Retinoids for preventing the progression of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia.

Background: Invasive cervical carcinoma is preceded by a precancerous phase, cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN), which can be detected on cervical smears and confirmed by colposcopy and biopsy. Moderate and severe cases of intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN2 and CIN3) are treated mainly with surgery to prevent progression to invasive carcinoma. Medical methods of preventing the progression or inducing the regression of CIN are needed.

Correlating weather and trauma admissions at a level I trauma center.

Background: Popular emergency room wisdom touts higher temperatures, snowfall, weekends, and evenings as variables that increase trauma admissions. This study analyzed the possible correlation between trauma admissions and specific weather variables, and between trauma admissions and time of day or season.

Methods: Trauma admission data from a Level I trauma center database from July 1, 1996 to January 31, 2002 was downloaded and linked with local weather data from the Archives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website, and then analyzed.

Development and Evaluation of a Nutrition and Physical Activity Counseling Module for First-Year Medical Students.

Introduction: Few Americans follow recommendations regarding nutrition or physical activity, and few physicians provide nutritional counseling (NC) or physical activity counseling (PAC) to patients. Clinical, systems-based, and institutional barriers to teaching and providing NC and PAC exist, but theoretical models of behavior change and principles of adult learning theory (ALT) can enable medical educators to overcome these barriers.

Methods: We developed an educational intervention consisting of interactive lectures and two standardized patient experiences to provide first-year medical students with practical experience in PAC and NC.

Outcome of patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome revisited.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome is an uncommon, acute, life-threatening, medication-induced disorder with a reported mortality rate of 20 to 60 percent. Different variables have been identified as risk factors. The extent to which these variables, when combined, affect the mortality and outcome in toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome patients has not yet been reliably defined.

Clinical predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder after closed head injury in children.

Objective: To describe injury, demographic, and neuropsychiatric characteristics of children who develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) after closed head injury (CHI).

Method: Ninety-five children with severe CHI and amnesia for the event were prospectively followed for 1 year. Structured interviews were administered twice to the parents: shortly after injury to cover the child's premorbid status, and 1 year after injury.

Anxiety after severe pediatric closed head injury.

Objective: To assess the frequency of anxiety symptoms and disorders 1 year after severe pediatric closed head injury (CHI) and to determine the risk factors associated with these postinjury outcomes.

Method: Ninety-seven subjects were prospectively followed for 1 year after severe CHI (Glasgow Coma Scale Score = 3-8). Assessments of preinjury and 1-year postinjury psychiatric status and psychosocial adversity were conducted.