Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M M Alexander

Publications and source records attributed to M M Alexander.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

More than meets the eye: a study of the time lost from work by patients who incurred injuries from corneal foreign bodies.

A prospective study was carried out to establish the time lost from work due to corneal foreign body injury. Data were collected over a 5 month period on a total of 504 patients attending a busy district hospital eye casualty department. The median time lost through injury was 4 hours and 148 patients (30%) took no time off work. Corneal foreign bodies are known to be painful injuries but in spite of this few patients take more than half a day off work.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1988

Effective hyposensitization in allergic rhinitis using a potent partially purified extract of house dust mite.

Thirty-eight adults with allergic rhinitis have been treated with a new partially purified extract of house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomized to active (Pharmalgen, D. pteronyssinus) and placebo (histamine) treatment by sensitivity to D. pteronyssinus on nasal challenge. In the actively treated group nasal symptoms, assessed by visual analogue score, improved (P less than 0.01), sensitivity on nasal challenge with allergen was reduced (P less than 0.05) and weal size on skin-prick test with allergen was reduced (P less than 0.01), compared with the placebo group. These results occurred after 3 months of treatment. Reduction in target organ sensitivity occurred, while the serum level of D. pteronyssinus IgE rose in the active group from 14.2 to 22.5 PRU/ml (geometric mean) but did not change significantly in the placebo group. As anticipated, because of the treatment schedule used, a number of generalized allergic reactions were induced by injections, but all responded promptly and easily to treatment. These results suggest this is an effective form of therapy, which now offers us the opportunity to study the immunological mechanisms of hyposensitization and to devise a modified schedule causing fewer reactions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Comparative evaluation of clinical pharmacists and physicians in the management of medication-related telephone calls in family practice offices.

A comparative evaluation of clinical pharmacists and physicians in the management of medication-related telephone calls in family practice offices is described. A peer review panel, composed of two family practice physicians and two clinical pharmacists not involved in the study, evaluated the appropriateness of management in 102 medication-related telephone calls. The effects of the following variables on the management ratings were determined by analysis of variance: (1) provider group (staff physicians, family practice residents, clinical pharmacists); (2) caller (patient, community pharmacist, third party, e.g., family member or friend); (3) type of medication-related telephone call (refill, new medication, drug information, or other); (4) consultation with another provider; and (5) recommendation for follow-up. Among the provider groups, a larger proportion of the calls to clinical pharmacists (72.6%) received the highest management rating of "appropriate, best alternative available" compared with staff physicians (39.7%) and residents (34.6%). Analysis of variance indicated that the management by clinical pharmacists was rated significantly more favorably than management by staff physicians or residents (p less than 0.05).] Statistical analyses also indicated that the differences in the management ratings among the provider groups were not explained by differences in the callers, type of medication-related call, consultation with another provider, or recommendation for a follow-up. These data suggest that clinical pharmacists may contribute substantially to improved patient-care through the management of medication-related telephone calls.

Community Pharmacy Services↗
PubMed1967

Overweight, obesity and weight control.

Evidence is cited showing that overweight is a health hazard, but that this is primarily true only when the excess weight is due to an excess accumulation of adipose tissue. Diagnosis of frank obesity should be established by a careful interpretation of height-weight tables and of all other pertinent data. Although many factors play an etiologic role, obesity can occur only when caloric intake exceeds caloric output, and can be obviated only when this imbalance is reversed. Therefore prevention of weight gain, which should receive increasing attention, and also satisfactory weight loss, both require that caloric output be increased through added physical activity and that caloric intake be decreased through diminished consumption. Success depends on recognizing the fallacy of all misleading misinformation, and on establishing permanent habits of regular exercise and of moderation in eating and drinking. Suggestions are made that can be effective guidelines to a commonsense program of weight control.

Adolescent↗