SMJ // March 1980, Volume 73 - Issue 3
Editorial
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Primary Article
Bromptons Mixture in Alleviating Pain of Terminal Neoplastic Disease Preliminary Result
We conducted a one-year preliminary study on 107 patients in a hospice for incurable cancer to assess the efficacy of a modified Bromptons Mixture (an oral analgesic solution) in alleviating intractable pain. The results presented indicate that in patients who can tolerate oral medication, the present formulation can be used…
Primary Article
Thalamic Stimulation in the Control of Pain
Primary Article
Caudal Block Cost Effective Primary Treatment for Back Pain
Therapeutic caudal block was applied as primary treatment to 81 consecutive patients. The 26 who were completely relieved of symptoms were older, were predominantly women, and usually had had no previous surgery. Multiple blocks were required in some, but there were no complications. Because considerable financial benefit accrued to the…
Primary Article
Hemolytic Streptococci in Nashville School Children
Incidence and prevalence of hemolytic and group A streptococci were determined for 3,479 school children in Nashville, Tennessee from 1953–1954 through 1973–1974 inclusive. Of 53,827 throat cultures, 17.98% were positive for hemolytic streptococci and 12.87% for group A; 26.19% of group A strains were typable. Types 6, 1, 12, 4,…
Primary Article
Sparganosis Clinical and Pathologic Observations in Ten Cases
Sparganosis is an infection, usually of subcutaneous tissues, caused by the larva of a tapeworm of the genus Spirometra. Approximately 55 cases have been reported in this country, almost exclusively from the Southeastern states. We report an additional ten cases, all of which presented as a single subcutaneous mass. Questionnaires…
Primary Article
Fluoridation A Clinicians Experience
In 1954 I described a case of chronic fluoride poisoning from artificially fluoridated water, in which the patient exhibited a multisymptomatic clinical picture without noticeable skeletal changes. Subsequently, others and I have confirmed this “nonskeletal phase” of the disease from fluoride in water and in air (in workers in fluoride-emitting…
Primary Article
Effect of Diabetes Upon Penile Sympathetic Nerves in Impotent Patients
Samples of erectile tissue taken from the corpora cavernosa of 16 male diabetic patients suffering from impotence were studied. The content of norepinephrine, which reflects sympathetic nerve activity of that tissue, was significantly lower in insulin-dependent patients 104.2 ± 24.8 (SE) pg/mg wet weight (P < .001) and diet-controlled patients…
Primary Article
Small-Carrion Penile Prosthesis for the Management of Diabetic Impotence
Of 128 patients who had insertion of a Small-Carrion prosthesis, 36 were diabetic. The insertion of a penile prosthesis in diabetic patients proved to be safe, without increased incidence of infection or rejection of the prosthesis, provided diabetes is under good control before operation. Cystoscopy’ and cystometrogram are necessary to…
Primary Article
Roentgenographic Changes During Long-term Diphenylhydantoin Therapy
Diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin) is a well known anticonvulsant with well documented effectiveness. The complications, unfortunately, are multiple and well recognized clinically. This paper deals with the roentgenographic changes encountered in long-term diphenylhydantoin use. Some of these changes, which are not clinically readily apparent, may alert unwary physicians in the recognition of…
Primary Article
Falciform Ligament Varieties of Imaging Experience
The falciform ligament is commonly imaged by various modalities available to most radiologists. When displayed, its diagnostic value is limited, but knowledge of its appearance as encountered on different examinations is useful, lest pathologic significance be applied to its appearance.
Primary Article
Acute Calcific Quadriceps Tendinitis
Acute calcific quadriceps tendinitis can be the cause of acute periarthritis of the knee. Physical examination can detect cellulitis and a tender tendon sheath. Lateral roentgenograms of soft tissues show thickening of the tendon and sometimes small flecks of amorphous calcification within the body of the tendon near the attachment….
Primary Article
Spontaneous Perforation of the Colon
We describe the clinical presentation and surgical and pathologic findings in seven cases of spontaneous perforation of the colon. The dominant categories found were (1) rupture, usually at the cecum, associated with paralytic ileus, and (2) an idiopathic variety, invariably at the sigmoid. Though the onset of cecal rupture in…
Primary Article
Technical Complications of Ileostomy
A review of 45 patients with ileostomy revealed a complication rate of 24%. A higher incidence of complications was seen in those patients who were obese (80%), who had chronic ulcerative colitis (45%), or who had an emergency ileostomy because of a surgical complication (50%). Strict attention to technic should…
Primary Article
Hemodynamics During Diazepam Induction of Anesthesia for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
The hemodynamics during induction of anesthesia were studied in ten patients with ischemic heart disease about to have coronary artery bypass grafting. Intravenous diazepam, 0.5 mg/kg (with 50% N2O in oxygen inspired and pancuronium IV), was used to induce anesthesia. Compared to awake baseline, induction caused statistically significant decreases in…
Primary Article
Unexplained Conductive Hearing Loss
We report a series of unusual clinical cases which exhibit what we have referred to as unexplained conductive hearing loss. Audiometrically, these cases typically display mild to moderate conductive or mixed-type hearing loss and good word discrimination (80% to 100%). The otologic evaluations also lend support to the audiometric findings….
Primary Article
Life Events, Psychiatric Screening, and Psychosomatic Illness
The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Schedule of Recent Events (SRE) were administered to a consecutive series of referrals to a general hospital psychiatric consultation service. Control groups of psychiatric and medical inpatients matched for age and sex were also evaluated. Significantly greater life change was found in the…
Primary Article
Left Ventricular Function in Sickle Cell Anemia A Noninvasive Evaluation
There is controversy in the medical literature regarding the significance of “sickle cell cardiomyopathy.” In an attempt to clarify this, we studied 14 patients with sickle cell anemia (age range 16 to 36 years) using simultaneous echocardiography and phonocardiography. The values of systolic time intervals and echocardiographic indices of left…
Primary Article
Free Plasma DNA in Patients With Pulmonary Embolism
Plasma samples from 46 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism and 25 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction were analyzed for DNA by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE). Anti-DNA serum was obtained from a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who had a high titer of anti-DNA antibodies. Seven of eight patients (88%) with high…
Primary Article
Conservation Surgery of the Larynx
The goal of conservation surgery of the larynx is to maintain the protective, respiratory, and phonatory function of that organ while completely removing the malignant disease. Thirty-two patients with endolaryngeal invasive squamous cell carcinoma treated by this method between 1958 and 1967 are evaluated. Our cure rate of 91% by…
Primary Article
Overnight Refrigeration of Urine Specimens for Culture
Some authorities state that urine may be refrigerated overnight and still be satisfactory for quantitative bacteriologic evaluation. The papers cited appear to us to be inadequate. Four hundred and fourteen urine cultures were evaluated comparing colony count before and after overnight refrigeration. Overnight refrigeration appears to be a satisfactory means…
Review Article
Farmers Lung Industrial Hazard for Rural Inhabitants
Current Concepts
Hypnosis as an Adjunct in Management of Pain
Hypnosis in the management of intractable pain is a valuable but frequently overlooked tool for the practicing physician. Two cases are presented which illustrate some of the benefits and limitations of hypnosis in pain management. Hypnosis is most effective when the patient is motivated, and pain is a strong motivating…
