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Biomedical subjects

R C Cooper

Publications and source records attributed to R C Cooper.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Prophylaxis against Neisseria meningitidis infections and antibody responses in patients with deficiency of the sixth component of complement.

Forty South African patients with homozygous deficiency of the sixth component of complement (C6) have been identified in an area where group B meningococcal meningitis is endemic; 22 of the 24 proband cases presented with recurrent meningococcal meningitis. In a 2- to 4-year prospective study, patients with recurrent infections who received monthly prophylactic long-acting penicillin were significantly protected from subsequent neisserial infection compared with those who did not receive penicillin (P = .02, Fisher's exact test). Heterogeneous susceptibility to neisserial infection was confirmed by following C6-deficient patients who presented with one or no Neisseria meningitidis infections. These patients, on no prophylaxis, had significantly fewer infections (P = .004) than did patients who presented with recurrent disease. Functional C6 activity was restored by transfusion of fresh frozen plasma in a C6-deficient patient resistant to conventional antibiotic treatment. Antibody levels to the serotype 2 outer membrane proteins were significantly elevated in C6-deficient patients compared with control groups (P = .001).

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1989

Observations on the repair of distal radial osteotomies in the dog by double hook plates.

Distal radial osteotomies in the dog repaired with a double hook plate achieved early return to full function. All dogs in this study reached and maintained the desired clinical evaluation score of grade four by the third postoperative week. The average loss of total range of carpal joint motion was 36 degrees. The double hook plate provides stable fixation and can be applied with three point fixation to a bone segment as short as 12 mm.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

The relationship of anticardiolipin antibodies to disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Sera from 124 blood donors, 60 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 57 SLE patients were measured for anticardiolipin antibodies by ELISA. Significantly raised IgG (aCLG) and IgM (aCLM) anticardiolipin antibody levels were found in RA and SLE (p less than 0.0005). However, in SLE both aCLG and aCLM levels were significantly higher than in RA (p less than 0.0025). We then conducted a transectional study to evaluate aCL levels and disease activity in SLE. There was a good positive predictive value (70%) between aCL and overall disease activity, but not for individual systems. A strong association between aCL and renal involvement irrespective of activity was also found (80%). Nine SLE patients fulfilled both the clinical and serological criteria for the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and a further 18 patients fulfilled the serological criteria for APS. Results indicate that aCL levels are of value in predicting overall disease activity in SLE and in monitoring those patients who fulfil or partially fulfil the criteria for APS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Blood supply to the periosteum of the canine tibia.

A study was undertaken to determine which arteries supply the periosteum of the normal adult canine tibia. The vessels were found to arise from locations distinct from the muscular vascularization. The venous drainage of the tibial periosteum had a satellite relationship with the arteries. On the surface of the periosteum, the vessels formed rectangular patterns. All surfaces of the distal end of the tibia seemed to have less distinct anastomoses of the transverse periosteal twigs, compared with the proximal end of the tibia.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Anti-cardiolipin antibodies in ischaemic heart disease.

IgG and IgM anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACA) were assayed by an ELISA technique in 86 patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and compared to 124 healthy controls and to 62 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 20 with tuberculosis (TB). IgG ACA levels in IHD, RA and TB were comparable and significantly higher than in controls (P less than 0.0001). IgM ACA was significantly higher in IHD and RA than controls (P less than 0.0001) but not TB (P = 0.045). The number of IHD patients with raised ACA (IgG and/or IgM) was significantly greater than in RA or TB. (chi 2 = 30.77, P less than 0.0001). ACA were raised in 80.2% IHD patients on one or more occasions during a 1-11 day (mean 4.7) hospital admission. There was no difference in either ACA levels or in the frequency of ACA elevation in patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. We conclude that there is a strong association between IHD and ACA with potentially important therapeutic implications.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of mycobacterial antigens in the cerebrospinal fluid in tuberculous meningitis.

Fifty-three cerebrospinal fluid specimens from meningitis patients were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of mycobacterial antigens. After heating at 56 degrees C for 1 hour to eliminate nonspecific interference, all 22 tuberculous meningitis (TBM) specimens had an optical density of greater than 0.05 (sensitivity 100%). Six out of 31 non-TBM cases gave false-positive results (specificity 81%).

