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Biomedical subjects

T F Smith

Publications and source records attributed to T F Smith.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Rapid detection of cytomegalovirus in bronchoalveolar lavage specimens by a monoclonal antibody method.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common cause of pneumonia in immunocompromised subjects, is conventionally diagnosed in the laboratory by tube cell culture assays or by detection of characteristic inclusions in histologic sections. Of 160 immunocompromised patients, CMV infection was diagnosed in 19 subjects by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), using a monoclonal antibody directed against an early nuclear antigen of the virus. Cytospin preparations from BAL and MRC-5 cell cultures inoculated with the BAL specimens yielded positive results for 6 (31.6%) and 18 (94%) of the 19 subjects, respectively, within hours of the bronchoscopic procedure, whereas conventional tube cell cultures were positive for 11 of the 19 subjects (57.9%) only after an average of 9.3 days. The monoclonal antibody method permitted easy and rapid detection of CMV in BAL specimens.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Rapid detection of influenza virus by shell vial assay with monoclonal antibodies.

Of 45 influenza virus strains (43 type A and 2 type B) detected in conventional tube cell cultures (average time, 4 days), 25 (56%) were detected by immunofluorescence in the shell vial assay 24 h postinoculation. The specific fluorescence produced should allow this procedure to be readily adapted by laboratories with various degrees of experience with immunofluorescence methodology.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1986

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis using consecutive endocervical swabs. Prevalence in asymptomatic female adolescents and women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic.

Chlamydia trachomatis is an organism commonly transmitted through sexual intercourse. In women it is associated with cervicitis, salpingitis, perihepatitis and infertility. Neonates born to infected women may have inclusion conjunctivitis and pneumonia due to this organism. Screening in obstetrics and in gynecology clinics is not usually performed routinely because of the cost and time involved in culturing the organism. A rapid enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit (Chlamydiazyme, Abbott Laboratories) that can detect C. trachomatis was developed recently. Women belonging to two different cohorts were studied to determine whether multiple endocervical samples increased the likelihood of a positive result from this EIA kit. One cohort consisted of 70 asymptomatic, sexually active female adolescents from a local family planning clinic. The second cohort included 80 women who were seen at a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic. Both groups were assayed for Chlamydia infections using the rapid EIA kit. Positive test results were found in 7 of the 70 asymptomatic teenagers (10%) and 12 of the 80 women from the STD clinic (15%). No significant differences were noted in the order of the positive swabs in either group, although more of the earlier swabs tended to be positive.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Comparison of seven methods of preparing and administering cefazolin sodium small-volume injections.

The time and costs of preparing and administering cefazolin sodium small-volume injections using automated and manual systems were compared. Doses of cefazolin sodium 1 g were prepared in batches of 100 using each of seven methods, and preparation and administration times were recorded during five time trials. Personnel time and total material costs were determined. Bulk-vial reconstitution methods included manual piggyback, manual 24-hour piggyback, and manual syringe systems and one automated syringe infusion method (Bard programmable dispensing pump). Three prefilled container systems (Faspak flexible plastic bags, manufacturers' partial-fill glass bottles, and cefazolin sodium 1-g vials reconstituted using the ADS 100 Physio-Control peristaltic pump and administered via the IVAC CRIS system) were compared with each other and with the bulk reconstitution methods. Of the bulk-vial methods, total preparation process times were significantly shorter for the 24-hour piggyback system. Of the prefilled container systems, total preparation process time was significantly shorter for the Faspak system. Total daily administration process time was shortest for the IVAC CRIS system. Material costs per dose were lowest for the IVAC CRIS system and highest for the syringe pump systems (manual syringe and Bard syringe). Although lowest cost per dose was identified with the IVAC CRIS system, the 24-hour piggyback system was the system of choice on the basis of similar cost savings, its ability to manage primary fluids, and practicality of use at this institution.

Cefazolin↗
PubMed1986

Lack of interference in skin tests by endotoxin in allergen extracts.

Endotoxin activity was detected in several commercial allergen extracts. Epicutaneous skin testing using purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone or mixed with allergen extracts demonstrated that LPS had no effect on test results. We conclude that endotoxin present in allergen extracts is unlikely to have any practical implication for epicutaneous skin testing with these extracts.

Allergens↗
PubMed1985

The statistical distribution of nucleic acid similarities.

All pairs of a large set of known vertebrate DNA sequences were searched by computer for most similar segments. Analysis of this data shows that the computed similarity scores are distributed proportionally to the logarithm of the product of the lengths of the sequences involved. This distribution is closely related to recent results of Erdos and others on the longest run of heads in coin tossing. A simple rule is derived for determination of statistical significance of the similarity scores and to assist in relating statistical and biological significance.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Characteristics of children with endoscopically proved chronic bronchitis.

