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OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to determine the proportion of women presenting for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) who met the diagnostic criteria (culture-proven UTI ≥3 in 1 year or ≥2 in 6 months) and to assess advanced testing utilization, preventive therapy use, and risk factors. METHODS This is a retrospective chart review of women seen as new urogynecology consults for recurrent UTI (rUTI) between April 1, 2017, and April 1, 2018, followed through April 1, 2019. Exclusion criteria included catheter use, cancer treatment within 2 years, and prior organ transplant, urinary diversion, conduit, or bladder augmentation. RESULTS Of 600 women, 71% had follow-up with a median of 179 days. Urinary tract infection symptoms included frequency (50%), dysuria (46%), urgency (43%), and malodorous urine (7%). One third met the rUTI diagnostic criteria. Two hundred thirty-four (39%) underwent advanced testing, and 9% (21/234) of women who underwent advanced testing had a change in clinical care. Preventive therapy use increased after consultation (P < 0.001), with vaginal estrogen (47%) being most common. Compared with women not meeting the rUTI criteria, women meeting the rUTI criteria were more likely to be older (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.03/year; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.04), have a prior history of gynecologic cancer (aOR, 4.07; 95% CI, 1.02-16.25), or report UTI symptoms of dysuria (aOR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.57-3.27), or malodorous urine (aOR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.47-5.94) and, while equally likely to be receiving preventive treatment prior to consultation, were more likely after consultation (OR, 3.06; 95% CI, 2.05-4.55). DISCUSSION Thirty-seven percent of women seen for rUTI met the diagnostic criteria. Advanced imaging rarely changed care. Education about diagnostic criteria and preventive therapy is warranted.

Deaths from liver disease have increased in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) because of coinfection with chronic hepatitis B and C; consequently, all HIV-infected patients should be screened for hepatitis B and C, and all those susceptible should be vaccinated for hepatitis B. Hepatitis A vaccination is indicated for susceptible coinfected patients. It is also important to stress other means of preventing the transmission of hepatitis, such as safe sex and avoidance of blood exposures. Three oral agents, lamivudine, adefovir, and tenofovir, are active against hepatitis B infection. The need for highly active antiretroviral therapy and hepatitis B therapy should be addressed in a coordinated fashion, since two of these agents are active against both HIV and hepatitis B virus. Oral combination therapy for hepatitis B infection looks promising but needs further study. Combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is the most effective available therapy and the current standard of care. Prior to therapy, patients should be evaluated for contraindications to therapy. During treatment, they should be closely monitored for adverse events.

Nephrotoxicity of ionic and nonionic contrast media in 1196 patients: A randomized trial. The incidence of nephrotoxicity occurring with the nonionic contrast agent, iohexol, and the ionic contrast agent, meglumine/sodium diatrizoate, was compared in 1196 patients undergoing cardiac angiography in a prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter trial. Patients were stratified into four groups: renal insufficiency (RI), diabetes mellitus (DM) both absent (N = 364); RI absent, DM present (N = 318); RI present, DM absent (N = 298); and RI and DM both present (N = 216). Serum creatinine levels were measured at – 18 to 24, 0, and 24, 48, and 72 hours following contrast administration. Prophylactic hydration was administered pre- and post-angiography. Acute nephrotoxicity (increase in serum creatinine of ≥1 mg/dl 48 to 72 hours post-contrast) was observed in 42 (7%) patients receiving diatrizoate compared to 19 (3%) patients receiving iohexol, P < 0.002. Differences in nephrotoxicity between the two contrast groups were confined to patients with RI alone or combined with DM. In a multivariate analysis, baseline serum creatinine, male gender, DM, volume of contrast agent, and RI were independently related to the risk of nephrotoxicity. Patients with RI receiving diatrizoate were 3.3 times as likely to develop acute nephrotoxicity compared to those receiving iohexol. Clinically severe adverse renal events were uncommon (N = 15) and did not differ in incidence between contrast groups (iohexol N = 6; diatrizoate N = 9). In conclusion, in patients undergoing cardiac angiography, only those with pre-existing RI alone or combined with DM are at higher risk for acute contrast nephrotoxicity. The incidence of acute nephrotoxicity in these high-risk patients is significantly less with the nonionic contrast media iohexol compared to the ionic contrast agent diatrizoate.

Contrast agents used for cardiac angiography are different in regard to ionicity, osmolality and physiologic effects. The nonionic contrast media have been shown to have less toxic effects and a better safety profile than do higher osmolar agents. To better assess this risk, clinically stable patients undergoing cardiac angiography were stratified according to the presence of diabetes mellitus, and level of serum creatinine, and then randomized to receive either iohexol (Omnipaque 350) or sodium meglumine diatrizoate (Renografin 76). All adverse events that occurred during and immediately after angiography were tabulated. A multivariate model was used to identify patients at increased risk for adverse outcome. The 1,390 patients were randomized to iohexol (n = 696) or diatrizoate (n = 694). Significant differences were found in the number of patients with contrast media-related adverse (iohexol vs diatrizoate: 10.2 vs 31.6%; p or = 1.5 mg/dl predicted a higher incidence of adverse events as a result of contrast media alone. Use of iohexol is associated with a lower incidence of all types of adverse events during cardiac angiography than is diatrizoate.

