Biomedical subjects

K J Frank

Publications and source records attributed to K J Frank.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Monitoring temperature-sensitive vaccines and immunologic drugs, including anthrax vaccine.

The experience of the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center, Europe (USAMMCE), in monitoring temperature-sensitive vaccines and immunologic drugs, including anthrax vaccine, during storage and shipment is discussed. USAMMCE uses an electronic monitoring device to monitor and archive the time-temperature history of shipments of various vaccines, immunoglobulins, and other drugs requiring refrigeration. Using these monitors, USAMMCE can track its carriers' performance, reduce product loss, and validate quality. USAMMCE trains people to pack refrigerated items and to activate and place the monitoring device inside the packing container. Over 1200 temperature-monitor readings from 44 U.S. military logistical depots, hospitals, and clinics located outside the United States are evaluated annually by the USAMMCE pharmacist; each reading represents one shipment or packed box. When deactivated during unpacking, the device flashes green for a successful shipment (all temperature readings within the ideal range) or red for a potentially problematic shipment. From January through October 1998, the device was used in 750 temperature-sensitive shipments; 72% of the devices were returned to USAMMCE in green condition and the remainder in red. Of the red-flashing monitors, 15% were determined to signal that the drugs were received in unacceptable condition. USAMMCE successfully shipped more than 26,000 vials of anthrax vaccine from February through October 1998 within the manufacturer's guidelines for storage temperature. Temperature monitoring is essential for proper storage and transport of vaccines and immunologic drugs.

Anthrax↗

PubMed1996

Pharmaceutical services in an Army field hospital in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy.

The pharmaceutical services provided by an Army field hospital in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy are described. In January 1995, 155 soldiers of the 47th Field Hospital from Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, were deployed to Haiti to provide medical care for 2400 U.S. troops and 7000 multinational troops and police officers. The pharmacy staff (one pharmacist and two technicians) provided patient counseling, drug information, staff consultation, and clinical support to the intensive and intermediate care wards and emergency medical tent of the field hospital. Other responsibilities were providing nonprescription drugs to outpatients, interpreting and evaluating drug orders, participating in drug selection, and ordering supplies. A 30- to 60-day drug supply was maintained. The formulary was designed by the pharmacist and an internist and was based on the mission requirements and conditions in Haiti. Of the 10 oral medications most commonly dispensed to outpatients, 6 were antibacterials and 1 was an antimalarial. An average of two patients were admitted to the hospital daily. Some 240 inpatients were recorded in the pharmacy computer during the hospital's six-month deployment, and more than 5000 were treated in the emergency tent. The pharmacy service of the 47th Field Hospital met the challenge of supporting U.S. and multinational troops in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy.

Haiti↗

PubMed1996

Diabetic eye disease: a primary care perspective.

Patients with diabetes are at risk for multiple visual complications, most notably diabetic retinopathy, but also glaucoma, cataracts, optic nerve disease, and strabismus. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness for the majority of Americans. Microvascular damage from diabetes leads to microaneurysms, hemorrhage, exudates, and cotton-wool spots. Further progression of disease leads to new vessel growth, or neovascularization. Growth of new blood vessels can cause severe hemorrhage, scarring, and permanent visual loss. Various randomized, prospective studies have clearly shown benefit from laser therapy at specific stages of progression of retinopathy. Proper referral and close follow-up are paramount to the preservation of visual function.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Ambulatory care centers: a unique opportunity for nurse practitioners.

Nurse practitioners continue to struggle to find avenues for professional fulfillment. Urgent care or ambulatory care centers (ACCs) may, because of their need to respond to consumer demands for more comprehensive services, offer nurse practitioners a unique opportunity to establish productive primary care practices based on the concepts of total patient care. A model for such a practice has operated successfully since 1983, establishing that both professional and business success can result from the collaborative efforts of nurse practitioners and physicians in an ACC setting.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A method for three-dimensional prostate imaging using transrectal ultrasound.

This paper describes a method for forming three-dimensional images of the prostate using transrectal ultrasound. This method extracts three-dimensional images of the prostate from sets of two-dimensional ultrasound images obtained via a special-purpose transrectal ultrasound probe. Each two-dimensional image is segmented and the results used to form a three-dimensional image of the prostate. A method for segmenting two-dimensional images of the prostate based on the Laplacian-of-Gaussian edge operator is described. The three-dimensional imaging method described provides a new, noninvasive method for monitoring gland pathology during radiation therapy.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The NeuroStation--a highly accurate, minimally invasive solution to frameless stereotactic neurosurgery.

The NeuroStation is an image-guided neurosurgery workstation designed to deliver frameless stereotaxy within an ergonomic, integrated surgical environment. Generally, stereotaxy can provide the neurosurgeon with important intra-operative localization information using diagnostic images such as computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To date, however, stereotaxy has not been widely accepted by neurosurgeons due to the procedural difficulties of incorporating conventional stereotaxy. The NeuroStation addresses the problems of conventional stereotaxy through the use of frameless stereotactic methods wherein state-of-the-art instrumentation and computer innovations allow: a) standard surgical instruments to be used as the localization device; b) multipoint registration methods in place of frame-based registration; and c) real-time interactive surgical localization. The NeuroStation can thus be transparently integrated into the neurosurgical procedure providing the neurosurgeon with image-guidance for surgical planning, biopsies, craniotomies, endoscopy, intra-operative ultrasound, radiation therapy, etc.

Adult↗