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Biomedical subjects

L R McCarthy

Publications and source records attributed to L R McCarthy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Cloning of a human liver microsomal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase cDNA.

A cDNA clone (HLUG 25) encoding the complete sequence of a human liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase was isolated from a lambda gt11 human liver cDNA library. The library was screened by hybridization to a partial-length human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase cDNA (pHUDPGT1) identified from a human liver pEX cDNA expression library by using anti-UDP-glucuronosyltransferase antibodies. The authenticity of the cDNA clone was confirmed by hybrid-select translation and extensive sequence homology to rat liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase cDNAs. The sequence of HLUG 25 cDNA was determined to be 2104 base-pairs long, including a poly(A) tail, and contains a long open reading frame. The possible site of translation initiation of this sequence is discussed with reference to a rat UDP-glucuronosyltransferase cDNA clone (RLUG 38).

Animals↗

Cloning of cDNAs coding for rat hepatic microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferases.

Radioiodinated, affinity-purified, anti-UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT) antibodies have been used to isolate cDNAs coding for UDPGT(s) from a rat liver cDNA library cloned in the expression vector bacteriophage lambda gt11. The sizes of ten cloned cDNAs range from 0.3-2.1 kb. The identity of the cDNAs was confirmed by the hybrid-select translation and immunochemical analyses. Restriction mapping indicates that two classes of cDNA coding for different UDPGT mRNAs have been cloned.

Animals↗

Haemophilus influenzae corneal ulcer in a therapeutic contact lens wearer.

Haemophilus influenzae is an unusual corneal pathogen and an unusual cause of corneal ulcers in Western society. In previous reports corneal complications from H. influenzae have been secondary to a conjunctivitis. The first case of a primary H. influenzae corneal ulcer as a complication of therapeutic contact lens wear is presented. Since other uncommon bacteria have been reported as causes of contact lens related corneal ulcers, the bacteriology of contact lens related corneal ulcers is reviewed. Ophthalmologists need to be aware that H. influenzae infections in adults are becoming more frequent.

Aged↗

Clostridium difficile peritonitis in a neonate. A case report.

We describe a case of fatal peritonitis due to Clostridium difficile in a neonate. Although the patient had several clinical features that were compatible with the diagnosis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, examination of the bowel at laparotomy disclosed that a mesenteric band caused the patient's underlying disease. Postmortem histopathologic tests revealed gram-positive rods in the wall of the small intestine. Clostridium difficile was the only organism recovered from an antemortem culture of peritoneal fluid and was also recovered from a postmortem blood culture.

Clostridium Infections↗

Evaluation of the Titertek Multiskan for determining minimal inhibitory concentration endpoints.

A commercially available through-the-plate reading photometer (Titertek Multiskan, Flow Laboratories, McLean, Va.) was used to determine microdilution minimal inhibition concentrations (MICs) for 190 clinical isolates of bacteria (115 gram-negative rods and 75 gram-positive cocci). The performance of the instrument was evaluated by comparing its MIC readings to those that were visually determined. The MICs determined by the instrument were identical to those determined visually for 94% of the gram-negative rods and 89% of the gram-positive cocci tested. Of the MICs determined by the instrument, 99% was within one dilution of the MICs determined visually.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Evaluation of the MS-2 urine screening method for detection of bacteriuria.

A collaborative evaluation of the MS-2 urine screening system indicated that the automated method could successfully identify at least 84% of urine specimens that contained greater than or equal to 10(5) colony-forming units per ml. Most specimens not detected as positive by the system contained primarily diphtheroids and yeasts. Excluding those specimens which contained diphtheroids and yeasts, the MS-2 system correctly identified as positive 94.8% of specimens that contained greater than or equal to 10(5) colony-forming units per ml and as negative 96.1% of specimens that contained less than 10(4) colony-forming units per ml. The automated system is an attractive method for the screening of urine specimens for significant bacteriuria.

Bacteriuria↗

Evaluation of a metronidazole disk test for the presumptive identification of anaerobes.

A total of 632 bacterial strains recovered under anaerobic conditions from clinical specimens were tested from their susceptibility to metronidazole by a disk diffusion test using 5 micrograms metronidazole disks. Three-hundred-fifty-five of the 632 bacterial strains exhibited susceptibility the metronidazole, and each was determined to be an obligate anaerobe. The remaining 277 isolates showed resistance to the 5 micrograms disk. Of these resistant strains, 257 were determined to be facultative anaerobes, while 20 (18 Propionibacterium acnes, one Peptostreptococcus sp., and one Peptococcus magnus) were identified as obligate anaerobes. Potential use of this disk diffusion test for identifying the anaerobic status of bacteria is discussed.

Anaerobiosis↗

Four-hour presumptive identification of Enterobacteriaceae from blood cultures.

