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Biomedical subjects

K Sherin

Publications and source records attributed to K Sherin.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Two-day therapy with cefuroxime axetil is effective for urinary tract infections in children.

Short-course therapy for pediatric urinary tract infection (UTI) remains controversial. The present study was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of cefuroxime axetil (Ceftin) as short-course (2-day) versus conventional (10-day) therapy for uncomplicated pediatric UTIs. In a randomized, controlled, prospective study, we enrolled 50 children, 2-11 years of age, to receive oral cefuroxime axetil, 125 mg twice a day, for either 2 or 10 days. UTI was defined as at least 10(5) colonies/ml of a single pathogen isolated on clean catch, or at least 10(4) colonies/ml on a catheterized specimen. A 10-fold or greater reduction in colony count of the initially isolated organism (3-5) days after stopping therapy was considered a bacteriologic success, as long as the absolute colony count was below the threshold for UTI described above. Patients were followed for 15 months with multiple repeat urine cultures and radiologic studies. Twenty-five of the 50 patients enrolled were withdrawn, including 12 for initially inadequate colony counts. Eight of 12 patients in the short-course group (67%), versus 12 of 14 in the conventional-therapy group (86%), were initial bacteriological successes, a nonsignificant difference. All 37 initially isolated uropathogens were sensitive to cefuroxime axetil in vitro. Cefuroxime axetil is an effective antimicrobial for uncomplicated pediatric UTIs. Two-day therapy with cefuroxime axetil appears to be as effective as 10-day therapy, although sample size was limited in this study.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Thallium poisoning: an outbreak in Florida, 1988.

In October 1988, five of seven members of a Florida family were poisoned with thallium, constituting the largest outbreak of acute thallium poisoning in the United States since thallium was banned as a rodenticide in 1972. Three patients had an acute severe neuropathy with respiratory depression; one died. The other two had no symptoms. No cases were identified among nonhousehold relatives or friends, or in the community. Of the more than 100 environmental specimens collected at the family household and tested by atomic spectroscopy, three empty and four unopened glass soft drink bottles of the same lot number yielded thallium in a concentration fatal to humans. All family members who consumed the soft drink were poisoned (5/5) as compared with none of those who did not (0/2). Because poisoning was clustered to the family and police investigators provided evidence that the poisoning was deliberately targeted to the family, it was assumed that no other soft drink bottles contained thallium, and it was decided not to recall all soft drink bottles with the same lot number. A year later a neighbor of the family was arrested and convicted of the murder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Aerobic exercise. Can you answer the questions your patients ask?

Aerobic exercise is a dynamic exercise form that has as a goal increased cardiovascular fitness. In addition to its potential for improved cardiovascular health, it may also help prevent hypertension, promote improved psychologic health, and help prevent osteoporosis. Certain conditions are contraindications to the undertaking of an exercise program, and some patients should undergo exercise stress testing before beginning. Dietary changes are probably not necessary for persons beginning moderate exercise programs, but in athletes taking part in strenuous forms of exercise, fluid and electrolyte balance and adequacy of muscle glycogen stores should be considered. Exercise, however, is only one of the factors important in fitness and cardiovascular risk reduction.

Female↗
PubMed1983

Motivating lifestyle change.

The family physician has enormous opportunities to facilitate healthy lifestyle changes among his patients. It is believed that an unhealthy lifestyle may account for 50 percent of the mortality in the United States. The family physician sees large numbers of well or asymptomatic at-risk patients in the course of practice. In addition, he or she sees other family members and has opportunities to interact with the family unit as a whole. The family, in turn, has powerful molding influences on the individual's health beliefs and actions. If the physician can realize the impact his attitudes and actions have on his families' health, beliefs, and behavior, the multiplication of effects can be considerable.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1982

Smoking cessation: the physician's role.

Tobacco use is the leading attributable health risk in the United States today, and smoking cessation by patients should be a major concern of all practicing physicians. A history and physical examination with emphasis on the consequences of tobacco use can open up the subject, while the nonsmoking behavior of physician and office personnel and the office setting itself reinforce the nonsmoking advice. When a patient has decided to quit, the physician can implement several strategies: provide a positive orientation toward quitting, discuss the pros and cons of gradual versus sudden cessation, identify triggers to smoking, anticipate withdrawal symptoms, and set up a reinforcement system.

Asthma↗