scholarly journals Specificity and sensitivity as important parameters of the pattern of the homeopathic remedy

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-32
Author(s):  
Margarita Ashikhmina
Keyword(s):  
Sore Throat ◽  
Diagnostic Method ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Correct Result ◽  
Source Information ◽  
Diagnostic Significance ◽  
Homeopathic Remedy ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Positive Results

Aim: To assess the opportunity of use specificity (Sp) and sensitivity (Se) - indicators that are generally accepted for any diagnostic method - in homeopathy. Methodology: Analysis of comprehensions Specificity and Sensitivity in context of homeopathic knowledge. Results and discussions: In homeopathy, as in mathematics, patterns are identified through research, the main resources: provings, cases, repertory data, Materia Medica, and source information. S. Bohger wrote: “not all symptoms are equivalent”, “peculiar characteristics should be distinguished from the general series”. Considering the different facets in the general pattern of any remedy, we can see that the weight and diagnostic significance of each facet are different. Each facet of the pattern can be characterized by specificity (Sp) and sensitivity (Se) – indicators that are generally accepted for any diagnostic method. Specificity in medicine is the ability of the diagnostic method (facet of the pattern) not to give false positive results in the absence of disease (i.e., not to point to another remedy). Sp shows to what degree this parameter is typical for this remedy. It is defined as the proportion of the truly negative results of healthy individuals in the group under examination (i.e., the more often the facet is found in other remedies, the lower the specificity is). E.g., the Sp of sore throat for Hepar sulphur is how rarely the sore throat will be met in all other cases, except Hepar sulphur). Sensitivity is the ability of the diagnostic method (certain facet of the pattern) to give the correct result (to identify the remedy), which is defined as the proportion of true positive results among all tests performed (i.e., how often this facet of the pattern appears in this remedy compared to others). The Se reflects how often this pattern theme (symptom) occurs among all cases of this remedy, for example, how often we will find the sore throat among all cases of Hepar sulphur. The key symptoms, corresponding to the leading symptoms of the remedy, so-called “grains of gold” in homeopathy, can be attributed to highly specific parameters: they “valuable, few and hidden”, and as the “key to the lock” opening the whole case. Obviously, the key symptoms should have both high Sp and sufficient Se to be some kind of a visiting card of the remedy. Concomitant symptoms can be attributed to sensitive parameters, they complement the overall picture of the remedy, but they cannot be relied on in the decisive choice of the remedy (due to their low specificity). Conclusion: Sp and Se can use for description basic homeopathic terms and concepts and show diagnostic contribution of individual parameters in total pattern of the homeopathic remedy on different levels of disease.

scholarly journals Excretion and Detection of Cathinone, Cathine, and Phenylpropanolamine in Urine after Kath Chewing

2002 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 1715-1719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan W Toennes ◽  
Gerold F Kauert
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Urine Samples ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay ◽  
Photodiode Array Detection ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Photodiode Array ◽  
Array Detection ◽  
Positive Results

Abstract Introduction: The stimulating herbal drug kath is uncommon in most countries, and information on its detection and interpretation of analytical results is limited. Therefore, a study with kath was carried out to compare the efficiencies of different analytical techniques used to detect drug use. Methods: Four volunteers chewed kath leaves for 1 h; urine samples were collected up to 80 h afterward and analyzed by the Abbott fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA), the Mahsan-AMP300 on-site immunoassay, the Bio-Rad Remedi HS HPLC system with photodiode array detection (DAD), and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: FPIA gave negative results, whereas positive results were obtained with the Mahsan test during the first day. With HPLC, one peak could be observed up to 50 h, but its DAD spectrum could not be identified by the system. Further investigations indicated that the kath alkaloids coeluted and produced a mixed DAD spectrum. With GC-MS, the specific kath ingredient cathinone was detected up to 26 h, whereas cathine and norephedrine were still detectable in the last samples. Maximum concentrations of cathinone, cathine, and norephedrine in urine samples from the study were 2.5, 20, and 30 mg/L, respectively, whereas in authentic cases the concentrations were much higher. Conclusion: GC-MS is superior to the screening techniques Mahsan-AMP300 and Remedi with respect to specificity and sensitivity for the detection of kath use in urine.

scholarly journals Evaluation of 2-column agglutination versus conventional tube technique for antibody screening

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-412
Author(s):  
A. Abou Jabal ◽  
T. Shubeilat ◽  
F. Hajjiri
Keyword(s):  
Serum Samples ◽  
Antibody Screening ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Indirect Antiglobulin Test ◽  
Antiglobulin Test ◽  
Screening And Identification ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Positive Results

