THE OFFICIAL PATIENT’S SOURCEBOOK
on
ENINGITIS
J AMES N. P ARKER , M.D. AND P HILIP M. P ARKER , P H .D., E DITORS
ii
ICON Health Publications ICON Group International, Inc. 4370 La Jolla Village Drive, 4th Floor San Diego, CA 92122 USA Copyright Ó2002 by ICON Group International, Inc. Copyright Ó2002 by ICON Group International, Inc. All rights reserved. This book is protected by copyright. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. Last digit indicates print number: 10 9 8 7 6 4 5 3 2 1
Publisher, Health Care: Tiffany LaRochelle Editor(s): James Parker, M.D., Philip Parker, Ph.D. Publisher’s note: The ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained in this book are not intended as a substitute for consultation with your physician. All matters regarding your health require medical supervision. As new medical or scientific information becomes available from academic and clinical research, recommended treatments and drug therapies may undergo changes. The authors, editors, and publisher have attempted to make the information in this book up to date and accurate in accord with accepted standards at the time of publication. The authors, editors, and publisher are not responsible for errors or omissions or for consequences from application of the book, and make no warranty, expressed or implied, in regard to the contents of this book. Any practice described in this book should be applied by the reader in accordance with professional standards of care used in regard to the unique circumstances that may apply in each situation, in close consultation with a qualified physician. The reader is advised to always check product information (package inserts) for changes and new information regarding dose and contraindications before taking any drug or pharmacological product. Caution is especially urged when using new or infrequently ordered drugs, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements, alternative therapies, complementary therapies and medicines, and integrative medical treatments. Cataloging-in-Publication Data Parker, James N., 1961Parker, Philip M., 1960The Official Patient’s Sourcebook on Meningitis: A Revised and Updated Directory for the Internet Age/James N. Parker and Philip M. Parker, editors p. cm. Includes bibliographical references, glossary and index. ISBN: 0-597-83330-3 1. Meningitis-Popular works. I. Title.
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Disclaimer This publication is not intended to be used for the diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consultation with licensed medical professionals. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher, editors, and authors are not engaging in the rendering of medical, psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. References to any entity, product, service, or source of information that may be contained in this publication should not be considered an endorsement, either direct or implied, by the publisher, editors or authors. ICON Group International, Inc., the editors, or the authors are not responsible for the content of any Web pages nor publications referenced in this publication.
Copyright Notice If a physician wishes to copy limited passages from this sourcebook for patient use, this right is automatically granted without written permission from ICON Group International, Inc. (ICON Group). However, all of ICON Group publications are copyrighted. With exception to the above, copying our publications in whole or in part, for whatever reason, is a violation of copyright laws and can lead to penalties and fines. Should you want to copy tables, graphs or other materials, please contact us to request permission (e-mail:
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Dedication To the healthcare professionals dedicating their time and efforts to the study of meningitis.
Acknowledgements The collective knowledge generated from academic and applied research summarized in various references has been critical in the creation of this sourcebook which is best viewed as a comprehensive compilation and collection of information prepared by various official agencies which directly or indirectly are dedicated to meningitis. All of the Official Patient’s Sourcebooks draw from various agencies and institutions associated with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and in particular, the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (OS), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the Administration on Aging (AOA), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Healthcare Financing Administration (HCFA), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Indian Health Service (IHS), the institutions of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Program Support Center (PSC), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In addition to these sources, information gathered from the National Library of Medicine, the United States Patent Office, the European Union, and their related organizations has been invaluable in the creation of this sourcebook. Some of the work represented was financially supported by the Research and Development Committee at INSEAD. This support is gratefully acknowledged. Finally, special thanks are owed to Tiffany LaRochelle for her excellent editorial support.
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About the Editors James N. Parker, M.D. Dr. James N. Parker received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Riverside and his M.D. from the University of California, San Diego. In addition to authoring numerous research publications, he has lectured at various academic institutions. Dr. Parker is the medical editor for the Official Patient’s Sourcebook series published by ICON Health Publications.
Philip M. Parker, Ph.D. Philip M. Parker is the Eli Lilly Chair Professor of Innovation, Business and Society at INSEAD (Fontainebleau, France and Singapore). Dr. Parker has also been Professor at the University of California, San Diego and has taught courses at Harvard University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and UCLA. Dr. Parker is the associate editor for the Official Patient’s Sourcebook series published by ICON Health Publications.
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About ICON Health Publications In addition to meningitis, Official Patient’s Sourcebooks are available for the following related topics: ·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Anthrax
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Aspergillosis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Bacterial Waterborne Diseases
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Blastomycosis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Botulism
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Brainerd Diarrhea
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Brucellosis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Campylobacteriosis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Chlamydia Pneumonia
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Cholera
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Coccidioidomycosis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Cryptococcosis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Diarrheagenic Escherichia Coli
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Diphtheria
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Drug-resistant Streptococcus Pneumoniae
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Enterotoxigenic E. Coli
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Escherichia Coli
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Food Irradiation
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Foodborne Disease
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Genital Candidiasis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Glanders
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Group A Streptococcus
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Group B Streptococcus
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Haemophilus Influenzae Serotype B
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Hansen's Disease
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Helicobacter Pylori Infections
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Histoplasmosis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Invasive Candidiasis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Legionellosis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Leptospirosis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Leptospirosis Infection in Pets
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Listeriosis
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Melioidosis
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Mycobacterium Avium Complex
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Mycoplasma Pneumoniae
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·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Nocardiosis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Oropharyngeal Candidiasis
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Other Mycobacterium Species
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Pertussis
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Pneumonia among Children in Developing Countries
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Psittacosis
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Salmonella Enteritidis Infection
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Salmonellosis
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Shigellosis
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Sporotrichosis
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Streptococcus Pneumoniae Disease
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Toxic Shock Syndrome
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Trachoma
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Travelers Diarrhea
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Typhoid Fever
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Unexplained Deaths & Critical Illnesses
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Urinary Tract Infections
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Vibrio Parahaemolyticus
·
The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Vibrio Vulnificus
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Yersiniosis
To discover more about ICON Health Publications, simply check with your preferred online booksellers, including Barnes & Noble.com and Amazon.com which currently carry all of our titles. Or, feel free to contact us directly for bulk purchases or institutional discounts: ICON Group International, Inc. 4370 La Jolla Village Drive, Fourth Floor San Diego, CA 92122 USA Fax: 858-546-4341 Web site: www.icongrouponline.com/health
Contents
ix
Table of Contents INTRODUCTION...................................................................................... 1
Overview............................................................................................................... 1 Organization......................................................................................................... 3 Scope ..................................................................................................................... 3 Moving Forward................................................................................................... 5
PART I: THE ESSENTIALS ................................................. 7 CHAPTER 1. THE ESSENTIALS ON MENINGITIS: GUIDELINES .............. 9
Overview............................................................................................................... 9 What Is Meningitis?........................................................................................... 10 What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Meningitis?........................................... 11 How Is Meningitis Diagnosed?.......................................................................... 11 Can Meningitis Be Treated?............................................................................... 11 Is Meningitis Contagious? ................................................................................. 12 Are There Vaccines against Meningitis? ........................................................... 12 Meningitis: Technical Notes............................................................................... 13 Additional Technical Information ...................................................................... 15 More Guideline Sources ..................................................................................... 18 Vocabulary Builder............................................................................................. 26
CHAPTER 2. SEEKING GUIDANCE ....................................................... 31
Overview............................................................................................................. 31 Associations and Meningitis .............................................................................. 31 Finding More Associations................................................................................. 36 Finding Doctors.................................................................................................. 38 Selecting Your Doctor ........................................................................................ 39 Working with Your Doctor ................................................................................ 40 Broader Health-Related Resources ..................................................................... 41 Vocabulary Builder............................................................................................. 41
CHAPTER 3. CLINICAL TRIALS AND MENINGITIS ............................... 43
Overview............................................................................................................. 43 Recent Trials on Meningitis............................................................................... 46 Benefits and Risks............................................................................................... 60 Keeping Current on Clinical Trials.................................................................... 63 General References.............................................................................................. 64 Vocabulary Builder............................................................................................. 65
PART II: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADVANCED MATERIAL.................................................. 69 CHAPTER 4. STUDIES ON MENINGITIS ................................................ 71
Overview............................................................................................................. 71 The Combined Health Information Database ..................................................... 71
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Contents
Federally-Funded Research on Meningitis......................................................... 76 E-Journals: PubMed Central .............................................................................. 89 The National Library of Medicine: PubMed ...................................................... 91 Vocabulary Builder............................................................................................. 93
CHAPTER 5. PATENTS ON MENINGITIS ............................................. 101
Overview........................................................................................................... 101 Patents on Meningitis ...................................................................................... 102 Patent Applications on Meningitis .................................................................. 109 Keeping Current ............................................................................................... 109 Vocabulary Builder........................................................................................... 109
CHAPTER 6. BOOKS ON MENINGITIS ................................................ 111
Overview........................................................................................................... 111 Book Summaries: Federal Agencies .................................................................. 111 Book Summaries: Online Booksellers ............................................................... 114 The National Library of Medicine Book Index ................................................. 117 Chapters on Meningitis .................................................................................... 120 General Home References ................................................................................. 124 Vocabulary Builder........................................................................................... 125
CHAPTER 7. MULTIMEDIA ON MENINGITIS ...................................... 131
Overview........................................................................................................... 131 Video Recordings .............................................................................................. 131 Audio Recordings ............................................................................................. 132 Bibliography: Multimedia on Meningitis......................................................... 133 Vocabulary Builder........................................................................................... 135
CHAPTER 8. PERIODICALS AND NEWS ON MENINGITIS ................... 137
Overview........................................................................................................... 137 News Services & Press Releases ....................................................................... 137 Newsletter Articles ........................................................................................... 146 Academic Periodicals covering Meningitis ...................................................... 148 Vocabulary Builder........................................................................................... 150
CHAPTER 9. PHYSICIAN GUIDELINES AND DATABASES ................... 155
Overview........................................................................................................... 155 NIH Guidelines................................................................................................. 155 NIH Databases.................................................................................................. 156 Other Commercial Databases ........................................................................... 160 The Genome Project and Meningitis................................................................ 161 Specialized References....................................................................................... 166 Vocabulary Builder........................................................................................... 167
CHAPTER 10. DISSERTATIONS ON MENINGITIS ................................ 169
Overview........................................................................................................... 169 Dissertations on Meningitis............................................................................. 169 Keeping Current ............................................................................................... 170
PART III. APPENDICES .................................................. 171
Contents
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APPENDIX A. RESEARCHING YOUR MEDICATIONS.......................... 173
Overview........................................................................................................... 173 Your Medications: The Basics .......................................................................... 174 Learning More about Your Medications .......................................................... 175 Commercial Databases...................................................................................... 177 Contraindications and Interactions (Hidden Dangers) ................................... 181 A Final Warning .............................................................................................. 182 General References............................................................................................ 182 Vocabulary Builder........................................................................................... 183
APPENDIX B. RESEARCHING ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ................... 185
Overview........................................................................................................... 185 What Is CAM? ................................................................................................. 185 What Are the Domains of Alternative Medicine?............................................ 186 Can Alternatives Affect My Treatment? ......................................................... 189 Finding CAM References on Meningitis ......................................................... 190 Additional Web Resources................................................................................ 198 General References............................................................................................ 202 Vocabulary Builder........................................................................................... 203
APPENDIX C. RESEARCHING NUTRITION ......................................... 205
Overview........................................................................................................... 205 Food and Nutrition: General Principles........................................................... 206 Finding Studies on Meningitis......................................................................... 210 Federal Resources on Nutrition........................................................................ 214 Additional Web Resources................................................................................ 214 Vocabulary Builder........................................................................................... 216
APPENDIX D. FINDING MEDICAL LIBRARIES.................................... 219
Overview........................................................................................................... 219 Preparation ....................................................................................................... 219 Finding a Local Medical Library ...................................................................... 220 Medical Libraries Open to the Public............................................................... 220
APPENDIX E. YOUR RIGHTS AND INSURANCE ................................. 227
Overview........................................................................................................... 227 Your Rights as a Patient................................................................................... 227 Patient Responsibilities .................................................................................... 231 Choosing an Insurance Plan............................................................................. 232 Medicare and Medicaid .................................................................................... 234 NORD’s Medication Assistance Programs ..................................................... 237 Additional Resources ........................................................................................ 238 Vocabulary Builder........................................................................................... 239
ONLINE GLOSSARIES.................................................... 241 Online Dictionary Directories.......................................................................... 249
MENINGITIS GLOSSARY.............................................. 251
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General Dictionaries and Glossaries ................................................................ 275
INDEX................................................................................... 277
Introduction
1
INTRODUCTION Overview Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General, once said, “The best prescription is knowledge.”1 The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) echoes this view and recommends that every patient incorporate education into the treatment process. According to the AHRQ: Finding out more about your condition is a good place to start. By contacting groups that support your condition, visiting your local library, and searching on the Internet, you can find good information to help guide your treatment decisions. Some information may be hard to find—especially if you don’t know where to look.2 As the AHRQ mentions, finding the right information is not an obvious task. Though many physicians and public officials had thought that the emergence of the Internet would do much to assist patients in obtaining reliable information, in March 2001 the National Institutes of Health issued the following warning: The number of Web sites offering health-related resources grows every day. Many sites provide valuable information, while others may have information that is unreliable or misleading.3
Quotation from http://www.drkoop.com. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): http://www.ahcpr.gov/consumer/diaginfo.htm. 3 From the NIH, National Cancer Institute (NCI): http://cancertrials.nci.nih.gov/beyond/evaluating.html. 1 2
2
Meningitis
Since the late 1990s, physicians have seen a general increase in patient Internet usage rates. Patients frequently enter their doctor’s offices with printed Web pages of home remedies in the guise of latest medical research. This scenario is so common that doctors often spend more time dispelling misleading information than guiding patients through sound therapies. The Official Patient’s Sourcebook on Meningitis has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. The pages that follow will tell you where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to meningitis, from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word “official.” This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peerreviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on meningitis. Given patients’ increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-ofcharge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. Since we are working with ICON Health Publications, hard copy Sourcebooks are frequently updated and printed on demand to ensure that the information provided is current. In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, every chapter presents a “Vocabulary Builder.” Many health guides offer glossaries of technical or uncommon terms in an appendix. In editing this sourcebook, we have decided to place a smaller glossary within each chapter that covers terms used in that chapter. Given the technical nature of some chapters, you may need to revisit many sections. Building one’s vocabulary of medical terms in such a gradual manner has been shown to improve the learning process. We must emphasize that no sourcebook on meningitis should affirm that a specific diagnostic procedure or treatment discussed in a research study, patent, or doctoral dissertation is “correct” or your best option. This sourcebook is no exception. Each patient is unique. Deciding on appropriate
Introduction
3
options is always up to the patient in consultation with their physician and healthcare providers.
Organization This sourcebook is organized into three parts. Part I explores basic techniques to researching meningitis (e.g. finding guidelines on diagnosis, treatments, and prognosis), followed by a number of topics, including information on how to get in touch with organizations, associations, or other patient networks dedicated to meningitis. It also gives you sources of information that can help you find a doctor in your local area specializing in treating meningitis. Collectively, the material presented in Part I is a complete primer on basic research topics for patients with meningitis. Part II moves on to advanced research dedicated to meningitis. Part II is intended for those willing to invest many hours of hard work and study. It is here that we direct you to the latest scientific and applied research on meningitis. When possible, contact names, links via the Internet, and summaries are provided. It is in Part II where the vocabulary process becomes important as authors publishing advanced research frequently use highly specialized language. In general, every attempt is made to recommend “free-to-use” options. Part III provides appendices of useful background reading for all patients with meningitis or related disorders. The appendices are dedicated to more pragmatic issues faced by many patients with meningitis. Accessing materials via medical libraries may be the only option for some readers, so a guide is provided for finding local medical libraries which are open to the public. Part III, therefore, focuses on advice that goes beyond the biological and scientific issues facing patients with meningitis.
Scope While this sourcebook covers meningitis, your doctor, research publications, and specialists may refer to your condition using a variety of terms. Therefore, you should understand that meningitis is often considered a synonym or a condition closely related to the following: ·
Abacterial Meningitis
·
Aseptic Meningitis
·
Bacterial Meningitis
4
Meningitis
·
Bacterial Meningococcal Meningitis
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Cryptococcal Meningitis
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Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis
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Gram-negative Meningitis
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H. Flu Meningitis
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H. Influenza Meningitis
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Meningitis - Syphilitic
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Meningococcal Disease
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Meningococcal Meningitis
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Meningococcal Septicemia
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Meningococcemia-meningitis
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Pneumococcal Meningitis
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Pyogenic Meningitis
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Spinal Meningitis
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Spinal Meningitis (one Type)
·
Staphylococcal Meningitis
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Sterile Meningitis
·
Tubercular Meningitis
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Tuberculous Meningitis
In addition to synonyms and related conditions, physicians may refer to meningitis using certain coding systems. The International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) is the most commonly used system of classification for the world’s illnesses. Your physician may use this coding system as an administrative or tracking tool. The following classification is commonly used for meningitis:4 ·
036.0 meningococcal meningitis
·
036.2 meningococcemia
·
047.8 meningitis, aseptic
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047.9 unspecified viral meningitis
4 This list is based on the official version of the World Health Organization’s 9th Revision, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9). According to the National Technical Information Service, “ICD-9CM extensions, interpretations, modifications, addenda, or errata other than those approved by the U.S. Public Health Service and the Health Care Financing Administration are not to be considered official and should not be utilized. Continuous maintenance of the ICD-9-CM is the responsibility of the federal government.”
Introduction
·
5
320 bacterial meningitis
For the purposes of this sourcebook, we have attempted to be as inclusive as possible, looking for official information for all of the synonyms relevant to meningitis. You may find it useful to refer to synonyms when accessing databases or interacting with healthcare professionals and medical librarians.
Moving Forward Since the 1980s, the world has seen a proliferation of healthcare guides covering most illnesses. Some are written by patients or their family members. These generally take a layperson’s approach to understanding and coping with an illness or disorder. They can be uplifting, encouraging, and highly supportive. Other guides are authored by physicians or other healthcare providers who have a more clinical outlook. Each of these two styles of guide has its purpose and can be quite useful. As editors, we have chosen a third route. We have chosen to expose you to as many sources of official and peer-reviewed information as practical, for the purpose of educating you about basic and advanced knowledge as recognized by medical science today. You can think of this sourcebook as your personal Internet age reference librarian. Why “Internet age”? All too often, patients diagnosed with meningitis will log on to the Internet, type words into a search engine, and receive several Web site listings which are mostly irrelevant or redundant. These patients are left to wonder where the relevant information is, and how to obtain it. Since only the smallest fraction of information dealing with meningitis is even indexed in search engines, a non-systematic approach often leads to frustration and disappointment. With this sourcebook, we hope to direct you to the information you need that you would not likely find using popular Web directories. Beyond Web listings, in many cases we will reproduce brief summaries or abstracts of available reference materials. These abstracts often contain distilled information on topics of discussion.
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Meningitis
While we focus on the more scientific aspects of meningitis, there is, of course, the emotional side to consider. Later in the sourcebook, we provide a chapter dedicated to helping you find peer groups and associations that can provide additional support beyond research produced by medical science. We hope that the choices we have made give you the most options available in moving forward. In this way, we wish you the best in your efforts to incorporate this educational approach into your treatment plan. The Editors
7
PART I: THE ESSENTIALS
ABOUT PART I Part I has been edited to give you access to what we feel are “the essentials” on meningitis. The essentials of a disease typically include the definition or description of the disease, a discussion of who it affects, the signs or symptoms associated with the disease, tests or diagnostic procedures that might be specific to the disease, and treatments for the disease. Your doctor or healthcare provider may have already explained the essentials of meningitis to you or even given you a pamphlet or brochure describing meningitis. Now you are searching for more in-depth information. As editors, we have decided, nevertheless, to include a discussion on where to find essential information that can complement what your doctor has already told you. In this section we recommend a process, not a particular Web site or reference book. The process ensures that, as you search the Web, you gain background information in such a way as to maximize your understanding.
Guidelines
CHAPTER 1. GUIDELINES
THE
ESSENTIALS
ON
9
MENINGITIS:
Overview Official agencies, as well as federally-funded institutions supported by national grants, frequently publish a variety of guidelines on meningitis. These are typically called “Fact Sheets” or “Guidelines.” They can take the form of a brochure, information kit, pamphlet, or flyer. Often they are only a few pages in length. The great advantage of guidelines over other sources is that they are often written with the patient in mind. Since new guidelines on meningitis can appear at any moment and be published by a number of sources, the best approach to finding guidelines is to systematically scan the Internet-based services that post them.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH)5 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the first place to search for relatively current patient guidelines and fact sheets on meningitis. Originally founded in 1887, the NIH is one of the world’s foremost medical research centers and the federal focal point for medical research in the United States. At any given time, the NIH supports some 35,000 research grants at universities, medical schools, and other research and training institutions, both nationally and internationally. The rosters of those who have conducted research or who have received NIH support over the years include the world’s most illustrious scientists and physicians. Among them are 97 scientists who have won the Nobel Prize for achievement in medicine.
5
Adapted from the NIH: http://www.nih.gov/about/NIHoverview.html.
10 Meningitis
There is no guarantee that any one Institute will have a guideline on a specific disease, though the National Institutes of Health collectively publish over 600 guidelines for both common and rare diseases. The best way to access NIH guidelines is via the Internet. Although the NIH is organized into many different Institutes and Offices, the following is a list of key Web sites where you are most likely to find NIH clinical guidelines and publications dealing with meningitis and associated conditions: ·
Office of the Director (OD); guidelines consolidated across agencies available at http://www.nih.gov/health/consumer/conkey.htm
·
National Library of Medicine (NLM); extensive encyclopedia (A.D.A.M., Inc.) with guidelines available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html
·
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); guidelines available at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/
·
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: various fact sheets on infectious diseases at http://www.cdc.gov/health/diseases.htm
Among the above, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is particularly noteworthy. The mission of the NIAID is to provide support for scientists conducting research aimed at developing better ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent the many infectious, immunologic and allergic diseases that afflict people worldwide.6 The NIAID is composed of four extramural divisions: the Division of AIDS; the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation; the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; and the Division of Extramural Activities. In addition, NIAID scientists conduct intramural research in laboratories located in Bethesda, Rockville and Frederick, Maryland, and in Hamilton, Montana. The following patient guideline was recently published by the NIAID on meningitis.
What Is Meningitis?7 Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person’s spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. People sometimes refer to it as spinal meningitis. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Knowing This paragraph has been adapted from the NIAID: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/facts/overview.htm. “Adapted” signifies that a passage has been reproduced exactly or slightly edited for this book. 7 Adapted from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/meningococcal_g.htm. 6
Guidelines 11
whether meningitis is caused by a virus or bacterium is important because the severity of illness and the treatment differ. Viral meningitis is generally less severe and resolves without specific treatment, while bacterial meningitis can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disability. For bacterial meningitis, it is also important to know which type of bacteria is causing the meningitis because antibiotics can prevent some types from spreading and infecting other people. Before the 1990s, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, but new vaccines being given to all children as part of their routine immunizations have reduced the occurrence of invasive disease due to H. influenzae. Today, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis are the leading causes of bacterial meningitis.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Meningitis? High fever, headache, and stiff neck are common symptoms of meningitis in anyone over the age of 2 years. These symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take 1 to 2 days. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness. In newborns and small infants, the classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness may be absent or difficult to detect, and the infant may only appear slow or inactive, or be irritable, have vomiting, or be feeding poorly. As the disease progresses, patients of any age may have seizures.
How Is Meningitis Diagnosed? Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. If symptoms occur, the patient should see a doctor immediately. The diagnosis is usually made by growing bacteria from a sample of spinal fluid. The spinal fluid is obtained by performing a spinal tap, in which a needle is inserted into an area in the lower back where fluid in the spinal canal is readily accessible. Identification of the type of bacteria responsible is important for selection of correct antibiotics.
Can Meningitis Be Treated? Bacterial meningitis can be treated with a number of effective antibiotics. It is important, however, that treatment be started early in the course of the disease. Appropriate antibiotic treatment of most common types of bacterial
12 Meningitis
meningitis should reduce the risk of dying from meningitis to below 15%, although the risk is higher among the elderly.
Is Meningitis Contagious? Yes, some forms are bacterial meningitis are contagious. The bacteria are spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (i.e., coughing, kissing). Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as contagious as things like the common cold or the flu, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been. However, sometimes the bacteria that cause meningitis have spread to other people who have had close or prolonged contact with a patient with meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis (also called meningococcal meningitis) or Hib. People in the same household or day-care center, or anyone with direct contact with a patient’s oral secretions (such as a boyfriend or girlfriend) would be considered at increased risk of acquiring the infection. People who qualify as close contacts of a person with meningitis caused by N. meningitidis should receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting the disease. Antibiotics for contacts of a person with Hib meningitis disease are no longer recommended if all contacts 4 years of age or younger are fully vaccinated against Hib disease (see below).
Are There Vaccines against Meningitis? Yes, there are vaccines against Hib and against some strains of N. meningitidis and many types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The vaccines against Hib are very safe and highly effective. There is also a vaccine that protects against four strains of N. meningitidis, but it is not routinely used in the United States and is not effective in children under 18 months of age. The vaccine against N. meningitidis is sometimes used to control outbreaks of some types of meningococcal meningitis in the United States. Meningitis cases should be reported to state or local health departments to assure follow-up of close contacts and recognize outbreaks. Although large epidemics of meningococcal meningitis do not occur in the United States, some countries experience large, periodic epidemics. Overseas travelers should check to see if meningococcal vaccine is recommended for their destination. Travelers should receive the vaccine at
Guidelines 13
least 1 week before departure, if possible. Information on areas for which meningococcal vaccine is recommended can be obtained by calling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at (404)-332-4565. A vaccine to prevent meningitis due to S. pneumoniae (also called pneumococcal meningitis) can also prevent other forms of infection due to S. pneumoniae. The pneumococcal vaccine is not effective in children under 2 years of age but is recommended for all persons over 65 years of age and younger persons with certain chronic medical problems. Update from October 20, 1999 Press Release:The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has modified its guidelines for use of the polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine to prevent bacterial meningitis, particularly for college freshmen who live in dormitories, a group found to be at a modestly increased risk of meningococcal disease relative to other persons their age. For more information, read the full press release.: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/meningococcal_college.htm
Meningitis: Technical Notes The Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases of the CDC publishes summary information on meningitis for use by healthcare professionals and physicians. The information is presented in the form of notes. The notes are written in a rather technical language. A few medical expressions are particularly noteworthy. “Clinical features” generally cover the signs and symptoms of meningitis which can help the doctor with diagnosis. It may also include a discussion of the cause or “etiology” of meningitis. “Etiologic agent” signifies the particular organism, typically written in Latin, that causes or is associated with meningitis. “Reservoir” indicates the habitat or living environment of the organism. “Incidence” describes the number of people that are diagnosed with meningitis within a given population. “Sequelae” includes any related health consequences or secondary pathological conditions and diseases that may result from meningitis. “Transmission” describes how a disease spreads. “Risk Groups” are people who are most likely to be diagnosed with meningitis. “Surveillance” describes how meningitis is monitored by government officials across the population. “Challenges” and “Opportunities” are issues or areas where officials think progress might be made in understanding or combating
14 Meningitis
meningitis in the future. The notes that follow were recently published by the CDC.8
Clinical Features Fever, headache and stiff neck in meningitis cases, and sepsis and rash in meningococcemia.
Etiologic Agent Multiple serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis.
Incidence Up to 2% in epidemics. During 1996-1997, 213,658 cases with 21,830 deaths were reported in west African countries. 0.5-5/100,000 for endemic disease, worldwide in distribution.
Sequelae 10%-15% of cases are fatal. Of patients who recover 10% have permanent hearing loss or other serious sequelae.
Transmission Occurs through direct contact with respiratory secretions from a nasopharyngeal carrier case-patient.
Risk Groups Risk groups include general population (for epidemics), infants and young children (for endemic disease), refugees, household contacts of case patients, military personnel, college freshmen (who live in dormitories), and people exposed to active and passive tobacco smoke. Adapted from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/meningococcal_t.htm. 8
Guidelines 15
Surveillance Surveillance is conducted worldwide through International Disease Notification and in the United States by NETSS, the National Bacterial Meningitis and Bacteremia Reporting System, and NCID Emerging Infection Program’s Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs). Trends Devastating epidemics will continue to occur in countries throughout the meningitis belt of Africa; in the United States, increased frequency of outbreaks and changes distribution of serogroups responsible for endemic disease as well as increased disease among adolescents and young adults.
Challenges Early detection of epidemics in Africa, followed by emergency mass vaccination campaigns reaching high vaccine coverage; integration of meningitis surveillance with surveillance for other epidemic-prone diseases; and introduction of soon to be available conjugate meningococcal vaccines into routine childhood immunization programs in the United States and Africa.
Opportunities Incorporation of serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccine in the U.S. routine childhood vaccination programs. Routine vaccination of infants in selected African countries and mass vaccination of children and adults using new conjugated meningococcal vaccines.
Additional Technical Information Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Articles ·
ACIP Recommendations for meningococcal disease and college students. MMWR Vol 49: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4907a2.htm
16 Meningitis
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Serogroup W-135 Meningococcal Disease Among Travelers Returning From Saudi Arabia --- United States, 2000 MMWR Vol. 49: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4916a2.htm
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CDC. Meningococcal Disease -- New England, 1993 - 1998. MMWR Vol 48:629-33 (7/30/99): http://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Publications/mmwr/wk/mm4829.pdf
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CDC. Change in Recommendation for Meningococcal Vaccine for Travelers MMWR Vol 48, No 05;104. (2/12/99): http://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Publications/mmwr/wk/mm4805.pdf
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CDC. Lab-Based Surveillance for Meningococcal Disease -- U.S., 1989-91 MMWR Vol 42 (SS-2):21-30 (6/4/93): http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00020882.htm
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Control and Prevention of Meningococcal Disease and Control and Prevention of Serogroup C Meningococcal Disease: Evaluation and Management of Suspected Outbreaks MMWR Recommendations and Reports February 14, 1997 /vol.46 /No. RR-5: ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Publications/mmwr/rr/rr4605.pdf
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Serogroup Y Meningococcal Disease - U.S. 1989-1996 MMWR Vol. 45 / No. 46, p. 1010-1013: ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Publications/mmwr/wk/mm4546.pdf
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Serogroup B Meningococcal Disease - Oregon, 1994 MMWR Vol. 44 / No. 7, p. 121-124: ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Publications/mmwr/wk/mm4407.pdf
Links ·
AAP recommendations for control of meningococcal disease: http://www.aap.org/policy/01262.html
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ACIP recommendations: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/aciplist.htm
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American College Health Association: http://www.acha.org/
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Case Definitions for Infectious Conditions Under Public Health Surveillance: http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/m0047449/entire.htm
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Data for Decision Making--Technical Guidelines and instructional materials for Detection and Control of Epidemic Meningoccocal Meningitis, Yellow Fever and Cholera: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/dih/ddm
Guidelines 17
·
Guidelines for travelers: http://www.cdc.gov/travel, http://www.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbk99.pdf, and http://www.cdc.gov/travel/saudimenin.htm
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Recommendations for meningococcal disease and airplanes: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5023a2.htm
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Laboratory Methods for the Diagnosis of Meningitis - Manual: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/menigitis_manual.pdf
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Meningitis and Special Pathogens Branch - CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/mspb.htm
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Prevention strategies for immunizations for vaccine- preventable diseases, isolation precautions to prevent exposures to infectious agents, management of health care personnel exposure to infected persons: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/GUIDE/InfectControl98.pdf
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United Kingdom health Education Authority site for Conjugate Mening C campaign: http://www.hea.org.uk/campaigns/immunisation/mindex.html and http://www.doh.gov.uk/meningitis-vaccine/
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Vaccine Information - Menigococcal Disease: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/default.htm
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Vaccine Information Sheet [.pdf]: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/Mening2000.pdf
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Vaccine safety from NIP: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/
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WHO website that includes link to get the Control of epidemic meningococcal disease: http://www.who.int/emc/diseases/meningitis/index.html References
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Rosenstein NE, Perkins BA, Stephens DS Popovic T, Hughes JM. Meningococcal disease. N Engl J Med 2001;344: 1378-88.
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Schuchat A, Robinson K, Wenger JD, Harrison LH, Farley M, Reingold AL, Lefkowitz L, Perkins B, the Active Surveillance Team. Bacterial meningitis in the United States in 1995. NEJM 1997;337:970-6.
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The changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the U.S. with an emphasis on college health issues. A summary of a roundtable discussion sponsored by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine. A publication of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Eds. W.J. Martone, W.
18 Meningitis
Schaffner, M. Collins, L.H. Harrison, B.A. Perkins, G. Peter, N.E. Rosenstein. Release date: May 1999. ·
Lepow ML, Perkins BA, Hughes PA, Poolman JT. Meningococcal Vaccines. In: Plotkin S, Orenstein W, eds. Vaccines. Third Edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1999:711-727.
·
Fischer M, Hedberg K, Cardosi P, Plikaytis BD, Hoesly FC, Steingart KR, Bell TA, Fleming DW, Wenger JD, Perkins BA. Tobacco smoke as a risk factor for meningococcal disease. Pediatric Infect Dis J 1997;16:979-83.
·
Rosenstein N, Levine O, Taylor J, Evans D, Plikaytis B, Wenger J, Perkins B. Efficiency of meningococcal vaccine and barriers to vaccination. JAMA 1998;279:435-9.
More Guideline Sources The guideline above on meningitis is only one example of the kind of material that you can find online and free of charge. The remainder of this chapter will direct you to other sources which either publish or can help you find additional guidelines on topics related to meningitis. Many of the guidelines listed below address topics that may be of particular relevance to your specific situation or of special interest to only some patients with meningitis. Due to space limitations these sources are listed in a concise manner. Do not hesitate to consult the following sources by either using the Internet hyperlink provided, or, in cases where the contact information is provided, contacting the publisher or author directly.
Topic Pages: MEDLINEplus For patients wishing to go beyond guidelines published by specific Institutes of the NIH, the National Library of Medicine has created a vast and patientoriented healthcare information portal called MEDLINEplus. Within this Internet-based system are “health topic pages.” You can think of a health topic page as a guide to patient guides. To access this system, log on to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html. From there you can either search using the alphabetical index or browse by broad topic areas. Recently, MEDLINEplus listed the following as being relevant to meningitis:
Guidelines 19
·
Guides On meningitis Meningitis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000680.htm Meningitis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/meningitis.html Meningitis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/meningitisloader.html Meningitis - H. influenza http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000612.htm Meningitis - meningococcal http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000608.htm Meningitis - pneumococcal http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000607.htm Meningitis - cryptococcal http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000642.htm Meningitis - gram negative http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000610.htm Meningitis - tuberculous http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000650.htm Meningitis - staphylococcal http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000613.htm
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Other Guides Syphilitic aseptic meningitis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000724.htm Aseptic meningitis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000614.htm Sinus Surgery http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/sinussurgeryloader .html Encephalitis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001415.htm
Within the health topic page dedicated to meningitis, the following was recently recommended to patients:
20 Meningitis
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General/Overviews Meningitis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/meningitisloader.html Meningococcal Disease Source: National Center for Infectious Diseases http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/meningococcal_g.htm What Is Meningitis? Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00118
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Diagnosis/Symptoms Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) Source: Harvard Medical School http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/diagnostics/lumbar/lumbarW hat.shtml
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Specific Conditions/Aspects Meningitis: How Do You Catch It? Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=AN00285 Meningococcal Disease: Health Information for International Travel, 2001-2002 Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/menin.htm Viral (Aseptic) Meningitis Source: National Center for Infectious Diseases http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/virlmen.htm
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Children Bacterial Meningitis in the Child Care Setting Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/abc/facts03.htm Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) Source: Nemours Foundation http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/lumbar_puncture.html Meningitis Source: Nemours Foundation http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/meningitis.html%20%20
Guidelines 21
·
From the National Institutes of Health Encephalitis and Meningitis Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/encmeni n_doc.htm
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Organizations National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
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Prevention/Screening Importance of Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine Source: American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZ ZZOBA0B7C&sub_cat=24 Meningococcal Disease Among College Students Source: National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/meningococcal_col lege.htm Meningococcal Vaccine: What You Need to Know Source: National Immunization Program http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/vis-mening.pdf Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: What You Need to Know Source: National Immunization Program http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/visPneumoConjugate.pdf
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Teenagers Are College Students at Greater Risk for Meningitis? Source: Nemours Foundation http://kidshealth.org/research/college_meningitis.html
22 Meningitis
Meningitis Source: Nemours Foundation http://kidshealth.org/teen/infections/bacterial_viral/meningitis.html If you do not find topics of interest when browsing health topic pages, then you can choose to use the advanced search utility of MEDLINEplus at the following: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/advancedsearch.html. This utility is similar to the NIH Search Utility, with the exception that it only includes material linked within the MEDLINEplus system (mostly patient-oriented information). It also has the disadvantage of generating unstructured results. We recommend, therefore, that you use this method only if you have a very targeted search.
The Combined Health Information Database (CHID) CHID Online is a reference tool that maintains a database directory of thousands of journal articles and patient education guidelines on meningitis and related conditions. One of the advantages of CHID over other sources is that it offers summaries that describe the guidelines available, including contact information and pricing. CHID’s general Web site is http://chid.nih.gov/. To search this database, go to http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. In particular, you can use the advanced search options to look up pamphlets, reports, brochures, and information kits. The following was recently posted in this archive: ·
Preventing Disease Transmission Contact: American Red Cross National Headquarters, American Red Cross, National Headquarters, Health and Safety Services, Office of HIV/AIDS Education, 8111 Gatehouse Rd 6th Fl, Falls Church, VA, 22042-1203, (703) 206-6707, http://www.redcross.org/. Summary: This participant brochure is one component of a disease prevention training module developed in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) final regulations on job exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The module's focus is on the identification and reduction of work-related disease risks of transmission. The OSHA regulation covers employees in the following environments and positions: health care facilities, clinics, factories, jails, schools, emergency first aid, regulated waste handling, emergency medical services, public service, and linen service. The training addresses the recognition of situations that have potential for disease transmission and how to protect oneself and others from contracting disease. The module
Guidelines 23
explains how a variety of diseases are transmitted and how infection occurs, including herpes, meningitis, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS. It then presents an exposure control plan to protect employees from disease transmission. The plan includes immunization, precautions, and the steps to follow should an exposure occur. ·
Headache: Following Acoustic Neuroma Surgery Can Be a Real Pain in the Neck Source: Atlanta, GA: Acoustic Neuroma Association (ANA). February 1996. 20 p. Contact: Available from Acoustic Neuroma Association (ANA). 600 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 108, Cumming, GA 30041-8211. (770) 205-8211. Fax (770 www.ANAUSA.org. PRICE: $2.00 plus shipping and handling. Summary: This pamphlet includes an article originally published in the February 1994 issue of ANA Notes, a quarterly newsletter from the Acoustic Neuroma Association (ANA). Topics include the prevalence of headaches caused by Acoustic Neuroma; what the headaches are like; causes of the headaches, which include aseptic meningitis, coupling of the dura with neck muscles, nerve entrapment, low intracranial pressure, muscle spasms, and exacerbation of an underlying headache pattern; what can be done for these kind of headaches, which including drug therapy, surgery, local measures, and stress reduction; and prevention of post-surgery headaches. A collection of articles and letters from ANA members is included. Inside the back cover is a listing of ANA publications with pricing and shipping information.
·
OI Research on AIDS and Opportunistic Infections Contact: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 31 Center Dr MSC 2520, Bethesda, MD, 20892-2520, (301) 496-5717, http://www.niaid.nih.gov. Summary: This information package contains 12 reports on research into Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and its associated opportunistic infections. The reports deal with National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) supported preclinical and clinical research, the branches of NIAID that are involved in Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) research, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, fungal infections, cryptococcal meningitis, toxoplasmic encephalitis, herpes simplex infection, disseminated histoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis.
24 Meningitis
The National Guideline Clearinghouse™ The National Guideline Clearinghouse™ offers hundreds of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines published in the United States and other countries. You can search their site located at http://www.guideline.gov by using the keyword “meningitis” or synonyms. The following was recently posted: ·
Meningococcal disease and college students: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.; 2000 June 30; 10 pages
http://www.guideline.gov/FRAMESETS/guideline_fs.asp?guideline=00 1591&sSearch_string=meningitis ·
Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.; 2000 June 30; 10 pages
http://www.guideline.gov/FRAMESETS/guideline_fs.asp?guideline=00 1590&sSearch_string=meningitis
Healthfinder™ Healthfinder™ is an additional source sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which offers links to hundreds of other sites that contain healthcare information. This Web site is located at http://www.healthfinder.gov. Again, keyword searches can be used to find guidelines. The following was recently found in this database: ·
Encephalitis and Meningitis Summary: A general overview of encephalitis and meningitis that includes a description of the disorder, and treatment, prognosis and research information. Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health http://www.healthfinder.gov/scripts/recordpass.asp?RecordType=0&R ecordID=1089
Guidelines 25
·
Meningococcal Disease Summary: A consumer fact sheet provides basic information about meningococcal disease -- bacterial meningitis. Topics covered include symptoms, diagnosis, prevention (vaccines) and treatment. Source: National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.healthfinder.gov/scripts/recordpass.asp?RecordType=0&R ecordID=2138 The NIH Search Utility
After browsing the references listed at the beginning of this chapter, you may want to explore the NIH Search Utility. This allows you to search for documents on over 100 selected Web sites that comprise the NIH-WEBSPACE. Each of these servers is “crawled” and indexed on an ongoing basis. Your search will produce a list of various documents, all of which will relate in some way to meningitis. The drawbacks of this approach are that the information is not organized by theme and that the references are often a mix of information for professionals and patients. Nevertheless, a large number of the listed Web sites provide useful background information. We can only recommend this route, therefore, for relatively rare or specific disorders, or when using highly targeted searches. To use the NIH search utility, visit the following Web page: http://search.nih.gov/index.html.
Additional Web Sources A number of Web sites that often link to government sites are available to the public. These can also point you in the direction of essential information. The following is a representative sample: ·
AOL: http://search.aol.com/cat.adp?id=168&layer=&from=subcats
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drkoop.comÒ: http://www.drkoop.com/conditions/ency/index.html
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Family Village: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/specific.htm
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Google: http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/
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Med Help International: http://www.medhelp.org/HealthTopics/A.html
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Open Directory Project: http://dmoz.org/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/
26 Meningitis
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Yahoo.com: http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/
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WebMDÒHealth: http://my.webmd.com/health_topics
Vocabulary Builder The material in this chapter may have contained a number of unfamiliar words. The following Vocabulary Builder introduces you to terms used in this chapter that have not been covered in the previous chapter: Abortion: 1. the premature expulsion from the uterus of the products of conception - of the embryo, or of a nonviable fetus. The four classic symptoms, usually present in each type of abortion, are uterine contractions, uterine haemorrhage, softening and dilatation of the cervix, and presentation or expulsion of all or part of the products of conception. 2. premature stoppage of a natural or a pathological process. [EU] Antibiotic: A chemical substance produced by a microorganism which has the capacity, in dilute solutions, to inhibit the growth of or to kill other microorganisms. Antibiotics that are sufficiently nontoxic to the host are used as chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of infectious diseases of man, animals and plants. [EU] Aseptic: Free from infection or septic material; sterile. [EU] Bacteremia: The presence of viable bacteria circulating in the blood. Fever, chills, tachycardia, and tachypnea are common acute manifestations of bacteremia. The majority of cases are seen in already hospitalized patients, most of whom have underlying diseases or procedures which render their bloodstreams susceptible to invasion. [NIH] Cholera: An acute diarrheal disease endemic in India and Southeast Asia whose causative agent is vibrio cholerae. This condition can lead to severe dehydration in a matter of hours unless quickly treated. [NIH] Conjugated: Acting or operating as if joined; simultaneous. [EU] Cryptosporidiosis: Parasitic intestinal infection with severe diarrhea caused by a protozoan, cryptosporidium. It occurs in both animals and humans. [NIH] Cytomegalovirus: A genus of the family herpesviridae, subfamily betaherpesvirinae, infecting the salivary glands, liver, spleen, lungs, eyes, and other organs, in which they produce characteristically enlarged cells with intranuclear inclusions. Infection with Cytomegalovirus is also seen as an opportunistic infection in AIDS. [NIH] Dementia: An acquired organic mental disorder with loss of intellectual abilities of sufficient severity to interfere with social or occupational
Guidelines 27
functioning. The dysfunction is multifaceted and involves memory, behavior, personality, judgment, attention, spatial relations, language, abstract thought, and other executive functions. The intellectual decline is usually progressive, and initially spares the level of consciousness. [NIH] Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain. [EU] Endemic: Present or usually prevalent in a population or geographical area at all times; said of a disease or agent. Called also endemial. [EU] Endocarditis: Exudative and proliferative inflammatory alterations of the endocardium, characterized by the presence of vegetations on the surface of the endocardium or in the endocardium itself, and most commonly involving a heart valve, but sometimes affecting the inner lining of the cardiac chambers or the endocardium elsewhere. It may occur as a primary disorder or as a complication of or in association with another disease. [EU] Epidemic: Occurring suddenly in numbers clearly in excess of normal expectancy; said especially of infectious diseases but applied also to any disease, injury, or other health-related event occurring in such outbreaks. [EU] Gonorrhea: Acute infectious disease characterized by primary invasion of the urogenital tract. The etiologic agent, neisseria gonorrhoeae, was isolated by Neisser in 1879. [NIH] Haemophilus: A genus of pasteurellaceae that consists of several species occurring in animals and humans. Its organisms are described as gramnegative, facultatively anaerobic, coccobacillus or rod-shaped, and nonmotile. [NIH] Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver. [EU] Herpes: Any inflammatory skin disease caused by a herpesvirus and characterized by the formation of clusters of small vesicles. When used alone, the term may refer to herpes simplex or to herpes zoster. [EU] Invasive: 1. having the quality of invasiveness. 2. involving puncture or incision of the skin or insertion of an instrument or foreign material into the body; said of diagnostic techniques. [EU] Lesion: Any pathological or traumatic discontinuity of tissue or loss of function of a part. [EU] LH: A small glycoprotein hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary. LH plays an important role in controlling ovulation and in controlling secretion of hormones by the ovaries and testes. [NIH] Membrane: A thin layer of tissue which covers a surface, lines a cavity or divides a space or organ. [EU] Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges. When it affects the dura mater, the disease is termed pachymeningitis; when the arachnoid and pia mater
28 Meningitis
are involved, it is called leptomeningitis, or meningitis proper. [EU] Microbiology: The study of microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, algae, archaea, and viruses. [NIH] Mycotic: Pertaining to a mycosis; caused by fungi. [EU] Nausea: An unpleasant sensation, vaguely referred to the epigastrium and abdomen, and often culminating in vomiting. [EU] Neisseria: A genus of gram-negative, aerobic, coccoid bacteria whose organisms are part of the normal flora of the oropharynx, nasopharynx, and genitourinary tract. Some species are primary pathogens for humans. [NIH] Pathogen: Any disease-producing microorganism. [EU] Pediatrics: A medical specialty concerned with maintaining health and providing medical care to children from birth to adolescence. [NIH] Preclinical: Before a disease becomes clinically recognizable. [EU] Prevalence: The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from incidence, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time. [NIH] Rectal: Pertaining to the rectum (= distal portion of the large intestine). [EU] Secretion: 1. the process of elaborating a specific product as a result of the activity of a gland; this activity may range from separating a specific substance of the blood to the elaboration of a new chemical substance. 2. any substance produced by secretion. [EU] Seizures: Clinical or subclinical disturbances of cortical function due to a sudden, abnormal, excessive, and disorganized discharge of brain cells. Clinical manifestations include abnormal motor, sensory and psychic phenomena. Recurrent seizures are usually referred to as EPILEPSY or "seizure disorder." [NIH] Streptococcus: A genus of gram-positive, coccoid bacteria whose organisms occur in pairs or chains. No endospores are produced. Many species exist as commensals or parasites on man or animals with some being highly pathogenic. A few species are saprophytes and occur in the natural environment. [NIH] Syphilis: A contagious venereal disease caused by the spirochete treponema pallidum. [NIH] Transplantation: The grafting of tissues taken from the patient's own body or from another. [EU] Tuberculosis: Any of the infectious diseases of man and other animals caused by species of mycobacterium. [NIH] Vaccination: The introduction of vaccine into the body for the purpose of inducing immunity. Coined originally to apply to the injection of smallpox
Guidelines 29
vaccine, the term has come to mean any immunizing procedure in which vaccine is injected. [EU] Vaccine: A suspension of attenuated or killed microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, or rickettsiae), administered for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of infectious diseases. [EU] Vaginal: 1. of the nature of a sheath; ensheathing. 2. pertaining to the vagina. 3. pertaining to the tunica vaginalis testis. [EU] Viral: Pertaining to, caused by, or of the nature of virus. [EU]
Seeking Guidance 31
CHAPTER 2. SEEKING GUIDANCE Overview Some patients are comforted by the knowledge that a number of organizations dedicate their resources to helping people with meningitis. These associations can become invaluable sources of information and advice. Many associations offer aftercare support, financial assistance, and other important services. Furthermore, healthcare research has shown that support groups often help people to better cope with their conditions.9 In addition to support groups, your physician can be a valuable source of guidance and support. Therefore, finding a physician that can work with your unique situation is a very important aspect of your care. In this chapter, we direct you to resources that can help you find patient organizations and medical specialists. We begin by describing how to find associations and peer groups that can help you better understand and cope with meningitis. The chapter ends with a discussion on how to find a doctor that is right for you.
