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Biomedical subjects

S H Zinner

Publications and source records attributed to S H Zinner.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Limited protective effect of rough mutant antisera in murine Escherichia coli bacteremia.

Previous studies in mice have demonstrated differing immunoprophylactic activity of antisera against rough mutants of Enterobacteriaceae in the prevention of lethal gram-negative bacteremia. In this study, in which CF1 mice were made bacteremic with a serum-resistant Escherichia coli 06:K2:H1, the composite survival was significantly (p less than 0.001) enhanced by i. v. pre-treatment one to two hours before injection with either normal rabbit sera or antisera to the J5 mutant of E. coli 0111. The protective efficacy of these preimmune and hyperimmune sera did not differ significantly. Since considerable variability in the mortality of control mice occurred in the 25 separate experiments, the results of individual experiments were grouped retrospectively according to survival in the individual control groups and compared for evidence of possible differences in the efficacy of these two sera. With the exception of a statistically significant difference in the efficacy in one group receiving an LD75-95 inoculum, no such differences were noted. Thus, the variable effects of a rough mutant antiserum were not explained by differences in the relative virulence in the inoculum. This study confirms earlier observations by others that the protective efficacy of the anti-J5 antisera in infected mice does not differ appreciably from that of normal rabbit sera, provided the same donor rabbits are the source of both preimmune and hyperimmune sera.

Animals↗

Synergism of trimethoprim combined with aminoglycosides in vitro and in serum of volunteers.

In vitro synergism of trimethoprim plus amikacin and trimethoprim plus sisomicin against 66 gram-negative bacilli was studied by microtiter checkerboard dilution. Synergism was defined as an FIC or FBC index equal to or less than 0.5. Fifty-two percent of strains were inhibited and 65% killed synergistically by the former combination, and 27% and 36% respectively by the latter combination (p less than 0.01). Serum bactericidal activity against 16 strains resistant to ampicillin and/or cephalothin was studied using serum from five volunteers one and six hours after intravenous administration of trimethoprim (160 mg), amikacin (250 mg) or the combination, and from six volunteers after administration of trimethoprim, tobramycin (1 mg/kg) or the combination. With trimethoprim and amikacin serum bactericidal titers greater than or equal to 1:8 were found more frequently with the combination (77 of 80 samples) than with either drug alone (trimethoprim 19 of 80 samples, amikacin 60 of 80 samples, p less than 0.01). Trimethoprim plus amikacin may be useful in the treatment of infections with gram-negative rods resistant to cephalothin and ampicillin.

Aminoglycosides↗

Opsonization of serum-sensitive and serum-resistant Escherichia coli by rough mutant (Re) antisera.

The antibody binding and susceptibility to opsonization of 11 SR and five SS Escherichia coli strains by pooled high-titered rabbit antisera against the core-defective Re chemotype mutant of Salmonella minnesota R595 were studied. Binding of antibody was assessed by an IFA method, and the phagocytic rate was quantitated by measurement of the oxygen consumption of PMNs during phagocytosis. A significant correlation was demonstrated between the property of serum sensitivity and both antibody binding (p less than 0.001) and enhanced susceptibility to phagocytosis (p less than 0.01) after opsonization of these E. coli with rough mutant antisera. Opsonic activity was heat-stable and was primarily in the serum igG fraction. Opsonic antibody was reduced markedly by absorption with the methanol-fixed Re mutant but was only partially reduced by absorption with solvent-extracted Re CGL. IgG antibodies capable of mediating phagocytosis and directed against both extractable and nonextractable antigens of the core-defective Re mutant of S. minnesota R595 reacted with strains of E. coli isolated from neutropenic patients.

Agranulocytosis↗

Sexually transmitted conditions among women college students.

We studied 500 unselected young women who consulted a gynecologist in a student health service. Most participants were symptom-free and had normal physical examinations. Few sexually transmitted infections were encountered. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was recovered from two and Trichomonas vaginalis was obtained from 14 of 500 women. Chlamydia trachomatis was recovered from 20 (4.6%) of 439 participants. Genital warts, genital herpes, and molluscum contagiosum, respectively, were noted in seven, four, and one of the 500 participants. There was no cases of syphilis, scabies, or pediculosis pubis. Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum, respectively, were recovered from 17.6 and 56.8% of the subjects. Prevalent vaginal bacteria included lactobacilli, streptococci, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and diphtheroids. Gardnerella vaginalis was isolated from the vaginal specimens of about one third of the participants.

