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Biomedical subjects

J A Guthrie

Publications and source records attributed to J A Guthrie.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Coliforms in processed mango: significance and control.

The aims of this investigation were to enumerate coliforms in fresh mangoes, puree, cheeks, and cheeks-in-puree in order to determine the source of these organisms in the processed products, to determine methods for their control, and to identify coliforms isolated from cheeks-in-puree to determine whether they have any public health significance. Product from four processors was tested on two occasions. The retail packs of cheeks-in-puree having the highest coliform counts were those in which raw puree was added to the cheeks. Coliform counts in these samples ranged between 1.4 x 10(3) and 5.4 x 10(4) cfu/g. Pasteurisation reduced the coliform count of raw puree to < 5 cfu/g. Forty-seven percent of the 73 colonies, isolated as coliforms on the basis of their colony morphology on violet red bile agar, were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae using the ATB 32E Identification System. Klebsiella strains were tested for growth at 10 degrees C, faecal coliform response, and fermentation of D-melizitose, to differentiate the three phenotypically similar strains, K. pneumoniae, K. terrigena and K planticola. Results indicated that 41% of K. pneumoniae isolates gave reactions typical of K. pneumoniae. A further 44% of strains gave an atypical reaction pattern for these tests and were designed 'psychrotrophic' K. pneumoniae. Klebsiella pneumoniae counts of between 2.1 x 10(3) and 4.9 x 10(4) cfu/g were predicted to occur in the retail packs of mango cheeks-in-puree produced by the processors who constituted this product with raw puree. In view of the opportunistic pathogenic nature of K. pneumoniae, its presence in these products is considered undesirable and steps, such as pasteurisation of puree, should be taken in order to inactivate it.

Colony Count, Microbial↗
PubMed1994

Is it worth doing barium enemas on patients with unexplained iron deficiency anaemia?

The incidence on double contrast barium enema (DCBE) of carcinomas and polyps > 1 cm in size was compared in 92 patients with iron deficiency anaemia and a group of randomly obtained non-anaemic controls. In the anaemic group there were eight carcinomas and four polyps, and in the control group two carcinomas and no polyps. The incidence of neoplasms in the anaemic group (13.0%) was significantly greater than in the control group (1.6%). The incidence of neoplasms in iron-deficient males was 19% compared with 9% in females. The presence of bowel symptoms or weight loss were not found to be significant. This study confirms the value of DCBE in investigating patients with unexplained iron deficiency anaemia even in the absence of bowel symptoms.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Ultrasound diagnosis of testicular tumours presenting as epididymal disease.

A prospective study of 1494 new referrals for scrotal ultrasound was performed over a 5 year period. In 610 patients referred with a clear clinical diagnosis of epididymal disease, and no clinical suspicion of malignancy, ultrasound diagnosed unsuspected testicular tumours (seven malignant, one benign) in eight patients. In this series one case was counted as false negative for ultrasound diagnosis of tumour, as tumour was the differential diagnosis and not the primary diagnosis. No other patients diagnosed as having benign disease by ultrasound have subsequently been shown to have malignant disease. Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound for the diagnosis of testicular malignancy in this series is 98% and 99.8% respectively. It is concluded that all patients with scrotal symptoms should be examined by ultrasound in order to achieve the maximal clinical benefit from the early diagnosis of testicular tumours. The implications of this are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Pneumoperitoneum without peritonitis.

We present our experience with 5 patients, all of whom were noted to have radiological signs of pneumoperitoneum in the absence of clinical features of peritonitis. All 5 cases were eventually shown to be due to causes not requiring surgery. We review the numerous unusual causes of pneumoperitoneum which do not require urgent surgical intervention and emphasize their importance in cases where the absence of signs of peritonitis may cause diagnostic difficulty.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Microscopic polyarteritis: clinical features and treatment.

The clinical features, treatment and survival of 36 patients with microscopic polyarteritis diagnosed between 1957-1988 have been reviewed. All had a focal segmental necrotizing glomerulonephritis on renal biopsy with evidence of a small vessel vasculitis. Most had a prodromal illness of less than 1 month. Severity of renal disease varied from microscopic haematuria which has a good prognosis to acute oliguric renal failure which carries a high mortality. The prognosis of microscopic polyarteritis can be improved if the condition is recognized early and treated with steroids and cyclophosphamide.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Serum and synovial fluid levels of angiotensin converting enzyme in polyarthritis.

Serum levels of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 48), osteoarthritis (OA) (n = 11), ankylosing spondylitis (n = 24), psoriatic arthritis (n = 12), and Behçet's syndrome (n = 20) were not significantly different from those of normal controls (n = 26). Synovial fluid ACE activity was lower in OA than in RA but was similar when corrected for protein levels. An increase in serum ACE concentration in patients with RA receiving captopril therapy is in agreement with previous results. There was some correlation of ACE with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP) but not with clinical indices in captopril treated patients. It is suggested that the beneficial actions of captopril in the treatment of RA are not due to its activity as an ACE inhibitor, but more probably a result of captopril being an aliphatic thiol.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