scholarly journals Diagnostic methods for extra-temporal neocortical focal epilepsies: present and future

2010 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo André Amorim Leite ◽  
Maria Concépcion Garcia Otaduy ◽  
Gilson Edmar Gonçalves e Silva ◽  
Maria Lúcia Brito Ferreira ◽  
Maria de Fátima Vasco Aragão

The progress of epilepsies diagnosis has been great, but, amongst the diagnostic detailing that demand research, one of the most important is the essential lateralization and localization of epileptogenic zone, considered as the cerebral cortex region, that removed, will result in a free state of seizures. The present study aims to analyze the possible uses of proton spectroscopy for clinical and pre-surgical evaluation of focal extratemporal epilepsies, since this group presents the highest difficulty degree for lateralizing and locating epileptogenic zones. In almost all cases, a non invasive diagnosis can be performed using routine electroencephalography, video-electroencephalography - considered as gold standard, and magnetic resonance imaging. However, when the results of these exams are contradictory, some patients need invasive techniques, as the intra-cranial video-EEG, using deep electrodes, sub-dural strip and grid, that are associated with increased diagnostic cost and risk of complications, as cerebral hemorrhages and intra-cranial infections. Proton spectroscopy appears as a possibility, given its capacity to evaluate cerebral metabolism, by N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cre) and choline (Cho) concentrations, amongst other metabolites. This non invasive method may provide time reduction of this evaluation and reliable level improvement for this topographical diagnosis.

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-111
Author(s):  
Nadia Shafei ◽  
Mohammad Saeed Hakhamaneshi ◽  
Massoud Houshmand ◽  
Siavash Gerayeshnejad ◽  
Fardin Fathi ◽  
...  

Background: Beta thalassemia is a common disorder with autosomal recessive inheritance. The most prenatal diagnostic methods are the invasive techniques that have the risk of miscarriage. Now the non-invasive methods will be gradually alternative for these invasive techniques. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the diagnostic value of two non-invasive diagnostic methods for fetal thalassemia using cell free fetal DNA (cff-DNA) and nucleated RBC (NRBC) in one sampling community. Methods: 10 ml of blood was taken in two k3EDTA tube from 32 pregnant women (mean of gestational age = 11 weeks), who themselves and their husbands had minor thalassemia. One tube was used to enrich NRBC and other was used for cff-DNA extraction. NRBCs were isolated by MACS method and immunohistochemistry; the genome of stained cells was amplified by multiple displacement amplification (MDA) procedure. These products were used as template in b-globin segments PCR. cff-DNA was extracted by THP method and 300 bp areas were recovered from the agarose gel as fetus DNA. These DNA were used as template in touch down PCR to amplify b-globin gen. The amplified b-globin segments were sequenced and the results compared with CVS resul. Results: The data showed that sensitivity and specificity of thalassemia diagnosis by NRBC were 100% and 92% respectively and sensitivity and specificity of thalassemia diagnosis by cff-DNA were 100% and 84% respectively. Conclusion: These methods with high sensitivity can be used as screening test but due to their lower specificity than CVS, they cannot be used as diagnostic test.


Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1662
Author(s):  
Ioana Maria Maier ◽  
Adrian Cornel Maier

Many studies have tried to understand the mechanism of endometriosis and its manner of manifestation. However, the only method of diagnosis considered as the gold standard in endometriosis is an invasive method called exploratory laparoscopy. Hence, there is a need to identify non-invasive or minimally invasive methods to minimize patients’ suffering, thus increasing their addressability at the earliest possible staging of the disease, and to diagnose this condition as soon as possible. miRNAs (microRNAs) and lncRNAs (long-noncoding RNAs) are potential non-invasive diagnostic methods for endometriosis. Multiple clinical trials indicate that miRNA can be used as a non-invasive method in the diagnosis and differentiation of endometriosis stages.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajendra Kumar ◽  
Nithin . ◽  
Sudha Rudrappa

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the success rate and safety of a non-invasive technique to obtain clean-catch midstream urine samples in newborns.Methods: Prospective bedside clinical study. After obtaining written informed consent,120 consecutive newborns admitted in NICU with no dehydration, poor feeding, need for immediate urine sample by invasive method  for whom urine collection was advised for various reasons who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study with consent being taken from the parents. After adequate milk intake supra pubic and lumbar para vertebral areas were stimulated in repeated cycles of 30 s until micturition began.Results: Success rate in obtaining a midstream urine sample within 5 min. The success rate was 90%. The mean time taken to collect urine was 64.24s, for males it was 62.55s and for females 65.93s.Conclusions: The technique has been demonstrated to be safe, quick and effective. The discomfort and time consumption usually associated with bag collection methods as well as invasive techniques can be avoided.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 491-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jankowski ◽  
J. Spużak ◽  
K. Kubiak ◽  
K. Glińska-Suchocka ◽  
M. Biernat

