SMAF: A Soil Health Assessment Tool

The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) was developed to help quantify soil quality/health effects of tillage, crop rotation, and other soil management practices. Our objective was to determine if the SMAF could detect soil health differences after growing a single winter triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) crop. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 7.5- and 7.5 to 15- cm depth increments during the 2003 – 2004 and 2004 – 2005 growing seasons near Ames and Lewis, IA, and analyzed for several potential soil quality indicators. The SMAF analysis showed higher soil quality ratings for surface than subsurface samples. It also showed that a single winter grain crop can significantly improve soil quality after either corn (Zea mays L.) or soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.). Finally, in response to increasing interest in soil health assessments, a detailed appendix is attached to provide guidance for future soil health assessments

AN AUTOREGRESSION MODEL FOR A PAIRED WATERSHED COMPARISON

Analysis of water quality data from a paired watershed design is needed to determine if a best fertilizer management practice reduces a specific water quality variable compared to a conventional fertilizer management practice. This study examines an existing recommended method of analysis for paired watershed designs, simple analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) on time aggregated data, then offers two autoregression analyses (AR) as alternatives. The first approach models the sequence of paired differences and estimates its 95% confidence band. The second approach develops individual watershed AR models then examines the joint 95% confidence interval about the predicted difference. A reliability analysis on the water quality data reveals that the data for the controlled watershed, i.e., the covariate, has a sizable measurement error, a factor that is not considered in the usual ANCOVA model. The AR methods avoid the measurement error and other inherent problems with the published recommended method. Graphically both AR analyses are similar and reveal three distinct trend phases: a period of continued similarity; a period of transition; and a period of sustained change. The model for the sequence of paired differences is the easier one of the two AR methods to use and interpret because its trend model of splined linear segments readily defines each response phase. Hence, we recommend it over the given alternatives. It offers water resources researchers an effective and readily adoptable analysis option

Fluoromycobacteriophages for rapid, specific, and sensitive antibiotic susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is of paramount importance as multiple- and extensively- drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis emerge and spread. We describe here a virus-based assay in which fluoromycobacteriophages are used to deliver a GFP or ZsYellow fluorescent marker gene to M. tuberculosis, which can then be monitored by fluorescent detection approaches including fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry. Pre-clinical evaluations show that addition of either Rifampicin or Streptomycin at the time of phage addition obliterates fluorescence in susceptible cells but not in isogenic resistant bacteria enabling drug sensitivity determination in less than 24 hours. Detection requires no substrate addition, fewer than 100 cells can be identified, and resistant bacteria can be detected within mixed populations. Fluorescence withstands fixation by paraformaldehyde providing enhanced biosafety for testing MDR-TB and XDR-TB infections. © 2009 Piuri et al

Fluorescence-Based Methods for Detecting Caries Lesions: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Sources of Heterogeneity

Background Fluorescence-based methods have been proposed to aid caries lesion detection. Summarizing and analysing findings of studies about fluorescence-based methods could clarify their real benefits. Objective We aimed to perform a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the accuracy of fluorescence-based methods in detecting caries lesions. Data Source Two independent reviewers searched PubMed, Embase and Scopus through June 2012 to identify papers/articles published. Other sources were checked to identify non-published literature. Study Eligibility Criteria, Participants and Diagnostic Methods The eligibility criteria were studies that: (1) have assessed the accuracy of fluorescence-based methods of detecting caries lesions on occlusal, approximal or smooth surfaces, in both primary or permanent human teeth, in the laboratory or clinical setting; (2) have used a reference standard; and (3) have reported sufficient data relating to the sample size and the accuracy of methods. Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods A diagnostic 2×2 table was extracted from included studies to calculate the pooled sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy parameters (Diagnostic Odds Ratio and Summary Receiver-Operating curve). The analyses were performed separately for each method and different characteristics of the studies. The quality of the studies and heterogeneity were also evaluated. Results Seventy five studies met the inclusion criteria from the 434 articles initially identified. The search of the grey or non-published literature did not identify any further studies. In general, the analysis demonstrated that the fluorescence-based method tend to have similar accuracy for all types of teeth, dental surfaces or settings. There was a trend of better performance of fluorescence methods in detecting more advanced caries lesions. We also observed moderate to high heterogeneity and evidenced publication bias. Conclusions Fluorescence-based devices have similar overall performance; however, better accuracy in detecting more advanced caries lesions has been observed

A rapid and systematic review of the effectiveness of temozolomide for the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma

A rapid and systematic review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of temozolomide in the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma was commissioned by the NHS HTA Programme on behalf of NICE. The full report has been published elsewhere. This paper summarizes the results for the effectiveness of temozolomide in people with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme and anaplastic astrocytoma. The review was conducted using standard systematic review methodology involving a systematic literature search, quality assessment of included studies with systematic data extraction and data synthesis. One randomized controlled trial and four uncontrolled studies were identified for inclusion. The key results were that temozolomide may increase progression-free survival but has no significant impact on overall length of survival. The main effect from temozolomide may have been in those patients who had not received any prior chemotherapy regimens, however further randomized controlled trials are required to confirm this suggestion. Temozolomide appears to produce few serious adverse effects and may also have a positive impact on health-related quality of life. Overall the evidence-base is weak and few strong conclusions can be drawn regarding the effectiveness of temozolomide. Large, well-designed randomized controlled trails conducted in a wider patient population are needed

