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Biomedical subjects

B C Walton

Publications and source records attributed to B C Walton.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with localized current field (radio frequency) in Tabasco, Mexico.

In Mexico cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) occurs in 17 of 32 States, and is a serious public health problem. This is a report of treatment of CL patients in the State of Tabasco, Mexico with a localized current field-radio frequency (LCF-RF) device to generate precisely controlled heat as an alternative to prohibitively expensive drug treatment. It was not a controlled clinical trial, but rather an evaluation of the feasibility of this form of treatment for all CL patients encountered in the endemic area. A total of 201 previously diagnosed patients with CL caused by Leishmania mexicana were treated with a portable Thermosurgery LCF-RF generator powered by rechargeable batteries. The ages of the patients ranged from two to 75 years; the sex distribution was 63% males and 37% females. A single device was used in five different municipalities. Lesions were first anesthetized with 1% lidocaine HCl and moistened with normal saline solution. Treatment consisted of a single application that produced 50 degrees C for 30 sec. After four weeks, 122 patients were available for evaluation, of which 95% were totally cured; (even those involving ear cartilage, which respond poorly to antimonials). At eight weeks post-treatment, 191 patients were evaluated, with a total cure rate of 90%. This form of treatment proved to be effective and convenient for use in primary health care facilities in Mexico and has many advantages over traditional forms of therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mexico.

In Mexico, 6 cases of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) were found in widely separated geographic regions. Information was also available on 2 other cases. In addition to the typical clinical features, half of the patients had evidence of nasopharyngeal mucosal involvement. All isolates from the DCL patients were identified as Leishmania mexicana mexicana by isoenzyme analysis and monoclonal antibody typing. In 1 region of Tabasco state where DCL was found, uncomplicated cutaneous leishmaniasis appeared to be highly endemic, and isolates from a few such patients were identified as L. mexicana mexicana. An incidental finding was the recovery of an isolate of L. braziliensis braziliensis from a patient with chiclero ulcer in Oaxaca state. The clinical and epidemiological significance of the reported cases are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

On the identity of the parasite causing diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Dominican Republic.

Three isolates from disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) patients from an unusual focus in the Dominican Republic were studied and typed according to their behaviour in culture and experimental animals, their malate dehydrogenase (MDH) electrophoretic variant type, and excretory factor (EF) serotype. They were compared with parasites known to cause DCL in other parts of the world. On the basis of these characteristics, this parasite appears to be different from Leishmania aethiopica which causes DCL in the Old World and from both L. mexicana pifanoi and L. m. amazonensis, which are associated with DCL in the New World. However, it appeared to have some relationship to the L. mexicana-complex.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Effectiveness of allopurinol against Leishmania braziliensis panamensis in Aotus trivirgatus.

Orally administered allopurinol at 50 mg/kg for 21 days showed pronounced antileishmanial activity against experimentally induced lesions of Leishmania braziliensis panamensis on the nose of Panamanian Aotus trivirgatus monkeys, with complete healing in 4 of 5, although parasitologic cure was achieved in only 2 of 5. The same total daily dose of drug, given in a divided dose twice daily, resulted in complete healing in all 5, and parasitologic cure in 4 of 5 animals. Standard treatment controls receiving 40 mg/kg of antimony stibogluconate intramuscularly for 15 days showed healing in 4 of 5 monkeys. It is not known if a similar level of effectiveness would result with this dose of allopurinol in humans, since Aotus may have a different pattern of metabolic conversion of the drug to the more active riboside.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1980

Evaluation of chemotherapy of American leishmaniasis by the indirect fluorescent antibody test.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment of American cutaneous/mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is difficult because dramatic clinical improvement and apparent complete healing can be followed by delayed recurrence of lesions. The indirect fluorescent antibody test done with amastigote antigen was used to monitor treatment of 122 cases of cutaneous lesions and one patient with mucocutaneous disease. Clinical improvement and healing of lesions in many, but not all, cases was accompanied by a diminution of antibody titer, and in 10% of cases, by reversion to negativity. In two cases persistence of antibody in spite of healing was shown to be due to residual viable parasites which caused recurrence or new lesions. Further treatment brought about healing and reversion to seronegativity. The data suggest that successful treatment can be indicated by serologic response and, even in cases in which reversion to seronegativity does not occur, the relative reduction in serum antibody provides a basis for predicting recurrence of leishmanial lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Differences in biological characteristics of three Leishmania isolates from patients with espundia.

Two recent Leishmania isolates from nasal lesions involving the mucosa, one from an autochthonous case from Texas and one from a case from eastern Peru, were compared with a reference strain of Leishmania braziliensis from Brazil for the biological characteristics which distinguish the L. braziliensis complex from L. mexicana. The characteristics of in vitro growth, pathogenesis in the hamster, and position of the promastigotes in the gut of vector sandflies were determined and compared with the reference strain from Brazil. In spite of the nasal involvement which resembled the clinical picture considered characteristic of L. braziliensis infection, the Texas isolate was clearly L. mexicana. It is considered that the atypical clinical feature was the result of the patient's altered immune state due to neoplastic disease and subsequent radiation therapy. The Peru isolate constitutes the first example of a "fast growing" strain isolated directly from a patient with espundia, but otherwise it demonstrated the characteristics of Leishmania braziliensis.

Animals↗