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Biomedical subjects

C Roberts

Publications and source records attributed to C Roberts.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Harvey-ras oncogene restriction fragment alleles in familial melanoma kindreds.

Unique and uncommon BamHI allelic restriction fragments of the Ha-ras locus have been reported in the genomes of patients with cancer and of three affected members of a familial melanoma kindred (Krontiris et al., 1986). Analysis of the BamHI and Msp/HpaII restriction fragments of peripheral blood leucocyte DNA from the members of two families with hereditary melanoma (HM)/familial dysplastic naevus syndrome (DNS) revealed that the only Ha-ras allele common to four affected members of one kindred and two from a second kindred, was the 6.7kb allele which is found in 66% of the normal population. This allele was found equally in affected and non-affected family members, and in one affected case was inherited from an unaffected homozygous parent. It was absent in two affected sisters in a third kindred. In the first kindred the karyotype of all three melanoma sufferers was 46XX 9qh+, while six unaffected members had a normal karyotype. BamHI polymorphism of the Ha-ras gene does not identify the affected members in the HM/DNS families studied.

Alleles↗
PubMed1986

Pulmonary infection with opportunist mycobacteria on Merseyside 1974-1983.

During a 10 year period 49 patients were recorded as having pulmonary infection caused by opportunist mycobacteria. Six different species were identified of which M. kansasii (65%) and M. avium-intracellulare (20%) were the most common. Cough and sputum (82%) or haemoptysis (26%) were frequent symptoms on presentation and over two thirds of patients had pre-existing respiratory disease. Chest radiographs showed predominantly apical disease with the right apex (44%) being twice as commonly affected as the left (22%). In 30% the radiograph showed bilateral disease. Clinicians had an individual approach to treatment with no uniform pattern of drug prescribing. A majority of patients (59%) received rifampicin for at least 9 months and those patients with M. kansasii infection responded well with no bacteriological relapses in 20 patients followed for a mean period of 3.9 years. M. avium-intracellulare, M. malmoense and M. xenopi were less responsive to treatment and in four patients receiving chemotherapy death was attributed to mycobacterial infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Tuberculous meningitis due to Mycobacterium bovis: a report of two cases.

Two Caucasian patients with bovine tuberculous meningitis are described. Classical Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid on both occasions. Despite the elimination of cattle tuberculosis in this country, reactivated primary disease due to the bovine tubercle bacillus may still occur.

Female↗
PubMed1986

Pulmonary tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis.

During 1969-84 Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from 20 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. This represented less than 1% of the total cases of respiratory tuberculosis confirmed bacteriologically at the Liverpool Public Health Laboratory during this period. All 20 patients were considered to have reactivated disease and all presented with the typical features of respiratory tuberculosis. During the same period four cases of pulmonary infection by Mycobacterium africanum were recognised. This organism is difficult to differentiate from M bovis and failure to distinguish the two mycobacteria could lead to a misleading epidemiological picture of bovine tuberculosis in man.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Bovine variants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated in Liverpool during the period 1969 to 1983: an epidemiological survey.

Between 1969 and 1983 inclusive, the bovine variants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. bovis and M. africanum) were isolated from 75 patients with tuberculosis. This represented 2.9 per cent of all significant mycobacteria identified at the Liverpool Public Health Laboratory during this period. The clinical and radiological features of infection did not differ from those found with M. tuberculosis. There was an association between M. bovis infection, extrapulmonary disease and lifelong United Kingdom residency, and between M. africanum infection, pulmonary disease and immigrant status. Correlations between the present incidence of reactivated M. bovis disease and past prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in man and cattle, and between the isolation rate of M. africanum and the size of the immigrant community served by the laboratory, were also demonstrated. All the patients with M. bovis infection were considered to have a reactivated or slowly progressive primary infection. It is proposed that M. bovis only accounts for a small proportion of isolates from adults with tuberculosis because the organism displays a low tendency to reactivate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Use of calcium carbonate as a phosphate binder in dialysis patients.

