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PubMed1987

Production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 by Staphylococcus aureus restricted to endogenous air in tampons.

All types of four brands of tampons were tested in triplicate by a tampon sac method for their effect on production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1). In this method the available air is limited to that which is in the tampon sac. Tampons were weighed and inserted into dialysis sacs inoculated with a TSST-1-producing Staphylococcus aureus strain; the sacs were submerged into brain heart infusion agar, which was allowed to harden around the sacs, and were incubated for 18 h at 37 degrees C. The tampons were removed, weighed, and extracted; the CFU of staphylococci and the amount of toxin present in the extracts were determined. Glass wool was used in place of the tampons as one control, and inoculated empty sacs were used as a second control. The total CFU were consistently greater than 2 X 10(11) for the tampons and glass wool and less than or equal to 10(11) for the empty sac control. Total toxin production for all tampons tested and the glass wool was 2 to 10 times higher than the toxin produced with the empty sac control. These results indicate that tampons provide increased surface area for the staphylococci to grow and adequate oxygen for toxin production. No significant inhibition of growth of the staphylococci or TSST-1 production by any of the tampons tested was noted.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1975

Pathogenesis of hypertensive retinopathy. An experimental study in the monkey.

Retinal changes in accelerated hypertension were studied in seventeen monkeys with experimental hypertension by means of ophthalmoscopy and colour and flourescence photography during life, and by injection and digest preparations and light and electron microscopy after the animals had been killed. Cotton-wool spots developed in all but three monkeys. The arteries became tortuous and dilated and the light reflex decreased in those animals that became hypertensive. The earliest abnormality was a development of many points of fluorescein leakage on terminal arterioles or small arteries. Such leaking points were always present in relation to cotton-wool spots but were not confined to such areas. Focal narrowing of arteries was not observed but arteriolar occlusion and retrograde filling of the distal segment was present in three animals. Superficial linear haemorrhages were noted in five animals. Light microscopy revealed cotton-wool spots which were identical to those observed in man with a collection of swollen axons containing densely staining pseudonuclei. Study of the arterioles by electron microscopy showed findings ranging from normality to extensive necrosis. Many precapillary arteries were constricted and some were virtually occluded. Degenerative changes were present in smooth muscle cells in the wall of many of the constricted arterioles. Many arteries also showed insudation into their wall of plasma which had seeped into the muscular coat displacing and sometimes entirely replacing the smooth muscle cells. Except for arterioles with advanced necrosis, there was no indication of how plasma insudation occurred. Two arterioles with extensive necrosis showed a break within the endothelial cell cytoplasm through which penetration of plasma proteins had probably occurred. The extravascular tissues showed collections of amorphous material, sone of it with the typical banded configuration of fibrin. The sequence of events proposed to explain these features is as follows: (1) The arterioles constrict as the pressure rises, most likely as a result of vascular autoregulation. This may head to occlusion of the precapillary arterioles and is associated with necrosis of vascular smooth muscle. (2) Dilatation then occurs with insudation of plasma into the unsupported wall through a damaged endothelium. This stage probably corresponds to the autoregulatory break-point and is evidenced clinically by focal leakage of fluorescein. (3) Progressive plasma insudation into the vessel wall with further muscle necrosis results in secondary occlusion and the typical picture of advanced fibrinoid necrosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Rapid tightening of blood glucose control leads to transient deterioration of retinopathy in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus: the Oslo study.

In a study of retinopathy during one year of tight blood glucose control 45 type I (insulin dependent) diabetics without proliferative retinopathy were randomised to receive either continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, multiple insulin injections, or conventional insulin treatment (controls). Near normoglycaemia was achieved with continuous infusion and multiple injections but not with conventional treatment. Blind evaluation of fluorescein angiograms performed three monthly showed progression of retinopathy in the control group, transient deterioration in the continuous infusion group, and no change in the multiple injection group. Half the patients receiving continuous infusion and multiple injections developed retinal cotton wool spots after three to six months. These changes regressed in all but four patients after 12 months. Control patients did not develop cotton wool spots. Patients who developed cotton wool spots are characterised by a larger decrement in glycosylated haemoglobin and blood glucose values, more frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia, a longer duration of diabetes, and more severe retinopathy at onset. A large and rapid fall in blood glucose concentration may promote transient deterioration of diabetic retinopathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Retinal abnormalities in CADASIL: a retrospective study of 18 patients.

