Topic
Diagnostic accuracy research, explained
19 open-access diagnostic accuracy studies, each with a flashcard deck and a quiz.
- How old is KwaZulu-Natal’s XDR tuberculosis outbreak strain?
WGS of 337 KZN isolates plus 3 historical genomes dated LAM4 XDR’s isoniazid/streptomycin mutations to ~1957 and found INH resistance evolved before rifampicin 46 times vs 2 the other way.
- Do blood ageing markers predict death better as a bundle than one-by-one?
In 777 Newcastle 85+ participants, a 40-biomarker frailty index predicted 7-year mortality (HR 1.05 per 1% FI-B; AUC 0.66) better than any single marker (AUC ≤0.61); combining with the clinical FI raised AUC to 0.75.
- Do doctors think AI will take their jobs?
Among 669 Korean physicians/students, AI familiarity was low (5.9%) but 83.4% saw medical usefulness—especially for diagnosis—while only 35.4% thought AI could replace them.
- StEP pain-subtype assessment
A structured interview-plus-exam tool (StEP) was developed and validated to separate neuropathic/radicular from non-neuropathic axial low-back pain.
- How accurate is a 15-minute COVID antigen strip?
COVID-19 Ag Respi-Strip was highly specific (99.5%) but only moderately sensitive (57.6%) vs PCR, best when viral load was high (CT <22).
- Could a blood microRNA test help diagnose tuberculosis?
A few small RNA molecules were raised in the blood of people with active tuberculosis and could separate them from healthy people moderately well, but the finding is preliminary.
- Can a urine test help diagnose chronic inflammatory diseases?
Urine chemistry differed in reproducible ways across six inflammatory diseases and could distinguish inflammatory bowel disease patients from healthy people quite accurately.
- How well does CA125 find ovarian cancer in GP care?
In UK primary care, CA125 ≥35 U/ml had high NPV but only about 10% PPV for ovarian cancer, and elevated values also flagged other cancers.
- Can needle biopsies replace a full autopsy to find cause of death?
A quick needle-based autopsy agreed with a full autopsy on cause of death in about three out of four adults, and did best for infections and cancers.
- Blood GFAP and NfL predict dementia years ahead
In 48,542 UK Biobank participants followed ~13 years, elevated plasma GFAP and NfL preceded dementia up to 15 years and improved prediction beyond CAIDE/DRS risk scores (AUC up to ~0.89).
- Smartphone PPG to detect atrial fibrillation
FibriCheck PPG showed ~96% sensitivity and specificity versus cardiologist ECG on analysable traces.
- Is plasma p-tau217 as useful as CSF for Alzheimer PET positivity?
In 114 Geneva memory-clinic patients, plasma p-tau217 identified amyloid/tau PET positivity (mean AUC 0.96) better than p-tau181/231 and similarly to CSF p-tau217 (AUC 0.95).
- Rising frailty flags one-year death risk
Rapid monthly rises in the electronic frailty index marked older adults twice as likely to die within a year, with high specificity.
- Diabetes prevalence and risk-score accuracy
Hindustani Surinamese had ~26% diabetes prevalence; a clinical risk score showed moderate-to-good AUCs (~0.74–0.80) across ethnic groups.
- Rapid gram-positive blood culture ID
A microarray panel identified Staphylococcus from positive blood cultures with ~99% sensitivity and specificity versus culture.
- Can ultrasound scores sort unclear thyroid biopsies?
For thyroid nodules whose needle biopsy was inconclusive, combining the biopsy category with a standard ultrasound risk score picked out low-risk nodules that were almost always benign.
- Can a rapid test diagnose sickle cell at the bedside?
Sickle SCAN, a point-of-care immunoassay, was validated against laboratory gold standards for detecting hemoglobin S and related genotypes.
- What predicts bad outcomes in bacterial keratitis?
In 283 UK eyes with suspected bacterial keratitis, almost all had a risk factor (OSD 47%, contact lenses 35%, immunosuppression 18%); age >50, infiltrate >3 mm, and poor presenting vision predicted worse vision and slow healing.
- Is fluconazole-resistant Candida hiding in urine?
Among 519 C. tropicalis isolates, 16.5% were fluconazole-resistant (91.9% also voriconazole-resistant); candiduria resistance jumped to 29.5% after 2012, earlier than invasive strains.