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Biomedical subjects

K J Welch

Publications and source records attributed to K J Welch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Survival patterns among HIV+ individuals based on health care utilization.

The purpose of this study was to determine if HIV+ persons who first obtained health care in New Orleans through public hospital inpatient services had a higher risk of death or disease progression than patients who first entered care through public outpatient services. The sites included the largest HIV outpatient clinic in the Gulf South, two early intervention sites and a public hospital. A medical record review on patients who attended these sites from July 1995 through December 1999 and were enrolled in the Adult Spectrum of Disease (ASD) Study was conducted (n = 3402). The multivariate analysis examined the associations between inpatient services and the main effects. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression were performed. Risk of death or disease progression was analyzed for three different endpoints: time from study entry to death, time from HIV to AIDS, and time from AIDS to death. The multivariate analysis showed that patients first entering care through inpatient services were significantly more likely to be African American, have AIDS, and use drugs. The risk of death or disease progression was significantly higher for all three endpoints. Results from this study indicate that HIV+ individuals receiving initial care through public hospital inpatient services may require more effective early intervention.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

Correlates of alcohol and/or drug use among HIV-infected individuals.

The purpose of this article is to describe the psychosocial factors associated with alcohol and/or drug (AOD) use among HIV-infected individuals. Their attitudes toward AOD use are also examined. Three hundred and three HIV-infected adults completed a survey on AOD use while waiting for their appointment at the largest, HIV-outpatient clinic in the Gulf South. Logistic regression showed that associating with others who use drugs and hospitalization for a mental illness were associated with current AOD use. Variables derived from the AIDS Risk Reduction Model that integrates elements of the Health Belief Model, efficacy theory, and social network theory, indicated that 14% of the sample admitted to having an AOD problem. Twenty-six percent of the AOD users reported that they have little social support to help them stop their AOD use. A disturbing finding was that 24% of the AOD users have actively sought help or treatment for their AOD problem and have not been able to find help. These patients differ significantly from the AOD users who could find help in that they are primarily African-American and 46% have been hospitalized for a mental illness. Motivational strategies and mental health interventions are necessary, which provide peer counseling and social support, factors that have been found to greatly influence behavior change. The intervention may also need to include spiritual and humor components because the vast majority of AOD users are interested in treatment approaches that include these two elements.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Measuring hunger in the Russian Federation using the Radimer/Cornell hunger scale.

Compared in the study are the results obtained using the Radimer/Cornell hunger scale to measure the prevalence of hunger in random samples of mothers and their households in the Russian Federation and in the USA in 1993. The 12 items in the scale measured hunger at three levels: household, women, and children. If the mother answered positively to one of the four items at a particular level, hunger was established for that level. The prevalence of hunger in the Russian Federation was very high: approximately 77% of the women surveyed, 70% of the households, and 32% of the children were classified as hungry. The corresponding estimated prevalences of hunger in New York State in 1993 were 46.8%, 25.9% and 18.3%. In both surveys, children were the least likely to be classified as hungry and, if they were, their mothers and households were almost always hungry. In both surveys, the hunger scale proved to have criterion-related validity. Basic indicators of household socioeconomic and demographic well-being were highly related to the three levels of hunger. The higher level of hunger in the Russian survey can be explained by the very low incomes. Further study of the nutritional status of the Russian population is recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Physician compliance with advanced cardiac life support guidelines.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine compliance with advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) guidelines among ACLS-certified and non-ACLS-certified physicians. DESIGN: Retrospective review of consecutive cardiac arrests between July 1989 and June 1990, including assessment of the resuscitation leaders' ACLS certification. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: All nontraumatic prehospital and hospital cardiac arrests in a rural university hospital. RESULTS: Two hundred seven arrests were studied for a total of 436 rhythms with a maximum of 4 rhythms per arrest. There were 78 resuscitations (36.3%) with return of spontaneous circulation. A total of 2,038 interventions were recorded for all rhythms, with 1,320 (64.8%) compliant with ACLS guidelines compared with 718 (35.2%) deviations. Synchronized cardioversion, calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate were used with significantly higher noncompliance. Ventricular fibrillation had significantly higher mean rhythm deviation scores, whereas scores were significantly lower for sinus rhythm and stable bradycardia (P < .003). Resuscitations led by ACLS-certified and non-ACLS-certified physicians were compared for mean number of deviations per resuscitation attempt, and no differences were found. Resuscitations with return of spontaneous circulation were compared with unsuccessful resuscitations, and there was no difference between groups in controlled deviation scores. No differences could be found between ACLS-certified and non-ACLS-certified physicians for return of spontaneous circulation and survival-to-discharge rates. CONCLUSION: Despite biannual ACLS training of all medical residents and ICU nurses, noncompliance with ACLS guidelines was noted in 35.2% of treatments. We found no correlation between ACLS certification and ACLS guideline compliance.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗
PubMed1995

