Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W L Toffler

Publications and source records attributed to W L Toffler.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Vaginal PO2 in healthy women and in women infected with Trichomonas vaginalis: potential implications for metronidazole therapy.

We measured the PO2, pH, and temperature in the vaginal canals of nine patients with symptomatic Trichomonas vaginitis and those of 10 healthy women. The patients included eight women with primary infections caused by metronidazole-susceptible strains and one refractory case that resulted from infection with a metronidazole-resistant Trichomonas vaginalis. The median vaginal PO2, pH, and temperature in the patient group were 1 mm Hg, 6, and 37.3 degrees C respectively; these medians were 1 mm Hg, less than or equal to 4.5, and 37.2 degrees C in the healthy group. These data show that vaginal environment is anaerobic or microaerophilic (it has reduced oxygen tension). Because the activity of metronidazole is reduced under aerobiosis, the vaginal environment should enhance the biologic activity of the drug.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The immunogenicity and safety of intradermal hepatitis B vaccine.

BACKGROUND: One of the chief barriers to a greater use of hepatitis B vaccine is the high cost of the vaccine itself. A number of small research trials have shown that an adequate immune response can be induced at a much lower cost by administering one tenth of the vaccine using an intradermal technique. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether these results could be replicated in a larger clinical trial. METHODS: Vaccine recipients included health care providers, police officers, and firefighters. Recipients were given 0.1 mL of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine intradermally on days 1, 30, and 180. Antibody response was measured on day 210, with seroconversion defined as a sample-to-negative (S/N) ratio of greater than or equal to 10. Any local and systemic side effects were documented. RESULTS: Six hundred sixteen individuals completed the vaccination series, and seroconversion occurred in 534 (86.7%). The rate of seroconversion in those younger than 40 years was 91.2% and in those 40 years and older was 75.1%. The mean S/N ratio was 154.9 (range 0 to 620) and decreased with increasing age (r = -.25, P = .0001). Side effects were largely limited to local reactions. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the use of the intradermal technique as a cost-effective alternative to the intramuscular route in individuals younger than 40 years. The intradermal technique may be used in older individuals if titers are obtained to assure seroconversion. Because of the restricted availability of the plasma-derived vaccine used in this study, similar trials with recombinant vaccine should be undertaken.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Dorsal penile nerve block for newborn circumcision.

Dorsal penile nerve block with lidocaine is safe and effective for reducing the pain associated with newborn circumcision. Administering the anesthesia adds little time or expense to the overall routine. Complications are minor, limited to local bleeding and hematoma formation. Family physicians performing circumcision should be prepared to use penile nerve block and to advocate it to parents who choose newborn circumcision.

Circumcision, Male↗
PubMed1990

Using a sociomatrix to evaluate the effectiveness of small-group teaching to residents.

This article describes a 1988 pilot study in a family medicine residency program of the use of a sociomatrix to assess small-group teaching. A multidisciplinary team developed a sociomatrix coding sheet, which was used by a family physician-psychiatrist to classify behaviors seen on videotaped small-group teaching sessions, which were held at the conclusion of patient care activities. Although the sociomatrix appears to have the potential to relate specific leader behaviors to residents' feedback regarding subjective learning outcomes, the number of observations was too small to permit clear conclusions regarding optimal teaching behaviors and styles.

Family Practice↗
PubMed1989

The relationship between assessed obstetric risk and maternal-perinatal outcome.

The relationship between antepartum risk assessment and subsequent maternal and perinatal outcome was examined in a retrospective study of 430 randomly selected deliveries at the Oregon Health Sciences University during the 1986 calendar year. Antepartum risk scores at the initial prenatal visit and at 37 weeks' gestation were positively correlated with each other. Antepartum risk scores were correlated with maternal length of stay and maternal hospital charges, but not with gestational age, birth weight, or Apgar scores. Increased intrapartum risk scores were strongly correlated with increasing length of stay for mother and baby, lower birth weight, and lower estimated gestational age at birth. The ability of the risk-scoring system to predict selected adverse outcomes was then assessed using a high-risk cutoff score of 5 or greater. Sensitivity and positive predictive value were found to be quite low while specificity and negative predictive value were reasonably high. The results suggest that the risk-scoring system used at this institution is effective in identifying low obstetrical risk and that prenatal care reduces the probability of poor neonatal outcome among infants of women at high obstetrical risk identified through antepartum multivariate assessment. Two antepartum risk assessments, each measuring different factors, may be redundant. Not yet known are which specific factors by their identification result in more effective prenatal care.

Delivery, Obstetric↗
PubMed1989

Trichomonas infections in men.

Trichomonas vaginalis, a common pathogen in the female genital tract, produces a characteristic clinical picture in women. Less well recognized are the manifestations of Trichomonas infestations of the male genital tract, which include urethritis and chronic prostatitis. Multiple-glass urinalysis and selective use of Trichomonas cultures may improve recognition of this organism in the family practice setting.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Postpartum urinary retention.

BACKGROUND: Urinary retention is a common and frustrating complication in women during the immediate postpartum period. Physiologic changes in the bladder that occur during pregnancy predispose patients to develop symptomatic retention of urine during the first hours to days after delivery. METHODS: The incidence and characteristics of postpartum urinary retention were researched through a literature review and are illustrated by a case report. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Postpartum urinary retention has a reported incidence ranging from 1.7 to 17.9 percent. Factors associated with postpartum urinary retention include (1) first vaginal delivery, (2) epidural anesthesia, and (3) Cesarean section. Treatment begins with supportive measures to enhance the likelihood of micturition, such as ambulation, privacy, and a warm bath. If these measures are not successful, catheterization can be performed. If the bladder contains more than 700 mL of urine, prophylactic antibiotics may be warranted, because prolonged or repeated catheterization may be necessary.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dorsal penile nerve block during newborn circumcision: underutilization of a proven technique?

Newborn circumcision is the most common surgical procedure in the United States. The technique for local anesthesia, dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB), was first described in 1978. Although multiple subsequent studies have reported that DPNB can relieve pain and stress during a newborn's circumcision without any additional morbidity, many practitioners do not employ this technique. A survey of randomly selected active members of the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians evaluated their perception and use of DPNB. One hundred members were contacted, and 96 responded. Only 36 percent of those physicians performing circumcision used DPNB in circumcisions. The most common reasons given for not employing DPNB were a lack of awareness of the technique (31 percent), believing that pain response in circumcision was not significant (29 percent), and concern about risks (27 percent). The median effectiveness rate reported by those using the block was 70 percent. The majority of respondents were interested in the results of the survey as well as in more information regarding the technique. We believe further educational efforts are indicated to increase awareness and use of DPNB in performing circumcisions in the newborn. Because there is significant variation in the effect achieved, some instruction in appropriate technique also is needed as part of this educational effort.

Circumcision, Male↗