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At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Evaluation of findings in computerized tomography and other diagnostic methods in pulmonology].

The work has presented a retrospective study of 123 clinica patients, who underwent the chest computerized tomography (CT). With the aim to evaluate the possibilities and importance of CT in diagnosis and therapy of the different pathologic processes, CT results were analysed in relation to other diagnostic methods results. The superiority over conventional radiography (including fluoroscopy and conventional tomography) and importance in evaluation of mediastinal anomalies and pulmonary nodules were confirmed in defining the stages of neoplasms according to TNM system the planning and follow-up of therapy results. CT is not a tissue specific method; the invasive methods are necessary for the definitive histologic diagnosis.

Bronchography↗
PubMed1986

Current vulvar diagnostic methods, with special reference to vulvar cytology.

The established noninvasive procedures for early detection of vulvar cancer failed in the past, probably because they were based on indirect criteria for malignancy. Exfoliative cytology, however, is the only method that is able to identify specific morphologic features although completely different from the well-known features of cervical cytology. A smear should be taken, therefore, from every vulvar lesion. Using all the relevant diagnostic methods, including punch biopsy, should lead to an improvement in early vulvar cancer detection.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2001

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value change after antibacterial therapy of prostate inflammation, as a diagnostic method for prostate cancer screening in cases of PSA value within 4-10 ng/ml and nonsuspicious results of digital rectal examination.

OBJECTIVES: Investigation of the possibilities of improving the accuracy of prostate cancer (PC) screening among patients with a PSA value of 4-10 ng/ml and nonsuspicious results of digital rectal examination (DRE), using as diagnostic method the PSA value change (PSA-VCh) after antibacterial treatment of prostate inflammation. METHODS: The study included 61 patients with PSA 4-10 ng/ml, nonsuspicious DRE and inflammation in expressed prostate secretion (EPS). All these patients underwent antibacterial therapy with the following repeated PSA determination and PSA-VCh assessment. RESULTS: Antibacterial therapy led to PSA decrease in 80% of cases. Effectiveness of PSA-VCh in PC screening was estimated. Sensitivity of PSA-VCh (with cut-off point -0.1.100%) equaled 85%, specificity 96%, positive predictive value 85% and negative predictive value 96%. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate inflammation proves to be a significant factor contributing to serum PSA elevation up to 10 ng/ml among patients with nonsuspicious DRE. Assessment of PSA-VCh after antibacterial treatment can improve PC screening accuracy in cases of PSA 4-10 ng/ml, nonsuspicious DRE and inflammation in EPS.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Prevalence of pancreatic disorders in HIV-infected hemophiliacs: diagnostic methods and their clinical significance.

Pancreatic damage has been well described in HIV+ patients and can occur both for therapy and opportunistic infections, but its prevalence is not clear. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of pancreatic damage in a cohort of HIV+ hemophiliacs together with the clinical and prognostic value of the diagnostic methods commonly used. We studied 75 HIV+ patients and 26 HIV- as a control group: they were evaluated by biochemical tests, indirect pancreatic functional tests, abdominal ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT). No differences were observed between HIV+ and HIV- in elevation of pancreatic enzymes. Eleven patients had slight CT alterations and none had abnormal US. In HIV+ there was no relationship between enzyme elevation and CDC group, CD4+ cell count or therapy. In conclusion, pancreatic disorders have a very low prevalence in HIV+ hemophiliacs and biochemical alterations we found had a doubtful clinical significance. Lipase and isoamylase are the more reliable tests and lipase, being the cheapest and easiest to perform, has to be considered as the first test of choice for monitoring pancreatic damage in HIV+ patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Increasing incidence of primary malignant brain tumors: influence of diagnostic methods.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of brain cancer has increased dramatically over the last decades in most developed countries. Whether these trends can be attributed to improved diagnosis is not clear. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of new imaging technology on increased rates of brain cancer, we assessed the level of detection for neurological disorders when computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results were not available. METHODS: A neurologist performed a blind review of hospital charts from 356 randomly selected patients, hospitalized between 1985 and 1989 for neurological disorders, including brain cancer. All prediagnosis information except CT and MRI results was used as a basis for diagnostic re-evaluation. Also, a random sample of 151 brain cancer patients diagnosed between 1960 and 1965 was selected for a description of diagnostic methods used during that period. RESULTS: A comparison between the original diagnoses and the re-evaluations for patients in the 1985-1989 sample indicated that there was, among the diseases selected, a 24% misclassification when CT scans and MRI were not available. In particular, 20% of brain tumors were undetected (95% confidence interval = 15%-25%), and 10% of non-tumor disorders were inaccurately labeled as brain tumors in the absence of these tests. The repeatability of the re-evaluations was 86%. CONCLUSIONS: Among elderly North Americans, at least twofold increases in brain cancer incidence were observed over the last two decades. Since our findings show that CT scans and MRI are responsible for the detection of about 20% of brain tumors, we conclude that other factors also are responsible for the observed trends.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of various diagnostic methods for the detection of Mycoplasma bovis.

