J Natl Med Assoc
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Data were collected on a cohort of 435 black medical students whose attendance at Meharry Medical College fell within the period 1958 to 1965, providing baseline measurements on multiple possible hypertension precursors. Relevant family history, sociodemographic, and clinical characteristics were obtained. Fifty percent of the students had at least one of the following possible precursors of hypertension: systolic blood pressure >120 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure >80 mmHg; pulse >80 beats/min; and relative body weight >120 percent of ideal body weight. ⋯ Students whose parents had a positive history of hypertension or stroke were likely to have higher diastolic blood pressures. Of the 24 students found to be hypertensive on survey (1981), 73 percent had a positive parental history of hypertension or stroke compared with only 40 percent of a control group matched by age and sex. A 17-year follow-up is currently underway to develop a risk profile for hypertension among black professionals.
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The appropriateness for US black children of a new method that considers parental statures when evaluating a child's length or stature is discussed. Although there are small differences in the average growth of blacks and whites, it is suggested that a single growth standard (the National Center for Health Statistics percentiles) is appropriate for the evaluation of length and stature of black children. ⋯ Finally, there is no convincing evidence for differences between blacks and whites in parent-child relationships for stature. It is concluded that the new method is appropriate for US black children, and its use is recommended as an aid in determining the nature of statural growth problems.
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Posttraumatic meningitis is uncommon in children. This case report describes a 4-year-old child with this complication caused by an unusual type of Hemophilus influenzae. The efficacy of routine use of antibiotics in preventing posttraumatic meningitis remains uncertain. However, this report suggests that in the presence of prolonged fever and clinical evidence of a dural tear, antibiotic treatment is warranted.
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This study examines the role of Medical College Admissions Test review course in medical school admissions, and evaluates the relationship between undergraduate grade point average and MCAT scores. The results indicate that enrollment in a MCAT review course enhances medical school admissions for minority students.
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Comparative Study
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and postoperative use of narcotic analgesics.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been reported to reduce the use of narcotic analgesic medication for pain relief in the postoperative period. This study compares the use of narcotic analgesics and the occurrence of postoperative complications in 205 patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery for control of obesity. ⋯ The control group comprised 131 patients who did not use TENS. There were no statistically significant differences in the use of narcotic analgesic medication and the occurrence of postoperative complications between the experimental group and the control group.