Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Meyer.
Charity begins at home, yet across the country hometown not-for-profit hospitals are forming joint partnerships with investor-owned systems. In some of these cases no foundation is created to continue the hospital's good deeds. In this special report, Hospitals & Health Networks looks at the issues and asks, "Do these joint ventures need more public scrutiny?"
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A quantitative, highly sensitive HPLC-based method for the direct measurement of azathioprine is described, introducing a newly synthesized 9-methyl derivative of this immunosuppressant as internal standard in combination with isocratic HPLC and UV-absorbance measurement at 285 nm. Analysis was performed on a RP18 select B column with acetonitrile-0.01 M potassium phosphate buffer (12:88, v/v) at pH 2.3 as mobile phase. Results of precision analysis from serum samples spiked with 3.125, 12.5, and 25 ng azathioprine, respectively, were (mean +/- S.D.): 3.148 +/- 0.259 ng (8.22%), 12.594 +/- 0.571 ng (4.53%), and 25.016 +/- 0.658 ng (2.63%) with C.V. values in parentheses for n = 5. The accuracy of the assay ranged from -7.6 to 0.7% (expressed as % bias) tested on five consecutive days. The limit of quantification was at 2.5 +/- 0.256 ng (C.V. 10.25%), thus allowing drug monitoring in long-term patients. The method can also be used to evaluate individual pharmacokinetic parameters of a single patient, as well as for drug monitoring of a cohort of patients who suffer from azathioprine-induced symptoms of toxicity. An example of the pharmacokinetic behaviour in an individual is given in this paper.
The transmission of hepatitis A virus (HAV) associated with use of FVIII concentrates has been reported in a number of European countries. All of these cases were associated with products inactivated by use of solvent detergent treatment. These reports have emphasized the necessity of evaluating virus inactivation methodologies for their ability to inactivate HAV. Such studies had previously been hampered by the difficulties associated with titration of HAV, because of the minimal cytopathic effect of most strains of virus on tissue culture cells. We have developed a simple, rapid, TCID50 virus titration system using a cytopathic strain of HAV which allows extensive kinetic studies of HAV inactivation. This has been compared with the standard radioimmunofocus forming (RFF) assay which is presently used for HAV titration. The reproducibility of the TCID50 assay was demonstrated to be equal to that of the RFF assay and the 95% confidence intervals for titres determined by both assays were also equal. The thermal stability of the cytopathic strain was studied and shown to be equivalent to that of a noncytopathic strain. The kinetics of HAV inactivation by heating in aqueous solution were compared to those of HIV-1 and a number of model viruses. It was demonstrated that HAV was highly stable, with 5 hours heat treatment at 60 degrees C in aqueous solution being required to inactivate 5.8 log10 virus. In contrast to heating in aqueous solution, lyophilization followed by 1 hour vapor heating at 60 degrees C was sufficient to inactivate 5.9 log10 HAV.
Primary tumors originating from cells of the glial lineage usually affect predominantly the white matter of the brain. Only rarely do gliomas destroy the surrounding bone by invasion of the extracellular matrix, especially without prior surgery. This paper describes the unusual case of a 66-year-old female patient with a left-sided intra- and extracranial tumor involving the temporal lobe, destroying the underlying skull base, and growing into the paranasal sinuses, orbit, and temporal bone. Biopsy revealed glioblastoma multiforme with strong GFAP positivity. Molecular biologic investigations of the p53, EGFR, and mdm2 genes showed functional inactivation of the p53 gene but no overexpression of oncogenes. Because the tumor was considered inoperable, palliative irradiation was carried out. The patient died 7 months after diagnosis. The causes of this phenomenon are discussed and the literature reviewed.
