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Biomedical subjects

B T Westerfield

Publications and source records attributed to B T Westerfield.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Coal workers' pneumoconiosis and compensation in Kentucky.

Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis has been a compensable disease since the 1960s. In 1987 the Kentucky Workers' Compensation Law was changed to provide reduced benefits for coal miners with radiographic evidence of Black Lung Disease, but little or no respiratory impairment. This but little or no respiratory impairment. This paper reports a typical case of Black Lung today and discusses the status of workers' compensation for this disease in Kentucky.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Asbestos-related lung disease.

Asbestos is a versatile fibrous mineral that can cause lung disease and death. Asbestosis, benign pleural disease, lung cancer, and mesothelioma can all result from inhaling asbestos. The history of disease and exposure risks are discussed. The difficult assessment of risk and the long latency period for development of disease demand evaluation and regular surveillance of asbestos-exposed workers.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1982

Human alveolar macrophages suppress the proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Human alveolar cells were isolated from bronchopulmonary lavage fluids obtained from patients undergoing clinically indicated bronchoscopy. Alveolar cells strongly suppressed the proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to mitogens and antigens. Separation of the alveolar cells into adherent and nonadherent fractions indicated that the suppression was mediated by the adherent cells, or alveolar macrophages. Indomethacin at least partially relieved suppression, suggesting the involvement of prostaglandin synthesis. The suppression could be duplicated by supernatants obtained from unstimulated cultures of alveolar cells. Some specificity of suppression was apparent, in that not all proliferating cells were suppressed. T lymphocytes may be more readily suppressed than B lymphocytes, and the most susceptible cells may be a subpopulation of T lymphocytes.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1981

The relationship between arterial blood gases and serum theophylline clearance in critically ill patients.

Theophylline clearances were monitored at 8-h intervals in a group of critically ill patients and changes in the clearances were correlated with changes in the arterial blood gases. A total of 183 samples from 20 patients were analyzed. The initial theophylline clearance ranged from 20 to 89 ml/kg/h. The initial clearances could not be predicted from the patient's age, arterial blood gases, or the presence of congestive heart failure, liver dysfunction, or other medical problems. For individual patients, the theophylline clearance varied markedly during the study, with the mean maximal clearance averaging 54% higher than the mean minimal clearance. Changes in clearances were not correlated with changes in the arterial blood gases. On the basis of this study, we recommend an initial aminophylline infusion rate of 0.5 mg/kg/h in all critically ill patients. Serum theophylline concentrations should then be determined at 24-h intervals until stabilization and at 48-h intervals thereafter with appropriate adjustments in aminophylline doses.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Reversible melphalan-induced lung damage.

Pulmonary toxicity occurs after the administration of several different chemotherapeutic agents. Pulmonary toxicity due to melphalan alone has not been documented. In the patient we describe respiratory symptoms and pulmonary infiltrates developed twice within two weeks of the second course of a monthly melphalan and prednisone regimen. Open lung biopsy revealed interstitial pneumonitis. The infiltrates cleared on both occasions when melphalan was withheld. Special studies performed seven weeks after the last dose of melphalan had been given revealed that the patient's alveolar macrophages suppressed phytohemagglutinin induced blastogenesis of his peripheral lymphocytes. Melphalan itself did not stimulate the blastogenesis of the peripheral lymphocytes. Melphalan should be added to the list of therapeutic agents that induce pulmonary disease. However, the pathogenesis of the disease remains to be elucidated.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Ethchlorvynol intoxication.

Ethchlorvynol intoxication can be confusing because of the lack of correlation between blood levels of the drug and clinical status. In this case, the patient was in a coma for approximately one week although he had a blood level of ethchlorvynol (0.8 mg/100 ml) generally considered to be subtoxic.

Ethchlorvynol↗