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Biomedical subjects

A M O'Sullivan

Publications and source records attributed to A M O'Sullivan.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Protection against endotoxin-induced foetal resorption in mice by desferrioxamine and ebselen.

Endotoxin was administered to mice on their 13th day of pregnancy at doses which caused the resorption of approximately 50% of the implanted foetuses. The iron chelator desferrioxamine was found to significantly inhibit the percentage of resorptions induced by endotoxin in a dose-dependent manner. The highest dose of desferrioxamine (5 mg) given intravenously 30 min prior to, immediately after, and 4 and 24 h after endotoxin inoculation, reduced the percentage of resorptions from 56.9 to 17.9%. Administration of the novel selenium-containing compound ebselen, which is both an antioxidant and an inhibitor of leukotriene synthesis, was also found to significantly protect against endotoxin-induced foetal resorptions, reducing the percentage of resorbed foetuses from 52.9 to 26.0% when given at a dose of 50 mg/kg (s.c.) at the time of endotoxin inoculation and 24 and 48 h following. Both these compounds also significantly reduced the increase in spleen weights observed when the mice were given endotoxin. These results provide evidence that the iron-catalysed production of hydroxyl radicals from other oxygen-derived species and the formation of leukotrienes play an important role in the mechanism by which endotoxin causes foetal resorptions in the mouse.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Campylobacters and impaired fetal development in mice.

Intravenous injection of eight human strains of Campylobacter fetus ss fetus and Campylobacter jejuni into mice at various stages of pregnancy demonstrated significant strain differences in ability to affect implantation of the fertilised ovum and to cause resorption of the mouse fetus. Implantation was significantly impaired when C. fetus ss fetus was injected intravenously on day 2 of pregnancy, but no effect was observed in mice receiving C. jejuni. On day 6 of pregnancy, before the development of placental circulation, both C. fetus ss fetus and C. jejuni impaired fetal growth; one strain of C. jejuni had a greater effect than others of the same species. In animals inoculated on day 13 of pregnancy, after the development of placental circulation, six of the eight campylobacter strains caused resorption of the mouse embryos. A similar effect on the embryos was observed after injection of heat-killed organisms, and endotoxin-like substances may have been responsible. It is also suggested that factors other than endotoxin-like substances have a deleterious effect on embryonic growth.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The effect of campylobacter lipopolysaccharide on fetal development in the mouse.

Purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) obtained from isolates of Campylobacter fetus ss. fetus and Campylobacter jejuni impaired fetal development when administered to mice on day 13 of pregnancy. Strikingly more fetal resorption was produced by C. jejuni LPS than by similar amounts of C. fetus ss. fetus LPS. Three of the four Campylobacter strains examined produced LPS that had no effect on maternal health, but LPS from one C. jejuni strain killed all of the mice to which it was administered.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Variations in the virulence, for pregnant guinea pigs, of campylobacters isolated from man.

Pregnant guinea pigs were used to compare the virulence of four human isolates of Campylobacter fetus ss. fetus and four of C. jejuni on the basis of their ability to cause abortion and bacteraemia. Of the four strains of C. fetus ss. fetus two produced abortion readily after intramuscular injection. The four C. jejuni isolates were, however, of comparatively low virulence and no differences between them were demonstrated. Some of the isolates differed in their ability to survive in vitro in human and guinea-pig serum. It is suggested that campylobacters vary in their virulence for man and that this may influence the outcome of infections. Guinea pigs may prove useful in studying the pathogenesis of systemic campylobacter infections.

Abortion, Septic↗
PubMed1984

The employment of adults with spina bifida.

Information on employment was obtained from 157 adults with spina bifida aged 18-26 years. Ninety were given an additional interview, 43% had been employed at some time, but only 19% currently. They mainly did routine, non-manual work for average working hours, but below average pay. They enjoyed their jobs, principally for the social contact, and were well accepted by employees and work-mates. Unfortunately, job retention was poor. The 81% who were unemployed largely hoped to find a job, but suitable ones were not available. They considered that they should have more help to find jobs. Their days were mainly spent at home or at day centres. They had no doubts that being unemployed had many disadvantages, of which the principal one was lack of social contact, but financial hardship was also mentioned.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Spina bifida adults.

Questionnaire data were obtained from 137 spina bifida adults aged 18-25 years and additional more sensitive information was obtained by interviewing 35 of them. Although 52% had attended college, many found the courses of little relevance to finding employment. 45% had been employed at some time, but only 23% were presently employed. Employability was significantly related to degree of handicap, and job retention was significantly higher in males. 14% lived away from home, but many more wished to do so. Only 3% were married and 24% had a boyfriend / girlfriend . The most common health problems were of the urinary tract (38%) and pressure sores (26%).

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of different stages of pregnancy on group B streptococcal infection in mice.

Eight-day pregnant mice were found to be more resistant to the lethal effects of group B streptococci than those which were 17 days pregnant. From studies on the multiplication of the organisms in vivo it is suggested that the apparent enhancement of the infection in the 17-day pregnant animals is due to the lethal effects of the greater number of streptococci found in their tissues.

Animals↗