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Biomedical subjects

R E Bryant

Publications and source records attributed to R E Bryant.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

beta-Lactamase activity in human pus.

Pus was obtained from patients with polymicrobial intraabdominal abscesses or polymicrobial empyema. Physical and chemical characteristics of 12 specimens were examined, and bacterial isolates were enumerated. Pus supernatant of six specimens rapidly inactivated penicillin, cephalothin, and cefazolin. Carbenicillin and ticarcillin were similarly degraded by supernatant of certain pus specimens. Cefoxitin, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin were not appreciably inactivated by pus supernatant. Degradation of penicillin and cephalosporin congeners in pus was due to the presence of beta-lactamase, as shown by chemical interaction with nitrocefin, chromatography, and inhibition by the beta-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid. Pus supernatant containing beta-lactamase activity reduced the bactericidal activity of carbenicillin against Bacteroides fragilis in whole pus in an abscess model in vitro. Bactericidal activity of clindamycin or cefoxitin was not impaired in pus containing beta-lactamase.

Bacteroides fragilis↗

The influence of local factors on the reaction to tuberculin. 1. The effect of injection.

Forty-three patients being evaluated for the presence of clinical tuberculosis received careful simultaneous cutaneous tests with intermediate-strength tuberculin, comparing reactions elicited with intradermal tests to those elicited by subcutaneous tests. In another study, reactions elicited by 0.1 ml of tuberculin were compared to those elicited by 0.05 ml of the same material in the other forearm. Analysis of scattergrams comparing sizes of reactions to each technique show that differences in the sizes of the reactions elicited by intradermal and subcutaneous tests are usually small and insignificant, but subcutaneous tests unexpectedly were found to often produce larger, rather than smaller, reactions. Likewise, differences in cutaneous reactions to 0.05 and 0.1 ml of tuberculin were not impressive. We conclude that the common impression that errors of technique in the application of cutaneous tests are common explanations for false-negative tests is unwarranted.

False Negative Reactions↗

Herpes simplex type 1 hepatitis in renal transplantation.

Herpes simplex is a rare but usually fatal cause of acute hepatitis in adults. Most previously reported cases have occurred in debilitated or immunosuppressed patients. We report two additional fatal cases that occurred in renal transplant recipients. In case 1, there is evidence that the allograft may have been the initial nidus of infection. In case 2, dissemination from a genital infection occurred and failed to respond to vidarabine therapy that was started early in the clinical course. We also review the literature concerning previously reported cases of herpes hepatitis.

Adult↗

Properties of an altered RNA polymerase II activity from an alpha-amanitin-resistant mouse cell line.

alpha-Amanitin-resistant clones were selected in the mouse lymphoblastoid cell line L5178Y. One resistant clone, named A169b, was recloned and the properties of its DNA-dependent RNA polymerases were examined. The RNA polymerase II activity from A169b differs from the parental cell line in that approximately half the activity is resistant to 0.5 microgram/mL alpha-amanitin, while the parental enzyme is 50% inhibited at 0.005 microgram/mL. The enzymes from A169b and the parental line were purified free of polymerase III and their properties compared. The two preparations were identical in their apparent affinities for the four nucleoside triphosphates, in their salt and divalent cation preferences, and in their preference for denatured over native DNA. They differed in their response to alpha-amanitin. The apparent K1 for the parental enzyme was 3.5 X 10(-9) M; plots of 1/V vs. alpha-amanitin concentration gave a biphasic curve with A169b enzyme. The two apparent K1 values were 4.1 X 10(-9) and 2.1 X 10(-6) M. In addition, the enzyme from A169b showed a twofold higher activity on poly [d(AT)] as template, compared to native DNA, than that of the parental enzyme. Other template preferences may be affected, but differences were marginal. These results indicate that mutation to alpha-amanitin resistance may alter other enzymatic parameters; such mutations may be helpful in elucidating structure-function relationships in these complex enzymes.

Amanitins↗

Unsuccessful treatment of staphylococcal endocarditis with cefazolin.

Two patients with staphylococcal endocarditis were treated unsuccessfully with cefazolin sodium. One patient relapsed after 52 days of therapy. The second patient had concomitant central nervous system infection and failed to respond to cefazolin therapy. Both patients recovered with methicillin sodium or nafcillin sodium therapy. Other studies report unsuccessful therapy of staphylococcal endocarditis with cefazolin.

Adult↗

Comparison of pharmacological and antimicrobial properties of cefadroxil and cephalexin.

