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Diagnostic Terms (diagnostic + term)

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Medical Sciences100%

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Clinical overview of the synucleinopathies

MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue S6 2003
Maria J. Martí MD
Abstract The term synucleinopathies is used to name a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by fibrillary aggregates of ,-synuclein protein in the cytoplasm of selective populations of neurons and glia. These disorders include Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), pure autonomic failure (PAF), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Clinically, they are characterized by a chronic and progressive decline in motor, cognitive, behavioural, and autonomic functions, depending on the distribution of the lesions. Because of clinical overlap, differential diagnosis is sometimes very difficult. Parkinsonism is the predominant symptom of PD, but it can be indistinguishable from the parkinsonism of DLB and MSA. Autonomic dysfunction, which is an isolated finding in PAF, may be present in PD and DLB, but is usually more prominent and appears earlier in MSA. DLB could be the same disease as PD but with widespread cortical pathological states, leading to dementia, fluctuating cognition, and the characteristic visual hallucinations. The deposition of aggregates of synuclein in neurons and glia suggests that a common pathogenic mechanism may exist for these disorders. Even though synuclein may play an important role in disease development in these disorders, in light of the different symptom complex and prognosis and management issues that characterize each disorder, we think that the term synucleinopathy has little practical value as a diagnostic term for the clinician. Clinicians should attempt to reach standard clinical diagnosis on patients, such as PD, PAF, or MSA. © 2003 Movement Disorder Society [source]

Nursing Diagnosis and Nursing Theory: Exploration of Factors Inhibiting and Supporting Simultaneous Use

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 2 2002
FAAN, Noreen C. Frisch PhD
PURPOSE. To explore the values and philosophies of nursing theories that inhibit the simultaneous use of nursing diagnosis and nursing theory. SOURCES.Published articles, books, book chapters. DATA SYNTHESIS. Four factors in the literature and reflected in practice may have had a negative influence on the use of nursing diagnoses: (a) commitment to the uniqueness of each person, (b) an abandonment of the nursing process, (c) a perspective that nursing care is an evolving interaction, and (d) a belief that theory-derived language is more articulate and precise than standard classifications. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.Strategies for combining theory and diagnoses include emphasizing the diagnostic terms as professional shorthand and permitting flexibility in modifying diagnoses as needed; widely disseminating the concept that classification can be used effectively with newer iterations of the nursing process reflecting circular, simultaneous, and intuitive processes; developing classification language based on concepts of hypothesis and perception; and including diagnostic categories associated with theoretical perspectives. Search terms:Nursing classifications, nursing diagnoses, nursing theory Diagnostics infirmiers et théories de soins: Exploration des facteurs qui freinent et soutiennent leur utilisation simultanée BUT.Explorer les valeurs et les conceptions à la base des théories de soins qui inhibent I'utilisation des diagnostics infirmiers avec les théories de soin. SOURCES.Articles, manuels, chapitres d'ouvrages. SYNTHÈSE DES DONNÉES.Les données de la littérature professionnelle et l'examen de la pratique ont permis d'identifier quatre facteurs qui ont pu avoir une influence négative sur l'utilisation des diagnostics infirmiers: (a) l'importance donnée au caractère unique de chaque personne; (b) l'abandon de la démarche de soins; (c) l'idée que le soin est fait d'interactions en évolution constante; (d) la croyance que le langage découlant de la théorie est plus précis et articulé que les classifications normalisées. IMPLICATIONS POUR LA PRATIQUE.Quelques stratégies pourraient faciliter la combinaison de la théorie et des diagnostics, notamment: souligner le fait que les termes des diagnostics constituent une sorte de sténographie professionnelle et permettre la flexibilité pour les modifier; disséminer le fait que les classifications peuvent être utiles dans une démarche de soin rénovée, reflétant les aspects circulaires, simultanés et intuitifs du raisonnement; développer un langage basé sur les concepts d'hypothéses et de perceptions et inclure des catégories diagnostiques associées à des courants théoriques. Mots-clés:Classifications de soins, diagnostics infirmiers, théories de soins Diagnóstico de enfermagem e teoria de enfermagem: Exploração dos fatores inibidores e estimuladores do seu uso simultâneo OBJETIVO.Explorar os valores e filosofias das teorias de enfermagem que inibem o uso simultâneo dos diagnósticos de enfermagem e das teorias de enfermagem. FONTES.Artigos publicados, livros, capítulos de livros. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS.Quatro fatores citados na literatura e refletidos na prática podem ter tido uma influência negativa no uso dos diagnóstics de enfermagem: (a) compromisso com a singularidade de cada pessoa, (b) um abandono do processo de enfermagem, (c) uma perspectiva de que o cuidado de enfermagem é uma interação que evolui e (d) uma crença de que uma linguagem derivada da teoria é mais articulada e precisa do que classificações padronizadas. IMPLICAÇÕES PARA A PRÁTICA.Estratégias para combinar teoria e diagnósticos incluem enfatizar os termos diagnóstics como uma taquigrafia profissional e permitir flexibilidade para modificar diagnósticos sempre que necessário, disseminando amplamente o conceito de que a classificação pode ser usada efetivamente com novas repetições do processo de enfermagem, refletindo processos circulares, simultâneos e intuitivos; desenvolver uma linguagem de classificação baseada em conceitos de hipótese e percepção; e incluir categorias diagnósticas associadas com perspectivas teóricas. Palavras para busca:Classificações de enfermagem, diagnóstico de enfermagem, teoria de enfermagem Diagnóstico enfermero y teoría enfermera: Exploración de factores que inhiben y apoyan una utilización simultánea PROPÓSITO.Explorar los valores y filosofías de teorías enfermeras, que inhiben la utilización simultánea de diagnósticos y teorías enfermeras. FUENTES.Artículos publicados, libros, capítulos de libros. SÍNTESIS DE LOS DATOS.Cuatro factores reflejados en la práctica y en la bibliografía, pueden haber tenido una influencia negativa en la utilizatión de los diagnósticos de enfermería: (a) compromiso a la singularidad de cada persona, (b) abandono del proceso de enfermería, (c) una perspectiva de que los cuidados de enfermería son una interacción que evoluciona y (d) una creencia de que el lenguaje derivado de la teoría, es más preciso y expresa mejor que las clasificaciones estándar. IMPLICACIONES PARA LA PRÁCTICA.Las estrategias para combinar la teoría y los diagnósticos enfermeros, incluyen: Dar énfasis a los términos diagnósticos como una abreviatura profesional, permitir ser flexible al modificar diagnósticos si es necesario, diseminar ampliamente el concepto de que la clasificación puede usarse eficazmente con nuevas iteraciones del proceso enfermero que reflejen procesos circulares, simultáneos e intuitivos, desarrollar lenguajes de clasificación basados en los conceptos de hipótesis y percepción, Incluir categorías diagnósticas asociadas con perspectivas teóricas. Términos de búsqueda:Diagnósticos enfermeros, clasificaciones enfermeras y teoría enfermera [source]

