Consultation with the Specialist

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 371-372
Author(s):  
Brad W. Warner

Wilms tumor is an important solid neoplasm in children that occurs with a frequency of 400 to 500 cases annually in the United States. It is important, therefore, for primary care physicians to be aware of the clinical presentation and associated symptoms and signs of Wilms tumor. Progress in management of this neoplasm has been outstanding, primarily because of cooperative efforts of the National Wilms Tumor Study Group. The significantly improved survival that has resulted from the Group's cooperative efforts serves as a paradigm for the management of all tumors. Presentation Wilms tumor most commonly presents as an asymptomatic abdominal mass. The average age of presentation is 3 to 4 years. This mass, which usually is located in the region of the flank, may be detected during a well-child routine physical examination. It also is not unusual for the mass to expand acutely due to hemorrhage within the tumor. This may account for discovery of the mass by the parents shortly after a recent thorough physical examination. The child also may present with abdominal pain associated with the mass due either to acute hemorrhage or to rupture of the tumor into the peritoneal cavity. Up to one third of children who have Wilms tumor may have microscopic hematuria, and in male patients, obstruction of the left spermatic vein can produce a left-sided varicocele.

Author(s):  
Priya Rewatkar ◽  
Manoj Patil

Introduction: Wilms's tumour was named after Carl Max Wilhelm Wilms, a 19th century German surgeon. Wilm’s tumor is derived from primitive metanephric blastema and is a form of childhood carcinoma that begins in the kidneys (also called nephroblastoma). In infants, it is the most common form of kidney carcinoma. 9 out of 10 kidney cancers in kids is Wilms Tumor. Carcinoma can spread to other parts of the body. The incidence is around seven new cases per million children in the United States, with a peak incidence between the ages of 2 and 3 years. Main symptoms and important clinical findings: A 11 yrs. old female child was admitted in Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Wardha on 08/02/2021 with chief complaint of breathing difficulty, shortness of breath, blood in the urine, nausea and vomiting. After physical examination and investigations, doctors diagnosed it as a case of Wilm’s tumor. The main diagnoses, therapeutic interventions and outcomes: After physical examination and investigations like MRI, doctor diagnosed it as a case Wilm’s tumour. Tab. Actinomycin D (Dactinomycin), tab. Vincristine (chemotherapy) were started and calcium and multivitamin supplements were given for 7 days to enhance immune function. Tab. Septran 160 mg OD and tab. Acenet 400 mg OD, tab. Bactrim 5mg OD was also prescribed. Patient took all treatment and outcome was good. Her signs and symptoms improved. Conclusion: Accurate diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment speeded up recovery.


2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga L. Sarmiento ◽  
William C. Miller ◽  
Carol A. Ford ◽  
Victor J. Schoenbach ◽  
Adaora A. Adimora ◽  
...  

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 950-960
Author(s):  
Frederic P. Anderson

Because of the critical shortage of professional manpower to deliver child health care in the United States, new programs are being developed involving paramedical personnel for the provision of much of the routine health appraisal services traditionally accomplished by the physician. It is difficult to anticipate the effect of such programs Upon the health care of children without knowing what contribution is presently made by the existing system. In an effort to assess the role of the routine physical examination in the health care of the infant under the age of 12 months, the results of 6,668 such examinations by 83 private pediatricians were evaluated in a prospective study. One hundred and thirty significant physical abnormalities (1.9%) were discovered, many of which probably could have been detected by a specially trained nurse or physician's assistant because of their inherent visibility or susceptibility to identification by simple screening procedures. It is concluded that more effective use of the physician's time could be accomplished by the relegation of a major portion of the routine infant physical examination to a paramedical person.


