Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND.: It is unclear whether the coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality risk associated with obesity is mediated only through traditional CHD risk factors. This analysis evaluated the independent CHD mortality risk due to obesity and determined its population attributable risk (PAR). METHODS.: Using the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (1971-1992, n = 10,582), a diabetes-body mass index (BMI) variable was constructed. The hazard ratios (HR) for fatal CHD in the diabetes-BMI categories (adjusting for age, sex, race, exercise, education level, smoking, hypertension, cholesterol, and alcohol use) were determined and the PARs subsequently estimated. RESULTS.: Compared to lean non-diabetics, the HR (95% CI) for fatal CHD is 0.8 (0.7, 1.1) in overweight non-diabetics, 1.4 (1.3, 2.0) in obese non-diabetics, 2.2 (1.2, 4.0) in lean diabetics, 2.3 (1.4, 3.9) in overweight diabetics, and 3.3 (1.9, 8.9) in obese diabetics. The PAR% is -6.8 (-15.7, 1.8) in overweight non-diabetics, 6.1 (1.7, 11.1) in obese non-diabetics, 2.0 (0.3, 4.0) in lean diabetics, 2.2 (0.6, 4.3) in overweight diabetics, and 2.2 (0.8, 3.8) in obese diabetics. CONCLUSIONS.: Obesity is an independent risk factor for CHD mortality even after controlling for traditional CHD risk factors. The PAR for CHD death in obese non-diabetics is significant. Obesity should be aggressively treated in those without traditional CHD risk factors

To evaluate nurses' priorities for health system reconstruction and professional development in Iraq, a survey of 744 Iraqi nurses was conducted, with the research process managed via the Internet. Seven definite priorities emerged along with significant differences in priorities related to years of experience, age, speciality area of nursing practice, gender, level of education, and geographic location of practice. Results indicate that nurses should be included in health system reconstruction processes and that support for the development of the nursing profession should be included in the plan for overall reconstruction.

The authors review the current literature on the complementary and alternative medicines most frequently utilized by prostate cancer patients and those at risk for the disease. Products covered are vitamin E, vitamin A, selenium, zinc, soy, lycopene, pomegranate juice, green tea and omega-3 fatty acids. There is no definitive proof that any of the nutritional supplements discussed can impact the course of prostate cancer or its development. The authors believe that simply taking a standard daily multivitamin should be sufficient to ensure that patients have the appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals without risking the over utilization of vitamins, minerals, and supplements which can lead to numerous negative side effects.

Quinolones are great drugs, but like all great drugs, they should be used judiciously. All drugs have side effects, and this family of antibiotics is no exception, causing occasional diarrhea, insomnia, tremors and restlessness. Quinolones have traditionally established themselves as gram-negative drugs for the urinary tract. But further quinolones were developed, including Levaquin and Avelox, that not only treated atypical lung infections but also showed better activity against garden-variety pneumococcus. Criticism against quinolones has obscured a safe, versatile and extremely useful category of drugs

BACKGROUND: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) reduces the co-morbidities of obesity. Patients with super-super obesity (BMI>or=60) present additional technical and medical challenges. This study compares the results in super-super-obese patients with patients with a BMI of <60 over a 5.5-year period. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed of the 504 patients who underwent open RYGBP from January 1999 through June 2004. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A (444 patients) had a BMI <60, and Group B (60 patients) had a BMI>or=60, and also had a greater percentage of males. The groups were otherwise similar in demographics and co-morbidities. RESULTS: Concomitant ventral herniorrhaphy was performed in 23 patients (5%) in Group A and in 3 patients (5%) in Group B. Concomitant cholecystectomy was done in 11.2% in Group A and 10% in Group B. Group A patients had an incidence of leaks of 1.3%, and there were no leaks in Group B. Wound infection rate for Group A was 5% vs 1.7 % in Group B (NS). Mortality for both groups was similar. The stricture rate for Group A was 0.9% compared with 1.7 % for Group B. After 1 year, excess weight lost was 41.7% in Group A and 38.3% in Group B. The development of anemia was not statistically different (8.3% vs 11.0 %). Incidence of postoperative gallbladder disease and incisional hernia was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Super-super-obese patients should not be excluded from RYGBP because of a perceived increased risk based upon BMI

We assessed the quality of care for substance use disorders (SUDs) among 8,083 patients diagnosed with serious mental illness from the VA mid-Atlantic region. Using data from the National Patient Care Database (2001-2002), we assessed the percentage of patients receiving a diagnosis of SUD, percentage beginning SUD treatment 14 days or earlier after diagnosis, and percentage receiving continued SUD care 30 days or less. Overall, 1,559 (19.3%) were diagnosed with an SUD. Of the 1,559, 966 (62.0%) initiated treatment and 847 (54.3%) received continued care. Although patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder were more likely to receive a diagnosis of SUD than those diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (22.7%, 18.9%, and 17.7%, respectively; chi(2) = 26.02, df = 2, p < .001), they were less likely to initiate (49.1%, 70.7%, and 68.6%, respectively; chi(2) = 59.29, df = 2, p < .001) or continue treatment (39.9%, 63.2%, and 62.2%, respectively; chi(2) = 72.25, df = 2, p <. 001). Greater efforts are needed to diagnose and treat SUDs in patients with serious mental illness, particularly for those with bipolar disorder

GOAL: To study the rate at which Helicobacter pylori infection is treated in an immigrant cohort after diagnosis by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and is especially prevalent in East Asia; immigrants from this part of the world remain at higher risk. Infection with H. pylori is a known risk factor for gastric cancer. There have been no studies of completion of H. pylori treatment in immigrant populations. STUDY: Prospective cohort study of East Asian immigrants diagnosed with H. pylori infection who underwent EGD in a gastric cancer screening protocol. Our primary outcome was self-report or chart evidence of completion of treatment of H. pylori. RESULTS: Sixty-eight of the 126 participants (54%) tested positive for H. pylori infection on EGD. Forty-nine (72%) were seen for a follow-up visit at one of the clinics involved in the study. According to clinic records, 39 of these 49 participants (57% of all H. pylori-positive participants) were prescribed treatment. Only 31 participants (46%) completed treatment. Of possible explanatory factors, only having a 'regular doctor' was significantly associated with treatment completion (odds ratio=5.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-25.0). CONCLUSIONS: In a sample of Asian immigrants, the rate of treatment of H. pylori infection, a potentially modifiable risk factor, was lower than expected. Having a 'regular doctor' appeared to increase the likelihood of receiving appropriate follow-up care

Advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been remarkable since the mid-20th century. Even the clinical terminology used to describe some of the various components of ACS have undergone change, while the latter term itself represents a fairly recent addition to the medical lexicon. Although there have been dramatic changes in the diagnostic and therapeutic interventions used and impressive declines in morbidity and mortality, the differential diagnosis and complications of AMI and ACS remain as challenging now as they were a half century ago. This article presents in detail the medical understanding of AMI in the mid-20th century and how physicians of that era managed it and its complications, and contrasts this with current evidence-based knowledge and interventions