BackgroundAlthough World Health Organization guidelines recommend clinical judgment and chest radiography for diagnosing tuberculosis in HIV-infected adults with unexplained cough and negative sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli, the diagnostic performance of this approach is unknown. Therefore, we sought to assess the accuracy of symptoms, physical signs, and radiographic ...

We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of bronchoscopic wash specimens obtained using computed tomography (CT) guidance for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients who were unable to produce sputum samples or were sputum smear-negative. Data from patients who had lesions likely to be pulmonary TB on CT images ...

The overlap between the populations in sub-Saharan Africa infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis has led to an upsurge in tuberculosis cases over the last 10 years. The relative increase in the proportion of notified sputum-smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases is greater than that of sputum-smear-positive PTB cases. This is ...

INTRODUCTION: Patients with suspected active Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) who are Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) smear negative or non-productive of sputum may undergo bronchoalveolar lavage. However, post-bronchoscopy sputum (PBS) sampling is not routine. The aim of this study was to establish the potential diagnostic value of PBS sampling. METHODS: A ...

BackgroundIdentifying reasons for delay in diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis is important for the health system to find ways to treat patients as early as possible, and hence reduce the suffering of patients and transmission of the disease. The objectives of this study was to assess the duration of delay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and to investigate its determinants.MethodsA ...

BackgroundIn 2007 WHO issued a guideline to improve the diagnosis of smear-negative and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in HIV-positive patients. This guideline relies heavily on the acceptance of HIV-testing and availability of chest X-rays.Methods and FindingsCohort study of TB suspects in four tuberculosis (TB) clinics in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We assessed the operational performance of the ...

Rationale: The rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is difficult when acid fast bacilli (AFB) cannot be detected in sputum smears.Objectives: Following a proof of principle study, we examined in routine clinical practice whether individuals with sputum AFB smear-negative TB can be discriminated from those with latent TB infection by local immunodiagnosis with a ...

Abstract.? Jafari C, Kessler P, Sotgiu G, Ernst M, Lange C (Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany; Hygiene and Preventive Medicine Institute, University Sassari, Sassari, Italy; Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany). Impact of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific interferon-? release assay in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for a rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis. J Intern Med 2011; 270: ...

BackgroundThe prognosis, specifically the case fatality and duration, of untreated tuberculosis is important as many patients are not correctly diagnosed and therefore receive inadequate or no treatment. Furthermore, duration and case fatality of tuberculosis are key parameters in interpreting ...

A prospective study was carried out in two tertiary hospitals in Dakar to determine the main causes of sputum acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear-negative pneumonia in HIV-infected patients. All clinical and microbiological records were reviewed by experts. Seventy patients were finally enrolled. Most of them were hospitalized at an advanced stage of AIDS. The median CD4 cell count ...

We assessed the prevalence of AIDS among children diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) in Esp�rito Santo State, Brazil, by linking TB and AIDS surveillance databases using Reclink software and SPSS. Among 411 pediatric TB cases from 2000 to 2006, 27 (7%) were co-infected with AIDS. Most children were unable to provide a sputum specimen; co-infected patients were more ...

Childhood pulmonary TB (PTB) is under diagnosed, in part due to difficulties in obtaining microbiological confirmation. However, given the poor specificity of clinical diagnosis, microbiological confirmation and drug susceptibility testing is important in guiding appropriate therapy especially in the context of drug resistant TB. Confirmation is often possible, even in infants ...

A 55-year-male with chest symptoms and apical pulmonary lesions was diagnosed as a case of sputum smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis at a peripheral health centre in India on the basis of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme Guidelines--he was put on antitubercular chemotherapy. He had no radiological or clinical improvement with ...

Background & objectivesIn the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in India prior to 2005, TB patients were offered standard DOTS regimens without knowledge of HIV status. Consequently such patients did not receive anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and the influence of concomitant HIV infection on the outcome of anti-tuberculosis treatment remained undetermined. This study was ...

BackgroundSmear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) accounts for a considerable proportion of TB transmission, which especially endangers health care workers (HCW). Novel Mycobacterium-tuberculosis-specific interferon-? release assays (IGRAs) may offer the chance to define the burden of TB in HCW more accurately than the Mantoux tuberculin skin test ...

BackgroundDelays seeking care worsen the burden of tuberculosis and cost of care for patients, families and the public health system. This study investigates costs of tuberculosis diagnosis incurred by patients, escorts and the public health system in 10 districts of Ethiopia.MethodsNew pulmonary tuberculosis patients ? 15 years old were interviewed regarding their health care seeking behaviour at ...

