bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of cutaneous diphtheria in the acquisition of immunity
Authors: Gunatillake P. D. P. , Taylor G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA field survey conducted amongst children in a semi-rural area of Ceylon has revealed a high rate of Schick negative conversion early in life. A high carrier rate ofC. diphtheriaein cutaneous ulcers which probably accounts for this early Schick conversion has been detected. The role of cutaneous diphtheria and that of non-toxigenic organisms in the acquisition of natural immunity to the disease is discussed.
An Arizona serotype isolated from a case of gastro-enteritis in Britain
Authors: Plows C. D. , Fretwell G. , Parry Wilfrid H. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYTwo isolations of Arizona from humans were made in Sheffield in 1966. The first was from a 3-year-old girl with a history of gastro-enteritis; the second was from her 5-year-old brother who was a symptomless excretor. Infection was traced to pet terrapins recently purchased from a local pet shop. The relative epidemiological significance of Arizona infection and the potential hazard of pet terrapins has been reviewed.We wish to thank Dr V. G. S. Damms for his help and co-operation and for allowing us to publish details of his patients, Dr J. G. Wallace for his work on the preliminary identification of the organism, and Dr Joan Taylor and Dr E. H. Gillespie for their helpful advice and criticism.
Food poisoning caused by heat-sensitiveClostridium welchii. A report of five recent outbreaks
Authors: Sutton R. G. A. , Hobbs Betty C. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDetails of confirmed outbreaks of food poisoning due to heat-sensitive Cl. welckii are given. In 4/5 incidents heat-sensitive Cl.welckiiwere isolated in large numbers from the majority of the faeces. In the remaining outbreak the faecal samples were not collected until 7–9 days after the illness. The causative organism was isolated from the food in 3/5 instances.In addition four outbreaks of food poisoning in which both heat-sensitive and heat-resistant Cl.welckiiwere isolated are described.The role of heat-sensitive Cl.welckiiin food poisoning outbreaks is discussed and a suggested method of examining faeces for Cl.welchiiis given.We are indeed grateful for the assistance given in collecting faecal specimens and obtaining detailed information on the food preparation, etc., by Drs G. C. Turner, J. Epsom, J. G. Wallace, P. J. Wormald, H. D. Holt, D. G. Fleck, J. M. Graham, E. Tanner and J. D. Abbott. We would also like to thank Mrs I. Batty of the Wellcome Research Laboratory for carrying out toxicological examinations for us.One of us (R.G.A.S.) is attached to the Commonwealth Department of Health, Australia, and is at present the holder of a Public Service Board Postgraduate scholarship.
The effect of warfarin on plasma clotting time in wild house mice (Mus Musculus L.)
Authors: Rowe F. P. , Redfern R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe coagulability of the plasma of blood taken from the retro-orbital sinus of untreated and warfarin-treated wild house mice (Mus musculus L.) was determined. Individual differences were observed in the resting clotting times of animals drawn from three different sources, so-called ‘normal’ (N) mice, home-bred warfarin resistant (HBR) mice and field-caught suspected warfarin resistant (FR) mice. Mice from the three sources also showed wide individual variation in response to injected doses of 1, 5 and 50 mg. of warfarin/kg, body weight. The overall response shown by HBR and FR mice, particularly females, was less than that shown by N animals. Some FR females failed to respond to a dose of 100 mg. of warfarin/kg, body weight.Normal mice showed a similar response to two identical doses of warfarin (1, 5 or 50 mg./kg. body weight) given at an interval of 3 weeks. They developed a tolerance to repeated daily injected doses of 1 mg. of warfarin/kg, body weight but not to the higher doses (5 and 50 mg./kg.) to which some HBR animals became tolerant.In comparative 21-day feeding tests with 0·025% warfarin in medium oatmeal, the mortality in N, HBR and FR mice was 100% (27), 64·5% (40/62) and 22·7% (10/44) respectively. Whereas the plasma of all N mice was rendered uncoagulable after 3 days and the animals died within 12 days, the clotting times of the surviving HBR and FR mice (24/59 males and 32/47 females) either were not at any stage appreciably increased or had declined to near normal values by the end of the test period.In similar tests with 0·025% warfarin in oatmeal bait containing 5% mineral oil, it was found that the clotting ability of the plasma of N, HBR and FR mice was impaired earlier and that mortality in HBR and FR animals was significantly higher (62/67, 92·5% and 7/8, 87·5% respectively).Three of seven HBR mice died after prolonged feeding on various warfarin baits but only after 186, 197 and 209 days respectively. The inclusion of mineral oil in bait containing 0-0·25% warfarin was more effective in decreasing the coagulability of the blood of these mice than either increasing the concentration of warfarin (to 0·1 and 0·2%) or including sulphaquinoxaline or corn oil.Studies on mice given warfarin by injection and in feed indicated that in females the level of resistance to warfarin may be assessed on the basis of their response to a single injected dose of warfarin.