Adolescent↗

Antistaphylococcal activity of rifampin with other antibiotics.

The bactericidal activity of rifampin plus other antibiotics was examined with in vitro checkerboard dilutions against 15 strains of staphylococci, with time-kill studies, and with determinations of serum bactericidal activities (SBAs) in volunteers. In vitro synergism was found consistently only in inhibitory assays with rifampin plus minocycline. Time-kill studies with rifampin plus methicillin revealed enhanced killing at concentrations close to the MBC but reduced combined activity at higher concentrations. SBAs with rifampin, oxacillin, and the two drugs in combination were studied in three treatment regimens (regimen A: 2 g of oxacillin and 300 mg of rifampin; regimen B: 1 g of oxacillin and 450 mg of rifampin; and regimen C: 3 g of oxacillin and 450 mg of rifampin). The SBA against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was significantly lower with the two drugs in combination than with oxacillin alone in regimen A but not in regimen B. In vitro synergy with rifampin plus other antibiotics was not frequent. At high concentrations, the bactericidal activity of oxacillin was reduced by rifampin, but killing activity may be enhanced at low concentrations of oxacillin.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

An artificial capillary in vitro kinetic model of antibiotic bactericidal activity.

An in vitro model is described that simulates serum and tissue levels of antibiotic, allowing the exposure of bacteria to changing concentrations of antibiotic with little dilution of the inoculum. A bacterial suspension is placed in the outer chamber of a unit through which runs a bundle of 150 polysulfone hollow fibers that retain proteins of greater than 10,000 daltons. These "capillaries" are in contact with the tubular lumen of a perfusion system. Antibiotic is injected into the tubing and circulated by a pump. At desired intervals given volumes of perfusate are removed and replaced with antibiotic-free broth (resulting in decreasing drug concentrations), or a constant level can be maintained. Samples from the outer chamber are taken for determination of bacterial counts and antibiotic levels. This method allows for the in vitro determination of persistent antibiotic effects and comparison of bolus and continuous infusions as well as the effects of single or combined antibodies on bacterial killing and regrowth.

Azlocillin↗

Effect of mixing on rifampin bactericidal activity against staphylococci.

Minimal bactericidal concentrations of rifampin were significantly increased, and serum bactericidal activity from volunteers receiving this drug was significantly decreased by vigorous mixing of microtiter plates before sampling when tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis at 10(5) and 10(6) colony-forming units per ml. These results suggest that microtiter estimates of the bactericidal activity of rifampin against staphylococci should be performed after vigorous shaking.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

In vitro and in vivo studies of three antibiotic combinations against gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus.

The activities of azlocillin, cefotaxime, and amikacin alone and in combination were evaluated in in vitro checkerboard studies, in infected neutropenic mice, and in human volunteers. The combination of cefotaxime plus amikacin was more synergistic in vitro than the others against the Enterobacteriaceae tested, and the combination of azlocillin plus amikacin was more synergistic against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Survival of neutropenic mice infected with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively, was greater with azlocillin plus amikacin (24 of 40 and 11 of 40) and with cefotaxime plus amikacin (21 of 40 and 17 of 40) than with azlocillin plus cefotaxime (22 of 40 and 3 of 40; P less than 0.05). Median serum bactericidal activity in volunteers receiving these antibiotics alone and in combination was greater than or equal to 1:8 with most agents and with all combinations tested against 10 strains each of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus. These data suggest that clinical trials with combinations of azlocillin or cefotaxime plus amikacin deserve further study in febrile neutropenic patients.

Amikacin↗

Serum bactericidal activity of moxalactam and cefotaxime with and without tobramycin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Serum bactericidal activity was determined against 10 strains each of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in serum from volunteers 1 and 6 h after intravenous infusion of cefotaxime, tobramycin, and the combination; or of moxalactam, tobramycin, and the combination. High serum bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa was found significantly more frequently with moxalactam plus tobramycin than with cefotaxime, moxalactam, and tobramycin alone or with cefotaxime plus tobramycin.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Chlamydia trachomatis in women: antibody in cervical secretions as a possible indicator of genital infection.

