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Biomedical subjects

M D Talbot

Publications and source records attributed to M D Talbot.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Relation between incidence of gonorrhoea in Sheffield and efficiency of contact tracing: a paradox?

An attempt has been made to correlate the yearly incidence of gonorrhoea in Sheffield (1979-85) with two variables to show contact tracing efficiency: infectious patient days (days from the start of contact tracing to the attendance of contacts) and the percentage of source contacts brought to investigation within 30 days. No such correlation has been found. The possible reasons for this, which include the unreliability of incidence figures as a sole criterion of control and the organisation of contact tracing activities, are discussed.

England↗
PubMed1985

Quantification of lymphocyte activation by measurement of DNA polymerase alpha activity.

Measurement of the activity of the enzyme DNA polymerase alpha has been investigated with regard to its potential usefulness as a method for the detection and quantification of lymphocyte activation in vivo. A modified enzyme assay was developed in order to optimise measurement of activity in crude homogenates of cells or tissues, thus allowing the convenient handling of multiple samples. Specificity of the assay for polymerase alpha was ensured by the inclusion in the assay mixture of dideoxythymidine triphosphate, an inhibitor of the other eukaryotic DNA polymerases. The activity of DNA polymerase alpha was found to be closely correlated with [3H]thymidine incorporation in a mitogen-stimulated in vitro system. The usefulness of the polymerase alpha method for the quantification of lymphocyte activation was validated in 3 different in vivo systems of either immune-mediated or drug-induced lymphoid cell response.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Neurosyphilis: the most common things are most common.

Reports published in the past twenty years include many purporting to show, without much reason, that classic presentations of neurosyphilis are the exception rather than the rule. We join the few who take another view, and discuss here the reasons underlying the conflict of opinions.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Epidemiology and control of gonorrhoea in Sheffield.

During the period 1977-83, the fall in the yearly incidence of gonorrhoea in the United Kingdom was greatly exceeded by the fall that occurred in Sheffield (p less than 0.001). This local fall occurred despite a large rise in the yearly number of people with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) presenting at this clinic, and was associated with falls in the incidence of complications of the disease and ratios of men to women with gonorrhoea, and with significantly improved success in tracing contacts of infected persons (p less than 0.001). Although penicillinase producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, were rare, the number of local isolates exhibiting relative resistance to penicillin (MIC greater than or equal to 0.3 mg/l) rose significantly (p less than 0.001) and were more often isolated from well defined "at risk" groups: homosexual men (p less than 0.001), patients with repeat infections (p less than 0.01), and people infected outside Sheffield (p less than 0.05). The relevance of these observations in the assessment of control of gonorrhoea and to the development of an antibiotic treatment policy are discussed.

England↗
PubMed1985

The use of aztreonam in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea.

A total of 57 men and 26 women with uncomplicated gonorrhoea was treated with 1 g aztreonam intramuscularly. The cure rate was 96% and included successful treatment of 4 infections due to beta-lactamase producing organisms and 8 patients with pharyngeal involvement. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of aztreonam in vitro were lower than those of penicillin and similar to cefuroxime, and side-effects were minimal. It is concluded that aztreonam is effective against Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vivo and in vitro.

Aztreonam↗
PubMed1984

Ceftizoxime in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea.

A total of 74 men and 26 women with uncomplicated gonorrhoea were treated with ceftizoxime sodium 0.5 g intramuscularly. The cure rate was 99% and included successful treatment of four infections due to beta-lactamase producing organisms. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ceftizoxime in vitro were very much lower than those of penicillin and cefuroxime, and side effects were minimal. We conclude that ceftizoxime is effective against Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vivo and in vitro.

Cefotaxime↗
PubMed1978

Characterization of two acid proteinases found in rabbit skin homografts.

Two types of acid proteinase activity found in rabbit skin homografts were characterized by studying the effect of temperature, pH and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Their chromatographic behaviour was characterized on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-75, G-100 and G-200, and their molecular weights were estimated by gel filtration. One of the acid proteinases in the homograft resembled cathepsin D (EC 3.4.23.5) of normal skin. The other acid proteinase differed from cathepsin D with respect to heat inactivation, pH optimum and molecular weight; it was not inactivated on heating at 60 degrees C for 60 min, its pH optimum was 2.5 and its molecular weight measured by Sephadex G-100 chromatography was 100 000. In all these respects, the heat-stable proteinase resembles cathepsin E (EC 3.4.23.5) of rabbit polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Blood-taking practices and needle-stick injuries in house officers.

The blood-taking practices and prevalence of needle-stick injuries were recorded for 46 house officers working at the two largest teaching hospitals in Sheffield and 38 house officers working at three hospitals in London. Wearing gloves when performing venesection or inserting an intravenous cannula was generally perceived as making the procedure more difficult and no house officer in either centre wore gloves when performing routine venesection. Twenty-five (54.3%) of the house officers from Sheffield resheathed needles by hand, while a further 14 (28.3%) placed the sheath onto a work surface before attempting to manoeuvre the needle back into its sheath. Only 7 (17.4%) house officers denied resheathing needles after performing venesection. Twenty-seven (58.7%) admitted to having had a needle-stick injury within 3 months of commencing their first house officer post. Twenty-seven (71.1%) of the house officers from London resheathed needles, the remainder disposing of the needle by placing it straight into an appropriate container. Twenty-five (66%) admitted to having had a needle-stick injury the first 6 months of being a house officer. Training in the correct techniques of venesection with emphasis on either avoiding resheathing needles or resheathing safely is essential early in the medical student curriculum and needs regular repetition.

Accidents, Occupational↗