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Biomedical subjects

F B Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to F B Johnson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Cutaneous mercury granuloma. A clinicopathologic study and review of the literature.

Cutaneous mercury granulomas are rarely encountered. Clinically they pose difficulty in diagnosis when there is no clear history of penetrating injury by objects containing metallic mercury. Histologic, chemical, and scanning electron microscopic studies of such cutaneous lesions were performed on four cases from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology files. Reported cases from the literature were reviewed. Metallic mercury in tissue sections appears as dark, opaque globules, usually spherical in shape and of varying sizes and numbers. A zone of collagen necrosis often surrounds the mercury globules. A granulomatous foreign body-giant cell reaction and a mixed inflammatory cellular infiltrate composed of neutrophils, lymphocytes, histiocytes, plasma cells, and occasional eosinophils are usually present. Epidermal and dermal necrosis, with or without ulceration or pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, is also a common finding. The gold lysis test and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis confirmed the presence of metallic mercury in the tissue. Following cutaneous injury from mercury, systemic toxicity may develop and death may even occur. An approach to clinical management is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Isolation of characteristic glycolipids possibly included in spherical droplets around M. leprae.

The main purpose of this work was to isolate the components in acetone soluble lipids of lepromas of the nine-banded armadillo by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and then to examine the mass spectrometric characteristics of the two peaks (molecular weights 2000 and 1600) found by HPLC. The armadillo had been inoculated with Mycobacterium leprae isolated from a mangabey monkey with naturally acquired leprosy. According to the results of HPLC, gas liquid chromatographic and mass spectral analyses, the GPC peak I lipid at 2000 D was identified as phenolic glycolipid and the GPC peak II lipid at 1600 D, as phthiocerol dimycocerosate. It was thought that the GPC peak I lipid and the GPC peak II lipid were included in the spherical droplets (peribacillary substance) around M. leprae. It was concluded that the microorganisms causing leprosy-like changes in the mangabey monkey were either M. leprae or a very closely related bacillus.

Animals↗

John Shaw Billings.

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History, 19th Century↗

Blue bodies in cytology specimens in a case of pulmonary talcosis.

Unusual extracellular birefringent laminated ovoid structures are seen in bronchial brushing, aspiration, and washing specimens in a 28-year-old woman who had histologic evidence of pulmonary talcosis. Energy dispersive x-ray analysis and microchemical studies have identified them to be calcium carbonate. These structures are known as pulmonary blue bodies and are seen mainly in histologic paraffin sections. Their occurrence in cytologic preparations and association with talcosis have not been reported.

Adult↗

Sclerosing lipogranuloma of the scalp. A report of two cases.

The authors report two cases of sclerosing lipogranuloma of the scalp diagnosed postmortem. The first was suspected to have acquired the lipid material from a grease gun injury to the scalp, while the second had received injections of an unidentified lipid for treatment of baldness. In each, the resultant sclerosing lipogranuloma extended laterally beneath the scalp from the vertex of the skull. The histologic reaction was round to oval cystic spaces within a dense collagenous stroma typical of the "swiss cheese" pattern of sclerosing lipogranuloma. Punctate, ringlike, or globoid densities were seen on roentgenograms of a 5-mm-thick transmural section of scalp in the first case.

Granuloma↗

Evaluation of the virocult transport tube for isolation of herpes simplex virus from clinical specimens.

Herpes simplex virus survived in Virocult transport tubes and had a half-life of 3.5 days at 2 degrees C and 2.75 days at 22 degrees C. Of 2,000 consecutive clinical specimens transported on Virocult tubes and cultured for herpes simplex virus, 448 (22.4%) were positive. Comparison of the holding times between positive and negative cultures, up to 12 days, revealed no significant loss of positive cultures with time.

Herpes Simplex↗

Silicon dioxide calculi in humans in the absence of silicate antacid medication.

The occurrence of silicon dioxide in human urinary calculi is more common than generally believed. During a 3 year study we have analyzed about 750 human urinary calculi using the scanning electron microscope and x-ray crystallographic methods. Silicon dioxide of the alpha quartz variety was found to be the principal constituent in calculi from 5 male patients. Some of the patients were recurrent stone formers and 1 patient has previously produced a silicon dioxide calculus. In none of the 5 cases was there any history of gastric disorders or of any ingestion of antacids in the form of magnesium trisilicate. Some of the silica particles have a morphology typical of glacial sand.

