Biomedical subjects

C M Wheeler

Publications and source records attributed to C M Wheeler.

58 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1965

Results of a preliminary serological survey of small mammal populations for plague on the island of Hawaii.

Since 1910 the District of Hamakua, Island of Hawaii, has been considered an endemic plague area. To obtain indirect evidence of plague infection in rodents and in the mongoose, serological surveys of the small mammal populations were undertaken. The passive microhaemagglutination test demonstrated the presence of positive reactors (titres of 1:16 and higher) in the sera of 2641 rodents and 385 mongooses tested. Positive percentages were: Rattus exulans, 1.5%; R. norvegicus, 1.9%; R. rattus, 0.6%; Mus musculus, 1.1%; and Herpestes auropunctatus, 12.5%. This study has proved the continued presence of a permanent reservoir of plague in indigenous rodent and mongoose populations after a period of 65 years since the introduction of plague into Hawaii and has demonstrated that the mongoose is an excellent indicator of plague infection.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Determinants of genital human papillomavirus infection among cytologically normal women attending the University of New Mexico student health center.

OBJECTIVES: To confirm the risk factors for genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To investigate risk factors for HPV detection apart from the correlated risk factors for cervical neoplasia. STUDY DESIGN: Cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA was assessed in 357 cytologically normal women attending the University of New Mexico student health center. Cervical swab samples were obtained for HPV DNA detection and typing using a PCR-based DNA amplification system. Possible determinants of cervical HPV were examined including age, ethnicity, history of sexually transmitted disease, oral contraceptive use, smoking, age at first intercourse, lifetime number of sex partners, marital status, and history of pregnancy. RESULTS: A 44.3% overall prevalence of cervical HPV was observed. On univariate analysis, factors associated with increasing HPV prevalence included higher lifetime number of sex partners and single marital status. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, we found that HPV prevalence increased with higher lifetime number of sexual partners. CONCLUSION: These findings, along with those from the companion reports in this issue of the journal, support the sexual route of transmission of the virus.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Preventive vaccines for cervical cancer.

The potential use of vaccines for the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer is a possibility in the near future. Close to 20 genotypes of HPV, of the 75 that have been identified, infect the feminine genital tract, but four subtypes (16, 18, 31 and 45) have been associated in close to 80% of cervical cancers, this article proposes that in order to design an effective prophylactic vaccine against HPV infection, an adequate immune response should be guaranteed through four goals; a) activation of antigens present in the cell; b) overcoming the host response and viral genetic variability in the T cell response; c) generation of high levels of T and B memory cells; and d) persistence of antigens.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Risk factors for cervical dysplasia in southwestern American Indian women: a pilot study.

Cervical cancer and cervical dysplasia occur at high rates among American Indian women in the southwestern United States. Few published data, however, have addressed risk factors for the development of cervical neoplasia among southwestern American Indian women. To investigate risk factors for cervical dysplasia in this population, we carried out a case-control pilot study focused on the effects of sexually transmitted diseases, sexual behavior, hygienic practices, cigarette use, contraceptive techniques, and diet in the development of cervical dysplasia. Although our pilot study lacked power to clearly identify risk factors for neoplasia, the data suggest that cervical papillomavirus infection (crude odds ratio 4.72, 95% confidence interval 1.62-14.11), vaginal deliveries (3.70, 0.69-20.04 for > 2 vaginal deliveries vs none), and current cigarette smoking (3.08, 0.50-24.15) were associated with dysplasia. These preliminary findings indicate that risk factors for dysplasia in American Indian women differ from risks which we have identified in southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women, and suggest the need for further investigation of ethnic differences in cervical disease development.

Adult↗