BACKGROUND: CADASIL is an inherited small vessel disease related to Notch3 gene mutations. AIM: To report retinal findings in symptomatic CADASIL patients. METHODS: Assessment of visual acuity (VA), testing of visual fields (VF), funduscopic examination (FE), and fluorescein angiography (FA) were carried out in 18 symptomatic patients. RESULTS: No visual symptoms were presented by our patients. VA was normal in all. Ophthalmologic abnormalities were found in 8 patients. VF were normal except for a right hemianopia in one subject due to ischemic stroke. FE and FA revealed significant abnormalities in seven other subjects (mean age: 55 years; range: 39-74): nerve fibre loss (n = 4), cotton wool spots (n = 3), sheathed arteries (n = 1), and tortuous arteries (n = 1). Only one patient with both tortuous arteries and nerve fibre loss had multiple vascular risk factors, and another patient with cotton wool spots was a current smoker. DISCUSSION: FE and FA revealed silent retinal abnormalities in CADASIL patients with nerve fibre loss in 22% and cotton wool spots in 17%. The presence of these abnormal retinal findings does not seem related to the severity of the disorder but may be considered as peripheral markers of this genetic disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Use of textiles in atopic dermatitis: care of atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease which usually starts during the first years of life. In the management of AD, the correct approach requires a combination of multiple treatments to identify and eliminate trigger factors, and to improve the alteration of the skin barrier. In this article we try to explain the importance of skin care in the management of AD in relation to the use of textiles: they may be useful to improve disrupted skin but they are also a possible cause of triggering or worsening the lesions. Garments are in direct contact with the skin all day long, and for this reason it is important to carefully choose suitable fabrics in atopic subjects who have disrupted skin. Owing to their hygienic properties fabrics produced from natural fibres are preferential. Wool fibres are frequently used in human clothes but are irritant in direct contact with the skin. Wool fibre has frequently been shown to be irritant to the skin of atopic patients, and for this reason wool intolerance was included as a minor criterion in the diagnostic criteria of AD by Hanifin and Rajka in 1980. Cotton is the most commonly used textile for patients with AD; it has wide acceptability as clothing material because of its natural abundance and inherent properties like good folding endurance, better conduction of heat, easy dyeability and excellent moisture absorption. Silk fabrics help to maintain the body temperature by reducing the excessive sweating and moisture loss that can worsen xerosis. However, the type of silk fabric generally used for clothes is not particularly useful in the care and dressing of children with AD since it reduces transpiration and may cause discomfort when in direct contact with the skin. A new type of silk fabric made of transpiring and slightly elastic woven silk is now commercially available (Microair Dermasilk) and may be used for the skin care of children with AD. The presence of increased bacterial colonization has been demonstrated in patients with AD. Such colonization has been included in the group of trigger factors for eczema in AD. Silver products have recently been demonstrated to offer two advantages in the control of bacterial infections. Textiles may be used not only for clothes, but also to prevent dust mite sensitization in atopic patients. A marked clinical improvement of AD was observed in a group of adults and children with positive skin tests (not necessarily towards mites), after an intensive eradication programme for mite allergens. Skin treatment with acaricide and house dust mite control measures can decrease AD symptoms. Different textiles have various potential worsening links with allergies: e.g. clothing has been proposed as an additional source of exposure to mite and cat allergens. On the other hand, special textiles can be used to prevent dust mite sensitization.

Allergens↗
PubMed1979

Characterization of bovine leukocytes involved in antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity.

By the use of cell surface markers combined with physical separation techniques, bovine mononuclear leukocytes active as K cells in antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity were characterized. The most active cells were glass wool adherent and were presumed to be macrophages. In the glass wool nonadherent population, heterogeneity was detected with respect to the complement (C) receptor but all cells expressed the Fc receptor. The C receptor-positive population adhered to nylon wool but was not a B cell and was assumed to be monocyte. The C receptor-negative population, the true lymphoid K cell, was nonadherent to nylon and was suggested to be an Fc receptor-positive null lymphocyte. The results were compared to those obtained with other species.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Respiratory disease among workers exposed to man-made mineral fibers.

