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Biomedical subjects

E N Fussell

Publications and source records attributed to E N Fussell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Changes in seminal fluid zinc during experimental prostatitis.

Patients with prostatitis have been found to have decreased prostatic fluid zinc (PF Zn). It is unclear whether changes of prostatitis are due to an inherent lack of Zn in some patients or whether the changes, including reduced PF Zn, are due to the infectious process itself. Six nonhuman primates were infected with 1 x 10(5) E. coli JR340, a clinical isolate known to cause prostatitis in the monkey. After infection, seminal fluid for culture and zinc assay was obtained by electroejaculation. Zinc was measured by colorimetric analysis. Blood counts, quantitative renal scans and urine cultures were also monitored. The animals were followed for 4 weeks and then sacrificed. The histopathology showed resolving prostatitis and fibrosis. Zinc levels dropped with acute infection, and variably recovered as the infection cleared. Controls showed slight variability with respect to PF Zn. It appears that PF Zn decreases as a result of the infectious process.

Animals↗

Adherence to urethral catheters by bacteria causing nosocomial infections.

Previous clinical studies of catheters with hydrophilic coating have, in some instances, shown a delay in the onset of significant bacteriuria, while others reported no such effect. To attempt to determine reasons for these differences we decided to study bacterial adherence of bacteria obtained from nosocomial urinary tract infections associated with catheters. Almost all strains adhered to the silicone catheter and none of them adhered to the catheter with the hydrophilic surface whether incubated in urine or serum. When incubated in urine, all strains adhered to the red rubber catheters. Adherence was variable to the Teflon and elastomer surfaces.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Experimental prostatitis in nonhuman primates: I. Bacterial adherence in the urethra.

Both man and monkey possess urothelial (transitional cell) receptors for P-fimbriae of Escherichia coli; however, the male urethra has pseudostratified columnar cells. We studied adherence using scanning electron microscopy and found that P-fimbriae were the principal mediators of adherence to these cells as well. The monkey, therefore, should be a good model for the study of the ascending route of infection in prostatitis, the route thought to occur in man.

Animals↗

Bacterial adherence to urethral catheters.

Closed sterile catheter drainage has markedly reduced the incidence of nosocomial urinary tract infections. Infections that occur during closed drainage must ascend by colonizing the catheter or urethra. Our study compared adherence by different bacterial species to different catheter surfaces. We found no bacteria adhering to the hydrophilic catheter surface. Of the gram-negative bacteria Proteus mirabilis showed the greatest adherence to the other catheters and it, like most bacteria, showed the most marked adherence to the red rubber catheter.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Adherence of bacteria to human foreskins.

The mucosal surface of the human foreskin from newborns shows a propensity to be colonized by pathogenic bacteria. Bacteria with P fimbriae and type 1 fimbriae adhere. However, hydrophobic interaction as well as electrostatic charge appear to be as important in this adherence as are fimbriae. Since bacterial adherence has been shown to precede urinary tract infection in female patients it is assumed that this adherence to the foreskin in male patients also may be necessary before initiation of the disease. The high incidence of urinary tract infection in uncircumcised male patients combined with these findings of adherence of pathogenic bacteria to the mucosal surface of the foreskin, thus, would seem to be related. Prevention of urinary tract infection and acute pyelonephritis in male neonates then may require either circumcision or the prevention of bacterial adherence to the human foreskin.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Immunology of pyelonephritis. VII. Effect of allopurinol.

The inflammatory response and the respiratory burst of bacterial phagocytosis have been shown to be at least partially responsible for the renal damage from infection. In addition, we have shown that renal blood flow decreases following infection. Hypoxanthine is produced in ischemic tissue during the anaerobic metabolism of adenosine monophosphate (AMP). During reperfusion hypoxanthine is metabolized to uric acid and superoxide in the presence of xanthine oxidase. The toxicity of this oxygen radical was prevented by preventing its formation with pretreatment with allopurinol, an xanthine oxidase inhibitor. The data suggest that xanthine oxidase may be the enzyme responsible for the respiratory burst of phagocytosis, as well as preventing reperfusion damage which occurs after ischemia.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

The ultrastructure of acute pyelonephritis in the monkey.

P-fimbriated E. coli, which have specific receptors on urothelial cells for their fimbriae, were used to produce pyelonephritis. Using both scanning and electron microscopy, it was shown that the bacteria attached to ureteral epithelium by 12 hours after inoculation. They developed into a biolayer of bacteria covering the epithelium by 48 hours, but did not invade within that time. In the kidney, adherence was seen by 6 hours in collecting proximal and distal tubules. While many bacteria were seen, tubular epithelium remained normal through 24 hours. The inflammatory response was first seen at 48 hours. Phagocytosis was accompanied by mortal damage to both phagocytes and surrounding tubules. This was followed by bacterial invasion of the interstitium.

Animals↗

Prevention of pyelonephritis by immunization with P-fimbriae.

P-fimbriae have been found to be a virulence factor in both human and nonhuman primate urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli. This is because of bacterial adherence to urothelial cells which is mediated by adherence of fimbriae to a specific glycolipid receptor on the cell membrane of these cells. We purified P-fimbriae for immunization of monkeys. High titers of antifimbrial antibody protected against both acute and chronic pyelonephritis after renal inoculations of P-fimbriate Escherichia coli.

Animals↗

Chronic pyelonephritis. Electron microscopic study. III. The ureter.

The ultrastructure of the ureter in the nonhuman primate is described. In experimentally produced chronic pyelonephritis, the ureter shows extensive ultrastructural changes throughout the wall. The epithelium has cellular damage progressing from the basal cells to the superficial cells. There is an invasion of leukocytes into the intercellular spaces at all levels. The connective tissue layer seems thickened with an increase in active fibroblasts, leukocytes, collagen, and elastic fibers. There are various stages of damage in the smooth muscle layer and an abnormal increase of connective tissues between bundles and smooth muscle cells. The interdigitating nexuses seem stretched and altered. The changes are similar to those seen in ureteral obstruction and are assumed to be reparative.

Animals↗

Inhibition of sperm-egg interaction by specific antibody.

Treatment of hamster ova, in vitro, with ovary specific antibody interferes with sperm-egg interaction by inhibiting sperm attachment to the zona pellucida and subsequent zona penetration. This inhibition results from precipitation of the zona by the specific antibody.

Animals↗