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Biomedical subjects

K Ford

Publications and source records attributed to K Ford.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Case report. Transient cerebral ischemia as a manifestation of ruptured intracranial dermoid cyst.

Transient cerebral ischemia was the initial manifestation of a ruptured intracranial dermoid cyst in a young adult male. The ischemia could have resulted from vasospasm caused by release of the contents of the dermoid cyst into the subarachnoid space or from other local effects of the tumor. The role of computed tomography in the evaluation of patients with transient cerebral ischemia is discussed.

Adult↗

Socioeconomic differentials and trends in the timing of births.

This report contains an analysis of cumulative birth probabilities within first marriages in the United States. Trends and differentials in these probabilities, by race, Hispanic origin, education at first marriage, farm origin, religious preference, and timing of first birth are discussed. The probabilities are shown for specified birth order intervals and age at first marriage or previous birth.

Adolescent↗

Repeat abortion.

A reanalysis of the repeat abortion experience of New York City residents during July 1, 1970 to June 30, 1972 is undertaken on the basis of a probability model that generates repeat abortion ratios as a function of assumptions about fecundity, contraceptive efficiency, and exposure lengths. Tested are three hypotheses put forward by Daily et al. in a 1973 analysis: (i) the low repeat abortion ratio of .0245 is attributable in part to underreporting of registered induced abortions as repeat ones; (ii) a major part of the rise in repeat abortion ratios, from virtually zero to six percent over four consecutive six-month intervals, is explainable in terms of the rising volume of exposure time to risk of repeat abortion relative to the stream of initial abortions; and (iii) the higher abortion ratios of women in their twenties compared to those of older or younger women is ascribable to "differences in fecundity and intercourse frequency." Support is found for the first two hypotheses, and a mixed outcome for the third.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Abortion and family-binding models: fertility limitation in Hungary.

This paper demonstrates how family-building models can be used for checking the quality of abortion data. A family-building model, called FERMODA, is presented and used to check whether the available data on abortion for Hungary are consistent with Hungarian data on other aspects of family building. Model cohorts are generated, using in FERMODA the proportions of women married and the birth and abortion rates of two selected Hungarian cohorts. The estimates obtained from the simulated cohorts concerning use of contraception are compared with the information available on contraception, and, on the basis of this comparison, a judgment is made about the quality of abortion data for Hungary.

Abortion, Induced↗

Invasive intracardiac aspergillosis with widespread embolization.

Intracardiac extension of pulmonary aspergillosis is uncommon. We report a case of a patient with chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis without clinical evidence of cardiac disease in whom transthoracic echocardiography revealed an intracardiac mass. A subsequent transesophageal examination clearly defined a large and complex mass in the left atrium and pulmonary artery. Autopsy performed after cardiopulmonary arrest confirmed the presence of direct cardiac invasion of pulmonary aspergillosis with widespread embolization. This case illustrates the possibility of direct intracardiac extension of pulmonary aspergillosis and the value of transesophageal echocardiography in establishing the diagnosis.

Aspergillosis↗

The National Immunization Information Hotline.

The National Immunization Information Hotline (NIIH) has been providing information regarding immunizations to the public and to health care professionals since March 1997. We describe the operations of the NIIH, its experience over the first two and a half years of operation and lessons learned for other immunization hotlines. From 1998-2000, the hotline answered 246,859 calls. Calls concerning immunization information requests totaled 175,367; data about the calls were collected from 35,102. Approximately a third of the 35,102 calls were from health care providers. Of the remaining calls from the public, the greatest number of calls concerned childhood immunizations. Immunization schedule queries from the public increased 323.0% from 1998 to 2000. While the major goal of the NIIH is to provide accurate and reliable information to the public and to health care providers, data from the hotline can be used to monitor changes over time in calls concerning inquiries about the immunization schedule in addition to other variables of interest.

Adolescent↗

Primary healthcare workers: training needs in mental health.

Particular attention is currently being given to the role of primary healthcare workers in supporting people with mental health problems in primary care (McFadyen et al, 1996). The aim of this study was to survey the views of primary healthcare workers regarding their previous mental health training and to identify their current perceived mental health training needs. A sample of 200 primary healthcare workers within Trent Health Region were interviewed using a short semi-structured interview schedule. Forty-six completed questionnaires were also received. An additional 22 respondents participated in exploratory in-depth interviews. Respondents included GPs, health visitors, practice nurses, district nurses, midwives and community psychiatric nurses. The need for further training in communication skills, particularly basic counselling skills, was highlighted. Respondents also perceived a need for additional training in coping with their own personal stress, the assessment and treatment of depression and stress/anxiety management in clients. Several themes which developed from the research were explored, including communication skills training, problems with collaborative working, coping with personal stress, the prevention of burnout and depression training. The reason why some respondents had no mental health training needs whatsoever was also addressed.

Communication↗

Psychological preparation for nasogastric feeding in children.

