• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제57권10호
• /
• pp.451-456
• /
• 2014

Purpose: We evaluated serum procalcitonin (PCT) as a diagnostic marker of neonatal sepsis, and compared PCT levels with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 269 neonates with a suspected infection, admitted to Wonkwang University School of Medicine & Hospital between January 2011 and December 2012, for whom PCT and CRP values had been obtained. Neonates were categorized into 4 groups according to infection severity. CRP and PCT values were analyzed and compared, and their effectiveness as diagnostic markers was determined by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. We also calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and positive, and negative predictive values. Results: The mean PCT and CRP concentrations were respectively $56.27{\pm}81.89$ and $71.14{\pm}37.17mg/L$ in the "confirmed sepsis" group; $15.64{\pm}32.64$ and $39.23{\pm}41.41mg/L$ in the "suspected sepsis" group; $9.49{\pm}4.30$ and $0.97{\pm}1.16mg/L$ in the "mild infection" group; and $0.21{\pm}0.12$ and $0.72{\pm}0.7mg/L$ in the control group. High concentrations indicated greater severity of infection (P<0.001). Five of 18 patients with confirmed sepsis had low PCT levels (<1.0 mg/L) despite high CRP levels. In the ROC analysis, the area under the curve was 0.951 for CRP and 0.803 for PCT. The cutoff concentrations of 0.5 mg/L for PCT and 1.0 mg/L for CRP were optimal for diagnosing neonatal sepsis (sensitivity, 88.29% vs. 100%; specificity, 58.17% vs. 85.66%; positive predictive value, 13.2% vs. 33.3%; negative predictive value, 98.6% vs. 100%, respectively). Conclusion: PCT is a highly effective early diagnostic marker of neonatal infection. However, it may not be as reliable as CRP.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• 제48권2호
• /
• pp.114-123
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to develop a computer-assisted detection system based on a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm and to evaluate the potential usefulness and accuracy of this system for the diagnosis and prediction of periodontally compromised teeth (PCT). Methods: Combining pretrained deep CNN architecture and a self-trained network, periapical radiographic images were used to determine the optimal CNN algorithm and weights. The diagnostic and predictive accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC curve, confusion matrix, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using our deep CNN algorithm, based on a Keras framework in Python. Results: The periapical radiographic dataset was split into training (n=1,044), validation (n=348), and test (n=348) datasets. With the deep learning algorithm, the diagnostic accuracy for PCT was 81.0% for premolars and 76.7% for molars. Using 64 premolars and 64 molars that were clinically diagnosed as severe PCT, the accuracy of predicting extraction was 82.8% (95% CI, 70.1%-91.2%) for premolars and 73.4% (95% CI, 59.9%-84.0%) for molars. Conclusions: We demonstrated that the deep CNN algorithm was useful for assessing the diagnosis and predictability of PCT. Therefore, with further optimization of the PCT dataset and improvements in the algorithm, a computer-aided detection system can be expected to become an effective and efficient method of diagnosing and predicting PCT.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제67권5호
• /
• pp.430-435
• /
• 2009

Background: Thus far, research studies on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) have focused on its clinical severity. Recently, it has been determined that procalcitonin (PCT) level is correlated with severity of CAP. A retrospective study conducted at our hospital used risk predictability and PCT to determine whether or no PCT is useful in assessing the severity of CAP. Methods: This study covered 92 CAP cases that were admitted to the respiratory department at Changwon Fatima Hospital between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. All enrolled subjects were measured for infection markers and risk predictability. Results: Based on hospital admission data, enrolled subjects had Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) scores serving as risk predictors showed that both PCT and white blood cell (WBC) were statistically significant as infection markers (p=0.001, 0.037). Thus, this study used ROC curves in PSI for data analysis. As a result, it was determined that the area under curve (AUC) of PCT and WBC was 0.694 and 0.593 respectively, indicating that PCT has a higher test value for WBC, when PCT was higher than 0.745 ng/mL. In addition, it was found that PCT levels higher than 0.745 ng/mL had higher PSI scores than the group with PCT lower than 0.745 ng/mL (p=0.032). Conclusion: In order to predict risk of pneumonia cases admitted due to symptoms of CAP, it is important to consider PCT as well as PSI, and follow-up monitoring of PCT cases.