Adult↗

Ultrastructural features of macrophages of armadillos infected with actively multiplying Mycobacterium leprae.

Experimental leprosy lesions in the armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) were studied by freeze etching and ultrathin sectioning. Infected macrophages have distinct intracytoplasmic foamy structures in the form of spherical droplets accumulated around multiplying bacilli. This finding is the same as those observed in human lepra cells and nude mice macrophages infected with M. leprae.

Animals↗

Electron microscopic study of leprosy in a mangabey monkey (natural infection).

Ultrastructural features of the leproma of a) a naturally infected mangabey monkey, and lepromas and liver of b) a passage mangabey monkey, c) a rhesus monkey, d) an African green monkey, and e) a nine-banded armadillo inoculated with leprosy bacilli isolated from the leproma of a naturally infected mangabey monkey were studied by the freeze-etching technique. The size, shape, and ultrastructural features of leprosy bacilli in the phagolysosomes of macrophages in all of these samples were essentially the same as those in humans, nude mice, and armadillos inoculated with human Mycobacterium leprae. Distinct accumulations of small spherical droplets were observed around leprosy bacilli inside lepra cells of all the samples but were scarce in the specimen from the green monkey. The bacilli in all samples were long and slender, and had band structures on the smooth cell wall surfaces. The bacilli were indistinguishable from M. leprae.

Animals↗

Siliceous deposits in human urinary calculi--an E. M. study.

Silica calculi in man are extremely rare; only 12 cases have been reported. In an electron microscopic study of human urinary stones, siliceous deposits were encountered in three out of 180 stones as a discrete component of stones. There were no histories of magnesium trisilicate administration in these cases. Morphology of the deposits was distinctive from any other components of the stones and bore some resemblance to animal silica calculi. Siliceous deposits in human urinary stones appear to be more common than generally recognized.

Electron Probe Microanalysis↗

Cyclophosphamide, vincristine, lomustine, cisplatin, and doxorubicin in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Fifty-four patients (47 of whom were evaluable) with non-small cell lung cancer were treated with a five-drug regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, lomustine, cisplatin, and doxorubicin. Six complete and 16 partial responses were achieved, for an overall response rate of 47% (22 of 47 patients). Response by cell type was as follows: epidermoid carcinoma, 41% (seven of 17 patients); adenocarcinoma, 42% (eight of 19); and large cell carcinoma, 64% (seven of 11). Response in patients with limited disease was 48% (11 of 23 patients) and in patients with extensive disease, 46% (11 of 24). Previously untreated patients had response rates of 53%, versus 22% in those with prior therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Chemical interactions with herpes simplex type 2 virus: enhancement of transformation by hydrazine and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine.

Quantitative assays for the morphological transformation of 3T3 Swiss mouse cells by herpes simplex type 2 virus (HSV-2) were employed to examine the effect on cell transformation of chemical carcinogens and suspected carcinogens. Exposure of the cells to the chemical compound, followed by virus infection, resulted in enhancement of transformation when compared to that observed with chemical or virus alone. Enhancement occurred in tests utilizing either UV light-inactivated HSV-2 (strain 333) or a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of HSV-2 (A8(293)]. A series of seven ts-mutants were tested and exhibited varying degrees of transformation. Enhancement of transformation occurred in cells treated with hydrazine (HZ) and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (SDMH). No enhancement occurred when cells were treated with monomethylhydrazine, 1,1-dimethylhydrazine and the jet fuels JP-5, JP-10, RJ-4 and RJ-5. A strong time dependence after treatment was demonstrated with some enhancement seen at 6 h after chemical treatment but the greatest enhancement appeared when virus infection began after 24 h of chemical exposure.

1,2-Dimethylhydrazine↗

Systemic visceral talc granulomatosis associated with miliary tuberculosis in a drug addict.

Light and scanning electron microscopic study of tissues obtained at biopsy and at autopsy from a 64-year-old male drug addict revealed the presence of foreign body granulomas associated with birefringent crystals in the lungs, liver, bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes. Caseating granulomas associated with Mycobacteriaceae tuberculosis were also present. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis identified the crystals as talc. Minute talc crystals were also visualized in urine sediment, by scanning electron microscopy and identified by energy dispersive X-ray analysis.

Granuloma↗

Chemical interactions with herpes simplex type 2 virus: enhancement of transformation by selected chemical carcinogens and pro-carcinogens.

