Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Tillman

Publications and source records attributed to J Tillman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Increased rate of isolation of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in a children's hospital and in vitro susceptibilities to antibiotics of potential therapeutic use.

The isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae with both high and intermediate resistance to penicillin has increased in our institution since 1989 to an average of 12.1% of all isolates. We determined the susceptibilities of 95 isolates (34 susceptible to penicillin, 42 intermediate in resistance to penicillin, and 19 resistant to penicillin) to 16 antimicrobial agents of potential use in the treatment of disease caused by S. pneumoniae. Susceptibility to penicillin was determined by broth macrodilution with Mueller-Hinton broth supplemented with 5% lysed horse blood. Isolates were classified as highly resistant when the MIC was greater than or equal to 2.0 micrograms/ml, intermediate in resistance when the MIC was between 0.1 and 1.0 microgram/ml, and susceptible when the MIC was less than 0.1 microgram/ml. Fifteen of 19 isolates found to be highly resistant to penicillin were recovered from the middle ear of children. None of the isolates recovered from cerebrospinal fluid was highly resistant to penicillin. Fifteen of these isolates highly resistant to penicillin were found to be serogroup 6. Susceptibilities to other antibiotics were determined by the agar dilution method with Mueller-Hinton agar containing 5% lysed horse blood and an inoculum of 10(4) CFU per spot delivered by a replicator device. The MIC for 90% of isolates increased with increasing penicillin resistance for all antibiotics tested, except chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, rifampin, and vancomycin. Regardless of the classification of penicillin resistance, all isolates were classified as susceptible to cefotaxime, cefpirome, cefpodoxime, clarithromycin, imipenem, rifampin, and vancomycin on the basis of National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards interpretive guidelines. Interpretation of susceptibilities on the basis of currently available guidelines is difficult in that susceptibility guidelines applicable specifically to S. pneumoniae are not available.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1992

Paecilomyces lilacinus catheter-related fungemia in an immunocompromised pediatric patient.

Paecilomyces lilacinus catheter-related fungemia in an immunocompromised child is reported. The presence of a central venous catheter and the patient's immunocompromised status were felt to be predisposing factors for this unusual infection. To our knowledge, this is the first description of P. lilacinus catheter-related fungemia, and our patient may be the youngest reported patient with this mycosis who was cured.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗
PubMed1990

The relationship between 'normal' fluid retention in women and idiopathic oedema.

A sample of women attending a gynaecological outpatient clinic were examined for symptoms and objective signs of fluid retention. Patients completed a questionnaire on symptoms suggesting fluid retention and recorded daily weight and abdominal girth variation. Daily weight variation varied from 0-9 pounds (mode 2 pounds) with no discernable difference between premenstrual and intermenstrual variation. Daily girth variation varied from 0-6 inches (mode 1 inch). Symptoms of breast swelling were more common premenstrually, finger/hand and ankle swelling intermenstrually and abdominal swelling occurred with equal frequency in both periods. No correlation between symptoms and weight variation was seen although abdominal swelling and girth variation were associated (P less than 0.04). The results indicate that symptoms of mild fluid retention and of diurnal weight and abdominal girth variation are part of the everyday experience of our study population. There is no clear-cut separation between 'normal' and 'abnormal' fluid retention (idiopathic oedema, periodic oedema, fluid retention syndrome); the latter may be an exaggeration of normal fluid-retaining mechanisms common to most women or may represent a pathological state. An approach which evaluates individual risk factors and the severity of fluid retention in each patient is recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

How sensitive are immunometric assays for thyrotropin?

The usual method for calculation of the "sensitivity" of thyrotropin immunometric assays is multireplicate analysis of the zero analyte standard. Although this is a statistically valid estimate of the scatter likely to be found in the response variable, it is unrelated to normal analytical practice (usually analysis in duplicate) and estimates intra-assay errors only. This study was designed to assess the analytical performance of 10 immunometric assays used routinely for measurement of thyrotropin in human serum. Response data from each assay were accumulated to provide (a) an estimate of "sensitivity" from multireplicate analysis and (b) an estimate of "minimum detection limit," relating directly to errors associated with routine performance and derived from a minimum of 500 duplicate analyses. We conclude that the "minimum detection limit" should be promoted as a more meaningful measure of assay performance at low analyte concentrations than the "sensitivity" derived from multireplicate analysis of the zero-analyte standard.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1988

Changes in the bone and liver isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase in postmenopausal women being treated with norethisterone.