Associations and Meningitis As mentioned by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, sometimes the emotional side of an illness can be as taxing as the physical side.10 You may have fears or feel overwhelmed by your situation. Everyone has different ways of dealing with disease or physical injury. Your attitude, your expectations, and how well you cope with your condition can all Churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship might also have groups that can offer you the social support you need. 10 This section has been adapted from http://www.ahcpr.gov/consumer/diaginf5.htm. 9
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influence your well-being. This is true for both minor conditions and serious illnesses. For example, a study on female breast cancer survivors revealed that women who participated in support groups lived longer and experienced better quality of life when compared with women who did not participate. In the support group, women learned coping skills and had the opportunity to share their feelings with other women in the same situation. In addition to associations or groups that your doctor might recommend, we suggest that you consider the following list (if there is a fee for an association, you may want to check with your insurance provider to find out if the cost will be covered): ·
Back Pain Association of America, Inc Address: Back Pain Association of America, Inc. P.O. Box 135, Pasadena, MD 21123-0135 Telephone: (410) 255-3633 Toll-free: (800) 433-5255 Fax: (410) 255- 7338 Email:
[email protected] Background: The Back Pain Association of America, Inc. (BPAA) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information and support to people who are affected by back and neck pain, their family members, friends, and health care professionals. Established in 1991 and consisting of nearly 4,000 members, BPAA offers programs and information to help affected individuals learn more about their spinal disorders and ways to cope with them. The organization also has a program to help individuals prevent back injuries. BPAA publishes a self-titled quarterly newsletter that helps readers stay informed of updated information and new forms of treatment. The organization's 'Friends Across America' networking program enables affected individuals to exchange information and support via telephone. BPAA also has a physician referral service as well as an information service for physicians who treat back and neck pain. In addition, the Association also promotes research and offers a variety of fact sheets including 'The Relationship Between Nerve Damage and Leg Pain,' 'Urinary Problems and Diseases of the Spine,' 'Arachnoiditis, Questions and Answers,' and 'A Guide to Abdominal and Stretching Exercises.'. Relevant area(s) of interest: Meningitis
·
Meningitis Foundation of America Address: Meningitis Foundation of America 7155 Shadeland Station, Suite 190, Indianapolis, IN 46256
Seeking Guidance 33
Telephone: (317) 595-6383 Toll-free: (800) 668-1129 Fax: (317) 595-6370 Email:
[email protected] Web Site: http://www.musa.org Background: The Meningitis Foundation of America (MFA) is a voluntary not-for- profit organization dedicated to providing information and support to individuals who have had personal experience with meningitis, their families, health care professionals, and the general public. Established in 1997, the Foundation is committed to alerting the public and the medical communities about the initial symptoms of meningitis and the need for early diagnosis and immediate treatment. Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and/or spinal cord (meninges). In most cases, meningitis results due to viral or bacterial infection. Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial meningitis and may often be mild. Associated symptoms may include fever, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, generalized weakness, and/or a stiff neck. In many cases, symptoms may resolve in approximately one to two weeks. Bacterial meningitis may be extremely serious, rapidly causing potentially life-threatening complications. Symptoms associated with bacterial meningitis may initially include the sudden onset of severe fever, chills, nausea, and/or vomiting. Older children and adults may experience stiffness of the neck, confusion, irritability, increasing drowsiness, and loss of consciousness. Affected children under approximately two years of age may experience feeding problems, irritability, high-pitched crying, and episodes of uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain (seizures). Life-threatening complications may result without immediate, appropriate treatment. Most individuals who receive prompt treatment recover. However, some may experience resulting effects from meningitis such as mental retardation and/or seizures. The Meningitis Foundation of America is committed to providing support and resources to those affected by meningitis and their families, promoting professional and public education, and supporting the development of vaccines and other means of treating and/or preventing meningitis. The Foundation offers a 24hour hot line, provides networking services for affected individuals and families, engages in lobbying, and is working to produce an educational poster that will be distributed to pediatricians, general practitioners, and school nurses as well as to emergency rooms, daycare centers, and other appropriate locations throughout the country. In addition, the Foundation provides educational brochures, publishes a regular newsletter, and has a web site on the Internet. Relevant area(s) of interest: Meningitis, Spinal Meningitis
34 Meningitis
·
Meningitis Research Foundation (UK) Address: Meningitis Research Foundation (UK) 13 High Street, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 2AE, United Kingdom Telephone: 01454 281811 Toll-free: 0808 800 3344 Web Site: http://www.meningitis.org Background: The Meningitis Research Foundation is a not-for-profit organization in the United Kingdom that is committed to preventing lifethreatening complications and disability resulting from meningitis and septicemia. Meningitis is characterized by inflammation of the protective membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The condition is usually due to infection with certain bacteria or viruses. Septicemia is systemic disease characterized by the presence of invading microorganisms or their toxins in the bloodstream. The Meningitis Research Foundation, which was founded in 1989, is dedicated to working in partnership with affected families to raise funds for scientific research into the prevention, detection, and treatment of meningitis; representing the experience of those affected by meningitis to policymakers; and working alongside health care professionals to increase public awareness and understanding of meningitis and septicemia. The Foundation also has a 24-hour helpline to provide information on meningitis and septicemia; offer support, information, and resources to affected families; and work with health professionals, schools, and employers to help inform the public and allay fears. In addition, the Foundation has a web site on the Internet that discusses the organization's mission, goals, and services; provides information on meningitis and septicemia; and offers updates on current research programs in the United Kingdom on the prevention, detection, treatment, surveillance, and control of meningitis and septicemia. Relevant area(s) of interest: Meningitis
·
Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada Address: Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada PO Box 28015, RPO Parkdale, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 6J8, Canada Telephone: (519) 746-8306 Toll-free: (800) 643-1303 Fax: (519) 746-8306 Email:
[email protected] Web Site: http://www.meningitis.ca Background: The Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada is a not-forprofit organization dedicated to providing research funds in order to
Seeking Guidance 35
prevent life-threatening complications and disability resulting from meningitis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the protective membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis usually results due to infection with certain bacteria or viruses. The Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada was established in 1998 as a grassroots initiative. The Foundation is committed to promoting and supporting research into the prevention, detection, and treatment of meningitis; increasing public awareness; and promoting increased understanding of the disease among health care professionals and policymakers. In addition, the Foundation also provides a network of people affected by meningitis to encourage the exchange of information, resources, and mutual support. The Foundation's web site on the Internet discusses the organization's mission and objectives and provides understandable information on meningitis. Relevant area(s) of interest: Meningitis ·
The Arc (a national organization on mental retardation) Address: The Arc (a national organization on mental retardation) 500 East Border Street, Suite 300, Arlington, TX 76010 Telephone: (817) 261-6003 Toll-free: (800) 433-5255 Fax: (817) 277-3491 Email:
[email protected] Web Site: http://thearc.org/ Background: The Arc is the largest organization in the United States that is solely devoted to improving the lives of all children and adults with mental retardation. The organization offers support to families affected by mental retardation and fosters research and educational programs on the prevention of mental retardation. The Arc is committed to securing opportunities for all people with mental retardation. To this end, the organization emphasizes personal opportunities for choice in education, housing, employment, and entertainment. The Arc is further committed to reducing the incidence and limiting the consequences of mental retardation through research, advocacy, and mutual support. The Arc provides leadership in the field of mental retardation and develops necessary human and financial resources to attain its goals. In addition, the Arc provides a wide variety of educational materials for parents, teachers, health care professionals, and others, including a regular newsletter, handbooks, instruction packets, reports, booklets, audiovisual aids, posters, and brochures. Many materials are available in Spanish.
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Relevant area(s) of interest: Meningitis
Finding More Associations There are a number of directories that list additional medical associations that you may find useful. While not all of these directories will provide different information than what is listed above, by consulting all of them, you will have nearly exhausted all sources for patient associations. The National Health Information Center (NHIC) The National Health Information Center (NHIC) offers a free referral service to help people find organizations that provide information about meningitis. For more information, see the NHIC’s Web site at http://www.health.gov/NHIC/ or contact an information specialist by calling 1-800-336-4797.
DIRLINE A comprehensive source of information on associations is the DIRLINE database maintained by the National Library of Medicine. The database comprises some 10,000 records of organizations, research centers, and government institutes and associations which primarily focus on health and biomedicine. DIRLINE is available via the Internet at the following Web site: http://dirline.nlm.nih.gov/. Simply type in “meningitis” (or a synonym) or the name of a topic, and the site will list information contained in the database on all relevant organizations.
The Combined Health Information Database Another comprehensive source of information on healthcare associations is the Combined Health Information Database. Using the “Detailed Search” option, you will need to limit your search to “Organizations” and “meningitis”. Type the following hyperlink into your Web browser: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. To find associations, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” For publication date, select “All Years.” Then, select your preferred language and the format option “Organization Resource Sheet.” By making these selections and typing in “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the “For these
Seeking Guidance 37
words:” box, you will only receive results on organizations dealing with meningitis. You should check back periodically with this database since it is updated every 3 months. The National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. The National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. has prepared a Web site that provides, at no charge, lists of associations organized by specific diseases. You can access this database at the following Web site: http://www.rarediseases.org/cgi-bin/nord/searchpage. Select the option called “Organizational Database (ODB)” and type “meningitis” (or a synonym) in the search box.
Online Support Groups In addition to support groups, commercial Internet service providers offer forums and chat rooms for people with different illnesses and conditions. WebMDÒ, for example, offers such a service at their Web site: http://boards.webmd.com/roundtable. These online self-help communities can help you connect with a network of people whose concerns are similar to yours. Online support groups are places where people can talk informally. If you read about a novel approach, consult with your doctor or other healthcare providers, as the treatments or discoveries you hear about may not be scientifically proven to be safe and effective. The following internet links may be of particular interest: ·
Meningitis Trust http://www.meningitis-trust.org.uk/frame.htm
·
Meningitis Angels and Earth Bound Inc. http://www.meningitis-angels.org/angelsupportteam.htm
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Finding Doctors One of the most important aspects of your treatment will be the relationship between you and your doctor or specialist. All patients with meningitis must go through the process of selecting a physician. While this process will vary from person to person, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality makes a number of suggestions, including the following:11 ·
If you are in a managed care plan, check the plan’s list of doctors first.
·
Ask doctors or other health professionals who work with doctors, such as hospital nurses, for referrals.
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Call a hospital’s doctor referral service, but keep in mind that these services usually refer you to doctors on staff at that particular hospital. The services do not have information on the quality of care that these doctors provide.
·
Some local medical societies offer lists of member doctors. Again, these lists do not have information on the quality of care that these doctors provide.
Additional steps you can take to locate doctors include the following: ·
Check with the associations listed earlier in this chapter.
·
Information on doctors in some states is available on the Internet at http://www.docboard.org. This Web site is run by “Administrators in Medicine,” a group of state medical board directors.
·
The American Board of Medical Specialties can tell you if your doctor is board certified. “Certified” means that the doctor has completed a training program in a specialty and has passed an exam, or “board,” to assess his or her knowledge, skills, and experience to provide quality patient care in that specialty. Primary care doctors may also be certified as specialists. The AMBS Web site is located at http://www.abms.org/newsearch.asp.12 You can also contact the ABMS by phone at 1-866-ASK-ABMS.
·
You can call the American Medical Association (AMA) at 800-665-2882 for information on training, specialties, and board certification for many licensed doctors in the United States. This information also can be found in “Physician Select” at the AMA’s Web site: http://www.amaassn.org/aps/amahg.htm.
This section is adapted from the AHRQ: www.ahrq.gov/consumer/qntascii/qntdr.htm. While board certification is a good measure of a doctor’s knowledge, it is possible to receive quality care from doctors who are not board certified.
11 12
Seeking Guidance 39
If the previous sources did not meet your needs, you may want to log on to the Web site of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) at http://www.rarediseases.org/. NORD maintains a database of doctors with expertise in various rare diseases. The Metabolic Information Network (MIN), 800-945-2188, also maintains a database of physicians with expertise in various metabolic diseases.
Selecting Your Doctor13 When you have compiled a list of prospective doctors, call each of their offices. First, ask if the doctor accepts your health insurance plan and if he or she is taking new patients. If the doctor is not covered by your plan, ask yourself if you are prepared to pay the extra costs. The next step is to schedule a visit with your chosen physician. During the first visit you will have the opportunity to evaluate your doctor and to find out if you feel comfortable with him or her. Ask yourself, did the doctor: ·
Give me a chance to ask questions about meningitis?
·
Really listen to my questions?
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Answer in terms I understood?
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Show respect for me?
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Ask me questions?
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Make me feel comfortable?
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Address the health problem(s) I came with?
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Ask me my preferences about different kinds of treatments for meningitis?
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Spend enough time with me?
Trust your instincts when deciding if the doctor is right for you. But remember, it might take time for the relationship to develop. It takes more than one visit for you and your doctor to get to know each other.
13 This
section has been adapted from the AHRQ: www.ahrq.gov/consumer/qntascii/qntdr.htm.
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Working with Your Doctor14 Research has shown that patients who have good relationships with their doctors tend to be more satisfied with their care and have better results. Here are some tips to help you and your doctor become partners: ·
You know important things about your symptoms and your health history. Tell your doctor what you think he or she needs to know.
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It is important to tell your doctor personal information, even if it makes you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable.
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Bring a “health history” list with you (and keep it up to date).
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Always bring any medications you are currently taking with you to the appointment, or you can bring a list of your medications including dosage and frequency information. Talk about any allergies or reactions you have had to your medications.
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Tell your doctor about any natural or alternative medicines you are taking.
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Bring other medical information, such as x-ray films, test results, and medical records.
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Ask questions. If you don’t, your doctor will assume that you understood everything that was said.
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Write down your questions before your visit. List the most important ones first to make sure that they are addressed.
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Consider bringing a friend with you to the appointment to help you ask questions. This person can also help you understand and/or remember the answers.
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Ask your doctor to draw pictures if you think that this would help you understand.
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Take notes. Some doctors do not mind if you bring a tape recorder to help you remember things, but always ask first.
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Let your doctor know if you need more time. If there is not time that day, perhaps you can speak to a nurse or physician assistant on staff or schedule a telephone appointment.
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Take information home. Ask for written instructions. Your doctor may also have brochures and audio and videotapes that can help you.
This section has been adapted from the AHRQ: www.ahrq.gov/consumer/qntascii/qntdr.htm.
14
Seeking Guidance 41
·
After leaving the doctor’s office, take responsibility for your care. If you have questions, call. If your symptoms get worse or if you have problems with your medication, call. If you had tests and do not hear from your doctor, call for your test results. If your doctor recommended that you have certain tests, schedule an appointment to get them done. If your doctor said you should see an additional specialist, make an appointment.
By following these steps, you will enhance the relationship you will have with your physician.
Broader Health-Related Resources In addition to the references above, the NIH has set up guidance Web sites that can help patients find healthcare professionals. These include:15 ·
Caregivers: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/caregivers.html
·
Choosing a Doctor or Healthcare Service: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/choosingadoctororhealthcareserv ice.html
·
Hospitals and Health Facilities: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthfacilities.html
Vocabulary Builder The following vocabulary builder provides definitions of words used in this chapter that have not been defined in previous chapters: Inflammation: A pathological process characterized by injury or destruction of tissues caused by a variety of cytologic and chemical reactions. It is usually manifested by typical signs of pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. [NIH] Microorganism: A microscopic organism; those of medical interest include bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. [EU] Septicemia: Systemic disease associated with the presence and persistence You can access this information at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthsystem.html.
15
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of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins in the blood. Called also blood poisoning. [EU] Systemic: Pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole. [EU] Toxin: A poison; frequently used to refer specifically to a protein produced by some higher plants, certain animals, and pathogenic bacteria, which is highly toxic for other living organisms. Such substances are differentiated from the simple chemical poisons and the vegetable alkaloids by their high molecular weight and antigenicity. [EU] Viruses: Minute infectious agents whose genomes are composed of DNA or RNA, but not both. They are characterized by a lack of independent metabolism and the inability to replicate outside living host cells. [NIH]
Clinical Trials 43
CHAPTER 3. CLINICAL TRIALS AND MENINGITIS Overview Very few medical conditions have a single treatment. The basic treatment guidelines that your physician has discussed with you, or those that you have found using the techniques discussed in Chapter 1, may provide you with all that you will require. For some patients, current treatments can be enhanced with new or innovative techniques currently under investigation. In this chapter, we will describe how clinical trials work and show you how to keep informed of trials concerning meningitis.
What Is a Clinical Trial?16 Clinical trials involve the participation of people in medical research. Most medical research begins with studies in test tubes and on animals. Treatments that show promise in these early studies may then be tried with people. The only sure way to find out whether a new treatment is safe, effective, and better than other treatments for meningitis is to try it on patients in a clinical trial.
The discussion in this chapter has been adapted from the NIH and the NEI: www.nei.nih.gov/netrials/ctivr.htm.
16
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What Kinds of Clinical Trials Are There? Clinical trials are carried out in three phases: ·
Phase I. Researchers first conduct Phase I trials with small numbers of patients and healthy volunteers. If the new treatment is a medication, researchers also try to determine how much of it can be given safely.
·
Phase II. Researchers conduct Phase II trials in small numbers of patients to find out the effect of a new treatment on meningitis.
·
Phase III. Finally, researchers conduct Phase III trials to find out how new treatments for meningitis compare with standard treatments already being used. Phase III trials also help to determine if new treatments have any side effects. These trials--which may involve hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people--can also compare new treatments with no treatment.
How Is a Clinical Trial Conducted? Various organizations support clinical trials at medical centers, hospitals, universities, and doctors’ offices across the United States. The “principal investigator” is the researcher in charge of the study at each facility participating in the clinical trial. Most clinical trial researchers are medical doctors, academic researchers, and specialists. The “clinic coordinator” knows all about how the study works and makes all the arrangements for your visits. All doctors and researchers who take part in the study on meningitis carefully follow a detailed treatment plan called a protocol. This plan fully explains how the doctors will treat you in the study. The “protocol” ensures that all patients are treated in the same way, no matter where they receive care. Clinical trials are controlled. This means that researchers compare the effects of the new treatment with those of the standard treatment. In some cases, when no standard treatment exists, the new treatment is compared with no treatment. Patients who receive the new treatment are in the treatment group. Patients who receive a standard treatment or no treatment are in the “control” group. In some clinical trials, patients in the treatment group get a new medication while those in the control group get a placebo. A placebo is a harmless substance, a “dummy” pill, that has no effect on meningitis. In other clinical trials, where a new surgery or device (not a medicine) is being
Clinical Trials 45
tested, patients in the control group may receive a “sham treatment.” This treatment, like a placebo, has no effect on meningitis and does not harm patients. Researchers assign patients “randomly” to the treatment or control group. This is like flipping a coin to decide which patients are in each group. If you choose to participate in a clinical trial, you will not know which group you will be appointed to. The chance of any patient getting the new treatment is about 50 percent. You cannot request to receive the new treatment instead of the placebo or sham treatment. Often, you will not know until the study is over whether you have been in the treatment group or the control group. This is called a “masked” study. In some trials, neither doctors nor patients know who is getting which treatment. This is called a “double masked” study. These types of trials help to ensure that the perceptions of the patients or doctors will not affect the study results. Natural History Studies Unlike clinical trials in which patient volunteers may receive new treatments, natural history studies provide important information to researchers on how meningitis develops over time. A natural history study follows patient volunteers to see how factors such as age, sex, race, or family history might make some people more or less at risk for meningitis. A natural history study may also tell researchers if diet, lifestyle, or occupation affects how a disease or disorder develops and progresses. Results from these studies provide information that helps answer questions such as: How fast will a disease or disorder usually progress? How bad will the condition become? Will treatment be needed? What Is Expected of Patients in a Clinical Trial? Not everyone can take part in a clinical trial for a specific disease or disorder. Each study enrolls patients with certain features or eligibility criteria. These criteria may include the type and stage of disease or disorder, as well as, the age and previous treatment history of the patient. You or your doctor can contact the sponsoring organization to find out more about specific clinical trials and their eligibility criteria. If you are interested in joining a clinical trial, your doctor must contact one of the trial’s investigators and provide details about your diagnosis and medical history.
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If you participate in a clinical trial, you may be required to have a number of medical tests. You may also need to take medications and/or undergo surgery. Depending upon the treatment and the examination procedure, you may be required to receive inpatient hospital care. Or, you may have to return to the medical facility for follow-up examinations. These exams help find out how well the treatment is working. Follow-up studies can take months or years. However, the success of the clinical trial often depends on learning what happens to patients over a long period of time. Only patients who continue to return for follow-up examinations can provide this important long-term information.
Recent Trials on Meningitis The National Institutes of Health and other organizations sponsor trials on various diseases and disorders. Because funding for research goes to the medical areas that show promising research opportunities, it is not possible for the NIH or others to sponsor clinical trials for every disease and disorder at all times. The following lists recent trials dedicated to meningitis.17 If the trial listed by the NIH is still recruiting, you may be eligible. If it is no longer recruiting or has been completed, then you can contact the sponsors to learn more about the study and, if published, the results. Further information on the trial is available at the Web site indicated. Please note that some trials may no longer be recruiting patients or are otherwise closed. Before contacting sponsors of a clinical trial, consult with your physician who can help you determine if you might benefit from participation. ·
DepoCyt Therapy in Patients with Neoplastic Meningitis from Lymphoma or a Solid Tumor Condition(s): Meningeal Neoplasms Study Status: This study is currently recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): SkyePharma Purpose - Excerpt: The purpose of this study is to find out how well an experimental drug called DepoCyt works for neoplastic meningitis (cancer that has spread to the tissues around the brain and spinal cord). DepoCyt is a new slow-release form of the cancer drug called ara-C (cytarabine). Cytarabine has been used for many years to treat cancer. Phase(s): Phase IV Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below
17
These are listed at www.ClinicalTrials.gov.
Clinical Trials 47
Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00029523;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
Intrathecal Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Cancer and Neoplastic Meningitis Condition(s): leptomeningeal metastases Study Status: This study is currently recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): Baylor College of Medicine Purpose - Excerpt: RATIONALE: Giving gemcitabine intrathecally may be an effective treatment for neoplastic meningitis. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of intrathecal gemcitabine in treating patients who have cancer and neoplastic meningitis. Phase(s): Phase I Study Type: Treatment Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00039143;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184
·
Topotecan to Treat Patients with Meningeal Cancers Condition(s): Meningeal Cancer Study Status: This study is currently recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): National Cancer Institute (NCI) Purpose - Excerpt: This study will test the effects of the anti-cancer drug topotecan in patients with neoplastic meningitis (cancer that has spread to the lining of the brain and spinal cord). Patients between 1 and 21 years of age with neoplastic meningitis for whom no effective standard treatment is available or effective may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with the following tests, some of which will be repeated at various times throughout the study: - Complete medical history, physical examination, and neurological examination. - Blood and urine tests. - Lumbar puncture (spinal tap). This procedure is done to examine the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which bathes the brain and spinal cord. After a local anesthetic is administered, a needle is inserted in the space between the bones in the lower back where the CSF circulates below the spinal cord. A small amount of fluid is collected through the needle. - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and possibly spine. This diagnostic test uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves
48 Meningitis
to show structural and chemical changes in tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a table within a narrow cylinder containing a magnetic field. He or she can speak with a staff member via an intercom system at all times during the procedure. - Bone marrow biopsy. This test looks for evidence of cancer cells in the bone marrow. It is done in patients with leukemia or lymphoma and in certain circumstances in patients with solid tumors. The hip area is anesthetized and a special needle is used to draw bone marrow from the hipbone. - CSF flow study. This nuclear medicine study examines the CSF circulation. It is done in patients with a solid tumor or leukemia or lymphoma that might be blocking the flow of spinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord. Study participants will be given infusions of topotecan directly into the CSF over a 10-minute period twice a week for 6 weeks. If the disease has not worsened at the end of 6 weeks, therapy will continue once a week for the next 4 weeks, then twice a month for 4 months and then once a month thereafter for a maximum total of 1 year. Topotecan is given by one of the following methods: - Lumbar puncture - The drug is administered through the needle used to withdraw the CSF as described above. If needed, additional medication may be given to lessen pain or anxiety. - Ommaya reservoir or lumbar reservoir - An Ommaya reservoir is a surgically implanted catheter used to inject medicine or withdraw CSF from the ventricles (fluid chambers) within the brain. A lumbar reservoir is a catheter surgically implanted in the lower back to inject medicine or withdraw CSF. The catheters are attached to a small mushroom-shaped chamber (reservoir) beneath the skin. A needle is inserted through the skin and into the reservoir to sample CSF and to administer the topotecan. Phase(s): Phase II Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): Maryland; National Cancer Institute (NCI), 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States; Recruiting; Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office 1-800-411-1222
[email protected]; TTY 1-866-411-1010 Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00013676;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
A Comparison of Fluconazole and Amphotericin B in the Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients.
Clinical Trials 49
Sponsor(s): Pfizer Purpose - Excerpt: To compare the safety and effectiveness of fluconazole and amphotericin B, alone or in combination with flucytosine, as treatment for acute cryptococcal meningitis. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00002305;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
A Pilot Study of Fluconazole Plus Flucytosine for the Treatment of AIDS Patients With Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis. Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): Pfizer Purpose - Excerpt: To evaluate and estimate the safety and efficacy of the combination of fluconazole and flucytosine as treatment for acute cryptococcal meningitis in patients with AIDS. Fluconazole and flucytosine have different mechanisms of action. Since fluconazole has not been associated with hematologic suppression and does not produce renal impairment that can result in higher serum flucytosine levels, this combination may be better tolerated than is amphotericin B plus flucytosine. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): California; UCI Med Ctr, Orange, California, 92668, United States; Los Angeles County - USC Med Ctr, Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States; UCSD Med Ctr - Owen Clinic, San Diego, California, 921038681, United States Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00002113;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184
·
A Study of Fluconazole in the Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis in Patients Who Have Not Had Success with Amphotericin B Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): Pfizer
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Purpose - Excerpt: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fluconazole as treatment for acute cryptococcal meningitis in patients who have had an unsatisfactory response to or have experienced unacceptable toxicity with amphotericin B. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00002306;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
A Study of Fluconazole in the Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis in Patients with AIDS Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): Pfizer Purpose - Excerpt: To compare the safety and effectiveness of fluconazole with that of placebo as maintenance treatment for preventing the relapse of cryptococcal meningitis in patients with AIDS. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): California; Dr Paul Rothman, Sherman Oaks, California, 91403, United States; UCSD, San Diego, California, 92103, United States; Dr Robert Larsen, Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States; UCI Med Ctr, Orange, California, 92668, United States; Stanford Univ School of Medicine, Stanford, California, 94305, United States Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00002294;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184
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Effects of MAC Preventive Therapy on Disease-Causing Bacteria in HIV-Infected Patients: A Substudy of CPCRA 048 Condition(s): Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infections; Pneumococcal Infections
Infection;
HIV
Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Purpose - Excerpt: Some people who have taken azithromycin to prevent MAC (Mycobacterium avium Complex, a bacterial infection common in HIV-infected persons) have been found to carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria (germs that grow despite the presence of drugs used to kill
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them). The purpose of this study is to see if people who take azithromycin carry more antibiotic-resistant bacteria than people who have chosen to delay MAC preventive therapy. When bacteria like Streptococcus (a type of bacteria that causes pneumonia and meningitis) are frequently exposed to antibiotics, the bacteria can become resistant to the drugs. MAC preventive therapy uses antibiotics, but this can make it difficult to treat other infections caused by bacteria that have become resistant in HIV-infected persons. If MAC preventive therapy is delayed, Streptococcus in the body may be less likely to develop resistance. Therefore, if the patient does get a Streptococcus infection, it will be easier to treat because it is not resistant to the antibiotics. Study Type: Observational Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00000933;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
Multicenter Comparison of Fluconazole (UK-49,858) and Amphotericin B as Maintenance Treatment for the Prevention of Relapse of Cryptococcal Meningitis in Patients With Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): Pfizer Purpose - Excerpt: To compare the safety and effectiveness of fluconazole and amphotericin B as maintenance treatment for preventing the relapse of cryptococcal meningitis in patients with AIDS. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00002074;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184
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Multicenter Comparison of Fluconazole (UK-49,858) and Amphotericin B as Treatment for Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): Pfizer
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Purpose - Excerpt: To compare the safety and effectiveness of fluconazole and amphotericin B, alone or in combination with flucytosine, as treatment for acute cryptococcal meningitis. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): California; Dr Robert Larsen, Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00002075;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
Open, Non-comparative Study of Fluconazole in Patients With Coccidioidal Meningitis Condition(s): Meningitis; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): Pfizer Purpose - Excerpt: The study is intended to examine the efficacy of fluconazole for the treatment of coccidioidal meningitis in patients with new onset of infection, relapse of previous infection, or failed previous therapy. Drug efficacy, safety and tolerance will be examined. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): Arizona; Tucson Veterans Administration Med Ctr, Tucson, Arizona, 85724, United States; California; HIV Research Group, San Diego, California, 92102, United States; Texas; Audie L Murphy Veterans Administration Hosp, San Antonio, Texas, 78284, United States Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00002010;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184
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Open, Non-Comparative Study of Intravenous and Oral Fluconazole in the Treatment of Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): Pfizer Purpose - Excerpt: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fluconazole as an intravenous dose as initial treatment for acute cryptococcal meningitis followed by oral therapy in AIDS and non-AIDS patients. Both newly diagnosed and relapsed patients are eligible. The
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effectiveness of maintenance fluconazole therapy in sustaining a clinical cure in AIDS patients will also be evaluated. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): California; Summitt Med Ctr / San Francisco Gen Hosp, Oakland, California, 94609, United States; Illinois; Cook County Hosp, Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States; New York; Cornell Univ Med Ctr, New York, New York, 10021, United States; SUNY / Health Sciences Ctr at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, United States; Pennsylvania; Buckley Braffman Stern Med Associates, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00002040;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
Pilot Study of Oral Fluconazole in the Treatment of Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): Pfizer Purpose - Excerpt: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fluconazole as treatment for acute cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients. Both newly diagnosed and relapsed patients are eligible. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): California; Summitt Med Ctr / San Francisco Gen Hosp, Oakland, California, 94609, United States; New York; Cornell Univ Med Ctr, New York, New York, 10021, United States; Pennsylvania; Buckley Braffman Stern Med Associates, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00002076;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184
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Safety and Antifungal Activity of Recombinant Interferon-gamma 1b (rIFN-gamma 1b) Given with Standard Therapy in Patients with Cryptococcal Meningitis Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): InterMune Pharmaceuticals
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Purpose - Excerpt: The purpose of this study is to examine the antifungal activity of recombinant interferon-gamma 1b (rIFN-gamma 1b) given with standard antifungal therapy. Phase(s): Phase II Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00012467;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
The Safety and Effectiveness of RMP-7 Plus Amphotericin B in Patients with HIV and Cryptococcal Meningitis Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is no longer recruiting patients. Sponsor(s): Alkermes Purpose - Excerpt: To evaluate the safety of escalating doses of RMP-7 administered in persons with HIV infection and cryptococcal meningitis and to determine the MTD of the drug. To evaluate the pharmacokinetics, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration, of amphotericin B when administered with RMP-7. Phase(s): Phase I Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00002316;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184
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A Randomized Double Blind Protocol Comparing Amphotericin B With Flucytosine to Amphotericin B Alone Followed by a Comparison of Fluconazole and Itraconazole in the Treatment of Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is completed. Sponsor(s): National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Purpose - Excerpt: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of amphotericin B plus flucytosine (5-fluorocytosine) compared to amphotericin B alone for a first episode of acute cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients, and to compare the effectiveness and safety of
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fluconazole versus itraconazole. At least 10 percent of patients with a low CD4 count and HIV infection will develop meningitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans. More effective treatments than the standard therapy need to be explored. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00000639;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
A Study of Itraconazole in the Treatment and Prevention of Histoplasmosis, a Fungal Infection, in Patients with AIDS Condition(s): HIV Infections; Histoplasmosis Study Status: This study is completed. Sponsor(s): National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); Janssen Pharmaceutica Purpose - Excerpt: To evaluate the feasibility of itraconazole as (1) primary therapy in histoplasmosis and (2) maintenance therapy after completion of primary therapy. To evaluate the effect of therapy of CNS histoplasmosis. To determine if resistance to drug occurs in patients who fail therapy. Histoplasmosis is a serious opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS. Although the clinical response to amphotericin B treatment in the AIDS patients is generally good, administration difficulties and toxicity detract from its usefulness. Oral treatment with ketoconazole overcomes these limitations of amphotericin B, but does not appear to be effective for primary treatment in patients with AIDS. Itraconazole is a triazole compound in which preclinical studies have demonstrated activity against Histoplasmosis capsulatum. Preclinical studies have also shown that itraconazole appears effective in the treatment of histoplasmosis. The frequency of adverse reactions to itraconazole has been low in several studies. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement occurs in up to 20 percent of patients with histoplasmosis, and appears to have a poor response to amphotericin B treatment. Itraconazole has been used successfully in a small number of patients with cryptococcal meningitis, supporting a study of its use in CNS histoplasmosis. Phase(s): Phase II Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below
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Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00000975;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
Comparison of Fluconazole and Amphotericin B in the Treatment of Brain Infections in Patients with AIDS Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is completed. Sponsor(s): Pfizer; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Purpose - Excerpt: To compare the safety and effectiveness of a new drug, fluconazole, with that of the usual therapy, amphotericin B, in the prevention of a relapse of cryptococcal meningitis (CM) in patients with AIDS who have been successfully treated for acute CM in the last 6 months. Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening infectious complication of AIDS. Because relapse after treatment occurs in over 50 percent of cases, chronic maintenance therapy with intravenous (IV) amphotericin B is usually given. However, amphotericin B is not always effective, has toxic effects, and must be given by the intravenous route. Fluconazole is an antifungal agent that can be given orally and has been shown to be effective against cryptococcal infections in animals and against acute CM in a few AIDS patients. Also, the side effects experienced by over 2000 patients or volunteers given fluconazole have seldom been severe enough to require withdrawal of the drug. Phase(s): Phase III Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00001017;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184
·
Dexamethasone in Cryptococcal Meningitis Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is completed. Sponsor(s): National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Purpose - Excerpt: To evaluate the effect of corticosteroids on reducing elevated intracranial pressure in cryptococcal meningitis. To evaluate the safety of corticosteroids in patients with cryptococcal meningitis and intracranial hypertension. In AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis,
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a correlation has been found between early death and elevated intracranial pressure. Since dexamethasone has been found to reduce intracranial pressure resulting from other forms of meningitis, it may be of benefit in AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis. Phase(s): Phase II Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00000776;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
Multi-center Comparison of Fluconazole (UK-49,858) Amphotericin B as Treatment for Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis
and
Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is completed. Sponsor(s): National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Purpose - Excerpt: To compare the safety and effectiveness of fluconazole (FCZ) and amphotericin B (AMB), alone or in combination with flucytosine (FLC), as treatment for acute cryptococcal meningitis in patients who have not been treated previously or who have relapsed after a previous successful treatment. Cryptococcal meningitis is an important cause of disease and death among patients with AIDS. Usually AMB is given either alone or with FLC to patients with this infection, but these treatments are not always effective and both have toxic effects. Animal studies and preliminary studies in humans show that FCZ is active in cryptococcal meningitis and suggest that it may be less toxic than either AMB or FLC. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00000708;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
Pilot Study of Familial Nonsyndromal Mondini Dysplasia Condition(s): Mondini dysplasia Study Status: This study is completed. Sponsor(s): National Center for Research Resources (NCRR); University of Michigan
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Purpose - Excerpt: Objectives: I. Determine the mode of inheritance of nonsyndromal Mondini inner ear dysplasia, an inner ear malformation causing deafness, vestibular dysfunction, and recurrent meningitis. Study Type: Observational Contact(s): Michigan; University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States; Andrew J. Griffith 313-936-8051. Study chairs or principal investigators: Andrew J. Griffith, Study Chair; University of Michigan Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00004336;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
Randomized Comparative Study of Fluconazole Versus Clotrimazole Troches in the Prevention of Serious Fungal Infection in Patients With AIDS or Advanced AIDS-Related Complex. (A Nested Study of ACTG 081) Condition(s): Candidiasis; Mycoses; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is completed. Sponsor(s): Pfizer; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Purpose - Excerpt: To study the effectiveness, safety, and tolerance of fluconazole versus clotrimazole troches (lozenges) as prophylaxis (preventive treatment) against fungal infections in patients enrolled in ACTG 081 (a study of prophylaxis against pneumocystosis, toxoplasmosis, and serious bacterial infection). Primarily, to compare the rates of invasive infections by C. neoformans, endemic mycoses, and Candida. To compare the mortality rates due to fungal infections between two antifungal prophylactic treatments. Secondarily, to assess the effect of prophylaxis on the incidence of severe fungal infections, defined as invasive infections and esophageal candidiasis and less severe mucocutaneous infection. Serious fungal infections are significant complicating and life-threatening occurrences in patients with advanced HIV infection. Oropharyngeal candidiasis is found in almost all such patients, and causes pain, difficulty in swallowing, and loss of appetite. Similarly, esophageal candidiasis causes illness in the population. Cryptococcosis, endemic mycoses, and coccidioidomycosis also cause significant illness and death in AIDS patients. Once established, fungal infections in AIDS patients generally require continuous suppressive therapy because attempts at curing these infections are usually unsuccessful. Fluconazole has a number of characteristics that would make it a logical candidate to examine as a prophylactic agent in patients
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with advanced HIV infection. Animal studies have shown it to be prophylactic in models of candidiasis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, and coccidioidomycosis. Initial experience in patients with active cryptococcal meningitis appears favorable, and studies of oropharyngeal candidiasis show it to be effective. Phase(s): Phase III Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00000676;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184 ·
Safety and Efficacy of Amphotericin B Lipid Complex in the Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis in Patients With the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is completed. Sponsor(s): Liposome Purpose - Excerpt: To evaluate the safety, tolerance and efficacy of three different dosage regimens of Amphotericin B Lipid Complex (ABLC) compared to Fungizone (Amphotericin B) in patients with AIDS and cryptococcal meningitis. Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00002019;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184
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SCH 39304 as Therapy for Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis in HIVInfected Patients Followed by Maintenance Therapy Condition(s): Meningitis, Cryptococcal; HIV Infections Study Status: This study is completed. Sponsor(s): National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); Schering-Plough Purpose - Excerpt: To assess the safety and effectiveness of SCH 39304 as primary treatment of acute cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-infected patients. Safety and effectiveness of maintenance therapy following successful treatment of acute disease are also evaluated. Cryptococcal
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meningitis is a significant cause of illness and death in HIV-infected patients. Intravenous amphotericin B is effective for acute disease but relapse occurs in the majority of patients. Maintenance therapy is recommended but must be balanced against the multiple toxicities of the drugs used and the problems associated with the weekly administration of intravenous therapy. Treatments that are equally or more effective and less toxic than traditional methods are needed, especially oral therapy. SCH 39304 is an orally active antifungal drug that in animal studies is active against a wide range of systemic fungal infections including infections due to Cryptococcus. Features of SCH 39304 suggest that it might be of value in the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis. Phase(s): Phase I Study Type: Interventional Contact(s): see Web site below Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00000677;jsessionid=E612D8 3921C76554F35141913853A184
Benefits and Risks18 What Are the Benefits of Participating in a Clinical Trial? If you are interested in a clinical trial, it is important to realize that your participation can bring many benefits to you and society at large: ·
A new treatment could be more effective than the current treatment for meningitis. Although only half of the participants in a clinical trial receive the experimental treatment, if the new treatment is proved to be more effective and safer than the current treatment, then those patients who did not receive the new treatment during the clinical trial may be among the first to benefit from it when the study is over.
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If the treatment is effective, then it may improve health or prevent diseases or disorders.
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Clinical trial patients receive the highest quality of medical care. Experts watch them closely during the study and may continue to follow them after the study is over.
This section has been adapted from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the National Institutes of Health: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/c/a1r/info/whatis?JServSessionIdzone_ct=9jmun6f291. 18
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·
People who take part in trials contribute to scientific discoveries that may help other people with meningitis. In cases where certain diseases or disorders run in families, your participation may lead to better care or prevention for your family members. The Informed Consent
Once you agree to take part in a clinical trial, you will be asked to sign an “informed consent.” This document explains a clinical trial’s risks and benefits, the researcher’s expectations of you, and your rights as a patient.
What Are the Risks? Clinical trials may involve risks as well as benefits. Whether or not a new treatment will work cannot be known ahead of time. There is always a chance that a new treatment may not work better than a standard treatment. There is also the possibility that it may be harmful. The treatment you receive may cause side effects that are serious enough to require medical attention.
How Is Patient Safety Protected? Clinical trials can raise fears of the unknown. Understanding the safeguards that protect patients can ease some of these fears. Before a clinical trial begins, researchers must get approval from their hospital’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), an advisory group that makes sure a clinical trial is designed to protect patient safety. During a clinical trial, doctors will closely watch you to see if the treatment is working and if you are experiencing any side effects. All the results are carefully recorded and reviewed. In many cases, experts from the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee carefully monitor each clinical trial and can recommend that a study be stopped at any time. You will only be asked to take part in a clinical trial as a volunteer giving informed consent.
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What Are a Patient’s Rights in a Clinical Trial? If you are eligible for a clinical trial, you will be given information to help you decide whether or not you want to participate. As a patient, you have the right to: ·
Information on all known risks and benefits of the treatments in the study.
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Know how the researchers plan to carry out the study, for how long, and where.
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Know what is expected of you.
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Know any costs involved for you or your insurance provider.
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Know before any of your medical or personal information is shared with other researchers involved in the clinical trial.
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Talk openly with doctors and ask any questions.
After you join a clinical trial, you have the right to: ·
Leave the study at any time. Participation is strictly voluntary. However, you should not enroll if you do not plan to complete the study.
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Receive any new information about the new treatment.
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Continue to ask questions and get answers.
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Maintain your privacy. Your name will not appear in any reports based on the study.
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Know whether you participated in the treatment group or the control group (once the study has been completed).
What about Costs? In some clinical trials, the research facility pays for treatment costs and other associated expenses. You or your insurance provider may have to pay for costs that are considered standard care. These things may include inpatient hospital care, laboratory and other tests, and medical procedures. You also may need to pay for travel between your home and the clinic. You should find out about costs before committing to participation in the trial. If you have health insurance, find out exactly what it will cover. If you don’t have health insurance, or if your insurance company will not cover your costs, talk to the clinic staff about other options for covering the cost of your care.
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What Questions Should You Ask before Deciding to Join a Clinical Trial? Questions you should ask when thinking about joining a clinical trial include the following: ·
What is the purpose of the clinical trial?
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What are the standard treatments for meningitis? Why do researchers think the new treatment may be better? What is likely to happen to me with or without the new treatment?
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What tests and treatments will I need? Will I need surgery? Medication? Hospitalization?
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How long will the treatment last? How often will I have to come back for follow-up exams?
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What are the treatment’s possible benefits to my condition? What are the short- and long-term risks? What are the possible side effects?
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Will the treatment be uncomfortable? Will it make me feel sick? If so, for how long?
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How will my health be monitored?
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Where will I need to go for the clinical trial? How will I get there?
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How much will it cost to be in the study? What costs are covered by the study? How much will my health insurance cover?
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Will I be able to see my own doctor? Who will be in charge of my care?
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Will taking part in the study affect my daily life? Do I have time to participate?
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How do I feel about taking part in a clinical trial? Are there family members or friends who may benefit from my contributions to new medical knowledge?
Keeping Current on Clinical Trials Various government agencies maintain databases on trials. The U.S. National Institutes of Health, through the National Library of Medicine, has developed ClinicalTrials.gov to provide patients, family members, and physicians with current information about clinical research across the broadest number of diseases and conditions.
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The site was launched in February 2000 and currently contains approximately 5,700 clinical studies in over 59,000 locations worldwide, with most studies being conducted in the United States. ClinicalTrials.gov receives about 2 million hits per month and hosts approximately 5,400 visitors daily. To access this database, simply go to their Web site (www.clinicaltrials.gov) and search by “meningitis” (or synonyms). While ClinicalTrials.gov is the most comprehensive listing of NIH-supported clinical trials available, not all trials are in the database. The database is updated regularly, so clinical trials are continually being added. The following is a list of specialty databases affiliated with the National Institutes of Health that offer additional information on trials: ·
For clinical studies at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center located in Bethesda, Maryland, visit their Web site: http://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov/
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For clinical studies conducted at the Bayview Campus in Baltimore, Maryland, visit their Web site: http://www.jhbmc.jhu.edu/studies/index.html
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For trials on infectious, immune, and allergic diseases, visit the site of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/clintrials/
General References The following references describe clinical trials and experimental medical research. They have been selected to ensure that they are likely to be available from your local or online bookseller or university medical library. These references are usually written for healthcare professionals, so you may consider consulting with a librarian or bookseller who might recommend a particular reference. The following includes some of the most readily available references (sorted alphabetically by title; hyperlinks provide rankings, information and reviews at Amazon.com): ·
A Guide to Patient Recruitment : Today’s Best Practices & Proven Strategies by Diana L. Anderson; Paperback - 350 pages (2001), CenterWatch, Inc.; ISBN: 1930624115; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1930624115/icongroupinterna
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A Step-By-Step Guide to Clinical Trials by Marilyn Mulay, R.N., M.S., OCN; Spiral-bound - 143 pages Spiral edition (2001), Jones & Bartlett Pub; ISBN: 0763715697; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0763715697/icongroupinterna
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·
The CenterWatch Directory of Drugs in Clinical Trials by CenterWatch; Paperback - 656 pages (2000), CenterWatch, Inc.; ISBN: 0967302935; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0967302935/icongroupinterna
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The Complete Guide to Informed Consent in Clinical Trials by Terry Hartnett (Editor); Paperback - 164 pages (2000), PharmSource Information Services, Inc.; ISBN: 0970153309; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970153309/icongroupinterna
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Dictionary for Clinical Trials by Simon Day; Paperback - 228 pages (1999), John Wiley & Sons; ISBN: 0471985961; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471985961/icongroupinterna
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Extending Medicare Reimbursement in Clinical Trials by Institute of Medicine Staff (Editor), et al; Paperback 1st edition (2000), National Academy Press; ISBN: 0309068886; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0309068886/icongroupinterna
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Handbook of Clinical Trials by Marcus Flather (Editor); Paperback (2001), Remedica Pub Ltd; ISBN: 1901346293; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1901346293/icongroupinterna
Vocabulary Builder The following vocabulary builder gives definitions of words used in this chapter that have not been defined in previous chapters: Antifungal: Destructive to fungi, or suppressing their reproduction or growth; effective against fungal infections. [EU] Anxiety: The unpleasant emotional state consisting of psychophysiological responses to anticipation of unreal or imagined danger, ostensibly resulting from unrecognized intrapsychic conflict. Physiological concomitants include increased heart rate, altered respiration rate, sweating, trembling, weakness, and fatigue; psychological concomitants include feelings of impending danger, powerlessness, apprehension, and tension. [EU] Azithromycin: A semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic structurally related to erythromycin. It has been used in the treatment of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infections, toxoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis. [NIH] Biopsy: The removal and examination, usually microscopic, of tissue from the living body, performed to establish precise diagnosis. [EU] Candidiasis: Infection with a fungus of the genus Candida. It is usually a superficial infection of the moist cutaneous areas of the body, and is generally caused by C. albicans; it most commonly involves the skin
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(dermatocandidiasis), oral mucous membranes (thrush, def. 1), respiratory tract (bronchocandidiasis), and vagina (vaginitis). Rarely there is a systemic infection or endocarditis. Called also moniliasis, candidosis, oidiomycosis, and formerly blastodendriosis. [EU] Catheter: A tubular, flexible, surgical instrument for withdrawing fluids from (or introducing fluids into) a cavity of the body, especially one for introduction into the bladder through the urethra for the withdraw of urine. [EU]
Cerebrospinal: Pertaining to the brain and spinal cord. [EU] Clotrimazole: An imidazole derivative with a broad spectrum of antimycotic activity. It inhibits biosynthesis of the sterol ergostol, an important component of fungal cell membranes. Its action leads to increased membrane permeability and apparent disruption of enzyme systems bound to the membrane. [NIH] Cryptococcosis: Infection with a fungus of the species cryptococcus neoformans. [NIH] Cryptococcus: A mitosporic Tremellales fungal genus whose species usually have a capsule and do not form pseudomycellium. Teleomorphs include Filobasidiella and Fidobasidium. [NIH] Dysplasia: Abnormality of development; in pathology, alteration in size, shape, and organization of adult cells. [EU] Fluconazole: Triazole antifungal agent that is used to treat oropharyngeal candidiasis and cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS. [NIH] Flucytosine: A fluorinated cytosine analog that is used as an antifungal agent. [NIH] Hypertension: Persistently high arterial blood pressure. Various criteria for its threshold have been suggested, ranging from 140 mm. Hg systolic and 90 mm. Hg diastolic to as high as 200 mm. Hg systolic and 110 mm. Hg diastolic. Hypertension may have no known cause (essential or idiopathic h.) or be associated with other primary diseases (secondary h.). [EU] Infusion: The therapeutic introduction of a fluid other than blood, as saline solution, solution, into a vein. [EU] Intrathecal: Within a sheath. [EU] Intravenous: Within a vein or veins. [EU] Itraconazole: An antifungal agent that has been used in the treatment of histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, cryptococcal meningitis, and aspergillosis. [NIH]
Ketoconazole: Broad spectrum antifungal agent used for long periods at high doses, especially in immunosuppressed patients. [NIH] Lipid:
Any of a heterogeneous group of flats and fatlike substances
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characterized by being water-insoluble and being extractable by nonpolar (or fat) solvents such as alcohol, ether, chloroform, benzene, etc. All contain as a major constituent aliphatic hydrocarbons. The lipids, which are easily stored in the body, serve as a source of fuel, are an important constituent of cell structure, and serve other biological functions. Lipids may be considered to include fatty acids, neutral fats, waxes, and steroids. Compound lipids comprise the glycolipids, lipoproteins, and phospholipids. [EU] Liposome: A spherical particle in an aqueous medium, formed by a lipid bilayer enclosing an aqueous compartment. [EU] Lymphoma: Any neoplastic disorder of the lymphoid tissue, the term lymphoma often is used alone to denote malignant lymphoma. [EU] Malformation: A morphologic defect resulting from an intrinsically abnormal developmental process. [EU] Mucocutaneous: Pertaining to or affecting the mucous membrane and the skin. [EU] Mycobacterium: An organism of the genus Mycobacterium. [EU] Neoplasms: New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms. [NIH] Neoplastic: Pertaining to or like a neoplasm (= any new and abnormal growth); pertaining to neoplasia (= the formation of a neoplasm). [EU] Pharmacokinetics: The action of drugs in the body over a period of time, including the processes of absorption, distribution, localization in tissues, biotransformation, and excretion. [EU] Prophylaxis: The prevention of disease; preventive treatment. [EU] Recombinant: 1. a cell or an individual with a new combination of genes not found together in either parent; usually applied to linked genes. [EU] Serum: The clear portion of any body fluid; the clear fluid moistening serous membranes. 2. blood serum; the clear liquid that separates from blood on clotting. 3. immune serum; blood serum from an immunized animal used for passive immunization; an antiserum; antitoxin, or antivenin. [EU] Suppressive: Tending to suppress : effecting suppression; specifically : serving to suppress activity, function, symptoms. [EU] Tolerance: 1. the ability to endure unusually large doses of a drug or toxin. 2. acquired drug tolerance; a decreasing response to repeated constant doses of a drug or the need for increasing doses to maintain a constant response. [EU]
Topotecan: An antineoplastic agent used to treat ovarian cancer. It works by inhibiting DNA topoisomerase. [NIH]
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Toxicity: The quality of being poisonous, especially the degree of virulence of a toxic microbe or of a poison. [EU] Toxoplasmosis: An acute or chronic, widespread disease of animals and humans caused by the obligate intracellular protozoon Toxoplasma gondii, transmitted by oocysts containing the pathogen in the feces of cats (the definitive host), usually by contaminated soil, direct exposure to infected feces, tissue cysts in infected meat, or tachyzoites (proliferating forms) in blood. [EU] Vestibular: Pertaining to or toward a vestibule. In dental anatomy, used to refer to the tooth surface directed toward the vestibule of the mouth. [EU] Withdrawal: 1. a pathological retreat from interpersonal contact and social involvement, as may occur in schizophrenia, depression, or schizoid avoidant and schizotypal personality disorders. 2. (DSM III-R) a substancespecific organic brain syndrome that follows the cessation of use or reduction in intake of a psychoactive substance that had been regularly used to induce a state of intoxication. [EU]
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PART II: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADVANCED MATERIAL
ABOUT PART II In Part II, we introduce you to additional resources and advanced research on meningitis. All too often, patients who conduct their own research are overwhelmed by the difficulty in finding and organizing information. The purpose of the following chapters is to provide you an organized and structured format to help you find additional information resources on meningitis. In Part II, as in Part I, our objective is not to interpret the latest advances on meningitis or render an opinion. Rather, our goal is to give you access to original research and to increase your awareness of sources you may not have already considered. In this way, you will come across the advanced materials often referred to in pamphlets, books, or other general works. Once again, some of this material is technical in nature, so consultation with a professional familiar with meningitis is suggested.
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CHAPTER 4. STUDIES ON MENINGITIS Overview Every year, academic studies are published on meningitis or related conditions. Broadly speaking, there are two types of studies. The first are peer reviewed. Generally, the content of these studies has been reviewed by scientists or physicians. Peer-reviewed studies are typically published in scientific journals and are usually available at medical libraries. The second type of studies is non-peer reviewed. These works include summary articles that do not use or report scientific results. These often appear in the popular press, newsletters, or similar periodicals. In this chapter, we will show you how to locate peer-reviewed references and studies on meningitis. We will begin by discussing research that has been summarized and is free to view by the public via the Internet. We then show you how to generate a bibliography on meningitis and teach you how to keep current on new studies as they are published or undertaken by the scientific community.
The Combined Health Information Database The Combined Health Information Database summarizes studies across numerous federal agencies. To limit your investigation to research studies and meningitis, you will need to use the advanced search options. First, go to http://chid.nih.gov/index.html. From there, select the “Detailed Search” option (or go directly to that page with the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html). The trick in extracting studies is found in the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language you prefer, and the
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format option “Journal Article.” At the top of the search form, select the number of records you would like to see (we recommend 100) and check the box to display “whole records.” We recommend that you type in “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box. Consider using the option “anywhere in record” to make your search as broad as possible. If you want to limit the search to only a particular field, such as the title of the journal, then select this option in the “Search in these fields” drop box. The following is a sample of what you can expect from this type of search: ·
Performance After Cochlear Implantation: A Comparison of Children Deafened by Meningitis and Congenitally Deaf Children Source: Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 114(1): 33-37. January 2000. Contact: Available from Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited. Publications Subscription Department, P.O. Box 9002, London W1A 0ZA, United Kingdom. E-mail:
[email protected]. Summary: This article reports on a study in which the speech perception and speech production performance following cochlear implantation of congenitally deaf children and children deafened by meningitis were analyzed. Three groups consisting of 70 congenitally deaf children, 22 children deafened by meningitis before two years of age, and 14 children deafened by meningitis after two years of age were compared. The group deafened by meningitis after two years of age demonstrated significantly better speech perception than the other two groups. Their speech production appeared better, but did not achieve statistical significance compared with the other two groups. There were no significant differences in speech perception or production between the congenitally deaf group and the group deafened by meningitis before two years of age. Further research is required to determine whether this is a consequence of meningitis, whether they have failed to derive benefit from their previous auditory experience, or whether any benefit they may have derived has been lost during their period of deafness. 2 figures. 9 tables. 15 references.
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Risk Factors for Hearing Loss from Meningitis in Children Source: Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 125(5): 509514. May 1999. Contact: Available from American Medical Association. Subscriber Services, P.O. Box 10946, Chicago, IL 60610-0946. (800) 262-3250 or (312) 670-7827. Fax (312) 464-5831. E-mail:
[email protected]. Website: www.ama-assn.org/oto.
