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Biomedical subjects

R G Marks

Publications and source records attributed to R G Marks.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Drug abuse by anesthesia personnel.

Anesthesia personnel of 15 southeastern academic departments reported significantly less use of marijuana and cocaine among their staffs than did a class of medical students describing their own use. The chairmen reported that between 1% and 2% of anesthesia personnel came to their attention because of drug or alcohol abuse. Of 44 persons known to abuse drugs or alcohol, seven were reported to have died secondary to abuse.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1983

Radial keratotomy: prospective evaluation of safety and efficacy.

One hundred five consecutive radial keratotomy procedures were followed for one year postoperatively. There was greatest correction of myopia with less than 8 diopters of preoperative correction, and correction to a lesser degree with more than 8 diopters of preoperative correction. There were no severe complications. Size of central optical zone, number of incisions, graduation of incisional depth, central corneal thickness, patient age, intraocular pressure, and sex are of value in predicting the success of the procedure.

Cornea↗
PubMed1983

Diuretic use in an ambulatory elderly population.

The nature and extent of diuretic use and the effect of diuretics on clinical laboratory values were studied in a retirement community. Study participants completed health questionnaires and provided information on all prescription and nonprescription medications regularly used. Subjects using diuretics were categorized according to product(s) used; a control group used no diuretics. Results for diuretic users who used potassium supplements were analyzed separately. Data were collected on 2009 women and 1183 men over 65 years old. At least one diuretic drug was used by 40.2% of the women and 29.5% of the men. In most cases, the diuretic was used daily (81.1%) and had been used for longer than two years (72.5%). Approximately one third of the subjects had hypertension. Serum potassium values for users of chlorthalidone and thiazide diuretics showed the greatest difference from the control group, while users of the combination of hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone showed the greatest difference in serum sodium concentrations. Particularly in furosemide users, uric acid, BUN, and creatinine concentrations were significantly different from control. When serum potassium values of subjects using both diuretics and potassium supplements were analyzed, values were lower in participants using supplements. In many cases, significantly different laboratory values were still within normal limits. Long-term diuretic use in this ambulatory elderly population was high and was associated with numerous alterations in biochemical values.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Proficiency and patient acceptance of ophthalmic medical assistants.

We assessed the accuracy of ten ophthalmic technologist trainees (OTs) in commonly performed tasks of the ophthalmic examination. Results were derived from 224 patient examinations; 160 patients were examined both by OTs and ophthalmology residents, and an additional 64 were examined both by OTs, residents, and a faculty ophthalmologist. In measurement tasks, there was no significant difference in the results produced by the three types of providers. In identifying abnormalities of the globe and adnexae, and in history-taking, OT performance was nearly as accurate as that of the residents, when compared to the findings of the faculty ophthalmologist. In diagnosis and disposition, OT performance fell below the physician standard, especially in difficult cases. Patient acceptance of both formally trained and on-the-job trained ophthalmic medical assistants was very high. These results suggest that assistants with training comparable to that of the participants in this study may perform a large proportion of the routine ophthalmic examination without sacrificing quality or satisfaction with care.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1982

Prescribed and nonprescribed drug use in an ambulatory elderly population.

Drug usage was studied in an ambulatory geriatric population. Prescription and nonprescription drug use is described for 3,192 participants in a geriatric screening program (the Dunedin Program). Average drug use by these participants was found to be 3.2 medications. The use of both prescription and nonprescription drugs was higher for the women than for the men. In this population, drug use by both men and women increased with age, and this increase was mainly due to an increased use of prescription drugs. Participants were found to be taking numerous multiple-ingredient drug products.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on renal function in the elderly.

The effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on estimated creatinine clearance (ECC) was studied in a large ambulatory elderly population. ECC of participants using eight different NSAIDs and that of a control group using no drugs were compared. With one exception, ECCs of subjects using NSAIDs were lower than those of subjects using no medications. Results of this study suggest that long-term treatment with NSAIDs results in a decrease in renal function, and the effect on renal function may not be the same with all agents.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1982

Use of nutritional supplements in an ambulatory elderly population.

