New Diagnostic Tool For Detection Research Articles

Comparison of left ventricular subclinical systolic dysfunction between hemodialysis patients and renal transplant recipients using real time three-dimensional echocardiography.

The relationship between chronic kidney disease and development of heart failure is a well-known clinical entity. Systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI_16) is a new diagnostic tool for detection of subclinical left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction by using three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE). We aimed to investigate this parameter in patients with end-stage renal disease who were receiving hemodialysis and patients with renal transplant compared to healthy control subjects. Forty-five hemodialysis patients, 45 patients with renal transplant and 45 age-sex matched healthy control subjects included in the study. All participants were evaluated with 3DE in the interdialytic phase for measurement of LV volumes, ejection fraction and SDI_16 parameter. Both LV diastolic and systolic volumes were significantly higher in hemodialysis group compared to renal transplant group and healthy controls, but this finding did not translate to a statistically significant difference for LVEF measurements between groups (58.71 ± 3.53 vs. 57.17 ± 2.97 vs. 59.23 ± 3.26, p = .16 for renal transplant and hemodialysis and healthy control groups, respectively). Mean value of SDI_16 parameters was significantly higher in hemodialysis group compared to renal transplant group (7.93 ± 2.50 vs. 3.72 ± 1.71, p < .001) and healthy controls (7.93 ± 2.50 vs. 3.00 ± .99, p < .001); whereas, it was similar between renal transplant group and control subjects (3.72 ± 1.71 vs. 3.00 ± .99, p = .10). SDI_16 was significantly higher in hemodialysis patients compared to patients with renal transplant and healthy controls.

Pus cell as an indicator for Mycobacterium tuberculosis diagnostic yield by GeneXpert MTB/RIF in South-South Nigeria: A prospective study

Background: The common problem in tuberculosis (TB) management is mis-diagnosis or under diagnosis of cases leading to high morbidity and mortality. In order to reverse this, new diagnostic tools for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) have been developed. However, in the evaluation process of these tools many studies have not considered attributes of sputum quality in their testing algorithm. The performance of laboratory tests to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis is dependent on the quality of the sputum sample tested and quality is measured by the number of pus and epithelial cells present in sputum. Aims and Objectives: this study aimed at investigating the association between pus cell and MTB positivity. Methods: Sputum samples from 140 suspected TB participants were screened for sputum quality and MTB using macroscopy, Ziehl-Neelson staining and GeneXpert techniques. Results: Of the 140 sputum samples subjected to AFB microscopy and GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay, GeneXpert assay had 32 (22.9%) MTB positives while AFB smear had 27 (19.3%) MTB positives and there was no significant relationship between sputum type and MTB yield by AFB compared to Xpert that showed significant relationship between sputum type and MTB yield with P<0.005. Out of the 37 sputum samples with pus cells ≥25, 29 (90.6%) were MTB positive by Xpert and 25 (92.6%) were MTB positive by AFB smear. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study shows a high significant association between pus cells presence and the methods and therefore suggests that presence of pus cells in sputum is predictive for possible positivity to MTB by Xpert MTB/RIF.

Detection of Beijing strains of MDR M. tuberculosis and their association with drug resistance mutations in katG, rpoB, and embB genes

BackgroundMolecular epidemiological studies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) are the core of current research to find out the association of the M. tuberculosis genotypes with its outbreak and transmission. The high prevalence of the Beijing genotype strain among multidrug resistance (MDR) TB has already been reported in various studies around India. The overall objective of this study was to detect the prevalence of Beijing genotype strains of MDR M. tuberculosis and their association with the clinical characteristics of TB patients.MethodsIn this study 381 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates were obtained from sputum samples from 2008 to 2014. The multiplex-PCR and Spoligotyping (n = 131) methods were used to investigate the prevalence of the Beijing genotype strain by targeting the Rv2820 gene and their association with drug resistance and clinical characteristics of TB patients. The drug susceptibility testing of first-line anti-TB drugs was performed by using the proportion method and MGIT960. A collection of isolates having Beijing and non-Beijing strains were also characterized to see if Beijing genotype strains had a higher rate of mutations at codons 516, 526 and 531 of the 81-bp region of the rpoB gene, codon 315 of the katG gene, and codon 306 of the embB gene.ResultsThe sensitivities and specificities of multiplex-PCR assay compared to that of standard Spoligotyping was detected to be 100%. Further, we observe that the multi drug-resistance was significantly associated with Beijing genotype strains (p = 0.03) and a strong correlation between Beijing genotype strains and specific resistance mutations at the katG315, rpoB531, and embB306 codons (p = < 0.0001, < 0.0001 & 0.0014 respectively) was also found.ConclusionsThis rapid, simple, and cost-effective multiplex PCR assay can effectively be used for monitoring the prevalence of Beijing genotype strains in low resource settings. Findings of this study may provide a scientific basis for the development of new diagnostic tools for detection and effective management of DR-TB in countries with a higher incidence rate of Beijing genotype strains.

