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Biomedical subjects

I Lind

Publications and source records attributed to I Lind.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Purification of alpha-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus and application to cell permeabilization.

Crude alpha-toxin was produced by Staphylococcus aureus, strain Wood 46. The amount of exotoxin was monitored during growth and all subsequent purification steps by determination of its hemolytic activity against rabbit erythrocytes. The culture supernatant was treated with ammonium sulfate (75% saturation). The resulting precipitate was dialyzed and subjected to cation-exchange chromatography. The fractions containing the hemolytic activity were further purified by gel chromatography. The final product was enriched by a factor of 8.5 compared to the crude toxin. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the purified toxin exhibited one major band. It caused the release of 86Rb+ and ATP from rat insulinoma (RIN A2) as well as pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) in culture, indicating efficient permeabilization of their plasma membranes for small molecules.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1987

Indirect haemagglutination test using gonococcal pilus antigen: how useful to diagnose gonorrhoea?

In 1979 an indirect haemagglutination test (gonococcal antibody test) using gonococcal pilus antigen replaced the gonococcal complement fixation test as our routine procedure to show gonococcal antibodies. In the diagnosis of current gonorrhoea the sensitivity of the gonococcal antibody test was far superior to that of the gonococcal complement fixation test (about 55% versus 9% for first episode gonorrhoea). To evaluate the usefulness of the test result the following population groups were studied: 1376 patients undergoing medical examination for gonorrhoea (386 had gonorrhoea), 1384 healthy people aged 15-65, 54 patients with meningococcal disease, 30 children with respiratory tract infection, and 254 patients with evidence of various diseases other than neisserial infections that might be associated with symptoms of arthritis. These investigations showed that (1) non-specific positive gonococcal antibody test results occur rarely, (2) at least half the people who have had gonorrhoea remain seropositive (with titres of 1/40 to 1/160), and (3) a positive test result is more significant the younger the patient and the higher the titre. For younger people a positive test result should always be followed up by bacteriological examination; in all age groups titres of 1/320 or more should indicate medical examination for current gonorrhoea.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Meningococcal serotypes and serogroup B disease in north-west Europe.

Examination of the trends of meningococcal infection in Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Denmark, England and Wales, and the Netherlands, has shown that Neisseria meningitidis B:2b:P1.2 and/or B:2a:P1.2 phenotypes were associated with peaks of infection in the Netherlands in 1966, in Iceland 1976-77, and in England and Wales in 1973-75. These strains were present in all six countries in the decade 1970-80 but their prevalence is now practically negligible. In contrast the prevalence of the B:15:P1.16 phenotype has risen. In the Faroe Islands and northern Norway this change in serotype prevalence has been followed by rises in incidence of meningococcal disease; the same is happening in England and Wales but not yet in the other countries.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Morphological studies of the cytotoxicity of Trichomonas vaginalis to normal human vaginal epithelial cells in vitro.

In vitro cultured monolayers of normal human vaginal epithelial cells were incubated with axenic cultures of Trichomonas vaginalis. Two strains freshly isolated from patients with trichomoniasis and one strain that had been maintained in axenic culture for several years were studied. Freshly isolated trichomonads showed amoeboid movements, adherence to epithelial cell surfaces, and were cytotoxic to epithelial cells in vitro. In contrast, the laboratory strain maintained for years in axenic culture did not adhere to the epithelial cell monolayer and was only cytotoxic at a concentration 100 times that of freshly isolated trichomonads. Electron microscopy of monolayers exposed to T vaginalis for 24 hours showed that all epithelial cells in intimate contact with trichomonads had more or less disintegrated, whereas in monolayers exposed for six hours some of the epithelial cells in contact with T vaginalis were normal. T vaginalis organisms with amoeboid morphology contained a dense network of microfilaments in the part of the trichomonad that was in contact with an epithelial cell. Occasionally a pseudopodium was projected into the cytoplasm of disintegrated epithelial cells.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1985

[Current status of the antibiotic resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae].

