Tryptophan induced eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome: clinical and microscopic findings.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
R J Hay
Publications and source records attributed to R J Hay.
Mucormycosis osteomyelitis causing avascular necrosis of the cuboid bone: MR imaging findings.
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Humans↗
Methods for authenticating cell lines.
Methods for authentication of cell lines include tests for microbial contamination, verification of the species of origin, documentation of particular characteristics or functions and the absolute identification of individual cell lines. Experience indicates that mycoplasma contamination is still a serious problem in the cell culture field, with estimates on frequencies of infection varying from 10% upwards. The utilization of pre-screened reagents and antibiotic-free cultivation, plus the application of improved procedures, such as fluorescent dyes and molecular probes for detection, provide effective means to avoid mycoplasma infection and facilitate control. Viral contamination is perhaps more problematic, especially where no overt cytopathic effect results. The potential exists for the introduction of viruses from the cell culture technician or reagents used. Representative problem viruses are listed with standard procedures for screening. Detailed studies on animal cell cross contaminations have been performed and published. The frequency of detection of problem culture varied from 17-36% in studies performed in the USA. Both interspecies and intraspecies contaminations have been involved. Awareness of the potential for this problem plus the application of several characterization procedures are key factors for control. For example, fluorescent antibody staining, iso-enzyme analysis, cytogenetic evaluation and DNA finger-printing using molecular probes are needed for quality assurance on seed stocks. The critical importance of generating well-characterized reference cell stocks for use over the years is emphasized.
Animals↗
A comparative study of terbinafine versus griseofulvin in 'dry-type' dermatophyte infections.
We conducted a double-blind comparative study of terbinafine, 250 mg twice daily, versus griseofulvin, 500 mg twice daily, for 6 weeks in chronic dermatophyte infections of the feet or hands. All but three patients (total 31) had Trichophyton rubrum infection. At 12-week follow-up, 100% of the terbinafine-treated group were free from infection compared with 45% of those treated with griseofulvin. Therapy in 75% of the terbinafine-treated group and in 35% of those given griseofulvin was rated as effective overall at long-term follow-up, although these differences were not statistically significant. Six months after treatment all nine patients whose skin had cleared with terbinafine therapy remained in remission versus only one of seven patients treated with griseofulvin. None of the patients in either group experienced serious adverse effects.
Antifungal Agents↗
The role of chemoprophylaxis in the prevention of airborne infection by fungal pathogens.
The main approach to prevention of infection following airborne transmission of pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus species has been environmental. However, there are a number of potentially effective methods of prophylaxis using antifungal drugs. Those described previously include itraconazole or amphotericin B given by the intranasal or intrapulmonary route after nebulization. Another possibility for investigation in the future is enilconazole which is highly active against aspergilli after inhalation in animals and which has been used in the treatment of aspergillosis in poultry.
Air Microbiology↗
Antifungal therapy and the new azole compounds.
At present there are weaknesses in the range and scope of antifungal chemotherapy. The development of a new group of azole drugs, the triazoles, has introduced antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity which can be given by the oral route. Fluconazole is very well absorbed and has good penetration. While its principal activity is against yeasts and there are clinical data to support its use in candida and cryptococcus infections, little work has been completed on its clinical use in aspergillosis. Itraconazole is less well absorbed, but highly bound in tissue. Its spectrum of activity is somewhat broader than that of fluconazole and it is clinically active against superficial mycoses and some of the infections caused by pathogenic fungi such as Histoplasma capsulatum. There is some early evidence of efficacy in aspergillosis but more studies are required in neutropenic patients. Both drugs show promise but comparative assessments are sorely needed.
Animals↗
Overview of the treatment of disseminated fungal infections.
Disseminated fungal infections are significant causes of mortality and morbidity in the immunocompromised patient. There is now an increasing array of drugs available for their treatment. While amphotericin B is still the main choice for many of these infections the imidazole and triazole drugs have specific roles to play in the management of these patients. However, there remain a number of important problems, particularly the treatment of the patients with continuing immunosuppression and the emergence of antifungal drug resistance. There are also too few comparative studies of drugs within the increasing number of antifungal agents which would provide a reliable basis for choice.
Animals↗
An immunoinhibitory cell wall glycoprotein (Mannan) from Trichophyton rubrum.
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Lymphocyte Activation↗
Cutaneous Mycobacterium kansasii infection--treatment with erythromycin.
A 20-year-old woman developed cutaneous Mycobacterium kansasii infection following steroid infiltration of two plaques of lichen simplex. The organism was resistant to many standard antituberculous drugs and following sensitivity studies treatment with erythromycin was begun. This has been effective and well tolerated. Treatment of atypical mycobacteria with drugs not traditionally associated with antituberculous activity is being increasingly reported and, so far, resistance has not been a problem. Erythromycin has good tissue penetration with excellent activity against M. kansasii and should be considered in the therapy of similar cases.