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Summary: This article reports on a study undertaken to identify statistically significant risk factors for hearing loss in children with meningitis, determine the overall incidence of hearing loss in a large group of children with confirmed meningitis, and quantify the percentage of children with progressive or fluctuating hearing loss after meningitis. The study included 432 children admitted to the Children's Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama, from 1985 to 1995. Of 432 children with meningitis, 59 (13.7 percent) developed hearing loss. Of these 59 children, 46 (78.0 percent) had stable sensorineural hearing loss and 13 (22. 0 percent) had either progressive or fluctuating hearing loss. Of the variables examined, only 5 appeared to be significantly associated with the development of hearing loss: CT scan evidence of increased intracranial pressure, male sex, the common logarithm of glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid, Streptococcus pneumoniae as the causative organism, and the presence of neck rigidity. In the children with progressive hearing loss, the time for progression varied from 3 months to 4 years before hearing stabilized. 1 figure. 4 tables. 12 references. (AAM). ·
Anthrax Source: Access. 15(10): 34-37. December 2001. Contact: Available from American Dental Hygienists' Association. 444 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. Summary: With the recent exposures to and infections with anthrax, the public has become fearful of the risks associated with ordinary tasks such as opening the mail. The threat of bioterrorism has raised numerous questions concerning risk, course of infection, clinical manifestations, treatment, and prognosis. Health care providers, including oral health professionals, are in a unique position to provide their clients and community with accurate information about anthrax. This column reviews scientific information concerning this bacterial infection, highlights clinical manifestations of the disease, and discusses mechanisms for protection against infection. Topics include the pathogenesis of anthrax infections; symptoms of cutaneous, oropharyngeal, intestinal, inhalational, and septicemic anthrax, as well as anthrax meningitis; diagnostic strategies; treatment recommendations; the use of the anthrax vaccine; and prognosis for patients with anthrax. Patients with cutaneous anthrax have a good prognosis if treated early. The fatality rate for cutaneous anthrax is 20 percent without antibiotic treatment and less than 1 percent with antibiotic therapy. Unfortunately, the prognosis for the other forms of anthrax is poor. One sidebar summarizes recommended safe mail handling techniques. 20 references.
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Prevention of Hearing Loss From Meningitis Source: Lancet. 350(9072): 158-159. July 19, 1997. Summary: This brief commentary presents information on the prevention of hearing loss due to meningitis. Before the introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines, bacterial meningitis accounted for close to 10 percent of acquired deafness in children in the United States. In hearing loss due to bacterial meningitis, suppurative labyrinthitis precedes the destruction of cochlear structures. Bacteria may reach the cochlea by various routes. Exactly how suppurative labyrinthitis leads to deafness is not totally clear. Hearing loss caused by bacterial meningitis occurs quite early in the course of the infection. Differences in the ability of various microorganisms to reach the cochlea and cause damage and in host response to infection are possible reasons why some children develop hearing loss after bacterial meningitis and some do not. In order to prevent or diminish the likelihood of hearing loss due to bacterial meningitis, the author recommends optimum antimicrobial therapy, surveillance and careful monitoring of recommended treatment regimens, dexamethasone as an adjunctive measure, and other, newer adjunctive drug therapies that may reduce the incidence of hearing loss. The author concludes that in developed countries, deafness due to H. influenzae type b meningitis has been all but eliminated by protein conjugate vaccines that prevent invasive infections effectively. The hope is that protein conjugate vaccines under development will eventually prevent pneumococcal and meningococcal infections, including meningitis. 1 figure. 7 references.
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Hearing Impairment After Bacterial Meningitis: A Review Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood. 67(9): 1128-1133. 1992. Summary: This journal article, intended for health professionals, reviews the recent literature on the incidence of hearing impairment following bacterial meningitis. The article discusses the rate of hearing impairment following bacterial meningitis, possible predictive factors, the permanence of hearing loss following bacterial meningitis, and possible means of reducing the risks of postmeningitic sensorineural hearing loss. It recommends that all children recovering from bacterial meningitis be referred for audiological assessment before discharge from the hospital. Bibliographic references are included.
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·
Passive Exposure to Tobacco Smoke and Bacterial Meningitis in Children Source: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 37(4):388-391, August 2001. Summary: Australian researchers investigated the possibility of an association between passive exposure to tobacco smoke and bacterial meningitis in childhood. They conducted a retrospective, case-control telephone survey of the parents of 71 children admitted to a hospital in Australia with bacterial meningitis between 1990 and 1999 and 71 matched controls. During this period, the annual incidence of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis decreased significantly and pneumococcal cases increased significantly. Forty-one percent of cases and 45 percent of controls came from smoking families, but more cases came from households where both parents smoked, and cases were more likely to live in households where parents smoked inside the home. In households where parents smoked, children who had meningitis were significantly more likely to have parents who smoked inside the house, than children who had not had meningitis. The authors conclude that there may be an association between high levels of passive exposure to tobacco smoke and bacterial meningitis in Australian children. 1 table, 27 references.
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Vestibular Dysfunction Due to Cryptococcal Meningitis Source: Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 116(4): 536-540. April 1997. Contact: Available from Mosby-Year Book, Inc. Subscription Services, 11830 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146-3318. (800) 453-4351 or (314) 453-4351. Fax (314) 432-1158. E-mail:
[email protected]. Summary: Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated, opportunistic, fungal organism found primarily in soil and pigeon feces. Human beings presumably are infected through inhalation of the organism, which causes pulmonary (lung) cryptococcus that can then spread hematogenously (through the blood) to the central nervous system, bone, and kidneys. This article presents the case of a nonimmunosuppressed and previously healthy woman with subacute onset of severe ataxia (impaired ability to coordinate movement) in whom cryptococcal meningitis was subsequently diagnosed. This case is unique in that the patient had bilateral vestibular hypofunction and only a moderate unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The other unique aspect was the reversal of the vestibular symptoms after appropriate treatment, which included decompression of obstructive hydrocephalus (fluid on
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the brain) and long term antifungal therapy. This is the first case reported in the recent otolaryngologic literature in which a reversal rather than merely a stabilization of vestibular symptoms occurred in cryptococcal meningitis. The authors remind readers that the diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis can be difficult because of the subacute nature of the infection and the initially mild symptoms. Audiovestibular damage is the result of direct invasion of the neural tissue and sensory end organs by the organism. 3 figures. 13 references.
Federally-Funded Research on Meningitis The U.S. Government supports a variety of research studies relating to meningitis and associated conditions. These studies are tracked by the Office of Extramural Research at the National Institutes of Health.19 CRISP (Computerized Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects) is a searchable database of federally-funded biomedical research projects conducted at universities, hospitals, and other institutions. Visit the CRISP Web site at http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket. You can perform targeted searches by various criteria including geography, date, as well as topics related to meningitis and related conditions. For most of the studies, the agencies reporting into CRISP provide summaries or abstracts. As opposed to clinical trial research using patients, many federally-funded studies use animals or simulated models to explore meningitis and related conditions. In some cases, therefore, it may be difficult to understand how some basic or fundamental research could eventually translate into medical practice. The following sample is typical of the type of information found when searching the CRISP database for meningitis: ·
Project Title: Bioactivities of Pneumococcal Cell Wall in Meningitis Principal Investigator & Institution: Tuomanen, Elaine I.; Chair; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 332 N Lauderdale St Memphis, Tn 38105 Timing: Fiscal Year 2000; Project Start 1-JUN-1989; Project End 1-JAN2005
19 Healthcare projects are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and Office of Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH).
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Summary: The pneumococcus remains the cause of meningitis with the greatest morbidity and mortality in children and older adults. This pattern persists despite the use of antibiotics of exceptionally rapid bactericidal activity. Over the past 10 years of this proposal we have sought to understand the biochemical basis of the inflammatory response to pneumococci in the subarachnoid space. We established that the pneumococcal cell wall is a library of inflammatory components which incites the cytokine, coagulation and arachidonate cascades and directly injures endothelial cells of the blood brain barrier. Further, we established that the release of cell wall during antibiotic-induced death engenders a dramatic host response that is responsible for serious injury to host tissues. This provided a rationale for use of agents like dexamethasone that can act as partner drugs with antibiotics to selectively control the injurious components of the host defense response. The current proposal seeks to determine the molecular details of the mechanism of pneumococcal invasion into brain and how neuronal cells are killed during meningitis. Blocking information decreases some sequelae of infection but does not appear to be sufficient in controlling neuronal loss, particularly for pneumococcal disease. Over half of the current survivors of this injection still have major permanent sequelae. Understanding this process will allow design of agents to specifically attenuate these ongoing losses. We propose to apply our expertise in the identification and characterization of pneumococcal surface components, to map the process of transcytosis across the blood brain barrier. We will identify the pneumococcal components involved, specifically focusing on CbpA. This protein is required for pneumococcal invasion. Secondly, we will characterize the process of pneumococcal translocation in terms of the intracellular vesicle and the signaling process. Involvement of the PAF receptor that binds pneumococci and sIgA that ligates CbpA in actual translocation will be determined. Finally, we will investigate preliminary evidence that upon inhibition of apoptosis suggest this is an important contributor to sequelae. The detailed mechanism appears to be novel and will potentially instruct cell biology as well as pathogenesis. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Discontinuation Antifungal for Cryptococcal Meningitis Principal Investigator & Institution: Aberg, Judith; ; University of California San Francisco 500 Parnassus Ave San Francisco, Ca 94122 Timing: Fiscal Year 2000; Project Start 1-OCT-1974; Project End 0-NOV2002 Summary: The purpose of this study is: to determine if anti-cryptococcal therapy can be withdrawn from patients who have received 12 months of
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fluconazole therapy are asymptomatic for cryptococcal meningitis for at least 16 weeks, have a CD4+ count > 150 cells/ml, and who are on antiretroviral therapy for 16 weeks; and to estimate the duration of time these subjects remain free from cryptococcal infection. The GCRC is needed to perform lumbar punctures at entry and at week 8 to ensure sterility of the spinal fluid and no evidence of cryptococcal infection. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Ischemic Brain Injury in Neonatal Meningitis Principal Investigator & Institution: Tauber, Martin G.; ; University of California San Francisco 500 Parnassus Ave San Francisco, Ca 94122 Timing: Fiscal Year 2000 Summary: Approximately 15,000 cases of bacterial meningitis occur each year in the United States. Meningitis in newborns has a particularly poor prognosis with mortality rates up to 35% for cases caused by group B streptococci (GBS), a major pathogen of neonatal meningitis. Only 50% of survivors of GBS meningitis are neurologically intact, while 21% have severe neurologic sequelae, including global mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and uncontrolled seizure disorder's. The goal of our research is to identify the mechanisms that lead to brain injury in neonatal meningitis in order to develop new therapies that protect the brain. The hypotheses to be tested in the present grant are (1) meningitis leads to global and focal Cerebral blood flow changes; (2) cerebral blood flow is modulated by the interplay of vasodilative and vasoconstrictive mediators; (3) ischemia resulting from cerebral hypoperfusion is a major factor leading to brain damage; and (4) hallmarks of parenchymal brain damage include the release of excitatory amino acids and activation of glial cells (as evidenced by the expression, of cytokines). These hypotheses will be tested in an infant rat model of neonatal meningitis that closely mimics the human disease and in primary cultures of neurons, astrocytes, and microglia. The project has five specific aims: 1. To analyze cerebral blood flow in a rat model of GBS neonatal meningitis and to correlated blood flow changes with the occurrence of tissue hypoxia and the development of neuronal injury. 2. To identify molecular mediators involved in the modulation of cerebral blood flow in the rat model of GBS neonatal meningitis. Using specific inhibitors/agonists, we will focus on the role of nitric oxide as potentially beneficial vasodilator and on endothelin as potentially harmful vasoconstrictor. 3. To examine the contribution of excitatory amino acids (EAA)to neuronal injury in the infant rat model of GBS meningitis by determining whether animals treated with different EAA antagonists have reduced brain injury compared to control animals. 4. To characterize glial cell activation and the expression of selected
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cytokines (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, TGF-beta) in the GBS meningitis rat model. We will also examine the contribution of cytokines to the development of brain injury in the model: 5. To analyze in primary cultures in vitro which of the factors that play a role in the pathophysiology of meningitis lead to cytokine expression in glial cells, either by direct stimulation of glia or through thee effect on neurons. We will also examine whether the cytokines induced in glial cells have a beneficial or harmful effect on neuronal injury caused by EAA and ischemic conditions. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Pathogenesis of Neonatal Meningitis Principal Investigator & Institution: Kim, Kwang S.; Chief, Pediatric Infectious Diseases; Children's Hospital Los Angeles 4650 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, Ca 90027 Timing: Fiscal Year 2000; Project Start 1-MAR-1988; Project End 0-JUN2000 Summary: The mortality and morbidity associated with neonatal bacterial meningitis have remained significant despite advances in antimicrobial chemotherapy and supportive care. Inadequate knowledge of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology has contributed to this unacceptably high mortality and morbidity. E. coli is the most common gram-negative organism that causes meningitis during the neonatal period. Most cases of E. coli meningitis in newborns develop as a result of hematogenous spread. We have established an infant rat model of experimental hematogenous meningitis which mimics human E. coli infection (e.g. age dependency, hematogenous infection of meninges without the need for adjuvant or direct inoculation of bacteria into cerebrospinal fluid). We have also established as in vitro model of the blood brain barrier using brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC). Using these in vitro and in vivo systems, we so far have shown that successful traversal of E. coli across the blood-brain barrier is a complex process involving multiple steps of E. coli-host interactions, e.g., S fimbriae for binding to BMEC, outer membrane protein A and other proteins for invasion into BMEC, and the K1 capsule for protection from killing. Also, we showed that chito-oligomers (specific for wheat germ agglutinin) were able to block the invasion of E. coli into BMEC both in vitro and in vivo suggesting that GIcNAc-14-GlcNAc specific receptors on BMEC interact with E. coli invasion. In addition, we have successfully developed immortalized BMEC cell lines. Based on the resources and findings derived from the past funding period, we should be able to examine the following specific aims: 1. To further elucidate E. coli
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structures that contribute to invasion of the blood-brain barrier in vitro and in vivo. 2. To identify and characterize (BMEC proteins that are involved in invasion of E. coli. The information derived from this proposal should enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis and prevention of E. coli meningitis. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Penetration of the Blood Brain Barrier in GBS Meningitis Principal Investigator & Institution: Nizet, Victor F.; Assistant Professor; Pediatrics; University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr San Diego, Ca 92093 Timing: Fiscal Year 2000; Project Start 1-FEB-1999; Project End 1-AUG2001 Summary: (ADAPTED FROM APPLICANT'S ABSTRACT): Group B streptococci (GBS) are the leading cause of meningitis in newborn infants. Although meningitis develops following bacteremia, the precise mechanism(s) whereby GBS leave the bloodstream and gain access to the central nervous system (CNS) are not known. We hypothesized that GBS produce meningitis because of a unique capacity to invade human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC), the single cell layer which constitutes the blood-brain barrier. We developed an in vitro tissue culture model to test this hypothesis and have published our initial findings. GBS are able to efficiently invade and survive within BMEC, apparently by eliciting their own endocytotic uptake. GBS invasion of BMEC requires active bacterial DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. Serotype III strains, which account for the large majority of CNS isolates, invade BMEC more efficiently than strains from other common GBS serotypes, and are capable of transcytosis across polar monolayers of BMEC. In pilot studies, we have confirmed that GBS localize to BMEC as they penetrate the blood brain barrier in vivo. We now feel prepared to test the hypothesis that specific GBS genes and gene products are responsible for the ability of GBS to invade BMEC, cross the blood-brain barrier and produce neonatal meningitis. In this application for the NICHD Small Grants Program, we propose to utilize molecular genetic techniques and our tissue culture model to identify and characterize GBS genes involved in BMEC invasion. This will be accomplished by (a) screening a transposon Tn917 mutant library of wild-type III GBS strain COH1 to identify mutants deficient in BMEC invasion and (b) screening a library of chromosomal DNA cloned into the noninvasive S. gordonii for recombinants plasmids which confer BMEC-invasive ability. Identification of putative invasion genes will be accomplished by sequence analysis of Tn917 insertion sites associated with a noninvasive
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phenotype or cloned DNA fragments which confer invasive ability to S. gordonii. This sequence information will be used to construct targeted BMEC invasion gene knockouts by homologous recombination-based plasmid integrational mutagenesis, an independent confirmation of the importance of the gene(s) to the BMEC-invasive phenotype. Finally, using the specific BMEC invasion gene knockouts, we propose to verify the requirement of BMEC invasion in the pathogenesis of blood-brain barrier penetration and GBS meningitis using an infant rat model. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Role of Complement Proteins in E. Coli Meningitis Principal Investigator & Institution: Nemani, Prasadarao V.; ; Children's Hospital Los Angeles 4650 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, Ca 90027 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 1-APR-2002; Project End 1-MAR2004 Summary: (provided by applicant): Neonatal E. coli K1 meningitis is the most common serious infection of the central nervous system with unchanged rates of mortality and morbidity. Survivors of this disease suffer a number of complications including mental retardation and speech impairment. Limited knowledge about the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of this disease hampered the efforts to develop new therapeutic strategies for the prevention. For example, most cases of E. coli K1 meningitis occur via hematogenous spread, but it is unclear how the circulating E. coli evades the host-defense mechanisms. The investigator's studies have shown that outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of E. coli contributes to resistance to serum bactericidal activity. In addition, OmpA interacts with a brain specific 95 kDa receptor for E. coli invasion of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The E. coli invasion of the BBB was significantly reduced in the presence of adult human serum (AHS) when compared to cord blood serum (CBS) using the investigator's in vitro model of the BBB, the cultured brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC). His data further showed that OmpA binds to C4-binding protein, a complement fluid phase regulator, in significant quantities from AHS when compared to CBS. A compelling observation is that the binding of C4-binding protein to OmpA blocked the E. coli invasion of BMEC, suggesting that it is competing with the OmpAreceptor. The investigator hypothesized that binding of C4BP to OmpA blokcs the E. coli invasion of BMEC and that low levlels of C4BP may contribute to the susceptibility of neonates to E. coli meningitis. He will pursue this hypothesis by study of the following specific aims. 1. To determine the binding site of C4BP on OmpA that blocks E. coli invasion of BMEC, and 2. To assess the effect of anti-OmpA antibody, OmpA-
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peptides, and C4BP-peptides on E. coli invasion of BMEC in the newborn rat model of hematogenous meningitis. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Voriconazole in Suppression of Cryptococcal Meningitis Principal Investigator & Institution: Muschatt, David M.; ; Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, La 70118 Timing: Fiscal Year 2000; Project Start 4-JAN-1990; Project End 0-NOV2001 Summary: Among persons with advanced HIV infection, cryptococcal meningitis remains the most common invasive fungal infection and fourth most common opportunistic infection. AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis also is not easily treatable. In most instances, patients require life-long suppressive treatment because current antifungal therapy rarely eradicates the infection. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if voriconazole, a research medicine, is safe, effective and tolerated as a suppressive treatment for cryptococcal meningitis. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket
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Project Title: Deafness and Ossification in Labyrinthitis Ossificans Principal Investigator & Institution: Brodie, Hilary A.; Otolaryngology; University of California Davis 1 Shields Ave Davis, Ca 95616 Timing: Fiscal Year 2000; Project Start 1-JAN-2000; Project End 1-DEC2004 Summary: (Adapted from the Investigator's Abstract) Labyrinthitis ossificans (LO) is the growth of pathologic new bone within the lumen of the cochlea. It is multifactorial in origin and may result in deafness. Profound hearing loss and LO in children are most commonly associated with meningogenic labyrinthitis. The relationship of LO to meningogenic cochlear pathology and its mechanism of induction have not been clearly defined. Cochlear implants are a significant treatment option for improving hearing and quality of life in these patients. However, LO can reduce the efficacy of cochlear implantation. The long-term objective of this research program is to understand the mechanisms which lead to the development, progression, and destructive aspects of LO. Such an understanding may lead to new strategies to prevent the devastating effects of hearing loss associated with this disease. The specific aims of this application are: (1) to correlate hearing loss with the temporal and spatial progression of bacterial meningitis from the subarachnoid space to the cochlea; (2) to correlate hearing loss with the temporal and spatial
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sequence for both labyrinthine fibrosis and ossification and the histopathology of cochlear tissues: spiral ganglion, organ of Corti, Reissner's membrane, stria vascularis, and spiral ligament; (3) to determine the relationship of bone lining cells to osteoblast formation and recruitment during labyrinthine neo-ossification; and (4) to determine the effects of decomplementation, non-steroidal antiinflammatory compounds, and bacteriostatic vs. bactericidal antibiotics on neo-ossification and hearing loss. There are four hypotheses/specific aims outlined and they are as follows: Bacterial invasion of the cochlear labyrinth from the subarachnoid space correlates with hearing loss and occurs principally via the cochlear aqueduct and not the internal auditory canal; The destruction of cochlear tissue occurs subsequent to the arrival of inflammatory cells and not with the appearance of bacteria within the cochlea. Hearing loss may occur prior to observable pathology and reflect central auditory damage related to meningitis; Bone lining cells of the endosteum are activated and become mature osteoblasts and are the principal source of neo-ossification in labyrinthitis ossificans; and The inflammatory response to suppurative labyrinthitis includes fibrosis and neo-ossification formation and causes cochlear tissue destruction. Inhibition of this process will result in a reduction in both hearing loss and bone deposition. Methods used: The investigators propose to use an experimental gerbilline model of LO, histomorphometry, fluorescent bone histomorphometry, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, autoradiography, and auditory brainstem evoked response. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Escherichia Coli Invasion of Brain Endothelial Cells Principal Investigator & Institution: Huang, Sheng-He; ; Children's Hospital Los Angeles 4650 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, Ca 90027 Timing: Fiscal Year 2000; Project Start 1-JUL-1997; Project End 0-JUN2002 Summary: (Adapted from the applicant's abstract): Bacterial meningitis continues to be associated with high morbidity and mortality despite advances in chemotherapy and supportive care. E. coli is the most common gram-negative organism that causes neonatal meningitis. Most cases develop as a result of hematogenous spread, but it is not clear how circulating E. coli traverse the brain microvascular endothelium, which constitutes the blood brain barrier. The PI has demonstrated that the invasion of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) by E. coli K1 is mediated by multiple factors. Two separate genetic loci, identified by the PI as pathogenicity islands (paiA and paiB) apparently contribute to E. coli meningitis. PaiA contains the 20 kb E. coli locus identified as the
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major invasion gene cluster in K1 E. coli strain RS218. A TnphoA insertion mutant of E. coli RS218 was unable to invade BMEC in tissue culture and to cause hematogenous meningitis in a newborn rat model. Encoded on paiA is ibe10, which encodes an 8.2 kDa protein displaying the characteristics of an integral membrane protein with four transmembrane domains. A recombinant Ibe10 protein was able to block invasion of BMEC by E. coli K1. Ibe10 was detected in 30% of clinical isolates of K1 E. coli causing meningitis. Six clones for Ibe10 have been isolated from a lambda Gem-12 library. A recombinant plasmid carrying a 15 kb E. coli fragment was able to complement the non-invasive TnphoA mutant 10A-23. And, in an appendix, the PI reports that he has succeeded in conferring invasiveness on a strain of E. coli K12 using an 18 kb fragment of paiA. The long term goal of this work is to develop novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of E. coli meningitis (such as vaccines) based on a full understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for E. coli invasion of the blood-brain barrier. The PI hypothesizes that the phenotype of E. coli invasion of the bloodbrain barrier is encoded by the pathogenic E. coli K1-specific genetic determinants, the pai's. The proposal comprises two aims: Aim 1: To further characterize the role of the invasion gene cluster paiA and/or paiB in the pathogenesis of E. coli meningitis by using in vitro (BMEC invasion) and in vivo (infant rat) models and molecular and genetic approaches. Aim 2: To determine the function and functional domains of invasion protein ibe10 by identification of the BMEC receptor for ibe10, in vitro mutagenesis and epitope mapping. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Health Burden of CO Infecting Deer Associated Zoonotic CNS Disease Principal Investigator & Institution: Krause, Peter; ; University of Connecticut Sch of Med/Dnt of Medicine and Dentistry Farmington, Ct 06032 Timing: Fiscal Year 2000 Summary: An array of spirochetal, protozoan, viral and rickettsial pathogens concurrently infect residents of sites in eastern US in which deer are abundant. The abundance of deer and that of the vector arthropods that depend on this host recently have increased. Several of these deer-associated pathogens cause neurologic disease. The objectives of this study are to (1) determine how frequency meningitis and encephalitis are caused by deer-associated pathogens in residents of the northeastern US and how frequently these pathogens occur in combination; (2) Estimate the burden on human health imposed by these
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deer-associated pathogen and determine whether confection synergizes pathogenesis. We will look at the outcome following meningitis or encephalitis caused by these pathogens, and whether coinfected people experience a greater severity of acute illness or greater neurologic sequelae than if only one such pathogen were present. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Pleconaril (VP63843) Therapy--Infants W/ Enteroviral Men Principal Investigator & Institution: Edwards, Kathryn M.; ; Vanderbilt University 2101 W End Ave Nashville, Tn 37240 Timing: Fiscal Year 2000; Project Start 1-DEC-1977; Project End 0-NOV2002 Summary: HYPOTHESIS: STUDY OBJECTIVES: A) VIROLOGIC EFFICACY- PRIMARY OBJECTIVE of this investigation is to determine if administration of pleconaril to infants w/enteroviral meningitis results in more rapid clearance of virus from various body sites. B) SAFETYdetermine the safety of administration of pleconaril to infants w/enteroviral meningitis. The DAIDS Pediatric Toxicity Tables will be utilized. C) PHARMACOKINETICS- the pharmarmacokinetics of pleconaril administered to infants over a seven day period will be defined as a function of age. D) CLINICAL EFFICACY- the effects of pleconaril on resolution of meningitis symptoms will be assessed. SPECIFIC AIMS: STUDY ENDPOINTS: A) PRIMARY- Percentage of patients shedding virus (as detected by viral culture) from the oropharynx (i.e. throat) four days after beginning study drug. B) SECONDARY- 1) Duration (in days) of non-polio enteroviral shedding from any site, as detected by viral culture and/or PCR. 2) Resolution of meningitis symptoms (Appendix III). 3) Safety (see Section IX.D.4 for list of safety labs). 4) Pleconaril pharmacokinetics. C) TERTIARYDevelopment of viral resistance to pleconaril during course of viral shedding. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket
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Project Title: Regional AGT Depeltion of CNS and Leptomeningeal Tumors Principal Investigator & Institution: Friedman, Henry S.; Professor; Pediatrics; Duke University Durham, Nc 27706 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 1-FEB-2002; Project End 1-JAN2005
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Summary: (provided by applicant) Central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms which either arise in the brain or metastasize from an extraneural primary site, are highly malignant tumors refractory to all conventional therapy. Similarly, patients with neoplastic meningitis from virtually any tumor such as melanoma, sarcoma or breast carcinoma do poorly, with mean survival following leptomeningeal spread measured in months. The major impediment to successful treatment is de novo or acquired resistance to chemotherapy. Temozolomide is an imidazole tetrazinone similar to dacarbazine, requiring conversion to the active methylating agent MTIC. Methylating agents, including temozolomide, produce cytotoxicity due to a lethal cycle of mismatch repair following cellular misrecognition of O(6)-methylguanine. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have confirmed the activity of temoxolomide in the treatment of malignant glioma. Unfortunately, the majority of patients ultimately display resistance to temozolomide. The two primary mechanisms of resistance to temozolomide and other alkylating agents are the enzyme O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) and a deficiency in the DNA mismatch repair pathway. Of these two mechanisms, AGT plays a primary role in resistance to temozolomide by removing the alkyl groups from the O(6) position of guanine, in effect reversing the cytotoxic lesion of temozolomide. The sensitivity of tumor cell lines to temozolomide and the alkylating agent BCNU can be correlated with AGT levels. Regional therapy of CNS parenchymal or leptomeningeal neoplasms with intratumoral or intrathecal administration respectively, offers the potential benefit of enhancing delivery to the target neoplasm while minimizing delivery and hence toxicity to systemic organs. We have previously demonstrated the activity and modest toxicity of intrathecal temozolomide in the treatment of athymic rats bearing subarachnoid AGT-human malignant gliom xenografts. We have extended these results and demonstrated the activity and safety of temozolomide delivered by intracerebral microinfusion in the treatment of malignant gliomas intracranially in athymic nude rats. The specific aims of this proposal are: 1. To define the role of intratumoral O(6)-BG and other AGT inhibitors in enhancing systemic or intratumoral temozolomide therapy of malignant glioma; 2. To define the role of intrathecal AGT inhibitors in enhancing system or intrathecal temozolomide therapy of neoplastic meningitis. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Signal Transduction Pathways Regulating Virulence Principal Investigator & Institution: Heitman, Joseph; ; Duke University Durham, Nc 27706
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Timing: Fiscal Year 2000 Summary: Fungal infections are increasing as a result of AIDS, transplantation, and high dose chemotherapy. However, existing antifungal agents are limited to amphotericin B, azoles, and flucytosine, and drug resistant isolates are emerging. We propose to elucidate signal transduction cascades regulating virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans, the leading cause of fungal meningitis and a common opportunistic pathogen. Several features make C. neoformans an ideal model fungal pathogen. The organism exists as haploid cells with a defined sexual cycle. Gene disruption by homologous recombination is now possible, and established animal models permit analyses of mutant strains and candidate drugs in a virulence setting. These advances provide tools to elucidate signaling cascades regulating virulence traits of this organism, including capsule and melanin production in response to host signals, and to explore the association between virulence and MATalpha mating type. We have discovered that the G protein Gpa1 is required for mating and capsule and melanin production in C. neoformans. gpa 1 mutant strains are avirulent in an animal mode of cryptococcal meningitis. The phenotypes of gpa 1 mutant cells are suppressed by cAMP, suggesting Gpa1 regulates an adenylyl cyclase/cAMP/protein kinase A cascade. We have cloned C. neoformans homologs of Ras1, the PKA catalytic subunit and the Sch9 kinase, which are known to regulate an analogous G protein/cAMP dependent signaling pathway that regulates pseudohyphal differentiation in S. cerevisiae. In both S. cerevisiae and C. albicans, a MAP kinase signaling pathway also regulates filamentation and virulence. We and others have identified components of a homologous MAP kinase cascade in C. neoformans. Our studies reveal mutants lacking the G beta protein Gpb1, the MAP kinase Cpk1, or the STE12 transcription factor homolog have mating defects and virulence studies with these mutants are in progress. We propose to delineate the MAP kinase and G protein/cAMP dependent signaling cascades regulating C. neoformans virulence to understand regulation of pathogenesis and to identify novel antifungal drug targets. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Status Epilepticus Outcomes in the United States Principal Investigator & Institution: Trevathan, N E.; Neurology; Washington University Lindell and Skinker Blvd St. Louis, Mo 63130 Timing: Fiscal Year 2001; Project Start 9-JUL-2001; Project End 0-JUN2002 Summary: (taken from abstract) Status epilepticus (SE) is a common, lifethreatening medical emergency that is experienced by about 150,000
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people in the United States (US) each year, with up to 40,000 SEassociated deaths. In spite of treatments that are often effective, systematic emergency diagnostic and therapeutic protocols for SE are lacking in most hospitals. Unless diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are specifically directed to subpopulations of patients who will benefit most, it is unlikely that significant improvements in the care of patients with SE will be achieved rapidly. Data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP-3) have been recently used to describe the general characteristics of inpatients in the US with SE, and to demonstrate that SE increases the odds of all-cause mortality among inpatients in the US after controlling for co-morbid conditions and other potential confounding variables. Stroke, closed head injury, bacterial meningitis, and viral encephalitis are among the most common significant co-morbidities among hospitalized patients with SE. The long-term goals of our research are to: (a) Characterize the sub- populations of hospitalized patients in the US at highest risk for developing SE, and identify those inpatients who experience a significant increase in the odds of death associated with SE; (b) Propose a systematic intervention strategy for SE diagnosis and treatment for these sub-populations that minimizes medical errors, enhances rapid Diagnosis, and improves clinical outcomes; and (c) Study the effectiveness of the new proposed SE diagnostic and therapeutic delivery system among hospitalized patients. During this one-year grant period, we will extend our initial analyses of SE using the NIS HCUP-3, 1988-1997, to achieve the following Specific Aims: (1) Using the NIS data we will determine the frequency, the trends in frequency, and the geographic variations of SE among hospitalized patients in the US with bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, closed head injury, and/or stroke; (2) Using the NIS data, we will determine the impact of SE on the odds of death, controlling for potential confounding variables, among inpatients in the US with bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, closed head injury, and/or stroke; (3) Using the NIS data, we will conduct four separate analyses to determine the factors that increase the odds of developing SE among inpatients with bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, closed head injuries, and/or stroke. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket ·
Project Title: Virologic Efficacy Trial of Pleconaril (VP63843) in Neonates with Viral Meningiti Principal Investigator & Institution: Kimberlin, David W.; ; University of Alabama at Birmingham Uab Station Birmingham, Al 35294
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Timing: Fiscal Year 2000; Project Start 1-DEC-1978; Project End 0-NOV2002 Summary: Infants of 12 months of age or less (under 366 days old) with suspected enteroviral meningitis who do not have severe systemic disease will qualify for enrollment in this study. The primary objective of this investigation is to determine if administration of pleconaril to infants with enteroviral meningitis results in more rapid clearance of virus from various body sites. Website: http://commons.cit.nih.gov/crisp3/CRISP.Generate_Ticket
E-Journals: PubMed Central20 PubMed Central (PMC) is a digital archive of life sciences journal literature developed and managed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).21 Access to this growing archive of e-journals is free and unrestricted.22 To search, go to http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/index.html#search, and type “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the search box. This search gives you access to full-text articles. The following is a sample of items found for meningitis in the PubMed Central database: ·
Aseptic meningitis in Germany associated with echovirus type 13 by Sabine Diedrich and Eckart Schreier; 2001 http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=57743
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Evaluation of PCR Using TRC4 and IS6110 Primers in Detection of Tuberculous Meningitis by Sujatha Narayanan, Vijayalakshmi Parandaman, P. R. Narayanan, P. Venkatesan, C. Girish, S. Mahadevan, and Sarala Rajajee; 2001 May http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=88071&ren dertype=external
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Evaluation of Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis in Epidemiological Investigations of Meningococcal Disease Outbreaks Caused by Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup C by Tanja Popovic, Susanna
Adapted from the National Library of Medicine: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/about/intro.html. 21 With PubMed Central, NCBI is taking the lead in preservation and maintenance of open access to electronic literature, just as NLM has done for decades with printed biomedical literature. PubMed Central aims to become a world-class library of the digital age. 22 The value of PubMed Central, in addition to its role as an archive, lies the availability of data from diverse sources stored in a common format in a single repository. Many journals already have online publishing operations, and there is a growing tendency to publish material online only, to the exclusion of print. 20
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Schmink, Nancy A. Rosenstein, Gloria W. Ajello, Michael W. Reeves, Brian Plikaytis, Susan B. Hunter, Efrain M. Ribot, David Boxrud, Maria L. Tondella, Chung Kim, Corie Noble, Elizabeth Mothershed, John Besser, and Bradley A. Perkins; 2001 January http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=87683&ren dertype=external ·
Fit genotypes and escape variants of subgroup III Neisseria meningitidis during three pandemics of epidemic meningitis by Peixuan Zhu, Arie van der Ende, Daniel Falush, Norbert Brieske, Giovanna Morelli, Bodo Linz, Tanja Popovic, Ilse G. A. Schuurman, Richard A. Adegbola, Kerstin Zurth, Sebastien Gagneux, Alexander E. Platonov, Jean-Yves Riou, Dominique A. Caugant, Pierre Nicolas, and Mark Achtman; 2001 April 24 http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=33193
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Invasive Fungal Sinusitis and Meningitis Due to Arthrographis kalrae in a Patient with AIDS by Peter V. Chin-Hong, Deanna A. Sutton, Marguerite Roemer, Mark A. Jacobson, and Judith A. Aberg; 2001 February http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=87827&ren dertype=external
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Meningitis Due to Streptococcus salivarius by Pedro Idigoras, Adoracion Valiente, Luis Iglesias, Patrick Trieu-Cuot, and Claire Poyart; 2001 August http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=88286&ren dertype=external
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Meningitis in infancy in England and Wales: follow up at age 5 years by Helen Bedford, John de Louvois, Susan Halket, Catherine Peckham, Rosalinde Hurley, and David Harvey; 2001 September 8 http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=48156
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Molecular Identification and Epidemiological Tracing of Pasteurella multocida Meningitis in a Baby by Patrick Boerlin, Hans H. Siegrist, Andre P. Burnens, Peter Kuhnert, Purita Mendez, Gerard Pretat, Reto Lienhard, and Jacques Nicolet; 2000 March http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=86385&ren dertype=external
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One Case Each of Recurrent Meningitis and Hemoperitoneum Infection with Ralstonia mannitolilytica by Mario Vaneechoutte, Thierry De Baere, Georges Wauters, Sophia Steyaert, Geert Claeys, Dirk Vogelaers, and Gerda Verschraegen; 2001 December http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=88597&ren dertype=external
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Public Health:Travel warning: eosinophilic meningitis caused by rat lungworm by Erica Weir; 2002 April 30 http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=102360&re ndertype=external
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Research pointers:Light eye colour linked to deafness after meningitis by Helen E Cullington; 2001 March 10 http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=26552
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Rhodotorula glutinis-Related Meningitis by Massimiliano Lanzafame, Giovanna De Checchi, Antonino Parinello, and Marco Trevenzoli Anna Maria Cattelan; 2001 January http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=87748&ren dertype=external
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Role of IS6110-Targeted PCR, Culture, Biochemical, Clinical, and Immunological Criteria for Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis by M. Caws, S. M. Wilson, C. Clough, and F. Drobniewski; 2000 September http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=87341&ren dertype=external
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Simultaneous Detection of Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae in Suspected Cases of Meningitis and Septicemia Using Real-Time PCR by C. E. Corless, M. Guiver, R. Borrow, V. Edwards-Jones, A. J. Fox, and E. B. Kaczmarski; 2001 April http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=87969&ren dertype=external
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Streptococcal Meningitis Resulting from Contact with an Infected Horse by James Downar, Barbara M. Willey, Jeffrey W. Sutherland, Kelly Mathew, and Donald E. Low; 2001 June http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=88147&ren dertype=external
The National Library of Medicine: PubMed One of the quickest and most comprehensive ways to find academic studies in both English and other languages is to use PubMed, maintained by the National Library of Medicine. The advantage of PubMed over previously mentioned sources is that it covers a greater number of domestic and foreign references. It is also free to the public.23 If the publisher has a Web site that PubMed was developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The PubMed database was developed in conjunction with publishers of biomedical literature as
23
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offers full text of its journals, PubMed will provide links to that site, as well as to sites offering other related data. User registration, a subscription fee, or some other type of fee may be required to access the full text of articles in some journals. To generate your own bibliography of studies dealing with meningitis, simply go to the PubMed Web site at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed. Type “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the search box, and click “Go.” The following is the type of output you can expect from PubMed for “meningitis” (hyperlinks lead to article summaries): ·
A placebo-controlled trial of maintenance therapy with fluconazole after treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. California Collaborative Treatment Group. Author(s): Bozzette SA, Larsen RA, Chiu J, Leal MA, Jacobsen J, Rothman P, Robinson P, Gilbert G, McCutchan JA, Tilles J, et al. Source: The New England Journal of Medicine. 1991 February 28; 324(9): 580-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1992319&dopt=Abstract
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An outbreak of pneumonia and meningitis caused by a previously undescribed gram-negative bacterium in a hot spring spa. Author(s): Hubert B, de Mahenge A, Grimont F, Richard C, Peloux Y, de Mahenge C, Fleurette J, Grimont PA. Source: Epidemiology and Infection. 1991 October; 107(2): 373-81. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1936159&dopt=Abstract
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Bacterial meningitis and lumbar epidural hematoma due to lumbar acupunctures: a case report. Author(s): Chen CY, Liu GC, Sheu RS, Huang CL. Source: Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 1997 May; 13(5): 328-31. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=9226976&dopt=Abstract
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Bacterial meningitis observed in a phase I trial of vinorelbine, cisplatin and thoracic radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer: report of a case and discussion on dose-limiting toxicity.
a search tool for accessing literature citations and linking to full-text journal articles at Web sites of participating publishers. Publishers that participate in PubMed supply NLM with their citations electronically prior to or at the time of publication.
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Author(s): Sekine I, Matsuda T, Saisho T, Watanabe H, Yamamoto N, Kunitoh H, Ohe Y, Tamura T, Kodama T, Saijo N. Source: Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2000 September; 30(9): 401-5. Review. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=11095138&dopt=Abstract
Vocabulary Builder Adjuvant: A substance which aids another, such as an auxiliary remedy; in immunology, nonspecific stimulator (e.g., BCG vaccine) of the immune response. [EU] Agonist: In anatomy, a prime mover. In pharmacology, a drug that has affinity for and stimulates physiologic activity at cell receptors normally stimulated by naturally occurring substances. [EU] Analogous: Resembling or similar in some respects, as in function or appearance, but not in origin or development;. [EU] Anthrax: An infectious bacterial zoonotic disease usually acquired by ingestion of Bacillus anthracis or its spores from infected pastures by herbivores or indirectly from infected carcasses by carnivores. It is transmitted to humans usually by contact with infected animals or their discharges (agricultural a.) or with contaminated animal products (industrial a.). Anthrax is classified by primary routes of inoculation as : cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational. Called also charbon, milzbrand and splenic fever. [EU] Antibody: An immunoglobulin molecule that has a specific amino acid sequence by virtue of which it interacts only with the antigen that induced its synthesis in cells of the lymphoid series (especially plasma cells), or with antigen closely related to it. Antibodies are classified according to their ode of action as agglutinins, bacteriolysins, haemolysins, opsonins, precipitins, etc. [EU] Antimicrobial: Killing microorganisms, or suppressing their multiplication or growth. [EU] Antioxidant: One of many widely used synthetic or natural substances added to a product to prevent or delay its deterioration by action of oxygen in the air. Rubber, paints, vegetable oils, and prepared foods commonly contain antioxidants. [EU] Assay: Determination of the amount of a particular constituent of a mixture, or of the biological or pharmacological potency of a drug. [EU]
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Asymptomatic: Showing or causing no symptoms. [EU] Ataxia: Failure of muscular coordination; irregularity of muscular action. [EU]
Auditory: Pertaining to the sense of hearing. [EU] Bacteriostatic: 1. inhibiting the growth or multiplication of bacteria. 2. an agent that inhibits the growth or multiplication of bacteria. [EU] Bilateral: Having two sides, or pertaining to both sides. [EU] Biochemical: Relating to biochemistry; characterized by, produced by, or involving chemical reactions in living organisms. [EU] Bioterrorism: The use of biological agents in terrorism. This includes the malevolent use of bacteria, viruses, or toxins against people, animals, or plants. [NIH] Carcinoma: A malignant new growth made up of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate the surrounding tissues and give rise to metastases. [EU] Catalase: An oxidoreductase that catalyzes the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. It is present in many animal cells. A deficiency of this enzyme results in acatalasia. EC 1.11.1.6. [NIH] Chemotherapy: The treatment of disease by means of chemicals that have a specific toxic effect upon the disease - producing microorganisms or that selectively destroy cancerous tissue. [EU] Cisplatin: An inorganic and water-soluble platinum complex. After undergoing hydrolysis, it reacts with DNA to produce both intra and interstrand crosslinks. These crosslinks appear to impair replication and transcription of DNA. The cytotoxicity of cisplatin correlates with cellular arrest in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. [NIH] Coagulation: 1. the process of clot formation. 2. in colloid chemistry, the solidification of a sol into a gelatinous mass; an alteration of a disperse phase or of a dissolved solid which causes the separation of the system into a liquid phase and an insoluble mass called the clot or curd. Coagulation is usually irreversible. 3. in surgery, the disruption of tissue by physical means to form an amorphous residuum, as in electrocoagulation and photocoagulation. [EU] Counterimmunoelectrophoresis: Immunoelectrophoresis in which immunoprecipitation occurs when antigen at the cathode is caused to migrate in an electric field through a suitable medium of diffusion against a stream of antibody migrating from the anode as a result of endosmotic flow. [NIH]
Cysteine: A thiol-containing non-essential amino acid that is oxidized to form cystine. [NIH] Cytokines: Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some non-leukocytic cells, that act as intercellular mediators. They differ
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from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner. [NIH] Doxorubicin: Antineoplastic antibiotic obtained from Streptomyces peucetics. It is a hydroxy derivative of daunorubicin and is used in treatment of both leukemia and solid tumors. [NIH] Edema: Excessive amount of watery fluid accumulated in the intercellular spaces, most commonly present in subcutaneous tissue. [NIH] Electrophoresis: An electrochemical process in which macromolecules or colloidal particles with a net electric charge migrate in a solution under the influence of an electric current. [NIH] Empyema: Accumulation of pus in a cavity of the body; when used without a descriptive qualifier, it refers to thoracic empyema (q.v.). [EU] Endothelium: The layer of epithelial cells that lines the cavities of the heart and of the blood and lymph vessels, and the serous cavities of the body, originating from the mesoderm. [EU] Enzyme: A protein molecule that catalyses chemical reactions of other substances without itself being destroyed or altered upon completion of the reactions. Enzymes are classified according to the recommendations of the Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry. Each enzyme is assigned a recommended name and an Enzyme Commission (EC) number. They are divided into six main groups; oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, and ligases. [EU] Epidemiological: Relating to, or involving epidemiology. [EU] Epidural: Situated upon or outside the dura mater. [EU] Escherichia: A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria whose organisms occur in the lower part of the intestine of warmblooded animals. The species are either nonpathogenic or opportunistic pathogens. [NIH] Etoposide: A semisynthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin that exhibits antitumor activity. Etoposide inhibits DNA synthesis by forming a complex with topoisomerase II and DNA. This complex induces breaks in double stranded DNA and prevents repair by topoisomerase II binding. Accumulated breaks in DNA prevent entry into the mitotic phase of cell division, and lead to cell death. Etoposide acts primarily in the G2 and S phases of the cell cycle. [NIH] Feces: The excrement discharged from the intestines, consisting of bacteria, cells exfoliated from the intestines, secretions, chiefly of the liver, and a small amount of food residue. [EU] Fibrosis: The formation of fibrous tissue; fibroid or fibrous degeneration [EU]
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Ganglion: 1. a knot, or knotlike mass. 2. a general term for a group of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system; occasionally applied to certain nuclear groups within the brain or spinal cord, e.g. basal ganglia. 3. a benign cystic tumour occurring on a aponeurosis or tendon, as in the wrist or dorsum of the foot; it consists of a thin fibrous capsule enclosing a clear mucinous fluid. [EU] Genotype: The genetic constitution of the individual; the characterization of the genes. [NIH] Glucose: D-glucose, a monosaccharide (hexose), C6H12O6, also known as dextrose (q.v.), found in certain foodstuffs, especially fruits, and in the normal blood of all animals. It is the end product of carbohydrate metabolism and is the chief source of energy for living organisms, its utilization being controlled by insulin. Excess glucose is converted to glycogen and stored in the liver and muscles for use as needed and, beyond that, is converted to fat and stored as adipose tissue. Glucose appears in the urine in diabetes mellitus. [EU] Hematoma: tissue. [NIH]
An extravasation of blood localized in an organ, space, or
Hemoperitoneum: Hemorrhage into the peritoneal cavity. [NIH] Homologous: Corresponding in structure, position, origin, etc., as (a) the feathers of a bird and the scales of a fish, (b) antigen and its specific antibody, (c) allelic chromosomes. [EU] Hydrocephalus: A condition marked by dilatation of the cerebral ventricles, most often occurring secondarily to obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways, and accompanied by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the skull; the fluid is usually under increased pressure, but occasionally may be normal or nearly so. It is typically characterized by enlargement of the head, prominence of the forehead, brain atrophy, mental deterioration, and convulsions; may be congenital or acquired; and may be of sudden onset (acute h.) or be slowly progressive (chronic or primary b.). [EU]
Hypoxia: Reduction of oxygen supply to tissue below physiological levels despite adequate perfusion of the tissue by blood. [EU] Implantation: The insertion or grafting into the body of biological, living, inert, or radioactive material. [EU] Induction: The act or process of inducing or causing to occur, especially the production of a specific morphogenetic effect in the developing embryo through the influence of evocators or organizers, or the production of anaesthesia or unconsciousness by use of appropriate agents. [EU] Inpatients: Persons admitted to health facilities which provide board and room, for the purpose of observation, care, diagnosis or treatment. [NIH]
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Ischemia: Deficiency of blood in a part, due to functional constriction or actual obstruction of a blood vessel. [EU] Labyrinthitis: Inflammation of the inner ear. [NIH] Ligament: A band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or cartilages, serving to support and strengthen joints. [EU] Lumen: The cavity or channel within a tube or tubular organ. [EU] Lymphocytic: Pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of lymphocytes. [EU] Malignant: Tending to become progressively worse and to result in death. Having the properties of anaplasia, invasion, and metastasis; said of tumours. [EU] Mediator: An object or substance by which something is mediated, such as (1) a structure of the nervous system that transmits impulses eliciting a specific response; (2) a chemical substance (transmitter substance) that induces activity in an excitable tissue, such as nerve or muscle; or (3) a substance released from cells as the result of the interaction of antigen with antibody or by the action of antigen with a sensitized lymphocyte. [EU] Melanoma: A tumour arising from the melanocytic system of the skin and other organs. When used alone the term refers to malignant melanoma. [EU] Methotrexate: An antineoplastic antimetabolite with immunosuppressant properties. It is an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase and prevents the formation of tetrahydrofolate, necessary for synthesis of thymidylate, an essential component of DNA. [NIH] Microscopy: The application of microscope magnification to the study of materials that cannot be properly seen by the unaided eye. [NIH] Molecular: Of, pertaining to, or composed of molecules : a very small mass of matter. [EU] Mutagenesis: Process of generating genetic mutations. It may occur spontaneously or be induced by mutagens. [NIH] Neonatal: Pertaining to the first four weeks after birth. [EU] Neurology: A medical specialty concerned with the study of the structures, functions, and diseases of the nervous system. [NIH] Neuronal: Pertaining to a neuron or neurons (= conducting cells of the nervous system). [EU] Neurons: The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the nervous system. [NIH] Neurosurgery: A surgical specialty concerned with the treatment of diseases and disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral and sympathetic
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nervous system. [NIH] Ophthalmology: A surgical specialty concerned with the structure and function of the eye and the medical and surgical treatment of its defects and diseases. [NIH] Oropharynx: Oral part of the pharynx. [NIH] Ossification: The formation of bone or of a bony substance; the conversion of fibrous tissue or of cartilage into bone or a bony substance. [EU] Osteoblasts: Bone-forming cells which secrete an extracellular matrix. Hydroxyapatite crystals are then deposited into the matrix to form bone. [NIH] Otolaryngology: A surgical specialty concerned with the study and treatment of disorders of the ear, nose, and throat. [NIH] Paediatric: Of or relating to the care and medical treatment of children; belonging to or concerned with paediatrics. [EU] Pasteurella: The oldest recognized genus of the family pasteurellaceae. It consists of several species. Its organisms occur most frequently as coccobacillus or rod-shaped and are gram-negative, nonmotile, facultative anaerobes. Species of this genus are found in both animals and humans. [NIH] Phenotype: The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes and between the genotype and the environment. This includes the killer phenotype, characteristic of yeasts. [NIH] Plasmids: Any extrachromosomal hereditary determinant. Plasmids are self-replicating circular molecules of DNA that are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. [NIH] Progressive: Advancing; going forward; going from bad to worse; increasing in scope or severity. [EU] Proteins: Polymers of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. The specific sequence of amino acids determines the shape and function of the protein. [NIH]
Protozoan: 1. any individual of the protozoa; protozoon. 2. of or pertaining to the protozoa; protozoal. [EU] Pseudomonas: A genus of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria widely distributed in nature. Some species are pathogenic for humans, animals, and plants. [NIH] Psychiatry: The medical science that deals with the origin, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. [NIH] Pulmonary: Pertaining to the lungs. [EU] Punctures: Incision of tissues for injection of medication or for other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Punctures of the skin, for example may be used for diagnostic drainage; of blood vessels for diagnostic imaging
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procedures. [NIH] Purulent: Consisting of or containing pus; associated with the formation of or caused by pus. [EU] Radiotherapy: The treatment of disease by ionizing radiation. [EU] Receptor: 1. a molecular structure within a cell or on the surface characterized by (1) selective binding of a specific substance and (2) a specific physiologic effect that accompanies the binding, e.g., cell-surface receptors for peptide hormones, neurotransmitters, antigens, complement fragments, and immunoglobulins and cytoplasmic receptors for steroid hormones. 2. a sensory nerve terminal that responds to stimuli of various kinds. [EU] Refractory: Not readily yielding to treatment. [EU] Rigidity: Stiffness or inflexibility, chiefly that which is abnormal or morbid; rigor. [EU] Sarcoma: A tumour made up of a substance like the embryonic connective tissue; tissue composed of closely packed cells embedded in a fibrillar or homogeneous substance. Sarcomas are often highly malignant. [EU] Sinusitis: Inflammation of a sinus. The condition may be purulent or nonpurulent, acute or chronic. Depending on the site of involvement it is known as ethmoid, frontal, maxillary, or sphenoid sinusitis. [EU] Stabilization: The creation of a stable state. [EU] Sterility: 1. the inability to produce offspring, i.e., the inability to conceive (female s.) or to induce conception (male s.). 2. the state of being aseptic, or free from microorganisms. [EU] Subacute: Somewhat acute; between acute and chronic. [EU] Subarachnoid: Situated or occurring between the arachnoid and the pia mater. [EU] Thoracic: Pertaining to or affecting the chest. [EU] Virulence: The degree of pathogenicity within a group or species of microorganisms or viruses as indicated by case fatality rates and/or the ability of the organism to invade the tissues of the host. [NIH]
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CHAPTER 5. PATENTS ON MENINGITIS Overview You can learn about innovations relating to meningitis by reading recent patents and patent applications. Patents can be physical innovations (e.g. chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment) or processes (e.g. treatments or diagnostic procedures). The United States Patent and Trademark Office defines a patent as a grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by the Patent and Trademark Office.24 Patents, therefore, are intellectual property. For the United States, the term of a new patent is 20 years from the date when the patent application was filed. If the inventor wishes to receive economic benefits, it is likely that the invention will become commercially available to patients with meningitis within 20 years of the initial filing. It is important to understand, therefore, that an inventor’s patent does not indicate that a product or service is or will be commercially available to patients with meningitis. The patent implies only that the inventor has “the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling” the invention in the United States. While this relates to U.S. patents, similar rules govern foreign patents. In this chapter, we show you how to locate information on patents and their inventors. If you find a patent that is particularly interesting to you, contact the inventor or the assignee for further information.
