Search PubMedSearch

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Testing accessibility”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Ergonovine provocative testing: description of a "double catheter technique".

Since coronary arteries should be immediately accessible during ergonovine provocative testing (EPT), a double catheter technique is described. Using the catheter sheath technique from the right and left femoral arteries, right and left Judkins' catheters are introduced into each femoral artery. Selective coronary cineangiography during EPT is thus rapidly performed without the delay of exchanging catheters. Should coronary arterial spasm occur during the test, nitroglycerin can be administered into the coronary artery without delay.

Cardiac Catheterization

[Treadmill versus field trial. Movement analysis and pressure distribution in the athletic shoe].

Our current knowledge on interactions between runner and runningshoe is mainly based on treadmill measurements. In order to reveal stress load and adaptation on playing surfaces it was necessary to develop a combined measuring device out of 3-D video motion analysis and portable pressure measurement system. By means of a motor driven cart moving parallel to the subject with comparable position of cameras to the treadmill test it was possible to set up an identical trial for track and field. 12 subjects (male, age 24-32, size 9) were tested at a speed of 2.8 m/s. The varying conditions were treadmill and grass and two different constructed running shoes. 200 cycles and over 1000 steps were analyzed. The quantitative analysis of 37 parameters describing the contact phase was performed using the wilcoxon test for paired samples.-A qualitative comparison of running styles was introduced by using angle-angle-diagrams (knee and ankle by 3-D data) similar to those first described for 2-D by P.R. Cavanagh in 1973. It showed a huge interindividual variability under same conditions. Comparing the angle-angle-diagrams for the four different running conditions it was possible to classify them into three characteristic groups: non-adaptors, surface-adaptors and shoe-adaptors. Comparing track and field to treadmill measurements significant differences were found for the knee at impact: On treadmill the initial knee angle was 4.6 degrees more extended at a 13% higher angle velocity and a 30% higher angle deceleration (sig. p less than 0.05). A 7.3% higher impulse was found on grass at a 5.9% higher step length. No difference in maximum pressure was found. These results show that adaptation is performed mainly by the knee. Changing the motion pattern the knee seems to be capable of homogenizing the different stress loads to the foot. Comparing the running shoes significant differences were found in the motion of the ankle: a controversial behaviour was found to be on treadmill and grass. The pressure data revealed significant differences for the treadmill test to be in the heel area, for grass in the arch area. This points to an--up to now--unknown importance of the arch on unplain surfaces that are obviously influenced by the construction of the shoe and are not accessible by treadmill tests. The described different behaviour of shoes in treadmill and track and field tests points out the reduced validity of single treadmill tests.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult

In vivo study of temporary filling materials used in endodontics in anterior teeth.

The sealing efficacy of temporary endodontic filling materials was tested in vivo. The following materials were studied: Cavit, Caviton, gutta-percha, three types of zinc phosphate cement, and zinc oxide and eugenol. All the materials were tested in the access cavity of the same anterior tooth in ten different patients for a minimum of 1 week. Seepage was determined bacteriologically by culturing a cotton pellet which was sealed into the access cavity. On the basis of the quantity of microorganisms grown anaerobically, differentiation was made between no leakage, minor leakage, and gross leakage. Findings with Cavit and Caviton are essentially the same and show no or minor leakage in the vast majority of tests. Gutta-percha showed gross leakage in six out of eight tests. Phosphate cements showed no leakage in more than two thirds of the tests.

