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Biomedical subjects

B R Jones

Publications and source records attributed to B R Jones.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Family-based suppressive intermittent therapy of hyperendemic trachoma with topical oxytetracycline or oral doxycycline.

A controlled double-blind stratified trial was carried out in a village in Southern Iran to assess the efficacy of family-based intermittent therapy of hyperendemic trachoma with topical oxytetracycline oily suspension twice daily for 7 days each month, or oral doxycycline 5 mg per kilogram of body weight once a month, in comparison with a control group which received vitamin pills once a month. In addition all other members of the selected children's families were also treated with the same regimen of therapy. The treatment was given for a period of 1 year by 3 field technicians, each responsible for one regimen of therapy. Examining the whole conjunctiva 4 months after the start of therapy, we observed no marked difference in the cure rate or the number of patients with moderate to severe trachoma between the groups treated with antibiotics and the control group. When treatment was continued for 12 months, a marked decrease in the prevalence of trachoma and in the grades of intensity of inflammatory responses as well as the positivity rate for Chlamydia trachomatis was observed in the groups treated with the topical oxytetracycline or oral doxycycline compared with the control group. While there was no marked difference between the efficacy of these 2 regimens of mass chemotherapy, the monthly intermittent therapy with a single dose of doxycycline offers the advantage of being more practical and less expensive for mass control of trachoma by requiring approximately one-tenth of the staff, transport, and other facilities required for the intermittent topical therapy with tetracycline eye ointment.

Child↗

Efficacy of acycloguanosine (Wellcome 248U) against herpes-simplex corneal ulcers.

Acycloguanosine (9-[-hydroxyethoxymethyl]guanine) (Wellcome 248U) has a highly specific and potent antiviral action against herpes-simplex virus (H.S.V.) types I and II in cell-culture systems and in animal models of H.S.V. infection in the brain, skin, and eye. Its efficacy in man was tested in twenty-four patients with dendritic corneal epithelial ulcers treated by minimal wiping debridement. Patients were randomly allocated to treatment with 3% acycloguanosine eye ointment or placebo. There were seven recurrences or recrudescences of typical corneal epithelial herpetic lesions within 1 week of debridement in the twelve patients who received placebo, and no recurrences in the twelve who received acycloguanosine. Four further patients with dendritic ulcers have been electively treated with topical acycloguanosine alone. Their ulcers all healed briskly. No adverse effects were seen with the acycloguanosine therapy. These results establish that acycloguanosine is a clinically effective antiviral drug against H.S.V. infection in man.

Administration, Topical↗

Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from different areas of conjunctiva in relation to intensity of hyperendemic trachoma in school children in Southern Tunisia.

The simplified one-passage technique of culture in irradiated McCoy cells, in conjunction with certain other developments in technique, was used to isolate Chlamydia trachomatis from specimens collected from 78 children with trachoma in Douz, Southern Tunisia. The results show that C. trachomatis is not confined to the upper tarsal area of the conjunctiva in hyperendemic trachoma. The higher isolation rate and corresponding increase in the number of inclusions obtained from swabbings of the upper fornix and lower lid in addition to the conventional collection from the upper tarsus show the superiority of collecting specimens for culture from the whole conjunctiva. Specimens could be collected from the whole conjunctiva by using 1 swab for each eye and pooled for subsequent inoculation, so that the laboratory incurred no additional work. A close correlation was observed between isolation rate, together with the number of inclusions, obtained in cell culture, and intensity of inflammatory disease in hyperendemic trachoma. The sensitivity and practicability of this cultural test should provide a valuable laboratory index for use in epidemiological and therapeutic studies of trachoma.

Child↗

Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from eye secretion (tears).

Shedding of Chlamydia trachomatis in the eye secretion (tears) of patients with either hyperendemic trachoma or paratrachoma was studied. The method of collection of eye secretion with cellulose sponges is proved to be simple, faster, and more practicable and yielded a higher rate of chlamydial isolation than aspiration. The chlamydial isolation rates in eye secretion in chlamydia-positive paratrachoma patients in London or trachoma patients in Iran was 84 and 49% respectively. It was found that the chlamydial isolation rate from eye secretion is directly related to the number of inclusions present in the conjunctival swabbings. The results of this study indicated that patients with moderate to severe hyperendemic trachoma or paratrachoma are the main reservoir of infection. In the developing countries of the Middle East and Africa the shedding of chlamydia in the eye secretion of persons with these diseases is a major factor in the transmission of them by means of flies, fingers, towels, or bed clothes.

Chlamydia trachomatis↗

An animal model of Fusarium solani endophthalmitis.

Infection with Fusarium solani was established by injecting spores into the anterior chambers of outbred Wistar rats. The disease produced was remarkably similar to that reported in man and progressed to a fulminating endophthalmitis. Attenuation of the disease could be accomplished by repeated animal passage of the isolate.

Animals↗

Treatment of amoeboid herpetic ulcers with adenine arabinoside or trifluorothymidine.

In previous studies adenine arabinoside and trifluorothymidine were found to be equally effective treatments for dendritic ulcers of the cornea, but a trend emerged which suggested that in amoeboid ulcers trifluorothymidine was more effective. The collection of additional cases confirms the superiority of trifluorothymidine in such cases.

Corneal Ulcer↗

Scanning electron microscopy of the infective eggs of Hydatigera taeniaeformis.

Scanning electron microscopy of the outer surface coat of the infective eggs of Hydatigera taeniaeformis examined at high magnifications revealed the presence of scale-like features. At low magnifications the surface of eggs appeared smooth. Eggs that were fractured showed a thick inner surface layer of ridges and striations. A second layer characterized by a smooth membrane surface presumably the basement membrane was observed beneath the innermost surface layer. When the eggs were treated with 0.02 M of EDTA the outer surface coat became distorted and the emerging hooks of the embryo could be seen. Small, spherical bosses were observed on the surface of some eggs. Other eggs possibly at an earlier stage of development contained pit-like depressions.

Animals↗

The ultrastructural localization of alkaline phosphatase activity in the tegument of the cysticercus of Hydatigera taeniaeformis.

Alkaline phosphatase activity of the cysticercus of Hydatigera taeniaeformis was studied by means of electron microscopy. Beta-glycerophosphate was used as the substrate. The reaction product was localized within the microtriches of the distal cytoplasm, and in the cytoplasm and processes of perinuclear cells. Activity was also demonstrated within circular and longitudinal muscle bundles and in calcareous corpuscles.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

The ultrastructural localization of acetylcholinesterase activity in the scolex of the cysticercus of Hydatigera taeniaeformis.

Acetylcholinesterase activity in the scolex of the cysticercus of Hydatigera taeniaeformis was studied by means of electron microscopy. Acetylthiocholine iodide was used as the substrate and 10(-4) M of eserine used to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity. The sites of activity were visualized within the microtriches of the distal cytoplasm, muscle bundles, cytoplasm, vesiculated bodies, flame cells and hooks of the rostellar region. Enzyme activity was also localized within the nuclear membrane, neuroplasm, and membranes of nerve cells.

Acetylcholinesterase↗