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Objetive: This cross-sectional and retrospective study aimed to investigate the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) oral samples that contained granulomas with caseous necrosis. Methods: FFPE biopsies that showed granulomas with caseous necrosis, suggestive of the diagnosis of tuberculosis, were selected. M. tuberculosiswas searched by Ziehl-Neelsen staining (ZN), immunohistochemistry (IHC), nested-PCR, and GeneXpert® MTB/RIF assays. Results: Nine samples showing granulomas with caseous necrosis were selected. The study showed a male predominance, with a ratio of 2.5:1, with a mean age of 50 (19-89) years, and the tongue was the most affected anatomical site (n=4). The ZN technique did not detect bacilli in any sample, and IHC staining showed a coarse granular pattern staining, suggestive of M. tuberculosis, in three of them. Nested-PCR and the GeneXpert® MTB/RIF assays were positive in two and three of the samples, respectively. Conclusion: Molecular tests and IHC may be useful auxiliary methods for suspected cases of oral tuberculosis. (AU)
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Humans , Tuberculosis, Oral , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Biopsy , Immunohistochemistry , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Clinical Laboratory TechniquesABSTRACT
Electrophoresis technique, established in the mid-20th century, has derived many technical branches over many years of development, which plays an important role in clinical laboratory and scientific researches. The automation, intelligence, and miniaturization will promote continuous progress of electrophoresis technology in assisting the diagnosis, treatment and mechanism study of clinical diseases.
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Biomarkers is of great significance for clinical diagnosis. Lateral flow assay (LFA) is a test method which developed based on paper chromatography and has a wide range of applications in testing disease biomarkers. The current researches of LFA mainly focus on the detection specificity, precision and sensitivity, as well as multiple detection of disease markers or simultaneous detection of multiple diseases. This artical reviews the systemic design, working principles of LFA along with the application research of LFA in detecting disease markers, in order to provide reference for development and application of LFA.
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Clinical application of mass spectrometry technology has attracted the attention of clinical laboratory experts due to its high sensitivity, high specificity, and capacities of simultaneous detection of multiple compounds. In recent years, mass spectrometry technology has made significant achievements in the fields of identification of pathogenic microorganism, detection of trace elements and heavy metals, small molecule hormones, vitamins, amino acids, peptides and proteins, as well as therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and poisoning drugs screening. In order to further clarify the opportunities and challenges brought by this complex mass spectrometry technology in the field of clinical laboratory, the Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine invited experts and scholars of laboratory medicine to share their experience and opinions on related items focusing on the positioning of mass spectrometry technology in the clinical laboratory, the development and improvement of the clinical laboratory by mass spectrometry technology, the challenges of interpreting mass spectrometry test results, the challenges of operating and managing clinical mass spectrometry laboratories, and ways of improving the application of clinical mass spectrometry laboratories with this technology. Agreement was achieved in that the introduction of mass spectrometry technology into the clinical laboratory could bring new directions and opportunities for clinical testing and research, and also is associated with a series of challenges such as the difficulty of sample pretreatment, the high cost and complexity of mass spectrometry technology, the complexity of data processing and interpretation, the lack of standards and norms, and the issue of determining the price of mass spectrometry examinations.
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ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES To evaluate the performance of geneXpert MTB/Rif versus conventional methods (bacilloscopy and culture) in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in a Central Public Health Laboratory (LACEN, Tocantins), Northern Brazil. METHODS Retrospective study, with information from 1,973 suspected cases of tuberculosis from patients treated from January 2015 to December 2020. RESULTS From the culture (reference standard), the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the geneXpert MTB/Rif were 100%, 97%, 74%, 100%, and 97%, respectively, against 85%, 98%, 80%, 98%, and 97% of bacilloscopy. CONCLUSIONS The geneXpert MTB/Rif performed similarly to culture and better than bacilloscopy. Although positive cases with negative culture should be evaluated with caution, its routine use is important for the early detection of tuberculosis.
