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Biomedical subjects

T A Bell

Publications and source records attributed to T A Bell.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Chlamydia trachomatis infections in adolescents.

The guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control should be applied with appreciation of their limitations. The serious sequelae of chlamydial infections in young patients warrant vigorous antichlamydial therapy and specific microbiologic diagnosis. Until public health authorities implement control programs, the efforts of individual practitioners will probably be the mainstay of the flight against C. trachomatis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Endometrial histopathology in patients with culture-proved upper genital tract infection and laparoscopically diagnosed acute salpingitis.

To define and quantitate histologic changes in the endometrium that best correlate with documented upper genital tract infection (UGTI) and laparoscopically diagnosed acute salpingitis, we studied endometrial biopsy specimens from 69 consecutive patients with clinically suspected acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) who underwent microbiological evaluation for UGTI and laparoscopic examination for acute salpingitis. Both UGTI and acute laparoscopically confirmed salpingitis were present in 37 patients (54%), UGTI without salpingitis in 1 (1%), salpingitis without UGTI in 11 (16%), and neither UGTI nor salpingitis in 20 (29%). Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae UGTI was found in 34 women, Escherichia coli in two patients, Peptococcus magnus in one woman, and with Streptococcus agalactiae in one woman. The following features were correlated both with UGTI and with salpingitis: presence of any neutrophils in the endometrial surface epithelium; neutrophils within gland lumens; dense subepithelial stromal lymphocytic infiltration; any stromal plasma cells; and germinal centers containing transformed lymphocytes. The simultaneous presence of five or more neutrophils per X 400 field in endometrial surface epithelium, together with one or more plasma cell per X 120 field in endometrial stroma, was the best predictor of UGTI plus salpingitis. This combination had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 87% for predicting the diagnosis of both UGTI and laparoscopically confirmable acute salpingitis. Prospective studies are needed to assess the usefulness of these criteria.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Experimental infection of baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) with Chlamydia pneumoniae strain 'TWAR'.

Two infant baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) were inoculated with Chlamydia pneumoniae strain 'TWAR', one in the conjunctiva, nasopharynx and oropharynx, the other in the trachea. Both remained well during 8 weeks of observation. C. pneumoniae infection persisted for at least 8 weeks after inoculation. Chlamydia pneumoniae seems to be of low virulence in baboons and capable of causing chronic infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in asymptomatic family planning patients in rural New Mexico.

We tested 98 asymptomatic women seen in state-funded contraception clinics in rural New Mexico. A fluorescein-conjugated monoclonal antibody stain revealed Chlamydia trachomatis infection in 25% of asymptomatic unmarried women and 3% of married women (P = .03). Neisseria gonorrhoeae was detected in only one woman. As in urban clinics providing contraception, the prevalence of gonorrhea is rare in rural New Mexico, but chlamydial infections are common in young unmarried women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The effect of trimethoprim-polymyxin B sulphate ophthalmic ointment and chloramphenicol ophthalmic ointment on the bacterial flora of the eye when administered to the operated and unoperated eyes of patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Both eyes of patients undergoing cataract surgery were treated with an ointment preparation containing either trimethoprim 5 mg/g and polymyxin B sulphate 10,000 units/g, or chloramphenicol 1%. The antibiotic preparations were administered four times daily on the day prior to surgery, once in the morning prior to surgery and twice daily for fourteen days post-operatively. Cultures from conjunctivae and lid margins were taken prior to treatment, pre-operatively and post-operatively on selected days including the fourteenth post-operative day. The effect of the antibiotics on conjunctival and lid margin flora was determined by enumerating patients with positive cultures prior to treatment which were eradicated following treatment and patients with organisms which were cultured de novo in spite of antibiotic treatment. There was no significant change in the number of patients with organisms isolated from conjunctivae and lid margins (p greater than 0.1 in each case, Sign test) over the sixteen day study period with either treatment. Additionally, when the effect of the two preparations on the number of patients with organisms obtained from conjunctivae and lid margins was compared, there was no significant difference between them (p greater than 0.1 conjunctival cultures, p greater than 0.1 lid margin cultures, Fisher's Exact probability test).

Bacteria↗
PubMed1988

Use of a leukocyte esterase dipstick to detect Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae urethritis in asymptomatic adolescent male detainees.

We tested 91 asymptomatic adolescent male detainees in a short-stay detention facility in Seattle, Washington for the presence of leukocyte esterase in first-catch urine and for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection. C. trachomatis was isolated from 10 subjects (11 per cent) and N. gonorrhoeae from five (5 per cent). Dipsticks detected leukocyte esterase in the urine of all 15 subjects with either infection and of 13 subjects with neither infection. Detection of leukocyte esterase was 100 per cent sensitive, 83 per cent specific, and 54 per cent predictive for the presence of either organism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Delayed appearance of Chlamydia trachomatis infections acquired at birth.

To determine the delay in detectability of Chlamydia trachomatis infections acquired at birth, we serially evaluated 120 infants born vaginally to infected women. Specimens for isolation of Chlamydia were taken from several anatomic sites. Results were analyzed for the age and site of the initial positive culture from each infant. Of 112 infants tested in the first month of life, 22% were culture-positive in the conjunctiva and 25% were positive in the pharynx. Initial positive rectal and vaginal cultures were obtained only in the third and fourth months of life, and all initial vaginal cultures were associated with positive rectal cultures. The latency of C. trachomatis in infants exposed at birth is often more than 1 month and can be longer than 97 days. This latency might be caused by suppression of the growth of the organism by antibodies acquired in utero.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1986

Characterisation of Haemophilus spp. isolated from infant conjunctivitis.

Haemophilus strains isolated from children under the age of 11 months with conjunctivitis were characterised by biotype, sugar fermentation, plasmid pattern and outer-membrane-protein profiles. H. influenzae was the most common species identified and was separated into 14 groups based on sugar fermentation and biotype patterns and into more than 20 groups when plasmid and outer-membrane-protein profiles were included. Small (mol. wt less than 10 X 10(6)) plasmids were identified in 11 of 34 (32%) H. influenzae isolates, 1 of 2 H. haemolyticus and 4 of 6 (67%) H. parainfluenzae isolates. Examination of sugar-fermentation and plasmid patterns increased the ability to distinguish between strains isolated at different times from recurrent disease and may have general applications in the study of Haemophilus strains isolated from a single anatomical site.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗
PubMed1986

Cyclosporin A: tissue levels following topical and systemic administration to rabbits.

Plasma and aqueous levels of cyclosporin A (CsA) were determined following topical administration of CsA 1% to healthy rabbit eyes and compared with levels obtained when administered to rabbit eyes which had received corneal grafts 7-10 days previously. In addition plasma levels were determined following intramuscular administration of 50 mg CsA and the results compared with those obtained following topical administration. Topical administration to healthy rabbit eyes five times a day for three days resulted in plasma levels of CsA which were similar to those obtained over three days following an intramuscular administration of 50 mg CsA. The plasma levels in both were significantly higher than those obtained following topical administration to rabbit eyes which had received corneal grafts 7-10 days previously. Aqueous levels of CsA were lower than plasma levels, and there was no significant difference between levels obtained when CsA was administered topically to healthy eyes, to eyes which had received corneal grafts, or to the fellow eye.

Administration, Topical↗