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External and middle ear trauma resulting from ear impressions.

When taking an impression of the external ear canal and ear, the audiologist is engaged in an invasive procedure whereby a foreign body is first placed into the ear canal and then removed. There is always an element of risk for significant medical problems when a clinician is performing an invasive procedure. Although some minor patient discomfort and, at times, some slight trauma to the ear canal occur when taking ear impressions, the incidence of significant trauma to the external or middle ear appears to be low. The purpose of this report is to provide some illustrative cases of significant external and middle ear trauma as a result of taking impressions of the external ear. Audiologists are advised to develop and implement an appropriate risk management program for taking ear impressions to reduce the potential risks associated with this procedure to their patients and to their practices.

Aged↗

Nutritional assessment of low-income elderly African-American population.

The purpose of this study was to perform a nutritional assessment of low-income, elderly African-American subjects, to develop appropriate nutritional intervention program suitable for their needs and taste to ensure maximum compliance. Twenty-three subjects (18 women and 5 men) aged 60 to 82 years participated in the study. A majority of the subjects had an income of $5,000 to $10,000/year and an education level below junior high school. Eighteen subjects had hypertension and eight of those also had diabetes mellitus. Weights ranged from 131 to 265 pounds, and blood cholesterol level varied from 200 to 288 mg/dL. Their diets were high in sodium and fat and low in fresh fruits and vegetables. Based on this preliminary information, we have developed an instrument to assess the nutritional knowledge of this low-income elderly African-American population and a nutrition education program. After 6 months, nutritional assessment will be performed again. This information will aid us in developing nutrition education modules for the low-income elderly African-American population in the United States.

Black or African American↗

Maximizing the success rate of minimal model insulin sensitivity measurement in humans: the importance of basal glucose levels.

Minimal model analysis of glucose and insulin concentrations in the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) has been widely used to obtain a measure of insulin sensitivity in humans. Issues of model validity and IVGTT protocol have been explored extensively. Less attention has been paid, however, to the computer programming protocol for estimating the model parameters (programming implementation). Minimal model analysis of data from an IVGTT protocol involving a high glucose dose (0.5 g/kg) and a reduced sample schedule, employed in healthy pre- or post-menopausal women, healthy men or men with coronary heart disease or chronic heart failure (20 in each group), was undertaken according to 12 different programming implementations using a commercially available model-equation-solving program. The ability of the program to arrive at an acceptable solution to the model equations gave a success rate of between 39% and 96%, depending on the implementation. Variation in basal glucose assignment significantly affected the magnitude of estimates of insulin sensitivity. The maximum modelling success rate was achieved by introduction of an imputed glucose measurement at 360 min from the glucose injection, taking the basal glucose level as the fasting glucose concentration, and overweighting the initial glucose measurement after a delay for mixing. Use of this implementation to analyse data from a study comparing insulin sensitivities obtained using the minimal model and a euglycaemic clamp reference gave a correlation of 0.80 (P<0.001) between the two methods. Straightforward variations in programming implementation, involving appropriate assignment of the basal glucose concentration and use of an imputed glucose measurement signifying re-establishment of basal glucose levels following the IVGTT, can considerably improve modelling success rate.

Analysis of Variance↗

Racial and gender differences in weight status and dietary practices among college students.

A questionnaire was used to assess nutritional intake, weight status, and dietary practices among 630 U.S. college students. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using self-reported heights and weights, and nutritional status was assessed via 24-hour recall. Sixty-four percent of the students had acceptable BMI levels (between 19 and 25); 16% of African-American females and 15% of African-American males had BMIs indicating obesity (30 or above). Approximately 18% of the students consumed 5 servings per day of fruits and vegetables, 7% consumed 6 or more grain products, and 53% consumed 2 or more dairy products. Twenty-seven percent reported never/rarely eating fast foods. Recommendations are presented for the development of culturally appropriate health education/promotion programs in order to help college students meet Healthy People 2010 objectives.

Black or African American↗

[The urbanization phenomenon in Sub-Saharan countries: the case of Gabon].

