bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical chemistry laboratory productivity: a comparison between a Canadian and a British teaching hospital.
Authors: Henderson A R , Gardner M D
Published: June 2007

the productivity of a clinical chemistry laboratory was measured in both a Canadian and a British tertiary care teaching hospital using 1977 data and the 1976 edition of the Canadian Schedule of Unit Values. Although productivity, measured as units produced per person or per paid hour, was lower in the British than in the Canadian teaching hospital-due to the British day-release system of staff-education-the output per actual worker hour was similar. We conclude, from this small study, that productivity in the laboratory services of the British National Health Service is not likely to be different from laboratory productivity elsewhere.
Chronic granulocytic leukaemia in a patient with chronic renal failure on dialysis.
Authors: Dodsworth H , Gabriel R
Published: June 2007

A diagnosis of chronic granulocytic leukaemia was made in a man who had been haemodialysed for three years. The association between leukaemia and chronic renal failure is rare.
Source of group B streptococci in the female genital tract.
Authors: Sanderson P J , Ross J , Stringer J
Published: June 2007

Swabs were taken from the posterior fornix, perineum, and anorectum of 135 patients on three occasions during their pregnancy. Multiple isolates of beta-haemolytic streptococci of group B were obtained from 24 women, in 21 of whom the strains were examined by a highly discriminative serotyping and phage typing method. In 18 of these patients their own isolates were indistinguishable but different from those of other women with multiple isolates. Women yielding group B streptococci from the posterior fornix usually carried an indistinguishable strain in the anorectum.
Localisation of immunoglobulin on the liver cell surface in primary biliary cirrhosis
Authors: Krogsgaard K , Tage-Jensen U , Wantzin P , Aldershvile J , Hardt F
Published: June 2007

Direct immunofluorescence studies were performed on isolated liver cells in order to detect surface localisation of IgG in acute and chronic hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis. Membrane-bound IgG was demonstrated in nine patients. Six of eight patients with primary biliary cirrhosis showed granular fluorescence on their liver cell surfaces suggesting that an antibody or immune complex-mediated cytotoxicity might be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Production of freeze-dried human antihaemophilic cryoprecipitate.
Authors: Millgan G , Graham R , Hanratty S , Muir W , Mitchell R
Published: June 2007

Concentration of factor VIII from fresh plasma by cryoprecipitation remains the basis for preparation of products used to treat haemophilia A. This paper describes the preparation of a factor VIII concentrate from small plasma pools in transfusion centres with drying facilities. The dried concentrate from one litre of plasma dissolves very well in 50 or 100 ml of distilled water and contains around 500 IU per bottle. The specific activity per mg protein is 0.19 IU and the fibrinogen concentration is half that in frozen cryoprecipitate. This method of drying causes no appreciable loss in the factor VIIIC activity and little denaturation as shown by the factor-VIII-related antigen/factor VIIIC ratio of 1.7.
Amniotic fluid fluorescence polarisation values for assessing fetal lung maturation.
Authors: Legge M , Potter H C
Published: June 2007

The fluorescence probe 1,6, diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene was used to determine the micro-viscosity of third trimester amniotic fluid samples utilising an Aminco Bowman spectrofluorometer fitted with a polariser prism. The results were related to the lecithin sphingomyelin (L:S) ratio. A fluorescence polarisation value of 0.360 corresponded to an L:S ratio of 2.0 in uncomplicated and diabetic pregnancies. Pregnancies complicated by Rhesus disease gave significantly different fluorescence polarisation values when compared with the uncomplicated pregnancies.
Some observations on the assay of arylsuphatase A in urine.
Authors: Davidson D F
Published: June 2007

A method for the measurement of arylsulphatase A (ASA) in urine is assessed. Urine samples should be stored refrigerated at 4 degrees C and not deep frozen prior to dialysis. The within-batch coefficient of variation of method, in the normal range, is 6.7%. The major source of imprecision is the dialysis step. The normal range is assessed and results are expressed as units per mole creatinine.
Contamination of the environment by special purpose centrifuges used in clinical laboratories.
Authors: Harper G J
Published: June 2007

The generation of aerosols and the contamination of surfaces arising from the use of a number of special purpose centrifuges have been measured. Except when sealed containers were used all the equipment tested generated airborne particles and contaminated surrounding surfaces. The magnitude of this contamination was shown to be associated with several factors, and it could be considerably reduced by the use of sealed containers, and by fitting air filters. The significance of these findings and their application are discussed.
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: a light microscopical and ultrastructural study.
Authors: Hasleton P S , Curry A , Rankin E M
Published: June 2007

A case of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia developing a patient with treated diffuse lymphocytic lymphoma is described. The electron microscopic features and life cycle of the organism are illustrated. The patient died twenty-four hours after the biopsy had been taken. Septrin appeared to have affected the trophozoite stage. Pneumocystis carinii appears to induce interstitial pulmonary oedema and fibrosis. A discussion of the role of electron microscopy in early diagnosis of the disease is presented.
Clinical and histological features of a group of patients with sporadic non-A, non-B hepatitis.
Authors: Bamber M , Murray A K , Weller I V , Morelli A , Scheuer P J , Thomas H C , Sherlock S
Published: June 2007

