A tribute to Brenda Mee.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Andrews.
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Granular cell tumors involving multiple bronchial and extrapulmonary sites were found in a young man. Carbon dioxide laser ray was applied through a specially fitted rigid bronchoscope to a lesion at the left mainstem bronchus. Serial follow-up bronchoscopies revealed a white scarred plaque without evidence of regrowth. A partially obstructing lesion at the left lower lobe bronchus did not respond to one application of laser therapy. Laser treatment of proximal benign bronchial lesions is feasible; however, peripheral lesions may require several courses of laser therapy.
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The antiviral adenosine analog, 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI), and the antitubercular nicotinic acid analogue, isoniazid, have recently received widespread clinical application in the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Clinical studies indicate that the primary dose limiting side effect of both drugs is neurological in nature. Most clinical studies are confounded by the fact that the observed neuropathy must be evaluated in the presence of the ongoing disease process associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a rat model of ddI-and isoniazid-induced neuropathy in the absence of any disease-induced pathology. Myelin splitting and intramyelin edema were the most frequent abnormalities observed in the sciatic nerves of ddI-dosed animals, whereas whorls, extracellular debris, macrophages, and reduced myelinated axon number were seen following chronic isoniazid administration. Isoniazid also resulted in myelinopathy of the CNS. Thus, contrary to previous reports, the rodent is a suitable model for ddI- and isoniazid-induced neuropathies.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the design and methods of the Washington State Cognitive Activities and Reimbursement Effectiveness (CARE) Project, a demonstration project in which community pharmacies were paid for cognitive services (CS) provided to Medicaid patients, its evaluation objectives, and the extent to which implementation objectives were achieved. DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. Community pharmacies were allocated to a documentation-and-payment group, documentation-only group, and "silent" control group. CS were reported using a problem-intervention-result classification system embedded within a pseudo-National Drug Code format. Management strategies included use of area coordinators. SETTING: Pharmacies serving ambulatory Medicaid patients in the state of Washington, excluding staff-model health maintenance organization pharmacies and pharmacies predominantly serving long-term-care residents. PARTICIPANTS: 200 community pharmacies (110 treatment; 90 control), with another 100 randomly selected pharmacies as a silent control group. INTERVENTIONS: A modest monthly stipend. The treatment group billed Medicaid for each documented CS associated with a drug therapy-related problem. All participants received training in documentation methods. A unique coding scheme allowed documentation of CS within the constraints of the Medicaid program. Data edit checks and feedback were used to ensure data quality and completeness. Area coordinators were used to facilitate training, compliance with study procedures, and participation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participation rates, documentation rates, coding scheme revision, data quality and completeness rates, and effectiveness of area coordinators. RESULTS: Pharmacists documented more than 20,240 CS records. Approximately 89% of records passed edit checks, and 94% did so after modification. Nearly 83% could be linked to a paid drug or CS claim. The coding system was sufficient, with minor modifications, to account for all interventions documented. Area coordinators did not function as expected. CONCLUSION: A system for documentation and payment of pharmacists' CS to Medicaid recipients was implemented successfully and relatively easily in community pharmacies.
Studies of risk factors associated with reactions among autologous blood donors have been limited. Therefore, 2091 autologous and 4737 homologous donations were examined. Donors at greatest risk for reaction were autologous donors who had reactions at first donation; among 45 who made repeat donations for the same surgery, 17 (38%) had repeat reactions. The group least likely to experience reactions were the autologous donors greater than or equal to 66 years old; they experienced a 1.9 greater than or equal to percent (6/310) incidence of reactions. More reactions were seen in both autologous and homologous donors in the categories of first-time donor, female gender, decreasing age, and lower weight. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that all of these variables were independent predictors of donor reaction, with first-time donation (odds ratio, 2.4) and female gender (odds ratio, 1.9) being the strongest predictors of reaction. Donor room personnel should be alerted that autologous donors who react at first donation are very likely to react at subsequent donations. Contrary to common concern, elderly autologous donors are least likely to have reactions.
Patients with serious illnesses who donate their blood for autologous use create anxiety for many phlebotomists. Donor room staff were surveyed at three donor centers, using confidential questionnaires, to identify their concerns and to evaluate factors associated with reduced anxiety toward autologous donors. Among respondents (n = 93), 58 percent had patient care experience within the last 5 years, which correlated with diminished concern about phlebotomizing cardiac patients (r = .21; p = 0.04). Fifty-seven percent of respondents had drawn blood from greater than 50 autologous donors. Surprisingly, the experience of drawing blood from relatively large numbers of autologous donors did not correlate with increased confidence in phlebotomizing pediatric, cardiac, and elderly patients (r = -.04; p = 0.75). Those respondents who felt that they had adequate medical support agreed with more liberal donor criteria and were more confident about phlebotomizing pediatric, cardiac, and elderly patients (r = -.32; p = 0.001). Those respondents who believed most strongly in the benefits of autologous transfusion had the least anxiety toward donors who were medically more complex (r = .39; p = 0.0001). It is concluded that, contrary to what might be expected, phlebotomizing large numbers of autologous donors does not reduce the anxiety of staff members when they encounter donors with complex medical problems. Factors that do reduce anxiety include dependable physician and other medical support services, previous experience in direct patient care, and knowledge of the benefits of autologous transfusion.
Community health nursing students, faculty, and Wendy's fast food restaurant conducted a 2-day health fair that provided health screening, counseling, and educational opportunities for the community, an exciting learning experience for the students, funds for the school of nursing, and good public relations for Wendy's. The authors describe the planning, implementation, and evaluation of this health fair as a student learning activity.
Two versions of the time-tradeoff (TTO) method were compared. In the personal TTO version, 31 prostate cancer patients decided whether they personally would give up some longevity to have perfect health rather than a longer life in a state of poor health associated with prostate cancer. In the impersonal version, 28 patients compared two hypothetical friends, one of whom has perfect health but will live less time than the other who is in poor health, and decided which person they would rather be. All patients evaluated three hypothetical health states. The two TTO methods were assessed by examining 1) how well they distinguished three health states of varying degrees of dysfunction and 2) patients' willingness to trade time for quality of life. Patients using the impersonal TTO version were more likely than those using the personal version to order the three health states appropriately (68% vs 16%, p < 0.0001) and were more willing to trade off length of life for quality of life (p < 0.05).
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