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Biomedical subjects

J A Bryan

Publications and source records attributed to J A Bryan.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

The serologic diagnosis of viral infection. An update.

The traditional basis for the serologic diagnosis of a viral infection is demonstration of seroconversion or a significant increase in circulating homologous viral antibody over the course of illness. Conventional methods include neutralization, complement fixation, hemagglutination-inhibition, indirect hemagglutination, and indirect immunofluorescence tests. Although these methods are reliable, each suffers from limitations that include procedural complexity, substantial "hands-on" time, need for titrating reagents and serially diluting specimens, occasional false-positive or false-negative results, and lack of interlaboratory standardization. Because of these problems, improved methods and new techniques for serologic diagnosis have been developed and investigated. Many appear to be superior to conventional methods in sensitivity, specificity, cost, time required for completion, and potential for automation. The advent of hybridoma technology has provided an exceptional opportunity to improve serologic reagents for the diagnosis of viral disease. In addition, IgM-specific antibody tests for rapid and early diagnosis of many viral infections are being reevaluated to eliminate the interfering effects of rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies. Many of the new methodologies employ immunofluorescence assay or enzyme immunoassay for detection of specific IgM antibody, and latex agglutination, in addition to immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassays, to detect specific IgG antibody. Simplified kits employing these methods are now becoming available commercially.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1986

A retinal pigment epithelial cell-derived growth factor(s).

Proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, fibroblasts, and glial cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. In this study, we demonstrate that RPE cells in culture produce a factor(s) that stimulates the growth of each of these cell types. After 48 hours of incubation with RPE-conditioned media, cell number is increased over that of controls by 110% for RPE cells, 105% for astrocytes, and 360% for corneal fibroblasts. Thymidine incorporation demonstrates that this increase is due to a stimulation of DNA synthesis. Preliminary characterization of the RPE growth-promoting activity demonstrates that it is heat stable, stable to extremes of pH, nondialyzable, and partially trypsin sensitive. These data suggest that RPE cells in culture produce a growth factor(s) targeted primarily at fibroblasts, but that can also stimulate their own growth and that of astrocytes.

Astrocytes↗
PubMed1986

Intravitreal chemotactic and mitogenic activity. Implication of blood-retinal barrier breakdown.

We produced breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) in pigmented rabbits by several different mechanisms: retinal cryopexy, retinal laser, intravenous sodium iodate (30 mg/kg), or intravitreal injection of epinephrine (0.1 mL, 10(-3) M). The degree of BRB breakdown was monitored by computerized vitreous fluorophotometry. At 72 hours after treatment, rabbits were killed, and eyes were quickly removed, washed, and placed in liquid nitrogen. The vitreous was then carefully isolated free of contamination from other ocular tissues, homogenized, and aliquotted. For each sample we measured protein content, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell chemotactic activity, and RPE mitogenic activity. Each of the above modalities produced significant breakdown of the BRB as measured by vitreous fluorophotometry and intravitreal protein concentration, while a pars plana intravitreal injection of saline (0.1 mL) did not. Vitreous from eyes treated with each of the above modalities caused significant stimulation of RPE migration (cryopexy, 684%; laser, 211%; sodium iodate, 480%; intravitreal epinephrine, 546%), while control vitreous and saline-injected vitreous caused only 89% and 77% stimulations, respectively. Similarly, vitreous from eyes treated with the above modalities caused significant stimulation of RPE proliferation (116% to 159%), while control vitreous caused only a 56% increase above baseline. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy, a disease process in which cellular migration and proliferation play important roles, occurs most commonly after surgical intervention. Breakdown of the BRB at the time of surgery may be a critical event due to intravitreal accumulation of serum-derived chemoattractants and mitogens.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Mesangial glomerulonephropathy with decreased circulating C4 and predominant mesangial C4 deposition in association with one null gene at the C4B locus.

We report a case of mesangial glomerulonephropathy associated with decreased circulating C4 in a young man with recurrent microscopic hematuria and one null gene at the C4B locus. Mesangial deposits moderately reactive with anti-C4 and weakly reactive with anti-C3 and anti-IgA were found on renal biopsy. No evidence was found to support a diagnosis of IgA nephropathy or any other of the recently described mesangial glomerulonephropathies with immunoglobulin and complement deposition. This case apparently represents a unique, heretofore undescribed variant of mesangial glomerulonephropathy associated with mesangial C4 deposition and C4 hypocomplementemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Morphology of pseudophakic precipitates on intraocular lenses removed from human patients.

Cellular precipitates on the surface of 52 intraocular lenses removed from human patients for various reasons from one week to five years following implantation were studied with cytologic techniques and scanning electron microscopy. A variety of cellular responses were characterized: mononuclear precipitates composed of lymphocytes and macrophages, multinucleated giant cells, and a fibroblastic proliferation. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes were encountered less frequently. Acellular membranous precipitates were also observed. Cellular response was related to clinical history to correlate temporal and possible etiopathogenic factors in the formulation of these precipitates and their possible relationship to implant failure.

Chemical Precipitation↗
PubMed1983

Comparative evaluation of biochemical and microscopic urinalysis.

In the present investigation, only one of 244 (0.4%) urines with abnormal microscopic findings would have been missed because of normal biochemical results of pH, protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, urobilinogen, hemoglobin, and leukocyte esterase. These biochemical tests detected 106 of 107 (99.1%) urines with significant microscopic findings. Sixty-three (25.8%) of 244 urines tested could have been eliminated from microscopic examination based on the negative results of the biochemical screen.

Bacteriuria↗
PubMed1982

Concomitant herpes-monilial esophagitis: case report with ultrastructural study.