Twelve serologically proven cases of non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis have been described. The clinical course was mild in 11 patients. One patient, however, presented in portal systemic encephalopathy and required steroid treatment. Nine of the 12 patients continued to exhibit raised transaminase (AST) activities six or more months after the onset of the acute hepatitis. In these immunoglobulin concentrations were normal and autoantibodies were not present in significant titre. Four patients had evidence of previous hepatitis B infection, suggesting that the route of transmission of NANB might be similar to that of hepatitis B virus. A further four patients gave a history which suggests a possible parenteral mode of transmission. Liver biopsies were carried out both in the acute (8 cases) and chronic (6 cases) phases of the disease. Histological findings in liver biopsies covered the whole spectrum of acute and chronic hepatitis and 1 patient had cirrhosis. One notable feature in these biopsies was the presence of fatty changes.
Mast cells in the human alveolar wall: an electronmicroscopic study.
Authors: Fox B , Bull T B , Guz A
Published: June 2007

Mast cells were identified by electronmicroscopy in the alveolar wall of the lung in 20 subjects (10 normal, 10 abnormal). A quantitative and qualitative study was made of the mast cells. In the normal lung there was an average concentration of 350 mast cells/mm2 of alveolar wall and in the abnormal 523/mm2. Mast cells occupied approximately 1.6-2.1% of the area of the alveolar wall. There was marked variation in the structure of the mast cell granules but no differences between those in the normal and abnormal lungs. There was evidence that constant degranulation of mast cells may be occurring in the lung. The role that alveolar mast cells may play in the vasoconstrictor response to alveolar hypoxia is discussed. It is suggested that the tachypnoea present in asthma may partly be due to release of mediators from sensitised mast cells within the alveolar wall.
Increased absolute calcium binding to albumin in hypoalbuminaemia.
Authors: Besarab A , Caro J F
Published: June 2007

The amount of calcium bound to protein was measured in 30 patients with differing diseases and varying degrees of hypoalbuminaemia. Total serum calcium increased directly with both serum albumin and ultrafilterable calcium concentrations. The estimated amount of calcium bound per gram of albumin varied inversely with the albumin concentration, decreasing from 2.1 to 1.0 mg calcium/g albumin as albumin concentration increased from 1.7 to 3.1 g/dl. Circulating parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations varied inversely with measured ultrafilterable calcium concentrations. The frequency of raised PTH concentrations decreased as serum albumin increased. Use of a conventional correction factor for albumin binding (0.88 mg calcium bound per gram of albumin) to calculate corrected total calcium led to major errors in estimating ultrafilterable calcium in these patients. The PTH concentrations in turn correlated with the degree of deviation between estimated and measured ultrafilterable calcium concentrations. Ionised calcium was low in seven of ten additional hypoalbuminaemic patients studied whereas correction of total calcium for albumin indicated normocalcaemia in all. Thus correction of total calcium in patients with hypoalbuminaemia by formulae which use a fixed binding ration of calcium to albumin may give an erroneous impression of normocalcaemia. The increase in calcium binding ratio during hypoalbuminaemia needs to be considered during assessment of calcium status in these patients.
The Fluoretec system for rapid diagnosis of bacteroides infections by direct immunofluorescence of clinical specimens.
Authors: Slack M P , Griffiths D T , Johnston H H
Published: June 2007

Fluoretec, a commercial kit for the rapid diagnosis by immunofluorescence of infections caused by Bacteroides spp was compared with a standard culture method. A total of 1010 specimens were tested for the presence of B fragilis group by Fluoretec F and B melaninogenicus-oralis and asaccharolytic groups by Fluoretec M. Fluoretec F was positive in 123/152 specimens culturing B fragilis group strains. Seventeen specimens were positive by Fluoretec F but negative on culture. Fluoretec M was positive in 21 of 22 specimens from which B melaninogenicus was cultured. The Fluoretec system was convenient in use, results being obtained within one hour of receipt of the specimen.
Hypothesis: when is a seminoma not a seminoma?
Authors: Raghavan D , Heyderman E , Monaghan P , Gibbs J , Ruoslahti E , Peckham M J , Neville A M
Published: June 2007

A xenograft line, HX 53, has been established in immune-suppressed mice from a specimen of a lymph node metastasis in a patient with a histological diagnosis of seminoma but with markedly raised circulating levels of alpha-fetoprotein. Histological, immunocytochemical, and ultrastructural studies of this xenograft line have suggested that a solid variant of yolk sac carcinoma may exist, which morphologically resembles seminoma, or that a continuum of differentiation exists between seminoma and yolk sac carcinoma.
Effect of total leucocyte count on whole blood filterability in patients with peripheral vascular disease.
Authors: Alderman M J , Ridge A , Morley A A , Ryall R G , Walsh J A
Published: June 2007

