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Biomedical subjects

S Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to S Johnson.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Tetanus antibodies as a marker of potential efficacy of killed polio immunization.

The use of antibodies to tetanus toxin as a marker of efficacy of parenteral immunization was examined in a randomized sample of 1212 sera representative of the total black infant population of the RSA between 24 and 35 months. All but one of these sera had protective levels of antibodies measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In contrast, in a previous study only 59-80% had tritypic immunity to polio and 70-84% mono- or bitypic immunity. Thus, this serological marker was found to be unreliable and some possibilities for this remarkably high level of antitetanus antibodies are considered.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1986

Chondrosarcoma with additional mesenchymal component (dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma). I. A clinicopathologic study of 26 cases.

During a 37-year period, 26 patients were seen who had chondrosarcoma with additional mesenchymal components ("dedifferentiated low-grade chondrosarcoma"). Sixteen were men and 10 were women aged 30 to 85 years (median, 61 years). The tumors' chondroid areas were of borderline or low-grade malignancy. The additional mesenchymal component was histologically classified as malignant fibrous histiocytoma (16), rhabdomyosarcoma (4), low-grade fibrosarcoma (3), osteosarcoma (2), and undifferentiated sarcoma (1). Preferred locations were pelvis (10) and femur (8). Symptoms had been present for 1 year or less in most cases. Pain was the most common symptom. In 15 of 26, major amputation was the primary treatment. Twelve patients received chemotherapy, usually after developing metastatic disease, but only one achieved a partial response. Median disease-free interval after diagnosis was 4 months, median survival was 6 months, and 19 patients died within 1 year. Of 4 who survived longer than 18 months, 3 presented with a low-grade fibrosarcoma. Survival and development of metastasis appeared unrelated to cell type, initial treatment, or chemotherapy, except when the tumor's initial nonchondroid component was low-grade fibrosarcoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Spacer inhalers.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of a new assay for antibodies to LAV/HTLV III.

The sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies to LAV/HTLV III produced by Genetic Systems was assessed with the identical panel of sera used in previous evaluations of anti-HTLV III ELISAs. The results from this study show that the Genetic Systems anti-LAV/HTLV III ELISA proved to be of equivalent sensitivity and to have higher specificity than assays currently used in Australia for screening purposes while maintaining high levels of intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1986

A comprehensive investigation of immunity to poliomyelitis in a developing country.

A comprehensive nationwide surveillance program of serologic immunity of two-year-old black children, combined with evaluation of vaccine quality and distribution, was carried out in South Africa during 1983-1984. Sera were randomly collected from urban and rural groups and cluster samples collected from the semi-urban group. The sample represented 0.23% of the total target population. Satisfactory levels of immunity were found in the urban (80%) and semi-urban (71%) groups but a disquietingly low level was found for the rural group (59%). Individual districts in the rural group could be singled out for directed cluster sampling at a later stage. History and documentation of immunization corresponded well to serologic findings and revealed also a fairly substantial level of natural immunization among individuals who, on history, had received no vaccine. Some 95% of random samples of vaccine recalled from the field showed satisfactory levels of potency. An immunity surveillance program such as this is ideally suited and highly cost-effective for developing countries with incomplete immunization to prevent large-scale buildup of immunity deficit. The technique, however, is too insensitive to detect localized community immunity defects.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1986

Circulating levels of catecholamines and cyclic AMP during the handgrip test in borderline hypertension.

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and circulating levels of catecholamines and cyclic AMP were measured during the handgrip test in 18 borderline hypertensive patients, 22 stable hypertensive patients, and 20 normotensive control subjects. No difference was observed, at rest, for plasma levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine, and cyclic AMP among the three groups. During the handgrip test in borderline hypertensive patients, the percentage of increase of plasma levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine, and cyclic AMP were significantly more elevated with respect to the levels of control subjects but not when compared with those of stable hypertensive patients. These results are in agreement with the hypothesis that in both borderline and stable hypertension there is an exaggerated sympathetic response to the handgrip test.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Cost analysis of a mucoadhesive foam versus conventional treatment for postepisiotomy patients.

