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Biomedical subjects

G A Faich

Publications and source records attributed to G A Faich.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Premarital rubella screening in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island law requires that rubella serological screening be done for most female marriage license applicants. To evaluate the effect of the law, 203 rubella-susceptible women detected through premarital screening over a four-month period in 1978 were surveyed. Of those responding, 37% had been immunized, 21% were pregnant or infertile, and 42% were eligible for immunization but had not received vaccine. Premarital immunization occurred most frequently when physicians advised and directly offered vaccine. A survey of primary care physicians indicated that 24% immunized none of their rubella-susceptible patients detected by premarital screening.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Asbestos hazard evaluation in Rhode Island schools.

A statewide survey to identify and abate spray-on asbestos hazards in schools has been conducted in Rhode Island. Of 326 target schools, 24 (8 per cent) contained material confirmed in the laboratory to be spray-on asbestos. Overt hazards requiring major corrective measures were found in 4 (1 per cent) of the target schools. Simplified identification and reporting procedures allowed for the efficient conduct of the survey.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1975

The prevalence and relationships of malaria, anemia, and malnutrition in a coastal area of El Salvador.

To study the relationships between malaria, anemia and malnutrition, 853 school-age children from a high malaria incidence area and an adjacent low incidence area were surveyed in September 1972. For the high incidence area the malaria slide positivity rate was 3.5%, spleen rate 7.6% and malaria (indirect fluorescent antibody) serology positivity 24.7%. Contrasted to this, no positive slides, only 3 palpable spleens and a 3.4% serology positivity rate were found for the low incidence area. Twenty-three percent of those studied were anemic, but the prevalence of anemia was the same in both the high and low incidence areas. However, a selected group of children with known history of recent or actual malaria was found to be more likely to have deficient hematocrit values than were children without such history. Hypochromia and microcytosis were prominent morphologic findings in children with anemia, suggesting a diagnosis of iron deficiency. Weights and heights for age were considerably below those of a U.S. reference population but similar to nationwide Salvadoran figures. In both the high and low incidence groups, 62% had arm circumference values below 90% of standard. The distribution of weight-to-height ratios was also similar for both groups. No difference in nutritional status between the two groups could be found.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risks and indications of phenylbutazone: another look.

In 1984 an extensive review of phenylbutazone risks was undertaken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since that review, new recommendations for the drug's use have been published. Marketed in 1952, phenylbutazone has long been recognized as capable of inducing aplastic anemia. The risk of marrow depression is greatest in elderly females treated for over a month. Overall, the risk does not exceed that of many commonly used drugs (e.g., penicillin, which induces anaphylaxis). Nonetheless, phenylbutazone should not be a drug of first choice and should not be used for minor, self-limited conditions.

Anemia, Aplastic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Troglitazone (Rezulin) and hepatic injury.

PURPOSE: Analyze US rates of reported severe liver disease for the oral hypoglycemic agent troglitazone from March 1997 through February 2000 and the possible effects of publicity on reporting. METHODS: The number of troglitazone reports with liver failure and or hospitalization with jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia, made to the FDA and/or Parke-Davis are used as numerators. The denominators are numbers of patients and person-time estimates of exposure. Additionally, the amount of publicity about troglitazone during its marketing is quantified. RESULTS: Approximately 1.92 million patients were treated with troglitazone from March 1997 through the end of February 2000 resulting in 1.6 million person-years of exposure. Reports of 83 cases of liver failure associated with troglitazone were received (1 in 23,000 patients or 1 in 20,000 person-years). Of the 83 cases, only 49 (59%) were classified by a hepatologist to be 'possibly' or 'probably' attributed to troglitazone. For the first, second, and third years of marketing, rates of reported hepatic failure per 100,000 person years exposure to troglitazone were 8.3, 5.3, and 2.7 respectively. Rates of reported liver disease involving hospitalizations with mention of jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia per 100,000 person-years were 16.0, 6.1, and 3.6 respectively for these years. During the 3-year marketing history of troglitazone, there were 470 lay press and 158 medical literature articles with mentions of hepatotoxicity for the drug. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of reported severe liver disease declined substantially during the second and third years of marketing of troglitazone. The decline followed increasingly stringent requirements for liver function test monitoring and may have been due to improved patient selection and management as a result of the widely publicized association between troglitazone and hepatotoxicity.

Acidosis, Lactic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Results of nationwide screening of blood and plasma for antibodies to human T-cell lymphotrophic III virus, type III.

From April 22 to July 28, and from October 7 to November 3, 1985 the American Red Cross, the Council of Community Blood Centers, the American Association of Blood Banks, and the American Blood Resources Association provided the Food and Drug Administration with data at 2-week intervals on human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) test kit results at blood and plasma collection centers. Reports were received from over 150 blood collection centers that screened 2,502,829 units of blood for antibody to HTLV-III by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) during nine 2-week surveillance intervals. Of these, 25,324 or 1.01 percent were initially reactive and 8443 or 0.34 percent were repeatedly reactive. The repeatedly reactive rate for women was 0.33 percent and for men 0.30 percent. Data for source plasma was collected at 275 locations and tested at eight central laboratories showed that for 2,603,652 units screened (which may represent multiple collections from the same donor) 3978 or 0.15 percent were repeatedly reactive. Screening results from both blood and plasma collection centers varied over time and among kits.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rationale and methods for a statewide, prospective surveillance system for the identification and prevention of nosocomial infections.

Review of current methods of surveillance for nosocomial infection indicates that prospective surveillance of patients on a daily basis is the most accurate and valid method. In this paper, we detail such a method. Samples of hospitalized patients for surveillance are based on a fixed period of observation in each patient-care area. Data are collected on a detailed, standardized daily log that emphasize the recording of primary clinical data. Such a system is practical and is acceptable to infection control practitioners. Representative samples of patients are obtained. The utility of such a system for identifying preventable risk factors for the development and evaluation of programs of prevention is being tested in 12 acute-care hospitals in Rhode Island.

Cross Infection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Incidence and hospitalization patterns of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Data from a statewide insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) registry in Rhode Island show that IDDM affects young adults (20-29 yr) as frequently as adolescents and teenagers (10-19 yr). Overall incidence less than 30 yr was 14/100,000 population. Peak incidence occurred at 10-14 yr (19/100,000 population). Poor diabetic control and infection accounted for 46-62% of hospitalizations among 275 known diabetic persons. Despite a 10-yr mean duration of diabetes, only 31% of hospitalized diabetic persons less than 30 yr of age reported ever having received outpatient diabetes education of two or more hours. Readmissions 1 yr after initial registration were more frequent for known (43%) than new-onset (18%) IDDM cases. Increased risk of readmission for both groups was associated with a poverty socioeconomic status. Total direct hospitalization costs for IDDM in persons under 30 yr of age in Rhode Island was $530,000 per year of $2,245 per patient.

Adolescent↗