• 고신대학교 의과대학 학술지
• /
• 제33권3호
• /
• pp.337-346
• /
• 2018

Objectives: Serum procalcitonin (PCT) is a specific biomarker that rises after bacterial infection, and levels of PCT are known to correlate with the severity and mortality of patients with pneumonia and sepsis. However, the usefulness of PCT levels in acute pyelonephritis is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using the PCT level as a predictive test for bacteremia in acute pyelonephritis. Methods: Between January 2012 and June 2013, 140 patients diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis were admitted to Haeundae Paik Hospital. Serum PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) levels at pre- and post- treatment were measured. Blood and urine cultures were obtained from all patients. The levels of PCT, CRP, and WBCs were each compared between the blood culture-positive and blood culture-negative groups to assess their effectiveness in predicting bacteremia. Results: Pre-treatment PCT level was 0.77 ng/mL (95% CI: 0.42-1.60 ng/mL) in the blood culture-negative group and 4.89 ng/mL (95% CI: 2.88-9.04 ng/mL) in the blood culture-positive group, and the increase between the two groups was statistically significant. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of PCT level for prediction of bacteremia was 0.728. A cut-off value of 1.23 ng/mL indicated a sensitivity of 79.0 % and specificity of 60.0 % for PCT level. Conclusions: Serum PCT level is a useful predictive test for bacteremia in acute pyelonephritis. Through the early detection of bacteremia, serum PCT level can help estimate the prognosis and predict complications such as sepsis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제70권1호
• /
• pp.51-57
• /
• 2011

Background: Early recognition and treatment of sepsis would improve patients' outcome. But it is difficult to distinguish between sepsis and non-infectious conditions in the acute phase of clinical deterioration. We studied serum level of procalcitonin (PCT) as a method to diagnose and to evaluate sepsis. Methods: Between 1 March 2009 and 30 September 2009, 178 patients had their serum PCT tested during their clinical deterioration in the medical intensive care unit. These laboratories were evaluated, on a retrospective basis. We classified their clinical status as non-infection, local infection, sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. Then, we compared their clinical status with level of PCT. Results: The number of clinical status is as follows: 18 non-infection, 33 local infection, 39 sepsis, 26 severe sepsis, and 62 septic shock patients. PCT level of non-septic group (non-infection and local infection) and septic group (sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock) was $0.36{\pm}0.57$ ng/mL and $18.09{\pm}36.53$ ng/mL (p<0.001), respectively. Area under the curve for diagnosis of sepsis using cut-off value of PCT >0.5 ng/mL was 0.841 (p<0.001). Level of PCT as clinical status was statistically different between severe sepsis and septic shock ($^*severe$ sepsis; $4.53{\pm}6.15$ ng/mL, $^*septic$ shock $34.26{\pm}47.10$ ng/mL, $^*p$ <0.001). Conclusion: Level of PCT at clinical deterioration showed diagnostic power for septic condition. The level of PCT was statistically different between severe sepsis and septic shock.

• 오토저널
• /
• 제11권6호
• /
• pp.38-47
• /
• 1989

The Finite Element Method has been employed to calculate the effect of particle size, matrix, and volume fractions on the stress-strain relations of .alpha.-.betha. titanium alloys. It was found that for a given volume fraction, the calculated stress-strain curve was higher for a finer particle size than for a coarse particle size within the range of the strains considered, and this behavior was seen for all the different volume fraction alloys considered. The calculated stress-strain curves for three vol. pct .alpha. alloys were compared with their corresponding experimental curve, and in general, good agreement was found.

• 한국측량학회지
• /
• 제33권5호
• /
• pp.453-461
• /
• 2015

이 연구에서는 시공 중에 있는 곡선형 PCT 거더교의 처짐 관리를 위해 압출 시 예상되는 취약부위에 GPS를 설치하고 시공단계에 따라 처짐변위를 측정하였으며 응력, 온도 및 경사변위를 측정하여 GPS 관측데이터와 처짐변위와 비교하였다. 압출거리에 따른 GPS 실측값과 유한요소 모델링 해석값을 비교 분석한 결과, 실측값이 해석값에 비해 0.6∼1.6배 정도 차이가 발생하였으나, 온도를 보정함으로써 그 차이가 크게 감소하였다. 교량 거동 형상 분석 결과, 시공중 거동은 95m 지점과 75m 지점에서 노즈 선단부에 처짐이 발생하는 것을 확인하였으며 압축 취약부는 압축, 인장취약부는 인장력이 발생하였다. 연구결과, GPS 적용함으로써 시공 중 곡선형 PCT 거더교의 처짐 관리를 보다 효율적으로 가능할 것으로 판단되며, 향후 동일 공법의 교량을 시공할 시 향후 거동을 예측하고 관리하는데 도움을 줄 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제40권4호
• /
• pp.388-393
• /
• 2023