Reader variability in the use of diagnostic terms to describe white matter lesions seen on cranial scans of severely premature infants: The ELGAN study

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 8 2010
Sjirk Westra MD
Abstract Purpose To evaluate reader variability of white matter lesions seen on cranial sonographic scans of extreme low gestational age neonates (ELGANs). Methods In 1,452 ELGANs, cranial sonographic scans were obtained in the first and second postnatal weeks, and between the third postnatal week and term. All sets of scans were read independently by two sonologists. We reviewed the use of four diagnostic labels: early periventricular leucomalacia, cystic periventricular leucomalacia, periventricular hemorrhagic infarction (PVHI), and other white matter diagnosis, by 16 sonologists at 14 institutions. We evaluated the association of these labels with location and laterality of hyperechoic and hypoechoic lesions, location of intraventricular hemorrhage, and characteristics of ventricular enlargement. Results Experienced sonologists differed substantially in their application of the diagnostic labels. Three readers applied early periventricular leucomalacia to more than one fourth of all the scans they read, whereas eight applied this label to ,5% of scans. Five applied PVHI to ,10% of scans, while three applied this label to ,5% of scans. More than one third of scans labeled cystic periventricular leucomalacia had unilateral hypoechoic lesions. White matter abnormalities in PVHI were more extensive than in periventricular leucomalacia and were more anteriorly located. Hypoechoic lesions on late scans tended to be in the same locations, regardless of the diagnostic label applied. Conclusions Experienced sonologists differ considerably in their tendency to apply diagnostic labels for white matter lesions. This is due to lack of universally agreed-upon definitions. We recommend reducing this variability to improve the validity of large multicenter studies. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 38:409,419, 2010 [source]

Psychocutaneous syndromes: a call for revised nomenclature

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
H. W. Walling
Summary We propose abandoning three outdated, pejorative diagnostic terms: ,trichotillomania', ,delusions of parasitosis', and ,neurotic excoriation'. These insensitive terms are offensive to patients and become a barrier to treatment. We suggest the following alternative patient-centred nomenclature: ,neuromechanical alopecia', ,pseudoparasitic dysaesthesia', and (simply) ,excoriation'. We briefly review clinical and historical aspects of these disorders. [source]