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Biomedical subjects

G Rich

Publications and source records attributed to G Rich.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Evaluation of the safety of storage medium for corneal transplants.

The results of 27 keratoplasties done at the Royal Adelaide Hospital were analysed. The success rate of the graft was similar whether storage was as whole eyes (60%) or corneo-scleral rims (65%). A modified McCarey-Kaufman medium has been used for 2 years to store the corneo-scleral rims. Phenol red has been added as an indicator of pH change and probable bacterial contamination. Laboratory experiments contaminating this medium with potential pathogens have shown that the indicator is valueless for this purpose. Several antibiotics, alone and in combination, and at varying temperatures of storage, were tested in experiments. None could be relied on to sterilise the media of the inoculated bacteria. Whole eyes are stored in moist chambers containing normal saline with penicillin plus streptomycin which is less able to support bacterial growth. Similar challenge experiments showed that normal saline is not sterilised by the penicillin plus streptomycin.

Bacterial Infections↗

Relapse of antibiotic-associated colitis after vancomycin therapy.

Antibiotic-associated colitis, although occasionally fatal, is a disease which is considered to be self-limiting and non-recurring. Recently, specific treatment with oral vancomycin directed at the trigger organism, Clostridium difficile, has been shown to be effective. A case in which antibiotic-associated colitis was treated with vancomycin and subsequently recurred is described. The fact that such relapse can occur indicates that further evaluation of the efficacy of vancomycin is required.

Aged↗

Variability of mood and the diagnosis of hysterical personality disorder.

Twenty patients with the diagnosis hysterical personality disorder were compared with a matched control group pf patients with other personality and neurotic diagnoses. Subjects' moods were assessed with a visual analogue scale 4 times a day for 5 consecutive days. Patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of hysterical personality disorder showed greater variability of mood than controls. Since emotional lability is said to be a characteristic hysterical trait, the results are taken as empirical support for the validity of one of the clinical judgements inherent in the diagnostic process.

Adult↗

Recovery of cardiac function with total transapical left ventricular bypass.

Transapical left ventricular bypass which withdraws blood directly from the left ventricular apex through a roller pump and outflow filter with return to the femoral artery has been applied in 6 patients with cardiac failure. All patients required total TALVB (with the aortic valve closed) for periods of one to 144 hrs, and 2 patients had recovery of life-sustaining myocardial function, allowing removal of the TALVB system. One patient had complete recovery without other organ dysfunction. Total TALVB continuously decompresses and unloads the left ventricle throughout systole and diastole, and maintains the circulation in otherwise terminal circumstances.

Adult↗

Cost-effectiveness of two methods of screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria.

A comparison of two methods of screening schoolgirls for asymptomatic specimens of urine from 96.3, but that the home self-administered use of dipslides was successful in only 70.2%. The failure to obtain the return of satisfactory dipslides was most frequent in children under seven and over 11 years of age, and in children from the lower social classes; satisfactory dipslides were returned by 84% of children from social classes I, II, and III non-manual workers, but by only 58% of children from social class V and the unemployed. The cost per child screened was pounds 0.77 with the supervised method and pounds 0.26 with the dipslide method. An alternative supervised method which would have successfully screened 85% would have cost pound 0.55 per child screened. Using the home dipslide method, the cost per case of asymptomatic bacteriuria detected would vary from pounds 10.40 to pounds 20.00, depending on the age group screened.

Adolescent↗

Minocycline sensitivity related to the phage type of multiply resistant staphylococci.

Clinical isolated of multiply antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphlococcus aureus were divided into three groups by phage typing. The most prevalent type, which is usually cloxacillin resistant, was found to be moderately sensitive to minocycline. Unfortunately the degree of sensitivity is not sufficient to warrant the use of the antibiotic in severe staphlococcal infection.

Bacteriophage Typing↗

Retinoic acid-induced modulation of IL-2 mRNA production and IL-2 receptor expression on T cells.

BACKGROUND: Retinoic acid (RA) has important immune-modulating effects on both T and B cell function. Our laboratory has shown that RA can enhance in vitro polyclonal B cell immunoglobulin (Ig) response. Investigating cytokines known to affect B cell differentiation, we have recently shown that IL-6 production is augmented by RA. In the present study we have examined the immune modulating effects of RA on IL-2 mRNA, another important cytokine for B cell immunoglobulin production, the expression of IL-2 receptors on T cells, and the RA nuclear receptors. METHODS: Purified T cells were obtained from adenoidal tissues, and incubated with RA (10(-7) M) or DMSO solvent/media control for 0, 6-8, and 24 h. Total mRNA was extracted from T cells, and using RT-PCR, changes in the production of IL-2 and RA receptors (RAR)-alpha,beta,gamma mRNA were determined. The effects of RA on IL-2-alpha receptor expression was determined by flow cytometry on T cells. CONCLUSION: These studies suggest that RA can augment IL-2 mRNA production by T cells with a possible paracrine effect on IL-2R-alpha expression. These changes appear to be mediated by RAR-alpha. Thus, IL-2 may be another important cytokine modulated by RA in the immune response.

Child, Preschool↗

Fatal toxoplasmosis in a red lory (Eos bornea).

Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in a 3-week-old red lory (Eos bornea). Grossly, there was hepatomegaly and pulmonary consolidation. The salient microscopic lesions were multifocal necrotizing mycocarditis, interstitial pneumonia with multifocal necrosis and vasculitis, and multifocal necrotizing hepatitis with periacinar hepatocellular necrosis. Toxoplasma gondii-like organisms were observed in lung, heart, and liver by light and electron microscopy. The organisms in tissues stained with anti-T. gondii serum using an immunohistochemical method.

Animals↗