Background: Differentiating between bacterial and nonbacterial colitis remains a challenge. We aimed to evaluate the value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in differentiating between bacterial and nonbacterial colitis. Methods: Adult patients with three or more episodes of watery diarrhea and colitis symptoms within 14 days of a hospital visit were eligible for this study. The patients' stool pathogen polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing results, serum PCT levels, and serum CRP levels were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into bacterial and nonbacterial colitis groups according to their PCR. The laboratory data were compared between the two groups. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate diagnostic accuracy. Results: In total, 636 patients were included; 186 in the bacterial colitis group and 450 in the nonbacterial colitis group. In the bacterial colitis group, Clostridium perfringens was the commonest pathogen (n=70), followed by Clostridium difficile toxin B (n=60). The AUC for PCT and CRP was 0.557 and 0.567, respectively, indicating poor discrimination. The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing bacterial colitis were 54.8% and 52.6% for PCT, and 52.2% and 54.2% for CRP, respectively. Combining PCT and CRP measurements did not increase the discrimination performance (AUC, 0.522; 95% confidence interval, 0.474-0.571). Conclusion: Neither PCT nor CRP helped discriminate bacterial colitis from nonbacterial colitis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• 제16권2호
• /
• pp.142-149
• /
• 2009

목 적: 6개월 미만의 열이 있는 영아에서 세균성 감염을 진단하는 데 있어서 C-반응 단백질(CRP), 전백혈구 수치(WBC)와 비교하여 혈청 procalcitonin (PCT)가 진단적 가치가 있는지 알아보고자 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법 : 전향적인 연구방법을 채택해 2008년 7월부터 9월까지 분당차병원 소아청소년과에 발열을 주소로 내원한 6개월 미만의 영아를 대상으로 하였다. 내원 당시 체온, 흉부방사선 검사, 뇨분석검사 및 배양검사와 함께 말초 혈액에서 WBC를 포함한 전혈구 검사, CRP, PCT, 혈액배양검사를 진행하였고, 임상 증상과 이학적 검사에 따라서 대변검사와 복부방사선 검사, 수막염 진단을 위한 뇌척수액 검사도 진행하였다. 결 과: 총 71명의 영아가 연구에 포함되었고 이 중에서 26명(36.6%)이 요로감염을 진단받았으며, 22명(31.0%)이 바이러스성 수막염을 진단받았다. 다른 질환으로는 급성 인두염과 포진성 구협염이 각각 1명씩 진단되었고, 상부 호흡기 감염증 7명, 급성 세기관지염 8명, 급성 위장관염 4명, 균혈증 2명이 진단되었다. 요로감염군과 바이러스성 수막염군을 비교했을때, WBC와 CRP수치는 요로감염군에서 통계적으로 유의하게 더 높은 수치를 보였으나, PCT수치는 두 군 사이에서 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. ROC 곡선 분석에 의해 산출한 곡선 아래 면적은 WBC 0.792 (95% CI, 0.65-0.896), CRP 0.77 (95% CI, 0.626-0.879), PCT 0.568 (95% CI, 0.417-0.710)로 측정되었으며, 다중 로지스틱 회귀분석에 의해 WBC가 11,920/${\mu}L$보다 큰 경우와 CRP가 1.06g/dL보다 큰 경우는 요로감염을 진단하는 데 있어서 진단적 가치가 있음을 확인하였다. 결 론: 6개월 미만의 발열을 주소로 내원한 영아에서 세균성 감염을 예측하기 위한 인자로서 혈청 PCT수치에 대한 연구가 부족하고 진단적 기준 역시 명확하지 않으므로 단독으로 해석함에 있어서 주의를 기울여야 한다.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
• /
• 제22권3호
• /
• pp.380-385
• /
• 2011

$MgH_2$ was synthesized by hydriding chemical vapor deposition (HCVD). In this study, we examined the hydrogen storage property of $MgH_2$ synthesized by HCVD. The results of pressure-composition-temperature (PCT) measurement showed that the HCVDed $MgH_2$ reversibly absorbed hydrogen as much as 6 wt%. Each hydrogenation rate was very greater than the conventional alloy methods. The reason was that the particle size made by HCVD was small as approximately 1 ${\mu}m$. The PCT of $MgH_2$ made by HCVD methode was similar to a commercial $MgH_2$. The ${\Delta}H$ and ${\Delta}S$ value are respectively -76.8 $kJ/mol{\cdot}H_2$ and -137.4 $kJ/mol{\cdot}H_2$. Mg made by HCVD methode was activated easily than commercial Mg. Also the initial reaction rate was faster than that of commercial $MgH_2$. 70% of the total storage were stored during 400s.