Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J D Rich.
A case of pigmented basal cell carcinoma developing in a smallpox revaccination site is presented. Any progressive change within a smallpox vaccination scar should be thoroughly evaluated and treated appropriately after tissue diagnosis.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the head and neck is an unusual, slowly growing malignant tumor of the dermis which is locally infiltrative and recurs persistently. Fifteen cases of dermatofibrosarcoma of the head and neck were studied in detail as to age and sex of patient, location of the tumor, clinical course, and ultimate outcome. Four tumors were of the forehead, four were of the scalp, three were of the chin, two were of the anterior neck, one was of the lateral face, and one was of the postauricular region. Initial diagnosis was sometimes inaccurate, and initial treatment was often inadequate. The treatment of choice following diagnosis is wide local excision and careful follow-up examination.
The presence of malar depression following facial trauma is often difficult to assess clinically due to soft tissue swelling. A simple maneuver for assessing malar depression is described.
We describe the correction of lower eyelid ptosis in patients with an anophthalmic orbit, using ear cartilage grafts. This procedure has been particularly useful in the scarred or previously reconstructed lower eyelid.
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Malignant tumors of the small bowel are rare but carry a grave prognosis. Thirty-seven cases from the Tumor Registries of Brooke Army Medical Center. Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, were retrospectively studied. Twenty-nine males and eight females ranging from five to 86 years were included in the combined series. Thirteen carcinoid tumors, eight adenocarcinomas, seven lymphosarcomas, five leiomyosarcomas, two reticulum cell sarcomas, one liposarcoma, and one mesenchymal cell sarcoma were found. Symptoms included intermittent crampy abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, intestinal bleeding with anemia, and weight loss. The diagnosis was made on the basis of the clinical picture in addition to physical findings and pertinent x-ray contrast studies. The overall survival rate was 25%. The treatment of choice is surgical extirpation of the tumor whenever possible followed by appropriate adjunctive modalities.
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Considering the lifelong implications of a positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test result, physicians should be aware of the limitations of tests for HIV. A 43-year-old man had a reactive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an indeterminate result on Western blot analysis. The results of subsequent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot tests were interpreted as positive, and the patient was informed that he had HIV infection. Persistently undetectable plasma HIV-1 RNA, combined with normal physical examination findings, CD4(+) cell count, and CD4/CD8 ratio, prompted further testing, which revealed that the patient was not infected with HIV. False-positive HIV test results are uncommon, but they can occur. In the appropriate clinical setting, follow-up and the use of other laboratory tests, such as determination of plasma viral load, may help identify such cases.
Our objective was to characterize the clinical presentation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among incarcerated women in a program that provides HIV testing and primary care to all state prisoners in Rhode Island. A retrospective medical chart review on all HIV-seropositive women who were incarcerated between 1989 and 1994 and had at least two medical visits with an HIV medical care provider was used. At the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institution (ACI), under mandatory testing laws between 1989 and 1994, 28% (172 of 623) of all women were identified with HIV infection. Of the 172 women who tested seropositive in prison, 110 were included in the study. Of the 110 women followed, 84% reported injection drug use (IDU) as their primary risk factor, and 30% reported both IDU and sex work. The median CD4 count was 596/mm3, with 60% having a CD4 count >500 cells/mm3. The most common medical conditions were vaginal candidiasis, oral candidiasis, and bronchitis. Antiretroviral therapy was well accepted and followed community standards. Continuity of medical care after release was facilitated by the same physician caring for the patient in the community setting, with 83% of women following up for HIV care after release. The medical conditions noted reflect that these women are early in the course of their HIV disease when they are initially diagnosed. This comprehensive program in Rhode Island's state prison plays a central role in the diagnosis of HIV-seropositive women and provides counseling, primary medical and gynecological care, and linkage to community resources after release.
OBJECTIVE: Incarcerated populations are a group at high risk for hepatitis B. About 30% of people experiencing acute hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) have a history of incarceration. Offering routine HBV vaccinations to incarcerated individuals could have a significant effect on public health. The objective of this study is to identify current vaccine practices and the perceived feasibility of routine vaccinations for hepatitis B within correctional settings. METHOD: The authors surveyed the medical directors of state correctional facilities in all 50 states and the federal prison system regarding current HBV vaccine practices. Surveys were faxed or mailed between July 1 and September 1, 2000. RESULTS: Thirty-five states and the federal system responded (response rate = 70.6%). These systems account for 77% of all inmates in federal or state prisons and jails. Two states give hepatitis B vaccine routinely, nine states offer no hepatitis B vaccine, and 26 states and the Federal Bureau of Prisons offer hepatitis vaccine to some inmates. Most states do not spend enough money to vaccinate even those prisoners at highest risk. Under the Vaccine for Children program, 19,520 youths could receive vaccine immediately. According to the respondents, if vaccine were available at no-cost, 25 states and the Federal Bureau of Prisons would routinely offer vaccination to all inmates. CONCLUSIONS: Most correctional systems do not routinely offer vaccine to their incarcerated populations, but would if funds were available. There exists now a unique public health opportunity to prevent a significant proportion of new hepatitis B infections.