Nonfasting plasma total homocysteine level and mortality.
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Cause of Death↗
Biomedical subjects
M D Eisner
Publications and source records attributed to M D Eisner.
Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and risk of ARDS: a 15-year cohort study in a managed care setting.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption with hospital presentation of ARDS in a well-defined, multiethnic population. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Health maintenance organization in Northern California. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 121,012 health plan subscribers (54.2% women), aged 25 to 89 years. OUTCOME MEASURE: Hospital presentation of ARDS (validated by medical chart review) from baseline in 1979 to 1985 through the end of 1993 (median, 9.9 years). RESULTS: There were 56 cases of ARDS (33 in men, 23 in women). The case fatality rate was 39% in both genders. ARDS was independently related to increasing age (rate ratio of 10 years, 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 1.71), to current smoking of < 20 cigarettes/d (rate ratio vs never cigarette smokers, 2.85; 95% CI, 1. 23 to 6.60), and to current cigarette smoking of > or = 20 cigarettes/d (rate ratio vs never smokers, 4.59; 95% CI, 2.13 to 9.88). No association was observed between alcohol consumption and ARDS. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest a relationship (with evidence of dose-response effect) between cigarette smoking and ARDS. Assuming a causal relationship, approximately 50% of ARDS cases were attributable to cigarette smoking.
Adult↗
Predictors of cigarette smoking and smoking cessation among adults with asthma.
OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the predictors of smoking and time until smoking cessation in a cohort of adults with asthma. METHODS: Adults with asthma (n = 374) in northern California completed structured telephone interviews at baseline and 18-month follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 374 subjects, 156 reported ever having smoked, and 39 indicated that they currently smoked. Earlier birth cohort, lower educational attainment. White race, and presence in childhood residence of an adult who smoked were associated with a greater risk of ever smoking. Lower educational attainment, early smoking initiation, higher daily cigarette consumption, and late-childhood-onset asthma were associated with a longer interval until smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with asthma at high risk of cigarette smoking and delayed quitting can be identified on the basis of clinical and demographic characteristics.
Adult↗
Impact of asthma specialists on patient outcomes.
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Allergy and Immunology↗
Work dynamics of adults with asthma.
BACKGROUND: Asthma has been found to be among the most common conditions in the working age population and is among the most common causes of work limitation, but we could find no longitudinal studies of employment among persons with this condition. METHODS: A panel of 601 persons with a diagnosis of asthma from random samples of northern California pulmonologists and allergy-immunologists were interviewed as many as three times at 18-month intervals by a trained survey worker to report on the severity of disease, demographic characteristics, and the extent of their employment. Their employment was then compared to that of a matched sample from the U.S. Bureau of the Census Current Population Survey. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of the persons with asthma had worked at some point prior to study enrollment. Among persons with onset during adulthood, only 29% of those who were not employed at disease onset were working at study enrollment, compared to 68% among those who were employed. Among the 420 persons interviewed three times, 75, 81, and 75%, respectively, were employed as of the three interviews. Among these 420, 66% were continuously employed and 15% were continuously not employed. The principal determinants of continuity of employment were demographic and employment characteristics, not medical ones. The employment rate and hours of work per week and per year of the persons with asthma were similar to the matched sample. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma has not substantially impeded the employment of the persons with asthma we studied, with the exception that those who were not employed at disease onset continued to have low employment rates.
Adolescent↗
The Marks Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire: further validation and examination of responsiveness to change.
We performed analyses to examine the structure, validity, and responsiveness to change of the Marks Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), originally validated in Australia in a self-administered format, among 539 U.S. subjects with asthma. Subjects were interviewed twice by telephone over an 18-month period. Based on factor analyses, the subscale structure of the AQLQ was modified slightly to eliminate item overlap among subscale scores. Cross-sectionally, total AQLQ scores were significantly correlated in expected directions with baseline asthma severity scores (r = 0.58), SF-36 physical (r = -0.66) and mental (r = -0.40) health status scores, and pulmonary function (FEV1% predicted, r = -0.14). Longitudinally, changes in AQLQ total and subscale scores were significantly (P<0.01) associated with changes in asthma severity and both physical and mental status. The AQLQ, administered by telephone, appears to be useful for assessing changes in the impact of adult asthma.
