computed radiography (CR), ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were compared using a semi-quantitative 5-point Likert scale scoring system. The intra- and inter-reader reproducibility of four independent readers was analyzed using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W). Results Glass was visible on all imaging modalities. Plastic was only visible in excellent detail using ultrasound. Wood was detected in excellent resolution using ultrasound and CT using the default window while plain X-ray failed to detect it. Ultrasound was the only modality that showed aluminum in excellent quality while CT showed it with good demarcation from the surroundings. Copper was detectable in excellent detail using CR, ultrasound, and CT. MRI performance was suboptimal, especially with the plastic FB. The scoring system showed excellent intra-reader (W = 0.91, P = 0.001) and inter-reader (W = 0.88, P Conclusion Ultrasound can be used as the first line of investigation for wood, plastic, glass, and metallic FBs impacted at superficial depths in soft tissue. The semi-quantitative FB scoring system showed excellent within- and between-reader reliability, which can be used to score and compare the detection performance of new imaging techniques.

Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) assists in map-based cloning of mutant genes. However, a traditional BSA requires many high-density markers for successful linkage analysis which is labor-intensive and time-consuming. In this study, a semi-quantitative DNA analysis program was optimized and combined it with BSA, resulting in a semi-quantitative BSA (sq-BSA). The sq-BSA approach allowed evaluation of the proportions of marker-defined individuals (dominant or recessive marker types) in bulks. The sq-BSA method was used to map a male-sterility (ms) gene, ms2016, in maize. Forty polymorphic markers were screened from one-third of each chromosome (from the head or tail) for mapping. Among these markers, seven were identified as candidate gene-linked markers, of which four markers (bnlg1046, umc1563, umc1171 and umc1722) were located on chromosome 5. Using group validation, ms2016 was anchored on chromosome 5 and was most closely linked to bnlg1046. Furthermore, four new InDel markers located near bnlg1046 were screened to map the preliminary location of ms2016. The ms2016 gene was mapped to an 8.7 Mb interval flanked by the InDel polymorphic markers I5-3 (chr5:14588060) and I5-12 (chr5:23308445). Thus, this improved BSA method (sq-BSA) requires only a small number of molecular markers to quickly localize a target gene, representing a high-efficiency tool for mutant gene mapping. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers

Various studies have reported to the superiority of semiquantitative (SQ) analysis over visual analysis in detecting metabolic changes in the brain. In this study, we aimed to determine the limitations of SQ analysis programs and the current status of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scan in dementia. 18F-FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) brain images of 39 patients with a history of dementia were analyzed both visually and semiquantitatively. Using the visually markedly abnormal 18F-FDG-PET images as standard, we wanted to test the accuracy of two commercially available SQ analysis programs. SQ analysis results were classified as matching, partially matching and nonmatching with visually markedly abnormal studies. On visual analysis, 18F-FDG-PET showed marked regional hypometabolism in 19 patients, mild abnormalities in 8 and was normal in 12 patients. SQ analysis-1 results matched with visual analysis in 8 patients (42.1%) and partially matched in 11. SQ analysis-2 findings matched with visual analysis in 11 patients (57.8%) and partially matched in 7 and did not match in 1. Marked regional hypometabolism was either on the left side of the brain or was more significant on the left than the right in 63% of patients. Preservation of metabolism in sensorimotor cortex was seen in various dementia subtypes. Reviewing images in color scale and maximum intensity projection (MIP) image was helpful in demonstrating and displaying regional abnormalities, respectively. SQ analysis provides less accurate results as compared to visual analysis by experts. Due to suboptimal image registration and selection of brain areas, SQ analysis provides inaccurate results, particularly in small areas and areas in close proximity. Image registration and selection of areas with SQ programs should be checked carefully before reporting the results.

