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Biomedical subjects

J J Drabick

Publications and source records attributed to J J Drabick.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

CD4 lymphocyte decline and survival in human immunodeficiency virus infection. The Military Medical Consortium for Applied Retroviral Research.

The loss of the CD4 lymphocyte is the central pathophysiologic event in the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This retrospective study, based on review of data from deceased HIV patients followed in a single HIV clinic, was conducted to determine if the rate of CD4 lymphocyte decline was predictive of survival. Forty of 172 patients met defined criteria for inclusion in this study. For each patient, CD4-cell counts showed approximate exponential decline over time. A Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association of CD4 cell decline (half-life), race, age, gender, initial CD4-cell count, and treatment (anti-Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis and/or zidovudine vs. no therapy) on total survival (from initial CD4 cell count) and on remaining survival time after reaching a CD4 cell count of 100 (estimated). For all patients, the rate of CD4 cell decline was predictive of total survival (p = .009) but not for survival after reaching a count of 100 (p = .6). For patients who had never received therapy (6 patients), however, the CD4 half-life remained associated with survival time from 100 CD4 cells (p < .05) as opposed to the treated patients. Therapy was the single variable most predictive of both survival endpoints, resulting in an increase in median total survival of 27.2 mo (p < .00001) and of 15.4 mo from a CD4 cell count of 100 (p < .00004). Nonwhites had a slight survival disadvantage compared to whites (p = .08 overall; p = .02 from CD4 cell count of 100).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Absence of retroviral sequences in Graves' disease.

An earlier report of HIV-1 gene sequences in thyroid cell genomic DNA from patients with Graves' disease prompted use of the polymerase chain reaction technique to identify such sequences in Graves' disease thyroid tissue and in white blood-cells from these patients. We were unable to confirm the existence of HIV-1-related DNA sequences in Graves' specimens.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMed1991

Suppurative pylephlebitis.

Suppurative pylephlebitis is an unusual disease with an associated high mortality. Most cases are a complication of an intra-abdominal septic focus, but some may occur de novo. In the case we have presented, the diagnosis was made by modern imaging techniques that showed thrombus predominantly within the upper portal venous system. We hypothesize that the portal system was seeded through a gastric ulcer. The patient recovered completely with prolonged antibiotic therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A retrospective analysis of diseases associated with indeterminate HIV western blot patterns.

Some individuals possess antibodies which react to HIV-1 Western blot proteins in patterns not diagnostic for HIV infection. A retrospective chart review of patients exhibiting such indeterminate HIV Western blots was performed in comparison to a control cohort of sex- and age-matched individuals from the same population of HIV-negative blots to determine if such blots were associated with any specific disease states. Twenty such patients with 25 indeterminate blots among them were found in a total population of 816 (2.5%). GAG-only (core) Western blots comprised the majority 84% (21/25). An indeterminate blot was statistically associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (p less than 0.01) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (p less than 0.05). Kikuchi's disease and malignant histiocytosis were associated but the numbers were too small to reach statistical significance. The possibility that these diseases are caused by novel retroviruses, cross-reactive with HIV-1, is discussed in lieu of these findings.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Disseminated Mycobacterium chelonae subspecies chelonae infection with cutaneous and osseous manifestations.

A 75-year-old man who had been receiving corticosteroids for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presented with nodulopustular skin lesions, bone pain, and constitutional symptoms. Evaluation revealed a disseminated infection with Mycobacterium chelonae subspecies chelonae, with cutaneous and osseous involvement documented by histopathologic studies and cultures. The bone involvement is a novel observation for this subspecies. The patient was successfully treated with a three-drug regimen of tobramycin sulfate, erythromycin stearate, and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride. We present a discussion of the case in the context of the literature.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The activities of thiol proteases in the rat visceral yolk sac increase during late gestation.

While the rat YVS has been shown to possess an active lysosomal proteolytic system, there are no published reports on the identity of these proteases nor on their changes in activity during the latter half of gestation. We have used specific synthetic substrates to show that cathepsins B, L and H are present in this organ from days 12.5 to 20.5 of gestation. Cathepsins B and L exhibit a marked increase in activity beginning on day 15.5 of gestation. By days 19.5-20.5, cathepsin B activity is increased tenfold over that observed on day 12.5. The activity of cathepsin L may be elevated on day 12.5, decreases more than half by day 14.5 and then increases fourfold by day 20.5. The activity of cathepsin H does not change throughout this period nor do the cathepsins exhibit marked changes in activity in the placenta during this same period or in the PYS from days 12.5 to 14.5 of gestation. These results indicate a specific increase in VYS cathepsin B and L activities late in gestation. These enzymes may be involved in meeting the nutritional needs of the embryo and/or in the degenerative changes which may occur in the VYS and PYS prior to parturition. Studies on the degradation of rat serum albumin by extracts of day 19.5 VYS indicate that cathepsin L may be the quantitatively most important protease in late gestation.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pentastomiasis.

Pentastomiasis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by pentastomes, members of an unusual phylum--Pentastomida--with characteristics of both arthropods and annelids. Adult pentastomes parasitize the respiratory tracts of reptiles or carnivorous mammals. The infection is generally limited to the tropics and subtropics, but ocular involvement has been reported in the southern United States. The majority of human pentastomiasis is caused by two species. The first, Armillifer armillatus, infects humans as secondary hosts. Infection is usually asymptomatic but has characteristic postmortem and radiologic features. The second, Linguatula serrata, can infect humans as does Armillifer or can cause a self-limited nasopharyngitis--the halzoun or marrara syndrome--with the human acting as a temporary definitive host. This article discusses the biology and parasitology of these metazoans as well as the clinical manifestations, pathology, diagnosis, and epidemiology of pentastomiasis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dicroceliasis (lancet fluke disease) in an HIV seropositive man.

Dicroceliasis is an unusual zoonotic trematode infection caused by the lancet liver fluke, Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Grazing herbivores (usually sheep or cattle) are the definitive hosts. The life cycle proceeds through two intermediate hosts: the land snail and the field ant. Human infection is acquired by consuming the field ant. This case report describes a human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive patient who presumably acquired this parasite from bottled water contaminated with ants. A brief discussion of the parasitology, pathology, clinical findings and treatment is presented.

Adult↗