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A simple method has been developed for semi-quantitative analysis of the colorimetric output of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) using a 3D-printed tube holder with a smartphone and notebook for the detection of Raillietina, which is the cause of Raillietiniasis affecting free-range chicken farming. In this method, a light is directed from a notebook screen to the LAMP products in the tube holder and the color absorption of the LAMP products is measured by using the appropriate smartphone application. It was found that the malachite green dye-coupled LAMP (MaG-LAMP) assay showed the highest sensitivity and specificity for detecting Raillietina without any cross-reaction with other related parasites and hosts. The limit of detection was 10 fg/µL of DNA. A total of 60 fecal samples were infectively confirmed by microscopic examination and the results of microscopy compared with those of MaG-LAMP and triplex PCR assays. Microscopy and MaG-LAMP based on the color absorption demonstrated high agreement in Raillietina detection with kappa = 1. Rapid, simple, cost-effective, and easy interpretation of colorimetric LAMP assays and their high sensitivity make them superior to PCR and morphological investigation, demonstrating the feasibility of this assay in point-of-care screening to support farm management and solve chicken health problems. Our study presents is an alternative diagnostic method using semi-quantitative analysis of colorimetric LAMP based on the differing solution color absorptions between positive and negative reactions for infectious disease diagnosis.

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BACKGROUND: To investigate the value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) semi-quantitative parameters, including the lesion diameter, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), maximum standardized uptake value corrected for lean body mass (SULmax), metabolic lesion volume (MLV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), for classifying hepatic echinococcosis. METHODS: In total, 20 patients with 36 hepatic echinococcosis lesions were included in the study. Overall, these lesions were categorized as hepatic cystic echinococcosis (HCE) or hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) according to the pathological results. Multiple semi-parameters including the maximum diameter, SUVmax, SULmax, MLV, and TLG were measured to classify HCE and HAE compared with the pathological results. The receiver operator characteristic curve and area under the curve (AUC) of each quantitative parameter were calculated. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare data between the two groups. RESULTS: In total, 12 cystic lesions and 24 alveolar lesions were identified after surgery. There were significant differences in SUV max, SUL max, MLV, and TLG between the HAE and HCE groups (Z = - 4.70, - 4.77, - 3.36, and - 4.23, respectively, all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the maximum lesion diameter between the two groups (Z = - 0.77, P > 0.05). The best cutoffs of SUV max, SUL max, MLV, and TLG for the differential diagnosis of HAE and HCE were 2.09, 2.67, 27.12, and 18.79, respectively. The AUCs of the four parameters were 0.99, 0.99, 0.85, and 0.94, respectively. The sensitivities were 91.7%, 87.5%, 66.7%, and 85.6%, respectively, and the specificities were 90.1%, 91.7%, 83.3%, and 90.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: 18F-FDG PET/CT semi-quantitative parameters had significant clinical value in the diagnosis and pathological classification of hepatic echinococcosis and evaluation of clinical treatment.

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Microplate titration quantifies sodium hydroxide generated from formaldehyde reacting with excess sulfite in a 96-microwell plate. Phenolphthalein indicators change from red to colorless when all hydroxide ions react. Methodology optimized reagent concentrations, and reaction time and created a Calibration Chart for semi-quantitative determination. The chart shows formaldehyde concentration ranges corresponding to red well counts from 0 to 200 mM in 20 mM increments. Inter-operator repeatability demonstrates precision (3 replicates), correlating red wells with standard formaldehyde concentrations. This instrument-free technique uses readily available commercial plates, eliminating the need for specialized equipment and calibration. The methodology offers simplicity with its reliance on readily available commercial plates and minimal specialized equipment, hence it is cost-effective and easily transportable 96-microwell plates enhancing the methodology's portability, and efficient semi-quantitative analysis of formaldehyde. The analysis of twelve solutions from food samples agrees with the quantitative values using titration.

