bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Single radial haemolysis: a survey of antibody titres in the Highland Region of Scotland to recent strains of Influenza A
Authors: Joss A. W. L. , McPherson J. K. , Williams H. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe single radial haemolysis test is conveniently practical and economical and promises to have wide applicability in the study of influenza antibodies in human populations. It can also be adapted for preliminary examination of new virus isolates during epidemics.Using this test a rather higher proportion of the population in the Highland Region of Scotland was found to possess antibody to a recent epidemic strain of influenza (A/Scotland/74) than was the case in the south of England. Antibody was detected and apparently evenly spread throughout all but the most remote island communities. Some evidence of the spread of the subsequent variant, A/Victoria/75, was obtained. Most of the school children in our study had high antibody titres to recent strains but the proportion with high antibody titres to these strains declined speedily from the age of 17 years onwards.
Observations of the effects of formaldehyde on cockroaches and their flora: II.Prolonged survival of cockroaches drinking formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde solutions
Authors: McCarthy K. , Bartzokas C. A. , Baker B. F. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAdult cockroaches were found to survive up to 22 weeks when provided with 1% Formalin (0·4% formaldehyde) in lieu of drinking water. Given 4% Formalin or 2% glutaraldehyde they survived up to 41 days. During the experiments eggs were laid and hatched and the offspring continued to grow. Combined with surface disinfection, this may hold out a simple method of rendering adult cockroaches gnotobiotic or even axenic.
Bacterial contamination in a modern operating suite. 4. Bacterial contamination of clothes worn in the suite
Authors: Hambraeus A. , Bengtsson S. , Laurell G. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYClean clothes in the staff dressing rooms were heavily contaminated with bacteria, mainly Bacillus sp., but Staphylococcus aureus were found on 14% and Clostridium sp. on 10% of the garments examined. A comparison of the occurrence of Staph. aureus on shirts worn by staff in wards and operating departments showed ward shirts to be contaminated more heavily and with more strains. Examination of sterile gowns worn by surgeons showed that 70% were contaminated with Staph. aureus after operation. Of the strains isolated 31% were identical with those carried by the surgeon or by the patient operated on, but for the remainder no source could be found.
Studies on Rift Valley fever in some African murids (Rodentia:Muridae)
Authors: Swanepoel R. , Blackburn N. K. , Efstratiou S. , Condy J. B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYBrains, spleens and livers of 2212 murids, 27 shrews and 7 dormice, trapped at 7 sites in Rhodesia, were tested in 277 pools for the presence of Rift Valley Fever virus. There were no isolations of Rift Valley Fever, but 69 isolations of an unidentified virus were obtained. Sixteen out of 867 sera had low-titre haemagglutination-inhibition activity against Rift Valley Fever antigen, but only one out of 1260 sera had neutralizing antibody. The evidence suggests that murids fail to encounter infection in nature and are unlikely to play a role in circulation and dissemination of Rift Valley Fever virus. Four out of seven widely distributed species of murid,Rhabdomys pumilio, Saccostomys campestris, Aethomys chrysophilusandLemniscomys griselda, were shown to be capable of circulating amounts of virus likely to be infective for mosquitoes.
Prophylaxis against tetanus in non-immune patients with wounds: the role of antibiotics and of human antitetanus globulin
Authors: Lowbury E. J. L. , Kidson A. , Lilly H. A. , Wilkins M. D. , Jackson P. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe potential value of oral erythromycin for antitetanus prophylaxis in non-immune patients with open wounds was assessed. Serum obtained by venepuncture from healthy persons 2 h after an oral dose of an erythromycin preparation was used as a culture medium rendered anaerobic by addition of cooked meat. Strains of Clostridium tetani inoculated into these sera failed to multiply when the donor had taken 500 mg of erythromycin estolate before a meal; other erythromycin preparations and the estolate at a dosage of 250 mg were ineffective or inconsistent in their inhibition of the growth of Cl. tetani.Human antitetanus globulin (ATG) was given to 12 patients, 9 with severe injuries and 3 with extensive burns, all of whom were judged, from their history, to be non-immune (or with expired immunity); all except one had received large intravenous infusions of blood and/or other fluids. Serum antitoxin assays by a mouse protection technique on days 0, 1–2, 3–5, 6–10 and 14 + showed no detectable antitoxin (< 0·01) unit/ml) in the initial (pre-ATG) sample from three patients with severe injuries and in one with extensive burns. All the patients in the severely injured group showed an early appearance or increase in tetanus antitoxin to protective titres. Two of the three severely burned patients showed, respectively, delayed appearance or an increase in antitoxin; the other burned patients showed a reduction from the initial pre-ATG titre, followed by a return to that titre after day 5.
