The authors present the in vivo investigation options drug allergy. In suspicion of induced hypersensitivity reaction prick testing, intradermal testing and patch are recommended according to assumed immuno-mechanism. If these examinations negative, next step is provocation test, which gold standard diagnosis We summarize methods, indications contraindications evaluationof each focusing on issu...

BACKGROUND Assessing bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) is a main diagnostic criterion of asthma. Provocation testing is not readily available in general practice, but peak expiratory flow (PEF) is. Several guidelines promote the use of PEF variability as a diagnostic tool for BHR. This study tested the agreement between histamine challenge testing and PEF variability, and the consequences fo...

The tendency toward impulsive behavior under emotional duress (negative and positive urgency) predicts a wide range of maladaptive risk-taking and behavioral disorders. However, it remains unclear how urgency relates to limbic system activity as induced from emotional provocation. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the relationship between brain responses to visual...

Practical PAIN MANAGEMENT, January/February 2007 ©2007 PPM Communications, Inc. Reprinted with permission. Diagnostic Provocation Discographic Injections Lumbar provocation discography remains a controversial diagnostic technique; and even more so with cervical/ thoracic discography. To appreciate the historical controversy surrounding discography is to understand that its inception was a tenuo...