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Background: Curcumin is an extract of rhizome turmeric (diferuloylmethane), with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-parasitic properties, which making it a potential candidate for the treatment of leishmaniasis. The aim of the presented study was to evaluate curcumin as possible candidate for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods: We investigated the physicochemical properties and anti-leishmanial effects of nanoliposomal curcumin (40, 80, and 120 µM) in Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) infected BALB/c mice at the faculty of Veterinary Medicinem University of Tehran, Iran. For this aim, L. major promastigotes (MHROM/IR/75/ER) at stationary phase (2×106) were inoculated sub-cutaneously into the upper area of the tail in BALB/c mice (six groups, n= 10 per group). For evaluation of nanoliposomal curcumin, the zeta potential, particle size and stability of nanoliposomal curcumin was determined. Furthermore, the anti-leishmanial effects of nanoliposomal curcumin formulation on the lesion sizes was determined and the parasite burden in the leishmania induced lesion was performed using semi quantitative PCR. Results: Treatment of L. major infected BALB/c mice with nanoliposomal curcumin led to a reduction in the kinetic of the skin lesion size development. The semi quantitative PCR analysis of DNA extracted from the lesions showed reduction of parasite burden. The most effective treatment could be found in 80 µM nanoliposomal curcumin. Treatment with Glucantime, as a positive control, also showed a nearly similar effect compared to the effect of 80 µM nanoliposomal curcumin. Conclusion: Nanoliposomal curcumin could be considered as a potential drug against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. major in susceptible animal models.

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RNA interference (RNAi) on parasitic nematodes has been described as a valuable tool for screening putative targets that could be used as novel drug and/or vaccine candidates. This study aimed to set up a pipeline to identify potential targets using RNAi for vaccine/anti-parasite therapy development against Haemonchus contortus, a blood-feeding abomasal nematode parasite. The available H. contortus sequence data was mined for targets, which were tested for essentiality using RNAi electroporation assays. A total of 56 genes were identified and tested for knockdown using electroporation of first-stage larvae (L1) H. contortus with the target double-stranded RNA. Electroporation of L1 proved to be effective overall; 17 targets had a strong phenotype and significant reduction in alive H. contortus, and another 24 had a moderate phenotype with a significant reduction in larvae development. A total of 28 targets showed a significant reduction in the development of H. contortus larvae to the infective stage (L3) following the RNAi assay. Down-regulation of target transcript levels was evaluated in some targets by semi-quantitative PCR. Four out of five genes tested showed complete knockdown of mRNA levels via semi-quantitative PCR, whereas the knockdown was partial for one. In conclusion, the results indicate that the RNAi pathway is confirmed in H. contortus and that several target genes have the potential to be investigated further as possible vaccine candidates.

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BACKGROUND: Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common degenerative valve disease in high income countries. While hemodynamic metrics are commonly used to assess severity of stenosis, they are impacted by loading conditions and stroke volume and are often discordant. Anatomic valve assessments such as aortic valve calcification (AVC) and valve motion (VM) during transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) can offer clues to disease severity. The reliability of these semi-quantitatively assessed anatomic imaging parameters is unknown. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of semi-quantitative assessment of AVC and valve VM on TTE. TTEs representing a range of AS severities were identified. The degree of calcification of the aortic valve and the degree of restricted VM were assessed in standard fashion. AVC scores and valve motion were assessed by readers with varied training levels blinded to the severity of AS. Correlation and inter-reader reliability between readers were assessed. RESULTS: 420 assessments (210 each for AVC and VM) were collected for 35 TTEs. Correlation of AVC for imaging trainees (fellows and students, respectively), ranged from 0.49 (95% CI 0.18-0.70) to 0.62 (95% CI 0.36-0.79) and 0.58 (95% CI 0.30-0.76) to 0.54 (95% CI 0.25-0.74) for VM. Correlation of anatomic assessments between echocardiographer-assigned AVC grades was r = 0.76 (95% CI 0.57-0.87)). The correlation between echocardiographer-assigned assessment of VM was r = 0.73 (95% CI 0.53-0.86), p < 0.00001 for both. For echocardiographer AVC assessment, weighted kappa was 0.52 (0.32-0.72), valve motion weighted kappa was 0.60 (0.42-0.78). CONCLUSION: There was good inter-reader correlation between TTE-based semi-quantitative assessment of AVC and VM when assessed by board certified echocardiographers. There was modest inter-reader reliability of semi-quantitative assessments of AVC and VM between board certified echocardiographers. Inter-reader correlation and reliability between imaging trainees was lower. More reliable methods to assess TTE based anatomic assessments are needed in order to accurately track disease progression. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: STUDY00003100.

