SMJ // April 1986, Volume 79 - Issue 4
Primary Article
Quality of Life Six Months After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Preliminary Report
ABSTRACT: Ninety-six patients who had coronary artery bypass grafting showed improvement on the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale at six months postoperatively. Findings of improved sexual function and vocational status were unexpected in light of previous studies. Older patients showed less psychologic distress than younger ones after coronary artery bypass…
Primary Article
Postpanic Anxiety Disorder: Diagnosis and Treatment
ABSTRACT: Patients with a postpanic anxiety disorder (PPAD) have panic attacks less frequently than patients with a panic disorder. A PPAD must be suspected when a physician notes the following: (1) persistent somatic complaints despite repeatedly normal results of physical examinations and laboratory tests, (2) reluctance to engage in certain…
Primary Article
Fragile-X Mental Retardation Syndrome Transmitted Through Intellectually Normal Males: Implications for Genetic Counseling
ABSTRACT: The fragile-X mental retardation syndrome is the second most common identifiable cause of mental retardation in man. This condition violates many of the expectations for X-linked disorders, including the transmission of the syndrome through men who carry the gene but, for unknown reasons, do not express it. Two new…
Primary Article
Bowens Disease, Pagets Disease, and Malignant Melanoma in Situ
ABSTRACT: The histologic differential diagnosis of skin lesions characterized by large, atypical, clear cells in the epidermis includes Bowens disease, Pagets disease (mammary and extramammary), malignant melanoma in situ (pagetoid precancerous melanosis), mycosis fungoides, Spitz nevus, and artifact. Our experience with these lesions indicates that these diseases can be differentiated…
Primary Article
Myocardial Damage and Electrical Injuries Significance of Early Elevation of CPK-MB Isoenzymes
ABSTRACT: Significant cardiac complications among immediate survivors of high-voltage electrical injuries are less common than previously suspected. Transient arrhythmias predominate. The MB isoenzyme of serum creatine phosphokinase may be factitiously elevated within the first 48 hours after injury. In the absence of clinical symptoms or electrocardiographic signs of ischemia, early…
Primary Article
Prospective Study of Pneumonia: Unexpected Incidence of Legionellosis
ABSTRACT: In a prospective study of the etiology of pneumonia in patients hospitalized at a university hospital, all respiratory secretions were tested for routine pathogens as well as Legionella. A diagnosis was established in 60 of 87 patients studied. Of the 37 nosocomial infections, six were caused by L micdadei….
Primary Article
Outbreak of Penicillinase-Producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae With an African Connection
ABSTRACT: Previous outbreaks of penicillinase-producing gonococcal infection in the United States have generally been attributed to importation of Southeast Asian strains. During July 1982 through July 1983, 110 cases of gonorrhea caused by penicillinase-producing strains were reported in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Among the 53 infected women, 14 (26%) had pelvic…
Primary Article
Freestanding Emergency Centers and the Patient Population of Internists
ABSTRACT:To compare the characteristics of patients seeking care in freestanding emergency centers with the patients seen by internists, we studied the adult populations of two freestanding emergency centers (FECs) through an audit of medical records for 20 days randomly selected throughout 1983. We recorded the age, sex, time of visit,…
Primary Article
Correlation of the One-Minute Apgar Score and Umbilical Cord Acid-Base Status
ABSTRACT: The one-minute Apgar score has proven useful by ensuring rapid assessment of the neonate, but is often poorly correlated with other indicators of intrauterine well-being. Since fetal asphyxia is directly associated with neonatal acidosis, a low Apgar score in the face of normal pH and base deficit does not…
Primary Article
Tissue Expansion in the Treatment of Hypertrophic Scars and Scar Contractures
ABSTRACT: The temporary tissue expander can generate an excess of full-thickness skin that can be recruited into an adjacent area of tissue deficiency caused by scar contracture. The creation of a pseudobursa enhances the functional improvement gained by this technique. Now in its developmental stage, tissue expansion carries an alarming…
Primary Article
Use of a Medical Facility by Christian Scientists
ABSTRACT: Our study, unique in its use of medical records as well as self-report data, was conducted to ascertain the extent to which Christian Scientists used a medical facility and whether or not such use was related to the experience of psychologic stress. Their use of medical facilities was found…
Primary Article
Physicians Opinions of the Accuracy, Accessibility, and Frequency of Use of Ten Sources of New Drug Information
ABSTRACT: We surveyed internists, surgeons, and general practitioners in a six-county area of North Carolina to determine how accurate and accessible they believed ten sources of new drug information to be and how frequently they used each of the sources. Evaluable questionnaires were returned by 119 of the 336 physicians….
Primary Article
Infant Mortality in a Rural Health District in Georgia, 1974 to 1981
ABSTRACT: In 1979 the infant mortality rate (IMR) dropped nearly 50% in a rural health district in southeast Georgia, and this lower rate continued during the next two years. For infants born during 1979 to 1981, the IMR was 12.4 as compared with 21.6 for those born from 1974 to…
Primary Article
Microcomputers, Interactive Videodisks, and Psychodynamic Simulations
ABSTRACT: Recent endeavors have applied microcomputers and interactive laser/optical videodisks to create simulations of psychodynamic processes. This paper briefly describes the technical aspects of microcomputers and videodisks, explores attributes and drawbacks of these simulation systems, and outlines future directions toward the ideal psychodynamic simulation.
Review Article
Genitourinary Fungal Infections
ABSTRACT: Genitourinary fungal infections have become increasingly common in clinical practice. We review the literature on such infections, emphasizing recognition of fungal disease, predisposing factors, pathogenesis, and approaches to therapy.