Antibody toMycoplasma pneumoniaein normal subjects and in patients with chronic bronchitis
Authors: Lambert H. P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYMycoplasma pneumoniaeis a common respiratory pathogen in the south of England. Of 1150 sera from normal people, 19% had antibody against this organism. Antibody was found with significantly greater frequency in patients with chronic bronchitis.
Thermal comfort during surgical operations
Authors: Wyon D. P. , Lidwell O. M. , Williams R. E. O. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYVisits have been made to thirty operating suites in the British Isles. Each suite was visited three times at approximately 4-month intervals and observations made on an average of five half-day working sessions on each occasion. Measurements were made of air temperature, humidity, air movement and radiation temperature and many details of the suites and working conditions recorded. At suitable intervals the operating room staff were questioned as to their feelings of thermal comfort using Bedford's 7-point scale. Over 2500 sets of replies were obtained. Visible sweating was also noted.The effect on comfort and the extent of visible sweating of the many items recorded was then explored by means of a sequential multiple regression analysis. Although air temperature was by far the most important factor affecting thermal comfort, all the variables named above exerted a significant effect. In addition, a number of other conditions including age, sex and race produced minor differences.Surgeons and anaesthetists were found to differ from other staff in their thermal preferences, the surgeons liking a cooler and the anaesthetists a warmer environment. Although most surgeons were comfortable at temperatures around 66·5°F. (19°C.), at 50% relative humidity and 25 ft./min. air movement with the average amount of thermal radiation from the operating room lamp, it would be necessary to keep the temperature down to 64·5°F. (18°C.) if no more than one surgeon in twenty was to be uncomfortably hot. At this temperature nearly half the anaesthetists, who mostly preferred temperatures around 71°F. (21·5°C.), would feel too cold. Variation in the clothing worn by different staff members seems to be the only way of resolving this difficulty.The average temperature in the operating rooms visited was over 72°F. (22°C.), and 75°F. (24°C.) was exceeded on about 25% of occasions.
Serological tests for the detection of antibodies to Mycoplasma gallisepticum in chickens and turkeys
Authors: Jordan F. T. W. , Kulasegaram P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA comparison was undertaken of several serological tests in determining the response of chickens and turkeys experimentally infected with the A 514 strain of Mycoplasma gallisepticum.After a single intratracheal inoculation of chickens with a culture of the organism, the highest titres were obtained by the indirect complement fixation (ICF) test, followed by the tube agglutination (TA), haemagglutination inhibition (HI), slide agglutination (SA) and metabolic inhibition (MI) tests. By all these tests positive titres were observed within the first week and peak titres between the first and second weeks. At 5 months there was no positive reaction by the ICF test but most chickens gave positive readings by the TA, HI and SA tests for at least 14 months after infection, but turkey sera became negative by all tests after 3 months.A disadvantage of the ICF test was that sera up to a dilution of 1/8 and 1/16 for chicken and turkey respectively were anticomplementary, and in turkeys this masked the ICF titre, which presumably was low following one intratracheal inoculation. Titres in turkeys with the TA, HI and SA tests followed the pattern seen with chickens and were generally lower than those found by other workers probably because of the avirulent nature of the inoculum used.The WB test was the least sensitive of the agglutination tests but is useful as a flock test which can be undertaken on the farm.The MI test gave the lowest titres of all and antibodies could be detected for only 4 months following one intratracheal inoculation. Even with serum prepared by multiple inoculations in chickens the titre was never higher than 1/32 compared with 1/1024 for serum similarly prepared in rabbits.Precipitins were detected by the agar gel method in the sera of chickens and turkeys after two intratracheal inoculations but in only some of the chickens and none of the turkeys after one inoculation.By all tests higher titres were observed with chicken than turkey sera and antibodies persisted for a longer time.Re-infection of chickens when antibodies to the initial infection had become low, and of turkeys when antibodies were no longer detectable, gave rise to an anamnestic response with titres which were higher than before.Antiserum to M. gallisepticum prepared in chickens is comparable with that prepared in rabbits except for low titres by the MI test.
