Faculty Bibliography

In about one in five appendectomies performed in this country, the appendix turns out to be normal. And another one patient in five has appendicitis but is sent home with the condition undiagnosed. A chief factor in both situations is the imprecision of standard preoperative diagnostic tests. Now a modification of standard CT-scan X-rays that are available in most large hospitals promises to enable doctors to diagnose appendicitis more accurately and to reduce the number of appendectomies significantly, radiologists from Boston told a meeting of the Radiological Society of North America on Tuesday. The figures were based on a study of 100 patients over a six-month period ending in March who were suspected of having an inflamed appendix and who had X-rays taken with the new CT-scan modification before surgery. In it, X-rays are taken of the right-lower area of the abdomen, where the appendix is usually found

Tissue irritation, as evidenced by phlebitis, associated with Optiva (Johnson & Johnson Medical) and Insyte (Becton Dickinson) polyurethane cannulae was studied. The integrity of the cannulae on removal, the incidence of infection at the cannula site and the factors which influence phlebitis were also examined. One thousand and eight patients had a polyurethane cannula placed for induction of anaesthesia for cardiac surgery. After surgery, the cannula was examined every 24 hours. If evidence of phlebitis occurred, the cannula was removed and sent for culture. All remaining cannulae were removed at 72 hours and the site examined daily for a further three days. There were 503 Optiva and 505 Insyte cannulae studied. The distributions between the two cannulae with respect to patient characteristics, gauge of cannula, number of attempts and difficulty of insertion, cannula site and anaesthetist inserting were similar. The early removal rate for both groups was 47%. Overall phlebitis rate with Optiva was 31% and Insyte 33%. This difference is not statistically significant. The cumulative phlebitis rate increased with time but did not differ between the two types of cannulae. Minor tip distortion or shaft kinking of the cannulae occurred in 16.2% of Optiva and 23.5% of Insyte. This difference is statistically significant and may relate to the slightly more acute taper at the Optiva cannula tip. Both cannulae were similar in clinical performance.

The case of a 35-year-old woman who reported to Siegel with abnormal and sometimes missing periods is recounted. The diagnosis was premature menopause

More than 3 million people, mostly under age 25, have become newly infected with the AIDS virus this year, officials of the United Nations and the World Health Organization said. The new cases bring to nearly 23 million the total number who are infected. In the 15 years since the discovery of AIDS, an additional 6.4 million people - 5 million adults and 1.4 million children - have died. Of those deaths, 1.5 million will have occurred in 1996. The figures are estimates, because most Third-World countries vastly underreport official AIDS figures for reasons largely related to crude disease surveillance systems, the Geneva-based agencies said in reporting them a few days before World AIDS Day on Sunday

More than 3 million people, most ly under age younger than 25, have become infected with the AIDS virus this year, officials of the United Nations and the World Health Organization said this week. Wednesday. The figures are estimates because most Third World countries vastly underreport official AIDS figures for reasons largely related to crude disease surveillance systems, the Geneva-based agencies said in reporting them a few days before World AIDS Day on Sunday. New outbreaks of HIV infections are erupting in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, China and elsewhere, said Dr. Peter Piot, who heads the United Nations' global AIDS program. Surveys show surging rates of infection among sex workers, truck drivers and migrant workers, who are transmitting the disease in wider areas in many of the countries.nations

More than 3 million people, mostly under age 25, have become newly infected with the AIDS virus this year, officials of the United Nations and the World Health Organization said Wednesday. They stressed the need for more vigorous programs to prevent further spread of the virus because it is being transmitted in all countries. The figures are estimates because most Third World countries vastly underreport official AIDS figures for reasons largely related to crude disease surveillance systems, the Geneva-based agencies said in reporting them a few days before World AIDS Day on Sunday. New outbreaks of HIV infection are erupting in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, China and elsewhere, said Dr. Peter Piot, who heads the United Nations' global AIDS program. Surveys show surging rates of infection among sex workers, truck drivers and migrant workers who are transmitting the disease in wider areas in many of the countries

Officials of the UN and World Health Organization said on Nov 27, 1996 that more than three million people, most of them under age 25, have become newly infected with the AIDS virus this year. They stressed the need for more vigourous programs to prevent further spread of HIV. The new cases bring to nearly 23 million the total number who are infected

In the aftermath of his bypass surgery, Russian Pres Boris Yeltsin is chaffing at the restraints doctors have placed on his activities. It isn't that Yeltsin is unfamiliar with postsurgical care, but he is used to calling the shots and is a workaholic that is eager to prove he's still in charge of the country

An American surgeon consulting in the treatment of Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin said on Nov 6, 1996 that Yeltsin's doctors are delighted with the speed of his initial recovery from multiple bypass heart surgery on Nov 5. But as Yeltsin formally resumed his official powers, he was warned of the danger of trying to resume a heavy workload too soon

An American surgeon, consulting in the treatment of President Boris Yeltsin, said Wednesday that the Russian leader's doctors are delighted with the speed of his initial recovery from multiple bypass heart surgery Tuesday. But as Yeltsin formally resumed the official powers he had handed over to Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin for the period of surgery, the American heart specialist, Dr. Michael DeBakey, said he had personally warned the president of the danger of trying to resume a heavy workload too soon. Yeltsin, 65, had no evidence of neurological complications from the operation and 'was absolutely alert -- I didn't expect him to be that alert, and he was even joking a bit,' DeBakey said after joining Russian doctors in examining the president at a cardiology hospital Wednesday