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Humans , Male , Female , Tuberculosis , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Mycobacterium tuberculosisABSTRACT
Abstract Objective: To evaluate the correlation between multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) findings and laboratory test results in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Materials and Methods: A total of 57 patients were evaluated. Patients with suspected PTB were divided into groups according to the final diagnosis (confirmed or excluded), and the groups were compared in terms of sociodemographic variables, clinical symptoms, tomography findings, and laboratory test results. Results: Among the patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PTB, small pulmonary nodules with a peribronchovascular distribution were significantly more common in the patients with a positive sputum smear microscopy result (47.4% vs. 8.3%; p = 0.046), as were a miliary pattern (36.8% vs. 0.0%; p = 0.026), septal thickening (84.2% vs. 41.7%; p = 0.021), and lymph node enlargement (52.6% vs. 8.3%; p = 0.020). Small pulmonary nodules with a centrilobular distribution were significantly more common among the culture-positive patients (75.0% vs. 35.7%; p = 0.045), as was a tree-in-bud pattern (91.7% vs. 42.9%; p = 0.014). A tree-in-bud pattern, one of the main tomography findings characteristic of PTB, had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 71.0%, 73.1%, 75.9%, and 67.9%, respectively. Conclusion: MDCT presented reliable predictive values for the main tomography findings in the diagnosis of PTB, being a safe tool for the diagnosis of PTB in patients with clinical suspicion of the disease. It also appears to be a suitable tool for the selection of patients who are candidates for more complex, invasive examinations from among those with high clinical suspicion of PTB and a negative sputum smear microscopy result.
Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a correlação entre os achados na tomografia computadorizada multidetectores (TCMD) comparativamente aos resultados laboratoriais em pacientes com tuberculose pulmonar (TBP). Materiais e Métodos: Amostra de 57 pacientes foi avaliada. Pacientes com suspeita clínica de TBP foram divididos de acordo com a positividade do diagnóstico, e as variáveis sociodemográficas, sintomas clínicos e achados tomográficos e laboratoriais foram comparados. Resultados: Nos pacientes com TBP e baciloscopia positiva, foram verificadas frequências significativas para pequenos nódulos pulmonares com distribuição peribroncovascular (47,4% vs. 8,3%; p = 0,046) e miliar (36,8% vs. 0,0%; p = 0,026), espessamento septal (84,2% vs. 41,7%; p = 0,021) e linfonodomegalias (52,6% vs. 8,3%; p = 0,020). Em relação à cultura, os pequenos nódulos pulmonares com distribuição centrolobular (75,0% vs. 35,7%; p = 0,045) e opacidades em árvore em brotamento (91,7% vs. 42,9%; p = 0,014) apresentaram frequências significativamente superiores. Medidas de sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo e valor preditivo negativo para árvore em brotamento, um dos principais achados tomográficos característicos da TBP, foram, respectivamente, 71.0%, 73,1%, 75,9% e 67,9%. Conclusão: A TCMD apresentou medidas preditivas confiáveis para os principais achados tomográficos no diagnóstico de TBP, sendo uma ferramenta segura para o diagnóstico da doença em pacientes com suspeita clínica. Também se mostrou adequada para selecionar os pacientes para exames mais complexos e invasivos entre os com alta suspeita clínica de TBP e baciloscopia negativa.
