Asymptomatic Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

BACKGROUND: Although serum beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) represents a key variable for symptomatic multiple myeloma
(MM) prognostication, its role in predicting the risk of progression of asymptomatic MM to symptomatic disease
has not been explored. METHODS: This study was bases on a consecutive series of 148 patients with
asymptomatic MM and explored the cumulative probability of progression to symptomatic MM as the primary endpoint.
RESULTS: In univariate analysis, a serum B2M level >2.5 mg/L was associated with an increased probability of
disease progression (5-year risk, 64.5%; P < .001) along with serum monoclonal component (sMC) (P < .001), urinary
monoclonal component (uMC) (P < .001), and bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) (P < .001). In multivariate analysis,
serum B2M was selected as an independent predictor of progression (hazard ratio, 3.30; P¼.002). Serum B2M was
combined with sMC, uMC, and BMPC to create a risk-stratification model based on 4 groups with different risk of progression:
very low (5-year risk, 0%), low-intermediate (5-year risk, 19.6%), high-intermediate (5-year risk, 60.7%), and
high (5-year risk, 80.7%). The model that included serum B2M along with sMC, uMC, and BMPC was able to predict
disease progression better than the model that was based on sMC, uMC, and BMPC without serum B2M (C statistics,
0.760 vs 0.726). CONCLUSIONS: The current results indicated that 1) serum B2M is an independent predictor of
asymptomatic MM progression, and 2) serum B2M adds prognostic information when combined with the most widely
used prognosticators of asymptomatic MM progression.

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- Multiple Myeloma, Progression, Prognosis, Asymptomatic

Aim: Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae is the etiological agent of American foulbrood (AFB), the most virulent bacterial disease of honey bee brood worldwide. In many countries, AFB is a notifiable disease since it is highly contagious, in most cases incurable, and able to kill affected colonies. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of P. larvae subsp. larvae in Kurdistan province apiaries by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 samples were randomly purchased from apiaries in Kurdistan, Iran. Apiaries were randomly sampled in accordance with the instructions of the veterinary organization from different provinces and were tested using PCR method and an exclusive primer of 16S rRNA for the presence of P. larvae subsp. larvae. Results: The results of this study indicated a low level of contamination with P. larvae subsp. larvae in the Kurdistan province. The number of positive samples obtained by PCR was 2%. Conclusion: Therefore, monitoring programs for this honeybee disease in Kurdistan should be developed and implemented to ensure that it is detected early and managed.

- by Veterinary World
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- Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary Science, Veterinary Sciences, Asymptomatic
- by Ernesto Bonilla
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- Cognitive Science, Risk, Venezuela, Adolescent

Second-generation anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies are emerging as a viable therapeutic option for individuals with prodromal and mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Passive immunotherapy with aducanumab (Aduhelm), lecanemab, donanemab, and gantenerumab all lower CNS amyloid (Aβ) burden but come with a significant risk of amyloid-related imaging abnormality (ARIA)-the most common side effect of this class of drugs. While usually asymptomatic and detected only on brain MRI, ARIA may lead to new signs and symptoms including headache, worsening confusion, dizziness, visual disturbances, nausea, and seizures. In addition, one fatality related to ARIA-E (edema) with aducanumab and one fatality due to ARIA-H (hemorrhage) with donanemab are reported to date. ARIA-E may be associated with excessive neuroinflammation and saturation of perivascular clearance pathways, while ARIA-H may be related to vascular amyloid clearance with weakening and rupture of small blood vessels. The risk of ARIA-E is higher at treatment initiation, in ApoE4 carriers, with higher dosage, and with >4 of microhemorrhages on a baseline MRI. The risk of ARIA-H increases with age and cerebrovascular disease. Dose titration mitigates the risk of ARIA, and contraindications include individuals with >4 microhemorrhages and those prescribed anti-platelet or anti-coagulant drugs. A brain MRI is required before aducanumab is initiated, before each scheduled dose escalation, and with any new neurologic sign or symptom. Management of ARIA ranges from continued antibody treatment with monthly MRI monitoring for asymptomatic individuals to temporary or permanent suspension for symptomatic individuals or those with moderate to severe ARIA on MRI. Controlled studies regarding prevention and treatment of ARIA are lacking, but anecdotal evidence suggests that a pulse of intravenous corticosteroids may be of benefit, as well as a course of anticonvulsant for seizures.

