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Biomedical subjects

M B Ross

Publications and source records attributed to M B Ross.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Recent advances in communicable disease prevention: hepatitis B, pneumococcus, and H influenzae type b.

The immunization guidelines for the prevention of hepatitis B virus, pneumococcal pneumonia, and Haemophilus influenza type b, have undergone revision in recent years. The indications, efficacy, and safety of hepatitis B virus vaccine, hepatitis B immune globulin, pneumococcal vaccine, and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine are reviewed. The current recommendations for immunization from the Centers for Disease Control's Immunization Practices Advisory Committee are also included in the article. While these products have contributed to decreases in disease, the antibody responses elicited are not always adequate to provide extended protection to the populations at greatest risk of disease. By reviewing the current status and immunizing guidelines, it is hoped that the P & T Committee's task of selecting efficacious, safe, and cost-effective preparations will be made easier.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗

Compliance with a restricted antimicrobial agent policy in a university hospital.

Compliance with a policy for use of antimicrobial agents that requires both oral approval from the infectious diseases service and completion of a restricted antimicrobial agent use form was evaluated in a 950-bed teaching hospital. The charts of patients for whom a restricted antimicrobial agent was ordered during four one-week periods between January 1987 and April 1987 were audited to determine whether completed use forms had accompanied orders for restricted antimicrobial agents. The validity of the information on completed forms was determined by comparing the information on the form with notes in patients' charts and through discussions with infectious diseases physicians. Two infectious diseases physician reviewers evaluated the appropriateness of prescribing of piperacillin and ceftazidime by analyzing data collected by pharmacists. Forms were submitted with 132 of 154 orders written for restricted agents; incomplete forms were received and accepted by pharmacists for 39 courses of therapy. The infectious disease service had not been contacted to approve use of a restricted agent in 25 cases. Eight of the 48 courses of piperacillin or ceftazidime therapy were deemed inappropriate despite initial infectious diseases approval. Compliance with a formal antimicrobial agent restriction policy at this institution has been good, but periodic re-education and follow-up monitoring appear to be necessary to ensure optimal use of restricted agents.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Nurses' attitudes toward pharmaceutical services before and after decentralization.

Nurses' attitudes toward the quality of pharmaceutical services were assessed before and after the implementation of decentralized pharmaceutical services at a tertiary-care teaching hospital complex. The same multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed to nurses at the University of Michigan Hospitals 18 months before decentralized services were implemented (November 1982) and again after two satellite pharmacies had been established and a clinical pharmacist had begun providing first-dose dispensing services using a movable medication cart (March 1985). The questionnaire measured nurses' satisfaction with aspects of pharmaceutical services most likely to be affected by decentralization of services (e.g., number of missing medications, accessibility of pharmacists). Nurses' overall satisfaction with pharmaceutical services increased only slightly after services were decentralized. Significant positive changes in nurses' satisfaction occurred in areas served by the satellite pharmacies and the clinical pharmacist; no significant change s in satisfaction occurred in the other areas. Nurses' perceptions of increased helpfulness of pharmacy personnel were a better predictor of increased satisfaction than were changes in the number of missing medications, waiting time for medication delivery, or number of incorrectly dispensed medications. Respondents remained anonymous; therefore, changes in personnel, rather than changed opinions of nurses, may account for the differences in responses between 1982 and 1985. Nurses' attitudes toward pharmaceutical services improved in areas of the hospital served by satellite pharmacies or by a clinical pharmacist using a movable medication cart.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Adverse effects of anabolic steroids in athletes.

The effects of anabolic steroid use on athletic performance and the adverse effects associated with the use of anabolic steroids are reviewed. Anabolic steroids increase protein synthesis in skeletal muscles and reverse catabolic processes. Because of these properties, some athletes use anabolic steroids in an attempt to improve their athletic performance. However, studies indicate that increases in muscle mass and strength during anabolic steroid administration are observed only in athletes who already are weight-trained and who continue intensive training while maintaining high-protein, high-calorie diets. Adverse effects attributed to anabolic steroid use occur frequently. Serious adverse effects include hepatic and endocrine dysfunction; cardiovascular and behavioral changes also are reported. Some of the adverse effects associated with the use of these agents are irreversible, particularly in women. The use of anabolic steroids to improve athletic performance has become prevalent. However, the reported benefits are tempered by numerous adverse reactions.

Aggression↗

Improved survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving combination chemotherapy.

Groups of patients with newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer who were consecutively registered into a breast cancer clinic beginning January 1956 (210 patients), January 1966 (210 patients), and January 1975 (251 patients), were analyzed to determine the impact on survival of the various treatment modalities utilized in each decade. Comparisons of survival were made among subgroups of patients with similar prognostic features. Except for patients with very poor performance status, all subgroups showed a significantly improved survival in the 1970s compared with the earlier decades. Combination chemotherapy was considered to be the major factor in the survival improvement.

Age Factors↗

Treatment of advanced breast cancer with megestrol acetate after therapy with tamoxifen.

The efficacy of megestrol acetate in the treatment of advanced (Stage IV) carcinoma of the breast was studied in 48 evaluable patients who had been initially treated with tamoxifen. Forty-five patients had previously responded to the tamoxifen therapy. Fifteen patients (31%) had partial remissions, sixteen patients (33%) had stable disease, and seventeen patients (36%) had progressively disease. The median response duration was seven months for responding patients and six months for disease-stable patients. These results suggest that megestrol acetate is an effective agent for the palliation of advanced breast cancer relapsing following response to tamoxifen therapy.

Adult↗

Spontaneous regression of breast carcinoma: follow-up report and literature review.

A case of spontaneous complete regression of metastatic breast carcinoma (malignant pleural effusion and bone metastases) with previously reported from M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute. The patient did not receive any form of hormonal manipulation or systemic chemotherapy. This patient has now relapsed after 72 months of spontaneous complete remission, and a follow-up of her clinical history is presented. A search of the literature for previously reported instances of spontaneous regression of breast carcinoma indicates that this event is exceedingly rare.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Attractiveness as a biasing factor in teacher judgments.

A double-blind experiment to evaluate the effect of facial attractiveness on teacher judgments was performed. Given identical information, teachers systematically rated attractive children more favorably than unattractive children. In the case of unattractive children, teachers were more willing to recommend special-class placement and held lower expectations for future academic and social development.

Achievement↗