SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “diagnostic methods”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

PubMed1987

[Development of laboratory diagnostic methods for slow infections of the human central nervous system caused by nonclassical viruses].

The theoretical foundations of the laboratory diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and amyotrophic leukospongiosis in living patients are discussed and practical diagnostic methods are proposed on the basis of the study of the biological properties of nonclassical viruses and the pathogenesis of slow infections of the central nervous system. The use of the retrobulbar method of infecting susceptible animals has permitted, besides a considerable decrease in the incubation period in modeling slow infections, the improvement of the in vivo biological test. Thus, as the result of the multiplication of non-classical viruses in the visual nerve and the retina, experimental animals develop retinopathy which can be detected 1.5-2.5 weeks after the animals are injected with the spinal fluid or blood taken from the patient under examination. To diagnose amyotrophic leukospongiosis, the in vitro biological test, based on the capacity of the causative agent for inducing a considerable (2- to 5-fold) increase in the mitotic activity of HEp-2 cells, has been developed. The comparative studies have shown the expediency of using the method for the detection of antibodies to nerve-fiber proteins as an additional test for the differential diagnosis of slow infections of the central nervous system.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

The challenges of validating diagnostic methods relative to a conventional two-year caries clinical trial.

This paper is directed to the question, "What are the appropriate validation criteria for the use of a new clinical trial methodology as a replacement for a conventional two- to three-year caries study?" It is important to recognize that the objective of a two- to three-year randomized, controlled caries trial is to test a precisely framed hypothesis, regarding an experimental product's efficacy relative to a control product. The external validity of conventional two- to three-year caries clinical studies in determining the efficacy and safety of anti-caries products is well-accepted. However, caries clinical trials are not without limitations and have increasingly been viewed as inefficient with respect to measuring the disease process in a holistic manner. The endpoint of a caries lesion with loss of enamel integrity (cavitation) focuses on one end of the caries progression continuum at the expense of early caries initiation and progression. Several early caries detection methods have been developed that correlate with mineral loss of the tooth surface. These diagnostics differ from conventional visual-tactile and radiographic methods in that they are capable of detecting early non-cavitated lesions, and this can generate continuous data. As diagnostic methods become accepted, they will lead to study designs that diverge from the conventional two- to three-year caries studies. Modification of the existing two- to three-year conventional caries design for assessment of product effectiveness, whether by the introduction of a new diagnostic method or by modification of the overall clinical design, must result in a clinical design that is able to differentiate known treatments on the basis of caries prevention efficacy. Given that the fluoride dose response has been characterized in the literature, this should form the basis of any validation package for new methodologies. In conclusion, a minimum expectation for acceptance as a replacement to conventional testing should be that the method or design can differentiate products of known efficacy from one another and that the efficacy relationship observed in a two- to three-year conventional study can be observed with the new method or design.

Cariostatic Agents↗

PubMed1984

Comparison of diagnostic methods for selection of patients for antireflux operations.

In cases of reflux disease the therapeutic indications are of special significance. The number of patients in need of operation is limited, thus the patients must be chosen carefully. Different diagnostic methods have been compared to standard acid reflux test in a series of 22 consecutive cases. Radiology was the least reliable method for detecting reflux or reflux complications, whereas endoscopy confirmed the diagnosis in 18 of 22 cases. Three-point stepwise manometry did not give reliable data of the lower esophageal sphincter pressure but yielded valuable information about the location of lower esophageal sphincter zone and of esophageal motility. In contrasts to earlier reports, no considerable overlap regarding lower esophageal sphincter pressure values in healthy and diseased individuals were noted.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

p53 immunostaining as a significant adjunct diagnostic method for uterine surface carcinoma: precursor of uterine papillary serous carcinoma.

