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Biomedical subjects

B Holland

Publications and source records attributed to B Holland.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Nontuberculous mycobacteria in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Among 139 children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome at Children's Hospital of New Jersey, 20 had positive cultures for non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Eighty-five percent had Mycobacterium avium complex isolated and 70% had definite evidence of disseminated disease. Ninety-three percent had CD4 lymphocyte counts less than 100 cells/mm3 and 95% had met acquired immunodeficiency syndrome criteria before the time of first positive culture. Clinical findings included failure to gain weight, anorexia, fever, abdominal pain/tenderness and anemia. The median age at onset of symptoms was 46 months and the median time between onset of symptoms and positive culture was 9 months. Outcome for patients with positive cultures for nontuberculous mycobacteria was poor, with 75% of the children surviving for less than or equal to 10 months. Nontuberculous mycobacteria are increasingly important causes of morbidity and indirect mortality in human immunodeficiency-infected children. Children with severe immunodeficiency are at particular risk. In addition to M. avium complex, other species of nontuberculous mycobacteria may be involved.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Clinical and laboratory correlates of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in children infected with HIV.

The case histories of 27 children with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) who were followed up in the AIDS Program at the Children's Hospital of New Jersey, Newark, are reviewed. The mean and median age at PCP diagnosis were 10.8 and 7.7 months, respectively. All of the children had other clinical evidence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus that was documented prior to the diagnosis of PCP or found at the time of PCP diagnosis. Most patients who presented to the hospital were acutely ill, and complications of treatment occurred in 70%. Overall, 89% of the patients died and 70% survived for less than 6 months after diagnosis of PCP. Median survival after the diagnosis of PCP was only 2.0 months and the median life span of children with PCP was only 14.4 months. Only 40% of children with PCP had CD4 lymphocyte counts at or below the threshold for institution of PCP prophylaxis in adults of 200 x 10(6) cells/L (200 cells/mm3).

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes

Automated multiphasic health testing. Diagnostic and testing results obtained at the Health Evaluation Center. Public Health Service Hospital, Baltimore.

The results of automated multiphasic health testing (AMHT) were evaluated with special attention to diagnoses made by physicians and to false positive results, as well as to laboratory test results. The study population consisted of 1,157 patients at the Health Evaluation Center of the Public Health Service Hospital in Baltimore. Although 95 percent of the patients had at least one newly diagnosed disease or condition., the percentage dropped to 78 percent when dental abnormalities were excluded and to 70 percent when dental, vision, and hearing abnormalities were excluded. Abnormal laboratory test results were observed for 98 percent of the patients, and 36 percent had at least one false positive test result. The study results indicated that AMHT is a highly productive method for comprehensive medical testing with a variety of uses other than mass screening. The productive diagnostic yield combined witha high percentage of false positive results dictate the need for careful planning for followup care, strict attention to quality control, and excellent communication between the AMHT center and the practicing physician.

Adolescent