The distribution ofVibrio parahaemolyticusin British coastal waters: report of a collaborative study 1975–6
Authors: Ayres P. A. , Barrow G. I. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA collaborative survey has shown thatV. parahaemolyticusis widely distributed in British coastal waters, sediments and shellfish, especially in southern and western areas. The relatively small numbers in the environment do not present significant health hazards from marine products, provided that processing, storage and distribution are adequate. The presence of this organism in small numbers in British coastal waters or in shellfish should not in itself be regarded as cause for concern.
A study of acute respiratory disease in the community of Port Chalmers. II. Influenza A/Port Chalmers/1/73: intrafamilial spread and the effect of antibodies to the surface antigens
Authors: Jennings L. C. , Miles J. A. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDuring the first year of a study of respiratory disease in the semi-isolated community of Port Chalmers, New Zealand, an epidemic of clinical influenza occurred from which the variant influenza A/Port Chalmers/1/73 (H3N2) was isolated. Within a selected group of 26 families, 59 (46%) members had clinical or laboratory evidence of infection. During intrafamilial spread the infection frequency was highest for school-aged children (77%), followed by female adults (67%), infants (64%) and male adults (41%). The index infection in each family was a school-age child on 10 occasions, suggesting the role of this age group in the transmission of influenza A in this community. The secondary attack rate (SAR) of 58·3% was higher than expected.In sera taken before the 1973 epidemic, 59% of family members had detectable HI antibody and 25% NI antibody to A/England/42/72 while 38% had detectable HI antibody and 8% NI antibody to A/Port Chalmers/ 1/73. The relation between pre-existing antibody and infection frequency is discussed.
High and low level tetracycline resistance inShigella sonnei
Authors: Hawkins W. A. , Dale J. W. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe results presented in this paper confirm the existence of two types of tetracycline resistance inShigella sonnei. One group of strains had a high level of resistance to tetracycline and oxytetracycline, with a variable level of minocycline resistance. The second group had a lower level of tetracycline resistance and were sensitive to minocycline. After conjugation withE. coliK12 the selectedE. colitransconjugants had the same levels of resistance as the parentSh. sonneistrain, with one exception.Sh. sonnei87 was resistant to a high level of tetracycline, but was able to transfer only low level resistance. It is suggested thatSh. sonnei87 carries two plasmids: pSU1, a conjugative plasmid conferring a low level of tetracycline resistance, and pSU2, a non-conjugative plasmid which confers a high level of resistance to tetracycline.
Waterborne infectious disease in Britain
Authors:   The Public Health Laboratory Service Standing Sub-Committee on the Bacteriological Examination of Water Supplies
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe incidence of waterborne typhoid fever and other intestinal infections in Britain since 1937 is reviewed. In the light of the current very low incidence of indigenous typhoid fever, it is suggested that the examination of relevant water-works staff and prospective employees for carriage of the agents of potentially waterborne disease should be done selectively by appropriate laboratory tests only when indications for them are revealed by medical assessment.
An instrument for measuring bacterial penetration through fabrics used for barrier clothing
Authors: Ransjö Ulrika , Hambraeus Anna 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA new instrument has been designed to measure the penetration by rubbing of bacteria from cloth contaminated in the nursing of burn patients through fabrics designed for barrier garments. Most fabrics tested dry reduced the transfer of bacteria from the source cloth to about 10%, irrespective of the results of air filter tests, which agrees with mock nursing results. When the fabrics were tested against a wet surface, the transfer of bacteria rapidly reached 100% if the fabrics had a high wettability, but was slower for fabrics with a low wettability. Through closely woven waterproofed cotton, transfer was 5–25%, but increased three- to four-fold after ten launderings, in line with the water absorption. Transfer through plastic-laminated material was less than 1%. The results suggest that barrier garments should be made either of plastic or of recently waterproofed closely woven cotton at points of contact between nurse and patient where the clothes may be wetted by bacteria-containing wound secretions.