Thoracic epidural anesthesia improves outcome after breast surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The authors' objective was to compare the outcomes, including the incidence of nausea and vomiting and the time until discharge to home, of patients undergoing general anesthesia and thoracic epidural anesthesia for oncologic breast procedures. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: General anesthesia is the traditional anesthetic technique used in oncologic breast procedures. In March 1993, the authors initiated the use of high thoracic epidural anesthesia for patients undergoing oncologic breast surgery and reconstructive procedures. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was undertaken of 136 operations performed by one surgeon (T.J.E.) at Brigham and Women's Hospital. A chi square analysis was used to compare the outcomes of patients undergoing general anesthesia and thoracic epidural anesthesia. RESULTS: Compared with general anesthesia, thoracic epidural anesthesia was associated with a statistically significant earlier hospital discharge (p = 0.01). For quadrantectomy/axillary node dissection procedures, 20 of 39 patients (51%) having thoracic epidural anesthesia were discharged on the operative day versus 7 of 32 patients (22%) in the general anesthesia group. Furthermore, 8 of 39 patients (20%) in the thoracic epidural group experienced nausea and/or vomiting during their hospital stay versus 18 of 32 patients (56%) in the general anesthesia group (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Thoracic epidural anesthesia is a safe technique not associated with neurologic or respiratory complications. The use of thoracic epidural anesthesia for breast surgery could improve patients recovery and reduce the cost of these procedures.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

False-positive results in serologic tests for Rocky Mountain spotted fever during pregnancy.

The data from this study demonstrate that false-positive results from tests for Rocky Mountain spotted fever increase with the duration of pregnancy. The sera of 4.0% (2/50) of women in their first trimester of pregnancy, 10.9% (5/46) in their second trimester, and 12.1% (12/99) in their third trimester yielded false-positive results from latex agglutination assays for Rickettsia rickettsii infections. The cause of these false-positive results was not determined by this study. These false-positive titers were not associated with clinical findings or other laboratory abnormalities. Even though these sera did not contain antibodies to R rickettsii detectable by indirect fluorescent antibody testing, such false-positive results from serologic tests for Rocky Mountain spotted fever can obscure the patient's correct diagnosis. This may lead to the unnecessary use of potentially toxic antibodies and prevent initiation of appropriate therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Thioureas react with superoxide radicals to yield a sulfhydryl compound. Explanation for protective effect against paraquat.

Thiourea and superoxide dismutase were effective antidotes to paraquat toxicity in an HL60 cell culture system, whereas other hydroxyl scavengers were ineffective. The efficacy of thioureas was not due to blockage of intracellular paraquat uptake, inhibition of NADPH-P-450 reductase, or reaction with the paraquat radical. Thiourea also competitively inhibited the reduction of cytochrome c by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase superoxide-generating system, and the release of iron from ferritin by superoxide radicals. The reaction of superoxide with thiourea produced a sulfhydryl compound distinct from products formed by hydrogen peroxide or hydroxyl radicals. Spectrophotometric and chromatographic studies indicated the carbon-sulfide double bond was converted to a sulfhydryl group which reacted with Ellman's reagent. Additional confirmatory evidence for the sulfhydryl compound was obtained with carbon-13 NMR and mass spectroscopies. Thus, thioureas are direct scavengers of superoxide radicals as well as hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide. The rate constant for the reduction of thiourea by superoxide was estimated at 1.1 x 10(3) M-1 s-1. The implication of this finding on free radical studies, the mechanism of paraquat toxicity, and the metabolism of thioureas is discussed.

Acetonitriles↗
PubMed1989

Surgical treatment of thoracic deformity in Poland's syndrome.

