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At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Eosinophil granule proteins in the assessment of airway inflammation in pediatric bronchial asthma.

Eosinophil granule proteins such as eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) and eosinophil protein X (EPX) in serum and urine are indirect measures of eosinophil activity. The measures have been evaluated for prediction, diagnosis and monitoring of anti-inflammatory treatment modalities in children with asthma. Assessments in serum and urine are highly dependent on sampling procedures and must be performed under strictly controlled conditions using standardized sampling and laboratory procedures. The measures are influenced by circadian and seasonal variations. Measurement of the eosinophil granule proteins does not improve the predictive value of a family history of atopy. Due to insufficient sensitivity and specificity, the measures are not useful in the diagnosis of asthma in children, and the clinical use of eosinophil proteins in the individual child for assessment of asthma severity has not been sufficiently validated. Serum and urine eosinophil granule proteins, however, may be useful in extending our knowledge of suppressive effects on eosinophil activity of various doses, devices and administration regimens of inhaled glucocorticoids in children. Such evaluations may be performed in randomized, double-blind trials of well-defined age groups and they should include measures of compliance. One important aspect to look at would be the distinction between suppressive effects on eosinophil activity and clinically important anti-inflammatory effects. Considering the complexity of airway inflammation and the heterogeneity of childhood asthma, however, it may be too simplistic to look for a single measure of the inflammatory processes. In the future, perhaps, a combination of products of inflammatory cells may give more clinically relevant information with respect to prediction, diagnosis, monitoring and outcome of childhood asthma.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1988

An evaluation of the accuracy of the Reflotron system in the field.

The Reflotron system (Boehringer-Mannheim, West Germany) is a dry-chemistry analyser which has been used in cholesterol screening in the United States and Australia. The accuracy and precision of the instrument for use as a screening device for whole-blood cholesterol levels have been evaluated in clinical settings in both the United States and Australia; however, questions still arise from healthy practitioners about its performance in the field. We selected 30 participants in a community-screening programme to undergo a comparative analysis of cholesterol measurement by the Reflotron system compared with two standard laboratory procedures (one of which was carried out in a World Health Organization accredited laboratory). Analysis of the data showed that, after a minimum of training, results can be obtained on the Reflotron system in a community setting which are acceptable when compared with results that have been obtained on more commonly-used laboratory instruments.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Vascular laboratory criteria for the management of peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities.

From experience gained in over 4,500 vascular laboratory procedures, segmental Pulse Volume Recorder (PVR) tracings, systolic pressure measurements, and other noninvasive laboratory techniques have been found extremely useful in the management of patients with arteriosclerotic peripheral vascular disease. Both PVR recordings and limb pressures were found to be important and are used in complementary fashion. Although arteriography is essential in defining structural lesions and in establishing graftability, noninvasive vascular studies provide an inexpensive, accurate, reproducible method for assessing functional significance of arterial disease. These studies contribute to the diagnosis, definition of severity, and establishment of an objective baseline prior to medical or surgical therapy. Because they may be used in a repetitive manner, they are extremely useful in establishing success of a given therapy and in the long-term follow-up of patients. Based upon our experience, laboratory criteria have been developed which allow accurate identification of ischemic rest pain, aid in predicting healing of foot lesions or below-knee amputations, and quantitate the functional disability of claudication.

Amputation, Surgical↗
PubMed2006

[The history and development of computer assisted orthopaedic surgery].

Computer assisted orthopaedic surgery (CAOS) was developed to improve the accuracy of surgical procedures. It has improved dramatically over the last years, being transformed from an experimental, laboratory procedure into a routine procedure theoretically available to every orthopaedic surgeon. The first field of application of computer assistance was neurosurgery. After the application of computer guided spinal surgery, the navigation of total hip and knee joints became available. Currently, several applications for computer assisted surgery are available. At the beginning of navigation, a preoperative CT-scan or several fluoroscopic images were necessary. The imageless systems allow the surgeon to digitize patient anatomy at the beginning of surgery without any preoperative imaging. The future of CAOS remains unknown, but there is no doubt that its importance will grow in the next 10 years, and that this technology will probably modify the conventional practice of orthopaedic surgery.

