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Since oral contraceptives (OCs) are the method chosen by an estimated 10 million US women, health care providers must be informed about the pill's mechanism of action, its warning signs and contraindications, and its interaction with other drugs and vitamins. Although nearly 60 OC brands are currently available, there are only 2 basic types: the mini-pill, which contains progesterone only, and the combination OC, which adds estrogen. Combination OCs are further divided into monophasic, biphasic, and triphasic preparations. OC use is contraindicated in women with a history of phlebitis, stroke, coronary artery disease, liver tumors, or breast cancer. Warning signs that patients should be instructed to report include acute abdominal pain, chest pain, headaches, and severe leg pain. The effectiveness of OCs is decreased by drugs such as ampicillin, penicillin V, tetracycline, rifampin, barbiturates, and some antiepileptics. On the other hand, OCs decrease the effects of insulin and oral hypoglycemics, oral anticoagulants, and guanethidine. In addition, OCs can increase the risk of certain nutritional deficiencies, primarily of folic acid and vitamins C, B2, B6, and B12.
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PMID:The pill, the patient, and you. 338 42

To assess the role of demographic factors and chronic conditions in maintaining mobility in older persons, this study utilized longitudinal data collected as part of the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly between 1981 and 1987 on 6,981 men and women aged 65 years and older in East Boston, Massachusetts; Iowa and Washington counties, Iowa; and New Haven, Connecticut. Results are presented for those who at baseline reported intact mobility, defined as the ability to climb stairs and walk a half mile without help, and who were followed annually for up to 4 years for changes in mobility status. Age, income, education, and chronic conditions present at baseline and occurring during follow-up were evaluated for their association with loss of mobility. Over the follow-up period, 55.1% of subjects maintained mobility, 36.2% lost mobility, and 8.7% died without evidence of mobility loss prior to death. In both men and women, increasing age and lower income levels were associated with increased risk of losing mobility, even after controlling for the presence of chronic conditions at baseline. After adjustment for age, income, and chronic conditions, lower education levels were a significant risk factor for mobility loss in men, but not in women. Baseline reports of previous heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, dyspnea, and exertional leg pain were associated with small but significant risks for mobility loss. There was a stepwise increase in the risk of mobility loss according to the number of chronic conditions present at baseline that was very consistent between men and women. The occurrence during the study of a new heart attack, stroke, cancer, or hip fracture was associated with a substantially greater risk of mobility loss than was associated with the presence of these conditions at baseline.
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PMID:Maintaining mobility in late life. I. Demographic characteristics and chronic conditions. 848 76

Epidemiologic studies illustrate that PAD is a very common finding when screening is performed in older adults. The outcomes in those with PAD in population studies reflect and extend the findings from clinical studies of PAD, confirming that older adults with PAD are disabled and have a high risk for CVD and total mortality. With the aging of the population, the prevalence of PAD is increasing. It is common in both men and women and increases in prevalence with age, such that at least 12% of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older will have significant disease on noninvasive testing, most without classic intermittent claudication. Furthermore, PAD is strongly related to other manifestations of CVD and its risk factors. Those with PAD identified in epidemiologic studies have a two- to three-fold risk in CVD morbidity and mortality. Current treatment goals for PAD patients include improving function, primarily using exercise and medical therapy, and reduction of systemic risk and can be extended to those identified by screening. In addition, PAD must be thought of as a marker of advanced systemic atherosclerosis. Inasmuch as the risk of CVD and mortality in those with PAD is similar to those with a history of MI or stroke, those with PAD can be approached with the same measures for secondary CVD prevention as recommended for MI and stroke survivors. A simple bedside measure of the AAI can be used to improve the detection of PAD in clinical practice. Although there is no study that shows directly that screening and preventive treatment will reduce complications of PAD, a preventive approach in PAD patients is likely to improve overall survival, reduce MI, and will, perhaps, also reduce the risk of disabling leg pain and amputation. Future descriptions of the natural history of PAD in ongoing cohort studies may indicate that this is already beginning to occur.
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PMID:Peripheral arterial disease: insights from population studies of older adults. 1098 19

