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Biomedical subjects

H George

Publications and source records attributed to H George.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Effects of selenium supplementation in cattle on aquatic ecosystems in northern California.

The potential impact on aquatic ecosystems of supplementing the diets of beef cattle with selenium (Se) was studied on 4 northern California ranches. All study sites included an area of concentrated use by cattle that had diets supplemented with Se. In each case, a stream flowed through the site and provided a control sampling area upstream and a treated sampling area downstream. Specimens of water, sediment, algae, aquatic plants, aquatic invertebrates, and fish were analyzed fluorometrically for total Se content. Significant differences in Se concentration were not found between specimens from upstream control areas and those from downstream areas subjected to use by Se-treated cattle. Evidence was not found that Se supplementation in cattle at maximal permitted concentrations caused Se accumulation in associated aquatic ecosystems.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1991

Calcium inhibition of efrotomycin production by Nocardia lactamdurans.

Efrotomycin is a modified polyketide antibiotic of the elfamycin family that has use in the area of pig husbandry. Optimization of the fermentation medium for production of efrotomycin by Nocardia lactamdurans revealed that the fermentation is sensitive to hard water and certain lots of cottonseed flour used to prepare a complex fermentation medium. A limited metal ion analysis of the hard water indicated that calcium ions are present at concentrations found to be inhibitory by the addition of calcium chloride to medium prepared with distilled water. Similarly, a correlation between lots of cottonseed flour that poorly supported the fermentation and high calcium levels is presented. Further experimentation revealed that by altering the sterilization conditions of the cottonseed flour, the inhibitory effect of poor lots could be prevented.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1991

cDNAs encoding members of a family of proteins related to human sterol carrier protein 2 and assignment of the gene to human chromosome 1 p21----pter.

Sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2) is believed to play a key role in intracellular lipid movement. Here we report the cloning and nucleotide sequences of cDNAs encoding SCP2-related proteins of 58.85 kD and 30.8 kD and the assignment of the SCP2 gene to human chromosome 1 p21-pter. The SCP2-related proteins share common deduced carboxyl amino acid sequences with SCP2 and the cDNAs have a common 3' untranslated nucleotide sequence. The mRNAs encoding these proteins increased in a coordinate fashion as human placental cytotrophoblasts differentiated into syncytiotrophoblasts in culture. Our observations document the existence of a family of related proteins encoded by the human SCP2 gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Transfer of long-stay psychiatric patients: a preliminary report of inter-institutional relocation.

A large mental hospital closed in November 1986. Twenty-eight female patients formed the first group to be transferred to a second psychiatric hospital. Patients in the receiving hospital were identified as controls. Both transfer and control groups were studied before the move and at six- and 12-month follow-ups. No differences in mortality or morbidity were found between groups, but the transferred patients increased in behavioural dependency. Within the transfer group, patients became more positive towards the move over time. Results are discussed with reference to previous studies of relocation effects on elderly people.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

The nucleotide sequence of a mouse renin-encoding gene, Ren-1d, and its upstream region.

The renin-encoding genes have been cloned from high (Ren-1d, Ren-2d)- and low (Ren-1c)-renin-producing strains of mice (DBA/2J and C57BL/10). Each of the genes is approx. 9.6 kb in length and consists of nine exons and eight introns. The entire nucleotide sequence of the Ren-1d gene has been determined and the 5'-flanking regions of the three genes, Ren-1c, Ren-1d and Ren-2d, have been compared. The significance of several potential regulatory signals found in the DNA is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Use of a cutoff range in identifying mycobacteria by the Gen-Probe Rapid Diagnostic System.

Commercial DNA probes (Gen-Probe Corp., San Diego, Calif.) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex Mycobacterium avium, and Mycobacterium intracellulare were compared with conventional methods for accuracy, applicability, and speed for the identification of putative isolates of the M. tuberculosis and M. avium complexes. Results are expressed as percent hybridization. Values of greater than 15% were considered positive, and values of less than 5% were negative. Cultures having hybridization values within an indeterminate range of 5 to 15% were repeated. Mycobacterial isolates resembling M. tuberculosis and M. avium complex from cultures of 589 specimens, representing 432 patients, were entered into this study; 294 cultures were tested with the M. tuberculosis complex probe, and 326 cultures were tested with the M. avium probe. In all cases, probe results agreed with our biochemical identification of the isolates. The M. intracellulare probe was used with 117 isolates morphologically resembling M. avium complex, and one false-negative result was observed. Seventy-two cultures gave initial hybridization results that fell within the indeterminate range and were repeated. If the manufacturer's recommended 10% cutoff value had been used, the original hybridization values would have resulted in 27 misidentified cultures, 16 false-negatives and 11 false-positives.

DNA Probes↗
PubMed1987

Phadebact Monoclonal GC OMNI Test for confirmation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The Phadebact Monoclonal GC OMNI Test (Pharmacia Diagnostics, Piscataway, N.J.) is used for the definitive identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In this test, boiled organisms are examined by using a 1-min coagglutination technique. A total of 776 Neisseria strains, confirmed to the species level by patterns of acid production from carbohydrates incorporated in cysteine-tryptose agar or morphologically consistent with Neisseria meningitidis and fluorescent antibody negative, were tested by the coagglutination technique. Of the 516 isolates of N. gonorrhoeae, 8 (1.6%) were negative with the OMNI Test. Of the 260 isolates of Neisseria spp. other than N. gonorrhoeae, none showed a positive coagglutination reaction. The Phadebact Monoclonal GC OMNI Test provided rapid, accurate identification of N. gonorrhoeae (sensitivity, 98.4%; specificity, 100%).

