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Biomedical subjects

D Hodge

Publications and source records attributed to D Hodge.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Gastroesophageal reflux after repair of atrioventricular septal defect in infants with trisomy 21: a comparison of medical and surgical therapy.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux and dysmotility are common in children with trisomy 21. Children with trisomy 21 and congenital heart disease are at increased risk for complications of gastroesophageal reflux even after repair of their cardiac abnormalities. The optimal management of reflux in these patients is not known. METHODS: The authors studied 24 consecutive infants (5.3+/-3.1 months) with trisomy 21 and atrioventricular septal defect who had symptoms or signs of gastroesophageal reflux and a positive esophageal pH study finding early after repair of their cardiac anomaly. Ten patients were given standardized medical therapy with upright positioning during and after feedings, thickening of feedings, metoclopramide, and an H2-receptor antagonist. The other 14 underwent primary surgical management consisting of Nissen fundoplication through a minilaparotomy. RESULTS: All 10 medically treated patients required readmission within 2 weeks for complications related to reflux, including aspiration or pneumonia (n = 6), persistent failure to thrive (n = 2), and frequent apneic episodes (n = 2). No surgically treated patients had reflux-related complications requiring readmission. The total duration of hospitalization in the medically treated patients, including the initial hospitalization and the rehospitalization, was significantly longer than in patients who underwent fundoplication (35.8+/-9.8 v. 10.4+/-2.2 days, P<.001). At follow-up (24 to 56 months), all patients were alive except for 1 medically treated patient who died of aspiration pneumonia 28 days after readmission. Two medically treated patients required a Nissen, and 3 patients in the surgical group underwent redo fundoplication, all within 1 year. Three other patients in the medically treated group required a total of 8 hospitalizations for complications of reflux. No patient in either group required placement of a gastrostomy tube. Weight percentile for age was higher in surgical than medical patients. CONCLUSIONS: Infants with trisomy 21 and atrioventricular septal defect who undergo fundoplication are less likely to experience major complications of reflux early after cardiac surgery than those treated with a medical regimen of upright posture, thickened feedings, metoclopramide, and H2-receptor blockade.

Down Syndrome↗

Managed care and the pediatric emergency department.

The growth of managed care has provided health benefits to millions of children while attempting to control the increase in health care costs. In adhering to these goals, MCOs are often at odds with emergency departments, and the emergency department physicians providing emergency care. The appropriateness or inappropriateness of emergency department visits can be disputed, but no criteria have been established. Even the definition of emergency is debated, although many states are adopting a prudent layperson standard. Emergency medicine physicians, primary care providers, and MCOs must cooperate to fully educate parents about the appropriate use of pediatric emergency services. Patients and MCOs should use facilities that can deliver pediatric emergency and critical care or provide appropriate transport systems to facilities that can. COBRA and EMTALA set the legal requirements to which emergency departments must comply when patients present for care. The basic caveats under COBRA require a medical screening examination for every patient and the stabilization of all patients with emergency medical conditions before inquiring about insurance or patients' ability to pay. A part of gatekeeping, MCOs often require authorization for treatment. MCOs authorize payment only. Evaluation and emergency treatment should not be withheld pending authorization. After the medical screening examination, recommended treatment should be in patients' best interests. All patients with potentially life-threatening conditions should be stabilized before transport, and all transfers must comply with the EMTALA. The transfer of unstable patients purely for economic reasons is a violation of the EMTALA. When stable, patients may be transferred to other facilities, but patients requiring specialty care should be taken to facilities best able to provide that care. Financial considerations should be superseded by medical necessity. Finally, improvements can be made in the way emergency medical service is provided to children within the current managed care system. The primary care provider is in a key position to inform parents about the types of pediatric emergencies, what to do in case one occurs, and to provide follow-up care. MCOs should incorporate clear information on pediatric emergencies. A mutual understanding of services needed, and how best to provide those services, are needed to forge a system that is responsive to children's emergency care needs.

