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Biomedical subjects

N K Hall

Publications and source records attributed to N K Hall.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Merthiolate treatment of pathogenic fungi.

The action of Merthiolate on the pathogenic yeasts Blastomyces, dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Sporothrix schenckii was compared to the effect of treatment with formaldehyde. Concentrations of 1:10,000 and 1:5,000 Merthiolate for three exposure times (24, 48, and 72 h) at 4 and 25 degrees C were tested on three media (brain heart infusion with and without blood, and modified Sabouraud agar). The effect of Merthiolate on these three yeasts was primarily fungistatic, with maximum effect using 1:5,000 Merthiolate at 25 degrees C for at least 48 h. Mycelial suspensions of B. dermatitidis, H. capsulatum, S. shenckii, and the yeast phase of Cryptococcus neoformans were susceptible to the 1:5,000 Merthiolate concentration after 24 h of treatment. The antifungal effect of Methiolate varies with species and growth phase of the fungus. Concentration, time of exposure, and temperature of incubation are important variables.

Blastomyces↗

Prolonged shock in the monkey following live E coli organism infusion.

Responses of the rhesus monkey to the administration of live Escherichia coli organisms during an observation of 0--27 hours were studied. Nine monkeys were infused for 30 minutes with live E coli organisms, the dose ranging between 7.6 X 10(9) and 3.0 X 10(11) organisms/kg. Three of nine animals survived for 24 hours or longer. Nonsurvivors demonstrated significant hypotension, hypoglycemia, and hypoinsulinemia, while survivors showed lesser degrees of physiologic derangement. Findings were hepatic sinusoidal fibrin thrombi and hepatocellular damage accompanied by elevated serum enzymes. The kidney did not show glomerular fibrin thrombi; however, tubular lesions were clearly evident and increases in blood urea nitrogen levels and endogenous creatinine were documented. Lungs of animals surviving longer contained fewer polymorphonuclear leukocytes and platelets than were seen in acute shock studies. This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring the nonhuman primate during an extended time period, since many significant pathophysiologic responses occur after eight hours of observation.

Animals↗

In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of a Synthetic Halogenated Quinoline Against Cryptococcus neoformans.

The minimum inhibitory concentrations of a halogenated quinoline, 3-amino-7-chloro-3,4-dihydro-1-hydroxycarbostyril (CBS), against nine clinical strains of Cryptococcus neoformans were determined by in vitro testing. The CBS was fungistatic at a minimum concentration of 0.2 mug/ml at 48 h for several strains. In vivo toxicity studies were carried out in mice. Mice were also infected with C. neoformans strain Price and injected with various concentrations of CBS. Mean life expectancy of treated groups of animals was increased over infected untreated controls.

Journal Article↗

Use of an alkali-soluble water-soluble extract of Blastomyces dermatitidis yeast-phase cell walls and isoelectrically focused components in peripheral lymphocyte transformations.

An alkali-soluble water-soluble extract of Blastomyces dermatitidis yeast-phase cell walls was tested for its ability to elicit a response in lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of Blastomyces-infected guinea pigs. Sequential preparations of the antigen were reproducible and specific in the in vitro lymphocyte transformation assay. Cross-reactivity of the antigen was not evident in lymphocyte transformation assays on lymphocytes obtained from Histoplasma-infected guinea pigs or from animals sensitized with complete Freund adjuvant. Fractionation of the antigen was accomplished on an isoelectric-focusing column, using a sucrose density gradient support. Components were assayed for activity in skin testing and lymphocyte transformation. Comparison of column fractions to the whole antigen showed greater response to the whole antigen in in vivo and in vitro assays.

Animals↗

Pasteurella multocida pneumonia and bacteremia.

A 76-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who developed P multocida pneumonia and bacteremia has been described. The infection was treated with antibiotics, and the patient recovered. Pasteurella multocida is known to infect many species of animals. The instances of human infection due to this organism are frequently associated with exposure to animals. Pulmonary infection occurs principally in patients with underlying chronic bronchopulmonary disease.

Aged↗

In vivo and in vitro cell-mediated immune responses to a cell wall antigen of Blastomyces dermatitidis.

An alkali-soluble, water-soluble cell wall fraction of Blastomyces dermatitidis, designated B-ASWS, was evaluated as an antigen for detecting in vivo (skin tests) and in vitro migration inhibition factor (MIF) production and lymphocyte transformation (LT) responses in Blastomyces-infected guinea pigs. The biological activity of B-ASWS was compared with that of blastomycin KCB-26. The superiority of B-ASWS, in terms of its sensitivity and specificity, was evident in in vivo and in vitro assays. Skin tests responses were obtained in 21 of the 24 Blastomyces-infected guinea pigs, whereas only one of the 14 Histoplasma-infected guinea pigs were significantly greater than those obtained using cell populations from Histoplasma-infected or noninfected guinea pigs. The con-MIF and LT in peritoneal exudate cells and lymph node cells of homologuosly infected animals. In each biological system, the response of the Blastomyces-infected guinea pigs were significantly greater than those obtained using cell populations from Histoplasma-infected or non-infected guinea pigs. The contrasting efficacy of B-ASWS as compared with blastomycin KCB-26, suggests that the cell wall antigen will be a useful tool for detecting cell-mediated immune responses in blastomycosis.

Animals↗

Treatments and outcomes of nursing-home-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary infections have been considered the leading cause of hospital admissions and death in the nearly 2 million nursing home residents in the United States. Very little is known about the treatments and outcomes of this entity. The purpose of our study was to document the incidence, treatments, and outcomes of nursing-home-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review during a 24-month period of patients from two community nursing homes in upstate New York with a total average population of 330 residents. The main outcome measure was 6-week mortality. RESULTS: Pneumonia was diagnosed in 129 patients, whose overall 6-week mortality rate was 24.8 percent. Ninety-one patients were cared for in the nursing home, and 38 patients were hospitalized. Six-week mortality rate for the nonhospitalized group was 18.7 percent. The hospitalized group's 6-week mortality rate was significantly higher at 39.5 percent. There were no significant differences between the hospitalized and nonhospitalized groups before their diagnosis that predicted outcome. CONCLUSIONS: For many patients nursing-home-acquired pneumonia can be successfully treated in a nursing home with oral antibiotics at a considerable cost savings when compared with hospitalization.

Administration, Oral↗