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Biomedical subjects

C Roberts

Publications and source records attributed to C Roberts.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Superficial tuberculous lymphadenitis in Merseyside: 1969-1984.

The aetiology, epidemiology and clinical presentation of 137 bacteriologically confirmed cases of superficial mycobacterial lymphadenitis identified at the Liverpool Public Health Laboratory between 1969 and 1984 were reviewed. Despite a fall in pulmonary and total extrapulmonary isolates, the annual recovery of mycobacteria from lymph nodes remained relatively constant. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was the cause of infection in 121 patients (88.3%), M. bovis in 6 and the remaining 10 isolates were atypical mycobacteria. In European patients (68.6%) the highest incidence was in the elderly, whereas in non-Europeans (31.4%) the disease almost exclusively occurred in the third and fourth decades. The proportion of isolates from non-Europeans reflected the size of the immigrant population and increased during the period of study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

A case of cerebral systemic lupus erythematosus treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy.

A case of cerebral systemic lupus erythematosus is presented. This was characterised by a combination of organic, persecutory and atypical hypomanic features. After a very stormy course on oral steroids, treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy was begun. Subsequently the patient experienced a prolonged remission. This outcome supports the value of such therapy in cerebral systemic lupus erythematosus.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Early congenital syphilis still occurs.

Seven cases of early congenital syphilis have been recorded in the past 10 years in the Mersey Regional Health Authority. Antenatal serology was initially negative in five mothers, who were either incubating or acquired the infection later, and treatment had probably failed in two women given erythromycin for syphilis during pregnancy. Serology should be repeated later in pregnancy in those at high risk. Social factors that define this group include women who book for antenatal care late in pregnancy, have a past history of sexually transmitted disease, and have multiple consorts. Clinical signs in the infant such as failure to thrive, hepatosplenomegaly, symmetrical rash, rhinitis, and osteochondritis should alert the clinician to the possibility of congenital syphilis. Adequate management of mother and baby requires close liaison between the genitourinary physician, microbiologist, obstetrician, and paediatrician. Penicillin remains the treatment of choice.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Leucocyte esterase-nitrite screening method for pyuria and bacteriuria.

The value of the one minute leucocyte esterase-nitrite chemical strips as a screening procedure for detecting appreciable levels of pyuria and bacteriuria was assessed by comparison with microscopy and culture results. The likelihood that a negative leucocyte esterase result indicated less than 10 white cells/cu mm by microscopy (the negative predictive value), was 90.1% and that a negative nitrite result indicated less than 10(5) organisms/ml was 91.3%. There were many false positive results with both tests, however, and the overall predictive value of a positive leucocyte esterase or nitrite test, or both, was low. The leucocyte esterase-nitrite strip was neither sufficiently sensitive nor specific enough to be used as a cost effective method for screening urines in the laboratory.

Bacteriuria↗
PubMed1985

Balloon dilatation of the prostatic urethra. Work in progress.

Balloon dilatation of the prostatic urethra was performed in eight dogs and one human with benign prostatic hyperplasia. This was done in vivo in six dogs and in vitro in two dogs and one human. Follow-up study at 1-23 weeks showed persistent dilatation, which was documented both radiographically and pathologically. Technical improvements limited complications to the early phase of the study. While results are encouraging, extrapolation to humans is difficult.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Quantitative bacteriology of peripheral venous cannulae in neonates.

In a study of 50 peripheral venous cannulae removed from neonates in the special care baby unit, quantitative and qualitative techniques for cannula culture were compared and the results correlated with detailed clinical information. High-density colonization was demonstrated on the external and internal surfaces of nine, and on the external surface alone of four, cannula tips. Internal surface colonization was always associated with heavy external surface growth. In predicting high-density colonization by quantitative methods, qualitative culture in broth was 100% sensitive and 89% specific. There was a significant association between high-density colonization of the cannula tip and hub colonization, surrounding skin colonization, longer duration of cannula insertion, and slower average infusion rate. Similar organisms were isolated more frequently from the cannula tip and the hub than from the cannula tip and surrounding skin. These findings indicate that peripheral venous cannulae are a potential source of infection in neonates, that there is no advantage of techniques that identify internal surface colonization, and that most cannula tip infections have their origin in a colonized hub.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1985

The first seconds of neutrophil activation: phosphoinositides, protein kinase C, and calcium movements.

Activation of the neutrophil by interaction of a ligand such as f-Met-Leu-Phe with its specific receptor elicits a prompt breakdown of PIP2 and the generation of PA via diacylglycerol. There is a rapid elevation of cytosolic calcium and activation of protein kinase C. Calcium and protein kinase C act synergistically to elicit the physiological responses. Although PIP2 breakdown and PA generation are prompt responses of neutrophils to receptor occupancy by chemoattractants, these steps can be bypassed by stimuli which directly activate protein kinase C or increase cytosolic calcium. Elevation of cytosolic Ca and activation of protein kinase C did not elicit breakdown of PIP2, indicating that phosphoinositide remodeling is not caused by activation of protein kinase C or by elevation of cytosolic calcium, nor is such a breakdown or the generation of phosphatidic acid required for the subsequent responses. The evidence indicates that PIP2 breakdown is an early event in stimulus-response coupling and is correlated with receptor-initiated generation of the signal.

Calcium↗
PubMed1984

The effect of osmotic challenge and subsequent rehydration on the aging hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system. A quantitative morphological study of the supraoptic nucleus.

The neurons of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of male C57BL/Icrfat mice at 6 or 28 months of age were examined from normally hydrated, osmotically loaded and osmotically loaded/rehydrated animals. Using quantitative morphological techniques it was shown that the majority of the ultrastructural variables investigated were controlled in the same way in the SON neurons of young and old mice. The major exception was the mitochondrial compartment which although maintaining a constant proportion of the volume of the SON cell did show a significant reduction in the number of mitochondria in the old group, particularly during the osmotic challenge period of the experiment. The "lipid" body compartment of the SON neuron also behaved differently in the cells from the older age group. This study when viewed in conjunction with previous investigations suggests that these SON neuroendocrine neurons from old animals are able to produce hormone until late in the life-span. However, other aspects of cellular activity appeared to be altered when judged by morphological criteria. It is concluded that the SON neurons from these old mice are able to synthesize hormone-containing organelles to the same concentration as the cells from a younger animal. However, the efficiency of the process, or at least the efficiency of concomitant cellular processes, must be questioned in view of the alterations in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial and lysosomal systems.

Aging↗