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Biomedical subjects

M Peters

Publications and source records attributed to M Peters.

485 records · Page 27Linked to original sources
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Low correlation of serology with detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by ligase chain reaction and antigen EIA.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of serology by using new assays for the detection of genus and species-specific IgG, IgM, IgA and secretory IgA antibody in female sex workers. Cervical swabs and first void urine (FVU) from 314 female sex workers were submitted to nucleic acid amplification by ligase chain reaction (LCx, Abbott). Concomittantly, blood samples were tested for the presence of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies using a genus-specific assay (rELISA, Medac) and species-specific test (SeroCT, Orgenics). Chlamydia trachomatis infection was detected in a total of 30 (9.6%) female sex workers by LCR. With rELISA, seroprevalences for IgG, IgM, and IgA antibody to Chlamydia were 88.9%, 19.1% and 62.7%, respectively. IgG and IgA antibody prevalences against C. trachomatis (SeroCT) were 65.0% and 23.9%, respectively. In comparison to the positive LCR results obtained from cervical swab and/or FVU, the sensitivity of rELISA for Chlamydia IgG, IgA and IgM detection was 93.3%, 83.3% and 16.7%, respectively. With SeroCT, the sensitivity for C. trachomatis-specific IgG and IgA detection was 86.7% and 33.3%, respectively. The specificities of both serologic tests in comparison to LCR were very low. In conclusion, the correlation of serology with active C. trachomatis infection of the lower genital tract is very low. According to our results, serologic testing for Chlamydia can exclude active infection of the lower genital tract with a high reliability (> or = 95%). However, detection of C. trachomatis can only be reliably achieved by nucleic acid amplification assays.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
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Safe motherhood--a journey.

The Therese Dondero Memorial Fund was established in 1986 by Dr. Samuel Oberlander and has been supported by him, other family members, and friends through contributions to the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Foundation. Since then, the fund has provided a speaker for ACNM's annual meeting. The speakers are selected by a special committee on the basis of their achievements in maternal and infant health and their commitment to Therese's goals: clinical excellence, the rights of all child-bearing women, and nurse-midwifery education. This paper is an adaptation of the Annual Therese Dondero Lecture presented at the 43rd annual meeting of the ACNM on May 23rd, 1998. It highlights the author's 23-year journey toward promoting Safe Motherhood around the world and discusses the global initiative since 1987.

Female↗
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Embolized mesothelial cells within mediastinal lymph nodes of three dogs with idiopathic haemorrhagic pericardial effusion.

Embolized mesothelial-like cells were detected within pericardial lymphatics and mediastinal lymph nodes of three golden retrievers with idiopathic haemorrhagic pericardial effusion. Morphological, cytochemical, and immunohistochemical investigations indicated that the embolized cells most likely originated from the pericardial mesothelium. None of the dogs showed evidence of an underlying neoplastic disorder. Such findings have not been reported previously in animals, but so-called "benign mesothelial cell inclusions" have been reported in mediastinal lymph nodes of human patients with pleuritis and pericarditis but no history of neoplasia. The present findings in dogs indicate the need to distinguish between lymphatic emboli arising from reactive mesothelial cells and metastases arising from a mesothelioma.

Animals↗
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Financial management for nurse managers--the bottom line for renewal.

Cost-effective health care has become the hospital motto for the 1990s. A great majority of costs can be controlled on individual nursing units, but many clinically expert nurse managers lack skills in financial management. Our goal was to teach such skills in a framework in which cost was balanced with quality. The three-day course emphasized leadership skills and management styles, change and renewal, solutions to problems of nurse turnover, and specific financial strategies. Evaluations of the course were positive and demonstrated one way in which valuable nurse managers can learn new skills to keep up with current needs.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
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Analysis of chronic emergency department use.

This retrospective emergency department (ED) chart review study examined the relationship between acuity level and the type of insurance in a patient population who used the ED on a chronic basis (seven or more times in the calendar year 1996). Of 1,185 patients seen in the ED in 1996, 122 had between 7 and 29 visits. In the study population: 62.5% of their visits were classified as nonurgent; 42.6% of the nonurgent visits were made by those with insurance; the highest frequency of visits took place between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm when most alternative nonemergency facilities are open. Some of the factors seen as influencing overuse of the ED include: the fact that some chronic use appeared to be associated with psychiatric conditions including substance abuse and patients with recurrent chest pain; and patient's perceptions that access to lab and X-ray facilities are readily available within the ED.