Point-of-care troponin tests to rule out acute myocardial infarction in the prehospital environment:a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Chest pain is a major cause of emergency ambulance calls, often linked to acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a critical condition requiring immediate hospitalisation. Current diagnostic methods, such as history taking and ECG, have limitations, especially for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (cTn) assays are more diagnostically sensitive, but the downside is that it needs hospital-based testing, which can delay diagnosis and the necessary treatment protocol. Point-of-care cTn testing, on the other hand, is much faster and done nearer to the patient; hence, it may fundamentally change the prehospital care pathway in terms of diagnostic accuracy, clinical utility and related safety.OBJECTIVE: To present a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis that will assess the diagnostic accuracy, clinical utility and safety of point of care (POC) troponin tests, with or without clinical decision aids, for ruling out AMI in adults presenting with cardiac chest pain to emergency ambulance services in prehospital settings.METHODS: This protocol follows BMJ guidelines and adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols 2015 reporting standards. It is registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024533117). A comprehensive search strategy will identify relevant studies in MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL, focusing on literature from 2000 onwards. Eligibility criteria include adults with chest pain suspected of AMI, excluding those with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The primary target is type 1 AMI, with secondary outcomes including major adverse cardiac events at 30 days. Risk of bias assessment will be performed using tools such as Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies version 2, Risk of Bias 2, and Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions, while the quality of the economic evaluations will be appraised using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist. Data items extracted will include patient demographics, test characteristics and outcomes. Where possible, meta-analyses will be conducted by fitting hierarchical models for diagnostic accuracy and random effects models for clinical and cost-effectiveness estimates. Subgroup analyses are proposed to quantify the effect of variables such as gender, ethnicity and type of troponin assay on the estimated parameters.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at international conferences.PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: This protocol is registered with PROSPERO, the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, under the ID CRD42024533117. Any future amendments will be updated in the PROSPERO record.</p

Erratum to: Methods for evaluating medical tests and biomarkers

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s41512-016-0001-y.]

Target Product Profile for a Machine Learning–Automated Retinal Imaging Analysis Software for Use in English Diabetic Eye Screening: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

\ua9 2024 JMIR Publications Inc.. All rights reserved.Background: Diabetic eye screening (DES) represents a significant opportunity for the application of machine learning (ML) technologies, which may improve clinical and service outcomes. However, successful integration of ML into DES requires careful product development, evaluation, and implementation. Target product profiles (TPPs) summarize the requirements necessary for successful implementation so these can guide product development and evaluation. Objective: This study aims to produce a TPP for an ML-automated retinal imaging analysis software (ML-ARIAS) system for use in DES in England. Methods: This work will consist of 3 phases. Phase 1 will establish the characteristics to be addressed in the TPP. A list of candidate characteristics will be generated from the following sources: an overview of systematic reviews of diagnostic test TPPs; a systematic review of digital health TPPs; and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Evidence Standards Framework for Digital Health Technologies. The list of characteristics will be refined and validated by a study advisory group (SAG) made up of representatives from key stakeholders in DES. This includes people with diabetes; health care professionals; health care managers and leaders; and regulators and policy makers. In phase 2, specifications for these characteristics will be drafted following a series of semistructured interviews with participants from these stakeholder groups. Data collected from these interviews will be analyzed using the shortlist of characteristics as a framework, after which specifications will be drafted to create a draft TPP. Following approval by the SAG, in phase 3, the draft will enter an internet-based Delphi consensus study with participants sought from the groups previously identified, as well as ML-ARIAS developers, to ensure feasibility. Participants will be invited to score characteristic and specification pairs on a scale from “definitely exclude” to “definitely include,” and suggest edits. The document will be iterated between rounds based on participants’ feedback. Feedback on the draft document will be sought from a group of ML-ARIAS developers before its final contents are agreed upon in an in-person consensus meeting. At this meeting, representatives from the stakeholder groups previously identified (minus ML-ARIAS developers, to avoid bias) will be presented with the Delphi results and feedback of the user group and asked to agree on the final contents by vote. Results: Phase 1 was completed in November 2023. Phase 2 is underway and expected to finish in March 2024. Phase 3 is expected to be complete in July 2024. Conclusions: The multistakeholder development of a TPP for an ML-ARIAS for use in DES in England will help developers produce tools that serve the needs of patients, health care providers, and their staff. The TPP development process will also provide methods and a template to produce similar documents in other disease areas

Accuracy of Immunodiagnostic Tests for Active Tuberculosis Using Single and Combined Results: A Multicenter TBNET-Study

The clinical application of IFN-gamma release assays (IGRAs) has recently improved the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection. In a multicenter study of the Tuberculosis Network European Trialsgroup (TBNET) we aimed to ascertain in routine clinical practice the accuracy of a novel assay using selected peptides encoded in the mycobacterial genomic region of difference (RD) 1 for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis in comparison with tuberculin skin test (TST), QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube (Cellestis Ltd., Carnegie, Australia) and T-SPOT.TB (Oxfordimmunotec, Abingdon, UK)