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Biomedical subjects

S L Hayes

Publications and source records attributed to S L Hayes.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Low pressure ultraviolet studies for inactivation of Giardia muris cysts.

AIMS: The research was initiated to confirm earlier ultraviolet (u.v.) light inactivation studies performed on Giardia cysts using excystation as the viability indicator. Following this, a comparison of in vitro excystation and animal infectivity was performed for assessing cyst viability after exposure to low-pressure u.v. irradiation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cysts of Giardia muris were inactivated using a low-pressure u.v. light source. Giardia muris was employed as a surrogate for the human pathogen Giardia lamblia. Cyst viability was determined by both in vitro excystation and animal infectivity. Cyst doses were counted using a flow cytometer for the animal infectivity experiments. Using in vitro excystation as the viability indicator, fluences as high as approximately 200 mJ cm(-2) did not prevent some cysts from excysting, thus verifying earlier work. Using animal infectivity, u.v. fluences of 1.4, 1.9 and 2.3 mJ cm(-2) yielded log10 reductions ranging from 0.3 to >or= 4.4. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that in vitro excystation is not a reliable indicator of G. muris cyst viability after u.v. disinfection. Very low doses of u.v. light rendered G. muris cysts non-infective in the mouse model employed. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Data presented represent the only complete u.v. inactivation curve for G. muris. This research provides evidence that u.v. can be an effective barrier against Giardia spp. in the treatment of drinking water supplies.

Animals↗

Cytokine-mediated regulation of transferrin synthesis in mouse macrophages and human T lymphocytes.

Transferrin (Tf) plays an important role during immunologic activation by donating iron to activated lymphocytes. Therefore, synthesis by lymphomyeloid cells has been investigated. Mouse macrophages and macrophage cell lines synthesized Tf, with levels being markedly increased by gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) and, to a lesser extent, by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). Tf was also produced by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human T cells and two T-cell lines and was increased by IL-2. Even after appropriate activation, none was synthesized by human macrophages or monocytic cell lines or by mouse T cells, T-cell lines, or thymus cells. In both species, B-lineage cell lines were negative. Tf was also synthesised by macrophages from congenitally hypotransferrinemic mice and was responsive to gamma-IFN, but levels were lower than those from normal controls. Synthesis by human and murine hepatoma cells was increased by IL-6 but unaffected by IL-1, TNF alpha, or gamma-IFN. Iron decreased synthesis by hepatoma cells but had no effect on the lymphomyeloid cells. Tf mRNA levels paralleled protein synthesis, suggesting that regulation was pre-translational. Thus, Tf synthesis by lymphomyeloid cells is regulated differently from hepatic synthesis, which is consistent with the suggestion that Tf may act in a paracrine (mouse) or autocrine (human) manner on activated lymphocytes.

Animals↗

Transferrin synthesis by macrophages: up-regulation by gamma-interferon and effect on lymphocyte proliferation.

We have investigated transferrin synthesis by human and mouse lymphoid and myeloid cells. It was found that transferrin synthesis is a property of mouse but not human macrophages, whereas in man T lymphocytes synthesised transferrin. Synthesis by mouse macrophages showed a dose-dependent increase in response to gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), but iron added as ferric nitrilotriacetate had no effect. Macrophage-derived transferrin was found to contain iron already bound to it and was able to support Con A-stimulated mouse lymphocyte proliferation.

Animals↗

Increasing foraging opportunities for a group of captive capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus).

Capuchin monkeys often employ complex manipulative skills while recovering food items. Five captive Cebus capucinus were presented with two identical feeders that required the monkeys to lift up flaps, search through hay, and perform coordinated hand movements in order to obtain food items. The intent of this study was not to merely increase the amount of time the animals spent feeding, but to provide opportunities for greater expression of species-typical foraging behavior. In addition to their regular diet, figs and various types of unshelled nuts were placed inside the feeders. The monkeys avidly searched for and removed food from the feeders, displaying a wide variety of manipulative abilities. The amount of time the animals spent foraging significantly increased (p less than 0.05) whereas the amount of time the animals spent locomoting and resting significantly decreased (p less than 0.05) when the feeders were available. The feeders were portable, durable, easy to clean, and relatively inexpensive.

Animal Husbandry↗

Pharmacokinetics of sulbactam in humans.

Sulbactam, a new beta-lactamase inhibitor, has pharmacokinetic characteristics in humans similar to those of ampicillin and amoxicillin. Its half-life in humans is approximately 1 h. In a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model, the apparent volume of distribution for the central compartment is approximately 12 liters, and half of the dose is found in the central compartment in the postdistributive phase. Approximately 75% of a parenteral dose is excreted unchanged in urine. The coadministration of sulbactam with ampicillin, penicillin G, or cefoperazone has essentially no effect upon the kinetics of either the beta-lactam antibiotic or sulbactam.

Adult↗

Ethanol and oral diazepam absorption.

Despite widespread use and abuse of ethanol and diazepam in combination, little is known about the effects of ethanol on diazepam absorption. We administered diazepam (0.07 mg per kilogram of body weight) with water and with 30 ml of 50 per cent ethanol to seven normal volunteers. Plasma diazepam levels were significantly higher at 60 minutes (P less than 0.05), 90 minutes (P less than 0.01), 120 minutes (P less than 0.01), and 240 minutes (P less than 0.01) when diazepam was administered with ethanol than with water alone. Since maximum mean plasma diazepam levels after combined ingestion with ethanol were nearly twice as high than after diazepam and water (373 ng per milliliter versus 197 ng per mililiter at 60 minutes) we conclude that ethanol enhanced diazepam absorption.

Administration, Oral↗