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Biomedical subjects

B R Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to B R Johnson.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Improved colorimetric determination of cell wall chitin in wood decay fungi.

The Svennerholm modification of the Elson-Morgan method for glucosamine analysis was evaluated for its applicability to the rapid determination of chitin in wood decay fungi. The evaluation included extent of chromogen interference, sensitivity, color stability, and hydrolysis conditions for maximum release of glucosamine from fungal cell walls. With our further modification, the Svennerholm method was shown to be suitable for rapid quantitative determination of fungal chitin without chromatographic separation of hydrolysate chromogens.

Journal Article↗

Computed tomographic localization for fine needle aspiration biopsy of orbital tumors.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy techniques have recently been applied to the evaluation of orbital masses. Ultrasound and CT examination have been useful in accurately localizing and characterizing such lesions prior to biopsy. Small retrobulbar tumors may be difficult to biopsy using blind needling, despite accurate localization. Preliminary studies on cadaver orbits confirmed that successful biopsy of the normal optic nerve could be accomplished using direct CT guidance. The technique was applied to 2 patients with monocular blindness due to small infiltrating optic nerve tumors and a histologic diagnosis was obtained in each case. This low morbidity procedure though applicable to only a small group of patients may spare them the morbidity of an orbitiotomy or craniotomy.

Adult↗

Security's amazing recovery.

A Michigan hospital upgraded its security by forging a partnership with a nearby university. The article describes how the hospital's security presence was transformed from a detached, reactive service into a committed, proactive team while reducing costs for the hospital.

Crime↗

Viral pathogens of acute lower respiratory infections in pre-school Nigerian children and clinical implications of multiple microbial identifications.

In a prospective study of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI), at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, 35 viral pathogens were identified by immunofluorescence (IF) techniques from 24 (68.6%) respiratory specimens from 35 hospitalised pre-school children. The respiratory diagnoses comprised croup, bronchiolitis, pneumonia and pleural effusion. The viral identifications comprised 14 (40.0%) of parainfluenza virus type 3, 10 (28.6%) of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), 5 (14.3%) of influenza virus type A, 4 (11.4%) of parainfluenza virus type 1 and 2 (5.7%) of influenza virus type B. Two or more viral agents were identified in as many as 10 (41.7%) of the 24 IF positive secretions, 8 (80.0%) of which were obtained from children with features of protein energy malnutrition. Twenty subjects had both virological and bacteriological analyses, in 8 (40.0%) of whom co-existing bacteraemia was identified. Four (50.0%) of these blood culture positive subjects, also had features of overt malnutrition. Neither the age nor the sex was significantly related to the viral identifications (P > 0.81 & 0.35 respectively). Similarly, the final respiratory diagnoses were not significantly related to the viral identifications despite the seemingly suggestive relationship between a diagnosis of croup and parainfluenza identifications as well as that between pneumonia and RSV/parainfluenza type 3 identifications. It is concluded that the high proportion of positive viral identifications is a pointer to the importance of viruses as possible primary etiological agents of ALRI in countries of the West African sub-region and perhaps in developing countries of other tropical subregions. The multiplicity of microbial identifications (viruses and bacteria), seen in malnourished children, may explain the clinical severity of ALRI in the same group of children. The usefulness of IF as a rapid diagnostic tool, as well as the potential implications of our findings on ARI control in developing countries, are discussed.

Acute Disease↗