Adult↗
Health-related quality of life after acute lung injury.
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Adult↗
Pulmonary function improves after expandable metal stent placement for benign airway obstruction.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether expandable metal stent placement for benign airway lesions improves pulmonary function. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: Nine patients who underwent balloon-mediated expandable metal stent deployment for airway obstruction due to benign etiologies. RESULTS: All nine patients had expandable stents deployed for benign airway lesions using fiberoptic bronchoscopy and fluoroscopic guidance. Pulmonary function improved after stent placement. The mean FVC increased by 388 mL (95% confidence interval [CI], 30 to 740 mL), the mean peak expiratory flow (PEF) increased by 1,288 mL (95% CI, 730 to 1,840 mL), the mean FEV1 increased by 550 mL (95% CI, 240 to 860 mL), and the mean forced expiratory flow between 25% and 50% of vital capacity (FEF25-75%) increased by 600 mL (95% CI, 110 to 1,090 mL). Corresponding relative measurements included increases in FVC (12%), PEF (95%), FEV1 (38%), and FEF25-75% (87%). The complete characterization of a benign airway obstruction generally required a multimodal approach. CONCLUSIONS: Expandable metal stent placement appears to be an effective therapy for benign airway obstruction.
Adult↗
The association between occupation and asthma in general medical practice.
BACKGROUND: In general practice settings, the proportion of adult asthma attributable to occupational factors is not known. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to estimate the proportion of adult asthma cases that can be attributed to occupational factors initiating new disease onset and exacerbating preexisting disease. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of interview data for 150 adults with asthma recruited from a random sample of family practice specialists. We ascertained the asthma and work histories of the subjects and estimated the proportion with likely work-initiated asthma and work-related asthma recrudescence. RESULTS: Seventy-four subjects (49%) reported adult-onset asthma while employed; an additional 25 (17%) reported recrudescence of previously quiescent childhood-onset asthma during employment. Of those with new-onset asthma while employed, 15 (10% of the study group; 95% confidence interval, 5 to 15%) were employed in occupations at increased risk of occupational asthma initiation on the basis of an independent job scoring matrix. Of those with asthma recrudescence in adulthood, seven (5% of the study group; 95% confidence interval, 2 to 8%) were employed in occupations at increased risk of exposures aggravating asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Among adults with asthma treated in general practice settings, > 1 in 10 patients has a work history strongly suggestive of a potential relationship between exposure and disease.
Adolescent↗
Bartenders' respiratory health after establishment of smoke-free bars and taverns.
CONTEXT: The association between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and respiratory symptoms has not been well established in adults. OBJECTIVE: To study the respiratory health of bartenders before and after legislative prohibition of smoking in all bars and taverns by the state of California. DESIGN: Cohort of bartenders interviewed before and after smoking prohibition. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Bartenders at a random sample of bars and taverns in San Francisco. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Interviews assessed respiratory symptoms, sensory irritation symptoms, ETS exposure, personal smoking, and recent upper respiratory tract infections. Spirometric assessment included forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) measurements. RESULTS: Fifty-three of 67 eligible bartenders were interviewed. At baseline, all 53 bartenders reported workplace ETS exposure. After the smoking ban, self-reported ETS exposure at work declined from a median of 28 to 2 hours per week (P<.001). Thirty-nine bartenders (74%) initially reported respiratory symptoms. Of those symptomatic at baseline, 23 (59%) no longer had symptoms at follow-up (P<.001). Forty-one bartenders (77%) initially reported sensory irritation symptoms. At follow-up, 32 (78%) of these subjects had resolution of symptoms (P<.001). After prohibition of workplace smoking, we observed improvement in mean FVC (0.189 L; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.082-0.296 L; 4.2% change) and, to a lesser extent, mean FEV1 (0.039 L; 95% CI, -0.030 to 0.107 L; 1.2% change). Complete cessation of workplace ETS exposure (compared with continued exposure) was associated with improved mean FVC (0.287 L; 95% CI, 0.088-0.486; 6.8% change) and mean FEV1 (0.142 L; 95% CI, 0.020-0.264 L; 4.5% change), after controlling for personal smoking and recent upper respiratory tract infections. CONCLUSION: Establishment of smoke-free bars and taverns was associated with a rapid improvement of respiratory health.