BackgroundOf the 9.2 million new TB cases occurring each year, about 10% are in children. Because childhood TB is usually non-infectious and non-fatal, national programs do not prioritize childhood TB diagnosis and treatment. We reviewed data from a demonstration project to learn more about the epidemiology of childhood TB in Thailand.MethodsIn four Thai provinces and one national hospital, we ...

... accurately diagnose cloud coverage. ... clouds at the finest spatial and temporal resolution of the corresponding datasets. ...

Jul 26, 2011 ... Accurately diagnosing cloud properties can be a challenge, especially over regions such as the panhandle of southeastern Alaska where ...

The instrument may allow healthcare providers to make expert, accurate diagnoses, as well as to suggest proper, individualized treatment, even for patients ...

... of the controlled efficacy trial populations, from separate longer ... study to ensure a sufficient population accurately diagnosed ... Pediatric Safety Study ...

Background:Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is an increasing global health problem that continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality. The impact of PTB has been measured in terms morbidity and mortality and little attention has been paid to continuing respiratory disability in those who were cured. Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a serious respiratory disability that results from structural ...

Background:In revised national tuberculosis control program (RNTCP), microscopic examination of sputum for AFB plays an important role in the initial diagnosis of tuberculosis. Bacillary concentration after decontamination and liquefaction by 5% sodium hypochlorite is useful in providing increased sensitivity and safety for handling of specimen.Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional, ...

Direct smear examination with Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) as employed in most low-income countries is cheap and easy to use, but its low sensitivity is a major drawback. The low specificity of chest X-rays, used for the diagnosis of smear-negative TB, risks high levels of overdiagnosis. Major advances in molecular techniques, which rapidly identify ...

BackgroundEffective tuberculosis (TB) control in HIV-prevalent settings is hindered by absence of accurate, rapid TB diagnostic tests. We evaluated the accuracy of a urine lipoarabinomannan (LAM) test for TB diagnosis in South Africa.MethodsHospitalized adults with signs and/or symptoms of active TB were enrolled. Sputum smear microscopy and mycobacterial culture, ...

... Nutrition Therapy for Soldiers with Eating Disorders explores various eating disorders, how they may be accurately diagnosed, and the complex ...

Professor Kenneth Kosik explains that Alzheimer's is traditionally diagnosed by a physician taking a history and physical. In the near future, neuroimaging will provide an accurate diagnosis.

A retrospective study of 66 radionuclide angiograms of the thyroid showed that a simple visual inspection of the images is highly accurate for diagnosing hyperthyroidism. Mathematical analysis with computers is not necessary.

... medicine scanners for improved detection of breast cancer, postheart attack tissue damage assessment and more accurate epilepsy and stroke diagnoses. ...

The diagnosis of animals infected with BLV can be accurately identified with the available serologic tests. Diagnosis of animals in the incipient stage of leukosis is extremely difficult and can only be diagnosed by a positive tissue biopsy. Animals with ...

Objective: To assess the utility of urine lipoarabinomannan (LAM) detection as a diagnostic screening test for tuberculosis (TB) in HIV-infected patients with advanced immuno deficiency and high prevalence of sputum smear-negative pulmonary disease.Design: Cross-sectional survey.Methods: Unselected adults enrolling for antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a South African clinic ...

BackgroundIn tuberculosis (TB) endemic parts of the world, patients with pulmonary symptoms are managed as "smear-negative TB patients" if they do not improve on a two-week presumptive, broad-spectrum course of antibiotic treatment even if they are TB microscopy smear negative. These patients are frequently HIV positive and have a higher mortality than ...

BackgroundThe Xpert MTB/RIF (Cepheid) non-laboratory-based molecular assay has potential to improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), especially in HIV-infected populations, through increased sensitivity, reduced turnaround time (2 h), and immediate identification of rifampicin (RIF) resistance. In a prospective clinical validation study we compared the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF, MTBDRplus ...

We report an uncommon case of atrial septal aneurysm associated with mitral valve prolapse. A 28 year old woman was studied with transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Transthoracic echocardiography suggested mitral valve prolapse. TEE with color mapping was performed. Atrial septal aneurysm and mitral valve prolapse was found. The study has shown that TEE can evaluate ...

This paper addresses the issue of counting the occurrence of special events in the framework of partiallyobserved discrete-event dynamical systems (DEDS). Developed diagnosers referred to as sequential window diagnosers (SWDs) utilize the stochastic diagnoser probability transition matrices developed in [9] along with a resetting ...