Aluminum-containing phosphate (Al-binders) employed to control serum phosphorus in patients with chronic renal failure can be associated with the development of aluminum toxicity. To obviate the need for Al-binders, we examined the effectiveness of CaCO3 as a phosphate binder in 31 hemodialysis and 8 CAPD patients followed for 2 months while receiving Al-binders, and then, for 3-14 months while receiving CaCO3 (5.8 +/- 0.4 g/day). Monthly serum phosphorus averaged 5.4 +/- 0.2 mg/dl with Al-binders and 5.1 +/- 0.3 to 5.7 +/- 0.4 mg/dl with CaCO3 (p = NS). There were 25.2 episodes of hyperphosphatemia (serum phosphorus greater than 6.5 mg/dl) per 100 treatment months with Al-binders and 19.2 episodes/100 treatment months with CaCO3 (p = NS). Plasma aluminum levels, 105 +/- 21 micrograms/l during ingestion of Al-binders, fell to 34 +/- 11 micrograms/l after 8 months of therapy with CaCO3 (p less than 0.01). Monthly serum Ca averaged 9.5 +/- 0.1 mg/dl during Al administration and was 8.9 +/- 0.8 to 10.0 +/- 0.2 mg/dl with CaCO3 (p = NS). Thirty-four episodes of hypercalcemia (serum Ca greater than 11.0 mg/dl) occurred in 14 patients ingesting CaCO3, but hypercalcemia did not occur with ingestion of Al-binders. Al-related bone disease was found on bone biopsy in 11 of 13 patients who developed hypercalcemia, compared to only 5 of the 11 biopsied patients who remained normocalcemic (p less than 0.01 by chi 2 analysis). Other side effects included diarrhea in 1 patient and constipation in 3 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Acylation of adenovirus type 12 early region 1b 18-kDa protein. Further evidence for its localisation in the cell membrane.

The 18-kDa E1b protein in Ad 12-transformed rat cells and in Ad 12-infected human cells binds lipid strongly. The lipid is not removed by boiling in the presence of SDS or by extraction with methanol/chloroform. It is, however, dissociated from the protein by treatment with methanolic KOH suggesting that attachment is through an ester linkage. The acylated 18-kDa protein is detected only in the membrane fraction. Labelling cell surface proteins on Ad 12-transformed cells with [125I]iodosulphanilic acid shows that some of the Ad 12 18-kDa E1b protein is present on the outside of the cell. It is concluded that this protein is responsible for cell surface T-antigen activity.

Acylation↗
PubMed1985

Factors influencing the sensitivity of herpes simplex virus detection in clinical specimens in a simultaneous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal antibodies.

A rapid simultaneous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using monoclonal antibodies was investigated for herpes simplex virus (HSV) detection. All HSV isolated (n = 127) were detected, whereas no response was obtained with HSV negative preparations. Equivalent results were obtained from 275 of 277 clinical specimens in the monoclonal ELISA and in an ELISA using polyclonal antibodies, confirming that appropriately selected monoclonal antibodies may be as efficacious as polyclonal antibodies in antibody-based assays. In clinical specimens, the rate of HSV detection (sensitivity) relative to tissue culture isolation was low for both assays, and the major factor responsible for this was the low concentration of virus present in some specimens. The sensitivity of ELISA obtained in routine use varied with different panels of unselected specimens and was related to the speed of development of the cytopathic effect. These results emphasise the need for caution in assigning a definitive sensitivity level to ELISA tests evaluated on different panels of specimens.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1985

Dissemination of Bacillus cereus in a maternity unit.

During a period of 4 months, 54 of 1059 (5%) specimens received for bacterial culture from neonates in a maternity unit yielded Bacillus cereus. Of the strains isolated, 48 originated from 259 umbilical cord swabs examined. Furthermore, 88% of the isolates belonged to a single, previously undescribed serotype. Strains of the same serotype were also found to be widely distributed in the environment throughout the maternity unit. The primary source of the organism, however, could not be established.

Bacillus cereus↗