2003 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-524
Author(s):  
Brent Pollitt

Mental illness is a serious problem in the United States. Based on “current epidemiological estimates, at least one in five people has a diagnosable mental disorder during the course of a year.” Fortunately, many of these disorders respond positively to psychotropic medications. While psychiatrists write some of the prescriptions for psychotropic medications, primary care physicians write more of them. State legislatures, seeking to expand patient access to pharmacological treatment, granted physician assistants and nurse practitioners prescriptive authority for psychotropic medications. Over the past decade other groups have gained some form of prescriptive authority. Currently, psychologists comprise the primary group seeking prescriptive authority for psychotropic medications.The American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy (“ASAP”), a division of the American Psychological Association (“APA”), spearheads the drive for psychologists to gain prescriptive authority. The American Psychological Association offers five main reasons why legislatures should grant psychologists this privilege: 1) psychologists’ education and clinical training better qualify them to diagnose and treat mental illness in comparison with primary care physicians; 2) the Department of Defense Psychopharmacology Demonstration Project (“PDP”) demonstrated non-physician psychologists can prescribe psychotropic medications safely; 3) the recommended post-doctoral training requirements adequately prepare psychologists to prescribe safely psychotropic medications; 4) this privilege will increase availability of mental healthcare services, especially in rural areas; and 5) this privilege will result in an overall reduction in medical expenses, because patients will visit only one healthcare provider instead of two–one for psychotherapy and one for medication.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 192-197
Author(s):  
Sherry S. Zhou ◽  
Alan P. Baptist

Background: There has been a striking increase in electronic cigarette (EC) use in the United States. The beliefs and practices toward ECs among physicians are unknown. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate EC practice patterns among allergists, pulmonologists, and primary care physicians. Methods: An anonymous survey was sent to physicians. The survey contained 32 questions and addressed issues related to demographics, cessation counseling behaviors, personal use, and knowledge and beliefs about ECs. Statistical analysis was performed by using analysis of variance, the Pearson χ2 test, Fisher exact test, and logistic regression. Results: A total of 291 physicians completed the survey (222 primary care physicians, 33 pulmonologists, and 36 allergists) for a response rate of 46%. The allergists asked about tobacco cigarette use as frequently as did the pulmonologists and more than the primary care physicians (p < 0.001), but they rarely asked about EC use. The pulmonologists scored highest on self-reported knowledge on ECs, although all the groups answered <40% of the questions correctly. The allergists did not feel as comfortable about providing EC cessation counseling as did the pulmonologists and primary care physicians (p < 0.001). All three groups were equally unlikely to recommend ECs as a cessation tool for tobacco cigarette users. Conclusion: Allergists lacked knowledge and confidence in providing education and cessation counseling for EC users. As the number of patients who use these products continues to increase, there is an urgent need for all physicians to be comfortable and knowledgeable with counseling about ECs.


2020 ◽  
pp. 000313482096006
Author(s):  
William Q. Duong ◽  
Areg Grigorian ◽  
Cyrus Farzaneh ◽  
Jeffry Nahmias ◽  
Theresa Chin ◽  
...  

Objectives Disparities in outcomes among trauma patients have been shown to be associated with race and sex. The purpose of this study was to analyze racial and sex mortality disparities in different regions of the United States, hypothesizing that the risk of mortality among black and Asian trauma patients, compared to white trauma patients, will be similar within all regions in the United States. Methods The Trauma Quality Improvement Program (2010-2016) was queried for adult trauma patients, separating by U.S. Census regions. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed for each region, controlling for known predictors of morbidity and mortality in trauma. Results Most trauma patients were treated in the South (n = 522 388, 40.7%). After risk adjustment, black trauma patients had a higher associated risk of death in all regions, except the Northeast, compared to white trauma patients. The highest associated risk of death for blacks (vs. whites) was in the Midwest (odds ratio [OR] 1.30, P < .001). Asian trauma patients only had a higher associated risk of death in the West (OR 1.39, P < .001). Male trauma patients, compared to women, had an increased associated risk of mortality in all four regions. Discussion This study found major differences in outcomes among different races within different regions of the United States. There was also both an increased rate and associated risk of mortality for male patients in all regions. Future prospective studies are needed to identify what regional differences in trauma systems including population density, transport times, hospital access, and other trauma resources explain these findings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uzodimma Ejike Onwuasoanya