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1985

Comparative evaluation of the Optimate and TDX analyzers using NCCLS guidelines.

A comparative simultaneous evaluation of the Optimate and the TDX analyzers was performed according to guidelines proposed by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Statistically significant (P less than 0.05) better precision was demonstrated for the TDX analyzer with both commercial controls and patient pools. No statistically significant difference was found between the analyzers in terms of linearity, accuracy, and curve stability. Technologists judged the TDX to be superior in ease of start-up and shutdown procedures, loading and unloading, test changeover, time for a stat specimen, and time for an average run. In general, the TDX analyzer required less operator interaction for routine performance, but its consumable expenses were about 50% greater than those for the Optimate analyzer.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1982

Molecular cloning of partial cDNA copies of two distinct mouse IFN-beta mRNAs.

Two cDNA libraries were constructed, using respectively the 12S and the 16S sucrose gradient fractions of polysomal poly (A)+ RNA from mouse C243 cells induced with Newcastle disease virus. Screening of a part of both libraries by mRNA selection hybridization assays revealed the presence of two plasmids hybridizing to an mRNA, whose translation product was characterized as mouse IFN-beta. Blot analysis of RNA indicated that mRNA hybridizing to the DNA from both plasmids could be detected in induced but not in uninduced C243 cells. The two cDNA inserts did not cross hybridize and had distinct restriction maps. Sequencing revealed that both inserts represented the end of the coding region and the entire 3' non coding region of two district mRNAs. Although different, the putative 39 AA and 65 AA carboxy termini of both Mu IFN-beta s display some homology to human IFN-beta 1. Thus there are at least two different murine IFN-beta genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1979

Accuracy and reproducibility of the Oxi/Ferm system in identifying a select group of unusual gram-negative bacilli.

The Oxi/Ferm (O/F) identification system was compared in a double-blind study to a conventional test battery for the characterization of 96 reference and clinical strains consisting of 83 nonfermentative and 13 oxidase-producing, fermentative gram-negative bacilli. The O/F tube and supplemental tests correctly identified 84% of the nonfermentative and 77% of the oxidase-producing, fermentative bacilli. However, when the supplemental tests were excluded and the biochemical profiles generated by all nine O/F tube reactions were examined, the profile accuracy reached 95% (79 of 83) for the nonfermentative and 93% (12 of 13) for oxidase-producing, fermentative bacilli. Seven of the nine O/F substrate reactions demonstrated less than or equal to 89% agreement with conventional reactions, whereas the urea and arginine reactions provided 82 and 85% agreement, respectively. Replicate O/F tests with six selected organisms demonstrated 97% identification reproducibility and 84% overall substrate reproducibility. The mean O/F identification time was 2.6 days as compared to 3.3 days for the conventional system. Although this study suggests that the O/F system is a convenient, rapid, and accurate alternative to conventional identification methods, several modifications are recommended.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1979

New motility medium for nonfermenting bacilli.

Researchers compared use of a semisolid agar plate to wet mount examinations of broth cultures (16 to 18 hours) for the detection of motility of 96 reference and clinical strains of gram-negative rods. In this double blind study, 83 nonfermentative and 13 oxidase-producing, fermentative bacilli were tested by the two methods. Overall accuracy of the semisolid agar motility test was 96.8 percent compared to 89.6 percent for the broth method. Reproducibility of agar plate tests using selected reference strains was 100 percent in contrast to 90 percent for broth examinations. These findings indicate that the semisolid agar plate offers a convenient and more accurate method than wet mount examination for determining motility of unusual gram-negative bacilli.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1977

Hepatotoxicity of erythromycin estolate during pregnancy.

Women in the second half of pregnancy, who were infected with genital mycoplasmas and who gave written informed consent, were randomly assigned to receive capsules of identical appearance containing erythromycin estolate, clindamycin hydrochloride, or a placebo for 6 weeks. Levels of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) were determined before and during treatment by a fluorometric method. All pretreatment levels of SGOT were normal (<41 units). Participants who received erythromycin estolate had significantly more abnormally elevated levels of SGOT (16/161, 9.9%) than did those who received clindamycin (4/168, 2.4%, P < 0.01) or those who received placebo (3/165, 1.8%, P < 0.01). Elevated levels of SGOT ranged from 44 to 130 U. Serum bilirubin levels were normal. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity was abnormal in six of six participants who had abnormal levels of SGOT while receiving erythromycin estolate. There were few associated symptoms, and all levels of SGOT returned to normal after cessation of treatment. The treatment of pregnant women with erythromycin estolate may be inadvisable.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗
PubMed1976

Serum lysozyme in inflammatory bowel disease.

Serum lysozyme (muramidase) concentrations were measured in three groups of patients: control, ulcerative colitis and proctitis, and Crohn's disease. The mean +/-SD for each group was: control, 7 +/- 2; ulcerative colitis and proctitis, 7 +/- 2; and Crohn's disease, 10 +/- 4. Although a significant difference was seen between values in patients with Crohn's disease and values observed in those with ulcerative colitis or control patients, an important overlap was found between these groups. Further studies are necessary to explain the disparate results between this study and previous reports.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Comparison of results by three kit methods for assay of serum gastrin.

We evaluated and compared Nuclear International, Schwarz/Mann, and Squibb kit methods for measurement of serum gastrin with respect to intra-run precision, analytical recovery of added gastrin, and values obtained for healthy fasting adults and for selected patients. As a result of this study, the Schwarz/Mann kit was chosen for use in our laboratory.

Charcoal↗