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To investigate the correlation between carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of plant cellulose and climatic factors as well as plant physiological indices on the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, we examined plant species in eight sampling sites with similar latitudes and different longitudes in this region. Through the characteristics of δ13C and δ18O values, fractionation values (Δ13C and Δ18O) in leaf cellulose, we discussed water use efficiency (WUE) and the environmental factors, the variation of carbon and oxygen isotopes in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with elevation and longitude, and revealed the indication degrees of isotopic signals to different environments and vegetation physiology. By using the semi-quantitative model of carbon and oxygen dual isotopes, we investigated the physiological adaptation mechanisms of plants to varying environmental conditions. The results demonstrated that both Δ13C and Δ18O of cellulose decreased with increasing elevation and longitude, and Δ13C was more influenced by longitude, while Δ18O was more susceptible to elevation variation. Additionally, Δ13C and Δ18O were significantly and positively correlated with temperature (TEM), precipitation (PRE), potential evapotranspiration (PET), and relative humidity (RH). PRE was the dominant meteorological factor driving the variation of Δ13C, while RH was the dominant meteorological factor influencing Δ18O variation. In contrast to Δ13C, WUE showed a stronger correlation with elevation than with longitude, which increased as elevation and longitude increased. According to the carbon-oxygen model, plant stomatal conductance (gs) and photosynthetic capacity (Amax) decreased with increasing precipitation and relative humidity, while the values increased with increasing elevation and longitude. The combined analysis of carbon and oxygen isotopes of organic matters would yield additional environmental and gas exchange information for studies on climate tracing and vegetation physiology studies on the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

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Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been associated with migraine, cryptogenic stroke (CS), and hypoxemia. However, which examination method is most reliable remains controversial. This study sought to investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (cU), including contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler (cTCD), contrast transthoracic echocardiography (cTTE), and contrast transesophageal echocardiography (cTEE), for PFO; and to determine the best diagnostic strategy. Methods: This retrospective observational study included a total of 147 consecutive patients suspected PFO at The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between October 2019 and January 2022. The patients also underwent cTCD, cTTE, and cTEE examinations. The standard for the diagnosis of PFO was confirmation of the presence of PFO by color Doppler flow signals or contrast microbubbles (MBs) passing through the foramen ovale. Results: A total of 123 patients were diagnosed with PFO and 24 patients without PFO during the study period. The detectable rates of cTCD, cTTE, and cTEE were 120 (97.56%), 110 (89.43%), and 121 (98.37%), respectively. The sensitivity between cTCD and cTEE for PFO were comparable [97.56%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 92.5% to 99.4% vs. 98.37%, 95% CI: 93.7% to 99.7%; P>0.99], and the sensitivity of both were higher than that of cTTE (89.43%, 95% CI: 82.3% to 94.0%; P=0.02 and P=0.001, respectively). In addition, the specificity of cTEE for PFO was significantly higher than that of cTCD (100%, 95% CI: 82.3% to 100.0% vs. 75.00%, 95% CI: 53.0% to 89.4%; P<0.001) and cTTE (100%, 95% CI: 82.3% to 100.0% vs. 75.00%, 95% CI: 53.0% to 89.4%; P<0.001). Further, the semi-quantitative classification ability of cTCD for PFO with right-to-left shunt (RLS) was significantly higher than that of cTTE and cTEE (P=0.02 and P<0.001, respectively), and that of cTTE was significantly higher than that of cTEE (P=0.01). The Spearman analysis showed that the degree of RLS was positively correlated with the inner diameter of the PFO (r=0.695, P<0.001). Conclusions: The combination of cTCD and cTEE may provide a favorable strategy for the diagnosis of PFO.

