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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

New immunoassay in stool provides an accurate noninvasive diagnostic method for Helicobacter pylori screening in children.

OBJECTIVE: The noninvasive (13)C-urea breath test (UBT) is a reliable diagnostic method for detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in children, and it avoids invasive gastrointestinal endoscopy. In this study, we compared a noninvasive, newly developed fecal H pylori antigen test with the UBT. METHODOLOGY: One hundred sixty-two children (76 girls and 86 boys) were tested for H pylori infection using the UBT and a new antigen test in stool samples. The H pylori stool test is based on a sandwich enzyme immunoassay with antigen detection. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the children (14.8%) with dyspepsia tested positive for H pylori according to the breath test results. In 22 of the 24 patients, H pylori antigen could be detected in the stool (sensitivity: 91.6%). Of 138 patients with negative UBT results, 136 were H pylori-negative in the stool test (specificity: 98.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The new, noninvasive, low-cost H pylori antigen test in stool can replace the UBT for detection of H pylori infection in children with comparable reliability and accuracy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Diagnostics methods for sleep disorders].

The aim of this manuscript is to describe the procedures, recommendations, findings and value of the diagnostic methods used in Sleep Disorders including questionnaires, Actigraph, Polysomnography and Multiple sleep latency test. Specific questionnaires including evaluation of sleep quality , hyper somnolence, Respiratory Sleep Disorders and Sleep-Wake rhythm are in general, used as a screening for the Sleep Disorders and indication of sleep studies. Polysomnogram and Multiple sleep latency test are considered the gold standard methods for the diagnosis of majority of sleep disorders and Narcolepsy respectively. Criteria for these disorders are reported below.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of Tzanck smear, viral culture, and DNA diagnostic methods in detection of herpes simplex and varicella-zoster infection.

OBJECTIVE: To compare Tzanck smears, viral cultures, and DNA diagnostic methods using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) or varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection in clinically suspected cases. DESIGN: A 12-month trial comparing PCR with viral cultures and Tzanck smears in patients with clinically suspected HSV or VZV infection. SETTING: Both ambulatory and hospitalized patients were recruited from a tertiary referral center and the Miami (Fla) Veterans Affairs Medical Center. PATIENTS: Convenience samples of patients clinically suspected to have HSV (n = 48) or VZV (n = 35). To be included in the final analysis patients needed to have a positive Tzanck smear, viral culture, or PCR result. Patients who were clinically suspected to have HSV but had VZV by viral culture or PCR were analyzed in the VZV group. Similarly, patients who were clinically suspected to have VZV, but had HSV by viral culture or PCR were analyzed in the HSV group. Seventy-seven patients were available for final analysis: HSV (n = 30), VZV (n = 32), and 15 control cases who did not have evidence of viral infection. RESULTS: For HSV, PCR detected HSV DNA sequences in 73% of stained smears and 83% of unstained smears. For VZV infection, VZV DNA sequences were detected in 88% of stained smears and 97% of unstained smears. Viral DNA sequences were not detected in the 15 control cases. Viral cultures were positive in 83% and 44% of HSV and VZV cases, respectively. The Tzanck smear was positive in 60% and 75% of HSV and VZV cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PCR is a reliable method for detecting HSV and VZV DNA sequences from single stained and unstained Tzanck smears. It is clearly superior to viral culture in identifying VZV infection and is equivalent to conventional culture techniques in identifying cases of HSV.

Chickenpox↗
PubMed1993

Electron microscopy: application and progress in diagnostic methods on skin disease.

