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Biomedical subjects

J Hewitt

Publications and source records attributed to J Hewitt.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Aetiology of diarrhoea in adequately nourished young African children in Durban, South Africa.

Two inter-related hospital-based studies on the causes of diarrhoea in African children who were not overtly malnourished, were performed over a period of two years in Durban, South Africa. The first study involved 126 inpatients selected for previously untreated diarrhoea of less than 96 h duration. On examination and culture of the stools of these children bacteria were identified in 60%, rotavirus in 20% and parasites in 4%. No pathogens were identified in 33%. The bacteria most frequently encountered were Campylobacter jejuni (21%), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) (18%), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (11%) and salmonella (8%). Of those cases having an identifiable cause 16% had more than one organism. The majority of children had mild disease and recovered clinically in 5.4 (1.3) days (Mean (s.d.]. The second study included 352 outpatients with diarrhoea who were randomly selected without regard to duration of disease or prior treatment. The results of faecal investigations were as follows: 28% had bacterial pathogens, 34% rotavirus, 15% parasites and 61% no pathogens. The bacteria most frequently detected were C. jejuni 7%, EPEC 7%, salmonella 6%, and shigella 5%. Ten per cent of positive cases had more than one pathogen. The most likely reason for the higher percentage with no identifiable pathogen is the prolonged duration of diarrhoea in 19% for more than seven days. In 128 control children with diarrhoea, stool samples were investigated during the same period as the two studies: 13% had bacteria, 2% rotavirus and 14% parasites. The bacteria involved were C. jejuni (5%). EPEC (5%), salmonella (2%) and shigella (2%).

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Macrocephaly and minor congenital anomalies in children with learning problems.

To determine whether existing data which indicate a significant prevalence of abnormal head circumference and minor congenital anomalies in referred learning disabled populations could be replicated in a nonreferred population, 75 children enrolled in learning disabilities resource programs in an elementary school district were compared with a matched group of 73 children. Macrocephaly (occipitofrontal head circumference of 2 or more SD above the mean) was noted significantly more often in resource than in control children (12 versus 3) (p less than 0.05). Macrocephalic resource children had significantly lower achievement scores than either normocephalic resource or control children (p less than 0.05). There were no significant differences between resource and control children for mean number of anomalies per child, frequency of individual anomalies per group, or evidence of recurring anomaly patterns in the resource children. The macrocephalic resource children revealed the same prevalence of anomalies as normocephalic resource and control children, with no evidence of recurring anomaly patterns. Resource children with four or more anomalies did not differ from those with three or fewer anomalies on any psychometric parameters. Clinical, familial, radiological, and psychometric investigation of several macrocephalic resource children indicated similar patterns of learning deficits and documented evidence of familial macrocephaly but did not show any recognizable CNS abnormalities. This study confirms a significant prevalence of macrocephaly in children with learning problems. It indicates the need for further research into the prevalance and patterns of learning deficits in children with familial macrocephaly. The results add to recent concerns about the psychoeducational criteria of specific learning disabilities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1984

[Skin manifestations of sarcoidosis. Review of the literature and 53 personal cases].

The authors review the literature and 53 personal cases, and describe the very variable appearances of the skin lesions in sarcoidosis: these may be divided into two main groups: non-specific "vasculitis" mainly represented by acute lesions of the erythema nodosum type, and specific polymorphic lesions often difficult to diagnose clinically and requiring skin biopsy. As in previous reports, the personal cases bring out a number of special features: silicotic granulomatous sarcoid like lesions may be observed in authentic cases of sarcoidosis; lesions identical to those described in systemic sarcoidosis may appear in isolation without other localisations. Is this cutaneous sarcoid? or sarcoid-like granulomata of unknown origin? The treatment of sarcoid skin lesions is described briefly.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1984

[Male genital dyskeratotic tumor. 2 case reports].

Two cases of genital vegetant tumors are described associated with lichen sclerous in male patients. Clinically they were very close to giant condyloma acuminatum. This diagnosis was rejected after histological examination of the tumors. The pathological changes consisted of epithelial hyperplasia, dyskeratosis, epidermal dysplasia and presence of some vacuolated keratinocytes. After surgical excision, the relapses are frequent. Etr etinate or local 5-fluorouracil seemed to prevent these relapses.

Humans↗
PubMed1983

Immunological properties of monoclonal antibodies specific for meningococcal polysaccharides: the protective capacity of IgM antibodies specific for polysaccharide group B.

Two IgM monoclonal antibodies, MB32 and MB34 specific for meningococcal polysaccharide group B have been raised. Both were detectable by radioimmunoassay and agglutination, but only MB34 was effective in counter immunoelectrophoresis and complement fixation. MB34 was also far more potent than MB32 when tested for passive protection of mice infected with either Neisseria meningitidis group B or Escherichia coli K1. These data demonstrate that group B-specific antibodies do play a protective role in mice infected with these bacteria.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Investigation of intercellular matrix macromolecules involved in lichen sclerosus.