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1987

Deficiency of the sixth component of complement and susceptibility to Neisseria meningitidis infections: studies in 10 families and five isolated cases.

Complement component C6 deficiency (C6D) was diagnosed in 15 patients who presented, independently, with recurrent meningococcal infection. This condition is thus not particularly rare in the Cape. Ten of the patients belonged to multiplex families, and family studies led to the diagnosis of another 12 C6D cases among the siblings. Segregation analysis showed that C6D occurred more frequently among the siblings of affected individuals than would be expected for co-dominant inheritance. The possible reasons for this are discussed. We also observed that the 12 non-proband C6D siblings included only four with a history suggestive of meningococcal infection, and thus C6D individuals apparently differ in susceptibility to Neisseria meningitidis infection. We confirmed previous observations that primary infection occurs later in C6D individuals than amongst susceptible complement-sufficient individuals. Among 123 patients presenting with primary meningitis, one case of C6D was diagnosed. The data show that C6D is an important factor associated with susceptibility to meningococcal infection in the Cape.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Serum immunoglobulin and complement values in onyalai. Comparison with black, San and white inhabitants of Kavango, SWA/Namibia.

The hypothesis that onyalai results from a polyclonal immune response and that complement activation occurs in its active phase was investigated. Serum immunoglobulins IgA, IgG and IgM and complement fractions C3 and C4 were measured in 21 black onyalai patients and 44 of their close relatives, 37 healthy black schoolchildren, 42 Barakwenga San, 10 Kung San and 18 whites in Kavango. An additional 4 patients with onyalai were investigated after splenectomy. Total complement level, circulating immune complexes and antinuclear antibodies were measured in an additional 6 patients with active onyalai. The results did not support the hypothesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Continuous caudal epidural anesthesia in the horse.

A technique for continuous caudal epidural anesthesia in the horse was developed in trials involving 8 healthy adult horses. The injection site was the first intercaudal (intercoccygeal) space. A Huber point directional needle (Tuohy or Hustead) with a stylet was preplaced into the epidural space, used as a guide for an epidural catheter, and then removed, leaving the catheter in situ in the epidural space. A 2% solution of lidocaine hydrochloride was used as the anesthetic agent at an initial dose of 8 ml for an adult animal (474 kg to 560 kg). Repeated 4-ml doses were administered immediately upon return of sensation. The technique was found to be easily performed and effective for prolonged caudal epidural anesthesia in the horse.

Anesthesia, Caudal↗
PubMed1983

Serological diagnosis of syphilis in pregnancy. Experiences at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban.

Three different serological screening tests for syphilis were performed at the 'booking' visit of 500 antenatal patients at the King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban. The prevalence of active syphilis was 7,4%. The rapid plasma reagent test not only had a high biological false-positive rate at 11,8%, but also failed to detect 18,9% of the 37 patients diagnosed as having syphilis by means of the IgM-specific fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test. The Treponema pallidum haemagglutination (TPHA) test had a similarly high biological false-positive rate of 15,8%, but did not miss any of the 37 cases of active syphilis. The TPHA test is therefore advocated for screening patients for syphilis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

A graphical analysis of the interrelationships among waterborne asbestos, digestive system cancer and population density.

Five statistical procedures were used to partial the correlation between waterborne asbestos and digestive site cancer for the putative effects of population density. These include: analysis based on a data subset with roughly homogeneous population density; standard residual analysis (partial correlation); conditional probability integral transformation; analysis based upon ranked data, and use of logarithmic transformation. Nonparametric regression graphical techniques are applied to examine the nature or shape of the asbestos-cancer dose-response curve. Evidence is presented that suggests that there is considerable difference between analyses involving nonhigh-density tracts and non-San Francisco tracts. Evidence is also presented that the modal-type nonparametric regression curve forks or bifurcates when adjustment is made for population density.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1982

Pharmacological modulation of neutrophil phagocytic function in a patient with recurrent sepsis, pyoderma gangrenosum and impaired phagocytosis.

A 50-year-old man with recurrent life-threatening sepsis and a cutaneous condition resembling pyoderma gangrenosum, was found to have a defect of neutrophil phagocytic function. Phagocytosis could be enhanced by corticosteroids, both in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, and in vivo, when it was accompanied by rapid clinical improvement. Studies with steroid hormones and immuno-stimulatory drugs are described.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