The study aimed to determine the specificity and sensitivity of the Ortho BioVue two-column agglutination system for the detection of low concentrations of clinically significant antibodies in serum. The BioVue system was compared with the conventional tube technique [LISS-Coombs indirect antiglobulin test], and the two-stage Papenzyme test was used to resolve discrepancies between the two methods. We tested 3000 serum samples from randomly selected patients at King Hussein Medical Centre. Both the antibody screening and identification gave negative results in 2952 patients and positive results in 48 patients. We found the BioVue system to be the more sensitive technique. However, if papain enzyme-treated cells were included in the conventional tube technique when applied to antibody screening and identification, both methods would be of comparable sensitivity

Critical Evaluation of Impedance Phlebography for the Diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis

1974 ◽  
Vol 31 (02) ◽  
pp. 273-278
Author(s):  
Kenneth K Wu ◽  
John C Hoak ◽  
Robert W Barnes ◽  
Stuart L Frankel
Keyword(s):  
Deep Vein Thrombosis ◽  
False Positive ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Original Method ◽  
Vein Thrombosis ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
False Negative Results ◽  
Deep Vein ◽  
Positive Results

SummaryIn order to evaluate its daily variability and reliability, impedance phlebography was performed daily or on alternate days on 61 patients with deep vein thrombosis, of whom 47 also had 125I-fibrinogen uptake tests and 22 had radiographic venography. The results showed that impedance phlebography was highly variable and poorly reliable. False positive results were noted in 8 limbs (18%) and false negative results in 3 limbs (7%). Despite its being simple, rapid and noninvasive, its clinical usefulness is doubtful when performed according to the original method.

PET/CT WITH 68GA-PSMA-11 IN DETECTION OF PRIMARY TUMOR AND RECURRENCE OF PROSTATE CANCER

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 799-804
Author(s):  
Darya Ryzhkova ◽  
M. Poyda
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Primary Tumor ◽  
Biochemical Recurrence ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Primary Prostate Cancer ◽  
Pet Ct ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Positive Results ◽  
T Category

Purpose: To study the diagnostic value of PET-CT with 68Ga-PSMA-11 in the diagnosis of a primary prostate cancer, preoperative staging, and the detection of recurrence of prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: 28 patients aged 64.7 ± 8.74 years were included. 10 patients primary prostate cancer, and 18 patients with biochemical recurrence of the disease after radical treatment were examined. All patients underwent PET-CT with 68Ga-PSMA-11 according the whole body protocol. Interpretation of images was performed visually and quantitatively by calculation of SUL max. Results: High focal or diffuse 68Ga-PSMA-11 uptake was found in prostate parenchyma in patients with primary prostate cancer. Additionally metastases in regional lymph nodes were diagnosed in 4 patients and bone metastases were found in one patient. The correlation between 68Ga-PSMA-11 uptake level and Gleason index in the primary tumor (R Spearmen = 0.25, p = 0.57) was not observed. PET-positive results were obtained in 14 patients and PET-negative results in 4 patients with biochemical recurrence of PCa. The relationship between the frequency of PET-positive results and Gleason index was not revealed (R Spearmen = 0.2, p = 0.39). We found a weak but significant correlation between the frequency of PET-positive results and the prostate tumor stage according to the T category (R Spearmen = 0.49, p = 0.049). In patients with low values of PSA (less than 1.0 ng/ml) in 4 out of 9 cases, PET-negative results were obtained. In patients with PSA level more than 1.0 ng/ml PET-positive results were obtained in all cases. Conclusions: PET/CT with 68Ga-PSMA-11 allows to diagnose the primary prostate cancer, to establish the stage of the disease in categories N and M, and also to determine the localization and dissemination of the tumor in patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer. The relationship between 68Ga-PSMA-11 uptake in primary tumor and Gleason index was not found. The probability of obtaining PET-positive results in cases of biochemical recurrence is affected by a PSA level above 1 ng/ml and a high stage of the disease according to the T category (T3-T4).

scholarly journals Diagnostic Performance of Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index in Lower Extremity Arterial Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 07 (03) ◽  
pp. e132-e137
Author(s):  
Mohammed Alagha ◽  
Thomas M. Aherne ◽  
Ahmed Hassanin ◽  
Adeel S. Zafar ◽  
Doireann P. Joyce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Arterial Disease ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Reference Standard ◽  
Lower Extremity Arterial Disease ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Positive Results ◽  
Arterial Imaging

