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Biomedical subjects

E J Witte

Publications and source records attributed to E J Witte.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1984

Dermatitis from cashew nuts.

Between April 4 and May 10, 1982, fifty-four individuals developed a poison ivy-like dermatitis 1 to 8 days after eating imported cashew nuts. The patients had a very pruritic, erythematous, maculopapular eruption that was accentuated in the flexural areas of the body. Three had blistering of the mouth and four had rectal itching. Nineteen volunteers (eleven ill and eight well) were patch-tested with 2.5 micrograms of poison ivy urushiol and an acetone extract of cashew nut shells. Patch testing did not predict illness since positive tests to both materials occurred in those who had been ill as well as in those who had been well. Absence of cashew nut shells from two thirds of the bags probably accounted for the lack of correlation between patch testing and illness. All nine who reacted to the cashew extract also reacted to poison ivy urushiol. The three who were not sensitive to poison ivy had no reaction to cashew extract. Mass spectrometry of the cashew shell extract suggested the presence of cardol , one of the allergens in cashew shell oil.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Human toxocariasis in a rural community.

A questionnaire and serologic survey of a Pennsylvania community revealed that 23 (54%) of 43 study participants had antibody titers to Toxocara canis (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test [ELISA]) in the range defined as positive (greater than or equal to 1:32). Age-specific seropositivity rates were highest among adults (greater than or equal to 18 years). Positive titers ranged from 1:32 to 1:512. Seropositivity did not cluster by family, and seropositivity rates were significantly higher than those of a control group. Physical examination and laboratory tests designed to detect clinical signs of toxocariasis were performed on individuals with positive ELISA titers. Nine of 23 had a history of pica, seizures, or chronic pulmonary symptoms; however, physical examination revealed no abnormalities. Although medical examination and laboratory tests revealed a few abnormalities, neither the visceral larva migrans syndrome nor the ocular lesions characteristic of those produced by Toxocara sp were observed in any individual. We conclude that although certain populations may have high seropositivity rates to Toxocara antigens, indicating previous infection, clinical diseases may be uncommon.

Adolescent↗