Search

Introduction and objectives: The Mini-Cog is a very brief, widely used cognitive test that includes a memory task and a simplified assessment of the Clock Drawing Test (CDT). There is not a formal evaluation of the Mini-Cog test in Spanish. This study aims to analyse the diagnostic usefulness of the Mini-Cog and CDT for detecting cognitive impairment (CI). Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study, systematically including all patients who consulted at our neurology clinic over a 6-month period. We assessed diagnostic usefulness for detecting CI (defined according to the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association criteria for mild cognitive impairment and dementia) according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated for each cut-off point. Results: The study included 581 individuals (315 with CI); 55.1% were women and 27.7% had not completed primary studies. The Mini-Cog showed greater diagnostic usefulness than the CDT (AUC ± sensitivity: 0.88 ± 0.01 vs 0.84 ± 0.01; P

Introduction A picture version of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) would assist in the assessment of memory function in patients with low levels of schooling. A shortened version would improve the test's applicability. Objectives To analyse the diagnostic usefulness of a shortened picture version of the FCSRT for distinguishing patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) from controls, without excluding participants with a low level of schooling. Methods Phase I study of a diagnostic evaluation (convenience sampling; pre-test prevalence 50%). A blinded researcher independently administered the FCSRT to 30 patients with aMCI and 30 controls matched for age, sex, level of schooling and literacy, using images and omitting the usual 30-minutes delayed recall item. Three variables were recorded: free recall, total recall, and cue efficiency. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated using receiver operating characteristic curves and the area under the curve. The Youden index was used to identify optimal cut-off points. Results Of all participants, 41.7% had not completed primary education. There were no differences between groups as regards sociodemographic variables. Area under the curve was excellent for free recall (0.99), total recall (0.95), and cue efficiency (0.93). The optimal cut-off points were 21/22, 43/44, and Conclusions This preliminary analysis shows that a shortened picture version of the FCSRT may be useful and applicable for the diagnosis of aMCI without excluding individuals with a low level of schooling.

ResumenObjetivoEvaluar la utilidad diagnóstica (UD) del Mini-Mental (MMS) en la detección del deterioro cognitivo (DC) en Atención Primaria (AP) y determinar las mejores condiciones de aplicación para este fin.DiseñoAnálisis conjunto de 2 estudios de evaluación de pruebas diagnósticas prospectivos con selección consecutiva y sistemática, verificación completa y doble cegamiento, realizados en Madrid y Granada.EmplazamientoEl MMS fue aplicado en AP y el diagnóstico de referencia en Atención Especializada.ParticipantesSe seleccionaron de forma consecutiva y sistemática sujetos con quejas o sospecha de DC atendidos en AP.Mediciones principalesLa UD del MMS se evaluó mediante el área bajo la curva ROC (AUC) y se consideró mejor punto de corte el que ofrecía la mayor tasa de aciertos diagnósticos (TAD) y el mayor índice kappa. Se analizó de forma independiente la UD para las puntuaciones directas (MMSd) y ajustadas por edad y nivel educativo (MMSa)ResultadosEn la muestra total de 360 sujetos (214 DC), la UD de MMSd fue significativamente superior a la de MMSa (0,84±0,02 vs 0,82±0,02, p≤0,001). El rendimiento diagnóstico conseguido por el MMSd con el mejor punto de corte (22/23) fue discreto (TAD 0,77, kappa 0,52±0,05), pero no fue mejorado por ningún punto de corte del MMSa.ConclusiónEl Mini-Mental tiene una UD discreta para la detección de DC en AP que no mejora con la corrección de las puntuaciones por edad y nivel educativo; el mejor punto de corte es 22/23, inferior al habitualmente recomendado.AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic accuracy (DA) of the Mini-Mental State (MMS) for the detection of cognitive impairment (CI) in Primary Care (PC) and to determine the best conditions of use for that purpose.DesignPooled analysis of two prospective, double blind, studies on the evaluation of diagnostic tools with complete verification that were conducted in Madrid and Granada (Spain).SettingThe MMS was administered in PC and the final cognitive diagnosis (gold standard) was made in Specialized Care.ParticipantsSubjects with cognitive complaints or suspected of having CI were consecutively recruited in the PC clinic.Principal measuresThe DA of the MMS was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). The best cut-off point was selected according to the ratio of cases correctly classified (RCC) and to the kappa index. Direct (MMSd) and age- and education-adjusted (MMSa) total scores were analyzed separately.ResultsIn the total sample of 360 subjects (214 CI), the DA of the MMSd was significantly superior to that of the MMSa (0.84±0.02 vs 0.82±0.02, p≤.001). The yield obtained by the best cut-off point of the MMSd (22/23) was modest (RCC 0.77, kappa 0.52±0.05) and was not improved by any MMSa cut-off point.ConclusionThe DA of the MMS for detection of CI in PC was modest and did not improve with adjustment of the score by age and education. The best cut-off point was 22/23, inferior to the usually recommended cut-off.

