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Biomedical subjects

C O Solberg

Publications and source records attributed to C O Solberg.

157 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Laminar airflow protection in bone marrow transplantation.

A laminar airflow room was used to provide a low-pathogen environment for a child with lymphopenic immune deficiency transplanted with paternal bone marrow. Comparison of flora from the patient, personnel, and the environment indicated that no colonization with exogenous organisms occurred in the patient during the 45-day period of study. The number of organisms recovered from the laminar airflow room was exceedingly small. Conventional hospital isolation rooms contained more bacteria and fungi than the laminar airflow room, even when strict aseptic procedures were followed in the former. Patients with lymphopenic immune deficiency and agranulocytosis admitted to conventional isolation rooms were colonized with exogenous organisms within 1 week. Each developed infection with these strains, and one patient died. Laminar airflow isolation seems at present the best means to prevent exogenous infection during hospitalization of patients with lymphopenic and other severe immune-deficiency diseases and may be essential when bone marrow transplantation is performed to treat their immunological defect.

Air Microbiology↗

Flow cytometry for the study of phagocyte functions.

Phagocytes play a key role in host defense, and cell defects are associated with increased susceptibility to infection. Flow cytometry offers rapid and reproducible measurements of single cells in suspension and, following staining with one or more fluorochromes, simultaneous examination of several cell functions. Subpopulations of cells can be identified and sorted for morphologic, biochemical, and functional examination, and specially adapted computer systems allow storage of data for subsequent detailed analysis. Several flow-cytometric assays for the study of phagocytes and their interactions with microorganisms have been developed. These assays facilitate the study of (1) phagocyte surface receptors and regulatory molecules; (2) membrane potential; (3) phagocytosis of microorganisms, including the discrimination between attachment to the phagocyte surface and actual internalization; (4) phagosomal pH; (5) degranulation and enzymatic activity; (6) intracellular calcium; (7) oxidative metabolism; (8) intracellular killing of microorganisms; (9) degradation of microorganisms; and (10) exocytosis. In addition, the influence of serum opsonins on phagocyte-microorganism interactions can be studied. Flow-cytometric techniques are applicable to both experimental and clinical work.

Cell Separation↗

Penetration of antibiotics into human leukocytes and dermal suction blisters.

Staphylococcus aureus phagocytized by leukocytes from healthy donors and from patients with chronic granulomatous disease were protected from the antibacterial effect of gentamicin. Considerable numbers of phagocytized bacteria remained viable after exposure for 20 hr to antibiotic concentrations that killed greater than 99% of extracellular bacteria in less than 4 hr. A higher proportion of intracellular bacteria were killed by rifampin; this finding indicated that rifampin penetrates better into the phagocytic vacuole than does gentamicin and/or is more active against phagocytized bacteria than is gentamicin. After oral administration of 450 mg of rifampin to three healthy volunteers, concentrations of the antibiotic in serum and skin blister fluid were measured. Concentrations in serum peaked within 3 hr of oral administration (mean peak level, 13.2 micrograms/ml). Concentrations in blister fluid peaked between 6 hr and 9 hr (mean peak concentration, 2.7 micrograms/ml). Between 9 hr and 12 hr, the concentrations of rifampin in serum and blister fluid were similar; later, levels in blister fluid were higher than those in serum. The mean elimination half-life of rifampin was 2.5 hr in serum and 6.0 hr in blister fluid.

Adult↗