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Biomedical subjects

S Pomerantz

Publications and source records attributed to S Pomerantz.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Radiologists' productivity in the interpretation of CT scans: a comparison of PACS with conventional film.

OBJECTIVE: We compared radiologists' times in the interpretation of CT using hardcopy films with the interpretation using a soft-copy picture archiving and communication system (PACS) computer workstation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred CT examinations were selected at random and reviewed by four board-certified radiologists experienced in soft-copy interpretation. We performed time-motion analysis to determine the total time required to display, interpret, and dictate the individual findings of CT using conventional hard-copy interpretation on a viewbox and soft-copy interpretation, using a four-monitor high-resolution (2048 x 1536 pixel) workstation. RESULTS: Time-motion analysis showed a reduction of 16.2% in the overall time required for soft-copy interpretation of CT compared with that of film. Time savings with soft-copy interpretation were observed for all four participating radiologists. The benefit of soft-copy interpretation was increased for examinations in which there were comparison studies. CONCLUSION: We found that soft-copy interpretation of CT using a PACS workstation requires less time than interpretation using conventional film hung on a viewbox. The transition to filmless imaging has the potential to improve radiologists' productivity and report-turnaround time.

Efficiency↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of cocaine use and its impact on asthma exacerbation in an urban population.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of cocaine use, and its impact on severity of presentation, among adults presenting to the emergency department (ED) with asthma. A secondary aim was to assess the use of various asthma treatment modalities, with reference to the 1997 National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines. METHODS: All adults aged 18 to 55 years who presented to the ED of this institution with an asthma attack, were approached about participating in the study, which required giving informed consent, answering a facilitated questionnaire, and giving a urine sample for drug screening. RESULTS: Patients were enrolled during a 7-month period. A total of 163 patients were approached to enter the study; 116 patients consented to participate in the study, with 103 submitting complete urine samples. Thirty-seven patients refused to participate, and 10 were excluded. Sixty-eight percent of the patients were women, with a mean age of 33 years. African-Americans made up 89% of the total group. Thirty-five percent were cigarette smokers. Urine cocaine tests were positive in 13 of 103 (13%); 6 of 103 (5.8%) were positive for opiates. In the cocaine-positive group, 5 of 13 patients (38%) were admitted to the hospital, including two patients requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Of the total group, 23 of 103 patients (22%) were admitted, and 5 of those 23 admitted patients (22%) were cocaine-positive. Length of stay was significantly longer (5 vs 2.5 days, p < 0.05) in the cocaine-positive admitted patients. Forty-six percent of all patients reported using inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), with 39% of admitted patients using them. Thirty-two percent of all patients had obtained three or more refills of their beta(2)-agonist inhaler in the previous month. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cocaine use may be much higher than the 13% shown in this study, because of patients' refusal to participate in the study. Second, the severity of exacerbation appears to be worse in the cocaine-positive group. Finally, the majority of patients presenting did not use ICS in accordance with the NAEPP guidelines.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Substance use during sex and unsafe sexual behaviors among acute psychiatric inpatients.

A total of 239 acute psychiatric inpatients were interviewed about whether they used substances just before or during sex and whether they engaged in unsafe sexual behaviors while using substances. Nearly 40 percent of male patients and 36 percent of female patients reported using alcohol at least once during sex in the previous six months. Among male patients a statistically significant association was observed between using crack during sex and two high-risk behaviors--inconsistent condom use and sex with a high-risk partner. Among female patients the use of alcohol before or during sex was significantly associated with the practice of receptive anal sex.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of soft-tissue foreign bodies: comparing conventional plain film radiography, computed radiography printed on film, and computed radiography displayed on a computer workstation.

