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Biomedical subjects

A S McNeish

Publications and source records attributed to A S McNeish.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Bacteriological criteria for feeding raw breast-milk to babies on neonatal units.

Aerobic cultures of 207 samples of drip breast-milk from seventy mothers in hospital showed that 6 (3%) were sterile and 170 (82%) contained only the commensal organisms coagulase-negative staphylococci and Streptococcus viridans. 25 (15%) grew potential pathogens--Staphylococcus aureus in 13 (6%); enterobacteria in 15 (7%); and group-B streptococci in 3 (2%). It is proposed that milk with commensals in any numbers may be considered for use unheated but not milk containing any potential pathogens.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1979

When should pre-term babies be sent home from neonatal units?

20 randomly selected infants of 33 weeks gestation and under at birth were allowed to go home from the neonatal unit provided they were clinically well and had passed the nadir of their postnatal weight-loss and provided home conditions were satisfactory. Weight-gain at home was satisfactory and there was no increased rate of hospital readmission compared with 20 randomly selected pre-term infants who were discharged at a more traditional weight of 2200 g. There is therefore little justification for the widespread practice in Britain of delaying discharge of preterm infants until they reach a predetermined weight (usually 2000--2500 g).

Body Weight↗
PubMed1979

The diagnosis of coeliac disease. A commentary on the current practices of members of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (ESPGAN).

In 1977, 53 members of ESPGAN completed a questionnaire on their current practice in diagnosing coeliac disease. The usefulness of the 'Interlaken' criteria enumerated 9 years previously was reassessed. Details were obtained about the initial diagnostic approach, the acceptable histological criteria of the initial jejunal biopsy, and the timing, technique, response, and interpretation of early and late rechallenges with gluten. Answers indicated that, although the initial mucosal lesion is usually 'flat' at the time of diagnosis, a few infants may present at a time when the mucosal lesion is less completely damaged. Furthermore, the degree of histological change after gluten challenge that is acceptable as a positive response may vary according to the state of the mucosa before challenge. It was noted that there are still no generally agreed criteria by which the histological lesions may be described, so that (after further discussions at the Third International Coeliac Conference in Galway) a European panel has been set up to make recommendations. In the experience of ESPGAN members, most coeliac children will have a histological relapse within 2 years of reintroduction of gluten. But a small number of unorthodox cases were reported that suggest that (a) histological relapse may take longer than 2 years to appear, or (b) the degree of sensitivity to gluten may vary at different ages. Very long-term follow-up will be needed to explain these anomalies. Meanwhile the search continues for 'the basic defect'.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1978

Adherence of an enteropathogenic strain of Escherichia coli to human intestinal mucosa is mediated by a colicinogenic conjugative plasmid.

The capacity of a human enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strain serotype O26:K60:H11, to adhere to the mucosa of the human fetal small intestine was shown to be plasmid mediated. Adherence was transferred at a high frequency in a long-term conjugal mating experiment to E. coli K-12 and was lost by treatment of the EPEC strain with the curing agent ethidium bromide. Analysis of radioactively labeled DNA from lysates of the EPEC, transconjugant, and cured strains indicated that adherence was correlated with the presence of plasmid DNA species with an approximate average molecular weight of 56 X 10(6). Resistance to the antibiotics spectinomycin, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline and production of colicin Ib were all transferred in long-term mating and lost upon curing coordinately with the property of adherence. In conjugal mating experiments of limited duration between E. coli K-12 strains, however, segregation of colicin production and mucosal adherence from multiple drug resistance was observed. Analysis of plasmid DNA of segregant transconjugant strains confirmed the presence in the 56 X 10(6)-dalton plasmid species of two previously unresolved components, pLG101 designating the ColIb plasmid which also carries the determinant for mucosal adherence and pLG102 representing the slightly smaller multiple drug resistance plasmid.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1977

Intestinal damage in rotavirus and adenovirus gastroenteritis assessed by d-xylose malabsorption.

The absorption of D-xylose infused into the duodenum was assessed in infants with acute gastroenteritis. 1-hour blood-xylose levels were low in 6 patients found to harbour rotavirus in the small intestinal aspirate. Normal levels (greater than 1-26 mmol/l) were obtained in the absence of virus particles in the small intestine in a further 6 patients: in 3 of these adenovirus or rotavirus was recovered from the stools. Three patients with adenovirus in the small intestinal juice and ill with acute gastroenteritis also had low xylose levels. This finding supports earlier epidemiological studies that adenovirus may be a causative agent of acute infantile gastroenteritis. The association between virus in the small intestine and xylose malabsorption may indicate mucosal damage. Formal proff of this is awaited.

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMed1976

The agglutinating antibody response in the duodenum of infants with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli gastroenteritis.

The agglutinating antibody response in duodenal fluid and serum was measured serially in 15 infants with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli gastroenteritis. Peak levels of duodenal agglutinins were recorded 8-18 days after the onset of symptoms, and the titres fell within the next 7-14 days. The immunoglobulin (Ig) class of these antibodies was mainly IgA, but IgM antibodies were detected early in the response, especially in the younger infants. Late antibodies showed less cross-reactions with other strains of E. coli than did early antibodies. Serum antibody responses were detected in eight infants, but they correlated poorly with the titres of intestinal antibodies. No rise in serum antibodies was detected in six infants. It is not known whether these differences are host-derived, or whether they are the result of the invasive properties of some of the infecting organisms.

Agglutinins↗
PubMed1975

Mucosal adherence of human enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.

An in-vitro assay system has been developed to measure bacterial adhesion to the mucosa of human fetal small intestine. Two strains of Escherichia coli that are proven human enteropathogens (E.P.E.C.) have been shown to adhere in large numbers, compared with control organisms. The attachment mechanism is species specific and is not caused by common fimbriae. Mucosal adhesion may be as important as enterotoxin production or invasiveness in determining the virulence of some strains of human E.P.E.C.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of gestational age and size on the absorption of D-xylose and D-glucose from the small intestine of the human neonate.

D-Xylose absorption (using the one-hour blood levels) and active D-glucose absorption (calculated from changes in transmural electrical potential difference) have been measured after intraduodenal infusion of the appropriate sugar, in groups of neonates who were full-term or preterm, and who were in addition either appropriately sized for gestational age, or growth-retarded in utero. The one-hour D-xylose blood levels were significantly lower in preterm infants, and were even lower in the growth-retarded group. In follow-up studies D-xylose absorption rose in all groups of infants over the first three weeks of postnatal life but there was no sign of 'catch-up' in the results of the growth-retarded infants. In the studies of D-glucose absorption the theoretical kinetic parameters 'apparent P.D.max' (equivalent to Vmax) and 'apparent Km' were calculated. Normal full-term infants had values for both parameters that were approximately two-thirds of published adult values. Malnourished neonates had significantly lower P.D.max and apparent Km, and preterm infants had a lower P.D.max, than the values obtained in those infants who were full-term and appropriately grown.

Gestational Age↗