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Biomedical subjects

E Enriquez

Publications and source records attributed to E Enriquez.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Pilot study of expedited HIV-1 testing of women in labor at an inner-city hospital in New York City.

To evaluate the feasibility of offering voluntary counseling and expedited human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing to women in labor, and to assess the characteristics of two rapid HIV assays compared with results from an expedited standard enzyme immunoassay (EIA), with Western blot confirmation, as indicated, we undertook a pilot study immediately prior to enactment of New York State regulations (August 1999) requiring expedited testing of laboring women (or newborns) with undocumented HIV status. From June 9, 1999 through July 2, 1999, we offered HIV counseling and testing (C&T) to all medically stable women in active labor, 106 of 125 (85%) of whom accepted. One woman was confirmed HIV-1 seropositive. Rapid assay sensitivity and specificity were: SUDS 100 and 98%, and Multispot 100 and 100%, respectively in comparison with 100 and 99% for the standard EIA. The positive predictive values (PPV) were SUDS 33%; Multispot 100%; and EIA 50%. While our sample size was small, it appears that the accuracy of rapid and expedited HIV assays may be improved by requiring two different reactive assays before informing women of HIV-seropositive results or initiating antiretroviral treatment.

Adolescent↗

Pseudo-Meigs' Syndrome.

Meigs' syndrome is defined as a hydrothorax with ascites and a pelvic tumor, both of which resolve on removal of the tumor. Pseudo-Meigs' is a variant not possessing the original tumor cell types described by Meigs. Both these syndromes should be considered in otherwise healthy women who present with either new or recurrent hydrothorax and ascites. This case concerns a 21-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department (ED) with a recurrent hydrothorax. After performing a pelvic examination that was suspicious for a pelvic mass, further evaluation by ultrasonography showed ascites and a pelvic tumor. Surgeons from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department performed an exploratory laparotomy with removal of the tumor. Subsequently, there was no recurrence of the ascites and hydrothorax. The tumor was diagnosed histologically as a benign mature teratoma. The literature of Meigs' and Pseudo-Meigs' is reviewed, focusing on the history, pathology, and clinical characteristics. The clinical significance for the emergency physician is discussed.

Adult↗

Simultaneous radial, femoral, and aortic arterial pressures during human cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity of interchanging arterial sites and their responses to graded doses of epinephrine during human cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). DESIGN: Consecutive case series. SETTING: Large, urban Emergency Department. PATIENTS: Adult, normothermic, nonhemorrhagic cardiac arrest patients. INTERVENTIONS: While receiving advanced cardiac life support, patients received right atrial (n = 40), aortic (n = 40), radial (n = 40), and femoral (n = 17) artery catheters. Pressures were measured simultaneously at baseline, after 0.01 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg of epinephrine. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The mean aortic compression-phase pressure was 9.3 +/- 10 (SD), 8.1 +/- 11, and 4.4 +/- 9.5 mm Hg higher than radial artery pressure at baseline, after 0.01 mg/kg, and 0.2 mg/kg of epinephrine, respectively (all statistically significant). When compared with the femoral artery at the same time points, the mean aortic compression-phase pressure was also 3.0 +/- 6.8, 1.9 +/- 8, and 0.6 +/- 7.7 mm Hg higher, respectively (none statistically significant). The aortic relaxation-phase pressure was 1.3 +/- 3.6, 1.1 +/- 3.8, and 1.6 +/- 2.5 mm Hg lower than the radial artery at baseline, after 0.01 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg of epinephrine, respectively (all statistically significant). When compared with the femoral artery at the same time points, the aortic relaxation-phase pressure was 0.6 +/- 2.0, 0.3 +/- 3.3, and 0.3 +/- 2.4 mm Hg lower, respectively (none statistically significant). CONCLUSIONS: Radial artery relaxation-phase pressure, although statistically higher, correlated with aortic relaxation-phase pressure. Femoral artery relaxation-phase pressure was not statistically different from aortic relaxation-phase pressure. Aortic pressure was statistically higher and had a lower correlation with radial artery pressures during compression phase. The aortic to radial artery and aortic to femoral artery compression-phase gradients abated with increasing doses of epinephrine therapy. Caution must be used when substituting compression-phase pressure obtained at radial or femoral artery sites for aortic pressure during human CPR. Coronary artery perfusion pressures obtained with radial and femoral arteries correlate with aortic pressure when measuring the response to vasopressor therapy during CPR when an interpretable waveform exists.

