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Biomedical subjects

Wilbert H Mason

Publications and source records attributed to Wilbert H Mason.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Infliximab treatment for refractory Kawasaki syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha blockade for treatment of patients with Kawasaki syndrome (KS) who fail to become afebrile or who experience persistent arthritis after treatment with intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG) and high-dose aspirin. STUDY DESIGN: Cases were retrospectively collected from clinicians throughout the United States who had used infliximab, a chimeric murine/human immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to human TNF-alpha-1, for patients with KS who had either persistent arthritis or persistent or recrudescent fever > or =48 hours following infusion of 2 g/kg of IVIG. RESULTS: Response to therapy with cessation of fever occurred in 13 of 16 patients. C-reactive protein (CRP) level was elevated in all but one patient before infliximab infusion, and the level was lower following infusion in all 10 patients in whom it was re-measured within 48 hours of treatment. There were no infusion reactions to infliximab and no complications attributed to infliximab administration in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: The success of TNF-alpha blockade in this small series of patients suggests a central role of TNF-alpha in KS pathogenesis. Controlled, randomized clinical trials are warranted to determine the role of anti-TNF-alpha therapy in KS.

Adolescent↗

Right atrial mass in a child with disseminated coccidioidomycosis.

A 10-year-old patient with known coccidioidomycosis relapsed and had dysrrhythmias and a right atrial mass. Histopathology and culture after surgical removal revealed that this was a vegetative mass infected with Coccidioides spp. We believe that this is the first case of coccidioidal endocarditis to be reported.

Amphotericin B↗

Prevalence of superantigen-secreting bacteria in patients with Kawasaki disease.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of superantigen secreting bacteria in children with acute Kawasaki disease (KD) relative to control patients. STUDY DESIGN: Bacterial cultures were obtained in a blinded fashion from the throat, rectum, and groin of 45 patients with untreated acute KD and 37 febrile control patients from 6 centers in the United States. Cultures were processed for the presence of superantigen-producing bacteria at a central laboratory. RESULTS: Staphylococci or streptococci that produced superantigens (TSST-1, SEB, SEC, SPEB, SPEC) were isolated from 25 of 45 patients with KD (56%) as compared with 13 of 37 (35%) control patients (P =.078). Because SEB- and SEC-producing Staphylococcus aureus have not been associated with KD and because they do not induce a Vbeta2+ T-lymphocyte response, we analyzed the difference between groups relative to superantigens TSST-1 or SPEB/SPEC production. TSST-1 secreting S aureus or SPEB/SPEC producing group A streptococci were isolated from 20 of 45 (44%) patients with KD compared with 7 of 37 (19%) control patients (P =.019). CONCLUSIONS: The overall isolation rates of superantigen (TSST-1, SPEB, SPEC, SEB, SEC) producing bacteria between patients with KD and febrile control patients were not statistically significant. However, future studies should further examine the potential role of Vbeta2-stimulatory superantigens (TSST-1 and SPEB/SPEC) in KD.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

At-home recovery following hospitalization for bronchiolitis.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the at-home recovery of infants after hospitalization for bronchiolitis, the impact of recovery from this illness on the family, and the association between delayed infant recovery and parental satisfaction with hospital care. METHODS: Otherwise healthy infants less than 1 year of age admitted to 6 children's hospitals were eligible. Telephone interviews with 486 parents (85% of sampled), 1-2 weeks following discharge, addressed functional recovery, lingering symptoms, family disruption, returns to the emergency department, and parental recall of satisfaction with care. RESULTS: Two thirds of infants experienced difficulties with normal routines (feeding, sleeping, contentedness, liveliness) on the day of discharge. By 5 days at home, 22% continued to experience disruption in sleeping, and 16% in feeding routines. Coughing (56%) and wheezing (27%) were common 4 to 6 days after discharge. Parents who reported longer delays in return to normal family routines took additional time off work, kept their infants out of day care twice as many days, and were more likely to take their infants to the doctor or hospital for repeat medical care. Parents from families slower to return to a normal routine recalled the hospital stay less favorably. CONCLUSIONS: A small but important proportion of infants have a protracted recovery period following hospitalization for bronchiolitis. Delayed recovery is associated with parental work time loss and less favorable parental impressions of care in the hospital. Anticipatory guidance about home recovery could allow parents to plan for extended home care and improve satisfaction with hospital care.

Bronchiolitis↗

Improving care after primary cleft palate surgery.

This article reports on the use of a multidisciplinary action plan (MAP) in a tertiary care craniofacial center to evaluate one set of outcomes after primary cleft palate repair (PCPR). Two series of patients undergoing PCPR were studied. The first series of 30 patients was managed by using a set of preprinted order sets developed by plastic surgeons and clinical nurse specialists. The patients were evaluated 90 days after surgery to determine whether they had received the planned postoperative care. Most patients received care from plastic surgeons, and fewer obtained care from otolaryngologists. The second group of patients was managed by using a revised set of preprinted order sets and an MAP developed by both surgical specialty groups. In the second group, the proper postoperative follow-up care was provided by both surgical subspecialists with the revised interdisciplinary order sets and new MAP-directed care.

Cleft Lip↗