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Biomedical subjects

J Alcoff

Publications and source records attributed to J Alcoff.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1982

Controlled trial of imipramine for chronic low back pain.

Chronic low back pain is a common problem that has been noted in several studies to exist as a component of masked depression. To determine the usefulness of imipramine in the treatment of chronic low back pain, either by a direct action or indirectly via resolution of a depressive equivalent, 50 consecutive patients were entered into a controlled trail that employed serum imipramine and desipramine levels and Beck depression questionnaires. Forty-one patients completed the study, and 48 were used in the statistical analysis. Imipramine had a statistically significant effect over placebo in most, but not all, of the clinical parameters that were measured. A linear relationship between serum drug levels and reported symptoms was not noted. Only 10 of the 50 patients entered into the study were judged clinically depressed and, of these, 7 were depressed according to standard criteria. There was no statistically significant difference noted in either the initial or the change in Beck depression scores between those on imipramine and those on placebo. However, among those on the active drug, the patients with a greater symptomatic response had a simultaneous change in the total Beck depression scores (toward less depression) that approached statistical significance when compared with those with a less symptomatic response. Although the results are not conclusive, imipramine may possibly be useful in the treatment of chronic low back pain, especially so when it exists as a component of masked depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

A family practice orthopedic trauma clinic.

In order to help provide care for acute orthopedic injuries to a portion of a military patient population and to add simultaneously a new aspect to the orthopedic rotation of family practice residents, a family practice orthopedic trauma clinic, staffed solely by family physicians, was initiated, and the records for six months were examined and summarized. A total of 540 patient visits, 286 (52.9 percent) of whom were adults during 45 sessions of this clinic were noted. Fractures accounted for 79.2 percent of the injuries, while sprains and contusions accounted for 17.7 and 3.1 percent, respectively. The most frequent injuries were fractures of the radius, fractures of hand phalanges, and ankle sprains. Orthopedic consultation was obtained at 88 (16.2 percent) of the patient visits. The results of this study indicate that family physicians can effectively manage the majority of nonsurgical, acute orthopedic injuries and that a clinic of this type may be a valuable addition to the orthopedic rotation of a family practice residencies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Viral hepatitis.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1981

Inpatient service of a Navy family practice residency program.

A retrospective chart audit was conducted among the 294 admissions to an autonomous family practice inpatient service of a large Navy family practice residency program over a seven-month period. Data obtained included level of training of primary care physician, duration of stay, hospital ward, age/sex profile, primary discharge diagnosis, and number and types of consultations requested. Routine obstetrical deliveries accounted for the largest amount of admissions, followed by infections, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory problems. Adult onset diabetes mellitus, gastroenteritis, and preeclampsia were the most frequent medical, pediatric, and obstetric disease entities, respectively. The wide variety of diseases admitted to the service and the low consultation rate (13.2 percent) demonstrate the flexibility and depth of the inpatient management skills of residency trained family physicians.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Testing for viral hepatitis.

Advances made within the past decade in the delineation of the structural components of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), including the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the hepatitis B core antigen (HBc), have resulted in the recent commercial availability of new methods of serologic testing. These tests, which include the core antigen antibody (anti-HBc) and the surface antibody (anti-HBs), facilitate the diagnosis and management of this illness by primary care physicians. In addition, a serologic test (anti-HAV) is available to diagnose or exclude hepatitis A, and research efforts are progressing in an attempt to identify a specific marker for non-A non-B hepatitis.

Hepatitis A↗