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Major Criteria (major + criterion)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Enteroviruses and type 1 diabetes

DIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 6 2003
Ruben Varela-Calvino
Abstract The development of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has been linked to exposure to environmental triggers, with Enteroviruses (EV) historically considered the prime suspects. Early serological studies suggested a link between EV infections and the development of T1DM and, though controversial, have been bolstered by more recent studies using more sensitive techniques such as direct detection of the EV genome by RT-PCR in peripheral blood. In this review, we consider the weight of evidence that EV can be considered a candidate trigger of T1DM, using three major criteria: (1) is EV infection associated with clinical T1DM, (2) can EV trigger the development of autoimmunity and (3) what would explain the putative association? Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

A Broad Diagnostic Battery for Bedside Transcranial Doppler to Detect Flow Changes With Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis or Occlusion

JOURNAL OF NEUROIMAGING, Issue 3 2001
Ioannis Christou MD
ABSTRACT Background and Purpose. The authors establish accuracy parameters of a broad diagnostic battery for bedside transcranial Doppler (TCD) to detect flow changes due to internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis or occlusion. Methods. The authors prospectively studied consecutive patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack referred for TCD. TCD was performed and interpreted at bedside using a standard insonation protocol. A broad diagnostic battery included major criteria: collateral flow signals, abnormal siphon or terminal carotid signals, and delayed systolic flow acceleration in the middle cerebral artery. Minor criteria included a unilateral decrease in pulsatility index (, 0.6 or , 70% of contralateral side), flow diversion signs, and compensatory velocity increase. Angiography or carotid duplex ultrasound (CDU) was used to grade the degree of carotid stenosis using North American criteria. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of TCD findings were determined. Results. Seven hundred and twenty patients underwent TCD, of whom 517 (256 men and 261 women) had angiography and/or CDU within 8.8 ± 0.9 days. Age was 63.1 ± 15.7 years. For a 70% to 99% carotid stenosis or occlusion, TCD had sensitivity of 79.4%, specificity of 86.2%, PPV of 57.0%, NPV of 94.8%, and accuracy of 84.7%. For a 50% to 99% carotid stenosis or occlusion, TCD had sensitivity of 67.5%, specificity of 83.9%, PPV of 54.5%, NPV of 90.0%, and accuracy of 81.6%. TCD detected intracranial carotid lesions with 84.9% accuracy and extracranial carotid lesions with 84.4% accuracy (sensitivity of 88% and 79%, specificity of 85% and 86%, PPV of 24% and 54%, and NPV of 99% and 95%, respectively). The prevalence of the ophthalmic artery flow reversal was 36.4% in patients with , 70% stenosis or occlusion. If present, this finding indicated a proximal ICA lesion location in 97% of these patients. Conclusions. In symptomatic patients, bedside TCD can accurately detect flow changes consistent with hemodynamically significant ICA obstruction; however, TCD should not be a substitute for direct carotid evaluation. Because TCD is sensitive and specific for , 70% carotid stenosis or occlusion in both extracranial and intracranial carotid segments, it can be used as a complementary test to refine other imaging findings and detect tandem lesions. [source]

A novel epitaxially grown LSO-based thin-film scintillator for micro-imaging using hard synchrotron radiation

JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION, Issue 5 2010
Paul-Antoine Douissard
The efficiency of high-resolution pixel detectors for hard X-rays is nowadays one of the major criteria which drives the feasibility of imaging experiments and in general the performance of an experimental station for synchrotron-based microtomography and radiography. Here the luminescent screen used for the indirect detection is focused on in order to increase the detective quantum efficiency: a novel scintillator based on doped Lu2SiO5 (LSO), epitaxially grown as thin film via the liquid phase epitaxy technique. It is shown that, by using adapted growth and doping parameters as well as a dedicated substrate, the scintillation behaviour of a LSO-based thin crystal together with the high stopping power of the material allows for high-performance indirect X-ray detection. In detail, the conversion efficiency, the radioluminescence spectra, the optical absorption spectra under UV/visible-light and the afterglow are investigated. A set-up to study the effect of the thin-film scintillator's temperature on its conversion efficiency is described as well. It delivers knowledge which is important when working with higher photon flux densities and the corresponding high heat load on the material. Additionally, X-ray imaging systems based on different diffraction-limited visible-light optics and CCD cameras using among others LSO-based thin film are compared. Finally, the performance of the LSO thin film is illustrated by imaging a honey bee leg, demonstrating the value of efficient high-resolution computed tomography for life sciences. [source]

Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome in infants: improving diagnosis

CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2005
L. Pastorino
Abstract Background, Diagnosis of Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome (NBCCS) in infants may pose significant challenges to clinicians owing to its variable expressivity and age-related manifestations. Methods, We report two paediatric cases of NBCCS who presented initially with a non-specific phenotype. Results, In case 1, a diagnosis of NBCCS was possible only after the father was interviewed and found to present with two major criteria for the disease. Subsequent molecular testing confirmed the diagnosis. In case 2, molecular testing of the infant and his father had diagnostic value as neither satisfied fully the current diagnostic criteria for NBCCS. Conclusions, Presence of the few clinical manifestations of NBCCS that appear in infants, typically congenital malformations and skeletal abnormalities, should prompt clinicians to conduct in-person interviews with both parents. In general, paediatricians should refer both parents of infants who are suspected of having an inherited condition to clinical geneticists for expert examination, given the potential unreliability of reported medical history. [source]