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C Devine

Publications and source records attributed to C Devine.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Value of agglutination tests for the rapid identification of isolated streptococci in medical microbiology].

The clinical need for rapidly and correctly differentiating pathogenic streptococci into Lancefield groups prompted the development of rapid agglutination techniques by the direct colony method. Pastorex Streptogroupe (Diagnostics Pasteur, France) and Streptex (Wellcome Diagnostics, USA) were tested on 90 streptococcal isolates and compared with the identification obtained by conventional procedures. No cross-reactions were observed with any of the 33 strains of enterococci and of the seven strains representative of other genus among Gram-positive bacteria. When combined with colonial morphology and hemolytic reaction, both Pastorex and Streptex were specific tests for identifying beta-hemolytic streptococci, with Pastorex being slightly faster.

Agglutination Tests↗

Inducible, transferable resistance to vancomycin in Enterococcus faecalis A256.

A strain of Enterococcus faecalis (A256) was isolated from the urine of a patient with urinary sepsis and was found to exhibit susceptibilities (micrograms per milliliter) to various glycopeptides as follows: vancomycin, 256; teicoplanin, 16; 62208, 512; 62211, 4; and 62476, 16. As judged by growth rates before and after exposure to sub-MICs of glycopeptides, vancomycin and 62476 induced self-resistance, 62208 and 62211 induced slight self-resistance, and teicoplanin did not induce self-resistance. Vancomycin induced cross-resistance to all other glycopeptides tested, as judged both in growth experiments and by direct measurement of inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis in cells exposed to sub-MICs of vancomycin. Thus, the spectra of activity of the glycopeptides were not correlated with their patterns of induction. There was a correlation between the increased synthesis of a 39-kilodalton (kDa) protein located in the cytoplasmic membrane and the induction of resistance. Protoplasts of A256 were susceptible to inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis by vancomycin at levels similar to those for susceptible strains. Vancomycin resistance was transferable on filters from the parent strain to E. faecalis JH2-2 at a frequency of about 10(-7), and the 39-kDa protein was also inducible by glycopeptides in these transconjugants. We conclude that A256 is resistant to glycopeptides by virtue of the synthesis of a 39-kDa cytoplasmic membrane protein, that this protein is probably involved in preventing access of the glycopeptides to their peptidoglycan targets, and that this resistance is transferable, probably by conjugation.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Adenovirus type 2 early nuclear and mRNA: kinetic estimation of l anf r DNA strand fractions complementary to different abundance classes of viral RNA.

RNA from unfractionated cells, nuclei, and polyribosomes was extracted from adenovirus 2 (Ad2)-infected KB cells early in infection and annealed in vast excess in liquid to purified Ad2 l (heavy) and r (light) [(32)P]DNA strands (specific activity, 3 x 10(6) to 1.5 x 10(7) cpm/mug). The number of abundance classes of Ad2 RNA, their relative concentrations, and the strand fraction from which they arose were determined by a computer-assisted nonlinear regression analysis of hybridization kinetic data. Whole-cell RNA and nuclear RNA annealed to 60 and 40%, respectively, of l and r strands. Well-defined abundance (kinetic) classes were identified: abundant and scarce classes were complementary to 15 to 17 and 40 to 45%, respectively, of l strand, and to 11 to 16 and 17 to 23%, respectively, of r strand. In whole-cell RNA and nuclear RNA the abundant classes were 57 to 208 and 13 to 27 times more concentrated, respectively, than scarce classes. RNA-RNA hybrids were isolated that annealed to about 70% of both strands, indicating that whole-cell RNA and nuclear RNA hybridization values were minimal. Polyribosomal RNA appeared to anneal as three abundance classes to each DNA strand; abundant, scarce, and very scarce classes, respectively, hybridized to 6, 5, and about 10% of l strand and 7 (6 to 8), 10 (8 to 13), and about 19% of r strand. The abundant classes were 41 (11 to 67) times more concentrated than the scarce classes and 10(3) times more concentrated than the very scarce classes. Although the biological significance of these classes is not known, the very scarce classes probably represent nuclear RNA contaminants of polyribosomal RNA. The abundant and scarce classes may comprise mRNA, because together they are complementary to about the same fraction of each DNA strand (11% [10 to 12%] and 17% [14 to 20%] of l and r strands) known to be expressed as early mRNA. Thus, nuclear RNA contains Ad2 RNA sequences not found on polyribosomes; most or all of both DNA strands are transcribed, but only certain transcripts are processed into mRNA. It is not known whether "non-mRNA" transcripts are intermediates in the pathway of early mRNA production.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Genome expression and mRNA maturation at late stages of productive adenovirus type 2 infection.

RNA from adenovirus 2-infected KB cells was annealed in liquid with RNA in vast excess to viral heavy (l) and light (r) 32P-labeled DNA strands. Hybridization kinetics were analyzed by computer to estimate the number of viral RNA abundance classes, their relative concentrations, and the fraction of each DNA strand from which they originated. Early whole cell RNA extracted 5 h postinfection annealed rapidly to 10 to 15% of l and r strands and then slowly to final values of 60 and 40% of l and r strands. By 9 h postinfection the expression of late genes was apparent and whole cell RNA annealed to 20 and 75% of l and r strands. Whole cell RNA extracted between 12 and 36 h postinfection annealed to 7 to 15% and 75 to 90% of l and r strands. Late nuclear RNA hybridized to 10 and 90% of l and r strands, and late polyribosomal RNA hybridized to 20 and 75% of l and r strands. Based upon kinetic analyses, we estimate that mRNA synthesized exclusively during late stages arises from about 6 to 8% and 45 to 49% of l and r strands. This assumes that the early class I mRNA (in low concentration late) originates from 8 to 10% and 6 to 10% of l and r strands and that early class II mRNA (in high concentration late) is derived from 2% and 8 to 13% of l and r strands. Mixing experiments indicated that early mRNA is a subset of RNA extracted from polyribosomes late after infection and that late nuclear RNA contains sequences complementary to early l strand class I nRNA. RNA-RNA hybrids were isolated from late mRNA containing sequences from 60% of l and r strands, but it is not known when these were synthesized, and therefore whether complementary RNA transcripts are synthesized late after infection, as they are known to be synthesized early. These results demonstrate that portions of the genome are transcribed into RNA sequences that remain confined to the nucleus and are not exported to polyribosomes as mRNA.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Cancer and folie à deux: case report, treatment, and implications.

PURPOSE: This report describes the uncommon psychopathological state best known as folie à deux, or shared psychotic disorder, in a unique case in which the grandiose, religious delusions of a woman with uterine cancer are shared with her husband. OVERVIEW: More than 50% of patients with cancer meet the criteria for diagnosis of major psychiatric disorders. Certainly, these disorders may occur as a result of the stress of the cancer diagnosis and treatment, but also because of a predisposition to psychiatric illness or a pre-existing psychiatric illness. In the medical setting, the phenomenon of folie à deux poses significant problems not only for the patient, but also for the involved family member, psychiatric consultant, and healthcare team. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In this case, the patient's delusional system had a grave impact on her ability to make rational healthcare decisions, for which she was deemed incompetent. The first choice for her healthcare surrogate, her husband, was so affected by his sharing of her psychotic condition that he could not fulfill this role. In assessing a suspected case of folie à deux, awareness of several issues--the point at which religious over-ideation becomes delusional, the spectrum of competency, informed consent, and treatment refusal--is important.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