Recent biotechnological tools for diagnosis of corona virus disease: A review.

Recently, a corona virus disease (COVID-19) caused by a novel corona virus (sevier acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2; SARS-CoV-2), rapidly spread throughout the world. It has been resulted an unprecedented public health crisis and has become a global threat. WHO declared it as a pandemic due to rapid transmission and severity of the disease. According to WHO, as of 22nd of August 2020, the disease spread over 213 countries of the world having 22,812,491 confirmed cases and 795,132 deaths recorded worldwide. In the absence of suitable antiviral drugs and vaccines, the current pandemic has created an urgent need for accurate diagnostic tools that would be helpful for early detection of the patients. Many tests including classical and high-throughput techniques have developed and obtained U.S. Food and drug administration (FDA) approval. However, efforts are being made to develop new diagnostic tools for detection of the disease. Several molecular diagnostic tests such as real-time-polymerase chain reaction, real-time isothermal loop-mediated amplification (RT-LAMP), full genome analysis by next-generation sequencing, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats technique and microarray-based assays along with other techniques such as computed tomography scan, biomarkers, biosensor, nanotechnology, serological test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), isolation of viral strain in cell culture are currently available for diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. This review provides a brief overview of promising high-throughput techniques currently used for detection of SARS-CoV-2, along with their scope and limitations that may be used for effective control of the disease.

Evaluation of GeneXpert as a new diagnostic tool for detection of pulmonary tuberculosis

Background Over the past decade, genotyping of Tuberculosis strains has become an increasingly valuable tool in tuberculosis (TB) control. Molecular epidemiology has helped to identify unsuspected transmission, determine likely locations of transmission, and measure the extent of transmission. Often traditional contact investigations focus on persons in the household and workplace. The Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)/rifampin (Rif) assay is a rapid test that identifies both the presence of MTB and resistance to Rif in a single test. This can enable early and appropriate treatment initiation as well as accelerate the implementation of multi drug resistant (MDR)-TB control measures, and ultimately reducing TB case incidence. Patients and methods This descriptive study was carried out in Mansoura Chest Hospital from May 2015 to June 2016. A total of 165 subjects suspected to have active TB were included in the present study. Sputum samples of each case were divided into three methods of research: staining with Ziehl–Neelsen for acid-fast bacilli, GeneXpert (GX) MTB Rif assay, and culture. Results GX test has 97.6% sensitivity, 81% specificity, 84.5% positive predictive value, 97% negative predictive value, and 89.7% accuracy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of GX MTB/Rif were 100, 89.3, 72, and 100%, respectively.

