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J L Schmidt

Publications and source records attributed to J L Schmidt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

A microdilution plating method for population analysis of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci.

The microdilution plating method, using colony-forming units (CFU)/ml determinations from 10-microl droplets, was compared with the standard plate count in population analyses of methicillin-resistant and glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and GISA) strains. Efficiency of plating plots yielded similar population resistance profiles for both methods with MRSA class 1-4 strains, laboratory-selected GISA strains of varying susceptibilities, two clinical GISA strains, as well as susceptible strains. A single heterogeneous MRSA, plated by both methods in 41 trials with and without 50 microg/ml oxacillin present, demonstrated no significant difference between the results of the two methods of colony counting (p > 0.05, and r = 0.67). Standard plating and microdilution plating produced mean resistant subpopulation determinations of one cell in 1.19 x 10(4) and 1.36 x 10(4), respectively. Population analyses carried out by microdilution plating require one-fourth or fewer of the plates used for standard plating, and both plating and colony counting required less time to perform.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2000

Endoscopic stapled diverticulotomy: treatment of choice for Zenker's diverticulum.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic stapled diverticulotomy in the treatment of patients with Zenker's diverticulum. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: Fourteen elderly patients (11 men and 3 women) with Zenker's diverticulum were evaluated in a community hospital setting from July 1996 to November 1999. Before surgery patients had significant dysphagia, regurgitation, cough, or aspiration pneumonia. The common septum between the diverticulum and cervical esophagus was visualized with a Weerda diverticuloscope. While using videoendoscopic monitoring, the septum was divided and the edges simultaneously sealed with a linear endoscopic stapler. Average operative time was 31 minutes. RESULTS: The operation was successfully performed in 11 of 14 patients. In the three unsuccessful cases, one patient's pouch was too small to staple and the other two patients had a septum that was difficult to visualize with the diverticuloscope. There was no significant postoperative morbidity or mortality. Patients started a liquid diet on the first postoperative day and resumed a soft diet a week later. They were usually discharged on the first postoperative day. Most patients reported significant improvement with resolution of dysphagia and regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the traditional open technique, the endoscopic stapled diverticulotomy technique is safe, quick, and effective and requires a shorter length of stay in the hospital. Therefore it has become our treatment of choice for elderly, high-risk patients with a large (>2 cm) hypopharyngeal (Zenker's) diverticulum.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Characterization of passage-selected vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains of diverse parental backgrounds.

A series of 12 Staphylococcus aureus strains of various genetic backgrounds, methicillin resistance levels, and autolytic activities were subjected to selection for the glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus (GISA) susceptibility phenotype on increasing concentrations of vancomycin. Six strains acquired the phenotype rapidly, two did so slowly, and four failed to do so. The vancomycin MICs for the GISA strains ranged from 4 to 16 microg/ml, were stable to 20 nonselective passages, and expressed resistance homogeneously. Neither ease of acquisition of the GISA phenotype nor the MIC attained correlated with methicillin resistance hetero- versus homogeneity or autolytic deficiency or sufficiency. Oxacillin MICs were generally unchanged between parent and GISA strains, although the mec members of both isogenic methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant pairs acquired the GISA phenotype more rapidly and to higher MICs than did their susceptible counterparts. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the GISA strains appeared normal in the absence of vancomycin but had thickened and diffuse cell walls when grown with vancomycin at one-half the MIC. Common features among GISAs were reduced doubling times, decreased lysostaphin susceptibilities, and reduced whole-cell and zymographic autolytic activities in the absence of vancomycin. This, with surface hydrophobicity differences, indicated that even in the absence of vancomycin the GISA cell walls differed from those of the parents. Autolytic activities were further reduced by the inclusion of vancomycin in whole-cell and zymographic studies. The six least vancomycin-susceptible GISA strains exhibited an increased capacity to remove vancomycin from the medium versus their parent lines. This study suggests that while some elements of the GISA phenotype are strain specific, many are common to the phenotype although their expression is influenced by genetic background. GISA strains with similar glycopeptide MICs may express individual components of the phenotype to different extents.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1997

[Effect of the fibrinous sorbent Akvalen on survival and spontaneous tumorigenesis in mice].

SHP female mice were fed 100 mg/kg carbonic fibrilous sorbent Akvalen 5 times a week, from the age of 3 months until death. The treatment failed to have a significant influence on body weight dynamics or mean lifespan. However, sorbent-treated animals survived 4 months longer until 90% of them died. Although there were no significant differences in the frequency of either all or only malignant tumors between study group and controls, the former showed fewer multiple tumors (1.4 times) as well as a tendency of decreased incidence of neoplasms of the hemopoietic system and uterine polyps. Tumor-bearing sorbent-treated mice survived 4 months longer, while those with malignant tumors only survived 5 months longer (p < 0.05). The investigation failed to detect any carcinogenicity of Akvalen. It is suggested that the sorbent possesses certain geroprotective and anti-tumor properties.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Thromboembolism in patients with high-grade glioma.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors related to increased or decreased risk of thromboembolism (TE) in patients with high-grade glioma. DESIGN: We performed a retrospective analysis of 64 patients enrolled in two prospective clinical trials of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for newly diagnosed high-grade glioma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The 64 patients were 18 years of age or older and had histologically confirmed grade 3 or 4 astrocytoma, mixed astrocytoma-oligodendroglioma, or gliosarcoma. The diagnosis of TE was confirmed by impedance plethysmography, venography, duplex ultrasonography, ventilation-perfusion lung scanning, or pulmonary angiography. For statistical analysis, the study group was divided into those with and those without TE. RESULTS: TE developed in 18 of the 64 patients (28%). Of the 18 patients, 11 had deep venous thrombosis of a lower extremity, 5 had pulmonary emboli, and 2 had superficial thrombophlebitis. A paretic arm (P = 0.017), a paretic leg (P = 0.026), or a history of TE before the diagnosis of glioma (P = 0.076) was more common in patients with TE than in those without TE. Ten patients in the group without TE were using aspirin preoperatively in comparison with no patient in the TE group (P = 0.05). No significant differences were noted in duration of survival (median, 39.4 weeks and 46 weeks for the TE and non-TE groups, respectively). One patient with apparently excessive anticoagulation had a fatal intracerebral hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that TE in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma might be associated with a history of TE or with a paretic extremity; however, no evidence of worse survival was noted in the TE group. Treatment with heparin followed by warfarin sodium was associated with infrequent bleeding complications. An intriguing finding was that the use of aspirin before operation was associated with a decreased risk of TE. Thus, a prospective study with use of aspirin in patients with high-grade glioma at risk for TE would be reasonable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Mucociliary function following sinus mucosal regeneration.