An abnormal filterability of whole blood through micropore membranes in vitro has been reported in peripheral vascular disease and has been thought to indicate abnormal red cell deformability. Blood from 68 patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease of varying severity and from 32 age-matched controls without a history of peripheral vascular disease was studied by the technique of whole blood filtration. In agreement with earlier findings, whole blood filterability was significantly reduced in patients with symptoms of vascular disease, but also their total leucocyte count was significantly higher than that of the controls. Variation in leucocyte count was found to affect significantly whole blood filterability, and the abnormal filterability in peripheral vascular disease could be entirely ascribed to this factor and not to an alteration in red cell deformability. The raised leucocyte count was not due to smoking but its cause could not be explained.
Plasma diamine oxidase levels in pregnancy complicated by threatened abortion.
Authors: Legge M , Duff G B
Published: June 2007

Plasma diamine oxidase levels were assayed in 66 patients who presented with pregnancy complicated by threatened abortion. Levels within the normal range were associated with continuing pregnancies, whereas levels below the normal range were associated with subsequent abortion. Among those patients in whom gestation was greater than eight weeks, 66.6% of diamine oxidase levels correctly predicted the pregnancy outcome. Assay of the diamine oxidase levels at eight weeks of gestation or less gave little useful information.
Co-trimoxazole sensitivity testing: comparison of separate and combined disk agar diffusion techniques.
Authors: Amyes S G , Telfer Brunton W A
Published: June 2007

Five hundred and seven strains of bacteria isolated from the urine of patients with significant bacteriuria (more than 10(8) colony-forming units per litre) were tested for sensitivity to co-trimoxazole by the agar diffusion technique. Each organism was tested with a combined disk containing trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole in a primary sensitivity test and, at a standardised inoculum, with both a combined disk and separate disks of trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole. The results show that combined disk testing does not always indicate the sensitivity patterns of the organisms being tested.
Effect of adding cysteine to brain-heart infusion broth on the isolation of Bacteroides fragilis from experimental blood cultures.
Authors: Shanson D C , Singh J
Published: June 2007

Adding 0.05% cysteine to brain-heart infusion broth greatly improved the recovery of three strains of Bacteroides fragilis from simulated blood cultures. No bacteroides were isolated after 24 hours' incubation in brain-heart infusion broth without added cysteine, and this was therefore a poor medium for the isolation of B. fragilis. Results with brain-heart infusion broth containing 0.05% cysteine were similar to those obtained with commercially prepared Thiol and Brewer's thioglycollate media.
Serial study of C-reactive protein during infection in leukaemia.
Authors: Rose P E , Johnsdon S A , Meakin M , Mackie P H , Stuart J
Published: June 2007

Serum C-reactive protein was studied serially by a 1-hour laser nephelometric assay in 25 patients with leukaemia who developed 34 episodes of infection. The serum level rose above, or by, 100mg/l in 29 of the episodes. Serial measurement of this acute-phase reactant was of value in detecting infection in the neutropenic patient and in monitoring the response to antibiotic therapy.
Nephelometry v differential agglutination titre in the measurement of rheumatoid factors.
Authors: Pritchard M H , Jobbins K
Published: June 2007

IgM rheumatoid factors have been measured in 92 patients by both laser nephelometry and the traditional hospital procedure of a latex slide test followed by differential agglutination titre (DAT). Of the results 86% were in accordance by both methods, but seronegative patients with a high nephelometry score all showed, after reference to their clinical state and previous investigations, that the nephelometry result more accurately represented their clinical state than the DAT, which was shown to be in error in five out of the six cases. Six seropositive patients with low nephelometry scores were also studied; three were in complete remission on gold or penicillamine therapy. Nephelometry is both technically simpler and more reliable than the traditional DAT method, and our results suggest that it has some advantages over the DAT in routine use.
A rapid slid coagglutination test-an alternative to the fluorescent antibody test for the identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Authors: Shanker S , Daley D A , Sorrell T C
Published: June 2007

The Phadebact(R) Gonococcus Test, a slide coagglutination test, was compared with the Difco fluorescent antibody test for the identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from 18- to 24-hour primary plates. A total of 316 morphologically characteristic, oxidase-positive, Gram-negative diplococci were tested. Altogether 298 isolates were identified definitively as N. gonorrhoeae by a rapid carbohydrate utilisation test; 287 of the 298 isolates of N. gonorrhoeae were identified by the coagglutination test, a sensitivity of 96%. The sensitivity of the fluorescent antibody test was 85% (254 of 298 isolates). False-positive results due to cross-reactions with non-gonococcal Neisseria were uncommon (1 of 18 non-gonococcal isolates in the coagglutination test, a specificity of 94%; 2 of 18 in the fluorescent antibody test, a specificity of 88%). None of the 14 other contaminant organisms seen frequently on primary isolation media gave positive reactions. Interpretation of the coagglutination test proved to be difficult initially. Thirty-two (10%) coagglutination tests had to be repeated; 3 of the 32 (1% of the total isolates tested) remained uninterpretable.
Spontaneous loss and transfer of plasmid-mediated K21 antigen synthesis in Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Authors: Barr J G
Published: June 2007

