In general, a detailed history and examination of the patient provides sufficient information for diagnosis. The pattern, frequency, and natural history of ulcer episodes are helpful. The presence or absence of associated features and the site of oral involvement guides most physicians accurately in the diagnosis. Additional investigations, including blood tests, and occasionally the use of ora...

Singapore experienced its first documented Zika virus outbreak in 2016. We identified clinical and laboratory parameters that increase the probability for Zika or dengue virus infection. Early during the illness, combinations of key parameters obtained through clinical assessment and hematologic tests can help distinguish between these infections.

PURPOSE To measure the relative importance people place on prognosis and retransplantation status in allocating scarce transplantable livers. METHODS 138 subjects were asked to distribute scarce livers amongst transplant candidates with either a 70% chance or a 30% chance of surviving if transplanted. In one group of subjects, the prognostic difference was based on the presence or absence of ...

A new microemulsion formulation of cyclosporine was compared with the marketed formulation in 18 stable renal transplanted patients. Aim of the study was not only to determine the bioequivalence between the two pharmaceutical preparations, but also to ascertain whether tested drug could maintain stable blood concentrations of cyclosporine. Renal transplanted patients under cyclosporine treatmen...

OBJECTIVE Despite the vast scientific literature on the social determinants of health, there is still a debate on the extent to which this relationship remains in old age. The objective of this study was to examine the association between socioeconomic circumstances and health among older adults in a small town in Brazil. METHODS The study was carried out in Bambuí, a town of around 15 000 in...

BACKGROUND Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is considered a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It does not exist in nature but has been used widely since World War II. It is present in the serum of most Americans at about 4-5 ng/mL, although the routes of exposure remain unknown. OBJECTIVES We examined predictors of PFOA in mid-Ohio Valley residents living nea...

The sensitivity and specificity of the Bio-EnzaBead test for syphilis and the fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption (FTA-ABS) test were determined by examining 262 serum samples, including 202 serum samples from patients with confirmed syphilis in various stages. Overall correlation with patient history was 95.8% with both tests. False-negative Bio-EnzaBead tests occurred in 9 of 86 (10.5%...

Introduction: Detection of HIV antibodies is done by the standard blood tests. Rapid tests provide results in few minutes. The OraQuick rapid HIV1/2 antibody test using oral fluid has not been tried in resource-limited settings in India. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of the OraQuick test kit using oral fluid for HIV antibody detection in patients attending the dental hospitals. Materials...

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore patient and physician perspectives on current laboratory test reporting practices and to elicit ideas for improvement. METHODS Two independent studies were conducted. The first solicited members of an online physician community for opinions on current laboratory test reporting practices and possible improvements. The second addressed the same topic, but s...