Attempts to control clothes-borne infection in a burn unit, 3. An open-roofed plastic isolator or plastic aprons to prevent contact transfer of bacteria
Authors: Ransjö Ulrika 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn open-roofed plastic isolator was built in a single patient isolation room in a burn unit. It was designed to prevent contact contamination only, as this had been shown to be the important route of cross-colonization in the unit. To exclude any possible effect on airborne transfer of bacteria, the isolator was first examined by means of an airborne particle tracer of the same size as bacteria-carrying particles. Such experiments indicated that the isolator might prevent some transfer out of but not into the isolator. This was not confirmed in simulated nursing experiments nor in a patient study, where the air counts of bacteria were practically the same inside and outside the isolator wall. Two patients only were nursed in the isolator. Both patients acquired exogenous colonizations from other patients, one with Ps. aeruginosa and the other with S. aureus. Nursing in the isolator was difficult and staff-demanding. In simulated nursing experiments, plastic aprons and gaunt-lets as the only protective measures against contact contamination gave as much protection to a mock patient as did the isolator. S. aureus were released from nurses' clothes more easily during work with the isolator than in open nursing with aprons and gauntlets. In conclusion, the isolator did not seem to be a realistic alternative to impermeable clothes such as plastic aprons as a means of preventing clothes-borne cross-contamination between burn patients.
Four bills of health issued from Malta by the Order of St John
Authors: Cassar Paul 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe specimens here described enlarge our knowledge of the bills of health of the Order of St John issued from Malta, an aspect of public health that had hitherto remained unexplored. These lone survivors from a vanished by-way of Maltese medical history formed, in their age, an integral part of the daily social, commercial and sanitary pattern of life in Malta. The earliest met so far, and described in the present series, dates from 1713; two belong to 1766 and another dates from 1794. A further bill, issued in 1782, has been published elsewhere. The chance preservation of these documents in unlikely places, as here indicated, makes it probable that additional ones may eventually come to light.
Serotypes of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli isolated from the sewage of Palmerston North (New Zealand)
Authors: Meekin Gail E. , Bettelheim K. A. , Bacon D. F. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAntibiotic resistant strains ofEscherichia coilwere isolated from the domestic sewage of Palmerston North. The ability of these strains to transfer the drug resistance markers to two different recipientE. colistrains was assessed. The ‘O’ and ‘H’ serotypes of all strains were determined and attempts at correlation with the drug resistance studies were made. Some typically ‘human’ serotypes were found as well as a number of rarely described ones. No correlation between serotype and resistance pattern was observed.
Role of rubella in congenital malformations in India
Authors: Chaturvedi U. C. , Tripathi B. N. , Mathur Asha , Singh U. K. , Mehrotra R. M. L. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn the present study rubella HI antibodies were determined in cases of congenital malformation and bad obstetric history to determine the role of rubella in such cases in India, as it has been reported to be rare in Japan in contrast to Western countries. The incidence of antibodies was statistically significant in cases of congenital eye, c.n.s., visceral and miscellaneous malformations and cases of spontaneous abortion and still-birth compared with controls of matching age groups. This is further supported by the demonstration of IgM antibodies in seven cases of congenital malformations and ten cases of spontaneous abortion. Our findings show that congenital rubella is not rare in India.
Survival ofSalmonella east bourneandSalmonella typhimuriumin chocolate
Authors: Tamminga S. K. , Beumer R. R. , Kampelmacher E. H. , van Leusden F. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYExperiments were carried out to assess the reduction rate of two salmonella strains (S. eastbourneandS. typhimurium) in chocolate bars. After artificial contamination of chocolate, after ‘conching’, with about 106S. eastbourne/g. this organism was still recovered after 9 months storage. The strain ofS. typhimuriumwas less resistant. Both serotypes died off more rapidly in bitter chocolate than in milk chocolate.After contamination with a smaller dose (about 103/g.) with these two serotypes, similar differences were observed.
