Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2021 May 17;101(1):115431. Epub 2021 May 17.

Department of Medical Microbiology, Haaglanden Medical Center, The Hague, The Netherlands.

Abnormal vaginal discharge may be caused by bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, trichomoniasis and/or aerobic vaginitis. For the development of a diagnostic algorithm, tree-based classification analysis was performed on symptoms, signs and bedside test results of 56 patients, and laboratory tests (culture, Nugent score, qPCRs) were compared. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used as reference test for bacterial vaginosis and aerobic vaginitis, culture for vulvovaginal candidiasis and qPCR for trichomoniasis. Read More

Minerva Pediatr (Torino) 2021 Jun 21. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Audiology Unit, Department of Specialist Surgical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is rare in children, and its etiology remains largely unknown, although viral infections seem to play an important role. The aim of this study is to report 5 children who experienced permanent SSNHL and had dual positivity of serum anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgM and anti-Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM antibodies.

Methods: The study was conducted in a third-level referral audiological center. Read More

Eur J Neurol 2021 Jun 21. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Department and Laboratory of Neurology, National Reference Center for 'rare peripheral neuropathies', University Hospital of Limoges (CHU Limoges), Dupuytren Hospital, 2 avenue Martin Luther King, 87042, Limoges, France.

At present there are no specific tests for the definitive diagnosis of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), but numerous diagnostic criteria have been published over the last decades. It is generally recognized that the EFNS/PNS criteria (published in 2010) have the best sensitivity with a good specificity. Nevertheless, even now, many patients are over-diagnosed with CIDP, leading to an unnecessary risk of adverse events and extra-cost, and on the other hand, some CIDP patients are unfortunately not diagnosed who could have benefited from effective treatment. Read More

J Appl Microbiol 2021 Jun 21. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Background: The emergence of polymyxin resistance, due to transferable mcr-genes, threatens public and animal health as there are limited therapeutic options. As polymyxin is one of the last-line antibiotics, there is a need to contain the spread of its resistance to conserve its efficacy. Herein, we describe current and emerging polymyxin resistance diagnostics to inform faster clinical diagnostic choices. Read More

J Vestib Res 2021 Jun 15. Epub 2021 Jun 15.

Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.

Background: Many epidemiologic studies of vestibular disorders are based on responses to questionnaires which have not been tested against objective tests of the vestibular system.

Objective: The goal was to determine if the dizziness and balance questions used in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) are valid and predict performance on objective tests of the vestibular system (VNG).

Methods: Data from 367 participants recruited from the community, aged 21. Read More

J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2021 Jun 21. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Background: Sarcopenia is an age-related progressive and general skeletal muscle disease associated with negative consequences such as falls, disability, and mortality. An early-stage diagnosis is important to enable adequate treatment, especially in geriatric psychiatry. However, there presently is little information about the feasibility of diagnostic procedures and the prevalence of sarcopenia in clinical geriatric psychiatry settings. Read More

Front Sports Act Living 2021 4;3:625645. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Department of Training and Movement Science, Institute of Sport Science, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.

Several talent identification programs in elementary school have implemented motor diagnostics to introduce children to groups of sports, like game sports, or even to particular sports like soccer. However, as in most other sports, in youth soccer, the predictive value of such early testing is still unclear. This prospective study evaluated the midterm prognostic validity of generic motor performance tests. Read More

TH Open 2021 Apr 16;5(2):e195-e199. Epub 2021 Jun 16.

National Cardiothoracic Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana.

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a significant cause of cardiovascular morbidity, especially among non-white women younger than 55 years. It is a working diagnosis that warrants further investigation due to its varied underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms. Investigations may be hampered by unavailability of testing modalities, cost, and the expertise to carry out the tests, as they are highly specialized. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2021 4;8:665786. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Digestive Diseases Service, University Clinic Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain.

Screening with fecal occult blood test reduces colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality, and is currently implemented in most countries. However, around 40% of screening colonoscopies are normal. Thus, strategies to avoid these colonoscopies are highly necessary. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021 4;11:595554. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD, United States.

Differential diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection (LTBI) remains a public health priority in high TB burden countries. Pulmonary TB is diagnosed by sputum smear microscopy, chest X-rays, and PCR tests for distinct () genes. Clinical tests to diagnose LTBI rely on immune cell stimulation in blood plasma with TB-specific antigens followed by measurements of interferon-γ concentrations. Read More

Front Oncol 2021 3;11:636378. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Background: Although the guidelines recommend gynecological assessment and close monitoring for symptoms of endometrial cancer in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors taking tamoxifen (TAM), the risk of endometrial cancer in young breast cancer survivors has not yet been fully assessed. This study aimed to investigate the risk of developing endometrial cancer and the frequencies of gynecological examinations in young breast cancer survivors taking TAM in South Korea.

