Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D S Hodge

Publications and source records attributed to D S Hodge.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Diagnosis, management, and outcome of cervicofacial teratomas in neonates: a Childrens Cancer Group study.

The management of cervicofacial teratomas in neonates is often complicated and may result in significant morbidity and death. A Childrens Cancer Group (CCG) retrospective study was conducted to evaluate a multiinstitutional experience with the treatment of these extremely rare neoplasms. Twenty neonates with cervicofacial teratomas, presenting from 1971 to 1994, were identified from nine CCG institutions. Fourteen neonates had cervical teratomas, and six had orofacial teratomas. There were 12 males and eight females. A diagnostic prenatal ultrasound examination was performed in six cases. Life-threatening airway obstruction occurred in seven infants (35%) in the early postnatal period. Two neonates died in the delivery room without ever having their airway secured. Two other infants with a prenatal diagnosis survived only because tracheostomies were performed by pediatric surgeons who were in the delivery room. Three other patients were orally intubated, one after sustaining hypoxic cardiac arrest. Eighteen infants had their primary tumor excised. Three patients required tracheostomy. After resection, two patients had evidence of unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and two required prolonged thyroid hormone replacement. Histological examination showed eight mature and seven immature teratomas. Four infants (20%) clearly had malignant lesions. Pulmonary metastases occurred in two patients and contributed to one late death at 6 months of age. The overall survival rate was 85%, and the mean follow-up period was 5 years (range, 2 months to 16 years). Twelve of 17 surviving patients (70%) have had an excellent functional and cosmetic outcome. Four children have varying degrees of developmental delay and mental retardation. Hypoxia at birth was believed to have contributed to these problems in two cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

Selective medium for isolation of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum and Streptococcus pyogenes.

Sheep blood agar using tryptic soy agar base and containing 3.5% sodium chloride was found to facilitate isolation of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum and improve isolation of Voges-Proskauer negative group A (Streptococcus pyogenes) and group C and G beta-haemolytic streptococci. Commensal oropharyngeal flora such as viridans streptococci, Neisseria species, non-haemolytic streptococci and beta-haemolytic streptococci not belonging to groups A, B, C or G were significantly inhibited.

Agar↗

Rapid biochemical test to identify verocytotoxin-positive strains of Escherichia coli serotype O157.

Fluorogenic procedures were used with the substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide (MUG) to identify Escherichia coli. Most strains produced beta-glucuronidase and, thus, were MUG positive. A 20-min procedure was developed to detect glucuronidase activity in 1,295 bacterial cultures, representing 23 genera, of strains that were isolated from clinical specimens. Very few organisms other than E. coli were MUG positive. Of 682 E. coli strains that were isolated, 630 (92.4%) were MUG positive. When an additional 188 E. coli serotype O157 isolates were examined, 155 E. coli O157:H7, 10 E. coli O157:H-, and 1 E. coli O157:H (rough) isolate were MUG negative. All 166 cultures were verocytotoxin positive. Of the remaining 22 E. coli O157 isolates, 2 isolates were O157:H-, 1 isolate was O157:H (rough), and 19 isolates were other H types (H6, H16, H19, H25, H42, and H45); these 22 isolates were MUG positive. All 22 cultures were verocytotoxin negative. The rapid MUG procedure can be used to predict verocytotoxin-positive isolates of E. coli O157; that is, there is a very good likelihood that MUG-negative E. coli O157 isolates are verocytotoxin positive.

Bacterial Toxins↗

Use of tri-gas incubator for routine culture of Campylobacter species from fecal specimens.

We evaluated a tri-gas incubator for Campylobacter isolation to be used instead of an anaerobic jar. Fecal specimens were cultured in duplicate onto charcoal selective medium and incubated at 43 degrees C for 48 h in two different environments: a tri-gas incubator (Forma Scientific) adjusted to provide an atmosphere of 10% CO2, 10% O2, and the balance N2; and evacuated anaerobic jars with a replacement gas mixture of 10% CO2, 5% O2, and 85% N2. A total of 106 Campylobacter jejuni and 8 Campylobacter coli isolates were obtained from 2,348 stool specimens. Of the positive specimens, 113 isolates came from the incubator and 111 isolates came from the anaerobic jars. An additional 32 previously positive specimens were replated onto charcoal selective medium and retested by both methods. We recovered 27 C. jejuni isolates, 26 isolates by each method. The isolates from the incubator typically produced discrete colonies, while the isolates from the anaerobic jar showed some degree of swarming in colony formation. The tri-gas incubator provided a cost-effective method for culturing Campylobacter spp.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

A hospital-based neonatal intensive care unit bereavement follow-up program: an evaluation of its effectiveness.

Health care professionals strive to meet the needs of patients and families in a holistic approach. With the death of a newborn, many challenges arise that cause health care professionals to question their abilities to provide adequate grief support. The death of a newborn is unnatural and evokes many unresolved feelings about death that society has not recognized. A bereavement program in an NICU can provide consistent support for grieving families. This article evaluates several aspects of a hospital-based bereavement follow-up program by comparing its first year and a subsequent year. Establishing a bereavement program and outlining responsibilities for staff involvement are also addressed.

Bereavement↗

Organism resembling Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis.

A problem isolate resembling Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis is reported. Growth and biochemical characteristics indicated the organism to be N. meningitidis, whereas serological characteristics indicated it to be N. gonorrhoeae. This vaginal isolate may be a genetically transformed gonococcus with the ability to utilize maltose. Conversely, it may be a meningococcus which has acquired antigenic determinants of N. gonorrhoeae.

Female↗

Direct immunofluorescence microscopy for rapid screening of Campylobacter enteritis.

Diagnostic use of a direct fluorescent-antibody test for detection of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli in human fecal specimens (n = 497) was compared with detection by culturing (specificity, 99.7%; sensitivity, 40%). Conjugates were prepared from immunoglobulin G antibody against 22 Lior C. jejuni and C. coli reference strains (H. Lior, D. L. Woodward, J. A. Edgar, L. J. Laroche, and P. Gill, J. Clin. Microbiol. 15:761-768, 1982). Interestingly, the serotypes of cultures tested by the direct fluorescent antibody test were different from those of cultures tested by Lior slide agglutination, although the antisera used were common to both test systems.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Rate of Campylobacter spp. isolation in three regions of Ontario, Canada, from 1978 to 1985.

Isolation rates of Campylobacter spp. were analyzed for an 8-year period, 1978 through 1985. Three laboratories of the Ontario Ministry of Health examined 146,842 human feces samples for bacterial pathogens, including Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 5,580 specimens (3.8%), with monthly isolation rates ranging from 1.1 to 7.4%. The data showed a seasonal distribution of isolations, with peaks during the summer months (June to September). Most infections were in children, adolescents, and young adults. More males were infected than females; this finding was most pronounced in the age groups under 25 years. In Northern and Central Ontario, a strikingly higher incidence was observed among farm residents than among rural nonfarm or urban residents. Of 89 farm residents, 63 had consumed raw milk (61 bovine, 2 goat) within 72 h before becoming ill.

Adolescent↗

Comparative efficacy of liquid enrichment medium for isolation of Campylobacter jejuni.

Isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from 1,249 human fecal specimens by direct inoculation on selective Columbia agar and liquid enrichment medium was compared. The use of liquid enrichment medium provided a 30% higher isolation rate of C. jejuni. The overall isolation rate achieved by using direct plating and enrichment together was 8.2%.

Campylobacter fetus↗