The immunogenic activity of ribosomal fractions derived fromBrucella abortus
Authors: Corbel M. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe immunizing activity of ribosome preparations derived fromBrucella abortusstrain 19 cells was examined in guinea-pigs and mice. After subcutaneous injections ofBr. abortusribosomes in Freund's incomplete adjuvant, both mice and guinea-pigs developed immunity to challenge by virulentBr. abortus544 organisms which was at least as effective as the protection conferred by live strain 19 vaccine. Both mice and guinea-pigs also developed agglutinating and complement-fixing antibodies and delayed hypersensitivity toBr. abortusantigens. Conversely, ribosome preparations elicited delayed hypersensitivity reactions on intracutaneous injection into guinea-pigs chronically infected withBr. abortusorBr. melitensis.On injection into rabbits,Br. abortusribosomes incorporated in incomplete adjuvant induced high titres of agglutinins, complement fixing antibodies and precipitins forBr. abortusantigens. On immunochemical examination, the ribosome preparations were not grossly contaminated with antigens derived from the cell surface. They were chemically complex, however, and in addition to RNA contained numerous protein components identified by disk electrophoresis. The nature of the components responsible for conferring protection againstBr. abortuswas not determined.
An outbreak ofBacillus cereusfood -poisoning in Finland associated with boiled rice
Authors: Raevuori Markku , Kiutamo Tuomo , Niskanen Aimo , Salminen Kalevi 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA food-poisoning outbreak caused byBacillus cereusoccurred in a Finnish industrial plant in January 1975. Eighteen of the 36 persons who ate a lunch including boiled rice, meat and vegetables became ill. The disease pattern was similar to previously reported short incubation timeB. cereusfood-poisonings associated with cooked rice. The median incubation time was two hours, the main symptoms being nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting. Rice and certain seasonings were the contaminated raw materials. Gas chromatographic fatty acid analysis of a bacterial cell was used as a diagnostic method as well as to identify a certain strain ofB. cereus.
The cleaning and disinfection by heat of bedpans in automatic and semi-automatic machines
Authors: Mostafa A. B. M. G. , Chackett K. F. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThis work is concerned with the cleaning and disinfection by heat of stainless-steel and polypropylene bedpans, which had been soiled with either a biological contaminant, human serum albumin (HSA) labelled with technetium-99m 99m(Tc), or a bacteriological contaminant, streptococcus faecalis mixed with Tc-labelled HSA. Results of cleaning and disinfection achieved with a Test Machine and those achieved by procedures adopted in eight different wards of a general hospital are reported. Bedpan washers installed in wards were found to be less efficient than the Test Machine, at least partly because of inadequate maintenance. Stainless-steel and polypropylene bedpans gave essentially the same results.
The role of sheep and goats in the epizootiology of foot-and-mouth disease in Kenya
Authors: Anderson E. C. , Doughty W. J. , Anderson J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe pathogenicity of two bovine field strains of virus for indigenous goats was examined in the laboratory. The goats failed to develop clinical disease or become virus carriers although the majority showed a definite immune response. A field survey in a foot-and-mouth disease enzootic area showed that the indigenous sheep and goat populations were frequently exposed to infection as evidenced by a high proportion of sero-positive animals but the incidence of virus carriers was very low in goats and no carriers were detected in sheep.
Isolation of mycobacteria from dairy creamery effluent sludge
Authors: Matthews P. R. J. , Collins P. , Jones P. W. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSixty three samples of dairy creamery effluent were examined for the presence of mycobacteria. Thirty two strains were isolated from 27 samples. These were classified as follows:M. fortuitum(13),M. peregrinum(6),M. gordonae(5),M. marianum (scrofulaceum)(4), unidentified (4).Ten strains, representative of the groups isolated, were tested for their effect on experimental animals. None were pathogenic for guinea pigs or mice but a number produced a minimal amount of skin sensitization in guinea pigs to avian and mammalian tuberculin.
