Diagnosis of Huntington disease: A model for the stages of psychological response based on experience of a predictive testing program

Persons diagnosed as affected with Huntington's disease (HD) may have similar stages of psychological response to the clinical presentation of the illness. Here we describe a model of these stages of response based on our experience during a predictive testing program for HD. During the warning Stage, asymptomatic persons are aware of their risk status for HD and develop defenses which favor adaptation to their genetic risk. In response to the initial signs and symptoms of HD (the Incipient Stage) unconscious working through of this realization occurs while it is still kept out of conscious awareness. When symptoms become obvious such that recognition of disease onset is inevitable (Break-through Stage) the possibility of the diagnosis of HD is assimilated. After the delivery of the diagnosis during the Adjustment Stage, short-and long-term adaptive responses to living with HD occur. Recognition of the stage of psychological response of a patient who presents with HD is important prior to delivering a clinical diagnosis. In a significant minority of cases, the psychological readiness lags behind the clinical symptomatology and premature presentation of diagnosis may result in significant untoward adverse events. Understanding of the stages of response may provide a frame-work for evaluating the psychological state of the person with HD and determining their readiness to receiving the diagnosis. This model may have relevance to the psychological responses of patients to the diagnosis of other late onset autosomal dominant disorders. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Ultrasonic features of pyogenic liver abscesses

Ultrasonic features of 21 surgically confirmed pyogenic liver abscesses in 18 patients were analyzed. Typical lesions were round or ovoid with a discrete, irregular, echo-poor margin. The number and intensity of internal echoes and sound transmission were variable. Such lesions can be aspirated percutaneously for definitive preoperative diagnosis. Pyogenic liver abscesses appear to have more ragged walls and are less frequently elliptical or multilocular than abscesses elsewhere in the abdomen.     

Clinical and statistical prediction: Where are we and where do we go from here?

In the years following the publication of P.E. Meehl's monograph, our understanding of clinical and statistical prediction has been enriched by both empirical and conceptual analyses. The highlights of this period are reviewed with an emphasis on prediction models, in order to illustrate the basic features held in common by these two literatures. We appear to be on the threshold of an era of parsimonious prediction models. That being the case we can now return our attention to the problems of developing better assessment devices and more meaningful criterion measures and of developing procedures that will increase the accuracy of clinical judgment and prediction.     

Use-effectiveness of the diaphragm in a selected family planning clinic population in the United Kingdom

4052 established users of the diaphragm aged 25–39 years attending family planning clinics in the United Kingdom have been followed during 5909 woman-years of exposure to the risk of pregnancy. 139 accidental pregnancies have been observed, representing a use-effectiveness pregnancy rate of 2.4 per 100 woman-years. Of the factors related to the risk of accidental pregnancy, the age of the user and the duration of use of the diaphragm appear to be the most important.It is concluded that women attending family planning clinics who are already established users of the diaphragm need not be encouraged to change to a more modern method of birth control with its attendant risks.     

Effect of iontophoretic and topical application of antiviral agents in treatment of experimental HSV-1 keratitis in rabbits.

Cathodal (-) iontophoresis of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-adenine 5'-monophosphate (vidarabine monophosphate; Ara-AMP) was performed once daily for 3 days for the treatment of experimental herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) keratitis in rabbit eyes, and the therapeutic efficacy was compared with that of topical treatment of Ara-AMP and idoxuridine (IDU) administered five times daily for 4 days. With the treatment initiated 24 hr after viral inoculation, Ara-AMP cathodal iontophoresis resulted in significant suppression of epithelial and anterior segment disease processes. Topical IDU (0.5%) or Ara-AMP (10%) also significantly improved the disease process when compared to the placebo-treated group; however, iontophoresis of Ara-AMP resulted in a more marked improvement. Slit-lamp examination indicated that iontophoresis did not cause any observable pathologic changes in corneal epithelium, stroma, conjunctiva, or iris of rabbit eyes. This experiment suggests that iontophoresis of Ara-AMP is a safe and effective approach for preventing the development of herpes simplex keratitis in rabbits.     

Elevated white cell count at commencement of peritoneal dialysis predicts overall and cardiac mortality

BACKGROUND: Higher total white blood cell counts (WCC) have been shown in the general population to be strongly and independently predictive of coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of WCC in patients commencing peritoneal dialysis (PD). METHODS: A cohort of 323 patients (mean age 55.1 +/- 17.7 years, 54% male, 81% Caucasian) commencing PD at the Princess Alexandra Hospital between January 1, 1998 and March 31, 2003 were prospectively followed until death, completion of PD therapy, or otherwise to the end of the study (January 2, 2004), at which point data were censored. Individuals with failed renal transplants (N= 17) and those with acute infections at the time of PD onset (N= 12) were not included. A multivariate Cox's proportional hazards model was applied to calculate hazard ratios and adjusted survival curves for time to death or cardiac death, adjusting for baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. RESULTS: Median actuarial patient survival was 3.9 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.2-4.7 years]. The highest quartile of WCC (>9.4 x 10(9)/L) was significantly and independently associated with increased risks of both death from all causes [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.27, 95% CI 1.09-4.74, P < 0.05] and cardiac death (HR 3.75, 95% CI 1.2-11.8, P < 0.05). Other adverse risk factors included older age, lower serum albumin, and the presence of coronary artery disease. Similar associations were found between mortality and PMN count, but not lymphocyte count. CONCLUSION: Elevated baseline WCC or PMN count at the commencement of PD (in the absence of acute infection) strongly predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. These data suggest that new PD patients with higher WCC may warrant closer monitoring and extra attention to modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.