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Biomedical subjects

F Cetta

Publications and source records attributed to F Cetta.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Growth patterns of hyperlipidemic children enrolled in a preventive cardiovascular health clinic.

The objective of this study was to assess growth patterns of hyperlipidemic children enrolled in a preventive cardiovascular health clinic. A retrospective chart review of hyperlipidemic children enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Health Clinic for the Young was performed. All participants were counseled to eat an American Heart Association Step-One Diet and exercise regularly. Weight and height were measured every 3 months. Growth was assessed using attained heights and weights and body-mass index Z scores compared to standard distributions for North American children. Sixty-three patients (33 males and 30 females) were enrolled in the study. Mean age at clinic entrance was 7.8 +/- 3.5 years (range: 2 to 16 years). We conclude that participation in a preventive health clinic is generally safe for hyperlipidemic children. However, medical management of hyperlipidemic children must include meticulous surveillance to detect the infrequent occurrence of excessive weight loss or weight stabilization resulting from inappropriate response to dietary counseling.

Adolescent↗

Do surgical and endoscopic sphincterotomy prevent or facilitate recurrent common duct stone formation?

The possible formation of brown recurrent common duct stones (RCS) as a long-term side effect of sphincterotomy (SPHT) has been evaluated in 63 patients with stone formation after cholecystectomy, 253 who underwent SPHT or choledocholithotomy, 131 with postoperative monitoring of bile bacteriologic characteristics through the T tube, and 20 with stone and bile analysis at both operations. In addition, findings are also reported in 145 patients who underwent surgical SPHT and radiologic review of up to 28 years after surgery, five who underwent ampullectomy, and 55 who underwent endoscopic SPHT. The RCS were usually brown (72.5% of cases), and were always associated with bile infection caused by Escherichia coli. Sixty-two percent of brown RCS were found after SPHT. Eleven percent of patients who underwent surgical SPHT, 9% who underwent endoscopic SPHT, and 66.6% who underwent ampullectomies had brown RCS. Sphincterotomy determined a fivefold greater incidence of postoperative bactibilia, and a seven-fold greater incidence of brown RCS, than did choledocholithotomy. It is suggested that: (1) since brown RCS are secondary to bile contamination from the duodenum, SPHT (and subsequent stricture), facilitating both bile contamination and bacterial overgrowth, could be considered a basic factor in the formation of these stones; and (2) since true RCS are mostly of the brown subtype, SPHT could prevent the occurrence of retained stones by flushing the stones that were missed during the first operation, but undoubtedly increases the total incidence of RCS.

Adult↗

Parental knowledge of bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis.

The aim of this study was to determine parental knowledge of bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis (BEP). Parents of 135 patients attending a pediatric cardiology clinic in a university center were mailed an eight-question survey pertaining to their knowledge of their child's cardiac disease, medications, and BEP. The patients' cardiac lesions and current medications were verified by a review of clinic and echocardiographic records. Each patient's need for BEP was determined according to American Heart Association (AHA) recommendations. Eighty-four (62%) parents returned complete surveys. The patients' mean age was 5 years with a range of 9 weeks to 19 years. Eighty-two (98%) respondents were high school graduates. Fifty-two (62%) respondents correctly defined endocarditis. Eighty-two (98%) parents knew the correct name of their child's cardiac condition and 27/32 (84%) knew the names of their child's current medications. Only 36/64 (56%) parents of at-risk children knew measures to prevent endocarditis. While most parents know the name of their child's heart lesion and current medications, parental knowledge of endocarditis and BEP was limited. Intensified education and awareness programs are needed in order to prevent potential major morbidity and mortality for pediatric patients with heart disease.

Adult↗

Adolescent knowledge of bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if adolescents with congenital heart disease have adequate knowledge of bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis. DESIGN: Forty-eight adolescents attending a congenital heart disease summer camp were asked to complete an eight-question survey to assess their knowledge of heart disease, endocarditis, and endocarditis prophylaxis. RESULTS: Forty-five of 48 (94%) completed the questionnaire. Thirty-one (69%) knew the name of their heart disease. Two correctly defined endocarditis. None knew measures which could prevent endocarditis. Although 36 (80%) knew they needed to take "a medicine" prior to dental procedures, only 18 (40%) knew that an antibiotic was needed. There were significant gender differences for knowledge of antibiotics and for knowledge of current medications. However, patient gender and regular use of cardiac medications did not correlate significantly with knowledge of endocarditis or bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: Whereas most adolescents know the names of their heart lesions and current medications, knowledge of endocarditis and bacterial endocarditis prevention and prophylaxis is inadequate.

Adolescent↗

Pediatric education in emergency medicine residency programs--10 years later.