Diagnosis of Dentin Caries – Ultraviolet Fluorescence

Summary The technology advance in recent years determines the need of construction of modern appliances for early diagnosis of dental caries, which are categorized by great precision, non-invasiveness, easy usage and wide availability. Such non-invasive and accurate tool for diagnostics of caries is Caries Detector (LED), Bulgarian product by “Optica Laser”. The detector emits a specific wavelength of near ultraviolet light, which causes fluorescence to porphyrins - metabolic products of the life cycle of caries-inducing bacteria. The purpose of the study is piloting a new diagnostic tool for detection and monitoring of caries excavation based on fluorescence - LED UV caries detector of company “Optica laser”. Subjected to examination by caries indicator dye and UV caries detector were sixty permanent teeth with deep dentine caries. Two methods were used to assess the dentin caries - UV fluorescence detector of “Optica Laser” and staining with caries indicator - dye (Sable ™ Seek®). It was found that among all sixty teeth, the fields, closed by margins of carious process overlap. Fifty-four of tested teeth has shown bigger field of images with staining method and six - smaller in comparison to the fluorescent method. Ultraviolet fLuorescence caries detector of “Optica Laser” company is affordable and easy applicable method for controlled excavation of dentine caries. The detector can be used in daily dental practice equally with other methods. The unit has a number of advantages - non-invasiveness, lack of interaction with tooth structures, speed, reliability, efficiency, predictability and repeatability of results.

2D DIGE proteomic analysis of multidrug resistant and susceptible clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of infectious disease related mortality worldwide. Infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) leads to nearly 3 million deaths every year due to tuberculosis. Rifampicin and Isoniazid (RH) are the key drugs to being used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Reports in recent years indicate that the increasing emergence of resistance to these drugs. The resistance to these drugs severely affects options for effective treatment. The current vaccine for tuberculosis has variable protective efficacy and there is no commercially available serodiagnostic test for this disease with acceptable sensitivity and specificity for routine laboratory use, especially in case of multidrug resistance. In order to develop a new diagnostic tool for detection of Mtb, multidrug resistant Mtb as well and improve the tuberculosis vaccine, it is necessary to indentify novel antigenic candidates, especially in identification of multidrug resistant associated protein antigens. Here, we present a 2-D gel-based proteomic survey of the changes in RH resistant Mtb. The proteins extracted from RH resistant and susceptible Mtb clinical isolates were analyzed by two-dimensional differential in gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). Protein intensities of 41 spots were found to be regulated in RH resistant isolates. A total of 28 proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Twelve proteins of interest are NADH-dependent enoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] reductase, 60 kDa chaperonin 2, Chaperone protein DnaK, 3-oxoacyl-(Acyl-carrier-protein0 reductase, Probable acetyl-CoA acyltransferase FadA2, two Acetyl/propionyl-CoA carboxylase, alpha subunit, Universal stress protein Rv1636/MT1672, Dihydrolipoyllysine-residue acetyltransferase component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, Glutamine synthetase 1 and two uncharacterized proteins (Rv2557 and Rv1505c).

Detection of small genomic imbalances using microarray-based multiplex amplifiable probe hybridization

Array-based genome-wide screening methods were recently introduced to clinical practice in order to detect small genomic imbalances that may cause severe genetic disorders. The continuous advancement of such methods plays an extremely important role in diagnostic genetics and medical genomics. We have modified and adapted the original multiplex amplifiable probe hybridization (MAPH) to a novel microarray format providing an important new diagnostic tool for detection of small size copy-number changes in any locus of human genome. Here, we describe the new array-MAPH diagnostic method and show proof of concept through fabrication, interrogation and validation of a human chromosome X-specific array. We have developed new bioinformatic tools and methodology for designing and producing amplifiable hybridization probes (200-600 bp) for array-MAPH. We designed 558 chromosome X-specific probes with median spacing 238 kb and 107 autosomal probes, which were spotted onto microarrays. DNA samples from normal individuals and patients with known and unknown chromosome X aberrations were analyzed for validation. Array-MAPH detected exactly the same deletions and duplications in blind studies, as well as other unknown small size deletions showing its accuracy and sensitivity. All results were confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization and probe-specific PCR. Array-MAPH is a new microarray-based diagnostic tool for the detection of small-scale copy-number changes in complex genomes, which may be useful for genotype-phenotype correlations, identification of new genes, studying genetic variation and provision of genetic services.

The Advantages of Xeroradiography for Panoramic Examination of the Jaws and Teeth

Xeroradiography is an electrostatic imaging method which was significant advantages over conventional radiographic techniques. This article introduces the use of xeroradiography for panoramic examination of the jaws. The resultant images not only contain superior local contrast and detail when compared to conventional panoramic radiographs but also correlate well with histopathologic changes. The investigation indicates that xeroradiography is an important new diagnostic tool for detection of disease of the jaws and teeth.