Biomedical subjects
K L May
Publications and source records attributed to K L May.
[Remarks on the problem of the epidemiology of bronchial asthma and bronchitis].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
[Surfactant factor of the lung].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
[Considerations concerning the outpatient allergy units].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
[Pollinosis according to observations in an outpatient service].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The antipruritic effect of Fenistil (dimethypyrindene) in allergic conditions. Double blind clinical study.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Acetylcholine and histamine bronchial sensitivity among rhinitis patients.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Rhinitis and asthma-spirographic examination of rhinitic patients.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Death certificates in asthma and COPD patients (survey of statistical data in Warsaw).
UNLABELLED: Mortality statistics regarding asthma and COPD (in the older age groups) are probably lower due to the misplacement of underlying and additional causes of death in the death certificates. To check this possibility, all death certificates over one year were reviewed(20.881) in Warsaw. In 1,431 cases (6.85%) the medical diagnoses were missing. Asthma, COPD and Pulmonary Heart Disease (PHD) (excluding any other cause of PHD) were mentioned at some point in 315 cases (on one of the three items cards). 212 deaths occurred in hospital, 103 at home (22 were regarded as sudden deaths). After reviewing records from 16 hospitals and patients' local clinics, the existence of long-standing asthma and/or COPD was confirmed in all cases. Considering all the three items (underlying, secondary, direct causes) in the death certificates the mortality rates (for 100,000 all-age inhabitants) were established for asthma--4.51 for COPD--10.54, for PHD--3.23 (different from official statistics). PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: The main sources of underestimation in mortality from asthma and/or COPD (in official statistics) are: 1) disregarding the "additional" and "immediate" causes of death, 2) regarding PHD as an underlying cause of death, 3) the lack of medical diagnoses in great number of death certificates.
[Sensitivity to mugwort pollen allergens (Artemisia vulgaris)].
The author has found that 42% of patients with pollinosis had positive skin reactions with mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) pollen allergens. The majority of tested patients (139 out of 187) were also allergic to grass pollens. However, hypersensitivity to mugwort pollen allergens was isolated and did not accompany grass pollen allergy. The symptoms of pollinosis appeared in this group later than in patients sensitive to grass pollen allergens only (over 21 years of age in 71%). Bronchial asthma was diagnosed in 40% of these patients and allergic skin reactions in 25%. Sensitivity to mugwort pollen allergens was accompanied by the sensitivity to pollen allergens of Graminae family of plants in 80% of cases. The author suggests that sensitivity to mugwort pollen allergens is the second most frequent cause of the pollinosis and is diagnosed too rarely. Failures of desensitization in patients sensitive to pollen allergens of Graminae family of plants may often result from coexisting sensitivity to mugwort pollen allergens as this sensitivity produces not only season but perennial clinical symptoms in nearly 50% of patients. The author discusses also botanical relations and cross-reactions in allergy to mugwort and ragweed pollen allergens.
Allergy to Artemisia vulgaris in the region of Warsaw.
From 446 pollinic patients, 398 of them (89%) were sensitive to the pollen of graminae and 187 (42%) to Artemisia Vulgaris. Sensitivity to the antigens of both increased the possibility of bronchial symptoms among pollinosis patients from 38% when only the allergy to graminae was present (up to 51%). Seventy eight percent of patients allergic exclusively to the pollen of grasses become symptomatic below the age of 20, whereas among 48 patients sensitive only to artemisia, in 71% the clinical symptoms appeared much later-after the age of 20. In half of these patients, the clinical symptoms were not only seasonal but also perennial. Almost 25% of these suffered from allergic skin reactions and 1/3 also from asthma. Eighty percent of Artemisia sensitive pollinic patients were also sensitive to the pollen of other plants from the family of compositae. The possible causes of the apparent increase of the prevalence of allergy to Artemisia Vulgaris are discussed.
The correlations of positive skin tests with inhalants in asthma of probable allergic origin.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Meteorological and climatic factors in bronchial asthma. A clinical dilemma.
In this work a review is made of the importance of climatic and meteorological factors together with other factors in bronchial asthma. The temperature and atmospheric humidity are two important parameters to be taken into account in the stimulation phenomena of bronchial hyperreactivity.
Allergy to cereals and dairy products in adult, uncomplicated asthma: an epidemiological survey.
From a representative group from the adult population (34.958) of a town of 77.384 inhabitants, 99 persons were selected who: a) claimed to be periodically dyspneic independently with respect to respiratory tract infections. b) had normal chest x-rays and normal PE flow values. Approximately one year later, a history of atopic diseases was taken from 79 of them, and intradermal skin tests were performed with some inhalants and food allergens. At this time, 15 persons failed to report their previous complaints of dyspnea. Only 5 persons reported that various vegetables and pickles were responsible for their urticaria or eczema. Only 2 persons admitted various gastrointestinal symptoms, but non mentioned milk, eggs or cereals as possible causative agents of their bronchial, nasal, skin or circulatory symptoms. Distinctly positive immediate type skin reactions to the mixed milk and egg allergen were recorded in 19 patients (24%), and to cereals in 11 persons (14%). They all reacted strongly also to the house dust allergen, but they did not differ from all the remaining subjects in the intensity of their skin response to the control solution of histamine. People with positive skin reactions to cereals or dairy products complained of chronic or recurrent rhinitis much more often than the others (73% and 63% compared with 35%). Forty-five (47%) of them had a positive personal history of urticaria or eczema. These "food reactors" did not differ from "non reactors" in the frequency of the elevated serum IgE level which was raised in 66% of the whole group (of 79). The results suggest that allergy to cereals and dairy products may often be underestimated in adult asthmatics especially when positive reactions to inhalants are also present. The problems of reliability of the skin tests and history taking in food allergy are briefly discussed.
[Oto-respiratory reflex in patients with pollinosis].
The examinations of the external auditory canals among the group of 53 asymptomatic (before the season) grass pollen sensitive patients have been performed by means of fiberoptic otoscope. The mechanical irritation of the walls of the auditory canals resulted in the cough reflex in 11 patients. The analysis of the lack or presence of any bronchial symptoms (during or out of the season) among the whole group has been made. The conclusion was, that oto-respiratory (or oto-cough) reflex may be the predictive measure of any bronchial symptoms among pollinosis patients. In the aspect, the sensitivity of the was 50%, but its specificity--92%.
Arnold's nerve reflex among pollinosis patients: sign of predictable asthma?
Examination of the external auditory canals in a group of 53 asymptomatic (before the season) grass pollen-sensitive patients was performed by means of fiberoptic otoscope. The mechanical irritation of the walls of the auditory canals resulted in a cough reflex in 11 patients. An analysis of the lack or presence of any bronchial symptoms, during or out of season, in the whole group was performed. It was concluded that otorespiratory (or otocough) reflex may be a predictive measure for bronchial symptoms among pollinosis patients. In this aspect, the sensitivity of the test was 50 percent, but its specificity was 92 percent.