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Pathological Signs (pathological + sign)

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Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Determination of sensitivity and specificity of breast tumor diagnosis by primary health care providers (Behvarz) using clinical examination by obstetrician as a gold standard

JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2003
Tayebeh Naderi
Abstract Aim:, The aim of this study was to find a practical screening strategy to detect breast tumors in those who cannot refer to specialists due to problems, such as geographic location, and economical obstacles. Methods:, Considering the mentioned aim this study was designed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis of breast tumors made by health care providers (Behvarz) with those made by specialists. For this, the results of examinations of Behvarzes and an obstetrician on 2000 women referring to the 17 health care centers of Kerman and Zarand cities were compared. Results:, Among the 2000 women examined by Behvarzes 170 cases were reported to have pathological signs (palpable mass) and 1830 cases were reported without any pathological sign. Among 169 cases diagnosed by physicians as having pathological signs, 162 cases had also been diagnosed by Behvarzes, and there were only seven cases diagnosed by physicians that had been missed by Behvarzes. There were eight cases diagnosed by Behvarzes as having pathological signs that were reported healthy by physicians. Conclusions:, Based on these findings, the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis of breast tumors made by Behvarzes was 95.8% and 99.56%, respectively, compared with those made by specialists. Considering the obtained results, the screening program for breast tumors by Behvarzes can be very helpful in early diagnosis of breast tumors. [source]

3144: Cataract formation after incorporation of radioactive iodine

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010
C DALKE
Purpose The ocular lens is one of the most radiosensitive organs in mammals and a pathological sign after exposure to ionising radiation is the formation of cataracts. We generated a mouse model to mimic the situation after the accident in the Chernobyl power plant. Methods Pregnant and nursing FBV-mice were treated with iodine131 for diaplacentar and galactogen transfer to the litter. The offspring which incorporated the radioiodine were examined for lens opacities at the age of 6 and 12 months. Iodine131 is a beta radiation emitting nuclide with a short half live of 8 days. Mothers were injected twice with 100 kBq I-131, on day 14 post conception and day 6 post natal. Cataracts were investigated at 6 and 12 months of age using a slit lamp. Results Depending on the litter size and weight, a single progeny incorporates between 8 to 14 % of entire activity. More than 50% of the injected activity is transmitted from the mother to the entire offspring. Iodine is accumulated in the thyroid and an average thyroid dose of 3.7 Gy was calculated. Because of the short distance between the thyroid and the eye, a lens dose of 0.5 Gy was estimated. In the FBV mice, we observed at the age of 6 months two cataracts among 15 irradiated lenses (13%), but none among 7 unirradiated controls. At the age of 12 months, almost all lenses showed cortical cataracts in both groups. However, there were 17 nuclear cataracts among 66 irradiated lenses (25%), but only 1 among 16 controls (6%). Conclusion These preliminary data indicate that this method is sensitive enough to detect the cataract-causing potential of low-dose ionizing radiation in the mouse. However, for detailed analysis larger cohorts and quantification of the data are necessary. [source]

Recurrence of kernicterus in term and near-term infants in Denmark

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2000
F Ebbesen
Classical acute bilirubin encephalopathy (kernicterus) in term and near-term infants had not been seen in Denmark for at least 20 y until 1994. From 1994 to 1998, however, six cases were diagnosed. Aetiology of the hyperbilirubinaemia was known in two infants; spherocytosis and galactosaemia, most likely known in two infants; possible A-O blood type immunization, and unknown in two infants. However, one of these last-mentioned infants had a gestational age of only 36 wk. The maximum plasma total bilirubin concentrations were 531,745 ,mol/L. The increase in the number of cases of kernicterus was considered to have been caused by: (i) a decreased awareness of the pathological signs, (ii) a change in the assessment of the risk of bilirubin encephalopathy, (iii) early discharge of the infants from the maternity ward, (iv) so-called breastfeeding-associated jaundice, (v) demonstration of bilirubin being an antioxidant, and (vi) difficulty in estimating the degree of jaundice in certain groups of immigrants. Accordingly, for prevention: (a) Attempt to change the healthcare workers' understanding of the risk of bilirubin encephalopathy, (b) give further instructions, both orally and in writing, to mothers before discharge from the maternity ward, (c) be more liberal in giving infant formula supplements, (d) conduct home visits by the community nurse at an earlier stage, (e) follow authorized guidelines for phototherapy and exchange transfusion, (f) lower plasma bilirubin concentration limits as an indication for phototherapy and exchange transfusion, (g) screen all term and near-term infants, and (h) measure the skin's yellow colour with a device that corrects for the skin's melanin content. Conclusions: Audit of the six cases presented indicates that measures are necessary in both the primary and secondary healthcare sectors if the risk of kernicterus is to be avoided. Screening may be considered, but in order to identify the problems it would first be reasonable to perform a larger prospective study in which audit is performed on all newborn infants, born at term and near-term, who develop a plasma bilirubin concentration above the exchange transfusion limit. [source]

