Prognostic value of self-reported subjective exercise capacity in patients with acute dyspnea

Abstract Background Quantitative assessment of self-reported exercise capacity as provided by the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) is a validated measure of exercise capacity in stable ambulatory patients. Objectives This study aimedto test whether the quantification of self-reported exercise capacityusing the DASI may aid physicians in the risk stratification of patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency department (ED). Methods Basics in Acute Shortness of Breath EvaLuation (BASEL V) was a prospective cohort study recruiting dyspneic patients at the ED. The prognostic value and accuracy of theDASI assessed shortly after presentation were quantified using Cox regression analyses and the Area under the curve (AUC). Results Among 1019 patients eligible for this analysis 529 (51.9%) had an adjudicated final diagnosis of acute heart failure, 75 (7.4%) and 297 (29.1%) patients died within 90 and 720 days after presentation. Unadjusted hazard ratios (HR) and multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for 90-day and 720-day mortality increased continuously from the fourth (best self-reported exercise capacity) to the first DASI-quartile (worst self-reported exercise capacity). For 720-day mortality in the first quartile theHR was 9.1 (95%-CI 5.5–14.9) (aHR 6.1 [95%-CI 3.7–10.1]), in the second quartile 6.4 (95%-CI 3.9–10.6) (aHR 4.4 [95%-CI 2.6–7.3]), while in the third quartile the HR was 3.2 (95%-CI 1.9–5.5) (aHR 2.4 [95%-CI 1.4–4.0]). The prognostic accuracy of the DASI was moderate-to-high and higher than that of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-BNP) concentrations, e.g. for 720-day mortality prediction AUC 0.70 versus 0.64, p=0.020; 0.72 versus 0.68, p=0.074. Conclusions Quantification of self-reported subjective exercise capacityusing the DASI provides moderate-to-high prognostic accuracy in patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the ED and may aid physicians in further risk stratification. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): European Union, the Swiss National Science Foundation. Duke Activity Status Index </jats:sec

Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Quantification of Zearalenone in Baby Food and Animal Feed: Interlaboratory Study

Abstract An interlaboratory trial for determination of zearalenone (ZON) in baby food and animal feed was conducted. The study involved 39 participants in 16 European Union member states, as well as Turkey, Uruguay, and China, representing a cross-section of industry, and official food control and research institutes. The method is based on immunoaffinity column cleanup followed by high-performance liquid chromatography using fluorimetry (HPLC-Fl). The test portion of the sample is extracted with methanolwater (75 + 25, v/v). The sample extract is filtered, diluted, and passed over an immunoaffinity column. ZON is eluted with methanol. The separation and determination of ZON is performed by reversed-phase HPLC-Fl with an excitation wavelength of 274 nm and an emission wavelength of 446 nm. Test portions of the samples were spiked at levels of 20 and 30 g/kg ZON in baby food and at levels of 100 and 150 g/kg ZON in animal feed. Mean recoveries from each participant ranged from 78 to 119 with an average value of 92 for baby food and from 51 to 122 with an average value of 74 for animal feed. Based on results for spiked samples (blind duplicates at 2 levels), as well as naturally contaminated samples (blind duplicates at 3 levels), the relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) in baby food ranged from 2.8 to 9.0. For animal feed, this value ranged from 5.7 to 9.5. The relative standard deviation for reproducibility (RSDR) in baby food ranged from 8.2 to 13.3, and for animal feed this value ranged from 15.5 to 21.4. The Horwitz ratio (HorRat) in baby food ranged from 0.3 to 0.4, and for animal feed this value ranged from 0.6 to 0.9. The method showed acceptable within-and between-laboratory precision for each matrix, as required by European legislation.</jats:p