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A K Garg

Publications and source records attributed to A K Garg.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Evaluation of commercial serologic test reagents for immunoidentification of medically important aspergilli.

We evaluated commercial serodiagnostic test reagents from Greer Laboratories (GL), Lenoir, NC; Immuno-mycologics, Inc. (IMI), Norman, OK; and Scott Laboratories (SL), Fiskville, RI; for their ability to detect Aspergillus spp. exoantigens and group them in their proper series. We detected 87 culture extracts from coded cultures of Aspergillus groups and heterologous fungi against anti-A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. nidulans, A. niger, and A. terreus sera in the presence of their corresponding antigens. Parallel control studies were performed using serological reagents from both laboratories. The IMI reagents accurately grouped all the isolates. The A. nidulans and A. terreus reactions, however, were significantly weaker than those noted with the control reagents. GL and SL do not supply A. nidulans and A. terreus reagents. Their available reagents correctly grouped the A. fumigatus, A. flavus, and A. niger isolates. Our results indicate that the commercial serodiagnostic reagents for aspergillosis can be effectively used to accurately immunoidentify the medically important Aspergillus spp.

Aspergillus↗
PubMed1986

Reliability of exoantigens for differentiating Blastomyces dermatitidis and Histoplasma capsulatum from Chrysosporium and geomyces species.

A recent study suggested that Chrysosporium species have the same diagnostic antigens as Histoplasma capsulatum and Blastomyces dermatitidis and, thus, compromise the antigenic identification of these pathogens. In light of these findings, studies were undertaken to determine the reliability of the exoantigen tests for identifying B. dermatitidis and H. capsulatum organisms from cultures. Sixty-three slant or shake culture extracts, or both, were derived from C. asperatum, C. keratinophilum, C. parvum, C. pruinosum, C. parvum var. crescens, Geomyces (Chrysosporium) pannorus, B. dermatitidis, and H. capsulatum. These were analyzed by use of a commercial exoantigen kit and exoantigen test reagents obtained from a commercial source. The results of these analyses were compared with those obtained with Centers for Disease Control reagents. Many of the extracts derived from nonpathogenic fungi produced nonspecific precipitin bands when reacted with the kit and reference antisera, particularly the B. dermatitidis antisera. None, however, produced antigens identical to the specific B. dermatitidis A and H. capsulatum H and M antigens. Our findings indicate that the properly controlled immunoidentification procedure is 100% specific for B. dermatitidis and H. capsulatum, and that cross-reacting antigens derived from morphologically similar saparophytic fungi do not pose identification problems.

Antigens, Fungal↗
PubMed1986

Grouping of Aspergillus species with exoantigens.

Ninety-two slant extracts prepared from 2-week-old cultures of seven Aspergillus groups, nonsporulating "albino-type" A.fumigatus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum, 3 Penicillium spp., 2 Pseudallescheria spp., 3 Paecilomyces spp., and Acremonium sp., were analyzed concurrently against antisera to A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. nidulans, A. niger, and A. terreus. The extract of each of the aforementioned five pathogenic Aspergillus spp. produced 2-11 specific antigen-antibody complexes after reacting with its homologous antiserum. Antisera prepared against extracts to these pathogenic aspergilli demonstrated variable intra-generic crossreactivity, which were eliminated by adsorption with heterologous Aspergillus spp. antigens. Fewer nonspecific reactions were noted with the reference antigen-antibody precipitates of A. nidulans and A. Terreus than with reference precipitates of the other Aspergillus spp. Exoantigen extracts of "albino-type" isolates of A. fumigatus produced two to five specific precipitins against anti-A. fumigatus serum only. Based on the specific reactions produced by the eight albino-type isolates and 1 Aspergillus sp. isolate, all these fungi were identified correctly and placed in the A. fumigatus group. Analyses of conventionally identified A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. nidulans, A. niger, and A. terreus including an isolate of A. parasiticus, enabled us correctly to classify them (51/51, or 100%) into their respective groups. Specific Aspergillus spp. antigen-antibody precipitates were characterized and used as references in exoantigen tests. None of the fungi in the genera other than Aspergillus produced antigens identical to the selected reference antigens.

Antibodies, Fungal↗
PubMed1985

Severe congenital neutropenia with unique features of dysgranulopoiesis.

Congenital dysgranulopietic neutropenia (CDN) is a recently proposed entity that describes a small subgroup of children with clinically severe neutropenia. We followed and studied a 3-year-old girl with neutropenia (less than 500/mm3) and recurrent severe infections in whom repeated marrow evaluations revealed large (30-50 microns) multinucleated promyelocytes to polymorphonuclear cells with as many as 4 to 16 nuclei or nuclear lobes, respectively. In addition to the nuclear endoreduplication, ultrastructural and cytochemical evaluation of these cells demonstrated abnormalities in granule genesis and centriole structure. Concomitantly, immunoperoxidase staining indicated that many of the granules were devoid of lactoferrin but not lysozyme. In vitro proliferation studies revealed normal to increased thymidine labeling, normal numbers of colony-forming cells, and normal colony-stimulating activity from blood and marrow mononuclear cells, findings consistent with ineffective myelopoiesis. However, serum folate, B12, and lysozyme levels were normal. The nuclear and cytoplasmic abnormalities in this patient result in an extreme example of CDN, distinct from previously described cases.

Agranulocytosis↗
PubMed1984

Evaluation of commercial reagents to identify the exoantigens of Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, and Histoplasma species cultures.

Commercially available individual serologic reagents (Nolan/Scott Biological Laboratories, Inc.) and an "exoantigen identification system" (a kit supplied by Immuno-Mycologics, Inc.) were evaluated at two laboratories for their possible application in the microimmunodiffusion test to identify Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, and Histoplasma species. Both laboratories accurately identified all the cultures, and comparison of the results obtained with the commercial products and those established with the conventional methods performed by a third control laboratory demonstrated full agreement. The use of these two commercial products is recommended for the immunologic identification of cultures suspected of being B. dermatitidis, C. immitis, and Histoplasma species. It was observed, however, that the exoantigen reactions for four B. dermatitidis and two C. immitis isolates were much sharper and more readable with the individual reagents than the reactions observed with the kit.

Antigens, Fungal↗
PubMed1983

Positioning of umbilical arterial catheters with ultrasound.

Fifty six infants were studied by ultrasound, 22 during the placement of the umbilical artery catheter. The descending aorta, bifurcation, common iliac arteries, and the intra-arterial catheter could be clearly seen. We recommend that the catheter tip be placed 5-10 mm above the aortic bifurcation thus avoiding the major branches of descending aorta.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMed1982

Percutaneous intraaortic balloon counterpulsation. Clinical effectiveness and hazards.

Because of its greater ease and rapidity of insertion, the percutaneous intraaortic balloon in many institutions has become the primary method for implementing counterpulsation. We report the results and complications of 113 attempted procedures in a variety of clinical settings. We had a high (93.8 percent) insertion success rate. However, our 18.6 complication rate was similar to the experience reported for the surgical method of insertion. Thus, the original anticipation of reduced complications with this method has not been realized in this and other recent reports.

Adult↗