"This paper aims at outlining the impact of urbanisation on the process of development of the Gabon, a country where the last general census of the population (July 1993) showed that close [to two-thirds] of the Gabonese are city-dwellers. Therefore, the problems resulting from this situation must be identified, and appropriate policies and programs must be established...." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

Africa↗

Gestational diabetes among Aboriginal Australians: prevalence, time trend, and comparisons with non-Aboriginal Australians.

OBJECTIVE: This paper investigates the prevalence, trends, and risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the Aboriginal population in Australia, and provides comparisons to the non-Aboriginal population. DESIGN: A retrospective population analysis of all deliveries (230,011) that took place in the state of South Australia between 1988 and 1999, inclusive. Data were obtained from the Pregnancy Outcome Unit of the Department of Human Services in South Australia, and include information on the demographical characteristics and medical status of both mothers and babies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gestational diabetes mellitus prevalence rate among Aboriginal mothers, as compared to their non-Aboriginal counterparts. RESULTS: The age-standardized GDM rate for Aboriginal mothers was found to be more than 2.5 times higher than that for non-Aboriginal mothers; there have been no significant changes, nor any decrease (as some previous studies have suggested), in this trend over the time period considered in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Clearly, the prevalence of GDM, however it is measured or defined, is still significantly higher in the Aboriginal population of Australia, as compared to the country's non-Aboriginal population. Researchers in the health field should target appropriate public health programs, such as universal screenings for GDM conditions, and health promotion procedures, toward the Aboriginal community.

Adult↗

[Diagnosis and treatment of one hundred and eighty-nine patients with chronic pancreatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experience of the diagnosis and therapy of chronic pancreatitis (CP). METHODS: 189 patients with chronic pancreatitis confirmed surgically from 1983 to Aug 1999 admitted in our hospital were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: Of all 189 patients, the average age was forty-eight years old. The ratio of male to female is 2.1:1. The proportion of confirmed diagnosis to CP is 51.3% within one year and 80.4% within the first five years. The positive rate for diagnosis was 71.9% by CT and 76.9% by ERCP respectively. The positive rate of PABA was 69.7%. While 136(72%) patients received operations, the rate of complication was low. One patient died of infection after pancreatic fistula at the seventh day after surgery, and 97.8% of patients suffered less pain. CONCLUSIONS: The early diagnosis of CP is difficult. As a delicate operation program set at appropriate time is of vital importance for modifying the course of the disease and improving patients' life quality.

Adolescent↗

Rationale for maintenance pharmacotherapy of opiate dependence.

At this time, 27 years after the initial studies on development of methadone for the maintenance treatment of opiate addiction were begun, it has been shown that [table; see text] methadone meets most criteria for a pharmacologic agent for chronic treatment of an addiction. It is effective after oral dosing: it has a long biological half-life in humans, it causes minimal side effects when used in chronic treatment, and it has no true toxic effects or serious side effects. Also methadone has been shown to be very effective when appropriately used in programs which combine pharmacotherapy with the best elements of "drug free" treatment, that is, counseling and psychological support. In addition to pharmacological treatment, there should be access to, if not on-site, medical and behavioral care as needed, as well as linkage to resources for various aspects of rehabilitation. At this time many of the actions, as well as the specific sites of action, and mechanisms of actions of methadone as used in chronic treatment of opiate addiction have been defined by scientific experimentation, both at the preclinical and clinical levels. It is known that methadone prevents abstinence symptoms, prevents drug hunger or craving, blocks euphorogenic effects of other opiates, and prevents relapse to illicit use of opiates. It is known that the site of action of methadone is at specific opioid receptors. Research to date suggests that there is no demonstrable down-regulation or up-regulation of opioid receptors during chronic opioid agonist perfusion, although chronic administration of the opioid antagonist naltrexone does appear to up-regulate opioid receptors. Clinical studies show that chronic use of methadone allows normalization of release and peripheral levels of one of the classes of endogenous opioids, beta-endorphin, and the related peptides derived from POMC released and processed from the anterior pituitary in humans. Also levels of beta-endorphin in cerebrospinal fluid become normal during chronic maintenance treatment, reflecting apparently normal processing and release of beta-endorphin at brain or hypothalamic sites of POMC production. Available data from studies of beta-endorphin indicate that there is a [table; see text] normalization, rather than disruption, of the endogenous opioid system in general during steady state administration of methadone, as contrasted with intermittent dosing and then abrupt withdrawal of short-acting opiates such as heroin. Although there is still much to be learned about the neurobiology of opiate addiction, at this time we do know a great deal about the effects of opiates and opioids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Brain↗

