• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.319-323
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• 2015

The performance of diagnostic test accuracy is usually summarized by a variety of statistics such as sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, likelihood ratio, and kappa. These indices are most commonly presented when evaluations of competing diagnostic tests are reported, and it is of utmost importance to compare the accuracies of diagnostic tests to decide on the best available test for certain medical disorder. However, it is important to emphasize that specific point values of these indices are merely estimates. If parameter estimates are reported without a measure of uncertainty (precision), knowledgeable readers cannot know the range within which the true values of the indices are likely to lie. Therefore, when evaluations of diagnostic accuracy are reported the precision of estimates should be stated in parallel. To reflect the precision of any estimate of a diagnostic performance characteristic or of the difference between performance characteristics, the computation of confidential interval (CI), an indicator of precision, is widely used in medical literatures in that CIs are more informative to interpret test results than the simple point estimates. The majority of peer-reviewed journals usually require CIs to be specified for descriptive estimates, whereas domestic veterinary journals seem less vigilant on this issues. This paper describes how to calculate the indices and associated CIs using practical examples when assessing diagnostic test performance.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 1970

The diagnostic effects of the Modified Whiteside Test(M.W.T.) and the California Mastitis Test(C.M.T.) for detection of bovine mastitis were studied using 372 quarter milk samples collected from six dairy herds in suburbs of Suwon city in order to compare the effectiveness of the two methods. The leucocyte count and bacteriological observation were also performed to support analysing the results. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The CMT showed more specificity than MWT for leucocytes in the abnormal milk. 2. When comparison was based on Identical ratings, agreement was obtained in 56.4% of the samples. The stronger reaction had the higher agreement and the CMT was found to be more specific than MWT in detection of the sub-clinical mastitis. 3. The CMT reaction was instantaneous and sufficiently clear-cut. 4. The results of the CMT leucocyte count and bacteriological observation were completely agreed in 69.9% of the samples. When degrees of reaction and the leucocyte count were considered, the CMT showed agreement in 93.5% of the samples.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.74-82
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• 2010

Purpose : The Dipslide culture test is a rapid method for diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI). The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic availability of a urine Dipslide test for evaluation of UTI in febrile children. Methods : Urine specimens from 151 febrile infants were inoculated by a routine blood agar urine culture method and the Dipslide test at the same time. Following incubation for 16-24 hours, the results of the Dipslide test were read at the next visit. Both results of Dipslide and those of routine culture were compared. Results : The mean age of subjects was 15${\pm}$10.6 months. There were 150 infants (99.3%) who had fever with a mean duration of 2.6${\pm}$2.6 days. Thirty two infants (21.2%) were diagnosed as having UTI. Sensitivity and specificity of Uricult Trio CLED medium were 59.4% and 84.8%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of Uricult Trio E. coli medium were 60.0% and 96.2%, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient between results of Uricult Trio CLED medium and urine culture was 0.438 (P=0.01). Correlation between results of Uricult Trio E. coli medium and urine culture was 0.617 (P=0.01). Conclusion : The Dipslide test requires only 16-24 hours with high specificity in terms of UTI caused by E. coli without the problems associated with specimen delay. This test seems to be helpful for exclusion of UTI in febrile infants and it may reduce unnecessary hospitalization and antibiotic use. However, further studies are required before the product can be recommended as a routine diagnostic tool.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.549-558
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• 2013

PURPOSE: This study is designed as a retrospective study, and identified the clinical usability of Sit to Stand (STS) test for predicting of fall incidence in stroke patients who experienced a fall within 1 year. METHODS: Between July 2011 and November 2012, 69 inpatients with stroke in K rehabilitation hospital were participated under voluntarily signing the informed consent form. STS test and 10m walk test (10MWT) were used to assess the muscle strength of lower-extremity and walking velocity, respectively. Also, we tested dynamic balance and motor function of lower-extremity in affected-side using with the Berg balance scale (BBS) and the Fugl-Meyer assessment of lower extremity (FM-L/E). METHODS: There were significant differences between subjects with fall-experienced group and without subjects without fall-experienced group in STS test, 10MWT, BBS scores and FM-L/E. STS test significantly showed a negative correlation between 10MWT (r=-.657), BBS (r=-.512), and FM-L/E (r=-.563). And, 10MWT have a influence on the performance of STS test (the capacity of explanation = 20%). The cut-off value of STS performance predicting falls experience is ${\geq}14.36$ seconds (sensitivity=76%; specificity=79%, area under curve=.785). According to logistic regression analysis of falls experience, subjects ${\geq}14.36$ s showed that 4.164 times (odd ratio) increased in falls than subjects < 14.36 s in STS test. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that STS test may be a useful tool predicting and measuring falls in patients with stroke. Further study will be needed to elucidate the kinematic analysis of STS test and the relationship between physical activity level and falls in stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.297-307
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• 1990