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BACKGROUND: The value of somatostatin-analogon PET tracers in theranostics in cranial meningioma has been demonstrated in several studies however, the value of semi-quantitative parameters for therapy and patient outcome is still unclear. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed comparing measured semi-quantitative 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT parameters (maximum standardized uptake value = SUVmax, mean standardized uptake value = SUVmean, and metabolic tumor volume = MTV) and calculated ratios (SUVmax tumor/to pituitary gland, SUVmax tumor to superior sinus sagittalis), versus WHO grades and overall outcome. Patients with histological confirmed meningioma or high probability for meningioma in previous cranial MRI were eligible. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients from January 2018 to February 2023 were retrospectively included. WHO grade I meningioma was confirmed in 17 patients, WHO grade II in five patients, WHO grade III in two patients, while in eight patients diagnosis was solely based on MRI and 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT findings. In 12 cases stable disease was present, in 15 cases radiation therapy was chosen, in three cases neurosurgery was preferred while in two cases palliative care was chosen. Median SUVmax values increased with WHO grade (15.84, 17.22, and 28.4, p = 0.134, Kruskal-Wallis-test) and no statistically significant difference was present for MTV, SUVmax, and calculated ratios, although the ratio for SUVmax tumor to superior sinus sagittalis had the lowest value of p = 0.067. CONCLUSION: Increased SUVmax values in the tumor in 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT are associated with higher WHO grade, although further studies including larger patient collectives are needed to solidify this hypothesis.

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Objectives: We aimed to compare the value of the semiquantitative parameters of 68Ga-labeled FAP inhibitor (68Ga-FAPI)-04 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) in diagnosing primary malignant and benign diseases. Materials and Methods: 18F-FDG and 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT images of 80 patients were compared. Semiquantitative parameters, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean SUV (SUVmean), peak SUV (SUVpeak), peak SUV by lean body mass (SULpeak), metabolic tumor volume (or tumor volume of FAPI; FAPI-TV), and TLG (or total lesion activity of FAPI; FAPI-TLA), were automatically obtained using the IntelliSpace Portal image processing workstation with a threshold of 40% SUVmax. The liver blood pool was measured as the background, and the tumor-to-background ratio (TBRliver) was calculated. Results: In all malignant lesions, FAPI-TV and FAPI-TLA were higher in 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT than in 18F-FDG. In the subgroup analysis, 68Ga-FAPI-04 had higher FAPI-TV and FAPI-TLA and lower SUVmax than 18F-FDG had in group A, including gynecological tumor, esophageal, and colorectal cancers. However, six semiquantitative parameters were higher in group B (the other malignant tumors). For the benign diseases, SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak, and SULpeak were lower in 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT than in 18F-FDG. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT showed a lower liver background and a higher TBRliver than 18F-FDG did. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT had higher accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity than 18F-FDG had. Conclusion: More accurate semiquantitative parameters and lower abdominal background in 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT make it more competitive in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign diseases than in 18F-FDG.

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BACKGROUND: The value of somatostatin-analogon PET tracers in theranostics in cranial meningioma has been demonstrated in several studies; however, the value of semi-quantitative parameters for therapy and patient outcome is still unclear. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed comparing measured semi-quantitative 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT parameters (maximum standardized uptake value = SUVmax, mean standardized uptake value = SUVmean, and metabolic tumor volume = MTV) and calculated ratios (SUVmax tumor to pituitary gland and SUVmax tumor to superior sinus sagittalis), versus the WHO grades and overall outcome. Patients with histological confirmed meningioma or high probability for meningioma in the previous cranial MRI were eligible. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients from January 2018 to February 2023 were retrospectively included. The WHO grade I meningioma was confirmed in 17 patients, the WHO grade II in five patients, and the WHO grade III in two patients, while in eight patients, diagnosis was solely based on MRI and 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT findings. In 12 cases, stable disease was present, in 15 cases, radiation therapy was chosen, in three cases, neurosurgery was preferred, while in two cases, palliative care was chosen. Median SUVmax values increased with the WHO grade (15.84, 17.22, and 28.4, p = 0.134, Kruskal-Wallis test), and no statistically significant difference was present for MTV, SUVmax, and calculated ratios. CONCLUSION: Increased SUVmax values in the tumor in 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT are associated with higher WHO grade, although further studies including larger patient collectives are needed to solidify this hypothesis.