Bacteria

Acquisition of tomato yellow leaf curl virus by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) genomic DNA can be detected by Southern blot analysis in nucleic acid extracted from a single whitefly. Acquisition of TYLCV by individual whiteflies in relation to the length of the access period, the virus concentration in, and the developmental stage of plant tissues was studied. The frequency of TYLCV detection increased with the length of the access-period; DNA was detected in 15% of whiteflies tested after a period of access to infected tissue of 30 min, regardless of whether it had a high or a low virus content (5 ng or 0.05 ng TYLCV DNA/micrograms plant chromosomal DNA), and in all insects tested after an 8 h period of access to all the plants. Those insects which had access to the youngest leaves of source plants, which have a high virus content, acquired detectable TYLCV DNA within 2 h. Insects which had access to a tissue for the same period acquired variable amounts of TYLCV DNA; insects feeding on plants with a low virus concentration acquired amounts of viral DNA comparable to those acquired by insects feeding on plants containing a 100-fold greater concentration of virus. Viruliferous insects retained TYLCV DNA for at least 13 days when placed on uninfected tomato plants. In these tests, whitefly could not acquire more than 600 million virus genomes (1 ng viral DNA), suggesting the existence of factors controlling the number of virions present in an insect.

Animals

Intravenous and intragastric self-administration of chlordiazepoxide in the rat.

Rats were implanted with intravenous (IV) or intragastric (IG) cannulas and allowed access, by lever-pressing on a CRF schedule, to chlordiazepoxide solution in 10-h sessions at doses of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg/injection. Self-administration behavior was acquired by both routes and for all doses of the drug by 60-70% of subjects tested. Subjects given access by the IV route showed more pronounced responding at the lower 2 doses and greater drug intake with the higher 2 doses than the IG group. A 2-lever study, controlling for possible motor effects of chlordiazepoxide, supports the interpretation that responding was indeed the result of reinforcing effects of chlordiazepoxide rather than an artifact.

Animals

Effects of aluminum and other cations on the structure of brain and liver chromatin.

The reactivity of aluminum and several other divalent and trivalent metallic cations toward chromatin from rat brain and liver has been investigated. Two criteria are used to determine the relative reactivity of these cations toward chromatin. The first involves the ability of the ions to compact the chromatin fibers to the point where chromatin precipitates. The second criterion measures the ability of cations to interfere with the accessibility of exogenous structural probes (nucleases) to chromatin. Of the divalent cations tested, nickel, cobalt, zinc, cadmium, and mercury were the most reactive toward chromatin, on the basis of their ability to induce precipitation of chromatin in the micromolar concentration range. The divalent cations magnesium, calcium, copper, strontium, and barium were much less effective, although all cations precipitate chromatin if their concentration is increased. Of the trivalent cations tested, aluminum, indium, and gallium were very effective precipitants, whereas iron and scandium were without effect at the concentrations tested. Of all the cations tested, aluminum was the most reactive. Aluminum's ability to alter the structure of chromatin was investigated further by testing its ability to interfere with nuclease accessibility. This test confirmed that aluminum does induce considerable changes in chromatin structure at micromolar concentrations. Furthermore, chromatin from cortical areas of the brain was much more sensitive to aluminum than chromatin from liver. These results are discussed in light of the known toxicity of these cations, with particular emphasis on the possible role of aluminum in Alzheimer's disease.

Aluminum

Reading illustrated science texts: a micro-computer based investigation of children's strategies.

Research has shown that the effect of illustrations on children's learning of science is related to ability. This study examines the hypothesis that children who show different levels of success in a learning task will employ different strategies in their picture-text processing. One hundred and eighty 14 year-old children were required to learn three illustrated science topics of different levels of difficulty which were presented to them on a BBC micro-computer. The computer was programmed to record the time spent on each sentence and each picture, as well as the point in the text at which the picture was accessed. Post hoc testing enabled the children to be divided into six groups according to their success rates on the learning tasks. Significantly longer times were spent looking at the pictures as the topics increased in difficulty; also the amount of time spent looking at pictures increased as the learning of the children decreased. For every second the least successful children spent accessing pictures, they spent about four seconds reading the text; for the most successful children this ratio was about one-to-six. The least successful children also accessed the pictures significantly more frequently than the most successful. The different strategies used by the children are discussed in terms of what is known about their differential learning gains from illustrated texts.

Adolescent

What Should a Clinical Cardiologist Know About Cardiogenetics?