24Adapted
from The U. S. Patent and Trademark Office: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/whatis.htm.
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Patents on Meningitis By performing a patent search focusing on meningitis, you can obtain information such as the title of the invention, the names of the inventor(s), the assignee(s) or the company that owns or controls the patent, a short abstract that summarizes the patent, and a few excerpts from the description of the patent. The abstract of a patent tends to be more technical in nature, while the description is often written for the public. Full patent descriptions contain much more information than is presented here (e.g. claims, references, figures, diagrams, etc.). We will tell you how to obtain this information later in the chapter. The following is an example of the type of information that you can expect to obtain from a patent search on meningitis: ·
PCR assay for bacterial and viral meningitis Inventor(s): Glustein; Joseph Z. (Pittsburgh, PA), Ehrlich; Garth D. (Pittsburgh, PA), Zhang; Yingze (Pittsburgh, PA) Assignee(s): University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) Patent Number: 6,258,570 Date filed: April 17, 1998 Abstract: A multiplex assay is provided for the simultaneous detection and discrimination of pathogens that cause bacterial and viral meningitis. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates generally to methods for clinically distinguishing between bacterial and viral meningitis. In particular, the present invention relates to a PCR-based multiplex assay for the rapid detection and discrimination of pathogens causing bacterial and viral meningitis. ... Bacterial meningitis is a neurologically devastating and often life threatening illness. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is therefore of utmost importance in providing timely and optimal care. In contrast, viral meningitis, which often presents with the same clinical signs and symptoms as bacterial meningitis, is a selflimiting illness that does not require antimicrobial treatment and hospitalization. See, Cherry, J. D., Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 3rd ed. Feigin, R. D., et al. (Eds.) W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, pp. 439-445 (1992), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. ... Currently, physicians in the emergency room setting are repeatedly faced with the diagnostic dilemma of how to clinically distinguish between bacterial and viral meningitis. This feat is virtually impossible with any degree of certainty. Therefore, a patient is often hospitalized and treated with intravenous antibiotics until the results of bacterial cultures from the cerebrospinal fluid ("CSF") are determined. This process generally takes between 48 to 72 hours to
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complete. The waiting period can therefore result in a tremendous increase in health care costs and the provision of suboptimal care, particularly since greater than 90% of meningitis cases are of a viral etiology. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06258570__ ·
Combined meningitis vaccine Inventor(s): Ceccarini; Costante (Castelnuovo Berardenga, IT), Costantino; Paolo (Colle Val D'Elsa, IT), D'Ascenzi; Sandro (Colle Val D'Elsa, IT), Norelli; Francesco (Siena, IT), Giannozzi; Aldo (Siena, IT) Assignee(s): Chiron S.p.A. (Siena, IT) Patent Number: 6,251,401 Date filed: May 1, 1997 Abstract: A combined vaccine for bacterial meningitis comprises Hib and MenC oligosaccharide conjugates. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to a combined vaccine for the treatment of bacterial meningitis. In particular, the combined vaccine effectively protects against infection by Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) serotypes B and C (MenB, MenC). ... Bacterial meningitis caused by infection with Hib, MenB and/or MenC represents a worldwide problem. Infection by these organisms can result in permanent disability and death among young children. Recently, however, a conjugate Hib vaccine has become generally available and has resulted in the effective control of Hib infections. Similar vaccines are shortly to become available for MenC infection and also for MenB infection (see Costantino et al., 1992 Vaccine, 10,691-698). ... Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a combined Hib and meningococcus vaccine which may be used in the prophylaxis of bacterial meningitis which allows economical, safe and expedient vaccination against the prevalent causes of meningitis. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06251401__
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Method of discriminating bacterial from aseptic meningitis Inventor(s): Barnum; Scott R. (Sterrett, AL), Stahel; Phillip (Birmingham, AL) Assignee(s): UAB Research Foundation (Birmingham, AL) Patent Number: 5,778,895 Date filed: January 29, 1997 Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the differential diagnosis of bacterial meningitis in an individual in need of such diagnosis, comprising the steps of: measuring the levels of complement C3 and complement factor B in the cerebrospinal fluid of the individual; and determining whether that individual has bacterial menigitis based on the levels of complement C3 and complement factor B in the cerebrospinal fluid of that individual. Also provided is a method for the differential diagnosis of bacterial menigitis in an individual in need of such diagnosis, comprising the steps of: measuring the levels of complement factor B in a sample from the individual; and determining whether that individual has bacterial menigitis based on the levels of complement factor B in the sample from that individual. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates generally to the fields of medicine, neuroimmunology and protein chemistry. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of discriminating bacterial from aseptic meningitis. ... Bacterial meningitis occurs in about 25,000 cases per year in the United States with an overall mortality rate of from 10-35%. About 30% of individuals with acute bacterial meningitis experience seizures and about 10-30% of those who survive a case of bacterial meningitis exhibit long-term neurological sequelae. ... Bacterial meningitis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, with a high incidence of residual neurological impairment (reviewed in Quagliarello & Scheld 1992). Early diagnosis and immediate onset of adequate antimicrobial treatment are essential for the survival of patients with bacterial meningitis (Lieu et al. 1992). However, establishing the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis represents a difficult task in most cases, since clinical signs of acute meningitis are non-specific, and laboratory examinations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) often do not accurately differentiate between bacterial and aseptic meningitis (Lindquist et al. 1988, Rodewald et al. 1991). Accurate differentiation between bacterial and aseptic (viral) meningitis is difficult as both are inflammatory diseases that elicit similar host defense responses and clinical symptoms. Differential diagnosis can be made on positive identification of the bacteria from the cerebrospinal fluid of the affected individual. Unfortunately, it may take several days to grow and identify the bacteria
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and twenty-five percent of the time culture results are negative or equivocal even though the patients have bacterial meningitis. Similar or greater error rates affect nearly every laboratory parameter used for diagnostic purposes. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05778895__ ·
Method of treating bacterial meningitis with anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody Inventor(s): Hector; Richard F. (Dublin, CA), Collins; Michael S. (Madison, CT) Assignee(s): Bayer Corporation (Berkeley, CA) Patent Number: 5,616,321 Date filed: March 23, 1995 Abstract: Bacterial meningitis infection in a mammal is treated by intravenous infusion of a therapeutically effective amount of a monoclonal antibody which binds to tumor necrosis factor alpha and an antibiotic. Treatment can be initiated up to five hours after bacterial challenge and the antibiotic is preferably selected from cephalosporins and aminoglycosides. Excerpt(s): This application is concerned generally with a treatment of infection and specifically with the use of monoclonal antibodies that bind to TNF to treat bacterial meningitis. ... Bacterial meningitis remains one of the more difficult management problems in clinical medicine. Evidence suggests that bacterial meningitis represents infection in a site with a reduced potential for host resistance. With essentially no antibodies or complement present in the spinal fluid, polymorphonucleocytes are essentially unable to contribute to the clearing of the intruding bacteria in the early steps of disease. Morbidity and mortality from bacterial meningitis remains high; a death rate of 30% for pneumococcal meningitis has not changed over the past 40 years despite new antibiotics and improved understanding of therapy practices. Bacterial meningitis is described in detail in Cecil, Textbook of Medicine, 19th addition at pages 1655-161, the details of which are incorporated into this application. ... The role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in bacterial meningitis is described in an article by Arditi et al. in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, 162:p. 139-145(1990). See also related articles by Arditi et al., in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 160, no. 6, pp. 1005-1011, December 1989 and an article by Mustafa et al., the Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 160, no. 5, pp. 818-825, November 1989.
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Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05616321__ ·
Peptides representing epitopic sites for bacterial and viral meningitis causing agents and their CNS carrier and uses thereof Inventor(s): Alstyne; Diane V. (Vancouver, CA), Sharma; Lawrence R. (Vancouver, CA) Assignee(s): Insight Biotek, Inc. (St. Michaels, BB) Patent Number: 5,556,757 Date filed: June 7, 1995 Abstract: Peptides comprising a Meningitis Related Homologous Antigenic Sequence (MRHAS) are provided. The MRHAS is found in meningitis-causing organisms and chemokines involved in cell chemotaxis. The peptides are useful as antigens and vaccines for detection, diagnosis and treatment of meningitis. Excerpt(s): This invention relates to the application of immunological techniques that provide novel materials useful in the diagnosis, treatment and vaccination against meningitis caused by either bacterial or viral agents. These techniques include the production and application of novel monoclonal antibodies, peptides, and mixtures and combinations thereof that are useful for detecting meningitis infections. The techniques also include eliciting antibodies specific to meningitis causing agents. These immunological techniques may also be applied to the treatment of such disease. ... The term meningitis is a general one, referring to the inflammatory response to infection of the meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). See Roos, "Chapter 16", in Scheld, et al. eds., 1991, Infections of the Central Nervous System:335-403 which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. ... The fact that the inflammatory response occurs in the proximity of the brain and in the space limited by a rigid cranium, makes these infections serious and life threatening. Most patients exhibit nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms such as fever, irritability, altered mental status usually accompanied by vomiting and loss of appetite. In children one year of age and older, photophobia and headache are common complaints. Specific clinical signs indicative of meningitis are neck rigidity and pain on neck flexicn. Brudzinski's sign (neck flexion producing knee and hip flexicn) and Kernig's sign (difficulty and pain in raising extended leg) are other useful clinical signs. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05556757__
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·
Antibodies which bind meningitis related homologous antigenic sequences Inventor(s): Van Alstyne; Diane (Vancouver, CA), Sharma; Lawrence R. (Vancouver, CA) Assignee(s): Insight Biotech Inc. (St. Michael, BB) Patent Number: 5,510,264 Date filed: September 28, 1993 Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies capable of binding to a Meningitis Related Homologous Antigenic Sequence (MRHAS) are provided. The MRHAS is found in meningitis-causing organisms and chemokines involved in cell chemotaxis. The monoclonal antibodies are useful for detection and diagnosis of meningitis. Excerpt(s): This invention relates to the application of immunological techniques that provide novel materials useful in the diagnosis, treatment and vaccination against meningitis caused by either bacterial or viral agents. These techniques include the production and application of novel monoclonal antibodies, peptides, and mixtures and combinations thereof that are useful for detecting meningitis infections. The techniques also include eliciting antibodies specific to meningitis causing agents. These immunological techniques may also be applied to the treatment of such disease. ... The term meningitis is a general one, referring to the inflammatory response to infection of the meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). See Roos, "Chapter 16", in Scheld, et al. eds., 1991, Infections of the Central Nervous System:335-403 which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. ... The fact that the inflammatory response occurs in the proximity of the brain and in the space limited by a rigid cranium, makes these infections serious and life threatening. Most patients exhibit nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms such as fever, irritability, altered mental status usually accompanied by vomiting and loss of appetite. In children one year of age and older, photophobia and headache are common complaints. Specific clinical signs indicative of meningitis are neck rigidity and pain on neck flexion. Brudzinski's sign (neck flexion producing knee and hip flexion) and Kernig's sign (difficulty and pain in raising extended leg) are other useful clinical signs. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05510264__
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Method for differential diagnosis of meningitis with a limulus lysate test Inventor(s): Khan; Waheed N. (Potomac, MD) Assignee(s): Research Foundation of Children's Hospital (Washington, DC) Patent Number: 4,067,776 Date filed: November 25, 1975 Abstract: A method for rapid bedside diagnostic differentiation between aseptic meningitis and Gram-negative bacterial meningitis is carried out in a positive control vessel, a negative control vessel and a test vessel, wherein each vessel contains an equal amount of lyophilized limulus lysate and the positive control vessel also contains an amount of lyophilized Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin. Excerpt(s): As is known in the art, meningitis may be broadly characterized as aseptic meningitis or bacterial meningitis. Aseptic meningitis may refer to two different but related forms of meningitis. Firstly, it may be referring to an acute febrile illness with meningeal irritation and cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis, but with normal glucose contents and on culture of the CSF no bacterial isolation is obtained. The second form of aseptic meningitis can be characterized by CSF pleocytosis, normal glucose and the absence of organism involvement. This can include not only viral but other infections as well as non-infectious causes. When viral infections of the central nervous system are invovled, these infections may take three different forms. In the first form, there may be no symptoms and only fever and malaise, but the CSF may be abnormal with a lymphocytic pleocytosis. In a second form, the symptoms may be confined to meningeal manifestations, such as fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and back and the like. In the third form, referred to as encephalitis, the meningeal symptoms, noted above, may be accompanied by cerebral disorders including alterations of consciousness, personality changes and the like. ... Bacterial meningitis may be caused by one or more of several known bacteria. Among the generally accepted bacteria are the Gram-negative bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteridis (or group B), Proteus species (indole positive and negative) and Pseudomonas arugeniosa, and the Gram-positive bacteria, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Strepococcus pyogenes, and Straphylococcus aureus. In bacterial meningitis, clinical indications show brain and meninges involvement. Some of the clinical signs can include fever, headache, stiff neck and vomiting. ... Thus, from a clinical observation, it is difficult to tell whether aseptic meningitis or bacterial meningitis is involved, since
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the clinical symptoms of the different forms of meningitis can be, at least, overlapping in their manifestations. However, the proper treatment for the forms of meningitis vary significantly, and a rapid and positive diagnosis of the form of meningitis is extremely important in the treatment of meningitis. If the meningitis is diagnosed as bacterial meningitis, the more usual therapy involves administration of antibiotics, of specific types, and such administration should be given as promptly as possible once the diagnosis has been established. The prompt commencement of the thereapy is fundamental to the more successful treatment of bacterial meningitis. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US04067776__
Patent Applications on Meningitis As of December 2000, U.S. patent applications are open to public viewing.25 Applications are patent requests which have yet to be granted (the process to achieve a patent can take several years).
Keeping Current In order to stay informed about patents and patent applications dealing with meningitis, you can access the U.S. Patent Office archive via the Internet at no cost to you. This archive is available at the following Web address: http://www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm. Under “Services,” click on “Search Patents.” You will see two broad options: (1) Patent Grants, and (2) Patent Applications. To see a list of granted patents, perform the following steps: Under “Patent Grants,” click “Quick Search.” Then, type “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the “Term 1” box. After clicking on the search button, scroll down to see the various patents which have been granted to date on meningitis. You can also use this procedure to view pending patent applications concerning meningitis. Simply go back to the following Web address: http://www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm. Under “Services,” click on “Search Patents.” Select “Quick Search” under “Patent Applications.” Then proceed with the steps listed above.
Vocabulary Builder Antigens: Substances that are recognized by the immune system and induce 25
This has been a common practice outside the United States prior to December 2000.
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an immune reaction. [NIH] Chemotaxis: The movement of cells or organisms toward or away from a substance in response to its concentration gradient. [NIH] Febrile: Pertaining to or characterized by fever. [EU] Flexion: In gynaecology, a displacement of the uterus in which the organ is bent so far forward or backward that an acute angle forms between the fundus and the cervix. [EU] Indicative: That indicates; that points out more or less exactly; that reveals fairly clearly. [EU] Malaise: A vague feeling of bodily discomfort. [EU] Necrosis: The sum of the morphological changes indicative of cell death and caused by the progressive degradative action of enzymes; it may affect groups of cells or part of a structure or an organ. [EU] Photophobia: Abnormal visual intolerance of light. [EU] Proteus: A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that occurs in the intestines of humans and a wide variety of animals, as well as in manure, soil, and polluted waters. Its species are pathogenic, causing urinary tract infections and are also considered secondary invaders, causing septic lesions at other sites of the body. [NIH] Salmonella: A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that utilizes citrate as a sole carbon source. It is pathogenic for humans, causing enteric fevers, gastroenteritis, and bacteremia. Food poisoning is the most common clinical manifestation. Organisms within this genus are separated on the basis of antigenic characteristics, sugar fermentation patterns, and bacteriophage susceptibility. [NIH] Species: A taxonomic category subordinate to a genus (or subgenus) and superior to a subspecies or variety, composed of individuals possessing common characters distinguishing them from other categories of individuals of the same taxonomic level. In taxonomic nomenclature, species are designated by the genus name followed by a Latin or Latinized adjective or noun. [EU]
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CHAPTER 6. BOOKS ON MENINGITIS Overview This chapter provides bibliographic book references relating to meningitis. You have many options to locate books on meningitis. The simplest method is to go to your local bookseller and inquire about titles that they have in stock or can special order for you. Some patients, however, feel uncomfortable approaching their local booksellers and prefer online sources (e.g. www.amazon.com and www.bn.com). In addition to online booksellers, excellent sources for book titles on meningitis include the Combined Health Information Database and the National Library of Medicine. Once you have found a title that interests you, visit your local public or medical library to see if it is available for loan.
Book Summaries: Federal Agencies The Combined Health Information Database collects various book abstracts from a variety of healthcare institutions and federal agencies. To access these summaries, go directly to the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. You will need to use the “Detailed Search” option. To find book summaries, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language you prefer. For the format option, select “Monograph/Book.” Now type “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box. You will only receive results on books. You should check back periodically with this database which is updated every 3 months. The following is a typical result when searching for books on meningitis:
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·
Directory of Chicago HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials. Translated title Contact: AIDS Foundation of Chicago, 411 S Wells Ste 300, Chicago, IL, 60607-3924, (312) 922-2322, http://www.aidschicago.org. Test Positive Aware Network, 5537 N Broadway, Chicago, IL, 60640, (773) 989-9400, http://www.tpan.com. African American AIDS Network, 1307 S Wabash Ave 2nd Fl, Chicago, IL, 60605, (773) 371-0032. Summary: This directory provides access to clinical trials related to Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the Chicago area. It explains what clinical trials are and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process, and answers questions about drug studies. The entries include information on anemia, anorexia, cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, meningitis, herpes simplex, histoplasmosis, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, Kaposi's sarcoma, lymphoma, mycobacterial prophylaxis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), and toxoplasma, and studies on women and children.
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The Edge of Discovery Contact: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 31 Center Dr MSC 2520, Bethesda, MD, 20892-2520, (301) 496-5717, http://www.niaid.nih.gov. Summary: This monograph presents information about intramural and extramural programs conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). It presents highlights of research projects in immunology; allergy and asthma; Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including treatment programs and epidemiology; and other Sexually transmitted diseases (STD's). Development of new vaccines for pertussis, meningitis, and hepatitis B is described, as is antiviral drug research and international collaborations in malaria and other parasite research.
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First Responder Refresher Training Program: National Standard Curriculum Contact: National Association of State Emergency Medical, Services Directors, 111 Park Pl, Falls Church, VA, 22046-4513, (703) 538-1799, http://www.nasemsd.org. Summary: Designed to assure the continuing competency of the individual first responder, this teaching guide establishes the minimum set of objectives which must be met to maintain acceptable knowledge and skill levels. The course is divided into four separate modules addressing trauma management and triage; patient management and
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operations; cardiovascular and respiratory assessment; and medical emergencies, including the appropriate prehospital management of communicable diseases, such as Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Hepatitis B, and meningitis. Safety precautions to prevent the transmission of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are consistent with the universal blood and body fluid precautions observed among health care providers. Course scope, performance objectives, and instructional strategies are each delineated, with recommendations for training materials, student appraisal, and instructor recruitment. ·
HIV Infection in Developing Countries: Emerging Clinical Pictures in Africa Source: The Global Impact of AIDS. Proceedings of the First International Conference on the Global Impact of AIDS; London, United Kingdom, March 8-10, 1988. Contact: Alan R. Liss, Incorporated, 41 E 11th St, New York, NY, 10003, (212) 353-2957. Summary: This book chapter describes a presentation from the First International Conference on the Global Impact of AIDS held in London on March 8-10, 1988. It discusses the clinical manifestations associated with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Africa. It examines the interrelation between prevalent endemic infectious diseases and Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), particularly Sexually transmitted diseases (STD's), tuberculosis, and tuberculosis meningitis. It also describes symptoms such as generalized weakness syndrome, cough, dementia, and dermatological manifestations.
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When I Die, Will I Get Better? Source: New York, NY: Peter Bedrick Books. 1993. 33 p. Contact: Available from Peter Bedrick Books, 2112 Broadway, New York, NY 10023. (212) 496-0751. $11.95. ISBN 0-87226-375-4. Summary: This storybook was created by a boy whose younger brother died of meningitis at the age of 2 1/2 years. The book describes Joeri Breebaart's own experiences with his brother's death (i.e., how his brother got ill, how he died, and the funeral) using a family of rabbits to play the roles of his brother, his parents, and himself. When young Fred Rabbit becomes sick and dies, the death has an effect on all the animals in the forest. The storybook is intended to help children come to an understanding of death and express their feelings about it.
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All by myself Source: Boulder, CO: Light On Books and Videotapes. 1991. ca. 60 pp. Contact: Available from Light On Books and Videotapes, Suite 358, P.O. Box 8005, Boulder, CO 80306. Telephone: (303) 444-3340. $12.00; price includes postage and handling. Summary: This book contains two versions of the story of Micah, the author's son, who developed meningitis at the age of three weeks. The infection left him with cerebral palsy. The first version is appropriate for young children through third grade, and the second, more in-depth version is for adults. Both address the joys and trials one experiences living with children who have special needs.
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AIDS Clinical Review Contact: Marcel Dekker, Incorporated, 270 Madison Ave, New York, NY, 10016, (800) 228-1160. Summary: This monograph presents 14 papers, all written within 12 months of publication, focusing on specific areas in which significant new advances have occurred in the epidemiology, diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of HIV infection and HIV-associated complications. Chapter One discusses the clinical significance of the biological phenotype of HIV. Counseling and medical evaluation of HTLV-I and HTLV-II infected persons is explored in Chapter Two. Chapter Three through Eight emphasize developments in epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of opportunistic infections resulting from HIV disease, such as: bacillary angiomatosis, syphilis, tuberculosis, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cryptococcal meningitis, and hepatitis B and C. Chapter Nine summarizes the diagnosis and management of AIDS-related lymphoma; Chapter Ten surveys treatment of HIV disease presently available; Chapter Eleven describes the clinical uses of hematopoietic growth hormones in HIV-related illness; and the final three chapters report on vaccines, risk of HIV infection in health care workers, patient rights and physician responsibility.
Book Summaries: Online Booksellers Commercial Internet-based booksellers, such as Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com, offer summaries which have been supplied by each title’s publisher. Some summaries also include customer reviews. Your local bookseller may have access to in-house and commercial databases that index all published books (e.g. Books in PrintÒ). The following have been recently
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listed with online booksellers as relating to meningitis (sorted alphabetically by title; follow the hyperlink to view more details at Amazon.com): ·
Bacterial Meningitis by Allan R. Tunkel; ISBN: 0781711029; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0781711029/icongroupinte rna
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Bacterial Meningitis by J. D. Williams (Editor), J. Burnie (Editor); ISBN: 0127551557; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0127551557/icongroupin terna
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Bacterial Meningitis (Antibiotics and Chemotherapy, Vol 45) by H. Schonfeld, et al (1992); ISBN: 3805554842; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/3805554842/icongroupin terna
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Bacterial Meningitis (Contemporary Issues in Infectious Disease Vol 3) by Merle A. Sande, et al; ISBN: 0443083266; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0443083266/icongroupin terna
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Brain abscess and meningitis ; Subarachnoid hemorrhage : timing problems ; ISBN: 0387105395; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0387105395/icongroupin terna
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Cerebrospinal Meningitis Control: Report (1976); ISBN: 9241205881; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9241205881/icongroupin terna
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Cerebrospinal Meningitis Epidemics [DOWNLOAD: PDF] by Patrick S. Moore (Author), Claire V. Broome (Author); ISBN: B00006BNNC; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006BNNC/icongrou pinterna
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Cerebrospinal Meningitis in West Africa and Sudan in the Twentieth Century by K. David Patterson, Gerald W. Hartwig; ISBN: 091845655X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/091845655X/icongroupi nterna
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Die menschliche Herpes-simplex-Encephalitis und -Meningitis : e. klin.-neuropatholog. Unters by Friedrich-Wilhelm Spaar; ISBN: 3437104306; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/3437104306/icongroupin terna
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Emerging Strategies in the Fight Against Meningitis by Carlos Ferreiros (Editor), et al; ISBN: 1898486344;
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1898486344/icongroupin terna ·
Epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the Netherlands by Simon de Marie; ISBN: 9090009191; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9090009191/icongroupin terna
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Evolution of meningococcal disease ; ISBN: 0849346452; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0849346452/icongroupin terna
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Evolution of meningococcal disease ; ISBN: 0849346444; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0849346444/icongroupin terna
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Evolution of Meningococcal Disease by Neylan A. Vedros (Editor) (1987); ISBN: 0849346436; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0849346436/icongroupin terna
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Infections of the Nervous System (1990); ISBN: 354097332X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/354097332X/icongroupi nterna
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Infections of the Nervous System (Clinical Topics in Infectious Disease) by David Schlossberg (Editor) (1990); ISBN: 038797332X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/038797332X/icongroupi nterna
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Meningitis by Yuriy Tarnawsky; ISBN: 0914590480; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0914590480/icongroupin terna
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Meningitis (Diseases and People) by Edward Willett; ISBN: 0766011879; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0766011879/icongroupin terna
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Meningitis : a work of fiction by ëIìUriæi Tarnavs§kyæi; ISBN: 0914590499; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0914590499/icongroupin terna
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Meningitis Im Kindesalter by H. Isenberg (1993); ISBN: 3798509409; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/3798509409/icongroupin terna
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Meningitis: 100 Maxims (100 Maxims in Neurology, 4) by Karen L. Roos (1996); ISBN: 034060879X;
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/034060879X/icongroupi nterna ·
Meningococcal Disease by Keith Cartwright (Editor); ISBN: 0471952591; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471952591/icongroupin terna
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Meningococcal Disease: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Medicine) by Andrew J. Pollard (Editor), et al; ISBN: 0896038491; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0896038491/icongroupin terna
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Neonatal Meningitis by Pamela A. Davies, P. T. Rudd (1995); ISBN: 0901260967; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0901260967/icongroupin terna
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Neonatal Sepsis and Meningitis by Alistair Philip; ISBN: 0816122539; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0816122539/icongroupin terna
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Stephen--Learning about Meningitis by Jenny Wilson (2000); ISBN: 1857925726; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1857925726/icongroupin terna
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Tuberculous Meningitis by Malcolm L. Parsons; ISBN: 0192611666; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0192611666/icongroupin terna
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Tuberculous Meningitis: Tuberculomas and Spinal Tuberculosis: A Handbook for Clinicians (Oxford Medical Publications) by Malcolm Parsons; ISBN: 0192617214; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0192617214/icongroupin terna
The National Library of Medicine Book Index The National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health has a massive database of books published on healthcare and biomedicine. Go to the following Internet site, http://locatorplus.gov/, and then select “Search LOCATORplus.” Once you are in the search area, simply type “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the search box, and select “books only.” From there,
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results can be sorted by publication date, author, or relevance. The following was recently catalogued by the National Library of Medicine:26 ·
Animal experimentation in relation to epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis. Author: Charles Hunter Dunn ..; Year: 1911; Chicago: American Medical Association ..., 1911
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Antimicrobial and support therapy for bacterial meningitis in children: report of the meeting of 18-20 June 1997, Geneva, Switzerland. Author: Popovic, Tanya; Year: 1998; [Geneva]: Division of Child Health and Development, World Health Organization, c1998
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Bacterial meningitis. Author: Allan R. Tunkel; contribution by W. Michael Scheld; Year: 2001; Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, c2001; ISBN: 0781711029 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0781711029/icongroupin terna
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Bacterial meningitis. Author: volume editors, H. Schönfeld, H. Helwig; Year: 1992; Basel; New York: Karger, 1992; ISBN: 3805554842 (alk. paper) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/3805554842/icongroupin terna
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CRDA special report on the 1989 meningitis epidemic. Author: Class, W. J. (William J.), 1874-1906; Year: 1989; Addis Ababa: Christian Relief & Development Association, Ethiopia, [1989?]
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Emerging strategies in the fight against meningitis: molecular and cellular aspects. Author: edited by Carlos Ferreirós, Mar´ia Teresa Criado, Julio Vázquez; Year: 2002; Wymondham, Norfolk, England: Horizon Scientific Press, c2002; ISBN: 1898486344 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1898486344/icongroupin terna
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Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis. Author: by W. J. Class ..; Year: 1899; Chicago: American Medical Association Press, 1899
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Gastroenteritis, encephalitis, meningitis, & kala-azar: an epidemiological review. Author: by Mahendra Bahadur Bista, Kokila
In addition to LOCATORPlus, in collaboration with authors and publishers, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is adapting biomedical books for the Web. The books may be accessed in two ways: (1) by searching directly using any search term or phrase (in the same way as the bibliographic database PubMed), or (2) by following the links to PubMed abstracts. Each PubMed abstract has a “Books” button that displays a facsimile of the abstract in which some phrases are hypertext links. These phrases are also found in the books available at NCBI. Click on hyperlinked results in the list of books in which the phrase is found. Currently, the majority of the links are between the books and PubMed. In the future, more links will be created between the books and other types of information, such as gene and protein sequences and macromolecular structures. See http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Books.
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Shrestha, Uma Nath Devokta; Year: 1993; Kathmandu, Epidemiology Division, Ministry of Health, [1993]
Napal:
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Guidelines for the control of meningococcal disease in Australia: endorsed October 1996 by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Author: Cullinan, T. R; Year: 1996; Canberra: NHMRC, c1996; ISBN: 0644475854
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Infective meningitis. Author: [editors] R. van Furth ... [et al.]; Year: 1989; The Netherlands: Boerhaave Committee for Postgraduate Medical Education, Leiden University, [1989?]; ISBN: 9067671835
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International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision for Epidemic Meningitis Control: report of the fifth meeting: Geneva, Switzerland, 8-9 December 1999. Author: International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ... [et al.]; Year: 2000; [Geneva]: World Health Organization, c2000
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Laboratory manual for the diagnosis of meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae. Author: principal authors, Tanja Popovic, Gloria Ajello, and Richard Facklam; contributors, D. Caugnant ... [et al.]; Year: 1999; [Geneva]: World Health Organization, c1999
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Management of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia in children: role of antibiotics, immunoglobulins and corticosteroids. Author: guest editor, Sten Iwarson; Year: 1990; Stockholm, Sweden: Distributed by Almqvist & Wiksell International, [1990]
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Meningitis: 100 maxims. Author: Karen L. Roos; Year: 1996; London: Arnold; New York: Oxford University Press, 1996; ISBN: 034060879X http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/034060879X/icongroupi nterna
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Meningococcal disease: methods and protocols. Author: edited by Andrew J. Pollard and Martin C.J. Maiden; foreword by Michael Levin; Year: 2001; Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press, c2001; ISBN: 0896038491 (alk. paper) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0896038491/icongroupin terna
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Meningococcal disease. Author: edited by Keith Cartwright; Year: 1995; Chichester; New York: J. Wiley & Sons, c1995; ISBN: 0471952591 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471952591/icongroupin terna
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Meningococcal vaccines: methods and protocols. Author: edited by Andrew J. Pollard and Martin C.J. Maiden; foreword by E. Richard Moxon; Year: 2001; Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press, c2001; ISBN: 0896038017 (alk. paper)
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0896038017/icongroupin terna ·
Neonatal meningitis. Author: Pamela A. Davies, P.T. Rudd; Year: 1994; London: Mac Keith Press, [New York]: Distributed by Cambridge University Press, 1994; ISBN: 0901260967 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0901260967/icongroupin terna
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Packaged treatment for first line care in cerebral malaria and meningitis. Author: T.R. Cullinan and C. Pieterick; Year: 1997; [Geneva?]: World Health Organization, Divsion of Control of Tropical Diseases, [1997?]
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Present-day antibiotic treatment of bacterial meningitis. Author: J. Modaï and J.-M. Decazes; Year: 1990; Basel, Switzerland: Editiones Roche, c1990; ISBN: 3907946235
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Prospective evaluation of enigmatic meningitis: abstract, executive summary, and final report. Author: Quagliarello, Vincent; Year: 1996; New Haven, CT: Yale Univ., 1996
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Report of a committee of the Massachusetts Medical Society on spotted fever or cerebro-spinal meningitis in the state of Massachusetts, May, 1866. Author: Rolleston, Humphry Davy, Sir, 1862-1944; Year: 1867; Boston: David Clapp & Son ..., 1867
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Serum treatment of epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis. Author: by Simon Flexner and J.W. Jobling; Year: 1908; New York City: Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, [1908?]
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Standardization and validation of serological assays for the evaluation of immune responses to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A. Author: C vaccines: Geneva, 8-9 March 1999; Year: 1999; Geneva: Dept. of Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, 1999
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Treatment of meningococcic meningitis with sulfanilamide: preliminary report. Author: Francis F. Schwentker, Sidney Gelman, and Perrin H. Long; Year: 1937; Chicago, Ill.: American Medical Association, c1937
Chapters on Meningitis Frequently, meningitis will be discussed within a book, perhaps within a specific chapter. In order to find chapters that are specifically dealing with meningitis, an excellent source of abstracts is the Combined Health Information Database. You will need to limit your search to book chapters and meningitis using the “Detailed Search” option. Go directly to the
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following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. To find book chapters, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language you prefer, and the format option “Book Chapter.” By making these selections and typing in “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box, you will only receive results on chapters in books. The following is a typical result when searching for book chapters on meningitis: ·
Dementia Source: in Cassel, C.K., et al., eds. Geriatric Medicine. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag. 1990. p. 428-448. ISBN: 0387178864. Contact: This publication may be available from your local medical library. Call for information. Summary: This chapter defines and summarizes the causes, evaluation, and treatment of dementia. Behavioral syndromes of elderly individuals that must be distinguished from dementia are briefly described prior to the discussion of the dementing disorders. Specific information is provided about delirium; amnestic syndromes; organic delusional, mood, anxiety, and personality syndromes; organic hallucinosis; aphasic syndromes; ageassociated memory impairment; and the various dementias and their characteristics. In the discussion of dementias, attention is given to primary dementias, including Alzheimer's disease, dementia with extrapyramidal disorders, Pick's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's diseases, and other extrapyramidal disorders; secondary dementias, including vascular dementia syndromes, druginduced dementia, and dementias induced by alcohol and nondrug toxins; infectious causes of dementia, including AIDS, Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease, Gerstmann-Straussler syndrome, general paresis, chronic meningitis, and non-infectious systemic illnesses, including neoplasms; traumatic dementias; hydrocephalus; and depression. Finally, attention is focused on the history and varied applications of neuropsychiatric assessments and to the various treatments. 76 references.
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Systemic Disorders Source: in Blakley, B.W.; Siegel, M.E. Feeling Dizzy: Understanding and Treating Dizziness, Vertigo, and Other Balancing Disorders. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing. 1995. p. 129-144. Contact: Available from Macmillan Publishing. 201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290. (800) 428-5331; Fax (800) 882-8583. PRICE: $21.95 plus shipping and handling. ISBN: 0028600096.
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Summary: This chapter is from a layperson's guide to vertigo, imbalance, fainting, and other balance disorders. This chapter describes the role of systemic disorders in vestibular problems. Topics covered include cardiovascular diseases, arrythmia, and valve problems; bacterial and viral diseases including herpes zoster, tuberculosis, syphilis, meningitis, encephalitis, and Lyme disease; connective tissue and arthritic problems; blood disorders including anemia, sickle-cell anemia, leukemia, and polycythemia; diabetes mellitus; chronic kidney disease; thyroid disorders; allergies; temporomandibular joint disorders; medications that can cause dizziness; and other factors including malnutrition and pollution. For each disorder discussed, the authors consider symptoms, role in causing dizziness, diagnosis, etiology, natural course, and treatment options. ·
Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis Source: in Handbook of Epilepsy. Browne, T.R.; Holmes, G.L. Philadelphia, PA, Lippincott-Raven Publishers, pp. 143-161, 1997. Contact: Lippincott-Raven Publishers, 227 East Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3780. Summary: Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis, a chapter in Handbook of Epilepsy, focuses on the diagnostic tasks in epilepsy management. Diagnostic tasks include establishing a seizure diagnosis and an etiologic diagnosis as well as identification of precipitating factors. These tasks are accomplished through history taking, physical examination, electroencephalography, and laboratory examinations. The first step in managing a patient who may have epilepsy is definitively establishing whether or not the patient has epilepsy. If a patient does have epilepsy, it is critical that the type(s) of epileptic seizures the patient has be determined. This diagnosis should be made according to the International Classification of Epileptic Seizures. Because epilepsy is a symptom not a disease, it is also crucial that the underlying cause of a patient's seizure be identified and treated. This ensures that a reversible cerebral disease process is not overlooked and facilitates seizure control. A seizure can be a symptom of old or new cerebral trauma, a brain tumor, a brain abscess, encephalitis, meningitis, a metabolic disturbance, drug intoxication, drug withdrawal, and other disease processes. It is important then to identify and manage factors that precipitate seizures and thereby reduce seizure frequency and the patient's need for medication. While the best way to diagnose seizure type may be through direct observation of a seizure by a physician, important differential diagnostic information is often available through history taken from the patient, reliable observers, or both. History taking should include details
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of events before, during, and after the seizure. The duration, time of occurrence, and frequency of seizures are also important. The physician should specifically ask about past or current occurrence of other seizure types. History for etiology should include information about family history of epilepsy, head trauma, birth complications, febrile convulsions, middle ear and sinus infections, alcohol or drug abuse, and symptoms of malignancy. Questions should also address precipitating factors such as fever, anxiety, sleep deprivation, menstrual cycle, alcohol, hyperventilation, flickering lights, or television. Physical examination should focus on evidence of head trauma, infections, congenital abnormalities, neurologic abnormalities, stigmata of substance abuse, and signs of malignancy. Electroencephalograms confirm the presence of abnormal electrical activity, provide information about the type of seizure disorder, and disclose the location of the seizure focus. Laboratory examination usually involves metabolic screen, EEG recording in waking and sleep states, and magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomographic scan. A toxic screen or a lumbar puncture may also be performed under certain conditions. A table lists common differential diagnostic problems with epilepsy at different ages. In each case, the two possible diagnoses have both common features and unique features. ·
Acquired Hearing Loss Due to Other Infections and Causes Source: in Pappas, D.G. Diagnosis and Treatment of Hearing Impairment in Children. 2nd ed. San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group, Inc. 1998. p. 115-168. Contact: Available from Singular Publishing Group, Inc. 401 West 'A' Street, Suite 325, San Diego, CA 92101-7904. (800) 521-8545. Fax (800) 7748398. E-mail:
[email protected]. Website: www.singpub.com. PRICE: $55.00 plus shipping and handling. ISBN: 1565938658. Summary: This chapter on acquired hearing loss due to other infections (non viral) and causes is from a text that discusses the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing impairment in children. A follow up to the chapter on viral infections, this chapter focuses on serous otitis media (otitis media with effusion, or OME), the incidence of OME, complications from chronic otitis media, preexisting sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and negative middle ear pressure, organism (i.e., bacteria) and drug related factors, the pathogenesis of OME, the benefits of ventilation tubes, the surgical management of chronic otitis media (with ventilation tube placement), complications with ventilation tubes, when to remove a ventilation tube, protection from water when tubes are in place, the technique of closure of posttympanotomy perforation (when
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a tympanotomy tube perforates the eardrum), congenital cholesteatoma, bacterial meningitis (including routes of infections, diagnosis, treatment, pathophysiology, and vestibular involvement), complications of hearing loss associated with meningitis, perilymph fistula in children with preexisting SNHL, autoimmune inner ear disease, and SNHL in children with autoimmune inner ear disease. In each case, the authors focus on the diagnostic tests and treatment options for children with that particular condition. 11 figures. 7 tables. 133 references. ·
Management in Bilaterally Obliterated Cochleae Source: in Uziel, A.S.; Mondain, M., eds. Cochlear Implants in Children: Advances in Otorhinolaryngology, Volume 50. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger AG. 1995. p. 54-58. Contact: Available from S. Karger AG. 26 West Avon Road, P.O. Box 529, Framington, CT 06085. (800) 828-5479 or (203) 675-7834. PRICE: $99.50 plus shipping and handling, unless prepaid. ISBN: 3805560958. Summary: Bacterial meningitis is known to lead to a bony or scar tissue obliteration of the inner ear. In this chapter from a text on cochlear implants in children, the authors recommend a strategy for the management of meningitis deafness. Topics covered include the need for early diagnosis; diagnostic and screening tests used; determining cochlear implant candidacy; informing and working with the child's parents; and long term monitoring of the child. The authors present their experiences with three young children and one adolescent. They stress that early diagnosis of postmeningitic deafness is possible by watchful pediatricians. Only close cooperation among pediatrician, otologist, and radiologist allows satisfactory management of imminent cochlear obliteration. 5 figures. 5 references. (AA-M).
General Home References In addition to references for meningitis, you may want a general home medical guide that spans all aspects of home healthcare. The following list is a recent sample of such guides (sorted alphabetically by title; hyperlinks provide rankings, information, and reviews at Amazon.com): · The Bacteria Menace: Todays Emerging Infections and How to Protect Yourself by Skye Weintraub; Paperback - 350 pages (May 2002), Woodland Publishing; ISBN: 1580543529; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580543529/icongroupinterna
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· Bacterial Infections by Axel Dalhoff (Editor); Paperback (April 1999), S. Karger Publishing; ISBN: 380556841X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/380556841X/icongroupinterna · Encyclopedia of Infectious Diseases (Encyclopedia of Infectious Diseases, 1998) by Carol Turkington, Bonnie Ashby; Library Binding - 384 pages (September 1998), Facts on File, Inc.; ISBN: 0816035121; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0816035121/icongroupinterna · Epidemic! The World of Infectious Disease by Rob Desalle (Editor), American Museum of Natural History; Paperback - 246 pages, 1st edition (September 1999), New Press; ISBN: 1565845463; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565845463/icongroupinterna · I Know How We Fight Germs (Sam’s Science) by Kate Rowan, et al; School & Library Binding - 32 pages (January 1999), Candlewick Press; ISBN: 0763605034; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0763605034/icongroupinterna · Outbreak Alert: Responding to the Increasing Threat of Infectious Diseases by Jason Eberhart-Phillips, M.D.; Paperback - 292 pages (July 2000), New Harbinger Publications; ISBN: 1572242019; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572242019/icongroupinterna
Vocabulary Builder Abscess: A localized collection of pus caused by suppuration buried in tissues, organs, or confined spaces. [EU] Amnesia: Lack or loss of memory; inability to remember past experiences. [EU]
Anemia: A reduction in the number of circulating erythrocytes or in the quantity of hemoglobin. [NIH] Anorexia: Lack or loss of the appetite for food. [EU] Anoxia: A total lack of oxygen; often used interchangeably with hypoxia to mean a reduced supply of oxygen to the tissues. [EU] Antineoplastic: Inhibiting or preventing the development of neoplasms, checking the maturation and proliferation of malignant cells. [EU] Audiology: The study of hearing and hearing impairment. [NIH] Audiometry: The testing of the acuity of the sense of hearing to determine the thresholds of the lowest intensity levels at which an individual can hear a set of tones. The frequencies between 125 and 8000 Hz are used to test air conduction thresholds and the frequencies between 250 and 4000 Hz are
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used to test bone conduction thresholds. [NIH] Autonomic: Self-controlling; functionally independent. [EU] Barotrauma: Injury following pressure changes; includes injury to the eustachian tube, ear drum, lung and stomach. [NIH] Capillary: Any one of the minute vessels that connect the arterioles and venules, forming a network in nearly all parts of the body. Their walls act as semipermeable membranes for the interchange of various substances, including fluids, between the blood and tissue fluid; called also vas capillare. [EU]
Cardiovascular: Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels. [EU] Cholesteatoma: A non-neoplastic keratinizing mass with stratified squamous epithelium, frequently occurring in the meninges, central nervous system, bones of the skull, and most commonly in the middle ear and mastoid region. [NIH] Cholesterol: The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils. [NIH] Convulsion: A violent involuntary contraction or series of contractions of the voluntary muscles. [EU] Cortical: Pertaining to or of the nature of a cortex or bark. [EU] Degenerative: Undergoing degeneration : tending to degenerate; having the character of or involving degeneration; causing or tending to cause degeneration. [EU] Deprivation: Loss or absence of parts, organs, powers, or things that are needed. [EU] Effusion: The escape of fluid into a part or tissue, as an exudation or a transudation. [EU] Electroencephalography: The recording of the electric currents developed in the brain, by means of electrodes applied to the scalp, to the surface of the brain (intracranial e.) or placed within the substance of the brain (depth e.). [EU]
Erythromycin: A bacteriostatic antibiotic substance produced by Streptomyces erythreus. Erythromycin A is considered its major active component. In sensitive organisms, it inhibits protein synthesis by binding to 50S ribosomal subunits. This binding process inhibits peptidyl transferase activity and interferes with translocation of amino acids during translation and assembly of proteins. [NIH] Extrapyramidal: Outside of the pyramidal tracts. [EU] Fistula: An abnormal passage or communication, usually between two internal organs, or leading from an internal organ to the surface of the body; frequently designated according to the organs or parts with which it
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communicates, as anovaginal, brochocutaneous, hepatopleural, pulmonoperitoneal, rectovaginal, urethrovaginal, and the like. Such passages are frequently created experimentally for the purpose of obtaining body secretions for physiologic study. [EU] Hemorrhage: Bleeding or escape of blood from a vessel. [NIH] Heredity: 1. the genetic transmission of a particular quality or trait from parent to offspring. 2. the genetic constitution of an individual. [EU] Hormonal: Pertaining to or of the nature of a hormone. [EU] Hormones: Chemical substances having a specific regulatory effect on the activity of a certain organ or organs. The term was originally applied to substances secreted by various endocrine glands and transported in the bloodstream to the target organs. It is sometimes extended to include those substances that are not produced by the endocrine glands but that have similar effects. [NIH] Hyperbilirubinemia: Pathologic process consisting of an abnormal increase in the amount of bilirubin in the circulating blood, which may result in jaundice. [NIH] Hypothyroidism: Deficiency of thyroid activity. In adults, it is most common in women and is characterized by decrease in basal metabolic rate, tiredness and lethargy, sensitivity to cold, and menstrual disturbances. If untreated, it progresses to full-blown myxoedema. In infants, severe hypothyroidism leads to cretinism. In juveniles, the manifestations are intermediate, with less severe mental and developmental retardation and only mild symptoms of the adult form. When due to pituitary deficiency of thyrotropin secretion it is called secondary hypothyroidism. [EU] Idiopathic: Of the nature of an idiopathy; self-originated; of unknown causation. [EU] Immunochemistry: Field of chemistry that pertains to immunological phenomena and the study of chemical reactions related to antigen stimulation of tissues. It includes physicochemical interactions between antigens and antibodies. [NIH] Incus: One of three ossicles of the middle ear. It conducts sound vibrations from the malleus to the stapes. [NIH] Intoxication: Poisoning, the state of being poisoned. [EU] Menstruation: The cyclic, physiologic discharge through the vagina of blood and mucosal tissues from the nonpregnant uterus; it is under hormonal control and normally recurs, usually at approximately four-week intervals, in the absence of pregnancy during the reproductive period (puberty through menopause) of the female of the human and a few species of primates. It is the culmination of the menstrual cycle. [EU]
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Mycoplasma: A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacteria bounded by a plasma membrane only. Its organisms are parasites and pathogens, found on the mucous membranes of humans, animals, and birds. [NIH]
Osteogenesis: The histogenesis of bone including ossification. It occurs continuously but particularly in the embryo and child and during fracture repair. [NIH] Otitis: Inflammation of the ear, which may be marked by pain, fever, abnormalities of hearing, hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. [EU] Otorhinolaryngology: That branch of medicine concerned with medical and surgical treatment of the head and neck, including the ears, nose and throat. [EU]
Otorrhea: A discharge from the ear, especially a purulent one. [EU] Otosclerosis: A pathological condition of the bony labyrinth of the ear, in which there is formation of spongy bone (otospongiosis), especially in front of and posterior to the footplate of the stapes; it may cause bony ankylosis of the stapes, resulting in conductive hearing loss. Cochlear otosclerosis may also develop, resulting in sensorineural hearing loss. [EU] Paralysis: Loss or impairment of motor function in a part due to lesion of the neural or muscular mechanism; also by analogy, impairment of sensory function (sensory paralysis). In addition to the types named below, paralysis is further distinguished as traumatic, syphilitic, toxic, etc., according to its cause; or as obturator, ulnar, etc., according to the nerve part, or muscle specially affected. [EU] Paresis: Slight or incomplete paralysis. [EU] Perforation: 1. the act of boring or piercing through a part. 2. a hole made through a part or substance. [EU] Perinatal: Pertaining to or occurring in the period shortly before and after birth; variously defined as beginning with completion of the twentieth to twenty-eighth week of gestation and ending 7 to 28 days after birth. [EU] Postnatal: Occurring after birth, with reference to the newborn. [EU] Postoperative: Occurring after a surgical operation. [EU] Premenstrual: Occurring before menstruation. [EU] Prenatal: Existing or occurring before birth, with reference to the fetus. [EU] Preoperative: Preceding an operation. [EU] Presbycusis: Progressive bilateral loss of hearing that occurs in the aged. Syn: senile deafness. [NIH] Prosthesis: An artificial substitute for a missing body part, such as an arm or leg, eye or tooth, used for functional or cosmetic reasons, or both. [EU]
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Recurrence: The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. [NIH] Rubella: An acute, usually benign, infectious disease caused by a togavirus and most often affecting children and nonimmune young adults, in which the virus enters the respiratory tract via droplet nuclei and spreads to the lymphatic system. It is characterized by a slight cold, sore throat, and fever, followed by enlargement of the postauricular, suboccipital, and cervical lymph nodes, and the appearances of a fine pink rash that begins on the head and spreads to become generalized. Called also German measles, roetln, röteln, and three-day measles, and rubeola in French and Spanish. [EU] Sarcoidosis: An idiopathic systemic inflammatory granulomatous disorder comprised of epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells with little necrosis. It usually invades the lungs with fibrosis and may also involve lymph nodes, skin, liver, spleen, eyes, phalangeal bones, and parotid glands. [NIH] Tinnitus: A noise in the ears, as ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, etc. Such sounds may at times be heard by others than the patient. [EU] Toxoplasma: A genus of protozoa parasitic to birds and mammals. T. gondii is one of the most common infectious pathogenic animal parasites of man. [NIH]
Triage: The sorting out and classification of patients or casualties to determine priority of need and proper place of treatment. [NIH] Tuberculoma: A tumor-like mass resulting from the enlargement of a tuberculous lesion. [NIH] Vancomycin: Antibacterial obtained from Streptomyces orientalis. It is a glycopeptide related to ristocetin that inhibits bacterial cell wall assembly and is toxic to kidneys and the inner ear. [NIH] Varicella: Chicken pox. [EU] Vertigo: An illusion of movement; a sensation as if the external world were revolving around the patient (objective vertigo) or as if he himself were revolving in space (subjective vertigo). The term is sometimes erroneously used to mean any form of dizziness. [EU]
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CHAPTER 7. MULTIMEDIA ON MENINGITIS Overview Information on meningitis can come in a variety of formats. Among multimedia sources, video productions, slides, audiotapes, and computer databases are often available. In this chapter, we show you how to keep current on multimedia sources of information on meningitis. We start with sources that have been summarized by federal agencies, and then show you how to find bibliographic information catalogued by the National Library of Medicine. If you see an interesting item, visit your local medical library to check on the availability of the title.
Video Recordings Most diseases do not have a video dedicated to them. If they do, they are often rather technical in nature. An excellent source of multimedia information on meningitis is the Combined Health Information Database. You will need to limit your search to “video recording” and “meningitis” using the “Detailed Search” option. Go directly to the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. To find video productions, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language you prefer, and the format option “Videorecording (videotape, videocassette, etc.).” By making these selections and typing “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box, you will only receive results on video productions. The following is a typical result when searching for video recordings on meningitis:
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·
Issues of Dementia: In - Service Training With Brian Smith Contact: Shanti, 730 Polk St, San Francisco, CA, 94109-7813, (415) 6744700, http://www.shanti.org. Summary: In this videorecording, the moderator and participants in a volunteer training program discuss the cognitive and motor problems resulting from neurological diseases and disorders associated with Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Psychologically, potential dementia and other disorders pose one of the most frightening prospects for Persons with AIDS (PWA's). The symptoms may include seizures, headaches, and short-term memory loss. Specific diagnoses, including meningitis, lymphoma of the brain, PML, and toxoplasmosis are discussed. Volunteers are given some guidance on what to expect from clients in terms of denial, confusion, and personality changes; they are urged to attempt to breach communication barriers with their clients and talk about the possibility of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of the brain. The videorecording briefly describes the apparent effect of Azidothymidine (AZT) on the manifestations of HIV-brain infection.
