Derivation and validation of a clinical diagnostic model for chlamydial cervical infection in university women

Article Abstract:

Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, a sexually transmitted disease, can cause infertility, pregnancy complications, and pelvic pain: if transmitted to an infant, the infant may develop an eye infection or pneumonia. Although screening for chlamydia infection is highly desirable, no ideal screening test has yet been developed. One approach to the problem is to use different screening methods for women at different levels of risk for chlamydial cervicitis (infection of the uterine cervix). A diagnostic model that assesses risk was used to evaluate 2,271 sexually active women who underwent pelvic examinations at a university health service. The subjects completed a questionnaire concerning their medical and sexual histories, then underwent gynecological examinations. The examinations included several different kinds of tests for genital infections, including chlamydia. Results from analyzing cell cultures showed that approximately 10 percent of the women tested positive for Chlamydia trachomatis. A description of the statistical methods used by the model to estimate risk factors is presented. The variables most often associated with infection were: sexual activity (new partner within the previous two months, or more than one within the previous six months); use of an antibiotic against chlamydia during the previous month; certain changes in the cervical tissue; the presence of a criterion number of white blood cells on microscope slides of cervical secretions; and the presence of any white blood cells in vaginal secretions. Using the model, patients are assigned a score based on the presence of the above variables; this score was used to calculate the probability of having chlamydia infection, based on the prevalence of chlamydia in the clinic population as a whole. The model was able to differentiate women with high, medium, or low risks of chlamydia infection. This data can help clinicians to decide who should undergo further testing for this problem. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Methods, Models, Diagnosis, Medical screening, Health screening, Chlamydia infections, Chlamydia

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Clinical and microbiological evidence for endemic pharyngitis among adults due to group C streptococci

Article Abstract:

Pharyngitis is the inflammation of the throat and may be caused by infection with a type of bacteria called group C beta-hemolytic streptococci. These types of bacteria rarely cause epidemic or widespread outbreaks of pharyngitis but their role in causing endemic pharyngitis is uncertain. The presence of various forms of beta-hemolytic streptococci, including A, B, C, and G was assessed in throat swabs taken from 1,425 patients with sore throats and 284 healthy subjects. The severity of the signs and symptoms of pharyngitis, physician assessments for the presence of streptococcal pharyngitis, statistical analysis predicting streptococcal pharyngitis, and the use of antibiotic therapy were also noted. Group C streptococci were isolated more often from patients with sore throats than from normal subjects. Group C-related pharyngitis could be distinguished by clinical signs and symptoms from a less severe form of pharyngitis which was not associated with streptococcal infection; group C streptococcal pharyngitis could also be distinguished from the more severe group A pharyngitis. Other measures including physician assessment, statistical analysis, and antibiotic treatment indicated that group C pharyngitis was more severe than pharyngitis unrelated to streptococcal infection, but less severe than group A streptococcal pharyngitis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Case studies, Streptococcal infections, Causes of, Streptococcus, Identification and classification, Pharyngitis, Sore throat

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Preoperative hematocrit levels and postoperative outcomes in older patients undergoing noncardiac surgery

Article Abstract:

A research is conducted to find the prevalence of preoperative anemia and polythemia and their effect on postoperative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Health aspects, Anemia, Heart attack, Aged patients, Elderly patients, Clinical report

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