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Biomedical subjects

P C Dowling

Publications and source records attributed to P C Dowling.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Neutralizing antibodies to canine distemper and measles virus in multiple sclerosis.

Serum neutralizing antibody to canine distemper virus (CDV) was measured in 142 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), an equal number of age and sex-matched normal controls, and 75 patients with other neurological disorders. An elevated antibody titer was found in the MS population compared to controls. Measles-neutralizing antibody was also found to be elevated in 128 patients with MS. The mean ratio of measles to CDV antibody was similar in the control and MS groups, but a wide range of measles to CDV ratios was found in individual patients and controls. No significant correlation was found between IgG levels and neutralizing antibody titers in MS sera. While the increased titer of measles and CDV antibody may represent a non-specific immunological response, these findings are also consistent with the hypothesis that CDV or a closely related measles virus may stimulate the increased level of measles and CDV antibodies found in MS sera.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Further evidence of a possible association between house dogs and multiple sclerosis.

The present study was undertaken because of the recent report of an association between familial multiple sclerosis (MS) and prior ownership of a small pet. Forty-five patients with sporadic MS were retrospectively compared with 45 closely matched controls and were found to have owned a significantly greater number of indoor dogs prior to the onset of MS. Importantly, the MS patients had also had more exposure to neurologically ill dogs in the five years before the onset of symptoms. These new data further support the hypothesis that house dogs may serve as an animal vector in MS.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Guillain-Barré syndrome in Greater New York-New Jersey.

Epidemiologic data on 176 patients with acute Guillain-Barré syndrome observed over a nine-year period in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area are presented. A striking predilection for patients aged 16 to 25 years, with a second lesser peak between ages 45 to 60, was found. Seasonal clustering of patients occurred, with nearly half the patients afflicted during the four-month period of late summer and fall. The distribution between men and women was equal. In this series 23% of the patients required tracheostomy, and 5% had a fatal course.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1977

A possible association between house pets and multiple sclerosis.

29 patients with multiple sclerosis (M.S.) from families in New Jersey believed to have more than 1 member with this disease and 29 controls matched for age, sex, neighbourhood, and socio-economic status were questioned about their ownership of pets. No difference in ownership of cats or dogs was found. Exposure to small indoor pets (cats or dogs), however, was significantly higher in the M.S. group (P less than 0-001). Exposure to small indoor pets was particularly striking during the ten years before onset of initial symptoms of M.S. when the M.S. group was compared to the control group (P less than 0.01). 33 of 49 M.S. patients in these families had a cat or dog in the house within one year before onset of the first neurological symptom. 3 families had more than 1 member in whom initial symptoms of M.S. developed in the same year despite wide age ranges. These results suggest that exposure to house pets may sometimes be associated with subsequent M.S. Our findings should be interpreted with caution until they are confirmed by others.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Disease markers in acute multiple sclerosis.

Three serum components that are known to become elevated during inflammation and tissue destruction, C-reactive protein, C3 proactivator, and orosomucoid, which are acute phase reactants, and serum lgM were measured in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) hospitalized with acute exacerbations. Significantly elevated levels of one or more of these serum components were found in 12 of 13 patients with clinically active MS. Serial studies in two patients revealed that clinical improvement was accompanied by a decline in the serum levels of these factors. These findings suggest that measurement of these serum proteins may be of value in assessing progress of disease activity in MS patients.

Acute Disease↗