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Biomedical subjects

L J Fenton

Publications and source records attributed to L J Fenton.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Evaluation of colistin and nalidixic acid in Todd-Hewitt broth for selective isolation of group B streptocci.

Todd-Hewitt broth (THB) containing colistin and nalidixic acid was compared with four other media with respect to efficacy of isolation of group B streptocci. It was effective as plain THB, THB with gentamicin and nalidixic acid and blood, and THB with colistin, nalidixic acid, and blood. THB with gentamicin and nalidixic acid, but without blood, was inhibitory to group B streptocci. The value of THB with colistin and nalidixic acid lies in its ability to successfully inhibit gram-negative organisms and still promote group B streptococcal growth without the addition of blood. This greatly reduces the time and expense of media preparation and permits early determination of bacterial growth, so that other means of rapidly identifying group B streptocci can be applied at the earliest possible time.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Alternative pathway of complement activation in full term and premature infants.

Classical and alternative pathway complement levels were measured in the cord blood sera of 60 newly born infants, with weights ranging from 1200--4165 g. The impact of maternal illness and infant illness on the complement levels was also evaluated. The mean values for CH50, C3, C4, PH50, factor B, and properdin were all significantly less than normal adult levels (P less than 0.0001). All of the above determinations were significantly correlated with one another except for the relationship between properdin and factor B. CH50, PH50, C4, and properdin levels were significantly correlated with birth weight although there was much residual scatter. Neither maternal illness nor mild to moderate illness in the newborn altered the birth weight-complement relationships. Severe infant illness did significantly alter the relationship between birth weight and complement. However, the impact of this variable on the birth weight-complement relationships was not consistent among the various components. These inconsistencies and the small sample size preclude drawing any strong conclusions about severe illness and complement levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Immunofluorescence in group B streptococcal infection and idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome.

Immunofluorescence was performed on lung tissue obtained at necropsy from 18 newborn infants, including five with group B streptococcal (GBS) sepsis, seven with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS), and six control infants who died from other causes. Deposits of C3, IgG, and fibrin were found within hyaline membranes of infants who died with GBS sepsis or IRDS within 48 hours after birth. In some cases C4, factor B, and IgM were also observed. In five infants with IRDS who died more than five days after birth, immunofluorescent lung findings were less common and less intense. Hyaline membranes, attributed to mechanical ventilators and oxygen therapy in two infants who did not have GBS infection or IRDS, were negative for complement and immunoglobulins although fibrin was detected in one specimen. These data suggest that immunologic processes may contribute to the pathogenesis of certain types of acute lung injury, particularly in infants who die from GBS infection or IRDS during the early neonatal period.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1978

Direct use of counterimmunoelectrophoresis in detection of group B streptococci in specimens containing mixed flora.

Isolation procedures for the group B streptococci were bypassed by applying counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) directly to the broth containing the initial inoculum. A total of 458 tests were performed on 389 specimens received from 93 mothers and 81 babies. Of all tests, 19.4% were positive group B streptococci by the Lancefield precipitin method. Twenty hours of incubation were required to produce a positive CIE result in 54% of those specimens which were eventually proven a contain group B streptococci by Lancefield technique. There were no false positive CIE results. It is recommended that the initial broth culture be sampled and tested with CIE after an overnight incubation in those cases where another 24 h may be critical in terms of identifying the group B streptococci. A positive result with CIE can be clinically relied upon, but a negative result is indeterminate, and routine isolation procedures would need to be followed in that case.

Counterimmunoelectrophoresis↗
PubMed1977

Complement activation and group B streptococcal infection in the newborn: similarities to endotoxin shock.

Serial measurements of CH50, C3, C4, and factor B were performed on three newborn infants with group B streptococcal sepsis. Two of the septic infants had a colonized but noninfected identical twin. All three infants with group B streptococcal sepsis had hypotension, prolonged coagulation times, neutropenia, and respiratory failure. During the course of the sepsis, factor B was depressed 30% to 35%, C3 was depressed 40% to 60%, and CH50 was depressed by 100% when compared to their cord blood levels. Two of the infants also had a 50% to 70% depression of C4. In contrast, no significant decrease in complement levels occurred in the siblings of the twins or in two additional control infants. These data are characteristic of older patients with Gram-negative sepsis and strongly suggest that the group B Streptococcus has endotoxin-like properties.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The determination of aspirin levels in the presence of hyperbilirubinemia.

Many major medical centers are presently utilizing a shortened method (Keller) for determining serum aspirin levels which does not remove interfering compounds. This report documents that the presence of even 1 mg of bilirubin/dl of serum is sufficient to cause a falsely high aspirin level. It is suggested that any method for determining serum bilirubin which does not remove interfering substances constitutes a danger to many groups of patients and should be discontinued.

Aspirin↗
PubMed1976

Congenital syphilis after maternal treatment with erythromycin.

A case is reported in which erythromycin was used successfully to treat maternal syphilis but failed to adequately treat the fetus. This report and similar studies suggest that oral erythromycin is not a reasonable alternative drug for the treatment of lues in the penicillin-allergic gravid female.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Blood sampling through umbilical catheters.

An in vitro study testing the reliability of chemical determinations on blood samples withdrawn through an umbilical catheter is described. Blood samples were withdrawn through three different sizes of umbilical catheters containing a solution of dextrose, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium. Using either a 5 French or a 3 1/2 French catheter, accurate results were obtained for pH, sodium, potassium, and glucose when measurements were made after an initial 4-ml blood sample was discarded. With an 8 French catheter, accurate results were obtained for pH, sodium, and potassium but plasma glucose determinations remained inaccurate after 6 ml of blood was discarded.

Blood↗