Inherited cardiovascular diseases are becoming increasingly prominent in clinical practice, significantly impacting diagnosis, risk assessment, and family screening strategies. Progress in genetic testing has broadened access to cardiogenetic evaluations, while also presenting new challenges in interpreting variants and incorporating findings into clinical care. This narrative review explores 20 essential questions that clinical cardiologists may face when dealing with suspected or confirmed inherited cardiac conditions. Organized as a practical, question-driven guide, it outlines when to consider a genetic cause, how to choose and interpret genetic tests, and how to manage patients regardless of their genetic test results. The review emphasizes variant classification based on American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria, the importance of clinical context in interpreting uncertain results, and the principles behind family cascade screening. Particular attention is given to the management of relatives who carry a genetic variant but show no symptoms, and to the current limitations of genetic testing technologies (eg, performance). Ethical considerations, including the appropriate timing of testing in children minors, are also discussed. By connecting genetic insights with clinical cardiology, this review aims to support practical, informed decision making and promote effective collaboration with cardiogenetic specialists.

Humans

The role of self-produced movement and visual tracking in infant spatial orientation.

In two longitudinal studies, infants were trained at 12 and 18 months to find an object hidden in one of two identical wells in a Plexiglas box. On the test trial, normal access was blocked and infants were either guided by their mother or allowed to move on their own to another opening on the opposite side. In Experiment 1 significantly more correct responding occurred after active movement than after passive at 12 months, with correct responding related to high visual tracking. In contrast, at 18 months correct search without tracking predominated among both movement conditions. A difference between the conditions in the position of the mother on the test trial was ruled out as a contributor to performance on the basis of data from Experiment 2. When opaque sides were inserted to prevent tracking in Experiment 3, active movement no longer facilitated correct search at 12 months, thus indicating that the tracking and not the active movement per se was the critical factor.

Attention

An economic evaluation of functional genomic testing for individuals with undiagnosed rare disorders.

PURPOSE: Functional genomics (FG) approaches, such as RNA-seq and proteomics, offer a complementary diagnostic modality for individuals whose cases remain unsolved after genomic sequencing. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of FG for individuals with suspected monogenic disorders relative to manual reanalysis of genomic data at 18 months. METHODS: A decision tree model compared the costs and outcomes of FG and 18-month reanalysis using data from two Australian Undiagnosed Disease Programs. Deterministic and probability sensitivity analysis were performed. RESULTS: With a diagnostic yield of 13%, FG enabled 4 additional diagnoses per 100 individuals tested at an additional cost of $390 (US $240), resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $8,550 ($5,313) and an 85% probability of being cost-effective. CONCLUSION: Functional genomics enables timely diagnosis for individuals with suspected monogenic disorders by evaluating the functional impact of variants of uncertain significance, offering an advantage over reanalyzing genomic data at 18 months. Integration into the Australian healthcare system, supported by collaborative networks and secure data-sharing infrastructure, coupled with addressing barriers to accessing funded genomic testing, could lead to an annual net benefit of up to $1.1 million ($0.7 M).

