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Biomedical subjects

J Forte

Publications and source records attributed to J Forte.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Volunteer-based universal newborn hearing screening program.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy and costs of a volunteer-based universal newborn hearing screening program. METHODS: The Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford newborn hearing screening program database was reviewed. Results and costs of the hearing screens were analyzed. RESULTS: Hearing screens were performed on 5771 newborns treated in the well-baby nursery and nine infants from this population were identified with hearing loss, seven of whom had no risks factors for hearing loss. Using volunteers to perform the first-line screen with the automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) technology, 91% of infants registered for screening were evaluated prior to discharge. An additional 4% of infants were screened as outpatients. If an infant failed the AABR on two occasions, he or she was rescreened with the AABR or transient evoked otoacoustic emissions by a licensed audiologist, often while the infant was still in the hospital. Using this algorithm, 5% of infants tested in the well-baby nursery needed additional follow-up as an outpatient. Cost analysis of this volunteer-based program reveals a per/baby screening cost of $27.41. CONCLUSIONS: A volunteer-based hearing screening program is a viable option for hearing screening in well-baby nurseries but does not result in significant cost savings during the first 2 years of the program.

Audiometry↗
PubMed1999

Spatial limitations of temporal segmentation.

We investigated the spatial parameters that permit temporal phase segmentation. Subjects identified a stimulus quadrant which was modulated 180 degrees out of phase with the rest of the stimulus at temporal frequencies between 2 and 30 Hz. We determined the modulation sensitivity for regular square lattices of Gaussian spots and a stimulus made from solid quadrants with varying separation. Sensitivity declined rapidly when spatial separation of the modulating areas was approximately 0.4 degree, but was relatively unchanged by further spatial separations. The results suggest that there are two systems that can detect temporal phase differences. The first is a segregation process that operates below 10 Hz, where phase can be consciously followed and compared across large retinal distances. The second system is a segmentation mechanism that operates at higher temporal frequencies but only over a short range.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

[Portal venous gas and necrotizing enterocolitis. Apropos of a case diagnosed by x-ray computed tomography].

Hepatic portal vein gas is defined as the presence of gas in the portal system. Its presence is exceptional in adults and indicates severe disease. The prognosis depends on the cause of the pathology and not on the portal vein gas itself. We report the case of a patient with acute abdominal pain associated with vascular and neurological symptoms; abdominal C.T. scan revealed hepatic portal vein gas and supported the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1986

Glucose intolerance during diuretic therapy in elderly hypertensive patients. A second report from the European Working Party on high blood pressure in the elderly (EWPHE).

Five hundred and seven elderly hypertensive patients were followed for 1 year, 371 for 2 years and 270 for 3 years in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial in which they received either placebo or 25-50 mg hydrochlorothiazide and 50-100 mg of triamterene daily. One third of the active treatment group also received 250 mg to 2 g methyldopa daily. After 1 year the active treatment group had an average increase in fasting blood sugar of 2.5 mg/dl compared with an average fall of 1.4 mg/dl in the placebo group (P = 0.01). The increase in blood sugar 1 hour and 2 hours after 50 g oral glucose tended to be greater in the actively treated group but these increases did not achieve statistical significance. The effects of diuretic treatment were established after one year and did not increase further over the next 2 years. Overall there was an increase in fasting blood sugar of 5 mg/dl in the active treatment group which occurred mainly in the first year. The hyperglycaemic effect of diuretics appeared to be partly or wholly related to potassium loss since, in both groups, impairment of glucose tolerance was most marked in those in whom serum potassium decreased. The measures of blood sugar were also positively related to systolic pressure before and after treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Antihypertensive therapy in patients above age 60 with systolic hypertension. A progress report of the European Working Party on High Blood Pressure in the Elderly (EWPHE).

1. Although systolic blood pressure elevation is responsible for increased incidence of cardiovascular accidents in old people, the preventive benefit of lowering systolic hypertension in elderly has not been confirmed. 2. A double blind study comparing the effects of a placebo and of an active regimen (hydrochlorothiazide-triamterene with or without methyldopa) in people over 60 years with isolated systolic hypertension has been undertaken by the European Working Party on High blood pressure in the Elderly (EWPHE). 3. The actively treated group shows a lowered sitting blood pressure (-15/6 mm Hg), a mild increase of serum creatine, serum uric acid and blood glucose and a mild decrease of serum potassium after two years of treatment when compared to the spontaneous changes observed in the placebo treated group. 4. The study is continuing to evaluate if the blood pressure reduction prevents or reduces the incidence of cardiovascular accidents, although some biochemical changes were provoked by the treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Influence of anti-hypertensive therapy on serum cholesterol in elderly hypertensive patients. Results of trial by the European Working Party on High blood pressure in the Elderly (EWPHE).

In the European Working Party trial on High blood pressure in the Elderly, patients over 60 are randomly allocated either to receive diuretic capsules containing 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide and 50 mg triamterene or matching placebos. If the blood pressure remains high those receiving active diuretic treatment also receive methyldopa. Those receiving a placebo diuretic area given placebo methyldopa tablets. The study is double blind, started in 1974 and is still in progress. Three hundred and thirty-one patients have now been followed for 1 year and of these 190 have been followed for 2 and 90 for 3 years. After 1 year the serum cholesterol in the placebo group fell by an average of 10.4 mg/100 ml; over 2 years the fall was 16.0 mg/100 ml and over 3 years 20.8 mg/100 ml (6.7%). The corresponding results for the actively treated group were falls of 3.1 mg/100 ml; 20.3 mg/100 ml and 17.3 mg/100 ml (6.6%). Over a period of up to 3 years the average fall in cholesterol was 5.9 mg/100 ml/year in the placebo group and 5.0 mg/100 ml/year in the actively treated group. Thus the changes in serum cholesterol were similar whether the patients received active or placebo medication. In particular there was no evidence for an increase in cholesterol nor for a smaller decrease during diuretic therapy. In the actively treated group the fall in blood pressure in the more hypertensive patients was accompanied by a fall both in haematocrit and serum cholesterol. In patients with less severe hypertension, active treatment was not accompanied by a fall in either hematocrit or cholesterol. These different responses of serum cholesterol in the more and less severe hypertensives in the present study could explain some of the previous conflicting reports on the influence of diuretic treatment on serum cholesterol.

Aged↗