Most estimates of the prevalence of peripheral atherosclerosis have been based on intermittent claudication or lower limb blood flow. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence of underlying femoral plaque, and to determine its association with other cardiovascular disease and risk factors. Presence of plaque was identified using ultrasound in a random sample of men (n=417) and women (n=367) aged 56-77 years. Coexistent cardiovascular disease, exercise and smoking were determined by questionnaire, blood pressure was recorded, and serum cholesterol and plasma fibrinogen were determined. Of the 784 subjects that were scanned, 502 (64%) demonstrated atherosclerotic plaque. Disease prevalence increased significantly with age (P<0.0001), and was more common in men (67.1 vs. 59.4%, P<0.05). Subjects with femoral plaque had a significantly greater odds of previous ischaemic heart disease (OR 2. 2, 95% CI 1.3, 3.7) and angina (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.03, 2.7), but not of stroke or leg pain on exercise. Current and ex-smoking, raised serum total cholesterol and plasma fibrinogen levels, but not blood pressure, were associated with an increased risk of femoral plaque, independent of age and sex. Frequent exercise and a high HDL cholesterol were significantly associated with lower risk. In conclusion, therefore, atherosclerotic disease of the femoral artery affects almost two-thirds of the population in late middle age. It is associated with an increased prevalence of ischaemic heart disease and angina, but whether detecting at risk individuals using ultrasound offers advantages over simpler and less expensive risk factor scoring requires evaluation in trials.
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PMID:Femoral atherosclerosis in an older British population: prevalence and risk factors. 1099 52

Progestin only birth control pills appeared on the US market in 1973. As there is no estrogen in these mini pills, they may have fewer dangerous side effects than the combined pills. Some clinics suggest mini pills for women who suffer from estrogen excess side effects. The 3 mini pills available in the U.S. are called Micronor, NOR-QD, and Ovrette. Instructions are presented for patients who are interested in using mini pills. The mini pills most likely work by affecting a women's fertility in several ways: act as a messenger to the woman's ovaries and uterus to prevent the release of an egg; thicken the mucous on the cervix, making it difficult for the sperm to "get through" the cervix and reach the egg; and change the lining of the uterus so that it may not develop properly for the fertilized egg to grow. The mini pills can be 97% effective is used perfectly. The mini pills are only effective for as long as a woman takes them. A woman must take a pill every day to prevent pregnancy. A woman should not use the mini pill if she has or ever has had any of these problems: blood clotting problems in veins; stroke; cancer of the breast or reproductive parts of the body; suspected pregnancy, current pregnancy; and undiagnosed, abnormal genital bleeding. Possible benefits for a woman using mini pills include: an effective method of birth control; a method for nursing mothers since it does not seem to affect the amount of their breast milk; and a possible reduction in premenstrual cramps. Possible risks for a woman using mini pills include: irregular periods; and a less effective method if the patient does not take a pill every day. The danger signals to look for are abdominal pain, chest pain, headaches, eye problems, and severe leg pain. A patient should revisit a clinic in the following situations: has not had a period within 45 days of the last period; severe abdominal pains while taking mini pills; experiences a warning signal; any time one thinks the pills are causing trouble; and once a year for a pap smear, breast examination, and laboratory tests.
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PMID:How to use mini-pills: helpful patient instructions. 1226 79

Lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease is a chronic disease process resulting from atherosclerotic obstruction of major vessels supplying the legs. A significant manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis, it is estimated to affect more than 10 million adults in the United States alone. The reported incidence is a conservative estimate, because many patients who suffer from symptoms of peripheral arterial disease attribute them to "normal aging" and may not report them to their physician. Additionally, physicians may miss the diagnosis if a comprehensive history and vascular examination are not a routine part of their assessment. The hallmark symptom of peripheral arterial disease is intermittent claudication, defined as reproducible muscular leg pain that is precipitated by exercise and relieved by rest. Intermittent claudication not only limits functional capacity and adversely affects quality of life but is also an ominous predictor of increased risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death. Due to the chronicity of atherosclerosis, medical intervention is most successful when a comprehensive team approach is utilized, involving the patient, family, and vascular health professionals. Treatment for peripheral arterial disease is aimed at first, minimizing symptoms and disease progression via smoking cessation, supervised exercise therapy, pharmacotherapy, and/or revascularization, and second, minimizing the risk of cardiovascular mortality via risk factor identification and reduction, and the use of antiplatelet therapy.
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PMID:Pharmacotherapy and behavioral intervention for peripheral arterial disease. 1268

