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Biomedical subjects

E Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to E Taylor.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

The identification of Gardnerella vaginalis.

A collection of 72 strains of catalase-negative gram-positive, -negative and -variable cocco-bacilli isolated from samples of vaginal discharge from women with non-specific vaginal infection was examined in an attempt to develop an identification system for Gardnerella vaginalis that could be used in a diagnostic laboratory. Carbohydrate fermentation tests were found to be poorly reproducible and of little differentiating value. Enzyme tests were found similarly unhelpful, as were many antibiotic-susceptibility and chemical-inhibition tests. However, seven tests--susceptibility to trimethoprim and two concentrations of metronidazole, growth in the presence of 2% (w/v) sodium chloride and on nutrient agar, lactic acid production from glucose and beta-haemolysis on human-blood agar--were used successfully in this study to separate G. vaginalis from catalase-negative coryneforms and lactobacilli. Of these tests, susceptibility to trimethoprim and metronidazole together with beta-haemolysis on human blood agar are the most likely to provide a rapid, accurate identification. A possible identification scheme is outlined.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗
PubMed1983

Prophylaxis of primary ventricular fibrillation with tocainide in acute myocardial infarction.

Within six hours of suspected acute myocardial infarction, 791 patients entered a randomised double blind study of combined intravenous and oral tocainide for the prophylaxis of primary ventricular fibrillation. Acute myocardial infarction was confirmed in 559 patients, of whom 278 had received tocainide. The study was terminated on the basis of a sequential statistical analysis which showed that in these patients tocainide was unlikely to reduce the incidence of primary ventricular fibrillation by as much as 50%, primary ventricular fibrillation having occurred in 4% of the tocainide and 2% of the placebo patients. Significantly fewer tocainide treated patients were withdrawn for other serious ventricular arrhythmias. Mortality (1% in the tocainide group and 2% in the placebo group) was low with no statistically significant differences between the active and placebo groups. Unwanted effects of treatment were infrequent and rarely troublesome both in patients with and without acute myocardial infarction. These results suggest that in the dosage used in this study tocainide does not exert an antifibrillatory action in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction.

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗
PubMed1983

Clinical evaluation of two direct procedures for free thyroxin, and of free thyroxin index determined nonisotopically and by measuring thyroxin-binding globulin.

We have investigated the clinical utility of two direct radioimmunoassays for free thyroxin, an enzyme-inhibition immunoassay, and a direct measurement of thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG) by radioassay. All assay methods correctly identified greater than or equal to 90% of euthyroid, hyperthyroid, and hypothyroid patients who had normal TBG concentrations. In patients with altered TBG concentrations, none of the assays correctly classified all categories of patients. However, the direct assays of free thyroxin concentrations were able to classify correctly more patients with altered TBG concentrations than did the free thyroxin index methods. The free thyroxin index methods evaluated may be acceptable for routine use, if the concentration of thyroxin and the measurement of TBG capacity are reported along with the index value. Patients with altered TBG concentrations included a group of euthyroid pregnant patients. Significant decreases in free thyroxin in the third trimester were detected by all the assays studied. For patients in the first and second trimester, the mean free thyroxin concentration measured varied with the assay method.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1983

Meaning of serum free-thyroxin values in nonthyroidal illnesses: seven methods compared.

Serum free thyroxin (FT4) was determined in 40 patients with various nonthyroidal illnesses. We studied seven methods: (1) a free thyroxin index calculated from total T4 and triiodothyronine resin uptake; (2) a free T4 index determined by enzyme inhibitor assays (Abbott's "Tetrazyme" and "Thyrozyme"); (3) a free T4 index calculated from total T4 and thyroxin-binding globulin; (4) free T4 by equilibrium dialysis; (5) Amersham's free T4 RIA; (6) Clinical Assays' one-step free T4 RIA; and (7) Clinical Assays' two-step free T4 RIA. Approximately half of the free T4 results were in the euthyroid range and the other half in the hypothyroid range by methods 1, 2, 5, and 6. Results for free T4 by methods 3 and 7 were similar to those by equilibrium dialysis (method 4), the percentages of patients with results in the euthyroid range being 68%, 65%, and 76%, respectively.

Dialysis↗
PubMed1982

Kinetic studies of the immunopharmacologic effects of NPT 15392 in mice.

