Diagnostic usefulness of serum procalcitonin in patients with bacterial sepsis

Background

The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score is used for the diagnosis of sepsis and involves clinical and laboratory parameters that may not be readily and/or timely available in most resource-poor settings. Procalcitonin (PCT) has its level changed in response to bacterial sepsis and its measurement costs only a fraction of the total cost of investigations required to calculate SOFA score. This study aims to determine the diagnostic usefulness of PCT in bacterial sepsis.

Materials and Methods

Ninety-nine participants were studied, divided into three groups: apparently healthy volunteers, those with bacterial infection without sepsis (SOFA score <2), and patients with bacterial sepsis (positive culture and SOFA ≥2). PCT level of each participant was measured and median group levels compared. Pearson's correlation was used to determine the correlation between serum PCT levels and SOFA scores in the sepsis group using a significance level of 5 percent (P < 0.05). Diagnostic usefulness of PCT was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC).

Result

Positive correlation was found between serum PCT levels and SOFA scores among patients with sepsis r = 0.42, P = 0.016. At a concentration of ≥4.25 ng/ml, serum PCT as a surrogate for SOFA score had a sensitivity and specificity of 57.60% and 84.80%, respectively, for indicating sepsis. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.74 (95% CI {0.62 to 0.86}, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Serum PCT concentration was significantly higher in bacterial sepsis compared to bacterial infection without sepsis and healthy state. PCT concentration demonstrated positive correlation with SOFA score in bacterial sepsis and can be used as surrogate for sepsis screening/monitoring in resource-poor settings.

Properties and tribological evaluation of graphene and fullerene nanoparticles as additives in oil lubrication

In this study, SAE-0W20 engine oil was mixed with graphene and fullerene nanoparticles. The goal of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of different carbon nanoparticles on the thermal, rheological, and tribological properties of engine oil, such as thermal degradation, viscosity, friction, and wear. Using a two-step process, graphene and fullerene nanostructures were dispersed in low-viscosity SAE-0W20 engine oil at a concentration of 0.05 wt.%. The friction and wear characteristics were evaluated in a customized cylindrical block-on-ring tribology test according to the ASTM G77 standard. Graphene and fullerene nanoparticles protect contact surfaces by forming a very thin protective film between moving mechanical parts thus resulting in wear and friction reduction. The results showed graphene nanoparticles have improved significantly the tribological performance of SAE-0W20 engine oil.

Acceptance towards social network information system for earlier detection of Influenza outbreak

INTRODUCTION

Influenza outbreak causes high economic burden to Malaysia and other countries in South East Asia. Scientists have found a relatively new way to detect influenza outbreaks early thus reducing the burden of disease by early intervention. This new technology is a social network information system which uses Facebook or Twitter data to detect potential influenza cases. Such system is good to be developed by the Malaysian government as it can detect influenza outbreaks three weeks earlier than the normal pathway. However, to implement this we require good evidence that the development will be accepted by potential users.

OBJECTIVE

This study was looking at the acceptance towards using social network information system among public health workers.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

This study was done on 205 Malaysian One Health University Network (MyOHUN) members through email and physical survey.

RESULTS

Results show that 62.4% public health workers accepted the use technology. The acceptance was shown to be associated with performance expectancy (p<0.05). However, unlike the very famous Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, the acceptance of social network information system was not associated with effort expectancy, social factors, facilitating conditions and socio-demographic factors. Therefore, it is suggested that social network information system be developed by the authorities in Malaysia, and be developed in a way that the system could strongly increase performance in detection of outbreak earlier than the current normal pathways. As such the system to be accepted and used, it must be sensitive, specific and be able to detect influenza outbreak early CONCLUSION: The development of social network information system is feasible as it is highly accepted and it's potential to improve early detection of influenza outbreak.