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Biomedical subjects

J R Wall

Publications and source records attributed to J R Wall.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Abnormal "activated" rosette formation in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

The mean percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes forming fast spontaneous rosettes with sheep red blood cells was estimated in 40 patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of cancer. Patients who were eventually diagnosed as having cancer had significantly lower numbers (P less than 0.01 Mann Whitney Test) of rosette forming cells than patients who had gastrointestinal tumours successfully removed, or patients with other gastrointestinal diseases. The use of this test as an aid to the diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignancy and its possible application to the detection of recurrences of cancer after surgery are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Lymphocyte transformation in response to human thyroid extract in patients with subacute thyroiditis.

Seven patients with subacute thyroiditis were studied for evidence of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to human thyroid extract, as judged from lymphocyte transformation responses, measured by the increase in labeled thymidine uptake in vitro. Significant transformation was observed in lymphocytes from five of the seven patients with active subacute thyroiditis, and in the lymphocytes from only three of 15 patients with Graves disease (x2, P EQUALS 0.036). Repeated studies of lymphocyte transformation were done in four of the patients with subacute thyroiditis, three of whom initially showed abnormal responses. By eight weeks after initial studies, when all patients were in clinical remission without treatment, transformation responses were within the normal range. Thyroid antibodies were absent or present in low titer (is less than 1:100) in sera of patients with subacute thyroiditis, and became undetectable by eight weeks in those patients initially positive. In contrast, significant titers of antithyroid antibodies were frequently present in patients with Graves' disease. The present studies have shown the occurence of CMI to thyroid antigens during the active phase of subacute thyroiditis. The abnormality was transient, however, since it disappeared when the disease had resolved. These findings strongly suggest that the release of thyroid antigen leading tothe development of a cell-mediated immune responses is not in itself sufficient to initiate chronic immunological disease of the thyroid. If, as some have suggested, Hashimoto's disease or Graves' disease are characterized by a permanent disorder of CMI, then in these diseases either the antigenic stimulus is persistent or there exists an intrinsic disorder of immune surveillance.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1976

The in vitro suppression of lectin induced 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA of peripheral blood lymphocytes after the addition of propylthiouracil.

A possible in vitro immunosuppressive role of propylthiouracil (PTU) was investigated by culturing peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from normal subjects with plant lectins in the presence of PTU added at the onset of culture or near the time of peak cell division. When added at the onset of culture PTU caused a dose-related suppression of lectin stimulated 3H-thymidine uptake with an average of approximately 50% suppression at a PTU concentration of 100 mug/ml. When added at the time of peak cell division however, marked suppression was produced by 10 mug/ml of PTU. Prolonged remissions in patients with Graves' disease treated with PTU, and possibly other anti-thyroid drugs, may thus be due to an immunosuppressive role of the drug rather than the natural evolution of the disease.

Graves Disease↗
PubMed1975

Antibodies against spermatozoa in infertile women with poorly invading spermatozoa on postcoital tests.

Sixty-four women with poorly invading spermatozoa on postcoital tests (PCT's) were investigated for serum spermatozoal antibodies by the immunofluorescent technique. Control groups tested were women with explained infertility but normal PCT's, normal pregnant women, and normal previously pregnant women. A positive immunofluorescent test was obtained in 19 of 64 women with abnormal PCT's compared with 26 of 51 patients with explained infertility, including 11 of 13 who had well-identified gynecological disorders, 12 of 61 pregnant women, and one of 59 previously pregnant normal women. High titers (larger than or equal to 1/200) were found in a few patients in all groups except normal nonpregnant women. In no patient was evidence of complement fixation found. The immunofluorescent test, as carried out here, is therefore of little value in discriminating a group of patients in whom immunologic abnormalities are the primary cause of the infertility.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Immunologic studies of male infertility.

Infertile men with azo- or oligospermia of unknown cause were investigated for evidence of testicular autoimmunity. Testicular germinal cell antibodies were found in 14% of the patients, compared with 5% of normal men, and 21% had spermatozoal antibodies, compared with 5% of the normal subjects. One-third had positive macrophage inhibitory factor tests, compared with 5% of normal subjects. However, of autoantibodies against thyroid, stomach, and nuclear material, only the prevalence of thyroid cytoplasmic antibodies was significantly greater than in normal subjects; serum IgG, IgM, and IgA levels were normal in all cases tested. Furthermore, there was no excess of lymphoid tissue on biopsy and no evidence of antibody deposition in the testicular tissue. The evidence for autoimmunity is less impressive than that for leprous orchitis, which has been proposed as a model for testicular organ-specific autoimmunity. Nevertheless, it is possible that certain germinal cell or spermatozoal antibodies may be directed against factors necessary for orderly spermatogenesis. If so, they may play a role in some cases of maturation arrest and shedding defects.

Adult↗
PubMed1974

Diurnal variation in glucose tolerance: associated changes in plasma insulin, growth hormone, and non-esterified fatty acids.

Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in the morning and afternoon of separate days on 31 people derived from a normal population sample. Blood sugar levels were higher in the afternoon test from and including 60 minutes after the glucose load. The degree of diurnal variation was similar in men and women, but greater in the older half of the group. It was negatively correlated with the degree of obesity. The plasma insulin response was less at the 30 minute time point in the afternoon, but significantly exceeded the morning values at 120 and 150 minutes after the glucose load. Growth hormone levels were similar in morning and afternoon tests. Fasting non-esterified fatty acid levels were significantly higher before the afternoon test.The relatively impaired glucose tolerance in the afternoon is associated with a delayed insulin response to the glucose load. This seems unlikely to be the sole explanation, however, and increased non-esterified fatty acid metabolism with a consequent decrease in glucose disposal may also contribute.

Adult↗
PubMed1973

Effect of carbohydrate restriction in obese diabetics: relationship of control to weight loss.

Two hundred newly diagnosed, fat diabetics were studied to determine whether control of the diabetes depended on loss of weight or on carbohydrate restriction alone. Satisfactory control was achieved by dietary treatment alone in 159 patients 30 required oral hypoglycaemic drugs and 11 were 18 of whom had actually gained weight. Of the remaining patients, 30 required oral hypoglycaemic drugs and 11 were still uncontrolled but not yet on other treatment.The mean initial excess weight of all 200 patients was 28%. Of those who remained uncontrolled on diet alone the mean initial excess weight (31%) was slightly but not significantly greater than that of those who were controlled (27%). Patients who were controlled lost slightly more weight than patients who were not, but their excess weight at the time of control was still 21%.We conclude that in 80% of obese diabetics control can be achieved by diet alone and that it is usually independent of weight loss.

Adult↗