Dermal changes of the vulva in lichen sclerosus were compared with control vulvar samples using ultrastructural and immunofluorescence techniques. Collagen degeneration and regeneration were observed ultrastructurally in the superficial dermis of lichen sclerosus with increased amounts of ground substance. These processes appeared to alter the affinity of collagen fibres for the anticollagen antisera types I, III, IV. A decrease in elastin content was observed by electron microscopy. A loss of fibronectin was discovered at the dermo-epidermal junction, which looked normal ultrastructurally. The linear laminin pattern at the dermo-epidermal junction was also altered. These results suggested an enzymatic process in the pathogenesis of lichen sclerosus. Amidase activity could be determined in 6 normal and 6 pathological biopsies, though higher in the pathological samples (p less than 0.01).

Atrophy↗
PubMed1983

[Results of a comparative therapeutic trial of single-dose treatment of non-complicated acute male gonorrhea].

A single dose treatment trial with: spectinomycine 2 g, ampicilline + probenecide 3.5 g + 1 g, thiamphenicol 2.5 g, minocycline 300 mg was undertaken. Three teams were involved, epidemiologists clinicians, microbiologists, 636 patients were included, 483 resumed for control. A negative culture on the third day was considered a success. Failure rates were: spectinomycine 4%, ampicilline-probenecide 3%, thiamphenicol 4%, minocycline 3%. No significant difference was noted between the four rates. The delay of clinical cure was 1.98 days for spectinomycin, 1.87 days for ampicilline - probenecide, 2.16 days for thiamphenicol and 2.12 for minocycline without significant difference. When side effects were analysed, 10% of the patients reported asthenia without difference between the four treatments. Thiamphenicol is responsible for diarrhea 28%, P less than 0,01 minocycline more significantly responsible for guidiness 13%, P less than 0,001, and 18% treated by spectinomycine complained of pain at the time of injection. The antibiotics MIC's are studied. After the analysis of the results, the cost, and the resistances, one treatment was selected.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1982

The use of murine monoclonal antibodies without purification of antigen in the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis.

A serum diagnostic test for tuberculosis has been devised on the basis of competitive inhibition by human sera of the binding of 125I-labelled murine monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to a solid-phase bound pressate of M. tuberculosis. Five monoclonal antibodies binding to distinct antigenic determinants of the organism were used as structural probes which conferred their stringent combining site specificities to the polyclonal mixture of human antibodies. Sera from patients but not from healthy controls competed effectively with the binding of 125I-labelled Mabs to M. tuberculosis-coated polyvinyl plates. This inhibition technique eliminated the need for elaborate purification of antigen used in previous serological methods. Some Mabs gave considerably more positive results than others. The best combination of tests used 2 Mabs and yielded a positive result in 71% of 41 patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. This approach is applicable in principle to the serodiagnosis of other human bacterial diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

[Kaposi's disease. 2 recent cases].

Known since 1872, the multifocal angiosarcoma called Kaposi's sarcoma takes different forms in different communities. It develops slowly among the mediterranean populations and Jewish Central Europe and most rapidly among Bantus, in Africa, and white homosexuals. Another aspect of the disease has been described in patients with transplanted kidney, where it seems to be associated with immunosuppressive treatments. The recent outbreak of Kaposi's sarcoma among homosexuals in New York and San Francisco raises new and difficult problems concerning its aetiology, as the outbreak cannot be entirely explained by pressure from sexually transmissible diseases. Having observed two new cases in France, the authors have attempted to re-evaluate the pathophysiological factors of the disease, the most constant of which seems to be a considerable degree of immunodepression, perhaps partly due to chronic infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Activation of beta-galactosidase by monoclonal antibodies.

Four monoclonal cell lines secreting antibodies that activate the beta-galactosidase protein from lac-aba strains of Escherichia coli have been isolated. One of the antibodies, BG 79, inhibits the normal beta-galactosidase from E. coli in addition to its activation of the protein from mutants. Moreover, when in combination with any of the other activating antibodies, BG 79 exhibits synergistic activation of the beta-galactosidase protein, and the synergistically activated enzyme is stimulated by methanol, although most of the proteins activated by single antibodies are inhibited by methanol. The equilibrium of binding of BG 79 to the beta-galactosidase protein is not affected by the presence of a second antibody, and the half-time for activation by BG 79 is only slightly, though significantly, increased by preincubation of the protein with the second antibody. Our results imply that activation of beta-galactosidase proteins is not a simple correction of a conformational defect, and that many distinct active conformations are available to the enzyme.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