scholarly journals Diagnostic methods in the study of Autoimmune Inflammatory Myopathies

2020 ◽  
pp. 3-7
Author(s):  
Graciela Gómez ◽  
María de los Ángeles Gargiulo ◽  
Amelia Granel ◽  
Ana Marcos ◽  
Ramiro Adrián Gómez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daily Practice ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Inflammatory Myopathies ◽  
Muscle Enzymes ◽  
Muscle Mri ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Inflammatory Infiltrates

The Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies (IIM) comprise a heterogeneous group of acquired muscle diseases classified as polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), Inclusion Body Myositis(IBM), ImmunoMediated Necrotizing Myopathies, (IMNM), Overlap Myositis(OM), juvenile myositis, Antisynthethase Syndrome (ASS) and cancer related myositis(CAM). The presence of myositis specific antibodies in the serum and autoantibodies against target antigens and inflammatory infiltrates in muscle tissue suggests the autoimmune condition of the disease. The diagnosis of inflammatory myopathies is often a challenge and the disposal of diagnostic tools are not always available in daily practice. Information on the accessibility of these methods was obtained from the Argentine Register of Myopathies. The study of muscle enzymes, ANA, anti-Jo-1 antibodies and chest tomography were easy to get to most patients while muscle MRI, lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco%) and muscle biopsy were performed in less than 50% of cases. Other myositis specific antibodies, necessary for disease diagnosis and prognosis, were mostly done through a subsidy from the Argentine Rheumatology Society.

scholarly journals Management and treatment of bronchial asthma in adults and children on the basis of new guidelines

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
pp. 283-300
Author(s):  
Anna Książkiewicz ◽  
Edyta Kwilosz ◽  
Rafał Fornal ◽  
Ewa Dworzańska
Keyword(s):  
Asthma Control ◽  
Bronchial Asthma ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Noninvasive Methods ◽  
Common Chronic Disease ◽  
New Guidelines

Bronchial asthma is the most common chronic disease in children and adults under 40 years of age. Characteristic symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness of the chest and a cough varying in time and intensity. The disease usually begins in childhood and lasts a lifetime, with periods of exacerbation and remission. Asthma can occur at any age, but in approximately 80% of cases the first asthma attack occurs before the age of 5. Over the past several years, progress in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with asthma has been made. In addition to the long-established objective assessment methods, such as functional tests, rapid asthma control questionnaires recommended for use in daily practice and noninvasive methods for assessing inflammation have been introduced. The availability of these methods and their degree of use in routine practice are variable. Taking careful history with the child and parents is very important. A detailed history is the first and primary step of asthma recognition. While in the case of adults, the observation period and available methods usually allow us to make reliable diagnosis of the disease, in younger children the diagnosis is associated with difficulties resulting from the inability to use some diagnostic tools. The paper discusses the currently available diagnostic methods and those used for monitoring the disease, especially the most current ones used in the youngest children. Medications used in asthma treatment have been characterized, including new therapeutic options, especially biological treatment. Particular attention was paid to the education of the patient and caregivers, which, apart from well-established treatment, determines good asthma control.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Functional Urology Practice: A nation-wide survey from Turkey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmet Tahra ◽  
Murat Dinçer ◽  
Rahmi Onur
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Prostate Hyperplasia ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Functional Urology

Objective The Coronavirus pandemic has affected urological practice worldwide. In this study, we aimed to evaluate functional urology practice including outpatient clinic visits, routine examinations, diagnostic procedures and surgical interventions with an online survey. Method We conducted an online survey to evaluate Turkish urologists’ functional urology practices before and during the pandemic. In this survey, we asked questions about the respondents’ place of work, being part of a dedicated pandemic center, involvement with the pandemic and an interest in functional urology. We also examined outpatient clinics, routine examinations, diagnostic methods, and surgical practice before and during the pandemic. Results A total of 152 urologists completed the survey. The majority of the participants, (79.6%) were in tertiary centers. Nearly one-third of respondents (32.2%) stated that more than 50% of their routine practice is related to functional urology. In brief, 80.9% of the participants declared a decrease in the number of outpatient visits for functional urology. 68.4% of the participants declared a decrease in uroflowmetry practice, and 81.3% of had a decrease in urodynamic studies performed. According to respondents, 92.1% stated a decrease in botulinum injections for the bladder, and 93.4% of the participants declared a decrease in anti-incontinence surgery. Eighty-five percent of the participants declared a decrease in prolapse surgery. One-hundred and twenty-eight participants (84.2%) declared a decrease in surgery for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Only 28.9% of the participants responded that they diagnosed their neuro-urology patients as they did prior to the pandemic. Conclusions The daily practice of urology changed, and functional urology was one of the most affected field. The large backlog of functional urology patients is challenging and although conditions, diagnostic tools and surgeries were classed as “benign”, we will have to face the effects of patients’ Quality of life in the near future.