Mycoplasma bovis, the main causative agent of mycoplasmal mastitis, arthritis and pneumonia in cattle, causes considerable economic losses. Veterinary hygiene measures would be most effective if introduced at an early stage, especially the culling of cows shedding the pathogen for the control of mastitis. It is therefore crucial to ensure that diagnostic methods are available which can perform rapid and specific detection of the agent at acceptable costs. Six different detection methods have been compared and evaluated in terms of performance parameters and suitability for routine diagnosis. Conventional M. bovis isolation and identification from culture is the only technique used for routine diagnosis at present. However, this process is rather laborious and time-consuming, and final results are available only after several days. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques can be used to screen for M. bovis antibodies or antigens in clinically-diseased animals. Detection of the agent in subclinical cases was accomplished in pre-incubated samples by an antigen capture ELISA involving a monoclonal antibody. Whole-cell protein patterns generated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used to identify and classify field isolates. Nucleic acid hybridizations using probes of defined specificity were conducted both as filter dot blot assay and in solution with ribosomal ribonucleic acid as the target. The latter was found to be potentially suitable for the screening of biological samples, although problems due to high background and reduced specificity remained. Finally, the presence of M. bovis cells in culture supernatant and in milk samples was demonstrated using the polymerase chain reaction. This procedure is potentially superior to all others currently available, due to its high sensitivity, specificity and speed. However, a number of practical problems must be solved prior to full-scale introduction of this technique for routine diagnosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[New diagnostic methods for bacterial infections after the introduction of increased bioterrorism preparedness].

Bacillus anthracis, Francicella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, Burkholderia pseudomallei and Brucella melitensis are the bacteria most often mentioned in connection with possible biological terrorist acts. It is known that these microorganisms can be cultured and weaponised for such a purpose. This survey provides examples of the use of diagnostic methods for those microorganisms, further detailed in relation to establishing a national center for biological preparedness in Denmark.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Laboratory study on occult gastrointestinal bleedings: differential diagnostic method for the parallel study of intact and fragmented hemoglobin.

The authors produced various degradation products of human hemoglobin. With the aid of immune sera raised against native hemoglobin and their fragments, we examined the antigenicity of the intact molecule and fragments as well as the specificity and reactivity of the immune sera used. Since conventional guaiac-type reactions make no distinction between the different hemoglobin molecules and the methods described in recent years' publications only with immune sera raised against native intact hemoglobin, the demonstration of occult fecal blood has not reached the desired rate of efficacy in clinical practice. The authors recommend the introduction of a simple differential diagnostic methods suitable for the parallel examination of intact and fragmented hemoglobin.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2006

Molecular diagnostic methods for detection of Thelohania contejeani (Microsporidia), the causative agent of porcelain disease in crayfish.