The effects of norethisterone therapy on alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme activities were studied in a group of postmenopausal women. There was a significant fall in total alkaline phosphatase activity after 8 wk which was still in evidence after 24 wk. Both bone and liver alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme activities were decreased during the first 16 wk on treatment, but after 24 wk only the bone phosphatase activity was significantly lower than the pretreatment level. The other biochemical indices of bone metabolism and liver function were also measured during the study. The results indicate that bone specific alkaline phosphatase activity is a more sensitive index of bone activity than total alkaline phosphatase and that monitoring of total activity may in some instances be misleading.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1986

Effect of fenoprofen on thyroid function tests.

We observed that a few patients taking the anti-inflammatory drug fenoprofen showed increases in total and free T3 serum levels without convincing evidence of an associated thyrotoxicosis. To confirm these findings, two volunteers were given fenoprofen for two weeks. Within this time total T3 levels almost doubled and free T3 levels increased threefold. Administration of fenoprofen did not have any measurable effect on T4 or TSH estimations. Cross-reactivities of fenoprofen and 4'-hydroxyfenoprofen were studied with antisera from various total and free T3 assays. Results show that the metabolite cross-reacts with the antisera from Amerlex total and free T3 assay kits. A lesser degree of interference was observed with the Corning total and free T3 assays. 4'-hydroxyfenoprofen had no effect on an 'in house' total T3 assay. Laboratories should therefore be aware of the possibility that their assay may be subject to interference by fenoprofen or its metabolites while clinicians should be aware of this interference in order that they may avoid unnecessary and harmful treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The microcomputer and basic peripheral equipment.

This article has presented the basic information needed for setting up a microcomputer work station. The four basic components are the central processing unit (CPU), the monitor (CRT), the keyboard, and the disk drive. A brief overview of how the microcomputer works was presented, including the concepts of random-access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The use of peripheral devices to enhance the operating capabilities of the microcomputer has allowed this technology to become practical and useful both at home and in business and research. Special furniture is available to assure a comfortable and practical environment. Perhaps one of the most important concepts presented in this article is the necessity of backing up data on a regular basis. Finally, computer equipment must be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis.

Computers↗
PubMed1979

Investigation of the role of calcium in the supersensitivity produced by cocaine in cat spleen strips.

1. Cocaine (2 x 10(-6) M and 10(-5) M) produced 2 and 7 fold shifts to the left of the dose-response curve to (-)-noradrenaline recorded isotonically in isolated splenic capsular strips of the cat. 2. The same concentrations of cocaine also produced increases in the maximum response of the tissue to 117% and 126.7% of control. 3. Desmethylimipramine (DMI, 10(-7) to 10(-6) M) produced no significant potentiation of the response of cat spleen strips to (-)-noradrenaline. At 10(-5) M DMI decreased the maximum response. 4. Cocaine (10(-5) M) produced a 3.3 fold shift to the left of the dose-response curve whereas DMI (10(-6) M) had no effect on the dose-response curve to oxymetazoline in cat splenic capsular strips. 5. Cocaine (10(-5) M) in the presence of phentolamine (10(-6) M) produced a shift to the left and an increase in the maximum response to K+, an agonist which is believed to produce muscle contraction by increasing the membrane calcium flux. 6. Cocaine (10(-5 M) had no effect on the dose-response curve to angiotensin which is believed to contract vascular muscle by releasing calcium from intracellular storage sites. 7. The potentiating effect of cocaine (10(-5) M) on responses of spleen strips to (-)-noradrenaline was blocked by the calcium flux inhibitor SKF 525A (2.65 x 10(-5) M). 8. It is concluded that the results are compatible with the view that cocaine enhances the influx of calcium across the cell membrane during responses to agonists that utilize the extracellular pool of calcium and that this effect is responsible for a large part of the potentiation of the response.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1976

The persistence of dextran 70 in blood plasma following its infusion, during surgery, for prophylaxis against thromboembolism.

An infusion of dextran (mean molecular weight 70000) in normal saline (either 1 litre or 500 ml) was given to patients undergoing hysterectomy. The infusion was started at induction of anaesthesia and continued throughout the operation and for up to 5 h thereafter. The rate of elimination of dextran was independent of the dose given. The time to eliminate half the dose was nearly two days and up to 10% was still present in the circulation after one week. The persistence of dextran in the plasma in these amounts and for this length of time may have considerable implications in the prophylaxis of postoperative deep venous thrombosis.

Blood Glucose↗