- by Raymond S Turner
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- Dementia, Medicine, Immunotherapy, Monoclonal Antibody

The trajectory from moderate and severe COVID-19 into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) necessitating mechanical ventilation (MV) is a field of active research. We determined serum levels within 24 h of presentation of 20 different sets of mediators (calprotectin, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, interferons) of patients with COVID-19 at different stages of severity (asymptomatic, moderate, severe and ARDS/MV). The primary endpoint was to define associations with critical illness, and the secondary endpoint was to identify the pathways associated with mortality. Results were validated in serial measurements of mediators among participants of the SAVE-MORE trial. Levels of the proinflammatory interleukin (IL)-8, IL-18, matrix metalloproteinase-9, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B and calprotectin (S100A8/A9) were significantly higher in patients with ARDS and MV. Levels of the anti-inflammatory IL-1ra and IL-33r were also increased; IL-38 was increased only in asy...

- by Aggeliki S Rapti
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- Genetics, Medicine, Internal Medicine, Molecular sciences
- by Ricardo Soder
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- Sports Medicine, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI, Soccer

Malaria remains a major public health problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with 14 million cases reported by the WHO Malaria Report in 2014. Asymptomatic malaria cases are known to be prevalent in endemic areas and are generally untreated, resulting in a significant source of gametocytes that may serve as reservoir of disease transmission. Considering that microscopy certainly underestimates the prevalence of Plasmodium infections within asymptomatic carriers and that PCR assays are currently recognized as the most sensitive methods for Plasmodium identification, this study was conducted to weigh the asymptomatic carriage in DRC by a molecular method. Six provinces were randomly selected for blood collection in which 80 to 100 individuals were included in the study. Five hundred and eighty blood samples were collected and molecular diagnosis was performed. Globally, almost half of the samples collected from asymptomatic individuals (280/580; 48.2%) had Plasmodium infections and the most species identified was P. falciparum alone in combination with P. malariae. The high prevalence reported here should interpellate the bodies involved in malaria control in DR Congo to take into account asymptomatic carriers in actions taken and consider asymptomatic malaria as a major hurdle for malaria elimination.

- by Dieudonné M Mvumbi and +1
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- Epidemiology, Malaria, Molecular Diagnostics, Asymptomatic

Objective: Determining the clinical characteristics associated with SARS-COV-2 infection may contribute to reducing mortality in elderly patients, considering the age-related sensitivity and the excess of complications. Our study aimed to evaluate the factors that determine the severity of the disease in elderly patients followed up in our hospital. Materials and Methods: The files of definite or probable COVID-19 patients over 65 years old who were followed up by the infectious diseases clinic of our hospital between March 15 and October 1, 2020, were evaluated retrospectively. Results: A total of 134 patients were included in the study, 52.2% of the patients were male, and the mean age was 75.11±7.15 (min 65-max 94). Multimorbidity was detected in 42.5% of the patients, and the most common comorbidities were hypertension (53.7%) and diabetes mellitus (36.6%). Severe COVID-19 was present in 39.6% of patients. The most common complaints were fatigue (70.9%), cough (59.7%), and shortness of breath (59%). When the patients' computed tomography (CT) images of thorax were evaluated, ground-glass was observed in 94.8% (n=127), infiltration in 42.5% (n=57), and consolidation in 32.8% (n=44). Involvement was bilateral in 93.3% (n=125) of the patients. The most common antiviral treatment used for patients was favipiravir 73.1% (n=98). The average hospitalization period of the patients was 12±6.36 days, the rate of follow-up in the intensive care unit was 20.1% (n=27), and death occurred in 9.7% (n=13) of the patients. In the multivariate analysis, cough and shortness of breath at admission, atelectasis and pleural effusion on thorax CT were found to be significant for severe COVID-19 disease (p<0.05). Conclusion: Providing early medical support to these patients, especially, in the presence of cough and shortness of breath on admission and the presence of pleural effusion and atelectasis on thoracic CT, may help reduce the poor clinical course.

