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Biomedical subjects

R Sadovsky

Publications and source records attributed to R Sadovsky.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Initial clinical assessment and management of HIV infection.

Management of HIV infection by the primary care physician can be easily integrated into the usual practice setting. The physician who understands the epidemiology of HIV disease, stays current with basic therapeutic concepts, and knows the patient and his or her living environment is in the best position to help the HIV-infected individual have a constructive and fulfilling life. When the primary care physician has a network of appropriate specialists for consultation and has appropriately integrated office and community-based nonmedical professionals into patient care, the health care team is complete.

Female

Psychosocial issues in symptomatic HIV infection.

Psychosocial issues are a major factor in the quality of life of a patient with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. To provide effective, supportive care, the physician must assess the patient's psychosocial needs, with an understanding of the patient's sociocultural background. Good communication and a multidisciplinary team approach are essential aspects of successful management. Unconditional emotional support and both verbal and nonverbal expressions of caring increase patient compliance and comfort. Appropriate treatment of neuropsychiatric syndromes and debilitating physical symptoms also add significantly to the patient's quality of life. Most importantly, the patient must be given the opportunity to be an active participant in decisions about treatment and lifestyle.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

A descriptive analysis of emergency visits to an inner city family practice center.

A six-month prospective study of daily emergency visits was performed at an inner city family practice center in order to understand the utilization pattern of emergency services. 487 visits were identified during the study period. In general, patients of junior residents made more visits. The majority of visits (97%) were nonemergent. The most common presenting complaint was a general symptom (17%), although the most frequent diagnosis was in the supplementary category (17%) that includes medication renewals, the completion of forms and maternal and child health care. Females, the unemployed, the elderly, and individuals with poverty levels of income were most frequently seen in the emergency setting. The reasons for these patterns and the need for further investigations in this area are discussed.

Community Health Centers

HIV-infected patients: a primary care challenge.

Ambulatory management of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is rapidly becoming a necessity for both financial and staffing reasons. Many primary care physicians are anxious about providing care for these patients, perhaps because of inadequate clinical training or because of perceptions of personal and employee risk. The willingness of physicians to care for HIV-infected patients may be increased by the clarification of issues of risk and the institution of effective, ongoing physician education programs. It is also important for physicians to understand their own anxieties and emotions. Because medicine is viewed as a profession that provides care for all segments of the population, physicians have an obligation to accept an appropriate level of risk in caring for HIV-infected patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Promotion of family enrollment in an urban family practice residency program.

Although a basic goal of family practice is to provide care for all members of the family, few studies have been done to test the ease of accomplishing this goal. At the Downstate Medical Center Department of Family Practice in Brooklyn, New York, an attempt was made to increase family enrollment by introducing several educational interventions directed at patients and resident physicians. Family enrollment levels were documented during a study period from June 1981 to September 1982, and again in June 1984. Both before and after the intervention efforts, family enrollment levels remained the same. It was concluded that the educational interventions used were unsuccessful in both short-term and long-term follow-up. Only one subgroup that participated in a specific educational intervention (patient orientation groups) showed an increase in family enrollment.

Family

Diagnosis and management of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is not a rare disease. There are several common clinical signs which should alert the physician to a possible diagnosis of SLE and which should condition him to look for specific clinical and laboratory findings. In addition to simple screening tests, useful procedures include a search for antinuclear antibodies, lupus erythematosus (LE) cells, anti-DNA antibodies and low serum complement. Management is determined by the type of course encountered but most patients will do well under the care of their family physician.

Adult

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy: common symptoms, uncommon diagnosis.

After five months of treatment for what was believed to be tuberculosis, a 49-year-old woman had recurrence of high spiking fever, lymphadenopathy, and malaise along with an intermittent maculopapular rash. Other findings were a positive Coombs test, iron deficiency, elevated gamma globulin levels, polyclonal gammopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. Biopsy of a cervical lymph node revealed an angioblastic pattern consistent with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy. Review of biopsy material obtained six months previously showed the same changes. Antituberculosis therapy was discontinued, and a regimen of prednisone and iron replacement was begun. The patient did well initially; when symptoms returned, they were controlled by adding azathioprine to the regimen for steroid-sparing effect. However, serologic abnormalities returned and within a few months, symptoms exacerbated; despite intensive medical therapy, the patient died. Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy is a recently recognized disorder with a usually progressive course. No treatment has yet been established as effective, and death usually occurs within one year after diagnosis.

Diagnosis, Differential

Sarcoidosis of the liver: evaluation with multiple imaging modalities.

Although sarcoidosis of the liver is common pathologically, imaging findings are extremely rare, because the noncaseating granulomas are usually not macroscopic and thus do not produce focal abnormalities. We present 2 cases of liver sarcoidosis with focal findings on computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear scanning, and ultrasonography. Imaging characteristics, which may facilitate making the diagnosis, are presented.

Adult

Structuring a home visit program for residents.

Home assessment visits in which a family practice resident accompanied by a social worker and a specially trained nurse go to a patient's home have been a part of the curriculum for three years. A specific format has been developed for these visits. The trainees' initial positive views about home assessment visits were maintained after the visits with improved understanding of the impact of environmental, familial, and social factors on patient health. The efforts and effects of the nonphysician health care providers in home visits were clarified. Clearly, residents can appreciate and benefit from a well-structured home visit program.

Attitude of Health Personnel