Background The dietary nutritional status of the lactating mothers is related to maternal health and has a significant impact on the growth and development of infants through the secretion of breast milk. The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is the most cost-effective dietary assessment method that can help obtain information on the usual dietary pattern of participants. Until now, the FFQs have been used for different populations in China, but there are few FFQs available for the lactating mothers. We aimed to develop a semi-quantitative, 156-item FFQ for the Chinese lactating mothers, and evaluate its reproducibility and relative validity. Methods A total of 112 lactating mothers completed two FFQs and one 3-d dietary record (3DR). The first FFQ (FFQ1) was conducted during postpartum at 60–65 days and the second FFQ (FFQ2) during subsequent follow-up at 5 weeks. The 3DR was completed with portion sizes assessed using photographs taken by the respondent before and after eating (instant photography) 1 week after FFQ1. Results For reproducibility, the Spearman’s correlation coefficients for food ranged from 0.34 to 0.68, and for nutrients from 0.25 to 0.61. Meanwhile, the intra-class correlation coefficients for food ranged from 0.48 to 0.87, and for nutrients from 0.27 to 0.70. For relative validity, the Spearman’s correlation coefficients for food ranged from 0.32 to 0.56, and for nutrients from 0.23 to 0.72. The energy-adjusted coefficients for food ranged from 0.26 to 0.55, and for nutrients from 0.22 to 0.47. Moreover, the de-attenuation coefficients for food ranged from 0.34 to 0.67, and for nutrients from 0.28 to 0.77. The Bland-Altman plots also showed reasonably acceptable agreement between the two methods. Conclusions This FFQ is a reasonably reproducible and a relative valid tool for assessing dietary intake of the Chinese lactating mothers.

Salivagram is one of the imaging modalities to detect pulmonary aspiration in children. This study aims to optimize the classification of pulmonary aspiration detected by salivagram with a semi-quantitative analytical method. This is a retrospective study involving 737 patients (471 males, 266 females; aged 1 month to 8 years; mean age 5.3 months, median age 3.0 months old) with suspected pulmonary aspiration, who had salivagram done between January 2018 and June 2019. Positive cases were divided into 10 groups (Grade 1, R2, L2, R2L2, R3, L3, R3L2, R2L3, R3L3, and 4) according to the scintigraphic findings. Aspiration index was determined as the ratio of the count in the respiratory tract to the total count in the image field of view and compared among different groups using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. A total of 180 cases had positive scintigraphic findings of various grades of aspiration (24.4%, 180/737). There is a high consistency among the two independent nuclear medicine physicians involved in the study, in determining both the disease gradings (κ = 0.919;95% CI: 0.915–0.923) and aspiration index (ICC = 0.994;95% CI: 0.993–0.996). There is no significant difference (p > 0.05) in aspiration index among the gradings in “mild” group (grade 1, R2, L2, L2R2), and “moderate” group (grade R3, R3L2, R3L3). After dividing the different grades into “mild”, “moderate” and “severe” groups, the aspiration index of “mild” group is 4.40 ± 2.01, that of “moderate” group is 16.43 ± 8.20, and that of “severe” group is 46.94 ± 14.81. Difference in groups was statistically significant (p

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the total amount, size and heterogeneity of debris captured among different transcatheter valve types and while repositioning. Methods and results: A total of 328 patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with the SENTINEL cerebral embolic protection (CEP) at our centre were eligible. Histopathological and semiquantitative analysis of captured debris was performed and data were entered into our prospective database. TAVI was performed with either the Evolut R/PRO (N=123), SAPIEN 3 (N=113) or Lotus valve (N=92). Capture of debris occurred in 98% of patients. Lotus TAVI resulted in more frequent foreign body material (62% vs 40% vs 47%, p=0.006), endothelium (49% vs 30% vs 16%, p

Objective 123I metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy is a useful tool for the diagnosis of neuroblastoma (NB). MIBG uptake is correlated with norepinephrine transporter expression; hence, it is expected that high-MIBG tumors would be more highly differentiated and have a better prognosis than those with lower expression. We have introduced a method of assessing MIBG accumulation semi-quantitatively using SPECT/CT fusion images. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of 123I MIBG uptake measured by semi-quantitative values of SPECT/CT and early relapse of NB. Methods We studied the cases of 11 patients (5 males and 6 females, age 5–65 months, median age 20 months) with histopathologically proven NB between April 2010 and March 2015. The early-relapse group was defined as patients who had relapsed within 3 years after the first 123I MIBG SPECT/CT exam. Other patients were classified as the delay-relapse group. Uptake of MIBG was evaluated using the count ratio of tumor and muscles. T/Mmax and T/Mmean were defined as follows: T/Mmax = max count of tumor/max count of muscle, T/Mmean = mean count of tumor/mean count of muscle. Results The average T/Mmean values of the early-relapse group and delay-relapse group were 2.65 ± 0.58 and 7.66 ± 2.68, respectively. The T/Mmean values of the early-relapse group were significantly lower than those of delay-relapse group (p Conclusions Low 123I MIBG uptake using semi-quantitative SPECT/CT analysis was correlated with early relapse of NB.

