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Biomedical subjects

C Collier

Publications and source records attributed to C Collier.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

High in vitro spontaneous histamine release in long-term hemodialyzed patients.

Adverse reactions, such as skin flush and pruritus, have been observed among hemodialyzed (HD) patients. A potential relationship between hemodialysis and allergic phenomena prompted us to investigate some allergologic parameters. Total IgE, specific IgE antiethylene oxide and anti-isocyanate toluene diisocyanate, and in vitro spontaneous histamine release (SHR) were measured in 105 long-term stable HD patients. Thirty-two of the patients had occasionally developed skin flush reactions and/or pruritus during dialysis sessions. Blood samples were taken at the start of dialysis, sera were kept frozen until assay, and in vitro SHR was performed on washed leukocytes at 37 degrees C for 40 minutes. A high (range, 20% to 80%) and reproducible in vitro SHR was observed among 24% of patients. No correlation was found between SHR and the type of dialysis membrane used (copolymer of acrylonitrile-methallyl-sodium sulfonate, cuprophan, and polysulfone). High SHR (i.e., greater than 20%) was observed mainly among patients with detectable antiethylene oxide IgE antibodies (p less than 0.001). High levels of IgE (greater than 300 ng/ml), specific IgE antibodies, and a high in vitro SHR were all observed concomitantly in 26% of the patients with skin flush reactions and/or pruritus, whereas all three of these parameters together were present in only 3% of the symptom-free patients. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a high in vitro SHR has been described among HD patients, and putative correlations with in vivo phenomena are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Community hospital surgeon-specific infection rates.

A one-year prospective study of surgeon-specific nosocomial infection rates was done in two community hospitals. Hospital A (93 beds) and Hospital B (158 beds) have nearly identical surgical staffs. Unified criteria for the diagnosis of infections, methods of data collection, and coding were used. Data were processed with an IBM 370 computer using Statistical Analysis System (SAS). Each surgeon received semiannual reports of 1) overall infection rate by site, 2) number of surgical wound infections by wound class and type of procedure, 3) pathogens for each deep and incisional infection, and 4) quarterly wound infection rates by wound class. Analysis of reports revealed high Class I surgical wound infection rates for both general and orthopedic surgeons. One person in each group had inordinately high infection rates. These data serve as an objective incentive to reduce surgical wound infections, identify individual problems, and suggest surgical privileges be evaluated by performance.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1987

Studies on the metabolic behaviour of industrial actinide-bearing aerosols after deposition in the rat lung: an experimental basis for interpreting chest monitoring data and assessing limits on intake for workers.

UNLABELLED: The metabolism of 239Pu and 241Am in 3 site-specific industrial dusts has been studied after their deposition in the rat lung. A comparative experiment has also been carried out with a mixture of these actinides inhaled as their nitrates. The aim of this study was to provide an experimental basis for assessing limits on intake and to establish whether the 239Pu content in the lungs could be interpolated from measurements of 241Am. THE RESULTS: 1 demonstrate the wide differences in the lung retention kinetics of the actinides and in the absolute and relative amounts translocated to the blood that can occur for industrially produced materials; 2 show that the annual limits on intake (ALIs) for the different materials vary between those postulated for class W and Y compounds by the International Commission on Radiological Protection; 3 indicate that acute intakes of 239Pu equivalent to the ALI can, depending on the nature of the dust, be estimated from 241Am chest monitoring data at times from a few days up to about 3 years after exposure.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1986

Operating room surveillance: a new approach in reducing hip and knee prosthetic wound infections.

A prospective study of surgical wound infections (SWI) in hip prosthesis surgery and total hip and knee replacements at two community hospitals with common surgical staffs was begun in May 1982. The rates of SWI during the first 7 months for four orthopedic surgeons were 9% (3/32) for hip prosthesis surgery and 16.7% (3/18) for total hip and knee replacement, with 12% (6/50) overall. To reduce infections, each orthopedic surgeon agreed to intraoperative surveillance (IOS) of two procedures (hip prosthesis or total hip or knee replacement) by the infection control nurse at each hospital. Significant IOS findings were too many persons in the operating room (five to nine persons), operating room doors opened frequently (25 to 50 times), inconsistent use of prophylactic antibiotics, and excessive conversation. In January 1984, IOS data and recommendations were shared with each orthopedic surgeon, the operating room staff, and the anesthesia personnel. Subsequently, a statistically significant drop in SWI was realized for total hip and knee replacement (1/36 versus 5/36, p = 0.05) and overall (3/73 versus 14/116, p = 0.05). The drop in SWI for hip prosthesis surgery was not statistically significant (2/37 versus 9/80, p greater than 0.10). IOS and individualized communication were effective in reducing SWI.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An in vitro investigation of the efficacy of CPC for use in toothbrush decontamination.

PURPOSE: A product designed as a toothbrush disinfectant containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), a quaternary ammonium compound, recently was introduced. The purpose of this study was to provide additional evidence that CPC provides a practical solution for destroying residual microorganisms on air-dried toothbrushes and toothbrushes stored in a travel container. METHODS: Sterile synthetic toothbrushes were inoculated with optical density standardized laboratory cultures of Staphylococcus epidermidis or Candida albicans. Half were then disinfected with CPC and half were used as untreated controls. The toothbrushes were vortexed in sterile saline solution, diluted in a ten-fold series, and plated on 5% blood agar or Sabouraud dextrose agar. The plates were incubated at 37 degrees C in a normal atmosphere for 48 hours, and colonies were counted. RESULTS: CPC produced significant decreases in residual microorganisms. Using the CPC spray treatment on air-dried toothbrushes, Staphylococcus epidermidis essentially was reduced 100-fold, while Candida albicans had a 94% reduction of growth. Bacterial counts were higher in the samples stored in closed containers as compared to the air-dried samples. CONCLUSION: CPC appeared to be an effective toothbrush disinfectant for the organisms evaluated. It is practical and economical. CPC could easily fit into the recommendations of a practice committed to infection control.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