Low-grade fever: how to distinguish organic from non-organic forms

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 3 2010
M. Affronti
Summary Background and aim:, Low-grade fever (LGF) is defined as a body temperature between 37.5 and 38.3 °C, which is below the classical value reported for fever of unknown origin (FUO). We attempted to characterise its epidemiology, aetiology and clinical aspects to improve the methodological approach to diagnosis. Design and Methods:, We reviewed and evaluated a survey of patients with LGF, followed as outpatients of our Department, a tertiary referral centre from 1997 to 2008. The same classifications were applied for classical FUO, and in the patients diagnosed with LGF, we also investigated for habitual hyperthermia (HH). Results:, Seventy-three patients were selected and divided into two groups: group A included 32 patients classified with organic fever and group B included 41 patients with HH. Aetiology of organic LGF was: infectious disease 59%; neoplasm 3.1%; inflammatory non-infectious disease 6.2%; miscellaneous 18.7%; undiagnosed 12.5%. Mean age was significantly higher in the organic fever than in the HH group (p < 0.02). Splenomegaly and loss of weight were significantly associated with organic fever (p < 0.05), while dizziness and general malaise were associated with HH. Lack of any pathological signs at physical examination was significantly more frequent in HH (p < 0.0001). Among the biochemical tests, white blood cells and C-reactive protein were more frequently above normal limits in group A than in group B (p < 0.05). Conclusions:, In our experience, LGF requires the same methodological diagnostic approach as FUO, because there is no relationship between body temperature values and the severity of the underlying diseases, and the aetiological spectrum is also the same. [source]

Determination of sensitivity and specificity of breast tumor diagnosis by primary health care providers (Behvarz) using clinical examination by obstetrician as a gold standard

Systolic Total Narrowing of Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery and Flow Interruption Secondary to Myocardial Bridge: A Rare Case Report and Review of Literature

CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 10 2008
Fehmi Kacmaz MD
Abstract A 33-y-old man was admitted to the emergency department with sudden onset of severe substernal chest pain radiating to the left arm and neck. No pathological signs were recorded upon physical examination. The admission electrocardiogram (ECG) recorded during chest pain showed a large anterior wall myocardial infarction. Intravenous (IV) infusion of 1.5 million units of streptokinase over 1 h was initiated. Coronary angiography revealed total narrowing and flow interruption in the midsegment of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery secondary to a myocardial bridge during systole and disappearance with diastole. He was discharged on aspirin (300 mg/d), metoprolol (100 mg/d), enalapril (10 mg twice daily), and atorvastatin (40 mg/d) treatment at the follow-up period. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

Association of findings in flow-volume spirometry with high-resolution computed tomography signs in asbestos-exposed male workers

CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 1 2009
Päivi Piirilä
Summary Introduction:, Disorders of pulmonary tissue and pleura are visualized by findings in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and the impairment caused by these findings is assessed by pulmonary function tests. Our aim was to determine how some commonly used spirometric variables are related to certain HRCT signs, in order to find out which HRCT signs are associated with restrictive and which with obstructive ventilatory impairment. Methods:, Altogether 590 asbestos-exposed workers, 95% of whom were smokers or ex-smokers, were studied with HRCT; 19 pathological signs were scored. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, forced expiratory flow at 50% of FVC (MEF50) and total lung capacity (TLC) were measured, and their relationship with HRCT signs was examined with bivariate correlations and multiple regression analysis. Results:, FVC and TLC were negatively correlated with fibrosis score, parenchymal bands, extent of pleural thickenings and positively with widened retrosternal space. FEV1/FVC ratio was negatively correlated with emphysema types and widened retrosternal space and positively with parenchymal bands and subpleural nodules. Thickened bronchial walls did not separate between restrictive and obstructive ventilatory function. Conclusions:, HRCT signs showed distinctive patterns in restrictive and obstructive ventilatory impairment. These results can be used to help to analyse the lung function of patients simultaneously exposed to asbestos and smoking, when this relationship requires elucidation. In addition, the results may be helpful in explaining some radiological findings. [source]