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ABSTRACT Objective: To develop a rapid method for analysing polyphenols, which are potentially active antioxidants against neonatal oxidative stress, from small human milk (HM) volumes. Methods: Acid and alkaline extractions were compared using two dyes: Folin-Ciocalteu and Fast Blue BB. Linearity, sensitivity, recovery percentage, polyphenol content, precision, and stability were assessed in 14 HM samples and compared using the Kruskal-Wallis H test (p<0.05). The best technique was applied to 284 HM samples to determine their polyphenolic content and its association with maternal diet by multifactorial linear regression. Results: Acidic extraction successfully recovered the gallic acid reference standard, whereas alkaline extraction overestimated it. Calibration curves for all methods were linear (R2>0.96) up to 500 mg/L. All bicarbonate-based Folin-Ciocalteu methods assayed were stable and repeatable, whereas Fast Blue BB-based variants were not. HM polyphenols (mean=94.68 mg/L) positively correlated to the dietary intake of hydroxycinnamic acids, the most consumed polyphenolic family in this population. Conclusions: A bicarbonate-based Folin-Ciocalteu micromethod allowed the accurate determination of polyphenols in HM, which might be useful for translational research settings and HM banks.
RESUMO Objetivo: Desenvolver um método rápido para analisar polifenóis, que são antioxidantes potencialmente ativos contra o estresse oxidativo neonatal, em pequenos volumes de leite humano (LH). Métodos: Foram comparadas extrações ácidas e alcalinas usando dois corantes: Folin-Ciocalteu e Fast Blue BB. Foram avaliadas variáveis como linearidade, sensibilidade, percentagem de recuperação, teor de polifenóis, precisão e estabilidade em 14 amostras de LH, comparadas usando o teste de Kruskal-Wallis H (p<0,05). A melhor técnica foi aplicada a 284 amostras de LH para determinar seu teor polifenólico e sua associação com a dieta materna por regressão linear multifatorial. Resultados: A extração ácida recuperou com sucesso o padrão de referência do ácido gálico, enquanto a extração alcalina o superestimou. As curvas de calibração para todos os métodos foram lineares (R2>0,96) até os 500 mg/L. Todos os métodos testados baseados em Folin-Ciocalteu com bicarbonato foram estáveis e repetíveis, enquanto as variantes baseadas em Fast Blue BB não. Os polifenóis do HM (média=94,68 mg/L) correlacionaram-se positivamente com a ingestão dietética de ácidos hidroxicinâmicos, a família de polifenóis mais consumida nesta população. Conclusões: Um micrométodo baseado em bicarbonato de Folin-Ciocalteu permitiu a determinação precisa de polifenóis no HM, o que pode ser útil para configurações de pesquisa translacional e bancos de HM.
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Introdução: na atenção primária à saúde, a atuação de médicos generalistas é importante no rastreamento e no acompanhamento dos estágios iniciais da doença renal crônica devido à alta prevalência, à falta de especialistas, ao impacto na morbimortalidade e qualidade de vida e ao elevado custo aos sistemas de saúde. O uso de aplicativos móveis tornou-se importante na medicina contemporânea por facilitar o acesso à informação, o que otimiza a prestação de cuidados à saúde.Objetivos: desenvolver e validar um aplicativo móvel sobre testes laboratoriais na doença renal crônica para médicos generalistas. Métodos: estudo na modalidade de produção tecnológica, com desenvolvimento de software a partir de revisão da literatura, com validação por especialistas (nefrologistas) e por médicos generalistas. A validação se deu através de respostas a questionários, que avaliaram conteúdo, compreensão, linguagem e apresentação gráfica do aplicativo. Para a análise da consistência interna dos questionários foi utilizado o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach e para avaliar a concordância dos médicos sobre aspectos do aplicativo utilizou-se o Índice de Validade de Conteúdo. O valor adotado para o Índice de Validade de Conteúdo foi maior do que 80%. Resultados: as respostas dos nefrologistas (n=9) e dos médicos generalistas (n=13) foram, respectivamente, medianas de idade de 40 (35-71) anos e 45 (30-50) anos; sexo feminino 5 (55%) e 7 (54%); coeficiente alfa de Cronbach de 0,8025 e 0,9145; Índice de Validade de Conteúdo Global de 95,6% e 92,1%. Conclusão: a confiabilidade das respostas aos questionários mostrou-se boa e houve excelente concordância entre os juízes sobre os aspectos do aplicativo móvel