Identification and quantification of environmental and socio-economic impact risks and effective monitoring of water projects are crucial for sustainable water resource management. Hence, the present study was conducted with the objectives of identifying potential environmental risks of different stages of the development of a new water supply scheme located in the wet zone of Sri Lanka, and categorizing identified impacts based on their significance. A rapid environmental assessment (REA) was followed to identify the upstream point source pollution and downstream water uses in the immediate catchment. Subsequently, a semi quantitative approach was conducted to screen the environmental, social, and economic risks concerning likelihood and sensitivity of the impact. Besides, an analysis of physico-chemical and biological parameters of water quality was conducted in the intake location. The semi quantitative method highlighted that low and medium risk with ecological impacts (50%), low risks towards sustainability of water source (75%), medium level constructional impacts (60%), and very high-level impacts at the operational stage were available (50%). A water quality monitoring program revealed that Escherichia coli count, total coliform bacterial count, and colour of the water were above the standard limits in the nearby freshwater source. In conclusion, a similar approach can be implemented worldwide as a reference to determine the potential socio-environmental consequences in water supply projects to minimize the adverse impacts. Through this study, sustainable mitigation measures were proposed accordingly to prevent the impacts and to strengthen the long-term viability of the new Rural Water Supply Scheme. HIGHLIGHTS The safety of drinking water is an ongoing concern within the world.; To reach the targets of safe drinking water, sanitation services should be strengthened.; Identifying potential environmental risks of new water supply projects is crucial for sustainable water resource management.; Rapid environmental assessment and semi quantitative approaches can be applied to screen the socio-economic and environmental risks of water sanitization projects.; Results revealed 50% of ecological, 60% constructional impacts, and 50% operational stage impacts.; Implementing a sustainable environment plan is vital to control environmental impacts.

Antimicrobial resistance is increasingly recognized as a major threat to global health. To combat this emerging threat, accessible antimicrobial susceptibility testing should be prioritized as a key component of stewardship efforts. In this work, we developed a user-friendly paper-based test that provides visual readout of bacterial antibiotic susceptibility in a semiquantitative format. We leveraged on-chip paper microfluidics to enable multiplexed testing of multiple antibiotic dilutions with a single sample addition step, replicating the functionality of traditional broth-dilution-based susceptibility testing in a simplified format. Our paper-based test offers several advantages including low sample volume requirement and lack of need for humidity control during incubation, an innovation that addresses a key limitation of conventional paper-microfluidic devices. Using several clinically relevant bacterial organisms and antimicrobial agents, we demonstrate that our colorimetric readout approach provides a strong predictor of susceptibility category.

Aiming at the problem that the existing risk assessment methods in China cannot simply and accurately assess the safety risk of gas wells, a rapid semi-quantitative risk assessment method for gas wells under high temperature and pressure is studied. Based on the rapid risk assessment method of annulus well with pressure in Chevron Company and the existing risk assessment methods, the well barrier and annulus pressure of high temperature and high pressure gas wells are fully considered. A rapid semi-quantitative risk assessment method for high temperature and high pressure gas wells is established, which takes the annulus pressure value, well service life, annulus pressure recovery after pressure relief, reservoir conditions (formation pressure, production) and well CO2 and H2S content as the key risk indexes. The method is applied in a gas field, and the risk value and risk grade of a practical well are semi-quantitatively evaluated. The overall risk situation of the well is obtained. The research results provide important technical guidance for the safe production of gas well.

Tibetan hulless barley (“qingke” in Chinese) is a valuable food in Tibet. Purple qingke (PQK) and black qingke (BQK), two special pigmented types of hulless barley, have traditionally been widely cultivated and consumed in Tibet for thousands of years. The composition and contents of anthocyanins of two cultivars are unknown. This study aimed to explore the composition and contents of anthocyanins of two cultivars and their antioxidant capacities. Six anthocyanins were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry from barley, most of the anthocyanins were acylated by malonyl group. The total anthocyanin contents ranged from 141 to 2,304 μg/g in PQK and from 248.7 to 2902.9 μg/g in BQK. Furthermore, qingke has strong antioxidant activity against DPPH, ABTS˙+, and FRAP. Qingke may be useful for treating or preventing diseases caused by the overproduction of radicals.

