The questionnaire as a data-gathering device: medical school response patterns.

In this article the authors present the findings of a study of the process by which medical schools' internal information systems respond to external questionnaires. A representative sample of six medical schools was selected for the study, which was conducted under the joint auspices of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Bureau of Health Manpower, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. The process for completing four national questionnaires was analyzed following site visits and detailed documentation at each school. An overall objective of the study was to estimate the effect of this process on the quality of data supplied. A number of problems with the process which inhibited the provision of reliable data were found. These are highlighted and corrective action suggested both for the institutions completing the questionnaire and for the sponsoring agencies.

Role of infection in chronic bronchitis.

Twenty-five patients with chronic bronchitis were studied intensively from 1968 to 1972. Viral, bacteriologic, mycologic, and mycoplasmal studies, both serologic and cultural, were carried out in an attempt to determine the role these agents play in exacerbations. All of the usual viral agents associated with exacerbations and 2 members of the coronavirus group, 229E and OC43, were detected. One third (33.6 per cent) of the 116 exacerbations observed could be related to viral infection or Mycoplasma pneumoniae (1 exacerbation). Viral infection was also noted to occur during periods of remission but was more commonly associated with periods of exacerbation(P less than 0.001). No interrelationship between viral and bacterial infection was apparent and neither Streptococcus pneumoniae nor Haemophilus influenzae was present more frequently in the sputum of patients in exacerbation. However, the number of S. pneumoniae organisms present in the sputum was significantly greater (P=0.04) during exacerbation than during remission and their presence was significatnly correlated with increases sputum purulence (P LESS THAN 0.01). This was not true of H. influenzae. Ampicillin was effective in clearing the sputum of S. pneumoniae but not of H. influenzae; the reverse was true of tetracycline.

Contraception and cervical colonization with mycoplasmas and infection with cytomegalovirus.

The relationship of cervical colonization of genital mycoplasmas and infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) was studied in 66 intrauterine device (IUD) users as contrasted to 60 patients using oral contraception and 50 patients using neither an IUD nor oral contraception. No significant increase in colonization or genital mycoplasmas or infection with CMV was noted in IUD users. No CMV was isolated from users of the cooper-t IUD. It is unlikely that genital mycoplasmas are related to either the increased immunoglobulin levels seen in patients using the IUD or the antifertility effects of the IUD.

PIP: An ivestigation based on the hypothesis that the IUD might induce an endometritis related to a nonbacterial infection was undertaken in 66 IUD users and contrasted to 60 oral contraceptive (OC) users and 50 nonusers of OCs and IUDs. The relationship of cervical colonization of genital mycoplasmas and infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) was studied yielding the following information: 1) Genital mycoplasma colonization among the groups studied differed insignificantly; 2) An insignificant increase in colonization of genital mycoplasmas or infection with CMV was noted in IUD users; 3) There were no CMV isolates from the group using the Copper T IUD; 4) CMV infection did not appear to be significantly increased by IUD presence; and 5) The overall rate of 5.2% of CMV infection was comparable with that of other studies. Results indicated the unlikelyhood that genital mycoplasmas are related to either the increased immunoglobulin levels noted in patients using the IUD or to the IUD's antifertility effects.

Programmatic computer simulation model for medical school planning.

A comprehensive programmatic computer simulation planning model for a school of medicine was generated by integrating several separate simulation models with on-site cost study information. An elementary validation of the model was achieved. The model generated program costs in terms of both faculty hours and dollars. Results indicated that the size of the medical class could be increased from 75 to 100 students within the present resource limitations by transferring faculty time to education from other programs. The maximum class size was limited by the availability of clinical material. The basic science departments could handle this class size easily without significant reduction in other programs, but the clinical departments could not do so unless inpatient levels increased significantly.

Antibacterial activity of gentamicin sulfate in tissue culture.

Gentamicin is a more effective in vitro bacterial inhibitor than combined penicillinstreptomycin, is nontoxic to tissue culture monolayers, and does not inhibit virus replication.