PURPOSE: We analyzed pelvic ultrasonography (USG) findings in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP) and assessed the role of uterine and ovarian measurements in discriminating between CPP and other pubertal conditions. METHODS: Seventy-four girls (chronological age 7.8 +/- 0.5 years, bone age 9.9 +/- 0.8 years) with precocious pubertal signs were enrolled. Measurements of uterine and ovarian parameters by pelvic USG included antero-posterior diameters of the uterine fundus and cervix, diameter of each ovary, number of follicles, and maximal diameter of the largest follicle. The pelvic USG parameters were compared between girls with CPP (n = 49) and girls with atypical premature thelarche (PT) (n = 25). RESULTS: Antero-posterior diameter of uterine fundus (1.05 +/- 0.34 vs. 0.74 +/- 0.78 cm, P = 0.001), maximal ovarian diameter (2.13 +/- 0.48 vs. 1.84 +/- 0.74 cm, P = 0.048) and mean ovarian area (2.31 +/- 0.79 vs. 1.69 +/- 0.71 cm, P = 0.002) were significantly greater in girls with CPP than in girls with atypical PT. For the diagnosis of CPP, the sensitivity and specificity of A-P diameter of uterine fundus (> 0.9 cm) was 65.3% and 84.0%, the sensitivity and specificity of maximal ovarian diameter (> 2.0 cm) was 55.1% and 76%, and the sensitivity and specificity of mean ovarian area (> 2.0 cm2) was 62.9% and 80.0%. CONCLUSION: Girls with CPP had significantly higher dimensions of the uterus and ovary measurements compared to girls with atypical PT, but sensitivity and specificity were not high enough to differentiate CPP from atypical PT. Pelvic USG may help the diagnosis of CPP in girls.
Sensitivity and Specificity

Localization of the specific symptomatic level in multiple lumbar disc herniations is very important in the decision of surgical levels and operative method and is also one of the rate limiting factor for the successful postoperative results. Until now pain provocation test with discography is known as the unique functional and physiological method to localize the symptomatic level of disc herniation. But it is an invasive study and there is still an ongoing argument about discography for their diagnostic accuracy and specificity. Digital infrared thermographic imaging technique is a non-invasive technique to detect the discogenic pain with high accuracy. Authors evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of digital infrared thermographic imaging in 202 cases of multiple lumbar disc herniations by analysis of symptom correlation and the accuracy with operative findings. And also the correlation of digital infrared thermographic imaging technique with discography was analyzed. The digital infrared thermographic imaging technique showed high sensitivity(86.4%) to the clinical symptom and good correlation with the operative findings. It also revealed high correlation rate(81.4%) with discography. As a conclusion, digital infrared thermographic imaging technique is a highly effective diagnostic tool in the localization of the symptomatic level in multiple disc herniations.
Sensitivity and Specificity

The ESR is one of the oldest laboratory test still in use. Although it lacks specificity in diagnosis, it can be effective for monitoring disease activity and following-up. The Westergren method is used for reference method, however coefficient of variation has been described 0.8% to 22.9% according to the literature. Since the ESR was invented in 1921, measurement technique has developed and automated measurement is introduced. We analyzed one hundred forty-three patient samples using SEDIsystem' automated ESR measuring system and compared with modified Westergren and Wintrobe methods. Comparison between SEDIsystem' and modified Westergren for ESR measurement yields the following regression equation; y = 0.863x - 1.69 (r=0.830), SEDIsystem'M and Wintrobe y'= 1.14x - 14.7 (r=0.789), rcspectively. We repeated measurement to evaluate reliability, results are not significant in statistically. In conclusion, SEDIsysten' automated ESR measurement correlated with modified Westergren and Wintro" ; methods, reveal reliable results after 4 hours and can report rapidly for large samples. Thus, these results indicate that SEDIsystenT"' automated ESR measurement may be useful tool for clinical practice.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Results between different clinical laboratory measurement procedures (CLMP) should be equivalent, within clinically meaningful limits, to enable optimal use of clinical guidelines for disease diagnosis and patient management. When laboratory test results are neither standardized nor harmonized, a different numeric result may be obtained for the same clinical sample. Unfortunately, some guidelines are based on test results from a specific laboratory measurement procedure without consideration of the possibility or likelihood of differences between various procedures. When this happens, aggregation of data from different clinical research investigations and development of appropriate clinical practice guidelines will be flawed. A lack of recognition that results are neither standardized nor harmonized may lead to erroneous clinical, financial, regulatory, or technical decisions. Standardization of CLMPs has been accomplished for several measurands for which primary (pure substance) reference materials exist and/or reference measurement procedures (RMPs) have been developed. However, the harmonization of clinical laboratory procedures for measurands that do not have RMPs has been problematic owing to inadequate definition of the measurand, inadequate analytical specificity for the measurand, inadequate attention to the commutability of reference materials, and lack of a systematic approach for harmonization. To address these problems, an infrastructure must be developed to enable a systematic approach for identification and prioritization of measurands to be harmonized on the basis of clinical importance and technical feasibility, and for management of the technical implementation of a harmonization process for a specific measurand.
Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity*

