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Biomedical subjects

A White

Publications and source records attributed to A White.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

The radiology of ileosigmoid knot.

The findings on the radiographs of 14 cases of ileosigmoid knot are presented and analysed. The clinical features and pathology of the condition are briefly described. The key radiological features consist of a dilated loop of pelvic colon, evidence of small intestinal obstruction and retention of faeces in an undistended proximal colon. The dilated loop usually lies in the right side of the abdomen and the limbs taper inferiorly into the right lower quadrant. Medial deviation of the distal descending colon is an inconsistant but highly specific finding. The radiographs readily permit distinction from primary volvulus of the small intestine and from non-obstructive surgical emergencies such as perforated viscus and ruptured ectopic pregnancy. The combination of radiographic findings may however be simulated by volvulus of the right colon, closed loop small intestinal obstruction and by volvulus of the pelvic colon complicated by peritonitis. The differential diagnosis is discussed and the value of sigmoidoscopy, rather than barium enema, emphasised.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Thymic hormone-like restoration by human prealbumin of azathioprine sensitivity of spleen cells from thymectomized mice.

Gel filtration of fresh human serum revealed that over 95% of the thymic-hormone-like activity was present in the fraction representing the total albumin and prealbumin. Further studies demonstrated that the activity resided in the prealbumin fraction; albumin was inactive. Prealbumin was isolated from Cohn fraction IV-1 of pooled human plasma by extraction with aqueous buffer, fractionation with (NH4)2SO4, gel filtration on Sephadex G-150, and preparative disc gel electrophoresis. The final product was homogeneous by analytical gel electrophoresis was 40,000 times more active than the starting material in an azathioprine-sensitive rosette assay. Physical and chemical characterization studies showed that the isolated product was identical to authentic human plasma prealbumin. Isolation of the prealbumin fraction from sera of adult thymectomized mice revealed that the rosette activity was substantially lower than that isolated from sera of normal mice, suggesting a thymic dependence of the prealbumin activity. In vitro and in vivo bioassays of the fraction obtained prior to the final step of the purification procedure support the conclusion that prealbumin exhibits thymic hormone-like activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Solid-phase radioimmunoassay for detection of staphylococcal antigen in serum of rabbits with endocraditis due to Staphylococcus aureus.

To aid in the rapid diagnosis of staphylococcal infection, a solid-phase radioimmunoassay for Staphylococcus aureus antigen was developed and evaluated in rabbits with staphylococcal endocarditis. Test specimens containing antigen were added to polystyrene tubes coated with antibody to S. aureus. Antigens immobilized on the tube were detected by adding radiolabeled antibody to S. aureus. Sensitivity for antigen was 0.312 microgram/ml in buffer and 1.25 microgram/ml in 50% rabbit serum. Cross-reactions were not observed with antigens extracted from streptococci; however, antigen extracted from Staphylococcus epidermidis (which contained ribitol-teichoic acid) could also be detected at low concentrations. Antigen was detected in each of 12 rabbits with S. aureus endocarditis but not in control rabbits. This assay is sensitive, specific, reproducible, and capable of detecting antigens in the serum of rabbits with endocarditis.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Ganser syndrome: the aetiological argument.

In this case history, which shows the clinical features of the Ganser syndrome, there was abundant evidence to support both an organic and an hysterical aetiology. The aetiological dilemma is discussed, and the case illustrates some of the problems of nosology, clinical presentation, and psychopathology that this syndrome raises.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Radiation damage to the rat spinal cord: the effect of single and fractionated doses of X rays.

The tolerance of the rat lumbar spinal cord to single and multiple doses of X irradiation has been studied using paralysis of the hind legs as the endpoint. The paralysis, which has an acute onset progressing from the first symptoms to full paralysis within two to three days, occurs within one year post-irradiation. Dose/effect relationships were estimated at one year. Experiments which were designed to study the effect of varying the overall treatment time between two equal doses of X rays showed that a large amount of recovery from irradiation damage occurred during the first 24 hours after irradiation (D2-D1 at 24 hours was 950 rad). No further recovery took place for another 15 days but at 32 days another wave of recovery seemed to be in progress (D2-D1 at 32 days was 1250 rad). The effect of varying the number of fractions independently of the overall treatment time was investigated. The tolerance of the cord increased rapidly as the number of fractions given in a six-week period was increased from four to 30. The slope of a Strandqvist-type plot of this data was about 0.4. The data for the spinal cord have been compared with similar data for late damage in the mouse lung. The latent period between irradiation and the onset of paralysis was also investigated. At high doses, when the probability of paralysis occurring was great, the latent period was independent of the dose. At lower doses which gave rise to a lower incidence of paralysis, the latent period was inversely related to the dose. A second type of paralysis occurred later than one year after irradiation. This had a very protracted development and occurred in unirradiated as well as irradiated animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Solid-phase radioimmunoassay for immunoglobulin G Staphylococcus aureus antibody in serious staphylococcal infection.

