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Biomedical subjects

S Orenstein

Publications and source records attributed to S Orenstein.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Cornea recipients: are their opinions and attitudes toward organ donation different from those of the general population?

BACKGROUND: Cornea transplantation provides a second chance for people with poor visual function. Unfortunately, there is a major shortage of donor cornea tissue. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitudes and willingness to donate organs among cornea transplant recipients. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients who underwent cornea transplantation between January 2002 and May 2003 were asked to complete a questionnaire dealing with their attitudes toward cornea and organ donation, and willingness to donate an organ. RESULTS: Religion was a contributing factor for a negative decision to donate organs. Only 29% of participants, most of whom were nonreligious were carrying a signed donation card. Fifty-eight percent of the patients knew that the cornea graft is derived from a deceased person; most of these patients were of European or American origin. Seventy-three percent knew that donation requires the agreement of a family member. Age, gender, marital status, and education were not significantly associated with attitude toward donation. CONCLUSION: Stronger efforts are needed by transplant coordinators, physicians, and nurses to improve the education and knowledge of patients and their families about the basic aspects of transplantation. Greater public awareness may increase the willingness to donate organs.

Aged↗

Spirituality, religion, and health: a critical appraisal of the Larson reports.

The four-volume corpus The Faith Factor, and Scientific Research on Spirituality and Health: A Consensus Report by Larson et al constitute the largest English-language review of research on spirituality and health. We have done a critique of the 329 systematic analyses of peer-reviewed research papers presented therein. The objectives were to determine if the Larson conclusions can be generalized; to document the understanding of the potential of qualitative research in assessing the spiritual domain; and to examine whether the definitions of religion and spirituality used by Larson et al correspond to those in general use. We conclude that their results cannot be generalized to other religious and cultural settings; that there is a need for more research focusing on age groups, cultures, religions, and clinical settings not adequately represented in studies to date; and that the need for more qualitative research methods justifies a detailed analysis of the use of qualitative methods in the studies reviewed by the Larson group. Finally, there is a need to establish a common vocabulary that bridges cultural and religious traditions, and facilitates clinical care, research, and teaching relating to spirituality, religion, and health.

Culture↗

Nutritional management of regurgitation in infants.

Infantile regurgitation is a frequently occurring problem. Throughout the world, anxious parents are imploring physicians to eliminate their infant's regurgitation. General practitioners, pediatricians and pediatric gastroenterologists strive to alleviate infantile regurgitation and its related parental stress. In this paper we define the scope of the problem and analyze the optimal, cost-efficient management approach to simple regurgitation in infants. The intent of this paper is to disseminate this information to practicing physicians and other health care professionals in an attempt to minimize the impact of this annoying problem of infancy and to eliminate confusion and expensive diagnostic tests and use of sub-optimal treatment modalities. Parental reassurance and dietary management by feeding thickened formula are important components in managing regurgitation in infants while maintaining optimal nutritional intake for adequate growth and development.

Gastroesophageal Reflux↗

Gastrointestinal Reflux in Adolescents.

Gastrointestinal reflux disease in otherwise healthy adolescents is relatively uncommon. The frequency increases with other chronic medical conditions, such as cerebral palsy, asthma, and cystic fibrosis-and GERD should be included in the differential diagnosis of a wide range of airway and GI complaints. In this article, the authors review the clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of GERD as it relates to the adolescent.

Journal Article↗

Fatal aortoesophageal fistula due to double aortic arch: an unusual complication of prolonged nasogastric intubation.

Fatal hematemesis occurred in a 3-month-old boy due to erosion by a nasogastric tube into the right component of an unrecognized double aortic arch. This is the youngest of six reported patients with arterioesophageal fistula in the literature. Including this patient, five of six had nasogastric tubes in place. The tube may have led to fistula formation by compression of the esophageal wall against an anomalous vessel. When a vascular ring is suspected, indwelling esophageal tubes such as nasogastric tubes should not be used.

Aorta, Thoracic↗

Lovastatin-induced acute rhabdomyolysis.

Severe rhabdomyolysis complicated by respiratory and renal failure developed three weeks after initiation of low dose lovastatin therapy in a 79 year old, non-immunocompromised patient. The concomitant use of gemfibrozil may increase the risk of this complication.

Acute Disease↗