Diagnosis of Thelohania contejeani in the crayfish Astacus astacus is currently based on observation of gross clinical signs--opaque appearance of the abdomen and whitish colouration of the musculature--and confirmed by microscopic examination of histological sections of muscle. We have developed 2 molecular diagnostic methods for sensitive and rapid detection of porcelain disease in its early stages: PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). The PCR test utilises a primer based on the T. contejeani small subunit ssu ribosomal RNA (ssu rRNA) gene and amplified parasite DNA with high specificity and a detection limit of 10(-5) dilution. The LAMP assay involves incubation of the target DNA with a set of 6 primers and Bst DNA polymerase for 60 min at 65 degrees C in a water bath or heating block, followed by visualisation of the reaction products with the SYBR Green I stain; sensitivity of visual detection with SYBR Green I is equivalent to that with agarose gel electrophoresis. The LAMP assay can detect T. contejeani DNA to a dilution of 10(-7). The LAMP assay is 100 times more sensitive than the PCR test and is the method we recommend as an alternative to traditional means of diagnosing T. contejeani.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Diagnostic methods for the detection of anterograde aspiration in enterally fed patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The diagnosis of aspiration and its origin in patients on enteral tube feeding is challenging to the physician and provides an important means to prevent pneumonia. This review examines the most recent studies and developments in the field with an approach to the technical aspects of diagnostic methods. RECENT FINDINGS: The methods more commonly used to detect anterograde aspiration in clinical practice are fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and modified barium swallowing. Recent studies have shown that although these methods may provide the diagnosis of aspiration, their use for clinical monitoring is not appropriate. The studies comparing fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and modified barium swallowing have demonstrated that both tests present similar sensitivity, specificity and predictive values. SUMMARY: The different methods used to diagnose anterograde aspiration are appropriate for clinical practice, with a low complication rate and few contraindications. In most instances, the early diagnosis of aspiration and evaluation of other factors such as laryngeal sensibility, may predict the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia.

Barium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mutation-specific PCR: a rapid and inexpensive diagnostic method, as exemplified by mitochondrial DNA analysis in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy.

Mitochondrial DNA analyses were carried out on 30 individuals with clinically documented or suspected Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Three methods based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were compared, all three aiming at detecting the G/C to A/T mutation of base pair 11,778 causing LHON. Two methods included restriction analysis with either Sfa NI or Mae III, while the third one relied on allele-specific amplification (ASA), using a mutation-specific primer. The results were completely consistent, showing the presence of the mutation in 18 and its absence in 12 cases. From these results it is concluded, that mutation-specific PCR is the diagnostic method of choice, because it obviates the need for subsequent restriction analysis, thus being faster and more cost-efficient. The general applicability of ASA makes this strategy universally useful for detection of specific mutations in the diagnostic analysis of genetic disease, and for typing of genetic polymorphisms or other sequence variations due to single-base differences.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1999

US-guided gallbladder aspiration: a new diagnostic method for biliary fascioliasis.

Fasciola hepatica is a trematode which is found worldwide. The diagnosis is usually delayed because the disease is relatively rare and the parasite or its eggs must be shown in bile samples for verification. We report three cases in which the diagnosis of fascioliasis was established by simple US-guided aspiration of the gallbladder. This new diagnostic method is less invasive, safe, and easy compared with the conventional endoscopic methods.

Biliary Tract Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A methodology study to validate a structured diagnostic method used to diagnose female sexual dysfunction and its subtypes in postmenopausal women.

The currently accepted gold standard for diagnosis of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a nonstandardized interview by a clinician whose field of expertise is FSD. However, the limited number of experts in the field has implications for running efficient large-scale clinical trials. Therefore, we developed a structured diagnostic method (SDM) to enable diagnosis of FSD in postmenopausal women by health care professionals who are not FSD experts. Our study objectives were to evaluate both convergent validity and intrarater reliability of the SDM. The results showed that the method had good convergent validity and excellent intrarater reliability. Thus, we conclude that the SDM can reliably diagnose FSD status and FSD subtypes in postmenopausal women.

Coitus↗
PubMed1989

[Should the development of virological diagnostic methods influence our practical approach?].

