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Biomedical subjects

S Lerch

Publications and source records attributed to S Lerch.

2 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Thyroid autonomy with color-coded image-directed Doppler sonography: internal hypervascularization for the recognition of autonomous adenomas.

In a prospective study, we assessed the possibility of recognizing autonomous adenomas of the thyroid with color-coded image-directed Doppler sonography using internal hypervascularization in thyroid nodules for identification. Fifty-three patients with thyroid nodules underwent additional CCDS examination and nuclear scintigraphy (reference). Of 29 patients having autonomous adenomas, 28 patients presented internal hypervascularization in their nodules resulting in a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity was 75%. Interestingly CCDS detected six adenomas in patients showing normal laboratory data (bTSH, TT3, FT4). CCDS could be used to exclude focal adenomas with a negative predictive value of 94%. The positive predictive value for adenoma was 82%.

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pilot study on prescription of benzodiazepines in Switzerland: does cognitive availability of legal rules affect medical prescribing behavior].

All 481 prescriptions of benzodiazepines from five Zurich pharmacies during a 6 week period were evaluated with respect to their compliance with the Swiss Law on Narcotics, which was formulated to prevent benzodiazepine dependence. Three weeks into the study, all 17 physicians with prescriptions of benzodiazepines practising in the catchment areas of two of the five pharmacies randomly selected were faxed an information sheet explaining formal juridical requirements for benzodiazepine prescription stipulated by the law. 28 % of all prescriptions were not compliant with the law. The older a patient, the greater his/her risk of receiving a non-compliant prescription. Neither sex of patients nor professional specialization of the prescribing doctor did impact prescription compliance. The preventive intervention, i. e. information on legal requirements, also had no significant impact on the compliance of prescriptions with the law. As other studies with soft interventions and educational measures directed to the prescribing physician also failed to reduce inappropriate prescription of benzodiazepines, it is concluded that sanctions against incompliant prescription behaviour should be considered as a preventive alternative.

Awareness↗