• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.17-24
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the diagnosis of incipient furcation involvement with periapical radiography (PR) and 2 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging protocols, and to test metal artifact interference. Materials and Methods: Mandibular second molars in 10 macerated pig mandibles were divided into those that showed no furcation involvement and those with lesions in the furcation area. Exams using PR and 2 different CBCT imaging protocols were performed with and without a metallic post. Each image was analyzed twice by 2 observers who rated the absence or presence of furcation involvement according to a 5-point scale. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the observations. Results: The accuracy of the CBCT imaging protocols ranged from 67.5% to 82.5% in the images obtained with a metallic post and from 72.5% to 80% in those without a metallic post. The accuracy of PR ranged from 37.5% to 55% in the images with a metallic post and from 42.5% to 62.5% in those without a metallic post. The area under the ROC curve values for the CBCT imaging protocols ranged from 0.813 to 0.802, and for PR ranged from 0.503 to 0.448. Conclusion: Both CBCT imaging protocols showed higher accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity than PR in the detection of incipient furcation involvement. Based on these results, CBCT may be considered a reliable tool for detecting incipient furcation involvement following a clinical periodontal exam, even in the presence of a metallic post.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.89-94
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• 2014

Purpose: Vertical root fracture (VRF) is a common complication in endodontically treated teeth. Considering the poor prognosis of VRF, a reliable and valid detection method is necessary. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been reported to be a reliable tool for the detection of VRF; however, the presence of metallic intracanal posts can decrease the diagnostic values of CBCT systems. This study evaluated and compared the effects of intracanal stainless steel or titanium posts on the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of VRF detection using a NewTom VG CBCT system. Materials and Methods: Eighty extracted single-rooted teeth were selected and sectioned at the cemento-enamel junction. The roots were divided into two groups of 40. Root fracture was induced in the test group by using an Instron machine, while the control group was kept intact. Roots were randomly embedded in acrylic blocks and radiographed with the NewTom VG, both with titanium and stainless steel posts and also without posts. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values were calculated as compared to the gold standard. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of VRF diagnosis were significantly lower in teeth with stainless steel and titanium posts than in those without posts. Interobserver agreement was the highest in teeth without posts, followed by stainless steel posts, and then titanium posts. Conclusion: Intracanal posts significantly decreased the VRF diagnostic values of CBCT. The stainless steel posts decreased the diagnostic values more than the titanium posts.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.1379-1383
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• 2016

Background: Basal and squamous cell carcinoma (BCC and SCC) are the most common skin cancers worldwide and distinction between the two may sometimes be very difficult in routine histopathology. The present study was aimed to evaluate a reliable diagnostic method for these cancers based on immunohistochemistry (IHC). Materials and Methods: IHC was used with antibodies to Bcl-2, CD10, CEA, and EMA biomarkers, which despite non-specificity are easily available for detection of various types of tumors in pathology sections and can be used as a panel for differentiation. In this descriptive and analytic study, paraffin-embedded blocks of 29 SCC patients and 29 BCC patients were collected and sectioned for IHC staining. The results were analyzed by the STATA (version 8) statistical package using the Chi-square test. Results: BCC patients were 100%, 75.8%, 0% and 0% positive for Bcl-2, CD10, CEA and EMA markers, respectively, and for SCC patients were 3.5%, 0%, 34.5% and 82.7% positive, respectively. Using simultaneously Bcl-2 and CD10 as positive markers, detection of BCC with 88% accuracy and 100% specificity was possible, while application of CEA and EMA positivity could detect SCC with 67% accuracy and 100% specificity. Conclusions: SCC and BCC have different immunostaining profiles; therefore, Bcl-2, CD10, CEA and EMA markers can be helpful to distinguish between them.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.26-31
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• 2013