NPT 15392 [9-erythro-(2-hydroxy,3-nonyl)-hypoxanthine] was administered in a single intraperitoneal injection to Balb/c mice at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg. Modifications of immune parameters were evaluated 1-14 days after the treatment. NPT 15392 potentiated antibody responses to both T-dependent (SRBC, TNP-KLH) and T-independent (TNP-LPS) antigens and delayed-type hypersensitivity to oxazolone. The proliferative response of spleen cells from NPT-treated mice to stimulation with PHA was depressed, but that to dextran sulphate was augmented. The responses to Con A or LPS were inconsistently modified. NPT 15392 augmented killer cell functions, including both T cell-mediated cytotoxicity against allogeneic tumor cells and NK cell activity against YAC-1 tumor cells. It slightly augmented or depressed ADCC activity against antibody-coated chicken erythrocytes (CRBC) depending on the time of its administration. Concerning the stimulation of NK cell activity, the effect was more marked on spleen effector cells when NPT 15392 was given i.v. and on peritoneal effector cells when it was given i.p. From these results, T helper cells, B cells, and NK cells appeared to be target cells of NPT 15392 action. The various stimulatory effects peaked at different times according to the immune function tested. In addition, the prolonged, sometimes double-peaked action (antibody response to T-dependent antigens, NK activity) indicates complex mechanisms of action which may involve indirect interactions mediated by lymphokines or monokines.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1982

The use of an anaerobic incubator for the isolation of anaerobes from clinical samples.

An anaerobic incubator was compared with a standard jar system for the isolation of anaerobes from clinical material. Seventy specimens were selected as likely to yield anaerobes: 342 different anaerobes were isolated in the incubator and 347 in anaebrobic jars. These included Bacteroides spp (43%), Peptococcus spp (26%), Peptostreptococcus spp (13%), Veillonella spp (7%), Fusobacterium spp (7%), Clostridium spp (2%) and miscellaneous Gram-positive nonsporing bacilli (2%). Differences in isolation rates for each system were inconsistent and minor. Sixteen anaerobes were chosen for quantitative tests at the beginning and end of the study period. Miles and Misra counts showed a slight advantage of the incubator for F nucleatum, but no difference for B fragilis, B thetaiomicron, B uniformis, B bivius, B corrodens, F mortiferum, Ps anaerobius, P prevotii or Propionibacterium acnes. In almost all cases, colonies in anaerobic jars were slightly larger than those in the incubator. Disc antibiotic sensitivity tests gave the same results in each system, at the beginning and end of the study period. The anaerobic incubator provides an effective means of isolation of anaerobes in a clinical laboratory. However, several design features of the prototype would require change if the system were introduced.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1982

Comparison of antisera in the fluorescent antibody test for detection of Bacteroides spp in clinical specimens.

Twenty-two known strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group of organisms and 67 clinical specimens from a variety of sites were examined by fluorescent antibody test (IFA) using two different antisera fro the rapid detection of B fragilis group of organisms. A previously reported Barts' pooled antisera was compared with a commercially produced Fluoretec kit antisera and the findings were related to routine anaerobic culture and gas liquid chromatography for short chain fatty acids. The Barts' antisera was more sensitive (88%) but less specific (88%) than the kit (sensitivity 50%, specificity 98%). This indicates that Barts' antisera picks up more positive cultures than the kit. The predictive value of a positive test was 82% for Barts' antisera and 93% for the kit. There were higher numbers of false-negatives with the kit (13/26) than with the Barts' (3/26). The predictive value of a negative test was 92% for Barts' antisera and 75% for the kit, indicating that a negative IFA test with Barts' antisera is a reliable index of the absence of the B fragilis group of organisms from clinical specimens. The implications for the use of this test in a routine laboratory are discussed.

Bacteroides↗
PubMed1982

A clinical approach to brief dynamic psychotherapies in child psychiatry.

This paper reviews the position of brief psychotherapies in child psychiatry. Brief psychotherapy with children and families has received less attention than similar work with individual adults. After reviewing literature on brief dynamic psychotherapy with children and their families, the authors describe an approach which developed in an outpatient child psychiatry team. After a brief assessment, a focal hypothesis and plan of treatment are concluded. A decision is made as to which unit (the family group, an individual, or a combination of individuals) would be most strategic to treat. The authors coin the phrase "focal treatment unit" to express this concept.

Child↗
PubMed1982

Preschool children's discrimination of age.

This study compared abilities of 4- and 5-yr.-olds to be accurate in connoting "who is older" without using size representation as a cue. An age discrimination task was administered to 30 4-yr.-olds and 30 5-yr.-olds. Analysis indicated that the 5-yr.-old children had better ability to discriminate age than the 4-yr.-old children but were not equal to adults. No significant sex differences were found in the children's ability to discriminate age.

Aging↗