BackgroundThe global tuberculosis epidemic results in nearly 2 million deaths and 9 million new cases of the disease a year. The vast majority of tuberculosis patients live in developing countries, where the diagnosis of tuberculosis relies on the identification of acid-fast bacilli on unprocessed sputum smears using conventional light microscopy. Microscopy has high specificity in ...

BackgroundThe accurate diagnosis of TB in HIV-infected patients, particularly with advanced immunosuppression, is difficult. Recent studies indicate that a lipoarabinomannan (LAM) assay (Clearview-TB�-ELISA) may have some utility for the diagnosis of TB in HIV-infected patients; however, the precise subgroup that may benefit from this technology requires clarification. The ...

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the accuracy of transrectal palpation (TRP) for diagnosing early pregnancy in buffaloes and the false diagnoses of the TRP test by using the pregnancy-associated glycoprotein radioimmunoassay (PAG-RIA) test. Pregnancy was diagnosed in 168 buffalo-cows once by TRP and PAG-RIA test between ...

Schwannomas can occur anywhere in the body with unusual presentation. They are difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Fine needle aspiration biopsy does not appear to provide an accurate preoperative diagnosis. Complete excision of the mass should be the goal of surgical excision. PMID:21537378

Schwannomas can occur anywhere in the body with unusual presentation. They are difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Fine needle aspiration biopsy does not appear to provide an accurate preoperative diagnosis. Complete excision of the mass should be the goal of surgical excision.

Cancer Incidence Rates Adjusted for Reporting Delay Limin X. Clegg, Douglas N. Midthune, Eric J. Feuer, Michael P. Fay, Benjamin F. Hankey Timely and accurate calculation of cancer incidence rates is hampered by reporting delay, the time elapsed before a diagnosed cancer case is reported to the NCI.

The research to develop an accurate assessment tool to diagnose minimal cerebral dysfunction in children discovered that the Devereaux Test of Extremity Coordination (DTEC) is able to discriminate between children with minimal brain dysfunction and 'norma...

This study sought to determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could improve the ability to accurately diagnose the full extent of a patient's disease, including possible cancers in the opposite (or contralateral) breast at the time of the initial diagnosis.

Blood volume studies were performed in 18 healthy men and 564 male patients with a variety of clinical diagnoses. Although the plasma volume measurements obtained with iodinated I 125 serum albumin were accurate in patients with erythrocytosis and in heal...

A case of multiple ileal duplications presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding is described. Technetium-99m Pertechnetate scintigraphy in conjunction with barium studies provided the initial clue and accurately localised the abnormality pre-operatively. PMID:2155086

This citation summarizes a one-page announcement of technology available for utilization. A two-axis goniometer accurately measures the movements of the fingers about the metacarpophalangeal (Knuckle) joints. It can be used to help diagnose hands that hav...

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy proved to be a simple, safe, and accurate method of diagnosing acute inhalation injury. Both the anatomic level and the severity of large airway injury were easily identified. The identification of a supraglottic and infraglottic c...

Pulmonary embolism is a common disease entity that is difficult to diagnose accurately by noninvasive methods. Ventilation-perfusion is a pivotal study in the evaluation of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism. The role of standard and newer modalities in evaluating pulmonary embolism is discussed in this article. 65 references.

of minor facial dysmorphology associated with the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (or, more accurately, "probable fetal alcohol effects"). Interpreting the size variable 5 and "optimal" shape variables. As a prelude I photographs used to diagnose children at seven years of age for fetal alcohol effects. This particular st

There is described an apparatus and method for diagnosing ocular cancer that is both non-invasive and accurate which comprises two radiation detectors positioned before each of the patient's eyes which will measure the radiation level produced in each eye...

be used as a quantitative diagnostic of transport and mixing. We use a family of incompressible two diagnostics. The results demonstrate how the effective diffusivity accurately captures the location. These transport barriers are ``perfect,'' in the sense that a fluid particle advected by the flow that starts

Mild or moderate hypothermia may be underdiagnosed in Canada. This paper presents five cases of treated hypothermia, describes the pathophysiologic aspects of cold injuries and discusses the rationale and techniques of rewarming. An orderly series of specific clinical and laboratory observations is proposed to ensure prompt and accurate diagnosis and treatment, and to improve ...

The diagnosis of depression is associated with a high degree of morbidity, mortality, and economic cost. Thus, depression needs to be accurately diagnosed and documented by primary health care providers in the managed care environment. The Family Medicine...

Computerized tomography has been found to be an accurate and sensitive method of diagnosing complications of synthetic aortic grafts. Complications in this series of four cases included aortoesophageal fistula, aortoduodenal fistula, pseudoaneurysm, and retroperitoneal hematoma. 6 references, 5 figures.

