William J. Mogabgab

A Cytopathogenic Agent Isolated from Naval Recruits with Mild Respiratory Illnesses.

Summary Several agents producing the same type of cytopathology have been isolated in monkey kidney cultures from men of a recruit company in training at Great Lakes in the fall of 1954. These isolates were obtained at the onset of mild respiratory infections and rises in neutralization titers to the prototype, 2060, followed each episode. Other increments in neutralizing antibody occurred in this and another company studied during the spring of 1955. Frequency of infection by 2060 was demonstrated by titers of neutralization found in childrens sera from another locale and in pooled human gamma globulin. Characteristics of the isolate indicate that it is a relatively stable virus propagable in cultures of monkey kidney and testis and human embryo kidney with a slow rate of growth. Evidence has been presented which suggests that this agent may not have been previously described. The possibilities of etiological relationship to mild respiratory illnesses have also been discussed.

A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF TYPE A (ASIAN STRAIN) INFLUENZA ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM OF MAN

Excerpt The foreknowledge of the approaching pandemic of Asian influenza permitted for the first time the planning of programs for the study of many aspects of the disease in different areas of the...

Experimental Coxsackie virus B4 valvulitis in cynomolgus monkeys

Abstract Valvular lesions were found in 6 of 7 cynomolgus monkeys inoculated intravenously with Coxsackie virus B 4 . Typical valvular lesions of mitral stenosis were found in 2 monkeys, verrucous aortic valvulitis was found in 2 monkeys, and verrucous mitral valvulitis was found in 3 monkeys. Viral antigen was identified in the valves of the 3 monkeys in whom fluorescent antibody staining was carried out. Valvular lesions were not found in 2 monkeys inoculated with virus-free monkey kidney culture fluid. These studies demonstrate that Coxsackie virus produces valvular lesions in cynomolgus monkeys. Since Coxsackie viruses are among the most common infective agents of man, and since a substantial number of patients with chronic valvular disease give no history of rheumatic fever, it is suggested that some instances of valvulitis in man may be due to viral rather than rheumatic disease.

Endocarditis in Mice Infected with Coxsackie Virus B4

Endocarditis has not been generally considered to be a complication of viral infection. We show that mural and valvular endocarditis can be produced in mice infected with Coxsackie virus B4. Because this virus commonly infects man and is highly cardiotropic, it is important to know whether it produces valvular lesions in man similar to those we describe in mice.

Aztreonam in the treatment of serious orthopedic infections

Aztreozam was evaluated in the treatment of a variety of orthopedic infections. Included were 17 patients with osteomyelitis, three with purulent arthropathy with prostheses, and 16 with superficial infections secondary to trauma or surgical procedure. Pathogens were gram-negative bacilli sensitive to aztreonam. Concomitant antibiotics were administered for gram-positive cocci that were present initially or by superinfection. Infecting organisms included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (minimal inhibitory concentration 4 to 16 micrograms/ml), Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter sakazakii, Morganella morganii, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus rettgeri, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and others (all with minimal inhibitory concentrations less than 1.0 microgram/ml). Dosage of aztreonam was 2 to 8 g per day administered intravenously or intramuscularly for five to 52 days. Clinical and bacteriologic responses were adequate in all instances. Recurrences were observed in two individuals with osteomyelitis and one with purulent arthropathy. Adverse clinical or laboratory observations were infrequent and inconsequential.

Oral cefixime versus intramuscular ceftriaxone in patients with uncomplicated gonococcal infections.

