Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Richard.
The phenotypic characters of four clinical strains of Enterobacter intermedium (a species usually isolated from surface water and soil) are described and compared to those of E. cloacae and E. asburiae.
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The authors record the bacteriological characters of four Shigella strains: S. dysenteriae 2 and S. boydii 9, respectively isolated in a bird-of-prey and in three herons, kept in the zoological Garden in Antananarivo. The significance of this Malgasian avian reservoir of Shigella is discussed.
Six strains of Kluyvera ascorbata--an unusual species in the family Enterobacteriaceae--were isolated from six healthy lemurs, located in Tananarive's zoological garden. Their bacteriological characters are reported and compared with those of Levinea and Escherichia coli. Their occurrence and significance in animals are discussed.
Serum selenium concentration was prospectively measured using the method of thermoelectric atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 129 study participants distributed as follows in three groups: control group (n = 48) volunteers without known cardiac or lung disease; group I: patients with congestive cardiomyopathy (n = 48), group II: patients with myocardial infarction (n = 31). Serum selenium level was 84.73 +/- 1.79 micrograms.l-1 (m +/- sem) in the control group, 68.53 +/- 2.26 micrograms.l-1 in group I and 73.55 +/- 2.33 micrograms.l-1 in group II. The difference between group I and group II versus the control group was significant (p less than 0.01). There was no significant difference between group I and II.
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In addition to capsular antigen typing and biotyping (sorbose, d-tartrate, dulcitol), the epidemiology of Klebsiella oxytoca can be improved by new biochemical characterization. The authors propose to determine tetrathionate-reductase activity, D-melezitose fermentation and brown pigment production onto a mineral gluconate-ferric citrate medium. In order to assess the value of these new markers, several hospital epidemiological surveys were performed in France and Spain (112 strains studied).
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Acute colectasia may occur in patients under mechanical ventilation. Causative factors include haemodynamic changes, potassium loss, underlying pathology (chronic respiratory failure, cirrhosis) and especially morphine-like compounds used for sedation. Analysis of the results obtained with various treatments suggests that surgery is not justified: caecal perforation is extremely rare in a previous healthy colon; any surgical procedure is hazardous in this type of patient, and colectasia frequently regresses under appropriate medical treatment, even though mechanical ventilation is pursued.
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Serum selenium concentrations were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 31 controls and 101 patients with the following results (mean +/- s.e.m; microgram . l-1: controls: 86.27 +/- 2.26; 24 chronic alcoholics without denutrition: 63.29 +/- 3.19; 38 patients with denutrition (64.75 +/- 3.68) divided into chronic alcoholics (n = 27); 65.24 +/- 3.49 and non-alcoholics (n = 11): 63.55 +/- 4.15; 39 patients with cardiomyopathy (68.89 +/- 3.43) divided into chronic alcoholics (n = 21): 67.61 +/- 3.10 and non-alcoholics (n = 18): 72.56 +/- 3.82. Compared with values in the control group, the fall in mean serum selenium concentrations was statistically significant (P less than 0.001) in all groups of patients. In contrast, there was no significant difference in mean serum selenium concentrations between patients with cardiomyopathy and those with denutrition, alcoholic or not. Chronic alcoholism and denutrition are accompanied by a fall in blood selenium level. The decrease of serum selenium concentrations in alcoholic and non-alcoholic patients of the third group suggests that congestive cardiomyopathy is associated with selenium deficiency. These findings indicate that patients with congestive cardiomyopathy should be evaluated not only for alcoholism, but also for their nutritional status.
1.25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 (1.25 (OH)2D3) was tested in seven patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. The study was undertaken because 1.25 (OH)2D3 promotes differentiating myeloid cells in vitro and because of a prior report of potential benefit in a clinical study. The drug was given orally at a dose of 2.5 micrograms/day for a minimum of 8 weeks (range 8-28). After therapy, there were no significant changes in any of the parameters observed in peripheral blood or bone marrow. We did not observe any feature of granulocytic-monocytic differentiation. Treatment was well tolerated. One patient died because of bone marrow failure. Survivors have persisting myelodysplastic syndrome and continue to be transfusion dependent. 1.25 (OH)2D3 has no beneficial effect in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome with this dose regimen.
A procedure for examining possible sequence homology in the triplet neurofilament proteins using a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system is described. Five different chemical reagents (cyanogen bromide, BNPS-skatole, hydroxylamine, formic acid, and nitrothiocyanobenzoic acid) have been used for peptide mapping studies. Potential applications of this technique are discussed.
The examination of possible sequence homology in proteins using SDS-PAGE systems after chemical cleavage is described. After SDS-PAGE, the establishment of amino acid compositions, the techniques of staining gel and five different methods of chemical cleavages (cyanogen bromide, BNPS-skatole, hydroxylamine, formic acid and nitrothiocyano benzoic acid) have been used for peptide mapping studies. Potential applications of this technique are discussed from both the biochemical and immunochemical point of view.
A case of septicaemia due to gram-negative bacilli secondary to maxillary sinusitis occurring is reported in a patient intubated through the nose. The search of a purulent nasal discharge and the portable X-ray film were important in establishing the diagnosis. Removing the tube and antibiotics usually give a prompt recovery.
Twenty-four patients suffering hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome were studied retrospectively to define initial prognostic factors. Twenty percent of these elderly patients (mean age 76 +/- 4.6 yr) had no history of diabetes, and only 54% experienced coma, which was not related to the level of plasma osmolality or to final outcome. The overall mortality was 46%, but death was directly related to nonmetabolic disorders in 64% of cases. Age; sex; acute precipitating factors (except precipitating drugs); admission levels of serum sodium, serum potassium, blood glucose, plasma osmolality, and serum creatinine; and insulin, macromolecular, and total fluid volumes infused during the first 24 h in the ICU were not related to death. The simplified acute physiology score was approximately the same for both survivors and nonsurvivors.