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D R Hopkins

Publications and source records attributed to D R Hopkins.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

The case for global measles eradication.

The global eradication of measles is desirable because the disease occurs almost universally, affects large numbers of children, can cause serious complications, and is responsible for about 900 000 deaths a year in developing countries. The feasibility of a measles eradication programme is suggested by the success of smallpox eradication, the availability of a heat-stable, cheap, and effective vaccine, and the fact that interruption of measles transmission has been achieved in some places. Eradication of measles globally would also result in the saving of the large sums of money being spent on measles treatment, vaccination, and surveillance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Benzodiazepine withdrawal in general practice.

A study of benzodiazepine prescribing in a single-handed general practice was carried out over a period of three months. It seemed that the existing pattern of prescribing was indiscriminate and ineffective, and that repeat prescriptions were poorly controlled. A programme of controlled withdrawal was instituted for patients whose consumption of benzodiazepines was felt to be no longer appropriate. Of 103 patients identified who had been taking benzodiazepines for longer than three months, 78 were entered into the programme. On completion, 45 patients (58 per cent) had discontinued benzodiazepines completely, and a further 13 (17 per cent) were taking less than half their original dose. Four patients had failed to reduce consumption at all and two were lost to follow-up. At follow-up between three and five months later, 49 patients (63 per cent) had discontinued benzodiazepines completely and only two had restarted treatment. The median time taken to complete the programme was 3.2 weeks, with 95 per cent of patients completing within six weeks. Withdrawal was generally well tolerated, with a temporary increase in insomnia as the main symptom. Two patients experienced severe symptoms, but both had stopped treatment abruptly.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Neutralization kinetic studies with genital cytomegalovirus isolates, an antigenically variable group.

Antisera were prepared in rabbits against four low-passage genital isolates, and against two established strains of human cytomegalovirus. With these sera, and seven strains of virus, 42 virus-antisera combinations were examined by kinetic neutralization procedures, and NK-values derived. No evidence accrued indicating that the five genital isolates constituted an antigenically distinct group. The findings support the view that the human cytomegaloviruses are antigenically heterogeneous, with different strains reflecting an antigenic mosaic, the elements of which are present in varying amounts.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Pinta, yaws, and venereal syphilis in Colombia.

Three treponemal infections of man have coexisted in Colombia, South America for centuries. In former years, Colombia and Mexico were the world's most highly endemic countries for pinta. Within Colombia, highest rates of infection with pinta occurred among the mestizo and Indian populations in the Andean and Caribbean departments of Huila, Tolima, Antiochia, Magdalena and Cesar. Yaws occurred primarily in rural areas along the Pacific coast among descendants of African slaves. Infectious syphilis is most often reported from the three largest urban areas, and from three other densely populated departments in the Andean region. During the 21-year period from 1954 to 1974, almost four times as many cases of pinta as yaws were reported. The incidence rates of yaws and pinta have declined almost in parallel in Colombia, even though there has been a national campaign against yaws, but not against pinta. The incidence of primary and secondary syphilis increased only slightly during the same period. The total burden of reported treponematoses (excluding tertiary and congenital syphilis) declinded by over 40 per cent, while the ratios of reported yaws, pinta and infectious syphilis rose from 1:3:4 in 1954 to 1:7:975 in 1974.

Colombia↗
PubMed1977

Yaws in the Americas, 1950-1975.

Yaws was introduced into the Americas by African slaves beginning in the 16th century and may have already been present before the arrival of Columbus. In the 1950s, programs for the eradication of yaws were undertaken in almost all American countries in which yaws was endemic. By mass treatment of cases and contacts with penicillin, the programs against yaws have dramatically reduced the incidence of reported cases throughout the Western Hemisphere from greater than 44,000 cases per year during 1950-1954 to 437 cases in 1975. In Brazil, efforts against yaws reduced the number of patients treated by 99% between 1965 and 1974. By 1975, yaws apparently remained a significant public health problem in only a few communities in Brazil, Columbia, Dominica, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent, and possibly in Guiana and Surinam. It may be possible to eliminate infectious yaws entirely from the Western Hemisphere within the next few years.

Humans↗
PubMed1977

Cervical excretion cytomegalovirus: correlation with secretory and humoral antibody.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was isolated from cervical secretions of 10 of 121 outpatients at a venereal disease clinic. The buoyant densities of the DNA of five of the 10 CMV isolates were determined and found to be the same as those reported for strains isolated from other anatomical sites. Nine of 102 specimens of cervical secretions were reactive for IgG antibody to CMV, and five of 61 specimens tested were reactive for secretory IgA antibody, whereas two excretors had only IgG and secretory IgA antibody, whereas two excretors had only IgG antibody. Antibody to early antigen was identified in the sera of excretors whose cervical secretions were reactive for IgG and secretory IgA antibody.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1977

Comparison of RPR 'teardrop' card test, VDRL and FTA-ABS tests results on sera from persons with suspected yaws in Columbia.

A small study comparing results of the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) teardrop card test performed in the field, with results of Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) tests performed in the laboratory on venous blood specimens from the same suspected yaws patients was undertaken in Columbia in July 1975. The results suggest that the RPR teardrop card test may be used to screen for infectious, or potentially infectious, yaws patients under field conditions, but that it will not reliably detect patients with VDRL titres of 1:2 or less, or all patients in whom sera are reactive in the FTA-ABS test.

Colombia↗
PubMed1977

Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) tests using blood samples collected on filter paper.

One hundred and eleven (111) blood specimens were collected from patients with known or suspected syphilis by venipuncture and on a small piece of No. 3 grade filter paper. Both specimens from each patient were tested by bluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test. Of the 62 patients whose venipuncture sera were FTA-ABS positive, filter paper blood samples were also positive in 56 (90%) and negative in 6 (10%). Complete agreement was obtained on paired specimens from 49 patients who were FTA-ABS negative. These preliminary results suggest that finger stick blood samples, collected on filter paper, could be used for FTA-ABS testing of remote rural populations--such as in areas where yaws is endemic.

Blood Specimen Collection↗
PubMed1976

After smallpox eradication: yaws?

The WHO-coordinated Smallpox Eradication Program (SEP) has reduced the number of smallpox-endemic countries from 30 to 1, and now expects to complete the eradication of smallpox after a 10-year campaign. Campaigns to eradicate yaws were begun in the early 1950's with WHO and UNICEF support, and have greatly reduced the prevalence of that disease. Yaws has not yet been eradicated from any large geographic area, however, and is already resurgent in some countries. Some of the differences between the two diseases and available control measures are discussed. The thesis of this paper is that yaws programs have been deficient in failing to aggressively seek and contain yaws cases and contacts after mass treatment campaigns reduced yaws prevalence to low levels. It is further suggested that by using a modified SEP-type strategy to focus investigation and control efforts on infections yaws cases and their contacts, and by taking advantage of new methods to obtain more accurate diagnosis of yaws cases in the field, it should be possible to control yaws more effectively and efficiently, and perhaps to eradicate it. Outstanding barriers to yaws eradication are also discussed.

Adolescent↗