Biomedical subjects

H W Ross

Publications and source records attributed to H W Ross.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1979

Swine influenza vaccine program in the community: acceptability, reactions and responses.

The operation of the national swine influenza immunization program was observed in the community of Tecumseh, Michigan. The purpose was to determine acceptability of a parenteral vaccine intended for the general population. Participation of the residents was excellent. More than 64 per cent of eligibles were vaccinated; this figure resembled that of the rest of the local area, but not the national figures nor a suburban area of Michigan where a similar study was carried out. Sore arm after vaccination was reported most frequently in younger female participants; however, sore arm was accepted as part of the process of vaccination and not considered a reaction by most. Such perceived reactions were not as commonly reported as in the large suburban area. Antibody response to the vaccine was excellent, not only in terms of antibodies to the swine virus itself but also in terms of cross reactive antibodies to the emergent H1N1 (Russian) influenza strain. As a result of the program, many vaccine recipients in the 25 to 49 year age groups are protected against this new epidemic virus.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978

The Tecumseh study of respiratory illness. X. Relation of acute infections to smoking, lung function and chronic symptoms.

The relationship of acute respiratory illness and infection to chronic bronchitis was investigated in the community of Tecumseh, Michigan. Families were randomly selected for study from among all those in the community and they were followed for periods of one year. Occurrence of acute respiratory illnesses was identified on a weekly basis. Frequency of chronic symptoms of cough and sputum production was separately ascertained. Lung function studies were performed three times during the course of the surveillance year and blood specimens were collected at those times. The blood specimens were tested for rise in antibody titer with antigens of type A and B influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Adults with mild or intermittent chronic symptoms of cough and sputum production experienced more acute respiratory illness than those without these symptoms. This finding was present at different levels of smoking frequency. A similar relationship was present when serologic infection rates were used in the analysis instead of acute illness incidence. When the population was dichotomized on the basis of lung function data, the segment of the population with more depressed values was found to have experienced higher infection rates. The results suggest that acute infection may play an independent role in the pathogenesis of chronic respiratory disease.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1975

The Tecumseh study of respiratory illness. VIII. Acute infection in chronic respiratory disease and comparison groups.

Individuals with chronic lung disease and their families were selected from the Tecumsch community along with similarly selected families as comparison groups and studied for 1-year periods. Occurence of acute respiratory illness was ascertained weekly by telephone and calculated as an annual rate. Persons with chronic bronchitis not only experienced more acute lower respiratory illness than healthy comparison subjects, but total illness rates were somewhat higher as well. Infection rates were determined from blood samples taken 3 times from each participant during the surveillance year. Antibody tests were performed for respiratory syncytial virus, para-influenza virus types 1, 2, and 3, influenza types A and B, coronavirus OC43, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae. Differences in serologic infection rates among the subgroups of the population were similar to those seen in the clinical data, with more frequent infection among those with bronchitis than among the comparison subjects. This finding indicates that some degree of increased susceptibility to actual infection existed among those individuals with bronchitis. Influence of smoking on illness and infection rates was also examined. Infections were, in general, more frequent in smokers than in nonsmokers, but illness rates were reversed, suggesting that perception of disease differed in the 2 groups. Rates of illness and infection of other adults in the families of the index individuals with bronchitis were not influenced by the higher rates seen in the index individuals; however, it was of interest that children of persons with bronchitis did have somewhat higher rates of infection than children of comparison subjects.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1972

Keratomycosis.

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Aged↗