Child↗

Macaques infected with cloned simian immunodeficiency virus show recurring nef gene alterations.

We compared nef gene sequences isolated by polymerase chain reaction from peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA of macaques that had been inoculated with either biologically (E11S) or molecularly (clone 8) cloned SIV/Mne. Two samples from each animal obtained either early (weeks 2-8) or late (weeks 21-137) after infection were analyzed. Three substitutions in the predicted Nef amino acid sequence were seen in all animals at the late time point, and two other substitutions were seen in all except one. Two of the common exchanges are located approximately 40 residues apart in the Nef core sequence but are juxtaposed on the tertiary structure as judged by computer modeling using the structure of the HIV Nef core protein as a guide. Most recurrent in vivo changes replaced a residue found in the cloned Nef sequence with one present in a consensus derived by aligning the Nef sequences of the SIV/Sm clade. Recombinant virus containing a macaque-adapted (MA nef) nef on the clone 8 backbone was 3-fold more infectious on SMAGI cells than the original virus. A lymphocyte line infected with SIV-clone 8-MAnef contained a large proportion of cells carrying provirus with defective nef genes. These findings suggest that the nef gene of the cloned SIV/Mne had undergone attenuating mutations during propagation in tissue culture that were "corrected" in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Prognostic value of vasodilator myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with left bundle-branch block.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging with dipyridamole or adenosine in patients with left bundle-branch block has not been established. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group consisted of 245 patients with left bundle-branch block who underwent tomographic (single photon emission tomography) myocardial perfusion imaging with thallium-201 (n=173) or technetium-99m sestamibi (n=72) and either dipyridamole (n=153) or adenosine (n=92) stress. Patients were prospectively classified into two groups. Patients were classified as "high risk" if they had (1) a large severe fixed defect (n=28), (2) a large reversible defect (n=36), or (3) cardiac enlargement and either increased pulmonary uptake (thallium) or a decreased resting ejection fraction (sestamibi) (n=20). The remaining 161 patients (66% of the study group) were at "low risk." Follow-up was 99% complete at 3+/-1.4 years. Three-year overall survival was 57% in the high-risk group compared with 87% in the low-risk group (P<.0001). Survival free of cardiac death/nonfatal myocardial infarction/cardiac transplantation was 55% in the high-risk group and 93% in the low-risk group (P<.0001). The presence of a high-risk scan had significant incremental prognostic value after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes, and previous myocardial infarction (P<.0001). Patients with a low-risk scan had an overall survival that was not significantly different from that of a US age-matched population (P=.86). CONCLUSIONS: Tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging with adenosine or dipyridamole stress provides important prognostic information in patients with left bundle-branch block, which is incremental to clinical assessment.

