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Biomedical subjects

B Stimmel

Publications and source records attributed to B Stimmel.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Is treatment for alcoholism effective in persons on methadone maintenance?

A randomized prospective study of 625 drug addicts on methadone maintenance revealed that 105 (17%) were active alcoholics, 47 (8%) were inactive alcoholics, and 473 (76%) were not alcoholics. The active alcoholics were randomly assigned to abstinence therapy, controlled drinking with behavior modification, or a control group receiving the usual clinic services. There were no differences between treatment and control groups at baseline and during follow-up of up to 2 1/2 years, and there was no relation between remission and treatment, suggesting that the effectiveness of currently employed specific interventions for alcoholism in active alcoholic addicts maintained on methadone cannot be demonstrated.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1983

Alcoholism among narcotic addicts and patients on methadone maintenance.

There was no difference in prevalence of current alcoholism between new admissions to a methadone-maintenance treatment program (MMTP) and patients already in MMTP at least one year, by previous treatment for drug misuse, or between MMTP patients and the population of the surrounding community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Alcoholism as a risk factor in methadone maintenance. A randomized controlled trial.

A randomized controlled trial of 625 addicts on methadone maintenance identified 105 (17 percent) as active alcoholics, 47 (8 percent) as inactive alcoholics, and 473 (75 percent) as nonalcoholics. Subjects were followed for up to 29 months (mean 53.7 weeks) to assess the influence of alcoholism on the rehabilitative process. During the study, alcohol consumption significantly decreased (p less than 0.001) in active alcoholics. Indexes of productive activity on entry or during follow-up revealed no significant differences between active alcoholics and other patients with the exception of alcohol-related hospitalizations (p less than 0.001). Behavioral indexes consistently improved with treatment in all patients, being greatest among active alcoholics (p less than 0.01). During the study, 28 (7 percent) of 399 nonalcoholics were recategorized as active alcoholics, and remission from alcoholism was noted in 28 (27 percent) of patients who were initially classified as alcoholic. These findings suggest that alcoholism does not significantly affect rehabilitation from narcotic use and therefore should not be cause for detoxification from methadone maintenance.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1982

Science versus nonscience undergraduate studies for medical school: a study of nine classes.

The undergraduate grade-point average, scores on the Medical College Admission Tests and Parts I and II of the examinations of the National Board of Medical Examiners, medical school grades, and membership in Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical honor society, were compared for four categories of undergraduate majors to determine whether nonscience preparation was a handicap for medical training. Data for nine complete classes at one medical school were used. The results indicated that nonscience students performed as well as or better than traditional science trained students on almost all performance measures. Implications for medical school admissions policies are discussed.

Achievement↗
PubMed1982

The effect of alcoholism in methadone-maintained persons on productive activity: a randomized control trial.

The effect of alcoholism on indices of productive activity was determined in a prospective, randomized, and controlled study of alcoholism in narcotic addicts undergoing methadone maintenance (MM) therapy. Indices of productive activity included: percentage of persons engaged in productive activities; number of days worked per quarter; number of arrests per quarter; number of hospitalizations; and days of hospitalizations per quarter. Baseline as well as longitudinal data were obtained on operative alcoholics (OA), inactive alcoholics (IA), and nonalcoholics (NA). OA patients were subsequently randomized to a control group or groups receiving either abstinence-oriented insight group therapy or controlled drinking-oriented behavioral modification group therapy. The retention rate in MM of OA versus NA during the 29-month clinical phase of the study did not differ significantly. Similarly, no significance was reported with respect to any index of productive activity. Indices of productive activity in OA undergoing treatment as compared to those randomized to the control group also did not reveal any significant differences. The compliance of OA in seeking and maintaining therapy for their alcoholism, however, was sufficiently poor so that any conclusions concerning the effectiveness of therapy on indices of productive activity should be viewed cautiously.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1982

The ability of a Self-Administered Alcohol Screening Test (mSAAST) to detect future excessive alcohol consumption in persons on methadone maintenance.