To establish an agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test for detection of antibodies to Aujeszky's disease virus(ADV) in swine, the precipitating antigens were prepared by four procedures using the Aujeszky's disease virus, NYJ-1-87 strain isolated from the affected piglets in Korea. The optimal condition for AGID test and the properties of the antigens were investigated. To determine the optimal concentration of antigens, four antigens were experimentally prepared by concentrating the viral fluids by 1/30 to 1/200. It was proved that the antigen precipitated with ammonium sulfate at concentration of 1/100 was the most efficient to detect ADV antibodies by AGID test. When the relationship between the concentration of the antigens and the size of precipitating in radial immunodiffusion test was investigated, a high correlation coefficiency at r=0.95 (y=0.23x+23.4) was estimated, In study on the effects of various buffered salt solutions and agars on the sensitivity of AGID test by using the experimental ADV antigens, it was found that 0.05M tris buffer without sodium chloride at pH 7.2 induced the most distinctive precipitating lines, and that there was no significant differences in the sensitivity between the agarose and Noble's special agar. When the efficiency of AGID test was compared with serum neutralization(SN) test, the sensitivity of AGID test was 100% in SN titer over 1 : 16, 91.7% in SN titer of 1 : 8 and 57.1% in SN titer of 1 : 4. The specificity of AGID test compared with the sera with SN titer under 1 : 2 was 98.4%. Protein analysis of the antigens by SDS-PAGE indicated that antigen I and antigen III showed a specific band of polypeptides with molecular weight of 116 K in comparison with the control antigen. Antigen IV, treated with tween-80 and ammonium sulfate, revealed specific polypeptides bands at the molecular weights 45K, 98K and 150 K.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.693-697
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• 2015

Our aims were to evaluate the clinical performance of human telomerase RNA gene component (hTERC gene) amplification assay with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) DNA test of Hybrid Capture 2 DNA test (HC2), for the detection of high grade cervical precancerous lesions and cancer (CIN 2+). In addition, the association shown between hTERC gene amplification and HPV DNA test positive in women with and without cervical neoplasia was assessed. There were 92 women who underwent cytology, HR-HPV DNA test, hTERC gene amplification test, colposcopy and biopsy. We compared the clinical performance of hTERC gene test along with HR-HPV DNA test of women with colposcopy and routine screening. The samples were histology-confirmed high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2) or worse (CIN2+) as the positive criterion. The test of hTERC gene showed the hTERC gene amplification positivity increased with the severity of histological abnormality and cytological abnormality. The test of hTERC gene showed higher specificity than HR-HPV DNA test for high-grade lesions (84.4% versus 50%) and also higher positive predictive value (90.4% versus 76.5%). Our results predicted that hTERC gene amplification demonstrated more specific performance for predicting the risk of progression and offer a strong potential as a tool for triage in cervical cancer screening, with the limited sensitive as HR-HPV DNA test.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2019

Objective: The usual seminal profile has been customarily used for diagnosing male infertility based on an examination of semen samples. However, sperm DNA fragmentation has also been causally linked to reproductive failure, suggesting that it should be evaluated as part of male infertility assessments. To compare the ability of the five most widely utilized methodologies of measuring DNA fragmentation to predict male infertility and reactive oxygen species by Oxisperm kit assay. Methods: In this case-control study, which received ethical committee approval, the participants were divided into fertile and infertile groups (50 patients in each group). Results: The alkaline comet test showed the best ability to predict male infertility, followed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay, the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test, and the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), while the neutral comet test had no predictive power. For our patient population, the projected cut-off point for the DNA fragmentation index was 22.08% using the TUNEL assay, 19.90% using SCSA, 24.74% using the SCD test, 48.47% using the alkaline comet test, and 36.37% using the neutral comet test. Significant correlations were found between the results of the SCD test and those obtained using SCSA and TUNEL (r = 0.70 and r = 0.68, respectively; p< 0.001), and a statistically significant correlation was also found between the results of SCSA and the TUNEL assay (r = 0.77, p< 0.001). Likewise, the results of the alkaline comet test showed significant correlations with those of the SCD, SCSA, and TUNEL tests (r = 0.59, r = 0.57, and r = 0.72, respectively; p< 0.001). Conclusion: The TUNEL assay, SCSA, SCD, and the alkaline comet test were effective for distinguishing between fertile and infertile patients, and the alkaline comet test was the best predictor of male infertility.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2008