Herpesvirus and Candida albicans are each well-known pathogens associated with esophagitis, and concomitant infections by both agents are occasionally observed. The case of a 58-year-old man who had been treated for carcinoma of the tonsil and died of confluent bronchopneumonia is presented. Autopsy revealed an esophagitis in which cytologic changes of viral infection were seen in the intact esophageal epithelium along with pseudomycelia of Candida albicans within the ulcer bed. In addition, ultrastructural study showed dual infection by Candida and herpesvirus within individual esophageal epithelial cells at the ulcer edge, a unique demonstration of coexistent intracellular infection.

Candida albicans↗
PubMed1982

Nodular fasciitis (pseudosarcomatous fasciitis) of the vulva.

Nodular fasciitis (pseudosarcomatous fasciitis) is a benign nonneoplastic connective tissue proliferation of unknown pathogenesis, which most commonly involves the upper limb subcutaneous fascia. Nodular fasciitis of the vulva is an entity rarely encountered by gynecologists or pathologists, but has considerable potential for misdiagnosis as sarcoma and for inappropriate treatment. The patient, a 32-year-old black female, presented with a 3-cm right labial mass, which was nodular, rubbery, and yellowish-white on section. Microscopically, there was an admixture of large mesenchymal cells, small blood vessels, and lymphocytes in a sparsely collagenous matrix. Other features included extravasated erythrocytes, intercellular clefts, and pseudocysts. Although mitoses were common (8 per 10 high power fields), there were no atypical mitoses and no bizarre tumor giant cells. The large mesenchymal cells were identified by electron microscopy as myofibroblasts, cells which abound in a variety of other reactive and non-neoplastic conditions. It is important not to misdiagnose nodular fasciitis as a vulvar sarcoma, because nodular fasciitis requires only simple excision and does not recur or metastasize.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Viral hepatitis. 1. Clinical and laboratory aspects and epidemiology.

Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are distinguished clinically by differences in onset and serologically by the presence of hepatitis A antigen or of any one of at least three hepatitis B antigens on the virus particle. At present, hepatitis non-A, non-B can be diagnosed only by exclusion of the other two types. Clinically it resembles hepatitis B. Hepatitis A is most often contracted through the fecal-oral route, and preschool children are at particular risk. Hepatitis B usually is transmitted by parenteral inoculation of virus-containing material. Transmission is now known to occur venereally as well. Since all blood donors now are screened for hepatitis B surface antigen, the cases of transfusion-associated hepatitis that do occur are caused mainly by non-A, non-B virus(es).

Hepatitis A↗
PubMed1980

Viral hepatitis. 2. Prevention and control.

Good personal hygiene is one of the most important measures for control of hepatitis infection. Hepatitis is transmitted by close contact with an infected person or nonhuman primate, exposure to infected food or water, transfusion of infected blood, dialysis, or contact with hepatitis-containing laboratory specimens. Each of these situations necessitates certain precautions to avoid contamination. In some instances, passive immunization with either immune serum globulin (ISG) or hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) is recommended. Vaccines now being tested for active immunization against hepatitis B will probably be available soon for use in persons at high risk, but development of a vaccine against hepatitis A seems unlikely in the near future.

Hepatitis A↗
PubMed1979

Non-A, non-B hepatitis among participants in a plasmapheresis stimulation program.

Non-A, non-B hepatitis was transmitted to seven of nine participants in a red blood cell-stimulation program following transfusion of blood from one asymptomatic donor. Five of the seven patients had clinical as well as biochemical evidence of infection, and three of these five were icteric. Incubation periods for the clinical cases ranged from 28 to 50 days, and duration of illness was from two to eight weeks. None of the seven patients showed serologic evidence of acute infection or reinfection with hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, cytomegalovirus, or Epstein-Barr virus. Viremia persisted in the donor for at least 34 days, since non-A, non-B hepatitis was transmitted to program participants during that period.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Guillain-Barre syndrome following vaccination in the National Influenza Immunization Program, United States, 1976--1977.

Because of an increase in the number of reports of Guillian-Barre syndrome (GBS) following A/New Jersey influenza vaccination, the National Influenza Immunization Program was suspended December 16, 1976 and nationwide surveillance for GBS was begun. This surveillance uncovered a total of 1098 patients with onset of GBS from October 1, 1976, to January 31, 1977, from all 50 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. A total of 532 patients had recently received an A/New Jersey influenza vaccination prior to their onset of GBS (vaccinated cases), and 15 patients received a vaccination after their onset of GBS. Five hundred forty-three patients had not been recently vaccinated with A/New Jersey influenza vaccine and the vaccination status for 8 was unknown. Epidemiologic evidence indicated that many cases of GBS were related to vaccination. When compared to the unvaccinated population, the vaccinated population had a significantly elevated attack rate in every adult age group. The estimated attributable risk of vaccine-related GBS in the adult population was just under one case per 100,000 vaccinations. The period of increased risk was concentrated primarily within the 5-week period after vaccination, although it lasted for approximately 9 or 10 weeks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis at a Vietnamese refugee camp in Florida.

During the summer of 1975 an ongoing outbreak of conjunctivitis occurred among Vietnamese refugees temporarily housed at a U.S. mainland camp. Twenty-two per cent of surveyed refugees gave a history of the disease and 10% were documented as having clinical conjunctivitis at the time of the survey. Fifty-six per cent of documented cases were in children less than 10 years of age. The attack rate among American camp personnel was 4%. Comprehensive microbiologic analysis revealed multiple potential pathogens in most cases, but the recovery of adenovirus 8 (AV8) in 81% of cases cultured within two weeks of onset implicated AV8 as the principal cause of the epidemic.

Adenoviridae Infections↗