scholarly journals Case Report: Comparison of Plasma Metagenomics to Bacterial PCR in a Case of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua A. Lieberman ◽  
Caitlin Naureckas Li ◽  
Gabriella S. Lamb ◽  
David A. Kane ◽  
Mary K. Stewart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Infection Type ◽  
Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Rrna Sequencing ◽  
History Of ◽  
Multiple Strains ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Molecular assays for infectious diseases have emerged as important clinical decision-making tools. Unbiased, metagenomic next-generation sequencing is a novel approach holding promise to detect pathogens missed by conventional modalities and to deconvolute admixed nucleic acid sequences from polymicrobial infections in order to identify constituent pathogens. Recent studies have raised concerns about the clinical impact of metagenomics assays and whether their expense is justified. Here, we report a case of polyclonal Streptococcus cristatus endocarditis in a 14-year-old woman with a history of Tetralogy of Fallot. Three sets of admission blood cultures and a commercial plasma metagenomics assay were negative for pathogens, despite persistent vegetations observed on the valve during a later procedure. Multiple strains of Streptococcus cristatus were identified from the explanted valve by amplicon-based 16S rRNA sequencing, confirming the patient had received appropriate antibiotic therapy. This case highlights limitations in the use and interpretation of clinical metagenomics for infectious disease diagnosis and indicates that the clinical yield of these tools may depend upon infection type and anatomic location.

Interrogating the Cancer Genome to Deliver More Precise Cancer Care

2016 ◽  
pp. e577-e583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquin Mateo ◽  
Johann S. de Bono
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Cancer Genome ◽  
Analytical Validation ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ultimate Objective ◽  
Generation Sequencing ◽  
Multiple Therapy

The aim of precision medicine is to select the best treatment option for each patient at the appropriate time in the natural history of the disease, based on understanding the molecular makeup of the tumor, with the ultimate objective of improving patient survival and quality of life. To achieve it, we must identify functionally distinct subtypes of cancers and, critically, have multiple therapy options available to match to these functional subtypes. As a result of the development of better and less costly next-generation sequencing assays, we can now interrogate the cancer genome, enabling us to use the DNA sequence itself for biomarker studies in drug development. The success of DNA-based biomarkers requires analytical validation and careful clinical qualification in prospective clinical trials. In this article, we review some of the challenges the scientific community is facing as a consequence of this sequencing revolution: reclassifying cancers based on biologic/phenotypic clusters relevant to clinical decision making; adapting how we conduct clinical trials; and adjusting our frameworks for regulatory approvals of biomarker technologies and drugs. Ultimately, we must ensure that this revolution can be safely implemented into routine clinical practice and benefit patients.

Religion and Medicine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Levin ◽  
Stephen G. Post
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Religion And Medicine ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Baylor University ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

In Religion and Medicine, Dr. Jeff Levin, distinguished Baylor University epidemiologist, outlines the longstanding history of multifaceted interconnections between the institutions of religion and medicine. He traces the history of the encounter between these two institutions from antiquity through to the present day, highlighting a myriad of contemporary alliances between the faith-based and medical sectors. Religion and Medicine tells the story of: religious healers and religiously branded hospitals and healthcare institutions; pastoral professionals involved in medical missions, healthcare chaplaincy, and psychological counseling; congregational health promotion and disease prevention programs and global health initiatives; research studies on the impact of religious and spiritual beliefs and practices on physical and mental health, well-being, and healing; programs and centers for medical research and education within major universities and academic institutions; religiously informed bioethics and clinical decision-making; and faith-based health policy initiatives and advocacy for healthcare reform. Religion and Medicine is the first book to cover the full breadth of this subject. It documents religion-medicine alliances across religious traditions, throughout the world, and over the course of history. It summarizes a wide range of material of relevance to historians, medical professionals, pastors and theologians, bioethicists, scientists, public health educators, and policymakers. The product of decades of rigorous and focused research, Dr. Levin has produced the most comprehensive history of these developments and the finest introduction to this emerging field of scholarship.

Clinical Problem Solving: Decreased Level of Consciousness and Unexplained Hydrocephalus

2022 ◽  
pp. 194187442110567
Author(s):  
Naomi Niznick ◽  
Ronda Lun ◽  
Daniel A. Lelli ◽  
Tadeu A. Fantaneanu
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Problem ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Clinical Problem Solving ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
History Of

We present a clinical reasoning case of 42-year-old male with a history of type 1 diabetes who presented to hospital with decreased level of consciousness. We review the approach to coma including initial approach to differential diagnosis and investigations. After refining the diagnostic options based on initial investigations, we review the clinical decision-making process with a focus on narrowing the differential diagnosis, further investigations, and treatment.

scholarly journals Variations between two 24-hour urine collections in patients

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhur Nayan ◽  
Mohamed A. Elkoushy ◽  
Sero Andonian
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Metabolic Evaluation ◽  
Normal Limits ◽  
A Value ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Urinary Parameters

