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Biomedical subjects

R W Farr

Publications and source records attributed to R W Farr.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Fulminant hepatitis during herpes simplex virus infection in apparently immunocompetent adults: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two apparently immunocompetent adult patients developed acute fulminant hepatitis during presumptive primary herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection without any visible mucocutaneous lesions. HSV hepatitis was not suspected in the case of patient 1, who died without treatment. Patient 2 was empirically treated with acyclovir because of the triad of high fever, leukopenia, and markedly elevated levels of aminotransferases, and this patient survived. Most immunocompetent patients with fulminant HSV hepatitis do not have visible mucocutaneous ulcers, and HSV is frequently not considered as a cause of acute hepatitis. In summary, fulminant hepatitis can occur during HSV infections, the diagnosis is frequently missed or delayed because of the absence of mucocutaneous ulcerations, and patients who receive early empirical treatment with acyclovir can survive this illness.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1997

Adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus in chronic sinusitis using polymerase chain reaction.

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in chronic sinusitis using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to assay for the viruses. PCR has proved to be more sensitive and specific than viral cultures and immunoassays in the detection of viruses. Adenovirus and RSV are among the most common viruses to cause upper respiratory tract infections. Sinus mucosa biopsies from 20 patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery were sterilely collected. Four specimens (20%) tested positive for RSV by PCR and none tested positive for adenovirus. Only one specimen tested positive for RSV and one for adenovirus by viral culture and immunofluorescence. Bacterial cultures tested positive in 40% of the 20 specimens. PCR can be used to detect RSV in patients with chronic sinusitis and PCR is more sensitive than viral culture and immunofluorescence techniques on sinus polyps and mucosa.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1996

Parvovirus B19 outbreak in a rehabilitation hospital.

A nurse (index case) at a rehabilitation hospital was diagnosed with acute parvovirus B19 infection. A 2-year-old male patient was identified as the source patient. The epidemiological investigation focused on 15 individuals with symptomatic disease or risk factors for complications of parvovirus B19 infection. Serologic testing confirmed parvovirus B19 infection in the index case and source patient and identified a second health care worker who possibly contracted acute parvovirus B19 infection through nosocomial transmission. Parvovirus B19 infection can cause serious complications in pregnant women, persons with chronic hemolytic anemia, and persons with immunodeficiencies. Measures to control the transmission of parvovirus B19 infection should be part of the infection control plan at rehabilitation hospitals.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Antemortem diagnosis of human rabies.

Human rabies is a rare but fatal disease. In the United States, the majority of people infected with rabies contract the disease by being bitten by a wild animal, most commonly bats. Because rabies is so rarely seen, it is often not diagnosed until after death, at which time exposed health care workers will require rabies prophylaxis. We describe a case for which the diagnosis was made before death. The prompt consideration of this diagnosis allowed early isolation of the patient and prevented unnecessary risk to health care workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Incidence of adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus in chronic otitis media with effusion using the polymerase chain reaction.

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus in the cause of chronic otitis media with effusion by use of the polymerase chain reaction for detection. The polymerase chain reaction has proved to be more sensitive and specific than viral cultures and immunoassays in the detection of viruses in other specimens. Adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus were chosen because these viruses have been the most commonly isolated viruses in middle ear effusions in studies using other techniques. The effusions (132 total) were sterilely collected from 88 children undergoing myringotomy and ventilation tube placement for chronic otitis media with effusion. Nine (6.8%) specimens were positive for adenovirus by the polymerase chain reaction, and 13 (9.9%) were positive for respiratory syncytial virus by the polymerase chain reaction. Only one specimen was positive for adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus by viral culture and immunofluorescence, respectively. Our results show that the polymerase chain reaction can be used to detect adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus in chronic middle ear effusions and that PCR is more sensitive than viral culture and immunofluorescence techniques.

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMed1995

Leptospirosis.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

An outbreak of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) occurred in the western U.S. in 1993. This outbreak was surprising because serious disease due to hantavirus had not been reported previously in the U.S., and hantavirus had not been documented to cause significant pulmonary disease. Epidemiologic investigation discovered a novel strain of hantavirus as the etiologic agent of HPS. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) proposed the name of Muerto Canyon virus for this novel hantavirus, which is transmitted through aerosolized excreta of infected rodents. HPS begins with a prodrome of fever, myalgia, and respiratory symptoms followed by the acute onset of respiratory distress. Since HPS has a mortality of 60%, early recognition is important so that supportive treatment can be initiated promptly. Intravenous ribavirin is investigational therapy and can be obtained through the CDC in Atlanta.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1993

Inactivation of human immunodeficiency virus by a medical waste disposal process using chlorine dioxide.

