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Biomedical subjects

M Alkan

Publications and source records attributed to M Alkan.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

ELISA measurement of antibody titer to purified protein derivative and mycobacteria-derived phosphoglycolipids: tool for diagnosing active pulmonary tuberculosis.

There is a continuous search for a rapid, efficient and reliable serodiagnostic technique for active tuberculosis (TB). Using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent essay) we have determined antibodies reactive to purified protein derivative (PPD) and two phosphoglycolipids extracted from Mycobacterium bovis cell wall, phosphatidyl inositol dimannoside (PID) and phosphatidyl inositol pentamannoside (PIP). Twenty-one patients of Ethiopian origin with active pulmonary TB and 20 healthy control subjects vaccinated with BCG in infancy were evaluated. A significantly higher level of immunoglobins reactive with the antigens was found among the patients with active pulmonary TB. The mean +/- SD of the OD units (x 10(3)) recorded in the sera of TB patients compared with control subjects were as follows: using PPD 250 +/- 210 vs. 120 +/- 150 (P less than 0.025); with PID 1,150 +/- 470 vs. 750 +/- 150 (P less than 0.01); and with PIP 1,170 +/- 500 vs. 780 +/- 160 (P less than 0.025). Accordingly, the sensitivity and specificity levels were: with PPD 81 and 75%, with PID 82 and 80% and with PIP 73 and 70%, respectively. Much more accuracy can be obtained by calculating the results of reactivity toward the combined free antigen assays. It is suggested that ELISA using mycobacterial derived antigens might be useful in the diagnosis and screening of active pulmonary TB in large populations, due to its rapidity and simplicity.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1986

Increase in rat intestinal permeability to endotoxin during hyperthermia.

Victims of heat stroke exhibit several clinical features which are also encountered in endotoxaemia. In order to investigate these similarities hyperthermic rats were used to explore the possibility that high body temperature results in increased permeability of intestinal wall to endotoxin. 125I endotoxin was introduced into intestinal segments taken from non-heat exposed rats. The segments were then incubated at 37 degrees C or 45 degrees C. Intestinal segments from heat stressed rats were similarly prepared and incubated at 37 degrees C. Leakage of endotoxin from segments taken from heat stressed rats was three times greater than from those from non-heat stressed rats, as were the segments from non-heat stressed rats which were incubated at 45 degrees C. These results indicate that the intestinal membrane is damaged by heat and that an increase in outward leakage of microbial endotoxins from the gut then occurs. This might contribute to the pathophysiological picture of heatstroke.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Comparative activity of ofloxacin with reference to bacterial strains isolated in in-patients and out-patients.

The in vitro activity of ofloxacin, a new quinolone derivative, was compared to that of other agents commonly in use against pathogens isolated in the community and in the hospital. None of the community or hospital strains isolated from urinary tract infection showed resistance to ofloxacin, while variable resistance was demonstrable with all other oral agents. Similar results were obtained with pathogens isolated from infected wounds originating in the community and in the hospital. Among pathogens isolated from the respiratory tract, ofloxacin was most active against Haemophilus influenzae, but less active than the penicillin-cephalosporin group against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Ofloxacin was active against all but one (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) blood culture isolates. Of 112 strains isolated from community-acquired infections, only one strain was ofloxacin-resistant while resistance to sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim, ampicillin and doxycycline was 34%, 42% and 30%, respectively. Among 219 pathogens originating from nosocomial infections, 3.2% were resistant to ofloxacin compared to 56% for cefazolin, to 7.2% for cefotaxime, 15.8% for piperacillin and 22.3% for gentamicin. These results suggest that ofloxacin has great therapeutic potential for the therapy of bacterial infections originating both in the community and in the hospital.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1986

Immunity of hospital personnel against polio virus.