Fibrous glass and mineral wool workers exposed to airborne man-made mineral fibers prior to 1964 were identified and followed for deaths caused by respiratory disease. Fiber exposure levels were estimated for each worker. Average fiber concentrations were very low in relation to a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health recommendation that exposure to man-made mineral fibers less than 3.5 microns in diameter be limited to 3 fibers per cubic centimeter of air. Fibrous glass workers were exposed to about one hundredth and mineral wool workers to about one tenth of that amount. Respiratory cancer death rates were not excessive for the fibrous glass workers, but they were significantly elevated for the mineral wool workers. When respiratory cancer deaths were compared with fiber exposure levels, however, there was in no instance a strong positive correlation. There was a significant excess in nonmalignant respiratory disease deaths (excluding influenza and pneumonia) for fibrous glass workers and for the total cohort. When these nonmalignant respiratory disease deaths were compared with fiber exposure levels, however, there was in no instance a strong positive association. A special study was made of workers exposed to small diameter fibers. Respiratory cancer deaths were not in excess; however, there was an excess in nonmalignant respiratory disease deaths. This study provided no consistent evidence of a respiratory disease hazard related to exposure to man-made mineral fibers among the workers who produce these fibers. Results must be interpreted in relation to the relatively low exposure levels for these workers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ocular manifestations in patients with microscopic polyangiitis.

PURPOSE: To describe ocular manifestations in patients with microscopic polyangiitis. METHODS: Two patients with microscopic polyangiitis complained of ocular symptoms and underwent ophthalmologic examinations. RESULTS: An 83-year-old woman (Case 1) was diagnosed with microscopic polyangiitis, according to the general clinical findings and the presence of perinuclear pattern of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (P-ANCA). She had hypopyon iridocyclitis in the right eye and retinal cotton-wool spots in the left eye. The patient was treated with oral prednisolone and subconjunctival betamethasone. The hypopyon iridocyclitis and retinal cotton-wool spots responded. A 79-year-old man (Case 2) had bilateral scleritis. The diagnosis of microscopic polyangiitis was made based on general clinical findings and the presence of P-ANCA. Scleritis was reduced after corticosteroid treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmologists should be aware that hypopyon iridocyclitis, cotton-wool spot, and scleritis could occur in patients with microscopic polyangiitis.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunological and viral markers of HIV infection and retinal microangiopathy.

The relationship between retinal microangiopathy and some features of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection such as HIV antigenemia, antibodies to the viral proteins, T lymphocyte subsets, were studied in 71 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The absence of antibodies to the HIV p24 protein was significantly related to retinal microangiopathy (p = 0.0051) and more closely to retinal cotton-wool spots (p = 0.0007); the combination of positive antigenemia with the absence of antibodies to p24, which is typical of the later phases of HIV infection, was found in a larger percentage of patients with cotton-wool spots (p = 0.0013) than in subjects with every sign of microangiopathy (p = 0.0546). T-helper (CD4+) cells count below 200 cells/mm3 was also detected in a higher percentage of patients with HIV-related retinal microangiopathy (p = 0.009). These findings suggest that retinal microangiopathy and especially retinal cotton-wool spots are related to the progression of immunodeficiency.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation of fundus lesions and hematologic findings in leukemic retinopathy.

This prospective study evaluated the relationship between the fundus findings in leukemic retinopathy and hematologic parameters. Seventy-four newly diagnosed consecutive patients with acute leukemia were included, 49 with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), and 25 acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Blood parameters were based on data obtained before starting any therapeutic modalities. Leukemic retinopathy was detected in 32 patients (43%). Patients with ALL and retinal hemorrhages had significantly lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels than those without hemorrhages (p = 0.004 and 0.018 respectively). AML patients with white-centered hemorrhages had a significantly higher leukocyte count than those without (p = 0.0002). ALL patients with cotton-wool spots had significantly lower hemoglobin levels and hematocrit than patients without such lesions (p = 0.044 and 0.05 respectively). AML patients with cotton wool spots had significantly lower leukocyte and platelet counts than those without (p = 0.019 and 0.003 respectively). Our results suggest that anemia is related to the findings of retinal hemorrhage and cotton-wool spots in ALL patients, that high leukocyte count is associated with white centered hemorrhage in AML patients, and that thrombocytopenia is not associated with retinal hemorrhage in this group of patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Characterization of a monoclonal antibody (SBU-1) made to the thymic rudiment of sheep.