Audio Recordings The Combined Health Information Database contains abstracts on audio productions. To search CHID, go directly to the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. To find audio productions, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language you prefer, and the format option “Sound Recordings.” By making these selections and typing “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box, you will only receive results on sound recordings (again, most diseases do not have results, so do not expect to find many). The following is a typical result when searching for sound recordings on meningitis: ·
What's New With AIDS? Contact: California Medical Association, Audio Digest Foundation, 1577 E Chevy Chase Dr, Glendale, CA, 91206, (213) 245-8505. Summary: This sound recording contains the transcripts of speeches given by three physicians that discuss HIV infection. The first speaker, Dr. Mitchell Katz, traces the scope of HIV infection in the United States and examines the consequences or the new definition of AIDS. He then poses epidemiologic considerations, factors affecting CD4 staging, and
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the drugs approved for treating HIV infection, AZT and ddI. Other drugs that inhibit reverse transcriptase are also included, as well as the efficacy of antiviral combination therapy. The second speaker, Dr. Neil Flynn, expands on the management of HIV and opportunistic infections. He discusses herpes, bacterial pneumonia, mycobacterium infection, cryptococcal meningitis, PCP, toxoplasmosis, and Kaposi's sarcoma. The concluding speaker, Dr. Faith Fitzgerald, shares some thoughts on the epidemic, including the public perceptions of AIDS and the differing response to this epidemic as opposed to previous ones.
Bibliography: Multimedia on Meningitis The National Library of Medicine is a rich source of information on healthcare-related multimedia productions including slides, computer software, and databases. To access the multimedia database, go to the following Web site: http://locatorplus.gov/. Select “Search LOCATORplus.” Once in the search area, simply type in meningitis (or synonyms). Then, in the option box provided below the search box, select “Audiovisuals and Computer Files.” From there, you can choose to sort results by publication date, author, or relevance. The following multimedia has been indexed on meningitis. For more information, follow the hyperlink indicated: ·
Bacterial meningitis : new concepts in pathogenesis and therapies. Source: the University of Texas Medical School at Houston; Year: 1990; Format: Videorecording; [Houston, Tex.: UT/TV], c1990
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Bacterial meningitis. Source: Wayne State University School of Medicine; produced by the Division of Medical Communication; Year: 1972; Format: Videorecording; Detroit: The University, 1972
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Bacterial meningitis. Source: Dept. of Continuing Education, Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital, Emergency Training Course; produced by Health Education Programs, Inc; Year: 1973; Format: Videorecording; [Minneapolis]: Institute for Continuing Physician Education, c1973
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Bacterial meningitis. Source: University of Michigan Medical Center; Year: 1974; Format: Slide; [Ann Arbor, Mich.]: The University: [for sale by Univ. of Michigan Medical Center, Media Library], c1974
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Bacterial meningitis. Source: Wayne State University School of Medicine; produced by the Division of Medical Communication; Year: 1972; Format: Motion picture; Detroit: The University; [Atlanta: for loan by National Medical Audiovisual Center, 1972]
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·
Diagnosing meningitis and encephalitis. Source: a presentation of Films for the Humanities & Sciences; Sheffield University Television; produced for the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Sheffield; Year: 1999; Format: Videorecording; Princeton, N.J.: Films for the Humanities & Sciences, c1999
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Diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases : five cases. Source: Harry G. Adams, Doyle M. Cummings; Year: 1990; Format: Videorecording; Secaucus, N.J.: Network for Continuing Medical Education, c1990
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Diagnosis of viral meningitis. Source: The National Foundation; [made by] University of Kansas Medical School with the assistance of ChurchillWexler Films; Year: 1961; Format: Motion picture; [Chicago: American Medical Association], 1961
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Gram-negative meningitis. Source: [produced by] Hahnemann Medical College & Hospital and World Video Corp; Year: 1980; Format: Videorecording; [S.l.]: Medcare Associates, c1980
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Infections of the central nervous system. Source: developed for the Association of Pathology Chairmen at workshops at the National Medical Audiovisual Center and Given Institute of Pathobiology; Year: 1975; Format: Slide; Atlanta: The Center, 1975
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Meningitis : pathological-clinical correlation. Source: [produced by] Hahnemann Medical College & Hospital and World Video Corp; Year: 1981; Format: Videorecording; [Philadelphia, Pa.]: Medcare Associates, c1981
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Meningitis : the sudden illness. Source: a presentation of Films for the Humanities & Sciences; Year: 1996; Format: Videorecording; [United States]: Information Television Network, c1996
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Meningitis : the urgent diagnosis. Source: a Touch Productions film for Channel Four Television; Year: 1994; Format: Videorecording; Princeton, N.J.: Films for the Humanities and Sciences, c1994
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Meningitis and central nervous system infection. Source: Mark H. Kaplan; Year: 9999; Format: Slide; [New York]: Medcom, c1979-
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Meningitis epidemic case study. Source: prepared and distributed by the Liverpool Epidemiology Programme, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Year: 1993; Format: Electronic resource; Liverpool, UK: B. Moody, 1993
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Meningitis. Source: Mosby; Year: 1997; Format: Videorecording; St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby-Year Book, c1997
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Meningitis. Source: [presented by] CME Productions, Inc., in cooperation with the Infectious Disease Section, Yale University, School
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of Medicine; Year: 1981; Format: Videorecording; [S.l.]: CME Productions, c1981 ·
Meningitis. Source: developed by Michael S. Shaw, Herbert R. Karp; [produced by] National Medical Audiovisual Center; Year: 1979; Format: Videorecording; [Bethesda, Md.]: Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine; [Washington: for sale by National Audiovisual Center] 1979
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Meningococcal meningitis : the disease and its control. Source: Brooke Army Medical Center; Year: 1970; Format: Videorecording; Fort Sam Houston, Tex.: Academy of Health Sciences, c1970
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Neuropsychological sequellae of h-flu meningitis. Source: [presented by] Marshfield Video Network, in cooperation with Marshfield Clinic, St. Joseph's Hospital, and Marshfield Medical Research Foundation; Year: 1988; Format: Videorecording; Marshfield, WI: The Network, c1988
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Pediatric meningitis : a diagnostic dilemma. Source: produced in association with the Galtney Group of Companies; CME-TV; Year: 1991; Format: Videorecording; Hagerman, Idaho: CME-TV, c1991
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Pediatric meningitis : avoiding the menace of malpractice. Source: produced in association with CME-TV; the Galtney Group of Companies; produced in cooperation with University of Arizona Health Sciences Center; Year: 1991; Format: Videorecording; Houston, Tex.: Western Indemnity Insurance Co., c1991
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Treatment of meningitis. Source: [presented by] CME Productions, Inc. in cooperation with the Infectious Disease Section, Yale University School of Medicine; Year: 1981; Format: Videorecording; Philadelphia, PA: Medical Video Marketing, c1981
Vocabulary Builder Beauty: Characteristics or attributes of persons or things which elicit pleasurable feelings. [NIH] Polyradiculopathy: Disease or injury involving multiple spinal nerve roots. Polyradiculitis refers to inflammation of multiple spinal nerve roots. [NIH] Spastic: 1. of the nature of or characterized by spasms. 2. hypertonic, so that the muscles are stiff and the movements awkward. 3. a person exhibiting spasticity, such as occurs in spastic paralysis or in cerebral palsy. [EU]
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CHAPTER 8. PERIODICALS AND NEWS ON MENINGITIS Overview Keeping up on the news relating to meningitis can be challenging. Subscribing to targeted periodicals can be an effective way to stay abreast of recent developments on meningitis. Periodicals include newsletters, magazines, and academic journals. In this chapter, we suggest a number of news sources and present various periodicals that cover meningitis beyond and including those which are published by patient associations mentioned earlier. We will first focus on news services, and then on periodicals. News services, press releases, and newsletters generally use more accessible language, so if you do chose to subscribe to one of the more technical periodicals, make sure that it uses language you can easily follow.
News Services & Press Releases Well before articles show up in newsletters or the popular press, they may appear in the form of a press release or a public relations announcement. One of the simplest ways of tracking press releases on meningitis is to search the news wires. News wires are used by professional journalists, and have existed since the invention of the telegraph. Today, there are several major “wires” that are used by companies, universities, and other organizations to announce new medical breakthroughs. In the following sample of sources, we will briefly describe how to access each service. These services only post recent news intended for public viewing.
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PR Newswire Perhaps the broadest of the wires is PR Newswire Association, Inc. To access this archive, simply go to http://www.prnewswire.com. Below the search box, select the option “The last 30 days.” In the search box, type “meningitis” or synonyms. The search results are shown by order of relevance. When reading these press releases, do not forget that the sponsor of the release may be a company or organization that is trying to sell a particular product or therapy. Their views, therefore, may be biased. The following is typical of press releases that can be found on PR Newswire: ·
Aventis Pasteur Pledges to Give Advance Notice Before Discontinuing Vaccine Production Summary: PFIZER INC SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION QUESTIONS: Q16) How did Diflucan perform? A16) Sales of Diflucan decreased 1% (up 1% excluding the impact of foreign exchange) to $245 million in the second quarter, compared to the same period in 2001. This sales volume, after 14 years on the market, reflects the unique features and benefits of Diflucan and the medical need that it continues to fulfill. It treats systemic fungal infections, often present in critically ill hospitalized patients, as well as fungal infections of the mouth (thrush), throat, and esophagus. Diflucan is also effective as a single-dose oral treatment for vaginal candidiasis. In June 2001, Pfizer announced that it would offer Diflucan at no charge to HIV/AIDS patients in the 50 least-developed countries, as identified by the United Nations, where HIV/AIDS is most prevalent. The Diflucan Partnership was developed in cooperation with the United Nations and the World Health Organization and expands upon the existing South African Diflucan Partnership Program, a collaboration between Pfizer and the South African Ministry of Health. Patient numbers and clinical sites continue to increase, with more than 2 million doses dispensed and more than 27,000 prescriptions processed. The program has now been launched in Uganda, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Lesotho. An additional seven countries will
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be receiving Diflucan by the end of 2002: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In the 50 least developed countries with an HIV prevalence of greater han one percent, roughly 12 million people are reported to be infected with HIV/AIDS. Although Diflucan is not a treatment for HIV/AIDS, it has proven highly effective in treating two opportunistic infections, cryptococcal meningitis and esophageal candidiasis, that afflict large numbers of people with AIDS. Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening brain infection caused by the yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. Of those suffering from untreated meningitis, the mortality rate is more than 90%.
Reuters The Reuters’ Medical News database can be very useful in exploring news archives relating to meningitis. While some of the listed articles are free to view, others can be purchased for a nominal fee. To access this archive, go to http://www.reutershealth.com/frame2/arch.html and search by “meningitis” (or synonyms). The following was recently listed in this archive for meningitis: ·
Cochlear plays down implant meningitis risk Source: Reuters Industry Breifing Date: July 26, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/07/26/business/links/20020726 inds002.html
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FDA warns of possible meningitis risk with cochlear implants Source: Reuters Medical News Date: July 25, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/07/25/professional/links/20020 725rglt011.html
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Australians quarantined after Rome meningitis death Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: July 22, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/07/22/eline/links/20020722elin 038.html
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Steroids not useful for childhood meningitis in developing countries Source: Reuters Industry Breifing Date: July 19, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/07/19/business/links/20020719 clin026.html
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Classic meningeal signs not useful in diagnosing meningitis Source: Reuters Medical News Date: July 12, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/07/12/professional/links/20020 712clin008.html
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Meningitis may have long-term effects on brain Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: June 26, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/06/26/eline/links/20020626elin 025.html
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Meningitis vaccine based on harmless nose bug Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: April 10, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/04/10/eline/links/20020410elin 030.html
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Death toll rises in Burkina meningitis epidemic Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: April 01, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/04/01/eline/links/20020401elin 033.html
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Meningitis outbreak kills 148 in Niger Source: Reuters Medical News Date: March 26, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/03/26/professional/links/20020 326publ002.html
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Meningitis kills 148 in West Africa's Niger Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: March 26, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/03/26/eline/links/20020326elin 027.html
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Several cases reported of aseptic meningitis associated with rofecoxib Source: Reuters Industry Breifing Date: March 25, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/03/25/business/links/20020325 clin005.html
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Non-bacterial meningitis linked to Vioxx use Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: March 25, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/03/25/eline/links/20020325elin 026.html
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Meningitis epidemic kills 540 in Burkina Faso Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: March 20, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/03/20/eline/links/20020320elin 036.html
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Deadly meningitis outbreak hits Burkina Faso Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: March 08, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/03/08/eline/links/20020308elin 030.html
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Salad possibly behind US travelers' meningitis Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: February 27, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/02/27/eline/links/20020227elin 014.html
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Partying may foster meningitis spread: report Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: January 24, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/01/24/eline/links/20020124elin 013.html
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UK extends meningitis C vaccine programme Source: Reuters Industry Breifing Date: January 07, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/01/07/business/links/20020107 publ003.html
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UK extends meningitis C vaccination programme Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: January 07, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/01/07/eline/links/20020107elin 018.html
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UK extends meningitis C vaccination campaign Source: Reuters Medical News Date: January 07, 2002 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2002/01/07/professional/links/20020 107publ002.html
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Meningitis survivors show normal intellect: study Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: December 25, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/12/25/eline/links/20011225elin 006.html
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Clinical assessment may obviate need for CT in patients with suspected meningitis Source: Reuters Medical News Date: December 12, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/12/12/professional/links/20011 212clin019.html
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Wyeth Lederle Vaccines, Dutch public health institute partner on meningitis vaccine Source: Reuters Industry Breifing Date: November 06, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/11/06/business/links/20011106 inds005.html
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Meningitis outbreak kills 14 people in Congo Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: October 01, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/10/01/eline/links/20011001elin 032.html
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Vaccine cuts UK meningitis cases by 80 percent Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: September 18, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/09/18/eline/links/20010918elin 021.html
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More EU countries will use meningitis C vaccine Source: Reuters Medical News Date: September 17, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/09/17/professional/links/20010 917epid006.html
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More EU countries to start using meningitis C vaccine Source: Reuters Industry Breifing Date: September 17, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/09/17/business/links/20010917 publ005.html
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Meningitis during infancy may lead to disability Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: September 07, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/09/07/eline/links/20010907elin 016.html
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Meningitis in infancy can lead to severe, subtle deficits Source: Reuters Medical News Date: September 06, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/09/06/professional/links/20010 906clin004.html
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Tougher measures recommended to protect NHS staff against meningitis Source: Reuters Medical News Date: August 21, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/08/21/professional/links/20010 821plcy002.html
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UK study shows too few meningitis victims get penicillin Source: Reuters Industry Breifing Date: August 15, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/08/15/business/links/20010815 clin011.html
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UK study shows too few meningitis patients receive penicillin Source: Reuters Medical News Date: August 15, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/08/15/professional/links/20010 815prof004.html
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Few UK meningitis patients get life-saving therapy Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: August 15, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/08/15/eline/links/20010815elin 023.html
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Vaccine can prevent meningitis in college students Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: August 07, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/08/07/eline/links/20010807elin 008.html
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Adolescents and young adults in US confirmed to be at high risk of meningitis Source: Reuters Medical News Date: August 07, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/08/07/professional/links/20010 807epid002.html
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Chiron sells meningitis vaccine to Quebec; shares up Source: Reuters Industry Breifing Date: July 18, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/07/18/business/links/20010718 inds021.html
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CDC issues guidelines for managing airline passengers with meningitis Source: Reuters Medical News Date: June 14, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/06/14/professional/links/20010 614publ002.html
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Many African hospitals underdiagnosing meningitis Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: June 04, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/06/04/eline/links/20010604elin 005.html
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Gates gives $70 million to fight Africa meningitis Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: May 30, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/05/30/eline/links/20010530elin 037.html
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Gates bankrolls crusade for new meningitis vaccine Source: Reuters Medical News Date: May 30, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/05/30/professional/links/20010 530econ001.html
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New guidelines on diagnosis, treatment of meningitis issued Source: Reuters Medical News Date: April 27, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/04/27/professional/links/20010 427plcy001.html
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At least 218 killed by meningitis in Niger Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: April 17, 2001 http://www.reuters.gov/archive/2001/04/17/eline/links/20010417elin 032.html
The NIH Within MEDLINEplus, the NIH has made an agreement with the New York Times Syndicate, the AP News Service, and Reuters to deliver news that can be browsed by the public. Search news releases at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_a.html. MEDLINEplus allows you to browse across an alphabetical index. Or you can search by date at the following Web page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/newsbydate.html. Often, news items are indexed by MEDLINEplus within their search engine.
Business Wire Business Wire is similar to PR Newswire. To access this archive, simply go to http://www.businesswire.com. You can scan the news by industry category or company name.
Internet Wire Internet Wire is more focused on technology than the other wires. To access this site, go to http://www.internetwire.com and use the “Search Archive” option. Type in “meningitis” (or synonyms). As this service is oriented to technology, you may wish to search for press releases covering diagnostic procedures or tests that you may have read about. Search Engines Free-to-view news can also be found in the news section of your favorite search engines (see the health news page at Yahoo: http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/News_and_Media/, or use this Web site’s general news search page http://news.yahoo.com/. Type in “meningitis” (or synonyms). If you know the name of a company that is relevant to meningitis, you can go to any stock trading Web site (such as
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www.etrade.com) and search for the company name there. News items across various news sources are reported on indicated hyperlinks.
BBC Covering news from a more European perspective, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) allows the public free access to their news archive located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/. Search by “meningitis” (or synonyms).
Newsletter Articles If you choose not to subscribe to a newsletter, you can nevertheless find references to newsletter articles. We recommend that you use the Combined Health Information Database, while limiting your search criteria to “newsletter articles.” Again, you will need to use the “Detailed Search” option. Go directly to the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. Go to the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language that you prefer. For the format option, select “Newsletter Article.” By making these selections, and typing in “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box, you will only receive results on newsletter articles. You should check back periodically with this database as it is updated every 3 months. The following is a typical result when searching for newsletter articles on meningitis: ·
Delirium in the Medically Ill Elderly Source: Center for the Study of Aging Newsletter. 12(3): 3, 13.Fall 1990. Contact: Available from University of Pennsylvania, Center for the Study of Aging. 3615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6006. (215) 8983163 or FAX (215) 898-0580. PRICE: Call for price information. Summary: This newsletter articles examines the etiology and treatment of delirium, which affects approximately twenty percent of older adults hospitalized for medical illness. Delirium is an acute phenomenon that has no confirmed etiology or risk factors. Because it is acute, it should not be confused with chronic diseases like Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Recognition of delirium is essential in order to treat underlying medical illnesses. A rapid change in mental function or sudden confusion indicates the need for an evaluation. Medical disorders associated with
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delirium include acute infections such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, or meningitis. Medications that affect the central nervous system such as those for Parkinson's disease and drugs to treat peptic ulcers, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease have also been implicated. People who have Alzheimer's disease appear to be at a greater risk for delirium, although older people without cognitive impairment may develop delirium when in a hospital. A prospective study of medically hospitalized elderly persons found that 16 percent of the patients admitted for acute medical care developed delirium while in the hospital. Researchers hope to use information about the development of delirium to more effectively determine its cause and develop new treatments. ·
Headaches After Acoustic Neuroma Surgery Source: ANA Notes. Number 75: 1, 8-10. March 2001. Contact: Available from Acoustic Neuroma Association (ANA). 600 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 108, Cumming, GA 30041-8211. (770) 205-8211. Fax (770 www.ANAUSA.org. Summary: This newsletter article reports on the incidence of headaches after acoustic neuroma surgery. The author notes that although headaches as a symptom prior to treatment are relatively uncommon for vestibular schwannoma, they occur with surprising frequency after treatment and can have a profound impact upon quality of life in acoustic neuroma patients. The pain often persists for prolonged periods of time and does not always respond well to a number of medical and surgical treatments directed at the headache. The author discusses the frequency of headache following neuroma surgery, the nature of the headache, their causes, and current therapies. Causes of the headaches can include the surgical approach (craniectomy versus craniotomy), aspetic meningitis, muscle pain, nerve entrapment, and low cerebrospinal fluid pressure. The best treatment is prevention, since these headaches have proven to be difficult to treat once they occur. The author also discusses the use of cranioplasty, medication, local therapy to neck muscles, nerve block or section, stress reduction and antidepressants, and care from a multidisciplinary pain center. The author notes that most surgeons are aware of the need to prevent these headaches and take measures to minimize muscle incisions, to replace skull bone whenever possible, and to limit the distribution of bone dust within the operative field.
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Academic Periodicals covering Meningitis Academic periodicals can be a highly technical yet valuable source of information on meningitis. We have compiled the following list of periodicals known to publish articles relating to meningitis and which are currently indexed within the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database (follow hyperlinks to view more information, summaries, etc., for each). In addition to these sources, to keep current on articles written on meningitis published by any of the periodicals listed below, you can simply follow the hyperlink indicated or go to the following Web site: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed. Type the periodical’s name into the search box to find the latest studies published. If you want complete details about the historical contents of a periodical, you can also visit the Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi. Here, type in the name of the journal or its abbreviation, and you will receive an index of published articles. At http://locatorplus.gov/ you can retrieve more indexing information on medical periodicals (e.g. the name of the publisher). Select the button “Search LOCATORplus.” Then type in the name of the journal and select the advanced search option “Journal Title Search.” The following is a sample of periodicals which publish articles on meningitis: ·
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. (Altern Ther Health Med) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Alter native+Therapies+in+Health+and+Medicine&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. (Arch Pathol Lab Med) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Archi ves+of+Pathology+&+Laboratory+Medicine&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. (Cancer Chemother Pharmacol) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Ca ncer+Chemotherapy+and+Pharmacology&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Cancer Research. (Cancer Res) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Ca ncer+Research&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Clinical and Experimental Immunology. (Clin Exp Immunol) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Cli nical+and+Experimental+Immunology&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. (Dev Med Child Neurol) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Devel opmental+Medicine+and+Child+Neurology&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Epidemiology and Infection. (Epidemiol Infect) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Ep idemiology+and+Infection&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Haematologia. (Haematologia (Budap)) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Ha ematologia&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology. (Jpn J Clin Oncol) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Ja panese+Journal+of+Clinical+Oncology&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Jo urnal+of+Neurology,+Neurosurgery,+and+Psychiatry&dispmax=20&dis pstart=0
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Journal of Neuro-Oncology. (J Neurooncol) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Jo urnal+of+Neuro-Oncology&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. (J Trop Pediatr) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Jo urnal+of+Tropical+Pediatrics&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Neuroscience Letters. (Neurosci Lett) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Ne uroscience+Letters&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N. Y. . (Proc Soc Exp Biol Med) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Pr oceedings+of+the+Society+for+Experimental+Biology+and+Medicine.+S ociety+for+Experimental+Biology+and+Medicine+(New+York,+N.+Y.+ &dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Research in Microbiology. (Res Microbiol) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Re search+in+Microbiology&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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Southern Medical Journal. (South Med J) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=So uthern+Medical+Journal&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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The British Journal of Ophthalmology. (Br J Ophthalmol) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Th e+British+Journal+of+Ophthalmology&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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The Journal of Infectious Diseases. (J Infect Dis) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Th e+Journal+of+Infectious+Diseases&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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The Laryngoscope. (Laryngoscope) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Th e+Laryngoscope&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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The Medical Journal of Australia. (Med J Aust) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Th e+Medical+Journal+of+Australia&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
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The New England Journal of Medicine. (N Engl J Med) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi?field=0®exp=Th e+New+England+Journal+of+Medicine&dispmax=20&dispstart=0
Vocabulary Builder Acetaminophen: Analgesic antipyretic derivative of acetanilide. It has weak
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anti-inflammatory properties and is used as a common analgesic, but may cause liver, blood cell, and kidney damage. [NIH] Acetylcholine: A neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine in vertebrates is the major transmitter at neuromuscular junctions, autonomic ganglia, parasympathetic effector junctions, a subset of sympathetic effector junctions, and at many sites in the central nervous system. It is generally not used as an administered drug because it is broken down very rapidly by cholinesterases, but it is useful in some ophthalmological applications. [NIH] Antidepressant: An agent that stimulates the mood of a depressed patient, including tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. [EU] Antihistamine: A drug that counteracts the action of histamine. The antihistamines are of two types. The conventional ones, as those used in allergies, block the H1 histamine receptors, whereas the others block the H2 receptors. Called also antihistaminic. [EU] Antihypertensive: An agent that reduces high blood pressure. [EU] Apathy: Lack of feeling or emotion; indifference. [EU] Arrhythmia: Any variation from the normal rhythm of the heart beat, including sinus arrhythmia, premature beat, heart block, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, pulsus alternans, and paroxysmal tachycardia. [EU] Arterial: Pertaining to an artery or to the arteries. [EU] Aspergillosis: Infections with fungi of the genus ASPERGILLUS. [NIH] Atypical: Irregular; not conformable to the type; in microbiology, applied specifically to strains of unusual type. [EU] Bronchitis: Inflammation of one or more bronchi. [EU] Capsules: Hard or soft soluble containers used for the oral administration of medicine. [NIH] Colorectal: Pertaining to or affecting the colon and rectum. [EU] Congestion: Excessive or abnormal accumulation of blood in a part. [EU] Coronary: Encircling in the manner of a crown; a term applied to vessels; nerves, ligaments, etc. The term usually denotes the arteries that supply the heart muscle and, by extension, a pathologic involvement of them. [EU] Decongestant: An agent that reduces congestion or swelling. [EU] Delusions: A false belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that persists despite the facts, and is not considered tenable by one's associates. [NIH] Dysmenorrhea: Painful menstruation. [NIH] Dyspepsia: Impairment of the power of function of digestion; usually applied to epigastric discomfort following meals. [EU]
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Dyspnea: Difficult or labored breathing. [NIH] Emphysema: A pathological accumulation of air in tissues or organs; applied especially to such a condition of the lungs. [EU] Erection: The condition of being made rigid and elevated; as erectile tissue when filled with blood. [EU] Fluoxetine: The first highly specific serotonin uptake inhibitor. It is used as an antidepressant and often has a more acceptable side-effects profile than traditional antidepressants. [NIH] Formularies: Lists of drugs or collections of recipes, formulas, and prescriptions for the compounding of medicinal preparations. Formularies differ from pharmacopoeias in that they are less complete, lacking full descriptions of the drugs, their formulations, analytic composition, chemical properties, etc. In hospitals, formularies list all drugs commonly stocked in the hospital pharmacy. [NIH] Fusarium: A mitosporic Hypocreales fungal genus, various species of which are important parasitic pathogens of plants and a variety of vertebrates. Teleomorphs include gibberella. [NIH] Gastroduodenal: Pertaining to or communicating with the stomach and duodenum, as a gastroduodenal fistula. [EU] Gastrointestinal: Pertaining to or communicating with the stomach and intestine, as a gastrointestinal fistula. [EU] Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent with analgesic properties used in the therapy of rheumatism and arthritis. [NIH] Incision: 1. cleft, cut, gash. 2. an act or action of incising. [EU] Infarction: 1. the formation of an infarct. 2. an infarct. [EU] Insulin: A protein hormone secreted by beta cells of the pancreas. Insulin plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, generally promoting the cellular utilization of glucose. It is also an important regulator of protein and lipid metabolism. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulindependent diabetes mellitus. [NIH] Intramuscular: Within the substance of a muscle. [EU] Ipratropium: A muscarinic antagonist structurally related to ATROPINE but often considered safer and more effective for inhalation use. It is used for various bronchial disorders, in rhinitis, and as an antiarrhythmic. [NIH] Mania: Excitement of psychotic proportions manifested by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behaviour, and elevation of mood. [EU]
Naproxen: An anti-inflammatory agent with analgesic and antipyretic properties. Both the acid and its sodium salt are used in the treatment of
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rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic or musculoskeletal disorders, dysmenorrhea, and acute gout. [NIH] Narcotic: 1. pertaining to or producing narcosis. 2. an agent that produces insensibility or stupor, applied especially to the opioids, i.e. to any natural or synthetic drug that has morphine-like actions. [EU] Neuralgia: Paroxysmal pain which extends along the course of one or more nerves. Many varieties of neuralgia are distinguished according to the part affected or to the cause, as brachial, facial, occipital, supraorbital, etc., or anaemic, diabetic, gouty, malarial, syphilitic, etc. [EU] Neurotransmitter: Any of a group of substances that are released on excitation from the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron of the central or peripheral nervous system and travel across the synaptic cleft to either excite or inhibit the target cell. Among the many substances that have the properties of a neurotransmitter are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, glycine, y-aminobutyrate, glutamic acid, substance P, enkephalins, endorphins, and serotonin. [EU] Osteoarthritis: Noninflammatory degenerative joint disease occurring chiefly in older persons, characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage, hypertrophy of bone at the margins, and changes in the synovial membrane. It is accompanied by pain and stiffness, particularly after prolonged activity. [EU] Oxycodone: Semisynthetic derivative of CODEINE that acts as a narcotic analgesic more potent and addicting than codeine. [NIH] Peptic: Pertaining to pepsin or to digestion; related to the action of gastric juices. [EU] Perennial: Lasting through the year of for several years. [EU] Prolactin: Pituitary lactogenic hormone. A polypeptide hormone with a molecular weight of about 23,000. It is essential in the induction of lactation in mammals at parturition and is synergistic with estrogen. The hormone also brings about the release of progesterone from lutein cells, which renders the uterine mucosa suited for the embedding of the ovum should fertilization occur. [NIH] Prostate: A gland in males that surrounds the neck of the bladder and the urethra. It secretes a substance that liquifies coagulated semen. It is situated in the pelvic cavity behind the lower part of the pubic symphysis, above the deep layer of the triangular ligament, and rests upon the rectum. [NIH] Psychotropic: Exerting an effect upon the mind; capable of modifying mental activity; usually applied to drugs that effect the mental state. [EU] Rheumatoid: Resembling rheumatism. [EU] Scedosporium: A mitosporic fungal genus previously called Monosporium.
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Teleomorphs include pseudallescheria. [NIH] Schizophrenia: A severe emotional disorder of psychotic depth characteristically marked by a retreat from reality with delusion formation, hallucinations, emotional disharmony, and regressive behavior. [NIH] Skull: The skeleton of the head including the bones of the face and the bones enclosing the brain. [NIH] Sputum: Matter ejected from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea, through the mouth. [EU] Ulcer: A local defect, or excavation, of the surface of an organ or tissue; which is produced by the sloughing of inflammatory necrotic tissue. [EU] Urticaria: Pathology: a transient condition of the skin, usually caused by an allergic reaction, characterized by pale or reddened irregular, elevated patches and severe itching; hives. [EU]
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CHAPTER 9. PHYSICIAN GUIDELINES AND DATABASES Overview Doctors and medical researchers rely on a number of information sources to help patients with their conditions. Many will subscribe to journals or newsletters published by their professional associations or refer to specialized textbooks or clinical guides published for the medical profession. In this chapter, we focus on databases and Internet-based guidelines created or written for this professional audience.
NIH Guidelines For the more common diseases, The National Institutes of Health publish guidelines that are frequently consulted by physicians. Publications are typically written by one or more of the various NIH Institutes. For physician guidelines, commonly referred to as “clinical” or “professional” guidelines, you can visit the following Institutes: ·
Office of the Director (OD); guidelines consolidated across agencies available at http://www.nih.gov/health/consumer/conkey.htm
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National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS); fact sheets available at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/news/facts/
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National Library of Medicine (NLM); extensive encyclopedia (A.D.A.M., Inc.) with guidelines: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); guidelines available at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; various fact sheets on infectious diseases available at http://www.cdc.gov/health/diseases.htm
NIH Databases In addition to the various Institutes of Health that publish professional guidelines, the NIH has designed a number of databases for professionals.27 Physician-oriented resources provide a wide variety of information related to the biomedical and health sciences, both past and present. The format of these resources varies. Searchable databases, bibliographic citations, full text articles (when available), archival collections, and images are all available. The following are referenced by the National Library of Medicine:28 ·
Bioethics: Access to published literature on the ethical, legal and public policy issues surrounding healthcare and biomedical research. This information is provided in conjunction with the Kennedy Institute of Ethics located at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_bioethics.html
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HIV/AIDS Resources: Describes various links and databases dedicated to HIV/AIDS research: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/aidsinfs.html
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NLM Online Exhibitions: Describes “Exhibitions in the History of Medicine”: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/exhibition.html. Additional resources for historical scholarship in medicine: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/hmd.html
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Biotechnology Information: Access to public databases. The National Center for Biotechnology Information conducts research in computational biology, develops software tools for analyzing genome data, and disseminates biomedical information for the better understanding of molecular processes affecting human health and disease: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
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Population Information: The National Library of Medicine provides access to worldwide coverage of population, family planning, and related health issues, including family planning technology and programs, fertility, and population law and policy: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_population.html
Remember, for the general public, the National Library of Medicine recommends the databases referenced in MEDLINEplus (http://medlineplus.gov/ or http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/databases.html). 28 See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases.html. 27
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·
Cancer Information: Access to caner-oriented databases: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_cancer.html
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Profiles in Science: Offering the archival collections of prominent twentieth-century biomedical scientists to the public through modern digital technology: http://www.profiles.nlm.nih.gov/
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Chemical Information: Provides links to various chemical databases and references: http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Chem/ChemMain.html
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Clinical Alerts: Reports the release of findings from the NIH-funded clinical trials where such release could significantly affect morbidity and mortality: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/alerts/clinical_alerts.html
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Space Life Sciences: Provides links and information to space-based research (including NASA): http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_space.html
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MEDLINE: Bibliographic database covering the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the healthcare system, and the pre-clinical sciences: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_medline.html
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Toxicology and Environmental Health Information (TOXNET): Databases covering toxicology and environmental health: http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Tox/ToxMain.html
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Visible Human Interface: Anatomically detailed, three-dimensional representations of normal male and female human bodies: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/visible/visible_human.html
While all of the above references may be of interest to physicians who study and treat meningitis, the following are particularly noteworthy.
The Combined Health Information Database A comprehensive source of information on clinical guidelines written for professionals is the Combined Health Information Database. You will need to limit your search to “Brochure/Pamphlet,” “Fact Sheet,” or “Information Package” and meningitis using the “Detailed Search” option. Go directly to the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. To find associations, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” For the publication date, select “All Years,” select your preferred language, and the format option “Fact Sheet.” By making these selections and typing “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the “For
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these words:” box above, you will only receive results on fact sheets dealing with meningitis. The following is a sample result: ·
Garlic Contact: AIDS Project Los Angeles, 3550 Wilshire Blvd Ste 300, Los Angeles, CA, 90010-2404, (213) 201-1600, http://www.apla.org. Summary: This is a compilation of material on the use of garlic as a preventive medicine. From ancient Egypt up to modern-day U.S., garlic has been used treat a myriad of medical problems, including indigestion and bronchitis. Today, its potential in cancer prevention and AIDS treatment is being studied. A New York Times reprint highlights preliminary studies that suggest that garlic does have a significant medicinal value. Results of a pilot study treating AIDS patients with garlic as supportive care are included in the packet. In August of 1990,the First World Congress on the Health Significance of Garlic and Garlic Components examined the efficacy of an intravenous extract of garlic in the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis and cytomegalovirus infection in AIDS. The packet contains a wide variety of other published papers on the medical uses for garlic, bibliographies, and a book chapter.
The NLM Gateway29 The NLM (National Library of Medicine) Gateway is a Web-based system that lets users search simultaneously in multiple retrieval systems at the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). It allows users of NLM services to initiate searches from one Web interface, providing “one-stop searching” for many of NLM’s information resources or databases.30 One target audience for the Gateway is the Internet user who is new to NLM’s online resources and does not know what information is available or how best to search for it. This audience may include physicians and other healthcare providers, researchers, librarians, students, and, increasingly, patients, their families, and the public.31 To use the NLM Gateway, simply go to the search site at Adapted from NLM: http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/gw/Cmd?Overview.x. The NLM Gateway is currently being developed by the Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications (LHNCBC) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 31 Other users may find the Gateway useful for an overall search of NLM’s information resources. Some searchers may locate what they need immediately, while others will utilize the Gateway as an adjunct tool to other NLM search services such as PubMed® and MEDLINEplus®. The Gateway connects users with multiple NLM retrieval systems while also providing a search interface for its own collections. These collections include various types of information that do not logically belong in PubMed, LOCATORplus, or other 29 30
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http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/gw/Cmd. Type “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the search box and click “Search.” The results will be presented in a tabular form, indicating the number of references in each database category. Results Summary Category Items Found Journal Articles 344613 Books / Periodicals / Audio Visual 2563 Consumer Health 292 Meeting Abstracts 3093 Other Collections 100 Total 350661
HSTAT32 HSTAT is a free, Web-based resource that provides access to full-text documents used in healthcare decision-making.33 HSTAT’s audience includes healthcare providers, health service researchers, policy makers, insurance companies, consumers, and the information professionals who serve these groups. HSTAT provides access to a wide variety of publications, including clinical practice guidelines, quick-reference guides for clinicians, consumer health brochures, evidence reports and technology assessments from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), as well as AHRQ’s Put Prevention Into Practice.34 Simply search by “meningitis” (or synonyms) at the following Web site: http://text.nlm.nih.gov.
established NLM retrieval systems (e.g., meeting announcements and pre-1966 journal citations). The Gateway will provide access to the information found in an increasing number of NLM retrieval systems in several phases. 32 Adapted from HSTAT: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/hstat.html. 33 The HSTAT URL is http://hstat.nlm.nih.gov/. 34 Other important documents in HSTAT include: the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Conference Reports and Technology Assessment Reports; the HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service (ATIS) resource documents; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA/CSAT) Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIP) and Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA/CSAP) Prevention Enhancement Protocols System (PEPS); the Public Health Service (PHS) Preventive Services Task Force’s Guide to Clinical Preventive Services; the independent, nonfederal Task Force on Community Services Guide to Community Preventive Services; and the Health Technology Advisory Committee (HTAC) of the Minnesota Health Care Commission (MHCC) health technology evaluations.
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Coffee Break: Tutorials for Biologists35 Some patients may wish to have access to a general healthcare site that takes a scientific view of the news and covers recent breakthroughs in biology that may one day assist physicians in developing treatments. To this end, we recommend “Coffee Break,” a collection of short reports on recent biological discoveries. Each report incorporates interactive tutorials that demonstrate how bioinformatics tools are used as a part of the research process. Currently, all Coffee Breaks are written by NCBI staff.36 Each report is about 400 words and is usually based on a discovery reported in one or more articles from recently published, peer-reviewed literature.37 This site has new articles every few weeks, so it can be considered an online magazine of sorts, and intended for general background information. You can access the Coffee Break Web site at the following hyperlink: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Coffeebreak/.
Other Commercial Databases In addition to resources maintained by official agencies, other databases exist that are commercial ventures addressing medical professionals. Here are a few examples that may interest you: ·
CliniWeb International: Index and table of contents to selected clinical information on the Internet; see http://www.ohsu.edu/cliniweb/.
·
Image Engine: Multimedia electronic medical record system that integrates a wide range of digitized clinical images with textual data stored in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s MARS electronic medical record system; see the following Web site: http://www.cml.upmc.edu/cml/imageengine/imageEngine.html.
·
Medical World Search: Searches full text from thousands of selected medical sites on the Internet; see http://www.mwsearch.com/.
·
MedWeaver: Prototype system that allows users to search differential diagnoses for any list of signs and symptoms, to search medical
35 Adapted
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Coffeebreak/Archive/FAQ.html. The figure that accompanies each article is frequently supplied by an expert external to NCBI, in which case the source of the figure is cited. The result is an interactive tutorial that tells a biological story. 37 After a brief introduction that sets the work described into a broader context, the report focuses on how a molecular understanding can provide explanations of observed biology and lead to therapies for diseases. Each vignette is accompanied by a figure and hypertext links that lead to a series of pages that interactively show how NCBI tools and resources are used in the research process.
36
Physician Guidelines and Databases 161
literature, and to explore relevant Web http://www.med.virginia.edu/~wmd4n/medweaver.html. ·
sites;
see
Metaphrase: Middleware component intended for use by both caregivers and medical records personnel. It converts the informal language generally used by caregivers into terms from formal, controlled vocabularies; see the following Web site: http://www.lexical.com/Metaphrase.html.
The Genome Project and Meningitis With all the discussion in the press about the Human Genome Project, it is only natural that physicians, researchers, and patients want to know about how human genes relate to meningitis. In the following section, we will discuss databases and references used by physicians and scientists who work in this area.
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders authored and edited by Dr. Victor A. McKusick and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins and elsewhere. OMIM was developed for the World Wide Web by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).38 The database contains textual information, pictures, and reference information. It also contains copious links to NCBI’s Entrez database of MEDLINE articles and sequence information. To search the database, go to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Omim/searchomim.html. Type “meningitis” (or synonyms) in the search box, and click “Submit Search.” If too many results appear, you can narrow the search by adding the word “clinical.” Each report will have additional links to related research and databases. By following these links, especially the link titled “Database Links,” you will be exposed to numerous specialized databases that are largely used by the scientific community. These databases are overly technical and seldom used Adapted from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. Established in 1988 as a national resource for molecular biology information, NCBI creates public databases, conducts research in computational biology, develops software tools for analyzing genome data, and disseminates biomedical information--all for the better understanding of molecular processes affecting human health and disease.
38
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by the general public, but offer an abundance of information. The following is an example of the results you can obtain from the OMIM for meningitis: ·
Absence Defect of Limbs, Scalp, and Skull Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbinpost/Omim/dispmim?100300
·
Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome, Type Ii Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbinpost/Omim/dispmim?603909
·
Bare Lymphocyte Syndrome, Type Ii Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbinpost/Omim/dispmim?209920
·
Bruton Agammaglobulinemia Tyrosine Kinase Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbinpost/Omim/dispmim?300300
·
Candidiasis, Familial Chronic Mucocutaneous, Autosomal Recessive Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbinpost/Omim/dispmim?212050
·
Caspase 10, Apoptosis-related Cysteine Protease Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbinpost/Omim/dispmim?601762
·
Cias1 Gene Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbinpost/Omim/dispmim?606416
·
Cinca Syndrome Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbinpost/Omim/dispmim?607115
·
Common Variable Immunodeficiency Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbinpost/Omim/dispmim?240500
·
Complement Component 2 Deficiency Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbinpost/Omim/dispmim?217000
Genes and Disease (NCBI - Map) The Genes and Disease database is produced by the National Center for Biotechnology Information of the National Library of Medicine at the
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National Institutes of Health. This Web site categorizes each disorder by the system of the body associated with it. Go to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disease/, and browse the system pages to have a full view of important conditions linked to human genes. Since this site is regularly updated, you may wish to re-visit it from time to time. The following systems and associated disorders are addressed: ·
Immune System: Fights invaders. Examples: Asthma, autoimmune polyglandular syndrome, Crohn’s disease, DiGeorge syndrome, familial Mediterranean fever, immunodeficiency with Hyper-IgM, severe combined immunodeficiency. Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disease/Immune.html
·
Nervous System: Mind and body. Examples: Alzheimer disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Angelman syndrome, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, epilepsy, essential tremor, Fragile X syndrome, Friedreich’s ataxia, Huntington disease, NiemannPick disease, Parkinson disease, Prader-Willi syndrome, Rett syndrome, Spinocerebellar atrophy, Williams syndrome. Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disease/Brain.html
·
Signals: Cellular messages. Examples: Ataxia telangiectasia, Baldness, Cockayne syndrome, Glaucoma, SRY: sex determination, Tuberous sclerosis, Waardenburg syndrome, Werner syndrome. Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disease/Signals.html
·
Transporters: Pumps and channels. Examples: Cystic Fibrosis, deafness, diastrophic dysplasia, Hemophilia A, long-QT syndrome, Menkes syndrome, Pendred syndrome, polycystic kidney disease, sickle cell anemia, Wilson’s disease, Zellweger syndrome. Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disease/Transporters.html
Entrez Entrez is a search and retrieval system that integrates several linked databases at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). These databases include nucleotide sequences, protein sequences, macromolecular structures, whole genomes, and MEDLINE through PubMed. Entrez provides access to the following databases: ·
PubMed: Biomedical literature (PubMed), Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed
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·
Nucleotide Sequence Database (Genbank): Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Nucleotide
·
Protein Sequence Database: Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Protein
·
Structure: Three-dimensional macromolecular structures, Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Structure
·
Genome: Complete genome assemblies, Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Genome
·
PopSet: Population study data sets, Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Popset
·
OMIM: Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=OMIM
·
Taxonomy: Organisms in GenBank, Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Taxonomy
·
Books: Online books, Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=books
·
ProbeSet: Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=geo
·
3D Domains: Domains from Entrez Structure, Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=geo
·
NCBI’s Protein Sequence Information Survey Results: Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/proteinsurvey/
To access the Entrez system at the National Center for Biotechnology Information, go to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=genom e, and then select the database that you would like to search. The databases available are listed in the drop box next to “Search.” In the box next to “for,” enter “meningitis” (or synonyms) and click “Go.”
Physician Guidelines and Databases 165
Jablonski’s Multiple Congenital Anomaly/Mental Retardation (MCA/MR) Syndromes Database39 This online resource can be quite useful. It has been developed to facilitate the identification and differentiation of syndromic entities. Special attention is given to the type of information that is usually limited or completely omitted in existing reference sources due to space limitations of the printed form. At the following Web site you can also search across syndromes using an alphabetical index: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/jablonski/syndrome_toc/toc_a.html. You can search by keywords at this Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/jablonski/syndrome_db.html. The Genome Database40 Established at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland in 1990, the Genome Database (GDB) is the official central repository for genomic mapping data resulting from the Human Genome Initiative. In the spring of 1999, the Bioinformatics Supercomputing Centre (BiSC) at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario assumed the management of GDB. The Human Genome Initiative is a worldwide research effort focusing on structural analysis of human DNA to determine the location and sequence of the estimated 100,000 human genes. In support of this project, GDB stores and curates data generated by researchers worldwide who are engaged in the mapping effort of the Human Genome Project (HGP). GDB’s mission is to provide scientists with an encyclopedia of the human genome which is continually revised and updated to reflect the current state of scientific knowledge. Although GDB has historically focused on gene mapping, its focus will broaden as the Genome Project moves from mapping to sequence, and finally, to functional analysis. To access the GDB, simply go to the following hyperlink: http://www.gdb.org/. Search “All Biological Data” by “Keyword.” Type “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the search box, and review the results. If more than one word is used in the search box, then separate each one with the word “and” or “or” (using “or” might be useful when using synonyms). Adapted from the National Library of Medicine: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/jablonski/about_syndrome.html. 40 Adapted from the Genome Database: http://gdbwww.gdb.org/gdb/aboutGDB.html#mission. 39
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This database is extremely technical as it was created for specialists. The articles are the results which are the most accessible to non-professionals and often listed under the heading “Citations.” The contact names are also accessible to non-professionals.
Specialized References The following books are specialized references written for professionals interested in meningitis (sorted alphabetically by title, hyperlinks provide rankings, information, and reviews at Amazon.com): · 2002 Pocket Book of Infectious Disease Therapy by John G. Bartlett; Paperback - 348 pages, 11th edition (November 15, 2001), Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Publishers; ISBN: 0781734320; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0781734320/icongroupinterna · Bacterial Infections of Humans: Epidemiology and Control by Alfred S. Evans (Editor), et al; Hardcover - 887 pages, 3rd edition (July 15, 1998), Plenum Publishing Corporation; ISBN: 0306453207; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0306453207/icongroupinterna · Cellular Microbiology : Bacteria-Host Interactions in Health and Disease by Brian Henderson, et al; Hardcover - 478 pages (May 28, 1999), John Wiley & Sons; ISBN: 047198678X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/047198678X/icongroupinterna
· The Comprehensive Sourcebook of Bacterial Protein Toxins by Joseph E. Alouf (Editor), John H. Freer (Editor); Hardcover - 718 pages, 2nd edition (August 15, 1999), Academic Press; ISBN: 0120530759; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0120530759/icongroupinterna · Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Infectious Diseases by Walter R. Wilson (Editor), et al; Paperback - 985 pages, 1st edition (June 22, 2001), McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing; ISBN: 0838514944; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0838514944/icongroupinterna · Hunter’s Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases by George W. Hunter (Editor), et al; Hardcover - 1192 pages, 8th edition (January 15, 2000), W B Saunders Co; ISBN: 0721662234; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0721662234/icongroupinterna · Infectious Disease by Barbara Bannister, et al; Paperback - 506 pages, 2nd edition (August 15, 2000), Blackwell Science Inc.; ISBN: 0632053194; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0632053194/icongroupinterna · Infectious Disease Epidemiology: Theory and Practice by Kenrad E. Nelson, et al; Hardcover - 600 pages (May 2000), Aspen Publishers, Inc.;
Physician Guidelines and Databases 167
ISBN: 083421766X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/083421766X/icongroupinterna · Laboratory Diagnosis of Bacterial Infections (Infectious Disease and Therapy, Vol 26) by Nevio Cimolai (Editor); Hardcover (August 2001), Marcel Dekker; ISBN: 0824705890; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0824705890/icongroupinterna · Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles & Practice of Infectious Diseases (2 Vol. Set) by Gerald L. Mandell (Editor), et al; Hardcover - 3263 pages, 5th edition (June 15, 2000), Churchill Livingstone; ISBN: 044307593X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/044307593X/icongroupinterna
· Molecular Bacteriology: Protocols and Clinical Applications by Neil Woodford (Editor), Alan Johnson (Editor); Hardcover - 682 pages, 1st edition (June 15, 1998), Humana Press; ISBN: 0896034984; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0896034984/icongroupinterna · Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases by R. C. Andrew Thompson; Hardcover - 326 pages, 1st edition (October 15, 2000), Edward Arnold; ISBN: 0340759097; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340759097/icongroupinterna · Persistent Bacterial Infections by James P. Nataro (Editor), et al; Hardcover (June 2000), American Society for Microbiology; ISBN: 1555811590; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1555811590/icongroupinterna
Vocabulary Builder Agammaglobulinemia: An immunologic deficiency state characterized by an extremely low level of generally all classes of gamma-globulin in the blood. [NIH] Fatigue: The state of weariness following a period of exertion, mental or physical, characterized by a decreased capacity for work and reduced efficiency to respond to stimuli. [NIH] Fungus: A general term used to denote a group of eukaryotic protists, including mushrooms, yeasts, rusts, moulds, smuts, etc., which are characterized by the absence of chlorophyll and by the presence of a rigid cell wall composed of chitin, mannans, and sometimes cellulose. They are usually of simple morphological form or show some reversible cellular specialization, such as the formation of pseudoparenchymatous tissue in the fruiting body of a mushroom. The dimorphic fungi grow, according to
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environmental conditions, as moulds or yeasts. [EU] Lymphadenopathy: Disease of the lymph nodes. [EU] Ocular: 1. of, pertaining to, or affecting the eye. 2. eyepiece. [EU] Potassium: An element that is in the alkali group of metals. It has an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte and it plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the water-electrolyte balance. [NIH] Protease: Proteinase (= any enzyme that catalyses the splitting of interior peptide bonds in a protein). [EU] Pyogenic: Producing pus; pyopoietic (= liquid inflammation product made up of cells and a thin fluid called liquor puris). [EU] Tyrosine: A non-essential amino acid. In animals it is synthesized from phenylalanine. It is also the precursor of epinephrine, thyroid hormones, and melanin. [NIH]
Dissertations 169
CHAPTER 10. DISSERTATIONS ON MENINGITIS Overview University researchers are active in studying almost all known diseases. The result of research is often published in the form of Doctoral or Master’s dissertations. You should understand, therefore, that applied diagnostic procedures and/or therapies can take many years to develop after the thesis that proposed the new technique or approach was written. In this chapter, we will give you a bibliography on recent dissertations relating to meningitis. You can read about these in more detail using the Internet or your local medical library. We will also provide you with information on how to use the Internet to stay current on dissertations.
Dissertations on Meningitis ProQuest Digital Dissertations is the largest archive of academic dissertations available. From this archive, we have compiled the following list covering dissertations devoted to meningitis. You will see that the information provided includes the dissertation’s title, its author, and the author’s institution. To read more about the following, simply use the Internet address indicated. The following covers recent dissertations dealing with meningitis: ·
A Comparative Study of Children Who Have Recovered from Aseptic Meningitis and Their Unaffected Siblings. by Rosen, Linda Merle, Phd from University of Pittsburgh, 1978, 158 pages http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fullcit/7817276
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·
Sequelae of H. Influenzae Meningitis in Children by Topp, Sylvia, Phd from Boston College, 1980, 129 pages http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fullcit/8017619
Keeping Current As previously mentioned, an effective way to stay current on dissertations dedicated to meningitis is to use the database called ProQuest Digital Dissertations via the Internet, located at the following Web address: http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations. The site allows you to freely access the last two years of citations and abstracts. Ask your medical librarian if the library has full and unlimited access to this database. From the library, you should be able to do more complete searches than with the limited 2-year access available to the general public.
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PART III. APPENDICES
ABOUT PART III Part III is a collection of appendices on general medical topics which may be of interest to patients with meningitis and related conditions.
Researching Your Medications 173
APPENDIX A. RESEARCHING YOUR MEDICATIONS Overview There are a number of sources available on new or existing medications which could be prescribed to patients with meningitis. While a number of hard copy or CD-Rom resources are available to patients and physicians for research purposes, a more flexible method is to use Internet-based databases. In this chapter, we will begin with a general overview of medications. We will then proceed to outline official recommendations on how you should view your medications. You may also want to research medications that you are currently taking for other conditions as they may interact with medications for meningitis. Research can give you information on the side effects, interactions, and limitations of prescription drugs used in the treatment of meningitis. Broadly speaking, there are two sources of information on approved medications: public sources and private sources. We will emphasize free-to-use public sources.