Further studies on the development of a live oral cholera vaccine
Authors: Bhattacharya P. , Mukerjee S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe possibility of developing a living oral cholera vaccine with naturally avirulent El Tor cultures isolated in a Middle East country or from water sources in Calcutta in the absence of cholera El Tor in these areas has been further studied.In an extended series of experiments the markedly low pathogenicity of the proposed vaccine strains in laboratory animals has been confirmed. The vaccine strains have been shown to get established and multiply regularly in the ligated intestinal loops of adult rabbits and in the intestine of infant rabbits without producing pathogenic reactions.The apathogenic character of the vaccine strains has been found to be stable. When propagated serially in these two laboratory models of experimental cholera the vaccine strains show no enhancement of pathogenicity.Intra-intestinal administration of the live vaccine has been shown to protect adult rabbits fully in the intestinal loop test. Immunized animals were also protected against challenge with V. cholerae strains, though to a somewhat lesser extent. Protective immunity could not, however, be demonstrated in infant rabbits probably because of the immunity-forming mechanism being still rudimentary.Immunization with live vaccine was found to inhibit the growth of homologous strains in the ligated intestinal loop of the adult rabbit. The growth rate of pathogenic V. eltor and V. cholerae strains was also seen to be markedly reduced throughout the 24 hr. period of observation, but more markedly during the first 4–8 hr. However, the total count of pathogenic V. eltor and V. cholerae strains at 24 hr. after inoculation in ligated ileal loops of immunized rabbits reached levels that invariably caused inflammation and accumulation of fluid in normal rabbits' loops. The absence of gut-inflammatory reaction in immunized rabbits under these conditions has been discussed in relation to the nature of the immunity produced by administration of live vaccine.
Growth of rubella virus in human embryonic organ cultures
Authors: Best Jennifer M. , Banatvala J. E. , Moore Barbara M. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryTwo strains of rubella virus multiplied in organ cultures of human embryonic trachea, nasal epithelium, pharynx, larynx, skin and brain derived from foetuses aged 15–28 weeks. Growth curve experiments conducted on cultures of nasal epithelium and trachea showed that virus appeared in the culture fluid 72 hr. after inoculation and thereafter rose to titres varying from 10 to 103·7TCD50/ml. These titres persisted for periods up to 34 days after inoculation. Intracelmlar and organ culture fluid virus titres were shown to be similar in specimens tested in both the early and late stages of the growth curve. No degenerative changes or loss of ciliary activity was observed in these cultures.We are grateful to Dr H. E. M. Kay and his staff (Royal Marsden Hospital), for the supply of human embryos; Dr D. A. J. Tyrrell (M.R.C. Common Cold Research Unit, Salisbury) for his encouragement, and Miss G. E. Fairbairn (St Thomas’s Hospital) for the histological preparations.This research was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council.
