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Biomedical subjects

T M Becker

Publications and source records attributed to T M Becker.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Genital human papillomavirus infection. A growing concern.

HPV infections of the genital tract are one of the most common sexually transmitted viral infections in the United States. Data from STD clinics and private physicians' offices reveal that genital warts, one manifestation of genital HPV infection, have been diagnosed more frequently in recent years. Using a variety of diagnostic techniques, asymptomatic HPV infection has been identified in men and women and is probably much more common than clinically apparent infection.

Epidemiologic Methods↗
PubMed1987

Plague meningitis--a retrospective analysis of cases reported in the United States, 1970-1979.

Meningitis caused by Yersinia pestis developed in 6 (6%) of a total of 105 patients with plague reported to the Centers for Disease Control from 1970 to 1979. Five of the six cases occurred in children aged 10 to 15 years. All six patients received antibiotic therapy before meningitis developed, which appeared between the 9th and 14th days after the onset of acute illness in five of the six patients. There were no neurologic sequelae. The antigenic and biochemical profiles of the Y pestis strains isolated from cerebrospinal fluid in the meningitis cases did not differ from those of the Y pestis strains obtained from blood and bubo aspirates in the other 99 patients, and neither did in vitro studies suggest antibiotic resistance. While plague meningitis is an uncommon complication of acute plague infection, physicians in the western United States should be aware that it may develop as much as 14 days after antibiotic therapy for the acute plague infection has been initiated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Acute Chlamydia trachomatis respiratory infection in childhood. Serologic evidence.

Serum samples from 184 infants and children whose blood was drawn during a clinic visit were tested for antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus. Lifetime illness history was obtained from clinic records. Fifteen percent had anti-C trachomatis IgM antibody. Anti-C trachomatis IgM without IgG was significantly associated with upper respiratory tract syndromes within the 14 days prior to phlebotomy in 6- to 10-year-old patients. This association was not due to polyclonal activation from Epstein-Barr virus infection. A definitive study of chlamydial illness in children rather than infants appears to be indicated.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Epidemiology of genital herpes infections in the United States. The current situation.

To investigate national trends in genital herpes infections, we analyzed data collected by the National Disease and Therapeutic Index survey from 1966 to 1984. The number of private physician-patient consultations for symptomatic genital herpes increased 15-fold during this period. The number of patient visits for newly diagnosed infections increased 8.8-fold. Women aged 20-24 years and men aged 25-29 years were more likely to consult a private physician for genital herpes than were patients in other age brackets. Our analysis suggests that the incidence of genital herpes infections among patients visiting private practitioners is increasing nationally. Additionally, to establish the magnitude and distribution of neonatal herpes infections, we initiated a nationwide pilot reporting system. The analysis, in progress, should provide clues to prevention of this devastating disease.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1985

Genital herpes infections in private practice in the United States, 1966 to 1981.

We analyzed data on genital herpes infections in the United States from 1966 to 1981 collected by the National Disease and Therapeutic Index survey. The number of private physician-patient consultations for genital herpes increased tenfold during this period. The number of patient visits for newly diagnosed infections increased 7.5-fold. Women aged 20 to 24 years and men aged 25 to 29 years were more likely to consult a private physician for genital herpes than were patients in other age brackets. Our analysis suggests an increasing national incidence of genital herpes infections and supports the concept that genital herpes infections are epidemic in the United States.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Genital herpes--yesterday, today, tomorrow.

Genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are clinically important because of their occasional severity and complications, as well as their psychosocial impact. They are currently recognized as a significant public health problem and appear to be on the rise in the United States and in other Western countries. The increased interest in genital herpes recently led to newer information about the epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the infection. In this chapter we highlight some of the older important contributions to this subject, and review current concepts and future perspectives.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1983

Treatment of serious infections with moxalactam.

In 93 hospitalized patients, 111 bacterial infections were treated with moxalactam. Eighty-three infections responded well to therapy, nine infections failed to respond to therapy or relapsed, and nine infections showed superinfection with resistant bacteria. The great majority of bacteria isolated had mean inhibitory concentrations below levels readily achieved in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, bile, abscess fluid, and peritoneal fluid. Among the commonly identified bacteria, only Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enterococci, and Staphylococcus epidermidis had variable sensitivity to moxalactam.

Abscess↗
PubMed1981

Increased multiclonal antibody-forming cell activity in the peripheral blood of patients with SLE.

21 patients with criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 12 normal controls were studied for their spontaneous circulating IgM and IgG plaque-forming cells (PFCs) reactive against sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) and against a panel of five haptens. Quantitatively defined active and mildly active SLE patients had significantly elevated IgM- and IgG-producing PFCs in their peripheral blood reactive with the panel of five chemically defined haptens. Those patients having inactive SLE also showed increased circulating IgM PFCs. Significant elevations in circulating hapten-reactive PFCs were found to correlate progressively with disease activity in the inactive, mildly active, and active SLE patient groups. Circulating IgM- and IgG-secreting PFC reactive against SRBC were both significantly elevated only in those patients with active SLE. The data support the concept that SLE patients have a generalized increase in B cell activity against a broad repertoire of determinants, even those ostensibly unrelated to natural tissue antigens.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stroke risk factor knowledge in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women in New Mexico: implications for targeted prevention strategies.