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Your Medications: The Basics41 The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality has published extremely useful guidelines on how you can best participate in the medication aspects of meningitis. Taking medicines is not always as simple as swallowing a pill. It can involve many steps and decisions each day. The AHCRQ recommends that patients with meningitis take part in treatment decisions. Do not be afraid to ask questions and talk about your concerns. By taking a moment to ask questions early, you may avoid problems later. Here are some points to cover each time a new medicine is prescribed: ·
Ask about all parts of your treatment, including diet changes, exercise, and medicines.
·
Ask about the risks and benefits of each medicine or other treatment you might receive.
·
Ask how often you or your doctor will check for side effects from a given medication.
Do not hesitate to ask what is important to you about your medicines. You may want a medicine with the fewest side effects, or the fewest doses to take each day. You may care most about cost, or how the medicine might affect how you live or work. Or, you may want the medicine your doctor believes will work the best. Telling your doctor will help him or her select the best treatment for you. Do not be afraid to “bother” your doctor with your concerns and questions about medications for meningitis. You can also talk to a nurse or a pharmacist. They can help you better understand your treatment plan. Feel free to bring a friend or family member with you when you visit your doctor. Talking over your options with someone you trust can help you make better choices, especially if you are not feeling well. Specifically, ask your doctor the following: ·
The name of the medicine and what it is supposed to do.
·
How and when to take the medicine, how much to take, and for how long.
·
What food, drinks, other medicines, or activities you should avoid while taking the medicine.
·
What side effects the medicine may have, and what to do if they occur.
·
If you can get a refill, and how often.
41
This section is adapted from AHCRQ: http://www.ahcpr.gov/consumer/ncpiebro.htm.
Researching Your Medications 175
·
About any terms or directions you do not understand.
·
What to do if you miss a dose.
·
If there is written information you can take home (most pharmacies have information sheets on your prescription medicines; some even offer large-print or Spanish versions).
Do not forget to tell your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking (not just those for meningitis). This includes prescription medicines and the medicines that you buy over the counter. Then your doctor can avoid giving you a new medicine that may not work well with the medications you take now. When talking to your doctor, you may wish to prepare a list of medicines you currently take, the reason you take them, and how you take them. Be sure to include the following information for each: ·
Name of medicine
·
Reason taken
·
Dosage
·
Time(s) of day
Also include any over-the-counter medicines, such as: ·
Laxatives
·
Diet pills
·
Vitamins
·
Cold medicine
·
Aspirin or other pain, headache, or fever medicine
·
Cough medicine
·
Allergy relief medicine
·
Antacids
·
Sleeping pills
·
Others (include names)
Learning More about Your Medications Because of historical investments by various organizations and the emergence of the Internet, it has become rather simple to learn about the medications your doctor has recommended for meningitis. One such source
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is the United States Pharmacopeia. In 1820, eleven physicians met in Washington, D.C. to establish the first compendium of standard drugs for the United States. They called this compendium the “U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).” Today, the USP is a non-profit organization consisting of 800 volunteer scientists, eleven elected officials, and 400 representatives of state associations and colleges of medicine and pharmacy. The USP is located in Rockville, Maryland, and its home page is located at www.usp.org. The USP currently provides standards for over 3,700 medications. The resulting USP DIÒ Advice for the PatientÒ can be accessed through the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. The database is partially derived from lists of federally approved medications in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Drug Approvals database.42 While the FDA database is rather large and difficult to navigate, the Phamacopeia is both user-friendly and free to use. It covers more than 9,000 prescription and over-the-counter medications. To access this database, simply type the following hyperlink into your Web browser: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html. To view examples of a given medication (brand names, category, description, preparation, proper use, precautions, side effects, etc.), simply follow the hyperlinks indicated within the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP). It is important to read the disclaimer by the USP (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugdisclaimer.html) before using the information provided. Of course, we as editors cannot be certain as to what medications you are taking. Therefore, we have compiled a list of medications associated with the treatment of meningitis. Once again, due to space limitations, we only list a sample of medications and provide hyperlinks to ample documentation (e.g. typical dosage, side effects, drug-interaction risks, etc.). The following drugs have been mentioned in the Pharmacopeia and other sources as being potentially applicable to meningitis: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/diphtheriaandtetanustox oidsand202911.html ·
Systemic - U.S. Brands: Tetramune http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/diphtheriaandte tanustoxoidsand202911.html
Though cumbersome, the FDA database can be freely browsed at the following site: www.fda.gov/cder/da/da.htm.
42
Researching Your Medications 177
Mumps Virus Vaccine Live ·
Systemic - U.S. Brands: Mumpsvax http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/mumpsvirusvac cinelivesystemic202382.html
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine ·
Systemic - U.S. Brands: Prevnar http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/pneumococcalc onjugatevaccinesy500121.html
Rifampin ·
Systemic - U.S. Brands: Rifadin; Rimactane http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/rifampinsystemi c202511.html
Commercial Databases In addition to the medications listed in the USP above, a number of commercial sites are available by subscription to physicians and their institutions. You may be able to access these sources from your local medical library or your doctor’s office.
Reuters Health Drug Database The Reuters Health Drug Database can be searched by keyword at the hyperlink: http://www.reutershealth.com/frame2/drug.html. The following medications are listed in the Reuters’ database as associated with meningitis (including those with contraindications):43 ·
Amoxicillin http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Amoxicillin.htm
·
Amphotericin B http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Amphotericin_B.htm
·
Ampicillin http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Ampicillin.htm
·
Betamethasone http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Betamethasone.htm
43
Adapted from A to Z Drug Facts by Facts and Comparisons.
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·
Carbenicillin Indanyl Sodium http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Carbenicillin_Indanyl_Sodiu m.htm
·
Ceftazidime http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Ceftazidime.htm
·
Ceftizoxime Sodium http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Ceftizoxime_Sodium.htm
·
Ceftriaxone Sodium http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Ceftriaxone_Sodium.htm
·
Cefuroxime http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Cefuroxime.htm
·
Chloramphenicol http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Chloramphenicol.htm
·
Clindamycin http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Clindamycin.htm
·
Clonidine HCl http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Clonidine_HCl.htm
·
Corticotropin http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Corticotropin.htm
·
Corticotropin (Adrenocorticotropic hormone; ACTH) http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Corticotropin_(Adrenocortic otropic_hormone;_ACTH).htm
·
Cortisone http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Cortisone.htm
·
Cortisone (Cortisone Acetate) http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Cortisone_(Cortisone_Acetat e).htm
·
Dexamethasone http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Dexamethasone.htm
·
Fluconazole http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Fluconazole.htm
·
Foscarnet Sodium http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Foscarnet_Sodium.htm
·
Foscarnet Sodium (Phosphonoformic Acid) http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Foscarnet_Sodium_(Phosph onoformic_Acid).htm
Researching Your Medications 179
·
Hydrocortisone (Cortisol) http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Hydrocortisone_(Cortisol).htm
·
Ibuprofen http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Ibuprofen.htm
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Imipenem-Cilastatin http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Imipenem-Cilastatin.htm
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Immune Globulin Intravenous http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Immune_Globulin_Intraven ous.htm
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Immune Globulin Intravenous (IGIV) http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Immune_Globulin_Intraven ous_(IGIV).htm
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Immune Globulin IV http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Immune_Globulin_IV.htm
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Ketoconazole http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Ketoconazole.htm
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Ketorolac Tromethamine http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Ketorolac_Tromethamine.htm
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Meropenem http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Meropenem.htm
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Methylprednisolone http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Methylprednisolone.htm
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Miconazole http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Miconazole.htm
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Muromonab–CD3 http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Muromonab–CD3.htm
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Mycophenolate Mofetil http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Mycophenolate_Mofetil.htm
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Naproxen http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Naproxen.htm
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Oxacillin Sodium http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Oxacillin_Sodium.htm
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Penicillin G http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Penicillin_G.htm
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Penicillin V http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Penicillin_V.htm
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Prednisolone http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Prednisolone.htm
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Prednisone http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Prednisone.htm
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Rifampin http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Rifampin.htm
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Sulfisoxazole http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Sulfisoxazole.htm
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Sulindac http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Sulindac.htm
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Triamcinolone http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Triamcinolone.htm
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Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Trimethoprim_Sulfamethox azole.htm
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Tuberculin Purified Protein Derivative http://www.reutershealth.com/atoz/html/Tuberculin_Purified_Protein _Derivative.htm
Mosby’s GenRx Mosby’s GenRx database (also available on CD-Rom and book format) covers 45,000 drug products including generics and international brands. It provides prescribing information, drug interactions, and patient information. Information can be obtained at the following hyperlink: http://www.genrx.com/Mosby/PhyGenRx/group.html. Physicians Desk Reference The Physicians Desk Reference database (also available in CD-Rom and book format) is a full-text drug database. The database is searchable by brand name, generic name or by indication. It features multiple drug interactions reports. Information can be obtained at the following hyperlink: http://physician.pdr.net/physician/templates/en/acl/psuser_t.htm.
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Other Web Sites A number of additional Web sites discuss drug information. As an example, you may like to look at www.drugs.com which reproduces the information in the Pharmacopeia as well as commercial information. You may also want to consider the Web site of the Medical Letter, Inc. which allows users to download articles on various drugs and therapeutics for a nominal fee: http://www.medletter.com/.
Contraindications and Interactions (Hidden Dangers) Some of the medications mentioned in the previous discussions can be problematic for patients with meningitis--not because they are used in the treatment process, but because of contraindications, or side effects. Medications with contraindications are those that could react with drugs used to treat meningitis or potentially create deleterious side effects in patients with meningitis. You should ask your physician about any contraindications, especially as these might apply to other medications that you may be taking for common ailments. Drug-drug interactions occur when two or more drugs react with each other. This drug-drug interaction may cause you to experience an unexpected side effect. Drug interactions may make your medications less effective, cause unexpected side effects, or increase the action of a particular drug. Some drug interactions can even be harmful to you. Be sure to read the label every time you use a nonprescription or prescription drug, and take the time to learn about drug interactions. These precautions may be critical to your health. You can reduce the risk of potentially harmful drug interactions and side effects with a little bit of knowledge and common sense. Drug labels contain important information about ingredients, uses, warnings, and directions which you should take the time to read and understand. Labels also include warnings about possible drug interactions. Further, drug labels may change as new information becomes available. This is why it’s especially important to read the label every time you use a medication. When your doctor prescribes a new drug, discuss all over-thecounter and prescription medications, dietary supplements, vitamins, botanicals, minerals and herbals you take as well as the foods you eat. Ask your pharmacist for the package insert for each prescription drug you take.
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The package insert provides more information about potential drug interactions.
A Final Warning At some point, you may hear of alternative medications from friends, relatives, or in the news media. Advertisements may suggest that certain alternative drugs can produce positive results for patients with meningitis. Exercise caution--some of these drugs may have fraudulent claims, and others may actually hurt you. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the official U.S. agency charged with discovering which medications are likely to improve the health of patients with meningitis. The FDA warns patients to watch out for44: ·
Secret formulas (real scientists share what they know)
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Amazing breakthroughs or miracle cures (real breakthroughs don’t happen very often; when they do, real scientists do not call them amazing or miracles)
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Quick, painless, or guaranteed cures
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If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.
If you have any questions about any kind of medical treatment, the FDA may have an office near you. Look for their number in the blue pages of the phone book. You can also contact the FDA through its toll-free number, 1888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332), or on the World Wide Web at www.fda.gov.
General References In addition to the resources provided earlier in this chapter, the following general references describe medications (sorted alphabetically by title; hyperlinks provide rankings, information and reviews at Amazon.com): · Drug Interactions in Infectious Diseases (Infectious Disease) by Stephen C. Piscitelli (Editor), et al; Hardcover - 372 pages (September 2000), Humana Press; ISBN: 0896037509; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0896037509/icongroupinterna
44
This section has been adapted from http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/medfraud.html.
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· Management of Antimicrobials in Infectious Diseases: Impact of Antibiotic Resistance by Arch G. Mainous, Ph.D. (Editor), et al; Hardcover - 350 pages, 1st edition (January 15, 2001), Humana Press; ISBN: 0896038211; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0896038211/icongroupinterna · Manual of Antibiotics and Infectious Diseases: Treatment and Prevention by John E. Conte; Paperback - 755 pages, 9th edition (December 15, 2001), Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Publishers; ISBN: 0781723167; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0781723167/icongroupinterna
Vocabulary Builder The following vocabulary builder gives definitions of words used in this chapter that have not been defined in previous chapters: ACTH: Adrenocorticotropic hormone. [EU] Amoxicillin: A broad-spectrum semisynthetic antibiotic similar to ampicillin except that its resistance to gastric acid permits higher serum levels with oral administration. [NIH] Ampicillin: Semi-synthetic derivative of penicillin that functions as an orally active broad-spectrum antibiotic. [NIH] Ceftazidime: Semisynthetic, broad-spectrum antibacterial derived from cephaloridine and used especially for Pseudomonas and other gramnegative infections in debilitated patients. [NIH] Cefuroxime: Broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic resistant to betalactamase. It has been proposed for infections with gram-negative and grampositive organisms, gonorrhea, and haemophilus. [NIH] Clindamycin: An antibacterial agent that is a semisynthetic analog of lincomycin. [NIH] Ketorolac Tromethamine: A pyrrolizine carboxylic acid derivative structurally related to indomethacin. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent used for analgesia for postoperative pain and inhibits cyclooxygenase activity. [NIH] Miconazole: An imidazole antifungal agent that is used topically and by intravenous infusion. [NIH] Penicillin G: A penicillin derivative commonly used in the form of its sodium or potassium salts in the treatment of a variety of infections. It is effective against most gram-positive bacteria and against gram-negative cocci. It has also been used as an experimental convulsant because of its
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actions on GABA mediated synaptic transmission. [NIH] Penicillin V: A broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic used orally in the treatment of mild to moderate infections by susceptible gram-positive organisms. [NIH] Prednisone: A synthetic anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid derived from cortisone. It is biologically inert and converted to prednisolone in the liver. [NIH]
Sulfisoxazole: One of the antibacterial sulfonamides generally used for treatment of infections. It is bacteriostatic against a wide range of gramnegative and gram-positive organisms, but acquired resistance is common. [NIH]
Sulindac: A sulfinylindene derivative whose sulfinyl moiety is converted in vivo to an active anti-inflammatory analgesic that undergoes enterohepatic circulation to maintain constant blood levels without causing gastrointestinal side effects. [NIH]
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APPENDIX B. RESEARCHING ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE Overview Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is one of the most contentious aspects of modern medical practice. You may have heard of these treatments on the radio or on television. Maybe you have seen articles written about these treatments in magazines, newspapers, or books. Perhaps your friends or doctor have mentioned alternatives. In this chapter, we will begin by giving you a broad perspective on complementary and alternative therapies. Next, we will introduce you to official information sources on CAM relating to meningitis. Finally, at the conclusion of this chapter, we will provide a list of readings on meningitis from various authors. We will begin, however, with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine’s (NCCAM) overview of complementary and alternative medicine.
What Is CAM?45 Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) covers a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies. Generally, it is defined as those treatments and healthcare practices which are not taught in medical schools, used in hospitals, or reimbursed by medical insurance companies. Many CAM therapies are termed “holistic,” which generally means that the healthcare practitioner considers the whole person, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Some of these therapies are also known as “preventive,” which means that the practitioner educates and 45
Adapted from the NCCAM: http://nccam.nih.gov/nccam/fcp/faq/index.html#what-is.
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treats the person to prevent health problems from arising, rather than treating symptoms after problems have occurred. People use CAM treatments and therapies in a variety of ways. Therapies are used alone (often referred to as alternative), in combination with other alternative therapies, or in addition to conventional treatment (sometimes referred to as complementary). Complementary and alternative medicine, or “integrative medicine,” includes a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies. Some approaches are consistent with physiological principles of Western medicine, while others constitute healing systems with non-Western origins. While some therapies are far outside the realm of accepted Western medical theory and practice, others are becoming established in mainstream medicine. Complementary and alternative therapies are used in an effort to prevent illness, reduce stress, prevent or reduce side effects and symptoms, or control or cure disease. Some commonly used methods of complementary or alternative therapy include mind/body control interventions such as visualization and relaxation, manual healing including acupressure and massage, homeopathy, vitamins or herbal products, and acupuncture.
What Are the Domains of Alternative Medicine?46 The list of CAM practices changes continually. The reason being is that these new practices and therapies are often proved to be safe and effective, and therefore become generally accepted as “mainstream” healthcare practices. Today, CAM practices may be grouped within five major domains: (1) alternative medical systems, (2) mind-body interventions, (3) biologicallybased treatments, (4) manipulative and body-based methods, and (5) energy therapies. The individual systems and treatments comprising these categories are too numerous to list in this sourcebook. Thus, only limited examples are provided within each. Alternative Medical Systems Alternative medical systems involve complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved independent of, and often prior to, conventional biomedical approaches. Many are traditional systems of medicine that are
46
Adapted from the NCCAM: http://nccam.nih.gov/nccam/fcp/classify/index.html.
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practiced by individual cultures throughout the world, including a number of venerable Asian approaches. Traditional oriental medicine emphasizes the balance or disturbances of qi (pronounced chi) or vital energy in health and disease, respectively. Traditional oriental medicine consists of a group of techniques and methods including acupuncture, herbal medicine, oriental massage, and qi gong (a form of energy therapy). Acupuncture involves stimulating specific anatomic points in the body for therapeutic purposes, usually by puncturing the skin with a thin needle. Ayurveda is India’s traditional system of medicine. Ayurvedic medicine (meaning “science of life”) is a comprehensive system of medicine that places equal emphasis on body, mind, and spirit. Ayurveda strives to restore the innate harmony of the individual. Some of the primary Ayurvedic treatments include diet, exercise, meditation, herbs, massage, exposure to sunlight, and controlled breathing. Other traditional healing systems have been developed by the world’s indigenous populations. These populations include Native American, Aboriginal, African, Middle Eastern, Tibetan, and Central and South American cultures. Homeopathy and naturopathy are also examples of complete alternative medicine systems. Homeopathic medicine is an unconventional Western system that is based on the principle that “like cures like,” i.e., that the same substance that in large doses produces the symptoms of an illness, in very minute doses cures it. Homeopathic health practitioners believe that the more dilute the remedy, the greater its potency. Therefore, they use small doses of specially prepared plant extracts and minerals to stimulate the body’s defense mechanisms and healing processes in order to treat illness. Naturopathic medicine is based on the theory that disease is a manifestation of alterations in the processes by which the body naturally heals itself and emphasizes health restoration rather than disease treatment. Naturopathic physicians employ an array of healing practices, including the following: diet and clinical nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, hydrotherapy (the use of water in a range of temperatures and methods of applications), spinal and soft-tissue manipulation, physical therapies (such as those involving electrical currents, ultrasound, and light), therapeutic counseling, and pharmacology.
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Mind-Body Interventions Mind-body interventions employ a variety of techniques designed to facilitate the mind’s capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. Only a select group of mind-body interventions having well-documented theoretical foundations are considered CAM. For example, patient education and cognitive-behavioral approaches are now considered “mainstream.” On the other hand, complementary and alternative medicine includes meditation, certain uses of hypnosis, dance, music, and art therapy, as well as prayer and mental healing.
Biological-Based Therapies This category of CAM includes natural and biological-based practices, interventions, and products, many of which overlap with conventional medicine’s use of dietary supplements. This category includes herbal, special dietary, orthomolecular, and individual biological therapies. Herbal therapy employs an individual herb or a mixture of herbs for healing purposes. An herb is a plant or plant part that produces and contains chemical substances that act upon the body. Special diet therapies, such as those proposed by Drs. Atkins, Ornish, Pritikin, and Weil, are believed to prevent and/or control illness as well as promote health. Orthomolecular therapies aim to treat disease with varying concentrations of chemicals such as magnesium, melatonin, and mega-doses of vitamins. Biological therapies include, for example, the use of laetrile and shark cartilage to treat cancer and the use of bee pollen to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Manipulative and Body-Based Methods This category includes methods that are based on manipulation and/or movement of the body. For example, chiropractors focus on the relationship between structure and function, primarily pertaining to the spine, and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. Chiropractors use manipulative therapy as an integral treatment tool. In contrast, osteopaths place particular emphasis on the musculoskeletal system and practice osteopathic manipulation. Osteopaths believe that all of the body’s systems work together and that disturbances in one system may have an impact upon function elsewhere in the body. Massage therapists manipulate the soft tissues of the body to normalize those tissues.
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Energy Therapies Energy therapies focus on energy fields originating within the body (biofields) or those from other sources (electromagnetic fields). Biofield therapies are intended to affect energy fields (the existence of which is not yet experimentally proven) that surround and penetrate the human body. Some forms of energy therapy manipulate biofields by applying pressure and/or manipulating the body by placing the hands in or through these fields. Examples include Qi gong, Reiki and Therapeutic Touch. Qi gong is a component of traditional oriental medicine that combines movement, meditation, and regulation of breathing to enhance the flow of vital energy (qi) in the body, improve blood circulation, and enhance immune function. Reiki, the Japanese word representing Universal Life Energy, is based on the belief that, by channeling spiritual energy through the practitioner, the spirit is healed and, in turn, heals the physical body. Therapeutic Touch is derived from the ancient technique of “laying-on of hands.” It is based on the premises that the therapist’s healing force affects the patient’s recovery and that healing is promoted when the body’s energies are in balance. By passing their hands over the patient, these healers identify energy imbalances. Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies involve the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields to treat illnesses or manage pain. These therapies are often used to treat asthma, cancer, and migraine headaches. Types of electromagnetic fields which are manipulated in these therapies include pulsed fields, magnetic fields, and alternating current or direct current fields.
Can Alternatives Affect My Treatment? A critical issue in pursuing complementary alternatives mentioned thus far is the risk that these might have undesirable interactions with your medical treatment. It becomes all the more important to speak with your doctor who can offer advice on the use of alternatives. Official sources confirm this view. Though written for women, we find that the National Women’s Health Information Center’s advice on pursuing alternative medicine is appropriate for patients of both genders and all ages.47
47
Adapted from http://www.4woman.gov/faq/alternative.htm.
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Is It Okay to Want Both Traditional and Alternative or Complementary Medicine? Should you wish to explore non-traditional types of treatment, be sure to discuss all issues concerning treatments and therapies with your healthcare provider, whether a physician or practitioner of complementary and alternative medicine. Competent healthcare management requires knowledge of both conventional and alternative therapies you are taking for the practitioner to have a complete picture of your treatment plan. The decision to use complementary and alternative treatments is an important one. Consider before selecting an alternative therapy, the safety and effectiveness of the therapy or treatment, the expertise and qualifications of the healthcare practitioner, and the quality of delivery. These topics should be considered when selecting any practitioner or therapy.
Finding CAM References on Meningitis Having read the previous discussion, you may be wondering which complementary or alternative treatments might be appropriate for meningitis. For the remainder of this chapter, we will direct you to a number of official sources which can assist you in researching studies and publications. Some of these articles are rather technical, so some patience may be required.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (http://nccam.nih.gov) has created a link to the National Library of Medicine’s databases to allow patients to search for articles that specifically relate to meningitis and complementary medicine. To search the database, go to the following Web site: www.nlm.nih.gov/nccam/camonpubmed.html. Select “CAM on PubMed.” Enter “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the search box. Click “Go.” The following references provide information on particular aspects of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that are related to meningitis: ·
A placebo-controlled trial of maintenance therapy with fluconazole after treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. California Collaborative Treatment Group.
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Author(s): Bozzette SA, Larsen RA, Chiu J, Leal MA, Jacobsen J, Rothman P, Robinson P, Gilbert G, McCutchan JA, Tilles J, et al. Source: The New England Journal of Medicine. 1991 February 28; 324(9): 580-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1992319&dopt=Abstract ·
Acute confusion, Chinese herbal medicines and tuberculous meningitis. Author(s): Chan JC, Tomlinson B, Kay R, Chan TY, Critchley JA. Source: Aust N Z J Med. 1994 October; 24(5): 590-1. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=7848176&dopt=Abstract
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An outbreak of pneumonia and meningitis caused by a previously undescribed gram-negative bacterium in a hot spring spa. Author(s): Hubert B, de Mahenge A, Grimont F, Richard C, Peloux Y, de Mahenge C, Fleurette J, Grimont PA. Source: Epidemiology and Infection. 1991 October; 107(2): 373-81. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1936159&dopt=Abstract
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Antiviral activity of higher plants and propionin on lymphocytic choriomeningitis infection. Author(s): Furusawa E, Ramanathan S, Furusawa S, Woo YK, Cutting W. Source: Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N. Y.). 1967 May; 125(1): 234-9. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=4961253&dopt=Abstract
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Antiviral activity of higher plants on lymphocytic choriomeningitis infection in vitro and in vivo. Author(s): Furusawa E, Cutting W. Source: Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N. Y.). 1966 May; 122(1): 280-2. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=4957672&dopt=Abstract
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·
Bacterial meningitis and lumbar epidural hematoma due to lumbar acupunctures: a case report. Author(s): Chen CY, Liu GC, Sheu RS, Huang CL. Source: Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 1997 May; 13(5): 328-31. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=9226976&dopt=Abstract
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Bacterial meningitis observed in a phase I trial of vinorelbine, cisplatin and thoracic radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer: report of a case and discussion on dose-limiting toxicity. Author(s): Sekine I, Matsuda T, Saisho T, Watanabe H, Yamamoto N, Kunitoh H, Ohe Y, Tamura T, Kodama T, Saijo N. Source: Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2000 September; 30(9): 401-5. Review. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=11095138&dopt=Abstract
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Balneatrix alpica gen. nov., sp. nov., a bacterium associated with pneumonia and meningitis in a spa therapy center. Author(s): Dauga C, Gillis M, Vandamme P, Ageron E, Grimont F, Kersters K, de Mahenge C, Peloux Y, Grimont PA. Source: Research in Microbiology. 1993 January; 144(1): 35-46. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=8327781&dopt=Abstract
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Binding of mannan-binding protein to various bacterial pathogens of meningitis. Author(s): van Emmerik LC, Kuijper EJ, Fijen CA, Dankert J, Thiel S. Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 1994 September; 97(3): 411-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=8082295&dopt=Abstract
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Comparison of counterimmunoelectrophoresis, latex agglutination and bacterial culture for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis using urine, serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples. Author(s): Requejo HI, Nascimento CM, Fahrat CK.
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Source: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research = Revista Brasileira De Pesquisas Medicas E Biologicas / Sociedade Brasileira De Biofisica . [et Al.]. 1992; 25(4): 357-67. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1342212&dopt=Abstract ·
Cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Author(s): Rajkumar K, Rajkumar T, Sagar TG, Maitreyan V, Shanta V. Source: J Assoc Physicians India. 1991 October; 39(10): 785. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1816214&dopt=Abstract
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Cryptococcal meningitis in Papua New Guinea: ecology and the role of eucalypts. Author(s): Laurenson I, Naraqi S, Howcroft N, Burrows I, Saulei S. Source: The Medical Journal of Australia. 1993 February 1; 158(3): 213. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=8450794&dopt=Abstract
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Cryptococcal meningitis. Author(s): Tjia TL, Yeow YK, Tan CB. Source: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. 1985 September; 48(9): 853-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=4045478&dopt=Abstract
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Development of a protocol for early treatment of endemic meningitis in children in Vanuatu. Author(s): Harris M, Carrol K, Carrol C. Source: J Trop Med Hyg. 1991 February; 94(1): 8-14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1995940&dopt=Abstract
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Effect of catalase on regional cerebral blood flow and brain edema during the early phase of experimental pneumococcal meningitis. Author(s): Pfister HW, Kodel U, Dirnagl U, Haberl RL, Ruckdeschel G, Einhaupl KM.
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Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1992 December; 166(6): 1442-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1431262&dopt=Abstract ·
Further studies of antiviral activity of natural products on lymphocytic choriomeningitis infection. Author(s): Furusawa E, Furusawa S, Ramanathan S, Cutting W. Source: Chemotherapy. 1968; 13(3): 172-80. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=5660664&dopt=Abstract
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Haemophilus influenzae meningitis: an evolving therapeutic regimen. Author(s): Barkin RM, Greer CC, Schumacher CJ, McIntosh K. Source: Am J Dis Child. 1976 December; 130(12): 1318-21. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1087110&dopt=Abstract
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Haemopoietic defects in mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. 1. The enhanced x-ray sensitivity of virus infected mice. Author(s): Bro-Jorgensen K, Volkert M. Source: Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand [b] Microbiol Immunol. 1972; 80(6): 845-52. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=4509394&dopt=Abstract
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Hearing loss and pneumococcal meningitis: an animal model. Author(s): Bhatt S, Halpin C, Hsu W, Thedinger BA, Levine RA, Tuomanen E, Nadol JB Jr. Source: The Laryngoscope. 1991 December; 101(12 Pt 1): 1285-92. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1766298&dopt=Abstract
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Homeopathic treatment for sequelae of meningococcal septicemia. Author(s): Leckridge B. Source: Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 1998 July; 4(4): 124-3. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=9729105&dopt=Abstract
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Hyperventilation as the initial manifestation of lymphomatous meningitis. Author(s): Karp G, Nahum K. Source: Journal of Neuro-Oncology. 1992 June; 13(2): 173-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1279132&dopt=Abstract
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Imipenem resistance in a case of AIDS with relapsing Pseudomonas meningitis. Author(s): Eng RH, Lynch AM, Smith SM, Ambros RA, Fan-Havard P, Mangia A, Tecson-Tumang F, Cherubin C. Source: Southern Medical Journal. 1990 August; 83(8): 979-80. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=2116669&dopt=Abstract
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Immunodiagnosis of pneumococcal meningitis using Dot-enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Author(s): Requejo HI, das Gracas M, Alkmin A, Landgraf IM. Source: Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 2001 October; 47(5): 288-90. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=11695728&dopt=Abstract
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Incompatibilities of professional and religious ideology: problems of medical management and outcome in a case of pediatric meningitis. Author(s): Redlener IE, Scott CS. Source: Soc Sci Med [med Anthropol]. 1979 April; 13B(2): 89-93. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=505059&dopt=Abstract
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Intrathecal administration of etoposide in the treatment of malignant meningitis: feasibility and pharmacokinetic data. Author(s): van der Gaast A, Sonneveld P, Mans DR, Splinter TA. Source: Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. 1992; 29(4): 335-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1311219&dopt=Abstract
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Isolation of parainfluenza virus type 3 from cerebrospinal fluid associated with aseptic meningitis. Author(s): Craver RD, Gohd RS, Sundin DR, Hierholzer JC.
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Source: Am J Clin Pathol. 1993 June; 99(6): 705-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=8391749&dopt=Abstract ·
Long-term impairments of brain and auditory functions of children recovered from purulent meningitis. Author(s): Jiang ZD, Liu XY, Wu YY, Zheng MS, Liu HC. Source: Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 1990 June; 32(6): 473-80. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=2365140&dopt=Abstract
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Meningitis and spinal subdural empyema as a complication of sinusitis. Author(s): Harries-Jones R, Hernandez-Bronchud M, Anslow P, Davies CJ. Source: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. 1990 May; 53(5): 441. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1972183&dopt=Abstract
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Meningitis with Burkitt like B-cell lymphoma in HIV infection. Author(s): Bomfim da Paz R, Kolmel HW. Source: Journal of Neuro-Oncology. 1992 May; 13(1): 73-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1613539&dopt=Abstract
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Observations with a variant of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in mouse tumors. Author(s): Eiselein J, Biggs MW. Source: Cancer Research. 1970 July; 30(7): 1953-7. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=4989547&dopt=Abstract
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Pathologic quiz case: progressive diffuse weakness after chemotherapy for large cell lymphoma in a middle-aged woman. Lymphomatous meningitis with neurolymphomatosis. Author(s): Carey MJ, Smith AG, Townsend JJ.
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Source: Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. 2000 April; 124(4): 645-6. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=10747335&dopt=Abstract ·
Prevention of hearing loss in experimental pneumococcal meningitis by administration of dexamethasone and ketorolac. Author(s): Rappaport JM, Bhatt SM, Burkard RF, Merchant SN, Nadol JB Jr. Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1999 January; 179(1): 264-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=9841852&dopt=Abstract
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Primary pseudomonas meningitis in an adult, splenectomized, multitransfused thalassaemia major patient. Author(s): Ghosh K, Daar S, Hiwase D, Nursat N. Source: Haematologia. 2000; 30(1): 69-72. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=10841329&dopt=Abstract
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Protective effect of the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine in pneumococcal meningitis in the rat. Author(s): Koedel U, Pfister HW. Source: Neuroscience Letters. 1997 March 28; 225(1): 33-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=9143011&dopt=Abstract
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Transitional cell carcinomatous meningitis after M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) chemotherapy. Author(s): Bishop JR Jr, Moul JW, Maldonado L, McLeod DG. Source: Urology. 1990 October; 36(4): 373-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=2219624&dopt=Abstract
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Treatment of carcinomatous meningitis from transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Author(s): Raghavan D, Chye RW. Source: Br J Urol. 1991 April; 67(4): 438-40. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=2032089&dopt=Abstract
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Treatment of malignant meningitis in retinoblastoma. Author(s): Stannard CE, Sealy R, Sevel D, Brinton FA. Source: The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 1975 July; 59(7): 362-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=1242674&dopt=Abstract
Additional Web Resources A number of additional Web sites offer encyclopedic information covering CAM and related topics. The following is a representative sample: ·
Alternative Medicine Foundation, Inc.: http://www.herbmed.org/
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AOL: http://search.aol.com/cat.adp?id=169&layer=&from=subcats
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Chinese Medicine: http://www.newcenturynutrition.com/
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drkoop.comÒ: http://www.drkoop.com/InteractiveMedicine/IndexC.html
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Family Village: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/med_altn.htm
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Google: http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Alternative/
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Healthnotes: http://www.thedacare.org/healthnotes/
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Open Directory Project: http://dmoz.org/Health/Alternative/
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TPN.com: http://www.tnp.com/
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Yahoo.com: http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Alternative_Medicine/
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WebMDÒHealth: http://my.webmd.com/drugs_and_herbs
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WellNet: http://www.wellnet.ca/herbsa-c.htm
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WholeHealthMD.com: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/reflib/0,1529,,00.html
The following is a specific Web list relating to meningitis; please note that any particular subject below may indicate either a therapeutic use, or a contraindication (potential danger), and does not reflect an official recommendation:
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General Overview AIDS and HIV Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/HIV andAIDScc.html Brain Inflammation, Meningitis Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Me ningitiscc.html Brain Inflammation, Viral Encephalitis Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Enc ephalitisViralcc.html Encephalitis, Viral Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Enc ephalitisViralcc.html Epilepsy Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Seiz ureDisorderscc.html Histoplasmosis Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Hist oplasmosiscc.html
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HIV and AIDS Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/HIV andAIDScc.html Lyme Disease Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Ly meDiseasecc.html Meningitis Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Me ningitiscc.html Parasitic Infection, Histoplasmosis Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Hist oplasmosiscc.html Seizure Disorders Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Seiz ureDisorderscc.html Tuberculosis Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Tub erculosiscc.html
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Alternative Therapy Massage therapy Source: WholeHealthMD.com, LLC.; www.wholehealthmd.com Hyperlink: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/0,1525, 716,00.html Osteopathy Source: WholeHealthMD.com, LLC.; www.wholehealthmd.com Hyperlink: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/0,1525, 724,00.html
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Chinese Medicine Angong Niuhuang San Alternative names: (An Gong Niu Huang San) Source: Pharmacopoeia Commission of the Ministry of Health, People's Republic of China Hyperlink: http://www.newcenturynutrition.com/cgilocal/patent_herbs_db/db.cgi?db=default&Chinese=Angong%20Niu huang%20San&mh=10&sb=---&view_records=View+Records Nambaniangan Alternative names: Baphicacanthus Root; Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusae Source: Chinese Materia Medica Hyperlink: http://www.newcenturynutrition.com/
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Herbs and Supplements Aloe Alternative names: Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis, Aloe ferox , Aloe Vera Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsHerbs/Aloech.h tml
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Aloe Vera Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsHerbs/Aloech.h tml Fluconazole Source: Healthnotes, Inc.; www.healthnotes.com Hyperlink: http://www.thedacare.org/healthnotes/Drug/Fluconazole.htm
General References A good place to find general background information on CAM is the National Library of Medicine. It has prepared within the MEDLINEplus system an information topic page dedicated to complementary and alternative medicine. To access this page, go to the MEDLINEplus site at: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alternativemedicine.html. This Web site provides a general overview of various topics and can lead to a number of general sources. The following additional references describe, in broad terms, alternative and complementary medicine (sorted alphabetically by title; hyperlinks provide rankings, information, and reviews at Amazon.com): · Herbal Antibiotics : Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria (Storey Medicinal Herb Guide) by Stephen Harrod Buhner; Paperback - 128 pages (September 1999), Storey Books; ISBN: 1580171486; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580171486/icongroupinterna · Natural Alternatives to Antibiotics by John McKenna; Paperback - 176 pages (November 1998), Avery Penguin Putnam; ISBN: 0895298392; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0895298392/icongroupinterna · Alternative Medicine for Dummies by James Dillard (Author); Audio Cassette, Abridged edition (1998), Harper Audio; ISBN: 0694520659; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0694520659/icongroupinterna ·
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Secrets by W. Kohatsu (Editor); Hardcover (2001), Hanley & Belfus; ISBN: 1560534400; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1560534400/icongroupinterna
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Dictionary of Alternative Medicine by J. C. Segen; Paperback-2nd edition (2001), Appleton & Lange; ISBN: 0838516211; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0838516211/icongroupinterna
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Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating by Walter C. Willett, MD, et al; Hardcover - 352 pages (2001), Simon & Schuster; ISBN: 0684863375; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684863375/icongroupinterna
· Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised 2nd Edition by Michael T. Murray, Joseph E. Pizzorno; Paperback - 960 pages, 2nd Rev edition (1997), Prima Publishing; ISBN: 0761511571; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0761511571/icongroupinterna ·
Integrative Medicine: An Introduction to the Art & Science of Healing by Andrew Weil (Author); Audio Cassette, Unabridged edition (2001), Sounds True; ISBN: 1564558541; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564558541/icongroupinterna
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New Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses by Deni Bown; Hardcover - 448 pages, Revised edition (2001), DK Publishing; ISBN: 078948031X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/078948031X/icongroupinterna
· Textbook of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Wayne B. Jonas; Hardcover (2003), Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; ISBN: 0683044370; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0683044370/icongroupinterna For additional information on complementary and alternative medicine, ask your doctor or write to: National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clearinghouse P. O. Box 8218 Silver Spring, MD 20907-8218
Vocabulary Builder The following vocabulary builder gives definitions of words used in this chapter that have not been defined in previous chapters: Parasitic: Pertaining to, of the nature of, or caused by a parasite. [EU]
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APPENDIX C. RESEARCHING NUTRITION Overview Since the time of Hippocrates, doctors have understood the importance of diet and nutrition to patients’ health and well-being. Since then, they have accumulated an impressive archive of studies and knowledge dedicated to this subject. Based on their experience, doctors and healthcare providers may recommend particular dietary supplements to patients with meningitis. Any dietary recommendation is based on a patient’s age, body mass, gender, lifestyle, eating habits, food preferences, and health condition. It is therefore likely that different patients with meningitis may be given different recommendations. Some recommendations may be directly related to meningitis, while others may be more related to the patient’s general health. These recommendations, themselves, may differ from what official sources recommend for the average person. In this chapter we will begin by briefly reviewing the essentials of diet and nutrition that will broadly frame more detailed discussions of meningitis. We will then show you how to find studies dedicated specifically to nutrition and meningitis.
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Food and Nutrition: General Principles What Are Essential Foods? Food is generally viewed by official sources as consisting of six basic elements: (1) fluids, (2) carbohydrates, (3) protein, (4) fats, (5) vitamins, and (6) minerals. Consuming a combination of these elements is considered to be a healthy diet: ·
Fluids are essential to human life as 80-percent of the body is composed of water. Water is lost via urination, sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, diuretics (drugs that increase urination), caffeine, and physical exertion.
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Carbohydrates are the main source for human energy (thermoregulation) and the bulk of typical diets. They are mostly classified as being either simple or complex. Simple carbohydrates include sugars which are often consumed in the form of cookies, candies, or cakes. Complex carbohydrates consist of starches and dietary fibers. Starches are consumed in the form of pastas, breads, potatoes, rice, and other foods. Soluble fibers can be eaten in the form of certain vegetables, fruits, oats, and legumes. Insoluble fibers include brown rice, whole grains, certain fruits, wheat bran and legumes.
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Proteins are eaten to build and repair human tissues. Some foods that are high in protein are also high in fat and calories. Food sources for protein include nuts, meat, fish, cheese, and other dairy products.
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Fats are consumed for both energy and the absorption of certain vitamins. There are many types of fats, with many general publications recommending the intake of unsaturated fats or those low in cholesterol.
Vitamins and minerals are fundamental to human health, growth, and, in some cases, disease prevention. Most are consumed in your diet (exceptions being vitamins K and D which are produced by intestinal bacteria and sunlight on the skin, respectively). Each vitamin and mineral plays a different role in health. The following outlines essential vitamins: ·
Vitamin A is important to the health of your eyes, hair, bones, and skin; sources of vitamin A include foods such as eggs, carrots, and cantaloupe.
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Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, is important for your nervous system and energy production; food sources for thiamine include meat, peas, fortified cereals, bread, and whole grains.
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Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is important for your nervous system and muscles, but is also involved in the release of proteins from
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nutrients; food sources for riboflavin include dairy products, leafy vegetables, meat, and eggs. ·
Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, is important for healthy skin and helps the body use energy; food sources for niacin include peas, peanuts, fish, and whole grains
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Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is important for the regulation of cells in the nervous system and is vital for blood formation; food sources for pyridoxine include bananas, whole grains, meat, and fish.
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Vitamin B12 is vital for a healthy nervous system and for the growth of red blood cells in bone marrow; food sources for vitamin B12 include yeast, milk, fish, eggs, and meat.
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Vitamin C allows the body’s immune system to fight various diseases, strengthens body tissue, and improves the body’s use of iron; food sources for vitamin C include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
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Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium which strengthens bones and teeth; food sources for vitamin D include oily fish and dairy products.
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Vitamin E can help protect certain organs and tissues from various degenerative diseases; food sources for vitamin E include margarine, vegetables, eggs, and fish.
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Vitamin K is essential for bone formation and blood clotting; common food sources for vitamin K include leafy green vegetables.
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Folic Acid maintains healthy cells and blood and, when taken by a pregnant woman, can prevent her fetus from developing neural tube defects; food sources for folic acid include nuts, fortified breads, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains.
It should be noted that one can overdose on certain vitamins which become toxic if consumed in excess (e.g. vitamin A, D, E and K). Like vitamins, minerals are chemicals that are required by the body to remain in good health. Because the human body does not manufacture these chemicals internally, we obtain them from food and other dietary sources. The more important minerals include: ·
Calcium is needed for healthy bones, teeth, and muscles, but also helps the nervous system function; food sources for calcium include dry beans, peas, eggs, and dairy products.
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Chromium is helpful in regulating sugar levels in blood; food sources for chromium include egg yolks, raw sugar, cheese, nuts, beets, whole grains, and meat.
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·
Fluoride is used by the body to help prevent tooth decay and to reinforce bone strength; sources of fluoride include drinking water and certain brands of toothpaste.
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Iodine helps regulate the body’s use of energy by synthesizing into the hormone thyroxine; food sources include leafy green vegetables, nuts, egg yolks, and red meat.
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Iron helps maintain muscles and the formation of red blood cells and certain proteins; food sources for iron include meat, dairy products, eggs, and leafy green vegetables.
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Magnesium is important for the production of DNA, as well as for healthy teeth, bones, muscles, and nerves; food sources for magnesium include dried fruit, dark green vegetables, nuts, and seafood.
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Phosphorous is used by the body to work with calcium to form bones and teeth; food sources for phosphorous include eggs, meat, cereals, and dairy products.
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Selenium primarily helps maintain normal heart and liver functions; food sources for selenium include wholegrain cereals, fish, meat, and dairy products.
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Zinc helps wounds heal, the formation of sperm, and encourage rapid growth and energy; food sources include dried beans, shellfish, eggs, and nuts.
The United States government periodically publishes recommended diets and consumption levels of the various elements of food. Again, your doctor may encourage deviations from the average official recommendation based on your specific condition. To learn more about basic dietary guidelines, visit the Web site: http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/. Based on these guidelines, many foods are required to list the nutrition levels on the food’s packaging. Labeling Requirements are listed at the following site maintained by the Food and Drug Administration: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/labcons.html. When interpreting these requirements, the government recommends that consumers become familiar with the following abbreviations before reading FDA literature:48 ·
DVs (Daily Values): A new dietary reference term that will appear on the food label. It is made up of two sets of references, DRVs and RDIs.
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DRVs (Daily Reference Values): A set of dietary references that applies to fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrate, protein, fiber, sodium, and potassium.
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Adapted from the FDA: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/special/foodlabel/dvs.html.
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·
RDIs (Reference Daily Intakes): A set of dietary references based on the Recommended Dietary Allowances for essential vitamins and minerals and, in selected groups, protein. The name “RDI” replaces the term “U.S. RDA.”
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RDAs (Recommended Dietary Allowances): A set of estimated nutrient allowances established by the National Academy of Sciences. It is updated periodically to reflect current scientific knowledge.
What Are Dietary Supplements?49 Dietary supplements are widely available through many commercial sources, including health food stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, and by mail. Dietary supplements are provided in many forms including tablets, capsules, powders, gel-tabs, extracts, and liquids. Historically in the United States, the most prevalent type of dietary supplement was a multivitamin/mineral tablet or capsule that was available in pharmacies, either by prescription or “over the counter.” Supplements containing strictly herbal preparations were less widely available. Currently in the United States, a wide array of supplement products are available, including vitamin, mineral, other nutrients, and botanical supplements as well as ingredients and extracts of animal and plant origin. The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) of the National Institutes of Health is the official agency of the United States which has the expressed goal of acquiring “new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold.”50 According to the ODS, dietary supplements can have an important impact on the prevention and management of disease and on the maintenance of health.51 The ODS notes that considerable research on the This discussion has been adapted from the NIH: http://ods.od.nih.gov/whatare/whatare.html. 50 Contact: The Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room 1B29, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2086, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2086, Tel: (301) 435-2920, Fax: (301) 480-1845, E-mail:
[email protected]. 51 Adapted from http://ods.od.nih.gov/about/about.html. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act defines dietary supplements as “a product (other than tobacco) intended to supplement the diet that bears or contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients: a vitamin, mineral, amino acid, herb or other botanical; or a dietary substance for use to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake; or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any ingredient described above; and intended for ingestion in the form of a capsule, powder, softgel, or gelcap, and not represented as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet.” 49
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effects of dietary supplements has been conducted in Asia and Europe where the use of plant products, in particular, has a long tradition. However, the overwhelming majority of supplements have not been studied scientifically. To explore the role of dietary supplements in the improvement of health care, the ODS plans, organizes, and supports conferences, workshops, and symposia on scientific topics related to dietary supplements. The ODS often works in conjunction with other NIH Institutes and Centers, other government agencies, professional organizations, and public advocacy groups. To learn more about official information on dietary supplements, visit the ODS site at http://ods.od.nih.gov/whatare/whatare.html. Or contact: The Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health Building 31, Room 1B29 31 Center Drive, MSC 2086 Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2086 Tel: (301) 435-2920 Fax: (301) 480-1845 E-mail:
[email protected]
Finding Studies on Meningitis The NIH maintains an office dedicated to patient nutrition and diet. The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) offers a searchable bibliographic database called the IBIDS (International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements). The IBIDS contains over 460,000 scientific citations and summaries about dietary supplements and nutrition as well as references to published international, scientific literature on dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, and botanicals.52 IBIDS is available to the public free of charge through the ODS Internet page: http://ods.od.nih.gov/databases/ibids.html. After entering the search area, you have three choices: (1) IBIDS Consumer Database, (2) Full IBIDS Database, or (3) Peer Reviewed Citations Only. We recommend that you start with the Consumer Database. While you may not Adapted from http://ods.od.nih.gov. IBIDS is produced by the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health to assist the public, healthcare providers, educators, and researchers in locating credible, scientific information on dietary supplements. IBIDS was developed and will be maintained through an interagency partnership with the Food and Nutrition Information Center of the National Agricultural Library, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
52
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find references for the topics that are of most interest to you, check back periodically as this database is frequently updated. More studies can be found by searching the Full IBIDS Database. Healthcare professionals and researchers generally use the third option, which lists peer-reviewed citations. In all cases, we suggest that you take advantage of the “Advanced Search” option that allows you to retrieve up to 100 fully explained references in a comprehensive format. Type “meningitis” (or synonyms) into the search box. To narrow the search, you can also select the “Title” field. The following information is typical of that found when using the “Full IBIDS Database” when searching using “meningitis” (or a synonym): ·
Adjunctive corticosteroid therapy in bacterial meningitis. Author(s): Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark. Source: Lauritsen, A Oberg, B Scand-J-Infect-Dis. 1995; 27(5): 431-4 00365548
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Amphotericin B in a lipid emulsion for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients. Author(s): Hopital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France. Source: Joly, V Geoffray, C Reynes, J Goujard, C Mechali, D Maslo, C Raffi, F Yeni, P J-Antimicrob-Chemother. 1996 July; 38(1): 117-26 03057453
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An immunotoxin for the treatment of T-acute lymphoblastic leukemic meningitis: studies in rhesus monkeys. Author(s): Division of Hematology and Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710. Source: Hertler, A A Schlossman, D M Borowitz, M J Poplack, D G Frankel, A E Cancer-Immunol-Immunother. 1989; 28(1): 59-66 0340-7004
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Binding of mannan-binding protein to various bacterial pathogens of meningitis. Author(s): Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Source: van Emmerik, L C Kuijper, E J Fijen, C A Dankert, J Thiel, S ClinExp-Immunol. 1994 September; 97(3): 411-6 0009-9104
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Canine meningitis. A changing emphasis. Author(s): Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. Source: Meric, S M J-Vet-Intern-Med. 1988 Jan-March; 2(1): 26-35 08916640
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Catastrophic visual loss due to Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis. Author(s): Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston 77030. Source: Rex, J H Larsen, R A Dismukes, W E Cloud, G A Bennett, J E Medicine-(Baltimore). 1993 July; 72(4): 207-24 0025-7974
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Cerebrospinal fluid lactoferrin in bacterial and viral meningitis. Author(s): Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland. Source: Visakorpi, T Vilja, P Kulomaa, M Tuohimaa, P Klockars, M ActaPaediatr-Scand. 1987 November; 76(6): 987-8 0001-656X
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Cerebrovascular permeability changes during experimental meningitis in the rat. Author(s): Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Buffalo, New York, USA. Source: Boje, K M J-Pharmacol-Exp-Ther. 1995 September; 274(3): 1199203 0022-3565
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Corticosteroids as adjunctive therapy in bacterial meningitis. A metaanalysis of clinical trials. Author(s): Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Source: Havens, P L Wendelberger, K J Hoffman, G M Lee, M B Chusid, M J Am-J-Dis-Child. 1989 September; 143(9): 1051-5 0002-922X
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CSF levels of carnitine in children with meningitis, neurologic disorders, acute gastroenteritis, and seizure. Author(s): Department of Pediatrics, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. Source: Shinawi, M Gruener, N Lerner, A Neurology. 1998 June; 50(6): 1869-71 0028-3878
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Development of a protocol for early treatment of endemic meningitis in children in Vanuatu. Author(s): Department of Community Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia. Source: Harris, M Carrol, K Carrol, C J-Trop-Med-Hyg. 1991 February; 94(1): 8-14 0022-5304
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Effects of clinically used antioxidants in experimental pneumococcal meningitis. Author(s): Institute for Medical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Resaerch Laboratory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
[email protected] Source: Auer, M Pfister, L A Leppert, D Tauber, M G Leib, S L J-InfectDis. 2000 July; 182(1): 347-50 0022-1899
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Emergency management of meningitis. Author(s): Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences and Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK.