Adult↗
Production of species-specific murine monoclonal antibodies against Cryptococcus neoformans which recognize a noncapsular exoantigen.
Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), designated 7C5, 7C9, and 5G8, against a cytoplasmic antigen of Cryptococcus neoformans were produced. MAbs 7C5 and 7C9 recognize culture filtrate antigen (exoantigen) of both encapsulated and nonencapsulated isolates of this pathogen, which suggests that they do not recognize capsular polysaccharide material. This is supported by immunofluorescence data which show reactivity of all 3 MAbs to cytoplasm and cell membranes only. MAb 7C9 also recognized C. neoformans var. gattii antigens but no other fungal pathogens tested in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while 7C5 and 5G8 recognized antigens of the cross-reactive pathogen Trichosporon beigelii but did not recognize either C. neoformans var. gattii isolates or any other fungal antigens. By Western blot (immunoblot), 7C9 detected antigen at 110 to 120, 65 to 70, 45 to 50, and 36 to 38 kDa; in addition to the latter band, the other two MAbs recognized a band at approximately 30 kDa. All three MAbs were of the immunoglobulin G1 subclass. The two MAbs which are capable of reacting with noncapsular culture supernatant antigen have possible uses in serodiagnosis, particularly in AIDS patients infected with C. neoformans, since in this group the present latex agglutination test has some limitations.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Operator-induced contamination in cell culture systems.
Operator-induced biological contamination in cell cultures is a multifaceted problem involving the unexpected introduction of other animal cells, microbial and viral contaminants. Detailed studies on animal cell cross contaminations have been performed and published. The frequency of detection of problem cultures has been as high as 36% for one service performed in the USA, with interspecific cross contamination accounting for 25% and human intraspecific contamination representing 11%. Awareness of the potential of this problem plus the application of several characterizations are key factors for its control. For example, fluorescent antibody staining, isoenzyme analyses, cytogenetic evaluations and DNA fingerprinting using molecular probes are needed for quality assurance on master seed stocks. Detection of microbial contamination is relatively straightforward, but the prevalence of mycoplasmal infections in cell cultures used in general research is still a significant problem. Detection services report frequencies of infection varying from 10% upwards, depending upon the country and laboratory of origin. The utilization of prescreened reagents and antibiotic-free cultivation, plus the application of improved procedures, such as fluorescent dyes and molecular probes for detection, provide effective means of avoiding mycoplasma infection and facilitating control. For many viruses, the presence of mycoplasma reduces immunoreactivity, suppresses transcriptase and other enzyme activities, reverses viral neutralization etc. The introduction of viral contaminants into cell cultures is perhaps the most problematic, especially where no cytopathic effect is produced. Few cases are documented where technicians infected with specific viruses have introduced these unwittingly into cultures in their care. The potential exists, however, as reports have appeared documenting the considerable stability of rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, rotaviruses and others, in aerosols on workers' hands and safety hood surfaces. The infection of cell cultures via other contaminated cells or reagents such as sera is a related problem. In this regard, the infection of transplantable tumor cell lines with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus from host animals led to an outbreak of the disease in medical center personnel. Similar infection of rat cell lines exposed to animals harboring hantaviruses has been reported. Technical staff in US government laboratories have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus produced in cultured cells. Such serious public health hazards warrant repeated emphasis. The use of multiple cell lines in a given laboratory, including cultures known to be virally infected, compounds the problems and necessitates application of preventive methods both to avoid cross-infections and to document freedom from contamination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Animals↗
Fluconazole.
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Itraconazole in the management of chronic dermatophytosis.
Fifty-five patients with griseofulvin-unresponsive dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton rubrum were treated with itraconazole. They had either tinea corporis or "dry type" infections of the palms, soles, or nails. The following sites were affected: trunk (12 infections), soles (47), toe webs (52), palms (26), fingernails (29), and toenails (42). Patients were treated with oral itraconazole until clinical and mycologic remission were achieved. Response rates and mean times to recovery were as follows: trunk, 100%, 1.5 months; soles, 83%, 6.7 months; toe webs, 90%, 7.2 months; palms, 96%, 4.6 months; fingernails, 90%, 5.4 months; and toenails, 76%, 10.3 months). In a 6-month follow-up period 7 of 30 patients with toenail infections who had responded to treatment had a clinical and mycologic relapse, usually of one nail. Side effects were minimal but included abdominal discomfort (three patients), headache (one), and weight gain (two). No persistent abnormalities in blood biochemistry were seen, even in patients who received itraconazole for more than 9 months.