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess the suitability of invasive and non-invasive methods used to diagnose Helicobacter spp. in the stomachs of dogs. The study was carried out on 30 dogs of both sexes and different breeds, between one and 15 years old. A histopathologic examination, a microbiological culture, a rapid urease test, a direct bacteriological preparation and a nested PCR assay were carried out. Gastric Helicobacter spp. was identified in gastric biopsy specimens from 16 (53.3%) dogs using direct bacteriological preparation, in four (13.3%) dogs based on a culture, in 23 (76.6%) dogs using the rapid urease test and in 21 (70,0%) dogs based on a histopathological assessment of the biopsy specimens. The nested PCR of the gastric biopsy specimens revealed gastric Helicobacter spp. in all the dogs (100%). A saliva PCR assay revealed gastric Helicobacter spp. in 23 (76.6%) dogs, while stool PCR revealed the bacterium in seven (23.3%) dogs. We found that invasive methods were more accurate than non-invasive methods in detecting a Helicobacter spp. infection in dogs. In addition, the nested PCR method used to evaluate the gastric mucosal biopsy specimens was the most accurate test for detecting Helicobacter spp. It was further found that the PCR-based saliva assay was the best non-invasive method for detecting Helicobacter spp. However, taking into consideration that most of the diagnostic methods used to detect this bacterium have drawbacks, at least two diagnostic methods should be used to detect Helicobacter spp. as is done in human medicine.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aru Toyoda ◽  
Kazunari Matsudaira ◽  
Tamaki Maruhashi ◽  
Suchinda Malaivijitnond ◽  
Yoshi Kawamoto

ABSTRACTNon-invasive techniques for collection of DNA samples of suitable quality and quantity are important for improving the efficiency of genetic wildlife research. The development of a non-invasive method for collection of DNA samples from wild stump-tailed macaques (Macaca arctoides) is described herein. Polyester rope was cut into 10 cm pieces, which were then soaked in a 20% sugar solution to bait individuals. Rope swabs were immediately collected and transferred to a lysis buffer solution after subjects had picked up, chewed, and discarded them. DNA was later extracted from the buffer. Quantitative real-time PCR and both allelic dropout and genotype failure rates were used to compare the quantity and quality of the buccal DNA samples to those of intestinal slough cell DNA samples collected from freshly dropped feces. The buccal samples yielded significantly more DNA (27.1 ± 33.8 ng/μL) than did the fecal samples (11.4 ± 15.4 ng/μL) and exhibited lower allelic dropout and genotyping failure rates for the 10 autosomal microsatellites investigated. Buccal cell collection was also simple, inexpensive, reliable, and less time-consuming compared to fecal sampling. Thus, this method should facilitate genome-wide studies of non-human primates and other wildlife species.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-73
Author(s):  
Alexander V. Tereshchenko ◽  
Elena V. Erokhina ◽  
Denis P. Volodin

This review presents data on the use of the method of ultrasonic biomicroscopy (UBM) of the anterior segment of the eye in ophthalmological practice in adults and children. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) is a contact non-invasive method for visualizing structures of the anterior segment of the eye using high-frequency ultrasound in the range from 35 to 100 MHz. Literature data indicate that UBM can be used to visualize almost all structures of the anterior segment, including the cornea, iridocorneal angle, anterior chamber, iris, ciliary body and lens, as well as the peripheral parts of the retina, vasculature and vitreous. There is data on the use of this method in the study of pathogenetic aspects of glaucoma, pseudoecfoliative syndrome, various types of cataracts, post-traumatic injuries of the anterior segment of the eye, meimobium gland dysfunction and other ophthalmopathologies. The use of UBM in children, due to the peculiarities of its implementation, is not widespread, but due to the specificity of the data obtained using it, it is promising. The limited information about the use of UBM in retinopathy of prematurity and the diagnostic capabilities of the method makes its use especially relevant in this severe retinal disease of premature newborns.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Jasmin Ramić ◽  
Benjamin Kulovac ◽  
Naida Lojo-Kadrić ◽  
Maida Hadžić ◽  
Naris Pojskić ◽  
...  

Conventional screening and diagnostic procedures in prostate complaints rely on PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) concentration which is not specific for prostate cancer and frequently leads to unnecessary invasive procedures in order to exclude malignant disease. It is estimated that approximately 50% of persons who underwent tissue biopsy did so based on false positive PSA value. Therefore a proper and timely differential diagnosis of malignant disease using non-invasive techniques remains one of the biggest challenges in medicine. Urine is the invaluable source of biological information contained in small molecules i.e. RNA that is easily accessible and detectable using molecular genetics techniques. We describe economical and fast method for relative expression analysis applicable to any target gene using urine as a sample. Efficient non-invasive method for identification of malignant or high risk cases prove useful in reduction of patient distress during the diagnostic procedure and significantly reduce healthcare costs.