Considerations on development, validation, application, and quality control of immuno(metric) biomarker assays in clinical cancer research: an EORTC-NCI working group report.

A major dilemma associated with immuno(metric) assays for biomarkers is that various kits employing antibodies with differing specificities and binding affinities may generate non-equivalent test results. Also, variation in sample processing and the use of different standards (reference material) may result in discordant test results. Therefore, assays and procedures should be standardized and the quality of biomarker assay results should be monitored by continuous between-laboratory proficiency testing of performance. External quality control requires an established network of expert laboratories in which the investigators interact freely and where technical issues are discussed. Although such networking is more often praised than practiced, we strongly endorse and advocate between-laboratory exchange of experience and information. The present study discusses analytical aspects of immuno(metric) biomarker assays and presents recommendations of the Receptor and Biomarker Group of the EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer) how such tests should be validated for first time and day to day use. Moreover, a model for an appropriate quality assurance program is presented.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

[Relation of asthenopia and some ophthalmological, neuropsychological, and musculoskeletal parameters in workers assigned to video display terminals].

BACKGROUND: Since the use of video display units (VDU) has become widespread in the workplace, more and more research has been conducted to evaluate the possible onset of adverse effects. OBJECTIVES: We carried out a multidisciplinary investigation on a group of 660 VDU operators working for a service agency, aimed at analysing the relationship between ophthalmological, musculoskeletal and neuropsychological parameters and asthenopia. METHODS: In this study we propose a method for a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the asthenopic syndrome based on data collected with an easy semi-structured questionnaire. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: No relationship between asthenopia and refractive alteration was noted, whereas a significant association was observed between a lengthened convergence near point and the average time of daily VDU exposure. A significant relationship was also shown between asthenopia, cervical and lumbar disorders, and neuropsychological symptoms. The method for evaluation of asthenopia and the results of this study suggest useful implications in health surveillance programs. After an appropriate validation procedure, this method could represent a useful screening tool and a valid support for preventive interventions. The use of this instrument in longitudinal studies will also provide the opportunity of verifying the existence of long-term effects due to VDU exposure.

Adult↗

Management of the inpatient canine blood donor.

The availability of inpatient blood donors as a source for transfusion allows flexibility that is lacking in an outpatient program. Choosing the appropriate dog as a donor is essential to the success of a hospital blood bank. Once a dog becomes a blood donor, routine physical and clinicopathologic examinations are necessary to monitor the animal's health and to ensure the quality of blood products.

Animals↗

Hypertension and its correlates in the Hutterite community of Alberta.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its correlates in the Hutterite population of Alberta. A total of 811 subjects from 38 Hutterite colonies participated in the survey. A self- and interviewer-administered questionnaire gathered information about past medical history, lifestyle habits, and family history. Blood pressure, blood cholesterol, 2 hour postprandial blood glucose and height and weight were also measured. The prevalence of diastolic blood pressure > or = 90 mm Hg was approximately twice that reported in other Canadian surveys: 60% and 30% for the males and females respectively. Half of the participants found to be hypertensive were unaware of their condition and of those aware, 76% were uncontrolled. There were significant correlations between diastolic blood pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI), cholesterol, age and glucose. This study supports the need for the development of culturally appropriate health promotion programs related to hypertension in this population.

Adult↗

[Psychosurgical treatment of malignant OCD: three case-reports].