Functional genomics

Precision diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) include a broad spectrum of phenotypes spanning from intellectual disability (ID) to developmental delay (DD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As neurodevelopmental phenotypes are a common presenting feature of an underlying genetic condition, professional medical organizations recommend genetic testing for all individuals with a NDD. When testing is pursued, identified genetic differences can lead to personalized clinical management with early diagnosis supporting the development of surveillance and intervention for co-occurring adverse health outcomes. Despite this, barriers to testing have prevented individuals from receiving a genetics referral and testing. Current therapeutic modalities including small molecule drugs, gene therapies, and antisense oligonucleotide therapies have emerged and shown promise in preclinical trials with therapeutic drugs gaining FDA approval. However, translational challenges are extensive, especially for identifying biomarkers of drug effects in the CNS. In this review, we discuss diagnostic approaches and clinical utility of genetic testing for rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders, emerging development of individualized therapies, and progress for current therapeutics in addition to challenges with clinical translation and delivery. We will highlight opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment that are steadily gaining ground in favor of optimizing long-term health outcomes and improving quality of life for neurodiverse individuals. IMPACT: The path from genomics to therapeutics for neurodevelopmental disorders continues to present multiple opportunities and challenges. While emerging genome-wide sequencing and gene editing technologies deliver increased diagnostic yields and alternatives to life-long small molecule therapies, clinical translation has been challenging due to inherent cost and genetic heterogeneity. Limited access to genetic testing despite practice guidelines remains a barrier towards precision therapeutics for rare neurodevelopmental disorders, while pre-clinical investigations face obstacles when translating to human subjects. This review will summarize the impact of existing successes in diagnosis and therapeutics for neurodevelopmental disorders while highlighting ongoing challenges and areas of future opportunities.

Humans

The relationship between verbal ability and sentence-based speechreading.

Eighteen hearing-impaired subjects participated in the present study. The purpose was to investigate one general question: The nature of the relationship between verbal ability and speechreading. Verbal ability was assessed by two types of measure: a test of vocabulary size, and four tests of lexical access speed. The results demonstrated that lexical access speed was related to speechreading performance. Vocabulary size was not found to be directly related to the speechreading criterion; rather, its influence was in an indirect fashion via its relation to lexical access speed. It was concluded that lexical access speed could be used as a diagnostic tool, such that when an individual demonstrates lexical access that is unreasonably slow, it could be taken as an indication to suggest that rehabilitation programs should emphasize alternatives to speechreading. A general implication of the present results is that absence of relation between a predictor variable and the speechreading criterion does not necessarily imply absence of relation between the two. There is still a possibility that the predictor variable might be indirectly related to the speechreading criterion.

Adult

A Narrative Review of Urine-Based Human Papillomavirus Screening: Performance, Challenges, and Opportunities to Expand Access in the United States.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, about 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year, largely due to limited screening access. Urine-based testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) offers a noninvasive, self-sampling method that could improve access to screening. We conducted a narrative review of urine-based HPV testing, focusing on diagnostic performance and feasibility. METHODS: Studies were identified through PubMed using combinations of search terms including "urine," "screening," "diagnostic tests," and "HPV" from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2024. Studies reporting test performance for detecting HPV and acceptability of urine-based HPV testing compared with cervical specimens, vaginal specimens, or precancerous lesions were included. Weighted averages for sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on sample sizes. RESULTS: We identified 36 studies (N = 65 to N = 1952) evaluating test performance for detecting HPV in urine specimens. When compared with cervical specimens, vaginal specimens, and CIN2+-confirmed lesions, urine-based testing demonstrated a wide range of sensitivity (44.8%-98.6%) and specificity (61%-100%). Differences in assay technology, genomic target, and clinical context contributed to the variability in findings. Regarding acceptability (n = 10 studies), studies found participants to be comfortable with urine sampling due to its ease of collection. CONCLUSIONS: Urine-based HPV testing is widely accepted but requires further standardization to improve performance and secure Food and Drug Administration approval for broader implementation.