A prospective, open-label, randomized study was conducted in order to determine the bacteriologic efficacies of cefaclor and azithromycin in acute otitis media (AOM). Tympanocentesis was performed on entry into the study and 3 to 4 days after initiation of treatment. Bacteriologic failure after 3 to 4 days of treatment with both drugs occurred in a high proportion of culture-positive patients, especially in those in whom AOM was caused by Haemophilus influenzae (16 of 33 [53%] of those treated with azithromycin and 13 of 34 [52%] of those treated with cefaclor). Although a clear correlation of the persistence of the pathogen with increased MICs of the respective drugs could be demonstrated for Streptococcus pneumoniae, no such correlation was found for H. influenzae. It is proposed that susceptibility breakpoints for H. influenzae should be considerably lower than the current ones for both cefaclor and azithromycin for AOM caused by H. influenzae.

The effect of cervical traction on the musculature of patients with complaints of neck pain has not been thoroughly researched. Lateral neck muscles were selected for study because they receive their innervation from the lower cervical region, where traction has been documented by radiography to have its greatest mechanical effects. Six subjects with complaints of neck pain, limited range of motion, and a positive quadrant test were compared to six normal subjects. Surface electromyography (EMG) of the lateral neck musculature was recorded before, during, and after supine intermittent mechanical traction. No significant difference between groups (p.05) was noted in EMG recordings at rest and within 10 minutes of traction. Subjective relief was noted up to 12 hours after traction in pain subjects. Cervical traction does not appear to produce immediate muscular relaxation as measured with EMG equipment. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991;13(5):220-225.

This paper tests the hypothesis that exposure to lead during pregnancy is associated with reduced intrauterine growth and an increase in preterm delivery. The sample comprises women, recruited at mid-pregnancy, residing in Titova Mitrovica, a lead smelter town, or in Pristina, a non-exposed town 25 miles away. Both towns are in the province of Kosovo, Yugoslavia. Mean blood lead concentrations (BPb's) at mid-pregnancy were 0.92 mumol/L (+/- 0.38, N = 401) in the exposed town and 0.27 mumol/L (+/- 0.09, N = 506) in the comparison town. No differences were found between towns for either birthweight or length of gestation. Mean birthweight was 3308 (+/- 566) grams in Titova Mitrovica and 3361 (+/- 525) grams in Pristina. Mean length of gestation was 274 (+/- 18.8) days in Titova Mitrovica and 275 (+/- 15.6) days in Pristina. After adjustment for the effects of potential confounders, no significant relationships were found between maternal BPb measured at mid-pregnancy, at delivery or in the umbilical cord and either birthweight, length of gestation, or preterm delivery (less than 37 weeks). We conclude that exposure to environmental lead does not impair fetal growth or influence length of gestation.

We are prospectively examining the relation between environmental lead exposure and pregnancy outcome in cohorts of women exposed to a wide range of air lead concentrations. Titova Mitrovica, Yugoslavia, is the site of a large lead smelter, refinery, and battery factory. At midpregnancy, 602 women in T. Mitrovica and 900 women in Pristina, a non-lead-exposed control town, were interviewed. Blood was obtained for blood lead (PbB), hemoglobin, erythrocyte protoporphyrin, and serum ferritin measurements. Women were seen again at delivery, at which time maternal and umbilical cord blood samples were obtained. While many demographic and social characteristics were similar across the two towns, women in Pristina were more likely to report employment outside the home, cigarette smoking, and alcohol use during pregnancy. As expected, PbB levels were substantially higher in the smelter town. At midpregnancy, PbB geometric means were 17.1 micrograms/dL in T. Mitrovica and 5.1 micrograms/dL in Pristina; 86% of the pregnant women in T. Mitrovica, compared to 3.4% of those in Pristina, had PbB levels greater than 10 micrograms/dL. Within T. Mitrovica, distance between the home and the smelter was the most important predictor of PbB at mid-pregnancy and delivery. Husband's employment in the lead industry was associated with a significant increase in maternal PbB levels independent of place of residence. Higher maternal serum ferritin concentrations were associated with lower PbB levels, suggesting that dietary iron inhibits lead absorption. Overall, the placenta was a poor barrier to lead; the relationship between maternal PbB and umbilical cord PbB was linear across a wide range of PbB levels.