Five epidemiologically related urine isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae (sensu lato), capsular serotype K21 may spontaneously lose the ability to synthesise K21 antigen in vitro and in vivo. Another four isolates of K. pneumoniae K21+, epidemiologically unrelated to the other five, did not exhibit this effect. Elimination of the ability to synthesise K21 antigen may be enhanced by treatment with acridine orange. Transfer of K21 antigen synthesis from K. pneumoniae to Escherichia coli K12 was observed in eight independent experiments. Elimination from or acquisition of the ability to synthesise K21 antigen is not accompanied by changes in the antibiotic sensitivity patterns or biochemical characteristics of bacteria.
Clinical distribution and antibiotic sensitivities of staphylococcal strains isolated over an eight-month period.
Authors: Varaldo P E , Soro O , Grazi G , Biavasco F
Published: June 2007

A total of 842 staphylococci isolated from clinical material over an eight-month period and regarded as probable pathogens were identified according to lyogroup. Almost half the isolates belonged to lyogroups other than lyogroup I (Staphylococcus aureus), suggesting that coagulase-negative staphylococci are increasingly involved in human infections. All isolates were tested for sensitivity to 12 antibiotics. A greater resistance was observed in non-lyogroup I isolates, which again suggests a pathogenic significance of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Only lyogroup I strains, however, were obtained more frequently from clinical isolates than from healthy human skin. The distribution of the isolates in each lyogroup according to their clinical source is reported.
Routine bone marrow examination in the management of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia of childhood.
Authors: Haworth C , Heppleston A D , Morris Jones P H , Campbell R H , Evans D I , Palmer M K
Published: June 2007

Eighty-four children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) who had relapsed in bone marrow were studied to assess whether treatment would be more successful if relapse was detected before the disease became clinically evident. Patients whose relapse was detected by routine bone marrow examination before the disease became apparent were compared with those whose relapse was suspected from clinical examination or peripheral blood findings. In the former there was a lower percentage of blast cells in the marrow (p less than 0.02) and the patients suffered less from complications of the disease, but there was no difference in the incidence or duration of second remissions between the two groups.
Busulphan lung in childhood.
Authors: Oakhill A , Green I D , Knowlson G T , Cameron A H , Shah K J , Hill F G , Mann J R
Published: June 2007

A child receiving busulphan treatment for adult-type chronic myeloid leukaemia responded well for four years before the onset of complications leading to "busulphan lung'. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) were useful in monitoring the development of this condition and we recommended regular PFT for patient receiving busulphan treatment.
Plasma fibronectin in normal subjects and in various disease states.
Authors: Stathakis N E , Fountas A , Tsianos E
Published: June 2007

Plasma fibronectin was determined in 121 normal adults and in 149 patients. Fibronectin levels in normals were strongly influenced by sex and age. The mean value of the protein in cancer patients did not differ from that in normal controls; however, patients with cryofibrinogenaemia or extensive liver metastases had lower values whereas those with obstructive jaundice due to pancreatic carcinoma had higher values than normal controls. Fibronectin levels were greatly increased in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and moderately elevated in nephrotic syndrome. In patients with severe infection or sepsis, plasma fibronectin did not show a consistent pattern. Patients with overt disseminated intravascular coagulation, irrespective of its cause, had the lowest plasma fibronectin concentrations.
Demonstration of papilloma virus particles in cervical and vaginal scrape material: a report of 10 cases.
Authors: Stanbridge C M , Mather J , Curry A , Butler E B
Published: June 2007

The finding of virus particles by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in fixed cervical and vaginal scrape material and their identification as papilloma viruses by negative staining is described. The colposcopic, cytological, and histological appearances in a group of 10 patients in whom virus particles were seen are discussed and the possibly considered of an association between papilloma virus infection and the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and multifocal intraepithelial neoplasia of the female lower genital tract.
Possible role of the anaerobe in tonsillitis.
Authors: Reilly S , Timmis P , Beeden A G , Willis A T
Published: June 2007

Anaerobic bacteria were isolated from all tonsils removed from children at routine tonsillectomy; 75.6% of specimens yielded moderate to heavy growth and 80% of tonsils contained more than one anaerobic species. This recovery rate fell to 56% after a 10-day course of metronidazole before tonsillectomy--in only 14.6% of cases were anaerobes isolated in significant numbers. Surface swabbing of the tonsils permitted recovery of a similar spectrum of anaerobic bacteria but resulted in an overall loss of both aerobic and anaerobic pathogens. A comparison was made between the flora of acutely inflamed tonsils and "healthy' tonsils: over 90% of both groups yielded anaerobic bacteria, but they were present in significant numbers in 56.2% of swabs taken from acutely inflamed tonsils compared with 24% of swabs from "healthy' children. The isolation rate for anerobic pathogens was 37.5% and 16% respectively.
Faecal toxin and severity of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis.
Authors: Burdon D W , George R H , Mogg G A , Arabi Y , Thompson H , Johnson M , Alexander-Williams J , Keighley M R
Published: June 2007

