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Biomedical subjects

K Farmer

Publications and source records attributed to K Farmer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Multimeric structures influence the binding activity of bHLH muscle regulatory factors.

Sucrose gradients and molecular sieve chromatography were used to determine the native molecular weight of the basic HLH proteins myogenin, MyoD and E12. The muscle bHLH proteins not only formed dimers but also associated in a variety of higher order complexes. Although homodimers bind to DNA sequences such as the MEF-1 site in the creatine kinase enhancer, homotetramers and larger forms do not recognize this DNA sequence. Little evidence for complexes larger than dimers was found for the ubiquitous bHLH protein E12. Most of the myogenin remains in large complexes when myogenin and E12 are mixed. The same result was obtained in nuclear extracts from differentiated myotubes, in which most of the myogenin was found to be present in large complexes that do not bind to the creatine kinase enhancer. A fusion protein that contains only the myogenin HLH region fused to glutathione-S-transferase also forms large homomeric complexes. A model to explain these results is that each helix of the HLH motif can associate with a different subunit to form chains or ring structures. The presence of myogenin in nuclear extracts as both dimers that recognize known DNA sequences as well as higher order complexes that do not raises significant issues concerning the regulation of skeletal muscle bHLH protein activity during myogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Morbidity from acquired cytomegalovirus infection in a neonatal intensive care unit.

In a prospective study of transfused neonates, 32 of 262 infants were viruric at greater than 20 days of life. Of 212 neonates whose early status was known, postnatally acquired infection was proven in 21, two of whom were seronegative at birth and were thought to have transfusion-acquired cytomegalovirus (CMV). Maternal transmission of CMV is important in this population as there was 91% seropositivity for CMV at birth among the 21 babies who acquired CMV compared with 55% positivity among 150 babies who did not shed CMV (P less than 0.01). Significantly increased morbidity (increased length of stay in hospital, increased use of antibiotics, and longer duration of antibiotic administration) was found in babies with acquired CMV compared with matched controls who did not become viruric. Significant morbidity and mortality was not restricted to the two seronegative babies with transfusion-acquired CMV. The cost of providing CMV antibody negative blood for this neonatal unit would be less than the cost of providing the extended hospital care needed by the two babies with transfusion-acquired CMV found during this 3 year study.

Cytomegalovirus↗
PubMed1987

A combination of hepatitis B vaccine and immunoglobulin does not protect all infants born to hepatitis B e antigen positive mothers.

In 42 infants of hepatitis B e antigen positive carrier mothers a randomised study of a low dose (5 micrograms) hepatitis B vaccine regimen starting within 24 hours of birth with or without hepatitis B immunoglobulin (0.25 ml/kg) showed that in the vaccine group 72% were antibody positive at the age of one year and in the vaccine plus immunoglobulin group 81%. In the vaccine group four of 18 infants were not protected and in those infants receiving vaccine plus immunoglobulin three of 21 were HBsAg carriers by 12 months of age. Hepatitis B vaccine either with or without concomitant HBIg did not protect all babies born of HBeAg positive mothers, from developing the HBsAg carrier status. Thus for full protection of all infants a more vigorous immunisation programme will be necessary.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1985

Passive immunoprophylaxis of hepatitis B virus infections in newborn infants.

Newborn infants of mothers who were chronic carriers of hepatitis Bs antigen (HBsAg) were randomly allocated to be treated or not treated with hyperimmune hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) at birth and six weeks and were then followed up to one year with sequential blood tests. Ninety percent of all untreated infants born of mothers positive for both HBsAg and hepatitis Be antigen became chronic carriers of HBsAg at one year. In contrast only 9% of infants treated with HBIg became HBsAg positive. Mothers who were HBsAg positive but hepatitis Be antigen negative only uncommonly infected their infants, with 6% being HBsAg positive at one year. Nearly all infections were in Pacific Islanders, Maoris or Asians. It is recommended that antenatal testing of these groups most at risk for hepatitis B virus spread, be initiated, followed by passive immunoprophylaxis with HBIg of infants born of HBsAg, HBeAg positive mothers.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1984

High admission rate of infants and young children with whooping cough: clinical aspects and preventive implications.