Abstract Introduction Ankle-brachial pressure indices (ABIs) continue to form the basis of diagnostics for lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). However, there remains a paucity of data to support its accuracy. This study aims to evaluate its diagnostic sensitivity and specificity using established arterial-imaging modalities as a benchmark. Methods In this retrospective study, a regional, prospectively maintained, vascular laboratory database was interrogated to identify referred patients with arterial disease who underwent concomitant assessment with ABI and lower limb arterial duplex ultrasound (DUS). Duplex acted as the reference standard. Those who had peripheral computed tomography angiogram (CTA) within 3 months of initial assessment were included in a subgroup analysis to correlate ABI with CTA. The primary end point was the sensitivity and specificity of ABI compared with DUS as the reference standard. Results Concomitant assessment was performed in 438 limbs (250 patients) over a 27-month period. The ABI was normal (0.9 to 1.4) in 196 limbs (44.9%) and abnormal in the remaining 241 limbs (55.1%). False-positive results occurred in 83 out of 241 limbs (34.4%), and false-negative results occurred in 54 limbs out of 196 (27.5%). True-positive results were 158 out of 241 limbs (65.6%), whereas true-negative results were 142 out of 196 limbs (72.4%). ABI using DUS as a benchmark identified a sensitivity for peripheral artery disease of 72.3% and a specificity of 69.3%. Concomitant CTA imaging was available in 200 limbs. The sensitivity and specificity of ABI correlated with CTA were 65.5 and 68.8%, respectively. Conclusion ABIs have a moderate predictive value in the diagnosis of LEAD. Normal range outcomes cannot be taken to infer the absence of LEAD and, as such, further arterial imaging in the form of DUS or angiography should be strongly considered in those with suspected underlying disease requiring intervention. Further noninvasive tests such as exercise studies or pulse volume waveforms should be considered, if diagnostic uncertainty exists, in those requiring nonoperative intervention and risk factor control.

scholarly journals Screening for Tuberculosis in Health Care Workers: Experience in an Italian Teaching Hospital

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Napoli ◽  
Filippo Ferretti ◽  
Filippo Di Ninno ◽  
Riccardo Orioli ◽  
Alessandra Marani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Large Teaching Hospital ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Low Incidence ◽  
Positive Results

Health care workers (HCW) are particularly at risk of acquiring tuberculosis (TB), even in countries with low TB incidence. Therefore, TB screening in HCW is a useful prevention strategy in countries with both low and high TB incidence. Tuberculin skin test (TST) is widely used although it suffers of low specificity; on the contrary, the in vitro enzyme immunoassay tests (IGRA) show superior specificity and sensitivity but are more expensive. The present study reports the results of a three-year TB surveillance among HCW in a large teaching hospital in Rome, using TST (by standard Mantoux technique) and IGRA (by QuantiFERON-TB) as first- and second-level screening tests, respectively. Out of 2290 HCW enrolled, 141 (6.1%) had a positive TST; among them, 99 (70.2%) underwent the IGRA and 16 tested positive (16.1%). The frequency of HCW tested positive for TB seems not far from other experiences in low incidence countries. Our results confirm the higher specificity of IGRA, but, due to its higher cost, TST can be considered a good first level screening test, whose positive results should be further confirmed by IGRA before the patients undergo X-ray diagnosis and/or chemotherapy.

scholarly journals The Interpretation of Studies Using the Reading Level Design

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usha Goswami ◽  
Peter Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Reading Disability ◽  
Reading Level ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Causal Factors ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Level Design ◽  
Positive Results

Recent research in reading disability has been strengthened by the addition of a reading level (RL) control group to the more traditional chronological age (CA) control group. However, caution is required in interpreting results from these two kinds of control. Only positive results in a RL match and negative results in a CA match are interpretable; negative results in a CA match and positive results in a RL match are not. Furthermore, the RL control group cannot be used to unambiguously determine between specific deficit and developmental lag interpretations of reading disability. It is argued that the use of the RL control can only ever be a first step in research aimed at delineating the causal factors in reading backwardness.

scholarly journals Accuracy of brush cytology in biliopancreatic strictures: a single-center cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 030006052098777
Author(s):  
Song-Ming Ding ◽  
Ai-Li Lu ◽  
Bing-Qian Xu ◽  
Shao-Hua Shi ◽  
Muhammad Ibrahim Alhadi Edoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Duct Cell ◽  
Carbohydrate Antigen ◽  
Maximum Diameter ◽  
Biliary Duct ◽  
Brush Cytology ◽  
Tumor Biopsy ◽  
Bile Duct Wall ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Brushing Cytology ◽  
Positive Results