The relationship between faecal toxin titre, histological evidence of pseudomembrane in the rectum, and severity of antibiotic-associated colitis has been analysed from data on 62 patients whose faeces contained Clostridium difficile toxin. There was a significant correlation between a toxin titre of 6400 or more and the presence of pseudomembrane (p less than 005). There was no correlation between toxin titre, duration of diarrhoea, total white cell count, temperature, serum albumin or serum orosomucoid concentrations. There was, however, a significant correlation between the presence of rectal pseudomembrane and duration of diarrhoea (p less than 0.005). Exposure to clindamycin or lincomycin was also associated with a significantly higher toxin titre than that seen in patients who were given other antibiotics. The duration of diarrhoea of diarrhoea was not longer and rectal pseudomembrane did not occur more often in the patients who had received clindamycin or lincomycin.
Costs of a clinical chemistry laboratory.
Authors: Stilwell J A
Published: June 2007

The costs of a clinical chemistry laboratory in a district general hospital were studied. The system used has certain advantages over the conventional Cooper Lybrand method. The time taken by technicians to perform tests was more variable than expected and the cost of sample collection was higher than process-cost for many tests. Indirect costs (overheads) were greater than direct costs and there were potential economies of scale. The most time-consuming part of this study was collecting the cost of chemicals and other disposables.
Relation between concentrations of metronidazole and Bacteroides spp in faeces of patients with Crohn's disease and healthy individuals.
Authors: Krook A , Lindström B , Kjellander J , Järnerot G , Bodin L
Published: June 2007

Nine patients wih Crohn's disease and six healthy individuals were given 400 mg metronidazole twice daily and the concentration was measured in plasma and faeces 6 to 8 h after intake. Quantitative and qualitative bacteriological examinations were performed before and during treatment. The concentrations of metronidazole in plasma varied between 5 and 30 mg/l as measured by liquid chromatography (LC) and between 3 and 20 mg/l as measured by a bioassay (BA) method. There was no significant differences between the results of the two methods in patients but compared with BA the LC values were regularly lower in the healthy subjects. Metronidazole was detected in the faeces of most patients. These findings coincided with a significant reduction of Bacteroides spp in their faeces which was not apparent in healthy individuals in whom metronidazole was not detected in the faeces. Higher faecal metronidazole concentrations were found in patients with active disease and a total colon involvement as compared with the patients with a more quiescent disease and involvement of ileum and ascending colon only.
Screening for toxoplasmosis in pregnancy.
Authors: Broadbent E J , Ross R , Hurley R
Published: June 2007

The prevalence of antibody against Toxoplasma gondi in a population of 715 pregnant women has been evaluated by two methods: indirect haemagglutination antibody (IHA) and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test and all positive sera were checked by the dye test. Five hundred of the study population were questioned on diet and on animal contact to elucidate a possible relation to the prevalence of antibody. Results are expressed in international units (IU) of antibody against T gondi. Of the 715 sera, 171 were positive by IHA and 173 by IFA. One hundred and sixty-seven sera were positive by both tests, ninety-eight (58%) correlating exactly, as to the concentration of antibody. The ten sera which were not positive by both tests all had detectable antibody at the minimum concentration only (12 IU). The dye test confirmed all sera positive by both tests with the exception of three. It also confirmed one of four sera positive by IHA antibody alone and two of six positive by IFA alone. All sera that proved dye test-negative had low antibody concentrations (12 IU) by IHA or IFA. The IHA test, which is commercially available in kit form, would be suitable for use as a screening test during pregnancy. The estimated annual rate of antibody acquisition over the age range 16-40 years is 1.2% per annum with the highest rate in the 36-40 age group (2.5% per annum) and the lowest in the 26-30 age group (0.4% per annum). The clinical history was not significantly different between those with and those without antibody against T gondi but significantly more women in the 36-40 age group had a history of animal contact than those in the 26-30 age group. No conclusive evidence of recent or current infection was found.
Trypsinised human O erythrocytes in the detection of rubella-specific IgM by sera fractionation on sucrose density gradient and absorption with staphylococcal protein A.
Authors: Al-Nakib W
Published: June 2007

Detection of rubella virus-specific IgM employing trypsin-treated human group O erythrocytes was evaluated using the method of sera fractionation on sucrose density gradients (SDG) and that of sera absorption with staphylococcal protein A. The former method proved to be highly specific and sensitive in confirming or excluding rubella by demonstration of specific IgM. In contrast, the latter method provided comparable results in only 71.43% of specimens tested by both methods while false-positive or -negative IgM results were obtained in the remaining 28.57% of specimens. In view of these results, therefore, it is recommended that all those specimens found positive for specific IgM by the protein A method must be confirmed by another procedure, possibly that of specific IgM reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol.
Investigation into the microbial flora of healing and non-healing decubitus ulcers.
Authors: Daltrey D C , Rhodes B , Chattwood J G
Published: June 2007