Abstract Background Testicular torsion is a urological emergency and needs urgent intervention to prevent testicular loss and impaired future fertility. It is commonly seen in the neonatal and adolescent age groups. Testicular torsion can also present outside these common age groups with uncommon symptoms and signs. We report case series of patients managed at Lily Hospitals Limited, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria with atypical presentation of testicular torsion. Case Presentation The first patient was a 35-year-old male that presented with recurrent right testicular pain of 1-year duration, described as dull aching with no constitutional symptoms, physical examination findings were not pathognomonic of testicular torsion, he had scrotal exploration with right orchidectomy and left orchidopexy. The second patient was a 39-year-old male who presented with recurrent right testicular pain of 4-days duration, described as dull aching with no constitutional symptoms. Physical examination findings were not classical for testicular torsion, he had scrotal exploration with bilateral orchidopexy. Conclusion Testicular torsion although common in neonatal and adolescent age groups can also present outside these age groups with uncommon symptoms and signs, a high index of suspicion is thus invaluable in any patient presenting with testicular pain despite the age and severity to avoid missing the diagnosis as this can lead to testicular loss.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Leanna M. W. Lui ◽  
Yena Lee ◽  
Orly Lipsitz ◽  
Nelson B. Rodrigues ◽  
Hartej Gill ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Benzodiazepine (BZD) prescription rates have increased over the past decade in the United States. Available literature indicates that sociodemographic factors may influence diagnostic patterns and/or prescription behaviour. Herein, the aim of this study is to determine whether the gender of the prescriber and/or patient influences BZD prescription. Methods Cross-sectional study using data from the Florida Medicaid Managed Medical Assistance Program from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. Eligible recipients ages 18 to 64, inclusive, enrolled in the Florida Medicaid plan for at least 1 day, and were dually eligible. Recipients either had a serious mental illness (SMI), or non-SMI and anxiety. Results Total 125 463 cases were identified (i.e., received BZD or non-BZD prescription). Main effect of patient and prescriber gender was significant F(1, 125 459) = 0.105, P = 0 .745, partial η2 < 0.001. Relative risk (RR) of male prescribers prescribing a BZD compared to female prescribers was 1.540, 95% confidence intervals (CI) [1.513, 1.567], whereas the RR of male patients being prescribed a BZD compared to female patients was 1.16, 95% CI [1.14, 1.18]. Main effects of patient and prescriber gender were statistically significant F(1, 125 459) = 188.232, P < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.001 and F(1, 125 459) = 349.704, P < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.013, respectively. Conclusions Male prescribers are more likely to prescribe BZDs, and male patients are more likely to receive BZDs. Further studies are required to characterize factors that influence this gender-by-gender interaction.


2014 ◽  
Vol 05 (03) ◽  
pp. 789-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.Y. Ting ◽  
M. Healey ◽  
S.R. Lipsitz ◽  
A.S. Karson ◽  
J. S. Einbinder ◽  
...  

SummaryBackground: As adoption and use of electronic health records (EHRs) grows in the United States, there is a growing need in the field of applied clinical informatics to evaluate physician perceptions and beliefs about the impact of EHRs. The meaningful use of EHR incentive program provides a suitable context to examine physician beliefs about the impact of EHRs.Objective: Contribute to the sparse literature on physician beliefs about the impact of EHRs in areas such as quality of care, effectiveness of care, and delivery of care.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of physicians at two academic medical centers (AMCs) in the northeast who were preparing to qualify for the meaningful use of EHR incentive program.Results: Of the 1,797 physicians at both AMCs who were preparing to qualify for the incentive program, 967 completed the survey for an overall response rate of 54%. Only 23% and 27% of physicians agreed or strongly agreed that meaningful use of the EHR will help them improve the care they personally deliver and improve quality of care respectively. Physician specialty was significantly associated with beliefs; e.g., 35% of primary care physicians agreed or strongly agreed that meaningful use will improve quality of care compared to 26% of medical specialists and 21% of surgical specialists (p=0.009). Satisfaction with outpatient EHR was also significantly related to all belief items.Conclusions: Only about a quarter of physicians in our study responded positively that meaningful use of the EHR will improve quality of care and the care they personally provide. These findings are similar to and extend findings from qualitative studies about negative perceptions that physicians hold about the impact of EHRs. Factors outside of the regulatory context, such as physician beliefs, need to be considered in the implementation of the meaningful use of the EHR incentive program.Citation: Emani S, Ting DY, Healey M, Lipsitz SR, Karson AS, Einbinder JS, Leinen L, Suric V, Bates DW. Physician beliefs about the impact of meaningful use of the EHR: A cross-sectional study. Appl Clin Inf 2014; 5: 789–801http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2014-05-RA-0050


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