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Biomedical subjects

J Nagington

Publications and source records attributed to J Nagington.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Serum folate in viral and mycoplasmal infections.

The concentration of serum folate in 260 patients with viral and mycoplasmal infections was determined (305 samples). In 60% the serum folate concentrations were found to be below 3 micrograms/l. The incidence of low serum folate varied slightly. According to the infections diagnosed, low values were: for influenza A 50% (50 patients), influenza B 42% (45 patients), human parvovirus 67% (76 patients), rubella 62% (13 patients), infectious mononucleosis 60% (15 patients), Mycoplasma pneumoniae 73% (45 patients). For a group of undiagnosed rashes it was 81% (16 patients). The cause of low concentrations of serum folate in these patients is discussed.

Female

The antibody response in Legionnaires' disease.

From 22 patients with Legionnaires' disease, 86 sera were examined for specific serotype 1 IgM and IgG antibodies by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. No antibody was detectable until 8 days or more from the onset of symptoms. When produced the amount was widely variable and remained detectable for periods from less than 34 days to more than 1 year. Intially IgM antibody predominated, ten patients produced only IgM in the first 21 days, six produced only IgM in the first 28 days and three did not produce IgG at any time. One patient, and possibly a second, produced only IgG antibody. Since IgM antibody was still present in one patient after a year it is important not to accept the presence of this as evidence of very recent infection. It is advisable that any type of serological test for L. pneumophila infection should detect the production of both IgM and IgG antibodies.

Antibodies, Bacterial

Fatal echovirus 11 infections in outbreak in special-care baby unit.

In December, 1977, an outbreak of echovirus 11 infection occurred in the special-care baby unit of the Cambridge Maternity Hospital. 3 neonates died, and of 24 infants on the ward during the epidemic 6 others were infected, 3 with symptoms. 3 infants had similar symptoms but virus could not be isolated. The pathological changes in the 3 fatal infections, have not previously been reported for echovirus 11; nor have fatal infections occurred in an epidemic in a special-care baby unit.

Adult

Reactivation of hepatitis b after transplantation operations.

Surveillance of the staff and patients at the Cambridge Transplant and Dialysis Unit for hepatitis-B infection since 1968 has revealed the onset of antigenaemia in 6 patients in eight years. When the first serum of each patient admitted was examined for anti-HBc antibody, 23 of 380 (6-1%) patients were found positive. Since the presence of anti-HBc is taken to be evidence of previous infection, the occurence of antigenaemia in 3 of the positives when they were immunosuppressed after transplantation is believed to be due to reactivation of latent infection. This is a new factor to be considered in the control of hepatitis B after transplantation;

Carrier State

Corynebacterium haemolyticum infections in Cambridgeshire.

In the Cambridge area, 143 patients infected with Corynebacterium haemolyticum were found during the period May 1967 to December 1974. The pharynx was the commonest site of infection and 100 of the 137 pharyngeal infections were in patients aged between 15 and 25 years. Such patients usually had a sore throat; about half of them also had a maculopapular rash. The organism and the clinical features which we have come to regard as typical of this infection are briefly described.

Adolescent

Chemotherapeutic compounds and Acanthamoebae from eye infections.

The amoebicidal and amoebistatic action in vitro of 24 compounds was tested on two strains of Acanthamoeba, A. polyphaga and A. castellanii, isolated from eye infections in this country. For comparison, the Ryan strain of A. castellanii and Naegleria gruberi L-1 were also examined. Nine compounds showed sufficient activity to merit further consideration, ie, acriflavine, proflavine, hydroxystilbamidine isethionate, paromomycin, miconazole, amphoterin, neomycin, polymyxin, and the last two combined in Neosporin.

Acriflavine

Isolation of amoebae from eye infections in England.

The laboratory investigations are presented on the first two recorded cases in England of infection of the eye by free-living amoebae. The distribution and pathogenicity of these amoebae are briefly discussed and some therapeutic possibilities derived from subsequent in vitro studies.

Adult