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T Novotny

Publications and source records attributed to T Novotny.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Diagnosis of Giardia lamblia infections by detection of parasite-specific antigens.

Antigen detection methods may facilitate diagnosis of Giardia lamblia in stool specimens. As determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and immunoblotting, G. lamblia cysts and trophozoites share several antigens, especially in the 65-kilodalton and 30- to 34-kilodalton regions. By using blind methods, we compared results obtained by counterimmunoelectrophoresis using cyst-immune rabbit serum and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using trophozoite-immune rabbit serum with results obtained by microscopic examination of a preserved, concentrated, and permanently stained stool specimen. Results were similar when these three methods were used to examine 118 stool specimens from clinical microbiology laboratories (53 specimens with G. lamblia) and specimens from 239 day-care-center toddlers (39 specimens with G. lamblia). Compared with microscopy, we found, for counterimmunoelectrophoresis and ELISA, respectively: sensitivity, 88 versus 94%; specificity, 97 versus 95%; positive predictive value, 86 versus 76%; negative predictive value, 98 versus 97%; and concordance, 89%. The false-positive rate by ELISA was 24% (10 of 42) in day-care-center toddlers but only 3% (1 of 32) in healthy adults (P less than 0.04) as corroborated by microscopy. This discrepancy suggests that the ELISA may be more sensitive than microscopy, which is considered the reference standard, and that results may be dependent, in part, on the epidemiology of the infection in the study subjects.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Lead exposure in a firing range.

We report lead exposure in four employees of a privately owned shooting range, one of whom had neurological toxicity due to lead. Increasing time worked at the range was associated with elevation of blood lead. This incident emphasizes the risk of airborne lead exposure to employees of firing ranges.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1986

Infant botulism. Three cases in a small town.

Through Dec 31, 1985, there have been six cases of infant botulism reported in Colorado. Three of these infants have lived in the same town of 800 people in western Colorado. Two of these three infants developed infant botulism within a six-month period in late 1981. The infants lived approximately 400 m apart; they had used the same crib at the time each developed botulism. A specimen from the crib yielded Clostridium botulinum, as did four soil samples from the town and house-dust samples from the home of a relative of the second infant. The third infant developed infant botulism in September 1984. This infant had not shared the crib. In this case, all seven samples of soil from various locations in the town yielded C botulinum, as did a sample of house dust from the home of this infant. The occurrence of these three cases in such a small town seems unlikely to be only coincidental. Investigations and reports of other such clusters may provide insight into modes of transmission of infant botulism.

Beds↗
PubMed1983

Vaginal disease. Venereal and nonvenereal types.

Vaginal diseases are, in many cases, sexually transmitted. However, most can also be non-venereal and can occur in any age-group. Special care should be taken in examining and treating young females with vaginal disease, and the possibility of sexual abuse should be considered in this age-group. Finally, special attention should be paid to girls and women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero, as these patients have an increased risk of anatomic and reproductive anomalies.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Measles outbreaks in religious groups exempt from immunization laws.

State immunization laws which exempt religious groups present difficult problems in disease control in measles epidemics. Two outbreaks are described, 136 cases in a college for Christian Scientists, and 51 cases associated with a camp attended by Christian Scientists. Control measures at the college included immunization and quarantine. An alternative strategy at the camp consisted of dispersal of exposed persons from the camp and their being quarantined in their home States. Three deaths (case-fatality ratio = 2.2 percent) were reported at the college; no serious complications were reported from the camp-associated epidemic. No transmission into the general community occurred in either epidemic. Public health officials are encouraged to be aware of the legal rights and obligations of religiously exempt groups so that outbreaks in these groups can be effectively controlled, even if standard immunization strategies are not possible. Early reporting and rapid case identification, investigation, and quarantine or vaccination procedures by public health workers are necessary for disease control in these settings.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

State estimates of Medicaid expenditures attributable to cigarette smoking, fiscal year 1993.

OBJECTIVE: To develop estimates of state Medicaid expenditures attributable to smoking for fiscal year 1993. METHODS: The smoking-attributable fractions (SAFs) of state Medicaid expenditures were estimated using a national model that describes the relationship between smoking and medical expenditures, controlling for a variety of sociodemographic, economic, and behavioral factors. RESULTS: In fiscal year 1993, the SAF for all states (all types of expenditures) was 14.4%, with a range from 8.6% in Washington DC to 19.2% in Nevada. On average, SAFs ranged from a low of 7.9% for home health services expenditures to 21.7% for hospital expenditures. An estimated total of $12.9 billion of fiscal year 1993 Medicaid expenditures was attributable to smoking. The relative error of this estimate was 40.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette smoking accounts for a substantial portion of annual state Medicaid expenditures, with considerable variation among states. The range in expenditures among the states is due to differences in smoking prevalence, health status, other socioeconomic variables used in the model, and the level and scope of the Medicaid program.

Adult↗