The cost of treating postepisiotomy pain and edema with foam containing 1% hydrocortisone acetate and 1% pramoxine hydrochloride and a spray with 20% benzocaine was compared in 200 postpartum patients. Treatment with foam was demonstrated to be more effective than benzocaine spray with greater pain relief and reduction of edema as shown by lower patient need of supplemental pain-relief measures. Treatment with foam was also determined to be less expensive than benzocaine spray when the cost of the supplemental pain-relief measures for benzocaine-treated patients were assessed. Methods used to determine actual hospital costs are presented, and supplemental pain relief treatments are discussed. Use of this type of cost analysis may be useful to the P & T Committee when determining actual cost-effectiveness of different treatment modalities.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1986

Metaphit, an acylating ligand for phencyclidine receptors: characterization of in vivo actions in the rat.

Metaphit, which acylates phencyclidine (PCP) receptors in vitro, was shown to acylate PCP receptors and antagonize the behavioral and electrophysiological effects of PCP in vivo. Metaphit (2 mumol/rat) administered i.c.v. produced PCP-like stereotyped behavior and ataxia in 10 to 20% of rats. At a lower dose, Metaphit (1 mumol/rat) antagonized the ability of PCP to induce stereotyped behavior and ataxia for 3 and 4 days, respectively. The Metaphit-induced antagonism of PCP induction of stereotyped behavior and ataxia was dose-dependent and specific as Metaphit did not antagonize induction of stereotyped behavior by amphetamine. Further evidence for a specific PCP receptor mechanism was the finding that PCP pretreatment blocked the effects of subsequent Metaphit administration. Metaphit also antagonized PCP-induction of stereotyped behavior, but not ataxia, after i.v. administration. Doses of Metaphit that produced long-term antagonism of the behavioral effects of PCP also produced a significant decrease in the maximum binding, but not Kd, of the binding of the PCP analog, [3H]-1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine, in Metaphit-pretreated rats. The binding of [3H]etorphine and [3H]spiroperidol was not altered significantly by pretreating rats with Metaphit. (-)-Cyclazocine and (+)-SKF 10,047 induced stereotyped behavior and ataxia that was not antagonized by Metaphit-pretreatment. In electrophysiological experiments, Metaphit, like PCP, initially depressed the firing of caudate neurons as does PCP, but then irreversibly inhibited PCP-induced depression of caudate neurons. These results suggest that metaphit antagonized the effects of PCP by selectively acylating PCP receptors and that (-)-cyclazocine- and (+)-SKF 10,047-induced behavioral effects are not mediated primarily by PCP receptors.

Acylation↗
PubMed1986

Rate of protamine administration: its effect on heparin reversal and antithrombin recovery after coronary artery surgery.

Patients received a calculated dose of protamine at two different rates (5 min and 30 min) after coronary artery surgery to determine the relationship of the rate of protamine administration with the adequacy of heparin reversal and the rate of return of antithrombin III (AT III) activity. Plasma heparin concentrations and AT III activities were measured at specific times both during and for 3 days after cardiac surgery. Both rates of protamine administration resulted in clinically acceptable clotting, return of the activated coagulation time to normal, and zero heparin concentration after 24 hr. Two hours after protamine administration, patients who received rapidly administered protamine had prolonged coagulation compared to the other group. Normal AT III activity returned the second postoperative day. These results imply that normal postoperative coagulation occurs when protamine is administered over 30 min without a bolus, and that blood is potentially hypercoagulable immediately after heparin reversal because of depressed AT III activity.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Prevalence of antibodies to varicella zoster virus in healthy adults.

A serological study of immunity to varicella zoster was carried out using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 244 healthy adult laboratory staff members. The overall immunity was 90%, with a progressive increase from 81% at 20-29 years to 100% at 60 years. Approximately one-third of serologically immune individuals had no certain history of varicella. As the serological test is simple, rapid and reliable, screening for immunity should be carried out in at-risk individuals such as immunosuppressed patients, pregnant women, and laboratory and medical patients, pregnant women, and laboratory and medical personnel who come into contact with sources of virus. Definition of serological status will aid in the rational planning of intervention procedures such as epidemiological control and administration of varicella zoster immune globulin and, when it becomes available, varicella vaccine.

Adult↗