Introduction: in primary health care, the performance of general practitioners is important in tracking and monitoring the early stages of chronic kidney disease, due to the high prevalence, lack of specialists, impact on morbidity and quality of life and the high cost to health systems. The use of mobile applications has become important in contemporary medicine because it facilitates access to information, which optimizes the provision of health care. Objectives: to develop and validate a mobile application on laboratory tests in chronic kidney disease, for general practitioners. Methods: study in the technological production modality, with software development based on a literature review, with validation by specialists (nephrologists) and by general practitioners. Validation took place through answers to questionnaires, which evaluated content, understanding, language and graphic presentation of the mobile application. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to analyze the internal consistency of the questionnaires, and the Content Validity Index was used to assess physicians' agreement on aspects of the app. The value adopted for the mobile application was greater than 80%. Results: the responses of nephrologists (n=9) and general practitioners (n=13) were, respectively, median age 40 (35-71) years and 45 (30-50) years, 5 (55%) and 7 (54%) were female, Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.8025 and 0.9145, Global Content Validity Index of 95.56% and 92.13%. Conclusion: the reliability of the responses to the questionnaires was good and there was excellent agreement between the judges on aspects of the mobile application
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Objective:To evaluate the value of serum protein electrophoresis in the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after hip and knee arthroplasty.Methods:The data of 171 patients who underwent one side hip or knee revision surgery in the affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from August 2013 to June 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the reasons for revision, 55 patients in PJI group, 29 males and 26 females, aged 67.38±9.60 years, 26 hips and 29 knees, were classified as Tsukayama type IV; Aseptic loosening (AL) group consisted of 116 patients, 67 males and 49 females, aged 69.69±9.20 years, 97 hips and 19 knees .The ratios of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), D-dimer, fibrinogen, serum total protein, serum albumin, serum globulin and serum protein electrophoresis bands in the two groups were statistically analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of each index were calculated according to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the diagnostic value was compared according to the area under the curve (AUC).Results:There was no significant difference in age, sex or body mass index (BMI) between PJI group and AL group ( P>0.05), but there was significant difference in joint type with 26 hips and 29 knees in PJI group, 97 hips and 19 knees in AL group (χ 2=24.41, P<0.001). The proportion of α1 globulin band was 6.40% (5.30%, 8.10%) in PJI group, which increased significantly compared to 4.20% (3.90%, 4.80%) in AL group ( H=453.50, P<0.001). Albumin band was 49.00% (44.00%, 52.20%) in PJI group, which decreased significantly compared to 54.35% (51.25%, 56.70%) in AL group ( H=4 954.00, P<0.001). The AUC of CRP, ESR, D-dimer, fibrinogen, albumin band and α1 globulin band were 0.87[95% CI (0.80, 0.93)], 0.88[95% CI (0.82, 0.94)], 0.67[95% CI (0.58, 0.76)], 0.87[95% CI (0.82, 0.93)], 0.78[95% CI (0.70, 0.85)] and 0.87[95% CI (0.81, 0.93)], respectively. Conclusion:Albumin bands and α1 globulin bands in serum protein electrophoresis had high diagnostic value for PJI, and the accuracy of α1 globulin bands was as good as that of routine inflammatory markers such as CRP and ESR.
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With the continuous development of laboratory medicine, the establishment of laboratory clinic has attracted more attention from hospital management departments and laboratory departments. In this paper, we discuss the establishment and function of laboratory clinic from five aspects: the formation of laboratory physician team, the location and equipment, the scope, the regulation and the value and clinical importance, referring to the training project of foreign laboratory physicians and initial experience of domestic hospital laboratory clinics. At present, the establishment of laboratory clinic in most hospitals is still in the active exploratory stage. The standardized rules and regulations of establishment and operation, and the training of multi-disciplinary physicians are the essential requirements and prerequisites for the sustainable development of the laboratory clinics.