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is a biologically aggressive carcinoma that causes a disproportionate number of endometrial cancer deaths because of its dismal clinical outcome. Although the precursor lesion of UPSC has been suggested both morphologically and molecularly, diagnosis continues to represent a challenge to surgical pathologists, particularly in biopsy specimens, largely in part because of its multiple histologic patterns and many benign morphologic mimics. In this study, we used p53 immunohistochemical staining as an adjunct test to correctly identify six cases of uterine surface carcinoma (USC) prospectively and three cases retrospectively. Both sensitivity and specificity for this immunostaining method approached 100% when the cutoff score of p53 overexpression was 7 or higher. The precision estimated by receiving operating characteristic curve was 100%, indicating that the diagnostic value of the score for p53 overexpression was very high. p53 immunohistochemical staining was considered a significant adjunct diagnostic method for the probable precursor lesion of UPSC. The probable precursor lesion of UPSC, previously referred to as endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma or endometrial carcinoma in situ, appears to represent the early phase of UPSC. However, unlike its names would suggest, this lesion is often multicentric and behaves in a more aggressive fashion than regular in situ carcinomas. For this reason, we prefer the term uterine surface carcinoma, a term that is more descriptive and less restrictive, to emphasize the unique aggressive nature of the UPSC precursor lesion. The reason we postulate using the term uterine surface carcinoma rather than endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma or endometrial carcinoma in situ is that the latter terms would seem define a neoplastic process confined to the endometrial epithelium without potential for metastasis. In reality, the precursor lesion of UPSC has a tendency to stromal and vascular space involvement as seen by the presence of stromal and vascular invasion in one of the prospectively identified USC cases. Therefore, the term uterine surface carcinoma is selected to alert clinicians that this early carcinoma has features of carcinoma in situ, but still carries a potential for metastasis.

Aged↗

PubMed1979

[Comparative appraisal of diagnostic methods for early detection of stress and urge incontinence of women (author's transl)].

Studies were conducted into 40 women who were afflicted with first-degree and second-degree urinary incontenence. The results are broken down by diagnostic methods used. The same methods were applied for control to 14 women without any incontinence complaints. - The contributions actually made by each of the methods to the definite presurgical diagnosis in its totality are described by graphic presentation of the results. - The findings reported in this paper suggest that complex consideration has to be given to all results to introduce adequate therapy in given any case. While the methods reported proved to differ by informative value, none of them should be abandoned in routine examination.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

[Autofluorescence as a diagnostic method].

The authors demonstrate the diagnostic possibilities of autofluorescence. They discuss its uses in diagnosing of the optic disc drusen and astrocytic hamartomas of the retina and the optic disc. They also show the influence of autofluorescence in interpreting fluorescein angiography.

Fluorescein Angiography↗

PubMed1988

Electrogustometry of the soft palate as a topographic diagnostic method for facial paralysis.

Electrogustometry (EGM) of the soft palate, innervated by the gustatory fibers running via the greater petrosal nerve, was performed in 10 cases with facial paralysis due to suprageniculate lesions to evaluate its clinical validity as a topographic diagnostic method. Lacrimal function was also examined for comparison. The results obtained from EGM showed a significantly increased threshold on the affected side in 90% of the cases. However, the lacrimal secretion decreased only in 40% using Schirmer No. 2 test. The results of the present study strongly suggest that EGM of the soft palate reflects the function of this nerve better than Schirmer test, and EGM is clinically useful for the topographic diagnosis of peripheral facial nerve lesions.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

[Preliminary elaboration of diagnostic methods for rhabdomyosarcoma in children].

The material basic for this paper consists of 24 children with soft tissue tumors, aged 1-16 years which were diagnosed in the Clinical Department of Child Oncology of the Institute of Mother and Child Warsaw. The diagnostic methods included: interview, physical examination, radiological examination (including CT), bone marrow punction histological investigation by means of fine needle punction and/or biopsy. These methods were sufficient in making a precise diagnosis and staging. The most frequent was stage III (16 cases). It comes from a fact of late diagnosis caused by non characteristic clinical picture. All common localisation was represented in this group (stage III including a cases of causel localisation in the heart.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

PubMed1988

Riu's stain in the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis. Introduction of a new diagnostic method.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis is thought to be a rare disease. Clinically, it presents no characteristic symptoms, signs or chest x-ray film findings. Most of the reported cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis were not diagnosed either antemortem or before surgical intervention. A simple diagnostic method, Riu's stain, can be used routinely in bronchoscopic brushing smears, or for needle aspiration cytologic studies, making pulmonary cryptococcosis easy to diagnose.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

[Diagnostic methods of detection of early degenerative changes in the lumbo-coccygeal triangle in relation to the use of prostheses].