&NA; A randomized trial was conducted to compare cefixime (400 mg or 800 mg single oral dose) with ceftriaxone (250 mg single intramuscular dose) in terms of efficacy and safety for the treatment of uncomplicated Neisseria gonorrhoeae urethritis or cervicitis. Of 75 men and 150 women screened, 187 had positive culture results for N. gonorrhoeae. The course of treatment was evaluable in 155 cases (59 men, 96 women). Bacteriologic eradication was evident in 97% (105 out of 108) of the patients treated with cefixime and in 100% (47 out of 47) of the patients treated with ceftriaxone. N. gonorrhoeae was eliminated at 98% (143 out of 146) and 100% (72 out of 72) of the infection sites in the respective treatment groups. Of the 187 isolates, 8 were penicillinase‐producing (PPNG) and 20 had high‐level tetracycline resistance (TRNG). The cefixime and ceftriaxone MIC90 for all 187 study isolates was 0.008 μg/ml. The adverse clinical experiences reported by the patients treated with cefixime (10%) were self‐limiting; no adverse experiences occurred in the patients treated with ceftriaxone. Cefixime was as well tolerated and efficacious as ceftriaxone in the treatment of the patients with uncomplicated N. gonorrhoeae urethritis or cervicitis reported here.

Viruses Associated with Upper Respiratory Illnesses in Adults

Excerpt During the past few years, many previously unknown viruses have been recovered and subsequently associated etiologically with upper respiratory illnesses of man (1). Frequency of infection ...

Atypical pneumonia in young men with rhinovirus infections.

Abstract Atypical pneumonia was found in 20 military trainees with types 1A, 1B, 2, 29, and 30 rhinovirus infections who were hospitalized at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., from 1962 to 1966. Diagn...

Metastatic ganglioneuroblastoma. Ultrastructural, histochemical, and virological studies in a case.

The ultrastructure of lymph node and bone marrow tissue invaded by metastatic ganglioneuroblastoma was studied. Numerous unmyelinated axon‐like cytoplasmic processes were seen among the tumor cells. These processes contained dense‐cored, membrane‐bound structures measuring from 70 to 110 mμ. in diameter. It has been suggested that such structures might represent catecholamine granules13, 15 but other possibilities such as oncogenic viruses should be considered. Inoculation into cell cultures, hemagglutination, and complement fixation studies failed to reveal any evidence for viral activity in the tumor tissue. Lymph node tumor cells exposed to paraformaldehyde vapor developed an intense green fluorescence. Lymph node sections stained by the ferroferricyanide and the tetrazolium reduction techniques gave a positive reaction in the tumor cells. It was felt that catecholamines, very probably norepinephrine, were present in the tumor cells and that the dense‐cored, membrane‐bound granules could represent storage granules. Their definite nature, however, could not be established with these studies.

Randomized Comparison of Ofloxacin and Doxycycline for Chlamydia and Ureaplasma Urethritis and Cervicitis

Fifty-eight males and 34 females with nongonococcal urethritis and/or cervicitis were treated to compare the efficacy and safety of 7-day regimens of oral ofloxacin 300 mg twice daily and doxycycline hyclate 100 mg twice daily. Forty-seven patients were randomized to receive ofloxacin and 45 patients to receive doxycycline. The microbiologic response rate was 97% (32/33) for both ofloxacin and doxycycline; the combined microbiologic and clinical cure rates were 98% for both treatment groups (ofloxacin 46/47, doxycycline 44/45). Ofloxacin was as effective as doxycycline in the treatment of chlamydial infections (96% vs. 100%). In patients with Ureaplasma urealyticum, the initial response was complete with either drug, but recurrence of infection was observed with both treatment groups (1 of 4 patients in the ofloxacin group and 2 of 11 patients in the doxycycline group). In the treatment of mixed Chlamydia trachomatis and U. urealyticum infections, all 5 patients treated with ofloxacin and 3 of 4 patients treated with doxycycline were cured. In symptomatic patients whose initial cultures were negative, clinical cures were complete with both drugs, but Ureaplasma was isolated at 3 or more weeks post-treatment in 2 patients treated with ofloxacin. In a study of single-dose ofloxacin treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea, Neisseria gonorrhoeae was eradicated in all subjects, but C. trachomatis was not reliably eradicated. Both drugs were well tolerated with only minimal adverse effects reported in either treatment group. A multiple-dose regimen of ofloxacin appears to be a highly effective and well-tolerated alternative to doxycycline in nongonococcal sexually transmitted disease.