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Biomedical subjects

J Bagg

Publications and source records attributed to J Bagg.

106 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

The in vitro cytotoxic effect of leukocytes from patients with recurrent aphthous ulceration upon mouse 3T3 fibroblasts.

This study compared the in vitro cytotoxic activity against cultured NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from 13 patients with minor recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU), 5 patients with non-aphthous oral ulceration and 23 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Leukocytes from patients with RAU exerted a significantly greater degree of cytotoxicity towards the 3T3 cells than did those of control subjects. This enhanced cytotoxicity was abrogated by depletion of PBL bearing the CD5 antigen (T-lymphocytes). In contrast, PBL from patients with non-aphthous oral ulceration failed to exert an enhanced cytotoxic activity against 3T3 fibroblasts, when compared to PBL from healthy control subjects. It was concluded that PBL from patients with RAU exert a significantly enhanced cytotoxicity towards an unrelated xenogeneic target cell. This activity is a specific feature of RAU and in the assay system described appears to be mediated by T-lymphocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Spontaneous migration and chemotactic activity of neutrophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes in recurrent aphthous ulceration.

Chemotactic activity and spontaneous migration under agarose were assessed for peripheral blood neutrophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes from 22 patients with minor recurrent aphthous ulceration and 22 control subjects. The peptide N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine was used as the standard chemotactic stimulus. Under the conditions of this study, no significant differences in either chemotaxis or spontaneous migration were evident between neutrophils from the patient and control groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Absence of circulating IgG immune complexes in minor recurrent aphthous ulceration.

A monoclonal rheumatoid factor binding assay has been employed to detect IgG type immune complexes in sera from 21 patients with minor recurrent aphthous ulceration and 31 control subjects. In only one of the ulcer group patients was there a marginal elevation of immune complexes above the normal range, with no statistically significant difference between the patient and control groups. Assays of intrinsic serum rheumatoid factor and serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels also showed no significant differences between patient and control groups, with all mean values falling within the normal ranges.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Coagglutination reactions between Candida albicans and oral bacteria.

An agglutination assay for detecting intermicrobial adherence between the cells of Candida albicans and various oral bacteria is described. Strains of Streptococcus sanguis, S. salivarius, S. mutans, S. mitis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinomyces viscosus all coagglutinated with C. albicans. No interaction could be demonstrated between the cells of Bacteroides melaninogenicus and those of C. albicans. Preliminary investigations of these interactions suggest that binding of F. nucleatum and A. viscosus to C. albicans is mediated by bacterial proteins, possibly lectins. Other mechanisms must account for the binding of oral streptococci to C. albicans. The possible implications of these findings in relation to oral mucosal colonisation and oral candidal clearance are discussed.

Actinomyces↗
PubMed1985

Immunochemical characterization of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in rat brain.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) in rat brain was studied immunochemically, using antibodies against the bovine kidney PDHC, by immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, inhibition of enzyme activity, and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The immunoblots showed that the antibodies bound strongly to the alpha peptide of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) component, and to the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) and the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3) components of PDHC. A similar immunoblotting pattern was observed in all eight brain regions examined. On immunoblotting of the subcellular fractions, these PDHC peptides were observed in mitochondria and synaptosomes but not in the postmitochondrial supernatants. This agrees with other evidence that brain PDHC is localized in the mitochondria. These results, together with those from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the immunoprecipitin, also showed that the alpha E1, beta E1, and E3 peptides of rat brain PDHC are very similar in sizes to those of the bovine kidney PDHC, being 42, 36, and 58 kD, respectively. The size of the E2 peptide, 66 kD, is different from that of bovine kidney E2, 73 kD. The relative abundance of PDHC protein in nonsynaptic mitochondria was compared by enzyme activity titration and ELISA. Both methods demonstrated that the amount of PDHC antigen in the mitochondria from cerebral cortex is greater than that in the olfactory bulb mitochondria. This is consistent with the results of the activity measurement. The ELISA also showed that the PDHCs in both mitochondrial populations are antigenically similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Binding of type-III group-B streptococci to buccal epithelial cells.

A binding assay was used to study the attachment of type-III group-B streptococci (GBS) to buccal epithelial cells. Results indicate that an adhesin, with the characteristics of a protein, is the molecule at the streptococcal cell surface responsible for attachment to the buccal cells. The bacterial adhesin probably recognises a sugar on the surface of the mucosal cell, because periodate oxidation of the buccal cells caused a significant reduction in subsequent adherence of GBS. A sonicate to type-III GBS blocked the binding of the organism to buccal cells. The effects of physical and chemical modifications of the sonicate on its ability to prevent bacterial attachment are described; these corroborate the evidence gained from heat and periodate treatments of the buccal cells and GBS. Results suggest a lectin type of attachment mechanism for type-III BGS which can be blocked by N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, rather than attachment by means of a lipoteichoic acid as described for group-A streptococci.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1981

The isolation of a lectin-like molecule from Corynebacterium parvum (NCTC 10390).