The use of nutritional supplements by 3,192 ambulatory elderly participants in a health screening program is described. The 2,009 women used vitamin (45.5 per cent) and mineral (22.4 per cent) products with significantly greater frequencies than did the 1,183 men (34.0 per cent and 15.0 per cent, respectively); chi-square, P less than 0.01. The most commonly used vitamin products were multiple vitamins, multiple vitamins with minerals, vitamin E, and vitamin C; for minerals, the ranking was potassium chloride, calcium salts, and ferrous sulfate. Eighty-two participants (2.5 per cent) reported the use of four or more supplements. Many older Americans are spending a great deal of money for nutritional supplements, whereas it would seem that the money could be better spent to improve the quality of their diet.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1982

Psychotropic drug use in an ambulatory elderly population.

Medication histories were obtained from 3,192 ambulatory elderly persons participating in a health screening program. A total of 2,009 (63%) women and 1,183 (37%) men were included in the drug use study. Flurazepam, pentobarbital and the combination of amobarbital and secobarbital were used by 4.5, 0.6 and 0.4% of participants, respectively, and these three agents accounted for 87.6% of all prescribed hypnotic drugs. Diazepam, meprobamate and chlordiazepoxide were the most commonly used minor tranquilizers. Barbiturates were contained in nearly one fourth of minor tranquilizers used by these elderly subjects. Less than 1% (0.5%) of the participants in this program reported the use of a neuroleptic. Approximately 3% of the participants reported the use of an antidepressant drug. Nearly 90% of participants who reported the daily use of a hypnotic agent state they had been using the product on a daily basis for longer than 1 year.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1982

Analgesic drug use in an ambulatory elderly population.

Prescribed and nonprescribed analgesic use was studied in a population of 3192 elderly ambulatory subjects. Analgesic drugs were used by 44.3 percent of women and 32.6 percent of men. The most common analgesic products used were aspirin, buffered aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. Numerous participants reported the use of multiple analgesic products. Alkaline phosphatase, lactic dehydrogenase, and blood urea nitrogen concentrations were higher in subjects reporting the use of analgesics, but total bilirubin and serum iron concentrations were lower.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Screening for hypertension in an elderly population: report from the Dunedin Program.

Hypertension detection and follow-up programs have recently received increased attention. The authors studied the effect of screening for hypertension in a geriatric screening program for a large ambulatory elderly population in Dunedin, Florida, over a three-year period. Of the 4,247 participants initially screened, 39 percent had some form of hypertension, and 15.6 percent of these had not received any form of treatment. At the time of the first year follow-up, the proportion of participants with treated, controlled hypertension had increased from 14.7 to 21 percent. These data lend support to the value of hypertension screening among persons over 65 years of age.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Selected physiologic and drug effects on serum uric acid levels in an elderly population.

A total of 2,923 elderly subjects were studied to determine the relationship between obesity, hypertension, thyroid disease, renal function, alcohol consumption, selected drugs, and the serum uric acid level. Comparison of the serum uric acid levels with indices of obesity demonstrated a strong correlation in normotensive (p less than .0001) and hypertensive (p less than .001) subjects. The serum creatinine level, when used alone, was not a reliable indicator of renal function. Of the drugs evaluated, diuretics had the most pronounced effect upon the serum uric acid level.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

The Dunedin program, a Florida geriatric screening process: design and initial data.

The Dunedin program was started in 1975 for the purpose of screening participants over the age of 65, for medical disorders. Data are collected on family history, past medical history, drug history, current symptoms and disorders, and numerous biochemical and physiologic factors. In the past four years, 4,363 participants have been evaluated and a large data base has been derived concerning the 65+ age group. It is hoped that data from this program will facilitate the future assessment, treatment and care of the elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Epidemiology of hyperuricemia in an ambulatory elderly population.

The relationship of serum uric acid concentration to age and sex was assessed in 1,701 participants in a geriatric multiphasic screening clinic. Included were 1,067 women and 634 men. The mean uric acid level for men was 6.35 mg/100 ml compared to 5.44 mg/100 ml for women. No statistically significant increases in serum uric acid between age groups were apparent, except for women over 84 years of age. The mean serum urate concentrations found in this geriatric study are higher than those reported for other population groups, suggesting a higher normal value for the elderly.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1979

Drug use in a geriatric population.

Drug usage was studied in a geriatric hypertension-screening program. A questionnaire was used to collect the required information from patients visiting the clinic during three successive years. The study included 1,711 patients, of whom 76.6 percent were regularly using a drug preparation. A consistent increase was noted in the average number of drug categories used with increasing age, from 1.6 in patients under 70 to 2.6 in patients over 84 years old. The most common drug categories involved were antihypertensive agents, cardiovascular drugs, vitamins, and internal analgesics.

Aged↗