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BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging of the skeletal muscles (muscle MRI for short) is increasingly being used in clinical routine for diagnosis and longitudinal assessment of muscle disorders. However, cross-centre standards for measurement protocol and radiological assessment are still lacking. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this expert recommendation is to present standards for the application and interpretation of muscle MRI in hereditary and inflammatory muscle disorders. METHODS: This work was developed in collaboration between neurologists, neuroradiologists, radiologists, neuropaediatricians, neuroscientists and MR physicists from different university hospitals in Germany. The recommendations are based on expert knowledge and a focused literature search. RESULTS: The indications for muscle MRI are explained, including the detection and monitoring of structural tissue changes and oedema in the muscle, as well as the identification of a suitable biopsy site. Recommendations for the examination procedure and selection of appropriate MRI sequences are given. Finally, steps for a structured radiological assessment are presented. CONCLUSIONS: The present work provides concrete recommendations for the indication, implementation and interpretation of muscle MRI in muscle disorders. Furthermore, it provides a possible basis for the standardisation of the measurement protocols at all clinical centres in Germany.

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OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether the semi-quantitative metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) bedside test is a worthwhile indicator in reflecting the severity of of intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) and in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study comprised 76 singleton-pregnant women admitted to the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital with a diagnosis of preterm premature rupture of membranes (preterm PROM) between 20 weeks 0 days and 33 weeks 6 days of gestation who underwent trans-abdominal amniocentesis to confirm intra-amniotic infection by positive results for aerobic/anaerobic bacteria, fungi, and genital mycoplasma and evaluate lung maturity. The semi-quantitative MMP-8 rapid test kit employs a colourimetric assay to quantify MMP-8 levels in amniotic fluid (AF), expressing results from 0 to 100 percent. Participants were divided into three groups: group 1, including negative MMP-8 test with colour scale of 0 % (negative, n = 17); group 2, including positive MMP-8 test with colour scale < 51 % (weak positive, n = 21); and group 3, including positive MMP-8 test with colour scale of 51 %-100 % (strong positive, n = 38). RESULTS: Approximately 78 % (59/76) of the participants showed a positive MMP-8 test result; all culture-proven AF samples (33.3 % [25/75]) yielded positive MMP-8 test, categorizing these patients into either group 2 or group 3. A significant trend was observed where the rate of positive culture-proven samples increased with the progression from group 1 (negative) to group 3 (strong positive). Both white blood cell counts in AF and maternal serum C-reactive protein levels were found to escalate with the progression of test results from negative to strong positive. This progression was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth within 48 h, 7 days, and 14 days from amniocentesis and within 34 weeks of gestation. CONCLUSION: The more the test results progress from negative to strong positive, the shorter the interval from amniocentesis to delivery becomes, and the higher the risk of intra-amniotic infection, spontaneous preterm delivery, and other perinatal complications. This relationship highlights the critical value of the semi-quantitative MMP-8 rapid test in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with preterm PROM.

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BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging of the skeletal muscles (muscle MRI for short) is increasingly being used in clinical routine for diagnosis and longitudinal assessment of muscle disorders. However, cross-centre standards for measurement protocol and radiological assessment are still lacking. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this expert recommendation is to present standards for the application and interpretation of muscle MRI in hereditary and inflammatory muscle disorders. METHODS: This work was developed in collaboration between neurologists, neuroradiologists, radiologists, neuropaediatricians, neuroscientists and MR physicists from different university hospitals in Germany. The recommendations are based on expert knowledge and a focused literature search. RESULTS: The indications for muscle MRI are explained, including the detection and monitoring of structural tissue changes and oedema in the muscle, as well as the identification of a suitable biopsy site. Recommendations for the examination procedure and selection of appropriate MRI sequences are given. Finally, steps for a structured radiological assessment are presented. CONCLUSIONS: The present work provides concrete recommendations for the indication, implementation and interpretation of muscle MRI in muscle disorders. Furthermore, it provides a possible basis for the standardisation of the measurement protocols at all clinical centres in Germany.