Background: The long half-life of azithromycin allows for single-dose oral therapy for acute otitis media (AOM). Objective: This study was designed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of single-dose azithromycin with 10-day, twice-daily amoxicillin/clavulanate for the treatment of new-onset, uncomplicated AOM in children. Methods: Children aged 6 months to 12 years with new-onset AOM were randomly assigned to receive either a single 30-mg/kg dose of azithromycin or standard-dose amoxicillin/clavulanate (45 mg/kg administered BID for 10 days) in a double-blind, double-placebo, multicenter clinical trial. The diagnosis of AOM was based on specific clinical signs and symptoms, and was confirmed by pneumatic otoscopy and acoustic reflectometry (level ≥3). Clinical response was assessed on days 12–16 and 28–32. Results: Mean (SD) age of children receiving azithromycin (n = 173) or amoxicillin/clavulanate (n = 173) was 2.7 (2.3) years and 3.4 (2.8) years, respectively, with 43% and 36% ≤2 years of age. Most (53.2%) of the children were boys, and most (51.2%) were white. Clinical success rates (intent-to-treat) for azithromycin and amoxicillin/clavulanate, respectively, were 87% and 88% (95% CI, −9.2 to 6.5) on day 12–16 and 75% and 75% (95% CI, −10.2 to 10.5) on day 28–32. The incidences of treatment-related adverse events for azithromycin and amoxicillin/clavulanate were 16.8% and 22.5%, respectively. Corresponding rates of diarrhea were 6.4% and 12.7%, respectively. Vomiting, which was generally mild, occurred in 7 children in each group. One azithromycin patient and 5 amoxicillin/clavulanate patients discontinued treatment because of adverse events. The compliance rate for azithromycin was significantly higher than that for amoxicillin/clavulanate (99% vs 83%; P

This analysis compares the rates of spontaneous abortion among women living in the vicinity of a lead smelter with those of women living in a town where blood lead levels were low. Data derive from the obstetric histories of both groups of women obtained while seeking prenatal care for a later pregnancy. A total of 639 women (304 exposed, 335 unexposed) had at least one previous pregnancy and lived at the same address since their first pregnancy. The geometric mean blood lead concentrations in the sample at the time of the interviews were 0.77 mumol/L in the exposed town and 0.25 mumol/L in the unexposed town. The rates of spontaneous abortions in first pregnancies were similar, with 16.4 percent of women in the exposed town and 14.0 percent in the unexposed town reporting loss. The adjusted odds ratio relating town of residence to spontaneous abortion was 1.1 (95% CI = 0.9, 1.4). This analysis represents the first systematic attempt to seek an association between environmental lead exposure and spontaneous abortion. As such, the failure to find a positive association strongly suggests that at the levels of exposure represented in our sample, such an association does not exist.

In the United States there have been recent outbreaks of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. These outbreaks have primarily involved persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).We collected clinical information on 17 patients seen at a New York City hospital who had repeatedly positive cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Analysis of restriction-fragment--length polymorphisms (RFLPs) was performed on serial isolates of M. tuberculosis obtained from these patients.Six patients had isolates that remained drug-susceptible, and the RFLP patterns of these isolates did not change over time. Eleven patients had isolates that became resistant to antimicrobial agents. The RFLP patterns of the isolates from six of these patients remained essentially unchanged (two strains showed one additional band) despite the development of drug resistance. In five other patients, however, the RFLP patterns of the isolates changed dramatically at the time that drug resistance was detected. The change in the RFLP pattern of the isolate from one patient appeared to be the result of contamination during processing in the laboratory. In the remaining four patients, all of whom had advanced HIV disease, the clinical and microbiologic evidence was consistent with the presence of active tuberculosis caused by a new strain of M. tuberculosis.Resistance to antituberculous drugs can develop not only in the strain that caused the initial disease, but also as a result of reinfection with a new strain of M. tuberculosis that is drug-resistant. Exogenous reinfection with multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis can occur either during therapy for the original infection or after therapy has been completed.

This study is evaluating the relationship of chronic lead exposure to adverse pregnancy outcome and infant development. The study draws upon a unique community surrounding a lead smelter, refinery and battery plant in Titova Mitrovica, Yugoslavia. Control subjects are being studied in Pristina, a non-lead-exposed town 40 km to the south.

With a reported 1975 newborn malformation rate of 8.3%, and with isolation and inbreeding of its racially admixed population (now 13,260) for over 200 years, the Cayman Islands, B.W.I. have been the site of an intensive genetic study. To date, we have found an increased incidence in many, particularly recessive, disorders, including: sensorineural deafness (27 cases), with and without retinitis pigmentosum; congenital cataracts (14 cases); congenital ichthyosis (2 cases); and two new disorders, designated Cayman Disease (25 cases) and a new Storage Disease (6 cases). Twenty-two of the CD patients are clearly related, and all come from the town of West Bay (pop'n: 2715) as do the SD cases. All CD patients have congenital ataxia, MR, and ocular movement abnormalities. The SD (?MPS) patients are all related, and while normal at birth, develop abdominal protuberance by 18 mos., MR by 3-4 yrs., contractures thereafter, and die by 9-13 yrs. These diverse disorders appear to be the result of the combination of consanguinity, founder effects, drift, and selection.