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S W Gunn

Publications and source records attributed to S W Gunn.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Mastectomy.

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Female

Surgeon.

It is a marvel of words and language that such disparate entities as bacteria, culture, and surgeons often find themselves in the same dish. Yet when one lifts the magic lid and pursues the ties of etymologic affiliations, one is enchanted by the fascinating thread that runs through words from their philologic beginnings to the manifold meanings acquired on the way. How many of us think, for example, of the connotations of culture and sensitivity when we order a "C & S" for a specimen of pus, when the word culture alone could take one back to mother earth or evoke the vision of parthenons of civilization; could lead to safaris of microbe hunters or to defenders of national heritage. With this essay the World Journal of Surgery begins a new feature on the roots and genealogy of surgical terms under the editorship of Professor William Gunn, author of Dictionnaire des Secours d'Urgence and the Multilingual Dictionary of Disaster Medicine and International Relief. It is appropriate for this journal that the series should begin with the word Surgeon.

General Surgery

Prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in sexually active teenagers and young adults. Results of data analysis of mass Papanicolaou screening of 796,337 women in the United States in 1981.

One of the largest nationally reported cases of carcinoma in situ in the teenage population of the United States is based on 1 year's computerized data from Cancer Screening Services. In 1981, 796,337 women were screened with an average age of 25.9. Of these, 18,589 (2.33%) had abnormal cytology. In 194,069 (24.3%) of the 796,337 patients aged 15 to 19, 3,651 (1.9%) had abnormal cytology. In 17% of all patients with abnormal cytology biopsy of the cervix was performed. The prevalence rate of dysplasia and carcinoma in situ was 18.8/1,000 for ages 15 to 19 and 28.8/1,000 for ages 20 to 24. Biopsy-proved cases of all grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in the teenage population indicates a prevalence of 13.3/1,000. Sixty cases of grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (carcinoma in situ) were diagnosed by biopsy in the teenage population for a projected prevalence rate of 2.6/1,000. No invasive squamous cell carcinoma was found in this age group. This emphasizes the importance of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia as a developing medical and public health problem in this age group and indicates that teenagers of any "permissive society" should be considered as "high risk" and included in screening programs.

Adolescent

The consequence of land mines on public health.

An estimated 110 million land mines scattered in 64 countries continue to terrorize people and destroy human lives long after wars and fighting have ceased. Despite efforts to clear these devices, their numbers continue to increase and their presence constitutes a substantial threat to public health in affected countries. Direct consequences include both the physical and emotional injuries from the impact, flying debris, and structural collapse associated with their detonation. Indirect consequences include increases in the incidence of waterborne diseases, diarrhea, malnutrition, infectious diseases, and spread of the human immunodeficiency virus associated with the increased use of blood. Those at highest risk of these later consequences are mostly the disadvantaged poor, especially children. Psychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, occur in those not directly injured as well as those physically wounded by the explosion. Besides efforts to ban production, stockpiling and export of land mines, a comprehensive and integrated health program aimed at the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of those injured directly or indirectly by land mines is needed urgently. Strategies should include mine-awareness programs, enhanced transport of those directly injured, training the villagers in first aid, augmenting the capacity and quality of treatment facilities, improving the psychological support and treatment capabilities, development of rehabilitation programs, and the institution and enhancement of public-health programs directed at the indirect consequences associated with the presence of land mines. Land mines constitute a major public health problem in the world that must be addressed.

Adult