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Objective:Application study of outcome-based education teaching model in practice teaching Of clinical medical laboratory.Methods:According to the teaching model, A total of 60 interns from the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China from June 2021 to May 2022 were selected as the research objects and they were randomly number table method divided into two groups, the traditional teaching group is 30 cases and the OBE group is 30 cases.The Self-regulated Learning Effectiveness Evaluation Scale is used to evaluate the effectiveness of self-regulated learning. The assessment scores (skill operation, case analysis, clinical communication, exit examination,each 50 points) and teaching model satisfaction were compared between the two groups.Results:The results of the two groups were compared to find out the score of the examination ( P>0.05).After practice, the OBE group was significantly better than the traditional teaching group in skill operation test, morphological recognition test, case analysis test aspects ( P<0.05). According to the evaluation of students′ independent learning effectiveness, it can be seen that the OBE group has independent learning ability, self-confidence, ability to acquire knowledge, and logical thinking ability etc. The OBE group scored higher than the traditional teaching group ( P<0.05). There was no significant significance in teachers′ teaching enthusiasm effect score ( P>0.05). Scoring teaching content, teaching difficulties, teaching design, teaching satisfaction etc, the OBE group was significantly higher than the traditional teaching group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Application study of outcome-based education teaching model in practice teaching of clinical medical laboratory. It can effectively improve the clinical practice and clinical communication ability of students, so as to more effectively improve the social adaptability and post competence of clinical medical laboratory graduates.
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Objective:To investigate the correlations of endoscopic evaluation results with laboratory indices and clinical disease activity in Crohn disease (CD) patients with different intestinal involvement.Methods:Data of 147 patients diagnosed as having CD who visited the Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2022 were collected retrospectively. According to the involvement of intestinal segment, patients were divided into three groups: the group with isolated small intestinal involvement ( n=55), the group with both small intestinal and large intestinal involvement ( n=48), and the group with isolated large intestinal involvement ( n=44). Correlations of endoscopic evaluation (based on CDEIS) with laboratory indices and clinical disease activity (based on Harvey-Bradshaw index) were analyzed. Results:C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) could be used for the prediction of endoscopic disease activity. The areas under curve (AUC) of receiver operator characteristic (ROC) were 0.677 (0.506-0.849) and 0.744 (0.597-0.890), respectively. In terms of determing clinical disease activity, clinical Harvey-Bradshaw index was consistent with endoscopic CDEIS score in 65.3% (96/147) patients, showing a low positive correlation ( r=0.260, P<0.05). In subgroup analysis for patients with isolated small intestinal involvement, CRP showed no predictive value for clinical disease activity [AUC (95% CI): 0.617 (0.461-0.773), P=0.148], while for endoscopic activity neither CRP nor ESR showed predictive value [AUC (95% CI): 0.537 (0.146-0.929), P=0.829; AUC (95% CI): 0.571 (0.153-0.990), P=0.680]. Furthermore, for patients with isolated small intestinal involvement and both small intestinal and large intestinal involvement, no correlation was found between clinical Harvey-Bradshaw index and endoscopic CDEIS score ( r=0.222, P=0.092; r=0.142, P=0.322). Conclusion:For CD patients with small intestinal involvement, especially isolated small intestinal involvement, laboratory indices and clinical disease activity cannot accurately reflect endoscopic disease activity. Great importance should be attached to evaluation of the extent and activity of intestinal lesions by endoscopy, especially enteroscopy.
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Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMRS) is a branch of spectroscopy, which can be used to determine the number, type and relative position of components in the mixture. Due to its high throughput, high sensitivity and high stability, especially its "fingerprint", non-destructive and non-biased detection of metabolites, NMRS has become one of the most commonly used analytical and detection techniques in metabolomics. Based on the research of clinical laboratory application, this review briefly expounds the technical principle of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, introduces the development and latest research results of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in biomedical application fields such as blood lipid analysis, tumor detection, prediction of mental and nervous system diseases, infectious diseases, nutrition and health management, and discusses the development prospect of clinical translational medicine.
