ABSTRACT
An immunoturbidimetric assay for cystatin C was optimized with respect to assay imprecision. After investigating the optimum pH, polyethylene glycol concentration and specimen volume, two modifications were introduced: an increase in specimen volume to 25 microL; and an extension of the pre-incubation period to 240 s. These modifications produced an assay with between-batch imprecision (coefficient of variation, n = 10 or 11) ranging from 3-9% at 0.72 mg/L to 1.3% at 5.29 mg/L. The assay was susceptible to interference from lipaemia and haemolysis but not bilirubinaemia in both the original and modified protocol. Extending the pre-incubation to 240 s improved tolerance to common interferences and retained assay applicability in the routine clinical setting.
Subject(s)
Acid-Base Equilibrium/immunology , Cystatins/analysis , Nephelometry and Turbidimetry/methods , Bilirubin/analysis , Bilirubin/blood , Creatinine/analysis , Creatinine/blood , Cystatin C , Cystatins/blood , Cystatins/chemistry , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Immunoassay/methods , Immunoglobulin A/analysis , Immunoglobulin A/blood , Immunoglobulin A/immunology , In Vitro Techniques , Kinetics , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Temperature , Time Factors , Triglycerides/analysis , Triglycerides/blood , Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia/blood , Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia/immunologyABSTRACT
The primary goal in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers is to obtain wound closure as expeditiously as possible and prevent the recurrence of foot wounds due to neuropathy, foot deformity, and poor circulation. Interventions that bring about the quick resolution of afoot wound and reduce the rate of recurrence have been shown to lower the risk of developing a secondary infection and decrease the incidence of lower extremity amputation in the diabetic patient.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biomechanical Phenomena , Diabetic Foot/therapy , Shoes/standards , Equipment Design , Diabetic Neuropathies/therapy , Health Promotion , Diabetic Foot/physiopathologyABSTRACT
The primary goal in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers is to obtain wound closure as expeditiously as possible and prevent the recurrence of foot wounds due to neuropathy, foot deformity, and poor circulation. Interventions that bring about the quick resolution of afoot wound and reduce the rate of recurrence have been shown to lower the risk of developing a secondary infection and decrease the incidence of lower extremity amputation in the diabetic patient.
Subject(s)
Biomechanical Phenomena , Diabetic Foot/therapy , Shoes/standards , Diabetic Foot/physiopathology , Diabetic Neuropathies/therapy , Equipment Design , Health Promotion , HumansABSTRACT
An anatomic classification for lower extremity bracing is presented, along with a review of brace components and their use in the treatment of neurologic or muscular disorders. An approach to bracing that employs the concepts of balance and flexibility has been suggested rather than rigid formulas calculated from poorly defined or established neutral positions for the various affected joints. A team-management approach, including a podiatric, osteopathic, and allopathic physician, therapist, orthotist, and pedorthist, is always recommended to prevent confusion and reduce unnecessary expenses often incurred when different disciplines are involved in the treatment of complex neuromusculoskeletal disorders.
Subject(s)
Foot Diseases/therapy , Muscular Diseases/therapy , Nervous System Diseases/therapy , Orthotic Devices , Biomechanical Phenomena , Braces , Humans , Muscular Diseases/physiopathology , Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology , ShoesABSTRACT
The test-retest stability of the Five Minute Speech Sample, a brief measure of Expressed Emotion (EE), was established in a community sample of predominantly low income, ethnic minority families with children aged from 3 to 14 years. Significant stability was established when Borderline responses were included in the scoring. There was some interchange between High-EE and Borderline-EE, but none of the time one Low-EE respondent gave a second speech sample that included a higher level of EE. Both English and Spanish speaking subjects had stable scores.
Subject(s)
Emotions , Minority Groups/psychology , Mother-Child Relations , Personality Assessment/statistics & numerical data , Psychosocial Deprivation , Verbal Behavior , Adolescent , Affective Symptoms/psychology , Boston , Child , Child Behavior Disorders/psychology , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Learning Disabilities/psychology , Male , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results , Single Parent/psychologyABSTRACT
We propose certain general conditions that we believe are reasonable for any pattern recognition algorithm. We find that these conditions give rise to paradoxical identification. The algorithms are incapable of distinguishing composite patterns and must be able to distinguish patterns at an atomistic level.
Subject(s)
Pattern Recognition, Automated , Perception , AlgorithmsSubject(s)
Attitude , Eating , Personality Inventory , Adolescent , Age Factors , Child , Feeding Behavior , Feeding and Eating Disorders/diagnosis , Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , PsychometricsABSTRACT
Mycetoma is a chronic subcutaneous fungal infection characterized by tumefaction, draining sinuses, and grains. It is most common in the tropics but occasionally occurs in the United States. We report a case of a mycetoma affecting the foot of a 38-year-old mentally retarded man from northern New England. The causal organism was identified as Pseudallescheria boydii, the most common cause of mycetoma in the United States. The patient showed a partial response to 8 months of ketoconazole therapy.
