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Biomedical subjects

M Blum

Publications and source records attributed to M Blum.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

A systematic approach to the evaluation and management of breast masses.

Between 1975 and 1980, 392 patients with a palpable mass or masses were referred for breast evaluation, including risk factor assessment, physical examination, and selective utilization of aspiration cytology and mammography. Three-hundred and thirty-one (85%) were biopsied, with a benign diagnosis in 65% of the patients and cancer in 35%. The 61 patients (15%) who were not biopsied consisted of 32 patients in whom the mass disappeared on follow-up examination, 20 with stabilization on long-term follow-up, and nine with decreased mass size. Most breast masses must be biopsied, but a few can be followed and biopsy avoided. However, a decision not to biopsy requires more precise clinical judgement and experience than a decision to proceed with biopsy. Absolute indications for breast biopsy include a clinically suspicious mass, a mammogram considered malignant or suspicious, aspiration cytologic findings reported as malignant or suspicious, and a persisting, dominant mass, even if clinically benign.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1983

Carcinoma of the thyroglossal duct.

Seven patients with carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst have received treatment over a 15 year period. Findings in all of these patients reflect the likelihood of carcinoma arising within thyroglossal duct tissue. In each patient there was sufficient histologic evidence of the presence of a thyroglossal duct cyst and carcinoma arising within an intimate admixture of normal thyroid tissue in the cyst wall. In the absence of a history of irradiation and with separation of the carcinoma from the pyramidal lobe of the thyroid, excision of the thyroglossal cyst alone by traditional means seems appropriate. Our experience as well as a review of reported cases to date indicate that distant metastases are extremely rare and the prognosis excellent.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1983

Glycohemoglobin (Hb A1) levels in oral contraceptive users.

In a group of 33 healthy women, among whom 15 utilized the combined oral contraceptive pill, and 18 utilized the progesterone oral pill (ethynodiol diacetate, 0.5 mg, Femulen, we have examined the percentage of glycohemoglobin (Hb A1). In the progesterone oral pill users the percentage of Hb A1 remained unchanged, that is 5.4% before, and 5.2% 3-6 mth after using it, whereas in women taking the combined oral contraceptive pill the values increased from 5.9% before to a mean of 8.7% after 3-6 mth after administration. This increase seems to be related to the estrogen of the which, as in pregnancy, may induce glucose intolerance. From this study it may be seen that, despite its disadvantages such as reduced effectiveness and menstrual disruption, the progesterone-only pill is preferable. At the same time, the screening by the Hb A1 evaluation, a sure, inexpensive and easily performed procedure, makes it possible to detect a nonsuspected diabetes or a borderline diabetes and thus to change the contraception method used for another method.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Low blood pressure in vegetarians: the possible role of potassium.

Ninety-eight confirmed adult vegetarians were examined against a matched group of nonvegetarians living in the same urban environment in order to evaluate the prevalence of arterial hypertension. The average blood pressure was 126/77 for the vegetarians and 147/88 for the control group (p less than 0.05). Significantly lower blood pressure was found in every decade of age. Only 2% of the vegetarians had hypertension (higher than 160/95) as compared to 26% hypertensives in the nonvegetarians. These differences in blood pressure were maintained also when individuals with the same "relative weight" were compared. Family history of hypertension was similar in both groups. Analysis of factors such as coffee drinking and smoking did not favor reduced blood pressure among the vegetarian group. Sodium and potassium intake were evaluated from their ratios to creatinine in a single urine sample. It was evident that both groups excreted the same amounts of sodium, while potassium excretion was significantly higher in the vegetarians. In view of the increasing evidence that potassium plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure it is concluded that the protective antihypertensive factor in the vegetarian diet is the presence of high amounts of potassium.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Effect of oral contraception by progesterone pill on lipids and glucose metabolism.

The influence of oral contraception with 0.5 mg ethynodiol diacetate (Femulen) on blood lipid and glucose tolerance test (GTT) was studied in a group of 14 nulliparous women ages 17-24 years before and 3 months after treatment. In another group of 13 women of matched age, contraception was managed by providing a combined pill (estrogen and progesterone). The continuous treatment of ethynodiol diacetate did not result in the increase in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and did not affect the GTT, as observed when the combined pill was administered. Femulen had no side effects, except for 2 cases of vaginal spotting. Ethynodiol diacetate does not induce the decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels which is an anti-risk factor for the prevention of accelerated atherosclerotic disease. Oral contraception with this pill is indicated for all women, especially when there is an absolute contraindication for the use of combined pills

Biology↗
PubMed1983

Serum lactic dehydrogenase (SLDH) activity in maternal and cord blood in anemia of pregnancy and normal controls.

Serum lactic dehydrogenase (SLDH) activity was investigated in a group of 77 pregnant women at term with anemia of pregnancy (Hb under 10 g/dl), and in 61 cord blood samples of their newborns. 107 healthy pregnant women (Hb above 11 g/dl) and 62 cord blood samples from their newborns served as control. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups as for the SLDH activity. It is possible that the isoenzymes LDH 3 and LDH 4, which are probably of placental origin, are affected during pregnancy, but the study of these isoenzymes will make the subject of a future investigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Evaluation of euthyroid solitary. Autonomous nodule of the thyroid gland. Importance of scintillation scanning and thyrotropin-releasing hormone testing.

The euthyroid autonomous nodule of the thyroid may escape diagnosis if only the usual criterion of less than 50% suppression of radioactive iodine uptake, (RAIU) after administration of liothyronine sodium is employed. This was the case in four patients who had thyrotoxic response to suppressive therapy, which had been given as a result of the improper conclusion that a nodule was hyperplastic, after the RAIU had fallen. We studied 95 patients with a solitary functioning nodule and found ten euthyroid persons (11 tests) in whom scintiscans showed persistent function in the nodule in spite of suppression of the RAIU by more than 50%. A thyrotropin-releasing hormone test demonstrated lack of thyroid-stimulating hormone responsiveness after administration of liothyronine, proving adequacy of the suppressive dose. Diagnosis of an autonomous nodule should not be excluded unless a scintiscan reveals that its function, in distinction to the rest of the gland, is curtailed by adequate suppression.

Adult↗