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Biomedical subjects

T F Smith

Publications and source records attributed to T F Smith.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Pseudospirochetes, a cause of erroneous diagnoses of leptospirosis.

Motile filaments of varying lengths and thicknesses were observed by darkfield microscopy in a blood culture of a specimen from a patient who had fever of unknown origin. Similar structures were also seen in cultures inoculated with donor blood from healthy controls. Since the movement and configuration of the structures were not characteristic for spirochetes, the morphologic features were further examined by electron microscopy. The filaments observed were identical in appearance to pseudospirochetes described more than 50 years ago. The authors' observations indicate that they are derived from erythrocytes. Because of possible confusion of these pseudospirochetes with living organisms, the diagnosis of leptospirosis by darkfield microscopy should be confirmed by cultural or serologic tests.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

I.R.-Stimulated catalysis (a potential spectral tool).

Catalytic rate is proposed as an infrared spectrographic index. Initial investigations of catalytic activity, on beta-galactosidase show a 1-2 fold increase in rate for a mutant enzyme when exposed to 10.6 micrometer irradiation at 2%. No increase was obtained for the wild-type enzyme.

Catalysis↗
PubMed1979

In vitro susceptibility of Ureaplasma urealyticum to rosaramicin.

Thirty-two clinical isolates of Ureaplasma urealyticum were inhibited by 0.036 mug of rosaramicin per ml, whereas 25 (78%) and 13 (41%) of the strains were inhibited by this concentration of minocycline and tetracycline, respectively. These results suggest that rosaramicin may be useful for the treatment of U. urealyticum infections.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1979

Sensitivity, precision, and accuracy of the Y1 adrenal cell enterotoxin assay.

The Y1 adrenal cell assay for heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) was found to be relatively insensitive for filtrates of toxigenic Escherichia coli H10407. When observations were made blindly and subjected to rigorous controls, reliable detection of LT occured only at filtrate dilutions from 1:4 to 1:10. Detection of LT was unreliable when E. coli H10407 was mixed with another enteric organism. Overall, 7.1% of observers' reports from a single assay were imprecise, and 2.6% would have resulted in errors in detection of LT; however, triplicate assays prevented false positive reports of LT detection. Routine testing for LT production in the clinical diagnostic laboratory awaits a simpler, more sensitive, and more direct method of testing stool specimens.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1979

Viruses in water.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Disease Outbreaks↗
PubMed1979

Etiology of pediatric gastroenteritis in Rochester, Minnesota.

The cause of diarrhea in a Rochester, Minnesota, pediatric population was studied by examining specimens for the presence of enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli and reovirus-like agents, in addition to parasites and other bacteria and viruses. Reovirus-like agents were detected by electron microscopy in the feces of 11 of 31 patients, but none was found from specimens collected during convalescence or from 16 asymptomatic matched controls (P less than 0.01). Infection due to reovirus-like agents occurred significantly more often during the winter months in patients 6 to 18 months of age. Vomiting and diarrhea most often occurred simultaneously. All patients recovered without significant complications or sequelae, although one child was hospitalized for 3 days. Mean duration of illness was 9 days. No enterotoxigenic strains of E. coli were detected from symptomatic or control groups. Our results show that of the 16 organisms detected in stool specimens (11 reovirus-like agents, 3 salmonellae, and single isolates of adenovirus and enterovirus), the reovirus-like agent was the most frequent (69%) and was the probable etiologic agent in 35% of the cases of diarrhea in Rochester children.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1979

Functions of the spleen in host defense against infection.

In humans the spleen functions in host defense as a filter and site for phagocytic clearance of the bloodstream. The spleen serves an essential role in this phagocytic clearance if the host has deficient concentrations of opsonizing antibodies. The spleen also produces antibody, and splenic function is required for the host to mount an early IgM response. There is evidence from experiments using animals that the spleen is important in regulating secondary antibody response and in certain aspects of cell-mediated immunity. However, the role of the spleen in these events in the human remains to be defined.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