We give a review on the history of antimicrobial resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, especially penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG). Various mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance are described, and the present state concerning the therapy of gonorrhoea is discussed. The importance of the surveillance of the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern is supported by statistic data obtained in recently finished studies.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1985

Antibiotic susceptibility of 83 penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated in France (May 1979-April 1983).

Antibiotic susceptibility testing of 83 strains of penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae PPNG isolated in France (May 1979-April 1983). Study of the action of light antibiotics: penicillin G, spectinomycin, thiamphenicol, tetracycline, kanamycin, pristinamycin, streptomycin and cefoxitin. Comparison (on two media) with the susceptibility of five proposed WHO reference strains.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1984

Identification of an envelope mutation (env-10) resulting in increased antibiotic susceptibility and pyocin resistance in a clinical isolate of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

A mutation (env-10) conferring increased susceptibility to drugs, dyes, and detergents was detected in a clinical isolate of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In certain strains, env-10 also affected susceptibility to pyocins. This mutation was phenotypically similar to but genotypically distinct from previously described env mutations.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1982

Studies on Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains from test-of-cure specimens. Correlation between the in vitro susceptibility to penicillin and the sensitivity to the complement-dependent bactericidal activity of normal and convalescent human serum.

Sixty-seven out of 88 Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated from test-of-cure (TOC) specimens during a five-months' period were included in the study. For 62 patients sufficient information was obtained in order to distinguish between relapse (34 ptt) and re-infection (28 ptt). For comparison with strains from these two groups of patients, 63 urogenital and 21 pharyngeal gonococcal strains isolated during the same period of time were randomly selected. The distributions according to susceptibility to penicillin for TOC strains and control strains corresponded to those found for the total number of TOC strains (275) and other strains (3,345) tested in 1979, respectively. The TOC strains did not differ from the control strains in sensitivity to the complement-dependent. The TOC strains did not differ from the control strains in sensitivity to the complement-dependent bactericidal activity of normal human serum. However, gonococcal strains less susceptible to penicillin in vitro (MIC values within the range 0.1-2.0 microgram/ml) were significantly more sensitive to the complement-dependent activity of normal human serum (P less than 0.01) than strains fully susceptible to penicillin (MIC less than 0.01 microgram/ml.) Penicillin-resistant strains (MIC greater than 2.0 microgram/ml) did not differ from strains susceptible to less than 0.1 microgram penicillin/ml and were slightly more serum-resistant than the less susceptible strains (P less than 0.05). No difference in serum-sensitivity of urogenital and pharyngeal isolates could be demonstrated. The level of bactericidal activity of homologous convalescent serum was unrelated to the presence of antibodies either to gonococcal pili or crude gonococcal antigen preparations. The sensitivity to normal human serum of a certain strain was not correlated with sensitivity to homologous convalescent serum.

Blood Bactericidal Activity↗
PubMed1981

Antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in sera from patients with acute salpingitis.

Paired sera from 60 consecutive patients with acute salpingitis, confirmed by laparoscopy, were examined for serum antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. By a microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test IgM or IgG antibodies to C trachomatis or both were present in sera from 80% of the patients' by indirect haemagglutination (IHA) tests antibodies to M hominis and N gonorrhoeae pilar antigens were present in 40% and 18% respectively. In a control group of 50 pregnant women antibodies to the same three organisms occurred in 8%, 8%, and 6%. Evidence of current chlamydial infection was found in 35 (58%) and of current gonococcal infection in five (8%) of the 60 patients by culture or serological tests or both. The results of chlamydial antibody tests correlated with the severity of the tubal inflammation (as shown by laparoscopy) and the duration of the lower abdominal pain before attendance. The predictive values of a positive and a negative MIF test result were 44% and 83% respectively and of the IHA gonococcal antibody test 36% and 100% respectively. Significant rises in titre of antibodies to M hominis were found in 12% of patients. A four-fold or greater rise in titre indicated probable double infections with chlamydia and mycoplasmas in 7% of patients. Thus, at present gonococcal salpingitis appears to form only a small proportion of all cases of salpingitis in southern Sweden, and in patients with nongonococcal salpingitis infections with C trachomatis and M hominis commonly occur.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1980

An 18-month follow-up study of growth-retarded neonates. Relation to biochemical tests of placental function in late pregnancy and neurobehavioural condition in the newborn period.