2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Otávio Sales Ferreira Caboclo ◽  
Eliana Garzon ◽  
Flávia Saori Miyashira ◽  
Henrique Carrete Jr ◽  
Ricardo da Silva Centeno ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and unilateral severe hippocampal sclerosis (HS) may have contralateral temporal scalp ictal onset. This has recently been called "burned-out hippocampus", which is believed to be a rare entity. In this study we report four patients with unilateral hippocampal sclerosis and contralateral ictal onset registered by scalp electrodes. We discuss the importance of such cases in presurgical evaluation of patients with TLE, as well as possible strategies used for evaluation of these particular cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed charts from all patients with TLE submitted to pre-surgical evaluation, which included high resolution MRI and prolonged video-electroencephalogram (video-EEG) monitoring with scalp and sphenoidal electrodes, during a three-year period (2002-2004). We looked for patients who only had seizures that were clearly contralateral in location to the atrophic hippocampus. RESULTS: Four patients fulfilled the criteria above. Two of these patients had semi-invasive video-EEG monitoring with foramen ovale (FO) electrodes, which revealed seizures originating from the temporal lobe with the atrophic hippocampus, hence confirming false lateralization in the scalp-sphenoidal EEG. These patients were submitted to surgical treatment and had favorable prognosis after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Burned-out hippocampus syndrome may not be as rare as it was previously believed. Further studies will be necessary before one can affirm that patients with unilateral HS and scalp ictal EEG showing contralateral ictal onset may be operated without confirmation of the epileptogenic zone by invasive monitoring. In these patients, semi-invasive monitoring with FO electrodes might be an interesting alternative.


2004 ◽  
Vol 132 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 76-79
Author(s):  
Ivica Stancic

Lower canines often appear as abutment teeth of partially edentulous dental arch. Crown contours of these teeth are mostly inconvenient for placing clasps. The convex vestibular surfaces with sufficient undercuts for placing retention elements are obligatory on lower canines but it is not common case. Aim of this paper was to confirm a high frequency of inexistence of buccomesial and buccodistal undercuts of the lower canines. Measuring of buccomesial and buccodistal undercuts on abutment lower canines was preformed on 50 diagnostic casts of lower jaw, belonging to Kennedy class I, where the canine was a border of shortened dental arch. For this procedure paralelometar Unit ?Degussa" with a special measuring device was used. The undercut depth could be read directly within a range of 0-1.0 mm. Results show that unprepared lower canines have poor possibilities for retention removable partial denture with clasps. Our positive clinical experiences in recontouring vestibular surfaces of the abutment teeth point to two methods of making an artificial undercut: non-invasive (making an artificial undercut using composite materials) and invasive (using modified fixed restorations). Considering fact that vestibular surfaces of lower canines as abutment teeth are in most cases without undercuts, recontouring of this surfaces in almost all occasions is necessity. If vestibular undercuts don't exist, non-invasive techniques should always have advantiges to invasive techniques. The vestibular surfaces of abutment teeth might be recontoured by using non-invasive techniques with minimal destruction of integrity of teeth. Lately, the composite materials are used for forming artificial undercut.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin E. Auer ◽  
Marius Kußmaul ◽  
Erich Möstl ◽  
Katharina Hohlbaum ◽  
Thomas Rülicke ◽  
...  

Testosterone is the main reproductive hormone in male vertebrates and conventional methods to measure testosterone rely on invasive blood sampling procedures. Here, we aimed to establish a non-invasive alternative by assessing testosterone metabolites (TMs) in fecal and urinary samples in mice. We performed a radiometabolism study to determine the effects of daytime and sex on the metabolism and excretion pattern of radiolabeled TMs. We performed physiological and biological validations of the applied EIA to measure TMs and assessed diurnal fluctuations in TM excretions in male and female mice and across strains. We found that males excreted significantly more radiolabeled TMs via the feces (59%) compared to females (49.5%). TM excretion patterns differed significantly between urinary and fecal samples and were affected by the daytime of ³H-testosterone injection. Overall, TM excretion occurred faster in urinary than fecal samples. Peak excretion of fecal TMs occurred after 8 h when animals received the 3H-testosterone in the morning, or after 4 h when they received the 3H-testosterone injection in the evening. Daytime had no effect on the formed TMs; however, males and females formed different types of TMs. As expected, males showed higher fecal TM levels than females. Males also showed diurnal fluctuations in their TM levels but we found no differences in the TM levels of C57BL/6J and B6D2F1 hybrid males. Finally, we successfully validated our applied EIA (measuring 17β-hydroxyandrostane) by showing that hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) administration increased TM levels, whereas castration reduced them. In conclusion, our EIA proved suitable for measuring fecal TMs in mice. Our non-invasive method to assess fecal TMs can be widely used in various research disciplines like animal behavior, reproduction, animal welfare, ecology, conservation, and biomedicine.


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