This study evaluated by chart review the clinical, allergic, pathologic, and immunologic characteristics of 20 children found to have chronic bronchitis (CB) by bronchoscopic evaluation, including 13 children in whom CB was documented by endobronchial biopsy. Two additional children likely to have had CB also are described. In this study group, all of the patients were believed to have asthma as well. Chronic bronchitis was predicted by chronicity of symptoms and incomplete response to bronchodilators and corticosteroids, but it was not predicted by a history of allergy or laboratory evidence of systemic infection or inflammation. In the children described herein, CB often was associated with an IgG subclass abnormality. Bronchoscopic evaluation documented CB and provided biopsy and secretion samples. Although the histomorphic findings were heterogeneous, patients with CB usually had white blood cells present on Gram stains of secretions in addition to mononuclear cell infiltrates on biopsy specimens. Chronic bronchitis in these children seems to be distinct from CB in adults. Further studies will be needed to define CB in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The common cold.

The common cold continues to be the major cause of absences from school and work. A better understanding of the epidemiology and the natural history should lead to less anxiety about this disease. Although there is still much misinformation among the public, the time should soon come when better-informed patients with this disease will make fewer visits to the physician and will not expect unnecessary and worthless treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

The effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on histamine release from human basophils. I. Enhancement of immunologic release by LPS.

Preincubation of human basophils with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) purified from the heptose-deficient mutant Salmonella minnesota R595 enhanced by an average of sixfold the response of peripheral blood basophils obtained from allergic donors to several allergens in vitro as judged by release of histamine. Enhancement occurred at suboptimal, optimal, and supraoptimal concentrations of antigen. No effect was seen if basophils were from a nonallergic donor, and LPS by itself rarely caused histamine release from any preparation of basophils. However, histamine release in basophils from nonallergic donors induced by antibody directed against IgE (anti-IgE) also was enhanced by LPS. Potentiation of histamine release occurred if basophils were pretreated with LPS before addition of anti-IgE for as little as 5 min; there was no increase in release if anti-IgE and LPS were added simultaneously to cells. LPS enhanced the rate of release without altering duration of the release response. LPS potentiation of release of histamine by F(ab')2 fragments of anti-IgE was equivalent to its effect on release triggered by the intact antibody molecule, confirming that the effect of LPS is not due solely to its interaction with the Fc component of the anti-IgE. These data thus provide evidence for modulation of basophil response to IgE-mediated stimuli by LPS, resulting in a significant enhancement of response. Enhancement by LPS appears to be independent of the stimulus which triggers the IgE receptor. The contribution of this mechanism to allergic disease or asthma remains to be determined.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1985

Natural exposure and serum antibodies to house dust mite of mite-allergic children with asthma in Atlanta.

Pyroglyphid mites in house dust are important allergens associated with asthma in Europe, but comparable studies of house dust mites in the homes of patients with asthma have not been done in the United States. We examined the distribution of mites and mite allergen in the houses of 20 mite-sensitive children with asthma in Atlanta and measured IgE antibodies to mite allergens in their sera. One or more dust samples from bedding, bedroom floor, television room floor, or television room furniture from 17/20 houses contained greater than 10,000 ng of antigen P1 equivalent per gram of fine dust; amounts ranged from 280 to 230,400 ng/gm. Allergen levels were higher in dust samples from furniture and bedding than from floors. Dust samples obtained from houses in June to September had more mites and mite allergen than those houses sampled in March to April; relative humidity in the room also was higher in June to September. Mite numbers and allergen in floor and furniture samples were correlated with relative humidity in the room and were high when relative humidity was greater than 50%; antigen P1 equivalent was greater than 10,000 ng/gm in 21/39 such samples. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was present in all houses and dominant in 11/20. D. farinae was found in 17 houses and was dominant in six. All children studied had high IgE antibody with either D. farinae or D. pteronyssinus RAST; 16 of the 20 children also had IgE to antigen P1. It is likely that the IgE antibody responses in these 20 children with asthma were a direct result of exposure to high levels of mite allergen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Monoclonal antibody for rapid laboratory detection of cytomegalovirus infections: characterization and diagnostic application.

Monoclonal antibodies to early (2H2.4, molecular weight 72,000 daltons) and late (2F3.0, molecular weight 68,000 daltons) antigens of the AD-169 strain of cytomegalovirus (CMV) were prepared by fusing mouse spleen cells with NS-1 mouse myeloma cells. The 2H2.4 monoclonal antibody produced a dense immunofluorescence with prominent lobular staining within the nucleus of CMV-infected substrate cells, whereas the reaction of 2F3.0 was more diffuse and generally involved the entire nucleus of the cells. Both monoclonal antibodies had little or no neutralizing activity against CMV in plaque-reduction assays. No cross-reactions were observed between these monoclonal antibodies and other members of the herpesvirus group. The 2H2.4 monoclonal antibody to early CMV antigen was used in a shell vial assay with a low-speed centrifugation step for the rapid (within 16 hours after inoculation) diagnosis of CMV infections. Optimal conditions for the test included centrifugation of shell vials at 700 X g for 45 minutes at 36 degrees C. An inoculum volume of 0.2 ml provided a reasonable balance between the optimal sensitivity for detecting specific viral fluorescence and the easy discrimination of the specific immunofluorescence from the background debris. Because of the commercial availability of the monoclonal antibody and the simplicity of the procedures used in the shell vial assay and subsequent fluorescence techniques, this rapid assay can be done in any laboratory that is familiar with cell culture manipulations.

Animals↗