The syndrome of chronic heart failure (CHF) becomes increasingly prevalent in older patients, and while mortality rates are declining in most cardiovascular diseases, both prevalence and mortality in CHF remain high. The heart is unable to meet the demands of the skeletal musculature, and symptoms manifest as dyspnoea and signs of fatigue during exercise. The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) can provoke symptoms which may be useful in improving the accuracy of diagnosis in CHF in a non-invasive setting. CPET also provides important information on the pathophysiology of exercise limitation, risk stratification and can establish exercise-training protocols. The information provided by the CPET allows suitable pharmacological or device-based adjustments to be considered in the management of CHF, which can be crucial in maintaining a patient's quality of life. This manuscript provides a useful insight into the theoretical rationale and practical recommendations for CPET in patients with CHF. Prior to CPET, it is important to consider the mode of exercise, as cycle ergometry or treadmill protocols will yield different outcomes in patients with CHF. We discuss how pre-CPET set-up procedures should be conducted and also the significance of electrocardiographic abnormalities found in CHF patients, and how these should be interpreted. The assessment of lung function is integral to the underlying pathophysiological basis of exercise limitation and we explain how this should be performed. CHF patients display the following abnormal exercise responses which can be identified by CPET: peak oxygen uptake ( [Formula: see text] peak), anaerobic threshold (AT), DeltaVO(2)/Delta work rate (WR), peak oxygen pulse, estimated peak stroke volume and predicted peak heart rate are reduced. The [Formula: see text] slope is abnormally high and the breathing reserve is normal or high. An immediate post-exercise increase in O(2) pulse is evident, and/or a regular oscillatory breathing pattern has been observed at lower exercise intensities in some CHF patients. Symptoms of breathlessness, fatigue, and/or leg pain occur earlier during CPET and may cause the CPET to be aborted early. We explain the significance of the 9-panelled array, and how it can help to determine the underlying pathophysiology of exercise intolerance in these patients.
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PMID:Theoretical rationale and practical recommendations for cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with chronic heart failure. 1739 6

Blood pressure at the ankle level is a reliable indicator of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and the ankle brachial index (ABI) is a useful non-invasive screening tool for the early detection of atherosclerosis. In the first part of the study, systolic blood pressures obtained by oscillometry and plethysmography were compared in 80 subjects referred for possible vascular disease. In the second part of the study, 31 general practitioners enrolled 1258 consecutive patients aged more than 60 years. ABI was estimated by oscillometry. Patients with an ABI lower than 0.9 were referred to the local hospital for standardized measurements. In the first part, oscillometry showed a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 62% with a positive and negative predictive value of 71% and 96%, respectively. In the second part, significant PAD was found in 111 cases corresponding to a prevalence of 12.2%. In this population, the oscillometry showed a positive predictive value of 47%. The presence of PAD was significantly correlated to exercise related leg pain, a diagnosis of hypertension and smoking, whereas no correlation could be found with a diagnosis of heart disease, stroke, or with the presence of diabetes. The prevalence of PAD was sufficiently high in subjects over the age of 60 years to warrant screening. The ankle brachial index based on measurements with an oscillometric device was shown reliable in the exclusion of PAD, thereby fulfilling an important criterion for the use in screening.
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PMID:Oscillometric blood pressure measurement: a simple method in screening for peripheral arterial disease. 1880 41

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a clinical manifestation of underlying aorto-iliac and leg atherosclerosis that is characterized by different stages of stenosis and obstruction. It affects approximately 12% of the adult population and about 20% of people over the age of 70 years, and is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) and cerebrovascular morbidity. Intermittent claudication (IC) is the major symptom of PAD; it is defined as cramping leg pain (in the buttock, thigh, or calf) while/after clim bing one or two flights of stairs, or during walking. The goals of IC management are to: slow the progression of local and systemic atherosclerosis, prevent major fatal and nonfatal CV events (myocardial infarction and stroke), improve walking capacity, prevent and reduce resting pain and cutaneous lesions. Propionyl L-carnitine is an acyl derivative of levocarnitine (L-carnitine) and is indicated for patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. It corrects secondary muscle carnitine deficiency in patients with PAD, significantly improving the walking capacity; it is a free radical that produces positive effects on endothelial function; it protects from oxidative stress; and it enhances most measures of quality of life. The recent Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus II update recommends the use of propionyl L-carnitine in combination with physical training to improve the symptoms associated with PAD.
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PMID:Propionyl l-carnitine: intermittent claudication and peripheral arterial disease. 1982 91

A 16-year-old girl arrived intubated to the emergency department. She had shortness of breath and cough for 2 days with leg pain. On arrival, she was hemodynamically stable with an unremarkable physical exam. Electrocardiogram revealed a prolonged QT interval; laboratory work-up was normal except for an elevated dimerized plasmin fragment D. Acute pulmonary embolism was confirmed by a chest computed tomography scan. A lower extremity duplex scan was negative and echocardiogram revealed a patent foramen ovale with bidirectional shunting. An inferior vena cava filter was placed to prevent acute recurrence and unfractionated heparin was initiated. The next day she was noted to have right hemiparesis. Stroke was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. The patient underwent mechanical clot retrieval and was discharged on anticoagulation therapy to a brain rehabilitation unit.
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PMID:A case of pulmonary embolism and stroke in a 16-year-old girl. 2261 72


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