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Biomedical subjects

I F Litt

Publications and source records attributed to I F Litt.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Anorexia nervosa, athletics, and amenorrhea.

We examined menstrual function in two groups of patients meeting the DSM III criteria for anorexia nervosa who differed only in their physical activity. Sixteen athletes with anorexia nervosa were compared with eight sedentary patients who had anorexia nervosa. Athletic patients with anorexia were found to have lower gonadotropin levels, a longer period of amenorrhea both before significant weight loss and after weight rehabilitation, and a higher weight at the time of resumption of menses than patients with anorexia who were sedentary. However, both groups were markedly undernourished, had amenorrhea before significant weight loss and after weight rehabilitation, and had lower gonadotropin levels than normal subjects. These data suggest that the increased physical activity often seen in patients with anorexia nervosa worsens, but does not cause, menstrual dysfunction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Promoting adolescents' compliance with therapeutic regimens.

Noncompliance in the adolescent is a difficult problem that can be prevented or improved. It is best identified early by nonjudgmental questioning about current or previous regimen behavior. An appreciation of the relevant psychological and social issues can suggest to the clinician which adolescents are at high risk for noncompliance. Intervention techniques based on educational and psychological principles can be successfully applied by the physician to improve compliance and can improve the teenager's sense of mastery. Personal characteristics of the physician, however, may determine whether he or she can work productively with the noncompliant adolescent.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1986

Compliance with anticonvulsant therapy by epileptic youth. Relationships to psychosocial aspects of adolescent development.

Independence in daily life, family harmony as perceived by youths and their parents, and self-esteem were investigated in relation to anticonvulsant medication compliance in 25 epileptics aged 9-17 years. Medication compliance was assessed by monthly home saliva sampling for phenobarbital concentrations. Psychosocial issues were assessed by standardized instruments. Each psychosocial issue was highly correlated with compliance. Partial correlation analysis reveals that these findings are not explained by the subject's demographic or clinical characteristics. Medication noncompliance appears to be associated with a restriction of independence in daily life, lack of harmony in family relations, and low self-esteem in teenage epileptics. Clinicians should observe for these conditions and initiate patient and family counseling in order to maximize medication compliance and seizure control.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Menstrual-PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and TXA2 in normal and dysmenorrheic women and their temporal relationship to dysmenorrhea.

Although it has been demonstrated that primary dysmenorrhea is associated with elevated levels of PGF2 alpha in the menstrual fluid, little is actually known of the menstrual-PG profiles of either dysmenorrheic or normal women. In this study, menstrual fluid from normal and dysmenorrheic women was collected from tampons and extracted for PG-like substances. The PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and TXA2 content was analyzed by RIA. This study demonstrates that dysmenorrheics have significantly higher levels/concentrations of menstrual-PGF2 alpha and PGE2 than do normal women, and that there is no difference in the menstrual-PGF2 alpha : PGE2 ratio between the two groups. Also, there is no significant difference in the amount/concentration of menstrual-thromboxane between dysmenorrheic and normal women. Of the parameters considered, the levels/-concentrations of menstrual-PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and TXA2, dysmenorrheic pain correlates best with the rate of menstrual-PGF2 alpha release.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The relationship of self-concept and autonomy to oral contraceptive compliance among adolescent females.

Self-concept and autonomy are typically negotiated during adolescence, a time when many females also become sexually active. Nonuse and discontinuation of contraceptives by teenagers place them at high risk for pregnancy. The present study explores the relationship between these psychological factors and contraceptive noncompliance during adolescence. Fifty-five adolescent females beginning a contraceptive regimen were entered into the study. Compliance at four months after the initiation of an oral contraceptive was associated with scoring high on the Behavior Subscale of the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale and the Autonomy Scale modified from Eysenk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Know thyself--adolescents' self-assessment of compliance behavior.

Noncompliance with contraception is a major cause of adolescent pregnancy. Studies of compliance predictors have produced conflicting results. The possibility that female adolescents' assessment of their own past compliance with other medications may be useful in predicting their future contraceptive compliance is explored. Accordingly, patients beginning an oral contraceptive regimen described their past compliance on a four-point scale, and a subset, in addition described themselves on the basis of a five-point scale ranging from "forgetful" to "well-organized." At 6-month follow-up, 75% of the patients were found to have described themselves accurately in terms of potential compliance behavior. Of patients who proved compliant, 64% had initially rated themselves as "well-organized" whereas none of the noncompliant patients had done so. These findings demonstrate the potential importance of the teenagers' self-assessment in determining those at risk for contraceptive noncompliance. The findings also suggest that compliance behavior among female adolescents may be generalizable across clinical situations, rather than being disease or medication specific.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Riboflavin, self-report, and serum norethindrone. Comparison of their use as indicators of adolescent compliance with oral contraceptives.

