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Biomedical subjects

Richard E Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to Richard E Thompson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

HIV-1 plasma RNA level and CD4 cell count in a large urban HIV-1-infected patient population from 1997 to 2000.

We evaluated the change in plasma HIV-1 RNA level and CD4 cell counts in an HIV-1-infected population between 1997 and 2000. Both the mean and the median values of plasma HIV-1 RNA level decreased with time with the exception of 1998. The mean and medians for CD4 cell count appear to be fairly stable. While the percentage of patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA level <400 copies/mL increased from 29.12% in 1997 to 41.31% in 2000, the percentage of patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA level >100,000 copies/mL remained fairly constant. The availability of HAART had impacted the level of plasma HIV-1 RNA, although many patients still have plasma HIV-1 RNA level >100,000 copies/mL. Most patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA level >400 copies/mL in 1997 still have plasma HIV-1 RNA level >400 copies/mL in 2000. These laboratory findings, however, do not necessarily mean that there had been a lack of clinical benefit.

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active↗
PubMed2002

Issues surrounding prenatal genetic testing for achondroplasia.

OBJECTIVES: Mutations in the gene encoding fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 cause achondroplasia, the most prevalent form of dwarfism. Since the discovery of the mutations and gene in 1994, commercial testing has been available for use in prenatal diagnosis. This study sought to determine the awareness of, interest in and use of prenatal genetic testing for achondroplasia. METHODS: Surveys were collected from both individuals affected with achondroplasia (n = 189) and their average statured relatives (n = 136). RESULTS: The majority of participants were aware of the prenatal genetic testing at the time they were surveyed, but less than 10% had actually used the testing. Affected individuals were much more interested in using the testing if they became pregnant (62%) than were their relatives (28%). The groups were remarkably similar in their interest in using the testing to identify the lethal, homozygous form of achondroplasia and in their unwillingness to consider termination of pregnancies based on a diagnosis of either achondroplasia or average stature. Affected status and perception of the condition were correlated with the importance placed on knowing the prenatal diagnoses of achondroplasia and average stature. Views on abortion were highly correlated with all aspects of interest in prenatal diagnosis for achondroplasia. CONCLUSION: These results elucidate the role of selected attitudes and beliefs that contribute to reproductive decision making about achondroplasia. Furthermore, the findings provide insights into education and counseling issues for families and health care practitioners.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed2002

Growth curve analyses of neuropsychological profiles in children with neurofibromatosis type 1: specific cognitive tests remain "spared" and "impaired" over time.

Cognitive deficits in neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF-1) have been documented in both the verbal and visuospatial domains. Previous investigations from our laboratory have determined a specific pattern of "spared" (Picture Arrangement, Picture Completion, and Rapid Automatized Naming) and "impaired" (Judgment of Line Orientation, Vocabulary, and Block Design) performance on cognitive measures in this population when compared to sibling-matched controls in pairwise designs. Growth curve analyses were conducted on these repeated measures in 19 patients with NF-1 and their siblings to investigate the longitudinal course and growth pattern of these spared and impaired measures. Results indicated that over time children with NF-1 do not catch up to their siblings on impaired measures, and they continue to perform similarly to their siblings on the spared measures. With respect to growth rates, on average across the 6 cognitive measures there was no significant difference between the groups. However, the variation among families for level of performance was estimated to be larger than variation among siblings within a family for 2 out of 6 cognitive measures (i.e., providing for these 2, Vocabulary and Rapid Automatized Naming, evidence of substantial familial correlation), suggesting that there is need to consider NF-1 associated deficits within a familial context.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Coronary artery calcification scoring by prospectively triggered multidetector-row computed tomography: is it reproducible?

The objective of this study was to measure the interobserver and interscan variation of coronary artery calcium scores using multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT). Seventy-five patients underwent 2 sequential MDCT scans for coronary artery calcification. Each patient's score was separately measured by 3-blinded radiologists. Scores were treated as discrete and continuous data, and independent statistical analysis was performed on all results. There was a high proportion of interscan and inter-reader concordance for the presence of coronary calcium (range, 0.893-0.973) and for its quantity (range, 0.936-0.988). Overall, prospectively triggered multidetector-row calcium scoring is reproducible though there is more variation in those patients with already high scores. There is no need to scan patients twice at the same sitting.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Your money or your life: a new variation on the Heinz Dilemma.

Millions of Medicare-age Americans are drug dependent, not because of addiction but because of common chronic health problems such as diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Seniors are up in arms because drug company control of distribution and pricing of pharmaceuticals is eating away hard-earned nest eggs. Who cares? Where's the justice?

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The ethical aspects of gain sharing with physicians.

Gain sharing arrangements involving physicians can be a model combination of ethical business practices and maximizing profits. Or, gain sharing can be as unethical as fee-splitting was at the turn of the century, and as corrupt as any conflict of interest. The devil is--or is not--in the details.

Codes of Ethics↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Misbehaving physicians and professional ethics.

Consider a true story about physician misbehavior and see how it was handled. Sometimes a gentle touch works well in situations of unexpected and unintended behavioral problems.

Agonistic Behavior↗