Exosome: An Emerging Source of Biomarkers for Human Diseases

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 387-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Xu ◽  
Long-Fei Wu ◽  
Fei-Yan Deng
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Intercellular Communication ◽  
Translational Medicine ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Human Diseases ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Biomarker Identification ◽  
Biological Features ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Novel Biomarkers

Exosomes are 30-120nm long endocytic membrane-derived vesicles, which are secreted by various types of cells and stably present in body fluids, such as plasma, urine, saliva and breast milk. Exosomes participate in intercellular communication. Recently accumulative studies have suggested that exosomes may serve as novel biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis. Herein, we reviewed the biological features of exosomes, technologies for exosome isolation and identification, as well as progress in exosomal biomarker identification, highlighting the relevance of exosome to human diseases and significance and great potential in translational medicine.

An Update on Airway Management

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Airway Management ◽  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Postoperative Management ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Emergency Rooms ◽  
Specific Patient ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Preoperative Diagnostic ◽  
Airway Devices

In recent years, there have been many advances in the safe management of the patient's airway, a cornerstone of anesthetic practice. An Update on Airway Management brings forth information about new approaches in airway management in many clinical settings. This volume analyzes and explains new preoperative diagnostic methods, algorithms, intubation devices, extubation procedures, novelties in postoperative management in resuscitation and intensive care units, while providing a simple, accessible and applicable reading experience that helps medical practitioners in daily practice. The comprehensive updates presented in this volume make this a useful reference for anesthesiologists, surgeons and EMTs at all levels. Key topics reviewed in this reference include: New airway devices, clinical management techniques, pharmacology updates (ASA guidelines, DAS algorithms, Vortex approach, etc.), Induced and awake approaches in different settings Updates on diagnostic accuracy of perioperative radiology and ultrasonography Airway management in different settings (nonoperating room locations and emergency rooms) Airway management in specific patient groups (for example, patients suffering from morbid obesity, obstetric patients and critical patients) Algorithms and traditional surgical techniques that include emergency cricothyrotomy and tracheostomy in ‘Cannot Intubate, Cannot Ventilate’ scenarios. Learning techniques to manage airways correctly, focusing on the combination of knowledge, technical abilities, decision making, communication skills and leadership Special topics such as difficult airway management registry, organization, documentation, dissemination of critical information, big data and databases

scholarly journals Tick-borne zoonoses and commonly used diagnostic methods in human and veterinary medicine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Springer ◽  
Antje Glass ◽  
Julia Probst ◽  
Christina Strube
Keyword(s):  
Veterinary Medicine ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
One Health ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Zoonotic Pathogens ◽  
Health Concept ◽  
The One

AbstractAround the world, human health and animal health are closely linked in terms of the One Health concept by ticks acting as vectors for zoonotic pathogens. Animals do not only maintain tick cycles but can either be clinically affected by the same tick-borne pathogens as humans and/or play a role as reservoirs or sentinel pathogen hosts. However, the relevance of different tick-borne diseases (TBDs) may vary in human vs. veterinary medicine, which is consequently reflected by the availability of human vs. veterinary diagnostic tests. Yet, as TBDs gain importance in both fields and rare zoonotic pathogens, such as Babesia spp., are increasingly identified as causes of human disease, a One Health approach regarding development of new diagnostic tools may lead to synergistic benefits. This review gives an overview on zoonotic protozoan, bacterial and viral tick-borne pathogens worldwide, discusses commonly used diagnostic techniques for TBDs, and compares commercial availability of diagnostic tests for humans vs. domestic animals, using Germany as an example, with the aim of highlighting existing gaps and opportunities for collaboration in a One Health framework.

scholarly journals Diagnostic tools for neurosyphilis: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Henrique Pereira Boog ◽  
João Vitor Ziroldo Lopes ◽  
João Vitor Mahler ◽  
Marina Solti ◽  
Lucas Tokio Kawahara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Clinical Suspicion ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Test Accuracy ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis ◽  
Evaluation Methodologies ◽  
Fluid Analysis ◽  
Criteria For Diagnosis

