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Biomedical subjects

J K Smith

Publications and source records attributed to J K Smith.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Group b Streptococcal pneumonia in the elderly.

Group B streptococcal infections, although well studied in neonates, have only recently been appreciated as important infectious agents in adults. Seven cases of Group B streptococcal pneumonia were verified by transtracheal aspiration, blood and sputum cultures, or multiple stab cultures at autopsy. The infections were largely nosocomial and, ultimately, fatal in all seven patients. Our patients were older (average age, 73 years) and much more debilitated than the 13 cases reported in the literature. Diabetes was less common than previously reported. Previous antibiotic therapy was common. Concomitant isolation of another organism (especially Staphylococcus aureus) occurred in five patients. The morphologic findings at autopsy, in one patient, were characterized by a severely necrotizing destructive process. In our experience, Group B streptococcal pneumonia is more common, more devastating, and occurs in an older population than previously reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Mixed Streptococcus pneumoniae and gram-negative bacillary pneumonia in the elderly.

Of 24 elderly patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia confirmed by transtracheal aspiration, six had concomitant infection with gram-negative aerobic bacilli. All six patients were elderly men with underlying cardiopulmonary disease. Three had had recent prior episodes of gram-negative pneumonia and four had previously received antibiotics. The clinical, laboratory, and epidemiologic characteristics of these six patients with mixed bacterial pneumonia are reported.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Nosocomial pneumococcal pneumonia in the elderly.

Among 35 elderly patients with transtracheal aspirate (TTA)-documented nosocomial pneumonia, 7 (20 percent) had Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Clinical and epidemiologic data are reported on these 7 patients and on 2 others with nosocomial pneumococcal pneumonia documented by bacteremia. Malignancy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the most common predisposing illnesses. Four of the 9 patients had previously received antibiotic therapy. Gram-negative aerobic pneumonia was found before (2 cases), concomitant with (3 cases), and after (2 cases) the pneumococcal infection in these patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Transtracheal aspiration in the severely ill elderly patient with bacterial pneumonia.

Transtracheal aspiration was performed in 32 elderly hypoxic patients with bacterial pneumonia. No morbidity or mortality was associated with the procedure. Gram stains of the transtracheal aspirate provided rapid, accurate delineation of the etiologic pneumonic agent, and were particularly valuable in indicating mixed bacterial infections. These included 5 cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae plus Gram-negative bacillary pneumonia. The safety and value of transtracheal aspiration in the severely ill elderly patient are discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1980

A common tumour-specific antigen: III. Preparation of small fragments incorporating the cell-sensitizing determinant.

Intact cells of various human tumours and tumour cell lines, and acid extracts of various human tumours and normal tissues, each of which react with the lymphocytes of cancer patients as detected by the macrophage electrophoretic mobility (MEM) test, have been subjected to proteolysis. Activity was destroyed by some enzymes, and the apparent molecular size of the active material was reduced by others. An active low-mol.-wt fragment has been partially purified from papain digests of several tumours. Peptides with normal tissue and tumour-characteristic activities have been separated chromatographically from tryptic digests of tumour extracts.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1980

Comparative prevalence rates of sexually transmitted diseases in heterosexual and homosexual men.

This study compared prevalence rates of most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in heterosexual and homosexual men who made respectively 12,201 and 5324 visits to an STD clinic over 18 months. Overall, homosexual men were significantly (p < 0.001) more likely than heterosexual men to have gonorrhea (30.31% vs. 19.83%), early syphilis (1.08% vs. 0.34%) and anal warts (2.90% vs. 0.26%) but less likely to have nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) (14.63% vs. 36.40%, p < 0.001), herpes genitalis (0.93% vs. 3.65%, p < 0.001), pediculosis pubis (4.30% vs. 5.35%, p < 0.005), scabies (0.42% vs. 0.76%, p < 0.02), and genital warts (1.68% vs. 6.69%, p < 0.001). In most cases the differences in rates remained significant (p < 0.05) when corrected for age and race. It is speculated that higher rates of gonorrhea and syphilis result from a larger mean number of sexual contacts, more potential sites of infection, and more hidden and asymptomatic disease, while the lower rates of the other STD result from a lesser susceptibility of anal mucosa to the causative agent(s) of NGU, herpes genitalis, and venereal warts or from a lack of pubic apposition (pediculosis pubis).

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Anti-A haemagglutinins in factor VIII concentrates.

Experimental evidence has been obtained that cryoprecipitation concentrates anti-A in mixtures of group O and group A plasma by a mechanism that does not operate in group O plasma alone. It has been concluded that the anti-A/A polysaccharide complex is less soluble during cryoprecipitation than anti-A immunoglobulin, and this complex dissociates to give free anti-A when the cryoprecipitate is redissolved. From a practical point of view, factor VIII concentrates prepared from cryoprecipitate obtained from single donations of plasma unselected for ABO group contain significantly less anti-A than those prepared from mixing pools of plasma in which partial neutralisation of anti-A has occurred before cryoprecipitation.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1978

Effect of long term heparin administration in dogs.

Because several literature reports suggested that heparin could sequester calcium from body tissues and one could reason that prolonged therapy might lead to osteoporosis, the effect of long term heparin administration was studied in dogs. Eight dogs (four males and four females) received subcutaneous injections of heparin at 250 units/kg bid, seven days a week. The female dogs were euthanatized after one year and the male dogs after two years. Pre and post-drug radiographs of the forelegs (radius, ulna, metacarpal bones) did not reveal any evidence of osteoporosis. As expected, the heparin did produce increased recalcification times and the development of occasional subcutaneous hematomas. But no effects were noted on various hematologic and blood chemistry parameters or on gross and microscopic tissue examinations.

Animals↗