Forecasting↗
PubMed1984

A national task analysis of infection control practitioners, 1982. Part Two: Tasks, knowledge, and abilities for practice.

Respondents (N = 473) from a randomized stratified sample (N = 600) of U.S. hospital ICPs in a national survey sponsored by the Certification Board of Infection Control were asked to rate specific task, knowledge, and ability statements related to infection control for frequency and importance. The questions included 175 items, of which 99 were for specific tasks and 76 were for knowledge and abilities for practice. Areas covered included patient care practices, infectious diseases, epidemiology and statistics, microbiologic practices, sterilization and disinfection, education, employee health services, and management and communications. A "profile respondent" group (N = 317) was defined as persons most likely to be practicing the full scope of infection control practice and was used to identify key tasks, knowledge, and abilities for practice. Results showed that patient care practices (i.e., suctioning, dressing changes, and catheterization) were rarely performed. The development of infection control policies and procedures were key tasks. Knowledge of microbiology and infectious diseases in order to interpret laboratory reports and other patient data was rated as essential; however, few respondents actually performed laboratory procedures. Epidemiologic principles were frequently used for surveillance and problem investigation. Although presentation of epidemiologic data was rated as important, analytic statistics were rarely used. Assessment of educational needs and teaching were large components of ICPs' activities.

Certification↗
PubMed1992

Quality assurance in the reproductive biology laboratory.

The goal of the clinical laboratory is to produce analytical results that are free of errors and useful in the diagnoses of patients' conditions and in the treatment of patients. Every laboratory assay contains a certain amount of errors. This can be due to random error, which is unpredictable, or to systematic error, which is the result of the difference between the control analysis and the expected target value. The purpose of a good quality assurance-quality control program is to detect errors when they become clinically significant and to ensure that all laboratory procedures, including analytical procedures, are designed to deliver as good a test result as possible. Reproductive biology laboratories that deal in human in vitro fertilization or andrology will have to develop quality assurance-quality control programs, much like those of anatomical pathology laboratories, due to the unique type of services that they offer.

Fertilization in Vitro↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's disease--an evidence based approach].

The aim of this article is to provide evidence-based recommendations for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and hereby to give clinican guidelines for optimal detection of patients with AD. Our intention is also to unify diagnostic schemes in accordance with our objective and specific possibilities. Basic diagnostic procedures primarily are anamnesis and clinical examination with rational usage of neuroimaging, electrophysiological and laboratory procedures. Using these guidelines in medical practice in Croatia would be a good basis for future epidemiological and clinical multicentric studies.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Current concept of diagnostic procedure in Alzheimer's disease: an evidence based approach].

The aim of this article is to provide evidence-based recommendations for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and hereby to give clinician the guidelines for optimal detection of patients with AD. Our intention is also to unify diagnostic schemes in accordance with our objective and specific possibilities. Basic diagnostic procedures primaruly are anamnesis and clinical examination with rational usage of neuroimaging, electrophysiological and laboratory procedures. Using these guidelines in medical practice in Croatia would be a solid basis for future epidemiological and clinical multicenter studies.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1989

[Borna disease].

Using Borna disease as a model, the consequences of persistent virus infections of the central nervous system, in particular of "slow virus diseases", are briefly described. Both latent and active forms of the disease have much in common with chronically progressive diseases of the central nervous system in animals and man which have until now remained unexplained. Virologically and serologically there exist simple laboratory procedures to examine the pathogenesis and immunology of the disease, in addition to suitable laboratory animals and a variety of cell cultures.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Permanent pacemaker implantation in the cardiac catheterization laboratory versus the operating room: an analysis of hospital charges and complications.

Permanent pacemakers may be implanted in operating rooms, special procedure laboratories, or cardiac catheterization laboratories. Previous investigators have shown no difference in efficacy or complications in the operating room versus the cardiac catheterization laboratory. We retrospectively analyzed the hospital bills of 30 patients undergoing permanent pacemaker implantation at our institution. Group I was 15 consecutive patients implanted in the operating room and group II was 15 consecutive patients implanted in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, all by the same operators. Hospital charges that were specific to the site of implantation were analyzed. Physician charges for implantation, anesthesiologist, and radiologist charges were not analyzed. There were no in-hospital complications in either group. The mean charges for group I were $1,856.00 and group II were $1,075.00 (P < 0.001). We conclude that implantation of permanent pacemakers in the cardiac catheterization laboratory is associated with significantly lower hospital charges compared to implantation in the operating room and has an equally low complication rate.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

[Recommendations for the handling and oncologic pathology report of lymph node specimens submitted for evaluation of metastatic disease in gynecologic malignancies].

