Showing papers by "Derrick W. Crook published in 2002"
TL;DR: Homozygotes for MBL codon variants, who represent about 5% of north Europeans and north Americans and larger proportions of populations in many developing countries, could be at substantially increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease.
305 citations
TL;DR: Characterization of the sequences involved in recombination of the Haemophilus plasmid p1056 with the Ha Hemophilus influenzae chromosome produced evidence indicating site-specific recombination with chromosomal tRNALeu.
Abstract: Characterization of the sequences involved in recombination of the Haemophilus plasmid p1056 with the Haemophilus influenzae chromosome produced evidence indicating site-specific recombination with chromosomal tRNA(Leu). attP sequences identical to those of p1056 were found in six plasmids of diverse origin, suggesting that a family of Haemophilus plasmids recombines with chromosomal tRNA(Leu).
43 citations
TL;DR: In vivo, transgenic mice with human C reactive protein have reduced bacteraemia and longer survival after infection with S pneumoniae than wild type controls, and a genetic locus associated with susceptibility to invasive pneumococcal disease is reported.
Abstract: C reative protein polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to invasive pneumococcal disease
Host factors influencing susceptibility to infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae remain incompletely understood, even though it is a major cause of infectious mortality. We report a genetic locus associated with susceptibility to invasive pneumococcal disease.
C reactive protein is an acute phase protein that may be important in the early stages of this infection.1 It binds the C polysaccharide of the cell wall of S pneumoniae , activates the classical complement pathway, and in vitro promotes phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leucocytes. 2 3 In vivo, transgenic mice with human C reactive protein have reduced bacteraemia and longer survival after infection with S pneumoniae than wild type controls.2 Our case-control study compared the frequency of a dinucleotide repeat polymorphism located in an intron of the …
42 citations
TL;DR: Clinical criteria were used to allocate patients into high or low UTI risk groups which, together with the result of strip tests for the presence of urinary leucocyte esterase and nitrite, guided clinicians on the need for empirical therapy and use of the laboratory for urine culture.
Abstract: In an attempt to improve immediate patient management and develop more rational use of the laboratory, we promoted the use of biochemical reagent strips for screening urine and introduced guidelines for result interpretation in both community and hospital settings. Clinical criteria were used to allocate patients into high or low UTI risk groups which, together with the result of strip tests for the presence of urinary leucocyte esterase and nitrite, guided clinicians on the need for empirical therapy and use of the laboratory for urine culture (see Table). Trimethoprim was advised for first-line empirical therapy for UTI uncomplicated by the sepsis syndrome or pregnancy in both the community and hospital settings. The mean (S.D.) quarterly usage by GPs in the 12 months before introduction was 13 338 urine samples compared with 11 449 in the following 12 months, a drop of 14.2% (95% confidence interval: 10.6‐17.7% P � 0.0001). Hospital clinician usage dropped from a mean 12 269 per quarter before
9 citations
2 citations