Objective False positive and negative results are associated with biliary tract cell brushing cytology during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The causes are uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of diagnoses made via cell brushing in our center, and to explore the factors influencing diagnosis. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent cell brushing at our center from January 2016 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. These included age, gender, stricture location, thickness of the bile duct wall in the narrow segment, maximum diameter of the biliary duct above the stricture, number of cell brush smears, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and carcinoembryonic antigen. Positive brush cytology results were compared with results of surgical histology or tumor biopsy as well as with the patient’s clinical course. Results Of the 48 patients who underwent cell brushing cytology, 27 (56.3%) had positive results. The sensitivity and specificity of biliary duct cell brushing was 79.4%, and 85.7%, respectively. None of the above-mentioned factors were associated with positive cytology brushing results. Conclusions Cell brushing cytology remains a reliable method for diagnosis of pancreaticobiliary malignancies.

scholarly journals Clinical Value of Multiplexed Bead-Based Immunoassays for Detection of Autoantibodies to Nuclear Antigens

2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 505-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Avaniss-Aghajani ◽  
Sophia Berzon ◽  
Arlen Sarkissian
Keyword(s):  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Fluorescent Antibody ◽  
False Positive Rate ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Test System ◽  
Lower Percentage ◽  
Clinical Value ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Relative Specificity ◽  
Positive Results

ABSTRACT The advent of multiplexed bead assays in recent years has introduced a new dimension of testing for complex diseases such as lupus, which can involve multiple autoantibodies. The ability to rapidly identify multiple autoantibodies, with high sensitivity and specificity in an automated fashion, is highly attractive. The aim of this study was to assess the performance and clinical value of multiplexed bead-based (AtheNA Multi-Lyte ANA-II test system) immunoassays both by comparing the results with those achieved by indirect fluorescent-antibody assay (IFA) or conventional enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) and by independent identification of autoantibodies in well-characterized samples. To achieve this goal, 984 samples were tested for seven analytes (SS/A, SS/B, Sm, RNP, Scl-70, double-stranded DNA [dsDNA], and centromere B) in both traditional and bead-based assays. The average concordance for the different analytes was 91%, ranging from 81% (dsDNA) to 97% (centromere B). The average relative specificity and sensitivity for the analytes were also high, 92% and 81%, respectively. An examination of 93 “normal controls” demonstrated a 7% false-positive rate, which was comparable to IFA. Percentages of different autoantibodies found in patients with a variety of disease conditions (34 with calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia; 41 with mixed connective tissue disease; 24 with scleroderma; and 35 with Sjogren's syndrome) were well within the range expected from each group. A scrutiny of results from AtheNA and EIA and Farr results for 185 systemic lupus erythematosus samples revealed comparable results by both methods, with the exception of SS/A and dsDNA, where AtheNA had a higher percentage of SS/A-positive results compared to EIA (51% versus 29%) and a lower percentage of dsDNA-positive results (18% versus 28% at a cutoff of 5 IU/ml).

scholarly journals The Positive Predictive Value of Diagnostic Ultrasound for Occult Herniae

2006 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bradley ◽  
J Morgan ◽  
B Pentlow ◽  
A Roe
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Diagnostic Ultrasound ◽  
Pain Clinic ◽  
Diagnostic Problem ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Positive Results

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study is to ascertain the accuracy of diagnostic ultrasound in the assessment of the occult abdominal and groin herniae. The authors have previously demonstrated its efficacy in diagnosing the type of clinical groin herniae but occult herniae provide a further diagnostic problem. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 113 consecutive patients were referred prospectively for ultrasound examinations with clinically suspected occult herniae. All positive scans were offered surgery whilst the negative results were offered further imaging or other diagnostic tests depending on the clinical criteria. The end point for negative scans was based on 18-month follow-up or resolution of symptoms. RESULTS Overall, 59 scans showed positive results for herniae and 56 of these had surgery. In the other three patients, two refused an operation, and one had no hernia detected at operation. In the remaining 57 scans, ultrasound offered alternative soft tissue diagnoses in 23 patients and surgical/endoscopic diagnoses accounted for a further 8 patients. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound offered a diagnosis for the symptomology in 82 patients (70.6%) of which 59 were herniae. The positive predictive value for hernia is 98.3%. Twenty-six patients with no diagnosis or confirmation of herniae on follow-up showed symptom resolution in 22 cases, and four patients were treated by the pain clinic.

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