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Biomedical subjects

R O'Donnell

Publications and source records attributed to R O'Donnell.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Regional distribution of deaths from asthma.

Data from the National Center for Health Statistics indicate rates of death from asthma at 5-34 years of age in the USA in 1980 were .166 per 100,000 general population for whites and .914 for blacks. Rates for blacks were higher in the Northeast (1.313) and North Central Region (1.179) than in the West (.905) and South (.659). The rate for whites was higher in the West (.263) than in the Northeast (.180), South (.149), or North Central Region (.108). During 1981-84 rates remained higher for blacks in the Northeast and North Central Regions than other regions and higher for whites in the West than elsewhere. Most deaths from asthma at 5-34 years of age from 1979-84 in the USA occurred at hospitals (70% of blacks, 77% of whites for the 40 states reporting this detail on death certificates). Rates of discharge from hospitals after admission for the treatment of asthma at 5-34 years of age have also been much higher for blacks than for whites from 1979-86. These rates have been highest in the Northeast and North Central Region for both blacks and whites. Accordingly, neither failure to reach a hospital nor lack of hospitalization can account for regional and racial differences in asthma mortality rates. Median household incomes have been lower for blacks than whites, and unemployment rates have been higher for blacks than whites. From 1980-84 unemployment rates for blacks were highest in the North Central Region. Economic factors may account in part for racial and regional differences in mortality from asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Cystic fibrosis in blacks in Washington, DC: fifteen years' experience.

Controversies exist regarding the clinical presentation and characteristics of cystic fibrosis (CF) in American blacks. Between 1971 and 1986, 188 patients with CF (165 whites, 20 blacks, and 3 others) seen at Children's Hospital National Medical Center, Washington, DC, were evaluated for age at diagnosis, duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis, clinical presentations, initial sputum culture results, and weight and height at diagnosis. Comparisons between black and white patients revealed no statistically significant differences in average age at diagnosis, average duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis, average sweat electrolyte concentrations, or sputum culture results. A breakdown of presenting symptoms by race showed some points of disparity. About twice as many black patients as white patients (40% v 22%) presented with only pulmonary symptoms, whereas slightly more whites presented with only gastrointestinal symptoms (46% v 35%). Those patients presenting with a combination of symptomatology were equally distributed by race (25% black, 21% white). At diagnosis, age-adjusted weight percentiles were significantly lower for black patients than for white patients (chi 2 = 9.60, P less than or equal to 0.05). Although the authors agree that CF is relatively rare among blacks, a high index of suspicion is essential for early diagnosis.

Black People↗
PubMed1987

Intraventricular hemorrhage in the newborn beagle puppy. A limited model of intraventricular hemorrhage in the premature infant.

The term beagle puppy has been used extensively as an experimental model of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in the preterm infant. Fourteen variables were selected which were considered theoretically important to both the model and the preterm infant, and the data were subjected to discriminant analysis. Use of only three variables in combination correctly predicted whether an animal would sustain germinal matrix hemorrhage: baseline blood pressure, Pco2, and temperature. The model does not involve ischemia, which appears to be the sentinel but not singular insult in the IVH of preterm infants.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Two cases of acute leukaemia in pregnancy.

2 cases of acute leukaemia which developed in the course of pregnancy are reported. The first was a 34-year-old woman who presented with acute myeloblastic leukaemia late in the second trimester and received combination chemotherapy. A normal male infant was delivered. The second patient, aged 24 years, presented with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia early in the second trimester and was treated with the same regime. Pre-eclamptic toxaemia developed at 29 weeks gestation. Intra-uterine death was confirmed 1 week later.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Chick embryonic skin as a rapid organ culture assay for cellular neoplasia.

We used chick embryonic skin (CES) in organ culture to assess the neoplastic potential of a variety of cultured human and nonhuman cell lines. Cells derived from cancer tissues grew in CES and formed tumors in nude mice while cells derived from normal tissues grew in neither system. The CES proved to be more sensitive than the nude mouse when used to assay SV40 transformed human cells; each of four such lines grew in CES while only one of the four lines grew and formed tumors in nude mice. In addition, the patterns of invasion by inoculated cells can be easily studied in the CES. These results suggest that CES in organ culture offers an inexpensive, rapid, and reliable alternative to the nude mouse as a tumorigenicity test.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Palliative embolization of fibrosarcoma for control of tumor-induced hypoglycemia.

A 77-year-old woman with prior long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes presented with malignant hypoglycemia secondary to insulin-like substances excreted from a large unresectable fibrosarcoma of the left thigh. Partial embolization of the tumor supply from the deep femoral artery was performed using 150-250 microns polyvinyl alcohol foam particles. After embolization, the patient's serum glucose levels reverted to normal and she could be discharged from the hospital.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A survey of adolescent smoking patterns.

BACKGROUND: Most adults who smoke regularly started during adolescence. To understand adolescent smoking trends better, we investigated smoking patterns, and habits among vocational high school students. METHODS: One hundred fifty-four students, aged 14 to 20 years from two vocational schools, completed a 23-item questionnaire. The 99 who were smokers further completed a 55-item questionnaire investigating smoking patterns, criteria for addiction, health concerns, and quitting experiences. All students were tested for objective laboratory measures of smoking, including exhaled carbon monoxide and salivary cotinine. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent of the student sample smoked at least 10 cigarettes a day, began smoking by 13 years, and easily purchased tobacco over-the-counter. Predictors for smoking included a close friend, parent, or sibling who was a smoker. Significantly poorer grade performance and higher use of alcohol and marijuana were found among smokers. Student's knowledge of health risks of smoking exceeded 95 percent but was of little concern for 70 percent of the smokers. More than one half of smokers had multiple unsuccessful quitting attempts. Exhaled carbon monoxide readings accurately detected smokers and proved more immediate, more sensitive, and less costly than salivary cotinine measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The high association for poor school performance and alcohol and marijuana use among adolescent smokers is a growing trend. These issues carry immediate short-term health and social implications, which physicians should explore. Almost all the smokers had tried at least once to quit but relapsed rapidly. One third remain highly motivated to quit. Physicians should not hesitate to offer smoking cessation assistance; one third might be willing to listen.

Adolescent↗