Domestic violence is a pervasive problem for women, and depression is the most prevalent negative mental health consequence of domestic violence. This study investigates the extent to which domestic violence is part of the history of women diagnosed with depression. Eighty two women with a diagnosis of depression were surveyed. A 61.0% lifetime prevalence of domestic violence was found. Lifetime prevalence for forced sex was 29.3%. Demographics of abused and nonabused women were not significantly different. Abused women were found to be less healthy. Prevalence of headaches, chronic pain, rape or marital rape, and sleep problems or nightmares were significantly higher. Severity of abuse was significantly correlated (p < .01) to severity of depression. Implications for mental health practice and training of peer support group leaders for women with depression are described, as well as directions for future research.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Randomized assessment of a warfarin nomogram for initial oral anticoagulation after venous thromboembolic disease.

Standard treatment for venous thromboembolism is parenteral heparin followed by warfarin. In this study we assess whether a standardized method of ordering warfarin reduces the duration of hospitalization. Consecutive patients were randomized to receive warfarin managed by attending physicians or by a nomogram. Patients were stratified according to primary or secondary venous thromboembolism. Prothrombin times were measured daily and heparin was given for a minimum of 5 days and stopped when the International Normalized Ratio was >1.9. Patients were followed for 3 months. There were 111 patients, 80 with primary and 31 with secondary venous thromboembolism. Overall there were no differences between the two warfarin groups with respect to length of admission. Given the prolonged duration of admission in many patients with secondary venous thromboembolism, a subset analysis was conducted on the 80 patients with primary venous thromboembolism. Patients in the standard group stayed significantly longer than patients in the nomogram group (6.0 vs. 5.6 days, p = 0.02). The warfarin nomogram as tested is safe and leads to a significantly shorter length of stay for patients with primary venous thromboembolism as compared to standard practice.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Use of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in gestational aging.

Quantitative radioimmunoassay (RIA) of the beta chain of human chorionic gonadotropin (B-hCG) in serum has been used to evaluate the gestational status of 99 normal early pregnancies in contrast to 29 ectopic, threatened, aborted and/or terminated cases. Quantitative measurement of serum B-hCG-RIA standardized against the second international standard (2dIS) accurately established age of normal pregnancies in utero up to but not after three weeks postconception and with an accuracy of plus or minus four days between the third and eighth week of gestation. Quantitative urinary hCG-RIA standardized against the 2dIS were not useful for gestational aging. Useful serum hCG-RIA were identically linear and parallel with the 2dIS, had negligible crossreactivity with LH, FSH and/or TSH, and had low nonspecific binding. Of 13 hCG-RIA evaluated, only assays having these latter characteristics were able to detect ectopic pregnancies, spontaneous abortions, and/or threatened pregnancies with up to 90 percent accuracy. However, some assays not standardized to the 2dIS gave over 200 percent error in hCG serum values. Thus, correct choice of quantitative B-hCG reagents is necessary for early pregnancy assessment.

Abortion, Incomplete↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of rapid screening methods for the detection of abnormal lipid states related to atherosclerosis.

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Agar↗