Hispanic women in New Mexico have recently experienced an increase in age-adjusted mortality compared with non-Hispanic white women. Since patients' knowledge of stroke risk factors may affect risk factor control, the present study was undertaken to characterize stroke risk factor understanding in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women in New Mexico. We administered a stroke risk factor knowledge survey to 215 women hospitalized in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Patients were classified by each of three dichotomous groupings: stroke or nonstroke diagnosis; Hispanic or non-Hispanic white ethnicity; history of cardiovascular risk factors. The frequency of specific item responses was determined for each patient grouping. Two-way analysis of variance was used to determine whether composite knowledge score differed among patient groups. Stress was the attribute most commonly thought to be a risk factor for stroke. Although no ethnic differences were found on composite knowledge score, Hispanic women were significantly less likely to report hypertension as a stroke risk factor than non-Hispanic white women. We suggest that stroke risk factor understanding in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women in New Mexico is inadequate. Insufficient understanding of the consequences of hypertension, including stroke, may diminish the degree of hypertension control that patients achieve. Further study of the relationship between stroke risk factor understanding and health behavior could enhance prevention efforts.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Trends in molluscum contagiosum in the United States, 1966-1983.

We analyzed data on molluscum contagiosum infection in the United States from two sources: the National Disease and Therapeutic Index Survey of private patients, collected during 1966-1983; and two sexually transmitted disease clinics, collected during 1977-1981. Patient visits to private physicians for molluscum contagiosum increased 11-fold from 1966 to 1983. Over the same time span, the proportion of private patient visits also increased: from 1.2 to 11.0 per 100,000 total clinic visits. Clinic patients, however, showed stable trends in proportions of individuals infected over the period 1977-1981. Clinic patients 15-24 years old and private patients aged 20-29 years were more likely to present with molluscum contagiosum than patients in other age categories. Like the prevalence of other viral sexually transmitted diseases in the private medical community, that of molluscum contagiosum infections appears to have increased dramatically over the 18-year span covered by this study.

Adolescent↗
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

Seroprevalence of and risk factors for antibodies to herpes simplex viruses, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Few published data describe the seroprevalence of antibodies to herpes viruses and hepatitis viruses among Southwestern minority women. GOALS: To determine the prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-1 and type-2, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among 595 southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients seeking gynecologic care; and to investigate risk factors associated with seropositivity. STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of serologic and interview data. Antibody assays were based on purified glycoprotein assays (herpes simplex virus), and commercial assays for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. RESULTS: Hispanic ethnicity was a risk factor for herpes simplex virus type-1 (age-adjusted odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-5.3) but was not associated with antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-2, hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C virus. Risks associated with seropositivity to herpes simplex virus type-2 included a high lifetime number of sex partners, history of any sexually transmitted disease, and increasing age. Among all patients with herpes simplex virus type-2 antibodies, only 11.1% gave histories of genital herpes infection. For women with antibodies to hepatitis B virus, 31.1% gave histories of hepatitis during adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-1 and herpes simplex virus type-2 was high in this clinic population; the prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-1 was significantly higher in Hispanics than in non-Hispanic whites. Antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-2 and hepatitis B virus were associated with most indicator of sexual behavior. The high prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-2 and the infrequent reporting of histories of genital herpes suggest that asymptomatic infection with herpes is common among these clinic patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Grappling with herpes: herpes gladiatorum.

Initial reports of herpes gladiatorum, a skin infection of wrestlers caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), focused on case histories and clinical presentations of this disease. To more adequately address broader epidemiologic questions concerning this skin infection, we surveyed members of four southeastern college wrestling teams, sampled high school and college athletic trainers nationwide, and obtained serum specimens from members of one college wrestling team for HSV antibody studies. Nine of 48 (18.8%) college wrestlers in the southeastern athletic conference reported histories of herpes gladiatorum. Wrestlers with a prior history of oral HSV infection (cold sores) were less likely to report HSV skin infection than wrestlers without cold sores (RR = 0.25; 95% C.I. 0.03 to 1.8), while wrestlers with exposure to opponents with cutaneous HSV lesions were at high risk to develop herpes gladiatorum (RR = 9.4; 95% C.I. 2.2 to 40.0). The national survey of athletic trainers indicated that 7.6% of college wrestlers and 2.6% of high school wrestlers had HSV skin infection during the 1984-85 season. Herpes gladiatorum is a common problem among college wrestlers, and morbidity associated with this skin disease can be significant.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk factors for cervical intraepithelial neoplasm in Alaska Native women: a pilot study.

Although rates for invasive cervical cancer have declined over the past twenty years among Alaska Native women, they continue to show high rates of pre-invasive cervical lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, or CIN). We investigated risk factors for CIN II/III among Alaska Native women in a pilot case-control study. Cases (n = 26) included women with biopsy-proven CIN II/III, while controls (n = 52) had normal cervical epithelium. The strongest risks associated with CIN II/III were HPV infection of any type (Crude Odds Ratio [OR] 8.4, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 2.9-29.4), HPV 16 infection (OR 40.8, 95% CI: 9.4-176.4), and a family history of cervical dysplasia (OR 3.9, 95% CI: 1.3-11.3). We also found that use of depot-medroxy progesterone acetate was associated with CIN (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.1-8.5). A larger investigation would be necessary to allow adequate evaluation of these, and other, risk factors for CIN among Alaska Native women.

Adult↗
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↗