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Clinical microbiologists are engaged in the field of diagnostic microbiology to determine whether pathogenic microorganisms are present in clinical specimens collected from patients with suspected infections. If microorganisms are found, these are identified and susceptibility profiles, when indicated, are determined. During the past two decades, technical advances in the field of diagnostic microbiology have made constant and enormous progress in various areas, including bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, parasitology, and virology. The diagnostic capabilities of modern clinical microbiology laboratories have improved rapidly and have expanded greatly due to a technological revolution in molecular aspects of microbiology and immunology. In particular, rapid techniques for nucleic acid amplification and characterization combined with automation and user-friendly software have significantly broadened the diagnostic arsenal for the clinical microbiologist. The conventional diagnostic model for clinical microbiology has been labor-intensive and frequently required days to weeks before test results were available. Moreover, due to the complexity and length of such testing, this service was usually directed at the hospitalized patient population. The physical structure of laboratories, staffing patterns, workflow, and turnaround time all have been influenced profoundly by these technical advances. Such changes will undoubtedly continue and lead the field of diagnostic microbiology inevitably to a truly modern discipline. Advanced Techniques in Diagnostic Microbiology provides a comprehensive and up-to-date description of advanced methods that have evolved for the diagnosis of infectious diseases in the routine clinical microbiology laboratory. The book is divided into two sections. The first techniques section covers the principles and characteristics of techniques ranging from rapid antigen testing, to advanced antibody detection, to in vitro nucleic acid amplification techniques, and to nucleic acid microarray and mass spectrometry. Sufficient space is assigned to cover different nucleic acid amplification formats that are currently being used widely in the diagnostic microbiology field. Within each technique, examples are given regarding its application in the diagnostic field. Commercial product information, if available, is introduced with commentary in each chapter. If several test formats are available for a technique, objective comparisons are given to illustrate the contrasts of their advantages and disadvantages. The second applications section provides practical examples of application of these advanced techniques in several "hot" spots in the diagnostic field. A diverse team of authors presents authoritative and comprehensive information on sequence-based bacterial identification, blood and blood product screening, molecular diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases, advances in mycobacterial diagnosis, novel and rapid emerging microorganism detection and genotyping, and future directions in the diagnostic microbiology field. We hope our readers like this technique-based approach and your feedback is highly appreciated. We want to thank the authors who devoted their time and efforts to produce their chapters. We also thank the staff at Springer Press, especially Melissa Ramondetta, who initiated the whole project. Finally, we greatly appreciate the constant encouragement of our family members through this long effort. Without their unwavering faith and full support, we would never have had the courage to commence this project

The uniqueness of this textbook lies in the fact that, it is the FIRST book in the field of allergy addressing in detail the various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This textbook will be appealing to medical students, physicians-in-training as well as consultants.

INTRODUCTION: Mediastinal parathyroid adenomas are a rare condition. AIM: Analysis of epidemiological data, clinical manifestation of mediastinal parathyroid adenoma (MPA), including imaging modalities, and therapeutic approach to this condition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of documented cases of mediastinal parathyroid adenoma that were managed at our Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Military Teaching Hospital Mohammed V, between January 2010 and December 2019. RESULTS: During a 9-year period in our department, 21 documented cases of MPA were treated surgically. Patients ranged in age from 20 to 69 years, with a mean age of 45 years, and there was no gender predominance. The most frequently reported manifestations were osteoarticular, with bone pain in 66.6% (14/21), pathological fractures in 28.5% (6/21), and osteoporosis in 23.8% (5/21). Cervical ultrasound, MIBI scintigraphy and cervico-thoracic computed tomography scan were performed respectively in 28.5% (n = 06/21), in 47.6% (n = 10/21) and 100% (n = 21), and allowed positive diagnosis of MPA. All patients benefited from resection surgery, through a classical transverse cervicotomy which was extended in some cases to the manubrium, and in only one case treated with thoracotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Management of mediastinal parathyroid adenoma is based on the diagnosis imaging assessment step, usually by MIBI scintigraphy. Surgical ablation is a radical treatment. Peroperative hormonal evaluation is mainly recommended.