Adenosine↗

Total abdominal colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis for inflammatory bowel disease.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study assesses the results of total colectomy and ileorectostomy for inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: Between January 1974 and December 1990, 90 patients underwent total colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis for chronic ulcerative colitis (n = 48) or Crohn's colitis (n = 42) at the Mayo Clinic. Patients' records were reviewed retrospectively. Long-term results were assessed by chart reviews and postal questionnaires. Conversion to a permanent ileostomy, with or without proctectomy, was considered a failure of the procedure. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survivorship free of failure. The log-rank test was used to compare survivorship curves. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals were calculated at selected time points. P values < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The main indication for surgery was refractory chronic disease. There were no immediate postoperative deaths. The anastomotic leakage rate was 4.4 percent, and small-bowel obstruction occurred in 15.6 percent. At the time of follow-up (mean, 6.5 +/- 4.8 years), 46 patients (58.9 percent) had recurrence or exacerbation of the disease. This was the most common indication for subsequent proctectomy/permanent ileostomy in the follow-up period. There were 8 failures in 48 patients with ulcerative colitis (16.7 percent) and 11 failures in 42 patients with Crohn's disease (26.2 percent), although this difference was not statistically significant. Cumulative probability of having a functioning ileorectal anastomosis at five years was 84.2 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 71-95.9 percent) for ulcerative colitis and 73.8 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 58.6-88.6 percent) for Crohn's disease. In the latter group, females showed a significantly lower cumulative probability of having a functioning ileorectal anastomosis (females, 63.4 percent; males, 92.3 percent; P = 0.04). Crohn's patients 36 years of age or younger also showed a lower probability of success (patients < or = 36 years, 57 percent; patients > 36 years, 93.8 percent; P = 0.03). In the group with chronic ulcerative colitis, younger patients also seemed to require additional surgery more frequently; however, this difference was not statistically significant. Previous duration of symptoms, with mild or moderate disease in a distensible rectum, had no effect on results in either disease group. Functional results were acceptable in 63.6 and 87.5 percent of patients with Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, respectively. Eighty-four percent of ulcerative colitis patients and 91 percent of Crohn's disease patients reported an improvement in their quality of life, and overall, more than 90 percent considered their health status to be better than before surgery. One patient with ulcerative colitis developed carcinoma of the rectal stump 11.5 years after the colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis (cumulative probability of remaining free of cancer, 85.7 percent at 12 years; 95 percent confidence interval, 57.7-100 percent). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that, in selected patients with a relatively spared rectum and without severe perineal disease, total colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis still remains a viable option to total proctocolectomy with extensive Crohn's colitis. In addition, ileorectal anastomosis, as a sphincter-saving procedure, continues to have a place in the surgical treatment of chronic ulcerative colitis for high-risk or older patients who are not good candidates for ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, when the latter procedure cannot be done because of technical reasons and in the presence of advanced carcinoma concomitant with colitis, when life expectancy is limited.

Abdomen↗

The effect of the treatment of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism on plasma lipids and apolipoproteins AI, AII and E.

OBJECTIVE: Although lipid abnormalities are well described in hypothyroidism, effects on apolipoproteins are less well understood. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of thyroid dysfunction on plasma lipids and apolipoproteins. DESIGN: A prospective study of lipids and apolipoproteins before and after treatment of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. PATIENTS: Eighteen patients with hypothyroidism and 5 patients with hyperthyroidism were included. MEASUREMENTS: Plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, apo AI, apo AII, and apo E were measured before and after treatment of the thyroid abnormality. RESULTS: Total and HDL cholesterol, apo AI and apo E decreased with treatment of hypothyroidism, while triglycerides and apo AII levels were unchanged. The total/HDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratios also decreased with treatment of hypothyroidism. In contrast, treatment of hyperthyroidism was associated with an increase in total and HDL cholesterol, and apo AI. Triglycerides, apo AII and Apo E were unchanged by treatment of hyperthyroidism. The total/HDL cholesterol and the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratios increased with treatment of hyperthyroidism. CONCLUSIONS: Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have opposite effects on plasma lipids and apolipoproteins. In hypothyroidism, total and HDL cholesterol, total/HDL cholesterol ratio, apo AI and apo E are elevated. The increase in apo AI without a concomitant increase in apo AII suggests selective elevation of HDL2. In contrast, hyperthyroidism is associated with decreased total and HDL cholesterol, total/HDL cholesterol ratio, and apo AI levels. These effects are reversible with treatment of the underlying thyroid disorder.

Adult↗

Symptomatic improvement following emergency department management of asthma: a pilot study of intramuscular dexamethasone versus oral prednisone.

