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Biomedical subjects

A White

Publications and source records attributed to A White.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Distribution of endotoxin and its effect on serum concentrations of C-reactive protein and cortisol in the plaice (Pleuronectes Platessa L.).

Bacterial endotoxins cause a significant increase in the serum concentration of both C-reactive protein (CRP) and cortisol in the plaice. The time course of the CRP elevation varies with the bacterial source, method of isolation of the endotoxin and the route of administration. Injection of the prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, indomethacin, 2 hr before endotoxin, abolishes the increases in both CRP and cortisol, whereas it has no effect when given 6 hr after. Using [51Cr]labeled endotoxin, 40% of the total injected dose was localized in the kidney and 36% in the spleen, 24 hr after i.v. injection. Uptake was five times greater per g of spleen than of kidney.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Duodenal ulceration presenting in childhood longterm follow-up.

Forty-one children diagnosed as suffering from duodenal ulceration by endoscopy and barium studies have been reviewed 5 to 15 years (mean 8.6 years) later. Mean age at diagnosis was 8.6 years. All were managed medically as children. Fifty-one percent are now asymptomatic, off all treatment; the rest have chronic symptoms typical of duodenal ulcer. Six patients (15%) required surgery, four as emergencies for complications and two for failure of medical management.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Lymphocytic infiltration of the prostate.

Symptomatic presentation due to lymphocytic infiltration of the prostate is rare. Six patients are described in whom lymphocytic infiltration of the prostate was secondary to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphatic leukaemic, and myeloid leukaemia. The prostatic infiltration was sufficiently extensive to result in outflow tract obstruction.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

How damaged is the biologically active subpopulation of transfected DNA?

Relatively little is known about the damage suffered by transfected DNA molecules during their journey from outside the cell into the nucleus. To follow selectively the minor subpopulation that completes this journey, we devised a genetic approach using simian virus 40 DNA transfected with DEAE-dextran. We investigated this active subpopulation in three ways: (i) by assaying reciprocal pairs of mutant linear dimers which differed only in the arrangement of two mutant genomes; (ii) by assaying a series of wild-type oligomers which ranged from 1.1 to 2.0 simian virus 40 genomes in length; and (iii) by assaying linear monomers of simian virus 40 which were cleaved within a nonessential region to leave either sticky, blunt, or mismatched ends. We conclude from these studies that transfected DNA molecules in the active subpopulation are moderately damaged by fragmentation and modification of ends. As a whole, the active subpopulation suffers about one break per 5 to 15 kilobases, and about 15 to 20% of the molecules have one or both ends modified. Our analysis of fragmentation is consistent with the random introduction of double-strand breaks, whose cause and exact nature are unknown. Our analysis of end modification indicated that the most prevalent form of damage involved deletion or addition of less than 25 base pairs. In addition we demonstrated directly that the efficiencies of joining sticky, blunt, or mismatched ends are identical, verifying the apparent ability of cells to join nearly any two DNA ends and suggesting that the efficiency of joining approaches 100%. The design of these experiments ensured that the detected damage preceded viral replication and thus should be common to all DNAs transfected with DEAE-dextran and not specific for viral DNA. These measurements of damage within transfected DNA have important consequences for studies of homologous and nonhomologous recombination in somatic cells as is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Commercially available (ENDO-STAPH) assay for teichoic acid antibodies. Evaluation in patients with serious Staphylococcus aureus infections and in controls.

We have evaluated the clinical usefulness of a commercially available teichoic acid antibody assay (ENDO-STAPH). Teichoic acid antibody titers up to a 1:2 serum dilution were observed in 20% of normal subjects, thus, titers of 1:4 or more were considered positive. Of patients with Staphylococcus aureus infections, 16 of 23 with endocarditis, 12 of 20 with complicated bacteremia, three of 17 with uncomplicated bacteremia, and ten of 20 with nonbacteremic infections had positive titers. Only four of 70 controls had positive titers. Results agreed with those using our standard assay in 130 of 151 specimens. Results were reproducibly positive or negative in 17 of 18 specimens that were retested. Results were also reproducible in ten specimens retested using a different lot of standardized antigen. The ENDO-STAPH assay should broaden the clinical applications of assays for TAA.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1983

Serum concentrations of C-reactive protein and serum amyloid P component in plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) in relation to season and injected lipopolysaccharide.

1. Mean monthly serum levels of total protein, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component (SAP) in plaice, showed no significant difference between the sexes. 2. Highest values for CRP and protein were found between June and September, with no significant seasonal variation in SAP. 3. There was no change in CRP concentration in plaice maintained for 7 days at a higher temperature of 18.5 degrees C. 4. Injection of lipopolysaccharide caused the highest value for CRP on day 1 and for the spleen index on day 5 after injection. 5. Phagocytic stimulation with carbon had no significant effect on the CRP response to endotoxin.

Amyloid↗
PubMed1983

Rapid diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease by latex agglutination.

We developed a latex agglutination test to detect antigen(s) of serogroup 1 Legionella pneumophila in urine and evaluated its ability to diagnose legionnaires' disease. Antigen was detected in 46, or 70%, of 66 patients with serogroup 1 legionnaires' disease but in none of 51 patients with various bacteremic infections nor 60 with urinary tract infections. One of 50 patients with other pulmonary infections was antigen-positive, an immunosuppressed patient with Pneumocystis carinii infection. Seven other patients infected with P. carinii were negative. When compared with radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using serial dilutions of a single antigen-containing urine, latex agglutination was 16-fold less sensitive. However, 82% of RIA- or ELISA-positive specimens were positive by latex agglutination. Latex agglutination is simpler and more rapid than ELISA or RIA, and it should prove valuable in situations where ELISA or RIA are unavailable or unaffordable.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1983

Immunoglobulin M and G histoplasmal antibody response in histoplasmosis.

