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Biomedical subjects

T R Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to T R Thompson.

85 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Influenza B-associated Reye's syndrome: incidence in Michigan and potential for prevention.

Prospective surveillance for Reye's syndrome in Michigan revealed the occurrence of 46 cases between December 15, 1973 and June 1, 1974. In an attempt to determine the incidence of influenza B-associated Reye's syndrome, a randomized point-prevalence survey of 1,041 schoolchildren was done in a county in Michigan where there had been simultaneous outbreaks of influenza B and Reye's syndrome. Of the children tested, 20% had titers of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody to influenza virus B/Hong Kong/5/72 of greater than or equal 1:20. Based upon this countywide survey, the incidence of Reye's syndrome following influenza B was estimated as between 30.8 and 57.8 cases of Reye's syndrome per 100,000 cases of influenza B. A detailed epidemiologic investigation of the patients who developed Reye's syndrome indicated that the syndrome occurred four times more frequently in children living in rural areas than in children in the urban areas of the state. These studies indicate that, in addition to antecedent viral infections such as influenza B, factor(s) that are most likely extrinsic or environmental also play a role in the pathogenesis of Reye's syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Group B streptococcal meningitis: delayed response to treatment.

Four infants with group B streptococcal meningitis had a delayed response to antibiotic therapy. Resolution of cerebrospinal fluid infection and/or pleocytosis occurred only after prolonged and intensive antimicrobial management. In this respect, these infants were similar to infants with gram-negative enteric meningitis. It is suggested that infants with group B streptococcal meningitis be closely monitored to insure adequate response to therapy.

Chloramphenicol↗

Early-onset pneumococcal sepsis in newborn infants.

Five infants with pneumococcal sepsis presented with respiratory distress and clinical signs of infection in the first day of life. Although there was no apparent epidemiological relationship among the patients, four of the five were seen within a 12-month period. Pneumonia, prolonged rupture of fetal membranes, and prematurity were features in these patients. Three infants died, two within 12 hours of diagnosis. Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from the vagina of three of the mothers; in two, the serotype was identical to that recovered from their infants. Clinical features of neonatal pneumococcal sepsis are similar to those of early-onset group B streptococcal infection. Like the group B Streptococcus, S. pneumoniae acquired from the maternal vagina is a potential life-threatening pathogen in the newborn period.

Female↗

Mechanism of action of "ruthenium red" compounds on Ca2+ ionophore from sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca2+ + Mg2+)- adenosine triphosphatase and lipid bilayer.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase was previously shown to have Ca2+-dependent and -selective ionophoric activity when tested in oxidized cholesterol lipid bilayer membranes (Shamoo, A. E., and MacLennan, D. H. (1974) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 71, 3522). ruthenium red, a known inhibitor of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase, is found to inhibit the Ca2+-ionophoric activity associated with (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase. Furthermore, ruthenium red alone acts as an anion-selective ionophore in lipid bilayers with the the following selectivity sequence for anions: l- greater than Cl-, Br- greater than F- greater than NO3-. The PCl-/PNa+ ratio was approximately 4/l. The presence of ruthenium red in excess of Ca2+ ionophore in lipid bilayer experiments converts the cation selectivity of the bilayer due to Ca2+ ionophore into anion selectivity.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Antimicrobial resistance of Shigellae isolated in Michigan.

Patterns of antimicrobial resistance were studied for 213 strains of shigellae isolated in rural and urban areas of Michigan by quantitative techniques: 66% of these organisms were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, cephalexin, or chloramphenicol or had multiple resistance to various combinations of these antibiotics. The incidence of resistant organisms was higher in the Detroit-Wayne County area, which is the most urban part of the state. Nalidixic acid and oxolinic acid were noted to be quite effective in vitro against shigellae and perhaps warrant further clinical study as potential agents for therapy of shigellosis, especially in view of the appearance of isolates with multiple resistance. Sulfamethoxazole alone was effective against only 62% of the Shigella isolates tested, but mixture with trimethoprim in a 20:1 ratio yielded a highly active in vitro combination.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Reduced thrombus formation with silicone elastomere (silastic) umbilical artery catheters.

This report describes clinical experience with a radiopaque silicone elastomere (Silastic) umbilical artery catheter. Twenty infants, ten with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) umbilical artery catheters and ten with Silastic umbilical artery catheters, all positioned at the aortic bifurcation, had aortograms performed at the time of catheter removal. Catheter-associated thrombus formation was observed in nine of the ten infants (90%) with PVC umbilical artery catheters and in one of the ten infants(10%) with Silastic catheters. The incidence of lower extremity vasospasm associated with the two catheters was not significantly different. Aortic pressure tracing recorded through Silastic catheters were accurate, but slightly damped. Autopsies were performed on five additional infants who died with indwelling Silastic umbilical artery catheters. None of the catheters, nor their surrounding tissues, showed evidence of thrombus formation on either gross or microscopic examination. It is our experience that radiopaque silicone elastomere tubing can be used as an umbilical artery catheter and appears to have the advantage of being less thrombogenic than the standard PVC tubing currently in general use.

Catheterization↗

Infantile lobar emphysema.

Infantile lobar emphysema is a symptom complex representing a spectrum of diseases characterized by overdistention of a pulmonary lobe by a check valve mechanism. The earlier in life infantile lobar emphysema presents, the more severe are the symptoms. Half of the cases appear in the first 4 weeks of life. The chest radiograph is the best diagnostic tool but can be misinterpreted. Computed tomography sometimes discloses the cause, which appears to be bronchial obstruction in 25% of cases. The bronchial obstruction may be due to intrinsic defects or to extrinsic compression. Bronchoscopy should be performed only in certain cases and then only with careful anesthetic management.

Bronchi↗

Bombesin-, calcitonin-, and serotonin-immunoreactive pulmonary neuroendocrine cells in acute and chronic neonatal lung disease.

Bombesin-, calcitonin-, and serotonin-immunoreactive pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNEC) were quantitated in the lungs of infants dying of hyaline membrane disease (HMD) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). When compared with the lungs of age-matched control infants dying of noncardiopulmonary causes, infants who had HMD demonstrated a decrease in the numbers of bombesin-, calcitonin-, and serotonin-immunoreactive PNECs, while infants who had BPD demonstrated an increase. This difference was most pronounced at 2 months of age, when infants with BPD had a threefold increase in bombesin-, a tenfold increase in calcitonin-, and a 34-fold increase in serotonin-immunoreactive cells. In both control infants and infants who had acute and chronic lung disease, a consistent relationship was found between numbers of the three cell types: bombesin greater than calcitonin greater than serotonin. Radioimmunoassay of lung tissue from infants dying of HMD and BPD confirmed low levels of bombesin immunoreactivity in HMD and increased levels in BPD. Circulating plasma bombesin levels in neonates, as measured by radioimmunoassay, were significantly higher than levels found in adults. Though these findings are intriguing, the documentation of a causal relationship between observed alterations in PNEC and the vascular and gas exchange abnormalities known to be associated with HMD and BPD must await further studies.

Acute Disease↗