Quantitative assays for the morphological transformation of 3T3 Swiss mouse cells by herpes simplex type 2 virus (HSV-2) were employed to examine the effect on cell transformation of chemical carcinogens and pro-carcinogens. The carcinogens tested were N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, quinacrine mustard, N-nitrosomethyl urea, urethane, and benzene. The pro-carcinogens tested were N-nitrosodimethylamine, 3-methylcholanthrene, benzo[a]pyrene, and p-dimethylaminoazobenzene. Exposure of the cells to the chemical compound and to the virus resulted in enhancement of transformation when compared to that observed with chemical or virus alone. Enhancement of transformation occurred in cells treated with all of these compounds. In general, enhancement occurred regardless of whether the cells were pre-exposed to the carcinogen or pre-infected with virus. These results are suggestive of combined herpes virus and chemical effects on cells resulting in increased risk of oncogenic transformation.

Animals↗

Chemical interactions with herpes simplex type 2 virus: enhancement of transformation by norharman.

The effects of the comutagen norharman on herpes simplex virus type 2 growth transformation was studied in 3T3 cells. Pre-exposure but not post-exposure of the cells to 0.5 to 10 micrograms of norharman per ml of cell culture media resulted in a nearly three-fold enhancement in transforming activity. These results suggest that certain environmental chemicals may interact with cells creating an increased possibility of transformation by herpes viruses.

Alkaloids↗

A black hepatocellular carcinoma with Dubin-Johnson-like pigment and Mallory bodies: a histochemical and ultrastructural study.

A hepatocellular carcinoma which was predominately black was surgically excised from a noncirrhotic, asymptomatic 62-year-old white man. Brown-black, pigment granules, found only in the tumor cells, were histochemically and ultrastructurally identical to the hepatocellular pigment found in Dubin-Johnson syndrome. The latter pigment is thought to accumulate as a consequence of a genetically determined abnormality in the excretion of catecholamines and related substances. It is postulated that the pigment formation in this tumor developed via a similar, though epigenetic, mechanism. This occurrence has not been previously described. Unusual PAS-negative, globular cytoplasmic inclusions were also found in the tumor cells and these proved to be Mallory bodies by electron microscopy.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Effect of valium (diazepam) on experimental atherosclerosis in roosters.

The development of aortic and coronary atherosclerotic plaques were investigated in roosters fed an atherogenic diet with and without the addition of Valium (0.2 mg/kg twice daily) over a period of 5 months, as a step toward understanding the role of emotional factors in atherogenesis. Plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, hemodynamic parameters, and body weight were measured. There was a progressive, and quantitatively similar, body weight gain in all birds. In addition, there were no significant differences in values for blood pressure, cardiac output, and heart rate between the various experimental groups. Conversely, birds receiving the atherogenic diet, as well as those receiving the atherogenic diet along with Valium, exhibited a marked hypercholesterolemia which reached a peak of 600 mg/dl in 4-6 weeks, before decreasing to between 200 and 300 mg/dl by the 10th week. Plasma triglyceride levels followed a qualitatively similar pattern as plasma cholesterol. Those birds fed an atherogenic diet alone developed atherosclerotic lesions on the aortic surface which was more pronounced on the abdominal than the thoracic aorta. Aortas from birds given Valium along with the atherogenic diet were completely free of lesions despite the fact that plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were not significantly different in the two groups. Histological sections of coronary arteries showed severe lesions in 4 out of 7 birds which were fed the atherogenic diet alone, whereas the birds given Valium along with the atherogenic diet had only an occasional slight lipid deposit. It was concluded that Valium provides some protection against the development of atherosclerosis in roosters fed an atherogenic diet.

Animals↗

Silica granuloma of eyelid and ocular adnexa.

Seven cases of subcutaneous epithelioid granulomas caused by silica and involving the eyelids and periorbital region are described. Histologically, all cases disclosed epithelioid tubercles and varying numbers of foreign-body-type giant cells, areas of scarring, and birefringent crystals. Light microscopy with polarized readily facilitated visualization of the crystals. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis clearly established that the crystals were composed of silica in both its pure and combined forms. This study emphasizes the need for examination of all epithelioid granulomas with polarized light. If crystalline foreign bodies are identified, further special techniques should be used for chemical characterization of the crystals.

Adult↗