Adolescent↗
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[Screening for cardiovascular risk factors in public screening programs: are target groups being reached?].

In 1990 the public health department of Frankfurt organised the third "Frankfurter Gesundheitstage". 1875 persons took part in the voluntary public screening programme for cardiovascular risk factors. Mean age of the persons tested was 60 years. 13% of them smoked, 16% were obese. In 19% elevated blood pressure, and in 85% hypercholesterolemia (greater than 200 mg/dl) was observed (46% greater than 250 mg/dl). Hypercholesterolemia and hypertension was not known before to 444, resp. 88 persons. "Persons at risk" for cardiovascular disease can be reached by such a screening programme.

Adult↗
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Induction of IL-4 and IL-6 synthesis in vitro: variation in signaling requirements and kinetics are dependent on the anatomic source of the responding mononuclear cells.

We have shown differences in regulation of cytokine mRNA expression in human tonsil, spleen, and peripheral blood. After PHA stimulation of peripheral blood, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6 mRNA were expressed with similar kinetics: peak expression occurred after four hours and subsequently declined over 48 hr. In PHA-stimulated splenic and tonsillar MNC, IL-2 and IL-6 mRNA were expressed later, with peak expression occurring after eight hours of stimulation and no mRNA detectable after 40 hr of stimulation. The intensity of the IL-6 mRNA signal and the amount of IL-6 secreted was much greater in MNC from peripheral blood than in spleen and tonsil and correlated with the percentage of monocytes in MNC from each tissue. IL-4 mRNA expression differed in all three tissues: PHA-stimulated tonsillar MNC expressed IL-4 mRNA with a major peak at eight hours and a minor peak at 24 hr after stimulation. The kinetics of mRNA were not due to effects of mixed cell populations. The same bimodal peak was observed in purified tonsillar T lymphocytes, and the minor 24-hr peak was dependent on IL-4 mRNA synthesis by cells expressing high amounts of VLA-beta 1 antigen (CDw29) on their surface and which lacked the CD45 epitope recognized by the mAb 2H4. Splenic MNC did not express IL-4 mRNA when stimulated with a number of mitogens and only exhibited IL-4 mRNA expression when stimulated with the combination of PHA and PMA or anti-CD3. Thus, IL-4 mRNA has markedly different kinetics and intensity of expression in spleen, peripheral blood, and tonsil.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗
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[Perinatal mortality and acidosis morbidity rate in pelvic presentation and vertex presentation deliveries].

Pelvic presentation deliveries in the period between 1975 and 1981 were analyzed and compared with a randomly chosen group of vertex presentation deliveries from the same period. On clarification of the group of patients delivered of pelvic presentations, the mortality rate was comparable with that resulting from vertex presentation. In both groups of patients both the mortality and acidosis morbidity rates were affected by the tendency towards premature birth. In cases of pelvic presentation, caesarian section represents the least risky method of delivery. Particularly in the event of premature birth, caesarian section should thus be given preference in all cases. Given careful individual diagnosis, mature infants -even, selectively, in the case of women giving birth for the first time--can be vaginally delivered from the pelvic presentation position.

Acidosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Persistent tachypnea in children: keep pulmonary embolism in mind.

PURPOSE: Tachypnea in children is associated with respiratory disorders and nonrespiratory disorders such as cardiac disease, metabolic acidosis, fever, pain, and anxiety. Pulmonary embolism is seldom considered by pediatricians as a cause of tachypnea. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three children of various ages with persistent tachypnea are described: a girl after orthopedic surgery for kyphoscoliosis, a boy with nephrotic syndrome, and a neonate with Hirschsprung disease. Other causes of tachypnea were diagnosed and treated before pulmonary embolism was considered. RESULTS: Ventilation-perfusion scanning appeared to be highly probable for pulmonary embolism in these patients. Anticoagulant therapy was started. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary embolism should be kept in mind in children with tachypnea, especially when other risk factors for venous thromboembolism are present, to avoid delay in anticoagulant treatment and a fatal outcome.

Anticoagulants↗