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M J Finch

Publications and source records attributed to M J Finch.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Plasmids in Salmonella typhi in Lima, Peru, 1987-1988: epidemiology and lack of association with severity of illness or clinical complications.

A prospective study was conducted to better characterize the epidemiology of plasmid-bearing strains of Salmonella typhi in an endemic area of Lima, Peru, and to determine if plasmids were associated with specific manifestations of typhoid fever. Of 228 S. typhi isolated from patients at Cayetano Heredia University Hospital in Lima during 1987-1988, 76 (33%) contained plasmids. Ten different plasmid profiles were identified, with ten distinct plasmids present within these profiles. There was significant temporal clustering of isolates having common plasmid profiles. Two plasmids (both from the same isolate) carried antibiotic resistance genes. Two cryptic plasmids with approximate sizes of 55 and 65 kilobases (kb) appeared to be closely related, based on restriction endonuclease digestions and Southern blot analysis. An ampicillin resistance plasmid from a 1989 patient isolate differed by only a single restriction fragment from the cryptic 65-kb plasmid. No association was found between any plasmid or plasmid profile and severity or clinical manifestations of disease.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1988

Epidemiology of antimicrobial resistant cholera in Kenya and East Africa.

Strains of Vibrio cholerae O1, El Tor resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents, were isolated in Kenya between 1982 and 1985. Strains of serotype Ogawa were resistant to tetracycline, ampicillin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Resistance was mediated in all instances by a plasmid ca 100 mD of incompatibility group C. Based on analysis of restriction endonuclease digests, all Ogawa isolates had an identical resistance plasmid. This plasmid differed from plasmids in resistant V. cholerae O1 strains isolated in Tanzania, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. On Southern blot analysis of restriction endonuclease digests of chromosomal DNA using DNA probes there were no apparent differences between Kenyan V. cholerae O1 strains isolated before and after emergence of antibiotic resistance; however, a majority of El Tor strains isolated in other geographic areas had the same Southern blot pattern. Our data document the apparent endemicity of multiply antimicrobial resistant V. cholerae O1 strains in Kenya, and the persistence of a single unique resistance plasmid among isolates of serotype Ogawa.

Africa, Eastern↗
PubMed1987

Non-01 Vibrio cholerae infections in Cancun, Mexico.

To determine the role of Vibrio cholerae as a cause of diarrheal illness in Cancun, Mexico, an investigation was conducted in July and August 1983. Although toxigenic V. cholerae 01 were not found, non-01 V. cholerae were isolated from 22 (16%) of 134 stools from persons with diarrheal illness and none of 22 stools from well persons; 58 (92%) of 63 sewage samples; 12 (86%) of 14 untreated well water samples; a home storage tank for treated water; and 5 (21%) of 24 samples of raw seafood. None of the V. cholerae isolates from patients were toxigenic. The illness occurred mainly in small children, and were characterized principally by diarrhea and abdominal pain. No patient was seriously ill, and all recovered without sequelae. Seven different serotypes of non-01 V. cholerae were isolated from the stool specimens, and Smith serotype 12 accounted for 10 (46%) of the 22 isolates. A matched-pair case-control study found that cases were more likely than controls to have eaten home prepared gelatin (P = 0.03, OR = 5/0) and seafood (P = 0.06, OR = 4/0).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Foodborne outbreaks of campylobacteriosis: the United States experience, 1980-1982.