Respiratory viral infections which occur in patients with spontaneous or therapeutic immunodepression are frequent and serious. Apart from these acute situations, viruses are responsible for some chronic respiratory pathologies which affect the functional prognosis, as illustrated by the relationship between the respiratory pathologies demands an accurate diagnosis. Two methods can be used routinely to demonstrate the presence of a virus in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or in transbronchial biopsy: (1) direct immunofluorescence or immunoenzymatic technique; the concomitant finding of a cytopathogenic effect on the cells that constitute the sample makes this method more sensitive and confirms the pathogenic character of viruses demonstrated by immunological techniques; (2) isolation of the virus from cell cultures; the sensitivity of this method can be increased by an immunological search for the virus (fast culture). Hybridization in situ is a new and promising method where a DNA probe complementary to viral nucleic acids is used to evidence the viral genome in the infected cells. Serum IgM assays, which provide proof of an active infection, should be preferred to conventional serology, although seroconversion is inconstant in immunodepressed patients. Improvements in virological diagnostic methods should result in the future use of new antiviral treatments.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2000

[Clinical value of FDG PET using coincident gamma cameras in staging and restaging of malignant lymphoma--compared with convenitonal diagnostic methods].

UNLABELLED: AIM of the present retrospective study was to validate the clinical value of F-18-FDG PET imaging in lymphoma patients with a dual head camera modified for coincidence detection. Staging before and after oncological treatment was compared with a conservative diagnostic approach. METHODS: 48 patients (28 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 20 Hodgkin's disease) received FDG-Hybrid-PET scans. Pretherapeutic staging was realized in 28 patients, 9 of them had control studies after they had completed therapy. Totally 29 persons were examined for post-therapeutic restaging. Computed tomography imaging and lymph node sonography was performed in all cases. Results were validated by clinical follow-up, in three cases a recidive was proven by biopsy. RESULTS: CT and ultrasound detected 77 lesions in 28 patients compared with 100 visualized by PET, but this difference in pretherapeutic staging did not reach significance at p > 0.05 by Fisher's t-test. Hybrid-PET obtained a sensitivity of 93%, a specificity of 79%, a positive of 82% and a negative predictive value of 92% for detection of residual disease. The values for CT + US were 87%, 64%, 72% and 88% respectively. CONCLUSION: FDG Hybrid-PET is as or even more accurate than standard morphologic diagnostic methods for prestaging in malignant lymphoma. Additionally, there is a substantial benefit for therapy monitoring of residual disease using coincidence detection PET with a 3/4-inch crystal gamma camera.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A novel diagnostic method for pulmonary aspiration in a murine model. Immunocytochemical staining of milk proteins in alveolar macrophages.

Aspiration of foreign material into the lungs has been implicated in the etiology of a variety of pulmonary disorders. Although aspiration is a common clinical problem, its diagnosis represents a major challenge due to the lack of sensitive and/or specific tests. In this study, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of a novel diagnostic method in a murine model of milk aspiration. Under light anesthesia, BALB/c mice received either single or repeated intranasal instillation of milk. Control animals received sterile physiologic saline or were infected with respiratory pathogens in a similar manner. After isolation and cannulation of the trachea, mouse lungs were lavaged with PBS at various time points after the last aspiration event. Cells were recovered for Oil Red O (ORO) staining as well as immunocytochemistry for milk proteins: alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin. After single aspiration of milk, a large number of alveolar macrophages displayed a strong immunoreactivity for alpha-lactalbumin for 2-96 h. After single and repeated aspiration, the percentage of positive cells for alpha-lactalbumin was significantly higher when compared with ORO staining at 24, 48, and 72 h (p < 0.05). No immunoreactivity for milk proteins was found in alveolar macrophages obtained from our control groups. These findings demonstrate that immunocytochemical staining of milk proteins within alveolar macrophages represents a novel, sensitive, and specific test for the diagnosis of aspiration in a murine model.

Animals↗