Selection ofStaphylococcus aureusin cultures from air samples
Authors: Harding Lynn , Williams R. E. O. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA tryptone-yeast extract medium enriched with glucose and serum incubated anaerobically at 41° C. was found to give a good yield ofStaphylococcus aureusfrom air samples while suppressing the growth of 70–80% of the other airborne bacteria.Our thanks are due to Miss S. M. Taber and Miss Patricia Wall, the Sisters in the wards where the air samples were collected, for their help. The investigation was financed from the Ministry of Health grant to St Mary's Hospital for the support of clinical research.
Epidemiological studies on Salmonella senftenberg: I. Relations between animal foodstuff, animal and human isolations
Authors: Hobbs Betty C. , Jones-Hugh M. E. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIt was possible to demonstrate from retrospective records that a link existed between contaminated animal feedstuffs, turkeys and an outbreak of Salmonella senftenberg infection at Ryhope Hospital. Possibly infected or contaminated turkeys were supplied to the hospital from two turkey farms in one of which the birds were fed on contaminated white fish meal and the other had had infected birds.This work was carried out months after the events described and would not have been possible without the help and co-operation of the Public Health Laboratory Service, The Veterinary Field, Investigation and Research Services, Houghton Poultry Research Station, The Medical Officer of Health for Brighton, Dr Rosetta Parker, and the various feed companies involved, who very kindly made their records available to us.
The occurrence ofCoxiella burnetiiin North-Western England and North Wales
Authors:   Public Health Laboratory Service
Published: May 2009

A retrospective survey ofCoxiella burnetiiinfection in North-Western England and North Wales was made in five Public Health Laboratories for the years 1962–6 inclusive. Groups of the normal population and of persons occupationally exposed to infection were tested for the presence of antibody and the incidence of infected milk was investigated in seven counties.Forty-one cases ofC. burnetiiinfection were diagnosed in 7046 patients investigated serologically for the presence of viral and rickettsial antibodies. In just over a quarter of the patients there was evidence of occupational hazard or a history of drinking raw milk. The remainder gave no relevant history.We would like to express our thanks to Dr C. M. Patricia Bradstreet of the Standards Laboratory, Colindale, for the supply of antigen, and to the numerous clinicians who allowed us access to their case records.
An outbreak of ‘winter vomiting disease’ in a university hail of residence
Authors: Cumming John D. , McEvedy Colin P. 
Published: May 2009

1. An outbreak of ‘Winter Vomiting Disease’ is described involving women at a University Hall of Residence. Of the 165 women exposed, 74 vomited in the first 24 hr., and 17 more over the next 4 days.2. Public health investigations were negative.3. On the hypothesis that the vomiting was at least partly hysterical it was predicted that the affected would have higher N scores than the unaffected on the Eysenck Personality Inventory; that they would have a higher frequency of past attendance at the University Health Centre; and that they would be non-randomly distributed through the Hall and its annexes. All these predictions proved to be incorrect.4. There is some slight but consistent evidence to suggest that there is a neurotic component in the small group of 28 who felt nauseated but did not vomit.5. The histogram of time of vomiting has two peaks. It is shown that 71 out of the first 74 cases can be accounted for on the hypothesis of contamination of the food at both lunch and dinner on the first day of the outbreak, with the mean response coming 7 hr. after eating.6. It is suggested that these results make a food-borne agent a more likely explanation of ‘Winter Vomiting Disease’ than the currently favoured airborne virus acting via the central nervous system.The costs involved in the psychiatric side of this investigation were defrayed by a grant from the Clinical Research Committee of the Middlesex Hospital. We would like to thank the Chairman and members of the Committee for making these funds available and for their interest and confidence. We would also like to thank Dr A. W. Beard, Consultant Physician at the Middlesex Hospital for his advice and support.
