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Biomedical subjects

J Hamilton-Miller

Publications and source records attributed to J Hamilton-Miller.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Antimitochondrial antibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis recognize both specific peptides and shared epitopes of the M2 family of antigens.

Sera from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis exhibit variable autoantibody reactivity against mitochondria, the commonest antigen (designated M2) including three structures of approximate M.W. 70, 50 and 40 kD. The nature of these antigens has only recently been established; the 70 and 50 kD are the transacetylase E2 and component X, respectively, of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and are distinct polypeptides. We have demonstrated, by immunoblotting, elution and rebinding of antibodies, unequivocal cross-reactivity between the major bands of the M2 antigen. In addition, cross-reactivity has been shown between antibodies binding to each of the three M2 bands of mitochondria and two major antigenic bands of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Conversely, antibodies eluted from these two bands of Escherichia coli were found to bind all three M2 bands of mitochondria. These results suggest that the antibodies of primary biliary cirrhosis contain both peptide-specific and cross-reacting antibodies, the latter recognizing a common "M2 epitope" that might include nonprotein components of the peptides. However, direct and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays failed to implicate the coenzyme of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, lipoic acid or its amide, as the common antigenic moiety.

Autoantibodies

Ciprofloxacin resistance in methicillin- and gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

A total of 112 Staphylococcus aureus strains resistant to methicillin and gentamicin were collected from 31 centres in 22 countries worldwide. Many strains were multi-resistant. In tests to determine the susceptibility of the organisms to ciprofloxacin 16 strains (14.3%), originating from France, the FRG, Israel and Italy, were shown to be resistant to this agent. To limit ciprofloxacin resistance, a reappraisal is necessary of fluoroquinolone usage against methicillin- and gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Ciprofloxacin

Comparison of pivmecillinam and cephradine in bacteriuria in pregnancy and in acute urinary tract infection.

48 non-pregnant domiciliary patients referred by general practitioners and 50 pregnant women were treated for bacteriuria with either 500 mg cephradine or 400 mg pivmecillinam every 6 h for 7 days. In the pregnant women, cure rates were over 90% after 2 weeks for both compounds, and after 6 weeks were 86% for cephradine and 78% for pivmecillinam. Cure rates in the non-pregnant were 83% for cephradine and 95% for pivmecillinam at 6 weeks. Seven patients (3 given cephradine, 4 given pivmecillinam) stopped treatment due to side-effects. Overall, side-effects (many of which were trivial) were more common in patients treated with cephradine (51%) than in those receiving pivmecillinam (33%). It is concluded that both drugs are highly effective in these two common types of urinary infection.

Adult