A mannose specific lectin has been isolated by affinity chromatography from the cell wall of C. parvum. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that the lectin molecules lie in the molecular weight range 57,000--72,000. It appears that C. parvum like E. coli and salmonellae express lectins that bind to cells expressing mannose in their membranes. This may partly account for the interaction between C. parvum and the macrophage leading to the various immunological phenomena associated with C. parvum administration.

Cell Wall↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An investigation of the effect of prolonged glove wearing on the hand skin health of dental healthcare workers.

OBJECTIVES: Glove wearing during patient treatment has been central to dental surgery infection control for over 15 years. However, little is known about the cutaneous effects of glove wearing on the hands of dental healthcare workers (DHCWs). The objective of this project was to assess the hand skin health of DHCWs before and after wearing gloves of two types and to compare this with a control group of non-DHCWs. METHODS: Following a mailing to all dentists in the West of Scotland, 50 DHCWs who wore gloves during dental treatment procedures for a minimum of 8h daily for at least 4 days per week were invited to participate in the project. The control group comprised 25 subjects who did not routinely use surgical or examination gloves. Hands were assessed by clinical examination and by transepidermal water loss at baseline, 1 month and 3 months. RESULTS: Of the 50 DHCWs, 26 wore a non-powdered latex glove (Microtouch Powder-free: Johnson and Johnson, Arligton, TX, US), and 24 wore a nitrile glove (Hartalega SDN BHD, Malaysia) from the time of the baseline examination until the 3-month examination. No differences were observed in hand skin health between the control group and the DHCWs at baseline, nor between those wearing the latex or nitrile gloves during the 3 month period of the study. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the hand skin health of the DHCWs examined were no different from those of a control group of non-DHCWs, and that the wearing of the two types of gloves used in the 3 month study had no significant effect.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oral health in the terminally ill: a cross-sectional pilot survey.

This study of 20 hospice patients provided baseline information on oral and dental status in the terminally ill. For each patient, a questionnaire was completed, the mouth was examined, and an oral rinse and imprint cultures were collected to establish the prevalence and intra-oral density of yeasts, staphylococci and coliforms. Oral symptoms reported included disturbance of taste (26%), dysphagia (37%), soreness (42%), and dryness (58%). Of the 75% who wore dentures, 71% had difficulty with their prosthesis (es). A clinical diagnosis of oral candidiasis was made in 70% of subjects. The high prevalence of oral symptoms, denture problems, and candidiasis clearly affect the quality of remaining life in terminally ill patients.

Candidiasis, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development and evaluation of a multimedia resource pack for oral health training of medical and nursing staff.

A resource pack has been devised for training medical and nursing staff and other carers in order that they may recognize oral disease and carry out routine oral care and treat common oral disorders. The custom-designed folding pack contains a videotape, a CD-ROM disc, and an A5-sized spiral-bound booklet, together with wall posters and a list of useful addresses. One hundred of the packs were distributed across Scotland to medical, nursing, and dental staff involved in postgraduate medical and nursing education. The packs were independently evaluated by an external organization through a questionnaire and also by telephone interviews. The pack received very positive responses, and 35% of the respondents reported making changes to their current practice. A long-term measure of success, beyond the scope of this paper, will depend on the measurement of improved quality of oral health care of the patients in those institutions where the pack has been used in training.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The mouth and palliative care.

Oral complications are common among patients with advanced cancer, though relatively little research has been undertaken in this field. This review article discusses the common problem of xerostomia among the terminally ill, together with an overview of oral candidosis, oral viral infections, chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-associated mucositis, and alterations in taste sensation among those with advanced cancer. Suggested management regimes, based on the limited clinical trial data available, are provided where appropriate.

Candidiasis, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fluconazole sensitivities of Candida species isolated from the mouths of terminally ill cancer patients.

Oral candidosis is common in advanced cancer and is often treated with the systemic triazole antifungal drug fluconazole. This study examined the species of yeast present in the mouths of 30 patients with advanced cancer and determined their sensitivity to fluconazole. Thirty-five yeast isolates were collected from a total of 25 (83 percent) of the patients sampled. The two most common species were Candida albicans (15 isolates) and C. glabrata (11 isolates)--with smaller numbers of C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. guilliermondii, C. inconspicua, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of fluconazole for the strains of C. albicans were generally low (median 0.19 microgram/ml) but were considerably higher for C. glabrata (median 2 micrograms/ml). The remaining species demonstrated MICs similar to those for C. albicans, with the exceptions of C. inconspicua and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which were relatively insensitive. In conclusion, non-albicans yeasts are common in the mouths of patients with advanced cancer and these may have reduced sensitivity to fluconazole. Mycological diagnosis is a valuable aid to management.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oral health in elderly patients.

A study of the oral health of elderly institutionalised patients and their oral care has revealed significant deficiencies, illustrating the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to oral health care centred on the development of mouth care regimens for nursing staff.

Aged↗