Sera from 275 employees of three hospitals were tested for the presence of antibodies to polio virus. Immunity was found to increase with age, and was higher in personnel directly involved in patient care than in the others. Previous exposure to poliomyelitis as well as a history of previous immunization did not correlate with the immunological status of the employee. When antibodies against one of the three polio types or more could not be demonstrated, the employee was vaccinated by an inactivated polio virus vaccine.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Nosocomial dermatophytosis caused by Microsporum canis in a newborn department.

Seven nurses working in a newborn unit were infested by Microsporum canis, involving the skin of the left forearm. One infant who was treated in the same unit suffered from a similar lesion on the occipital region. Transmission during bottle feeding was suspected. After the introduction of long sleeves for all nurses, no further cases occurred. Data collected on the nurses in the unit suggested that infection correlated with direct exposure to infants.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Infectious complications of acute myocardial infarction.

Four cases of purulent complications in the heart following acute myocardial infarction are described. Fever occurred during the first week after coronary occlusion. In one case thrombophlebitis at an infusion site was followed by purulent pericarditis. One patient had an infected mural thrombus with peripheral septic embolic, and two suffered from streptococcal endocarditis. The association between these infections and recent acute myocardial infarction could be related to tissue necrosis and local thrombosis, but the increasing risk of bacteremia following invasive monitoring procedures in these patients is a risk factor that should not be ignored.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Endocarditis caused by Haemophilus aegyptius.

Endocarditis due to Haemophilus is uncommon. This is the first reported case caused by Haemophilus aegyptius. The course of the disease was complicated by pericarditis, congestive heart failure, and myocardial abscess formation. Surgical removal of the damaged aortic valve was not beneficial. The biologic properties of the organism included urea degradation, absence of indole metabolism, and absence of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase.

Abscess↗
PubMed1986

In vitro activity of ciprofloxacin compared with other agents against recent hospital isolates.

Ciprofloxacin's in vitro activity was tested against 385 hospital isolates originating from three geographically distinct regions. Of all strains tested, only three (1 Acinetobacter sp. and 2 Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were ciprofloxacin resistant. Ciprofloxacin was more active against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Acinetobacter sp., Proteus sp., Shigella sp. than gentamicin, mezlocillin and cefotaxime. It was more active than azlocillin and cefsulodin against P. aeruginosa. It was more active than cloxacillin and cefamandole against staphylococci. It was as active as cefotaxime against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii and Serratia marcescens. Ciprofloxacin demonstrated similar activity in broth and solid agar. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC's) of all strains were similar to the minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC's). Ciprofloxacin's MIC was not influenced by increase of the inoculum or addition of human serum and only slightly influenced by anaerobic conditions. Decrease of the medium pH increased the MIC substantially. Ciprofloxacin exhibited a rapid bactericidal effect and had only a minimal post-antibiotic effect. These favorable in vitro characteristics of ciprofloxacin warrant further studies.

Acinetobacter↗
PubMed1985

Four cases of Shigella septicemia in Israel.

Four cases of shigella septicemia are presented. In two children infection was caused by Shigella flexneri and in two adults, who had underlying diseases which caused immunosuppression, by Shigella sonnei and Shigella schmitzi. All four patients responded to intravenous antibiotic therapy. In one patient the organism persisted in the stool, but was eliminated after oral administration of chloramphenicol. Shigella septicemia is not uncommon and blood cultures should be obtained in suspected cases.

Dysentery, Bacillary↗
PubMed1985

Pneumococcal infections among immunised and splenectomised patients in Israel.

Pneumococcal sepsis is a life-threatening complication in splenectomised patients even since the introduction of a polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine. Eight episodes of pneumococcal sepsis in seven properly vaccinated splenectomised patients are described. All but two of the causative serotypes were included in the vaccine. The fact that most of the patients were immunosuppressed may explain the failure of the vaccine in these particular patients. A survey of 59 episodes of pneumococcal bacteraemia during 1982 at the Soroka Medical Center, however, shows that 32% of the strains of pneumococci isolated were among seven types not included in the vaccine. The addition of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis in vaccinated and splenectomised patients is suggested.

Adult↗