The nodal status is one of the strongest prognostic factors in gynecologic malignancies. Metastatic involvement of regional and distant lymph nodes represents the selection basis for adjuvant therapy in a large number of solid neoplasms. The number of resected lymph nodes is one of the most important parameters in the quality control of the surgical procedure, in particular with respect to radicality. The present paper provides recommendations for gross dissection, laboratory procedures and reporting for lymph node biopsies, lymph node dissections and sentinel lymph node biopsies (SLN) for cancers of the vulva, vagina, uterine cervix, endometrium, Fallopian tubes and the ovaries, submitted for the evaluation of metastatic disease. The pathologic oncology report should include information about the number and size of resected lymph nodes, the number of involved lymph nodes with the maximum size of metastases and the presence of paranodal infiltration. In addition, the detection of isolated tumor cells should be reported, particularly with respect to the detection method (immunostains or molecular methods). In cases of metastatic disease and carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP-syndrome), information should be given regarding the primary tumor.

Female↗
PubMed2004

A SEM evaluation of a 6% hydrogen peroxide tooth whitening gel on dental materials in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel 6% hydrogen peroxide gel on the surface morphology of dental gold, amalgam, porcelain and composite. METHODS: Admixed high-copper amalgam and hybrid resin composite specimens were prepared in extracted teeth using standard clinical procedures. Feldspathic porcelain and type III gold specimens were prepared in a mould using standard laboratory procedures. One half of the specimens were covered with nail varnish to serve as the control side, leaving the other half exposed. The specimens were treated with pooled whole saliva (1 h), followed by the peroxide gel (20 min), rinsing with water and returning to saliva. This cycling protocol was continued until a total of 28 treatments with the peroxide gel were completed. The samples were prepared for SEM. RESULTS: There were no observable differences at 200x and 2000x magnifications between the control and peroxide gel treated sides on any of the materials tested. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant effects of the 6% hydrogen peroxide gel on the surface morphology of any of the dental materials tested.

Aluminum Silicates↗
PubMed2001

A prospective cost evaluation related to allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation including pretransplant procedures, transplantation and 1 year follow-up procedures.

The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Social Affairs recently introduced activity-based financing for hospitals partly based on diagnosis-related groups (DRG). We soon observed that there seemed to be a considerable discrepancy between the reimbursement amount and the real cost of allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation. It was therefore decided to undertake a prospective micro-cost analysis to define a more realistic reimbursement. To identify real costs, we undertook a registration of pre-transplant procedures, transplantation and 1 year follow-up costs, including harvesting, personnel costs, clinical and laboratory procedures, together with blood products and drugs related to patients and donors. These data were compared to hospital DRG reimbursement. This information was registered for 17 consecutive patients, with a mean age 40 years (range 17-58 years). Ten patients had chronic myeloid leukaemia, three had acute lymphatic leukaemia, two had acute myeloid leukaemia and two had myelodysplastic syndrome. The data analysis showed a mean cost of US$ 106825 (NOK 901982), (range US$ 42376-362430). The average actual hospital revenue (50% DRG reimbursement + income related to length of stay + special procedure funding) was US$ 36404 (range US$ 26228-55998). Activity-based financing as applied in Norway, under-compensates hospital costs for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The government should make realistic estimates of real costs before introducing financial reforms in the health care system.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Immediate provisional restorations to aid in gingival healing and optimal contours for implant patients.

A procedure for making an impression at stage I implant surgery is described, and the sequential laboratory procedures for fabricating a custom provisional restoration are presented. The provisional restoration is delivered at the uncovering of the implant, providing a template for the tissue healing with desired contours. This procedure facilitates the fabrication of implant restorations with optimal gingival contours and esthetics.

