To develop and validate a computerised algorithm for the interpretation of the characteristics of the fetal heart rate (FHR) in labour. Materials and methods: A computerised algorithm based on wavelet transform and Fuzzy C-means algorithm was developed to assess baseline, variability, the presence of accelerations and types of decelerations. Twenty four segments of intrapartum cardiotocographs (CTG) were interpreted using the algorithm and evaluated by seven expert observers. The results compared to assess inter observer variation and agreement between the computer and experts. Results: Inter observer agreement for FHR baseline and the presence and type of decelerations was good (Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), 0.93, 0.93 and 0.79 respectively). Conclusions: The validation of a computerised algorithm is limited by inter observer variation. The prediction of baseline and decelerations is as good as clinical observers but is more reproducible. / Η ανάπτυξη αλγορίθμων και υπολογιστικής μεθόδου για την ερμηνεία και επεξεργασία των χαρακτηριστικών του εμβρυικού καρδιακού ρυθμού.

Infectious disease continues to cause significant problems on reproductive efficiency in the cattle industry. The purpose of this project is to evaluate new testing strategies for Tritrichomonas foetus and Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis. This thesis describes the result of three studies that evaluated the use of real-time PCR for the identification of Tritrichomonas foetus and Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in carrier bulls. The first study evaluated the specificity of a real-time PCR test for T. foetus in individual culture enriched samples, and the sensitivity of the assay for use in pooled samples of up to 25 bulls. Specificity estimates were 98.8% (95% CI 97-99.4) and 100% (95% CI 98.9-100) for culture and real-time PCR, respectively. The sensitivity of the real-time PCR assay for pooled preputial samples was: 96.8% (83.8-99.4) for pool ratios 1/3 and 1/5; 93.5% (79.3-98.2) for pool ratios 1/2, 1/15, 1/20 and 1/25; and 90.3% (75.1-96.6), and were not significantly different. However, 13 of the 217 pools tested were negative and 9 of these negative testing pools contained the same positive sample. The media in this positive sample showed evidence of contamination and could potentially explain the failure to detect T. foetus. The second study evaluated the sensitivity of a real-time PCR for the detection of T. foetus in individual and pooled direct preputial samples. Sensitivity of individual samples tested by culture, real-time PCR in direct and culture enriched samples were determined from 121 samples obtained from 9 infected bulls. Sensitivity estimates were: 95.0% (95% CI: 89.6% to 97.7%) for culture, 95.9% (95% CI: 90.7 to 98.2) for real-time PCR in cultured enriched samples, and 90.1% (95% CI: 83.5 to 94.2) for direct preputial samples and did not differ (P=0.12). Sensitivity estimates for direct pooled samples in groups of 5 or 10 were: 83.6% (95% CI: 75.6 to 89.4) and 77.3% (95% CI: 68.6-84.1), respectively and were not significantly different (P=0.08). The use of repeat sampling tested in pools by real-time PCR increased the sensitivity to 100% and 96% for 3 consecutive samples (pools of 5 or 10, respectively). The use of pooled direct preputial samples although sensitive, still requires the use of repeated sampling. The third study determined the sensitivity and specificity of a recently developed real-time PCR (qPCR) tests for Cfv. A total of 300 virgin bulls were tested by both culture and qPCR. Specificity estimates were 85% (95% CI: 80.5 to 88.6) for qPCR and 100% (95% CI: 98.7 to 100) for culture, and were significantly different (P<0.01). A total of 4 naturally infected bulls and 9 artificially infected bulls were sampled serially to obtain positive samples for a sensitivity analysis. Sensitivity estimates and 95% confidence intervals are as follows: qPCR (85.4%, 95% CI: 80.6-89.2); direct culture on blood agar (82.3%, 95% CI: 77.2-86.5), DFAT (72.1%, 95% CI: 66.2-77.4), direct culture on Skirrow agar (32.7%, 95% CI: 27.2-38.7), TEM and blood agar (30%, 95% CI: 23.4-37.5), and TEM and Skirrow agar (38.1%, 95% CI: 31-45.9). The sensitivity of the different tests evaluated varied significantly with different ambient temperatures (P<0.01). The sensitivity of the qPCR was significantly higher than any other test when temperatures exceeded 5°C. The use of repeated sampling at weekly intervals significantly improved the sensitivity of the qPCR. The real-time PCR assay for the detection of T. foetus in both individual and pooled samples appears to be highly sensitive and specific. Moreover, the possibility of using direct preputial samples provides a cost-effective diagnostic strategy. Real-time PCR in direct preputial samples for BGC diagnosis in bulls has good sensitivity and specificity. However, the use of repeated sampling maybe needed in order to maximize the ability to detect carrier bulls.