Purpose. To investigate the semi-quantitative assessment of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT in patients with prosthetic valve infectious endocarditis (PV IE) and without it. Material and methods. The analysis included results of 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations performed in 50 patients with PV – with surgically confirmed IE (n=30) and with malignancies used as control group (n=20). PET/CT results were assessed visually and semiquantitatively with calculation of parameters of 18F-FDG uptake intensity in the PV area – SUVmax and SUVratio. SUVratio was calculated as SUVmax in the CIED to SUVmean in the reference zone – aortic blood pool and liver parenchyma. Results. Visual analysis of PET/CT results revealed abnormal 18Ffluorodeoxyglucose uptake in all patients with IE (n=30); in the control group the uptake was normal in all cases (n=20). In semiquantitative analysis all parameters in the PV zone, SUVmax and two types of SUVratios, were higher in patients with confirmed IE, compared to patients without it (p

Context: Despite advances in understanding into the pathophysiology of chronic hepatitis B, liver biopsy evaluation on H&E stained sections has stood the test of time. There is therefore, a need to re-visit the most commonly used scoring systems with an aim to look for an ideal semi-quantitative system which is objective, simple to apply and versatile enough to incorporate newer advances. Aims: To compare various semi-quantitative scoring systems with a view to (a) look for consistency in reporting, (b) assess usefulness in follow-up and (c) recommend a scoring system that is practical and easy to apply. Settings and Design: Chronic hepatitis B was defined as HBsAg positive status for at least six months. All liver biopsies were evaluated using semi-quantitative scoring systems viz the Knodell, Ishak’s modified HAI and Scheuer systems. Materials and Methods: Baseline biopsies were assessed for intra- and inter-observer variation in order to find the system best suited for routine use. The observer variation was also calculated separately for portal, peri-portal and lobular inflammation as well as for fibrosis. Statistical Analysis used: A Kappa analysis up to 95% confidence interval was done to look for statistical significance of inter- and intra-observer agreement between the three scoring systems. Results: On multivariate Kappa analysis, it was found that both inter- and intra-observer agreement were comparable in the Knodell and Ishak systems, and was significantly better with the Scheuer system. Further, agreement was better with fibrosis than with necro-inflammatory scores. Conclusions: The authors recommend Ishak’s modified system as it conveyed the most relevant and exhaustive information. Keywords: Chronic hepatitis B, Ishak’s system, Knodell’s system, Liver biopsy, Scheuer system, Semi-quantitative scoring systems.

We monitored a large-scale implementation of the Simple Amplification-Based Assay semi-quantitative viral load test for HIV-1 version I (SAMBA I Viral Load = SAMBA I VL) within Médecins Sans Frontières' HIV programmes in Malawi and Uganda, to assess its performance and operational feasibility.Descriptive analysis of routine programme data between August 2013 and December 2016. The dataset included samples collected for VL monitoring and tested using SAMBA I VL in five HIV clinics in Malawi (four peripheral health centres and one district hospital), and one HIV clinic in a regional referral hospital in Uganda. SAMBA I VL was used for VL testing in patients who had been receiving ART for between 6 months and ten years, to determine whether plasma VL was above or below 1000 copies/mL of HIV-1, reflecting ART failure or efficacy. Randomly selected samples were quantified with commercial VL assays. SAMBA I instruments and test performance, site throughput, and delays in communicating results to clinicians and patients were monitored.Between August 2013 and December 2016 a total of 60 889 patient samples were analysed with SAMBA I VL. Overall, 0.23% of initial SAMBA I VL results were invalid; this was reduced to 0.04% after repeating the test once. Global test failure, including instrument failure, was 1.34%. Concordance with reference quantitative testing of VL was 2620/2727, 96.0% (1338/1382, 96.8% in Malawi; 1282/1345, 95.3% in Uganda). For Chiradzulu peripheral health centres and Arua Hospital HIV clinic, where testing was performed on-site, same-day results were communicated to clinicians for between 91% and 97% of samples. Same-day clinical review was obtained for 84.7% across the whole set of samples tested.SAMBA I VL testing is feasible for monitoring cohorts of 1000 to 5000 ART-experienced patients. Same-day results can be used to inform rapid clinical decision-making at rural and remote health facilities, potentially reducing time available for development of resistance and conceivably helping to reduce morbidity and mortality.Nous avons suivi une mise en œuvre à grande échelle du test de la charge virale semi-quantitative du VIH -1 basé sur de Test de Simple Amplification version I (SAMBA I Viral Load = SAMBA I VL) au sein des programmes VIH de Médecins Sans Frontières au Malawi et en Ouganda, afin d’évaluer sa performance et sa faisabilité opérationnelle. MÉTHODES: Analyse descriptive des données du programme de routine entre août 2013 et décembre 2016. L'ensemble des données comprenait des échantillons collectés pour le suivi de la CV et testés à l'aide de SAMBA I VL dans cinq cliniques VIH au Malawi (quatre centres de santé périphériques et un hôpital de district), et une clinique VIH dans un hôpital régional de référence en Ouganda. SAMBA I VL a été utilisé pour le test de la CV chez les patients qui recevaient l’ART depuis 6 mois à dix ans, afin de déterminer si la CV plasmatique était supérieure ou inférieure à 1000 copies/ml de VIH-1, reflétant l'échec ou l'efficacité de l’ART. Des échantillons sélectionnés aléatoirement ont été quantifiés avec des tests de CV commerciaux. Les instruments de SAMBA I et les performances des tests, le débit du site et les délais dans la communication des résultats aux cliniciens et aux patients ont été suivis. RÉSULTATS: Entre août 2013 et décembre 2016, un total de 60.889 échantillons de patients ont été analysés avec SAMBA I VL. Dans l'ensemble, 0,23% des résultats initiaux de SAMBA I VL étaient invalides; ceux-ci ont été été réduits à 0,04% après avoir répété le test une fois. L'échec global du test, y compris l'échec de l'instrument, était de 1,34%. La concordance avec les tests quantitatifs de référence de la CV était de 2620/2727; 96,0% (1338/1382; 96,8% au Malawi; 1282/1345; 95,3% en Ouganda). Pour les centres de santé périphériques de Chiradzulu et la clinique VIH de l'hôpital d'Arua, où les tests ont été effectués sur place, les résultats ont été communiqués le jour même aux cliniciens pour entre 91% et 97% des échantillons. Un examen clinique le jour même a été obtenu pour 84,7% de l'ensemble des échantillons testés.Le test SAMBA I VL est réalisable pour le suivi de cohortes de 1.000 à 5.000 patients déjà sous ART. Les résultats le jour même peuvent être utilisés pour éclairer la prise de décision clinique rapide dans les établissements de santé ruraux et éloignés, réduisant potentiellement le temps disponible pour le développement de la résistance et contribuant éventuellement à réduire la morbidité et la mortalité.