A monoclonal antibody (SBU-1) was raised to sheep thymic rudiment by fusion of NSI myeloma cells with spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with thymic rudiment isolated from fetal sheep between 25-30 days of gestation. By employing the indirect immunoperoxidase technique the antigen recognized by SBU-1 was found to be present in the epithelial reticular cells of the fetal sheep thymus. The intensity of staining decreased as gestation progressed. In the adult thymus the antigen was mainly restricted to Hassall's corpuscles and occasional epithelial cells in the medulla. In addition, the antigen was also shown to be present in epithelial cells of the small intestine, the bronchiole, the keratinized epithelium of the rumen, and the epithelial cells of the kidney tubules. By use of immunofluorescence the antigen was shown to be present in most of the cells of wool follicles and the cortex of developing wool fibers. Western blotting of SBU-1 against the low-sulfur alpha-keratin proteins of wool confirmed that the antigen recognized by SBU-1 belongs to a family of keratins. It was concluded that SBU-1 was raised against alpha-keratin expressed by the epithelial cells of the thymic rudiment and that the expression of this antigen on the reticular network of the thymus declined with advancement of pregnancy.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[Studies on anti-inflammatory agents. (5). Specific characteristic of bone changes in adjuvant arthritic rats with passage of time].

Adjuvant arthritic rats develop marked changes in the distal limb joints. These changes were observed by soft X-ray photography at appropriate intervals. It was confirmed that the "cotton wool appearance" surrounding the bones, which was readily discernible from the radiographs, was a good indicator for following the progression of bone damages. Standard radiographs were selected to represent the various bone changes based on the "cotton wool appearance". When the incidence rates of bone deformation confirmed on the basis of the above method were plotted against Weibull Probability Paper, the plots conformed with the Weibull distribution function. Thus, it was possible to evaluate bone changes in adjuvant arthritic rats by observing the "cotton wool appearance" surrounding the bones.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Pupation site selection of cat fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in various carpet types and its influence on insecticide efficacy.

Pupation sites of cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), larvae were determined in three styles of nylon and one style of wool carpet. Nylon saxony carpet had 59.3% of pupae at the top of the pile and 40% at the base of the pile. In nylon contract carpet, 55.2% of pupae were found at the top, 42.6% in the middle, and only 2.2% at the base of the pile. Nylon loop carpet contained 59.2% of pupae at the base, 25.5% in the middle, and 15.3% in the top of the pile. Wool loop carpet had 92.4% at the base and 3.8% both in the middle and top of the pile. Bioassays comparing the control of pupae manually placed at the base of carpets to that in carpets with natural pupation showed that control of pupae in the latter was 39-68% higher. Pupal control after natural pupation was greatest in nylon saxony and nylon contract carpets and lowest in nylon loop and wool loop carpets. Additional studies demonstrated that vacuuming provided the same level of pupal control on nylon saxony carpet as a spray application of permethrin to the carpet surface. Therefore, pupae that survived chemical and mechanical control treatments in nylon saxony carpet probably pupated away from the surface of the pile. Application of permethrin to the base of nylon saxony carpet did not significantly increase control. Future bioassays with cat flea pupae in carpet should be performed after natural pupation and consider carpet make and style.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Dermatophilosis in camels (Camelus dromedarius Linnaeus, 1758) in Kenya.

Natural dermatophilosis (caused by Dermatophilus congolensis Van Saceghem, 1915) has only recently been described in camels (Camelus dromedarius). Further work has shown that the disease is actually widespread. At the Ol Maisor farm where it was first diagnosed (in the Laikipia district of northern Kenya), detailed investigations have revealed that thirty camels (ten calves and twenty adult animals) were infected. The signs varied from mild to more than 50% skin involvement. Patches of wool on the rump were easily detachable with many hard, white crusts. Similarly, another twenty camels from a totally different area of northern Kenya (Samburu district) were found to be infected with D. congolensis. Bacterial isolation was used to confirm the diagnosis. At Ol Maisor farm, twenty sheep were also found to have severe dermatophilosis. There were scabs and many areas of wool shedding. The shed wool had crusts similar to those observed on camels. Experimental infection with D. congolensis isolated from camels was conducted, by means of scarification, on the skin of two goats. The same experimental infection was possible in two calves, taking two weeks to become established. After thirty days there were disseminated foci of infection on the heads of the calves, especially around the eyes. Although these findings cannot show the actual source of D. congolensis, it is possible that the same organism causes dermatophilosis in the different animals.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed2003

Relations among comfort of fabrics, ratings of comfort, and visual vigilance.

