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Biomedical subjects

B Holmes

Publications and source records attributed to B Holmes.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Identification of Enterobacteriaceae by the API 20E system.

Since the introduction of the API 20E kit a number of identification schemes have been developed by the manufacturer for use with the kit. We evaluated the success of these various schemes in identifying 206 strains belonging to 34 taxa of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Many of the strains were atypical and only 94% could be identified by our own system of 50 conventional tests and a computer program. The most advanced identification scheme so far developed for the API 20E kit (the Analytical Profile Index and complementary Computer Service) allowed 88% of the 206 strains to be correctly identified, although 2% were incorrectly identified. The tests in the API 20E kit and 52 conventional tests were separately evaluated for their ability to discriminate between the 34 taxa considered in this study. Our results suggest that replacing some of the tests in the present API 20E kit might further improve its diagnostic performance.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1978

Comparison of the metabolism of alveolar macrophages from humans, rats, and rabbits: phorbol myristate acetate.

Metabolic activities of unstimulated or stimulated AMs from humans, rats, and rabbits were examined and compared in vitro. Rates of oxygen consumption, chemiluminescence, and glucose (1- or 6-14C) oxidation by unstimulated AMs from these three species increased following stimulation of the AMs by bacteria or PMA. Although the absolute metabolic responses of AMs from humans, rats, or wild rabbits were different, the metabolic activities from each species were nearly identical when compared on the basis of protein content of the cells. In contrast to the enhanced biochemical responses of AMs from humans, rats, or wild rabbits, stimulated AMs from certain commercially supplied rabbits failed to increase their metabolism. The failure of AMs from these rabbits to respond metabolically was probably due to an acquired abnormality resulting from their care and storage at the supplier. The defect was associated with the presence of large numbers of Bordetella bronchiseptica organisms in the lavage effluents from these commercially supplied rabbits. This abnormality in metabolism of AMs was reversed following prolonged residence of the rabbits in the laboratory, and the correction of the defect was accompanied by a disappearance of B. bronchiseptica from the lavage fluid. The results comprehensively compare and contrast the metabolism of AMs from humans and animals and emphasize the need to document the appropriateness of animal models before using them to predict biologic reactions of humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Test reproducibility of the API (20E), Enterotube, and Pathotec systems.

Thirty-three strains of bacteria (30 Enterobacteriaceae and one strain each of Aeromonas formicans, A. hydrophila, and Plesiomonas shigelloides) were tested three times in each of 27 conventional tests and in the API, Enterotube, and Pathotec systems. The results obtained were analysed for test reproducibility within each kit, correlation of the kit tests with the equivalent conventional media, and the identification of the strains by the kits. Difficulties in evaluation and comparison of identifications are discussed. A practical evaluation of the kits was also made.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1977

Strains of Achromobacter xylosoxidans from clinical material.

Eleven strains of Achromobacter xylosoxidans have been received from among 1106 strains of Gram-negative, non-fermentative bacteria submitted to the National Collection of Type Cultures for computer-assisted identification since 1 January 1972. The strains showed resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents and five of the isolates possibly played a pathogenic role. The biochemical characteristics of these 11 strains were compared with those of three culture collection strains.

Alcaligenes↗
PubMed1976

A controlled study of the effects of single doses of hydrocortisone on the resolution of acute attacks of asthma.

To evaluate the effects of corticosteroids on the resolution of acute attacks of asthma, 38 young, acutely ill, asthmatic subjects were given a single intravenous injection of either 0.25, 0.50 or 1.0 g of hydrocortisone hemisuccinate or a placebo (sterile saline solution) in a random, double blind manner. Each was then treated with isoproterenol, at hourly intervals, for a minimum of six hours, and the serial changes in plethysmography, spirometry, lung volumes, subjective complaints and physical findings that occurred as the patients improved were observed. No statistical differences were found in any of the physiologic or clinical variables between those patients given any dose of steroids and their matched controls. From this it has been concluded that hydrocortisone, in the doses and route of administration employed, does not produce any immediate benefits in the treatment of acute asthma.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1976

Chronic granulomatous disease in an adult male: A proposed X-linked defect.

