Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S E Willis

Publications and source records attributed to S E Willis.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Drug abuse and psychiatric findings in HIV-seropositive pregnant patients.

In a sample of 55 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive pregnant patients, a history of drug abuse was significantly associated with increased psychopathology, particularly depression and personality disorders. Psychiatric disorders preceded the HIV diagnosis in most of the patients studied. Intravenous drug abuse was also associated with increased prostitution, incarceration, and previous suicide attempts. Psychiatric findings were influenced much less by the HIV diagnosis and much more by the presence or absence of a history of drug abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Throat culture or rapid strep test?

Clearly, rapid tests for streptococci identification are here to stay, and development of the technology is likely to continue. The most rational use of these tests is to identify streptococcal pharyngitis when patients have severe symptoms or when special situations warrant early detection. Throat culture alone is sufficient for most other patients, and all negative rapid tests should be confirmed by throat culture. Specific antistreptococcal therapy should be initiated if either the rapid test or culture is positive. If the physician decides on the basis of clinical criteria to treat pharyngitis with an antibiotic that covers group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, a rapid test is not necessary. If confirmation of the infection is warranted in these cases, throat culture alone should suffice. No rapid strep test kit clearly outperforms others. With any test, good results depend on the quality of the specimen.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1990

Chancroid.

Although chancroid is still one of the minor sexually transmitted diseases in the United States, the incidence has increased, with over 3000 cases in 1986. Cases have been reported in 21 states, primarily among black and Hispanic heterosexual men. Patients may be asymptomatic, but frequently both primary and secondary sexual contacts have ulcers. Because confirmation of the diagnosis requires special laboratory conditions, diagnosis usually is based on characteristics of the lesions. Chancroid can be confused with other more common diseases, particularly genital herpes. Differential characteristics are incubation period, location and appearance of lesions, and the presence or absence of associated lymphadenopathy. A simple regimen of antibiotic therapy is highly effective, but control of outbreaks requires prompt identification, treatment of a patient's sexual contacts, and patient education about prevention.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1990

Influence of pentoxifylline on steady-state theophylline serum concentrations from sustained-release formulations.

This clinical study assessed the influence of pentoxifylline and its metabolites on steady-state serum theophylline concentrations. Nine healthy volunteers took sustained-release formulations of pentoxifylline, theophylline, and a combination of both agents each for 7 days at standard therapeutic doses in a randomized order. Serum theophylline concentrations were analyzed using fluorescence-polarization immunoassay (TDx) technique. During the pentoxifylline treatment phase, serum theophylline concentrations were undetectable, demonstrating the lack of assay interference from pentoxifylline and its metabolites. Mean trough steady-state serum theophylline concentrations were 30% higher (p less than 0.05) during the combination treatment phase compared to theophylline administration alone, and varied considerably. Although side effects were more frequent during the combination phase, differences in the number of adverse reactions did not achieve statistical significance. This study demonstrates an interaction between theophylline and pentoxifylline, and indicates that close monitoring of serum theophylline concentrations during combination therapy is warranted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Whole blood platelet aggregation in dogs with liver disease.

Whole blood platelet aggregation was determined in response to collagen, arachidonic acid, and adenosine diphosphate in 20 dogs with liver disease and in 20 control dogs. Platelet aggregation in response to collagen and arachidonic acid was reduced in dogs with liver disease, compared with control dogs (P less than 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in platelet response to adenosine diphosphate between the 2 groups of dogs. Adenosine diphosphate was found not to be a reliable aggregation agent for determination of whole blood platelet aggregation in dogs. Dogs whose platelets did not aggregate in response to collagen and/or arachidonic acid manifested bleeding tendencies that could be attributed to platelet dysfunction.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reversible cardiomyopathy due to selenium deficiency.

Selenium is an essential trace element and a component of glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme that may help to prevent oxidative damage to cells. Selenium deficiency has been linked to the development of Keshan disease, a dilated congestive cardiomyopathy occurring primarily in children living in rural China. Sporadic cases have been reported in the United States in individuals with poor nutritional intake, mostly in individuals on long-term home parenteral nutrition. This report describes a young black woman with Crohn's disease in whom a congestive cardiomyopathy developed and was subsequently reversed following administration of selenium.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of human arsenic poisoning.

A 32-year-old man was brought to the emergency department 5 1/2 hours after ingesting a potentially lethal dose (900 mg) of sodium arsenate ant poison in a suicide attempt. The patient deteriorated progressively for 27 hours. After intramuscular dimercaprol and supportive measures failed to improve his condition, he was given N-acetylcysteine intravenously. The patient showed remarkable clinical improvement during the following 24 hours and was discharged from the hospital several days later.

Acetylcysteine↗