Adult↗
Assessment of asthma severity in adults with asthma treated by family practitioners, allergists, and pulmonologists.
OBJECTIVES: Accurate measurement of asthma severity is critical for research evaluating asthma health outcomes. There are, however, no widely accepted asthma severity measures. A severity-of-asthma score, which is based on self-reported information, was previously developed and validated in subjects recruited from pulmonary and allergy subspecialty practices. The purpose of this study was to validate the severity-of-asthma score in subjects treated by family practice physicians and to compare asthma severity in subjects treated by family practitioners (n = 150) with those seen by allergists (n = 217) and pulmonologists (n = 384). METHODS: The study was an ongoing panel study of adults with asthma. Subjects were a random sample of board-certified family practice, allergy, and pulmonary physicians. Each physician registered patients with asthma aged 18 to 50 years. Of 869 subjects registered, 751 (86%) completed structured telephone interviews. The family practice panel was recruited approximately 3 years after the subspecialty panel. RESULTS: In the family practice subjects, the severity-of-asthma score demonstrated internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.76) and concurrent validity, correlating strongly with asthma-specific quality of life, SF-36 General Health and Physical Functioning scales, and subject-perceived asthma severity. After controlling for demographic characteristics, a 5-point score increment was associated with increased emergency department visits, urgent physician visits, and restricted activity days. The mean severity score was highest in the pulmonary group (11.8 +/- 6.3), followed by the allergy (10.3 +/- 5.3) and family practice (9.3 +/- 5.5) groups. CONCLUSIONS: The severity-of-asthma score was a valid measure in generalist-treated subjects. Asthma severity varied significantly by physician specialty.
Adolescent↗
Environmental tobacco smoke and adult asthma. The impact of changing exposure status on health outcomes.
The effect of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure on adults with asthma has not been well characterized. In a prospective cohort study of 451 nonsmoking adults with asthma, we evaluated the impact of ETS exposure on asthma severity, health status, and health care utilization over 18 mo. There were 129 subjects (29%; 95% CI, 25-33%) who reported regular ETS exposure, falling into three categories: exposure at baseline but none at follow-up (n = 43, 10%), no baseline exposure and new exposure at follow-up (n = 56, 12%), and exposure at both baseline and follow-up (n = 30, 7%). In cross-sectional analyses, subjects with baseline ETS exposure had greater severity-of-asthma scores (score difference, 1.7; 95% CI, 0. 2-3.1), worse asthma-specific quality of life scores (score difference, 3.5; 95% CI, 0.03-7.0), and worse scores on the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36 physical component summary (score difference, 3. 0; 95% CI, 0-6.0) than unexposed subjects. They also had greater odds of emergency department visits (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.5), urgent physician visits (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.3), and hospitalizations (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.02-3.6). In longitudinal follow-up, subjects reporting ETS cessation showed improvement in severity-of-asthma scores (score reduction, -3.2; 95% CI, -4.4 to -2. 0) and physical component summary scores (score increase, 5.3; 95% CI, 2.6-8.1). Environmental tobacco smoke cessation decreased the odds of emergency department visits (OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.97) and hospitalizations (OR = 0.2; 95% CI, 0.04-0.97) after adjustment for covariates. Environmental tobacco smoke initiation was associated with greater asthma severity only in subjects with high-level (>= 3 h/wk) exposure (score increase, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.03-2.7). In conclusion, self-reported ETS exposure is associated with greater asthma severity, worse health status, and increased health care utilization in adults with asthma.