Clear cell acanthoma represent a benign solitary epidermal tumor of the clear glycogen containing epithelial cells, which is quite common in dermatologic practice. The etiology of this tumor formation is not known exactly at the moment. Clinically, the lesion appears as a single reddish papule or papule-nodule and the characteristic of this lesion is represented by a peripheral scaling collarette. Although solitary lesions represent the most common form of presentation of the acanthoma with clear cells, less than thirtieth cases of multiple clear cell acanthoma, from two up to four hundred lesions, have been described in the medical literature to date. The diagnosis based on clinical features frequently needs to be supported using a dermoscopy exam and, in most cases, a histopathology exam is required. The treatment consists is complete removal (standard surgical excision, cryotherapy, electrofulguration alone, carbon dioxide laser or shave removal or curettage followed by electrofulguration). For the cases with multiple lesions, cryotherapy, or topical 5- fluorouracil are preferred. We present the case of a 62-year-old male patient, presented to our Dermatology Department for multiple asymptomatic rounded papules and multiple exophytic nodular tumor formations (approximate fifteen), on the lower extremities, which had occurred approximately two years previously and gradually increased in number.

In mid-March 2015, a mother and her teenage daughter and son from Syria presented to a Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) refugee clinic in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon with the chief complaints of hair loss together with weakness and numbness of their lower extremities. They reported that on March 1, a military foe of their relative had given him several boxes of Middle Eastern cookies which were consumed by over 20 members of their families and neighbors. Soon after the consumption, most members of the households developed symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Later, many of the affected individuals, including the three who presented to the clinic, had pain and weakness in the extremities, skin lesions, and hair loss. Two subjects died inside Syria of kidney failure. In this report, we describe the diagnostic challenges faced until the arrival to the diagnosis of thallium intoxication and the therapeutic obstacles to getting adequate therapy. We also report the results of a survey sent to all subjects in the affected households and discuss the context of lawlessness that led to this intoxication and perhaps other cases.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a significant problem that necessitates a greater understanding of its underlying molecular complexity in order to improve diagnostics and therapies. Recent studies have shed light on the critical role that mitochondrial dysfunction plays in the development and course of HCC. Once thought to be primarily involved in the synthesis of cellular energy, mitochondria are now known to be key participants in the regulation of a variety of cellular functions that go beyond bioenergetics. The purpose of this review is to elucidate the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of mitochondrial dysfunction in HCC by synthesising ideas from conventional and contemporary scientific literature. Within diagnostics, the discovery of mitochondrial biomarkers such as mutations in mitochondrial DNA and abnormalities in respiratory chain complex activities provides a state-of-the-art viewpoint for the timely identification and accurate description of HCC. In addition, non-invasive imaging methods that focus on mitochondrial function offer prospective means of improving clinical diagnostic accuracy. Moving on to treatment, a growing area of study investigates how mitochondria-targeted therapies might be used to treat HCC. Novel substances and repurposed medications with the potential to induce selective apoptosis in cancer cells, reduce oxidative stress, and restore mitochondrial homeostasis are highly promising. In the fight against hepatocellular carcinoma, an understanding of the complex interactions between mitochondrial dysfunction and HCC opens new diagnostic opportunities and paves the way for individualised treatment plans.

It is undeniable that the increasing costs in healthcare are a concern. Although technological advancements have been made in healthcare systems, the return on investment made by governments and payers has been poor. The current model of care is unsustainable and is due for an upgrade. In developed nations, a law of diminishing returns has been noted in population health standards, whilst in the developing world, westernized chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease have become emerging problems. The reasons for these trends are complex, multifactorial and not easily reversed. Personalized medicine has the potential to have a significant impact on these issues, but for it to be truly successful, interdisciplinary mass collaboration is required. We propose here a vision for open-access advanced analytics for personalized cardiac diagnostics using imaging, electrocardiography and genomics.

It is undeniable that the increasing costs in healthcare are a concern. Although technological advancements have been made in healthcare systems, the return on investment made by governments and payers has been poor. The current model of care is unsustainable and is due for an upgrade. In developed nations, a law of diminishing returns has been noted in population health standards, whilst in the developing world, westernized chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease have become emerging problems. The reasons for these trends are complex, multifactorial and not easily reversed. Personalized medicine has the potential to have a significant impact on these issues, but for it to be truly successful, interdisciplinary mass collaboration is required. We propose here a vision for open-access advanced analytics for personalized cardiac diagnostics using imaging, electrocardiography and genomics.

Radiology and imaging are some areas where rapid strides have been made, thus contributing to diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. The detection of a specific pathology or disease or therapeutic intervention has required high precision. Whether it is simple X-ray or computed tomography scans, ultra-modern functional MRI scans, molecular imaging, and more, radiology has been through lots of improvements to enhance clinicians' ability to make more accurate clinical decisions. This review aims to discuss the role of radiology throughout the years and specify the contemporary usefulness of these methods, using diagnosis and therapy as key aspects. In addition, the review highlights certain issues related to implementing these technologies in practice, such as costs, availability, and staff education. We also evaluate how these novelties contribute to patient benefit today and in the future or can lay the foundation for individualized treatment.