Abstract Purpose Increasing incidences of syphilis highlight the preoccupation with the occurrence of neurosyphilis. This study aimed to understand the current diagnostic tools and their performance to detect neurosyphilis, including new technologies and the variety of existing methods. Methods We searched databases to select articles that reported neurosyphilis diagnostic methods and assessed their accuracy, presenting sensitivity and specificity values. Information was synthesized in tables. The risk of bias was examined using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy recommendations. Results Fourteen studies were included. The main finding was a remarkable diversity of tests, which had varied purposes, techniques, and evaluation methodologies. There was no uniform criterion or gold standard to define neurosyphilis. The current basis for its diagnosis is clinical suspicion and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. There are new promising tests such as PCR tests and chemokine measurement assays. Conclusions The diagnosis of neurosyphilis is still a challenge, despite the variety of existing and developing tests. We believe that the multiplicity of reference standards adopted as criteria for diagnosis reveals the imprecision of the current definitions of neurosyphilis. An important next step for the scientific community is to create a universally accepted diagnostic definition for this disease.

scholarly journals FRI0248 PROGNOSTIC FACTORS FOR STEROID-FREE REMISSION IN PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC INFLAMMATORY MYOPATHIES: IMPORTANCE OF ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 708.1-708
Author(s):  
J. S. Lee ◽  
S. H. Nam ◽  
S. J. Choi ◽  
W. J. Seo ◽  
S. Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies ◽  
Inflammatory Myopathies ◽  
Immunosuppressant Therapy ◽  
Muscle Enzymes ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Early Use

Background:Several studies have been conducted on factors associated with mortality in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), but few studies have assessed prognostic factors for steroid-free remission in IIM.Objectives:We investigated the various clinical factors, including body measurements, that affect IIM treatment outcomes.Methods:Patients who were newly diagnosed with IIM between 2000 and 2018 were included. Steroid-free remission was defined as at least three months of normalisation of muscle enzymes and no detectable clinical disease activity. The factors associated with steroid-free remission were evaluated by a Cox regression analysis.Results:Of the 106 IIM patients, 35 displayed steroid-free remission during follow-up periods. In the multivariable Cox regression analyses, immunosuppressants’ early use within one month after diagnosis [hazard ratio (HR) 6.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.61–14.74, p < 0.001] and sex-specific height quartiles (second and third quartiles versus first quartile, HR 3.65, 95% CI 1.40–9.51, p = 0.008 and HR 2.88, 95% CI 1.13–7.32, p = 0.027, respectively) were positively associated with steroid-free remission. Polymyositis versus dermatomyositis (HR 0.21, 95% CI 0.09–0.53, p = 0.001), presence of dysphagia (HR 0.15, CI 0.05–0.50, p = 0.002) and highest versus lowest quartile of waist circumference (WC) (HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.07–0.85, p = 0.027) were negatively associated with steroid-free remission.Conclusion:The early initiation of immunosuppressant therapy, type of myositis and presence of dysphagia are strong predictors of steroid-free remission in IIM; moreover, height and WC measurements at baseline may provide additional important prognostic value.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Comparative Study of Immune-Diagnostic Tools with Polymerase Chain Reaction in Sub-Clinical Leishmaniasis Isolates

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nazar M Abdalla
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Skin Test ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Clinical Form ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Leishmanin Skin Test ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Objective: This study aimed to identify cases of leishmaniasis in the Nuba Mountain area, which is situated in a unique geographical site located in the centre of Sudanese leishmania belt. Wide range of investigations are available for detection of leishmania cases, but still the most reliable and easy test used as screening and epidemiological tool in field studies needs to be evaluated. The most commonly used conventional diagnostic methods direct microscopy and culture have some drawbacks in diagnosing subclinical cases of leishmaniasis. Materials and methods: In this study, comparative properties of various immune-diagnostic tools with Polymerase Chain Reaction used in sub-clinical leishmaniasis isolates were explored. The immune-diagnostic tools involved in this study include- Leishmanin Skin Test (LST), Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Direct Agglutination Test (DAT). The study was conducted in the Green Valley village (Rashad Province, South Kordofan State) with a population of 332. Most of the villagers presented with sub-clinical form of leishmaniasis with minor symptoms and signs without the features found in clinical form of visceral leishmaniasis such as fever, diarrhoea, epistaxis, enlarged lymph nodes, spleen and liver. In this study we collected demographic, clinical and epidemiological data using special questionnaire. Leishmanin skin test (LST), ELISA, DAT and PCR for parasite DNA detection were used. Result: The final positive cases detected by PCR were 32 out of 332 belong to L. donovani species. The final positive cases detected by LST were 51.2% of the total population under study, while 11 out of the 37 tested samples were positive by ELISA. All of the 332 villagers showed negative readings by DAT with exception of three individuals who were positive with very high titers. Conclusion: DNA etxtraction and amplification with primers can be a good screening tool in subclinical leishmaniasis isolates. Keyword: Sub-clinical; Leishmaniasis; Leishmanin Skin Test; ELISA; DAT; PCR. DOI: 10.3329/jom.v12i1.5422J Medicine 2011; 12 : 34-39

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