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Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is a newly developed isothermal amplification technology with high sensitivity and specificity. The combination of RPA and lateral flow strips (LFS) enables rapid identification of target genes. This technique has been widely used in medicine, food, botany, and other fields. This review generalizes the use of RPA-LFS technology for the diagnosing pathogenic microorganisms, providing a reference for point-of-care diagnosis of pathogenic microorganisms.
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Detection of early drug abuse has driven the use of mass spectrometry in clinical laboratories across North America. Mass spectrometry-based assays have been increasingly implemented in various clinical disciplines for their advantages in high analytical sensitivity, specificity and multiplexing capacity. Mass spectrometry is now routinely used for the clinical analysis of small molecule compounds, peptides, proteins, clinical toxicology and microbiology. Although more FDA-approved platforms and reagents need to be commercially available, there is no doubt that mass spectrometry technology has demonstrated rich clinical applications.
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Most of the clinical mass spectrometry methods are laboratory-developed tests and lack standardization. Therefore, quality management plays a particularly important role. Compared with conventional methods, mass spectrometry methods have specific quality management points and countermeasures. Firstly, the accuracy of standard and method performance verification should be emphasized in the development stage. Secondly, during actual operation, individual review of data such as retention time, internal standard intensity, and ion ratio of samples is necessary. It is also important to analyze the signal-to-noise ratio and internal variability across the batch of samples as a whole. For long-term project management, retrospective analysis and participation in interlaboratory quality evaluation projects are essential.
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A hantavirose é uma zoonose de distribuição mundial que utiliza como vetores roedores, musaranhos, toupeiras e morcegos. Os sintomas da infecção pelo hantavírus assemelham-se aos de diversas doenças, por isso o diagnóstico laboratorial é crucial para o tratamento precoce. Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão da literatura sobre as características e diagnóstico laboratorial da hantavirose. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura com base no modelo PRISMA, com seleção de estudos nas bases de dados Portal de Periódicos da Capes, PubMed/Medline, SciELO, ScienceDirect e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS). Foram empregados os descritores: hantavírus, diagnóstico laboratorial, exames e zoonose, em português e inglês, no período de 2015 a 2022, sendo selecionados 19 artigos científicos em atendimento aos critérios de inclusão. Resultados e Discussão: Diversas técnicas diagnósticas podem ser empregadas em casos de hantavirose, sendo a biologia molecular a mais empregada, conjuntamente com a imunologia. Há outros recursos utilizados para monitoramento e evolução da doença, como a bioquímica, a hematologia e a imagenologia. Para a ocorrência de hantavirose é necessário um ambiente propício, clima específico e contato com hospedeiro suscetível, podendo evoluir para quadros assintomáticos ou sintomáticos com complicações graves. Conclusão: O diagnóstico dessa doença é desafiador e requer investigação detalhada que inclua a sintomatologia do paciente, o histórico de exposição a animais reservatórios e os resultados de exames laboratoriais. Como desfechos negativos da hantavirose incluem-se a febre hemorrágica com síndrome renal, a síndrome pulmonar por hantavírus e o óbito
