The sensitivity of transabdominal ultrasound in the diagnosis of ureterolithiasis.

Objectives: The ultrasonographic diagnosis of renal lithiasis colic is suggested by the existence of hydronephrosis, but the certainty is given by the direct visualization of the ureteral calculus. The aim of this study is to assess the performance of ultrasound in identifying ureteral calculi compared to other imaging methods (abdominal X-ray, urography and computed tomography).

Material And Method: We performed ultrasonographic examination (one or multiple examinations) in 217 patients with renal colic and ureterolithiasis.

Serodiagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigenic glycolipids were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The 720 sera were collected from adult patients under investigation, suspected with extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The test performance was estimated according to definitive diagnosis in terms of specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value.

[An evaluation of the identification technics with IS6110 and Mt308 used as molecular markers for Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in Romania].

During the past years, new diagnostic technologies based on DNA methods including PCR, were developed in the aid of tuberculosis control. Among several DNA sequences, an insertion sequence IS6110, found to be specific to mycobacteria belonging to M. tuberculosis complex were used.

Serodiagnosis of tuberculous meningitis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

IgG antibodies against glycolipids and proteins isolated from M. tuberculosis and BCG suspension were determined by ELISA in sera, in CSFs and in serum and CSF paired samples, from patients with tuberculous meningitis and from healthy control subjects. With specificities between 90 and 94% for the antigens used, we obtained senitivities of 75% for Pr-ELISA, 60% for G1-ELISA and 35% for BCG-ELISA.

Clinical usefulness of rapid serodiagnosis in pulmonary tuberculosis by ELISA with glycolipidic antigens extracted from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and with whole BCG suspension.

Antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis glycolipids and whole BCG suspension were determined by ELISA on 58 sera from hospitalized patients with presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis and on 127 sera from control subjects. The experimental results demonstrated that the glycolipids are more adequate to be used as antigens than whole BCG suspension, as high sensitivity of the test was obtained. By using only one antigen, ELISA becomes more efficient in rapid diagnosis.

[Morphofunctional changes in blood cells irradiated with ultraviolet light].

Red cell and leukocyte morphology and function have been examined in donor blood UV irradiated in a flow closed circulation. The studies have revealed that a single UV irradiation enhances red cell resistance to chemical hemolysis, helps them acquire normal shape; besides, it improves leukocytic functional activity, that manifests by enhanced phosphatase activity and augmentation of the granulocyte phagocytic activity.

Ulcerative colitis in pregnancy in Israel.

Sixty pregnancies in 31 ulcerative colitis patients were studied retrospectively. Twelve patients (20 per cent) improved, 11 (18.3 per cent) deteriorated, while in 37 (61.