William Franklin

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...

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 ...

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.

Latex as a food allergen.

To the Editor: Since 1985, when the use of latex gloves by health care workers became common, 5 to 10 percent of health care workers have been sensitized to latex.1 We report a case in which dermat...

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.

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.

The effect of helium-oxygen mixtures on pulmonary function in asthmatic patients

Abstract Eight patients with bronchial asthma were given air and a helium-oxygen mixture to breathe, and spirograms and measurements of speed of flow were obtained. In the severely ill patients, no significant change was observed in the expiratory reserve volume, the inspiratory capacity, the vital capacity, or the speed of flow during the performance of the vital capacity. In some measurements among the less ill patients, slightly larger values were obtained with helium.

INSULIN-RESISTANT DIABETES MELLITUS ASSOCIATED WITH HEMOCHROMATOSIS

Excerpt The amount of insulin required for the control of diabetes varies markedly. The insulin requirement is usually increased in the presence of infection, acidosis and coma, and often in associ...

CLINICAL STUDIES WITH CORTISONE'BY MOUTH, CORTISONE BY INJECTION, AND ACTH IN THE TREATMENT OF ASTHMA

Abstract Twnty-five patients with severe bronchial asthma were treated with ACTH or cortisone by injection and cortisone by mouth in the period from December 1949 to January 1951. Treatment of bronchial asthma with these agents appears to be effective and practical. Prolonged continuous treatment of severe chronic bronchial asthma with ACTH and cortisone holds promise but will require careful study.

Total absence of eosinophils in a patient with an allergic disorder.

A 45-year-old woman with a 25-year history of episodic urticaria and rhinitis had no detectable eosinophils in blood or bone marrow; levels of other leukocytes were normal. No eosinophils were found in the nasal discharge or the exudate elicited in skin windows by ragweed extract, to which the patient exhibited an immediate-type hypersensitivity response. A complement-dependent IgG-related activity in the patients serum cytotoxically degranulated human eosinophils in vitro without affecting neutrophils. Antieosinophil activity was confirmed by the ability of a single dose of the patients serum to suppress significantly the eosinophil counts in monkeys for up to 12 hours. This is the first description of an isolated absence of eosinophils, a condition that may present with allergic manifestations.