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Biomedical subjects

J B McCullough

Publications and source records attributed to J B McCullough.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Recurrent septicaemia in a neutropenic patient with typhlitis.

We report a case where life threatening gram negative sepsis developed in a patient with CLL in association with post chemotherapy neutropenia on three occasions. Bacterial typhlitis or neutropenic enterocolitis, which is a well described entity of bowel necrosis seen in immunosuppressed patients, was demonstrated at colonoscopy and was the probable portal of entry of micro-organisms. After spontaneous resolution of the typhlitis, further chemotherapy has been given without recurrent sepsis. Typhlitis should be considered as a cause of recurrent septicaemia in neutropenic patients.

Enterocolitis↗

Endocytosis of fluorescent microspheres by human oesophageal epithelial cells: comparison between normal and inflamed tissue.

This paper examines the presence and characteristics of endocytosis by oesophageal epithelial cells. Biopsy specimens from normal and inflamed oesophagus were incubated in organ culture with fluorescent microspheres (0.1 and 0.01 microns diameter). These markers were taken into early endosomes and the lysosomes of both the smaller differentiating prickle cells and the larger mature squamous cells. Confocal and electron microscopy showed that markers passed to the early endosomes and the lysosomes by endocytosis. The process was energy dependent. Larger, 1 micron microspheres adhered to the epithelial cells but were not phagocytosed. Disaggregated cells were analysed by flow cytometry. Microspheres were endocytosed in proportion to the concentration in the culture medium in a dose dependent manner. Cells from inflamed oesophagus were significantly smaller (p = 0.013) and took up significantly more microspheres than cells from normal biopsy specimens (p = 0.015). In conclusion, endocytosis occurs in oesophageal epithelial cells and is increased in inflammation.

Endocytosis↗

The value of a travel history in urology.

We report a case of a young British woman who contracted urinary schistosomiasis while on holiday in Africa, having swum in Lake Malawi. A travel history would have been helpful in reaching the diagnosis earlier. The diagnosis was made after biopsy of an unusual bladder mucosal lesion and effective treatment given but it could easily have been missed, with the disease's resulting sequelae.

Adult↗

Depletion of neuroendocrine cells in rectal biopsy specimens from HIV positive patients.

AIMS: To compare the density of neuroendocrine cells in rectal biopsy specimens from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals with that of a control group. METHODS: Neuroendocrine cells in rectal biopsies were identified using an immunohistochemical stain for chromogranin and subsequently quantified using a method of linear intercept. RESULTS: Neuroendocrine cells were found to be significantly decreased in the HIV positive group. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of neuroendocrine cells may contribute to apoptotic bodies seen in this condition. This could be related to infection of these cells with HIV and could contribute to diarrhoeal disease in HIV infection.

Biopsy↗