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Biomedical subjects

C G Woodward

Publications and source records attributed to C G Woodward.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Epstein-Barr virus serology in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

The antibody profiles against Epstein-Barr virus were studied in 136 patients presenting with chronic fatigue syndromes. These profiles were compared with a panel of sera from blood donors. The patients exhibited higher titres in a combined assay for antibodies to the Restricted (R) and Diffuse (D) components of the Early Antigen complex than controls (P less than 0.001) but titres against these antigens were not useful on an individual patient basis. The patients who displayed elevated titres of antibodies to Early Antigens did not differ clinically from those displaying titres in the control range. Four of nine patients who had increased antibodies to Early Antigens also had evidence of active enterovirus infection.

Adult↗

Retinochoroiditis in acute Epstein-Barr virus infection.

The case is reported of a 17-year-old male with secondary glaucoma and retinochoroiditis complicating acute clinical infectious mononucleosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by Epstein-Barr virus specific serology. Toxoplasmic infection was initially suspected. The differential diagnosis and relevant literature are discussed.

Acute Disease↗

Epstein-Barr virus and jaw tumors in North Nigeria.

Nigerian patients with tumors of the jaw were compared with controls in respect of antibodies to the viral capsid antigens of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and of total immunoglobulin levels. Immunoglobulin levels did not differ between patients and controls but increased two weeks postsurgery. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to EBV were detected in a small number of patients, and mean titers of IgG antibodies to EBV were lower in the patient group, indicating a lack of association between EBV and tumor formation. An association was noted between the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen, and depressed antibody titers to EBV in patients with tumors. Of 78 patients studied, 12% were Hepatitis B surface antigen positive.

Ameloblastoma↗

Perioperative complications of elective tracheostomy in critically ill patients.

This study was designed to examine prospectively the incidence of perioperative complications associated with elective tracheostomy in critically ill patients. An experienced surgeon and anesthesiologist participated in every tracheostomy procedure. In 81 procedures, there was no loss of airway control for greater than 20 sec, no airway obstruction, no blood loss exceeding 50 ml, and no aspiration. One patient (1.2%) had cardiovascular instability. During the next 48 h, two patients (2.4%) required wound packing to control hemorrhage but did not require blood transfusion and two patients (2.4%) had evidence of supraclavicular subcutaneous emphysema that was physiologically inconsequential. There was no perioperative mortality or major morbidity associated with the tracheostomy procedure. We conclude that, under controlled conditions, elective tracheostomy can be performed safely in critically ill patients.

Adolescent↗

Vaccinia virus cytotoxin.

Extracts of vaccinia-infected HeLa cells were rendered free from infectious virus by centrifugation followed by membrane filtration and were shown to be toxic to uninfected HeLa cells in the presence of hypertonic MgSO4, used as a macromolecular uptake inducer, under conditions which did not kill control cells. Extracts from uninfected cells were nontoxic. This biological test was adapted to a semi-quantitative assay which was used to monitor the purification of the cytotoxic factor by DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100 chromatography. The cytotoxic factor was purified 100-fold, shown to be of molecular weight 30 -- 100,000 daltons, acidic and completely inactivated by soluble trypsin but not by ribonuclease under conditions believed to degrade both single- and double-stranded RNA species. It was demonstrated to be virus specific by approrpiate immunosorbent chromatography. Extracts were also prepared from vaccinia-infected HEp-2, RK and W-K cells respectively. A virus-specific factor, toxic to uninfected HeLa cells, with similar chromatographic properties to that isolated from infected HeLa cells, was isolated from these three additional cell lines. The concept of virus induced cytotoxins, substances which exert their toxic effect in the host cells in which they are made, is discussed.

Antigens, Viral↗

Investigations of reasons for the avirulence of the A7 strain of Semliki Forest virus in adult mice.

A strain of Semliki Forest virus (A7) which is avirulent in adult mice killed baby mice in a similar manner to strain V13 which was also virulent for adult mice. In the muscle and brains of baby mice A7 and V13 replicated and produced haemagglutinating activity similarly. Our previous suggestion that defective interfering particles were present in the brains of A7-infected adult mice appears not to be so. The interference formerly detected was due to an inhibitor present in brain tissue of adult and baby mice both normal and infected. Homogenates of A7-infected adult brain produced normal RNA species in BHK cells and not those characteristic of defective interfering particles. Organ culture experiments indicated that avirulence of A7 was not due to lack of release of virus from infected adult brain cells. Also, A7 as well as V13 was detected and was probably replicating in all parts of the brain and spinal cord that were sectioned and examined. Evidence is presented that suggests that the reason for the avirulence of A7 for adult mice compared with its virulence for baby mice may relate to a lower ability to replicate in brain tissue per se rather than to interaction with host defence mechanisms.

Age Factors↗

Production of defective interfering virus in the brains of mice by an avirulent, in contrast with a virulent, strain of Semliki forest virus.

An avirulent strain (A7) of Semliki Forest virus formed nearly as much haemagglutinating and complement fixing antigen in the brains of adult mice as a virulent (V13) strain, yet the infectivities of the brain tissues were different by about 100-fold. It appeared therefore that defective virus particles were fomed by A7 but these were not demonstrated by fluorescent antibody studies. In short-term organ cultures of adult mouse brain, A7 derived from mouse brain showed a typical interference pattern in inoculum infectivity response curves. Furthermore, when mixed suspensions of brain-grown V13 and A7 with equal infectivities were inoculated the inoculum infectivity response patterns showed significant depressions of the V13 response at higher inocula. Such interference was not detected if chick cell grown A7 and V13 were substituted for the mouse grown virus. The avirulence of A7 in adult mice and its rapid protective effect against lethal V13 infection could be due to the production of defective interfering virus particles in the brain.

Animals↗