223 leaves : photos, tables, graphs ; 31 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 1978

Objectifs : Etudier le développement osseux de l'oreille interne chez le foetus humain. Matériel et Méthode : Notre institution dispose d'une banque de foetus humains qui ont été étudiés par tomodensitométrie. Les images ont été exploitées grâce au logiciel Amira . 13 dimensions cochléo-vestibulaires standards ont été mesurées chez 153 foetus. L'angulation entre les 3 canaux semi-circulaires (CSC) et le positionnement du vestibule ont été étudiés chez 54 foetus. L'analyse statistique a été réalisée grâce au logiciel R. Résultats : Il n'y a pas de dimorphisme sexuel, ni de différence droite-gauche dans les distances mesurées. 8 mesures cochléo-vestibulaires n'évoluent pas en taille de 21 à 40 SA. L'îlot osseux du CSC latéral croît jusqu'à 25 SA. L'aqueduc de la cochlée et le conduit auditif interne sont corrélés à l'âge foetal. L'angle entre les CSC est proche de 90°, malgré de larges écarts physiologiques, et n'évolue pas entre 21 et 40 SA. Il n'y a pas de dimorphisme sexuel. Le centre du vestibule est stable dans son positionnement anatomique au sein du rocher pendant le développement foetal. Conclusion : Conformément aux données de la littérature, la croissance cochléo-vestibulaire se termine à 21 SA ou moins. Certains éléments de l'oreille interne croissent avec l'os pétreux et évoluent avec l'ossification du rocher. La stabilité du positionnement du vestibule dans le rocher évoque une détermination génétique forte. Notre série est quantitativement la plus importante jamais publiée dans la littérature / Objectives: Our goal is to clarify the course of inner ear bony development in human fetuses. Material and Methods: Our institution hosts a collection of human fetuses from 21 to 40 WA that were CT scanned and studied with Amira(tm) software. We studied 13 measurements in the inner ear of 153 fetuses. We also studied semi-circular canals orientation and the vestibular ear positioning in petrous bone of 54 human fetuses. Statistical analysis was performed with R(tm) software. Results: We found no side-related differences or sexual dimorphism. 8 cochlear and vestibular bone measurements did not show growth from 21 to 40 WA and are similar to those of adults in literature. The lateral semicircular canal bony island grows until 25 WA. Internal auditory canal and cochlear aqueduct growth are correlated with gestational age. Mean angles between the three semi-circular canals are close to orthogonality, despite important physiologic variations, and did not change significantly from 21 to 40 WA. There was no sexual dimorphism. The center of vestibular ear has a stable positioning within the three angles of petrous bone during fetal gestation. Conclusions: In accordance with literature, we confirm that the cochlea and semi-circular canals 3D configuration reaches their adult size at or before 21 WA. Some parts of the inner ear (cochlear aqueduct, IAC) continue to grow with petrous bone and evolve with its ossification. To the best of our knowledge, our series is the largest series of human fetal inner ear ever published.