Haemolytic activity of the alpha and theta toxins ofClostridium welchii
Authors: Schulze Judith A. , Nakamura M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe lecithinase and haemolytic activity of thirty strains ofCl. welchiiisolated from food, faeces, and soil, was studied. The strains from foods produced smaller amounts of lecithinase and were, in general, less haemolytic than the strains isolated from soil and faeces.The haemolytic activity ofCl. welchiion erythrocytes from different animal species displayed considerable variation. Sheep erythrocytes were the most sensitive to the action of alpha toxin, whereas rabbit blood was most sensitive to haemolysis by theta toxin. The degree of haemolysis was also dependent upon the concentration of the enzyme, and temperature and length of incubation.The haemolytic activity of commercial lecithinase was observed to be similar to the haemolytic activity of the alpha toxin ofCl. welchii. This finding provides further evidence that the haemolytic and lecithinase activities ofCl. welchiiare due to one substance, the alpha toxin. Exposure of commercial lecithinase to heat resulted in the destruction of its haemolytic properties.
Salmonellas, shigellas and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in uncooked food
Authors: Velaudapillai T. , Niles G. R. , Nagaratnam W. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYCentrifuged deposits of washings of vegetables and fruits were plated on S.S. deoxycholate citrate and MacConkey agar for evidence of contamination.Vegetables like beans, carrots, cabbage, celery, elabattu, leeks, kankum, pumpkin and spinach were found to be contaminated with Salmonella, Shigella and enteropathogenic E. coli. The extent of contamination of the vegetables which grew to a height of about 1 ft. above the ground was greater than that of the taller varieties. The rate of contamination among fruits was almost negligible.The contamination might have originated from the water used for irrigation, from manure, or from the handlers of the vegetables.
Terminal bronchopneumonia. A bacteriological and histological study of 111 necropsies
Authors: Tanner Elizabeth I. , Gray J. D. , Rebello P. V. N. , Gamble D. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYOne hundred and eleven consecutive deaths in seven mental hospitals during the months of February to October 1967 were investigated histologically and bacteriologically.Bacteria were present in the lung tissue significantly more frequently when inflammation was present than when it was absent and the differences were significant for both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus; E. coli was isolated from 22(34%) of the 65 patients with inflamed lungs compared with two (4%) of 46 control patients and the corresponding figures for Staph. aureus were 20(31%) of 65 patients compared with seven (15%) of 46 control patients.Some strains of E. coli were serotyped using antisera against 0 antigens 1, 4, 6, 18ab, 18ac, 25, 50, 65, 69 and 75 and the strains most commonly found in the inflamed lungs, spleens and other inflammatory lesions of 25 patients were 06, 018 and 075. These strains were isolated more frequently from these sites than from the faeces of a group of 19 patients with no such lesions.In this series E. coli was the commonest organism to be associated with terminal bronchopneumonia and the possible reasons for this are discussed.
Antigenic analysis of vibrio culture filtrate and vaccine El Tor vibrio
Authors: Sanyal S. C. , Narayanaswami A. , Mukerjee S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe antigens present in the preparation of cholera toxin consisting of the culture filtrate of 569 B strain ofV. choleraehave been analysed by gel-diffusion, intra-gel absorption, and immuno-electrophoresis. The antiserum raised against the toxin was tested using the following antigens: whole cell lysates ofV. cholerae569 B and an El Tor (water) strain W 6 (proposed as a vaccine strain), suspensions of the same strains of vibrios with and without heat-denaturation, suspension of an El Tor (case) strain (GS-9) and a preparation of vibrio polysaocharide. The antitoxic serum gave four precipitin bands against the toxin preparation and nine bands against the whole cell lysate ofV. cholerae. Two bands could be identified as being due to the heat-labile specific antigens present in the cholera toxin. These two bands were abolished on absorption of the antitoxic serum with a live suspension of W 6 but not on absorption with heat-denatured W 6. It has, therefore, been concluded that the proposed vaccine strain W 6 contains the specific antigens of cholera toxin. The significance of these results has been discussed in relation to the residual virulence of the proposed vaccine strain and antitoxic immunity produced in the intestinal tract of the adult rabbit following exposure to the vaccine strain.We gratefully acknowledge the gift of purified vibrio polysaccharide from Dr C. V. N. Rao of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Calcutta-32. The technical assistance of Mr B. Sanyamat and Mr I. Guhathakurta is also thankfully acknowledged.