In 1841, Poland described congenital deficiency of the pectoralis major and minor muscles associated with syndactyly. This syndrome is a spectrum, often involving chest wall and breast deformity as well. Identification of the various musculoskeletal components involved permits optimal thoracic reconstruction in the small proportion of patients who will require it. From 1955 to 1988, 75 patients (40 males and 35 females) with Poland's syndrome were treated or evaluated. Patients with isolated deficiencies of the pectoral muscles, breast, or hand deformity were excluded. The complex was right-sided in 44 patients, left-sided in 30, and bilateral in one. The pectoralis minor and the costal portion of the pectoralis major muscle were absent in all patients. Hand anomalies were present in 50 patients. Athelia and/or amastia were noted in 37 patients. In ten patients, the rib cage deformity required reconstruction, and in three cases, rib or cartilage grafts were needed for complete repair. Often unappreciated in these cases is the significant rotation of the sternum toward the involved side and contralateral carinate deformity. Correction is achieved by bilateral subperichondrial costal cartilage resection and sternal osteotomy (seven of ten patients), thus allowing anterior displacement and orthorotation of the sternum. Chest wall reconstruction must be tailored to the requirements of each patient. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred in these ten patients. In males without rib cage deformity, generally no treatment is required to replace the absent pectoral muscles, although in two cases rotation of the latissimus dorsi muscle was performed. In all females, reconstruction of the ipsilateral breast is required at full development.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1988

Surgical correction of chondromanubrial deformity (Currarino Silverman syndrome).

Chondromanubrial (arcuate) pectus carinatum is the rarest protrusion deformity of the chest. Its surgical correction was first described by Ravitch in 1952. We have recently encountered five patients with this deformity who have provided additional insight into the anatomy and optimal repair of this condition. It is notable for a short nonsegmented sternum with marked posterior angulation at the site of the normal chondromanubrial junction. It is optimally corrected by subperichondrial resection of the second to the seventh costal cartilages with a broad wedge-shaped osteotomy through the anterior cortex of the sternum at the point of maximal angulation. Anterior displacement of the sternum is achieved by closing the osteotomy with heavy silk sutures while the costal cartilages are regenerating.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Surgical repair of pectus excavatum.

From 1958 to March 1987 we corrected 704 patients with pectus excavatum. The condition occurred more frequently in boys (544 patients) than girls (160 patients). In the majority of patients (86%), the defect was evident at birth or within the first year of life. Musculoskeletal abnormalities were identified in 133 patients (scoliosis, 107; kyphosis, 4; myopathy, 3; Poland's syndrome, 3; Marfan's syndrome, 2; Pierre Robin syndrome, 2; prune belly syndrome, 2; neurofibromatosis, 3; cerebral palsy, 4; tuberous sclerosis, 1; and congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 2). Sixteen patients had associated congenital heart disease. A family history of chest wall deformity was present in 37% of the cases and a history of scoliosis in 11%. Surgical correction was performed using a uniform technique for bilateral subperichondrial resection of the deformed costal cartilages and sternal osteotomy resecting a wedge of the anterior cortex and fracturing the posterior cortex. Anterior displacement was maintained with silk sutures closing the osteotomy defect. In 28 early cases, the sternum was secured by intramedullary fixation with a Steinman pin. All repairs were completed with a low complication rate (4.4%; pneumothorax, 11; wound infection, 5; wound hematoma, 3; wound dehiscence, 5; pneumonia, 3; seroma, 1; hemoptysis, 1; hemopericardium, 1). Six complications were associated with Steinman pin fixation (hemoptysis, seroma, hemopericardium, pneumothorax, 3). Major recurrence occurred in 17 patients (2.7%) and led to revision in 12. Satisfactory long-term results were achieved in the remaining 687 patients, with follow-up ranging from 2 weeks to 27 years. Mean follow-up was 4.3 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Cardiopulmonary function in pectus excavatum.