A modified Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (mSAAST) was prospectively administered to 625 narcotic addicts participating in a randomized clinical control trial to study its effectiveness in detecting future excessive alcohol consumption. At entry into the study, of 105 patients categorized as active alcoholics, 84 (80%) obtained a positive score on the mSAAST. Of 77 patients initially identified as being at risk for developing alcoholism (potential alcoholics) by mSAAST scores, 31 (40%) subsequently developed characteristics of excessive alcohol consumption. Of the 321 patients classified as nonalcoholic by history as well as mSAAST score, a significantly lesser proportion (15%) developed characteristics of excessive alcohol consumption (p less than 0.001). These findings suggest the mSAAST to be a useful adjunctive indicator of persons at risk of developing excessive consumption of alcohol. It is probable that the usefulness of the mSAAST extends beyond narcotic-dependent populations and may be of value in identifying the potential for excessive alcohol consumption in other populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Alcohol consumption in persons on methadone maintenance therapy.

Alcohol use among methadone maintenance treatment program (MMTP) patients is substantial and a frequent impression is that addicts accelerate their consumption once in MMTP. This study reports an attempt to more clearly define alcohol consumption in opioid dependence as well as changes associated with methadone maintenance therapy. Two-day alcohol consumption (2-day EtOH) data were collected initially and quarterly on participants in a randomized controlled trial of intervention for alcoholism. Blood alcohol levels (BAL) were also determined. 17% of the participants were classified as active alcoholics (AA) and 8% as inactive alcoholics (IA). Two-day EtOH and BAL were significantly higher for AA than AI and nonalcoholics (NA, and AI higher than NA. Two-day EtOH decreased significantly over time for AA, AI, and NA. These findings indicate that AA among narcotic addicts and those on MMTP consume large quantities of EtOH but that consumption decreases with time on MMTP. The results, in confirmation of the work of others, suggest that entry and participation in MMTP has a broader effect than just on the use of narcotic drugs.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1981

Concordance of surgical clerkship performance and National Board of Medical Examiners Part II subtest scores. A validation model.

This study compares the National Board of Medical Examiners Part II (NBME II) subtest scores of medical students attaining honors in a clinical clerkship to those of students receiving a passing score to determine if the NBME II examinations could be considered independently as valid indicators of clinical achievement. Significant differences were found in five of the eight clinical clerkships; four of the six NBME II subtests were involved. A validation model was derived, and error estimates were obtained by using the NBME II surgery subtest scores and surgery clerkship performance as the criteria. Although the mean scores of students receiving honors in surgery were significantly higher than those not receiving honors (P less than 0.001), there was a considerable false negative error rate of 61%. These data suggest that on an individual basis, a good correlation does not exist between clinical performance in surgery and objective assessment of knowledge as determined by NBME scores.

Certification↗
PubMed1980

Increased serum thyroid hormone binding in narcotic addicts is due to liver disease.

The cause of increased thyroid hormone binding in narcotic addicts has been investigated. The average T3, T4, and T3 binding ratio were all significantly higher in addicts than in controls. Free T4 and free T3 indices were normal. Those patients who had abnormally high T3 binding ratios had significantly more severe abnormalities of liver function than the other methadone-treated addicts. Together with evidence that chronic active hepatitis in the nonaddicted population is associated with increased serum thyroid hormone binding, these observations lead us to conclude that the increased serum thyroid hormone binding and total thyroid hormone concentration found in sera of narcotic addicts is due to associated liver disease.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1979

United States citizens in foreign medical schools and the future supply of physicians.

Between 1973 and 1977, the number of United States citizens in foreign medical schools increased from 12,000 to 15,000, with Mexico and Italy responsible for training 55 per cent of these students. If all these students can successfully meet the requirements for entry into graduate training in the United States, their numbers, combined with the increasing size of entering classes in American medical schools, may exceed the number of positions presently available for first-year graduate training. Serious problems in the quality of education received in several new foreign medical schools must be addressed if these students are to enter the American medical system.

Education, Medical, Graduate↗