The effect of chloroform on Brucella abortus agglutinins in whey
Authors: Hinton M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDefatting milk for the Brucella abortus whey agglutination test with chloroform caused some reduction in the titre in i.u./ml. in 42 of 57 samples and this reduction exceeded 50% in seven. Though this procedure will probably rarely affect the final interpretation of the test defatting the milk by centrifugation is preferred.
A clinical trial of WRL 105 strain live attenuated influenza vaccine comparing four methods of intranasal vaccination
Authors: Freestone D. S. , Bowker C. H. , Letley E. , Ferris R. D. , White W. G. , Barnes G. M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA single intranasal dose of 107.0EID50 recombinant WRL 105 strain live attenuated influenza vaccine was administered intranasally to 193 volunteers either as nose drops or by one of three spray devices which produced sprays of differing physical characteristics. In volunteers with homologous haemagglutinating inhibiting antibody titres of ⋜ 20 before vaccination, seroconversion rates varied widely from 80% following the administration of drops to 71%, 57% and 28% with the three spray devices.In the week following vaccination 16 (22%) of 74 volunteers who were found to show a fourfold or greater antibody response took analgesics to control symptoms in comparison with 4 (7%) of 58 volunteers who exhibited no sero-logical response to vaccination (P < 0.05). However, neither the occurrence of upper respiratory nor systemic symptoms were significantly different in these two groups and the degree of attenuation of the recombinant WRL 105 strain appears to be acceptable for future use.
The effect of desert conditions on the reactivity of Libyan schoolchildren to a range of new tuberculins
Authors: Stanford J. L. , Shield M. J. , Paul R. C. , Khalil A. , Tobgi R. S. , Wallace A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThis study was carried out to investigate the effect of desert conditions on the pattern of delayed hypersensitivity to mycobacteria in school children aged 6–10 and 11–18 years. A new range of tuberculins prepared from ultrasonic lysates of living mycobacteria belonging to 12 different species was employed. Three centres were chosen for study, a sea port and two desert towns differing greatly from each other. The results obtained were compared with those of a previous study using the same reagents in Kenya.As expected both the range of mycobacterial species to which the children reacted, the rate of acquisition of specific hypersensitivity with age and the total percentage of children reacting to individual reagents differed from centre to centre. The harsh desert conditions of Ajdabia produced the least, and the proximity of the people's dwellings to those of their farm animals in Kufra produced the most positive reactors to essentially environmental species. The greatest number of reactors to our Tuberculin were found in Benghazi where the cosmopolitan urban conditions probably lead to a high contact with open cases of tuberculosis. As assessed by skin test reactivity, immunization with BCG in Libya was much less effective than in Kenya. The interpretation of the differences between the results from the different test centres and between those for Libya and Kenya are discussed.
Epidemiological studies on the 1967–1968 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic: the reporting of suspected disease
Authors: Hugh-Jones M. E. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYFrom an analysis of the telephone reports in ten FMD Control Centres in the West Midlands, the veterinary officers' reports on each outbreak, the farm patrol reports and the daily number of outbreaks announced on the 17.50 h B.B.C. T.V. News, it would appear that the reporting of suspected outbreaks was indirectly related to the local disease activity. Private veterinary practitioners reported older cases of FMD at the beginning and end of the epidemic than in the middle.
Neonatal infection due toSalmonella worthingtontransmitted by a delivery-room suction apparatus
Authors: Ip H. M. H. , Sin W. K. , Chau P. Y. , Tse Doris , Teoh-Chan C. H. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn outbreak of diarrhoea due toSalmonella worthingtonin five newborn babies, 5 weeks after a similar outbreak in 13 babies for which no cause had been found, occurred in the nursery of a maternity ward. The source of infection was traced to the contaminated rubber tubing of a mechanical suction apparatus.S. worthingtonwas isolated from the rubber tubing and the Y connexion of the suction apparatus from which all the five infected babies had received suction. Reflux of contaminated amniotic fluid into the sterile catheter connected to the apparatus some time before use could have been the means of introducing the infected material to the oropharynx of the newborn babies, and amniotic fluid, acting as a good medium to support the growth ofS. worthington, might be responsible for the long-lasting contamination.