Abstract Premature rupture of membranes is a significant contributor to preterm birth with its associated short- and long-term complications. The absence of a standard approach to its management places a burden on the clinicians' ability to promptly and accurately diagnose premature rupture of membranes. For the last half century, there have been no ...

Many adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were never diagnosed as children. The impairment caused by untreated ADHD can complicate, or even lead to, other psychiatric conditions. Accurate diagnosis and efficacious treatment of ADHD in adults, which may include pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions, is vital to improve ...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is increasing in prevalence and is highly associated with several lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. Current diagnostic methods are imperfect, being insensitive, non-specific, expensive, or invasive. An accurate diagnosis of GORD can aid effective treatment and have significant clinical impact. Novel methods such as exhaled breath ...

The Rimland E2 questionnaire was applied to three groups of children diagnosed with Infantile Autism, Autism with Associated Symptoms, and Mental Retardation, as well as normal controls. Results confirmed that the scale accurately differentiates autistic from nonautistic children, but it may not permit clear differentiation of infantile autism from autism ...

Ninety one patients with urinary tract abnormalities diagnosed before birth were reviewed. Diagnoses based on prenatal and postnatal ultrasound scans alone were compared with the final diagnoses after full urological investigations, with operative or necropsy confirmation in 79 cases. The results confirmed that ultrasound examination ...

Due to the elimination of intermediate hosts and the improvement of clinical care, most parasitic infections have been effectively controlled in developing countries. Recently, the increase of the worldwide tourism, especially to Mainland China, and the migration of overseas workers from endemic countries have led to more parasitic infections that should not be overlooked by physicians. Assessment ...

Objective: To assess validity of a self-administered web-based migraine-questionnaire in diagnosing migraine aura for the use of epidemiological and genetic studies. Methods: Self-reported migraineurs enrolled via the LUMINA website and completed a web-based questionnaire on headache and aura symptoms, after fulfilling screening criteria. Diagnoses were ...

Most model-based approaches to fault diagnosis of discrete-event systems (DESs) require a complete and accurate model of the system to be diagnosed. However, the discrete-event model may have arisen from abstraction and simplification of a continuous time system or through model building from input-output data. As such, it may not capture the dynamic ...

The success of future neurodegenerative disease (ND) therapies depends partly on accurate antemortem diagnoses. Relatively few prior studies have been performed on large, multicenter-derived datasets to test the accuracy of final clinical ND diagnoses in relation to definitive neuropathological findings. Data were analyzed from the ...

Coding of diagnoses, comorbidities, and complications is important for health care delivery, not only for appropriate hospital and physician reimbursement, but also for a correct assessment of complication rates. The purpose of this study was to determine the agreement of coding of diagnoses, comorbidities, and complications for total knee arthroplasty ...

The diagnosis of dementia in the elderly has important personal and social consequences, and a small proportion of cases initially diagnosed may be reversible. An understanding of the operating characteristics and cost-effectiveness of clinical signs and symptoms and of laboratory investigations in the diagnosis of dementia is needed to diagnose ...

The basic evaluation of suspected voiding dysfunction involves fundamental objective tools such as the pressure-flow study. Although accurate, the several drawbacks to this invasive study of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) are discussed and evaluated. Other non-invasive and/or minimally invasive ways of diagnosing BOO continue to be the subject of ...

We designed an artificial neural network (ANN) to diagnose cirrhosis in patients with chronic HBV infection. Routine laboratory data (PT, INR, platelet count, direct bilirubin, AST/ALT, AST/PLT) and age were collected from 144 patients. Cirrhosis in these patients was diagnosed by liver biopsy. The ANN's ability was assessed using receiver-operating ...

Diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units is seen as a clinical challenge. The difficulty in diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia stems from the lack of a simple yet accurate diagnostic test. To assist clinicians in diagnosing and treating patients ...

BackgroundDrug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is considered a real threat to the achievement of TB control. Testing of mycobacterial culture and testing of drug susceptibility (DST) capacity are limited in resource-poor countries, therefore inadequate treatment may occur, favouring resistance development. We evaluated the molecular assay GenoType^� MTBDRplus (Hain ...

Clinical algorithms for evaluating HIV-infected individuals for TB prior to isoniazid preventive (IPT) perform poorly, and interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) have moderate accuracy for active TB. It is unclear if, when used as adjunct tests, IGRA add any clinical discriminatory value for active TB diagnosis in the pre-IPT assessment. A cross-sectional evaluation of 779 sputum ...