Systemic corticosteroid therapy is an established adjunct to beta-adrenergic medications in acute exacerbations of asthma. To date, no study has defined the role of long-acting intramuscular preparations of corticosteroids in pediatric patients with asthma. A pilot study was conducted to prospectively compare symptomatic improvement following a single injection of intramuscular dexamethasone (IMD) to a 3-day regimen of oral prednisone (OP) for children with mild to moderate wheezing episodes that are responsive to nebulized medications in the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED). The following children presenting with acute exacerbations of asthma to the PED were eligible for enrollment: age 3-16 years; more than two prior wheezing episodes; mild to moderate wheezing; and oxygen saturation 95% or more in room air. The study patients were randomly assigned to receive either IMD (n = 21) or OP (n = 21) in addition to a standardized treatment regimen of nebulized albuterol. All of the children were clinically rated for wheezing severity by the Pulmonary Index (PI) score at regular intervals during the study. Discharge home was based on clinical improvement during treatment in the PED; patients who were admitted to the hospital were removed from the study. Follow-up was conducted the fifth day after discharge from the ED either by clinic visit or by telephone. Patients were assessed for symptomatic improvement and relapse or clinical deterioration during the study period by a clinician blinded to group assignment. Forty-two children participated in this pilot study. There were no significant differences between the IMD and OP groups for gender or age. Mean ages were: 82 months (SD 46 months), IMD group; 63 months (SD 36 months), OP group. Clinical progress (based on PI) with treatment in the PED was the same in both groups: pretreatment median, PI = 6; PED discharge median, PI = 2. None of the study patients were hospitalized during the follow-up period, and all reported symptomatic improvement since initial treatment. The data of this pilot study suggest that IMD may be a feasible alternative to OP for treatment of acute wheezing episodes in children with asthma. IMD provides sufficient treatment to prevent clinical deterioration within 5 days after initial therapy for mild to moderate pediatric exacerbations of asthma that are responsive to nebulized medications.

Administration, Inhalation↗

HDL subparticles and coronary artery disease in NIDDM.

Decreased HDL cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The aim of this study was to compare HDL subparticles with apo A-I (LpAI) and those with apo A-I and apo A-II (LpAI/AII) in subjects with and without NIDDM and to study the relationship between HDL subparticles and CAD in NIDDM. Lipids, apo A-I and HDL subparticles were measured in 240 subjects with NIDDM and in 248 age and gender matched controls. Subjects with NIDDM had higher triglyceride levels (2.5 +/- 1.8 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.8 mmol/1, P < 0.001), lower HDL cholesterol (0.9 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.3 mmol/l, P < 0.001), apo A-I (124.7 +/- 22.4 vs. 139.8 +/- 24.1 mg/dl, P < 0.001) and LpAI/AII (82.4 +/- 18.2 vs. 94.9 +/- 16.7 mg/dl, P < 0.001) in comparison to controls. LpAI levels were similar in both groups. Diabetic subjects with CAD (n = 109) had higher triglycerides (2.7 +/- 1.9 vs. 2.3 +/- 1.8 mmol/l, P = 0.02) and lower HDL cholesterol (0.8 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.3 mmol/l, P <0.001), apo A-I (115.5 +/- 20.1 vs. 132.3 +/- 21.4 mg/dl, P < 0.001), LpAI (40.2 +/- 9.1 vs. 44.4 +/- 12.4 mg/dl, P = 0.06), and LpAI/AII levels (75.4 +/- 18.0 vs. 88.3 +/- 16.2 mg/dl, P < 0.001) in comparison to diabetic subjects without CAD (n = 131). In a multivariate analysis, apo A-I was found to be the best predictor of CAD in subjects with NIDDM. In conclusion, reduced HDL cholesterol levels found in NIDDM are, principally, due to reduced concentrations of apo A-I and apo A-II-containing particles (LpAI/AII). While LpAI and LpAI/AII levels were lower in NIDDM subjects with CAD, plasma apo A-I is the best predictor of CAD in NIDDM.

Aged↗

The role of lipoprotein A-I and lipoprotein A-I/A-II in predicting coronary artery disease.