- by Aynur Gülcan
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- China, Disease, Pneumonia, Asymptomatic

Background: In areas of high malaria transmission, Plasmodium falciparum infection during pregnancy is characterized by malaria-related anaemia, placental malaria and does not always result in clinical symptoms. This situation is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of asymptomatic P. falciparum infection, its relation with anaemia as well as the most cost-effective technique for its diagnosis in healthy pregnant women living in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Methods: In a cross-sectional study design, information on socio-demographic characteristics and cost data were collected in healthy pregnant women attending antenatal care consultations. Plasmodium falciparum infection was diagnosed using rapid diagnostic test (RDT), microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Haemoglobin concentration was also determined. Results: In total, 332 pregnant women were enrolled. RDT and microscopy data were available for all the blood samples and 166 samples were analysed by PCR. The prevalence of asymptomatic P. falciparum infection using microscopy, RDTs and PCR, were respectively 21.6%, 27.4% and 29.5%. Taking PCR as a reference, RDTs had a sensitivity of 81.6% and a specificity of 94.9% to diagnose asymptomatic P. falciparum infection. The corresponding values for microscopy were 67.3% and 97.4%. The prevalence of anaemia was 61.1% and asymptomatic malaria increased five times the odds (p < 0.001) of having anaemia. RDTs were more cost-effective compared to microscopy. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was US$ 63.47 per microscopy adequately diagnosed case. Conclusion: These alarming results emphasize the need to actively diagnose and treat asymptomatic malaria infection during all antenatal care visits. Moreover, in DRC, malaria and anaemia control efforts should be strengthened by promoting the use of insecticide-treated nets, intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine and iron and folic acid supplements.

- by JP Van geertruyden
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- Microscopy, Medical Microbiology, Malaria, Medicine

Background. While children were initially thought to have serious contributions to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission, recent studies suggest otherwise. However, the possible effect of asymptomatic pediatric spread still has not yet received enough attention. The aim of our study was to estimate asymptomatic infection rates among children in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, by using pediatric patients admitted to a university hospital without any COVID-19-associated symptoms. Methods. Blood samples collected from 80 pediatric patients with no symptoms and history of COVID-19 infection, who were admitted to a university hospital between September 2020 and January 2021, were included in the retrospective study. Isolated serum samples were tested by Dia.Pro SARS-CoV-2 IgG ELISA assays. Results. The patient group included 40 (50%) male and 40 (50%) female patients. The average age of children was 7.6 ± 4.0 years, with min-max ages ranging from 2 to 15 years. Among the 80 patients tested, only one (1.3%) was detected positive by the Dia.Pro IgG ELISA kit. Conclusions. The asymptomatic seropositivity reported in our study suggests the use of randomly performed serologic tests to monitor SARS-CoV-2 infection among the pediatric population in schools that would contribute to the public health fight against COVID-19.

- by Nedim çakır
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- Medicine, Asymptomatic, Paediatrics and reproductive medicine
- by Tasneem Naqvi
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- Cardiology, Computed Tomography, Risk assessment, Cardiovascular disease

for the SHAPE Task Force † Screening for early-stage asymptomatic cancers (eg, cancers of breast and colon) to prevent late-stage malignancies has been widely accepted. However, although atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (eg, heart attack and stroke) accounts for more death and disability than all cancers combined, there are no national screening guidelines for asymptomatic (subclinical) atherosclerosis, and there is no governmentor healthcare-sponsored reimbursement for atherosclerosis screening. Part I and Part II of this consensus statement elaborated on new discoveries in the field of atherosclerosis that led to the concept of the "vulnerable patient." These landmark discoveries, along with new diagnostic and therapeutic options, have set the stage for the next step: translation of this knowledge into a new practice of preventive cardiology. The identification and treatment of the vulnerable patient are the focuses of this consensus statement.