Trichomonosis is currently the most important venereal disease of cattle in South Africa with adverse economic implications to the beef production industry due to cow abortions, infertility and culling of carrier bulls. Once diagnosed in a herd, eradication is difficult due to financial and biological implications. Bulls are asymptomatic carriers and susceptibility increases with age. In infected females, clinical signs include embryonal death, abortion, pyometra, foetal maceration and uterine discharge. Diagnostic accuracy is one of the major clinical problems preventing easy eradication of trichomonosis from a herd and can be influenced by biological variance in the occurrence of the organism, sampling errors, sample degradation during sample transport and diagnostic laboratory inaccuracies. This study aimed to validate the accuracy of voluntarily enrolled private (n = 8) and state-owned (n = 5) laboratories that perform trichomonosis diagnostic tests by estimating the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) per laboratory. It was hypothesized that diagnostic laboratories in South Africa play an insignificant role in the inaccuracy of the diagnosis of trichomonosis. Laboratories performed either the culture method (n = 5), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (n = 6) or a combination of culture and PCR (n= 2). Fresh preputial scrapings from four bulls with known negative status for trichomonosis were pooled in 200ml of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to form the sample base for 12 subsamples of 13ml each. Duplicate subsamples were then contaminated with 2ml originating from four different laboratory cultures of Tritrichomonas foetus or 2ml of culture medium for four negative samples. Aliquots of the subsamples were transferred to an anaerobic transport medium, and the final concentration reached in these samples submitted to the laboratories, were categorised as follows: weak (<10 organisms/μl), moderate (10 – 30 organisms/μl) or strong (>30 organisms/μl). A total of 312 samples were sent by courier in two separate rounds: eight (4 duplicates) positive and four negative samples per round. Multiple logistic regression was performed on sensitivity, using sampling round, laboratory sector, diagnostic test type and sample concentration as independent variables, and removing variables in a stepwise manner based on the highest P-value. Two public laboratories only reported on one round of sampling, and one batch of 12 samples was severely delayed in reaching another public laboratory. The sample identifications of a further two batches were not recorded by the respective private laboratories. The results from these 60 unreported samples were not included in the analysis. Laboratories that performed the PCR assay (solely, or in addition to culture) were grouped for data analysis. The overall specificity (Sp) was 100% and the sensitivity was 88.7% (95% CI 83.9% - 93.5%). Laboratories using PCR recorded higher sensitivity than those using the culture method (95.5%; 95% CI 91.0% – 99.9% and 81.3%; 95% CI 72.5% - 90.0% respectively, P < 0.01), and private laboratories recorded higher Se than public laboratories (96.4%; 95% CI 92.9% - 99.9% and 73.2%; 95% CI 61.2% - 85.2%, P < 0.01). For laboratories using PCR, weak positive samples recorded a lower sensitivity than strong positive samples (86.4%; 95% CI 70.8% - 101.9% and 100%; 95% CI 100% - 100%, respectively, P < 0.01). One public and six private laboratories obtained 100% accuracy during the two sampling rounds. In the logistic regression model, private sector (compared to public), an increasing concentration of organisms in the sample and the second round of sampling (compared to the first round) were independent predictors of laboratory sensitivity for the detection of Tritrichomonas foetus. It is concluded that inaccuracies in the diagnostic laboratory contributes to the deficiencies in diagnostic sensitivity for trichomonosis in South Africa, but does not influence diagnostic specificity. It is further concluded that diagnostic sensitivity was independently influenced by the sector in which the laboratory operates (private vs public) and the concentration of Tritrichomonas foetus organisms in the sample. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Production Animal Studies / MSc (Veterinary Science) / Unrestricted

Reproduction de : Thèse d'exercice : Médecine : Nancy 1 : 2003. / Thèse : 2003NAN11024. Titre provenant de l'écran-titre.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Protection of human foetus - summary The thesis gives a detailed analysis of the extent and standard of protection of the human foetus in the Czech legal system, concentrating on the aspects of criminal law. In the introductory part it presents a brief chronological survey of the synopses of the most significant instruments which constitute the subject of the thesis. The legal institutions concerned are - in the minimum necessary extent - put in the context of several key international agreements, with the emphasis laid on the provisions of the Convention on Biomedicine whose concept significantly influenced that of the Czech medical law. Also the role of civil law and its connection - both as regards the terminology and content - with the other relevant provisions of the legal system are briefly mentioned in the third chapter. However, the thesis focuses mainly on criminal law and therefore its greatest part is concerned with the means by which criminal code guarantees the protection of human foetus. Not only does it give a survey of selected criminal offences and their matters of issue, but it also underlines their connection with the provisions of the first part of the law in question as far as the interpretation and application are concerned. A brief separate chapter deals with the connection of...

Protection of a human foetus The aim of this thesis is to deal with the protection of the human foetus in the scope of the Czech legal environment as well as in the relation with the international law. The work provides the insight into the specific law areas as constitutional law, criminal law and also private law and deals with the specific rules contended in the single act as the Interruption of the pregnancy act and the new Specific medical services act. The substantial part of the legal discussion is supported by examination of the decisions of the courts both international and national which reflect the protection of human foetus. The thesis focuses on the protection of human foetus in its complexity and shall provide the comparative material which compares the protection of the human foetus within the specific law disciplines. The analysis of single legal problems and issues of the protection of the human foetus is not exhaustive and focuses on the protection and state of the human foetus in specific statutes. The protection of the human foetus represents quite discussable issue which provides a large number of questions to be answered and leads to the discussions which are reflected in this work. The key issue is researched under the actual conditions of the legal system and also with the...