Articles: sensitivity-specificity.
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Review Meta Analysis
Clinical characteristics of pertussis-associated cough in adults and children: a diagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly infective cause of cough that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Existing case definitions include paroxysmal cough, whooping, and posttussive vomiting, but diagnosis can be difficult. We determined the diagnostic accuracy of clinical characteristics of pertussis-associated cough. ⋯ In adult patients, the presence of whooping or posttussive vomiting should rule in a possible diagnosis of pertussis, whereas the lack of a paroxysmal cough or the presence of fever should rule it out. In children, posttussive vomiting is much less helpful as a clinical diagnostic test.
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Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. It is important to identify the clinical symptoms and physical examination findings associated with pneumonia to improve timely diagnosis, prevent significant morbidity, and limit antibiotic overuse. ⋯ Although no single finding reliably differentiates pneumonia from other causes of childhood respiratory illness, hypoxia and increased work of breathing are more important than tachypnea and auscultatory findings.
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Review Meta Analysis
The Diagnostic Accuracy of Evoked Potential Monitoring Techniques during Intracranial Aneurysm Surgery for Predicting Postoperative Ischaemic Damage: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of various evoked potential monitoring techniques in predicting postoperative neurologic deficit in intracranial aneurysm surgery. ⋯ TcMEP and DMEP have higher diagnostic accuracy than SSEP in predicting postoperative neurologic deficit. The type of anesthetic agent, the use of neuromuscular blocking drugs, and the choice of diagnostic criteria for significant change in cerebral blood flow during aneurysm surgery affect the diagnostic accuracy of evoked potential techniques in predicting postoperative neurologic deficit.
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In patients presenting with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), the use of ultrasound may lead to a more accurate distinction between cellulitis and abscess compared with clinical assessment alone. ⋯ The use of ultrasound could potentially improve diagnostic accuracy and lead to improved management decisions in patients with SSTI, especially in cases of indeterminate clinical assessment. Most of our findings did not achieve statistical significance. Further research is required to confirm these findings.
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Review Meta Analysis
Meta-analysis of biomarkers predicting risk of malignant progression in Barrett's oesophagus.
Barrett's oesophagus is a precursor to the development of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. This study sought to clarify the role of genetic, chromosomal and proliferation biomarkers that have been the subjects of multiple studies through meta-analysis. ⋯ Loss and mutation of p53, and raised level of Ki-67 predicted malignant progression in Barrett's oesophagus.