Introduction: A valid food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is a priority for epidemiological studies. We aimed to perform a relative validity of an FFQ for Portuguese adolescents. Methods: A semi-quantitative Portuguese FFQ (SQ-PortFood-FQ) was developed and the relative validity performed using the multiple-pass 24-h recall. Eighty adolescents (aged 10–17 years) completed both questionnaires to measure energy intake, macro- and specific micronutrient intake. We used the following methods for the relative validity: (1) Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r); (2) cross-classification into the same third (agreement) and into the opposite third (disagreement); (3) weighted κ-coefficient (κW); (4) and the Bland-Altman method. Results: We obtained acceptable correlation coefficients between questionnaires for energy (r =0.59; p < 0.001), protein (r =0.60; p< 0.001), fat (r = 0.55; p < 0.001), carbohydrates (r =0.51; p < 0.001) and sodium (r =0.51; p < 0.001). Tertile agreement for energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates and vitamin C intakes classified correctly more than 50% and grossly misclassified less than 10% of participants. Energy and protein produced moderate agreement between methods with a κW >0.40. The SQ-PortFood-FQ overestimated all analysed data when compared to the 24-h recall, although those estimations were Discussion/Conclusion: The SQ-PortFood-FQ showed acceptable relative validity at the individual level for energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, fibre, calcium, sodium, iron, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Non-significant relationships were found for vitamin C and PUFA. Our results are in line with previous studies carried out amongst adolescents. As far as we know this is the first FFQ validated for Portuguese adolescents.

Background Chest CT is an essential and simple diagnostic method for early detection of pulmonary changes in COVID-19 patients. Semi-quantitative technique depending on both visual and color coded images helps to improve the early detection of COVID-19 chest affection and thus help to control spread of infection. Results From first of May to July 15, 2020, 30 patients in Cairo, Egypt who have positive RT-PCR tests and positive pulmonary manifestation were included in our study, 26 patients (86.6%) with faint ground glass opacities were detected by both visual and color coded images, while in 4 patients (13.3%) were only visualized by color coded images and confirmed by CT density assessment. Conclusion The combined use of visual and color coded images enhance and improve the early detection of faint ground glass opacities seen in early COVID-19 affection.