Methods: A nationwide retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claims data. Read More

J Cancer 2021 1;12(15):4585-4594. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

Department of Clinical Oncology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.

This study aims to develop a liquid biopsy assay to identify HCC and differentially diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) liver metastasis. Thirty-two microRNAs ("HallMark-32" panel) were designed to target the ten cancer hallmarks in HCC. Quantitative PCR and supervised machine learning models were applied to develop an HCC-specific diagnostic model. Read More

Front Neurol 2021 2;12:656117. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

The Ear Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom.

Auditory temporal processing tests are key clinical measures in order to diagnose central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). Although these tests have been used for decades, there is no up-to-date evidence to determine the effectiveness of detecting the abnormalities in central auditory processing in adults while the available national CAPD guidelines predominantly address CAPD in the pediatric population. To determine the efficacy of the auditory temporal ordering tests [duration pattern test (DPT) and frequency pattern test (FPT)], and a temporal resolution test [gaps-in-noise (GIN) test] for detecting the central auditory processing abnormalities in adults with documented brain pathology. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2021 Jun 3;27:e931285. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Department of Radiology, Centre for Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland.

BACKGROUND Chest imaging may be taken into consideration in detecting viral lung infections, especially if there are no tests available or there is a need for a prompt diagnosis. Imaging modalities enable evaluation of the character and extent of pulmonary lesions and monitoring of the disease course. The aim of this study was to verify the prognostic value of chest CT in COVID-19 patients. Read More

Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim (Engl Ed) 2021 Jun 17. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.

Serum lactate is a non-specific marker of tissue hypoperfusion. Elevated serum lactate is used in the differential diagnosis of acute intestinal ischemia. Although this practice is controversial, in the absence of other validated markers lactate is still used because of its high sensitivity. Read More

Rev Iberoam Micol 2021 Jun 18. Epub 2021 Jun 18.

Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.

In recent years, immunodeficiency condition has experienced a rise among children, who are at risk of invasive fungal infections (IFI) due to their health condition. Cancer, non-malignant hematological diseases, as primary immunodeficiencies, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), extreme prematurity, or critically ill condition in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) are some immunosuppressive situations in children. The use of oncologic therapies, including immunotherapy and monoclonal antibodies, for the treatment of the aforementioned health conditions has led to an increase in morbidity and mortality rates of IFI in children. Read More

Rev Alerg Mex 2021 Jan-Mar;68(1):76-79

Hospital General Universitario, Departamento de Alergología, Ciudad Real, España.

Background: Acrylates are plastic materials that are formed by the polymerization of monomers that are derived from acrylic or methacrylic acid; they have a wide range of applications, and they are increasingly used in medicine.

Case Report: We are reporting two clinical cases of contact dermatitis in the hospital environment; the first one is about a nurse (occupational exposure) and, the second one, about a patient who experienced contact dermatitis after a diagnostic procedure was performed.

Conclusion: New sources of acrylates are identified every year due to the multiple uses of these synthetic resins; these materials are included in medical devices, both for orthopedic diagnosis or follow-up (telemetry, electrodes of electroencephalographs) and treatment (bone cement), as well as for surgery. Read More

Nanomicro Lett 2019 Jul 16;11(1):59. Epub 2019 Jul 16.

State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, People's Republic of China.

Tumor-derived exosomes are actively involved in cancer progression and metastasis and have emerged as a promising marker for cancer diagnosis in liquid biopsy. Because of their nanoscale size, complex biogenesis, and methodological limitations related to exosome isolation and detection, advancements in their analysis remain slow. Microfluidic technology offers a better analytic approach compared with conventional methods. Read More

J Neurol Sci 2021 Jun 17;427:117527. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Cysticercosis Unit, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima, Peru; Center for Global Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru. Electronic address:

Neurocysticercosis is endemic in most of the world and in endemic areas it accounts for approximately 30% of cases of epilepsy. Appropriate diagnosis and management of neurocysticercosis requires understanding the diverse presentations of the disease since these will vary in regards to clinical manifestation, sensitivity of diagnostic tests, and most importantly, therapeutic approach. This review attempts to familiarize tropical neurology practitioners with the diverse types of neurocysticercosis and the more appropriate management approaches for each. Read More

Drug Discov Today 2021 Jun 17. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Laboratorio de Investigación en Genómica, Genética y Bioinformática, Torre de ,Hemato-Oncología, 4to Piso, Sección Hospital Infantil de México, Federico Gómez, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Cuajimalpa, Mexico City, Mexico. Electronic address:

The limitations of conventional diagnostic procedures, such as real-time PCR-based methods and serological tests, have led the scientific community to innovate alternative nucleic acid detection approaches for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, thereby addressing the dire need for increased testing. Such approaches aim to provide rapid, accurate, cost-effective, sensitive, and high-throughput detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, on multiple specimen types, and without specialized equipment and expertise. The CRISPR-Cas13 system functions as a sequence-specific RNA-sensing tool that has recently been harnessed to develop simplified and flexible testing formats. Read More

Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2021 Jun 19. Epub 2021 Jun 19.