In the evaluation of early degenerative changes of lumbocoxal triangle, that is of sacroiliac joints with the patients with above knee amputations, two diagnostic methods were used: X-ray method and scintigraphic method. X-ray method: pictures of sacroiliac joints according to Bársony as morphologic method show first degenerative changes in the period of six to twelve months after amputation. Scintigraphy of sacroiliac joints and the determination of s.i. index as functional method has established the degree of degenerative changes, that is their progression or stagnation. It has been seen that the degree of degenerative changes of sacroiliac joints in not the same with the patients who regularly use prostheses and those who do it occasionally. With the patients who use the prosthesis all the time, the degenerative changes stagnate.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Disseminated histoplasmosis and AIDS: clinical aspects and diagnostic methods for early detection.

Disseminated histoplasmosis in AIDS patients is the focus of this paper. Cutaneous lesions are reported as a frequent clinical sign. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, blood cultures (lysis-centrifugation technique), bronchoalveolar lavage, and skin lesion scrapings are the most effective diagnostic methods. The identification of a specific antigen in blood and urine may be a rapid means of evaluation and follow-up of patients with this disease.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed1989

[Rapid diagnostic methods for fungal infections--using chromogenic limulus tests and enzymatic measurement of D-arabinitol].

Conventional chromogenic limulus test (toxicolor test) reacts with glucan of bakers yeast as well as endotoxin, because toxicolor test contains factor G which is sensitive to glucan and polysaccharide of fungus. A new endotoxin specific limulus test (endospecy test) was developed to improve reaction which responded only to endotoxin. The toxicolor test showed the positive reaction to the culture media of candida albicans 7N strain in RPMI 1640 medium, but the endospecy test did not. D-arabinitol, measured by fluometric enzymatic method, also was positive to culture media. These results suggested that a combination of the toxicolor and the endospecy test and enzymatic measurement of D-arabinitol could be applied to rapid diagnostic methods of fungal infection.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

[Diagnostic methods in torsion of the spleen].

Torsion of a spleen is a frequent complication of a rare entity--a wandering spleen. A wandering spleen is revealed occasionally, with physical and/or sonographic exam. However, it is often overseen. It has very unspecific simptoms, and can present a diagnostic problem. Splenic torsion manifets itself like an acute abdomen. We have presented a rare case of splenic torsion with unusual clinical findings, followed by a splenic infarction. Due to their promptness, sensitivity, uniqueness and availability, two diagnostic methods have definitive primacy in visualisation of splenic torsion: Color-Doppler sonography and CT with intravenous application of contrast medium.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The use of urea carbon 14 in breath tests as diagnostic method for Helicobacter pylori infections].

The Helicobacter Pylori has been indicated as a pathologic agent in the pathogenesis of antral gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers and probably in gastric cancer. Due to the high incidence of this infection in our place, we decided to look for a diagnostic method quick to perform, sensitive, reliable and no invasive. The breath test of 14C urea, based in the production of urea by the H. Pylori, represents this alternative. We have found, using does of 1 microCi, a high correlation with the diagnosis of H. Pylori by biopsies. We determined as negative less than 100 DPM, doubtful between 100 and 200 DPM and positive more than 200 DPM. The high pick of the curve keeps tight relation with the degree of infection. We checked this when we suppressed the H. Pylori with bismuth subsalicylate. The breath 14C Urea test showed high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (85.71%). We conclude that this breath test is an alternative way of diagnosing and follow up for H. Pylori infections. It is highly sensitive, reproducible and no invasive.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Comparison of diagnostic methods in latex surgical glove contact urticaria.

Surgical rubber gloves contain allergens derived from natural rubber latex which may sensitize, causing contact urticaria and even systemic reactions. We examined 15 hospital employees allergic to latex surgical gloves, using various skin tests and RAST, to determine the most reliable diagnostic method and to investigate coexistent allergy to glove powder and rubber chemicals. Prick testing using a stock solution made from one brand of latex glove yielded positive (2+ to 4+) reactions in all 15 employees: 8 retained positive reactions at a 1/10 dilution, 1 at 1/100 and 4 at 1/1000. A prick test using rubber-tree sap (Hevea brasiliensis) was positive in 12/15 employees and a scratch-chamber test using crushed rubber-tree leaf was positive in 13/15. A latex glove use test was positive in 12/13 employees and a latex RAST detected measurable amounts of specific IgE in 8/15. No positive prick test reactions were obtained using glove powder. On patch testing, 2/15 employees showed delayed allergy to rubber chemicals but no immediate reactions were detected. The present results indicate that in addition to the use test, prick testing with a stock solution prepared from latex surgical gloves is an adequate test method for routine practice when diagnosing latex glove contact urticaria. The correlation between prick tests and whole glove use tests was good, but latex RASTs yielded some negative results.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Inner-city survey for tuberculosis: evaluation of diagnostic methods.