Introduction: The current Canadian Urological Association (CUA)guideline recommends two 24-hour urine collections in the metabolic evaluation for patients with urolithiasis. The aim of the present study was to compare two consecutive 24-hour urine collections in patients with a history of urolithiasis presenting to a tertiary stone clinic.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 188 patients who had two24-hour collections upon presentation between January 2010 and December 2010. Samples were collected on consecutive days and examined for the following 11 urinary parameters: volume, creatinine, sodium, calcium, uric acid, citrate, oxalate, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and urea nitrogen. For each parameter, the absolute value of the difference between the two samples rather than the direct difference was compared with zero. Similarly, the percent difference between samples was calculated for each parameter.Results: The means of the absolute differences between the twosamples were significantly different for all 11 urinary parameters(p < 0.0001). The percent differences for all urinary parametersranged from 20.5% to 34.2%. Furthermore, 17.1% to 47.6% ofpatients had a change from a value within normal limits to anabnormal value, or vice-versa. Significance was maintained when patients with incomplete or over-collections were excluded.Conclusions: Significant variations among the two 24-hour urinecollections were observed in all of the 11 urinary parameters analyzed. This variation may change clinical decision-making in up to 47.6% of patients if only a single 24-hour urine collection is obtained. The present study supports the CUA guideline of performing two 24-hour urine collections.

scholarly journals Development of Antibody Immuno-PET/SPECT Radiopharmaceuticals for Imaging of Oncological Disorders—An Update

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1868
Author(s):  
Jonatan Dewulf ◽  
Karuna Adhikari ◽  
Christel Vangestel ◽  
Tim Van Den Wyngaert ◽  
Filipe Elvas
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Single Photon ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
Therapy Response ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Emission Computed Tomography ◽  
Wide Range

Positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are molecular imaging strategies that typically use radioactively labeled ligands to selectively visualize molecular targets. The nanomolar sensitivity of PET and SPECT combined with the high specificity and affinity of monoclonal antibodies have shown great potential in oncology imaging. Over the past decades a wide range of radio-isotopes have been developed into immuno-SPECT/PET imaging agents, made possible by novel conjugation strategies (e.g., site-specific labeling, click chemistry) and optimization and development of novel radiochemistry procedures. In addition, new strategies such as pretargeting and the use of antibody fragments have entered the field of immuno-PET/SPECT expanding the range of imaging applications. Non-invasive imaging techniques revealing tumor antigen biodistribution, expression and heterogeneity have the potential to contribute to disease diagnosis, therapy selection, patient stratification and therapy response prediction achieving personalized treatments for each patient and therefore assisting in clinical decision making.

scholarly journals Influence of psychiatric or social backgrounds on clinical decision making: a randomized, controlled multi-centre study

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosuke Yamauchi ◽  
Takashi Shiga ◽  
Kiyoshi Shikino ◽  
Takahiro Uechi ◽  
Yasuaki Koyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Accuracy Score ◽  
Multi Centre Study ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Free Care ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background Frequent and repeated visits from patients with mental illness or free medical care recipients may elicit physicians’ negative emotions and influence their clinical decision making. This study investigated the impact of the psychiatric or social background of such patients on physicians’ decision making about whether to offer recommendations for further examinations and whether they expressed an appropriate disposition toward the patient. Methods A randomized, controlled multi-centre study of residents in transitional, internal medicine, or emergency medicine was conducted in five hospitals. Upon randomization, participants were stratified by gender and postgraduate year, and they were allocated to scenario set 1 or 2. They answered questions pertaining to decision-making based on eight clinical vignettes. Half of the eight vignettes presented to scenario set 1 included additional patient information, such as that the patient had a past medical history of schizophrenia or that the patient was a recipient of free care who made frequent visits to the doctor (biased vignettes). The other half included no additional information (neutral vignettes). For scenario set 2, the four biased vignettes presented to scenario set 1 were neutralized, and the four neutral vignettes were rendered biased by providing additional information. After reading, participants answered decision-making questions regarding diagnostic examination, interventions, or patient disposition. The primary analysis was a repeated-measures ANOVA on the mean management accuracy score, with patient background information as a within-subject factor (no bias, free care recipients, or history of schizophrenia). Results A total of 207 questionnaires were collected. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed that additional background information had influence on mean accuracy score (F(7, 206) = 13.84, p <  0.001 partial η2 = 0.063). Post hoc pairwise multiple comparison test, Sidak test, showed a significant difference between schizophrenia and no bias condition (p <  0.05). The ratings for patient likability were lower in the biased vignettes compared to the neutral vignettes, which was associated with the lower utilization of medical resources by the physicians. Conclusions Additional background information on past medical history of schizophrenia increased physicians’ mistakes in decision making. Patients’ psychiatric backgrounds should not bias physicians’ decision-making. Based on these findings, physicians are recommended to avoid being influenced by medically unrelated information.

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