General Diagnostic Methods

A number of procedures and tests are relevant to the diagnosis of DPLD. No algorithm is perfect, but a general approach is outlined in Rgure 1. Below is a description of the specific components of the evaluation of DPLD and a discussion of the authors approach to their application. 

A detailed history and physical examination is essential to the evaluation of the patient with DPLD and should be routine (Table 2). The presentation of patients with DPLD usually follows several common patterns. The patient presents because of the onset of progressive breathlessness with exertion (dyspnea) or with a persistent nonproductive cough. In most instances, the patient has 

If you have even been told you have the following conditions, answer Yes the year diagnosed. 

Sjogren s syndrome If you experience any of the symptoms listed below, please answer Yes and provide an approximate date the symptom started. 

Difficulty swallowing or food getting stuck in your throat 

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In the late 1960 s a new series of methods was introduced for the determination of amylase, involving the use of a starch-dye complex. Dyes such as Renazol brilliant blue (68) Reactive Red 2B (69) (used in the substrate Dy-Amyl, General Diagnostic Division, Warner-Chilcott Laboratories), Cibachrom Blue (70)... 

The hydrogen (H2) breath test is generally considered the diagnostic method of choice because it is sensitive, noninvasive, and relatively inexpensive. Normally, humans exhale very little H2 gas as H2 is not a product of human metabolism. However, H2 and other gases are produced when undigested lactose in the colon is fermented by bacteria. The H2 is absorbed and carried through the bloodstream to the lungs, where it is exhaled and can be detected. Raised H2 levels in exhaled air indicate insuffi-... 

The target of a detailed diagnosis is generally achieved using various and mutually complementary examination techniques. Diagnostic methods in liver disease are founded on four diagnostic pillars, which are applied stepwise and nearly always provide the basis for an exact and detailed diagnosis. Complex or invasive techniques are only used when they are clearly indicated. (19) (s. fig. 4.2)... 

Several detection methods have been developed to screen for ciguatoxins however, there is stiU no widely generalized diagnostic test for ciguatera poisoning. 

Remember that the BPCS operates with signals that are relatively dynamic. This makes BPCS failures generally detectable by plant personnel. Example diagnostic methods include flat line outputs, quality indicators, pre-alarms, deviation alarms, and out of range signals. While a BPCS operates under relatively dynamic conditions, safety instrumented system signals are static Boolean variables. Since the SIS only takes action when a potentially dangerous condition is detected, it can be very hard for operations and maintenance persormel to detect certain failure modes of a SIS. 

Other examples of tissues that have been investigated with photothermal methods include ocular and arterial tissues. IR photothermal radiometry, in particular, shows promise as a general diagnostic tool in biomedical studies, in the nondestructive imaging of very thin layers. 

In smaller hospitals, there maybe no possibilities of performing lung function tests, at least not of the advanced kind. However, measurement of arterial oxygen tension (Pa02) in arterial blood samples is generally possible even in small hospitals and is a very useful diagnostic method. 

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