Browsing by Subject "Other Medical Specialties"
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Item An Evaluation of an Interdisciplinary House Calls Program For the Frail Homebound Elderly(1999-05-01) Johs, Jennifer L.Johs, Jennifer L. An Evaluation of an Interdisciplinary House Calls Program For the Frail Homebound Elderly. Master of Public Health (Biomedical Sciences), May, 1999, 57 pp., 4 tables, references, 66 titles. The current study compared utilization markers of 87 frail elderly homebound patients prior to and subsequent to enrollment in an interdisciplinary, physician-led house calls program, as well as measured efforts to increase documentation of advance directives. After enrollment in the program the number of hospital admissions (p=0.047) and emergency department visits (p=0.030) were significantly decreased. The number of admissions to skilled nursing facilities (p=0.023) was also reduced, as was length of stay in skilled nursing facilities (p=0.018). The prevalence of advance directives increased from 26% to 74% (p [less than] 0.001) subsequent to enrollment. Patients who died were more likely to die at home (19) than in the hospital (6). All patients who died at home had documented advance directives.Item Androgens and Cardiovascular Disease(1998-05-01) Dickerman, Rob D.; Walter J. McConathy; Thomas Yorio; Robert GracyDickerman, Rob D., Androgens and Cardiovascular Disease Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Sciences), May 1998; 111 pp; 10 tables, bibliography, 197 titles. Anabolic steroids are commonly used by many muscle and strength dependent athletes due to their ability to enhance the hypertrophic effects of resistance training. The use of anabolic steroids by bodybuilders appears to carry significant health risks, most commonly reported are sudden death, myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathy. To investigate the effects of anabolic steroids on cardiovascular risks, a study was designed to analyze the effects of androgens on lipoprotein levels and structure/function of the heart. For the study on lipid-related risk, twelve competitive bodybuilders were recruited for a comprehensive analysis of serum apolipoprotein A-I, B, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and testosterone. Serum total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, apolipoproteins A-I and Be were significantly lower in androgen-users. Consistent with previous reports, androgens were associated with decreases in HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I. However, androgens were also associated with reduced serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. Despite the significantly higher total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio, the low levels of serum total cholesterol levels (percentile) in the androgen-users raises questions as to whether there is increased risk for cardiovascular disease and the exact role of androgens in cardiovascular risk. To investigate the effects of anabolic steroids in pathologic concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, the effects of androgens on left ventricular size and function were analyzed. Previous investigations conducted on left ventricular size and function have yielded inconclusive results. Problems existing in each of the previous investigations were small body mass, short length of myocardial exposure time to resistance training (years of training), significantly different body mass between steroid-users and steroid-free subjects and monitoring/reporting of steroid use. These problems may have contributed to the discrepancies between studies. Therefore, we selectively recruited eight competitive heavy weight drug-free bodybuilders and eight matched competitive weight bodybuilders on self-directed regimens of anabolic steroids for examination of left ventricular size and function via echocardiography. Increases in left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW) and ventricular septal thickness (VST) were apparent in the steroid-user group (p [less than] 0.05). Ratio of echocardiographic findings to body mass index (BMI) revealed a significantly smaller left ventricular and diastolic dimension (LVDEd/BMI, p [less than] 0.05) in the steroid-user. The smaller LVDEd in steroid-users is coupled with a significantly disproportionate septal and posterior wall thickness in steroid-users. There was no direct evidence of diastolic dysfunction. Thus it appears from these studies that androgens alter lipoproteins leading to a questionable increased risk for cardiovascular disease and may potentiate concentric left ventricular hypertrophy without affecting cardiac function.Item Legal Medicine and Toxicology Volume 1(W.B. Saunders and Company, 1923-01-01) Haines, Walter; Webster, Ralph; Peterson, FredrickItem Predictors for the Severity of Asthma in the Hospital Setting. An Epidemiologic Study Based on Hospital Records from the Texas Health Care Information Council(2005-04-01) Marruffo, MarcoMarruffo, Marco, Predictors for the Severity of Asthma in the Hospital Setting. An Epidemiologic Study Based on Hospital Records from the Texas Health Care Information Council. Doctor of Public Health (Epidemiology), May 2005, 118 pp., 40 tables, 3 figures, bibliography, 62 titles. The purpose of this research was to identify and assess prognostic factors for severity and risk of death among 27,383 hospitalized asthma patients in the state of Texas during 2002, by using the public available Texas Hospital Inpatient data, collected by The Texas Health Care Information Council (TCHIC)(TCHIC, 2002). Data was analyzed by means of multinomial logistic regression using minor risk as the reference group. Among other results severe asthma cases were 20% more likely to be females, 20% more probability to have HIV/AIDS, 5.5 times more chance to be obese, 4.2 times more likely to have esophageal reflux, 1.7 times more likely to be hypertensive, and 11.8 times more likely to have diabetes as compared to those without severe asthma (p [less than] 0.001). Obese were 2.8, diabetics 3.3, those with urinary tract infection 2.3, those with fever 3.1 and those with congestive heart failure 7.5 times more likely to have major risk of death due to asthma (p [less than] 0.001). The results of this study can be used to identify high risk groups to plan and applied control measures for tertiary prevention of severity and death due to asthma.Item Simplifying Medical Terminology in Interpreted Medical(2009-05-01) Carmona, Josue; Claudia CogginThis article suggests that a study is needed to analyze the level of register in speech or text used by physicians and other health care providers in their communication with patients. The author also questions whether the interpretation of such speech in the patient's language at the same register that is uttered by physicians is understood by the patient. While proposing such a study, the author also questions interpreters' professional preparation and the strict conduit model where the interpreter is to repeat everything is said as it is said. The study is proposed because of a gap in the literature have been found in these areas.Item Synergy 2007: Annual Research Report(2007-01-01)