Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Sedgwick.
A case is described of an anaphylactic reaction to "Hexabrix 320" radiographic contrast medium in a patient undergoing routine coronary angiography. The case is reported because such reactions to "Hexabrix" are considered rare, because the patient was pretreated with hydrocortisone and chlorpheniramine, and because of the continuous monitoring that occurred during the procedure.
One characteristic of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in all species is the presence of a considerable leukocyte infiltrate in the central nervous system (CNS). By adoptive transfer of EAE into irradiated or nonirradiated Lewis strain rats we now show that the bulk (greater than 90%) of infiltrating cells in the CNS are superfluous to the induction of disease, as lethally irradiated recipients, despite having very few infiltrating cells in the CNS, acquire severe paralytic EAE. The reduction in the level of infiltration in irradiated recipients is selective, however, as both irradiated and nonirradiated diseased animals have very similar numbers of cells expressing IL-2-R. Disease in irradiated recipient animals is associated with substantial submeningeal hemorrhage in the spinal cord and brain stem and similar hemorrhages are found in recipients rendered leukopenic with cytotoxic drugs. Clinical signs of disease and hemorrhage are preventable, however, by administration to the recipient rats of mAbs specific for the CD4 antigen. Classic delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions are transferable with the same cells that produce EAE in both irradiated and nonirradiated recipient rats, but such transfer of DTH is observed only in nonirradiated recipient animals and not in irradiated rats. Collectively, the findings reported herein support the conclusion that the paralysis characteristic of acute EAE is mediated by the direct action of very small numbers of activated CD4+ lymphocytes that infiltrate the CNS and produce their effects by inducing vascular damage. The findings are not consistent with reports that the lesions in EAE are produced by a classic DTH reaction.
Animals from high- and low-IgE-responder rat strains were preexposed to antigen-containing aerosols of different droplet sizes, prior to parenteral antigenic challenge. Depending upon the type of aerosol employed, systemic immunological tolerance developed in high-IgE-responder animals in the IgE antibody class either with or without concomitant production of salivary IgA, indicating that the two antibody isotypes were under independent control, and further that IgA-mediated immune exclusion was not central to the development of tolerance in the IgE class. Low-IgE-responder rats exhibited biphasic salivary IgA responses during exposure, which could not be recalled by subsequent parenteral challenge, suggesting that secretory immunity in the respiratory tract may also be down regulated by repeated exposure to airborne antigens.
Total body bathing with 'Hibiscrub' (chlorhexidine-detergent) solution was compared with non-medicated soap in 224 patients admitted for surgery. Some 9.6 per cent of patients were found to be nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus on admission but 17.3 per cent were colonized at some time during their inpatient stay. Skin colonization by Staph, aureus was only seen in four patients (2 per cent), three were cleared by 'Hibiscrub' bathing but carriage persisted in the other patient who used non-medicated soap. A greater reduction in the total bacterial count on the skin and in the perianal region was seen in patients using 'Hibiscrub'. An increase in the bacterial count was frequently seen in patients using non-medicated soap. Postoperative staphylococcal wound infection occurred in nine patients (4-0 per cent) but nasal or skin carriage was only present in two patients. Although there was no difference in the rates of infection using 'Hibiscrub' or ordinary soap, pre-operative bathing with 'Hibiscrub' may be beneficial as there is a greater reduction in the total bacterial count. The use of non-medicated soap is of dubious value and may even increase the numbers of bacteria on the skin.
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.