International audience

Development of selective and sensitive methods for on-site assay of tetracycline (TC) is of great significance for public health and food safety. Herein, a valid ratiometric fluorescence strategy using g-C3N4 nanosheets coupled with Eu3+ is designed for the assay of TC. In this strategy, both Eu3+ and g-C3N4 nanosheets serve as the recognition units of TC. The blue fluorescence of g-C3N4 nanosheets can be quenched by TC via the inner filter effect (IFE); meanwhile, the red fluorescence of Eu3+ can be enhanced by TC through the antenna effect (AE). The synergistic effect of AE and IFE caused by TC makes the developed ratiometric fluorescent sensor display a wide linear range for TC from 0.25 to 80 μM with a detection limit of 6.5 nM and a significant fluorescence color evolution from blue to red. Given its simplicity, free-label, excellent selectivity, high sensitivity, and recognizable color change, point-of-care testing systems, including smartphones and test paper-based assays, are developed for the visual sensing of TC. The integration of smartphones and test paper on a ratiometric fluorescent sensor greatly reduces the detection cost and time, providing a promising method for the qualitative discernment and semi-quantitative assay of TC on-site. Moreover, the potential application of the approach is also verified by detecting TC in milk.

Background A number of emerging studies have evaluated clot composition in acute ischemic stroke. Studies of clot composition of embolic strokes of undetermined strokes are lacking. Objectives We sought to analyze the RBC to platelet ratios in clots and correlated our findings with stroke etiology. Methods This was a prospective study analyzing clots retrieved by mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients at our institution. All clots were stained and scanned at 200x magnification by using a Scanscope XT digital scanner (Apergio, Vista, California). Image-J software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland) was used for semi quantitative analysis of percentage RBC’s and platelets. Unpaired t-test was used to compare means of RBC to Platelet ratios. Correlation of RBC to Platelet ratios with stroke etiology was performed. Results A total of 33 clots from 33 patients were analyzed. Stroke etiology was undetermined in 6 patients, cardioembolic in 14, large vessel atherosclerosis (LVA) in 9, and carotid dissection in 4. The mean RBC to platelet ratio was 0.78:1 (+/− 0.65) in cardioembolic clots, 1.73:1 (+/− 2.38) in LVA and 1.4:1(+/− 0.70) in carotid dissections. Although patients with undetermined etiology had a similar clot composition to cardioembolic stroke (0.36:1+/− 0.33), (p = 0.19), it differed significantly from LVA and dissections respectively (p = 0.037, p = 0.01). Conclusion In our study, a low RBC to Platelet ratio was found among patients with embolic strokes of undetermined source, however shared similar characteristics with cardioembolic thrombi. Ongoing collection and analysis is needed to confirm these findings and its significance in evaluating stroke etiology.

Lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT) embraces a heterogenous group of thyroiditis and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) provides a safe and reliable method of diagnosing it. This present study was undertaken to analyze and grade Lymphocytic thyroiditis on cytology smears and compare the severity of thyroiditis with Thyroid Function Tests (TFT). Periodic assessment of Thyroid Function Tests and sub-classification of Lymphocytic thyroiditis on FNAC assists in early diagnosis of Lymphocytic thyroiditis and helps to monitor the progression of the disease state. Materials and methods: This prospective study was conducted on 150 patients attending FNAC clinic at a tertiary level care hospital over a period of two years. Various parameters like Clinical signs & symptoms, Thyroid Function Tests, FNAC of thyroid gland, semi- quantitative grading on cytology smears were noted and results were analysed statistically. Results: One hundred and fifty patients diagnosed as Lymphocytic thyroiditis on FNAC, showed a female predominance (96.7%) with a peak age group between 21-30 years. Clinically majority of them had a diffuse thyromegaly (88.0%) and 48.0% were biochemically hypothyroid. On sub-classifying cytology smears, Grade 1(mild) Thyroiditis was noted in 20%, Grade 2(moderate) in 64.0% and Grade 3(severe) in 16.0% of the cases. Few cases showed the presence of abundant colloid associated with LT in 22.0% of the cases. Positive Statistical association was seen between Grade 3 Lymphocytic thyroiditis and TSH levels (p=0.03), while Grade 1 & 2 of Lymphocytic thyroiditis did not show any correlation. Conclusion: Despite the availability of several tests in diagnosing Lymphocytic thyroiditis, FNAC remains a gold standard test, especially in early stages of the disease. Co-existence of Lymphocytic thyroiditis & colloid is not unusual, particularly in post-iodization era.