Seventy-four pressure lesions in fifty-three geriatric patients were observed at weekly intervals to determine the bacterial flora and the healing index of each lesion, expressed as initial area of lesion (cm2) - final area of lesion (cm2) divided by time in days. The micro-organisms which caused infection included Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus. Many lesions contained a mixed flora. P mirabilis and Ps aeruginosa were associated with necrotic (p less than 0.005) and enlarging (p less than 5 x 10(-7)) lesions. Bacteroides spp were associated with necrotic lesions (p less than 0.05). The presence of S aureus in a lesion was not associated with any particular trend in healing index. The implications of the microbiological findings are discussed.
Localisation of embryonic prealbumin in formalin-fixed human fetal and adult tissue.
Authors: Gallon M E , Reid W A , McHardie G A , Hardman R , Smith G D , Horne C H , Kalashnikov V V , Tatarinov Y S
Published: June 2007

The presence of embryonic prealbumin (EPA) has been confirmed in fetal fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and distal tubular epithelial cells by an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. EPA has often been found also in the stromal cells of benign and malignant mesodermal tumours, but not in the epithelial cells of benign and malignant epithelial tumours. That EPA is not an exclusive product of neoplastic mesodermal cells is demonstrated by our finding of EPA in fibroblasts of granulation tissue, irradiated fibroblasts, and in distal tubular epithelial cells of miscellaneous adult kidneys.
Hepatic artery involvement in polymyalgia arteritica.
Authors: Ogilvie A L , James P D , Toghill P J
Published: June 2007

Disturbances of liver function tests are common in polymyalgia arteritica, but the underlying liver lesion has not been defined. We report a patient who was demonstrated to have a giant cell arteritis involving both the hepatic and temporal arteries, and we discuss the possibility that such an arteritis involving the hepatic arteries is responsible for the abnormalities of liver function seen in this condition.
Aspiration in seriously ill patients: a study of amylase in bronchial secretions.
Authors: Clarke P D , Bain B C , Davies A , Levin G E , Lambert H P
Published: June 2007

Bronchial secretions from 21 patients with moderate to severe chest infections were obtained by transtracheal aspiration. Six seriously ill patients showed greatly increased levels of amylase activity in the bronchial secretions compared with those found in the 15 less ill patients. This amylase was almost certainly derived from oropharyngeal contents and its presence suggests that aspiration may be more common in comatose and semi-comatose patients than is generally appreciated.
Examination of products of conception from previable human pregnancies.
Authors: Rushton D I
Published: June 2007

The incidence, aetiology, and mechanisms of spontaneous abortion are outlined. A simplified classification of products of conception specifically orientated for routine histopathological laboratories rather than research centres is presented. Its introduction should not in itself greatly increase the work load of a service laboratory already examining such material. Specific practical problems are discussed and these are related to the clinical situation. The importance is emphasised of proper examination of tissues from pregnancies aborting after diagnostic amniocentesis, as well as those from therapeutic terminations performed for fetal abnormality or disease. Special techniques are suggested for processing suspected procured abortions. Finally the value is stressed of routine examination of spontaneously aborted material in the current and future management of the patient, in the furtherance of our knowledge of fetal diseases and of some of the major contributory factors to perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Cerebral malakoplakia.
Authors: Blumbergs P C , Hallpike J F , McClure J
Published: June 2007

A case of cerebral malakoplakia is described in an 18-year-old woman who died as the consequence of a postpartum stroke. The malakoplakic lesion occurred in areas of cerebral infarction. The features of this unique case are compared with the small number of previously reported cases of cerebral malakoplakia which occurred in much younger patients and against a background of herpes simplex infection.
Assay of serum immunoreactive trypsin in dried blood spots and the early detection of cystic fibrosis.
Authors: Ryley H C , Robinson P G , Yamashiro Y , Bradley D M
Published: June 2007

Immunoreactive trypsin (IRT) content in blood spots from 17 cystic fibrosis (CF) children born between 1975-80 were assayed with reagents from two commercial radioimmunoassay kits. The manufacturers' procedures were modified to allow assay of blood spot IRT. Half of the CF samples had a significantly raised IRT content compared to normal blood spots. Of the blood spots from five children whose meconium screening gave negative results, three or five (depending on the kit used) had a raised IRT content. On the other hand, less than 50% of children initially detected by meconium screening had raised blood spot IRT values. In our hands, analysis of blood spots for IRT does not consistently identify the newborn with CF and offers no advantage over other screening methods.
Evaluation of ten commercial blood culture systems to isolate a pyridoxal-dependent streptococcus.
Authors: Tillotson G S
Published: June 2007

This study evaluated the ability of ten commercial blood cultures to support the growth of a nutritional variant Streptococcus mitior (pyridoxal-dependent). The abilities of two established and two new agar formulations are also reported. The dependable isolation of a fastidious streptococcus can best be obtained with fastidious anaerobe broth (FAB) (Lab M Ltd, Ford Lane, Salford) for blood cultures in conjunction with one of the new media. FAB agar with the addition of heated blood was found to support the growth of pyridoxal-dependent Strep mitior and other fastidious organisms.
Concentration of plasminogen and antiplasmin in plasma and serum
Authors: Cederholm-Williams SA
Published: June 2007

