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Biomedical subjects

G N Fox

Publications and source records attributed to G N Fox.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The computer-based medical record: current status.

At the turn of the century, neither hospitals nor physicians routinely kept clinical records. Since then, the medical record has gradually evolved. More recently, as society and medicine have become more complex and sophisticated, inadequacies of the paper medical record have become increasingly apparent. The computer-based medical record addresses many of the deficiencies of the paper record. Meanwhile, barriers to computer-based records have decreased; hardware has become more affordable, powerful, and compact, and software has been refined. Socially, the major payers for health care are demanding verification of the effectiveness and quality of care, information that involves data-intensive research. The electronic medical record promises to improve quality of care by providing point-of-care reminder and decision support tools as well as a database for substantiating the effectiveness of care. In conjunction with the growing integration of computers into all facets of life, government agencies, computer giants, and medical organizations are currently laying the groundwork for the development of standardized elements and formats for computer-based medical information systems. As part of the continuing evolution of the medical record, we foresee these forces culminating in the computerization of the clinical record. In this review, we briefly describe the developments that led us to this conclusion and describe computer-based clinical record systems in use in two family practice settings.

Decision Support Techniques↗
PubMed1991

Drug interactions software programs.

The value of a computer application is usually dependent on the program's ability to store, rearrange, and retrieve information in a format that is useful to the computer user. Based on a list of drugs (input), drug interactions programs search their databases for possible interactions between each drug pair in the input list. An output list specifies pairs of drugs that potentially interact. Since each program uses its own information database, results may differ slightly among programs. In general, however, the screen menus, appearance of the programs, and the "extras" included in each program differ more than the programs' drug interactions output. The software programs tested are all easy to use. Each of the three drug interactions programs reviewed has unique features that may appeal to certain users. The Medical Letter Drug Interactions Program is the least costly and provides the most academic output, allowing users to view citations for each specific interaction. The PDR Drug Interactions and Side Effects software includes a side effects index that allows either searching of a drug, which produces a list of the drug's side effects, or searching of a specific side effect, which produces a list of drugs associated with that side effect. Drug Interactions III is the only program that allows users to add drug interactions to its database.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed1989

Varicella-zoster virus infections in pregnancy.

Varicella-zoster virus can cause a distinct congenital syndrome, a potentially fatal neonatal infection and life-threatening maternal illness. Physicians can reduce morbidity from these conditions by advising nonimmune pregnant women to avoid exposure to chickenpox and herpes zoster and, when indicated, by promptly administering varicella-zoster immune globulin. When prevention fails, acyclovir may be effective therapy.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1989

Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy.

Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy may appear any time after the fourth month of gestation. This distinct dermatosis is characterized by pruritus and small, follicle-centered, erythematous papules that may be excoriated or may have the appearance of small pustules. Distribution is variable, although all reported cases have included the abdomen. There is an absence of systemic maternal or fetal toxicity, and the condition resolves spontaneously after delivery. The cause of this dermatosis is unknown.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Determination and characterization of ciliary ATPase in the presence of serum from cystic fibrosis patients.

The purpose of this investigation was twofold: (1) to identify and characterize the enzymatic ATP hydrolysis system of epithelial cilia, and (2) to develop a quantitative, biochemical test for the ciliotoxic cystic fibrosis (CF) factor based on inhibition of ATP utilization by ciliary preparations. Our rationale for selecting this system for CF factor analysis relates to the tight and essential mechanochemical coupling of functioning cilia. Using rabbit tracheal epithelium as the source, a high molecular weight (greater than 200,000) ATPase was identified, partially purified, and extensively characterized. The properties of this protein were similar to those observed in previous studies of others with flagellar and ciliary dynein (the motility-associated ATPase) isolated from microorganisms. Analysis of the pH profile revealed a broad range of high enzymatic activity between 6.5 and 9. Studies with potential cation activators showed that the enzyme is activated equally by either Ca2+ or Mg2+ in equimolar concentrations. No activation occurred in the presence of Zn2+, Na+, H+, or Na+ plus K+ and the effect of Mg2+ or Ca2+ was not inhibited by Na+, K+, or Na+ plus K+. The enzyme hydrolyzed Mg2+-containing solutions of UTP, CTP, and ADP at 51-54% the rate of ATP dephosphorylation, whereas Mg-deoxy-ATP was hydrolyzed 79% as effectively as ATP. Using a newly devised, analytical technique with [gamma-32P]ATP as the substrate, the ATP hydrolysis of various ciliary preparations from rabbit trachea and oyster gill (including motile suspensions) was monitored in the presence of sera from CF homo- and heterozygotes. Reproducible rates of ATP dephosphorylation averaging 27 nmol/min/mg protein were demonstrable with homogenates of ciliated epithelium. None of the test systems evaluated, however, were capable of demonstrating CF-related differences in ATPase activity or ATP utilization. Although these attemps have been unsuccessful thus far, the approach described in this report provides an example of an objective, quantitative, biochemical assessment of ciliary function.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis by family physicians.

BACKGROUND: Accumulated data indicate that the administration of low-dose subcutaneous heparin reduces the incidence of deep venous thrombosis in high-risk surgical and medical patients. Because deep venous thrombosis predisposes to pulmonary embolism, it is generally accepted that reducing deep venous thrombosis will reduce pulmonary embolism, the most common preventable cause of death in hospitalized patients. There are few data, however, regarding physicians' use of heparin for deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis in medical patients. METHODS: We reviewed charts of medical patients aged 50 years and older who were admitted to family practice services in a community teaching hospital and excluded patients who were not candidates for heparin prophylaxis. RESULTS: Eighty (65 percent) of 123 patients received heparin for deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis. Patients admitted to a residency teaching service were more likely to receive heparin for deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis than were patients admitted to nonteaching services (odds ratio 3.37, 95 percent confidence interval 1.26-9.21, P = 0.012). An association between the patient's number of risk factors for deep venous thrombosis and likelihood of receiving deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis approached statistical significance (P = 0.078). CONCLUSIONS: In our institution, heparin for deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis is frequently but not uniformly prescribed for appropriately selected family practice inpatients. No similar data for nonsurgical patients were found for comparison.

Aged↗