CONTEXT The initial diagnosis of pheochromocytoma relies on plasma fractionated metanephrines levels. Normal levels exclude pheochromocytoma, but positive tests have a low positive predictive value due to the disease's rarity. OBJECTIVES The objective of the study was to evaluate three approaches to distinguish between true-positive and false-positive tests: 1) increased cutoff for plasma fra...

A cute kidney injury (AKI), which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, is a relatively common complication in hospitalized patients (1–3). The most common cause of AKI in hospitalized patients is acute tubular necrosis (ATN) followed by prerenal azotemia (4). Because therapies and prognoses for prerenal azotemia and ATN differ substantially, early clinical differentiation is de...

A total of 206 urine samples collected from Hassoba Elementary schoolchildren, Afar, Ethiopia, a low Schistosoma haematobium endemic setting, was diagnosed to evaluate the performance of CCA strip using double references, urine filtration technique and urinalysis dipstick (Combur 1.0 Test) that detect schistosome eggs and blood in urine, respectively. The former was used as a gold standard refe...

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to investigate the role and importance of the urine trypsinogen-2 dipstick test in the differential diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in the Emergency Department and to compare results with those of conventional tests. METHODS The study was performed prospectively in the patients admitting to the Emergency Department due to upper abdominal pain. Thirty-two of...

Background: Meningitis is a severe infection affecting the central nervous system requiring early management to prevent debilitating consequences and death. Detection of meningitis can be done by analysis cerebrospinal fluid cellularity biochemistry (glucose protein concentration). Urine reagent strips used assess these variables reach diagnosis early, thereby, reducing delay in initiation its ...

BACKGROUND The development and evaluation of rapid and accurate new diagnostic tools is essential to improve tuberculosis (TB) control in developing countries. In a previous study, the first release of a urine LAM-ELISA by Chemogen (Portland, USA) has been evaluated with a promising sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB. In the present study, the now commercially availab...

BACKGROUND Clinicians should be aware of the diagnostic values of various symptoms, signs and antecedents. This information is particularly important in primary care settings, where sophisticated diagnostic approaches are not always feasible. The aim of the study is to determine the probability that various symptoms, signs, antecedents and tests predict urinary tract infection (UTI) in women. ...

BACKGROUND Up to 70% of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) experience disease recurrence, making it one of the most prevalent cancers in the United States. The purpose of this study was to test the performance of a multiplex urinary biomarker assay for the monitoring of voided urine for recurrent bladder cancer. METHODS This retrospective, multicenter study included a to...

PURPOSE We evaluated the use of narrow-band imaging (NBI) cystoscopy for the detection of bladder cancer and analyzed its diagnostic efficacy in cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) and in cases with known urine cytology results. PATIENTS AND METHODS A prospective controlled study of NBI was conducted in 104 consecutive patients with definite or suspected bladder cancer. Transurethral targeted bi...