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OBJECTIVE: To define the reporting of Scoring Hip Osteoarthritis with MRI (SHOMRI) feature prevalence and severity, and to develop criteria to monitor feature change in longitudinal investigations. METHODS: Twenty-five participants (50 hips) of the femoroacetabular impingement and hip osteoarthritis cohort study underwent baseline and 2-year follow-up 3 T hip MRIs. Eight hip OA features were assessed using the SHOMRI. All MRIs were read paired with knowledge of timepoint by two blinded musculoskeletal radiologists. We provide definitions to report SHOMRI feature prevalence, severity, and longitudinal change. RESULTS: We report clear definitions for SHOMRI feature prevalence, severity, and change. When we applied the definitions to the studied cohort, we could detect the prevalence, severity, and change of hip OA features. For example, 88% of hips had labral tears (34% graded as severe tears) and 76% had cartilage defects (42% graded as full thickness). Over 70% of hips had feature change over 2 years, highlighting the sensitivity of SHOMRI definitions to assess longitudinal change of hip OA features. Intra-reader reliability was almost perfect (weighted (w)-kappa 0.86 to 1.00), with inter-reader reliability substantial to almost perfect (w-kappa 0.80 to 1.00). CONCLUSION: This study is the first to provide definitions to report SHOMRI feature prevalence, severity, and change. The proposed definitions will enable comparison between hip MRI studies and improve our understanding of hip OA pathogenesis.

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Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin contaminating agricultural products produced by fungi, associated with important toxic effects. Thus, the development of fast, sensitive, and economical approaches for OTA detection is crucial. In this study, a barcode-style lateral flow assay for the semi-quantitative detection of OTA in coffee samples was developed. To achieve this goal, a BSA-OTA complex was immobilized in three test zones to compete with OTA molecules in the sample for binding with anti-OTA antibodies labeled with gold nanoparticles. Different concentrations of OTA in the sample produced distinct colour patterns, allowing semi-quantification of the analyte. The assay exhibited high sensitivity, with a limit of detection of 2.5 µg.L-1, and high reproducibility, with variation coefficient values between 2% and 13%. Moreover, the colour patterns obtained in the analysis with coffee samples were similar to the results obtained with standard OTA solutions, demonstrating a reliable applicability in real samples.

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BACKGROUND: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the role of baseline (B), interim (I) and end-of-treatment (Eot) 18F-FDG PET/CT in assessing the prognosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), so as to identify patients who need intensive treatment at an early stage. METHODS: A total of 127 DLBCL patients (62 men; 65 women; median age 62 years) were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Baseline (n = 127), interim (n = 127, after 3-4 cycles) and end-of-treatment (n = 53, after 6-8 cycles) PET/CT images were re-evaluated; semi-quantitative parameters such as maximum standardized uptake value of lesion-to-liver ratio (SUVmax(LLR)) and lesion-to-mediastinum ratio (SUVmax(LMR)), total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and total metabolic tumor volume (TLG) were recorded. ΔTLG1 was the change of interim relative to baseline TLG (I to B), ΔTLG2 (Eot to B). ΔSUVmax and ΔTMTV were the same algorithm. The visual Deauville 5-point scale (D-5PS) has been adopted as the major criterion for PET evaluation. Visual analysis (VA) and semi-quantitative parameters were assessed for the ability to predict progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) by using Kaplan-Meier method, cox regression and logistic regression analysis. When visual and semi-quantitative analysis are combined, the result is only positive if both are positive. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 34 months, the median PFS and OS were 20 and 32 months. The survival curve analysis showed that advanced stage and IPI score with poor prognosis, ΔSUVmax(LLR)1 < 89.2%, ΔTMTV1 < 91.8% and ΔTLG1 < 98.8%, ΔSUVmax(LLR)2 < 86.4% were significantly related to the shortening of PFS in patient (p < 0.05). ΔSUVmax(LLR)1 < 83.2% and ΔTLG1 < 97.6% were significantly correlated with the shortening of OS in patients (p < 0.05). Visual analysis showed that incomplete metabolic remission at I-PET and Eot-PET increased the risk of progress and death. In terms of predicting recurrence by I-PET, the combination of visual and semi-quantitative parameters showed higher positive predictive value (PPV) and specificity than a single index. CONCLUSION: Three to four cycles of R-CHOP treatment may be a time point for early prediction of early recurrence/refractory (R/R) patients and active preemptive treatment. Combined visual analysis with semi-quantitative parameters of 18F-FDG PET/CT at interim can improve prognostic accuracy and may allow for more precise screening of patients requiring early intensive therapy.

