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Biomedical subjects

M E Morgan

Publications and source records attributed to M E Morgan.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Klebsiella infection in a neonatal intensive care unit: role of bacteriological surveillance.

An outbreak of 12 cases of infection occurred over a 9-month period in a Regional Referral Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The pathogen was a gentamicin- and multiply-resistant Klebsiella oxytoca (K55), of high virulence. Seven of 10 neonates with septicaemia died, the majority within 24 h of the onset of infection. Screening for the resistant klebsiella revealed that 64 (39 per cent) of 164 neonates became carriers and remained so throughout their stay. Hand carriage appeared to be a mode of cross-contamination and infection. Cohorting colonized neonates together with rigorous cross-infection control measures eliminated this organism from the unit after 29 weeks. There is evidence to suggest that in one case the infecting organism was acquired from a contaminated blood gas analyser. It is necessary to use incompatibility grouping and restriction endonuclease digestion for complete characterization of plasmids and their molecular weights. However, the finding that each isolate examined carried the same five plasmids as judged by co-electrophoresis on agarose gels, and expressed the same extent and degree of transferable antibiotic resistance provides evidence to suggest that this outbreak was due to spread of a resistant clone of K. oxytoca (K55).

Carrier State↗

Unilateral activation of caudate tyrosine hydroxylase during voluntary circling behavior.

We trained rats to circle for a sucrose water reward and found that this behavior is associated with a unilateral increase in the activity of caudate tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme for dopamine synthesis. The increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity occurs in caudate contralateral to the circling direction and the change is transient, increasing during the first 20 min of circling but then plateauing and falling as turning slows. Enhanced synthetic capacity is followed by increases in the contents of dopamine and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the contralateral caudate nucleus. These observations are the first evidence for specific activation of a neurotransmitter synthetic enzyme during voluntary motor behavior.

Animals↗

Prophylactic ethamsylate for periventricular haemorrhage.

Drug prophylaxis with ethamsylate for periventricular haemorrhage in very low birthweight infants significantly reduced the incidence of periventricular haemorrhage in survivors. A reduction in abnormalities at follow up and in insertion of ventriculoperitoneal shunts was also noted.

Benzenesulfonates↗

Tranexamic acid in the prevention of periventricular haemorrhage.

Increased fibrinolytic activity in the ganglionic eminence of the preterm human brain has been proposed as a factor in the aetiology of periventricular haemorrhage. The effect of tranexamic acid in preventing periventricular haemorrhage was evaluated in 100 infants in a double blind, randomised controlled trial. Haemorrhages developed in 22 infants who received tranexamic acid and in 20 of those who received placebo. A significant reduction in fibrin degradation products in treated infants was seen. Our study suggests that excessive fibrinolytic activity is not an important factor in the aetiology of periventricular haemorrhage and that treatment with tranexamic acid will not prevent its occurrence.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗

Transfer before delivery on Merseyside: an analysis of the first 140 patients.

Pregnant women (140) were transferred to the Regional Unit between May 1979 and December 1981 for delivery of preterm infants considered to be at risk. The 144 live infants and seven stillbirths that were delivered had a mean birthweight of 1.37 kg and a mean gestation of 29 weeks; there were nine abortions. In 1980 the uncorrected neonatal survival for very low birthweight infants was significantly better for those transferred before delivery (81%) than for infants born in the Region and not transferred (52%). The survival of very low birthweight infants transferred after delivery was 53%.

Birth Weight↗

Convexity cerebral haemorrhage in the neonate: in vivo ultrasound diagnosis.

In vivo diagnosis of subdural or subarachnoid haematoma was made in five neonates by realtime ultrasound scanning. A combination of asphyxia and sequelae of exchange transfusion were probable precipitating factors. Persistent ultrasound abnormalities relate to quality of outcome in survivors.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗

Acinetobacter meningitis: acquired infection in a neonatal intensive care unit.

A cluster of 4 cases of meningitis due to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus occurred during a 5-day period in a neonatal intensive care unit. Three of the infants were preterm and all had a history of other medical problems. Initiation of intravenous therapy with carbenicillin was accompanied by clinical recovery and a bacteriological cure. Intensive bacteriological investigation failed to show a common source for the infections.

Acinetobacter Infections↗

Propranolol differentially blocks the methamphetamine-induced depression of tryptophan hydroxylase in various rat brain regions.

Basal tryptophan hydroxylase activity was measured in several serotonergic nerve terminal regions of the rat brain and was found to vary from one terminal region to another. Acute administration of methamphetamine produced a marked decrease in tryptophan hydroxylase activity in all serotonergic nerve terminal regions of rat brain examined. This decrease was antagonized in a regionally selective manner by propranolol. In contrast, haloperidol did not produce a similar antagonism. The results are discussed in the context of the previously reported efficacy of large doses of propranolol in some schizophrenic patients.

Animals↗