The aim of this investigation was to obtain information on the influence of immunity gained from a previous infection in calves on the dynamics of a subsequent salmonella infection. Immune and non-immune animals were orally infected with virulent S. dublin. After infection clinical symptoms and the development of bacterial counts in intestinal contents and intestinal mucosa, as well as in intestinal lymph nodes, spleen and liver were compared. The protection of the immune animals became evident as milder courses of infection and in lower bacterial counts in all examined organs. The greatest absolute and relative difference between the counts of immune animals and controls was in the intestinal mucosa. While absolute counts were lower, the proportion of bacteria was higher in the lymph nodes of immune animals. This apparently more intensive penetration in immune animals was feigned by a general and immunity independent negative correlation between concentration of salmonella in the mucosa and of salmonella found in the intestinal lymph nodes. This time course of counts provided evidence that enhanced defence of immune calves was particularly pronounced 3 and 4 days after the onset of infection.
Between October 1993 and March 1994, outbreaks of pox-like exanthemas were observed in several camel raising farms in Dubai. Scabs from twenty camels with either local or generalized lesions were examined, seven of them had previously been vaccinated with a modified live camelpox virus vaccine. Inspection of scabs by electron microscopy confirmed an infection with orthopox viruses (OPV) in 10 animals and with parapox virus in one camel. Investigation of the scabs by polymerase chain reaction and dot blot assay revealed the presence of OPV in 15 or 13 samples, respectively. OPV could be isolated in cell culture in 14 cases. Restriction enzyme profiles characterized all isolates as camelpox virus. Their DNA patterns were virtually identical displaying only slight variations in the terminal fragments. In contrast, the vaccine strain showed a distinct restriction enzyme profile, indicating that it was not involved in the infections.
Head-space volatiles obtained from male mountain pine beetles, Dendroctonus ponderosae, were analyzed by coupled GC-MS and chiral gas chromatography. 5-Ethyl-7-methyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (6) was found as a new naturally occurring isomer of brevicomin (1). In addition, several stereoisomers of 7-ethyl-5-methyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-ol (11) and 1-(5-methyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octyl)ethanol (12) could be identified. Relative and absolute configurations of the compounds were determined by unambiguous syntheses, which are described.
This study investigated the proliferation of skin flora under polyurethane (PU) wound dressings following surgical interventions. In vitro the film proved to be impermeable to staphylococci. However, bacteria migrated under the film, showing a preference for the adhesive rather than the adhesive-free areas. The skin of 43 patients with incisions of the proximal thigh was covered postoperatively with a transparent PU-dressing. This was examined bacteriologically preoperatively and at the third and seventh postoperative days. The use of an antiseptic (povidone iodine) reduced the number of colony forming units in the postoperative skin but at the same time there was a significant reduction of bacteria under the film in comparison with the uncovered skin. The numbers and species of bacteria in different areas under the film did not suggest a spread of organisms from the uncovered skin to the skin under the film, but rather that there was a multifocal microbial regeneration.
For the survival of any health care organisation, evidence-based practice is fundamental, particularly in today's economic climate. The Mater Misericordiae Adult Public Hospital in Brisbane is committed to providing a flexible health care system that is responsive and accountable to the needs of the customers. As part of the Mater's continuous quality improvement program, a Continuum of Care Service Delivery Model was developed. This model comprises many innovative clinical management systems which have evolved over recent years. Clinical pathways, care management, pre-admission clinics, variance management and evidence-based practice are core components of the model.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The prevalence of orthopox virus (OPV)-specific antibodies in 1,040 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was evaluated on a large scale in the German Federal State Brandenburg. Serum samples were selected from 809 communities within the study area from January 1991 to September 1994 by simple random sampling. Screening was carried out by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Orthopox virus-specific antibodies were found in 162 (16%) of the 1,040 fox sera. Furthermore 154 (15%) sera were considered suspect positive. The specificity of the antibodies detected in ELISA-positive and suspect positive sera was confirmed by Western blotting. Presence of OPV-antibodies occurred in 291 communities. No correlation of OPV-antibodies findings to latitude or characteristic topographical and ecological peculiarities of the study area was found. Although the causative agent is still unknown we believe that orthopox viruses probably have a ubiquitous presence among red foxes.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.