Biomedical subjects

A J Mastellone

Publications and source records attributed to A J Mastellone.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Malignant pleural mesothelioma presenting as spontaneous pneumothorax: a case series and review.

BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is thought to arise from the mesothelial cells that line the pleural cavities. Most patients initially experience the insidious onset of chest pain or shortness of breath, and it rarely presents as spontaneous pneumothorax. CASE REPORTS: We report four patients who presented in this manner. Three of the patients were exposed to asbestos directly or indirectly at shipyards during World War II; the fourth was exposed as an insulator's wife. Two of our cases were not recognized to have MPM on histologic examination at first thoracotomy and remained asymptomatic for 12 and 22 months, respectively. In none of the patients described herein, was spontaneous pneumothorax the cause of death. CONCLUSIONS: Since many people were exposed to asbestos during and after World War II, spontaneous pneumothorax in a patient with the possibility of such exposure should raise the suspicion of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

Application of the Roche Amplicor Mycobacterium tuberculosis (PCR) test to specimens other than respiratory secretions.

The ability of the Roche AMPLICOR Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) test to detect M. tuberculosis in specimens other than respiratory secretions was evaluated. A total of 249 specimens from 219 patients were tested. Of these, 12 specimens grew isolates of the M. tuberculosis complex and four grew isolates of the M. avium complex. The AMPLICOR MTB test was positive for 10 of the 12 specimens which grew M. tuberculosis and for three specimens which were culture negative. Two of the latter specimens were from patients with a clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis and with multiple sputum specimens which grew M. tuberculosis. Four specimens grew M. avium complex isolates, and all yielded negative AMPLICOR MTB test results. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the AMPLICOR MTB test were 85.7%, 99.5%, 92.3%, and 99.1%, respectively. Our data indicate that the AMPLICOR MTB test will permit the rapid detection of M. tuberculosis in specimens other than respiratory secretions.

Biopsy↗

PubMed1992

Neisseria sicca endocarditis with embolic phenomena.

Two patients with poor oral hygiene developed Neisseria sicca endocarditis, one after probable intravenous drug abuse and Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis and the other after a periodontal surgical procedure. Both experienced significant embolic phenomena and both required 6 or more weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy. The diagnosis of N. sicca endocarditis must be considered when this organism is isolated from blood cultures in patients with emboli.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Evaluation of the Roche Septi-Chek AFB system for recovery of mycobacteria.

The Septi-Chek AFB system for the recovery of mycobacteria from clinical specimens was compared with a conventional approach using Lowenstein-Jensen and Middlebrook 7H11 agars. A total of 1,532 clinical specimens were analyzed; 132 yielded mycobacteria. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complexes were the predominant isolates. With the conventional combination of Lowenstein-Jensen and 7H11 agars, 75.8% of the isolates were recovered; the Septi-Chek AFB allowed recovery of 100% of the isolates. Septi-Chek AFB required less time for the detection of mycobacteria than did the conventional media.

Agar↗

PubMed1987

Quantitative antimicrobial susceptibility test for Streptococcus pneumoniae using inoculum supplemented with whole defibrinated sheep blood.

The National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards recommends the use of lysed horse blood-supplemented Mueller-Hinton broth for determining the quantitative antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae. This procedure may be difficult for laboratories using previously prepared or commercial MIC systems. Therefore, a study was undertaken to determine whether previously prepared microdilution trays containing Mueller-Hinton broth without blood could be used for determining the antimicrobial susceptibility of S. pneumoniae by adding whole defibrinated sheep blood to the bacterial suspension used to inoculate the trays. The presence of alpha-hemolysis was used as an indicator of bacterial growth. One hundred isolates of S. pneumoniae selected to represent a distribution of susceptibility patterns were tested by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards method and the sheep blood-supplemented-inoculum method. Greater than 94% agreement between the two methods was achieved. The sheep-blood-supplemented-inoculum procedure was highly reproducible and easy to perform and provides an acceptable alternative for determining the MICs for S. pneumoniae for laboratories using previously prepared or commercial microdilution systems.

Culture Media↗

PubMed1986

Two fatal cases of type E adult food-borne botulism with early symptoms and terminal neurologic signs.

Type E botulism, one of the least common forms of botulinal intoxication on the East Coast of the United States, is described for two elderly patients with chronic underlying disease. Both patients consumed tainted kapchunka, a salted, ungutted whitefish. Gastrointestinal symptoms and signs were prominent, but neurologic complaints, although noted soon after the consumption of the fish in one patient, did not progress until late in the course of the patient's illness. One patient exhibited both urinary retention, which was reported mainly in one outbreak of type E botulism (M.G. Koenig, A. Spickard, M.A. Cardella, and D.E. Rogers, Medicine [Baltimore] 43:517-545, 1964), and muscular fasciculations, which have been rarely reported.

Animals↗