Institute of Science of Food Production, National Research Council, Largo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy.

Background: Hazelnut allergy, which is characterized by symptoms that range from mild to severe, is one of the most common allergies in children throughout Europe, and an accurate diagnosis of this allergy is therefore essential. However, lipophilic allergens, such as oleosins, are generally underrepresented in diagnostic tests. We therefore sought to characterize the IgE reactivity of raw and roasted hazelnut oleosins, using the sera of hazelnut allergic pediatric patients. Read More

Age Ageing 2021 Jun 18. Epub 2021 Jun 18.

Consultant in Geriatric Medicine, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Doncaster DN2 5LT, UK.

Biliary disease is common in the older population, and gallbladder dysfunction and increased bile lithogenicity predispose to calculi formation. This case demonstrates an unusual presentation of gallbladder empyema. A 90-year-old male with metastatic prostate cancer presented with hypoactive delirium. Read More

J Clin Rheumatol 2021 Jun 17. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

From the Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Italiano La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.

Background: The prevalence of human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) is variable around the world. Our objectives were to estimate the frequency of HLA-B27 in an Argentinian cohort of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), to evaluate the differences between HLA-B27-positive and HLA-B27-negative patients, and to analyze its performance as a diagnostic biomarker.

Methods: Observational study including patients older than 18 years, with axSpA diagnosis assessed in a fast track program (Reuma-Check SpA). Read More

Rev Med Interne 2021 Jun 15. Epub 2021 Jun 15.

Neurosurgery department A, university hospital of Bordeaux, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, Bordeaux, France; Université de Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5287, INCIA, Zone nord, Bat 2, 2e étage, 146, rue Léo-Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.

Formerly called normal pressure hydrocephalus, communicating chronic hydrocephalus (CCH) is a condition affecting 0.1 to 0.5% of patients over 60years of age. Read More

Vet Parasitol 2021 Jun 11;296:109499. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7036, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.

Since the EU ban on battery cages, many studies have listed Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum as the most common roundworms in the European laying hen population. A complicating factor is that the eggs of these parasites are almost identical. Thus, lack of molecular diagnostic approaches has driven epidemiological studies to take on necropsy for species discrimination, which is labor and cost intensive. Read More

An Sist Sanit Navar 2021 Jun 18;0(0). Epub 2021 Jun 18.

Servicio de Reumatología. Clínica Universidad de Navarra. Pamplona. España..

Background: The diagnostic accuracy of bone scintigraphy (BS) increases with SPECT/CT imaging. It would therefore be appropriate to reassess the diagnostic utility of scintigraphy in sacroiliitis with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA). The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of MRI, SPECT/CT and a combination of both techniques in sacro-iliitis, and to evaluate the correlation between quantitative SPECT/CT indices and quantitative MRI inflammatory lesion scores. Read More

Med Lav 2021 Jun 15;112(3):183-193. Epub 2021 Jun 15.

.

During the last month of 2019, a new Coronavirus from China started to spread all around the world causing a pandemic emergency still ongoing. The outbreak made imperative the need for diagnostic and screening tests that could identify the current and past infection state of an individual. Occupational medicine is facing a very demanding challenge, as the pandemic set off the need to re-evaluate many aspects of workplace safety. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2021 Jun 17. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Department of Dentistry - Division of Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Radiology & Division of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

The objective of this review was to assess and evaluate whether the published diagnostic accuracy studies provide evidence to sustain the current diagnostic guidelines put forth by ACR/EULAR used for patients with suspected Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Literature databases, including Medline, Embase, and EBM Reviews, were searched for relevant studies on the correlation between ACR/EULAR criteria, particularly those with a direct comparison between their accuracy in diagnosing Sjögren's syndrome. We followed Cochrane, QUADAS-2, and STARD guidelines and the four-phase flow diagram by the PRISMA Statement. Read More

VideoGIE 2021 Jun 18;6(6):277-281. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Department of Radiology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California.

Background And Aims: Prompt and accurate differentiation of benign and malignant strictures in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is crucial. ERCP with brush cytology, the most common modality to achieve this, is hindered by a low diagnostic yield. Cholangioscopy can overcome this limitation by establishing a visual diagnosis based on the characteristic morphologic features of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and can aid in targeted biopsies of suspicious lesions. Read More

Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2021 Jun 29;66:102429. Epub 2021 May 29.

Digestive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada/Dr. Sardjito Hospital, 55281, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada/Dr Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Introduction: Acute blunt traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (BTDR) caused by falling from a height is rare. Transabdominal diaphragmatic repair in an acute setting following BTDR requires good clinical decision-making and diagnostic tests.

Case Presentation: A 36-year-old male was involved in a work accident. Read More