Electron microscopy is now widely used in the evaluation of disease tissue. Indeed, these relatively new diagnostic methods have become essential to the fields of dermatology. Their value in the pathology of skin is no less great: Definitive diagnosis of most connective tissue disorders (amyloidosis, hyalinosis, etc.) is not possible without ultrastructural and histochemical analysis. Cellular inclusions are helpful in the diagnosis of a number of skin disorders: filamentous and granular inclusions in recurrent digital fibroma of childhood and tubuloreticular inclusions in collagen vascular diseases. Hair abnormalities are best analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of endoscopy-based diagnostic methods for the detection of Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is an etiological factor in duodenal ulcer. Few studies have objectively assessed the accuracy of diagnostic methods for the detection of H. pylori. METHODS: The sensitivity and specificity of histology, touch smear, rapid urease test (RUT) and brush cytology of endoscopic antral biopsy from patients with duodenal ulcer were compared. Forty-nine patients were evaluated before, and 34 after, eradication therapy. Each time, sampling was done for all 4 tests. The infection status for each sample was established by a positive concordance of results of three of four tests. RESULTS: The highest degree of agreement was between RUT and cytology (kappa = 0.69). Brush cytology (100%) followed by RUT (94.5%) were the most sensitive tests. Histology had the highest specificity (89.3%). A combination of RUT or brush cytology with histology had the maximum chance of detecting H. pylori. As single tests, brush cytology and touch smear had high diagnostic accuracies with a Youdin J value of 1.79 and 1.78, respectively. CONCLUSION: The best method for diagnosis of H. pylori is a combination of the rapid urease test or brush cytology with histology. Brush cytology or touch smear are diagnostic tests of choice if a single test is desired.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adjunctive diagnostic methods for monitoring progressive periodontal diseases.

Diagnosing periodontal diseases involves determining the classification of the disease and the recognition of disease severity at the time of the clinical examination. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as radiographs and periodontal probing, have several limitations. Newer diagnostic techniques have been developed that could help determine whether specific sites are actively breaking down or if the site will experience future active disease. The newest technique is a genetic susceptibility test to identify patients who are at an increased risk for periodontal disease before problems develop. The screening of at-risk patients after initial therapy with these newly developed monitoring tests may lead to improved treatment and prevention of periodontal disease.

Clinical Enzyme Tests↗
PubMed1988

Comparison of indirect diagnostic methods for hypolactasia.

The aim of this study was to continue our previously published work and to compare the different indirect diagnostic methods for hypolactasia with the lactase to sucrase ratio obtained by jejunal biopsy. The following tests were performed in 63 adult patients: the breath hydrogen test, the lactose tolerance test with ethanol (serum galactose measurement after oral lactose load with ethanol), the urinary lactose tolerance test (urinary galactose measurement after oral lactose load with ethanol), and the strip test (like the former but using a special test strip for urinary galactose). Specificities of all these tests were good (96-98%). The 3-h breath hydrogen test was less sensitive (69%) than the other methods (81-94%). The strip test is recommended for the general practitioner for the diagnosis of this common cause of abdominal complaints.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sequence of diagnostic methods in destructive lung diseases].

Of 240 examinees with different pulmonary pathology 100 verified cases of destructive diseases were selected. Nine diagnostic methods were applied to them. The effectiveness of each method was evaluated, and 3 strategies of the diagnosis of pulmonary destructive diseases were proposed. The cybernetic mathematical apparatus was used.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1995

Patterns of Cryptosporidium oocyst shedding in calves and a comparison of two diagnostic methods.

Cryptosporidium spp. oocyst shedding was observed in calves from approximately 1 to 30 days of age. Oocysts were detected by either the Kinyoun acid-fast staining technique (microscopic examination--ME) or a commercially produced enzyme immunoassay EIA). Test concordance between the two detection methods was determined. The mean (+/- SD) number of days to detection of cryptosporidial oocysts was 9.52 +/- 1.92 for the ME and 9.83 +/- 3.19 for the EIA. No significant difference between the means was found (P = 0.17). The period prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was 100% in calves from 1 to 30 days of age. The overall agreement between the ME and EIA was 72%, with a kappa value of 0.42 (SE +/- 0.05). McNemar's test indicated that the proportion of tests determined positive by the two methods was not equal (P < 0.01). The findings or this study indicate moderate agreement between the two diagnostic methods, with the EIA being the more sensitive of the two. However, in most cases the herd-level determination of cryptosporidiosis requires minimal sample sizes and is more economically and easily accomplished by the ME method of detection.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Clinical evaluation of diagnostic methods using plasma and/or serum for three mycoses: aspergillosis, candidosis, and pneumocystosis.

