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Biomedical subjects

M B Marx

Publications and source records attributed to M B Marx.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Parasites, pets, and people.

It is important for the family physician to understand that patients' relationships with their pets play an important role in helping maintain mental and physical health yet provide the potential for causing illness in the patient. Toxocara canis (dog roundworm) and Toxocara cati (cat roundworm) are the ascarids most commonly responsible for VLM and ocular larva migrans in humans. These roundworms live in their adult stage in the small intestine of the dog and cat where their eggs are passed in the feces. The eggs containing the infective larva are very sticky, thus an infant crawling around on the floor can easily pick these up on fingers that almost invariably end up in the mouth. Infections are usually mild and asymptomatic but with a persistent eosinophilia. Ocular larva migrans is the form usually occurring in older children and adults. Some public health veterinarians recommend that a puppy or kitten should not be obtained as a companion for a child who is not old enough to read, thus bypassing the crawling and toddler stages. Hookworm eggs, shed in the feces of infected dogs or cats, develop into the infective second stage within a week. Humans are usually infected when bare areas of skin such as bare feet or the torso come in contact with soil contaminated with the larvae. The second-stage larvae are able to penetrate the intact skin of humans and the foot pads of dogs and cats. In the United States, the common dog hookworm, A. caninum, is a widespread parasite. Human intestinal ancylostomiasis caused by this species is rare, with only six cases recorded in the literature. Infection in humans or animals by the common tapeworm of dogs and cats (Dipylidium caninum) requires ingestion of the intermediate host, the dog or cat flea containing the larva (cysticercoids) of the agent. Many cases in humans are asymptomatic. Dipylidiasis affects mainly infants and young children who may swallow a flea that hops up while the infant is crawling on the floor or fondling the family pet. Humans appear to be highly resistant to the infection, given the high frequency of flea infestation on dogs and cats and the relative rarity of human disease. Pinworms of animal hosts are not transmissible to humans. Humans become an accidental host of dirofilaria when bitten by an infected mosquito, although the microfilaria will not mature to the adult form in humans. Radio-opaque coin-type lung lesions can be noted on radiographs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The influence of a supportive, problem-solving, group intervention on the health status of students with great recent life change.

A small randomized trial was conducted with college students to test the efficacy of a supportive, problem-solving group intervention for reducing morbidity following accumulation of numerous life changes. The two intervention groups reported declines in number of illness episodes and number of disability days over the two semesters of study; one of the intervention groups also reported a decrease in number of days on which illness was experienced. The control group did significantly worse on these measures than the intervention groups.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1982

Current estimates of the incidence of steroid responsive idiopathic nephrosis in Kentucky children 1-9 years of age.

A review of the medical literature relating to childhood nephrosis revealed no surveys conducted since 1968 which either substantiated or refuted the range in incidence rates reported in earlier studies. Those rates ranged from 1.3 to 2.5 new cases per year among 100,000 white and non-white children under 10 years of age. The present report documents the incidence of steroid responsive idiopathic nephrosis in the eastern part of Kentucky during the years 1970 through 1979. The overall rate of 1.8 new cases per year was similar to that described in previous reports. A suggestion of an increased rural vs urban incidence was noted.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1979

A follow-up study of the geographic distribution of selected malignancies among Kentucky residents, 1969-1976.

A study of 533 brain tumors, 339 lung tumors, and 299 breast tumors was made in a contiguous six-county area of Kentucky to determine if a previous clustering of brain tumors with a rate 3.37 times the state rate still existed. No significant difference in incidence by age, sex, or race could be found between this six-county area and the entire state. It was therefore concluded that either the original study constituted a statistical artifact, or that the factors responsible for the initial observed increase are no longer operative.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1978

Epilepsy in rural Kentucky: prevalence in a population of school age children.

Seizure prevalence among school age children residing in a rural western Kentucky area (Hardin County) was determined utilizing a method designed to minimize false positives and to allow estimation of false negatives. The observed prevalence of epilepsy is 5.7/1,000 and of febrile seizures 17/1,000. Because of the high rate of false negative responses detected by random sample interview, the true rate of febrile seizures is believed to be closer to a projected rate of 31/1,000.

Age Factors↗