Clinical features of 99 patients with staphylococcal infection were reviewed, and sera were tested by solid-phase radioimmunoassay and gel diffusion for staphylococcal antibodies to ascertain whether these variables predict the extent of infection and the need for prolonged therapy. Clinical features, including the presence of a primary site of infection or a continuous pattern of bacteremia, were not sufficient for differentiating endocarditis or complicated bacteremia from uncomplicated bacteremia. Patients with uncomplicated bacteremia were cured by 3 weeks of antibiotic therapy. Positive serologic tests for staphylococcal antibody helped distinguish patients with endocarditis or complicated bacteremia from patients with uncomplicated bacteremia. Radioimmunoassay was more sensitive than gel diffusion for identifying patients with complicated bacteremia. Our results indicate that patients with a positive antibody result 14 days after the onset of infection should be considered to have endocarditis or complicated bacteremia, but a negative antibody result would support short-term antibiotic therapy.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1978

Evaluation of a breast-feeding campaign in Trinidad.

There has been a marked decline in breast-feeding throughout the developing world. It is generally agreed that this trend should be reversed, and that in achieving this objective mass communication media could play an important role. The present article analyzes the results of a campaign to promote breast-feeding in which the press, television, and radio were used. It is hoped that this analysis will prove useful for other individulas and groups that may wish to plan similar campaigns.

Advertising↗
PubMed1977

The role of nucleoside diphosphatase in a uridine nucleotide cycle associated with lactose synthesis in rat mammary-gland Golgi apparatus.

1. UDP-galactose utilization by isolated Golgi vesicles or rat mammary gland synthesizing lactose causes accumulation of UMP but not UDP, although UDP is the immediate product of lactose synthase (EC 2.4.1.22). 2. This can be ascribed to a nucleoside diphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.6), specific for UDP, GDP and IDP, activated by bivalent metal ions and apparently located on the luminal face of the Golgi membrane. 3. The uridine diphosphatase activity exceeds the total galactosyltransferase activity 5-fold, and is estimated to maintain UDP at about 14 micrometer within the Golgi lumen. 4. Evidence is given that UMP, but not UDP, penetrates the membrane and that UMP is rephosphorylated to UDP by a UMP kinase located in the cytosol. 5. Golgi-cytosol relationships with respect to lactose synthesis are formulated in terms of a uridine nucleotide cycle which throws new light on the energy cost and possible regulation of lactose synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Comparative toxicities of enflurane, fluroxene and nitrous oxide at subanaesthetic concentrations in laboratory animals.

We compared the toxicities of subanesthetic concentrations of fluroxene, enflurane and nitrous oxide in mice, rats and guinea pigs which were in an active growth phase. Fluroxene produced a greater mortality and decrement in weight gain than enflurane and nitrous oxide despite administration of far lower concentrations. Enflurane, 0.1 MAC, resulted in a detrimental effect on weight and early mortality in mice but not in rats or guinea pigs. Nitrous oxide, 0.1 MAC, resulted in only a minor effect on weight gain in guinea pigs and an increased incidence of focal inflammatory liver changes in mice. No consistent injury to any organs other than liver or kidney were found.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Detection of IgG antibodies to type-specific Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharides by solid-phase radioimmunoassay.

Previous studies have suggested that IgG serotype-specific antibodies are protective against infections with pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the present study, type-specific IgG antibodies to P. aeruginosa were detected by solid-phase radioimmunoassay in sera from 15 volunteers before and after vaccination with lipopolysaccharides from P. aeruginosa and from four patients with endocarditis due to P. aeruginosa. Significant type-specific increases in IgG antibody occurred after both vaccination and infection. The correlation coefficients comparing net counts per minute by solid-phase radioimmunoassay with hemagglutination titers in the 15 vaccinees were 0.940, 0.874, 0.792, 0.903, 0.882, 0.869, and 0.704 for serotypes 1--7, respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Propionibacterium acnes: pathogen in central nervous system shunt infection. Report of three cases including immune complex glomerulonephritis.

Propionibacterium acnes is a pleomorphic gram-positive anaerobic rod usually isolated as a contaminant from skin. We report three cases of P. acnes infection of central nervous system shunts for hydrocephalus. The organism was seen repeatedly on gram stain in a specimen of shunt fluid in all three cases; initially, it was regarded as a contaminant. In addition, two of the patients had precipitins to extracts of their organism. Serum from normal control subjects had no such precipitins. One of the patients had an immune-complex glomerulonephritis--an entity not previously associated with anaerobic organisms. All three patients recovered after removal of the shunt and treatment with antibiotics. P. acnes is a significant pathogen in patients with central nervous system shunts.

Adolescent↗