[email protected] Source: Heyderman, R S Klein, N J J-R-Soc-Med. 2000 May; 93(5): 225-9 0141-0768
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Epidural complications and a case of malignant meningitis. Author(s): Pembridge Palliative Care Centre, St Charles Hospital, London. Source: Jennings, A L Rothwell, M P Naysmith, A Palliat-Med. 1997 November; 11(6): 483-6 0269-2163
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Gastric linitis adenocarcinoma and carcinomatous meningitis: an infrequent but aggressive association--report of four cases. Author(s): Service d'Oncologie digestive Medicale, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France. Source: Delaunoit, T Boige, V Belloc, J Elias, D Lasser, P Duvillard, P Ducreux, M Ann-Oncol. 2001 June; 12(6): 869-71 0923-7534
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Imipenem/cilastatin treatment of bacterial meningitis in children. Author(s): Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, USC School of Medicine 90027. Source: Wong, V K Wright, H T Ross, L A Mason, W H Inderlied, C B Kim, K S Pediatr-Infect-Dis-J. 1991 February; 10(2): 122-5 0891-3668
·
Intrathecal administration of amikacin for treatment of meningitis secondary to cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli. Author(s): Albany College of Pharmacy, NY 12208. Source: Preston, S L Briceland, L L Ann-Pharmacother. 1993 Jul-August; 27(7-8): 870-3 1060-0280
·
Intrathecal administration of etoposide in the treatment of malignant meningitis: feasibility and pharmacokinetic data. Author(s): Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, The Netherlands. Source: van der Gaast, A Sonneveld, P Mans, D R Splinter, T A CancerChemother-Pharmacol. 1992; 29(4): 335-7 0344-5704
·
Is nitric oxide involved as a mediator of cerebrovascular changes in the early phase of experimental pneumococcal meningitis? Author(s): Department of Neurology, University of Munich, Germany. Source: Haberl, R L Anneser, F Kodel, U Pfister, H W Neurol-Res. 1994 April; 16(2): 108-12 0161-6412
·
Low levels of LTB4 in cerebrospinal fluid of AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis. Author(s): Department of Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
214 Meningitis
Source: Froldi, M Parma, M Marenzi, R Piona, A Lorini, M Nobile Orazio, E Castagna, A Lazzarin, A J-Clin-Lab-Immunol. 1995; 47(1): 41-7 01412760
Federal Resources on Nutrition In addition to the IBIDS, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provide many sources of information on general nutrition and health. Recommended resources include: ·
healthfinder®, HHS’s gateway to health information, including diet and nutrition: http://www.healthfinder.gov/scripts/SearchContext.asp?topic=238&page=0
·
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Web site dedicated to nutrition information: www.nutrition.gov
·
The Food and Drug Administration’s Web site for federal food safety information: www.foodsafety.gov
·
The National Action Plan on Overweight and Obesity sponsored by the United States Surgeon General: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/
·
The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition has an Internet site sponsored by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/
·
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture: http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/
·
Food and Nutrition Information Center, National Agricultural Library sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/
·
Food and Nutrition Service sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/
Additional Web Resources A number of additional Web sites offer encyclopedic information covering food and nutrition. The following is a representative sample: ·
AOL: http://search.aol.com/cat.adp?id=174&layer=&from=subcats
Researching Nutrition 215
·
Family Village: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/med_nutrition.html
·
Google: http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Nutrition/
·
Healthnotes: http://www.thedacare.org/healthnotes/
·
Open Directory Project: http://dmoz.org/Health/Nutrition/
·
Yahoo.com: http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Nutrition/
·
WebMDÒHealth: http://my.webmd.com/nutrition
·
WholeHealthMD.com: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/reflib/0,1529,,00.html
The following is a specific Web list relating to meningitis; please note that any particular subject below may indicate either a therapeutic use, or a contraindication (potential danger), and does not reflect an official recommendation: ·
Minerals Calcium Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Histopl asmosiscc.html
·
Food and Diet Garlic Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Histopl asmosiscc.html Garlic Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Mening itiscc.html Weight Loss Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.onemedicine.com
216 Meningitis
Hyperlink: http://www.drkoop.com/interactivemedicine/ConsConditions/Histopl asmosiscc.html
Vocabulary Builder The following vocabulary builder defines words used in the references in this chapter that have not been defined in previous chapters: Adenocarcinoma: organization. [NIH]
A malignant epithelial tumor with a glandular
Amikacin: A broad-spectrum antibiotic derived from kanamycin. It is renoand ototoxic like the other aminoglycoside antibiotics. [NIH] Anaesthesia: Loss of feeling or sensation. Although the term is used for loss of tactile sensibility, or of any of the other senses, it is applied especially to loss of the sensation of pain, as it is induced to permit performance of surgery or other painful procedures. [EU] Antioxidants: Naturally occurring or synthetic substances that inhibit or retard the oxidation of a substance to which it is added. They counteract the harmful and damaging effects of oxidation in animal tissues. [NIH] Carbohydrate: An aldehyde or ketone derivative of a polyhydric alcohol, particularly of the pentahydric and hexahydric alcohols. They are so named because the hydrogen and oxygen are usually in the proportion to form water, (CH2O)n. The most important carbohydrates are the starches, sugars, celluloses, and gums. They are classified into mono-, di-, tri-, poly- and heterosaccharides. [EU] Carnitine: Constituent of striated muscle and liver. It is used therapeutically to stimulate gastric and pancreatic secretions and in the treatment of hyperlipoproteinemias. [NIH] Cerebrovascular: Pertaining to the blood vessels of the cerebrum, or brain. [EU]
Diarrhea: Passage of excessively liquid or excessively frequent stools. [NIH] Hematology: A subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with morphology, physiology, and pathology of the blood and blood-forming tissues. [NIH] Iodine: A nonmetallic element of the halogen group that is represented by the atomic symbol I, atomic number 53, and atomic weight of 126.90. It is a nutritionally essential element, especially important in thyroid hormone synthesis. In solution, it has anti-infective properties and is used topically. [NIH]
Researching Nutrition 217
Niacin: Water-soluble vitamin of the B complex occurring in various animal and plant tissues. Required by the body for the formation of coenzymes NAD and NADP. Has pellagra-curative, vasodilating, and antilipemic properties. [NIH] Overdose: 1. to administer an excessive dose. 2. an excessive dose. [EU] Palliative: 1. affording relief, but not cure. 2. an alleviating medicine. [EU] Riboflavin: Nutritional factor found in milk, eggs, malted barley, liver, kidney, heart, and leafy vegetables. The richest natural source is yeast. It occurs in the free form only in the retina of the eye, in whey, and in urine; its principal forms in tissues and cells are as FMN and FAD. [NIH] Selenium: An element with the atomic symbol Se, atomic number 34, and atomic weight 78.96. It is an essential micronutrient for mammals and other animals but is toxic in large amounts. Selenium protects intracellular structures against oxidative damage. It is an essential component of glutathione peroxidase. [NIH] Thermoregulation: Heat regulation. [EU] Thyroxine: An amino acid of the thyroid gland which exerts a stimulating effect on thyroid metabolism. [NIH]
Finding Medical Libraries 219
APPENDIX D. FINDING MEDICAL LIBRARIES Overview At a medical library you can find medical texts and reference books, consumer health publications, specialty newspapers and magazines, as well as medical journals. In this Appendix, we show you how to quickly find a medical library in your area.
Preparation Before going to the library, highlight the references mentioned in this sourcebook that you find interesting. Focus on those items that are not available via the Internet, and ask the reference librarian for help with your search. He or she may know of additional resources that could be helpful to you. Most importantly, your local public library and medical libraries have Interlibrary Loan programs with the National Library of Medicine (NLM), one of the largest medical collections in the world. According to the NLM, most of the literature in the general and historical collections of the National Library of Medicine is available on interlibrary loan to any library. NLM’s interlibrary loan services are only available to libraries. If you would like to access NLM medical literature, then visit a library in your area that can request the publications for you.53
53
Adapted from the NLM: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/psd/cas/interlibrary.html.
220 Meningitis
Finding a Local Medical Library The quickest method to locate medical libraries is to use the Internet-based directory published by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM). This network includes 4626 members and affiliates that provide many services to librarians, health professionals, and the public. To find a library in your area, simply visit http://nnlm.gov/members/adv.html or call 1-800-338-7657.
Medical Libraries Open to the Public In addition to the NN/LM, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) lists a number of libraries that are generally open to the public and have reference facilities. The following is the NLM’s list plus hyperlinks to each library Web site. These Web pages can provide information on hours of operation and other restrictions. The list below is a small sample of libraries recommended by the National Library of Medicine (sorted alphabetically by name of the U.S. state or Canadian province where the library is located):54 ·
Alabama: Health InfoNet of Jefferson County (Jefferson County Library Cooperative, Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences), http://www.uab.edu/infonet/
·
Alabama: Richard M. Scrushy Library (American Sports Medicine Institute), http://www.asmi.org/LIBRARY.HTM
·
Arizona: Samaritan Regional Medical Center: The Learning Center (Samaritan Health System, Phoenix, Arizona), http://www.samaritan.edu/library/bannerlibs.htm
·
California: Kris Kelly Health Information Center (St. Joseph Health System), http://www.humboldt1.com/~kkhic/index.html
·
California: Community Health Library of Los Gatos (Community Health Library of Los Gatos), http://www.healthlib.org/orgresources.html
·
California: Consumer Health Program and Services (CHIPS) (County of Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Library) - Carson, CA, http://www.colapublib.org/services/chips.html
·
California: Gateway Health Library (Sutter Gould Medical Foundation)
·
California: Health Library (Stanford University Medical Center), http://www-med.stanford.edu/healthlibrary/
54
Abstracted from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/libraries.html.
Finding Medical Libraries 221
·
California: Patient Education Resource Center - Health Information and Resources (University of California, San Francisco), http://sfghdean.ucsf.edu/barnett/PERC/default.asp
·
California: Redwood Health Library (Petaluma Health Care District), http://www.phcd.org/rdwdlib.html
·
California: San José PlaneTree Health Library, http://planetreesanjose.org/
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California: Sutter Resource Library (Sutter Hospitals Foundation), http://go.sutterhealth.org/comm/resc-library/sac-resources.html
·
California: University of California, Davis. Health Sciences Libraries
·
California: ValleyCare Health Library & Ryan Comer Cancer Resource Center (ValleyCare Health System), http://www.valleycare.com/library.html
·
California: Washington Community Health Resource Library (Washington Community Health Resource Library), http://www.healthlibrary.org/
·
Colorado: William V. Gervasini Memorial Library (Exempla Healthcare), http://www.exempla.org/conslib.htm
·
Connecticut: Hartford Hospital Health Science Libraries (Hartford Hospital), http://www.harthosp.org/library/
·
Connecticut: Healthnet: Connecticut Consumer Health Information Center (University of Connecticut Health Center, Lyman Maynard Stowe Library), http://library.uchc.edu/departm/hnet/
·
Connecticut: Waterbury Hospital Health Center Library (Waterbury Hospital), http://www.waterburyhospital.com/library/consumer.shtml
·
Delaware: Consumer Health Library (Christiana Care Health System, Eugene du Pont Preventive Medicine & Rehabilitation Institute), http://www.christianacare.org/health_guide/health_guide_pmri_health _info.cfm
·
Delaware: Lewis B. Flinn Library (Delaware Academy of Medicine), http://www.delamed.org/chls.html
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Georgia: Family Resource Library (Medical College of Georgia), http://cmc.mcg.edu/kids_families/fam_resources/fam_res_lib/frl.htm
·
Georgia: Health Resource Center (Medical Center of Central Georgia), http://www.mccg.org/hrc/hrchome.asp
·
Hawaii: Hawaii Medical Library: Consumer Health Information Service (Hawaii Medical Library), http://hml.org/CHIS/
222 Meningitis
·
Idaho: DeArmond Consumer Health Library (Kootenai Medical Center), http://www.nicon.org/DeArmond/index.htm
·
Illinois: Health Learning Center of Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Health Learning Center), http://www.nmh.org/health_info/hlc.html
·
Illinois: Medical Library (OSF Saint Francis Medical Center), http://www.osfsaintfrancis.org/general/library/
·
Kentucky: Medical Library - Services for Patients, Families, Students & the Public (Central Baptist Hospital), http://www.centralbap.com/education/community/library.htm
·
Kentucky: University of Kentucky - Health Information Library (University of Kentucky, Chandler Medical Center, Health Information Library), http://www.mc.uky.edu/PatientEd/
·
Louisiana: Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation Library (Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation), http://www.ochsner.org/library/
·
Louisiana: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Medical Library-Shreveport, http://lib-sh.lsuhsc.edu/
·
Maine: Franklin Memorial Hospital Medical Library (Franklin Memorial Hospital), http://www.fchn.org/fmh/lib.htm
·
Maine: Gerrish-True Health Sciences Library (Central Maine Medical Center), http://www.cmmc.org/library/library.html
·
Maine: Hadley Parrot Health Science Library (Eastern Maine Healthcare), http://www.emh.org/hll/hpl/guide.htm
·
Maine: Maine Medical Center Library (Maine Medical Center), http://www.mmc.org/library/
·
Maine: Parkview Hospital, http://www.parkviewhospital.org/communit.htm#Library
·
Maine: Southern Maine Medical Center Health Sciences Library (Southern Maine Medical Center), http://www.smmc.org/services/service.php3?choice=10
·
Maine: Stephens Memorial Hospital Health Information Library (Western Maine Health), http://www.wmhcc.com/hil_frame.html
·
Manitoba, Canada: Consumer & Patient Health Information Service (University of Manitoba Libraries), http://www.umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/health/reference/chis.html
·
Manitoba, Canada: J.W. Crane Memorial Library (Deer Lodge Centre), http://www.deerlodge.mb.ca/library/libraryservices.shtml
Finding Medical Libraries 223
·
Maryland: Health Information Center at the Wheaton Regional Library (Montgomery County, Md., Dept. of Public Libraries, Wheaton Regional Library), http://www.mont.lib.md.us/healthinfo/hic.asp
·
Massachusetts: Baystate Medical Center Library (Baystate Health System), http://www.baystatehealth.com/1024/
·
Massachusetts: Boston University Medical Center Alumni Medical Library (Boston University Medical Center), http://medlibwww.bu.edu/library/lib.html
·
Massachusetts: Lowell General Hospital Health Sciences Library (Lowell General Hospital), http://www.lowellgeneral.org/library/HomePageLinks/WWW.htm
·
Massachusetts: Paul E. Woodard Health Sciences Library (New England Baptist Hospital), http://www.nebh.org/health_lib.asp
·
Massachusetts: St. Luke’s Hospital Health Sciences Library (St. Luke’s Hospital), http://www.southcoast.org/library/
·
Massachusetts: Treadwell Library Consumer Health Reference Center (Massachusetts General Hospital), http://www.mgh.harvard.edu/library/chrcindex.html
·
Massachusetts: UMass HealthNet (University of Massachusetts Medical School), http://healthnet.umassmed.edu/
·
Michigan: Botsford General Hospital Library - Consumer Health (Botsford General Hospital, Library & Internet Services), http://www.botsfordlibrary.org/consumer.htm
·
Michigan: Helen DeRoy Medical Library (Providence Hospital and Medical Centers), http://www.providence-hospital.org/library/
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Michigan: Marquette General Hospital - Consumer Health Library (Marquette General Hospital, Health Information Center), http://www.mgh.org/center.html
·
Michigan: Patient Education Resouce Center - University of Michigan Cancer Center (University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center), http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/learn/leares.htm
·
Michigan: Sladen Library & Center for Health Information Resources Consumer Health Information, http://www.sladen.hfhs.org/library/consumer/index.html
·
Montana: Center for Health Information (St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center), http://www.saintpatrick.org/chi/librarydetail.php3?ID=41
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·
National: Consumer Health Library Directory (Medical Library Association, Consumer and Patient Health Information Section), http://caphis.mlanet.org/directory/index.html
·
National: National Network of Libraries of Medicine (National Library of Medicine) - provides library services for health professionals in the United States who do not have access to a medical library, http://nnlm.gov/
·
National: NN/LM List of Libraries Serving the Public (National Network of Libraries of Medicine), http://nnlm.gov/members/
·
Nevada: Health Science Library, West Charleston Library (Las Vegas Clark County Library District), http://www.lvccld.org/special_collections/medical/index.htm
·
New Hampshire: Dartmouth Biomedical Libraries (Dartmouth College Library), http://www.dartmouth.edu/~biomed/resources.htmld/conshealth.htmld/
·
New Jersey: Consumer Health Library (Rahway Hospital), http://www.rahwayhospital.com/library.htm
·
New Jersey: Dr. Walter Phillips Health Sciences Library (Englewood Hospital and Medical Center), http://www.englewoodhospital.com/links/index.htm
·
New Jersey: Meland Foundation (Englewood Hospital and Medical Center), http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/9360/
·
New York: Choices in Health Information (New York Public Library) NLM Consumer Pilot Project participant, http://www.nypl.org/branch/health/links.html
·
New York: Health Information Center (Upstate Medical University, State University of New York), http://www.upstate.edu/library/hic/
·
New York: Health Sciences Library (Long Island Jewish Medical Center), http://www.lij.edu/library/library.html
·
New York: ViaHealth Medical Library (Rochester General Hospital), http://www.nyam.org/library/
·
Ohio: Consumer Health Library (Akron General Medical Center, Medical & Consumer Health Library), http://www.akrongeneral.org/hwlibrary.htm
·
Oklahoma: Saint Francis Health System Patient/Family Resource Center (Saint Francis Health System), http://www.sfhtulsa.com/patientfamilycenter/default.asp
Finding Medical Libraries 225
·
Oregon: Planetree Health Resource Center (Mid-Columbia Medical Center), http://www.mcmc.net/phrc/
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Pennsylvania: Community Health Information Library (Milton S. Hershey Medical Center), http://www.hmc.psu.edu/commhealth/
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Pennsylvania: Community Health Resource Library (Geisinger Medical Center), http://www.geisinger.edu/education/commlib.shtml
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Pennsylvania: HealthInfo Library (Moses Taylor Hospital), http://www.mth.org/healthwellness.html
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Pennsylvania: Hopwood Library (University of Pittsburgh, Health Sciences Library System), http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/chi/hhrcinfo.html
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Pennsylvania: Koop Community Health Information Center (College of Physicians of Philadelphia), http://www.collphyphil.org/kooppg1.shtml
·
Pennsylvania: Learning Resources Center - Medical Library (Susquehanna Health System), http://www.shscares.org/services/lrc/index.asp
·
Pennsylvania: Medical Library (UPMC Health System), http://www.upmc.edu/passavant/library.htm
·
Quebec, Canada: Medical Library (Montreal General Hospital), http://ww2.mcgill.ca/mghlib/
·
South Dakota: Rapid City Regional Hospital - Health Information Center (Rapid City Regional Hospital, Health Information Center), http://www.rcrh.org/education/LibraryResourcesConsumers.htm
·
Texas: Houston HealthWays (Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library), http://hhw.library.tmc.edu/
·
Texas: Matustik Family Resource Center (Cook Children’s Health Care System), http://www.cookchildrens.com/Matustik_Library.html
·
Washington: Community Health Library (Kittitas Valley Community Hospital), http://www.kvch.com/
·
Washington: Southwest Washington Medical Center Library (Southwest Washington Medical Center), http://www.swmedctr.com/Home/
Your Rights and Insurance 227
APPENDIX E. YOUR RIGHTS AND INSURANCE Overview Any patient with meningitis faces a series of issues related more to the healthcare industry than to the medical condition itself. This appendix covers two important topics in this regard: your rights and responsibilities as a patient, and how to get the most out of your medical insurance plan.
Your Rights as a Patient The President’s Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Healthcare Industry has created the following summary of your rights as a patient.55 Information Disclosure Consumers have the right to receive accurate, easily understood information. Some consumers require assistance in making informed decisions about health plans, health professionals, and healthcare facilities. Such information includes: ·
Health plans. Covered benefits, cost-sharing, and procedures for resolving complaints, licensure, certification, and accreditation status, comparable measures of quality and consumer satisfaction, provider network composition, the procedures that govern access to specialists and emergency services, and care management information.
55Adapted
from Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities: http://www.hcqualitycommission.gov/press/cbor.html#head1.
228 Meningitis
·
Health professionals. Education, board certification, and recertification, years of practice, experience performing certain procedures, and comparable measures of quality and consumer satisfaction.
·
Healthcare facilities. Experience in performing certain procedures and services, accreditation status, comparable measures of quality, worker, and consumer satisfaction, and procedures for resolving complaints.
·
Consumer assistance programs. Programs must be carefully structured to promote consumer confidence and to work cooperatively with health plans, providers, payers, and regulators. Desirable characteristics of such programs are sponsorship that ensures accountability to the interests of consumers and stable, adequate funding.
Choice of Providers and Plans Consumers have the right to a choice of healthcare providers that is sufficient to ensure access to appropriate high-quality healthcare. To ensure such choice, the Commission recommends the following: ·
Provider network adequacy. All health plan networks should provide access to sufficient numbers and types of providers to assure that all covered services will be accessible without unreasonable delay -including access to emergency services 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. If a health plan has an insufficient number or type of providers to provide a covered benefit with the appropriate degree of specialization, the plan should ensure that the consumer obtains the benefit outside the network at no greater cost than if the benefit were obtained from participating providers.
·
Women’s health services. Women should be able to choose a qualified provider offered by a plan -- such as gynecologists, certified nurse midwives, and other qualified healthcare providers -- for the provision of covered care necessary to provide routine and preventative women’s healthcare services.
·
Access to specialists. Consumers with complex or serious medical conditions who require frequent specialty care should have direct access to a qualified specialist of their choice within a plan’s network of providers. Authorizations, when required, should be for an adequate number of direct access visits under an approved treatment plan.
·
Transitional care. Consumers who are undergoing a course of treatment for a chronic or disabling condition (or who are in the second or third trimester of a pregnancy) at the time they involuntarily change health
Your Rights and Insurance 229
plans or at a time when a provider is terminated by a plan for other than cause should be able to continue seeing their current specialty providers for up to 90 days (or through completion of postpartum care) to allow for transition of care. ·
Choice of health plans. Public and private group purchasers should, wherever feasible, offer consumers a choice of high-quality health insurance plans.
Access to Emergency Services Consumers have the right to access emergency healthcare services when and where the need arises. Health plans should provide payment when a consumer presents to an emergency department with acute symptoms of sufficient severity--including severe pain--such that a “prudent layperson” could reasonably expect the absence of medical attention to result in placing that consumer’s health in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
Participation in Treatment Decisions Consumers have the right and responsibility to fully participate in all decisions related to their healthcare. Consumers who are unable to fully participate in treatment decisions have the right to be represented by parents, guardians, family members, or other conservators. Physicians and other health professionals should: ·
Provide patients with sufficient information and opportunity to decide among treatment options consistent with the informed consent process.
·
Discuss all treatment options with a patient in a culturally competent manner, including the option of no treatment at all.
·
Ensure that persons with disabilities have effective communications with members of the health system in making such decisions.
·
Discuss all current treatments a consumer may be undergoing.
·
Discuss all risks, nontreatment.
·
Give patients the opportunity to refuse treatment and to express preferences about future treatment decisions.
benefits,
and
consequences
to
treatment
or
230 Meningitis
·
Discuss the use of advance directives -- both living wills and durable powers of attorney for healthcare -- with patients and their designated family members.
·
Abide by the decisions made by their patients and/or their designated representatives consistent with the informed consent process.
Health plans, health providers, and healthcare facilities should: ·
Disclose to consumers factors -- such as methods of compensation, ownership of or interest in healthcare facilities, or matters of conscience -that could influence advice or treatment decisions.
·
Assure that provider contracts do not contain any so-called “gag clauses” or other contractual mechanisms that restrict healthcare providers’ ability to communicate with and advise patients about medically necessary treatment options.
·
Be prohibited from penalizing or seeking retribution against healthcare professionals or other health workers for advocating on behalf of their patients.
Respect and Nondiscrimination Consumers have the right to considerate, respectful care from all members of the healthcare industry at all times and under all circumstances. An environment of mutual respect is essential to maintain a quality healthcare system. To assure that right, the Commission recommends the following: ·
Consumers must not be discriminated against in the delivery of healthcare services consistent with the benefits covered in their policy, or as required by law, based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or source of payment.
·
Consumers eligible for coverage under the terms and conditions of a health plan or program, or as required by law, must not be discriminated against in marketing and enrollment practices based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or source of payment. Confidentiality of Health Information
Consumers have the right to communicate with healthcare providers in confidence and to have the confidentiality of their individually identifiable
Your Rights and Insurance 231
healthcare information protected. Consumers also have the right to review and copy their own medical records and request amendments to their records. Complaints and Appeals Consumers have the right to a fair and efficient process for resolving differences with their health plans, healthcare providers, and the institutions that serve them, including a rigorous system of internal review and an independent system of external review. A free copy of the Patient’s Bill of Rights is available from the American Hospital Association.56
Patient Responsibilities Treatment is a two-way street between you and your healthcare providers. To underscore the importance of finance in modern healthcare as well as your responsibility for the financial aspects of your care, the President’s Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Healthcare Industry has proposed that patients understand the following “Consumer Responsibilities.”57 In a healthcare system that protects consumers’ rights, it is reasonable to expect and encourage consumers to assume certain responsibilities. Greater individual involvement by the consumer in his or her care increases the likelihood of achieving the best outcome and helps support a quality-oriented, cost-conscious environment. Such responsibilities include: ·
Take responsibility for maximizing healthy habits such as exercising, not smoking, and eating a healthy diet.
·
Work collaboratively with healthcare providers in developing and carrying out agreed-upon treatment plans.
·
Disclose relevant information and clearly communicate wants and needs.
·
Use your health insurance plan’s internal complaint and appeal processes to address your concerns.
·
Avoid knowingly spreading disease.
To order your free copy of the Patient’s Bill of Rights, telephone 312-422-3000 or visit the American Hospital Association’s Web site: http://www.aha.org. Click on “Resource Center,” go to “Search” at bottom of page, and then type in “Patient’s Bill of Rights.” The Patient’s Bill of Rights is also available from Fax on Demand, at 312-422-2020, document number 471124. 57 Adapted from http://www.hcqualitycommission.gov/press/cbor.html#head1. 56
232 Meningitis
·
Recognize the reality of risks, the limits of the medical science, and the human fallibility of the healthcare professional.
·
Be aware of a healthcare provider’s obligation to be reasonably efficient and equitable in providing care to other patients and the community.
·
Become knowledgeable about your health plan’s coverage and options (when available) including all covered benefits, limitations, and exclusions, rules regarding use of network providers, coverage and referral rules, appropriate processes to secure additional information, and the process to appeal coverage decisions.
·
Show respect for other patients and health workers.
·
Make a good-faith effort to meet financial obligations.
·
Abide by administrative and operational procedures of health plans, healthcare providers, and Government health benefit programs.
Choosing an Insurance Plan There are a number of official government agencies that help consumers understand their healthcare insurance choices.58 The U.S. Department of Labor, in particular, recommends ten ways to make your health benefits choices work best for you.59 1. Your options are important. There are many different types of health benefit plans. Find out which one your employer offers, then check out the plan, or plans, offered. Your employer’s human resource office, the health plan administrator, or your union can provide information to help you match your needs and preferences with the available plans. The more information you have, the better your healthcare decisions will be. 2. Reviewing the benefits available. Do the plans offered cover preventive care, well-baby care, vision or dental care? Are there deductibles? Answers to these questions can help determine the out-of-pocket expenses you may face. Matching your needs and those of your family members will result in the best possible benefits. Cheapest may not always be best. Your goal is high quality health benefits.
More information about quality across programs is provided at the following AHRQ Web site: http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/qntascii/qnthplan.htm. 59 Adapted from the Department of Labor: http://www.dol.gov/dol/pwba/public/pubs/health/top10-text.html. 58
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3. Look for quality. The quality of healthcare services varies, but quality can be measured. You should consider the quality of healthcare in deciding among the healthcare plans or options available to you. Not all health plans, doctors, hospitals and other providers give the highest quality care. Fortunately, there is quality information you can use right now to help you compare your healthcare choices. Find out how you can measure quality. Consult the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publication “Your Guide to Choosing Quality Health Care” on the Internet at www.ahcpr.gov/consumer. 4. Your plan’s summary plan description (SPD) provides a wealth of information. Your health plan administrator can provide you with a copy of your plan’s SPD. It outlines your benefits and your legal rights under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the federal law that protects your health benefits. It should contain information about the coverage of dependents, what services will require a co-pay, and the circumstances under which your employer can change or terminate a health benefits plan. Save the SPD and all other health plan brochures and documents, along with memos or correspondence from your employer relating to health benefits. 5. Assess your benefit coverage as your family status changes. Marriage, divorce, childbirth or adoption, and the death of a spouse are all life events that may signal a need to change your health benefits. You, your spouse and dependent children may be eligible for a special enrollment period under provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Even without life-changing events, the information provided by your employer should tell you how you can change benefits or switch plans, if more than one plan is offered. If your spouse’s employer also offers a health benefits package, consider coordinating both plans for maximum coverage. 6. Changing jobs and other life events can affect your health benefits. Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), you, your covered spouse, and your dependent children may be eligible to purchase extended health coverage under your employer’s plan if you lose your job, change employers, get divorced, or upon occurrence of certain other events. Coverage can range from 18 to 36 months depending on your situation. COBRA applies to most employers with 20 or more workers and requires your plan to notify you of your rights. Most plans require eligible individuals to make their COBRA election within 60 days of the plan’s notice. Be sure to follow up with your plan sponsor if you don’t receive notice, and make sure you respond within the allotted time.
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7. HIPAA can also help if you are changing jobs, particularly if you have a medical condition. HIPAA generally limits pre-existing condition exclusions to a maximum of 12 months (18 months for late enrollees). HIPAA also requires this maximum period to be reduced by the length of time you had prior “creditable coverage.” You should receive a certificate documenting your prior creditable coverage from your old plan when coverage ends. 8. Plan for retirement. Before you retire, find out what health benefits, if any, extend to you and your spouse during your retirement years. Consult with your employer’s human resources office, your union, the plan administrator, and check your SPD. Make sure there is no conflicting information among these sources about the benefits you will receive or the circumstances under which they can change or be eliminated. With this information in hand, you can make other important choices, like finding out if you are eligible for Medicare and Medigap insurance coverage. 9. Know how to file an appeal if your health benefits claim is denied. Understand how your plan handles grievances and where to make appeals of the plan’s decisions. Keep records and copies of correspondence. Check your health benefits package and your SPD to determine who is responsible for handling problems with benefit claims. Contact PWBA for customer service assistance if you are unable to obtain a response to your complaint. 10. You can take steps to improve the quality of the healthcare and the health benefits you receive. Look for and use things like Quality Reports and Accreditation Reports whenever you can. Quality reports may contain consumer ratings -- how satisfied consumers are with the doctors in their plan, for instance-- and clinical performance measures -- how well a healthcare organization prevents and treats illness. Accreditation reports provide information on how accredited organizations meet national standards, and often include clinical performance measures. Look for these quality measures whenever possible. Consult “Your Guide to Choosing Quality Health Care” on the Internet at www.ahcpr.gov/consumer.
Medicare and Medicaid Illness strikes both rich and poor families. For low-income families, Medicaid is available to defer the costs of treatment. The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) administers Medicare, the nation’s largest health insurance program, which covers 39 million Americans. In the following pages, you will learn the basics about Medicare insurance as well as useful
Your Rights and Insurance 235
contact information on how to find more in-depth information about Medicaid.60
Who is Eligible for Medicare? Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years old and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. You might also qualify for coverage if you are under age 65 but have a disability or EndStage Renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant). Here are some simple guidelines: You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if: ·
You are already receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
·
You are eligible to receive Social Security or Railroad benefits but have not yet filed for them.
·
You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.
If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if: ·
You have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefit for 24 months.
·
You are a kidney dialysis or kidney transplant patient.
Medicare has two parts: ·
Part A (Hospital Insurance). Most people do not have to pay for Part A.
·
Part B (Medical Insurance). Most people pay monthly for Part B. Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Helps Pay For: Inpatient hospital care, care in critical access hospitals (small facilities that give limited outpatient and inpatient services to people in rural areas) and skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and some home healthcare.
This section has been adapted from the Official U.S. Site for Medicare Information: http://www.medicare.gov/Basics/Overview.asp.
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Cost: Most people get Part A automatically when they turn age 65. You do not have to pay a monthly payment called a premium for Part A because you or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while you were working. If you (or your spouse) did not pay Medicare taxes while you were working and you are age 65 or older, you still may be able to buy Part A. If you are not sure you have Part A, look on your red, white, and blue Medicare card. It will show “Hospital Part A” on the lower left corner of the card. You can also call the Social Security Administration toll free at 1-800-772-1213 or call your local Social Security office for more information about buying Part A. If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, call your local RRB office or 1-800-808-0772. For more information, call your Fiscal Intermediary about Part A bills and services. The phone number for the Fiscal Intermediary office in your area can be obtained from the following Web site: http://www.medicare.gov/Contacts/home.asp. Part B (Medical Insurance) Helps Pay For: Doctors, services, outpatient hospital care, and some other medical services that Part A does not cover, such as the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home healthcare. Part B helps pay for covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary. Cost: As of 2001, you pay the Medicare Part B premium of $50.00 per month. In some cases this amount may be higher if you did not choose Part B when you first became eligible at age 65. The cost of Part B may go up 10% for each 12-month period that you were eligible for Part B but declined coverage, except in special cases. You will have to pay the extra 10% cost for the rest of your life. Enrolling in Part B is your choice. You can sign up for Part B anytime during a 7-month period that begins 3 months before you turn 65. Visit your local Social Security office, or call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-7721213 to sign up. If you choose to enroll in Part B, the premium is usually taken out of your monthly Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement payment. If you do not receive any of the above payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your part B premium every 3 months. You should receive your Medicare premium bill in the mail by the 10th of the month. If you do not, call the Social Security Administration at 1800-772-1213, or your local Social Security office. If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, call your local RRB office or 1-800-808-0772. For more information, call your Medicare carrier about bills and services. The
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phone number for the Medicare carrier in your area can be found at the following Web site: http://www.medicare.gov/Contacts/home.asp. You may have choices in how you get your healthcare including the Original Medicare Plan, Medicare Managed Care Plans (like HMOs), and Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans.
Medicaid Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps pay medical costs for some people with low incomes and limited resources. Medicaid programs vary from state to state. People on Medicaid may also get coverage for nursing home care and outpatient prescription drugs which are not covered by Medicare. You can find more information about Medicaid on the HCFA.gov Web site at http://www.hcfa.gov/medicaid/medicaid.htm. States also have programs that pay some or all of Medicare’s premiums and may also pay Medicare deductibles and coinsurance for certain people who have Medicare and a low income. To qualify, you must have: ·
Part A (Hospital Insurance),
·
Assets, such as bank accounts, stocks, and bonds that are not more than $4,000 for a single person, or $6,000 for a couple, and
·
A monthly income that is below certain limits.
For more information on these programs, look at the Medicare Savings Programs brochure, http://www.medicare.gov/Library/PDFNavigation/PDFInterim.asp?Langua ge=English&Type=Pub&PubID=10126. There are also Prescription Drug Assistance Programs available. Find information on these programs which offer discounts or free medications to individuals in need at http://www.medicare.gov/Prescription/Home.asp.
NORD’s Medication Assistance Programs Finally, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. (NORD) administers medication programs sponsored by humanitarian-minded pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to help uninsured or underinsured individuals secure life-saving or life-sustaining drugs.61 NORD Adapted from NORD: http://www.rarediseases.org/cgibin/nord/progserv#patient?id=rPIzL9oD&mv_pc=30.
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programs ensure that certain vital drugs are available “to those individuals whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to pay for their prescribed medications.” The program has standards for fairness, equity, and unbiased eligibility. It currently covers some 14 programs for nine pharmaceutical companies. NORD also offers early access programs for investigational new drugs (IND) under the approved “Treatment INDs” programs of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In these programs, a limited number of individuals can receive investigational drugs that have yet to be approved by the FDA. These programs are generally designed for rare diseases or disorders. For more information, visit www.rarediseases.org.
Additional Resources In addition to the references already listed in this chapter, you may need more information on health insurance, hospitals, or the healthcare system in general. The NIH has set up an excellent guidance Web site that addresses these and other issues. Topics include:62 ·
Health Insurance: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthinsurance.html
·
Health Statistics: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthstatistics.html
·
HMO and Managed Care: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/managedcare.html
·
Hospice Care: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hospicecare.html
·
Medicaid: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/medicaid.html
·
Medicare: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/medicare.html
·
Nursing Homes and Long-term Care: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/nursinghomes.html
·
Patient’s Rights, Confidentiality, Informed Consent, Ombudsman Programs, Privacy and Patient Issues: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/patientissues.html
·
Veteran’s Health, Persian Gulf War, Gulf War Syndrome, Agent Orange: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/veteranshealth.html
You can access this information at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthsystem.html.
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Vocabulary Builder Analgesic: An agent that alleviates pain without causing loss of consciousness. [EU] Benign: Not malignant; not recurrent; favourable for recovery. [EU] Fontanelle: A soft spot, such as one of the membrane-covered spaces (fonticuli cranii) remaining in the incompletely ossified skull of a fetus or infant. [EU] Opisthotonos: A form of spasm in which the head and the heels are bent backward and the body bowed forward. [EU] Serology: The study of serum, especially of antigen-antibody reactions in vitro. [NIH] Shunt: 1. to turn to one side; to divert; to bypass. 2. a passage or anastomosis between two natural channels, especially between blood vessels. Such structures may be formed physiologically (e.g. to bypass a thrombosis) or they may be structural anomalies. 3. a surgically created anastomosis; also, the operation of forming a shunt. [EU]
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ONLINE GLOSSARIES The Internet provides access to a number of free-to-use medical dictionaries and glossaries. The National Library of Medicine has compiled the following list of online dictionaries: ·
ADAM Medical Encyclopedia (A.D.A.M., Inc.), comprehensive medical reference: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html
·
MedicineNet.com Medical Dictionary (MedicineNet, Inc.): http://www.medterms.com/Script/Main/hp.asp
·
Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary (Inteli-Health, Inc.): http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/
·
Multilingual Glossary of Technical and Popular Medical Terms in Eight European Languages (European Commission) - Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish: http://allserv.rug.ac.be/~rvdstich/eugloss/welcome.html
·
On-line Medical Dictionary (CancerWEB): http://www.graylab.ac.uk/omd/
·
Technology Glossary (National Library of Medicine) - Health Care Technology: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nichsr/ta101/ta10108.htm
·
Terms and Definitions (Office of Rare Diseases): http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/ord/glossary_a-e.html
Beyond these, MEDLINEplus contains a very user-friendly encyclopedia covering every aspect of medicine (licensed from A.D.A.M., Inc.). The ADAM Medical Encyclopedia Web site address is http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html. ADAM is also available on commercial Web sites such as drkoop.com (http://www.drkoop.com/) and Web MD (http://my.webmd.com/adam/asset/adam_disease_articles/a_to_z/a). Topics of interest can be researched by using keywords before continuing elsewhere, as these basic definitions and concepts will be useful in more advanced areas of research. You may choose to print various pages specifically relating to meningitis and keep them on file. The NIH, in particular, suggests that patients with meningitis visit the following Web sites in the ADAM Medical Encyclopedia: ·
Basic Guidelines for Meningitis
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Aseptic meningitis Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000614.htm Meningitis Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000680.htm Meningitis - cryptococcal Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000642.htm Meningitis - gram negative Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000610.htm Meningitis - H. influenza Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000612.htm Meningitis - meningococcal Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000608.htm Meningitis - pneumococcal Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000607.htm Meningitis - staphylococcal Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000613.htm Meningitis - tuberculous Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000650.htm ·
Signs & Symptoms for Meningitis Abdominal pain Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003120.htm
Online Glossaries 243
Agitation Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003212.htm Breathing, rapid Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003071.htm Chills Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003091.htm Confusion Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003205.htm Consciousness, decreased Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003202.htm Convulsions Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003200.htm Deafness Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003044.htm Drowsiness Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003208.htm Fatigue Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003088.htm Fever Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003090.htm
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Hallucinations Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003258.htm Headache Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003024.htm Hearing loss Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003044.htm Irritability Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003214.htm Irritability, Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003214.htm Lightheadedness Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003092.htm Loss of appetite Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003121.htm Loss of vision Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003040.htm Malaise Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003089.htm Mental Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003041.htm
Online Glossaries 245
Mental status change Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003205.htm Mental status changes Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003205.htm Muscle pain Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003178.htm Nausea and vomiting Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003117.htm Opisthotonos Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003195.htm Paralysis Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003190.htm Petechiae Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003235.htm Photophobia Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003041.htm Pinpoint red spots Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003235.htm Poor feeding Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003022.htm
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Rash Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003220.htm Seizures Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003200.htm Sensitivity to light Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003041.htm Sore throat Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003053.htm Status changes Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003205.htm Stiff neck Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003261.htm Swelling Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003103.htm Vomiting Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003117.htm ·
Diagnostics and Tests for Meningitis Biopsy Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003416.htm Blood culture Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003744.htm
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Chest X-ray Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003804.htm CSF cell count Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003625.htm CSF cell count. Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003625.htm CSF culture Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003769.htm CSF glucose Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003633.htm CSF glucose measurement Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003633.htm CT Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003330.htm Gram-stain and culture of CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003769.htm Head CT scan Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003786.htm Lumbar puncture Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003428.htm
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Serology Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003511.htm X-ray Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003337.htm ·
Surgery and Procedures for Meningitis Shunt Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003019.htm
·
Background Topics for Meningitis Acute Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002215.htm Alcohol use Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001944.htm Analgesic Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002123.htm Antigen Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002224.htm Benign Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002236.htm Bleeding Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000045.htm
Online Glossaries 249
Fontanelles Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002320.htm Incidence Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002387.htm Injury or trauma to the head Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000028.htm Injury to the head Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000028.htm Intravenous Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002383.htm Respiratory Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002290.htm Shock Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000039.htm Systemic Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002294.htm
Online Dictionary Directories The following are additional online directories compiled by the National Library of Medicine, including a number of specialized medical dictionaries and glossaries: ·
Medical Dictionaries: Medical & Biological (World Health Organization): http://www.who.int/hlt/virtuallibrary/English/diction.htm#Medical
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·
MEL-Michigan Electronic Library List of Online Health and Medical Dictionaries (Michigan Electronic Library): http://mel.lib.mi.us/health/health-dictionaries.html
·
Patient Education: Glossaries (DMOZ Open Directory Project): http://dmoz.org/Health/Education/Patient_Education/Glossaries/
·
Web of Online Dictionaries (Bucknell University): http://www.yourdictionary.com/diction5.html#medicine
Glossary 251
MENINGITIS GLOSSARY The following is a complete glossary of terms used in this sourcebook. The definitions are derived from official public sources including the National Institutes of Health [NIH] and the European Union [EU]. After this glossary, we list a number of additional hardbound and electronic glossaries and dictionaries that you may wish to consult. Abortion: 1. the premature expulsion from the uterus of the products of conception - of the embryo, or of a nonviable fetus. The four classic symptoms, usually present in each type of abortion, are uterine contractions, uterine haemorrhage, softening and dilatation of the cervix, and presentation or expulsion of all or part of the products of conception. 2. premature stoppage of a natural or a pathological process. [EU] Abscess: A localized collection of pus caused by suppuration buried in tissues, organs, or confined spaces. [EU] Acetaminophen: Analgesic antipyretic derivative of acetanilide. It has weak anti-inflammatory properties and is used as a common analgesic, but may cause liver, blood cell, and kidney damage. [NIH] Acetylcholine: A neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine in vertebrates is the major transmitter at neuromuscular junctions, autonomic ganglia, parasympathetic effector junctions, a subset of sympathetic effector junctions, and at many sites in the central nervous system. It is generally not used as an administered drug because it is broken down very rapidly by cholinesterases, but it is useful in some ophthalmological applications. [NIH] ACTH: Adrenocorticotropic hormone. [EU] Adenocarcinoma: organization. [NIH]
A malignant epithelial tumor with a glandular
Adjuvant: A substance which aids another, such as an auxiliary remedy; in immunology, nonspecific stimulator (e.g., BCG vaccine) of the immune response. [EU] Agammaglobulinemia: An immunologic deficiency state characterized by an extremely low level of generally all classes of gamma-globulin in the blood. [NIH] Agonist: In anatomy, a prime mover. In pharmacology, a drug that has affinity for and stimulates physiologic activity at cell receptors normally stimulated by naturally occurring substances. [EU] Amikacin: A broad-spectrum antibiotic derived from KANAMYCIN. It is reno- and ototoxic like the other aminoglycoside antibiotics. [NIH]
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Amnesia: Lack or loss of memory; inability to remember past experiences. [EU]
Amoxicillin: A broad-spectrum semisynthetic antibiotic similar to ampicillin except that its resistance to gastric acid permits higher serum levels with oral administration. [NIH] Ampicillin: Semi-synthetic derivative of penicillin that functions as an orally active broad-spectrum antibiotic. [NIH] Anaesthesia: Loss of feeling or sensation. Although the term is used for loss of tactile sensibility, or of any of the other senses, it is applied especially to loss of the sensation of pain, as it is induced to permit performance of surgery or other painful procedures. [EU] Analgesic: An agent that alleviates pain without causing loss of consciousness. [EU] Analogous: Resembling or similar in some respects, as in function or appearance, but not in origin or development;. [EU] Anemia: A reduction in the number of circulating erythrocytes or in the quantity of hemoglobin. [NIH] Anorexia: Lack or loss of the appetite for food. [EU] Anoxia: A total lack of oxygen; often used interchangeably with hypoxia to mean a reduced supply of oxygen to the tissues. [EU] Anthrax: An infectious bacterial zoonotic disease usually acquired by ingestion of Bacillus anthracis or its spores from infected pastures by herbivores or indirectly from infected carcasses by carnivores. It is transmitted to humans usually by contact with infected animals or their discharges (agricultural a.) or with contaminated animal products (industrial a.). Anthrax is classified by primary routes of inoculation as : cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational. Called also charbon, milzbrand and splenic fever. [EU] Antibiotic: A chemical substance produced by a microorganism which has the capacity, in dilute solutions, to inhibit the growth of or to kill other microorganisms. Antibiotics that are sufficiently nontoxic to the host are used as chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of infectious diseases of man, animals and plants. [EU] Antibody: An immunoglobulin molecule that has a specific amino acid sequence by virtue of which it interacts only with the antigen that induced its synthesis in cells of the lymphoid series (especially plasma cells), or with antigen closely related to it. Antibodies are classified according to their ode of action as agglutinins, bacteriolysins, haemolysins, opsonins, precipitins, etc. [EU] Antidepressant: An agent that stimulates the mood of a depressed patient,
Glossary 253
including tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. [EU] Antifungal: Destructive to fungi, or suppressing their reproduction or growth; effective against fungal infections. [EU] Antigens: Substances that are recognized by the immune system and induce an immune reaction. [NIH] Antihistamine: A drug that counteracts the action of histamine. The antihistamines are of two types. The conventional ones, as those used in allergies, block the H1 histamine receptors, whereas the others block the H2 receptors. Called also antihistaminic. [EU] Antihypertensive: An agent that reduces high blood pressure. [EU] Antimicrobial: Killing microorganisms, or suppressing their multiplication or growth. [EU] Antineoplastic: Inhibiting or preventing the development of neoplasms, checking the maturation and proliferation of malignant cells. [EU] Antioxidant: One of many widely used synthetic or natural substances added to a product to prevent or delay its deterioration by action of oxygen in the air. Rubber, paints, vegetable oils, and prepared foods commonly contain antioxidants. [EU] Anxiety: The unpleasant emotional state consisting of psychophysiological responses to anticipation of unreal or imagined danger, ostensibly resulting from unrecognized intrapsychic conflict. Physiological concomitants include increased heart rate, altered respiration rate, sweating, trembling, weakness, and fatigue; psychological concomitants include feelings of impending danger, powerlessness, apprehension, and tension. [EU] Apathy: Lack of feeling or emotion; indifference. [EU] Arrhythmia: Any variation from the normal rhythm of the heart beat, including sinus arrhythmia, premature beat, heart block, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, pulsus alternans, and paroxysmal tachycardia. [EU] Arterial: Pertaining to an artery or to the arteries. [EU] Aseptic: Free from infection or septic material; sterile. [EU] Aspergillosis: Infections with fungi of the genus aspergillus. [NIH] Assay: Determination of the amount of a particular constituent of a mixture, or of the biological or pharmacological potency of a drug. [EU] Asymptomatic: Showing or causing no symptoms. [EU] Ataxia: Failure of muscular coordination; irregularity of muscular action. [EU]
Atypical: Irregular; not conformable to the type; in microbiology, applied specifically to strains of unusual type. [EU]
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Audiology: The study of hearing and hearing impairment. [NIH] Audiometry: The testing of the acuity of the sense of hearing to determine the thresholds of the lowest intensity levels at which an individual can hear a set of tones. The frequencies between 125 and 8000 Hz are used to test air conduction thresholds and the frequencies between 250 and 4000 Hz are used to test bone conduction thresholds. [NIH] Auditory: Pertaining to the sense of hearing. [EU] Autonomic: Self-controlling; functionally independent. [EU] Azithromycin: A semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic structurally related to erythromycin. It has been used in the treatment of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infections, toxoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis. [NIH] Bacteremia: The presence of viable bacteria circulating in the blood. Fever, chills, tachycardia, and tachypnea are common acute manifestations of bacteremia. The majority of cases are seen in already hospitalized patients, most of whom have underlying diseases or procedures which render their bloodstreams susceptible to invasion. [NIH] Bacteriostatic: 1. inhibiting the growth or multiplication of bacteria. 2. an agent that inhibits the growth or multiplication of bacteria. [EU] Barotrauma: Injury following pressure changes; includes injury to the eustachian tube, ear drum, lung and stomach. [NIH] Beauty: Characteristics or attributes of persons or things which elicit pleasurable feelings. [NIH] Benign: Not malignant; not recurrent; favourable for recovery. [EU] Bilateral: Having two sides, or pertaining to both sides. [EU] Biochemical: Relating to biochemistry; characterized by, produced by, or involving chemical reactions in living organisms. [EU] Biopsy: The removal and examination, usually microscopic, of tissue from the living body, performed to establish precise diagnosis. [EU] Bioterrorism: The use of biological agents in terrorism. This includes the malevolent use of bacteria, viruses, or toxins against people, animals, or plants. [NIH] Bronchitis: Inflammation of one or more bronchi. [EU] Candidiasis: Infection with a fungus of the genus Candida. It is usually a superficial infection of the moist cutaneous areas of the body, and is generally caused by C. albicans; it most commonly involves the skin (dermatocandidiasis), oral mucous membranes (thrush, def. 1), respiratory tract (bronchocandidiasis), and vagina (vaginitis). Rarely there is a systemic infection or endocarditis. Called also moniliasis, candidosis, oidiomycosis, and formerly blastodendriosis. [EU]
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Capillary: Any one of the minute vessels that connect the arterioles and venules, forming a network in nearly all parts of the body. Their walls act as semipermeable membranes for the interchange of various substances, including fluids, between the blood and tissue fluid; called also vas capillare. [EU]
