PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Atkinson

Publications and source records attributed to E Atkinson.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of tacrolimus and prednisone on serum lipids after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia after orthotopic liver transplant is thought to be the result of the immunosuppression therapy given postoperatively. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum lipid levels pretransplant, 4 months, and 12 months posttransplant. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 50 patients after liver transplantation was completed. Pretransplant serum lipid levels (triglyceride, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein [HDL]) were compared with values at 4 months and 12 months posttransplantation. Pretransplant serum lipid levels were compared using one factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) model. Values between the viral, alcohol, and cholestatic groups were compared using two-factor ANOVA model. RESULTS: Of the 50 patients (22 females, 28 males) with a mean age of 52 years (range, 16 to 69 years), all 50 had completed their 12-month follow-up at the time of this study. The etiology of liver disease included: viral hepatitis (21), alcohol (8), primary biliary cirrhosis and sclerosing cholangitis (7), and others (14). The protocol for immunosuppression included tacrolimus and prednisone. Mean serum triglyceride levels included: 134 mg/dL pretransplant, 155 mg/dL at 4 months, and 169 mg/dL at 12 months posttransplant (p = .117). Mean total serum cholesterol levels included: 174 mg/dL pretransplant, 165 mg/dL at 4 months, and 163 mg/dL at 12 months posttransplant (p = .654). Mean HDL levels included: 39 mg/dL pretransplant, 45 mg/dL at 4 months and 44 mg/dL at 12 months posttransplant (p = .032). There was not a significant difference in serum lipids between the different categories of liver diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Although a significant positive effect was observed with HDL, the present data show that total serum cholesterol and triglyceride did not change significantly over time after orthotopic transplantation. This is most likely related to the type of immunosuppressive therapy given posthepatic transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acceptance and perceptions of NORPLANT among users in San Francisco, USA.

Two hundred and five women participating in a five-year clinical trial of NORPLANT and NORPLANT-2 were interviewed about their contraceptive and reproductive history, sources of information and knowledge of NORPLANT, experiences using the method, and the impressions of friends and family about the method. The most common reasons for trying the implants were dissatisfaction with other methods and perceptions about NORPLANT's ease of use. Forty-one percent of acceptors had anxiety prior to insertion; 49 percent of these feared pain, but only 5 percent said that they actually experienced significant pain. Women also feared implant removal, but their fear did not influence their decision to continue or discontinue use, and 74 percent reported little or no pain at removal. Most of the women were pleased with NORPLANT, although 95 percent reported side effects, with 82 percent reporting changes in menstruation. More than one-half of those women who discontinued reported that they would use the implants again. Seventy-four percent of the current users interviewed said they would like to use the implants in the future. For the women enrolled in the clinical trial, NORPLANT appeared to be a highly acceptable method of contraception, despite the frequent occurrence of bothersome side effects.

Adult↗