Comparison between Medion Vacuon Tube and BD Vacutainer Tube for Clinical Laboratory Practice

BACKGROUND: Most of the blood-test samples are collected and carried in vacuum tubes. We have compared a newly developed vacuum tube, ‘Vacuon’ (Medion, Korea) and ‘BD Vacutainer®’ (BD, USA) in three common clinical assays, i.e., hematological, chemical, and immunological tests. METHODS: A sum of 60 healthy volunteers were recruited in our study and their peripheral blood samples were collected in the tubes of the two brands. EDTA-tube samples were evaluated using 25 hematological tests. Serum separating tube samples were analyzed for 24 chemical parameters and the 3 thyroid hormones. The results were statistically analyzed using the paired t-test and Bland-Altman plot. In addition, the assay outcomes at t=0 hr were compared with those at t=24±2 hr for each of the tubes. RESULTS: The assay results of 22 hematological parameters, 24 chemical parameters, and 3 thyroid hormones had a statistically significant correlation between the 2 brands of vacuum tubes (t=0 hr). Two hematological parameters (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC] and cell hemoglobin concentration mean [CHCM]) showed higher mean values, while a hematological parameter (lobularity index [LI]) showed lower mean values in Vacuon than BD Vacutainer (t=0 hr). The results after 24 hr showed similarity between the 2 brands, with some inconsistent results in BD Vacutainer (Mean platelet volume [MPV], plateletcrit [Pct], eosinophil, calcium, and triiodothyronine) and Vacuon (MPV, hemoglobin distribution width [HDW], CHCM, Pct, eosinophil, and calcium). CONCLUSIONS: BD Vacutainer and Vacuon tube showed good statistical concordance rate with some exceptions in the hematological parameters (MCHC, CHCM, and LI).

The Correlation Between Clinical Characteristics and Radionuclide Salivagram Findings in Patients With Brain Lesions: A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between radionuclide salivagram findings and clinical characteristics in dysphagic patients with brain lesions. METHODS: The medical records of 35 dysphagic patients with brain lesions who simultaneously underwent both a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and radionuclide salivagram were analyzed retrospectively. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the presence of aspiration on a salivagram (group A, patients with aspiration on the salivagram; group B, patients with no aspiration on the salivagram). The differences between clinical characteristics and VFSS findings (penetration-aspiration scale [PAS]) between the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: Eleven out of 35 patients displayed salivary aspiration on the radionuclide salivagram. There were no significant differences between the two groups according to age, sex, disease duration, PAS on VFSS and feeding methods (p≥0.05). The incidence of aspiration pneumonia was significantly higher in group A. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis with forward stepwise method, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was the only significant parameter in predicting positive findings in salivagrams (odds ratio=0.760; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.625–0.923; p=0.006). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the MMSE score for positive detection in salivagrams was 0.855 (95% CI, 0.689–0.953; p < 0.0001). The optimal cut-off value was 7 for the MMSE score (sensitivity 72.73%, specificity 100%). CONCLUSION: In patients with brain lesions who complain of dysphagia, the MMSE score was correlated with salivary aspiration. If patients present with a score of 7 or less on the MMSE, performing a radionuclide salivagram may helpful for early detection of patients at high risk of aspiration pneumonia induced from salivary aspiration.

The Correlation Between Clinical Characteristics and Radionuclide Salivagram Findings in Patients With Brain Lesions: A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between radionuclide salivagram findings and clinical characteristics in dysphagic patients with brain lesions. METHODS: The medical records of 35 dysphagic patients with brain lesions who simultaneously underwent both a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and radionuclide salivagram were analyzed retrospectively. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the presence of aspiration on a salivagram (group A, patients with aspiration on the salivagram; group B, patients with no aspiration on the salivagram). The differences between clinical characteristics and VFSS findings (penetration-aspiration scale [PAS]) between the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: Eleven out of 35 patients displayed salivary aspiration on the radionuclide salivagram. There were no significant differences between the two groups according to age, sex, disease duration, PAS on VFSS and feeding methods (p≥0.05). The incidence of aspiration pneumonia was significantly higher in group A. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis with forward stepwise method, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was the only significant parameter in predicting positive findings in salivagrams (odds ratio=0.760; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.625–0.923; p=0.006). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the MMSE score for positive detection in salivagrams was 0.855 (95% CI, 0.689–0.953; p < 0.0001). The optimal cut-off value was 7 for the MMSE score (sensitivity 72.73%, specificity 100%). CONCLUSION: In patients with brain lesions who complain of dysphagia, the MMSE score was correlated with salivary aspiration. If patients present with a score of 7 or less on the MMSE, performing a radionuclide salivagram may helpful for early detection of patients at high risk of aspiration pneumonia induced from salivary aspiration.

Comparison of analysis of the lateral cephalogram and analysis of lateral facial photograph / 대한치과교정학회지

Analysis of lateral cephalometric radiograph (cephalogram) has been used routinely to evaluate skeletal and dental relationships, but analysis of the lateral facial photograph has not been used frequently for evaluation of skeletal relationships. As concerns about harm of X-ray irradiation increases, this study was planned to evaluate the possibility of substituting analysis of the lateral cephalogram with analysis of the lateral facial photograph by comparing these two analyses. According to the ANB values from cephalometric analysis, subjects were divided into three groups: Class I malocclusion group (n = 32). Class II malocclusion group (n = 32), and Class III malocclusion group (n = 31). After measurements of angles indicating horizontal and vertical relationships of the maxilla and mandible on the lateral cephalograms and photographs, differences between Class I, II and III groups were evaluated. To evaluate the similarity between two similar values in the cephalograms and photographs, t-test using standardized variable Z and correlation analysis were performed in the Class I malocclusion group. The results showed that 1) SnN'Pg' on the photograph can be used to evaluate the antero-posterior relationship of the maxilla and mandible (ANB), 2) N'-Sn/Sn-Pg' on the photograph can be used to evaluate facial convexity (NA/APg), 3) Sn-Tra-Me' on the photograph can be used as a measurement similar to FMA. In conclusion, partly substituting lateral cephalogram analysis with lateral facial photograph analysis was possible in the evaluation of the maxilla and mandible.