A 25-year old patient with chronic granulomatous disease of somewhat unusual history is described. The diagnosis of CGD was based on increased susceptibility to infection, granulomatous appearance of tissues, and diminished bactericidal and metabolic response of leukocytes during phagocytosis: the clinical and cellular features considered phenotypic of CGD. A 16-year-old female sibling had bactericidal and metabolic abnormalities of leukocyte function similar to those of the patient's leukocytes. Leukocytes from another sister, 26 years of age, were intermediate in bactericidal capacity. Two populations of leukocytes were identified by a histochemical test of NBT reduction. Both normal and abnormal polymorphonuclear leukocytes were present in the leukocyte population of the two sisters. Leukocytes from the patient's mother and maternal grandmother were normal by all methods tested. These findings are taken as evidence of a germ-line mutation in the chromosomal gene causing CGD, with transmission of the genetic defect from the mother to the son.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Bactericidal mechanisms in rabbit alveolar macrophages: evidence against peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide bactericidal mechanisms.

The role of peroxidase-mediated bacterial killing by rabbit alveolar macrophages was examined. During 3 h of incubation in vitro, alveolar macrophages ingested and killed greater than 88% of the Streptococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae present in the incubation mixture. Preincubation of alveolar macrophages with inhibitors of catalase, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole or sodium nitrite, did not alter their bactericidal potential. Iodination of ingested zymosan particles, a peroxidase-dependent and hydrogen peroxide-dependent reaction, was not observed, in spite of vigorous phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages. Furthermore, iodination by alveolar macrophages was not significantly increased when peroxidase-coated zymosan particles were ingested. The results suggest that hydrogen peroxide may not be available to the phagocytic vacuole for microbial killing. Since tetrazolium dye reduction reflects the activity of an oxidase responsible for stimulated oxygen consumption by polymorphonuclear leukocytes, this reaction was also measured. Rabbit alveolar macrophages incubated with latex particles did not exhibit an increased dye reduction compared with resting cells. The absence of significant stimulation of tetrazolium dye reduction indicates that the oxidase reaction does not occur in the proximity of the phagocytic vacuole of alveolar macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Spectrum of function of neutrophils from carriers of sex-linked chronic granulomatous disease.

Bactericidal and metabolic activities were compared for polymorphonuclear leukocytes from normal controls, patients with sex-linked chronic granulomatous disease, five obligate carriers, and six potential carriers of CGD. Bacteria surviving at one hour were quantitated in a standardized assay which employed 1.25 Staphylococcus aureus per neutrophil. Heat-killed bacteria or a chemical agent, phorbol myristate acetate, were used to stimulate increases in utilization of oxygen, oxidation of [1--14C] glucose, and reduction of neotetrazolium chloride by PMN. The results demonstrate that PMN from the individual obligate carriers of CGD have a broad spectrum of functional capabilities. Neutrophils from one obligate carrier performed in the above in vitro tests and others on a par with normal control cells, whereas the PMN of others displayed deficiencies nearly as profound as those of the affected CGD patients. The observations parallel the broad range of phenotypic expression observed in heterozygotic carriers of other sex-linked recessive disorders as a result of random inactivation of the X chromosome. Although predictable from the current concept of random X inactivation, the spectrum has not been previously demonstrated for carriers of sex-linked recessive CGD and thus has important implications for the detection and counseling of carriers of CGD.

Blood Bactericidal Activity↗
PubMed1975

Strains of Pseudomonas putrefaciens from clinical material.

Eight strains of Pseudomonas putrefaciens have been received from among 466 strains of Pseudomonas submitted to the Computer Trials Laboratory for identification over the last eight years. Two of the strains of P. putrefaciens from patients with otitis media and otitis externa respectively appear to have played a pathogenic role. The biochemical characteristics of these eight strains were compared with those of seven culture collection strains.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1974

Sensitivity of Citrobacter freundii and Citrobacter koseri to cephalosporins and penicillins.

An examination of 99 field and reference strains of Citrobacter freundii showed 79% of them to be resistant to cephaloridine and sensitive to carbenicillin, while 96% of 45 field and reference strains of Citrobacter koseri examined were sensitive to cephaloridine and resistant to carbenicillin. Susceptibility tests with these two antibiotics are therefore useful in separating the two species of Citrobacter.

Ampicillin↗