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Biomedical subjects

Timothy Lahey

Publications and source records attributed to Timothy Lahey.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Baseline mycobacterial immune responses in HIV-infected adults primed with bacille Calmette-Guérin during childhood and entering a tuberculosis booster vaccine trial.

BACKGROUND: Most new tuberculosis vaccines will be administered as a booster to subjects primed with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) during childhood. METHODS: We investigated in vivo and in vitro immune responses to mycobacteria in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive subjects in Tanzania primed with BCG during childhood and entering a tuberculosis booster vaccine trial. Tests included intradermal skin testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD) and Mycobacterium avium sensitin (MAS); lymphocyte proliferation assays and interferon (IFN)-gamma levels after stimulation with Mycobacterium vaccae sonicate (MVS), M. tuberculosis early secreted antigen (ESAT)-6, M. tuberculosis antigen 85 (Ag85), or M. tuberculosis whole-cell lysate (WCL); and determination of serum antibody to lipoarabinomannin (LAM). RESULTS: A total of 888 subjects with CD4 cell counts > or = 200 cells/mm3 were enrolled. PPD and MAS test results were positive in 34% and 30% of the subjects, respectively. Proliferative responses were detected as follows: MVS, 6%; Ag85, 24%; ESAT-6, 21%; and WCL, 59%. IFN-gamma responses were 2%, 6%, 12%, and 38%, respectively. LAM antibody was detected in 28% of the subjects. Subjects were more likely to have detectable proliferative and IFN-gamma responses if they had positive PPD test results or CD4 cell counts > or = 500 cells/mm3. Overall, 94% of the subjects had evidence of primed mycobacterial immune responses. CONCLUSION: Of HIV-positive BCG-immunized adults with CD4 cell counts > or = 200 cells/mm3 in Tanzania, 94% are primed for booster mycobacterial immunization.

Adult↗

Fatal hemoptysis from invasive Aspergillus niger in a patient with cavitary lung disease and Mycobacterium avium complex infection.

Invasive aspergillosis typically afflicts immunocompromised patients, whereas pulmonary aspergilloma is a recognized complication of pre-existing cavitary lung disease in immunocompetent hosts. In both cases, the most prevalent pathogens are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. We describe a case of fatal hemoptysis from invasive Aspergillus niger infection in the setting of bullous lung disease, steroid-treated sarcoidosis, and Mycobacterium avium complex infection. This report highlights the potential for A. niger to cause invasive disease in conjunction with other pathologic processes in the lung.

Adult↗

Influenza, Winter Olympiad, 2002.

Prospective surveillance for influenza was performed during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Oseltamivir was administered to patients with influenza like illness and confirmed influenza, while their close contacts were given oseltamivir prophylactically. Influenza A/B was diagnosed in 36 of 188 patients, including 13 athletes. Prompt management limited the spread of this outbreak.

Acetamides↗

Expansion and contraction of HIV-specific CD4 T cells with short bursts of viremia, but physical loss of the majority of these cells with sustained viral replication.

Chronic infection with the HIV results in poor HIV-specific CD4 T cell proliferation, but more recent analyses using intracellular cytokine staining demonstrated that IFN-gamma-producing, HIV-specific CD4 T cells can be detected for years in HIV-infected subjects. Because it is not known whether the majority of HIV-specific T cells are lost or become dysfunctional, we examined the kinetics of the T cell response over an extended period of time using a panel of 10 HLA-DR tetramers loaded with HIV p24 peptides. Tetramer+ CD4 T cells were present at a relatively high frequency during acute infection, but the size of these populations substantially contracted following suppression of viral replication. Short-term cessation of antiretroviral therapy resulted in a burst of viral replication and concomitant expansion of tetramer+ CD4 T cells, and these populations again contracted following reinitiation of therapy. The kinetics with which these cell populations contracted were characteristic of effector T cells, a conclusion that was supported by their phenotypic (CCR7-CD45RA-) and functional properties (IFN-gamma+). Continued high-level viremia resulted in the physical loss of the majority of tetramer+ CD4 T cells, and the decline of HIV p24-specific CD4 T cells occurred more rapidly and was more substantial than the reduction of total CD4 T cell numbers. We conclude that the population of HIV p24-specific CD4 T cells is initially responsive to changes in the levels of viral Ags, but that the majority of these cells are lost in a setting of chronic viremia.

Alleles↗

Death rounds: end-of-life discussions among medical residents in the intensive care unit.

PURPOSE: We introduced "Death Rounds," a monthly discussion of the issues and emotions surrounding the care of dying patients, into the intensive care unit (ICU) rotations for medical house staff. We surveyed participating residents to evaluate their satisfaction with these discussions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Death Rounds occurred at university-based teaching hospitals in Seattle, Washington and Salt Lake City, Utah, between October 2000 and March 2002. Residents who had attended Death Rounds were surveyed in April 2002. RESULTS: A 10-item survey was distributed by e-mail to 116 residents in Utah and Washington. Of 116 residents, 97 (84%) responded to the survey; 50 of these 97 had attended at least one Death Rounds. Of these 50, the majority reported that Death Rounds were worthwhile (76%) and that sessions should be incorporated into all ICU rotations (76%). CONCLUSIONS: Death Rounds provide a unique opportunity for residents to discuss the issues raised in caring for dying patients. This conference can be easily incorporated into the ICU curriculum. Most residents who participated in the survey indicated that they valued Death Rounds and believed that it should be included in all ICU rotations.

Adult↗

Massive left atrial calcification and devastating systemic emboli in a patient with chronic renal failure.

Valvular calcification is a common consequence of systemic calcium deposition resulting from chronic renal failure. Thrombi can form on such vascular calcifications and embolize to the cerebral, myocardial, and mesenteric vasculature with devastating consequences. We report the unique case of a patient with myocardial and cerebrovascular ischemia resulting from emboli arising from a massive mitral annular calcification.

Adult↗