Surgery can be proposed for some patients affected by psychiatric diseases such as severe, disabling and refractory affective disorders (depression), OCD and chronic anxiety states. It can be performed after a period of evolution of minimum 5 Years and after all other classical treatments have failed. For the last Years, different stereotactic techniques have been used: capsulotomy, cingulotomy, subcaudate tractotomy and limbic leukotomy, performed by radiofrequency thermolesions or radiosurgery (g rays). In the case of OCD, these procedures are supposed to affect some of the neural circuits between the frontal lobes and different structures of the limbic system, considered as central to OCD symptoms. As they cause smaller cerebral lesions than earlier surgical techniques (mostly open surgery techniques), modern stereotactic approaches have less clinical side effects, primarily less deficit in emotional reactivity and motivation. This type of treatment offers some hope to patients seriously disabled by OCD. These surgeries and especially their main side effects are mentioned briefly in this Article. The most current indications for psychosurgery are severe OCD and chronic major depressive disorder. The level of stress should be significant and assessed by clinical and social functioning scale scores (for the OCD: Y-BOCS>25, GAF>50). Patients affected by demential disorders, sociopathic or paranoiac personality disorder, substance abuse should be excluded as well as patients aged 65 Years over and less than 18 Years. Several studies evaluating the results of the surgical treatment showed significant improvement in 54% of cases. and a moderate improvement in 27% of them. These results seem unchanged a few Years later in 56% of cases. Despite the lack of controlled trials of neurosurgery and several bias in published reports, evidence suggests that the condition of intractable OCD patients may improve after this surgery. Although capsulotomy and cingulotomy are mainly used, the superiority of any of these four surgical techniques has not been established yet. In this Article, we reported 3 "malignant" OCD cases treated by different psychosurgery techniques: 2 of the cases showed a clinical improvement, whereas the third did not -benefit from surgery. All of them were suffering of OCD since childhood with a gradual clinical impairment, unless the -second patient who presented a severe impairment following an accident causing a ten-day coma. In all three cases social consequences of OCD were important: negative socio-professional and family-life consequences and depressive complication with suicide risk. All patients remained unresponsive or showed a very transient reaction to the other forms of therapy, including varied pharmacotherapy (potentiation pharmacotherapy strategies included), intensive psychotherapy, behavioural therapy and electro-convulsive therapy. Pre- and post-operative assessment included neurological, radiological, psychometric and neuropsychological examination. The free and informed consent of the patient was always required before surgery, notifying the nature of the procedure, the potential risks and outcome. The first patient benefited of a bilateral anterior cingulotomy by thermocoagulation in stereotactic conditions, followed, four years later, by a second complementary one because of a relapse which occurred a few months after the first intervention. A clinical improvement was noticed over a period of two years, though it was not sufficient according to the patient. The second patient benefited of a stereotactic cingulotomy associated with a limbic leucotomy: it was initially efficient on OCD as well as on thymic symptoms. Nevertheless the positive evolution on OCD is not perceived by the patient and has not been assessed until now by clinical rating scales. Anterior cingulotomy is undergone in the third case, who showed a significant improvement. Despite clomipramine administered secondary to the surgery, a slight relapse of obsessive ideas was noticed six months later. The postoperative side effects were transient and regressive after a few months; they were observed especially in the case of tractotomy (oedema and transient frontal syndrome). On the whole, morbidity seemed more important with extensive lesions, whereas recurrence rate may be higher with smaller lesions. We did not observe any consequences on personality or on cognitive functions of these patients. No additional -deficits were observed after surgery. Further research is needed in order to determine the optimal site and size of the lesions in terms of efficacy and safety. Although psychosurgery is still controversial from an ethical view point, this treatment appears to be an ultimate solution for these severe disabled patients. Psychosurgery is a safe and relatively effective treatment which should be carried out by an expert multidisciplinary team in these disorders; surgery should be considered as part of an entire treatment program including an appropriate psychiatric rehabilitation part. Research in this field is currently focused on MRI-guided basal ganglia stimulation techniques which would allow to target specific structures in a reversible way.

Brain↗

Shoulder stiffness: management.

