Awareness of cancer-related programs and services among rural African Americans.

African Americans are at increased risk for cancer and represent an important target population for programs such as Healthy People 2000, the Cancer Information Service (CIS), and the 5 a Day for Better Health Initiative. Yet, awareness of such programs among rural blacks is unknown. This study assessed awareness of these programs and determined related knowledge and beliefs among rural African Americans. It was undertaken as part of the baseline survey for the Black Churches United for Better Health project, a National Cancer Institute-funded initiative. A minority of respondents (n = 3737) demonstrated name recognition of Healthy People 2000 (23.4%), the CIS (42.4%), and the 5 a Day Program (40.7%). Far fewer (7.4%) were able to correctly identify the recommended daily number of servings of fruits and vegetables. Reported family history of cancer was associated with a greater tendency believe that eating more fruits and vegetables can prevent disease. These findings underscore the need for efforts to reach the rural black community with culturally sensitive and stage appropriate cancer prevention messages. Knowledge of family history of cancer may play an important role in targeting subgroups and delivering effective cancer prevention messages.     

Hyperthyrotrophinaemia during thyroxine replacement therapy

During the follow-up of 224 cases of treated hypothyroidism, 14 clinically euthyroid patients were found to have elevated serum thyrotrophin and normal total thyroxine concentrations. Closer observation of these patients during the following 27 months resulted in the serum thyrotrophin levels returning to normal spontaneously in 8 patients (Group 1) whilst remaining elevated in 6 (Group 2), despite no significant differences in thyroid hormone levels between the two groups. Serum thyrotrophin in Group 2 patients remained high until an additional 50 micrograms/day thyroxine was prescribed although only 2 patients noted any benefit. Non-compliance or inadequate dosage of thyroxine are the probable causes of this sub-clinical hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone estimations fail to differentiate the two conditions and we recommend a period of closer observation before making any thyroxine dosage adjustments in order to detect non-compliance.     

Staged bilateral thalamic electrode implantation utilizing frameless stereotactic guidance.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for medically intractable Parkinson's disease (PD) is well established, but carries the inconveniences of frame-based neurosurgery. Previous reports have demonstrated that ventricular shunt placement and some functional procedures can be accurately performed using frameless stereotaxy. We present a report indicating that staged deep brain electrode placement can be accurate and efficacious using a frameless skull-mounted guide.     

Prevention of bacterial infection and sepsis in acute severe pancreatitis.

Between 1984 and 1986 six patients with acute respiratory failure (requiring ventilation for at least 3 days) complicating acute pancreatitis were managed on the intensive care unit (median ventilation period 6 days; range 3-41 days). Between 1987 and 1989 nine similar patients were managed (median ventilation period 35 days, range 4-69 days), and a regimen of enteral tobramycin, polymyxin and amphotericin to selectively decontaminate the digestive tract (SDD) was introduced. Five of six patients treated before 1987 had serious infections (three Gram-negative, one fungal), compared with only one of nine patients treated with SDD (P < 0.05). Clinical signs of sepsis were evident for 62% of the pre-SDD period, compared with 39% of the period during SDD therapy (P < 0.001). Systemic antibiotic prescribing was reduced in the SDD group; however, mortality remained unaffected with only two patients surviving pre-SDD and three during SDD treatment. SDD reduces infection rates and sepsis in patients with acute pancreatitis and may help to improve the prognosis of this life-threatening condition.     

A randomized controlled trial of electromagnetic therapy in the primary care management of venous leg ulceration

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to establish the potential efficacy, tolerabilityand side-effect profile of electromagnetic therapy as an adjunctto conventional dressings in the treatment of venous leg ulcers. METHOD: A prospective, randomized, double blind controlled clinicaltrial was carried out in a dedicated leg ulcer clinic basedin one urban general practice. Nineteen patients with leg ulcersof confirmed venous aetiology were assessed. The main outcomemeasures were rate and scale of venous leg ulcer healing, changesin patient-reported pain levels, quality of life, degree ofmobility, side effect profile and acceptability to patientsand staff. RESULTS: Sixty-eight per cent of patients attending this dedicated clinicachieved improvements in the size of their ulcer (4, 21%, healedfully) and in reduced pain levels (P < 0.05) during the trial,despite the chronicity of ulcer histories. Patients treatedwith electromagnetic therapy at 800 Hz were found at day 50to have significantly greater healing (P < 0.05) and paincontrol (P < 0.05) than placebo therapy or treatment with600 Hz. All patients reported improved mobility at the end ofthe study. The electromagnetic therapy was well tolerated bypatients, with no differences between groups in reporting adverseevents, and proved acceptable to staff. CONCLUSION: Despite the small numbers in this pilot study, electromagnetictherapy provided significant gains in the healing of venousleg ulcers and reduction in pain. Keywords. Electromagnetic therapy, RCT, leg ulcers, primary care.