The aim of this study was to examine the role of HDL subparticles with apolipoprotein (apo) A-I alone (LpA-I) and with apoA-I and apoA-II (LpA-I/A-II) in predicting coronary artery disease. Concentrations of these HDL subparticles were compared in 184 subjects with angiographically confirmed significant coronary artery disease (> 50% stenosis of at least one vessel) and 191 age- and sex-matched control subjects without clinical coronary artery disease. LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II were measured with magnetic beads coated with anti-apoA-II antibodies to separate particles containing apoA-II from plasma. Total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were similar in both groups. Although subjects with coronary artery disease had lower HDL cholesterol, plasma apoA-I, LpA-I, and LpA-I/A-II than age- and sex-matched control subjects without coronary artery disease, plasma apoA-I was the best predictor of coronary artery disease. In conclusion, LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II are lower in subjects with coronary artery disease but do not add to plasma apoA-I in predicting the presence of coronary artery disease.

Aged↗

The relationship between psychosocial status of immigrant Latino mothers and use of emergency pediatric services.

Consistent empirical evidence has shown that low-income Latino populations tend to underutilize health care services and do not have a usual source of care. This article identifies and describes the sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics of Latino immigrant mothers who use emergency pediatric services, assesses the association of maternal characteristics with perceived barriers to care, and examines key predictors of total number of pediatric visits in a year. A survey was carried out to obtain data on reason for emergency room visit, usual sources of care, child's health, and mother's physical and psychosocial health. The results revealed a clear pattern of delayed care for acute problems in the children, a high number of reported barriers to pediatric care, and high mental distress reported by mothers.

Acculturation↗

Incidence of enucleation in a defined population.

We conducted a population-based study of long-term trends in the incidence of enucleation. From 1956 through 1988, enucleation was performed on 99 residents (55 males and 44 females) of Olmsted County, Minnesota. The mean annual age-adjusted incidence per 100,000 population for males (5.17) was 50% greater than that for females (3.49; P = .04). An increase in the enucleation rate was noted with increasing age (P = .001), with the highest incidence in patients who were 70 to 79 years of age. A decrease in the incidence of enucleation over time (P = .002) was observed in Olmsted County residents who were at least 40 years of age and was caused primarily by the decreasing incidence of neovascular glaucoma and tumor-related enucleations. The incidence of traumatic enucleations did not significantly decrease (P = .25) over this three-decade study period.

Adolescent↗

Intraosseous versus intravenous epinephrine infusions in lambs: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Intraosseous and intravenous administrations of epinephrine were compared in newborn lambs. Plasma epinephrine levels were measured during each route of drug administration and used to calculate steady-state epinephrine clearance rate and to compare cardiovascular responses with plasma levels. Epinephrine was administered at a dose of 0.5 to 5 micrograms/kg/min. We observed first-order (linear) clearance kinetics by both routes of drug administration. The plasma epinephrine clearance rate was 186 +/- 17 ml/kg/min by the intraosseous route versus 174 +/- 11 ml/kg/min by the intravenous route. Dose responses were analyzed by computerized fit to a threshold model. The plasma epinephrine threshold, or lowest plasma level beyond which discernible increases in blood pressure occur, was slightly lower after intravenous than after intraosseous drug administration, 2.0 +/- 0.6 ng/ml versus 4.0 +/- 0.9 ng/ml of epinephrine. Both thresholds were within the ranges of plasma epinephrine levels that would be achieved at doses of 0.4 to 0.6 microgram/kg/min by either route. Other hemodynamic responses, including the maximum systolic blood pressure and degree of reflex bradycardia, were comparable. These results support the effectiveness of the intraosseous route for epinephrine administration.

Animals↗

Trauma to elbows, knees, and ankles.

In summary, the emergency department or office-based physician should distinguish first between inflammation and injury. A clinical diagnosis of fracture should be made before obtaining and reading films. Comparison views help to resolve doubt. A neurologic examination should be documented before undertaking reduction. Finally, if in doubt, a splint for 24 to 48 hours until an orthopedic opinion is available causes no harm.

Ankle Injuries↗