Francis C. Lowell

Measurement of changes in vital capacity as a means of detecting pulmonary reactions to inhaled aerosolized allergenic extracts in asthmatic subjects.

Abstract 1.1. It was shown that a reduction in vital capacity followed the inhalation of aerosolized extracts of certain pollens and dust in ten asthmatic subjects. 2.2. Tests could be carried out with little discomfort to the subject, although mild asthmatic manifestations usually occurred. 3.3. In some instances a fall in vital capacity was observed in the absence of signs or subjective symptoms of asthma. 4.4. Our limited experience indicates that this method may be helpful in diagnosis. The technique has the advantage that pulmonary reactions inditinguishable from spontaneous asthma may be produced and measured under controlled conditions. 5.5. The possible value of this method in studying the effect of drugs on the asthmalike response is pointed out.

Measurement of vital capacity in asthmatic subjects receiving histamine and acetyl-beta-methyl choline. A clinical study

Abstract 1.1. Changes in the vital capacity were studied following the injection of acetyl-beta-methyl choline and histamine in forty asthmatic subjects. 2.2. Analysis of the results with respect to the pulmonary responsiveness to the two drugs on the one hand and various clinical features on the other indicate that: (a) patients with severe asthma were most responsive to the two drugs and those with mild asthma were least responsive; (b) patients with asthma of very recent origin or those whose asthma had ceased or markedly diminished were either slightly responsive or not responsive at all; (c) age, sex, the presence of hay fever, eczema, or urticaria in the subject or the subjects family appeared to have no influence on the susceptibility to the two drugs. It is concluded that of all the factors considered, asthma was the only one which appeared to have a direct influence on the pulmonary responsiveness to histamine and acetyl-beta-methyl choline.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema; a disease of smokers.

Excerpt During the last two years a number of patients with chronic obstructive emphysema have been observed while under treatment with bronchodilator agents and the adrenal steroids, in the course...

Allergens of mammalian origin: II. Characterization of allergens extracted from rat, mouse, guinea pig, and rabbit pelts

Aqueous extracts prepared from lyophilized, defatted rat, mouse, guinea pig, and rabbit pelts elicited intense wheal-and-flare responses in the skin of a high proportion of patients who were clinically sensitive to these animals. The major allergens in each extract were nondialyzable. Skin test reactions to rat, mouse, and guinea pig serum were common in patients allergic to these animals. The fractions of rat, mouse, and rabbit pelt extract showing maximum allergenic activity contained proteins with the electrophoretic mobility of serum albumin. Fractions of guinea pig pelt extract with maximum allergenic activity were of prealbumin mobility and contained little stainable protein. On Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, most allergen from rat, mouse, and guinea pig pelt extracts was recovered in fractions containing proteins with a molecular weight range of 10,000 to 25,000 daltons. Allergen in rabbit pelt extract had a slightly higher molecular weight range of 18,000 to 38,000 daltons.

Unrecognized airway obstruction associated with smoking: a probable forerunner of obstructive pulmonary emphysema.

Excerpt INTRODUCTION An association between cigarette smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients has been shown by several writers.1-4Furthermore, it has been postulated that in ...

Evidence for the Existence of Two Antibodies for Crystalline Insulin

Conclusions Evidence is presented indicating the presence of two antibodies for crystalline insulin in the serum of a patient who was both allergic and resistant to crystalline insulin. It was also shown that the patient was allergic but not resistant to a preparation of human insulin. The relation of the two antibodies to the patients response to crystalline and human insulin is discussed.

Aerosolized steroids in bronchial asthma

Abstract Preparations of prednisolone and hydrocortisone suspended in a Freon propellant were administered as aerosols to asthmatic patients. Using the double-blind technique, we obtained strong evidence for a topical therapeutic effect of prednisolone in asthma. Clinical experience indicated that this was also true for aerosolized hydrocortisone. The topical therapeutic effect of steroids as given appeared to be approximately equivalent to a daily dose of 40 mg. of hydrocortisone by mouth.

Prolonged treatment of bronchial asthma with cortisone.

Abstract Observations in 19 patients with severe bronchial asthma, treated with cortisone for a year or more in the period from December, 1949, to November, 1952, are described. Although 17 of the 19 patients have maintained a satisfactory state of health, no evidence has been obtained to date that the underlying pulmonary disease of which asthma is the manifestation has been materially influenced by treatment. Two patients who improved initially have developed increasing asthma under treatment and may probably be regarded as failures. The chief side-effects encountered in this group of patients have been gain in weight (10 patients) and hypertension (3 patients), although the latter may be coincidental. Recurrent respiratory infections may be difficult to recognize and are often associated with relapse or exacerbation of the asthma.

Failure of ragweed pollen extract to destroy white cells from ragweed-sensitive patients

Abstract 1.1. An attempt to confirm the previous observation that ragweed pollen extract destroys in-vitro white blood cells from ragweed-sensitive patients was unsuccessful. 2.2. In none of the thirteen tests on seven ragweed-sensitive patients did a greater destruction of cells occur upon addition of ragweed pollen extract than upon addition of saline.

Acute allergic reactions induced in subjects with hay fever and asthma by the intravenous administration of allergens with observations on blood clot lysis

Abstract Six patients with allergic disease of the respiratory tract were given intravenous extracts to which they were sensitive both clinically and by skin test. Amounts which were sufficient to evoke respiratory manifestations produced little apparent circulatory or cutaneous change. No change was observed in skin sensitivity or in circulating skin-sensitizing antibody or complement. An unexpected finding was the lysis of clot formed in blood drawn after the induced reactions (fibrinolysis) in three instances.