- by zahi fayad
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- Cardiology, Computed Tomography, Risk assessment, Cardiovascular disease

To determine the range of asymptomatic abnormal findings in adolescent soccer players at 3.0T MRI of the knee. In all, 87 knees of asymptomatic 14-17-year-old male adolescents were evaluated at 3T, using a standardized examination protocol comprising four sequences: two fat-suppressed T2 -weighted fast spin-echo sequences (T2 FSE), in the sagittal (repetition time / echo time [TR/TE], 5.300/71, echo train length [ETL] 17) and coronal planes (TR/TE, 4234/70, ETL 17), one fat-suppressed proton density (PD) sequence in the axial plane (TR/TE, 2.467/40, ETL 9), and one T1 -weighted spin-echo (T1 SE) sequence in the sagittal plane (TR/TE, 684/12.5). Soccer players (46 knees) were paired with controls (41 knees) by age and weight. Bone marrow, articular cartilage, meniscus, tendons, ligaments, fat pad abnormalities, and joint fluid were assessed. One or more abnormalities were detected in 31 knees (67.4%) in the soccer player group, compared to 20 knees (48.8%) in the control group. The p...

- by Ricardo Soder
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- Engineering, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Soccer, Adolescent

Helicobacter pylori, the main cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer in adult populations, is generally acquired during the first years of life. Infection can be persistent or transient and bacterial and host factors determining persistence are largely unknown and may prove relevant for future disease. Two cohorts of healthy Chilean infants (313 total) were evaluated every three months for 18-57 months to determine pathogen- and host-factors associated with persistent and transient infection. One-third had at least one positive stool ELISA by age three, with 20% overall persistence. Persistent infections were acquired at an earlier age, associated with more household members, decreased duration of breastfeeding, and non-secretor status compared to transient infections. cagA positive strains were more common in persistent stools, and nearly 60% of fully-characterized persistent stool samples amplified cagA/vacAs1m1. Persistent children were more likely to elicit a serolo...

- by Ana Maria Salinas
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- Chile, Persistence, Helicobacter pylori, Medicine

Estimating the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody seropositivity among health care workers (HCWs) is crucial. In this study, the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among HCWs of five hospitals of Tehran, Iran with high COVID-19 patient's referrals from April to June, 2020, was assessed. In this cross-sectional study, HCWs from three public and two private hospitals, selected randomly as a pilot, were included. Participants were asked questions on their demographic characteristics, medical history, hospital role, and usage of personal protective equipment (PPE). Iran FDA-approved SARS-CoV-2 ELISA kits were used to detect IgG and IgM antibodies in blood samples. The seroprevalence was estimated on the basis of ELISA test results and adjusted for test performance. Among the 2,065 participants, 1,825 (88.4%) and 240 (11.6%) HCWs were recruited from public and private hospitals, respectively. A total of 340 HCWs were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG or IgM antibod...

- by Fatemeh Shafighian
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- Family Medicine, Health Care, Public Health, Medicine

Asymptomatic and partially symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (APSYMAD) are a series of cognitive states wherein subjects have substantial Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology (classification B or C by the Consortium to Establish a Registry for AD criteria), but have normal or only partially impaired cognitive function; all of these subjects are non-demented. These cognitive states may arise from the prevention or delay of clinical symptom expression by exposure to certain nutritional factors. This study examined blood levels of folate and antioxidants (i.e., carotenoids) in relation to APSYMAD, nested in the Nun study, a longitudinal study of aging and AD. Sixty elderly female subjects, who had AD on the basis of neuropathology exams, were included. Following adjustment for APOE4 status, education level, and age at blood draw, subjects with the highest blood folate levels had a higher likelihood of being in the APSYMAD group as compared to the demented (AD) group (odds ratio = 1...

- by Bharat Thyagarajan
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- Cognitive Science, Dementia, Folic acid, Carotenoids