Adult↗
Effect of antifungal agents on the adherence of Candida albicans to murine gastrointestinal mucosal surfaces.
The in-vitro adherence of Candida albicans to murine gastrointestinal mucosal surfaces was investigated in the presence of sub-inhibitory concentrations of amphotericin B, ketoconazole and itraconazole. Each antifungal drug showed a significant ability to reduce the adherence of C. albicans to gastric and jejunal mucosa. However, the outcome of an adherence assay was dependent on pH, drug concentration and C. albicans strain. The type of mucosal surface and its cellular arrangement also had an important role to play. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of amphotericin B, ketoconazole and itraconazole significantly reduced the adherence of an azole sensitive strain C. albicans 3436. These effects were influenced by the type of mucosal surface and the concentration of the antifungal drug. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of amphotericin B inhibited the adherence of an azole resistant strain. C. albicans 3310, to stomach and jejunal mucosal surfaces while sub-inhibitory concentrations of ketoconazole only significantly reduced this strain's adherence to gastric mucosal explants. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of itraconazole had little effect. Amphotericin B reduced the adherence of C. albicans 3436 to gastric mucosal explants when assays were performed at physiological pH levels, an effect dependent on concentration. This drug also reduced the adherence of strain 3436 to jejunal mucosal cells and explants at physiological pH levels, though results obtained from assays involving jejunal mucosal explants, incubated at pH 8.0, were concentration dependent.
Amphotericin B↗
A murine monoclonal antibody exhibiting high species specificity for Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum.
A monoclonal antibody (mAb) exhibiting a high degree of species specificity for the yeast phase of the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum was produced by a modification of the standard mAb production protocol. The technique for generating mAbs involved the use of the immunosuppressive drug cyclophosphamide to diminish the response in mice to immunodominant cross-reactive epitopes. This mAb exhibited clear specificity and did not react by ELISA with the closely related genera Blastomyces, Paracoccidioides and Sporothrix. In Western blots it recognized a linear determinant on a 70-75 kDa molecule in H. capsulatum antigen, with an extremely faint reactivity to antigens of identical molecular mass derived from Sporothrix and Paracoccidioides, and no reactivity against Blastomyces antigen.
Animals↗
Patch testing against Pityrosporum antigen.
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Antigens, Fungal↗
Preparation of species-specific murine monoclonal antibodies against the yeast phase of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
A panel of four murine monoclonal antibodies showing species specificity for the yeast phase of the pathogenic dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was produced by using a modification of the standard monoclonal antibody technology. This involved the use of the immunosuppressive drug cyclophosphamide to suppress the immune response of test animals to fungi showing cross-reactivity, i.e., to Histoplasma capsulatum. One monoclonal antibody, P4, which had a high titer by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was shown to recognize a linear antigenic epitope of P. brasiliensis at a molecular size of 70,000 to 75,000 daltons by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis. The potential use of these monoclonal antibodies, which are the first species-specific probes to P. brasiliensis that have been produced, in the field of serodiagnosis is discussed.
Animals↗
Application of DNA fingerprints for cell-line individualization.
DNA fingerprints of 46 human cell lines were derived using minisatellite probes for hypervariable genetic loci. The incidence of 121 HaeIII DNA fragments among 33 cell lines derived from unrelated individuals was used to estimate allelic and genotypic frequencies for each fragment and for composite individual DNA fingerprints. We present a quantitative estimate of the extent of genetic difference between individuals, an estimate based on the percentage of restriction fragments at which they differ. The average percent difference (APD) among pairwise combinations from the population of 33 unrelated cell lines was 76.9%, compared with the APD in band sharing among cell lines derived from the same individual (less than or equal to 1.2%). Included in this survey were nine additional cell lines previously implicated as HeLa cell derivatives, and these lines were clearly confirmed as such by DNA fingerprints (APD less than or equal to 0.6%). On the basis of fragment frequencies in the tested cell line population, a simple genetic model was developed to estimate the frequencies of each DNA fingerprint in the population. The median incidence was 2.9 X 10(-17), and the range was 2.4 X 10(-21) to 6.6 X 10(-15). This value approximates the probability that a second cell line selected at random from unrelated individuals will match a given DNA fingerprint. Related calculations address the chance that any two DNA fingerprints would be identical among a large group of cell lines. This estimate is still very slight; for example, the chance of two or more common DNA fingerprints among 1 million distinct individuals is less than .001. The procedure provides a straightforward, easily interpreted, and statistically robust method for identification and individualization of human cells.
Alleles↗