Capsules: Hard or soft soluble containers used for the oral administration of medicine. [NIH] Carbohydrate: An aldehyde or ketone derivative of a polyhydric alcohol, particularly of the pentahydric and hexahydric alcohols. They are so named because the hydrogen and oxygen are usually in the proportion to form water, (CH2O)n. The most important carbohydrates are the starches, sugars, celluloses, and gums. They are classified into mono-, di-, tri-, poly- and heterosaccharides. [EU] Carcinoma: A malignant new growth made up of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate the surrounding tissues and give rise to metastases. [EU] Cardiovascular: Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels. [EU] Carnitine: Constituent of striated muscle and liver. It is used therapeutically to stimulate gastric and pancreatic secretions and in the treatment of hyperlipoproteinemias. [NIH] Catalase: An oxidoreductase that catalyzes the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. It is present in many animal cells. A deficiency of this enzyme results in acatalasia. EC 1.11.1.6. [NIH] Catheter: A tubular, flexible, surgical instrument for withdrawing fluids from (or introducing fluids into) a cavity of the body, especially one for introduction into the bladder through the urethra for the withdraw of urine. [EU]
Ceftazidime: Semisynthetic, broad-spectrum antibacterial derived from cephaloridine and used especially for Pseudomonas and other gramnegative infections in debilitated patients. [NIH] Cefuroxime: Broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic resistant to betalactamase. It has been proposed for infections with gram-negative and grampositive organisms, gonorrhea, and haemophilus. [NIH] Cerebrospinal: Pertaining to the brain and spinal cord. [EU] Cerebrovascular: Pertaining to the blood vessels of the cerebrum, or brain. [EU]
Chemotaxis: The movement of cells or organisms toward or away from a substance in response to its concentration gradient. [NIH] Chemotherapy: The treatment of disease by means of chemicals that have a specific toxic effect upon the disease - producing microorganisms or that selectively destroy cancerous tissue. [EU]
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Cholera: An acute diarrheal disease endemic in India and Southeast Asia whose causative agent is vibrio cholerae. This condition can lead to severe dehydration in a matter of hours unless quickly treated. [NIH] Cholesteatoma: A non-neoplastic keratinizing mass with stratified squamous epithelium, frequently occurring in the meninges, central nervous system, bones of the skull, and most commonly in the middle ear and mastoid region. [NIH] Cholesterol: The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils. [NIH] Cisplatin: An inorganic and water-soluble platinum complex. After undergoing hydrolysis, it reacts with DNA to produce both intra and interstrand crosslinks. These crosslinks appear to impair replication and transcription of DNA. The cytotoxicity of cisplatin correlates with cellular arrest in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. [NIH] Clindamycin: An antibacterial agent that is a semisynthetic analog of lincomycin. [NIH] Clotrimazole: An imidazole derivative with a broad spectrum of antimycotic activity. It inhibits biosynthesis of the sterol ergostol, an important component of fungal cell membranes. Its action leads to increased membrane permeability and apparent disruption of enzyme systems bound to the membrane. [NIH] Coagulation: 1. the process of clot formation. 2. in colloid chemistry, the solidification of a sol into a gelatinous mass; an alteration of a disperse phase or of a dissolved solid which causes the separation of the system into a liquid phase and an insoluble mass called the clot or curd. Coagulation is usually irreversible. 3. in surgery, the disruption of tissue by physical means to form an amorphous residuum, as in electrocoagulation and photocoagulation. [EU] Colorectal: Pertaining to or affecting the colon and rectum. [EU] Congestion: Excessive or abnormal accumulation of blood in a part. [EU] Conjugated: Acting or operating as if joined; simultaneous. [EU] Convulsion: A violent involuntary contraction or series of contractions of the voluntary muscles. [EU] Coronary: Encircling in the manner of a crown; a term applied to vessels; nerves, ligaments, etc. The term usually denotes the arteries that supply the heart muscle and, by extension, a pathologic involvement of them. [EU] Cortical: Pertaining to or of the nature of a cortex or bark. [EU] Counterimmunoelectrophoresis: Immunoelectrophoresis in which immunoprecipitation occurs when antigen at the cathode is caused to migrate in an electric field through a suitable medium of diffusion against a
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stream of antibody migrating from the anode as a result of endosmotic flow. [NIH]
Cryptococcosis: Infection with a fungus of the species cryptococcus neoformans. [NIH] Cryptococcus: A mitosporic Tremellales fungal genus whose species usually have a capsule and do not form pseudomycellium. Teleomorphs include Filobasidiella and Fidobasidium. [NIH] Cryptosporidiosis: Parasitic intestinal infection with severe diarrhea caused by a protozoan, cryptosporidium. It occurs in both animals and humans. [NIH] Cysteine: A thiol-containing non-essential amino acid that is oxidized to form cystine. [NIH] Cytokines: Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some non-leukocytic cells, that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner. [NIH] Cytomegalovirus: A genus of the family herpesviridae, subfamily betaherpesvirinae, infecting the salivary glands, liver, spleen, lungs, eyes, and other organs, in which they produce characteristically enlarged cells with intranuclear inclusions. Infection with Cytomegalovirus is also seen as an opportunistic infection in AIDS. [NIH] Decongestant: An agent that reduces congestion or swelling. [EU] Degenerative: Undergoing degeneration : tending to degenerate; having the character of or involving degeneration; causing or tending to cause degeneration. [EU] Delusions: A false belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that persists despite the facts, and is not considered tenable by one's associates. [NIH] Dementia: An acquired organic mental disorder with loss of intellectual abilities of sufficient severity to interfere with social or occupational functioning. The dysfunction is multifaceted and involves memory, behavior, personality, judgment, attention, spatial relations, language, abstract thought, and other executive functions. The intellectual decline is usually progressive, and initially spares the level of consciousness. [NIH] Deprivation: Loss or absence of parts, organs, powers, or things that are needed. [EU] Diarrhea: Passage of excessively liquid or excessively frequent stools. [NIH] Doxorubicin: Antineoplastic antibiotic obtained from Streptomyces peucetics. It is a hydroxy derivative of daunorubicin and is used in treatment of both leukemia and solid tumors. [NIH]
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Dysmenorrhea: Painful menstruation. [NIH] Dyspepsia: Impairment of the power of function of digestion; usually applied to epigastric discomfort following meals. [EU] Dysplasia: Abnormality of development; in pathology, alteration in size, shape, and organization of adult cells. [EU] Dyspnea: Difficult or labored breathing. [NIH] Edema: Excessive amount of watery fluid accumulated in the intercellular spaces, most commonly present in subcutaneous tissue. [NIH] Effusion: The escape of fluid into a part or tissue, as an exudation or a transudation. [EU] Electroencephalography: The recording of the electric currents developed in the brain, by means of electrodes applied to the scalp, to the surface of the brain (intracranial e.) or placed within the substance of the brain (depth e.). [EU]
Electrophoresis: An electrochemical process in which macromolecules or colloidal particles with a net electric charge migrate in a solution under the influence of an electric current. [NIH] Emphysema: A pathological accumulation of air in tissues or organs; applied especially to such a condition of the lungs. [EU] Empyema: Accumulation of pus in a cavity of the body; when used without a descriptive qualifier, it refers to thoracic empyema (q.v.). [EU] Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain. [EU] Endemic: Present or usually prevalent in a population or geographical area at all times; said of a disease or agent. Called also endemial. [EU] Endocarditis: Exudative and proliferative inflammatory alterations of the endocardium, characterized by the presence of vegetations on the surface of the endocardium or in the endocardium itself, and most commonly involving a heart valve, but sometimes affecting the inner lining of the cardiac chambers or the endocardium elsewhere. It may occur as a primary disorder or as a complication of or in association with another disease. [EU] Endothelium: The layer of epithelial cells that lines the cavities of the heart and of the blood and lymph vessels, and the serous cavities of the body, originating from the mesoderm. [EU] Enzyme: A protein molecule that catalyses chemical reactions of other substances without itself being destroyed or altered upon completion of the reactions. Enzymes are classified according to the recommendations of the Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry. Each enzyme is assigned a recommended name and an Enzyme Commission (EC) number. They are divided into six main groups; oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, and ligases. [EU]
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Epidemic: Occurring suddenly in numbers clearly in excess of normal expectancy; said especially of infectious diseases but applied also to any disease, injury, or other health-related event occurring in such outbreaks. [EU] Epidemiological: Relating to, or involving epidemiology. [EU] Epidural: Situated upon or outside the dura mater. [EU] Erection: The condition of being made rigid and elevated; as erectile tissue when filled with blood. [EU] Erythromycin: A bacteriostatic antibiotic substance produced by Streptomyces erythreus. Erythromycin A is considered its major active component. In sensitive organisms, it inhibits protein synthesis by binding to 50S ribosomal subunits. This binding process inhibits peptidyl transferase activity and interferes with translocation of amino acids during translation and assembly of proteins. [NIH] Escherichia: A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria whose organisms occur in the lower part of the intestine of warmblooded animals. The species are either nonpathogenic or opportunistic pathogens. [NIH] Etoposide: A semisynthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin that exhibits antitumor activity. Etoposide inhibits DNA synthesis by forming a complex with topoisomerase II and DNA. This complex induces breaks in double stranded DNA and prevents repair by topoisomerase II binding. Accumulated breaks in DNA prevent entry into the mitotic phase of cell division, and lead to cell death. Etoposide acts primarily in the G2 and S phases of the cell cycle. [NIH] Extrapyramidal: Outside of the pyramidal tracts. [EU] Fatigue: The state of weariness following a period of exertion, mental or physical, characterized by a decreased capacity for work and reduced efficiency to respond to stimuli. [NIH] Febrile: Pertaining to or characterized by fever. [EU] Feces: The excrement discharged from the intestines, consisting of bacteria, cells exfoliated from the intestines, secretions, chiefly of the liver, and a small amount of food residue. [EU] Fibrosis: The formation of fibrous tissue; fibroid or fibrous degeneration [EU] Fistula: An abnormal passage or communication, usually between two internal organs, or leading from an internal organ to the surface of the body; frequently designated according to the organs or parts with which it communicates, as anovaginal, brochocutaneous, hepatopleural, pulmonoperitoneal, rectovaginal, urethrovaginal, and the like. Such passages are frequently created experimentally for the purpose of obtaining body secretions for physiologic study. [EU]
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Flexion: In gynaecology, a displacement of the uterus in which the organ is bent so far forward or backward that an acute angle forms between the fundus and the cervix. [EU] Fluconazole: Triazole antifungal agent that is used to treat oropharyngeal candidiasis and cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS. [NIH] Flucytosine: A fluorinated cytosine analog that is used as an antifungal agent. [NIH] Fluoxetine: The first highly specific serotonin uptake inhibitor. It is used as an antidepressant and often has a more acceptable side-effects profile than traditional antidepressants. [NIH] Fontanelle: A soft spot, such as one of the membrane-covered spaces (fonticuli cranii) remaining in the incompletely ossified skull of a fetus or infant. [EU] Formularies: Lists of drugs or collections of recipes, formulas, and prescriptions for the compounding of medicinal preparations. Formularies differ from pharmacopoeias in that they are less complete, lacking full descriptions of the drugs, their formulations, analytic composition, chemical properties, etc. In hospitals, formularies list all drugs commonly stocked in the hospital pharmacy. [NIH] Fungus: A general term used to denote a group of eukaryotic protists, including mushrooms, yeasts, rusts, moulds, smuts, etc., which are characterized by the absence of chlorophyll and by the presence of a rigid cell wall composed of chitin, mannans, and sometimes cellulose. They are usually of simple morphological form or show some reversible cellular specialization, such as the formation of pseudoparenchymatous tissue in the fruiting body of a mushroom. The dimorphic fungi grow, according to environmental conditions, as moulds or yeasts. [EU] Fusarium: A mitosporic Hypocreales fungal genus, various species of which are important parasitic pathogens of plants and a variety of vertebrates. Teleomorphs include gibberella. [NIH] Ganglion: 1. a knot, or knotlike mass. 2. a general term for a group of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system; occasionally applied to certain nuclear groups within the brain or spinal cord, e.g. basal ganglia. 3. a benign cystic tumour occurring on a aponeurosis or tendon, as in the wrist or dorsum of the foot; it consists of a thin fibrous capsule enclosing a clear mucinous fluid. [EU] Gastroduodenal: Pertaining to or communicating with the stomach and duodenum, as a gastroduodenal fistula. [EU] Gastrointestinal: Pertaining to or communicating with the stomach and intestine, as a gastrointestinal fistula. [EU]
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Genotype: The genetic constitution of the individual; the characterization of the genes. [NIH] Glucose: D-glucose, a monosaccharide (hexose), C6H12O6, also known as dextrose (q.v.), found in certain foodstuffs, especially fruits, and in the normal blood of all animals. It is the end product of carbohydrate metabolism and is the chief source of energy for living organisms, its utilization being controlled by insulin. Excess glucose is converted to glycogen and stored in the liver and muscles for use as needed and, beyond that, is converted to fat and stored as adipose tissue. Glucose appears in the urine in diabetes mellitus. [EU] Gonorrhea: Acute infectious disease characterized by primary invasion of the urogenital tract. The etiologic agent, neisseria gonorrhoeae, was isolated by Neisser in 1879. [NIH] Haemophilus: A genus of pasteurellaceae that consists of several species occurring in animals and humans. Its organisms are described as gramnegative, facultatively anaerobic, coccobacillus or rod-shaped, and nonmotile. [NIH] Hematology: A subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with morphology, physiology, and pathology of the blood and blood-forming tissues. [NIH] Hematoma: tissue. [NIH]
An extravasation of blood localized in an organ, space, or
Hemoperitoneum: Hemorrhage into the peritoneal cavity. [NIH] Hemorrhage: Bleeding or escape of blood from a vessel. [NIH] Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver. [EU] Heredity: 1. the genetic transmission of a particular quality or trait from parent to offspring. 2. the genetic constitution of an individual. [EU] Herpes: Any inflammatory skin disease caused by a herpesvirus and characterized by the formation of clusters of small vesicles. When used alone, the term may refer to herpes simplex or to herpes zoster. [EU] Homologous: Corresponding in structure, position, origin, etc., as (a) the feathers of a bird and the scales of a fish, (b) antigen and its specific antibody, (c) allelic chromosomes. [EU] Hormones: Chemical substances having a specific regulatory effect on the activity of a certain organ or organs. The term was originally applied to substances secreted by various endocrine glands and transported in the bloodstream to the target organs. It is sometimes extended to include those substances that are not produced by the endocrine glands but that have similar effects. [NIH]
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Hydrocephalus: A condition marked by dilatation of the cerebral ventricles, most often occurring secondarily to obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways, and accompanied by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the skull; the fluid is usually under increased pressure, but occasionally may be normal or nearly so. It is typically characterized by enlargement of the head, prominence of the forehead, brain atrophy, mental deterioration, and convulsions; may be congenital or acquired; and may be of sudden onset (acute h.) or be slowly progressive (chronic or primary b.). [EU]
Hyperbilirubinemia: Pathologic process consisting of an abnormal increase in the amount of bilirubin in the circulating blood, which may result in jaundice. [NIH] Hypertension: Persistently high arterial blood pressure. Various criteria for its threshold have been suggested, ranging from 140 mm. Hg systolic and 90 mm. Hg diastolic to as high as 200 mm. Hg systolic and 110 mm. Hg diastolic. Hypertension may have no known cause (essential or idiopathic h.) or be associated with other primary diseases (secondary h.). [EU] Hypothyroidism: Deficiency of thyroid activity. In adults, it is most common in women and is characterized by decrease in basal metabolic rate, tiredness and lethargy, sensitivity to cold, and menstrual disturbances. If untreated, it progresses to full-blown myxoedema. In infants, severe hypothyroidism leads to cretinism. In juveniles, the manifestations are intermediate, with less severe mental and developmental retardation and only mild symptoms of the adult form. When due to pituitary deficiency of thyrotropin secretion it is called secondary hypothyroidism. [EU] Hypoxia: Reduction of oxygen supply to tissue below physiological levels despite adequate perfusion of the tissue by blood. [EU] Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent with analgesic properties used in the therapy of rheumatism and arthritis. [NIH] Idiopathic: Of the nature of an idiopathy; self-originated; of unknown causation. [EU] Immunization: The induction of immunity. [EU] Immunochemistry: Field of chemistry that pertains to immunological phenomena and the study of chemical reactions related to antigen stimulation of tissues. It includes physicochemical interactions between antigens and antibodies. [NIH] Implantation: The insertion or grafting into the body of biological, living, inert, or radioactive material. [EU] Incision: 1. cleft, cut, gash. 2. an act or action of incising. [EU] Incus: One of three ossicles of the middle ear. It conducts sound vibrations
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from the malleus to the stapes. [NIH] Indicative: That indicates; that points out more or less exactly; that reveals fairly clearly. [EU] Induction: The act or process of inducing or causing to occur, especially the production of a specific morphogenetic effect in the developing embryo through the influence of evocators or organizers, or the production of anaesthesia or unconsciousness by use of appropriate agents. [EU] Infarction: 1. the formation of an infarct. 2. an infarct. [EU] Inflammation: A pathological process characterized by injury or destruction of tissues caused by a variety of cytologic and chemical reactions. It is usually manifested by typical signs of pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. [NIH] Infusion: The therapeutic introduction of a fluid other than blood, as saline solution, solution, into a vein. [EU] Inpatients: Persons admitted to health facilities which provide board and room, for the purpose of observation, care, diagnosis or treatment. [NIH] Insulin: A protein hormone secreted by beta cells of the pancreas. Insulin plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, generally promoting the cellular utilization of glucose. It is also an important regulator of protein and lipid metabolism. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulindependent diabetes mellitus. [NIH] Intoxication: Poisoning, the state of being poisoned. [EU] Intramuscular: Within the substance of a muscle. [EU] Intrathecal: Within a sheath. [EU] Intravenous: Within a vein or veins. [EU] Invasive: 1. having the quality of invasiveness. 2. involving puncture or incision of the skin or insertion of an instrument or foreign material into the body; said of diagnostic techniques. [EU] Iodine: A nonmetallic element of the halogen group that is represented by the atomic symbol I, atomic number 53, and atomic weight of 126.90. It is a nutritionally essential element, especially important in thyroid hormone synthesis. In solution, it has anti-infective properties and is used topically. [NIH]
Ipratropium: A muscarinic antagonist structurally related to ATROPINE but often considered safer and more effective for inhalation use. It is used for various bronchial disorders, in rhinitis, and as an antiarrhythmic. [NIH] Ischemia: Deficiency of blood in a part, due to functional constriction or actual obstruction of a blood vessel. [EU] Itraconazole: An antifungal agent that has been used in the treatment of
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histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, cryptococcal meningitis, and aspergillosis. [NIH]
Ketoconazole: Broad spectrum antifungal agent used for long periods at high doses, especially in immunosuppressed patients. [NIH] Ketorolac Tromethamine: A pyrrolizine carboxylic acid derivative structurally related to indomethacin. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent used for analgesia for postoperative pain and inhibits cyclooxygenase activity. [NIH] Labyrinthitis: Inflammation of the inner ear. [NIH] Lesion: Any pathological or traumatic discontinuity of tissue or loss of function of a part. [EU] LH: A small glycoprotein hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary. LH plays an important role in controlling ovulation and in controlling secretion of hormones by the ovaries and testes. [NIH] Ligament: A band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or cartilages, serving to support and strengthen joints. [EU] Lipid: Any of a heterogeneous group of flats and fatlike substances characterized by being water-insoluble and being extractable by nonpolar (or fat) solvents such as alcohol, ether, chloroform, benzene, etc. All contain as a major constituent aliphatic hydrocarbons. The lipids, which are easily stored in the body, serve as a source of fuel, are an important constituent of cell structure, and serve other biological functions. Lipids may be considered to include fatty acids, neutral fats, waxes, and steroids. Compound lipids comprise the glycolipids, lipoproteins, and phospholipids. [EU] Liposome: A spherical particle in an aqueous medium, formed by a lipid bilayer enclosing an aqueous compartment. [EU] Lumen: The cavity or channel within a tube or tubular organ. [EU] Lymphadenopathy: Disease of the lymph nodes. [EU] Lymphocytic: Pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of lymphocytes. [EU] Lymphoma: Any neoplastic disorder of the lymphoid tissue, the term lymphoma often is used alone to denote malignant lymphoma. [EU] Malaise: A vague feeling of bodily discomfort. [EU] Malformation: A morphologic defect resulting from an intrinsically abnormal developmental process. [EU] Malignant: Tending to become progressively worse and to result in death. Having the properties of anaplasia, invasion, and metastasis; said of tumours. [EU] Mania:
Excitement of psychotic proportions manifested by mental and
Glossary 265
physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behaviour, and elevation of mood. [EU]
Mediator: An object or substance by which something is mediated, such as (1) a structure of the nervous system that transmits impulses eliciting a specific response; (2) a chemical substance (transmitter substance) that induces activity in an excitable tissue, such as nerve or muscle; or (3) a substance released from cells as the result of the interaction of antigen with antibody or by the action of antigen with a sensitized lymphocyte. [EU] Melanoma: A tumour arising from the melanocytic system of the skin and other organs. When used alone the term refers to malignant melanoma. [EU] Membrane: A thin layer of tissue which covers a surface, lines a cavity or divides a space or organ. [EU] Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges. When it affects the dura mater, the disease is termed pachymeningitis; when the arachnoid and pia mater are involved, it is called leptomeningitis, or meningitis proper. [EU] Menstruation: The cyclic, physiologic discharge through the vagina of blood and mucosal tissues from the nonpregnant uterus; it is under hormonal control and normally recurs, usually at approximately four-week intervals, in the absence of pregnancy during the reproductive period (puberty through menopause) of the female of the human and a few species of primates. It is the culmination of the menstrual cycle. [EU] Methotrexate: An antineoplastic antimetabolite with immunosuppressant properties. It is an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase and prevents the formation of tetrahydrofolate, necessary for synthesis of thymidylate, an essential component of DNA. [NIH] Miconazole: An imidazole antifungal agent that is used topically and by intravenous infusion. [NIH] Microbiology: The study of microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, algae, archaea, and viruses. [NIH] Microorganism: A microscopic organism; those of medical interest include bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. [EU] Microscopy: The application of microscope magnification to the study of materials that cannot be properly seen by the unaided eye. [NIH] Molecular: Of, pertaining to, or composed of molecules : a very small mass of matter. [EU] Mucocutaneous: Pertaining to or affecting the mucous membrane and the skin. [EU] Mutagenesis: Process of generating genetic mutations. It may occur spontaneously or be induced by mutagens. [NIH] Mycobacterium: An organism of the genus Mycobacterium. [EU]
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Mycoplasma: A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacteria bounded by a plasma membrane only. Its organisms are parasites and pathogens, found on the mucous membranes of humans, animals, and birds. [NIH]
Mycotic: Pertaining to a mycosis; caused by fungi. [EU] Naproxen: An anti-inflammatory agent with analgesic and antipyretic properties. Both the acid and its sodium salt are used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic or musculoskeletal disorders, dysmenorrhea, and acute gout. [NIH] Narcotic: 1. pertaining to or producing narcosis. 2. an agent that produces insensibility or stupor, applied especially to the opioids, i.e. to any natural or synthetic drug that has morphine-like actions. [EU] Nausea: An unpleasant sensation, vaguely referred to the epigastrium and abdomen, and often culminating in vomiting. [EU] Necrosis: The sum of the morphological changes indicative of cell death and caused by the progressive degradative action of enzymes; it may affect groups of cells or part of a structure or an organ. [EU] Neisseria: A genus of gram-negative, aerobic, coccoid bacteria whose organisms are part of the normal flora of the oropharynx, nasopharynx, and genitourinary tract. Some species are primary pathogens for humans. [NIH] Neonatal: Pertaining to the first four weeks after birth. [EU] Neoplasms: New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms. [NIH] Neoplastic: Pertaining to or like a neoplasm (= any new and abnormal growth); pertaining to neoplasia (= the formation of a neoplasm). [EU] Neuralgia: Paroxysmal pain which extends along the course of one or more nerves. Many varieties of neuralgia are distinguished according to the part affected or to the cause, as brachial, facial, occipital, supraorbital, etc., or anaemic, diabetic, gouty, malarial, syphilitic, etc. [EU] Neurology: A medical specialty concerned with the study of the structures, functions, and diseases of the nervous system. [NIH] Neuronal: Pertaining to a neuron or neurons (= conducting cells of the nervous system). [EU] Neurons: The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the nervous system. [NIH] Neurosurgery: A surgical specialty concerned with the treatment of diseases and disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral and sympathetic nervous system. [NIH]
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Neurotransmitter: Any of a group of substances that are released on excitation from the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron of the central or peripheral nervous system and travel across the synaptic cleft to either excite or inhibit the target cell. Among the many substances that have the properties of a neurotransmitter are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, glycine, y-aminobutyrate, glutamic acid, substance P, enkephalins, endorphins, and serotonin. [EU] Niacin: Water-soluble vitamin of the B complex occurring in various animal and plant tissues. Required by the body for the formation of coenzymes NAD and NADP. Has pellagra-curative, vasodilating, and antilipemic properties. [NIH] Ocular: 1. of, pertaining to, or affecting the eye. 2. eyepiece. [EU] Ophthalmology: A surgical specialty concerned with the structure and function of the eye and the medical and surgical treatment of its defects and diseases. [NIH] Opisthotonos: A form of spasm in which the head and the heels are bent backward and the body bowed forward. [EU] Oral: Pertaining to the mouth, taken through or applied in the mouth, as an oral medication or an oral thermometer. [EU] Oropharynx: Oral part of the pharynx. [NIH] Ossification: The formation of bone or of a bony substance; the conversion of fibrous tissue or of cartilage into bone or a bony substance. [EU] Osteoarthritis: Noninflammatory degenerative joint disease occurring chiefly in older persons, characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage, hypertrophy of bone at the margins, and changes in the synovial membrane. It is accompanied by pain and stiffness, particularly after prolonged activity. [EU] Osteoblasts: Bone-forming cells which secrete an extracellular matrix. Hydroxyapatite crystals are then deposited into the matrix to form bone. [NIH] Osteogenesis: The histogenesis of bone including ossification. It occurs continuously but particularly in the embryo and child and during fracture repair. [NIH] Otitis: Inflammation of the ear, which may be marked by pain, fever, abnormalities of hearing, hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. [EU] Otolaryngology: A surgical specialty concerned with the study and treatment of disorders of the ear, nose, and throat. [NIH] Otorhinolaryngology: That branch of medicine concerned with medical and surgical treatment of the head and neck, including the ears, nose and throat. [EU]
Otorrhea: A discharge from the ear, especially a purulent one. [EU]
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Otosclerosis: A pathological condition of the bony labyrinth of the ear, in which there is formation of spongy bone (otospongiosis), especially in front of and posterior to the footplate of the stapes; it may cause bony ankylosis of the stapes, resulting in conductive hearing loss. Cochlear otosclerosis may also develop, resulting in sensorineural hearing loss. [EU] Overdose: 1. to administer an excessive dose. 2. an excessive dose. [EU] Oxycodone: Semisynthetic derivative of codeine that acts as a narcotic analgesic more potent and addicting than codeine. [NIH] Paediatric: Of or relating to the care and medical treatment of children; belonging to or concerned with paediatrics. [EU] Palliative: 1. affording relief, but not cure. 2. an alleviating medicine. [EU] Paralysis: Loss or impairment of motor function in a part due to lesion of the neural or muscular mechanism; also by analogy, impairment of sensory function (sensory paralysis). In addition to the types named below, paralysis is further distinguished as traumatic, syphilitic, toxic, etc., according to its cause; or as obturator, ulnar, etc., according to the nerve part, or muscle specially affected. [EU] Parasitic: Pertaining to, of the nature of, or caused by a parasite. [EU] Paresis: Slight or incomplete paralysis. [EU] Pasteurella: The oldest recognized genus of the family pasteurellaceae. It consists of several species. Its organisms occur most frequently as coccobacillus or rod-shaped and are gram-negative, nonmotile, facultative anaerobes. Species of this genus are found in both animals and humans. [NIH] Pathogen: Any disease-producing microorganism. [EU] Pediatrics: A medical specialty concerned with maintaining health and providing medical care to children from birth to adolescence. [NIH] Penicillin G: A penicillin derivative commonly used in the form of its sodium or potassium salts in the treatment of a variety of infections. It is effective against most gram-positive bacteria and against gram-negative cocci. It has also been used as an experimental convulsant because of its actions on GABA mediated synaptic transmission. [NIH] Penicillin V: A broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic used orally in the treatment of mild to moderate infections by susceptible gram-positive organisms. [NIH] Peptic: Pertaining to pepsin or to digestion; related to the action of gastric juices. [EU] Perforation: 1. the act of boring or piercing through a part. 2. a hole made through a part or substance. [EU] Perinatal: Pertaining to or occurring in the period shortly before and after
Glossary 269
birth; variously defined as beginning with completion of the twentieth to twenty-eighth week of gestation and ending 7 to 28 days after birth. [EU] Pharmacokinetics: The action of drugs in the body over a period of time, including the processes of absorption, distribution, localization in tissues, biotransformation, and excretion. [EU] Phenotype: The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes and between the genotype and the environment. This includes the killer phenotype, characteristic of yeasts. [NIH] Photophobia: Abnormal visual intolerance of light. [EU] Plasmids: Any extrachromosomal hereditary determinant. Plasmids are self-replicating circular molecules of DNA that are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. [NIH] Polyradiculopathy: Disease or injury involving multiple spinal nerve roots. Polyradiculitis refers to inflammation of multiple spinal nerve roots. [NIH] Postnatal: Occurring after birth, with reference to the newborn. [EU] Postoperative: Occurring after a surgical operation. [EU] Potassium: An element that is in the alkali group of metals. It has an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte and it plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the water-electrolyte balance. [NIH] Preclinical: Before a disease becomes clinically recognizable. [EU] Prednisone: A synthetic anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid derived from cortisone. It is biologically inert and converted to prednisolone in the liver. [NIH]
Premenstrual: Occurring before menstruation. [EU] Prenatal: Existing or occurring before birth, with reference to the fetus. [EU] Preoperative: Preceding an operation. [EU] Presbycusis: Progressive bilateral loss of hearing that occurs in the aged. Syn: senile deafness. [NIH] Prevalence: The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from incidence, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time. [NIH] Progressive: Advancing; going forward; going from bad to worse; increasing in scope or severity. [EU] Prolactin: Pituitary lactogenic hormone. A polypeptide hormone with a molecular weight of about 23,000. It is essential in the induction of lactation in mammals at parturition and is synergistic with estrogen. The hormone also brings about the release of progesterone from lutein cells, which renders
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the uterine mucosa suited for the embedding of the ovum should fertilization occur. [NIH] Prophylaxis: The prevention of disease; preventive treatment. [EU] Prostate: A gland in males that surrounds the neck of the bladder and the urethra. It secretes a substance that liquifies coagulated semen. It is situated in the pelvic cavity behind the lower part of the pubic symphysis, above the deep layer of the triangular ligament, and rests upon the rectum. [NIH] Prosthesis: An artificial substitute for a missing body part, such as an arm or leg, eye or tooth, used for functional or cosmetic reasons, or both. [EU] Protease: Proteinase (= any enzyme that catalyses the splitting of interior peptide bonds in a protein). [EU] Proteins: Polymers of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. The specific sequence of amino acids determines the shape and function of the protein. [NIH]
Proteus: A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that occurs in the intestines of humans and a wide variety of animals, as well as in manure, soil, and polluted waters. Its species are pathogenic, causing urinary tract infections and are also considered secondary invaders, causing septic lesions at other sites of the body. [NIH] Protozoan: 1. any individual of the protozoa; protozoon. 2. of or pertaining to the protozoa; protozoal. [EU] Pseudomonas: A genus of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria widely distributed in nature. Some species are pathogenic for humans, animals, and plants. [NIH] Psychiatry: The medical science that deals with the origin, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. [NIH] Psychotropic: Exerting an effect upon the mind; capable of modifying mental activity; usually applied to drugs that effect the mental state. [EU] Pulmonary: Pertaining to the lungs. [EU] Punctures: Incision of tissues for injection of medication or for other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Punctures of the skin, for example may be used for diagnostic drainage; of blood vessels for diagnostic imaging procedures. [NIH] Purulent: Consisting of or containing pus; associated with the formation of or caused by pus. [EU] Pyogenic: Producing pus; pyopoietic (= liquid inflammation product made up of cells and a thin fluid called liquor puris). [EU] Radiotherapy: The treatment of disease by ionizing radiation. [EU] Receptor:
1. a molecular structure within a cell or on the surface
Glossary 271
characterized by (1) selective binding of a specific substance and (2) a specific physiologic effect that accompanies the binding, e.g., cell-surface receptors for peptide hormones, neurotransmitters, antigens, complement fragments, and immunoglobulins and cytoplasmic receptors for steroid hormones. 2. a sensory nerve terminal that responds to stimuli of various kinds. [EU] Recombinant: 1. a cell or an individual with a new combination of genes not found together in either parent; usually applied to linked genes. [EU] Rectal: Pertaining to the rectum (= distal portion of the large intestine). [EU] Recurrence: The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. [NIH] Refractory: Not readily yielding to treatment. [EU] Rheumatoid: Resembling rheumatism. [EU] Riboflavin: Nutritional factor found in milk, eggs, malted barley, liver, kidney, heart, and leafy vegetables. The richest natural source is yeast. It occurs in the free form only in the retina of the eye, in whey, and in urine; its principal forms in tissues and cells are as FMN and FAD. [NIH] Rigidity: Stiffness or inflexibility, chiefly that which is abnormal or morbid; rigor. [EU] Rubella: An acute, usually benign, infectious disease caused by a togavirus and most often affecting children and nonimmune young adults, in which the virus enters the respiratory tract via droplet nuclei and spreads to the lymphatic system. It is characterized by a slight cold, sore throat, and fever, followed by enlargement of the postauricular, suboccipital, and cervical lymph nodes, and the appearances of a fine pink rash that begins on the head and spreads to become generalized. Called also German measles, roetln, röteln, and three-day measles, and rubeola in French and Spanish. [EU] Salmonella: A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that utilizes citrate as a sole carbon source. It is pathogenic for humans, causing enteric fevers, gastroenteritis, and bacteremia. Food poisoning is the most common clinical manifestation. Organisms within this genus are separated on the basis of antigenic characteristics, sugar fermentation patterns, and bacteriophage susceptibility. [NIH] Sarcoidosis: An idiopathic systemic inflammatory granulomatous disorder comprised of epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells with little necrosis. It usually invades the lungs with fibrosis and may also involve lymph nodes, skin, liver, spleen, eyes, phalangeal bones, and parotid glands. [NIH] Sarcoma: A tumour made up of a substance like the embryonic connective tissue; tissue composed of closely packed cells embedded in a fibrillar or homogeneous substance. Sarcomas are often highly malignant. [EU] Scedosporium: A mitosporic fungal genus previously called Monosporium.
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Teleomorphs include pseudallescheria. [NIH] Schizophrenia: A severe emotional disorder of psychotic depth characteristically marked by a retreat from reality with delusion formation, hallucinations, emotional disharmony, and regressive behavior. [NIH] Secretion: 1. the process of elaborating a specific product as a result of the activity of a gland; this activity may range from separating a specific substance of the blood to the elaboration of a new chemical substance. 2. any substance produced by secretion. [EU] Seizures: Clinical or subclinical disturbances of cortical function due to a sudden, abnormal, excessive, and disorganized discharge of brain cells. Clinical manifestations include abnormal motor, sensory and psychic phenomena. Recurrent seizures are usually referred to as EPILEPSY or "seizure disorder." [NIH] Selenium: An element with the atomic symbol Se, atomic number 34, and atomic weight 78.96. It is an essential micronutrient for mammals and other animals but is toxic in large amounts. Selenium protects intracellular structures against oxidative damage. It is an essential component of glutathione peroxidase. [NIH] Septicemia: Systemic disease associated with the presence and persistence of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins in the blood. Called also blood poisoning. [EU] Serology: The study of serum, especially of antigen-antibody reactions in vitro. [NIH] Serum: The clear portion of any body fluid; the clear fluid moistening serous membranes. 2. blood serum; the clear liquid that separates from blood on clotting. 3. immune serum; blood serum from an immunized animal used for passive immunization; an antiserum; antitoxin, or antivenin. [EU] Shunt: 1. to turn to one side; to divert; to bypass. 2. a passage or anastomosis between two natural channels, especially between blood vessels. Such structures may be formed physiologically (e.g. to bypass a thrombosis) or they may be structural anomalies. 3. a surgically created anastomosis; also, the operation of forming a shunt. [EU] Sinusitis: Inflammation of a sinus. The condition may be purulent or nonpurulent, acute or chronic. Depending on the site of involvement it is known as ethmoid, frontal, maxillary, or sphenoid sinusitis. [EU] Spastic: 1. of the nature of or characterized by spasms. 2. hypertonic, so that the muscles are stiff and the movements awkward. 3. a person exhibiting spasticity, such as occurs in spastic paralysis or in cerebral palsy. [EU] Species: A taxonomic category subordinate to a genus (or subgenus) and superior to a subspecies or variety, composed of individuals possessing
Glossary 273
common characters distinguishing them from other categories of individuals of the same taxonomic level. In taxonomic nomenclature, species are designated by the genus name followed by a Latin or Latinized adjective or noun. [EU] Sputum: Matter ejected from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea, through the mouth. [EU] Stabilization: The creation of a stable state. [EU] Sterility: 1. the inability to produce offspring, i.e., the inability to conceive (female s.) or to induce conception (male s.). 2. the state of being aseptic, or free from microorganisms. [EU] Streptococcus: A genus of gram-positive, coccoid bacteria whose organisms occur in pairs or chains. No endospores are produced. Many species exist as commensals or parasites on man or animals with some being highly pathogenic. A few species are saprophytes and occur in the natural environment. [NIH] Subacute: Somewhat acute; between acute and chronic. [EU] Subarachnoid: Situated or occurring between the arachnoid and the pia mater. [EU] Sulfisoxazole: One of the antibacterial sulfonamides generally used for treatment of infections. It is bacteriostatic against a wide range of gramnegative and gram-positive organisms, but acquired resistance is common. [NIH]
Sulindac: A sulfinylindene derivative whose sulfinyl moiety is converted in vivo to an active anti-inflammatory analgesic that undergoes enterohepatic circulation to maintain constant blood levels without causing gastrointestinal side effects. [NIH] Suppressive: Tending to suppress : effecting suppression; specifically : serving to suppress activity, function, symptoms. [EU] Syphilis: A contagious venereal disease caused by the spirochete treponema pallidum. [NIH] Systemic: Pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole. [EU] Thermoregulation: Heat regulation. [EU] Thoracic: Pertaining to or affecting the chest. [EU] Thyroxine: An amino acid of the thyroid gland which exerts a stimulating effect on thyroid metabolism. [NIH] Tinnitus: A noise in the ears, as ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, etc. Such sounds may at times be heard by others than the patient. [EU] Tolerance: 1. the ability to endure unusually large doses of a drug or toxin. 2. acquired drug tolerance; a decreasing response to repeated constant doses
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of a drug or the need for increasing doses to maintain a constant response. [EU]
Topotecan: An antineoplastic agent used to treat ovarian cancer. It works by inhibiting DNA topoisomerase. [NIH] Toxicity: The quality of being poisonous, especially the degree of virulence of a toxic microbe or of a poison. [EU] Toxin: A poison; frequently used to refer specifically to a protein produced by some higher plants, certain animals, and pathogenic bacteria, which is highly toxic for other living organisms. Such substances are differentiated from the simple chemical poisons and the vegetable alkaloids by their high molecular weight and antigenicity. [EU] Toxoplasma: A genus of protozoa parasitic to birds and mammals. T. gondii is one of the most common infectious pathogenic animal parasites of man. [NIH]
Toxoplasmosis: An acute or chronic, widespread disease of animals and humans caused by the obligate intracellular protozoon Toxoplasma gondii, transmitted by oocysts containing the pathogen in the feces of cats (the definitive host), usually by contaminated soil, direct exposure to infected feces, tissue cysts in infected meat, or tachyzoites (proliferating forms) in blood. [EU] Transplantation: The grafting of tissues taken from the patient's own body or from another. [EU] Triage: The sorting out and classification of patients or casualties to determine priority of need and proper place of treatment. [NIH] Tuberculoma: A tumor-like mass resulting from the enlargement of a tuberculous lesion. [NIH] Tuberculosis: Any of the infectious diseases of man and other animals caused by species of mycobacterium. [NIH] Tyrosine: A non-essential amino acid. In animals it is synthesized from phenylalanine. It is also the precursor of epinephrine, thyroid hormones, and melanin. [NIH] Ulcer: A local defect, or excavation, of the surface of an organ or tissue; which is produced by the sloughing of inflammatory necrotic tissue. [EU] Urticaria: Pathology: a transient condition of the skin, usually caused by an allergic reaction, characterized by pale or reddened irregular, elevated patches and severe itching; hives. [EU] Vaccination: The introduction of vaccine into the body for the purpose of inducing immunity. Coined originally to apply to the injection of smallpox vaccine, the term has come to mean any immunizing procedure in which vaccine is injected. [EU]
Glossary 275
Vaccine: A suspension of attenuated or killed microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, or rickettsiae), administered for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of infectious diseases. [EU] Vaginal: 1. of the nature of a sheath; ensheathing. 2. pertaining to the vagina. 3. pertaining to the tunica vaginalis testis. [EU] Vancomycin: Antibacterial obtained from Streptomyces orientalis. It is a glycopeptide related to ristocetin that inhibits bacterial cell wall assembly and is toxic to kidneys and the inner ear. [NIH] Varicella: Chicken pox. [EU] Vertigo: An illusion of movement; a sensation as if the external world were revolving around the patient (objective vertigo) or as if he himself were revolving in space (subjective vertigo). The term is sometimes erroneously used to mean any form of dizziness. [EU] Vestibular: Pertaining to or toward a vestibule. In dental anatomy, used to refer to the tooth surface directed toward the vestibule of the mouth. [EU] Viral: Pertaining to, caused by, or of the nature of virus. [EU] Virulence: The degree of pathogenicity within a group or species of microorganisms or viruses as indicated by case fatality rates and/or the ability of the organism to invade the tissues of the host. [NIH] Viruses: Minute infectious agents whose genomes are composed of DNA or RNA, but not both. They are characterized by a lack of independent metabolism and the inability to replicate outside living host cells. [NIH] Withdrawal: 1. a pathological retreat from interpersonal contact and social involvement, as may occur in schizophrenia, depression, or schizoid avoidant and schizotypal personality disorders. 2. (DSM III-R) a substancespecific organic brain syndrome that follows the cessation of use or reduction in intake of a psychoactive substance that had been regularly used to induce a state of intoxication. [EU]
General Dictionaries and Glossaries While the above glossary is essentially complete, the dictionaries listed here cover virtually all aspects of medicine, from basic words and phrases to more advanced terms (sorted alphabetically by title; hyperlinks provide rankings, information and reviews at Amazon.com): ·
Dictionary of Medical Acronymns & Abbreviations by Stanley Jablonski (Editor), Paperback, 4th edition (2001), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers, ISBN: 1560534605, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1560534605/icongroupinterna
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·
Dictionary of Medical Terms : For the Nonmedical Person (Dictionary of Medical Terms for the Nonmedical Person, Ed 4) by Mikel A. Rothenberg, M.D, et al, Paperback - 544 pages, 4th edition (2000), Barrons Educational Series, ISBN: 0764112015, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764112015/icongroupinterna
·
A Dictionary of the History of Medicine by A. Sebastian, CD-Rom edition (2001), CRC Press-Parthenon Publishers, ISBN: 185070368X, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/185070368X/icongroupinterna
·
Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary (Standard Version) by Dorland, et al, Hardcover - 2088 pages, 29th edition (2000), W B Saunders Co, ISBN: 0721662544, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0721662544/icongroupinterna
·
Dorland’s Electronic Medical Dictionary by Dorland, et al, Software, 29th Book & CD-Rom edition (2000), Harcourt Health Sciences, ISBN: 0721694934, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0721694934/icongroupinterna
·
Dorland’s Pocket Medical Dictionary (Dorland’s Pocket Medical Dictionary, 26th Ed) Hardcover - 912 pages, 26th edition (2001), W B Saunders Co, ISBN: 0721682812, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0721682812/icongroupinterna /103-4193558-7304618
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Melloni’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary (Melloni’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 4th Ed) by Melloni, Hardcover, 4th edition (2001), CRC PressParthenon Publishers, ISBN: 85070094X, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/85070094X/icongroupinterna
·
Stedman’s Electronic Medical Dictionary Version 5.0 (CD-ROM for Windows and Macintosh, Individual) by Stedmans, CD-ROM edition (2000), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers, ISBN: 0781726328, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0781726328/icongroupinterna
·
Stedman’s Medical Dictionary by Thomas Lathrop Stedman, Hardcover 2098 pages, 27th edition (2000), Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, ISBN: 068340007X, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/068340007X/icongroupinterna
·
Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (Thumb Index) by Donald Venes (Editor), et al, Hardcover - 2439 pages, 19th edition (2001), F A Davis Co, ISBN: 0803606540, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0803606540/icongroupinterna
Index 277
INDEX A Abortion .........................................26, 251 Abscess .......................................115, 122 Acetylcholine ...............................153, 267 Adenocarcinoma..................................213 Adjuvant.................................................79 Amikacin ..............................................213 Anaesthesia...................................96, 263 Analgesic ....151, 152, 153, 184, 251, 262, 266, 268, 273 Analogous..............................................87 Anemia ................................112, 122, 163 Anorexia ..............................................112 Anthrax ..................................................73 Antibiotic .11, 50, 65, 73, 77, 95, 105, 120, 126, 183, 184, 216, 251, 252, 254, 255, 257, 259, 268 Antibody......81, 94, 96, 97, 105, 239, 257, 261, 265, 272 Antidepressant.............................152, 260 Antifungal..54, 56, 58, 60, 66, 76, 87, 183, 260, 263, 264, 265 Antigens.................99, 106, 127, 262, 271 Antimicrobial ....................74, 79, 102, 104 Antineoplastic ..................67, 97, 265, 274 Antioxidant...........................................197 Anxiety...................................48, 121, 123 Arrhythmia ...................................151, 253 Arterial ...........................................66, 262 Aspergillosis ..................................66, 264 Assay...........................................102, 195 Asymptomatic ........................................78 Ataxia.............................................75, 163 Auditory ...................................72, 83, 196 Autonomic....................................151, 251 Azithromycin ..........................................50 B Bacteremia ..............26, 80, 110, 254, 271 Bacteriostatic .........83, 126, 184, 259, 273 Benign .............67, 96, 129, 260, 266, 271 Bilateral..................................75, 128, 269 Biochemical ...........................................77 Biopsy....................................................48 Bioterrorism ...........................................73 Bronchitis .............................................158 C Candidiasis ..............58, 66, 138, 139, 260 Capsules..............................................209 Carbohydrate.........................96, 208, 261 Carcinoma .....................................86, 197 Cardiovascular.....................113, 122, 147
Carnitine.............................................. 212 Catalase.............................................. 193 Catheter ................................................ 48 Cerebral . 78, 96, 108, 114, 120, 122, 135, 193, 247, 262, 272 Cerebrospinal .... 47, 54, 73, 79, 96, 102, 104, 106, 107, 118, 147, 192, 195, 213, 262 Cerebrovascular ................................. 213 Chemotherapy .... 79, 83, 86, 87, 196, 197 Cholesteatoma.................................... 124 Cholesterol.................................. 206, 208 Chromosomal ....................................... 80 Chronic. 13, 56, 68, 96, 99, 121, 122, 123, 146, 228, 262, 272, 273, 274 Cisplatin .................. 92, 94, 192, 197, 256 Clotrimazole .......................................... 58 Coagulation........................................... 77 Cochlear.................... 72, 74, 82, 124, 139 Confusion................ 11, 33, 132, 146, 191 Congestion.................................. 151, 257 Conjugated............................................ 15 Consciousness 27, 33, 108, 239, 252, 257 Cortical.......................................... 28, 272 Counterimmunoelectrophoresis.......... 192 Cryptococcosis ..................................... 59 Cryptococcus ........................................ 75 Cryptosporidiosis .................... 23, 65, 254 Cysteine .............................................. 197 Cytokines .............................................. 78 Cytomegalovirus ................... 23, 112, 158 D Degenerative ...................... 153, 207, 267 Dementia..................... 113, 121, 132, 146 Deprivation.......................................... 123 Diarrhea ................................ 26, 206, 257 Dizziness............................. 122, 129, 275 Doxorubicin ......................................... 197 Dysplasia ................................ 57, 58, 163 E Edema................................................. 193 Effusion ............................................... 123 Electroencephalography ..................... 122 Empyema.............................. 95, 196, 258 Encephalitis 23, 24, 84, 88, 108, 118, 122, 134 Endemic ... 14, 15, 26, 58, 113, 193, 212, 256 Endocarditis .................................. 66, 254 Endothelium .......................................... 83
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Enzyme..... 66, 86, 94, 95, 168, 195, 255, 256, 258, 270 Epidemic...15, 17, 90, 118, 120, 133, 134, 140, 141 Epidemiological ...................................118 Epidural .........................................92, 192 Etoposide.....................................195, 213 Extrapyramidal.....................................121 F Facial ...........................................153, 266 Fatigue...........................................65, 253 Febrile..........................................108, 123 Feces .......................................68, 75, 274 Fibrosis ..................................83, 129, 271 Fistula ..................................124, 152, 260 Flexion .........................................106, 107 Fluconazole 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58, 78, 92, 190 Flucytosine ....................49, 52, 54, 57, 87 Formularies..................................152, 260 Fungus.............................65, 66, 254, 257 G Ganglion ................................................83 Gastroduodenal ...........................152, 260 Gastrointestinal.....93, 152, 184, 252, 260, 273 Genotype .......................................98, 269 Glucose ...73, 96, 108, 152, 247, 261, 263 Gonorrhea ...................................183, 255 H Haemophilus................................183, 255 Hematoma .....................................92, 192 Hemorrhage.........................................115 Hepatitis.................................23, 112, 114 Herpes .............23, 27, 112, 122, 133, 261 Homologous ............................81, 87, 107 Hormonal .....................................127, 265 Hormones ..27, 95, 99, 114, 257, 264, 271 Hydrocephalus...............................75, 121 Hypertension .................................56, 147 Hypothyroidism............................127, 262 Hypoxia..................................78, 125, 252 I Idiopathic .......................66, 129, 262, 271 Immunization .....................15, 23, 67, 272 Implantation .....................................72, 82 Incision ..........................................27, 263 Indicative .....................106, 107, 110, 266 Induction ........................82, 153, 262, 269 Inflammation .....33, 34, 35, 135, 168, 269, 270 Infusion ................................105, 183, 265 Inpatients ...............................................88 Insulin ............................96, 152, 261, 263 Intestinal ..........................26, 73, 206, 257 Intoxication ............................68, 122, 275
Intrathecal ....................................... 47, 86 Intravenous ..... 52, 56, 60, 102, 105, 158, 183, 265 Invasive................... 11, 58, 74, 80, 82, 84 Ischemia................................................ 78 Itraconazole .......................................... 55 K Ketoconazole ........................................ 55 L Labyrinthitis..................................... 74, 82 Lesion ................... 86, 128, 129, 268, 274 Lethal .................................................... 86 Ligament ............................... 83, 153, 270 Lipid ...................... 67, 152, 211, 263, 264 Lumen ................................................... 82 Lymphocytic ................ 108, 191, 194, 196 Lymphoma .... 48, 67, 112, 114, 132, 193, 196, 264 M Malaise................................................ 108 Malformation ......................................... 58 Malignant ... 67, 86, 94, 97, 99, 125, 195, 198, 213, 216, 239, 251, 253, 254, 255, 264, 265, 271 Mediator .............................................. 213 Melanoma ............................... 86, 97, 265 Membrane..... 66, 67, 79, 81, 83, 84, 128, 153, 239, 256, 260, 265, 266, 267 Menstruation ............... 128, 151, 258, 269 Mental .... 26, 33, 35, 78, 81, 96, 98, 106, 107, 127, 146, 152, 153, 167, 185, 188, 230, 257, 259, 262, 264, 270 Microbiology................................ 151, 253 Microorganism ................ 26, 28, 252, 268 Microscopy............................................ 83 Molecular 42, 77, 78, 80, 84, 99, 118, 153, 156, 160, 161, 269, 270, 274 Mucocutaneous .................................... 58 Mutagenesis ................................... 81, 84 Mycobacterium ................................... 133 N Narcotic....................................... 153, 268 Nausea............................................ 11, 33 Necrosis .............................. 105, 129, 271 Neonatal.............................. 78, 79, 80, 83 Neoplasms ...... 67, 86, 121, 125, 253, 266 Neoplastic ... 46, 47, 67, 86, 126, 256, 264 Neuralgia..................................... 153, 266 Neuronal ......................................... 77, 78 Neurons .................................. 78, 97, 266 Neurotransmitter ......... 151, 153, 251, 267 Niacin .................................................. 207 O Oral .... 12, 52, 60, 66, 73, 138, 151, 183, 252, 254, 255, 267 Oropharynx ............................. 28, 85, 266
Index 279
Ossification ............................83, 128, 267 Osteoblasts............................................83 Otitis ....................................................123 Otosclerosis.................................128, 268 Overdose .............................................207 P Paralysis ......................128, 135, 268, 272 Parasitic .......................129, 152, 260, 274 Paresis.................................................121 Pathogen .....................68, 78, 85, 87, 274 Pelvic ...........................................153, 270 Peptic...................................................147 Perforation ...........................................123 Pharmacokinetics ............................54, 85 Phenotype .................81, 84, 98, 114, 269 Photophobia ................................106, 107 Plasmids ................................................80 Postoperative...............................183, 264 Potassium............................183, 208, 268 Preclinical ..................................23, 55, 86 Prevalence.....................................23, 139 Prophylaxis ............................58, 103, 112 Proteins ...79, 94, 126, 206, 208, 257, 259 Protozoan ................................26, 84, 257 Pseudomonas......................................197 Pulmonary .............................................75 Punctures ..............................................78 Purulent .................99, 128, 196, 267, 272 R Radiotherapy .................................92, 192 Receptor ....................................77, 81, 84 Recombinant ...................................54, 84 Refractory ..............................................86 Rheumatoid .................................153, 266 Riboflavin.............................................206 Rigidity...................................73, 106, 107 S Sarcoma ................................86, 112, 133 Schizophrenia................................68, 275 Secretion .........27, 28, 127, 262, 264, 272 Seizures.....11, 28, 33, 104, 122, 132, 272 Selenium..............................................208 Septicemia.....................................34, 194
Shunt........................................... 239, 272 Sinusitis................................. 99, 196, 272 Skull ...... 96, 126, 147, 239, 256, 260, 262 Spastic ........................................ 135, 272 Species .. 27, 28, 66, 95, 98, 99, 108, 110, 127, 152, 257, 259, 260, 261, 265, 266, 268, 269, 270, 273, 274, 275 Stabilization........................................... 76 Sterility .................................................. 78 Subacute............................................... 75 Subarachnoid............................ 77, 82, 86 Suppressive .................................... 58, 82 Syphilis........................................ 114, 122 Systemic ...... 34, 60, 66, 86, 89, 121, 122, 129, 138, 254, 271 T Thermoregulation................................ 206 Thoracic .......................... 92, 95, 192, 258 Thyroxine ............................................ 208 Tinnitus ....................................... 128, 267 Tolerance .................... 52, 58, 59, 67, 273 Topotecan ............................................. 47 Toxicity........................ 50, 55, 86, 92, 192 Toxin ............................................. 67, 273 Toxoplasma ........................................ 112 Toxoplasmosis........ 58, 65, 132, 133, 254 Transplantation ..................................... 87 Triage.................................................. 112 Tuberculosis.................. 23, 113, 114, 122 V Vaccination ..... 15, 18, 103, 106, 107, 141 Vaccine .... 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 28, 73, 93, 103, 140, 141, 142, 144, 251, 274 Vertigo................. 122, 128, 129, 267, 275 Vestibular ................ 58, 75, 122, 124, 147 Viral.... 4, 10, 22, 33, 84, 85, 88, 102, 104, 106, 107, 108, 122, 123, 134, 212 Virulence ................................. 68, 87, 274 Viruses ..... 28, 29, 34, 35, 41, 94, 99, 254, 265, 275 W Withdrawal .................................... 56, 122
280 Meningitis