Clinical evaluation was retrospectively made of the results of serological diagnostic methods using plasma and/or sera of patients for the diagnosis of aspergillosis, candidosis, and pneumocystosis. Specimens were drawn from 8 patients with invasive aspergillosis, 3 with aspergilloma, 9 with candidosis, 4 with pneumocystosis, and 15 with no fungal infections. In invasive aspergillosis, the sensitivities of the (1-3)-beta-D-glucan measurement test using chromogenic and turbidimetric methods were 78.6% and 82.1%, with specificities of 75% and 87.5%, respectively. The sensitivity of the Pastorex Aspergillus test for invasive aspergillosis was 16.7%, with a specificity of 92.3%. In candidosis, the sensitivities of the (1-3)-bata-D-glucan test using the above two methods were 84.2% and 100%, with specificities of 75% and 87.5%, respectively. The sensitivity of the CAND-TEC test and the Pastorex Candida test for candidosis were 68.8% and 16.7%, with specificities of 57.1% and 100%, respectively. These results indicate that the (1-3)-bata-D-glucan measurement methods are more reliable in clinical application than the other antigen detection methods, but they still lack efficiency in differentiating fungal infections such as aspergillosis, candidosis and pneumocystosis. For a more exact diagnosis of systemic fungal infections, detailed studies on the clinical symptoms are considered essential.

Aspergillosis↗
PubMed2003

Current diagnostic methods of HER-2/neu detection in breast cancer with special regard to real-time PCR.

In this study we compare different diagnostic methods to measure HER-2/neu gene amplification in breast cancer with special regard to real-time polymerase chain reaction. Fifty specimens of breast cancer were analyzed, and the use of laser-assisted microdissection prior to PCR was investigated. A total of 38 of 50 cases showed HER-2/neu overexpression in immunohistochemistry. In the 2+ scored group, 2 of 23 cases turned out to be amplified after FISH analysis and 14 of 15 cases in the 3+ group were amplified. Of the 16 amplified cases, 3 initially were measured as nonamplified by real-time PCR but showed amplification after laser capture microdissection. One case showed amplification by PCR but turned out to have only one copy of chromosome 17 by FISH. All 0 or 1+ scored cases were measured as nonamplified both by FISH and PCR. Initial concordance rate between FISH and PCR was 92% and could be increased to 98% using laser-assisted microdissection. FISH and PCR showed high diagnostic accuracy and concordance while immunohistochemistry overestimates amplification within the 2+ scored group. Therefore, either FISH or PCR should be applied in cases scored 2+ by immunohistochemistry. Diagnostic accuracy of PCR can be increased using laser-assisted microdissection.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Re-evaluating the diagnostic methods in herpes simplex encephalitis.

Several methods are used in clinical practice to investigate herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE), including electroencephalography (EEG) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the viral genome in cerebrospinal fluid. PCR is the most sensitive and specific of the diagnostic methods currently employed. We retrospectively examined the diagnostic utility of EEG and cranial imaging within the first 24-48 h of symptom onset in patients with suspected HSE. Patients with herpes simplex-positive PCR results were compared with those with herpes simplex-negative PCR results. Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges and/or focal temporal slowing were present in 90% of the PCR-positive patients at symptom onset compared with only 30% of the PCR-negative group. The sensitivity of EEG recordings decreased after 48 h. Although no patients had computed tomography findings suggestive of HSE, magnetic resonance imaging results were consistent with HSE in 86% of those with herpes simplex-positive PCR results obtained after 48 h from symptom onset.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2000

[Evaluation of analytic test methods. Stomach-intestines status is the best diagnostic method in suspected vitamin B12 deficiency].