A modification of the Minitek identification system for the four-hour identification of gram-negative bacilli recovered from blood cultures was developed. This method enabled our laboratory to identify correctly 99 of 100 consecutive isolates of all members of Enterobacteriaceae representing seven genera and nine species. All rapid identifications were confirmed using conventional biochemical methods. The procedure employs 11 Minitek biochemical discs inoculated with 0.1 ml of a dense organism suspension. Two-tenths milliliter of this suspension was added to a blank well for motility testing. In most instances, identification reactions were identical to those routinely used for the Minitek system. Only with the biochemical citrate disc does the interpretation vary from the Minitek standard. In addition to the blood culture isolates, 22 unknown organisms were also tested. All were correctly identified within four hours of the detection of visible turbidity in broth. This method offers a convenient, economic, and rapid means of identifying gram-negative bacilli isolated from blood cultures.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Capnocytophaga ochracea septicemia.

A case report describing Capnocytophaga ochracea (Bacteroides ochraceus) septicemia in a 21-year-old male patient receiving chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia is presented. The unusual features of this organism are discussed together with a review of the literature.

Adult↗

Relative frequency of Clostridium difficile in patients with diarrheal disease.

We have studied 161 patients with diarrheal disease to determine the frequency with which Clostridium difficile occurs in such patients. C. difficile or its toxin or both were detected in stools from 19 patients (11.9%), 17 of whom had previously received antimicrobial agents. Enteric pathogens other than C. difficile were recovered less frequently, with Salmonella sp., Giardia lamblia, and Campylobacter fetus being recovered from 4.1, 2.5, and 1.3%, respectively, of the patients studied. These data suggest that C. difficile may be frequently encountered in specimens obtained from patients with diarrhea who receive antibiotics and may play a role in diarrheal disease in such patients.

Adult↗

Selenomonas sputigena septicemia.

Selenomonas sputigena is a curved motile anaerobic gram-negative rod that is a part of the normal upper respiratory tract of man. We present a case of speticemia associated with this organism and believe it to be the first such report describing systemic disease.

Bacteria↗

Transplacental ampicillin: inhibitory concentrations in neonatal serum.

Concentrations of ampicillin were measured in maternal serum at delivery, in cord serum, and in neonatal serum sampled at 1, 4, and 8 hours after ampicillin had been administered prophylactically to 22 mothers who were undergoing cesarean section. The concentrations of ampicillin in maternal serum at delivery ranged from 4.6 to 50 micrograms per milliliter and were inversely related to the time between administration of the drug and delivery. Concentrations in cord serum ranged from 4.4 to 23 micrograms/ml and were lower than those in corresponding maternal samples in all but two cases. The ratios of cord/maternal concentrations of ampicillin ranged from 0.16 to 1.3 and were directly related to the time which had elapsed between administration of ampicillin and delivery. The mean concentration of ampicillin in cord and neonatal serum declined exponentially in the 8 hours after infusion; it exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration against Escherichia coli for 4 hours and against Listeria monocytogenes and group B streptococcus for at least 8 hours.

Ampicillin↗

Haemophilus influenzae ophthalmia neonatorum.

Haemophilus influenzae is an occasional cause of ophthalmia neonatorum. Recently, this organism has exhibited a change in its epidemiology and has been identified as a cause of severe neonatal infections. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the changing susceptibility of neonates to severe infections with H influenzae and the possibility that H influenzae ophthalmia neonatorum can be associated with these infections.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Bartholinitis--an unusual etiologic agent.

Streptococcus pneumoniae type 4 was isolated in pure culture from a Bartholin's gland abscess in a 26-year-old woman, gravida 3. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report describing this agent as a cause of bartholinitis.

Abscess↗

In vitro activity of mecillinam against anaerobic bacteria.

A microtiter broth dilution method was employed to determine the in vitro activity of mecillinam against 201 recent clinical isolates of anaerobic bacteria. Both the anaerobic gram-positive and anaerobic gram-negative bacilli displayed a wide range of minimal inhibitory concentrations of mecillinam; most strains were resistant to the antibiotic. The anaerobic cocci exhibited a narrower range of minimal inhibitory concentrations than were observed with other anaerobes, but also exhibited mecillinam resistance. As a single drug, mecillinam does not appear to be an effective antimicrobial agent against anaerobic bacteria.

Amdinocillin↗

Evaluation of acridine orange stain for detection of microorganisms in blood cultures.

A pH 4.0 buffered solution of the fluorochrome acridine orange was used to stain samples of 2,704 blood cultures that failed to yield visible evidence of growth after 1 day of incubation. Results obtained by the staining method were compared with those obtained by aerobic and anaerobic subcultures simultaneously performed upon the same cultures. Of the 109 culture-positive blood specimens initially detected by the acridine orange and the subculture methods, 85 (78%) were detected by both acridine orange and subcultures techniques, 14 (12.8%) were detected by subculture alone, and 10 (9.2%) were detected by acridine orange alone. The differences between the subculture and acridine orange methods were not found to be statistically significant (P less than 0.1). The acridine orange method represents a rapid and inexpensive alternative to conventional subculture techniques for the detection of bacteria in blood cultures that fail to yield visible evidence of growth after 1 day of incubation.

Acridine Orange↗