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Biomedical subjects

J V Williams

Publications and source records attributed to J V Williams.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A case-control study of corticosteroid exposure as a risk factor for clinically-diagnosed depressive disorders in a hospitalized population.

OBJECTIVE: Depressive symptoms may be a side effect of exogenous corticosteroids. However, the literature does not confirm that corticosteroid exposure is associated with the occurrence of depressive disorders. The objective of this study was to determine whether or not corticosteroid exposures are associated with clinical diagnoses of depressive disorders in hospitalized patients. METHOD: The study used a case-control design. Cases and 2 control groups were selected from a health records case summary database maintained at the Calgary General Hospital. Additional data were collected by chart review. RESULTS: The analysis reproduced associations between depressive diagnoses and several psychosocial and biological risk factors. However, the data did not suggest that corticosteroids were associated with an elevated risk of depressive diagnoses. In fact, odds ratios for corticosteroid exposure were less than 1, consistent with a protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: Although corticosteroids may produce depressive symptoms as a side effect, corticosteroid exposures are not associated with an elevated risk of clinically diagnosed depressive disorders in hospitalized patients. There are several possible explanations for this. Depressive syndromes associated with corticosteroid exposure may not clinically resemble depressive disorders, and may not warrant a diagnosis of a depressive disorder. Alternatively, clinicians may not identify and formally diagnose depressive disorders caused by corticosteroids.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Papillary immature metaplasia of the cervix: a distinct subset of exophytic cervical condyloma associated with HPV-6/11 nucleic acids.

A subset of exophytic cervical precursor lesions are composed of immature metaplastic cells that differ from conventional condylomata by the virtual absence of koilocytotic atypia and the presence of slender filiform papillae. We evaluated a series of exophytic cervical lesions containing this morphology for HPV nucleic acids and compared the associated HPV types with conventional exophytic condylomata of the cervix. Six of six exophytic condylomata and five of six papillary immature metaplasias (PIM), respectively, contained HPV type 6/11 by in situ hybridization. Subtyping of three PIM by polymerase chain reaction combined with direct sequencing revealed nucleic acid sequences consistent with HPV 6/11. PIM were distinguished from high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions by the rarity of mitoses and by the uniformity of nuclear size and staining intensity with multiple chromocenters. However, these lesions tended to involve the more cephalad region of the cervical transformation zone, and three cases extended deeply into the endocervix with two requiring conization for a definitive diagnosis. Although their bland morphology and association with HPV 6/11 nucleic acids suggest a benign process, their location within the endocervical canal implies that these variants of condyloma may differ biologically from conventional exophytic condylomas of the cervix. The differential diagnosis of PIM and potential explanations for their distinctive morphology, are discussed.

Condylomata Acuminata↗

Evaluation of enhanced luminescence immunoenzymometric assays (LIA) for ferritin and free T4.

The Amerlite enhanced luminescence immunoenzymometric assays (LIA) for ferritin and free T4 (FT4) have been evaluated. The LIA assay system employs a two-site binding approach in which one antibody is coated on the interior of plastic microtiter wells and another antibody, or antigen, is tagged with horseradish peroxidase (HRPO). Signal, proportional to the amount of patient analyte, is produced when the HRPO catalyzes the oxidation of luminol resulting in light production. The light signal is increased in magnitude by the incorporation of an enhancing agent which also greatly prolongs the lifetime of the signal. Light production is monitored by an automated luminometer which uses a stored calibration curve to calculate patient results. FT4 within-run coefficients of variation (CVs) ranged from 2.7% to 6.6%; day-to-day CVs from 6% to 15.5% for three levels of control. Sensitivity is 0.03 ng/dl. T3 concentrations up to 8 ng/ml produced no cross-reactivity. Dilutional linearity was exhibited. Lipemia and icterus produced positive interferences. Linear regression analysis of Amerlite and radioimmunoassay (RIA) FT4 values yielded the following values: Amerlite = 0.63 RIA - 0.2, r = .87, n = 79. Ferritin within-run CVs ranged from 4.9% to 10.5%; day-to-day CVs from 5.8-12.5% for three levels of control. Sensitivity is less than 1 ng/ml. Recoveries ranged from 93% to 106% (av. = 99.4%). Dilutional linearity was exhibited. Lipemia caused a positive interference; hemoglobin caused a negative interference. Linear regression analysis of Amerlite and RIA ferritin values yielded the following values: Amerlite = 1.0 RIA + 11.1, r = .96, n = 55.