Hantavirus is a worldwide distributed zoonosis that uses rodents, shrews, moles and bats as vectors. The symptoms of hantavirus infection resemble those of many diseases, so laboratory diagnosis is crucial for early treatment. Objective: The present study aimed to conduct a literature review on the characteristics and laboratory diagnosis of hantavirus. Methods: This is an integrative literature review based on the PRISMA model, with a selection of studies in the Capes Portal de Periódicos, PubMed/Medline, SciELO, ScienceDirect and Virtual Health Library databases, using the descriptors: hantavirus, laboratory diagnosis, exams, and zoonosis, in portuguese and english, from 2015 to 2022, and nineteen scientific articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected. Results and Discussion: Several techniques can be used in cases of hantavirus, with molecular biology being the most evidenced along with immunology. There are other parameters that are used for monitoring and evolution of the disease, such as biochemistry, hematology, and imaging. For the hantavirus disease, an adequate environment, specific climate and contact with a susceptible host are necessary, which may lead to asymptomatic conditions or symptoms with more serious complications. Conclusion: The diagnosis of this disease is challenging and requires detailed investigation that includes the patient's symptoms, the history of exposure to reservoir animals and the results of laboratory tests. Negative outcomes of hantavirus infection include hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and death
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Humans , Male , Female , Hantavirus Infections/diagnosis , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Argentina , Switzerland , Turkey , United States , Belgium , Bolivia , Brazil , Canada , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Chile , China , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Kazakhstan , Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal SyndromeABSTRACT
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The thrombin generation test (TGT) has shown promise for investigation of hemorrhagic and thrombotic diseases. However, despite its potential, it still needs standardization. Moreover, few studies have established reference values for TGT parameters. In Brazil, these values have not yet been established. OBJECTIVE: To determine TGT performance and reference intervals for TGT parameters in healthy individuals. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted among participants in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto, ELSA-Brasil). METHODS: The reference sample consisted of 620 healthy individuals. The calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT) method, under low and high tissue factor (TF) conditions, was used to assess thrombin generation. Test performance was analyzed using intra and interassay coefficients of variation (CV) and reference intervals were calculated using the nonparametric method proposed by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. RESULTS: The intraassay CV ranged from 1.4% to 2.2% and the interassay CV, 6.8% to 14.7%. The reference intervals for TGT parameters under low and high TF conditions were, respectively: lagtime: 3.0-10.3 and 1.4-3.7 min; endogenous thrombin potential (ETP): 1134.6-2517.9 and 1413.6-2658.0 nM.min; normalized ETP: 0.6-1.3 and 0.7-1.4; peak: 103.2-397.7 and 256.4-479.0 nM; normalized peak: 0.3-1.3 and 0.7-1.2; and time-to-peak: 5.6-16.0 and 3.4-6.7 min. These parameters were categorized relative to sex. Conclusion: TGT performance was adequate and the proposed reference intervals were similar to those of other studies. Our findings may be useful for consolidating the TGT, through contributing to its standardization and validation.
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Humans , Thrombin , Reference Values , Brazil , Cross-Sectional Studies , Longitudinal StudiesABSTRACT
Background: Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) is a serious and frequent complication among cirrhotic patients with ascites and can be diagnosed by cytological analysis of the ascitic fluid. The microbiological culture of ascitic fluid, however, is positive in less than 40% of SBP cases, which often results in inappropriate antimicrobial therapy. Empirical therapy may be suboptimal, increasing patient's risk of aggravation, or overestimated, unnecessarily boosting bacterial resistance. Objective: This experimental laboratory study aimed to standardize and verify the technical feasibility of ascitic fluid vacuum filtration, as a way to optimize the etiological diagnosis of SBP, compared to the automated method. Method: The method evaluated and standardized in this study was ascitic fluid vacuum filtration. Its principle is the concentration of bacteria on a filter membrane. Results: This study included 36 cirrhotic patients treated at a public university hospital between 11.13.2017 and 06.30.2019. Among them, 47.2% (17/36) presented cytology test results compatible with SBP. For these patients, culture sensitivity using the automated method was 35.3% (6/17), against 11.8% (2/17) with the vacuum filtration method. Conclusion: In conclusion, vacuum filtration does not improve the microbiological diagnosis of SBP in this population compared to the automated method (AU)