Adolescent↗
Necrotizing lymphadenitis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may have protean manifestations, including necrotizing lymphadenitis. After describing an illustrative case, we discuss the incidence, clinical features, and pathologic findings of SLE-associated necrotizing lymphadenitis. METHODS: A case of SLE associated with necrotizing lymphadenitis is reported. The patient's clinical presentation, course, and response to therapy is detailed. The literature on lupus lymphadenitis is reviewed. RESULTS: A young man who presented with a febrile illness characterized by multifocal necrotizing lymphadenitis is described. Glomerulonephritis, meningo-encephalitis, pericarditis, and hemolytic anemia evolved. The diagnosis of SLE was based on the clinical features, positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), and characteristic renal biopsy. High dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide induced a complete remission. In recent series from the literature the prevalence of lymphadenopathy was 12% to 59% of patients with SLE. The most common nodal groups involved were cervical (43%), mesenteric (21%), axillary (18%), and inguinal (17%). Lymph node pathology was characterized by paracortical foci of necrosis and infiltration by histiocytes, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and immunoblasts. The hematoxylin body, an amorphic aggregate of basophilic material, was pathognomonic of lupus lymphadenitis. The necrotizing lymphadenitis of SLE is pathologically similar to Kikuchi-Fujumoto disease (KFD), a distinctive, self-limited form of necrotizing lymphadenitis. The pathologic and clinical literature support a close link between SLE and KFD. CONCLUSIONS: SLE can be complicated by necrotizing lymphadenitis, with distinctive pathologic features. Lupus lymphadenitis and KFD share some common clinical and pathologic features, supporting a relationship between the disorders.
Adult↗
The pulmonary manifestations of AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical, radiographic, and autopsy features of AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's Iymphoma (NHL) with pulmonary involvement. DESIGN: Retrospective series of patients with HIV infection and NHL with pathologically documented lung or pleural involvement. SETTING: A university and a county hospital in San Francisco. PATIENTS: Thirty-eight patients with HIV infection and NHL involving the lungs or pleura. RESULTS: Most patients had respiratory symptoms (87%) and signs (84%). The majority of patients had advanced HIV infection, with a mean CD4 count of 67 (+/- 65). The most common laboratory abnormalities were elevated lactate dehydrogenase value (89%), elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (94%), hematologic abnormalities (95%), and widened alveolar-arterial gradient (89%). Thoracic CT revealed pulmonary nodules (50%), lobar infiltrates (27%), and lung mass (19%) as the most common parenchymal abnormalities. Pleural effusion (68%) and thoracic lymphadenopathy (54%) were unexpectedly common. Autopsy confirmed the high prevalence of pulmonary nodules (30%), airspace disease (35%), and lung mass (25%). Pleural effusions (65%) and thoracic lymphadenopathy (60%) were also common at autopsy. The respiratory system was the most common extranodal site (71%) in patients with AIDS-related NHL undergoing autopsy. Of the bronchoscopic procedures performed, transbronchial biopsy had the highest diagnostic yield (58%) for lymphoma. BAL and bronchial brushing were never diagnostic. Pleural fluid cytologic study and open lung biopsy specimens also had high diagnostic yields (75% each). CONCLUSIONS: The lung is a common extranodal site in AIDS-related NHL. NHL with pulmonary involvement occurs primarily in patients with advanced HIV infection. Most patients have nodules, infiltrates, or masses by thoracic imaging and autopsy. Thoracic lymphadenopathy is much more common than previously believed. Transbronchial biopsy, pleural fluid cytologic study, and open lung biopsy are the most useful diagnostic procedures.
Adult↗
Impact of donor and recipient characteristics on the development of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease following pediatric bone marrow transplantation.
