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Biomedical subjects

Howard S Faden

Publications and source records attributed to Howard S Faden.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Lymphocyte proliferative response to P6 of Haemophilus influenzae is associated with relative protection from exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by periodic exacerbations, some of which are caused by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI). P6 is an outer membrane lipoprotein that is highly conserved among strains of NTHI. We hypothesized that lymphocytes from patients with COPD who have exacerbations due to NTHI have a decreased ability to recognize P6. The in vitro lymphocyte proliferative response to P6 in 36 patients with COPD and 12 healthy control subjects was studied. Ten patients who had exacerbations due to NTHI in the previous 12 months showed statistically significant lower proliferation to P6 (stimulation index, log transformed mean +/- standard error 0.82 +/- 0.17) compared with 26 patients who had no exacerbations due to NTHI in the previous 12 months (1.42 +/- 0.13) and to 12 healthy control subjects (1.61 +/- 0.16). These three groups had no significant difference in the lymphocyte proliferative response to tetanus toxoid. There was no difference in serum antibody levels to P6 in the two groups with COPD. These results indicate that decreased proliferation of T cells to P6 is associated with exacerbations of COPD and suggest that the ability of T cells to recognize P6 is associated with relative protection from exacerbations due to NTHI.

Aged↗

Interference of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis by Streptococcus oralis in adenoid organ culture: a possible strategy for the treatment of the otitis-prone child.

The role of viridans group streptococci (Streptococcus oralis) in the prevention of colonization with nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis was investigated in an adenoid organ culture system. The adenoids from 100 patients who were undergoing adenoidectomy for either hypertrophy or recurrent otitis media were used. Streptococcus oralis Parker uniformly inhibited colonization with nontypeable H. influenzae or M. catarrhalis over a 24-hour period of incubation in adenoid organ culture. Streptococcus oralis Booth, a noninhibitory strain, did not significantly reduce colonization with nontypeable H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis. The results indicate that some strains of S. oralis may inhibit colonization with potential pathogens in the nasopharynx. It is therefore possible that colonization with inhibitory strains of viridans streptococci may be used in the nasopharynx as a relatively safe and inexpensive approach to prevention of recurrent otitis media in some children.

Adenoids↗

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiologic, clinical, neuroimaging, and laboratory features; treatment; and outcome in a cohort of children with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). METHODS: A 6-year retrospective chart review of children with the diagnosis of ADEM was conducted. RESULTS: Eighteen cases were identified. Sixteen patients (88%) presented in either winter or spring. Thirteen children (72%) had a recent upper respiratory tract illness. Patients presented most often with motor deficits (77%) and secondly with altered consciousness (45%). Spinal fluid abnormalities occurred in 70%. Despite rigorous microbiologic testing, a definite microbiologic diagnosis was established only in 1 child with Epstein-Barr virus disease and probable or possible diagnoses in 3 children with Bartonella henselae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or rotavirus disease. Brain magnetic resonance imaging identified lesions in the cerebral cortex in 80%, in subcortical white matter in 93%, in periventricular white matter in 60%, in deep gray matter in 47%, and in brainstem in 47% of patients. Eleven patients (61%) were treated with corticosteroids, and 2 were treated with intravenous immunoglobulins. All patients survived. Three patients (17%) had long-term neurologic sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiologic evidence from this study suggests an infectious cause for ADEM. The agent is most likely a difficult-to-diagnose winter/spring respiratory virus. Magnetic resonance imaging was the neuroimaging study of choice for establishing the diagnosis and for following the course of the disease. Prognosis for survival and outcome was excellent. Recurrent episodes of ADEM must be differentiated from multiple sclerosis.

Acute Disease↗