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Lorraine N. Alexander

Other affiliations: Grady Memorial Hospital
Bio: Lorraine N. Alexander is an academic researcher from Emory University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Esophageal disease & Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection. The author has an hindex of 12, co-authored 12 publications receiving 753 citations. Previous affiliations of Lorraine N. Alexander include Grady Memorial Hospital.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that NSAIDuse is strongly associated with LGIB and from lesions not considered associated with mucosal ulceration such as diverticulosis.
Abstract: To evaluate the association between nonsteroidalantiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use and uppergastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) and lowergastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB), we performed aprospective case-control study at a large inner-cityhospital over a 28-month period evaluating 461consecutive patients hospitalized for UGIB and 105 withLGIB. During the same period, 1895 in-patients evaluatedby our gastroenterology consultative service served ascontrols. At the time of initial evaluation, allpatients were asked about the use of any prescription orover-the-counter NSAID product within one week of admission. Endoscopic examination was performedin most patients with bleeding. NSAID use was almostequivalent in patients with UGIB and LGIB (60%) andsignificantly greater than controls [34%; P < 0.001; odds ratio (OR) 3.0; 95% CI, 2.4-3.6]. The age,race, and gender adjusted risk for LGIB associated withNSAID use was significant [adjusted OR (AOR) 2.6; 95% CI1.7-3.9], although less than UGIB (AOR 3.2; P = 0.34). The risk associated withdiverticular bleeding (N = 53, AOR 3.4; 95% CI 1.9-6.2)was higher than duodenal ulcer bleeding although notsignificantly (N = 97, AOR 3.0). We conclude that NSAIDuse is strongly associated with LGIB and from lesionsnot considered associated with mucosal ulceration suchas diverticulosis.

139 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that six children with nodding syndrome worsened in their clinical condition between the first evaluation and the follow-up evaluation interval, as indicated by more frequent head nodding or seizure episodes, and none had cessation or decrease in frequency of these episodes.
Abstract: Summary Background Nodding syndrome is an unexplained illness characterised by head-bobbing spells. The clinical and epidemiological features are incompletely described, and the explanation for the nodding and the underlying cause of nodding syndrome are unknown. We aimed to describe the clinical and neurological diagnostic features of this illness. Methods In December, 2009, we did a multifaceted investigation to assess epidemiological and clinical illness features in 13 parishes in Kitgum District, Uganda. We defined a case as a previously healthy child aged 5–15 years with reported nodding and at least one other neurological deficit. Children from a systematic sample of a case-control investigation were enrolled in a clinical case series which included history, physical assessment, and neurological examinations; a subset had electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography, brain MRI, CSF analysis, or a combination of these analyses. We reassessed the available children 8 months later. Findings We enrolled 23 children (median age 12 years, range 7–15 years) in the case-series investigation, all of whom reported at least daily head nodding. 14 children had reported seizures. Seven (30%) children had gross cognitive impairment, and children with nodding did worse on cognitive tasks than did age-matched controls, with significantly lower scores on tests of short-term recall and attention, semantic fluency and fund of knowledge, and motor praxis. We obtained CSF samples from 16 children, all of which had normal glucose and protein concentrations. EEG of 12 children with nodding syndrome showed disorganised, slow background (n=10), and interictal generalised 2·5–3·0 Hz spike and slow waves (n=10). Two children had nodding episodes during EEG, which showed generalised electrodecrement and paraspinal electromyography dropout consistent with atonic seizures. MRI in four of five children showed generalised cerebral and cerebellar atrophy. Reassessment of 12 children found that six worsened in their clinical condition between the first evaluation and the follow-up evaluation interval, as indicated by more frequent head nodding or seizure episodes, and none had cessation or decrease in frequency of these episodes. Interpretation Nodding syndrome is an epidemic epilepsy associated with encephalopathy, with head nodding caused by atonic seizures. The natural history, cause, and management of the disorder remain to be determined. Funding Division of Global Disease Detection and Emergency Response, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

109 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In vitro gamma interferon responses by peripheral blood mononuclear cells to ESAT-6 are specific for disease due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and are not observed in patients with MAC disease or in healthy controls.
Abstract: ESAT-6 (for 6-kDa early secreted antigenic target) is a secreted antigen found almost exclusively in organisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. We compared in vitro gamma interferon (IFN-γ) responses by peripheral blood mononuclear cells to this antigen in patients with pulmonary disease due to either Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) or Mycobacterium tuberculosis with those in healthy, skin test-negative, control subjects. Significant IFN-γ responses to ESAT-6 were detected in 16 (59%) of 27 M. tuberculosis pulmonary disease patients, 0 (0%) of 8 MAC disease patients, and 0 (0%) of 8 controls. Significant IFN-γ responses to M. tuberculosis purified protein derivative were detected in 23 (85%) of 27 M. tuberculosis disease patients, 2 (25%) of 8 MAC disease patients, and 5 (63%) of 8 healthy controls. M. avium sensitin was recognized in 24 (89%) of 27 M. tuberculosis disease patients, 4 (50%) of 8 MAC disease patients, and 1 (13%) of 8 controls. IFN-γ responses to ESAT-6 are specific for disease due to M. tuberculosis and are not observed in patients with MAC disease or in healthy controls.