The cytology of sputum specimens, at a medical facility in Korea, is using the liquid-based cytology and conventional smear method. It confirms the diagnosis using conventional smear methods and the liquid-based cytology. In addition, the diagnosis uses two kinds of each method, compares the suitability, sensitivity and specificity for each test and tries to understand the efficient method needed. It divided sputum specimens in half and liquid-based cytology. A conventional smear method was conducted and the Papanicolaou's staining was conducted using Autostainer. Diagnosed each slide of staining produced smear slides specimens by using an optical microscope. The result of the liquid-based cytology and conventional smear method was that the liquid-based cytology was of a higher-grade than the conventional smear method. It was 36.8%, and 62.8% in the same condition. But only one case was of a lower grade. Liquid-based cytology showed 86.2% of adequacy, 31.0% of sensitivity and 97.5% of specificity. The conventional smear method showed 54.4% of adequacy, 19.6% of sensitivity and 100% of specificity. If it was conducted with two methods at the same time, the results would be similar to the liquid-based cytology. In conclusion, liquid-based cytology has a more superior adequacy and sensitivity than the conventional smear method. The combination of the two methods is similar to the result of only conducting a liquid-based cytology. Conducting a liquid-based cytology rather than the combination of the two ways of sputum cytoscopy, is to be considered as an efficient method to achieve diagnostic accuracy, reduce labor of clinical technologist and pathologist, and to reduce the expense of patients.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.222-225
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• 2016

식품에서 대장균군을 효율적으로 분리하기 위해 대장균군 선택배지 5종: Chromocult Chromocult coliform agar (Merck), Hicrome coliform agar (Sigma), CHROMagar ECC, Brilliance E.coli/coliform medium (OXOID), endo agar (Merck)을 선별하여 식품 분리 대장균군 83종 및 표준균주 21종에 대해서 민감도와 특이도를 분석한 결과 Chromocult coliform agar와 HICrome coliform agar에서 94%도 민감도가 가장 높았으며, Brilliance E.coli/coliform medium는 93%, CHROMagar ECC는 92%, ENDO agar는 74%의 민감도를 나타냈다. Chromocult coliform agar와 HICrome coliform agar는 대장균군의 회수율도 높았다. 그러므로 Chromocult coliform agar와 HICrome coliform agar는 대장균군을 분리하는데 가장 효율적인 배지로 생각된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.1907-1910
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• 2012

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and the fifth cause of cancer death in Iranian women. Early detection and treatment are important for appropriate management of this disease. Mammography and ultrasonography are used for screening and evaluation of symptomatic cases and the main diagnostic test for breast cancer is pathological. In this study we evaluated mammography and ultrasonography as diagnostic tools. Methods: In this cross-sectional study 384 mammography and ultrasonography reports for 255 women were assessed, divided into benign and malignant groups. Suspected cases were referred for pathology evaluation. The radiologic and pathologic reports were compared and also comparison was performed based on age groups (more and less than 50 years old), history of breastfeeding and gravidity. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS. Results: The mean ages of malignant and benign cases were $49{\pm}11.6$ and $43{\pm}11.2$ years, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for mammography were 73% and 45%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for ultrasonography were 69% and 49%, respectively. There were statistical differences between specificity of mammography in patients based on factors such as history of gravidity, breastfeeding and sensitivity in patients equal or more than 50 years old and less. Conclusion: Factors affecting different results in mammography and ultrasonography reports were classified into three groups, consisting of skill, experience and training of medical staff, and setting of instruments. It is recommended that health managers in developing countries pay attention the quality of setting and man power more than current status. Policy-makers and managers must establish guidelines regarding breast imaging in Iran.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.233-238
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• 2012

The precise diagnosis of the acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and immunocompromsied patients has critical importance. Most of the commercially available assays use the whole Toxoplasma soluble extract as the antigen. However, the assays currently available for the detection of specific anti-Toxoplasma antibodies may vary in their abilities to detect serum immunoglobulins, due to the lack of a purified standardized antigen. The aim of this study was production and evaluation of the usefulness of the recombinant Toxoplasma gondii GRA7 antigen for the serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG by ELISA. A total of 70 T. gondii IgM positive sera, 74 T. gondii IgG positive sera, and 60 sera from subjects who were not infected with T. gondii were examined. These sera were shown different absorbance values in ELISA test. To control the specificity of the rGRA7 other parasitic diseases, for example, echinococcosis, malaria, leishmaniasis, fascioliasis, and strongyloidiasis were tested of which none showed positive results. Sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgG ELISA in comparison with commercial ELISA (com ELISA) were 89% and 90%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgM ELISA were 96% and 90%, respectively. The results obtained here show that this antigen is useful for diagnostic purposes.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.66-69
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• 1999