Contexto: A Peritonite Bacteriana Espontânea (PBE) é uma complicação grave e frequente entre pacientes cirróticos com ascite, diagnosticada por meio da análise citológica do líquido ascítico. A cultura microbiológica do líquido ascítico, por sua vez, é positiva em menos de 40% dos casos de PBE, o que resulta frequentemente na instituição de terapia antimicrobiana inapropriada. A terapia empírica pode ser subótima, aumentando o risco de agravamento do paciente, ou superestimada, impulsionando desnecessariamente a resistência bacteriana. Objetivo: Estudo experimental laboratorial, propôs padronizar e verificar a viabilidade técnica da filtração a vácuo do líquido ascítico, como forma de otimizar o diagnóstico etiológico na PBE, comparativamente ao sistema automatizado de culturas de sangue. Método: O método avaliado e padronizado neste estudo foi a da filtragem a vácuo do líquido ascítico. Esse tem como princípio a concentração da bactéria em uma membrana filtrante. Resultados: Nesse estudo, foram incluídos 36 pacientes cirróticos atendidos em um hospital público universitário, entre 13.11.2017 e 30.06.2019. Entre eles, 47,2% (17/36) apresentaram citologia compatível com PBE. Nesses, a sensibilidade da cultura pelo método semi-automatizado foi de 35,3% (6/17) e da cultura pelo método da filtragem a vácuo foi de 11,8% (2/17). Conclusão: Em conclusão, a filtragem a vácuo não melhora o diagnóstico microbiológico da PBE em relação ao método automatizado (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Peritonitis , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Liver Cirrhosis , MicrobiologyABSTRACT
RESUMEN Fundamento Las pruebas rápidas para el diagnóstico del SARS-CoV-2 constituyen opciones atractivas por su simplicidad, rapidez y rentabilidad; pero poseen diferentes grados de sensibilidad y especificad diagnóstica. Objetivo evaluar el desempeño analítico de pruebas rápidas para detectar anticuerpos IgG/IgM anti COVID-19. Métodos estudio descriptivo, realizado con los pacientes ingresados en el Centro Especializado Ambulatorio Héroes de Playa Girón, de Cienfuegos, con diagnóstico presuntivo, probable o confirmado de COVID-19 durante dos períodos de tiempo. A todos se les realizó la prueba rápida para detectar anticuerpos anti COVID-19, además de un ensayo confirmatorio por biología molecular. Se calcularon la sensibilidad y especificidad diagnósticas, los valores predictivos y la eficiencia de la prueba rápida dentro de un intervalo de confianza del 95 %. Resultados se obtuvo una excelente especificidad (98,75 %) y regular sensibilidad (54,54 %), así como buenos valores predictivos y eficiencia diagnóstica global. Conclusión Las pruebas rápidas anti COVID-19 evaluadas mostraron un desempeño diagnóstico adecuado. Resultan una alternativa diagnóstica asequible y valiosa para evaluar exposición previa al SARS-CoV-2. Su uso clínico está restringido para ciertas situaciones médicas; sin embargo, constituyen una herramienta epidemiológica útil.
ABSTRACT Background Rapid tests for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 are attractive options due to their simplicity, speed and cost-effectiveness; but they have different degrees of sensitivity and diagnostic specificity. Objective to evaluate the analytical performance of rapid tests to detect IgG/IgM antibodies against COVID-19. Methods descriptive study, carried out with patients admitted to the Héroes de Playa Girón Specialized Ambulatory Center, in Cienfuegos, with a presumptive, probable or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 during two periods of time. All of them underwent a rapid test to detect anti-COVID-19 antibodies, in addition to a confirmatory molecular biology test. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, predictive values, and rapid test efficiency were calculated within a 95% confidence interval. Results excellent specificity (98.75%) and regular sensitivity (54.54%) were obtained, as well as good predictive values and overall diagnostic efficiency. Conclusion The rapid anti-COVID-19 tests evaluated showed adequate diagnostic performance. They constitute an affordable and valuable diagnostic alternative to assess previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Its clinical use is restricted to certain medical situations; however, they constitute a useful epidemiological tool.