83 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Prolonged survival was associated with receiving therapy that including clarithromycin and receiving combination antiretroviral therapy that included a protease inhibitor and with receiving antimicrobial prophylaxis, but 32 (89%) of 36 patients did not adhere to the proPHylaxis regimen.
Abstract: Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex disease remains a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. From 1985 through 2000, we studied 1458 consecutive patients at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, with disseminated M. avium complex disease. There was a peak of 198 patients in the 1995, which decreased to 66 patients in 2000. In 1997, significantly more patients than in 1991 or 1994 were female (P<.001) or black (P<.001) and significantly fewer had acquired human immunodeficiency virus through homosexual contact (P<.001). In 1997, 50 (51%) of 99 of patients acquired M. avium complex disease despite receiving antimicrobial prophylaxis, but 32 (89%) of 36 patients did not adhere to the prophylaxis regimen. The median duration of survival of patients in 1991 was 110 days, whereas in 1994 it was 185 days, and in 1997 it was 339 days (P<.001). Prolonged survival was associated with receiving therapy that included clarithromycin and receiving combination antiretroviral therapy that included a protease inhibitor.

82 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the accuracy of a patient's subjective localization of an obstructing esophageal lesion and found that patients appear to be most accurate in localizing proximal rather than distal lesions.
Abstract: There are many opinions as to the accuracy of a patient's subjective localization of an obstructing esophageal lesion. However, there are few studies specifically examining this issue. Over a 35-month period, all patients evaluated by our gastroenterology service undergoing endoscopy for dysphagia were prospectively identified. The patient's subjective localization for the level of obstruction was evaluated by an investigator blinded to the results of prior barium esophagography and recorded on a schematic of the bony skeleton. At the time of endoscopy, the most proximal level of the obstructing lesion was documented. In all, 139 patients with dysphagia and an esophageal stricture were evaluated. Barium esophagograms were performed prior to endoscopy in all but nine patients (6.5%). The most common lesions causing dysphagia were carcinoma (34.5%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (22.3%), and a Schatzki's ring (15.8%). The level of obstruction was localized exactly in 30 patients (21.6%), within ±2 cm in 72 (52%), and within ±4 cm in 31 additional patients (74%). Eight patients (15%) with a distal esophageal lesion localized the obstruction to the proximal esophagus, whereas only two patients (5%) with a lesion in the proximal esophagus localized the level of obstruction to the distal esophagus. Overall, patients with distal obstructing lesions were more likely to have referral >6 cm proximally than proximal lesions with referral to the distal esophagus (P=0.003). There were no significant differences in accuracy based on the cause of dysphagia. In conclusion, a patient's subjective localization of the level of an esophageal stricture is highly accurate. Patients appear to be most accurate in localizing proximal rather than distal lesions.

61 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Diagnostic Criteria of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease Key Laboratory Features of N TM Health Careand Hygiene-associated Disease Prevention Prophylaxis and Treatment of NTM Disease Introduction Methods.
Abstract: Diagnostic Criteria of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease Key Laboratory Features of NTM Health Careand Hygiene-associated Disease Prevention Prophylaxis and Treatment of NTM Disease Introduction Methods Taxonomy Epidemiology Pathogenesis Host Defense and Immune Defects Pulmonary Disease Body Morphotype Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibition Laboratory Procedures Collection, Digestion, Decontamination, and Staining of Specimens Respiratory Specimens Body Fluids, Abscesses, and Tissues Blood Specimen Processing Smear Microscopy Culture Techniques Incubation of NTM Cultures NTM Identification Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing for NTM Molecular Typing Methods of NTM Clinical Presentations and Diagnostic Criteria Pulmonary Disease Cystic Fibrosis Hypersensitivity-like Disease Transplant Recipients Disseminated Disease Lymphatic Disease Skin, Soft Tissue, and Bone Disease

4,969 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: These updated guidelines replace the previous guidelines published in the 15 January 2004 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases and are intended for use by health care providers who care for patients who either have or are at risk of these infections.
Abstract: Guidelines for the management of patients with invasive candidiasis and mucosal candidiasis were prepared by an Expert Panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. These updated guidelines replace the previous guidelines published in the 15 January 2004 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases and are intended for use by health care providers who care for patients who either have or are at risk of these infections. Since 2004, several new antifungal agents have become available, and several new studies have been published relating to the treatment of candidemia, other forms of invasive candidiasis, and mucosal disease, including oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis. There are also recent prospective data on the prevention of invasive candidiasis in high-risk neonates and adults and on the empiric treatment of suspected invasive candidiasis in adults. This new information is incorporated into this revised document.

3,016 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: IDSA considers adherence to these guidelines to be voluntary, with the ultimate determination regarding their application to be made by the physician in the light of each patient's individual circumstances.
Abstract: It is important to realize that guidelines cannot always account for individual variation among patients. They are not intended to supplant physician judgment with respect to particular patients or special clinical situations. IDSA considers adherence to these guidelines to be voluntary, with the ultimate determination regarding their application to be made by the physician in the light of each patient's individual circumstances.

2,367 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This work presents a novel and scalable approach that allows for real-time decision-making about whether or not to vaccinate children against infection by a single infectious agent.
Abstract: Peter G. Pappas, John H. Rex, Jack D. Sobel, Scott G. Filler, William E. Dismukes, Thomas J. Walsh, and John E. Edwards Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Manchester, Great Britain; Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Harbor–University of California-Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance, California; and Immunocompromised Host Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland

1,378 citations

Book
01 Sep 1977
TL;DR: The incidence, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management of diverticular disease of the colon and its complications are reviewed.
Abstract: Summary Colonic diverticulosis refers to small outpouchings from the colonic lumen due to mucosal herniation through the colonic wall at sites of vascular perforation. Abnormal colonic motility and inadequate intake of dietary fibre have been implicated in its pathogenesis. This acquired abnormality is typically found in developed countries, and its prevalence rises with age. Most patients affected will remain entirely asymptomatic; however, 10–20% of those affected can manifest clinical syndromes, mainly diverticulitis and diverticular haemorrhage. As our elderly population grows, we can anticipate a concomitant rise in the number of patients with diverticular disease. Here, we review the incidence, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management of diverticular disease of the colon and its complications.

918 citations