Biomedical subjects

A Poindexter

Publications and source records attributed to A Poindexter.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

The emerging use of the 20-microg oral contraceptive.

OBJECTIVE: To highlight studies that investigated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) containing 20 microg of ethinyl estradiol (EE) and to discuss the use of these low-dose contraceptives in women from adolescence to menopause and the noncontraceptive health benefits likely to be afforded by low-dose contraceptives. DESIGN: Relevant literature was identified by searching MEDLINE and EMBASE. Other sources were located by consulting the bibliographies of the material collected from Medline and EMBASE. Sources for additional information included documents from the United States Food and Drug Administration and the Physicians' Desk Reference (54th ed.). CONCLUSION(S): The current lowest available dose of EE used for OCs in the United States is 20 microg. Formulations with 20 microg of EE are efficacious and have a low incidence of estrogen-related side effects. Since this lowest effective EE dose inhibits ovarian activity, 20 microg of EE should also provide the noncontraceptive health benefits of OCs. Both contraceptive and noncontraceptive benefits of OCs are available to most women from adolescence to menopause without complications.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Immune function in patients treated with phenytoin.

Multiple immunologic side effects have been ascribed to phenytoin. Numerous reports in the literature discuss the possible cellular and humoral abnormalities that appear to be present in patients given phenytoin. The most consistent finding is a reduction in serum IgA found in up to 20% of patients. To resolve some of the conflicting studies on cellular immune status, 191 patients taking phenytoin were evaluated initially with an serum IgA determination, and then further immune studies were done on the 11% with IgA values lower than two standard deviations below the mean. Data collected included total lymphocyte counts, lymphocyte population studies, and responses to in vitro mitogen stimulation. Only 2 of 191 patients had serum IgA values less than 5 mg/dL, which is an incidence not significantly different than that in the population at large. The patients with decreased serum IgA values did not have an increased incidence of autoimmune phenomena, allergic disorders, gastrointestinal manifestations, or recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. Their cellular immune status showed no significant variations from control values. Thus it appears that routine monitoring of patients on phenytoin with serum IgA determinations is of limited value, and the immunologic side effects of phenytoin are not expressed as a cellular abnormality.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Results of a multicenter comparative study of single-dose cefotetan and multiple-dose cefoxitin as prophylaxis in patients undergoing cesarean section.

A study to compare the prophylactic efficacy of a single 2 g dose of cefotetan with multiple 2 g doses of cefoxitin in reducing the incidence of postcesarean section infection was evaluated in a multicenter trial of 269 women. No significant differences in clinical or bacteriologic response were detected between the two groups. A successful clinical response rate was achieved in 139 of 162 of the evaluable subjects given cefotetan (86 percent) and in 71 of 79 patients (90 percent) given cefoxitin. The respective satisfactory bacteriologic response rates were 91 percent (135 of 148 patients) and 93 percent (68 of 73 patients). The incidences of endometritis for cefotetan and cefoxitin (12 percent and 5 percent, respectively) and of postoperative wound infection (3 percent and 5 percent, respectively) were also not significantly different. Bactericidal levels of cefotetan were maintained in plasma in the immediate postpartum period. Both drugs were well tolerated. Single-dose prophylaxis with cefotetan was comparable to multiple doses of cefoxitin in reducing infectious morbidity in women undergoing cesarean section.

Adult↗

PubMed1976

Endometriosis and anovulation: a coexisting problem in the infertile female.

Over an 8 year period, 350 cases of endometriosis (77 per cent confirmed histologically) from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, were reviewed. Of these cases, 58 (17 per cent) exhibited significant anovulation as measured by a scoring system. Endometriosis and anovulation can coexist contrary to classic concepts of these diseases. Both infertility factors required treatment to achieve pregnancy. A 43 per cent pregnancy rate reflects the dual infertility problem.

Adolescent↗