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Biomedical subjects

D Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to D Wilson.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

Leptospirosis-a diagnostic problem and an industrial hazard.

Three cases of human leptospirosis occurred on a small dairy farm at the foot of the Black Mountains in Powys. We describe the clinical course of these three patients and consider the sources of infection and the industrial implications.

Adult↗

In vivo transepidermal water loss and epidermal occlusive hydration in newborn infants: anatomical region variation.

Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured from the abdomen, buttock, and central forearm in 13 term infants by employing an electrolytic water analyzer (Meeco). The hydration level (HL) at these sites following one hour of occlusion and the resulting post-occlusion TEWL were measured. No apparent difference in TEWL was found between regional sites. The forearm and buttock HL appeared similar, while the abdomen values tended to differ considerably from both. Post-occlusion TEWL appeared significantly higher than normal TEWL. Since the buttock and forearm TEWL reflected similarly structured stratum corneum, future studies on the more accessible forarm may be extended by application to the buttock.

Abdomen↗

Host immune status in uraemia III. Humoral response to selected antigens in the rat.

The humoral immune status of patients with uraemia is controversial. In the present experiments a carefully defined animal model, in which a chronic state of moderate and severe uraemia was induced, has been used to resolve conflicting views. The capacity of the uraemia host to respond to immunogenic stimulation was assessed by challenging uraemic animals with bacterial, viral, T cell-dependent and T cell-independent antigens. The experiments have shown that the immune responsiveness of animals with chronic severe uraemia, immunized with sheep red blood cells, Escherichia coli 075, keyhole limpet haemocyanin and phi X174 bacteriophage is comparable to those found in sham-operated and control groups. The results strongly suggest that uraemia per se does not affect the ability of the host to respond to a wide range of antigenic stimuli. This conclusion is important in that it provides a basis for assessing further the immune status of the uraemic host. If uraemic patients do have an immune deficit, one possible explanation is that uraemia potentiates the immunosuppressive activity of some drugs used in the clinical management of these patients.

Animals↗

Clinical and pathological features of six cases of sarcoidosis presenting with renal failure.

Six patients with biopsy-proven renal sarcoidosis presented with renal failure of unknown origin; in none was the diagnosis of sarcoidosis initially considered. The serum creatinine concentration at the time of presentation ranged from 265 to 1380 mumol/l (3.0 to 15.6 mg/dl), with a mean of 787 mumol/l (8.9 mg/dl). Although only two patients were hypercalcemic at the time of presentation, the 24-hour urinary excretion of calcium was increased in three of the four patients in whom it was measured, and renal calculi were present in one case. Renal biopsy revealed interstitial nephritis and tubular atrophy in all cases, as well as nephrocalcinosis in three cases and noncaseating granulomas negative for acid-fast bacilli in four cases. In each patient steroid therapy led to a rapid improvement in renal function (mean post-treatment serum creatinine level 274 mumol/l [3.1 mg/dl]). The follow-up period ranged from 8 months to 8 years (mean 3.0 years). In three patients renal function remained stable with low-dose steroid therapy. In two cases recurrent hypercalcemia and deteriorating renal function accompanied steroid withdrawal but resolved with its reinstitution. In one additional case reversible deterioration in renal function accompanied tapering of the steroid dose; however, there was no hypercalcemia.This report emphasizes the importance of considering sarcoidosis in the differential diagnosis of acute renal failure of unknown origin. Long-term follow-up of such patients is essential, as relapse is common.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Health administration: the high and the mighty take a return ticket to the moon.

Over the past few years there have been several attempts to bring the DHSS closer to the grass roots of the health service. The aim has been to inject into the department a perspective through which its planners could measure the consequences of their deliberations. Going back to the late sixties one way of helping has been to integrate NHS officers into the DHSS and vice versa.

Administrative Personnel↗