OBJECTIVE: The study was performed to evaluate detection of soft-tissue foreign bodies using conventional radiography (film-screen radiography), computed radiography printed on films (computed radiography-hard copy), and computed radiography displayed on a computer workstation (computed radiography-soft copy). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifteen foreign bodies of different size, shape, and composition were implanted at different locations in a fresh cadaveric hand, and images were obtained using three radiographic techniques. Images were evaluated by four board-certified radiologists to ascertain the conspicuity of the foreign bodies with the different techniques. A subjective grade was assigned to each image in an attempt to identify the relative conspicuity of foreign bodies when imaged with the three techniques. RESULTS: Computed radiography-soft copy is the preferred imaging technique for the detection of wood and plastic foreign bodies in soft tissue regardless of the size of the wood or the plastic. No significant differences in conspicuity among the three techniques were demonstrated with glass foreign bodies. CONCLUSION: Detection of soft-tissue foreign bodies is best done using computed radiography-soft copy instead of film-screen radiography and computed radiography-hard copy imaging.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1995

Occurrence and impact of suspected delirium in hospitalized elderly patients.

The records of 95 consecutive people older than 65 years and admitted to a community hospital were retrospectively reviewed to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed delirium in hospitalized elderly patients. Chart review focused on identification of patients with documented diagnosed delirium according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition, revised (DSM-III-R) criteria and patients with unrecognized delirium. Unrecognized delirium was considered present when information contained in a patient's chart met some or all criteria for delirium as described in DSM-III-R, but the physician's progress notes failed to indicate delirium as a diagnosed clinical entity. The prevalence of diagnosed delirium was 2%. Thirty-six percent of the patients were suspected of having unrecognized delirium. The mean length of hospital stay and the rate of mortality were significantly higher for patients with suspected delirium than for non-delirious patients. The findings of this study suggest that unrecognized delirium in the hospitalized elderly may occur frequently and is associated with an increased length of hospital stay and increased mortality.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1994

The high prevalence of unsafe sexual behaviors among acute psychiatric inpatients. Implications for AIDS prevention.

We conducted a study to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic distribution of unsafe sexual behaviors among psychiatric inpatients and to investigate an association between crack cocaine use and these behaviors. Two hundred thirty-nine patients admitted to two Philadelphia hospitals during a 12-month period were interviewed to obtain a detailed sexual history and substance abuse history. A history of multiple sex partners was reported by 42.6% of male patients and 13.0% of female patients (p < .01). A history of receptive anal intercourse in the past 6 months was reported by 11.6% of females and 2.1% of males (p < .05). Only about half the study subjects who were sexually active reported ever using a condom during the past 6 months. Crack cocaine use among males and cocaine use among females was statistically significantly associated with a history of having sex with a high risk partner. This study draws attention to the role of crack cocaine and other types of cocaine in the spread of human immunodeficiency virus infection in this population and the need for intensive acquired immunodeficiency syndrome prevention programs on inpatient psychiatric units.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Impact of a quality assurance program on gastrointestinal endoscopy.

The impact of a quality assurance committee on documentation and use of gastrointestinal endoscopy was assessed. The committee, fulfilling Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations criteria, performed retrospective (1984-1985) and prospective (1986-1988) reviews of all endoscopies. Criteria were developed from American College of Physicians and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines. All reviews of procedures that were questioned were returned to physicians for clarification. After reconsideration of the response, procedures were judged either justified or unjustified. There has been significant improvement in the quality of endoscopy reporting and documentation. The rate of questioned procedures decreased from 21.6% (95% confidence interval (CI), 20.1-23.1) in 1984-1985 to 9.2% (95% CI, 7.9-10.4) (P less than 0.01) in 1988. Improvement in use was reflected in the significant decrease in the rate of unjustified procedures from 8.2% (95% CI, 7.2-9.2) in 1984-1985 to 1.5% (95% CI, 1.0-2.0) (P less than 0.01) in 1988. Most importantly, this process curtailed the previously noted 10% annual increase in the number of endoscopic procedures (P less than 0.01).

Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal↗
PubMed1988

AIDS as a cause of dementia in the elderly.

