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Biomedical subjects

K Munro

Publications and source records attributed to K Munro.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Investigation into the thermal distribution of microwave helical antennas designed for the treatment of Barrett's oesophagus.

A set of helical microwave antennas was designed to investigate their potential use in thermal therapy of Barrett's oesophagus. The antennas had a diameter of up to 3.3 mm and various lengths between 20 and 37 mm; these were designed to operate at 915 MHz. Sets of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) formers were constructed to improve the repeatability and reproducibility of the helix manufacture. Small diameter copper wire was wound over the formers and connected to the coaxial cable at the inner and outer conductor junctions. The power deposition profiles of the antennas were measured in a muscle-equivalent phantom using an infrared camera. The effects of antenna length and coil spacing were characterized. It was observed that uniform temperature profiles along the antenna length were achieved with a length of wire of 99 mm +/- 2 mm. The effective heating length (length of the antenna that exhibits > 50% of the maximum temperature rise) was comparable to the antenna length. The radial penetration depth of 50% of the antenna surface temperature for the optimum 20 mm antenna was 2.5 mm from the antenna outer surface.

Barrett Esophagus↗
PubMed2002

Comparison of the faecal microflora of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and controls using molecular methods of analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether differences within the complex intestinal microflora can be demonstrated between patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and healthy individuals. METHODS: The composition of the faecal microflora of 15 ankylosing spondylitis patients and 15 matched controls was determined using a variety of nucleic acid-based methods, including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Concentrations of serum antibodies reactive with intestinal bacteria were determined. T-cell proliferation responses to autologous intestinal bacteria were determined using a bioluminescent assay. RESULTS: DGGE demonstrated a unique and stable bacterial community in the faeces of each individual. No specific differences in colonization profiles were discernible between patients and controls. Analysis of individual bacterial groups using nucleic acid-based methods showed no differences in faecal colonization with Klebsiella pneumoniae or Bacteroides vulgatus. A significantly higher proportion of faecal samples from AS patients were found to contain sulphate-reducing bacteria compared with samples from controls (P=0.0004). Three out of five patients showed elevated T-cell proliferation responses to Bacteroides species cultured from their own faeces. The concentrations of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgM antibodies reactive with klebsiella or bacteroides cells were lower in the patient group relative to the controls. CONCLUSIONS: By using DGGE, we have demonstrated the complexity and individuality of the human intestinal microflora and shown that this is a confounding factor in determining the possible significance of individual organisms in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis. Nevertheless, we demonstrated a higher prevalence of sulphate-reducing bacteria in the faeces of patients with AS. These organisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. We also detected a possible loss of immunological tolerance to autologous Bacteroides isolates in patients with AS.

Bacteroides↗
PubMed2001

Detection of Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, and Weissella species in human feces by using group-specific PCR primers and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of DNA fragments generated by PCR with 16S ribosomal DNA-targeted group-specific primers was used to detect lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of the genera Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, and Weissella in human feces. Analysis of fecal samples of four subjects revealed individual profiles of DNA fragments originating not only from species that have been described as intestinal inhabitants but also from characteristically food-associated bacteria such as Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus curvatus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Pediococcus pentosaceus. Comparison of PCR-DGGE results with those of bacteriological culture showed that the food-associated species could not be cultured from the fecal samples by plating on Rogosa agar. On the other hand, all of the LAB species cultured from feces were detected in the DGGE profile. We also detected changes in the types of LAB present in human feces during consumption of a milk product containing the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus DR20. The analysis of fecal samples from two subjects taken before, during, and after administration of the probiotic revealed that L. rhamnosus was detectable by PCR-DGGE during the test period in the feces of both subjects, whereas it was detectable by culture in only one of the subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Detection and identification of gastrointestinal Lactobacillus species by using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and species-specific PCR primers.

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of DNA fragments obtained by PCR amplification of the V2-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene was used to detect the presence of Lactobacillus species in the stomach contents of mice. Lactobacillus isolates cultured from human and porcine gastrointestinal samples were identified to the species level by using a combination of DGGE and species-specific PCR primers that targeted 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region or 16S rRNA gene sequences. The identifications obtained by this approach were confirmed by sequencing the V2-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene and by a BLAST search of the GenBank database.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Analysis of the fecal microflora of human subjects consuming a probiotic product containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus DR20.

The composition of the fecal microflora of 10 healthy subjects was monitored before (6-month control period), during (6-month test period), and after (3-month posttest period) the administration of a milk product containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus DR20 (daily dose, 1.6 x 10(9) lactobacilli). Monthly fecal samples were examined by a variety of methods, including bacteriological culture analysis, fluorescent in situ hybridization with group-specific DNA probes, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the V2-V3 region of 16S rRNA genes amplified by PCR, gas-liquid chromatography, and bacterial enzyme activity analysis. The composition of the Lactobacillus population of each subject was analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of bacterial DNA digests in order to differentiate between DR20 and other strains present in the samples. Representative isolates of lactobacilli were identified to the species level by sequencing the V2-V3 region of their 16S rRNA genes and comparing the sequences obtained (BLAST search) to sequences in the GenBank database. DR20 was detected in the feces of all of the subjects during the test period, but at different frequencies. The presence of DR20 among the numerically predominant strains was related to the presence or absence of a stable indigenous population of lactobacilli during the control period. Strain DR20 did not persist at levels of >10(2) cells per g in the feces of most of the subjects after consumption of the product ceased; the only exception was one subject in which this strain was detected for 2 months during the posttest period. We concluded that consumption of the DR20-containing milk product transiently altered the Lactobacillus and enterococcal contents of the feces of the majority of consumers without markedly affecting biochemical or other bacteriological factors.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

A comparative study of methods to validate formaldehyde decontamination of biological safety cabinets.

Methods of validation of formaldehyde decontamination of biological safety cabinets were compared. Decontamination of metal strips inoculated with Mycobacterium bovis, poliovirus, or Bacillus spp. spores was compared with the results obtained with three biological indicators. Conditions for successful decontamination, particularly relative humidity, were defined. The Attest 1291 biological indicator was the only biological indicator which was an aid in the detection of gross decontamination failure.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1999

Identification of Lactobacillus isolates from the gastrointestinal tract, silage, and yoghurt by 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer region sequence comparisons.

Lactobacillus isolates were identified by PCR amplification and sequencing of the region between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes (spacer region). The sequences obtained from the isolates were compared to those of reference strains held in GenBank. A similarity of 97.5% or greater was considered to provide identification. To check the reliability of the method, the V2-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced in the case of isolates whose spacer region sequences were less than 99% similar to that of a reference strain. Confirmation of identity was obtained in all instances. Spacer region sequencing provided rapid and accurate identification of Lactobacillus isolates obtained from gastrointestinal, yoghurt, and silage samples. It had an advantage over 16S V2-V3 sequence comparisons because it distinguished between isolates of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1993

A discussion of current sound field calibration procedures.

Calibration of sound fields is an area which has caused much confusion and about which there is some uncertainty. Appropriate calibration is essential if hearing results are to accurately represent the hearing status of a patient, and such results significantly affect the management of many patients. This paper outlines the basis of calibration procedures with respect to sound fields, reviews the recent work in this area, and puts forward the options open to audiologists. The issue of using the dB(A) scale rather than attempting to calibrate in dB HL is discussed and recommendations are made.

Audiometry↗