SMJ // January 1981, Volume 74 - Issue 1
Primary Article
Malignant Melanoma in West Virginia
In West Virginia from 1959 to 1975 there were 279 deaths caused by malignant melanoma. From 1959 to 1967 there were 8.4 such deaths per year and from 1968 to 1975, 25.4 per year (2P < .0005). This trend was observed throughout the state. The population-adjusted melanoma mortality of 1.45…
Primary Article
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Helping Bereaved Parents Talk With Children
Management of sudden infant death syndrome must address the psychologic effect upon all family members. A childs level of cognitive development will determine the way in which the death is understood. There are guidelines for helping parents talk with children about what happened in a way appropriate to their own…
Primary Article
Child Abuse Registry in Georgia Three Years of Experience
The number of reported cases of physical child abuse in Georgia from July 1975 to June 1978 increased. Of 4,292 cases reported, 57% were confirmed. School officials most often reported cases of suspected abuse; 69% were confirmed by social work investigation. Metropolitan black female children had the highest residence/race/sex-specific abuse…
Primary Article
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Primary Article
Christmas Bow Pins A Potential Inhaled Foreign Body Made Safer by Industrial Modifications
The 3M Company (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company) has produced about three billion plastic Christmas bow pins over 20 years. When it was reported that inhalation of these pins had resulted in two deaths, the company sought otolaryngologic consultation to suggest design modifications which would decrease the risk of aspiration…
Primary Article
Ligation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Premature Neonates Anesthetic Management
A retrospective study covering a five-year period was conducted on 40 premature neonates who had had general anesthesia for surgical correction of patent ductus arteriosus. The anesthetic management of these patients was carefully reviewed. The mean weight at surgery was 1,243 gm, and the mean gestational age at birth was…
Primary Article
Generalized Exfoliation Associated With Staphylococcus aureus Infection
A 67-year-old man presented with a rash that was refractory to systemic corticosteroid therapy. Physical examination revealed sloughing skin on his hands, soles, and lower extremities. Stroking involved and uninvolved skin produced Nikolskys sign. Skin biopsies revealed the plane of cleavage to be in the basal epidermal layer. Cultures of…
Primary Article
Gonadal Dysgenesis in a Neonate
Primary Article
Lumbar Puncture and the Diagnosis of Meningitis
Because the symptomatology of meningitis in infancy frequently is nonspecific, interns and residents staffing a busy pediatric hospital emergency room are encouraged to perform lumbar punctures at the slightest suspicion of meningitis. The effects of this policy were investigated with regard to the number of lumbar punctures done, number of…
Primary Article
Percutaneous Approach to the Renal Pelvis Combined Use of Ultrasonography and Fluoroscopy
The percutaneous approach to the renal pelvis provides access for antegrade urography, percutaneous nephrostomy, or endourologic manipulation. Having performed 31 successful procedures, including the percutaneous placement of double-pigtail ureteral stents for ureterovesical obstruction, we advocate the combined use of ultrasonography and fluoroscopy to achieve optimal results.
Primary Article
Retinopathy in Toxemia of Pregnancy
Two cases of toxemia of pregnancy are presented, with color photographic documentation of the accompanying retinopathy. Although both pregnancies resulted in delivery of a viable infant and resolution of other systemic manifestations of toxemia, both patients were left with severe visual impairment. The retinopathy of toxemia is emphasized as a…
Primary Article
Diabetic Care An Integrated Subspecialty and Primary Care Approach
The University of Virginia Department of Medicine has reorganized its adult diabetic ambulatory care program to provide optimal primary care and subspecialty services. This new program, the Diabetes Consult Service of the University Medical Associates, is organized to provide primary care by a single physician in addition to subspecialized medical,…
Review Article
Nutritional Aspects of Urolithiasis
Review Article
Immunity and Skin Cancer
Observations in humans and animal studies support the theory that immunologic surveillance plays an important role in limiting the development of skin malignancies. These immune responses undergo progressive diminution with age. In addition, other factors, such as bereavement, poor nutrition, and acute and chronic exposure to ultraviolet light, can further…
Current Concepts
Surgery for Morbid Obesity indications, Complications, Alternatives
Article
And How Big Is the Spleen?
Medical Education
Notes on a Medical Internship
Though much is currently written about the fate of the medical internship, only one previous study detailing the specifics of the internship experience has been recorded in the literature. The present report summarizes a straight medical internship in a university training program. There were 329 admissions in 123 admitting days….