Bilirubin↗

The response of foetal sheep and lambs to pulmonary inflation.

1. Pulmonary inflation through a tracheostomy consistently produces an inspiratory response or gasp in the foetal lamb. This response is reversibly removed by vagal cooling or xylocaine local anaesthesia to the air passages. It is abolished by bilateral vagotomy. It is therefore suggested that this gasp response involves a reflex whose afferent pathway is in the vagus nerve.2. This gasp reflex is also found in lambs aged 1 hr to 30 days.3. Lambs and foetuses possess a cough reflex.4. A Hering-Breuer inflation reflex can be demonstrated in lambs.5. The gasp reflex is distinct from either of these last two.6. The significance of the gasp reflex in pre- and post-natal life is discussed.

Animals↗

Farmer's lung.

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Farmer's Lung↗

Staphylococcus aureus isolation from the lesions, the hands, and anterior nares of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Staphylococcus aureus colonization is common in atopic dermatitis (AD) and can exacerbate the disease. Some patients with atopic dermatitis may act as a reservoir for S. aureus transmission to others. This study compared S. aureus colonization in atopic dermatitis patients and their caregivers with control patients and their caregivers. Quantitative cultures were obtained from the lesions, clinically normal skin, hands, and anterior nares of 100 patients with atopic dermatitis, 100 controls with other cutaneous disorders, and 200 caregivers. The AD patients had significantly greater presence of S. aureus from lesional and clinically normal skin, as well as the hand. Significantly increased carriage of S. aureus was found in the anterior nares of caretakers of AD patients compared with control caretakers. Topical corticosteroid use did not affect recovery of S. aureus. There was a significant correlation between recovery of S. aureus from lesional skin and recovery from the anterior nares and hands. The nares and hands may be important reservoirs and vectors for autotransmission of S. aureus to lesional skin and for transmission to patients with AD.

Adolescent↗

S. aureus isolation from the lesions, the hands, and the anterior nares of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Staphylococcus aureus colonization is common in atopic dermatitis (AD) and can exacerbate the disease. Additionally, some evidence shows that patients with AD may act as reservoirs for S. aureus transmission to others. This study compared S. aureus colonization in AD patients and their caregivers with control patients and their caregivers. Quantitative cultures were obtained from the lesions, clinically normal skin, hands, and anterior nares of 100 patients with AD, 100 controls with other cutaneous disorders, and 200 caregivers. AD patients had a significantly greater carriage of S. aureus from lesional and clinically normal skin as well as the hand. Significant increases in carriage of S. aureus were found in the anterior nares and hands of caregivers of AD patients compared with control caregivers. Topical corticosteroid use did not affect recovery of S. aureus. There was a significant correlation between recovery of S. aureus from lesional skin and recovery from the anterior nares (p = .002) and hands (p < .0001). These findings suggest that the anterior nares and the hands may be important reservoirs and vectors for transmission of S. aureus to lesional skin and to close contacts of these patients.

Adolescent↗

Changes in lymphocyte and Langerhans cell populations in allergic and irritant contact dermatitis.

We observed in situ changes in lymphocyte subpopulations and Langerhans cells during allergic and irritant contact dermatitis using immunohistochemical staining methods with monoclonal antibodies to cell surface antigens. In both types of contact dermatitis, there was a perivascular infiltrate of T lymphocytes, with helper/inducer T cells predominating. B cells were absent, and natural killer cells were absent or sparse. During the course of allergic contact dermatitis, Langerhans cells showed a striking sequential change in location, with the cells first in the epidermis, then perivascularly in the dermis (days 1-14), and returning to the epidermis (days 14-21). In irritant contact dermatitis, the Langerhans cells were initially identified in the epidermis and then appeared diffusely in the dermis (days 1-2). The numbers in the dermis then decreased abruptly (day 4). They were again identified in normal numbers in the epidermis (day 21). The response of Langerhans cells appears to be different between allergic and irritant contact dermatitis.

Antigens, Surface↗