Background Diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) depends on the presence of clinical, radiological and microbiological findings. Endotracheal suction aspirate (ETSA) is the commonest respiratory sample sent for culture from intubated patients. Very few studies have compared quantitative and semi-quantitative processing of ETSA cultures for LRTI diagnosis. We determined the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative and semi-quantitative ETSA culture for LRTI diagnosis, agreement between the quantitative and semi quantitative culture techniques and the yield of respiratory pathogens with both methods. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Aga Khan University clinical laboratory, Karachi, Pakistan. One hundred and seventy-eight ETSA samples sent for routine bacteriological cultures were processed quantitatively as part of regular specimen processing method and semi-quantitatively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy was calculated for both methods using clinical diagnosis of pneumonia as reference standard. Agreement between the quantitative and semi quantitative methods was assessed via the kappa statistic test. Pathogen yield between the two methods was compared using Pearson’s chi-square test. Results The quantitative and semi-quantitative methods yielded pathogens in 81 (45.5%) and 85 (47.8%) cases respectively. There was complete concordance of both techniques in 155 (87.1%) ETSA samples. No growth was observed in 45 (25.3%) ETSA specimens with quantitative culture and 37 (20.8%) cases by semi-quantitative culture. The diagnostic accuracy of both techniques were comparable; 64.6% for quantitative and 64.0% for semi-quantitative culture. The kappa agreement was found to be 0.84 (95% CI, 0.77–0.91) representing almost perfect agreement between the two methods. Although semi-quantitative cultures yielded more pathogens (47.8%) as compared to quantitative ETSA cultures (45.5%), the difference was only 2.3%. However, this difference achieved statistical (chi-square p-value Conclusion In conclusion, there is a strong agreement between the performances of both methods of processing ETSA cultures in terms of accuracy of LRTI diagnosis. Semi-quantitative cultures of ETSA yielded more pathogens as compared to quantitative cultures. Although both techniques were comparable, we recommend processing of ETSA using semi-quantitative technique due to its ease and reduced processing time.

Riccardo Mastrantonio,1 Maria Scatigna,1 Marco D’Abramo,2 Viviana Martinez,3 Antonio Paoletti,1 Leila Fabiani1 1Department of Life, Health & Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy; 2Freelance Health and Safety Technician, Frosinone, Italy; 3Abruzzo e Molise Interregional Transplant Coordination Centre, ASL1 Abruzzo, L’Aquila, ItalyCorrespondence: Riccardo Mastrantonio Email riccardomastrantonio@yahoo.itPurpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of some chemical risk assessment semi-quantitative methods and also to identify potential bias or differences originated by applying different methods to the same activities.Methods: We collected the data related to the chemical agents used in three different activities of three laboratories of an Italian university; the methods we compared were: MoVaRisCh, COSHH Essentials, LaboRisCh and Datarisch.Results: The input parameters requested by each method are shown for each activity and for each used chemical. We collected the results obtained since the application of the four different tools in three tables. The use of some chemicals (especially of the activity n° three) shows a not irrelevant risk for the users.Conclusion: Our findings show that COSHH Essentials, MoVaRisCh and Datarisch tools are consistent in the identification of a risk level; the small differences are related to risk rating, to be considered in relation with the specific structure of the method applied. The differences detected in the risk rating may be overcome by applying, for each working activity we want to assess, two or more different semi-quantitative tools. This strategy can allow to reduce the exposure to chemicals of the workers.Keywords: chemical risk, work exposure, chemical exposure, construction industry