Pharmacological and antimicrobial properties of cefadroxil, a new cephalosporin antibiotic, were compared with cephalexin. Absorption and excretion were studied in 20 healthy men. Peak concentrations of the drugs in serum were similar after ingestion of single 500-mg tablets. The concentration of cefadroxil in serum was more sustained than that of cephalexin. Levels of cefadroxil in serum after a dose of 1,000 mg were approximately twice those after a 500-mg dose through 6 h. Each drug administered in a dose of 500 mg every 6 h for 24 h resulted in concentrations in serum that were similar to a single dose without accumulation. Ninety-three percent of the cefadroxil and 85% of the cephalexin were excreted in urine after ingestions of single 500-mg tablets. The urine concentration of cefadroxil was more sustained than cephalexin. Minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations for clinical isolates were comparable with each drug. Cefadroxil compares favorably with cephalexin in this study. Sustained levels of cefadroxil in serum and urine suggest that this drug may be given at less frequent intervals than cephalexin.

Adult↗

Gram-negative bacillary endocarditis. Interpretation of the serum bactericial test.

Although the serum bactericidal test is commonly used in the management of infective endocarditis, little has been written about its validity or limitations. We report three cases of gram-negative bacillary endocarditis (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio fetus and Serratia marcescens) encountered in 1 year at a Veterans Administration hospital. Serum bactericidal titers were considered necessary to identify inadequate antibiotic regimens or to avoid unnecessary drug toxicity. The limitations of the test, particularly those pertaining to gram-negative infections, are reviewed. Misleading results during treatment with aminoglycoside antibiotics could be due to the tendency of serum to become alkaline on standing. A detailed study of the interaction of the complement-dependent bactericidal system of serum with eight antibiotics is presented. In the context of the serum bactericidal test, the interaction was additive or synergistic in 15 of 16 determinations, indicating the need to include a control study of serum sensitivity of the infecting microorganism in each case.

Adult↗

Interaction of purulent material with antibiotics used to treat Pseudomonas infections.

To define factors contributing to the adverse prognosis of patients with gram-negative bacillemia and abscess formation, we studied the interaction between polymyxin B, colistin sulfate, gentamicin, or carbenicillin with purulent material. Carbenicillin activity was not significantly altered by incubation with pus. Equal volumes of antibiotic and purulent sediment decreased the effective concentration of polymyxin B, colistin sulfate, or gentamicin from 100 mug/ml to 3 to 6 mug/ml. One milliliter of purulent sediment bound more than 700 mug of gentamicin and 1,500 mug of polymyxin B or colistin sulfate. This effect occurred rapidly, proceeded at 4 and 37 C, was stable for 24 to 48 h, and was altered, but not abolished, by varying the pH of the solution. Antibiotic activity could be removed from pus by high concentrations of protamine sulfate, heparin, sodium chloride, or potassium chloride, suggesting binding rather than inactivation.

Abscess↗

Genetic analysis of cold-sensitive ribosome maturation mutants of Escherichia coli.

Four cold-sensitive mutants of Escherichia coli, which have defects in the maturation of the 50S ribosomal subunit, were isolated. Each of the mutations was shown to map at a different locus. The loci were assigned the name rim (ribosome maturation) and were shown to map as follows: rimA is co-transduced with ilvD and with pyrE; rimB is co-transduced with aroD; conjugation experiments limited rimD to a region between ilv and malB, and conjugation experiments limited rimC to the 22 to 30 min region of the chromosome. In merodiploids heterozygous for rimA, rimB, or rimD, the wild-type allele was shown to be dominant to the mutant allele. The observation that the rim loci lie outside the strA region and separate from each other, as well as the recessive character of the rim loci, suggests that the mutants may be defective in ribosome maturation factors rather than being defective in ribosomal structural proteins.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The effect of 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate on granulocyte adhesion.

Human granulocyte adhesion to glass capillary tubes was tested in the presence of agents that increase intracellular levels of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Adhesion was significantly reduced by 10(-3)-10(-4) M dibutyryl cAMP, 10(-4)-10(-6) M prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)), 10(-4)-10(-6) M histamine, or 10(-3) M theophylline. Adhesion was not suppressed by 10(-4) M theophylline unless it was combined with PGE(1) or histamine. Eosinophil and basophil adhesion was especially sensitive to suppression by the above agents. These findings suggest that intracellular cAMP may play a role in regulation of adhesiveness of human basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils.

Basophils↗