Psychological preparation of children undergoing enteral nutrition by nasogastric tube was evaluated in a prospective study of 48 children nursed at home. They were randomly allocated to receive either standard informal preparation or detailed psychological preparation and support. The children were divided into two groups according to age: group A comprised toddlers and younger children aged 2-6 years and group B comprised older children and adolescents aged 7-16 years. Detailed questionnaires were administered to all parents and older children by dietetic colleagues who were blinded to the type of preparation received by the children. The results emphasize that detailed psychological preparation of families takes time. Passage of a nasogastric tube was seen as very distressing to both parents and children. Having a nasogastric tube was perceived as a major problem by group A. There was no statistical difference in the effects of enteral nutrition between younger children who received routine preparation and those who received detailed preparation; however, parental assessment of their child's behaviour was the sole means of determining how the younger child felt and reacted. In group B, there were marked differences: scores suggested that those who received detailed preparation had been better prepared for enteral feeding in hospital and at home and that the passage of the nasogastric tube, although unpleasant, was less distressing to them (P < 0.05). Talking to a nurse and play therapist was seen by parents as essential (P < 0.05). The authors conclude that children should be prepared for painful procedures and followed up sensitively, according to their needs.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Characteristics of adolescents' sexual partners and their association with use of condoms and other contraceptive methods.

CONTEXT: While a number of studies have examined the association between individuals' characteristics and their contraceptive use, few studies have examined the influence of partners' characteristics on individuals' contraceptive use. METHODS: Using nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, multiple logistic analyses were conducted to identify associations between the demographic characteristics of adolescents' heterosexual partners and adolescents' use of condoms or other contraceptive methods. RESULTS: The partners of white and black adolescents were likely to be similar to them, while the partners of Latino adolescents and of adolescents of "other" race or ethnicity were more likely to be of a different racial or ethnic group. Differences in age between adolescents and their partners were notable in all racial and ethnic groups. As adolescents age, the characteristics of their partners become more heterogeneous. The less similar adolescents and their partners are to one another--whether because of a difference in age, grade or school--the less likely adolescents are to use condoms and other contraceptive methods. CONCLUSIONS: Many adolescents have relationships with partners whose characteristics differ from theirs and with whom they are less likely to use condoms or other contraceptive methods. This behavior is more common as adolescents grow older. To provide appropriate counseling, sexuality educators and family planning providers need to consider the ways in which adolescents' relationships change as they age and discuss with them the dynamics of relationships involving partners who differ in age or other characteristics.

Adolescent↗

AIDS risk behaviors of minority youth living in Detroit.

During summer 1989, 30 Hispanic (15 men, 15 women) and 34 African American (17 men, 17 women) adolescents and young adults from Detroit participated in face-to-face interviews designed to provide preliminary descriptive data of this population's AIDS and condom knowledge, sexual behavior, and condom and needle use behavior. Results suggest almost all knew that AIDS could be transmitted sexually or by needle sharing, and most participants knew condoms protect against AIDS. Although many sexually active participants reported using condoms, the majority reported engaging in unprotected vaginal intercourse. More Hispanic women reported episodes of unprotected intercourse than any other group. The following results may be useful in designing AIDS prevention strategies. Many participants seemed unaware of the ineffectiveness of nonlatex condoms. Hispanic female participants seemed to have a low level of knowledge concerning their own reproductive health. Small numbers of Hispanic and African American participants reported that people in their neighborhood used needles to self-administer steroids or vitamins.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Second pregnancies among teenage mothers.

An analysis of data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) finds that 82 percent of sexually active teenage mothers were using contraceptives in the year following the birth of their first child; the majority of those who practiced contraception used the pill. The proportion of black teenagers using no method of birth control was higher than that for white teenagers, and it increased over the course of the year. Rates of nonuse were particularly high among black women younger than 18, only 68 percent of whom practiced contraception (compared with 85 percent of whites the same age). Examination of the data by marital status shows that women who married while they were pregnant were the most likely to practice contraception in the year following their first birth, while those who were single at the time of first birth were the least likely to do so (89 versus 74 percent). Blacks constituted the majority of women who were not married at the time of first birth, and of all marital subgroups, single blacks had the highest rate of nonuse (29 percent). The probability of a pregnancy during the year following a first birth for all teenage mothers was 17 percent. Pregnancy rates among women with incomes less than 150 percent of poverty level were nearly twice as high as rates among women who had incomes above that level--21 percent vs. 11 percent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Computed tomography of dural sinus thrombosis.

For 150 years, the variable clinical appearance of dural sinus thrombosis has plagued clinicians. Computed tomography (CT) has alleviated much of the difficulty in making this diagnosis. A high density lesion in the involved sinus on precontrast scans and a filling defect in the sinus on postcontrast scans were the most frequently observed CT abnormalities in 12 patients with sinus thrombosis. Other findings include the "cord" sign and diffuse cerebral edema. Thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus, transverse sinus, or sigmoid sinus can occur as an isolated event or in association with other disease entities and may cause no neurologic impairment.

Adult↗