Eugene A. Hildreth

Effect of Measles Immunization on Tuberculin Hypersensitivity and in vitro Lymphocyte Reactivity

Tuberculin skin test reactivity, blood lymphocyte levels, antituberculoprotein antibody levels and in vitro proliferative responses of lymphocytes cultured with tuberculin were compared in subjects receiving measles vaccine or placebo. Five of 10 individuals receiving measles vaccine showed significant depression of tuberculin skin test reactivity; 4 of these 5 showed concomitant decrease in degrees of tuberculin-induced lymphocyte proliferation. There were no significant changes following placebo administration to 3 individuals.

The relationship between bronchiolitis and allergic asthma: A prospective study with allergy evaluation

Abstract A long-term prospective study has been made of twenty-four infants with the diagnosis of “bronchiolitis” in 1960–1961. Three to four years after the “bronchiolitis” episode, 50 per cent of the children were still wheezing. A very strong correlation was found between the persistence of wheezing and (a) family history of allergy and (b) presence of other allergies in the patients. There was also a strong correlation between the persistence of wheezing and increased number of eosinophils in the nasal secretions. In those patients available for study, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of peripheral eosinophilia between the two groups of patients. The significance of these findings with etiologic and prognostic implications is discussed.

Patterns of allergic respiratory disease in children with a past history of bronchiolitis

Abstract Sequential annual examinations have been carried out in a group of children who were hospitalized 5 years previously for bronchiolitis. During the subsequent 5 year study period, 40 to 50 per cent of the children were observed to wheeze recurrently. These was a high incidence of positive family histories of allergy, atopic rhinitis and dermatitis, and increased eosinophils in the nasal secretions and peripheral blood. Strong skin test responses to allergens were seen predominantly in the wheezing subjects and increased in frequency during the 5 year period. Wheezing episodes were generally associated with respiratory infections but were also observed during exposure to skin test reactive antigens as the children became older. The relationship of the bronchiolitis episode to childhood asthma is discussed.

Inhalation sensitization to trypsin

Abstract A patient is reported who developed asthma during an eight-year occupational exposure to crude trypsin and chymotrypsin powders. Precipitation of asthmatic symptoms by trypsin was confirmed by provocative inhalation tests. The patient also manifested immediate sensitivity reactions when skin tested to a trypsin solution. Both inhalation and skin tests were negative in control subjects. The implication of sensitivity developing to aerosolized trypsin is discussed in relation to the long-term use of this agent in some asthmatic patients.

A New Look at Clinical Privileges for Procedures

Excerpt In preparing guidelines for clinical competence in specific medical procedures, the American College of Physicians (ACP) intends to suggest minimum criteria necessary for competent performa...