A behaviorally effective model for training of general health professionals by a rheumatology team

This project evaluated a model for inservice arthritis education based in part on principles of applied behavior analysis. Thirty-seven public health nurses (PHN) from 10 rural midwestern counties received instruction about screening and management of patients with arthritis; a random half of counties also received public and physician information interventions designed to increase arthritis referrals to community physicians under specific circumstances. In clinic interviews with patients of PHN showed modest, but significant, increases in 14 of 16 target behaviors attributable to inservice education. Because measured arthritis impact was low in this older adult population, physician referral rates were not affected by either intervention. This model illustrates generalizable behavior modification guidelines that are useful adjuncts to traditional procedures for development of professional arthritis education.     

Flow cytometry of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: influence of prior local therapy

A review of acridine-orange DNA and RNA flow cytometry (FCM) histograms of 249 bladder irrigation specimens from 129 patients with a previous history of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) reveals that aneuploidy and tetraploidy (greater than 10% of total cell population) are reliable markers to detect the presence of bladder tumor in patients treated by surgical resection of tumor only. Tetraploidy is unreliable when the patient received intravesical chemotherapy or radiation therapy but aneuploidy remains accurate. A comparison of the reliability of FCM compared with cytology indicates an overall lower sensitivity and specificity for FCM (respectively, 52% and 73%) as opposed to cytology (respectively, 62% and 92%). Sensitivity is improved and raised to 77% if FCM and cytology are used in conjunction and reaches 82% in patients treated by surgery only and 88% in those who received radiation therapy. The lowest sensitivity and specificity obtained with FCM are in patients treated by intravesical chemotherapy (respectively, 44% and 58%) and the highest are in those treated by surgery without additional therapy (56% and 83%). This study demonstrates that FCM criteria for diagnosis of TCC of urinary bladder on bladder irrigation specimens depends on patient's treatment history. It also indicates that sensitivity and specificity of cytology to detect bladder tumor are superior to those obtained with FCM but both methods may be considerably improved if they are used in conjunction.     

L-arginine reverses the antinatriuretic effect of cyclosporin in renal transplant patients

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporin has been shown to facilitate renal vasoconstriction and to have an antinatriuretic effect. The existence of an interference of cyclosporin with the vasodilating properties of endothelium mediated by nitric oxide production could mediate these effects. On the other hand, the infusion of the nitric oxide precursor L-arginine has been shown to induce renal vasodilatation and to facilitate natriuresis in normal volunteers. We have investigated the renal effects of the administration of an infusion of L-arginine in renal transplant patients chronically treated with cyclosporin. To facilitate the analysis of the data the effects of the administration of a similar dose of cyclosporin on renal function during the infusion of a vehicle were also investigated during the administration of a vehicle of L-arginine. DESIGN: Ten male renal transplant patients, chronically treated with cyclosporin and with a stable renal function were studied during 2 consecutive days after the administration of the usual morning dose of cyclosporin. The first day they received an intravenous infusion of vehicle and the second the infusion of graded doses of L-arginine (50, 100, 150 mg/kg/h) during 3 consecutive h. RESULTS: The first day, after cyclosporin administration a significant fall (P < 0.01) was observed in natriuresis and kaliuresis in the absence of changes in renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate. After the administration of L-arginine significant (P < 0.01) increases of renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, and natriuresis were seen. The increase in blood levels of cyclosporin after its administration did not differ between days 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that L-arginine facilitates renal vasodilatation and natriuresis in renal transplant patients. Furthermore, the observed increase in sodium excretion could indicate that L-arginine counteracts the antinatriuretic effect of cyclosporin.      

Submucous myomas treated with gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist and resulting in vaginal hemorrhage. A case report

Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists are often used in the management of myomas in an attempt to decrease both the myoma and uterine volume. This therapy in a woman with submucous myomas resulted in profuse vaginal bleeding requiring a transfusion and myomectomy.