The purpose of this study is to examine the changes in the pediatric emergency medicine education of emergency medicine (EM) residents over the last decade. Questionnaires were mailed to the training directors of all EM residency programs. Sixty-five programs (79%) responded. While children represent 29 +/- 2% of all patients seen in the institutions surveyed, only 17 programs (26%) provide more than six months of pediatric education, ie, no increase in the last decade. EM residents frequently rotate through pediatric emergency departments (72%), inpatient pediatric wards (51%), and pediatric intensive care units (88%). Most physicians in charge of pediatric emergency medicine education are emergency medicine trained (75% vs 29% in 1981), and only 12% are pediatric emergency medicine fellowship trained. Despite several improvements and the increased satisfaction of program directors, the pediatric component of EM residents' training continues to be disproportionate to the number of children in the emergency medicine patient population. Specialists in pediatric emergency medicine should strive to play a more significant role in the pediatric education of EM residents.

Child↗

Large foreign body as a nidus for a common duct stone in a patient without spontaneous biliary enteric fistula or previous abdominal surgery.

We report a case of a brown pigment gallstone, which formed around a phytobezoar in the common bile duct, in a patient without spontaneous biliary enteric fistula or previous abdominal surgery. A brief comment on the possible origin of the phytobezoar in this case and on the pattern of deposition of brown material over a pre-existent nidus is also presented.

Abdomen↗

Metal detectors: an alternative approach to the evaluation of coin ingestions in children?

Foreign body ingestions constitute a common problem in pediatric emergency medicine. Recent data indicate that, despite current recommendations, most children who ingest coins do not undergo radiologic evaluation. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of a metal detector in locating coins in a model simulating coin ingestions in children. Initially, the distance between the anterior chest wall (ACW) and the esophagus was measured on 17 chest computed tomograms obtained on children between the ages of three months and six years. Subsequently, a distance equal to the mean ACW-to-gastroesophageal junction measurement was marked across the investigator's forearm. A second investigator then attempted to detect the presence of the coin through the forearm by using a Super Scanner (Garrett Security Systems, Inc, Garland, TX) metal detector. The study was conducted in a blinded manner and consisted of 50 attempts equally divided among pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and controls (no coin). The accuracy of the metal detector in identifying the presence or absence of coins in our model was 100%. We conclude that the metal detector evaluated by us is highly accurate in identifying coins through human tissues and that it should become a valuable and practical tool in the evaluation of children following a coin ingestion.

Child↗

Are skull radiographs useful in the evaluation of asymptomatic infants following minor head injury?

Head injuries constitute a common problem in the pediatric population. Recent studies indicate that infants are at increased risk for skull fractures following head trauma. The purpose of our study is to examine the utility of skull radiographs in asymptomatic infants presenting after a minor head injury. We retrospectively reviewed the records of all head-injured infants who presented to our emergency department between March 1990 and July 1991. All symptomatic patients and all infants who did not undergo radiologic evaluation were excluded from the analysis. During the study period, 35 asymptomatic infants were evaluated in our emergency department following head trauma. The mean age of the study patients was 5.5 +/- 3.8 months; 54% were male; and falls accounted for the injury in 88% of cases. The skull radiograms were normal in 30 patients, equivocal in two, and positive for a parietal skull fracture in three. The three infants who sustained skull fractures were male, were younger than three months, and had fallen from heights not exceeding three feet. Computed head tomograms revealed no intracranial pathology in these patients. We conclude that all infants who present following minor skull trauma should undergo radiologic evaluation.

Accidental Falls↗

The role of bacteria in pigment gallstone disease.

One hundred ten of nine hundred sixty consecutive patients who underwent surgery for gallstones (GS) had pigment stones (PS) (11.45%). Fifty brown PSs contained calcium bilirubinate, small amounts of cholesterol, and always calcium palmitate, were usually found in the common duct (96%), and were almost always associated with bile infection (98%) and diffuse erosion of the biliary mucosa. Fifty-one black PSs contained bilirubin polymers, calcium carbonate, and/or phosphate, seldom cholesterol, and never evident amounts of calcium palmitate, were mostly found in the gallbladder, and were associated with hemolysis or liver damage and with hyperplastic cholecystosis. Bile infection was found in 19.6% of cases, but bacteria were never found in the center of black PSs by scanning electron microscopy. Nine additional patients (8.2% of PSs, 0.9% of GSs) had concomitant black and brown PSs that were mostly found in the common duct and were always associated with bile infection. It is suggested that, even if PSs with concomitant black and brown material can be found, black and brown PSs greatly differ not only in pathogenesis but also in clinical behavior and treatment. In particular bacterial infection is important only in the pathogenesis of brown PSs while it plays no role in the initial formation of cholesterol, mixed or black GSs.

Aged↗