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Reaction Testing (reaction + testing)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences100%

Kinds of Reaction Testing

  • chain reaction testing
    		•
  • polymerase chain reaction testing
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    Selected Abstracts

    Decision analysis: an aid to the diagnosis of Whipple's disease

    ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2006
    M. OLMOS
    Summary Background Diagnosis of Whipple's disease, a rare systemic infection affecting predominantly the small bowel, is based on the identification of the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei. Aims To make explicit diagnostic uncertainties in Whipple's disease through a decision analysis, considering two different clinical scenarios at presentation. Methods Using appropriate software, a decision tree estimated the consequences after testing different strategies for diagnosis of Whipple's disease. Probabilities and outcomes to determine the optimum expected value were based on MEDLINE search. Results In patients with clinically-predominant intestinal involvement, diagnostic strategies considering intestinal biopsy for histology (including appropriate staining) and the polymerase chain reaction testing for bacterial DNA were similarly effective. In case of failure of one procedure, the best sequential choice was a polymerase chain reaction analysis after a negative histology. Of the five strategies tested for cases with predominant focal neurological involvement, the stereotaxis cerebral biopsy evidenced the highest expected value. However, using quality-adjusted life-years considering the morbidity of methods, intestinal biopsy for PCR determination was the best choice. Conclusions In patients with Whipple's disease having predominant digestive involvement, intestinal biopsies for histology should be indicated first and, if negative, a bacterial polymerase chain reaction determination should be the next option. Although the molecular polymerase chain reaction assessment of cerebral biopsies has the highest diagnostic yield in neurological Whipple's disease, its associated morbidity means that analyses of intestinal samples are more appropriate. [source]

    Is the hepatitis C virus epidemic over in Egypt?

    LIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2010
    Incidence, risk factors of new hepatitis C virus infections
    Abstract Objectives: To estimate hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence rates and identify risk factors for current HCV transmission with emphasis on the role of living with infected household family members in rural Egypt. Methods: A 4-year population-based, cohort study of seronegative villagers was conducted to identify incident HCV seroconversion cases. A risk factor questionnaire and blood samples for anti-HCV EIA-3 and HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction testing were collected at two rounds of follow-up. Incidence rates, relative risks and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated based on a Poisson distribution. A matched case,control analysis to explore specific behavioural predictors of infection was conducted and odds ratios were obtained by conditional logistic regression. Results: Twenty-five participants (11 females) seroconverted in 10 578 person years of follow-up (PY), (incidence rate of 2.4/1000 PY; 95% CI: 1.6,3.5). The median age at seroconversion was 26 years [interquartile range (IQR) 19,35] among males and 20 years (IQR 13,24) among females. The only significant risk factor identified for these cases was receiving injections [adjusted odds ratio (ORadj)=3.3; 95% CI: 1.1,9.8]. Two of the 17 viraemic seroconvertors were infected with the same strain as at least one of their family members. Conclusion: This study identified the important role of injections in spreading HCV infection in this rural community. National healthcare awareness and infection control programmes should be strengthened to prevent further transmission. Screening of families of infected HCV subjects should be an essential part of case management for early detection and management. [source]

    Granulomas in common variable immunodeficiency: A diagnostic dilemma

    AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2004
    Karyn R Lun
    SUMMARY A 60-year-old man with common variable immunodeficiency presented with a 7-year history of violaceous plaques and papules on the thighs, arms and trunk. In the preceding 2 years he had developed new lesions on both hands. He had been previously diagnosed with sarcoidosis on the basis of skin and visceral histology, but subsequent opinion was that these were sarcoid-like granulomas rather than being representative of true sarcoidosis. Biopsy of the hand lesions showed necrotizing granulomas, and a single acid-fast bacillus (AFB) was identified on Wade,Fite stain. Subsequent repeat tissue biopsies for histology, culture and polymerase chain reaction testing failed to confirm the presence of mycobacterial organisms and it was felt that the organism was a contaminant introduced during tissue processing. The hand lesions responded well to intralesional injections of triamcinolone acetonide 10 mg/mL and oral tetracycline 500 mg b.d. was later introduced with a good clinical response. The diagnostic dilemma of finding granulomatous inflammation in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency, and the significance of a single AFB on histology are discussed. The treatment of sarcoid-like granulomas with tetracycline therapy is also commented on. [source]

    Prevalence of Cysticercus bovis in Australian cattle

    AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 7 2010
    BHG Pearse
    Objective The first national abattoir survey of Cysticercus bovis (,beef measles') in cattle was conducted in February 2008. Methods During the data collection period, 493,316 cattle were subjected to standard postmortem procedures, including incision of the masseter and heart muscles. On-site veterinarians were asked to record the location of any C. bovis cysts, as well as the National Livestock Identification System ear tag numbers of infected animals. Veterinarians were asked to submit samples for laboratory confirmation by histology and polymerase chain reaction testing. Results Of the 23 samples submitted, none was positive for C. bovis by either diagnostic method. Conclusions Occasional, isolated diagnoses of beef measles are still made in most states of Australia, but since the last regional surveys were conducted 30 years ago, when the estimated prevalence was 50 to 200 per 100,000 cattle slaughtered, the parasite has become extremely rare. [source]

    Disseminated Mycobacterium avium infection in a dog with chronic diarrhoea

    AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 5 2000
    B HORN
    A 3-year-old Maltese-cross dog presented with a 4-month history of chronic diarrhoea and inappetence. Poorly regenerative anaemia, leukocytosis and hypoproteinaemia were evident on several occasions. Biopsies of stomach, duodenum and colon revealed marked infiltration of mucosae by macrophages containing many acid-fast bacilli. Similar organisms were numerous in a faecal smear. Melaena, haematochezia and severe abdominal pain developed and were unresponsive to therapy. Following euthanasia and necropsy, histiocytic cells containing acid-fast bacilli were found throughout the gastrointestinal tract, mesenteric and peripheral lymph nodes, spleen, liver, kidney and lungs. The organism was identified as Mycobacterium avium by bacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction testing. [source]