The results of recent studies clearly support a cardiopulmonary impairment resulting from pectus excavatum, but resolving the apparent discrepancies between studies is necessary. Several factors must be taken into consideration. The severity of the deformity of the chest wall must be defined, whether by the sternovertebral distance or by various means proposed by others. Without some index of the degree of sternal depression, it is impossible to compare patients or results among studies. No study has enrolled a sufficient number of patients to provide an accurate correlation between the severity of the deformity and the extent of the cardiopulmonary deficit, nor has any defined how severe the deformity must be to result in cardiopulmonary dysfunction. The second factor that is important in evaluating results is what controls were used. Studies in which each patient functioned as his own control after surgical repair are preferable. In the pediatric age group where growth and increased pulmonary parameters would be expected, the follow-up studies should be performed at a defined time after surgical treatment. Studies completed years later cannot assess the effect of surgical repair upon cardiopulmonary function. Studies wherein persons matched for age and height to serve as controls are available from the same laboratory are also needed. The degree of co-operation and effort of patients will vary, particularly in the pediatric age group. Constancy of the experimental protocol and personnel is important. Least reliable are reports of experimental findings compared with standardized normal values. In early studies, measurements of vital capacity and total lung capacity produced variable results when compared with normal persons matched for age. The wide range of "normal values" makes statistical comparison difficult, if not impossible. A wide spectrum of cardiopulmonary function exists among individuals, depending upon prior physical training and body habitus. Sufficient physiologic reserve is generally present, such that extensive impairment must exist before patients become symptomatic at rest. Physiologic reserve during exercise is rapidly consumed and differences can be more readily determined. Exercise studies must go beyond the measurement of intracardiac pressures and pulmonary volumes at rest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Funnel Chest↗
PubMed1988

Anterior chest wall deformities and congenital heart disease.

Pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum usually exist as isolated abnormalities. Only 19 cases of associated congenital heart defects have been reported. Significant complications related to uncorrected pectus excavatum have been described either during or after cardiac operations. Therefore we reviewed our experience with these coexisting lesions to assess the risk of surgical repair of chest wall deformities before and after correction of congenital cardiac anomalies. Among 20,860 infants and children with congenital heart disease seen at our institution, 36 (0.17%) had associated anterior thoracic deformities, 22 of whom underwent surgical correction of pectus excavatum or pectus carinatum. Ten of these 22 patients had pectus repair after a cardiac operation. Pleural or pericardial entry was avoided in all and none required a blood transfusion. Ten other patients had pectus repair either before cardiac repair (five patients) or without a subsequent cardiac operation. Another patient had a cardiac operation performed through a median sternotomy both before and after pectus repair, and the remaining patient, early in the series, had simultaneous banding of the main pulmonary artery and repair of pectus excavatum complicated by chest wall instability and a lethal intrathoracic hemorrhage. The experience indicates that congenital chest wall deformities can be safely and effectively repaired after early correction of congenital heart defects through a median sternotomy, although repair of the chest wall deformity after cardiac surgery also gives good results. However, in children who require an extracardiac conduit for repair of their congenital heart defect, we recommend initial repair of the pectus excavatum followed at 6 weeks or later by repair of the cardiac lesion to eliminate possible extrinsic compression of the conduit by the depressed sternum. We avoid simultaneous cardiac and pectus excavatum repair because of potential associated major complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Surgical correction of pectus carinatum.

Pectus carinatum is an infrequent but eminently correctable chest wall deformity. It is encountered much less frequently than pectus excavatum. In 12 years, from 1973 to 1985, 152 pectus carinatum (16.7%) and 758 pectus excavatum deformities (83.3%) were corrected. It occurs more frequently in boys (119 patients) than girls (33 patients). The majority, 89 cases, were symmetric, while 49 were asymmetric, and 14 were mixed deformities (ipsilateral carinatum, contralateral excavatum). In almost half the patients the deformity was not identified until after the 11th birthday. A family history of chest wall deformities was present in 26%, and of scoliosis in 12%. Associated musculoskeletal abnormalities were identified in 34 patients (scoliosis 23, Poland's syndrome 4, neurofibromatosis 2, Morquio's disease 2, vertebral anomalies 1, hyperlordosis 1, and kyphosis 1). Surgical correction required bilateral resection of the third through seventh costal cartilages in 143 patients, and unilateral resection in nine patients with an isolated abnormality. A single osteotomy was used in 88 patients and a double osteotomy in 53 patients. In 11 cases no osteotomy was required. Mixed deformity with posterior angulation of the sternum was managed by osteotomy and anterior displacement. The remaining cases had sternal osteotomy and fracture of the posterior cortex to correct anterior angulation. The operation was completed with a low complication rate 3.9% (pneumothorax 4, wound infection 1, atelectasis 1, and local tissue necrosis 1). Three patients required revision with additional unilateral lower cartilage resection for persistent malformation of the costal arch. All patients ultimately had a satisfactory result.

Adolescent↗