The ventriculoatrial(VA) intervals during supraventricular tachycardia(VAsvt) and during pacing with same cycle length as tachycardia(VApace) were analysed in 48 patients to evaluate the usefullness in determining the mechanism of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia(PSVT) and the sites of accessory pathways. The results are as follows : 1)In differenciation AV nodal reentry from AV reentry mechanism, VAsvt(25.6+/-21.5 vs 148.0+/-27.7msec, p<0.01), VApace-VAsvt(135.3+/-15.7 vs 55.0+/-33.5msec,p<0.01), and VAsvt/VApace(0.15+/-0.10 vs 0.75+/-0.14,p<0.05) were useful. Cutoff values were 95msec in VAsvt, 110msec in VApace-VAsvt and 0.5 in VAsvt/VApace. 2) There were no overlaps in VA intervals between the AV nodal reentry group and the AV reentry group with posteroseptal accessory pathway.3) In AV reentry tachycardia, VApace-VAsvt>50msec(sensitivity 81%,specificity 100%) and VAsvt/VAace<0.7(sensitivity 71%, specificity 100%) suggested the high probability of left free wall accessory pathway. In Conclusion, VAsvt, VApace-VAsvt and VAsvt/VApace are useful parameters in determining the mechanism of PSVT and the sites of accessory pathways.
Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tachycardia

Classification of the genus mentha on the basic of morphology is very difficult since their biodiversity and the genus mentha is quite easy to turn into morphological variation, or develop to hybrid species. These species chemical composition of essential oils have been intensively studied. On the basic of the major constituents, the following chemotypes of wild mints from Vietnam were found: piperitone oxide -pulegone, pulegone - menthol, menthylacetate - menthol, menthol - isomenthone, dihydrocarvylacetate - carvone - limonene, limonene - carvone - dihydrocarvone. It is necessary now for governmental offices and people from country side and high mountain to take an active role in the conservation of this genus for their economical and ecological reasons.
Mentha ; Species Specificity

In Hai Duong province, there was a case carrying salmonella with 31 S.typhi species isolated. 502 samples taken form workers, who are working in the food processing facilities and restaurants, were tested. The results showed that Salmonella was high sensitivity with cephalosporin and quinolone antibiotics. There was high resistance and multiresistant rate of this bacterium to common antibiotics.
Sensitivity and Specificity ; Salmonella

The bacteria most likely to cause hospital acquired infection are enteric those (35%), followed by S. aureus (25%), P. aeruginosa (13%) and S. pneumoniae (12.3%). S. aureus isolations have high rate of penicillin resistance, followed by chloramphenicol, ampicilline, cephalothine and oxacilline. P. aeruginosa has resisted to gentamycin and netilmycin and remains to be sensitive to amikacine, norfloxacine and ciprofloxacine. E. pneumoniae remains to be sensitive to most of test antibiotics, but it has resisted to chloramphenicol and penicillin. E. coli has high rate of resistance to ampicilline, cephalothine and chloramphenicol, but it remains to be sensitive highly to amikacin, netilmycin, gentamycin and tobramycin.
Bacterial Infections ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Eye Movements* ; Sensitivity and Specificity*