Aged↗

CPR-dependent consciousness: evidence for cardiac compression causing forward flow.

We present the case of a patient with cardiac arrest and resuscitation in whom, consistent with direct cardiac compression, large aortic-to-right atrial systolic pressure gradients occurred. Forward blood flow during CPR was sufficient for the patient to maintain consciousness. Although aortic-to-right atrial diastolic gradients adequate to maintain coronary perfusion in experimental models were generated, in our patient, cardiac function could not be restored and the resuscitation was ultimately unsuccessful.

Blood Circulation↗

Simultaneous loss of bacteriophage receptor and coaggregation mediator activities in Actinomyces viscosus MG-1.

Actinomyces bacteriophages were used as tools to study coaggregation between actinomyces and streptococci. Four bacteriophage isolates, phages AV-1, AV-2, AV-3, and 1281, bound to coaggregation group A Actinomyces viscosus and to group E A. naeslundii. No binding to groups B, C, D, or F was observed. Only A. viscosus MG-1 was capable of supporting a productive infection by these phages. Spontaneously occurring bacteriophage-resistant mutants of A. viscosus MG-1 were isolated and were shown to fall into two classes. Class I mutants were resistant to all four phages, whereas class II mutants were resistant only to phage AV-3. In each case, strains resistant to a particular phage were unable to bind that phage, suggesting that a loss or alteration of the cell surface phage receptor had occurred. Both classes of mutants were unable to coaggregate with streptococci representing coaggregation group 1 and had also lost the ability to mediate one type of coaggregation with group 4 streptococci. Class II mutants also were unable to coaggregate with group 2 streptococci. Lactose-inhibitable interactions with other streptococci (groups 3 and 4) were unchanged in the mutants. The simultaneous loss of sensitivity to phage AV-3 and the ability to coaggregate with coaggregation group 1 streptococci suggests the possibility of a relationship between these two cell surface structures.

Actinomyces↗

Resuscitative thoracotomy for patients with traumatic injury.

The clinical course and final outcome were determined for 63 trauma victims who underwent resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) for hypovolemic cardiac arrest in the Department of Emergency Medicine during a 24-month period. The objectives of the study were to determine the efficacy of and indications for RT and to define the prognostic signs for survival. Of 63 patients, six were successfully resuscitated (9.5%), and five of these were discharged from the hospital (7.9%). The presence of pupillary reactions was an extremely reliable indicator of successful outcome (P = 0.0009), as was the presence of some respiratory effort (P = 0.025). None of the victims of blunt trauma (n = 6) or severe head injury (n = 13) survived. Three of 17 patients (17.6%) with stab wounds and two of 36 (5.6%) with gunshot wounds survived the procedure. RT was beneficial in 13.6% of patients who had isolated organ system injuries, but no patient with injuries to more than two organ systems survived. Victims of isolated penetrating thoracic trauma had an 11.8% survival rate, as opposed to a 0% survival rate for those with abdominal trauma. The best prognosis was in victims with penetrating cardiac injuries, who had a 22.7% survival rate. The cost of RT averaged $1660 per patient, exclusive of physician charges. In our experience, RT is most beneficial for victims of penetrating thoracic trauma, especially those with cardiac injuries. However, routine use of this high cost/low benefit procedure cannot be recommended for patients who have cardiac arrest secondary to blunt trauma or severe head injuries. Also, it is not recommended for patients whose pupillary reflexes and respiratory movements are absent.

Adolescent↗