Inpatient long-term video-EEG monitoring (LTM) is an important diagnostic tool for patients with seizures and other paroxysmal behavioural events. The main referral categories are diagnosis (epileptic versus non-epileptic disorder), seizure classification and presurgical evaluation. The diagnostic usefulness of the LTM varies considerably (19–75%) depending on how this was defined and on the selection of the patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic usefulness and the necessary duration of the LTM for the referral groups, in patients extensively investigated before the monitoring. An LTM was considered diagnostically useful when it provided previously not reported, clinically relevant information on the paroxysmal event. For the presurgical group, reaching a decision concerning surgery was an additional requirement.We reviewed data from 234 consecutive LTM-sessions (221 patients) over a 2-year period. In 44% of the cases the LTM was diagnostically useful. There were no significant differences concerning diagnostic usefulness among the main referral groups: diagnostic (41%), classification (41%) and presurgical (55%). Diagnostic usefulness did not differ among the age groups either. The duration of the successful LTM-sessions was significantly longer in the presurgical group (mean: 3.5 days) than in the diagnostic and classification groups (2.4 and 2.3 days, respectively). We conclude that LTM is a valuable diagnostic tool even in patients extensively investigated before the monitoring, and is equally effective in the referral and age groups. However, patients referred for presurgical evaluation need considerably longer LTM, and this should be taken into account when planning the resources and calculating the costs.

Resumen Objetivo Evaluar la utilidad diagnóstica (UD) del Mini-Mental (MMS) en la detección del deterioro cognitivo (DC) en Atención Primaria (AP) y determinar las mejores condiciones de aplicación para este fin. Diseño Análisis conjunto de 2 estudios de evaluación de pruebas diagnósticas prospectivos con selección consecutiva y sistemática, verificación completa y doble cegamiento, realizados en Madrid y Granada. Emplazamiento El MMS fue aplicado en AP y el diagnóstico de referencia en Atención Especializada. Participantes Se seleccionaron de forma consecutiva y sistemática sujetos con quejas o sospecha de DC atendidos en AP. Mediciones principales La UD del MMS se evaluó mediante el área bajo la curva ROC (AUC) y se consideró mejor punto de corte el que ofrecía la mayor tasa de aciertos diagnósticos (TAD) y el mayor índice kappa. Se analizó de forma independiente la UD para las puntuaciones directas (MMSd) y ajustadas por edad y nivel educativo (MMSa) Resultados En la muestra total de 360 sujetos (214 DC), la UD de MMSd fue significativamente superior a la de MMSa (0,84 ± 0,02 vs 0,82 ± 0,02, p ≤ 0,001). El rendimiento diagnóstico conseguido por el MMSd con el mejor punto de corte (22/23) fue discreto (TAD 0,77, kappa 0,52 ± 0,05), pero no fue mejorado por ningún punto de corte del MMSa. Conclusión El Mini-Mental tiene una UD discreta para la detección de DC en AP que no mejora con la corrección de las puntuaciones por edad y nivel educativo; el mejor punto de corte es 22/23, inferior al habitualmente recomendado.

Brucellosis is a widespread zoonotic disease that is also a potential agent of bioterrorism. Current serological assays to diagnose human brucellosis in clinical settings are based on detection of agglutinating anti-LPS antibodies. To better understand the universe of antibody responses that develop after B. melitensis infection, a protein microarray was fabricated containing 1,406 predicted B. melitensis proteins. The array was probed with sera from experimentally infected goats and naturally infected humans from an endemic region in Peru. The assay identified 18 antigens differentially recognized by infected and non-infected goats, and 13 serodiagnostic antigens that differentiate human patients proven to have acute brucellosis from syndromically similar patients. There were 31 cross-reactive antigens in healthy goats and 20 cross-reactive antigens in healthy humans. Only two of the serodiagnostic antigens and eight of the cross-reactive antigens overlap between humans and goats. Based on these results, a nitrocellulose line blot containing the human serodiagnostic antigens was fabricated and applied in a simple assay that validated the accuracy of the protein microarray results in the diagnosis of humans. These data demonstrate that an experimentally infected natural reservoir host produces a fundamentally different immune response than a naturally infected accidental human host., Author Summary Brucellosis is a bacterial disease transmitted from infected animals to humans. This disease often presents as a prolonged but non-specific illness primarily characterized as fever without specific organ localization. Because infections can result after ingestion (typically from unpasteurized animal milk or milk products from goats, cattle or sheep) or inhalation (important because of bioterrorism potential) of small numbers of organisms, the bacteria that cause brucellosis are potential biological warfare agents. Here, a protein microarray containing 1406 Brucella melitensis proteins was used to study the antibody response of experimentally infected goats and naturally infected humans in B. melitensis infection. Goats recognized 18 proteins and humans recognized 13 proteins as serodiagnostic antigens; antibody detection of only two of these antigens was shared by goats and humans, suggesting either fundamentally different immune responses or different responses in relation to mode or setting of infection. The human serodiagnostic antigens were evaluated in a simple nitrocellulose line blot assay, which validated the protein microarray results. The approach described here will lead to the development of new diagnostics for brucellosis and other infectious diseases, and aid in understanding the human and animal host immune response to pathogenic organisms.