False-positive rubella hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) titers in neonates and children with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Two neonates, one with extrahepatic biliary atresia and one with cystic fibrosis, and a 9-year-old child with atresia of the common bile duct had conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and elevated rubella HAI titers when kaolin pretreatment of serum was used. A beta-lipoprotein fraction of the serum that is frequently found in association with biliary obstruction was shown to be the probable source of the rubella HAI inhibitor. This beta-lipoprotein was not removed by standard kaolin treatment of serum, but was removed almost completely by dextran sulfate--calcium chloride treatment. In the presence of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, routine kaolin pretreatment of serum is an inadequate measure for the removal of interfering substances, as false-positive rubella HAI results are obtained consistently.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1978

A comparison of genital infections caused by chlamydia trachomatis and by neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Patients with culture-proven infections with Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis, or both, seen at the Olmsted County Health Department Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic were evaluated for the presence of dysuria and exudate. Eighty-four patients (21%) had neither symptom. N. gonorrhoeae infection alone was most frequent (47%), but C. trachomatis predominated in men. Dysuria was most often detected in men infected with C. trachomatis, but exudate was most frequently found in men infected with N. gonorrhoeae alone or in mixed infections with C. trachomatis. The presence of both symptoms was more common in men than in women infected with N. gonorrhoeae or C. trachomatis. However, as the occurrence of dysuria and exudate was generally similar within the male and female groups, regardless of the organisms recovered, the type of infection cannot be accurately determined on the basis of symptomatology alone. The authors therefore believe that the diagnosis of genital infection by C. trachomatis or N. gonorrhoeae, or both, by culture technics is essential because effective treatment with antimicrobial therapy often requires this information.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

In vitro susceptibility of 30 strains of Chlamydia trachomatis to rosamicin.

A total of 13 of 30 clinical isolates of Chlamydia trachomatis were susceptible in vitro to 0.01 mug of rosamicin per ml. Only two of these strains were susceptible to tetracycline or erythromycin at this level. The results suggest that rosamicin may be useful for the treatment of chlamydial urethritis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1978

Clinical implications of preseptal (periorbital) cellulitis in childhood.

The available hospital records of all pediatric patients diagnosed as having periorbital, preseptal or orbital cellulitis over a five-year period were reviewed and compared to previously reported series. Only two of 39 patients had orbital cellulitis. The 37 patients with preseptal cellulitis had two characteristic clinical presentations. Twenty-two children had local trauma, abscesses, insect bites, or impetigo as the inciting event for their cellulitis. Infection was usually caused by staphylococci or streptococci. In contrast, 15 children, 12 of whom were under 36 months, had associated upper respiratory tract infections and otitis. Haemophilus influenzae was the most commonly implicated pathogen and the children were at risk of bacteremia and metastastic infection. Determination of the location of the infection in the orbit and consideration of the clinical presentation of the patient with infection in and about the orbit are of assistance in choosing appropriate therapy. Young children who have upper respiratory tract symptoms in association with preseptal cellulitis should receive antibiotic coverage for Haemophilus.

Abscess↗
PubMed1977

Antibodies to varicella zoster in cerebrospinal fluid.

The neurologic complications of varicella-zoster (VZ) virus infections are manifested as zoster with or without CNS involvement, encephalomyelitis, or ocular involvement. Usually the association of VZ virus in these conditions has been determined by finding VZ antibodies in the serum. In a few instances, VZ antibodies have been detected in the CSF. We report two cases of VZ virus infection followed by neurologic complications involving the CNS in which VZ antibodies were present in the CSF. These two cases underscore the need and value of determining the presence of VZ antibodies in the CSF in certain instances.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Acute encephalopathy with liver dysfunction, chylous ascites and cytomegalovirus infection.

A child with acute encephalopathy and liver dysfunction subsequently developed acute chylous ascites. Titers for cytomegalovirus increased from less than 1:2 to 1:32 during the illness, and cytomegalovirus was isolated from the urine. The case is the first one possibly linking cytomegalovirus and acute encephalopathy and liver dysfunction in a child. In our patient, enlargement of the abdominal lymph nodes, as seen on a lymphangiogram, resulted in a severe obstruction of abdominal lymphatic flow, producing a transudation of lymph into the peritoneal cavity. The acute chylous ascites associated with mesenteric lymphadenitis was likely caused by the cytomegalovirus infection.

Brain Diseases↗