The concentrations of plasminogen and fast-acting antiplasmin were measured in 65 normal plasmas and matched sera. Concentrations were decreased in serum by 38% for plasminogen and 32% for fast-acting antiplasmin. The decrease in plasminogen level was due to both adsorption of plasminogen to fibrin and reaction with antiplasmin.
Evaluation of the Lumac kit for the detection of bacteriuria by bioluminescence.
Authors: Mackett D , Kessock-Philip S , Bascomb S , Easmon C S
Published: June 2007

Four hundred and twenty-two urine samples were screened for significant bacteriuria using bioluminescence and microscopy of uncentrifuged urine. A smaller number of false-negatives were seen with bioluminescence (10%) than with microscopy (40%) while both techniques gave a similar number of false-positives (18%). The kit required a large amount of manual preparation, largely pipetting. With this and the short shelf-life of the reconstituted reagents, it is not suitable for small numbers of urines. At 45p per urine, the cost of bioluminescence is too high.
Comparative study between biochemical and histological methods and image analysis in liver iron overload.
Authors: Deugnier Y , Margules S , Brissot P , Deugnier M A , Bisconte J C , Bourel M , Ferrand B
Published: June 2007

Iron overload has been measured in 100 hepatic biopsies by three different methods: (i) biochemical assay of the liver iron concentration (LIC), (ii) histological grading (HISTO) and (iii) automated image analysis with a Leitz Texture Analysis System by estimating two parameters, (a) the total iron area (TIA) and (b) the first grey level step (FGLS) at which the iron is detected. Image analysis appears as a specific, sensitive, quick, reproducible and valid method.
Morphometrical analysis of urothelial cells in voided urine of patients with low grade and high grade bladder tumours.
Authors: Ooms E C , Kurver P J , Boon M E
Published: June 2007

The morphometric differences between the urothelial cells (wet-fixed Papanicolaoustained) in the voided urine of 2 patients with low grade and high grade bladder tumours were measured. The morphometrical data of this learning set resulted in a cytomorphometrical classification rule, which was applied to a test set of 21 cases with low grade and high grade bladder tumours. The results of the cytomorphometrical classification rule correspond very well with the histomorphometrical classification and the histological grade of the parent tumours. The results indicate that it is feasible to classify bladder tumours using the cytomorphometrical data of the exfoliated urothelial cells alone.
6-Thioguanine as a cause of toxic veno-occlusive disease of the liver
Authors: Satti MB , Weinbren K , Gordon-Smith EC
Published: June 2007

Lesions of hepatic veno-occlusive disease were found in the needle biopsy specimen of one patient suffering from chronic granulocytic leukaemia and in the liver at necropsy of a second patient suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia. The treatment included administration of 6-thioguanine which was the only relevant compound used in the first patient and which was combined with cytosine arabinoside in the second patient.
Assessment of a radioisotopic assay for vitamin B12using an intrinsic factor preparation with R proteins blocked by vitamin B12analogues
Authors: Bain Barbara , Broom GN , Woodside Jackie , Litwinczuk RA , Wickramasinghe SN
Published: June 2007

A competitive protein binding radioassay kit for serum vitamin B12has been assessed. Precision, linearity, sensitivity, and specificity have been found to be satisfactory. Falsely-normal assay results in patients with vitamin B12deficiency have not been observed.
Three step purification of C1q by DNA precipitation, ion exchange and lectin affinity chromatography.
Authors: Rhen M , Linder E
Published: June 2007

The difficulties associated with the isolation of pure C1q in sufficient amounts are reflected by the substantial number of isolation procedures, which are being published. The two major problems are a low yield and contaminating immunoglobulins. In addition, some isolation protocols appear to produce C1q contaminated with an inhibitor (C1q-INH). The present isolation protocol involves precipitation of C1q by DNA, chromatography using Sephadex QAE A 50 followed by Con A affinity chromatography. By this combination of purification steps maximal advantage was taken of the cationic properties and high carbohydrate content of the C1q molecule. The yield was 1-2 mg C1q per 100 ml serum. The isolated C1q was free of any demonstrable contaminants as demonstrated by Ouchterlony double diffusion and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Development and evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using chlamydial group antigen, to detect antibodies, to Chlamydia trachomatis.
Authors: Evans R T , Taylor-Robinson D
Published: June 2007

Chlamydial group antigen was extracted from Chlamydia trachomatis strain SA2(f) and used as the antigen for an ELISA. The assay was reproducible since chlamydial antibody titres differed by no more than twofold when sera were tested on up to eight occasions. In tests on sera from 75 patients attending venereal disease or rheumatology clinics, the results of the ELISA and of a microimmunofluorescence (MIF) technique were similar for 61 of the sera, that is an 81% agreement. However, the ELISA was a little more sensitive than the MIF technique and at least tenfold more sensitive than the complement fixation procedure. Chlamydial IgG antibody at a titre of 1/greater than or equal to 16 was detected by the ELISA in 6% of children's sera, in 20% of sera from adult patients attending hospital with non-venereal diseases and in 85% of sera from persons attending venereal disease or rheumatology clinics. IgM and IgG antibodies were detected also by the ELISA in the sera of chimpanzees and marmosets which had been infected genitally with C trachomatis and, in general, the titres were greater than those recorded by the MIF test. The value of the ELISA in comparison with the MIF test is discussed.
Reciprocal antimicrobial synergism between Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis in the presence of metronidazole.
Authors: Soriano F , Ponte M C , Gaspar M C
Published: June 2007