During 1980-1982, 23 foodborne outbreaks of diseases caused by Campylobacter were reported to the Centers for Diseases Control through the National Foodborne Surveillance Program, which collects reports from state and territorial epidemiologists throughout the United States. These outbreaks involved 748 ill persons, of whom 4% were hospitalized. For outbreaks with six or more ill persons, the median attack rate was 41%, the mean or median incubation periods ranged from 66 to 120 hours, and the mean duration of symptoms ranged from three to seven days. Raw milk was implicated or suspected in 14 outbreaks. In four of the other outbreaks, food handling errors were identified, and in five outbreaks, poultry, eggs, or beef were implicated or suspected. In three of four outbreaks in which Campylobacter was recovered from cows at the implicated dairies, some isolates from cows were serotypically identical to isolates from ill persons. In one egg-associated outbreak, one of the isolates of Campylobacter recovered from hens at the implicated egg farm was serotypically identical to an isolate recovered from an ill person. These findings underscore the hazard of eating undercooked or raw foods of animal origin such as raw milk. Raw milk contaminated by infected cows is a major cause of foodborne campylobacteriosis in the United States.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Comparison of the haemodynamic effects of bucindolol, propranolol and pindolol in healthy volunteers.

The effects of single oral doses of bucindolol (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg), pindolol (10 mg), propranolol (160 mg) and placebo on arterial pressure and heart rate in the supine and standing positions and exercise heart rate were compared in 12 healthy male volunteers. Supine heart rate was significantly greater after all four doses of bucindolol and pindolol in comparison to propranolol. Bucindolol had no significant effect on standing heart rate which was significantly reduced by pindolol and propranolol. Bucindolol, pindolol and propranolol significantly reduced an exercise tachycardia for at least 24 h after drug administration. Supine systolic pressure was not affected by any treatment but supine diastolic pressure was significantly reduced by bucindolol (200 and 400 mg) and by pindolol. All doses of bucindolol, propranolol and pindolol significantly reduced standing systolic blood pressure. There was a significant linear trend for reductions in standing systolic blood pressure and increasing doses of bucindolol. Standing diastolic blood pressure was significantly reduced by bucindolol 200 and 400 mg. Faintness and light headedness occurred in 6 of 12 subjects after 200 mg bucindolol and in 8 of 10 subjects after 400 bucindolol. After bucindolol, analysis of plasma samples demonstrated the presence of bucindolol, 5-hydroxy and 6-hydroxy bucindolol and indolyl-t-butylamine. These observations indicate that in man, bucindolol is a beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug with hypotensive activity and probably partial agonist activity. It is unlikely that the hypotensive effects result from blockade of beta-adrenoceptors or from the drug's partial agonist activity.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1984

Campylobacter infections in the United States. Results of an 11-state surveillance.

In January 1982, 11 states (Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin) began reporting monthly their isolations of Campylobacter to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. The information reported included the species of Campylobacter organisms, the week of the report, the site from which the organism was isolated, and the age and sex of the infected person. A total of 3,966 isolates were reported in 1982, of which 3,900 were Campylobacter jejuni. Campylobacter isolations exceeded Salmonella in two of the three states (Oregon and Wisconsin) that require reporting. The eight other states with lower rates of isolation had variable reporting practices. Rates of Campylobacter isolations were highest in June through August. Age-specific rates of Campylobacter infections peaked in the 1- to 2-year and 20- to 29-year age groups. Fifty-five percent of all isolates were from male patients. Campylobacter infections seem to be at least as common as Salmonella infections in states in which the reporting practices are comparable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Thyrotoxicosis in the elderly.

Charts of 28 hyperthyroid patients over 60 years old were retrospectively analyzed and compared with charts of 14 patients under 30 years old. The mean duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis was 16 months in the elderly and five months in the younger group. Heart rate was substantially lower in the older (107 beats/min) vs younger (117 beats/min) study group. The symptom of weakness or fatigue was more prevalent in the elderly group (94 percent) than in the younger group (57 percent). Cardiac palpitation was more prevalent in the elderly patients whereas insomnia, irritability, dysphagia, hyperphagia, and heat intolerance were more prevalent in the younger patients. Fifty percent of the elderly patients complained of chest pain. Cachexia (62 percent), thin, fine hair (50 percent), and weakness (58 percent) were prominent physical findings in the elderly group. Twenty-six percent of the elderly patients had atrial fibrillation. These findings confirm previous studies that show some differences in presentation of hyperthyroidism in elderly patients when compared with younger patients. The authors recommend that thyroid function tests be obtained for broad indications in the elderly.

Adult↗