Search results for "Specificity."
showing 10 items of 2232 documents
Quantification of DNA in Plasma by an Automated Real-Time PCR Assay (Cytomegalovirus PCR Kit) for Surveillance of Active Cytomegalovirus Infection an…
2008
ABSTRACT The performance of a plasma real-time PCR (cytomegalovirus [CMV] PCR kit; Abbott Diagnostics) was compared with that of the antigenemia assay for the surveillance of active CMV infection in 42 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT) recipients. A total of 1,156 samples were analyzed by the two assays. Concordance between the two assays was 82.2%. Plasma DNA levels correlated with the number of pp65-positive cells, particularly prior to the initiation of preemptive therapy. Fifty-seven episodes of active CMV infection were detected in 37 patients: 18 were defined solely by the PCR assay and four were defined on the basis of the antigenemia assay. Either a cutof…
LIODetect®TB-ST: Evaluation of novel blood test for a rapid diagnosis of active pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in IGRA confirmed patients
2021
Abstract Because of the current limits of immunological tests in the diagnosis of tuberculosis there is a need to identify new and rapid tests that can be carried out on a large scale in endemic countries and useful in the identification of infected subjects, but also able to discriminate those with latent infection from subjects with active. We have taken into consideration and analysed the LIODetect®TB-ST Tuberculosis Rapid Test, a membrane test for the qualitative detection of specific IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, performed on serum, plasma, or whole blood.85 samples positive to QuantiFERON TB-GOLD PLUS test were processed using this test and the resul…
Topical Antibiotic, Antifungal, and Antiseptic Solutions Decrease Ciliary Activity in Nasal Respiratory Cells
2002
This study was designed to investigate whether topical solutions, as they are used in the treatment of selected cases of rhinosinusitis, influence nasal mucociliary clearance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the following topical solutions on the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of nasal respiratory cells: ofloxacin as an antibiotic; Betadine and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as antiseptic; and amphotericin B, itraconazole, and clotrimazole as antifungal solutions. Differences are described between effects of each of these substances and we clarify whether ciliotoxic effects are dose dependent and if they can be reduced or eliminated by diluting the concentration of the a…
Perceptual correlates of nociceptive long-term potentiation and long-term depression in humans.
2004
Long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic strength are ubiquitous mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, but their functional relevance in humans remains obscure. Here we report that a long-term increase in perceived pain to electrical test stimuli was induced by high-frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) (5 × 1 sec at 100 Hz) of peptidergic cutaneous afferents (27% above baseline, undiminished for >3 hr). In contrast, a long-term decrease in perceived pain (27% below baseline, undiminished for 1 hr) was induced by low-frequency stimulation (LFS) (17 min at 1 Hz). Pain testing with punctate mechanical probes (200 μm diameter) in skin adjacent to the HFS–LFS con…
Somatosensory profiles in subgroups of patients with myogenic temporomandibular disorders and Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
2009
Some patients with myofascial pain from temporomandibular disorders (TMD) report pain in extra-trigeminal body regions. Our aim was to distinguish TMD as regional musculoskeletal pain syndrome (n=23) from a widespread pain syndrome (FMS; n=18) based on patients' tender point scores, pain drawings and quantitative sensory testing (QST) profiles. Referenced to 18 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects significant group differences for cold, pressure and pinprick pain thresholds, suprathreshold pinprick sensitivity and mechanical detection thresholds were found. Pain sensitivity in TMD patients ranged between those of FMS patients and healthy controls. The group of TMD patients was inhomogen…
Utility of CT in the diagnosis of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with soft pancreas.
2009
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of routine performance of CT on postoperative day 7 in patients at high risk of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two radiologists analyzed images from CT examinations of 50 patients with soft pancreas 7 days after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Pancreatic fistula was defined at CT as a fluid collection close to the pancreaticogastric or pancreaticojejunal anastomosis. Clinicobiologic criteria for the diagnosis of pancreatic fistula were drain output of any measurable volume of fluid on or after postoperative day 3 that had an amylase content more than three times the serum …
Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of reversible ischaemic deficits of the brainstem
2002
Objectives: To evaluate the sensitivity of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of clinically suspected reversible ischaemic deficits of the brainstem. Methods: A total of 158 consecutive patients presenting with acute signs of brainstem dysfunction were investigated using EPI diffusion weighted MRI within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. High resolution T1 and T2 weighted imaging was performed as a follow up after a median of six days Results: Fourteen of the 158 patients had a complete clinical recovery within 24 hours (transitory ischaemic attack (TIA)), and 19 patients recovered in less than one week (prolonged reversible neurological deficit (RIND)). …
High-b-Value Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging of Benign Hepatocellular Lesions: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis
2012
PURPOSE:To analyze the signal intensity (SI) of benign hepatocellular lesions in high-b-value diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) images and to compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of focal nodular hyperplasias (FNHs) with those of hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by institutional review board, with waiver of informed consent. Inclusion criteria were consecutive patients with diagnosed FNH or HCA who underwent MR imaging with a DW sequence of the liver at three b values, 0, 150, and 600 sec/mm2. The final study population included 67 patients (seven men, 60 women) with 90 hepatocellular lesions (54 FN…
Effectiveness of Toki s criteria and determination of variables for identification of HPV L1 protein in oral lesions
2013
Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of Toki's criteria in identifying the HPV L1 protein in oral lesions with the use of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and to determine which criteria optimize such identification. Study Design: Retrospective study of 277 cases diagnosed as HPV lesions at 22 years. Tests of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), kappa coefficients, and chi 2 values, as well as two logistic regression analyses ( (p≤0.05), were conducted. Results: Of the lesions studied, 96.4% (267 of 277) were positive for HPV using Toki's criteria and 28.5% (79 of 277) were positive for L1 by IHC. Toki's criteria showed sensitivity=93.67…
Development and validation of a method of cilia motility analysis for the early diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia.
2011
Background: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a clinically uniform entity, but cilia motility and structure can vary between patients, making the diagnosis difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing PCD of a system of high-resolution digital high-speed video analysis with proprietary software that we developed for analysis of ciliary motility (Desinsoft-Bio 200). The secondary aim was to correlate nasal ciliary activity with clinical and structural abnormalities in PCD. Material and methods: We analysed nasal mucociliary transport, cilia ultrastructure, nasal ciliary beat frequency and beat pattern studied by high-resolution digital high…