Little is known about the relationship between perceptions of comfort and cognitive performance. In the present study, 40 subjects (20 men and 20 women) participated in a computerized cognitive task of visual vigilance. The computer task was completed under three conditions of clothing and tactile comfort: one condition was that of extreme discomfort, effected by the wearing of wool clothing material on the arms and neck in addition to each subject's normal clothing, including a short sleeve shirt; a second condition was that of minimal discomfort, effected by the wearing of cotton clothing material on the arms and neck, in addition to each subject's normal clothing, including a short sleeve shirt; and a third condition was a control, wherein no experimental material was added to each subject's normal clothing, including a short sleeve shirt. Comfort was assessed prior to, during, and after testing. Reaction time and accuracy of 400 trials of a visual vigilance task were assessed under each of these three conditions. Analysis indicated a significant difference in perceived comfort between the wool and each of the other conditions. In addition, both reaction time and accuracy declined in the wool condition. This study is among the first to identify a direct significant relationship between perceptions of clothing comfort and cognitive performance.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Length-reduction method for man-made mineral fibers for biological experiments.

A simple fiber length-reduction method was developed to obtain a large amount of fiber samples with different length distributions for use in various biological experiments. This press method is only to press a raw fiber sample charged in a stainless cylinder at an adequate pressure, and is effective for man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) such as glass wool, rock wool and wool and refractory fibers (ceramic fibers, mullite fibers) and some brittle natural mineral fibers such as fibrous brucite and wollastonite. The mean fiber-length of man-made mineral fibers became shorter with the increase in the pressure applied without diameter change. We could obtain a length-reduced fiber sample with a suitable length distribution by this method. This press method is therefore a size-selective method able to produce a large amount of pulverized fiber sample depending on the press cylinder size for biological experiments. A very small amount of non-fibrous particles with aspect ratios (length vs. diameter) of under 3 was seen in the pulverized fiber samples. To eliminate such non-fibrous particles as well as too long fibers from the sample, separation by sedimentation in water was somewhat effective.

Aluminum Silicates↗
PubMed2000

[Preventive effects of various socks against adhesion of dermatophytes to healthy feet].

We studied the preventive effects of socks against dermatophyte infection. Wearing various socks (cotton socks, nylon stockings, wool socks and "tabi"), a healthy volunteer walked on a bath mat on which a patient with tinea pedis had stepped earlier. The volunteer pressed her right foot with socks onto large agar medium (Foot-press method), then, took off the socks and performed the Foot-press method again. The number of colonies of isolated dermatophytes on the medium was counted. The number of isolated colonies from the sole after taking off the nylon stockings was larger than that from the foot wearing the stockings. Dermatophytes were also isolated from the sole after taking off cotton socks. In contrast, few dermatophytes were isolated from the sole after taking off wool socks or "tabi". On microscopic observation, fibers of the nylon stockings and cotton socks were seen to be loose enough for dermatophytes to pass through. In contrast with those socks, fibers of wool socks and "tabi" were tight or fluffy. In conclusion, the nylon stockings and cotton socks are unsatisfactory in preventing the adhesion of dermatophytes.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Microbiological sampling of meat cuts and manufacturing beef by excision or swabbing.

Groups of 25 beef or pork loin primal cuts or of pieces of stored or not stored manufacturing beef were sampled by excision and by swabbing with cotton wool, sponge, and gauze. Total aerobic counts, coliforms, and Escherichia coli from each sample were enumerated. Values for the mean log10, log10 mean, and/or the log10 total numbers recovered were calculated for each set of 25 bacterial counts. Those statistics indicated that, for product sampled without storage, swabbing with cotton wool or sponge recovered about 30%, and swabbing with gauze recovered about 10% of the bacteria recovered by excision sampling; but that for product sampled after storage, swabbing with cotton wool or sponge recovered about 50% and swabbing with gauze recovered about 15% of the bacteria recovered by excision sampling. However, the incidences of samples positive for coliforms and E. coli were less for stored than for nonstored product with all methods of sampling. The findings indicate that the conditions of meat surfaces, the handling of product, and the state of the microflora might all affect the numbers of bacteria recovered by any sampling technique. Thus, the relationship between the numbers recovered by excision or any selected swabbing technique may differ for different types of noncomminuted, raw meat product.

Animals↗