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Biomedical subjects

M J Carter

Publications and source records attributed to M J Carter.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Computerization of a nosocomial infection system.

This paper describes the implementation of a computerized nosocomial infection control system for a 500-bed tertiary-care teaching hospital. It is implemented on a minicomputer that uses the relational data base management system INGRES, which is marketed by Relational Technology, Inc. This system, which replaces a manual one that depended on "needle sort" data cards, is designed to provide for entry of infection data that have been collected onto abstracting forms; decision support in the prospective analysis of suspicious infection rates or trends; generation of monthly, on-demand, and annual infection rate reports; retrospective interrogation and analysis of infection data for rates and trends that may explain or clearly indicate the sources of in-hospital (nosocomial) infections; updating of infection records as additional infection-related data become available and known to the hospital's infection control team; and ad hoc analysis and comparisons between data on control and infected patients, both prospectively and retrospectively.

Computers↗
PubMed1984

Measles virus gene expression in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

RNA was extracted from the diseased brain of a case of human subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and analysed for the expression of measles-specific RNA. Measles virus-specific mRNAs were present, but the amount of matrix (M) protein mRNA was greatly reduced in comparison to lytically infected cells and phospho- (P) protein mRNA was hardly detectable whereas the level of the corresponding intermediate-sized (is-) RNA was greatly increased. RNA obtained from the human brain was also translated in vitro and measles virus nucleocapsid and P protein was produced. However, in marked contrast to control reactions M protein was not detected in the products formed by translation in vitro. These results indicate an impaired measles virus M protein mRNA synthesis in infected brain tissue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Adaptation of coronavirus JHM to persistent infection of murine sac(-) cells.

Coronaviruses can establish persistent infections in the central nervous system of rodents, and these are associated with demyelinating encephalomyelitis. The effects of persistence on the virus are difficult to study in vivo but may have a crucial influence on the course of infection. We therefore produced a persistent infection in vitro using the neurotropic coronavirus JHM, in order to investigate the events underlying the establishment of such an infection and the adaptation of the virus to persistence. The persistent infection was maintained for over 115 passages and continued to release high levels of infectious virus. During the 18 months of culture the number of cells expressing virus antigen detected by indirect immune fluorescence decreased to 40%. Analysis showed that the carried virus contained a significant proportion of heterogeneous temperature-sensitive mutants. All virus clones isolated possessed the capacity to induce a more productive growth cycle, a less pronounced cytopathic effect and showed a much reduced neurovirulence when inoculated into newborn and weanling rats. Evidence for structural changes involving the surface peplomer protein (E2) was obtained using hybridoma antibodies, which neutralized the parental JHM virus but not the JHM-Pi virus. Defective interfering particles and interferon activities have been excluded as possible agents instrumental in the establishment and maintenance of the chronic infection, and we suggest that the emergence of virus variants of lowered virulence is central to these processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Rapid detection of enteric adenovirus and rotavirus: a simple method using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

A simple and rapid procedure for identifying adenovirus and rotavirus in stool extracts has been developed. The technique is based on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the virus nucleic acid, but sample preparation is straightforward and does not entail phenol extraction or the use of a radioactive label. Furthermore, processing is not influenced by the amount of specimen obtained and is thus suitable for application as a batch testing method. This approach removes the need for specific antisera, which are not readily available since most of these viruses cannot be grown using routine tissue culture procedures. Trials in this laboratory have indicated that the technique is of comparable sensitivity to electron microscopy.

Adenoviruses, Human↗
PubMed1984

Issues in continuing professional competence of therapeutic recreators.

Entry level knowledge and skills of professionals become outdated with technological advances and the accumulation of practical skills. Participation in programs offering continuing education units (CEU's) has been the most widely accepted way to combat the obsolescence problem and to document life-long learning. However, research has yet to establish improved service delivery as a result of practitioner involvement in such training programs. Credentialing requires reliable and valid measurement of competence over one's professional life. Therapeutic recreators have yet to present a definitive "scope of practice" or to determine the "half-life" of those competencies believed fundamental to practice. The field of therapeutic recreation is void of research on quality assurance alternatives. Thus, there appear to be unresolved issues regarding therapeutic recreators' needs to maintain their professional competence throughout their careers.

Education, Continuing↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of lytic and persistent measles virus matrix proteins by competition radioimmunoassay.

Measles virus matrix (M) proteins were compared by competitive monoclonal antibody-binding studies. Three strains of measles and of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis viruses were found to be identical in this way. The matrix protein formed by Edmonston strain virus during a persistent infection could be distinguished from that made in the lytic virus infection. It is concluded that structural alterations in the M peptide can occur during persistence.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1983

Mycobacterium chelonei keratitis: a case report.

The case is reported of a patient who initially presented with a dendritiform corneal ulcer that ultimately failed to heal and in which Mycobacterium chelonei was repeatedly cultured. The organism was sensitive only to kanamycin and amikacin; however, topical administration of these antibiotics failed to achieve a complete cure. Penetrating keratoplasty was ultimately required to eradicate the organism from the cornea.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Synthesis of RNA segments 1-3 during generation of incomplete influenza A (fowl plague) virus.

Incomplete influenza A virus (fowl plague Dobson strain) was prepared by undiluted passage in primary chick embryo fibroblast cells. Analysis of released virus RNA revealed a deficiency in RNA segments 1-3, characteristic of incomplete virus formation. The virus yield from a high multiplicity infection with standard virus always showed this deficiency, even when analysed as early as 6 hours post-infection, whereas infection at low multiplicity gave rise to virus indistinguishable in RNA composition from the parent virus. The relative amounts of intracellular, non-polyadenylated, complementary RNA (template RNA) were found to reflect accurately the eventual RNA composition of released virus, and were altered in phase with PFU:HAU ratio, throughout a von Magnus cycle.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Incomplete avian influenza virus contains a defective non-interfering component.

Incomplete avian influenza (fowl plague) virus derived by undiluted egg passage, displayed an increased capacity to promote the synthesis of intracellular virus-specific proteins when compared with standard virus. The in vitro virion-bound RNA polymerase activity of incomplete virus was also greater than could be explained by the presence of residual infectious virus. When the titres of infectious and interfering virus species were determined directly, they did not account for all the virus present. The existence of defective non-interfering (DNI) virus, even in standard virus preparations, was inferred. DNI virus is capable of initiating infection, synthesis of mRNA and proteins but cannot complete a productive replication cycle, and does not interfere with multiplication of standard virus. Such DNI virus could exaggerate the true extent of DI virus formation by lowering the PFU:HAU ratio and so account for the failure to correlate infectivity with RNA composition or RNA polymerase activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Relationships between monoclonal antibody-binding sites on the measles virus haemagglutinin.

Twenty-one monoclonal antibodies directed against the measles virus haemagglutinin have recently been obtained. These were known to fall into five groups, each defined by its effects on the biological functions of the H protein. A representative of each group was selected and examined by competitive radioimmunoassay in an attempt to deduce the relationships between antibody-binding sites on the antigen. It was found that these five antibodies formed three binding groups which recognized different but overlapping areas of the molecule. These three areas formed a series of sites which traversed the active region of the H polypeptide. A haemagglutinin-directed monoclonal antibody which displayed a haemolysin-inhibiting activity was also examined. This antibody fitted into the binding group scheme determined here and there was no additional binding site for this molecule on the F protein itself.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