Purpose : The aim of this study is to determine possibility of application of in vivo proton ($^1H$) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in distinguishing cystic mass arising around pancreas by comparison of in vivo MRS, in vitro MRS using 3T MR machine, based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Materials and Methods : We obtained spectra of in vivo MRS, in vitro MRS and NMR from abdominal mass arising around pancreas (mucinous cystic neoplasm=5, intraductal papillary mucin producing tumor=5, pseudocyst=1, and lymphangioma=1). We estimated existence of peak of in vivo MRS, and in vitro MRS concordant to that of NMR. We also evaluated differential peak for predicting specific disease. Results : Correlation of presence of peak with NMR showed showed sensitivity of 29.6%, specificity of 82.6% and accuracy of 67.7% on in vivo MRS (p = 0.096, McNemar test), sensitivity of 57.1% and specificity of 92.6% and accuracy of 82.3% on in vitro MRS (p = 0.362, McNemar test). The spectra of NMR for IPMT showed more frequent peaks at 3.5-4.0 ppm (p=0.026). Conclusion : Although chemical analysis, using NMR could be regarded as possible tool to differentiate cystic masses, in vivo and in vitro MRS need further technical evolution for clinical application.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.215-219
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• 2003

Purpose : To report the 'condylar cut-off sign', a new radiographic sign in knees with discoid lateral meniscus and to report the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the sign to elucidate the diagnostic significance of the sign for discoid meniscus. Materials and Methods : Fifty knees with complete discoid lateral meniscus and fifty normal knees formed the basis of this study. All of them were arthroscopically confirmed fer the discoid or normal lateral meniscus. The authors developed a method to measure the length of the medial and lateral condylar were compare and analyzed. Results : Tile average ratio was 0.716 in the discoid meniscus group, and 0.902 in the normal group. The stastistical analysis by the T-test revealed the t-value -11.13(p<0.0001). Stastistical analysis by chi-square test using cut point 0.8, also showed significant difference between the two groups, with $76\%$ sensitivity, $100\%$ specificity, $100\%$ positive predictive predictive value and $81\%$ negative predictive value. The 'condylar cut-off sign' was readily detectable in all cases of discoid lateral meniscus, suggesting that the cut off sign could serve as a simple and reliable radiographic sign fur the diagnosis of discoid meniscus. Conclusion : The condylar cut-off sign on the Tunnel view of simple radiography of the knee can serve as a good sign for the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus, with $100\%$ positive predictive value.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to analyze data from the planned national serological monitoring program for Aujeszky's disease (AD) using a simulation model to evaluate probable outcomes expected in the sample derived from the simulated herds at predefined within-herd prevalence and herd prevalence. Additionally, prevalence at animal- and herd-level estimated by the stochastic simulation model based on the distributions of the proportion of infected herds and test-positive animals was compared with those of data from a national serological survey in 2006, in which 106,762 fattening pigs from 5,325 herds were tested for AD using a commercial ELISA kit. A fixed value of 95% was used for test sensitivity, and the specificity was modeled with a minimum, most likely and maximum of 95, 97 and 99%, respectively. The within-herd prevalence and herd prevalence was modeled using Pert and Triang distributions, respectively with a minimum, most likely and maximum point values. In all calculations, population size of 1,000 was used due to lack of representative information. The mean number of infected herds and true test-positives was estimated to be 27 herds (median = 25; 95% percentile 44) and 214 pigs (median = 196; 95% percentile 423), respectively. When testing 20 pigs (mean of 2006 survey) in each herd, there was a 3.3% probability that the potential for false-positive reactions due to less than 100% specificity of the ELISA test would be detected. It was found that the model showed prevalence of 0.21% (99% percentile 0.50%) and 0.5% (99% percentile 0.99%) at animal- and herd-level, respectively. These rates were much similar to data from the 2006 survey (0.62% versus 0.83%). The overall mean herd-level sensitivity of the 2006 survey for fattening pigs was 99.9%, with only a 0.2% probability of failing to detect at least one infected herd.