Dental Implantation, Endosseous↗
PubMed2002

Animal models for assessing the consequences of intrauterine growth restriction on subsequent glucose metabolism of the offspring: a review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was to review the most current animal models for intrauterine growth restriction. METHODS: The databases of MEDLINE and Pubmed were searched for articles published between 1969 and 2001. Additional sources included abstract proceedings and relevant reference lists of articles identified by database review. Key words included intrauterine growth retardation, small for gestational age, animal models and glucose metabolism. The inclusion criteria used to select studies included animal models of intrauterine growth retardation in which glucose metabolism was assessed after birth. RESULTS: A variety of physiological and metabolic variables regulate fetal growth, and alteration of these variables can result in fetal growth restriction. Fetal growth restriction is secondary to initiation of fetal adaptation measures in response to inadequate supply of oxygen and nutrients. Several animal models have led to a greater understanding of the pathophysiology and consequences of intrauterine growth restriction. These observations are comparable to those observed in humans born small for gestational age, and are of interest because of the known association between poor fetal growth and development of glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus later in life. CONCLUSION: Experimental manipulations have apparently altered a number of metabolic and physiological variables, but the pattern of alterations seems to vary with the procedure employed. This allows only a preliminary conclusion to be drawn at best. Either the laboratory procedures vitiate the natural process under study, or the process itself is variable with respect to the triggering mechanism. As yet, we cannot tell which.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Frequency of isolated positive sputum cultures among pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

OBJECTIVE: The occurrence of isolated positive sputum cultures among pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients during treatment is not widely reported. This study describes the frequency of isolated positive sputum cultures among PTB patients after initiation of chemotherapy. METHODS: Fifty sputum culture positive PTB patients, consisting of 38 (76%) males and 12 (24%) females with a mean age of 34.31 +/- 19.54 (13-75) years, were studied prospectively over a period of 10 months (September 1999 to June 2000) at Sahary Chest Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The majority of patients received standard 4-drug short-course antimicrobial chemotherapy. Weekly sputum smears and cultures were carried out for each patient during the treatment. RESULTS: Isolated positive sputum cultures were encountered in 4 (8%) of the studied patients. Two of them had 2 consecutive positive smears and cultures in their third and fourth week during treatment and were attributed to poor compliance to the treatment. Of the remaining 2 patients, one had single isolated culture in his fourth week, while the fourth patient showed a slight growth in the fifth week of the treatment. Due to the undetermined status of the smear and very few colonies in the culture, these 2 isolated cultures were attributed to the carry-over contamination during the laboratory procedures. The same treatment was continued with strict monitoring of compliance to the treatment and laboratory protocols. All of the 4 patients converted to negative before leaving the hospital. CONCLUSION: Isolated positive sputum cultures might appear (infrequently) during treatment either due to the treatment noncompliance or carry over contamination. However, under either circumstance, the same treatment should be continued along with strict monitoring of treatment compliance and specimen decontamination and related laboratory protocols.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Multiple sclerosis: neuroimmunologic puzzle.

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease with a relapsing and remitting course, is the most common neuroimmunologic condition in the United States. The hallmarks of the disease are focal demyelination and inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS). Because histopathologic changes can be identified only at autopsy, attention has been directed at formulating standardized clinical and laboratory procedures to aid in MS diagnosis. Currently, there are no MS-specific clinical or laboratory tests, but detection of abnormality in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG is important in supporting clinical evidence of disease. A number of other immunologic abnormalities have been recognized in MS, including the presence of T- and B-lymphocytes within the CNS and alterations in circulating suppressor T-lymphocytes. These findings have been interpreted as indicating disturbed immunoregulation associated with a chronic autoimmune response within the CNS. Evidence implicates viral infection in the pathogenesis of MS but the cause of the disease remains unknown.

Animals↗
PubMed1973

Creatine phosphokinase elevation in a case of tick paralysis.

The results of studies on a case of tick paralysis in a female child are described. The patient was paralysed by a single female specimen of Dermacentor andersoni Stiles attached to the left temporal area of the scalp. Paralysis of the lower limbs, incoordinate respiration and weakness of the arms were evident.The findings on physical examination and the results of diagnostic laboratory procedures are reported and the possible significance of the results is discussed. The only abnormal laboratory finding was an elevated level of plasma creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity occurring during the paralytic phase and persisting for 10 days.

Action Potentials↗