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Purpose We aimed to compare, in a large cohort of normal children, ST analyses for right and left ventricles (RV, LV), between the QLAB 10.0 (Philips Healthcare) and the EchoPac 110.1.1 (General Electric Healthcare) ultrasound software. Methods Normal children aged 0 to 18 years referred to the outpatient pediatric cardiology consultation were screened for this prospective cross-sectional study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02056925 ). First echocardiography was performed after randomization on one of both ultrasound systems. Second echocardiography was performed with equal randomization upon 4 levels of variability: same ultrasound (intra-ultrasound variability), different ultrasound (inter-ultrasound variability), same sonographer (intra-observer variability) and different sonographer (inter-observer variability). Post-data ST analyses were performed twice by the same investigator (intra-analyser variability) and by a second investigator (inter-analyser variability). Results Hundred and fifty-six children were included. Mean age was 7.6 ± 5 years [1 month–16.8 years]. There was no significant difference between both ultrasound systems in terms of conventional echocardiography variables. We observed a high proportion of missing ST data for the RV (19 to 78%). Inter-ultrasound system correlation was poor for both global longitudinal ( Table 1 ) and circumferential LV strain, with an ICC of 0.34 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.57) and 0.12 (95% CI −0.18 to −0.40), respectively. We observed a very poor inter-observer reliability in both global LV longitudinal strain and global LV circumferential strain with the two software. Inter-analyzer variability was better especially for the global LV circumferential strain using Philips software (ICC 0.78 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.91). Conclusion This study pointed out a serious limitation in the use of ST analysis in pediatrics with the two main ultrasound software, despite the EACVI/ASE Industry Task Force Standardization Initiatives for Deformation Imaging.

Journal de Gynecologie Obstetrique et Biologie de la Reproduction - Vol. 37 - N° 1S - p. 72-80

Background: Exercise stress electrocardiography (ECG) alone is underutilized despite guideline recommendations in part due to poor diagnostic accuracy. High frequency QRS analysis (HF-QRS) is a novel tool to supplement standard ST-analysis during stress ECG. We sought to compare the diagnostic

This study compares the accuracy of the routine exercise electrocardiogram, exercise score, and exercise echocardiography for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women. Seventy women with a pretest probability of 53 +/- 30% for CAD were stressed using a maximal symptom-limited bicycle exercise protocol. Significant ST-segment change was defined by a depression of0.1 mV 0.06 second after the J point. The exercise score was calculated from ST response, heart rate, and workload using an equation derived from a multivariate model. A positive stress echocardiogram was defined by development of a new or worsening wall motion abnormality. The results were compared with the presence or absence of significant (50% diameter) stenoses at angiography. Exercise echocardiography identified 29 of the 33 patients (88%) with CAD, compared with 22 (67%) using ST analysis alone, and 20 (61%) using the exercise score (both p0.05 vs exercise echocardiography). The specificity of exercise echocardiography (84%) and the multivariate score (73%) were comparable, and exceeded that of the ST analysis (51%) in 37 patients without CAD (p0.01). The accuracy of exercise echocardiography (86%) exceeded that of the exercise score (67%, p = 0.01) and ST analysis (59%, p0.01). Among all 70 patients, an intermediate (20% to 80%) probability of coronary disease was identified in 21 patients on the basis of exercise echocardiography, in 38 based on the multivariate score, and in 38 based on the ST analysis alone. Exercise echocardiography is more sensitive than the exercise score, and more sensitive and specific than ST-segment analysis for the diagnosis of CAD in women.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Data from previous studies are debatable regarding whether Holter monitors are a reliable electrocardiographic indicator of ischemia, for which the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is the standard. Simultaneous 12-lead and Holter ECGs were performed on 30 patients with typical angina pectoris during coronary angiography or exercise testing. ST depression recorded by both methods was directly compared, using the 12-lead ECG as the reference. The Holter tapes were also scanned by two automated ST analysis programs and the results were compared to 12-lead ECGs. Only 66 of the 178 12-lead ECG ST depression events were also present on the Holter recordings (37.1% Holter sensitivity). ST depression was underestimated by the Holter recordings compared to the 12-lead ECGs (p < 0.0001). The majority (67.0%) of ST depression events identified by one computer program were false positive events. The degree of ST depression was overestimated compared to 12-lead ECGs by the second program (p = 0.0033). Holter-detected ST depression may not be a reliable ECG indicator of myocardial ischemia.

Haplotypes and allele frequencies of 17 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) markers were examined using the AmpFlSTR Yfiler PCR Amplification Kit (Applied Biosystems) in a population sample of 1166 Japanese male volunteers in 6 prefectures: Miyagi, Yamagata, Osaka, Tottori, Fukuoka, and Okinawa. A total of 1058 haplotypes were observed from 1166 males, and the most common haplotype detected in 12 males had a frequency of 1.03% and the discrimination capacity was 0.907. The R ST analysis showed statistically significant differences between Okinawa and the other subpopulations.

Comment on Effectiveness of electronic fetal monitoring with additional ST analysis in vertex singleton pregnancies at >36 weeks of gestation: an individual participant data metaanalysis

We compared standard ST-segment analysis and ST/HR slope analysis of exercise ECG studies with reference to outcome of exercise thallium-201 studies in 341 patients. Sensitivity was significantly better using ST/HR slope compared with standard ST analysis. Specificity was not significantly different.

Sulfathiazole (ST) contamination of honey has recently become a major concern for regulatory agencies. Although numerous chemical methods to test for ST in honey have been developed, none of these methods has examined the binding of ST to reducing carbohydrate (Maillard reaction) in honey. While ST treated at pH 3.6 and 80°C in water was completely stable over a thirty day period, ST treated under similar conditions in the presence of excess reducing carbohydrate (D-glucose and D-fructose) resulted in greater than 50% loss of free sulfathiazole in only 65 hours. Free ST also disappeared at slower rates from reducing carbohydrate solutions held at room temperature. ST bound to carbohydrate had different chromatographic properties from free ST and did not react with Bratton-Marshall reageant. Problems associated with present rapid detection methods for free ST in honey were investigated and a modified procedure to detect free ST to levels of 125 ppb developed. Since all chemical methods for ST analysis in honey did not detect carbohydrate bound ST, these methods not only underestimated the original ST contamination of honey but also could underestimate the antibiotic contamination of honey if bound ST acted as a reservoir for free ST and/or bound ST still maintained antibiotic activity.