BACKGROUND: There are several causes of painful, stiff shoulders--each with a different method of treatment. OBJECTIVE: This article summarises the methods available to treat the various causes of stiff shoulders. DISCUSSION: Impingement and partial thickness rotator cuff tears can be treated by the general practitioner with a subacromial steroid injection. Calcific tendinitis can be aspirated under ultrasound guidance when the deposit is immature. Acute full thickness tears are best managed surgically. We recommend arthroscopic capsular release with appropriate postoperative rehabilitation program for frozen shoulder. With a well functioning rotator cuff, good results can be expected with shoulder replacement in advanced arthritis.

Calcinosis↗

The epidemic of diabetes mellitus and the metabolic syndrome in African Americans.

The metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus are increasingly associated with cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in African Americans. African Americans are specifically prone to the negative effects of hypertension and risk factor clustering associated with the metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Data demonstrate a decrease in cardiovascular events in diabetic patients with secondary prevention and, most recently, primary prevention with lipid-lowering therapy. African Americans should benefit from intense risk factor control, including antihypertensive therapy and lipid lowering, to prevent cardiovascular disease. Appropriate lifestyle modification programs, glucose control, and cardiovascular risk reduction therapy will reduce the excessive morbidity and mortality in this population.

Black People↗

Advanced non-small cell lung cancer: current state of knowledge.

This program reviewed the latest treatment advances for advanced lung cancer and related symptom management. The program focused on appropriate interventions and research-based treatment guidelines for care of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Dietary quality and social contact among a nationally representative sample of the older adult population in the United States.

BACKGROUND: To design appropriate health promotion programs for older adults, it is important to understand risk factors that influence dietary intake and quality. OBJECTIVE: Examine, by frequency and source of social contact, characteristics of a representative sample of older adults and, associations between these social contacts and quality of dietary intake. DESIGN: Data of 3194 participants in NHANES III, ages 65 years and over, were analyzed. A summary score for social contact was developed based on frequency of telephone contact; get together with friends, relatives and neighbors; attendance at religious services; and attendance at club meetings. Dietary intake measures included, Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores, calorie and nutrient intakes. Demographic, lifestyle and social variables were examined in association with social contact in logistic regressions. Associations between social contact and dietary intake were examined using linear regression. RESULTS: Compared to men and women with 4 social contacts (HEI = 69.2 and 72.7)), those with one, two or three social contacts had significantly lower HEI scores (HEI of men = 62.6, 64.8, 67.5 and HEI for women = 65.7, 68.4, 70.3, respectively), consumed fewer calories and fewer servings of vegetables, fruit and variety when controlled for age and ethnicity. Associations were greatly attenuated when demographic and lifestyle variables were controlled for. Being a smoker, self-reporting poor health and needing help with personal or routine care were associated with lower social contact. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary intake is affected by a variety of factors including frequency of social contact. Outreach and screening, by community-based programs, may result in social and health benefits.

Aged↗

Knowledge regarding management of tuberculosis among general practitioners in northern areas of Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge of General Practitioners (GPs)in NWFP and northern areas of Pakistan regarding diagnosis and management of tuberculosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of general practitioners (GPs) from North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and northern areas of Pakistan was done. The sampling strategy was convenience sampling. The data was collected on a structured questionnaire after taking verbal consent. RESULTS: Out of 88 GPs 43% regarded sputum microscopy and 22% chest radiograph as confirmatory tests for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB. During follow up of pulmonary TB patients, 32% doctors considered chest radiograph as the best investigation while sputum microscopy was chosen by only 28%. Eighty seven percent of GPs correctly identified TB as a droplet infection but 6% considered sexual contact to be the main mode of spread of this disease. Two third of the prescriptions, written for a 60 kg man with newly diagnosed smear-positive pulmonary TB, were not in line with national guidelines. Only 3% of the GPs knew all the five components of DOTS. CONCLUSION: Severe deficiencies were seen in the management of TB by GPs of Northern areas of Pakistan. National TB control Program must take appropriate measures to educate and train the GPs in TB management. Without involving the GPs, TB control will remain a problem in Pakistan).

Cross-Sectional Studies↗