Serial estimations of maternal urinary oestriol, serum cystine aminopeptidase (S-CAP), and human chorionic somatomammotrophin (S-HCS) were studied prospectively in 29 pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation. The newborn growth-retarded infants were examined by neurological and behavioural techniques. Growth variables and neurological and developmental findings were compared with those in 18 healthy controls at 5, 10 and 18 months of age. The growth-retarded infants caught up with regard to body size from 5 months of age, although the severely retarded infants (birth weight less than or equal to -2 SD) differed from the controls with regard to weight and head circumference at 18 months of age. Abnormal maternal oestriol excretions were negatively correlated to weight and length during the follow-up period. Infants who had been severely growth-retarded at birth were neurologically below optimal level at 10 months of age, compared to the controls. There were no significant differences between the growth-retarded infants and the controls with regard to psychomotor development, as assessed by a screening test and by Griffiths' method. Significant correlations were found between abnormal biochemical placental tests (especially urinary oestriol and S-CAP) and psychomotor development. Significant correlations also appeared between neonatal orientation and motor behaviour and some Griffiths' scales at 18 months of age. No relationship was found between the neurological condition in the neonatal period and the neurological findings and development at follow-up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

An indirect haemagglutination test for demonstration of gonococcal antibodies using gonococcal pili as antigen. II. Serological investigation of patients attending a dermato-venereological outpatients clinic in Copenhagen.

A total of 1223 serum specimens were obtained from 649 consecutive patients attending a dermatovenereological out-patient clinic in Copenhagen with a request for venereal disease control. The sera were examined for gonococcal antibodies by both a gonococcal complement fixation test (GCF) and an indirect haemagglutination test using gonococcal pili as antigens (IHA). The diagnosis of current gonococcal infection in 28 per cent of the patients was based on positive culture for Neisseria gonorrhoeae from one or more of the following sites: urethra, rectum and fauces in all patients, and/or cervix in female patients. The specificity, sensitivity and predictive values of positive and negative test results were calculated for the various groups of patients on the assumption that all positive results, both in patients without gonorrhoea but with a previous gonococcal infection and in patients without known current or previous infection, were false positives. The following values were found: Sensitivity: IHA 45-100%, GCF 6-29%. Specificity: IHA 65-89%, GCF 97-100%. Predictive value of positive test result: IHA 43-74%, GCF 69-100%. Predictive value of negative test result: IHA 78-100%, GCF 61-85%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections in Greenland. A seroepidemiological study.

In a sero-epidemiological study of the prevalence of chlamydial and gonococcal infections in Greenland three groups of subjects were studied--262 patients attending an outpatient department in the town of Nuuk (of whom 12% harboured Chlamydia trachomatis and 54% Neisseria gonorrhoeae), 63 controls from the same town, and the entire population of 150 in the settlement of Uvkusigsat. Using a microimmunofluorescence test evidence of exposure to C trachomatis was found in 79% of the female and 26% of the male patients, in 12% and 50% of the female and male controls respectively, and in 51% and 21% of the female and male populations of Uvkusigsat respectively. Using an indirect haemagglutination test antibodies to gonococcal pili were found in sera of 92% of the female and 70% of the male patients, in 30% of the male and 10% of the female controls, and in 41% of the women and 33% of the men in Uvkusigsat. The study indicates that genital chlamydial and gonococcal infections are serious public health problems in Greenland and that such infections are acquired early in both sexes and often occur concomitantly.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[Serodiagnosis of gonorrhea].

Due to the short incubation period of gonorrhea and the persistence of antibodies for years, a serological test cannot be used as the only basis for diagnosis of acute cases or for screening purposes. Major potential fields for application are the diagnosis of complicated gonococcal infections, casefinding in "high risk" groups and sero-epidemiological studies in developing countries. Serological tests using gonococcal pili antigen seem to be superior with regard to specificity.

Complement Fixation Tests↗