Humans

Attomolar Detection of HIV-1 with Label-Free RCA-rCRISPR on Smartphone.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV) remains a major global public health challenge, having led to over 42.3 million deaths since its discovery in the early 1980s. Despite progress in prevention and treatment, around 60% of people with HIV (PWH) remain undiagnosed in resource-limited regions, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and underserved communities across the world. This illustrates the critical need for accessible, accurate, and equipment-free diagnostic tools to enhance detection and thus provide opportunities to curb its spread. Here, we developed a low-cost, robust, and label-free rolling circle amplification (RCA)-rCRISPR diagnostic platform for detecting HIV viral load with minimal instrumentation. Our strategy, combining the integration of RNA-detecting RCA reaction with plasmid reporter-based ratiometric CRISPR (rCRISPR), enables sensitive detection of unprocessed RNA targets without the need for intensive sample pre-treatment. This label-free RCA-rCRISPR diagnostic platform detected HIV RNA down to single-digit aM sensitivity (~3000 copies/mL) from PWH-derived HIV samples ex vivo. Unlike typical RCA, which requires sample fragmentations to break long RNA target sequences, our design harnesses the triple functions of the phi29 DNA polymerase (namely exonuclease activity, polymerization, and strand displacement), enabling the detection of the entire HIV genome without pre-fragmentation. For point-of-care (POC) applications, we constructed an all-in-one smartphone-based minigel electrophoresis device to facilitate equipment-free HIV viral load testing, making it accessible to resource-limited communities. Additionally, the assay has demonstrated the ability for point mutation detection (BRAF mutation in canine urothelial carcinoma), showcasing the robustness of our strategy for broad disease diagnostic applications.

HIV

Latin American consensus on the medical oncologic management of early-stage HR+/HER2- breast cancer: Addressing regional disparities in Spanish-speaking countries.

PURPOSE: Substantial disparities persist in managing early-stage hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer across Spanish-speaking Latin America, including limited access to genomic testing, systemic therapies, and fertility preservation. The Latin American Breast Cancer Association (LABCA) convened an expert panel to produce the first consensus tailored to Spanish-speaking countries. METHODS: A literature review (Embase, PubMed, Scopus, ClinicalKey, LILACS; 2014-2025), informed by ESMO/ASCO/NCCN/SEOM guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024565706), supported statement development. A steering committee of three experts of Spanish nationality supervised the process. Twenty-one specialists from 11 countries participated in a modified Delphi process; 31 items were voted in Round 1 and 25 statements were retained within scope. Consensus was pre-defined as ≥80% agreement (or median 7-9), with a mean/outlier rule reported alongside. RESULTS: Applying the ≥80% rule, 22 of 25 statements (88%) reached full consensus; three (1.3, 2.4, 3.3; 75-76%) were near-consensus and retained with caveats. Recommendations integrated clinicopathologic and molecular factors to guide risk stratification; genomic assays were reserved for selected scenarios and discouraged in very low-risk tumors or ≥4 positive lymph nodes. Consensus also covered ovarian suppression plus endocrine therapy, fertility preservation, sexual-health and genetic evaluation, and adjuvant CDK4/6 and PARP inhibitors when accessible. Marked heterogeneity in access was documented by country and sector. CONCLUSION: This consensus provides the first region-specific, evidence-based, resource-adapted recommendations for early-stage HR+/HER2- breast cancer in Spanish-speaking Latin America, aiming to reduce disparities and strengthen equitable oncology care.

Humans

Tuberculosis and HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVES: To review the epidemiologic, clinical, and pathological characteristics and the public health implications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa. DATA SOURCES: Published medical literature (English and French) and proceedings of international and African conferences on the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). STUDY SELECTION: Selection by the authors of articles most pertinent to HIV infection and tuberculosis in Africa and internationally. DATA EXTRACTION: Direct reporting of quantitative data (eg, HIV seroprevalence levels) and of qualitative descriptions and conclusions from selected literature. DATA SYNTHESIS: High rates (20% to 67%) of HIV infection in patients with tuberculosis have been reported from East, West, Central, and Southern Africa. An increase in tuberculosis cases has been reported at the same time as the emergence of AIDS in several countries. Autopsies in Abidjan, Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), have shown tuberculosis as the most frequent opportunistic infection in patients dying of AIDS. Clinical differences in patients with tuberculosis who were HIV-positive and HIV-negative are reviewed, the most important being a greatly increased mortality rate in HIV-associated disease. Access to HIV testing is required for firm diagnosis, for clinical care and counseling, and for public health surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiology of tuberculosis has been profoundly influenced by the epidemic of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Greatly increased human and material resources are required for this neglected problem in international health.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome