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Biomedical subjects

D Cotton

Publications and source records attributed to D Cotton.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Psychogeriatric consultation services: effect and effectiveness.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the nature of referrals to a psychogeriatric consultation/outreach service, the types of interventions provided, and the effects and effectiveness of the service. METHOD: The study used a prospective approach in which 67 consecutive patients referred for psychogeriatric assessment were followed up 6 to 8 weeks after the initial assessment and then again 6 months after initial contact. Patients were rated at the time of referral and at follow-up on presence of psychiatric diagnosis, need for institutional care, and placement outcome. RESULTS: Of the 67 patients initially seen, 51 (76%) experienced memory problems and 46 (69%) had depressed mood. Consistent with this finding, 36 (54%) were diagnosed by consultants as having a dementia, and 15 (22%) received a diagnosis of depression. The most frequent recommendations included medication changes in 34 cases (50%) and further assessments in 37 cases (55%). Although information at 6-week follow-up was available for only 58% (n = 38) of the sample, 18 (46%) patients were generally improved. Interestingly, only 12 (31%) of referring physicians indicated that they had followed the advice of the consultants. Cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms were major concerns among referring physicians. The most common recommendation made involved pharmacotherapy. While compliance of family doctors to recommendations made was poor, patients improved over time. Patients requiring inpatient assessment were very old, living alone, experiencing behavioural problems, and not depressed. CONCLUSIONS: Psychogeriatric consultations appear most useful in cases where patients are more severely affected and/or are suffering from a greater range of symptoms.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

A model of community mobilization for the prevention of HIV in women and infants. Prevention of HIV in Women and Infants Demonstration Projects.

The prevention of HIV in Women and Infants Demonstration Projects use a conceptual model for maximizing broad community participation for HIV prevention called the Community Mobilization Framework. The projects' comprehensive approach attempts to bring about changes on a community level using a model which encourages community-wide participation of persons with various roles and relationships in the community. The Community Mobilization Framework is one way to systematically conceptualize the organization of the community for the purpose of mobilizing the maximum number of community members around a common health initiative. A community becomes mobilized around an issue by endorsing health-enhancing attitudes, behaviors, and projects supporting positive health outcomes. This mobilization is expressed through the promotion, support, and delivery of motivational and informational health messages which convey consistent ideas, themes, and images. There are two fundamental bases of the Community Mobilization Framework. The first is its characterization of the variety of individual, social, and organizational roles and relationships in the community that might be used in a concerted campaign for HIV prevention for women. The second basis of the model is the description of the nature and extent of the involvement, which includes a continuum of involvement, ranging from simple endorsement to building active coalitions around a health initiative. The paper discusses practical methods of applying these principles, with the Women and Infants Demonstration Projects providing concrete examples.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Is oligohydramnios a risk factor for infection in term premature rupture of membranes?

Our objective was to determine if a reduced volume of amniotic fluid is a risk factor for microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity in women with rupture of membranes at term. Transabdominal amniocentesis under ultrasound guidance was used to evaluate the microbiological state of the amniotic cavity in 53 patients with term premature rupture of membranes before vaginal examination. Amniotic fluid index was measured prior to the procedure in all cases. The prevalence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity was 32.1% (17/53). Women with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity had a significantly lower median amniotic fluid index than did women without evidence of infection (median 4.4 cm, range 1.0-8.1 vs. median 7.8 cm, range 1.3-14.4, respectively; p < 0.001). An amniotic fluid index of < 5 cm had a sensitivity of 71% (12/17) a specificity of 89% (32/36), a positive predictive value of 75% (12/16) and a negative predictive value of 87% (32/37) in the prediction of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity. Among women who delivered vaginally, those with an amniotic fluid index of < 5 cm had a higher rate of endometritis than those with an amniotic fluid index of >or= 5 cm (19% (3/16) vs. 0% (0/26), respectively; p < 0.05). We conclude that women with term premature rupture of membranes and an amniotic fluid index of < 5 cm are at an increased risk for microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and puerperal infection after a vaginal delivery.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

The diagnostic and prognostic value of amniotic fluid white blood cell count, glucose, interleukin-6, and gram stain in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to compare the value of amniotic fluid tests in the detection of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and in the relationship with the amniocentesis-to-delivery interval and neonatal complications in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes. STUDY DESIGN: Amniotic fluid was retrieved by transabdominal amniocentesis from 120 patients with preterm labor and intact membranes. Fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and for mycoplasmas. Amniotic fluid analysis included a Gram stain, white blood cell count, glucose and interleukin-6 determinations. Logistic regression and Cox's proportional hazards model were used for analysis. RESULTS: (1) The prevalence of positive amniotic fluid cultures was 9.2% (11/120); (2) patients with microbial invasion had a shorter amniocentesis-to-delivery interval and a higher neonatal complications rate than patients with a negative culture; (3) the most sensitive test for the detection of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity was amniotic fluid interleukin-6 determinations (cutoff 11.3 ng/ml) (sensitivity; for interleukin-6 100%, for glucose 81.8%, for white blood cell count 63.6%, and for Gram stain 63.6%; p < 0.05 for all comparisons); (4) the most specific test was the Gram stain of amniotic fluid (specificity: for Gram stain 99.1%, for white blood cell count 94.5%, for interleukin-6 82.6%, and for glucose 81.6%; p < 0.01 for all); (5) of all amniotic fluid tests, interleukin-6 determinations were the only ones that had significant relationship with the amniocentesis-to-delivery interval and neonatal complications. CONCLUSION: Interleukin-6 concentrations in amniotic fluid are better indicators of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity, amniocentesis-to-delivery interval, and neonatal complications than the amniotic fluid Gram stain, glucose concentration, or white blood cell count.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Relationship between the fetal biophysical profile score, umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry, and fetal blood acid-base status determined by cordocentesis.

OBJECTIVE: Fetal hypoxia-acidosis is part of the terminal pathway leading to intrauterine fetal death. A central premise of antepartum surveillance is that identification and timely delivery of the hypoxic or acidotic fetus will prevent intrauterine death and decrease long-term neurologic damage. The optimal method to identify fetal hypoxia-acidosis has not been determined. We attempted to compare the performance of the biophysical profile score and umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry in the identification of fetal acidemia, hypoxemia, and hypercarbia as determined by pH and gas analysis of fetal blood obtained by cordocentesis. STUDY DESIGN: Fetal biophysical profile and umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry studies were performed before cordocentesis in 24 patients (26 to 40 weeks). Umbilical vein pH and blood gas values were determined in all cases. The pulsatility index of the umbilical artery was obtained with pulsed Doppler equipment. Receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis and stepwise multiple logistic regression were performed to examine the relationship between biophysical profile score, umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry, and acid-base status. RESULTS: The prevalence of fetal acidemia (pH 2 SD below the mean for gestational age) was 41.7% (10/24). There was a significant relationship between the change in umbilical artery pulsatility index and fetal acidemia (chi 2 = 26.6, p < 0.001) and hypercarbia (chi 2 = 22.9, p < 0.001), but not hypoxemia (chi 2 = 1.0, p > 0.1), and between the biophysical profile score and fetal acidemia (chi 2 = 11.1, p < 0.001) and hypercarbia (chi 2 = 9.0, p < 0.005), but not hypoxemia (chi 2 = 2.3, p > 0.1). Stepwise multiple logistic regression demonstrated that umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry was a better explanatory variable for acidemia and hypercarbia than the biophysical profile score. CONCLUSION: A strong relationship between the degree of fetal acidemia and hypercarbia and the results of umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry and biophysical profile was found. However, umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry was a better explanatory variable for these outcome than the biophysical profile score.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1993

Candida epididymitis: newly recognized opportunistic epididymal infection.

Epididymitis is common, yet it is rarely associated with fungal pathogens. We report a case of Candida albicans epididymitis in a diabetic which was ultimately treated by orchiectomy. Opportunistic infections of the genitourinary tract in immunosuppressed patients are becoming more prevalent; examples include fungal infections in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome or after organ transplant. The fact that opportunistic organisms can invade the epididymis and produce infection suggests that in cases of persistent epididymitis, which have failed to respond to conventional therapy, more aggressive diagnostic procedures should be considered. Needle aspiration with cultures for fungus and viral organisms should be performed. This is especially true in patients with preexisting chronic illness or an immune compromised state.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

An electronic medical record that helps care for patients with HIV infection.

We have built a clinical workstation to help doctors and nurses care for patients with HIV infection. This knowledge-based medical record system provides medication alerts, reminders about primary care, and on-line information to support the care of patients with HIV infection. We are conducting a controlled clinical trial of this computer system in a single practice setting, which consists of 18 staff physicians, 13 nurses, and 113 residents, who cooperatively practice in four teams. Two teams of physicians are assigned to an intervention group and two teams to a control group. This paper reports preliminary results from the first year of study, January 15, 1992, through January 14, 1993. During this period 274 patients with HIV infection were followed by the general medical practice--130 in a control group and 144 in an intervention group. Physicians in the intervention group more rapidly and more completely followed primary care guidelines than did physicians in the control group. Patients in the intervention group had 2476 ambulatory or emergency visits (17.2 visits per patient) compared with 1882 visits (14.5 visits per patient) for the control patients (p < 0.01). There were 101 hospitalizations for 51 patients in the intervention group (an admission rate of 0.7) compared with 104 admissions for 54 patients in the control group (an admission rate of 0.8) (p = NS). There were 8 deaths in the intervention group (5.6%) compared with 13 (10%) in the control group (p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Artificial Intelligence↗
PubMed1992

Molecular approach in spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae): preliminary data on ribosomal DNA sequences.

DNA sequence data were used to examine phylogenetic relationships between six species of economically important Tetranychidae mites: Eotetranychus carpini (Oudemans), E. pruni (Reck), Tetranychus pacificus McGregor, T. mcdanieli McGregor, T. turkestani Ugarov & Nikolski and T. urticae Koch. With primers directed toward conserved elements flanking the target region, the Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to amplify the ITS2 spacer of the ribosomal DNA molecule. The nucleotide sequence of a 300-bp fragment of the ITS2 was determined by direct sequencing and nucleotide divergence used for intra-generic comparison in mites. The resulting phylogenetic tree expressing interspecific relationships in genus Tetranychus agrees with morphological data. The study demonstrates the usefulness of the approach in the assessment of the systematics and evolution of the group.

Acari↗
PubMed1992

What is the dentist's occupational risk of becoming infected with hepatitis B or the human immunodeficiency virus?

Surveys have shown that dentists are reluctant to treat persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, dentists are much more willing to treat patients with infectious hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study shows that the annual cumulative risk of infection from routine treatment of patients whose seropositivity is undisclosed is 57 times greater from HBV than from HIV, and that the risk of dying from HBV infection is 1.7 times greater than the risk of HIV infection, for which mortality is almost certain.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1991

Amphotericin B vs high-dose ketoconazole for empirical antifungal therapy among febrile, granulocytopenic cancer patients. A prospective, randomized study.

We compared high-dose ketoconazole (800 mg/kg per day, orally) with amphotericin B (0.5 mg/kg per day, intravenously) for empirical antifungal therapy in a prospective, randomized study of persistently or recurrently febrile granulocytopenic cancer patients. Among 97 patients eligible for empirical antifungal therapy, 20 (21%) of these patients were ineligible for randomization to ketoconazole treatment because of their inability to tolerate oral medications. Among 72 patients eligible for randomization, 64 were assessable (32 in each arm of the study). Five of six patients with proved fungal infections who were randomized to receive ketoconazole treatment required crossover to amphotericin B treatment because of progressive infection. The conditions of three of these five patients improved after receiving amphotericin B. The frequency of transaminase elevation was higher in those receiving ketoconazole, while the frequency of azotemia was higher in those receiving amphotericin B. Bioavailability of ketoconazole was unpredictable. Amphotericin B remains the drug of choice for empirical antifungal therapy in granulocytopenic patients; whereas, lack of a parenteral formulation, ineffectiveness against proved mycoses, and unreliable bioavailability preclude high-dose ketoconazole from being an appropriate compound for this purpose.

Adult↗