We have studied the antimicrobial action of metronidazole against Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli both in pure cultures and in combination. Concentrations of metronidazole above the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) produced a marked bactericidal effect on B fragilis at six hours. E coli however showed only a slight and transitory decrease in population when exposed to concentrations of metronidazole close to its MIC. Kinetic studies of this drug's effect on mixed cultures of both organisms showed mutual bactericidal synergy between E coli and metronidazole against B fragilis and between B fragilis and metronidazole against E coli. These in vitro findings agree with the results obtained in vivo by other authors.
Enzyme histochemical analysis on cryostat sections of human bone marrow.
Authors: Chilosi M , Pizzolo G , Janossy G , Bofill M , Fiore-Donati L
Published: June 2007

A recently developed procedure, that has been shown to be suitable for detailed immunohistological analysis, has been used to prepare cryostat sections of bone marrow to investigate whether enzyme-histochemical techniques are also feasible on such material. A selected group of enzymes, some of which are inhibited or destroyed in paraffin- or plastic-embedded samples, have been demonstrated. The morphological details obtained were satisfactory in the preparations. The enzymes were dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV (for T lymphocytes); tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (for hairy cell leukaemia); acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase (for macrophages and monocytes); ATPase and 5'nucleotidase (for B lymphocytes); and peroxidase or chloroacetate esterase (for granulocytic cells). In these preparations strong enzyme activities were shown. In adjacent sections the immunological analysis of membrane markers could also be performed contributing to a comprehensive study of the normal and malignant bone marrow cells.
Measurement of body fluid proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
Authors: Johnson MH , Thompson EJ
Published: June 2007

A development of the disc polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic system of Ornstein and Davis, which has been applied to the analysis of unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid, is described. Modifications to the scanning densitometer have improved the signal:noise ratio of the gel scanning system. Using this technique, we have studied the dye-binding properties of albumin, and of beta- and gamma-globulins, and have shown that reproducible quantification of proteins can be achieved. The advantages of electrophoretic methods over immunochemical methods of quantification are discussed.
Velvet pad surface sampling of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria: an in vitro laboratory model.
Authors: Raahave D , Friis-Møller A
Published: June 2007

Velvet pads have been evaluated in an experimental, laboratory model, simulating intraoperative sampling of Staphylococcus epidermis, Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis. After sampling, the pad was placed in a transport medium and kept in an anaerobic atmosphere, before being shaken and rinsed, followed by anaerobic and aerobic culture. This technique permitted quantitatively high recoveries of the test bacteria. Velvet pad sampling could be a measure to determine the density of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria during operation in an effort to predict the risk of postoperative wound sepsis.
Alveolar-cell carcinoma: a problem in sputum cytodiagnosis.
Authors: Spriggs A I , Cole M , Dunnill M S
Published: June 2007

Cytology and histology are correlated in a series of 22 cases chosen to illustrate the differential diagnosis between clusters of benign bronchial or bronchiolar cells seen in sputum, and those of alveolar cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma with alveolar spread. Alveolar-cell carcinoma is characterised by clusters of small epithelial cells in spherical or irregular formations, none showing enough polarity to distinguish a smooth or palisaded surface. The appearances are most distinctive if vacuolation is absent. The diagnosis cannot, however, be confidently made in all cases from morphological features of cells in sputum.
Preparation of Epon-embedded renal tissue for scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Wing-Ling NG , Ma L , So KF
Published: June 2007

A method for the preparation of Epon-embedded renal tissue for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is described. This involves careful removal of Epon by potassium hydroxide in absolute methanol to expose the embedded kidney tissue. The method is simple and gives good surface morphology of the sectioned and trimmed surfaces of the tissue block. Both sectioned and intact glomeruli are well shown. The method also allows SEM observation of tubules and blood vessels.
Detection of surface immunoglobulins of human lymphoid cells: a comparative study of live and fixed cells using a direct immunoperoxidase procedure.
Authors: Laurent G , Gourdin M F , Reyes F
Published: June 2007

Surface immunoglobulins (Ig) of normal and malignant lymphoid cells were detected on prefixed, smeared (method A) and live (method B) cell suspensions; the results were compared with regard to staining patterns, specificity and sensitivity. In both methods surface Ig were detected by a direct immunoperoxidase procedure using conjugated purified antibody. Although method A has practical advantages, method B is more sensitive. The reasons for this discrepancy are discussed in relation to surface Ig denaturation and redistribution.