Background and Objectives: It is critical to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid nodule and to select a patient for surgery. Even though the U/S study dose not make great contribution to diagnose a malignant thyroid nodule, it is widely used in the evaluation of anatomic feature of thyroid. The authors tried to estimate the efficacy of the U/S study in preoperative diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodule. Materials and Method: At the department of General Surgery of Ajou University, 75 patients who were operated after diagnosis with thyroid nodule by U/S study between July 1996 to June 1997 were retrospectively analyzed. By comparing the U/S impression that implies malignant thyroid nodule to FNAC and post-operative pathologic results ware as follows. Results: 1) Absence of cystic change, presence of internal hypoechogenicity, lobulation, calcification, thick and irregular halo, and nodule more than 4cm in diameter on U/S were considered significant statistically for the diagnosis of malignancy(Chi-square test, p<0.05) 2) Presence of internal hypoechogenicity or thick and irregular halo has the validity in Logistic regression analysis. 3) FNAC was done in 65 case. 19 case were malignant, 11 case were suspicious and 46 patients were benign (sensitivity 52.6%, specificity 87%). 4) The findings of U/S which are hypoechogenic and thick and irregular halo show 82% sensitivity and 97% specificity. In combination with the findings of FNAC that imply benign or suspicious lesions, the sensitivity was 100% and the specificity was 97%. Conclusion: This study suggest that the hypoechogenicity and thick and irregular halo on U/S are important information for the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy which were considered benign or suspicious after FNAC.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.151-156
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• 2010

Purpose: The liver is the second most common organ injured by blunt abdominal trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of liver transaminase in screening blunt abdominal trauma patients for traumatic liver injury. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 231 patients who sustained blunt trauma and were at risk for traumatic liver injury between June 2009 and August 2010. All of them underwent a focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) and abdominal computed tomography (CT). Based on the diagnosis of abdominal CT, patients were divided into two groups: group I with liver injury and group II without liver injury. We compared the two groups and calculated the sensitivity, the specificity and the predictive values of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by using multiple cutoff values. Results: Of 231 patients with no abdominal free fluid in the FAST, 33 had traumatic liver injury on abdominal CT. The mean AST and ALT levels in group I (311.6 IU/L and 228.1 IU/L, respectively) were significantly higher than the values in group II (48.4 IU/L and 35.6 IU/L, respectively). The cutoff to distinguish liver injury is 60 IU/L for AST and 58 IU/L for ALT, with 93.8% sensitivity and 79.8% specificity for AST, and 90.6% sensitivity and 87.4% specificity for ALT. Conclusion: We recommend that all patient with suspected blunt abdominal trauma be evaluated using serum liver transaminase as a screening test for liver injury even though no abdominal free fluid is shown on the FAST. If AST > 60 IU/L and/or ALT > 58 IU/L, abdominal CT was useful to confirm liver injury in this study.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.42-48
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• 2007

This study was carried out to review and evaluate anti-CCP ELISA assay for diagnostic in RA patients from an early arthritis clinic (EAC). The subjects were obtained from patients visiting the outpatient clinic of the Dept. of Rhumatology med.of P hospital in Daegu, during 6 months from July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006. The subjects were 140 cases : 80 cases from RA patients (60 women and 20 men; mean age 58 years; range, 32-68 years) confirmed by clinical diagnostic. 39 cases of these RA patients were classified as having early RA (EAC). 50 cases (non-RA) did not fulfill the criteria for RA, and 10 cases were from healthy individuals. We performed the analysis with solid phase-ELISA method (ETI-max3000, Diasorin; Italy) for anti-CCP and Nephelometry assay (Roche/Hitachi 902 analyzer; USA) for RF. The results obtained were summarized as follows ; anti-CCP ELISA is more specific than RF Nephelometry assay (specificity 94% vs 90%) to diagnose RA patients with suspected EAC (early arthritis clinic). The combination test "anti-CCP and RF" had a very high specificity (specificity 98.3%, PPV; RA group 96%, EAC 95%), the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Anti-CCP ELISA had more sensitivity in EAC (Early arthritis clinic) patients than chronic RA patients (sensitivity 64% vs 24%, respectively), anti-CCP of RA group and EAC group was more specific than RF (anti-CCP PPV; 92%, 89% vs 89%, 81% respectively), the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The difference of antibody concetration between anti-CCP and RF for RA and the control group is statistically significant (p<0.05). In conclusion, anti-CCP ELISA testing may be useful if performed concomitantly with RF Nephelometry assay to diagnose RA patients with suspected EAC (early arthritis clinic).