In the great majority of cases vitamin B12 deficiency is caused by chronic atrophic gastritis. This study has compared several different tests for the identification of patients for whom substitution therapy is needed or warranted. It is concluded that serum tests reflecting the state of the gastric body mucosa (serum pepsinogen A combined with serum gastrin or serum pepsinogen C) appear to be the logical first step in the workup of these patients in terms of high sensitivity and superior specificity as compared with other tests.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of immunity status and appropriate laboratory diagnostical methods in cases of recurrent herpetic stomatitis.

To provide diagnosis of recurrent herpetic stomatitis (RHS), non-direct immunoperoxidase (IP) and immunofluorescent (IF) methods were used, and to assess the immunoreactivity--complement fixation reaction (CFR), lymphocyte blasttransformation reaction (LBTR) as well as the passive hemagglutination reaction (PHR). A total of 21 patients with clinically assessed diagnosis of RHS was examined. The IP method obtained results were compared with those obtained with use of IF method. In both used diagnostical tests, the IP method was proved as giving more positive findings at oral mucosa samples examination. The titres of antibodies to Herpes simplex virus showed variability as follows: from 1:4 to 1:320 in CFR and from 1:10 to 1:160 in PHR. The immunity status assessment using LBTR pointed on a decrease of general immunoreactivity of patients with RHS.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: relations between prevalence rate and school district size, diagnostic method, and referral process.

To study whether prevalence rates of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are related to size of school district, diagnostic method, and referral process, the ADHD Survey was mailed to all 311 superintendents of school districts in a midsouthern state; 128 (41.1%) were returned. Analysis showed no significant relationships; however, the low return rate suggests replication in other regions is necessary.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed1999

Rare-MR-urography--a new diagnostic method in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.

PURPOSE: To describe the appearance of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) by using a new diagnostic method: RARE-MR-urography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight children were evaluated using MR images from 0.23 T and 1.5 T MR units, using T1-weighted spin-echo and T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequences and RARE-MR-urography. Signal intensities, morphological appearance of the affected kidneys and, specifically, the picture of the urinary tract in RARE-MR-urography, were evaluated. RESULTS: All children showed enlargement, reniform but humpy kidney shape, homogeneous-grainy renal parenchyma, normal renal pelvis and calyces. Although ARPKD is always associated with some degree of congenital hepatic fibrosis, there was no bile duct dilatation or liver fibrosis at the time of examination. Signal intensity was hyperintense in T2-weighted images in all cases. In 5 cases, T1-weighted images were hypointense. In RARE-MR-urography, hyperintense, linear, radial patterns in cortex and medulla were seen, which represent microcystic dilatation of collecting ducts and are therefore characteristic of ARPKD. Four patients presented with a few circumscribed small subcapsular cysts. CONCLUSION: RARE-MR-urography is a noninvasive method which demonstrates the pathognomonic water-filled cystic structures throughout the kindeys in ARPKD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Prognosis of stomach cancer patients in the age of complex diagnostic methods].

A retrospective study was done in 1986-87 on the survival of patients with stomach cancer. Their disease was established with complete diagnostic methods between 1975-87. In 244 patients diagnosis had been set up more than five years before. The survival of these patients was 19.4%, i.e. 47 of them were alive five years after the diagnosis. Both operability and resectability improved when compared to the earlier results (between 1965-74.). The most favourable 5-year survival and resectability were found in patients with intestinal type cancer. Early cancer was 8.3% of total, however, when only those patients were taken into consideration who had been treated either surgically or underwent surgical or endoscopic polypectomy, the percentage markedly increased 22.7%. The survival of patients with early stomach cancer was excellent: 34/37 (91.9%). A significant decrease of the incidence of stomach cancer in the region so far could not be observed.

Gastrectomy↗