To evaluate sinus mucosal regeneration and cilia motility after surgical removal, 15 rabbits underwent unilateral removal of maxillary sinus mucosa. The opposite sinus served as an unoperated control. After 10 weeks, specimens were taken for examination from all operated on and control sinuses. Light, dark-field, and electron microscopy were performed. Mucosa from eight of the 15 sinuses operated on showed ciliary regeneration by light microscopy; six of these exhibited motile cilia on dark-field examination. Histopathologic findings of marked fibrosis, decreased seromucinous glands, and significant inflammation were commonly present in the sinuses operated on. Electron microscopy revealed frequent abnormalities, including complex and edematous cilia and fewer than normal cilia per unit area compared to controls. The dark-field, light, and electron microscopic findings of the regenerated, post-surgical mucosa are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Olfactory neuroblastoma: clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical characterization of four representative cases.

Olfactory neuroblastomas are rare tumors whose clinical prognosis is not predictable by assessment of initial stage or grade. The pathologic diagnosis is often difficult because of the wide range of the patient's age and histologies. In this report, we document that the diagnosis of olfactory neuroblastoma can be clarified by immunohistochemical demonstration of a unique antigenic profile that can be obtained in routinely processed biopsies. We describe four cases of olfactory neuroblastoma diagnosed and treated from 1979 to 1989, each confirmed by immunohistology. One of our patients was misdiagnosed twice at an outside institution, first as having nasopharyngeal carcinoma and then as having small-cell, undifferentiated "oat cell" carcinoma. Despite accurate tumor diagnosis and appropriate therapy, we found that there was no apparent correlation of clinical outcome with Kadish clinical stage or histologic grade of tumor.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Abnormal coagulation profiles in tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy patients.

Preoperative coagulation profile screening is routinely performed in otolaryngology before tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy surgery in the United States. Recently there has been controversy as to whether this routine testing is necessary. To evaluate the need for this testing, we reviewed a series of patients with particular attention to abnormal coagulation profiles. Of 91 consecutive patients undergoing tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or both, four had abnormal preoperative coagulation profiles. Of these patients, one had von Willebrand disease, one had hypofibrinoginemia, and two had a transient acquired lupus-like anticoagulant. The latter condition, which causes a temporary prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time, is discussed in detail along with a review of the pertinent literature. We conclude that coagulopathies occur frequently enough to justify preoperative screening even in the absence of a positive history.

Adenoidectomy↗
PubMed1989

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: successful treatment unlocks etiologic secrets.

The cause of platelet agglutination in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura has been an enigma. Current evidence indicates that the interaction of platelets with a platelet-aggregating factor or unusually large multimers of factor VIII: von Willebrand factor, or both, may cause the abnormal platelet agglutination. Recent success in the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura with intravenous infusion of immunoglobulin suggests that the abnormal platelet agglutination in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura may reflect a deficiency of immunoglobulins that normally inhibit platelet-aggregating factors or large multimers of factor VIII: von Willebrand factor.

Blood Transfusion↗
PubMed1985

Cytodestructive mechanisms provoked by food antigens: III. Inhibition of direct and antibody-dependent allergic autocytotoxicity (ACT) by ketotifen.

In vitro challenge of peripheral white blood cells (WBC) from 15 food sensitive individuals and 16 asymptomatic controls was studied in allergic autocytotoxicity (ACT) assay using extracts of cow's milk, corn, and wheat. The observed disintegration of the WBC in the direct and antibody-dependent ACT was inhibited by ketotifen in a linear, dose-dependent manner. Therefore, our data demonstrate that the ACT response is associated with anaphylactic injury which is prevented by pretreatment with ketotifen, in vitro.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Inhibition of eosinophils degranulation by Ketotifen in a patient with milk allergy, manifested as bronchial asthma--an electron microscopic study.

Electron microscopic studies provided evidence that a patient with cow's milk allergy, manifested as bronchial asthma, has prominent eosinophil granule discharge, attributable to the release of cytotoxic major basic protein (MBP). This finding illustrates a critical role of eosinophil MBP in anaphylactic injury induced by food allergen. Patient white blood cells pretreated with Ketotifen revealed intact ultrastructure of eosinophils granules and cytoplasm. Inhibition of eosinophils degranulation by Ketotifen demonstrates a new pharmacologic mode of action of this anti-allergic, anti-anaphylactic agent.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Long term trial of ketotifen in bronchial asthma.

Ketotifen in a dose of 1 mg p.o. q 12 h was compared with placebo in a double-blind, twelve month parallel group trial in 17 randomly selected patients with bronchial asthma. Among 13 patients treated with ketotifen, nine have been classified as responders and four as non-responders. Responders were young and teenaged individuals, athletically oriented, with moderate asthma. It is our impression that ketotifen offers a new therapeutic dimension in the prophylaxis of bronchial asthma.

Adolescent↗