One hundred eighty-five women college students were examined for genital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. This organism was isolated from nine (5%) of the 185 women. Antibody was demonstrated in the genital secretions of 26 (14%) and in the serum of 70 (38%) of the women. None of the sexually inexperienced women was infected. Among those sexually experienced, the prevalence of isolation of C. trachomatis and of detection of local antibodies in cervical secretions and serum antibodies to C. trachomatis increased in relation to the number of life-time sexual partners. Local antibody appeared to be a more reliable indicator of infection with C. trachomatis than serum antibody in this college population.

Adolescent↗

Countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis in the diagnosis of viral infections of the central nervous system.

Countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis was utilized in the study of 621 specimens of cerebrospinal fluid to determine the correlation of detection of viral antigens with the clinical diagnosis of aseptic meningitis and related viral infections. A panel of viral antisera was immunoelectrophoresed against 119 specimens from patients with suspected viral infections of the central nervous system (group I), 32 from patients with bacterial meningitis (group 2), and 470 from patients with no suspected infection of the nervous system (group 3). One or more precipitin bands were detected in 79% of specimens from group 1, 19% from group 2, and 4% from group 3. Paired acute- and convalescent-phase sera from 32 (78%) of 41 patients with precipitin bands detected by countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated a fourfold or greater change in complement-fixing antibodies to the detected antigen. With refinements in antisera, countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis may become useful in the rapid laboratory diagnosis of viral infection of the central nervous system.

Acute Disease↗

Stability of blood pressure rank and urinary kallikrein concentration in childhood: an eight-year follow-up.

Previous studies in a population of 721 children aged 2--14 years demonstrated the familial aggregation of blood pressure in children, and a significant regression coefficient (b = 0.25) of follow-up on initial blood pressures over a four-year period. Urinary kallikrein concentration (UKal) also aggregated in families, was lower in black than in white children and was inversely related to blood pressure. Further studies in the same cohort have been conducted. These variables were again measured in 484 children in 129 families seven to eight years after the initial blood pressure and three to four years after the original UKal measurements were made. Familial aggregation again was found for blood pressure and urinary kallikrein. Blood pressure tracking was demonstrated by the finding that blood pressure scores at the third survey were related significantly to those at both previous surveys. Kallikrein concentrations in casual urines at Survey 3 were related to those obtained at Survey 2 (r = 0.499), and were again significantly lower in black than in white children (log = 3.84 +/- 0.8 vs 4.37 +/- 0.7; P less than 0.001). These were significant inverse relations between UKal/creatinine concentration and blood pressure in both white and black children. Thus, familial aggregation of blood pressure, blood pressure rank and concentration of kallikrein in casual urine specimes are relatively stable in children over an eight-year period of observation. This study demonstrates in a free living population of normal children, a stable relation between blood pressure and an enzyme which is involved in the production of potent vasodilator peptides and is related to hypertension in adults.

Adolescent↗

Vaginal colonization with group B streptococcus: a study in college women.

Vaginal specimens for culture of group B Streptococcus and anonymous questionnaires were obtained from 499 college women. Group B Streptococcus was isolated from 90 (18.0%) of the participants. A selective broth medium was more sensitive for detection of vaginal isolates (85 of 493; 17.2%) than was direct inoculation of blood agar plates (44 of 466; 9.4%). The most prevalent serotypes among the isolates were type III (37.9%) and type II (25.3%). Logit analysis identified four factors associated with a higher prevalence of vaginal colonization with group B Streptococcus. These organisms were isolated significantly more often from (1) women who had an intrauterine device (50% vs. 18.6%; P less than 0.001), (2) sexually experienced women (20% vs. 7.1%; P less than 0.02), (3) women studied during the first half of the menstrual cycle (26.5% vs. 14.5%; P less than 0.01), and (4) women 20 years of age or younger (21.4% vs. 14.8%; P less than 0.05). The prevalence of colonization with group B Streptococcus was not related to sexual practices, history of venereal disease, use of oral contraceptives, presence of gynecologic symptoms, use of antibiotics, race, educational level, marital status, or history of pregnancy.

Adult↗