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Biomedical subjects

B Rice

Publications and source records attributed to B Rice.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Evaluation of the Vidas Chlamydia test to detect and verify Chlamydia trachomatis in urogenital specimens.

The Vidas Chlamydia test (CHL) is an automated enzyme-linked immunofluorescence assay for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. Positive and equivocal results are confirmed with a blocking assay. A mouse monoclonal antibody directed against the chlamydial lipopolysaccharides was used for the test. The CHL assay is widely used in Europe, but U.S. experience with it is limited. Three clinical test sites (The Arlington Hospital, Arlington, Va., Indiana University, Indianapolis, and the University of California, San Francisco) compared CHL with tissue culture (TC) for the identification of chlamydia in urogenital specimens (2,453 females and 850 males). True positives (TP) were defined as either TC positive or TC negative and CHL positive by a positive direct fluorescent-antibody assay or PCR test. Overall prevalence was 5.5% for females, 10.3% for male urethral swabs, and 10.7% for combined male TC urethral swabs and CHL with first catch urine (FCU) specimens. Compared to TP, CHL and TC had sensitivities of 89.6 and 94.1% with female cervical swabs and 90.9 and 86.4% with male urethral swabs, respectively. CHL sensitivity was 81.2 for male FCU specimens and 77.7% for matching male TC swabs. There were relatively few false-positive results, with all specificities being >99.4%. With the blocking assay, Vidas CHL specificity was >99.7%. However, male FCU specimen sensitivity was compromised because 9.2% (7 of 76) of the TP were initially positive but were not confirmed. An improvement in the Vidas blocking assay is needed before we can recommend its use with male urine. Alternatively, one could argue that the specificity of the test is so high that a confirmatory assay is not needed. For male and female swabs, the Vidas CHL assay has a performance that is similar to that of TC.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Life-size photograph transparencies: a method for the photographic detection and documentation of recovery from facial paralysis.

We describe a simple and objective practical method for the detection of recovery from facial paralysis by multiple photographic assessments. The photographs are printed as life-size transparencies representing maximal effort. Each time the patient attends for review the new transparency is overlapped on the previous one and the difference can be detected easily. The prints are filed with the patient's notes for future reference. To achieve this system a specific photographic protocol is mandatory in order to avoid technical artefacts. We believe that this system avoids many of the complexities of other grading systems and is very suitable for use at outpatient follow-up.

Clinical Protocols↗

Bronchoalveolar lavage in horses: effect of exercise and repeated sampling on cytology.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed at weekly intervals in 10 Thoroughbred horses in race training (group 1) and in 4 rested horses (group 2) for 10 weeks. Lavages were continued on a weekly basis in 4 group 1 horses for an additional 9 weeks (group 3). Cytological analysis of samples included leukocyte counts, erythrocyte counts, differential leukocyte counts, and haemosiderophage score. The mean leukocyte concentration was significantly lower in group 1 (92.1 +/- 4.6 cells/microL) when compared with group 2 (133.5 +/- 8.2 cells/microL), P = 0.037. The differential leukocyte data were not significantly different between groups. There was a large amount of variability in the percentage of macrophages and lymphocytes in the differential counts over time with no obvious trends. The proportion of neutrophils demonstrated a tendency to decrease over time for both groups 1 and 2. Erythrocyte counts and haemosiderin scores were significantly higher in the exercising group than the rested horses. Neither exercise nor the technique itself evoked an inflammatory response in the BAL fluid.

Analysis of Variance↗