Radioimmunoassays for IgM and IgG histoplasmal antibodies were developed and proved to be specific for their respective immunoglobulin classes, sensitive, and reproducible. Elevated IgM antibodies were detected in 59.8% of patients with histoplasmosis and 7.9% of control subjects. Elevated IgG antibodies occurred in 80.4% of patients with histoplasmosis but in only 12.9% of control subjects. Radioimmunoassay was nearly twice as sensitive as complement fixation for identifying patients with mild, presumably asymptomatic, infection. Of 13 patients with serologic follow-up at least 1 yr later, elevated IgM antibodies cleared, whereas IgG antibodies persisted in 7. In an epidemiologic investigation of a recurrent histoplasmosis outbreak, only the radioimmunoassay was able to prove the hypothesis that construction for a swimming complex was the source of exposure. These assays promise to be useful for clinical and epidemiologic investigations.

Antibodies, Fungal↗
PubMed1983

Diagnostic and therapeutic significance of staphylococcal teichoic acid antibodies.

Alpha- or beta-acetylglucosamine are major antigen determinants of ribitol teichoic acids of the cell walls of coagulase-positive staphylococci. Teichoic acid antibodies have been detected by quantitative immunoprecipitation methods, agar-gel diffusion, counterimmunoelectrophoresis, crossed immunoelectrophoresis, radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Almost all adults have detectable antibodies if a sufficiently sensitive method is used. Elevated concentrations of teichoic acid antibodies result from a recent staphylococcal disease such as endocarditis, bacteremia with metastatic foci of abscesses in which drainage and/or antibiotic therapy is delayed, but increases in teichoic acid antibodies are infrequent in transient staphylococcal bacteremia such as from infected intravascular cannulae or abscesses in patients who are treated early. Detection of high concentrations of teichoic acid antibodies may allow a specific bacteriological diagnosis earlier than cultures, when cultures are negative as in partially treated endocarditis, and when cultures are difficult to obtain or evaluate such as deep seated abscesses, drainage from osteomyelitis or pneumonias. In addition, elevated concentrations of teichoic acid antibodies in patients with staphylococcal bacteremia are strong presumptive evidence for endocarditis, metastatic foci, or abscesses.

Abscess↗
PubMed1982

Diuretic-associated hypomagnesaemia.

Clinically suspected hypomagnesaemia was confirmed in 21 patients over 12 months; all patients had been exposed to either short-term vigorous diuretic treatment or moderate-dosage long-term treatment. Magnesium depletion was compounded by a hospital diet surprisingly low in magnesium, a local soft water supply, and, in some patients, high alcohol intake. Common presenting symptoms included depression, muscle weakness, refractory hypokalaemia, and atrial fibrillation refractory to digoxin treatment. The administration of magnesium supplements resulted in prompt improvement of all symptoms particularly in the case of refractory atrial fibrillation. Chronic low-grade magnesium deficiency from diuretic treatment is more common than published reports suggest. Older patients are at risk, particularly those who have excessive alcohol intake, a diet low in magnesium, or a soft water supply.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Rapid diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease by urinary antigen detection. Comparison of ELISA and radioimmunoassay.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to detect urinary antigen excreted by patients with Legionnaires' disease. Of 47 patients tested, antigen was detected in 39. Of these 39 specimens, 35 gave clearly positive results by visual analysis; four others required spectrophotometric verification of positive results. Antigen was not detected in any of 178 urine specimens from patients with other pulmonary, bacteremic or urinary tract infections after a quick and simple confirmatory test. The assay required more time to perform than a previously described radioimmunoassay but was of equivalent sensitivity and specificity and did not require expensive equipment or contract with radioactive reagents. We conclude that enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is a rapid, sensitive and specific means for rapidly diagnosing legionnaires' disease that can be performed in clinical laboratories unwilling or unable to use radioisotopes.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1982

The effects of adrenal hormones, endotoxin and turpentine on serum components of the plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.).

1. Within 24 hr of injection into plaice, cortisol, deoxycorticosterone, adrenalin or endotoxin cause an increase (P less than 0.001) in circulating C-reactive protein (CRP). Turpentine and soluble dexamethasone have no effect. 2. The increase in CRP with endotoxin is not enhanced with adrenalin or deoxycorticosterone, and in conjunction with cortisol the increase is additive. 3. Changes in CRP are independent of the amounts of serum amyloid P-component or total protein. 4. Turpentine, cortisol and adrenalin cause a rapid increase in circulating glucose. 5. It is concluded that some adrenal hormones stimulate the CRP acute phase response in plaice, without an apparent provoking agent.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1982

Production of a highly specific monoclonal antibody progesterone.

A progesterone monoclonal antibody which may be used in the development of a sensitive and specific immunoassay is described. The preparation involved isolation of spleen cells from Balb/c mice immunized with progesterone 11 alpha-hemisuccinate-bovine serum albumin conjugate, which were then fused with two different mouse myeloma cell lines. Hybridomas secreting antibody to progesterone were detected by immunoassay and cloned in soft agar. Five percent of the resulting clones secreted antibody; these clones originated from cultures producing very little antibody, and so might easily have been discarded. THe monoclonal antibody obtained is highly specific and has a binding affinity of approximately 1.7 X 10(9) M-1, so it may be advantageously used in the detection of progesterone in body fluids.

Animals↗