Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

Determining a cutoff for fetal lung maturity with lamellar body count testing

Abstract: Objective. A lamellar body count (LBC) ≥50,000/μl is suggested to document fetal lung maturity (FLM). We sought to determine the LBC threshold for FLM with the Cell-dyn 4000 hematology analyser.Methods. We queried our database for patients who underwent LBC testing from 2001 to 2007. Included were deliveries between 35 and 38 weeks gestation with testing ≤7 days from delivery. We excluded twins, anomalies and cases of ruptured membranes. Data were analysed for sensitivity and specificity of predicting respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and plotted on a receiver operating characteristic curve.Results. There were 209 patients meeting study criteria. Of these, 120 had diabetes. Five neonates experienced RDS, all born to non-diabetic mothers with LBC values ≤72,000/μl. At this value the sensitivity is 100%, false positive rate 18% and the p value is 0.0146.Conclusion. Our results question the 50,000/μl threshold and demonstrate the need for hematology analyser specific thresholds.

Treatment Options and Considerations for Intestinal Helminthic Infections.

Abstract: Objective: To review the literature regarding the epidemiology and treatment of intestinal helminthic infections. Data Sources: A literature search of MEDLINE (1946-January 2014), EMBASE (1980-January 2014), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-January 2014), and the Cochrane Library (1996-January 2014) was performed using the following terms: intestinal, helminthic, humans, United States, and individual drug names (albendazole, ivermectin, mebendazole, nitazoxanide, praziquantel, pyrantel pamoate). Secondary and tertiary references were obtained by reviewing related articles. Study Selection and Data Extraction: All English-language articles identified from the data sources and clinical studies using anthelmintic agents were included. Data Synthesis: The 2011 removal and continued absence of mebendazole from the market has left limited options for helminth infections. For hookworm, albendazole has a 72% cure rate compared to 32% for pyrantel pamoate. Albendazole, ivermectin, and nitazoxanide appear to be effective for Ascaris with cure rates of 88%, 100%, and 91%, respectively. Both albendazole and pyrantel pamoate have been evaluated for pinworm with cure rates of 94.1% and 96.3%, respectively. Combination therapy with ivermectin and albendazole produces cure rates of 38% to 80% for whipworm. For Strongyloides stercoralis, ivermectin cure rates are 93.1% to 96.8% compared with 63.3% for albendazole. Praziquantel is effective for intestinal trematode infections with cure rates of 97% to 100% while its efficacy against tapeworm ranges from 75% to 85%. Conclusions: Albendazole is the drug of choice for hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, and pinworm. In combination with ivermectin, it is the first-line agent for whipworm. Ivermectin is preferred for Strongyloides stercoralis, and praziquantel is effective against most nematodes and trematodes.

Application of horizontal wells in three-dimensional shale reservoir modeling: A case study of Longmaxi–Wufeng shale in Fuling gas field, Sichuan Basin: Reply

Abstract: Three-dimensional reservoir modeling is an important aspect to determine the heterogeneity of organic-rich shale reservoirs, an area of study that continues to be explored and refined. A large proportion of data acquired from horizontal wells causes issues in the structural and property modeling for shale reservoirs. Since horizontal wells are designed to drill into a specific, narrow zone, their horizontal section tends to parallel or nearly parallel formation surfaces. As a result, formation surfaces have a much more complex spatial location relationship with horizontal wellbores than with vertical wellbores. The existing algorithms are not good at addressing this issue during structural modeling. The major problem of using horizontal well data in property modeling is the biased data set because their horizontal section tends to stay within a narrow zone. The property distribution feature estimated from this biased data set, as a significant, default input of geostatistical simulation algorithms, causes the constructed property models to deviate away from the real case in the subsurface. A method to infer more formation tops in pseudovertical wells according to a series of assumptions was developed to provide more constraint points for structural modeling within the areas of the horizontal well section. To use the biased database from horizontal wells, distribution function and trend model methods were developed for continuous property modeling, and percentage and probability trend models were developed for discrete property modeling. The Longmaxi–Wufeng shale in the Fuling gas field of Sichuan Basin was used as an example to express and verify these methods.

Quality of Life Evaluation and Survival Study: a 3-yr prospective multinational study on patients with chronic respiratory failure.

Abstract: Therapy of patients with chronic respiratory failure is mainly directed at minimizing symptoms in order to improve, or at least to prevent a deterioration of, patients' well-being. Under such circumstances, the perceived effect of therapies on patients' well-being and daily life represents the most important subjective outcome of treatment. Therefore, there is a need to provide a global estimate of health in patients on long term oxygen therapy or overnight home mechanical ventilation. The Maugeri Foundation Respiratory Failure Questionnaire (MRF28) is the first health status ("quality of life") questionnaire specifically developed for use in CRF and its items were selected to be applicable to patients with both obstructive and restrictive diseases. The Quality of Life Evaluation and Survival Study (QuESS) is a multinational study with the aim of re-evaluating the natural history of chronic respiratory failure in about 300 patients. To the authors knowledge, the Quality of Life Evaluation and Survival Study is the first study to evaluate the natural history of chronic respiratory failure in such a large number of subjects and with a complete set of data. In fact, both pathophysiologic and health status assessments will be made. Moreover, by collecting data on mortality, disease exacerbations and hospitalization, it will also be possible to verify the predictive ability of health status versus pathophysiology in terms of mortality and healthcare utilization.