The purpose of this study was to test the reliability of using the tablet marker, riboflavin, as an indicator of adolescent compliance with oral contraceptives, as compared with self-reports and more costly quantitative determinations of serum norethindrone levels. In a pilot study, a total of 31 urine samples were obtained from 11 subjects, aged 14 to 18 years. A follow-up study was conducted on 26 girls, aged 14 to 19 years, who were randomly selected from an ongoing study of oral contraceptive compliance. Subjects were given an oral contraceptive (Ortho-Novum 1/35), combined with 28 mg of riboflavin. In both studies, urinary fluorescence tests for riboflavin and self-reports were found to be significantly associated. In the follow-up study, both self-reports and urinary fluorescence tests were significantly associated with serum norethindrone levels. When the urinary fluorescence test agreed with self-report, compliance or noncompliance was confirmed by serum norethindrone levels in 90% of the cases. The findings suggest that riboflavin, combined with self-report, can be used as an accurate and cost-effective indicator of adolescent compliance with oral contraceptives.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Satisfaction with health care. A predictor of adolescents' appointment keeping.

Adolescents are assuming greater responsibility for their own health care, yet have a high rate of broken appointments. The importance of satisfaction with their health care in determining appointment compliance has been demonstrated for adult patients. The purpose of the present study was to explore patient satisfaction among teenagers and its relationship to appointment keeping. A short, reliable instrument was developed to assess adolescent patients' satisfaction with their clinic care. The patient's satisfaction was highly correlated with subsequent compliance in coming for appointments. Satisfaction, hence, appointment keeping, was higher in females, older adolescents, those making their own initial clinic appointment, those with a positive body image, and those scoring high on a test of personal freedom.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Effect of peer counselors on adolescent compliance in use of oral contraceptives.

Poor compliance with contraceptive regimens has been shown to be an important antecedent of adolescent pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to test prospectively the effect of a peer v nurse counseling program on adolescent compliance with the use of oral contraceptives. Fifty-seven females aged 14 to 19 years from a lower socioeconomic background were randomly assigned to a peer (n = 26) or nurse (n = 31) group. At the initial visit and at 1-, 2-, and 4-month follow-up visits, subjects received Ortho-Novum 1/35 combined with a tablet marker and were counseled by a nurse or peer. Noncompliance was measured using a Guttman scale consisting of: (1) avoidance of pregnancy, (2) appointment adherence, (3) pill count, and (4) urinary fluorescence for riboflavin. At the first and second follow-ups, the adolescents counseled by a peer had a significantly (P less than or equal to .038) lower noncompliance level than the nurse-counseled group. Adolescents with more frequent sexual activity (P less than or equal to .027), with one sexual partner (P less than .04), and who worried that they might become pregnant (P less than or equal to .01) had significantly lower levels of noncompliance when counseled by a peer than by a nurse. At the fourth month follow-up, adolescents who expressed feelings of hopelessness about the future had significantly (P less than or equal to .036) higher levels of noncompliance when counseled by a nurse than when counseled by a peer. These results suggest that incorporating a peer counselor into the health care team may be an effective method of increasing adolescent compliance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Toxic shock syndrome--an adolescent disease.

Over the past 3 years, toxic shock syndrome (TSS) has emerged from virtual obscurity to become a household word. The syndrome, which most commonly occurs in previously healthy women during menses, is characterized by the sudden onset of headache, malaise, high fever, myalgia, diarrhea, syncope, skin rash, and evidence of multisystem involvement with progression to desquamation of skin, nails, and hair. Death has occurred in 5%-10% of cases. Use of highly absorbent tampons and the presence of toxin-producing staphylococcus aureus have been implicated in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. Treatment with beta-lactamase-resistant antibiotics and discontinuation of tampon use are associated with reduction in the risk of recurrence. To date, 42% of cases have occurred in females under the age of 19 years. Accordingly, physicians who care for adolescents should be knowledgeable about the syndrome's myriad manifestations and treatment, as well as the possibility of prevention through education about menstrual practices.

Absorption↗
PubMed1982

A simplified method for recording basal body temperature.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate thermocrystalography as a means of simplifying the recording of basal body temperature (BBT) for the purpose of determining the time of ovulation. Accordingly, BBT, as recorded by disposable oral thermocrystal thermometers manufactured for fever detection, was compared with that obtained by a conventional rectal glass thermometer to establish reliability of the method within the normal temperature range. The readings by both methods were comparable, with a nonsignificant difference between 109 readings when analyzed by a paired t test. A biphasic curve was easily discernable in each of the eight cycles monitored. The use of disposal thermocrystal thermometers provides an alternative to the conventional method of BBT determination, which is faster, easier to read, and potentially more acceptable because of its oral use.

Body Temperature↗