PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M E Gutgesell

Publications and source records attributed to M E Gutgesell.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Reported alcohol use and behavior in long-distance runners.

Because alcohol may impair sports performance, we hypothesized there would be less drinking in serious recreational runners. We used mailed questionnaires to examine drinking patterns (2-wk quantity/frequency), scores on modified versions of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (brief MAST [BMAST], short MAST [SMAST]), and parental history of problem drinking in 397 men and 144 women runners participating in a 20-mile race, compared with a nonexercising control population of 138 men and 119 women. A subset of 188 pairs (104 men, 84 women) were matched for gender, age, educational level, and marital status. We used chi-square analysis, paired t-test, and ANOVA. Male gender, running, and a family history for problem drinking predicted increased total alcohol consumption. We found that male runners (vs male controls) drank more 14.2 +/- 19.6 vs 5.4 +/- 7.6 drinks.wk-2, P = 0.004) and felt guilty about their drinking (26.6% vs 13.8%, P < 0.01). Men and women runners reported more occasions of drinking than matched controls (2.8 +/- 2.7 vs 2.0 +/- 2.3.wk-2, P = 0.004). Runners with scores on the BMAST (> or = 6) or SMAST (> or = 3) suggestive of a history of problem drinking drank less than controls with a similar score. Contrary to our hypothesis, running is associated with increased alcohol consumption, except in those who report a history of problem alcohol behavior.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Lead screening in the general pediatric clinic.

The overall prevalence of an elevated lead level in the UVa pediatric clinic population (5.7%, > or = 10 micrograms/dL; 1.1%, > or = 15 micrograms/dL) was lower than that reported by Bronson and Renier (Duluth, Minnesota) (8.2%, > or = 10 micrograms/dL, and 2.6%, > or = 15 micrograms/dL), Pirkle and colleagues (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (9.0%, > or = 10 micrograms/dL) and Norman and associates (North Carolina) (20.2%, > or = 10 micrograms/dL; 3.2%, > or = 15 micrograms/dL; 1.1%, > or = 20 micrograms/dL). The results are similar to those reported by the city of Denver (3% and 1%, respectively). None of the children had a level > or = 25 micrograms/dL, a level found in 2.1/1000 children in Massachusetts, or a level > or = 45 micrograms/dL, the level recommended for chelation therapy in asymptomatic children. In view of the base cost of universal lead screening ($33/test) in the UVa laboratories and the lack of an increased prevalence of lead poisoning in the children in the UVa clinic, clinic personnel favor screening only those children who have a positive response to any of the risk assessment questions, but in particular, the question "does your child live in or visit frequently a house built before 1960?"

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMed1991

Safety of a preadolescent basketball program.

A preadolescent youth basketball program was prospectively studied to determine injury rates and the kinds of injuries sustained. The overall injury rate was 7.6% (39 injuries among the 510 children aged 5 to 12 years). Girls had a higher injury rate than boys (P less than .02). Only 12 children (2.4%) suffered significant injuries as defined by the inability to play for at least one session. Most injuries were contusions (35.9%), followed by strains or sprains (28.2%), epistaxis (12.8%), lacerations (5.1%), and one finger fracture (2.6%), the most significant injury. Games were more likely to produce injuries than practice sessions; most injuries occurred in the second half of game play. This study documents a low injury rate in an organized preadolescent basketball program.

Basketball↗
PubMed1989

Federal guidelines for marijuana screening should have lower cutoff levels. A comparison of results from immunoassays and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Federal guidelines for urine marijuana testing use a screening cutoff of 100 ng/mL and a confirming cutoff of 15 ng/mL. We tested 75 urine samples with two different immunoassays with cutoff points of 100 and 20 ng/mL. The same samples were also analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. At the government recommended cutoff levels for screening and confirming, test sensitivity was 47% and specificity was 91%. With a screening cutoff of 20 ng/mL confirmed at 5 ng/mL, test sensitivity was 88% and specificity was 94%. We suggest adoption of these lower cutoff levels.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1985

Early detection of bacteremia in an outpatient clinic.

A total of 570 patients, aged less than 24 months, who were seen in the emergency room at Texas Children's Hospital for evaluation of acute febrile illness had a WBC count, differential count, and a blood culture obtained. Bacteremia occurred in 7.7% (n = 44) (22 Haemophilus influenzae; 17 Streptococcus pneumoniae; three Escherichia coli; one group B Streptococcus; one Staphylococcus aureus). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of morphologic changes (vacuolization and toxic granulation) of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (segmented neutrophils plus band cells), WBC count greater than or equal to 15,000/microL and band cells greater than or equal to 500/microL were examined. Additionally, abnormalities in three of four tests (WBC count greater than or equal to 15,000/microL, band cells greater than or equal to 500/microL, segmented neutrophils greater than or equal to 10,000/microL, and/or total polymorphonuclear neutrophils greater than or equal to 10,500/microL) were evaluated. Morphologic changes of polymorphonuclear neutrophils were noted frequently in patients with culture-proven bacteremia (63% and 51% positive predictive value for vacuolization and toxic granulation, respectively) and were more predictive of bacterial infection than traditional tests. If both vacuolization and toxic granulation were present, the positive predictive value increased to 76%. Examination of the peripheral blood smear may provide important adjunctive information for the presence of bacteremia prior to bacteriologic confirmation.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1982

Fluoride supplementation in Harris County, Texas.

We sent questionnaires to 421 physicians in Harris County, Texas, to determine the use of oral fluoride supplementation. The response rate was 56%. Although 95% of the physicians practice in fluoride-deficient areas (less than 0.7 ppm), 36% of those responding stated that the fluoride content of the water was adequate; 25% were unsure. Of those who thought that the fluoride content was adequate, 79% stated that the actual fluoride content was less than 0.7 ppm or were unsure. Only 35% of the responding physicians prescribed fluoride, only 45% knew the correct dose. Only 50% of the responders made routine dental referrals in the 3- and 4-year age group. More physician education is needed to ensure oral fluoride supplementation in communities with inadequately fluoridated water supplies.

Administration, Oral↗