OBJECTIVE: To study the ability of a medical waste disposal process using chlorine dioxide to inactivate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). DESIGN: Stock HIV-1 (HTLV-IIIB strain) was treated with chlorine dioxide under the following settings: cell culture medium alone, culture medium with 25% blood, culture medium with medical supplies treated by the Condor machine (Winfield Environmental Corp., Escondido, CA). MT-2 cells in 96-well tissue culture plates were inoculated with serial tenfold dilutions of treated and untreated HIV-1. Cytopathic effect was read on day five, and the TCID50 (50% tissue culture infectious dose) was calculated. RESULTS: Treatment of HIV-1 with chlorine dioxide in culture medium alone resulted in a 5.25 log10 reduction in TCID50. Treatment of HIV-1 with chlorine dioxide in the presence of 25% blood caused a 6.25 log10 reduction in HIV-1 infectivity. Treatment of HIV-1 with chlorine dioxide in the presence of medical supplies treated in the Condor machine resulted in a 4.75 log10 reduction in HIV infectivity. CONCLUSIONS: Chlorine dioxide inactivated HIV-1 in vitro. Chlorine dioxide inactivated HIV-1 in the presence of blood and in the presence of medical supplies under conditions that simulated the conditions existing in the Condor machine.

Blood↗
PubMed1993

Prosthetic hip infection and bacteremia due to Campylobacter jejuni in a patient with AIDS.

Campylobacter jejuni is a common enteric pathogen in healthy individuals and in patients with AIDS. It usually causes a self-limited diarrheal illness with fever and abdominal pain. We report what we believe is a unique case of C. jejuni osteomyelitis in a 60-year-old man who had hemophilia A, AIDS, and a hip prosthesis. He presented to the hospital with a 4-day history of fever and diarrhea and a 1-day history of hip pain. Findings on plain films and a bone scan were suggestive of osteomyelitis in the proximal femur. Cultures of blood and a hip aspirate yielded C. jejuni.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1993

Report of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sinusitis in a patient with AIDS.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections in AIDS patients who frequently do not have the usual predisposing conditions such as neutropenia and intravenous drug use. The infections due to P. aeruginosa may be difficult to treat in AIDS patients. Sinusitis has been increasingly recognized as a complication in patients with AIDS. This article describes a case of recurrent P. aeruginosa sinusitis which, until recently, was rarely reported in AIDS.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1992

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia due to corticosteroids.

A patient receiving long-term corticosteroid therapy for asthma had two episodes of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) 8 years apart. She had no other causes of immunosuppression. Experimental evidence indicates that corticosteroid administration causes a reduction in T lymphocytes mediated by suppression of cytokines. Corticosteroid therapy is a rare but possible independent predisposition to PCP.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1992

Cryptococcal olecranon bursitis in cirrhosis.

A 47-year-old man with cirrhosis developed a case of previously unreported olecranon bursitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans. Most patients with disseminated cryptococcosis have deficiencies in cell mediated immunity. Cirrhosis may be an independent risk factor because of impaired chemotaxis and phagocytosis.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1989

trans-activation of viral enhancers including long terminal repeat of the human immunodeficiency virus by the hepatitis B virus X protein.

Human hepatitis B virus contains an open reading frame designated X. We have investigated the trans-activating function of the hepatitis B virus X gene in regulating transcriptional control elements. In the HBV genome the major target for X trans-activation is the enhancer element. Further, the X protein stimulates several other viral promoters/enhancers including the long terminal repeats (LTR) of human retroviruses. One of the viral sequences studied in detail is the human immunodeficiency viral (HIV) LTR which is trans-activated by the X protein. Using mutational analysis of the HIV LTR, we show that the NF-kappa B sequences contained within the U3 region are involved in this stimulatory activity. Nuclear run-on analyses support the notion that X-mediated trans-activation occurs at the level of transcription.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗
PubMed1988

Korsakoff's psychosis due to massive beer intake provoked by diabetes insipidus.

Posttraumatic diabetes insipidus, acute pancreatitis, and Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff's psychosis in a 33-year-old white male alcohol abuser resulted in near-fatal cardiovascular collapse. The Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff's psychosis resulted from drinking massive quantities of beer to satisfy the thirst induced by diabetes insipidus. Although the diabetes insipidus was controlled with vasopressin, and the need for vasopressin resolved two months after diagnosis, the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome had not resolved by six months.

Acute Disease↗