Search results for "Predictive value of tests"
showing 10 items of 850 documents
Are non-invasive fibrosis markers for chronic hepatitis B reliable in sub-Saharan Africa?
2017
Background In the absence of liver biopsy, the World Health Organization recommends non-invasive tests, such as aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index and FIB-4, to assess liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, these tests are not well validated in sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, a new marker, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio, was found to be more accurate in an African setting, but this needs confirmation in other cohorts. Methods A treatment program for chronic hepatitis B was initiated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2015. Non-invasive tests were compared with transient elastography (Fibroscan 402, Echosense, France) using the following thresh…
Validity of epicardial fat volume as biomarker of coronary artery disease in symptomatic individuals: Results from the ALTER-BIO registry
2019
Abstract Background To determine if an increased epicardial fat volume (EFV) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in individuals with symptoms of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Methods Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA), demographic and clinical variables of 1344 individuals were retrieved: semi-automated measurements for EFV and coronary artery calcifications (CAC) were obtained. Individuals were grouped into three categories according to the presence of CAD, resulting in absent (CAD0), non-obstructive (CAD1) or obstructive (CAD2) disease-groups. Relation of EFV with CAD was assessed with two approaches: 1) presence of any CAD; 2) each individual CAD category. Resul…
Critical assessment of chitotriosidase analysis in the rational laboratory diagnosis of children with Gaucher disease and Niemann-Pick disease type A…
2006
Laboratory diagnosis of lysosomal storage disorders, especially sphingomyelinase deficiency (Niemann–Pick disease type A/B) and Niemann–Pick disease type C (NPC) can be challenging. We therefore aimed to analyse the feasibility of first-step screening with specific chitotriosidase cut-off values in children ≤ 10 years of age with visceral organomegaly (hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, or hepatosplenomegaly) in whom a storage disorder was suspected. We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional, referral, single-centre study to assess diagnostic test properties in 106 individuals. Median chitotriosidase activity was 12 655 nmol/h per ml (interquartile range 4693–20982) in Gaucher disease (GD); 78…
The value of high resolution CT in the diagnosis of meniscal lesions of the knee
1991
We report on 50 patients who had meniscal pathology and were given computed tomographic (CT) scans. Our diagnostic accuracy was approximately 92%. We believe that CT is a good method of screening these patients prior to using a much more expensive method, such as magnetic resonance imaging or diagnostic arthroscopy.
Lipoprotein apheresis for Lp(a)-hyperlipoproteinemia with progressive cardiovascular disease--Additional particular aspects of the Pro(a)LiFe multice…
2015
Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) can lower LDL-cholesterol and Lp(a) by 60%-70% and is the final escalating option in patients with hyperlipoproteinemias involving LDL or Lp(a) particles. Major therapeutic effect of LA is preventing cardiovascular events. In Germany since 2008 a reimbursement guideline has been implemented accepting to establish the indication for LA not only for familial or severe forms of hypercholesterolemia but also based on Lp(a)-hyperlipoproteinemia associated with a progressive course of cardiovascular disease, that persists despite effective treatment of other concomitant cardiovascular risk factors. The Pro(a)LiFe-study confirmed with a prospective multicenter design tha…
Update on diagnostic strategies of pulmonary embolism
1999
Acute pulmonary embolism is a frequent disease with non-specific findings, high mortality, and multiple therapeutic options. A definitive diagnosis must be established by accurate, non-invasive, easily performed, cost-effective, and widely available imaging modalities. Conventional diagnostic strategies have relied on ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy complemented by venous imaging. If the results are inconclusive, pulmonary angiography, which is regarded as the gold standard, is to be performed. Recently, marked improvements in CT and MRI and shortcomings of scintigraphy led to an update of the diagnostic strategy. Spiral CT is successfully employed as a second-line procedure to clarify i…
Prospective external validation of a predictive score for postoperative pulmonary complications.
2015
Abstract Background: No externally validated risk score for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) is currently available. The authors tested the generalizability of the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia risk score for PPCs in a large European cohort (Prospective Evaluation of a RIsk Score for postoperative pulmonary COmPlications in Europe). Methods: Sixty-three centers recruited 5,859 surgical patients receiving general, neuraxial, or plexus block anesthesia. The Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia factors (age, preoperative arterial oxygen saturation in air, acute respiratory infection during the previous month, preoperative anemia, upp…
Italian version of qualiveen-30: Cultural adaptation of a neurogenic urinary disorder-specific instrument
2011
Purpose Qualiveen-30 is a neurological urinary disorder (UD)-specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) instrument, recommended in the European Association of Urology guideline 2008. The objective is to complete the cultural adaptation of Qualiveen-30 into Italian. Materials and Methods One hundred and twenty eight Italian-speaking spinal cord injury (SCI) patients completed Qualiveen-30 and the SF-12 physical and mental component (PC and MC) at enrolment and 4 weeks later. At follow-up, patients also made global ratings of change (GRC) in urinary HRQL (GRC). Results Qualiveen-30 proved reliable (intraclass correlation coefficients of four domains: 0.77–0.90). Correlations with SF-12 an…
Evidence-based medicine and the problem of healthy volunteers
2017
Abstract Healthy controls are subjects without the disease being studied but may have other conditions indirectly affecting outcome. In the present epidemics of obesity a few subjects with undiagnosed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease enter clinical studies as controls, producing biased results. Stricter selection criteria should be considered to prevent this risk.
Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction at Any Time Post-Infarction for Prediction of Subsequent Events in a Large Multic…
2021
Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most accurate imaging technique for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) quantification, but as yet the prognostic value of LVEF assessment at any time after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) for subsequent major adverse cardiac event (MACE) prediction is uncertain. Purpose To explore the prognostic impact of MRI-derived LVEF at any time post-STEMI to predict subsequent MACE (cardiovascular death or re-admission for acute heart failure). Study Type Prospective. Population One thousand thirteen STEMI patients were included in a multicenter registry. Field Strength/Sequence 1.5-T. Balanced steady-state free precession (c…