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Biomedical subjects

J Sowa

Publications and source records attributed to J Sowa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1972

The serum and conjunctival antibody response to trachoma in Gambian children.

Ninety-nine young Gambian children were studied for 61 weeks. About half of them had trachoma at the outset, and 80% of the remainder acquired the disease while under observation. IgG trachoma antibody in the serum and IgG and IgA antibodies in the conjunctival secretions (CS) were titrated by an indirect immunofluorescence method. In serum samples obtained in capillary tubes the mean titre was slightly higher than in samples collected on filter paper. Serum antibody at titres >/= 1/10 was invariably associated with a clinical diagnosis of trachoma; it increased both in frequency and titre as the disease progressed, and was present in about half of those with Tr II. In CS, IgG antibody was present less often and at lower titres than in serum, and IgA antibody was detected even less frequently. There was some evidence of correlation between the titres of IgG and IgA antibodies in CS, but none for a relationship between the titres of the antibodies in serum and those in CS. Antibodies were almost never present in the absence of conjunctival follicles, but their titres were unrelated to the degree of follicular hyperplasia; there was no obvious relationship between the serological findings and corneal lesions. In children diagnosed clinically as trachoma, serum antibody was present in almost all those with conjunctival inclusions, and in a proportion of inclusion-negative subjects; the mean titre was much higher in the inclusion-positive group.These findings do not settle whether CS antibodies are made locally, or are derived partly or wholly from the blood. They suggest that the indirect immunofluorescence test may be a useful diagnostic aid in trachoma, particularly in view of the rarity of false positive reactions; but there is at present little to choose between it and complement-fixation tests in terms of sensitivity.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1971

A comparison of the iodine and fluorescent antibody methods for staining trachoma inclusions in the conjunctiva.

In terms of the rate of positive diagnoses the indirect fluorescent antibody (FA) test was rather more effective than iodine for demonstrating trachoma (TRIC) inclusions in conjunctival scrapings, but the degree of advantage was not statistically significant. In duplicate scrapings stained at random by one or the other method, FA staining yielded the higher inclusion count significantly more often than did iodine. Some inclusions that failed to stain with FA were found on subsequent staining with Giemsa. A method is described for improving the post-FA Giemsa staining of conjunctival smears stored at subzero temperatures. Given adequate facilities, the FA stain is preferable to iodine for demonstrating TRIC inclusions in the conjunctiva; but the iodine method, properly used, holds advantages for field use.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1971

Sensitivity of trachoma agent to streptomycin and related antibiotics.

For isolating trachoma (TRIC) agent from conjunctival scrapings, both streptomycin and neomycin were effective in preventing bacterial contamination, but at high concentrations neomycin was rather more inhibitory to TRIC agent. Prolonging storage of scrapings with neomycin at 4 degrees from 30 min. to 24 hr. reduced the bacterial contamination rate, but also diminished the chance of isolating TRIC agent at the 1st passage. Two freshly isolated TRIC agents differed in their susceptibility to neomycin and streptomycin. Kanamycin and framycetin appeared to be less suitable than streptomycin for use in isolation of TRIC agent. In isolation studies, the possibility of inhibiting TRIC agent by high concentrations of antibotics, including streptomycin, should be borne in mind.

Animals↗