This study sought data on the impact of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements and both intentions and frequency to seek more information about the drug being advertised. Data were collected from 498 college students regarding intention to seek and how frequently they obtained more information about prescription medications. For intentions, grocery or pharmacy and radio advertisements were associated with lesser intentions. For frequency, Internet advertisements were associated, while newspaper and spam e-mail advertisements were not. Types of sources associated with seeking additional information were doctor, Internet, and 1-800 information numbers. A significant interaction existed for seeing Internet advertisements for drugs and then seeking additional information from a doctor and not from the Internet. In conclusion, Internet advertising is associated with seeking additional information from a reliable source such as a doctor.
A 91-year-old African American man was admitted with sudden onset diffuse abdominal pain which radiated to the right flank. CT of the abdomen with contrast showed diverticula in the jejunum with adjacent inflammation and microperforation that was contained. Conservative therapy similar to colonic diverticulitis was effective. Although rare, our case highlights the importance of having an early and high suspicion for jejunal diverticulitis when patients present with non-specific abdominal symptoms in order to avoid perforation.
Urachal cyst is a rare condition that is typically asymptomatic and will often have symptomatology that is misdiagnosed or missed. A urachal cyst occurs in 1 out of 5000 live-births, but is only clinically relevant in 1 out of 150,000 of the population often as an incidental finding. The urachus is the embryological remnant of the allantois, which connects the apex of the bladder to the umbilicus, and usually fully obliterates to become the median umbilical ligament.
Urachal defects are uncommon and cysts are usually asymptomatic until infection results. An infected cyst may present mimicking a wide range of intra-abdominal and pelvic disorders, and accurate diagnosis is often delayed. Children may present with umbilical discharge; adults often have hematuria. Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound are ideally suited for demonstrating urachal remnant diseases; however, infected urachal cysts commonly display increased echogenicity with ultrasoundsography and thick-walled cystic or mixed attenuation with CT. Drainage and excision of the urachal remnant is the definitive treatment.
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