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Biomedical subjects

Robert Novak

Publications and source records attributed to Robert Novak.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Testing for group a streptococci.

CONTEXT: Laboratory diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis in physician office and small-hospital laboratories. OBJECTIVE: To characterize laboratory practices for the diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis and to identify opportunities for improvement. DESIGN: Voluntary self-assessment questionnaire, used to assess the laboratory practices of 790 laboratories subscribing to the College of American Pathologists Excel Microbiology Proficiency Testing Program. RESULTS: We observed discrepancies between self-reported and recommended specimen collection and laboratory testing practices for some laboratories. The most notable discrepancies were failing to provide a written specimen-collection procedure (17.8%), sampling the tongue and oral mucosa (2%), failing to always perform back-up cultures when rapid antigen test results were negative (57.5%), and finalizing culture reports within 24 hours or less (34.0%). Additionally, among those respondents who used the bacitracin disk, 57.9% (277 respondents) applied the disk directly onto a primary plate. CONCLUSIONS: Opportunities exist to improve testing practices for the diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis for some physician office and small-hospital laboratories.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gait analysis in low lumbar myelomeningocele patients with unilateral hip dislocation or subluxation.

The surgical indications for the treatment of unilateral hip dislocations or subluxations in patients with low lumbar myelomeningocele remain highly debatable. This study examines the influence of unilateral hip dislocation or subluxation on the gait of these patients using three-dimensional gait analysis. Twenty patients with a diagnosis of low lumbar myelomeningocele underwent three-dimensional gait analysis. All patients were community ambulators with solid ankle-foot orthoses and crutches who presented with unilateral hip dislocation or subluxation and no scoliosis. The patients were divided in two groups. Group 1 comprised 10 patients who demonstrated either no evidence of hip flexion or adduction contractures or symmetric hip contractures. Group 2 comprised 10 patients with unilateral hip flexion and/or adduction contractures. Pelvic and hip kinematics were assessed to determine the symmetry of motion between the involved and the noninvolved side during walking. Seven patients from group 1 walked with a symmetric gait pattern; only two patients from group 2 walked with a symmetric pattern. Gait symmetry corresponded to the absence of hip contractures or bilateral symmetrical hip contractures and had no relation to the presence of hip dislocation. The authors concluded that reduction of the hip is unnecessary.

Adolescent↗