ABSTRACT
The tap to half relaxation time of tendon achilles reflex was measured in thirty control subjects, forty-five thyrotoxic and sixty hypothyroid patients. The half relaxation time in the control males and females was 279.33 +/- 76.39 msec and 320.00 +/- 52.37 msec. respectively. In thyrotoxic males and females the half relaxation time was 256.67 +/- 31.62 msec (P less than 0.01) and 252.50 +/- 47.68 msec (P less than 0.01) respectively. Amongst the hypothyroid male and female patients the half relaxation time was 405.0 +/- 35.56 msec (P less than 0.01) and 422.5 +/- 115.36 (P less than 0.01) respectively. As all these values were statistically significant, we consider the photomotographic measurement of ankle reflex as an important aid to the diagnosis of thyroid hormone imbalances.
Subject(s)
Adult , Electrocardiography/instrumentation , Female , Humans , Hypothyroidism/diagnosis , Male , Reflex, Stretch/physiology , Thyroid Function Tests/methods , Thyroid Hormones/blood , Thyrotoxicosis/diagnosisABSTRACT
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assays were performed on effusion fluid and plasma samples of 55 patients; 38 with malignant and 17 with benign disease. Sensitivity of plasma CEA was 60.5 per cent while specificity was 76.5 per cent. Sensitivity of effusion fluid CEA was 52.63 per cent but specificity was 100 per cent. Sensitivity of the cytological examination of the fluid was 60.5 per cent and no false positive diagnosis was made. Detection rate of malignancy increased to 81.6 per cent (31 of 38) when cytology and effusion fluid CEA were used in adjunction for diagnosis, with 100 per cent specificity.