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Colorimetric assays are some of the most convenient detection methods, creating discoloration in solutions that is visible to the naked eye. However, colorimetric reactions have some limitations regarding the variability in the color perception of individuals caused by factors such as color blindness, experience, and gender. Semi-quantitative chromatic analysis has been used as an alternative method to differentiate between two colors and accurately interpret the results from a numerical value, with high confidence. Therefore, we developed and determined the optimal model between Red-Green-Blue (RGB) and Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) Lab color spaces to establish a semi-quantitative colorimetric assay via image analysis by the ImageJ program for loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), using the dyes malachite green and phenol red. The semi-quantitative colorimetric assays using the color distance values of the CIELab color space (ΔEab) were more suitable than those using the RGB color space (ΔERGB) for chromatic differentiation between positive and negative reactions in both indicator dyes, demonstrating the feasibility of this assay to be applied in the detection of a wide range of pathogens and infectious diseases.

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BACKGROUND: The semi-quantitative scale of structural brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sqMRI) is a valid and reliable measure of brain lesion extent in children with cerebral palsy (CP) >3-years. This system scores lesion burden for each major brain region. The sum of the scores gives a global score ranging from 0 to 48. PURPOSE: To investigate how sqMRI scores changed from infancy to school-age, and whether these were associated with lesion load, age at first assessment, and gross motor function and its changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight children with CP underwent MRI and motor (Gross Motor Function Measure-66; GMFM-66) assessments when <40-months and again when 8-12-years. We investigated whether (i) toddler/preschool-age sqMRI scores (Time 1) reflected school-age sqMRI scores (Time 2); (ii) temporal changes in sqMRI scores (Time 1-Time 2 difference) were related to the child's age at Time 1 and lesion extent; (iii) early or later sqMRI scores were associated with motor functioning; (iv) sqMRI scores' longitudinal changes were associated with motor changes. RESULTS: Except for the corticosubcortical (grey-matter only) layers, sqMRI scores were significantly higher ('higher lesion load') at Time 1 than at Time 2. Age at Time 1 was not associated with temporal changes in global sqMRI scores. Higher lesion load at Time 2, but not at Time 1, was associated with smaller temporal changes in the global sqMRI score. The sqMRI scores were associated with concurrent, but not future or past motor GMFM-66 scores. Longitudinal changes in sqMRI scores were not associated with longitudinal changes in motor GMFM-66 scores. CONCLUSION: sqMRI scores of brain lesion extent at school-age are lower and a better indication of later-life motor functioning than very early life sqMRI scores. It may be best to interpret MRI white matter lesions with caution in very early life due to possible changes in lesion appearance and the unpredictable role of functional plasticity.

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We aimed to investigate the intricate interplay between genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors on stroke. We conducted a comprehensive genome-wide association study to identify the genetic variants linked to stroke in the participants who experienced a stroke event (cases; n 672) and those with no stroke history (non-stroke; n 58 029) in a large hospital-based cohort. Using generalised multifactor dimensionality reduction, we identified genetic variants with interactive effects and constructed polygenic risk scores (PRS) by summing up the risk alleles from the genetic variants. Food intake was measured with a validated semi-quantitative FFQ. No significant differences in stroke incidence were seen in demographic variables between the two groups. Among the metabolic indicators, only serum TAG levels were higher in males with stroke than those without stroke. The daily nutrient intake, dietary inflammation index, glycaemic index, dietary patterns, alcohol consumption, exercise and smoking did not display associations with the OR for stroke. The stroke-linked genetic variants were related to the IL-18 pathway. After accounting for covariates, the PRS derived from the 5-, 6- and 7-SNP models were positively associated with stroke chance with 2·5-, 2·9- and 2·8-fold. Furthermore, interactions between genetic predisposition and dietary components, including energy, carbohydrates, n-3 fatty acids and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), that affected OR for stroke were observed. A high intake of energy, carbohydrates and BCAA and a low intake of n-3 fatty acids were positively associated with the chances of stroke occurrence. In conclusion, understanding the interaction between genetic variants and lifestyle factors can assist in developing stroke prevention and management strategies.

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