A total of 1,271 persons living in a socially and economically depressed, inner-city area of Vancouver, British Columbia, voluntarily attended a tuberculosis case-finding campaign. Chest x-ray, on-the-spot specimen of sputum, and tuberculin skin test were offered at the time of the first attendance. All 3 diagnostic methods were found to be well accepted, with 93% of the participants having an x-ray, over 95% producing a sputum specimen, and almost 95% having a tuberculin test (a quarter of these did not, however, report for reading of the test). Eight cases of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis were found: 6 suspected on x-ray (the remaining 2 films were abnormal but not diagnostic of tuberculosis), and 6 being positive on smear and/or culture of the initial on-the-spot sputum specimen. Examination of a second specimen of sputum diagnosed all of the 8 active cases identified by the survey. These results suggest that, in this particular setting, a chest radiogram taken by a transportable chest x-ray apparatus or examination of 2 sputum specimens might be equally successful at detecting all cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis within the time required for sputum culture. Examination of the sputum smear immediately identifies all the more infectious cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. The prevalence rate of 629 per 100,000 among those presenting themselves to this campaign illustrates the high-yield which might be achieved by active case-finding projects in known high-incidence segments of a generally low-incidence population.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Rapid diagnostic method for detection of mumps virus genome by loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Most mumps patients are clinically diagnosed without any virological examinations, but some diagnosed cases of mumps may be caused by other pathogens or secondary vaccine failure (SVF). To clarify these issues, a sensitive, specific, and rapid diagnostic method is required. We obtained 60 salivary swabs from 34 patients with natural infection during the course of the illness, 10 samples from patients with vaccine-associated parotitis, and 5 samples from patients with SVF. Total RNA was extracted and subjected to reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for genome amplification. We detected mumps virus RNA corresponding to 0.1 PFU by LAMP within 60 min after RNA extraction, with the same sensitivity as RT-nested PCR. Mumps virus was isolated in 30 of 33 samples within day 2, and mumps virus genome was amplified by LAMP in 32 of them. The quantity of virus titer was calculated by monitoring the time to reach the threshold of turbidity. The viral load decreased after day 3 and was lower in patients serologically diagnosed as having SVF with milder illness. Accuracy of LAMP for the detection of mumps virus genome was confirmed; furthermore, it is of benefit for calculating the viral load, which reflects disease pathogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Pathology of Newcastle disease in double-crested cormorants from Saskatchewan, with comparison of diagnostic methods.

Newcastle disease (ND) in juvenile double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) occurred several times since 1975, but there are relatively few studies on its pathology and diagnosis. In order to describe the distribution of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and associated lesions in cormorants with ND and to compare diagnostic methods, 25 cormorants with nervous signs from a ND epizootic in Saskatchewan in 1995 (NDE cormorants) were compared with 18 negative control cormorants. Tissues of these birds were examined by necropsy, histology, virus isolation, immunohistochemistry, serology, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods. The NDE cormorants had a characteristic non-suppurative encephalomyelitis, with a significantly higher prevalence of neuronal necrosis, gliosis, perivascular infiltration with mononuclear cells, and endothelial hypertrophy than control cormorants. These lesions were found more frequently in the cerebellum and brain stem than in other parts of the central nervous system. Immunohistochemically, NDV antigen was limited to neurons, glial and endothelial cells in the central nervous system, and to tubular epithelial cells in the kidney. Newcastle disease virus was isolated with the highest prevalence (4/5) and the highest concentration (10(4.8) ELD50/g) from the kidney. The virus isolates often did not agglutinate erythrocytes in the standard hemagglutination test; the presence of NDV was confirmed by use of an indirect immunoperoxidase assay. By RT-PCR, NDV was detected in kidney and jejunum of a NDE cormorant. There was no significant difference between sensitivity of histology, virus isolation, and serology for detecting ND in NDE cormorants.

Animals↗