Background The toxicity and health risks of mycotoxins have encouraged increased awareness and strict monitoring of these contaminants in agricultural by-products. In this paper, we developed and tested a sensitive, selective, and self-assembling immunochromatographic (IC) strip for on-site detection of ochratoxin A (OTA). We were able to demonstrate semi-quantitative and quantitative detection of OTA in agricultural by-product samples. Results The optimized IC strip had a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 ng mL-1 OTA using the naked eye for semi-quantitative detection. When a digitized strip reader was used to achieve quantitative results, the LOD for OTA was reduced to 0.1 ng mL-1 with a linear detection range of 0.1-10 ng mL-1 . We also evaluated the specificity, stability, accuracy, and precision of the IC strip and demonstrated high performance in all of these areas. We then confirmed the ability of the IC strip to visually detect OTA contamination in authentic agricultural by-product samples from the markets in China. Furthermore, quantitative detection of OTA using the IC strip showed that the concentration of OTA ranged from 1.7 to 101.3 ng g-1 in the positive agricultural by-product samples, correlating well with the measurements obtained via liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Conclusion The results indicated that this proposed IC strip was capable of sensitive, semi-quantitative, quantitative, and on-site detection of OTA contamination in agricultural by-product samples. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Immunochromatographic assay (ICA) has been used widely for the onsite monitoring of illegal additives due to its simplicity, speed, and low cost. However, a scanner is commonly required for ICA to achieve quantitative results. In this work, we developed a visual semi-quantitative ICA for sibutramine, a banned additive in diet foods, without the need for a scanner for measurement. Monoclonal antibodies specific for sibutramine were raised and conjugated with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as the luminescent tracer. ICA was developed by employing multiple test lines to achieve the semi-quantitative detection of sibutramine. Based on the optimal conditions, the cutoff levels (limit of quantitation, LOQ) of T1 line, T2 line, T3 line, and T4 line were 0.02 μg/mL, 0.15 μg/mL, 1.0 μg/mL, and 7.5 μg/mL, respectively, in buffer system. The ICA demonstrated a LOQ at 0.2 mg/kg for sibutramine in diet food samples. The assay (including pretreatment) can be finished within 30 min without the aid of other instruments, except a laser pen. No false positive or false negative results were observed. The results indicated that the proposed method was reliable, simple, and rapid for the screening of sibutramine abuse in diet food samples.

The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic ability of N-isopropyl-p-[I-123] iodoamphetamine (IMP) SPECT semi-quantitative evaluation based on the standardized uptake value (SUV) in patients with choroidal melanoma. The secondary aim was to investigate the 6-h IMP SPECT imaging in comparison with 24-h imaging. Twenty-five patients (14 males and 11 females, mean age of 59.2-year-old) were analyzed in this retrospective study. Patients underwent 24-h IMP SPECT imaging with a gamma camera after intravenous injection of IMP. Twelve of 25 patients underwent 6-h SPECT imaging in addition to the 24-h imaging. All acquired SPECT images were fused with CT images using an image-analysis software. To assess the utility of semi-quantitative evaluation method, we introduced an image evaluation method using SUVmax comparing with conventional count-based uptake index (UI) evaluation of the lesion. Volumes-of-interest (VOIs) for SUVmax and regions-of-interest (ROIs) for UI were drawn referring to the SPECT-CT fusion image. Then the relationship between the 6- and 24-h images was examined both in SUV and UI evaluation. Furthermore, the relationship between the size category classification (SCC) by UICC/AJCC: 1–4 scales and each semi-quantitative value using SUVmax and UI was also assessed. SUVmax of the tumor was significantly higher than that of the normal side; 2.37 ± 0.88 and 1.77 ± 0.39 (P

Amarogentin (AG), a biologically active secoiridoid glycoside, is responsible for the efficacy of Gentianaceae based medications. Thus, qualitative and quantitative analyses of AG are of significance for batch to batch quality control purposes. By conjugating colloidal gold nanoparticles with the AG-specific monoclonal antibody, MAb 1E9, we were able to develop a single-step competitive immunochromatographic assay (ICA) for simple quantification of the AG content in plant samples. With a limit of detection of 250 ng/mL, the analytical results were obtained after immersing the ICA test strip in the detection mixture for 15 min. This new ICA is superior to conventional ICAs as it is considerably faster due to the speed with which the test strips can be produced and the omission of the time-consuming preparation phase that was previously required to make the fiber pad. Moreover, our ICA only needs a small amount of analyte (20 µL).The reliability of the reported test strip was confirmed by comparing its semi-quantitative results with those obtained via an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA). The positive correlation between these methods (R

Objective To investigate in the CT manifestations of severe and critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods Medical data was collected for 2 severe patients and 4 critical COVID-19 patients from onset to their recovery. Three or four CT scans for each patient were taken. The semi-quantitative analysis method was introduced for lesion and its distribution area. Results The ground-glass opacities (GGO) and mixed GGO with consolidation were found as the most frequent features. Consolidation followed, and the appearance of stripes which showed an increasing trend before the patient was discharged. Consolidation was associated with clinical severity and disease progression, and the rapid change of the lesion in a short period of time was also a notable feature within 2–3 weeks. After being discharged, the efficacy of treatment could be demonstrated by a follow up CT scan. The distribution of lesion also showed dynamic progress in the follow up CT scan. Conclusion CT scans in the whole course provided the entire inflammation information to assess clinical severity, disease progression and the treatment efficacy for COVID-19.