Current knowledge of risk factors for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in pediatric bone marrow transplantation is derived from studies focusing primarily on adults. We reviewed 100 pediatric HLA-matched allogeneic marrow transplants to identify donor and recipient factors (age, sex, age mismatch, sex mismatch) associated with increased incidence of acute or chronic GVHD. The incidence of acute (32%) and chronic (29%) GVHD were very low. In univariate analyses, recipient age (P = 0.003), donor age (P = 0.002), donor sex (P = 0.089) and age mismatch (P = 0.018) are related to acute GVHD. Prior acute GVHD (P = 0.0001), recipient age (P = 0.057), donor age (P = 0.016), donor sex (P = 0.01) and sex mismatch (P = 0.024) are associated with chronic GVHD. In multivariate analyses, older donor age (P = 0.003) and female donor sex (P = 0.046) independently predict acute GVHD. Only acute GVHD (P = 0.0001) was independently related to chronic GVHD. When acute GVHD was excluded, older donor age (P = 0.032) and sex mismatch (P = 0.005) predict chronic GVHD. Thus, the incidence of acute and chronic GVHD were very low in our pediatric population, especially in the youngest patients. Older donor age and female donor sex are associated with a higher incidence of acute GVHD. Prior acute GVHD, older donor age and sex mismatch are associated with a higher incidence of chronic GVHD.
Acute Disease↗
Systemic nicotine exposure in tobacco harvesters.
Several epidemics of nicotine intoxication have been described among tobacco harvesters; however, little is known about nicotine absorption under typical working conditions. To assess systemic nicotine absorption during a regular working shift, the authors performed an observational field study. Included in the study were 10 healthy, nonsmoking, female tobacco harvesters and a control group of 5 healthy, nonsmoking, female hospital workers. Nicotine and cotinine were measured in sequential samples of blood and urine during a regular workshift. Blood nicotine levels rose from a nadir value of 0.79 +/- 0.12 ng/ml to a peak value of 3.45 +/- 0.84 ng/ml (p < .05 [Tukey's modified t test]) in the exposed group. In the control group, levels were stable at 0.1 +/- 0.1 ng/ml (p < .01). Moreover, the mean blood nicotine level measured 3 mo following the end of exposure in 6 of 10 exposed subjects was 0.24 +/- 0.12 ng/ml (p < .01). Corresponding higher values of urine nicotine and urine cotinine were observed in the exposed versus control group (comparative p values were < .01 and < .05, respectively). Overall, tobacco harvesters absorbed approximately 0.8 mg of nicotine daily. Given that nicotine can induce adverse health effects, the authors believe that prevention of nicotine absorption in tobacco harvesters should be sought and that workers should be informed about occupational risks.
Adult↗
Asthma and smoking status in a population-based study of California adults.
OBJECTIVE: Because they experience respiratory symptoms, adults with asthma might be expected to avoid cigarette smoking. However, previous studies have not adequately addressed whether adults with asthma have a lower prevalence of smoking than the general population. The authors sought to determine whether adult asthmatics are less likely to smoke cigarettes than members of the general population. METHODS: The authors used data from a random sample of 2,902 California adults ages 18 years or older,with oversampling of African Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, adults with disabilities, and adults aged 45 to 70 years. Sampling weights were used in all analyses. In this cross-sectional study, 217 participants (7.5%) reported a physician diagnosis of asthma. RESULTS: The prevalence of "ever smoking" was similar among adults with asthma (48.3%) and those without asthma (43.0%) (risk difference 5.3%; 95% CI -1.6%, 12.2%). There was also no difference in the prevalence of "current smoking" among adults with asthma (20.2%) compared with the non-asthmatic subjects (18.8%) (risk difference 1.4%; 95% CI -4.2%, 6.9%). After controlling for age, gender, race, and education, there was no evidence that adults with asthma were less likely to ever smoke. Although the confidence intervals did not exclude "no association," asthma was actually associated with an increased risk of ever smoking (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.0, 1.8). There was also no association between asthma and the risk of current smoking after controlling for covariates (OR 1.1; 95% CI 0.8, 1.6). Moreover, there were no differences in "age of smoking initiation," "duration of smoking," or "intensity of smoking" after adjusting for demographic characteristics. Redefining the referent group to exclude respondents with other chronic lung diseases did not appreciably change study conclusions. CONCLUSION: Adults with asthma do not appear to selectively avoid cigarette smoking. Specific smoking prevention and cessation efforts should be targeted to adults with asthma.
Adult↗