Eighty-five children hospitalized with clinical whooping cough over an 8 month period were studied. Of the 53 cultured for Bordetella pertussis, 29 (55%) were culture positive. There was a preponderance of young infants who required a long hospitalization (35% were less than 3 months of age). Many of these children had apnoeic attacks requiring active intervention. Pulmonary atelectasis-consolidation was found in 46% in spite of negative viral and bacterial studies. Over-crowding and poor socioeconomic status was noted frequently in those hospitalized. This group makes the least use of child health services, and has the lowest rate of immunizations.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

A case of agammaglobulinaemia complicated by meningoencephalitis due to Echo virus 27.

A boy with agammaglobulinaemia diagnosed and treated from the age of 3 years 2 months developed encephalitis at 4 years 3 months. The illness showed a remitting but deteriorating course until death aged 6 years 5 months. Echo virus type 27 was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid during the terminal illness. The virus was not isolated from five earlier cerebrospinal fluid samples nor was virus detected in a temporal lobe biopsy.

Agammaglobulinemia↗
PubMed1978

Escherichia coli meningitis in the newborn: follow-up study.

Followup study of 22 cases of meningitis due to Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the newborn period showed a mortality rate of 7 out of 22 (31.88%), severe physical and mental sequelae occurred in one case and mild to moderate sequelae in two others. Most psychometric tests were within normal range in the survivors examined. There was a correlation between low birth weight and a high CSF protein with adverse prognosis.

Child↗
PubMed1978

Low-temperature pasteurisation of human milk.

Human milk was pasteurised at 62.5 degrees C for 30 minutes. This treatment resulted in a 99.99 percent drop in the bacterial count of the milk. Only non-pathogenic organisms remained, and both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were destroyed. There was some reduction (less than 50 percent) of the activities of specific antibody to E. coli and lactoferrin, but lysozyme was stable and the pasteurised milk remained effective at inhibiting in vitro growth of E. coli.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1977

Intramuscular iron-dextran and susceptibility of neonates to bacterial infections. In vitro studies.

An increased incidence of E. coli sepsis has been observed in neonates given intramuscular iron-dextran for prevention of iron deficiency. Mechanisms for this apparent effect on susceptibility to infection were investigated by comparing phagocytic and antibacterial functions in paired samples of venous blood from 7 infants, median age 5 days, before and after iron-dextran. Post-treatment sera had increased inhibitory effects on leucocyte chemotaxis and markedly reduced bacteriostatic effects agaainst E. coli. The clinical relevance of the effects on chemotaxis is uncertain. The reduction in serum bacteriostasis is similar to that observed in other forms of hyperferraemia not associated with saturation of transferrin, and is a likely cause of the increased susceptibility to infection in vivo. We consider that prophylactic treatment with parenteral iron-dextran is contraindicated in early infancy.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMed1976

Perinatal infections by group B beta-haemolytic streptococci.

Since 1970 there has been an increase in isolations of Group B beta-haemolytic streptococci from infants and mothers at the National Women's Hospital and the organism has become the major cause of fatal perinatal infection. Forty-three of 60 stillborn and liveborn infants with postmortem isolations of Group B streptococci had pneumonia and of these a minority also had meningitis and/or septicaemia. Amnionitis was found in 15 of 20 placentae examined from these patients and an ascending infection from the maternal genital tract, often through intact membranes, was considered likely in the majority. However, a review of the prenatal histories of 33 infants showed that only a minority had premonitory features such as prolonged rupture of membranes, prolonged labour or maternal fever. Thirteen of 26 liveborn infants had a birth weight less than 2500 g. The majority presented within one hour of birth with respiratory distress or apnoea and died within 48 hours of birth. Early diagnosis of Group B infection is possible if bacteriological and radiological evidence is sought in infants of low birth weight, with low Apgar scores and with early onset of respiratory distress syndrome or apnoea in addition to those having the more usual indications of intrauterine infection. Group B streptococci were carried vaginally in 9 per cent of women attending an antenatal clinic and this high carrier rate is considered to preclude prophylactic treatment.

Female↗