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Biomedical subjects

E Blumberg

Publications and source records attributed to E Blumberg.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Ganciclovir prophylaxis delays but does not prevent cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant recipients.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with reduced graft and patient survival among renal transplant recipients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of routine prophylaxis with 12 weeks of oral ganciclovir on the incidence of CMV infection in a center that predominantly uses antibody induction together with tacrolimus/mycophenolate mofetil-based maintenance immunosuppressive therapy. The control group consisted of a historical patient cohort transplanted immediately prior to the use of oral ganciclovir prophylaxis. The use of tacrolimus (88% vs 77%, P=.02) and cytolytic therapy (81% vs 46%, P <.0001) was likewise greater among patients who received ganciclovir prophylaxis. CMV infection occurred in 20 (9%) patients in the ganciclovir era and 4 (3%) patients in the preganciclovir era (P=.003). The mean time to CMV infection was longer in patients who received ganciclovir prophylaxis than in patients in the preganciclovir era (23.4 +/- 10.9 weeks vs 9.8 +/- 5.6 weeks, P=.03). We conclude that 12 weeks of ganciclovir prophylaxis delays but does not prevent CMV infection from occurring in renal transplant recipients. These results suggest that with the use of 12 weeks of ganciclovir prophylaxis, vigilance for CMV infection is needed well beyond 24 weeks posttransplant.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Skills training for pregnancy and AIDS prevention in Anglo and Latino youth.

PURPOSE: This study tested social skills training (SST), didactic training (DT), and no training (NT) on adolescents' social skills for resisting peer pressure to engage in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and pregnancy risk behavior. METHODS: A total of 307 Latino and Anglo youth ages 13-18 years were assigned at random to receive 18 h of SST, 18 h of DT, or NT. RESULTS: Significantly (p < 0.05) greater increases in assertiveness followed SST compared to DT or NT for three trained skills: condom negotiation, asking a friend about their sex/drug history, and discussing a friend's risk of AIDS. Untrained negotiation skills (e.g., purchasing a condom) did not increase significantly. SST did not result in increased assertiveness for refusal skills. DT increased knowledge of AIDS significantly more than SST; both DT and SST increased knowledge significantly more than NT. CONCLUSIONS: Social skills training can increase assertiveness for certain negotiation skills that may decrease risk of AIDS for Latino, Anglo, and male and female adolescents. Both DT and SST can increase knowledge of AIDS prevention. Differences between experimental groups were supported by differences between trained and untrained skills within the SST condition, adding to discriminant validity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Use of factor analysis to consolidate multiple outcome measures in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Multiple outcome measures are often used in clinical research and practice. However, the use of multiple measures inflates the probability of a type I error. In this paper, we used factor analysis techniques to reduce multiple outcome measures to a lesser number of orthogonal dimensions. The data were obtained from 119 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Each patient had measurements made of 28 variables, including multiple parameters of pulmonary function, exercise tolerance and gas exchange. Factor analysis using a maximum likelihood iterative solution was performed. The factors were then rotated to a varimax solution. The analysis yielded four meaningful factors: exercise tolerance, disease severity, lung volumes and flow rates. Exercise tolerance and disease severity were the most important factors accounting, respectively, for 44 and 13% of the common variance. For further analyses, these composite factors could be used or a representative clinical measure from each factor might be chosen. We conclude that many physiologic measures provide highly correlated information about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Factor analysis may help reduce these measures into a smaller number of reliable composites.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Pregnancy, STDS, and AIDS prevention: evaluation of New Image Teen Theatre.

New Image Teen Theatre combines peer education and theatre in an informative and entertaining package. This study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of New Image Teen Theatre on altering teenagers' attitudes, knowledge, and intentions regarding sexual behavior. A total of 143 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 viewed the performance. The performance focused on the prevention of pregnancy, AIDS, and STDs and included content aimed at increasing communication. Teen participants completed pretest and posttest questionnaires. Almost half of the adolescents reported having engaged in sexual intercourse. About one third of the sexually active reported never using birth control, and only 21% reported consistent use of condoms. These results confirm adolescents' risk for pregnancy, STDs, and AIDS in particular. Following the performance, the teens reported significantly more willingness to discuss sexual issues with others, significantly greater intention to use birth control (for sexually active teens), and demonstrated significantly greater sexual knowledge. Furthermore, they indicated that they had experienced more positive emotions than negative emotions while viewing the production. Results suggest that theatre education may set the stage for more comprehensive interventions designed to prevent pregnancy, STDs, and AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Prevalence of the use of unconventional remedies for arthritis in a metropolitan community.

Of 1,811 individuals sampled in a metropolitan community, 382 reported having a musculoskeletal complaint. Eighty-four percent of them had used an unconventional remedy within the previous 6 months. Most individuals used inexpensive, unharmful remedies such as exercise, prayer, and relaxation. This study indicates that people with musculoskeletal disorders often use unconventional remedies, but raises questions regarding the seriousness of this problem.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1969

The effect of ambient temperature upon post-natal changes in oxygen consumption of the guinea-pig.

1. The effect of thermal environment and administration of progesterone upon minimal oxygen consumption and thermal stability of the new-born guinea-pig has been investigated.2. It was found that the ambient temperature at which the new-born is reared does not influence minimal oxygen consumption although it modifies the response to cold.3. Thermal stability was decreased in animals raised in a warm environment.4. Minimal oxygen consumption per unit body weight during the neonatal period increased 25%, most of the increase taking place within 16 hr after birth.5. Decrease in the relative mass of brown adipose tissue was least in new-borns maintained at a high ambient temperature.6. Administration of progesterone did not affect oxygen consumption, body temperature and thermal stability of the new-born.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patterns of communication about AIDS among Hispanic and Anglo adolescents.

This study examined exposure to AIDS information from mass media and interpersonal communication among a nonprobability sample of Hispanic and Anglo lower middle-class adolescents. Subjects were drawn predominantly from community health clinics, word of mouth recruiting, public service announcements, churches, schools, and health fairs in San Diego County. Both Hispanic (n = 220) and Anglo (n = 159) youths reported substantial exposure to information about AIDS from both mass media and interpersonal communication. Hispanics watched more general television than Anglos, but had less exposure to newspapers and interpersonal communication with friends. Communication among friends was most consistently related to sociodemographic variables, with older, higher status persons and girls communicating to the greatest extent. Boys reported the greatest communication with family. Anglo youths had greater exposure to information about AIDS and condoms regardless of the medium of communication, while Hispanic adolescents had greater exposure to information on risks of IV drug use. Of the three main types of mass media, print and radio provided the most exposure to AIDS information. It is important for preventive medicine practitioners to exploit these differences in communication patterns when planning preventive intervention strategies that target specific adolescent populations.

Adolescent↗