Abstract In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, research indicates that the COVID-19 disease susceptibility varies among individuals depending on their ABO blood groups. Researchers globally commenced investigating potential methods to stratify cases according to prognosis depending on several clinical parameters. Since there is evidence of a link between ABO blood groups and disease susceptibility, it could be argued that there is a link between blood groups and disease manifestation and progression. The current study investigates whether clinical manifestation, laboratory, and imaging findings vary among ABO blood groups of hospitalized confirmed COVID-19 patients. This retrospective cohort study was conducted between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021 in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Demographic information, clinical information, laboratory findings, and imaging investigations were extracted from the data warehouse for all confirmed COVID-19 patients. A total of 285 admitted patients were included in the study. Of these, 81 (28.4%) were blood group A, 43 (15.1%) were blood group B, 11 (3.9%) were blood group AB, and 150 (52.6%) were blood group O. This was almost consistent with the distribution of blood groups among the Saudi Arabia community. The majority of the study participants (79.6% [n = 227]) were asymptomatic. The upper respiratory tract infection (P = .014) and shortness of breath showed statistically significant differences between the ABO blood group (P = .009). Moreover, the incidence of the symptoms was highly observed in blood group O followed by A then B except for pharyngeal exudate observed in blood group A. The one-way ANOVA test indicated that among the studied hematological parameters, glucose (P = .004), absolute lymphocyte count (P = .001), and IgA (P = .036) showed statistically significant differences between the means of the ABO blood group. The differences in both X-ray and computed tomography scan findings were statistically nonsignificant among the ABO age group. Only 86 (30.3%) patients were admitted to an intensive care unit, and the majority of them were blood groups O 28.7% (n = 43) and A 37.0% (n = 30). However, the differences in complications’ outcomes were statistically nonsignificant among the ABO age group. ABO blood groups among hospitalized COVID-19 patients are not associated with clinical, hematological, radiological, and complications abnormality.

- by Wesam H. AlSabban and +2
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- Medicine, Internal Medicine, Clinical Sciences, Asymptomatic
- by Roshan Topno
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- Medicine, Biological Sciences, Leishmaniasis, Visceral Leishmaniasis

Background: Neck pain is associated with scapular dyskinesis and impaired axio-scapular and shoulder muscle activity and function. However, there is little research on force steadiness, specifically during shoulder motion in patients with neck pain with scapular dyskinesis. Its relationship with characteristics of neck pain is also unknown. Objectives: to investigate force steadiness at 20% and 50% of MVC of shoulder abduction (30 degrees) in persons with neck pain with scapular dyskinesis compared to asymptomatic controls and to determine its relationships with characteristics of neck pain. Materials and methods: Fifty-two women and men (26 neck pain with scapular dyskinesis and 26 asymptomatic controls) were recruited to the study. Force steadiness of 30 degrees of shoulder abduction was measured at 20% and 50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and coefficient of variation (CV) of force values were calculated. Characteristics of neck pain included neck pain intensity, duratio...

- by On-anong Juntit
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- Molecular Biology, Biology, Medicine, Physical Therapy
- by jairo corchuelo ojeda
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- Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Medicine

Malaria remains a major public health problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with 14 million cases reported by the WHO Malaria Report in 2014. Asymptomatic malaria cases are known to be prevalent in endemic areas and are generally untreated, resulting in a significant source of gametocytes that may serve as reservoir of disease transmission. Considering that microscopy certainly underestimates the prevalence ofPlasmodiuminfections within asymptomatic carriers and that PCR assays are currently recognized as the most sensitive methods forPlasmodiumidentification, this study was conducted to weigh the asymptomatic carriage in DRC by a molecular method. Six provinces were randomly selected for blood collection in which 80 to 100 individuals were included in the study. Five hundred and eighty blood samples were collected and molecular diagnosis was performed. Globally, almost half of the samples collected from asymptomatic individuals (280/580; 48.2%) hadPlasmodiuminfections a...

- by Pierrette Melin
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- Epidemiology, Malaria, Molecular Diagnostics, Asymptomatic

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in Prostatitis subjects attending urology clinic at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Fifty eight (58) prostatitis subjects attending urology clinic at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and 54 apparently normal subjects working at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) were used for this study. Inclusion and exclusion conditions were observed in patients' selection. All the subjects had their blood Prostate specific antigen (PSA) determined by enzymes linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The urine samples were cultured on Cystine Lactose electrolyte deficient medium (CLED) and Chocolate agar by Standardized wire loop technique, incubated overnight at 37°C and the isolates identified. There was significant difference in PSA concentration of prostatitis subjects and controls (P<0.01). Prostatitis subjects had significant bacteriuria compared with the controls (P<0.05). Klebsiella spp was identified to be the predominant etiologic agent in prostatitis subjects while S. aureus was the prevalent uropathogen in controls. The result of this study suggests that bacteriuria is prevalent among elderly men in some pathological conditions such as Prostatitis. This may be caused by inflammation of prostate leading to non secretion of prostatic fluid which is bactericidal.

- by Adegoke Adebayo and +1
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- Immunology, Clinical Bacteriology, Asymptomatic