It has been recognized that AIDS can present initially as dementia without other neurological or clinical manifestations. In addition, HIV-contaminated blood transfusions in the elderly seem to be underreported. Because of these findings, dementia in the elderly may be misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease or other causes of senile dementia. This paper reports on one patient who presented with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and was later found to have AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

A melanocyte-specific complementary DNA clone whose expression is inducible by melanotropin and isobutylmethyl xanthine.

Two groups of cDNA clones were isolated by screening a lambda gt11 cDNA library of normal human melanocytes with antityrosinase antibodies: one group of 13 was related to the human tyrosinase gene. The properties of the other group of three cDNA clones was investigated by the use of a representative clone, Pmel 17-1. The cDNA hybridized to an mRNA species of approximately 2600 bases from human and murine melanocytes. The transcript of Pmel 17-1 (17-1 mRNA) was expressed preferentially in melanocytes and its abundance paralleled the melanin content. The expression of Pmel 17-1 mRNA increased after stimulation of human and murine melanoma cells with agents that increase the levels of melanization. Immunocompetition assays with monoclonal antibodies to gp75, a known pigmentation-associated antigen of melanocytes, suggested that Pmel 17-1 encodes a 75,000 Mr glycoprotein that is highly abundant in melanotic cells and shares some immunological homology with tyrosinase. The gene for Pmel 17-1 did not map at or near the c-albino locus in mice. The cDNA of Pmel 17-1 detected a single hybridizing restriction fragment in both human and murine DNA, indicating that the gene has been conserved between these two species and exists as a single gene in each.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1985

Epstein-Barr virus infections in homosexual men with chronic, persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.

The status of infection by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in 20 patients with chronic, persistent generalized lymphadenopathy was evaluated with use of three parameters: antibodies to EBV, EBV excretion, and EB virocytemia. Results were compared with those obtained from two groups of control subjects: patients with infectious mononucleosis and healthy EBV-seropositive adults. Profiles of antibody to EBV and the prevalence of EBV excretion were essentially similar for study subjects and healthy control subjects, but the level of EB virocytemia was significantly higher in study subjects than in healthy control subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Symposium on semiprecision attachments in removable partial dentures. Laboratory procedures.

The fabrication of semiprecision rest systems will differ depending on whether a prefabricated rest system or milled-in rest system is indicated. In a prefabricated rest seat, a die-related model must be used and the rest seats must be waxed into the wax pattern. A means of fabricating both locking and nonlocking rests has been described. The instruments and tools necessary for the milled-in rest seat have been illustrated. The need for a stress-releasing attachment for distal-extension removable partial dentures is satisfied by the Thompson dowel rest. In fabricating the Thompson dowel rest prosthesis, both vertical parallelism and horizontal parallelism are essential for rotation. The use of a parallelometer and the parallel rule insures precise positioning of the Thompson dowel rest, which in turn, will enable the distal extension partial to rotate.

Dental Abutments↗
PubMed1972

Effect of Urea on Ammonium-dependent Synthesis of Carbamyl Phosphate during Spore Germination of Geotrichum candidum.

The specific activities of enzymes catalyzing the ammonium-dependent carbamyl phosphate synthesis (NH(3)-CPS) and the glutamine-dependent carbamyl phosphate synthesis (GLN-CPS) were increased during germination by approximately 5-and 1.7-fold respectively in the presence of 35 mm urea. The increase of NH(3)-CPS and GLN-CPS levels occurred immediately after the onset of germination and prior to the appearance of germ tube. Ammonium also stimulated the NH(3)-CPS activity, but the induction caused by urea was about three times higher than that by ammonium.Both NH(3)-CPS and GLN-CPS were highly labile. NH(3)-CPS was obtained free of GLN-CPS after (NH(4))(2)SO(4) fractionation and diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography. The optimum pH for NH(3)-CPS was 8.5 as opposed to broad pH optimum of pH 5.6-8 for the reverse reaction. The Km values obtained for NH(3), glutamine, and carbamyl phosphate were 12 mm, 0.5 mm, and 0.083 mm, respectively.

Journal Article↗