Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K M Miller.
The biocompatibility of biomaterials at implant sites is controlled by the tissue/material interaction. A major cell in the tissue reaction is the macrophage. A summary is presented on macrophage mediation of cellular and humoral regulatory pathways in inflammatory and immune responses.
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B lymphocyte differentiation into immunoglobulin secreting cells is a process depending on the presence of functionally mature B lymphocytes, monocytes and regulatory T lymphocytes. Cord blood B lymphocytes present in isolated cord blood mononuclear cell (MNC) preparations are normally unable to differentiate into immunoglobulin secreting plaque forming cells (PFC) when cultured in the presence of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) alone or killed Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1 (SAC1) alone. However, each one of these activators induces PFC formation by B lymphocytes in adult MNC cultures. In the present study we show that these two activators can act synergistically to induce a significant in vitro PFC response in cord blood MNC's. The synergism of PWM and SAC1 exhibits a requirement for a specific sequence of addition in order to induce a positive response in neonatal cells. If both activators are not added simultaneously at the initiation of culture, only the initial addition of SAC1 followed by PWM will result in increased PFC production. The action of PWM and SAC1 on cord blood MNC can each be replaced by conditioned media. Supernatants from monocyte cultures containing soluble factors such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) can substitute for the activity of SAC1 while supernatants containing soluble T-cell factors (interleukin-2[IL-2], T cell replacing factor (TRF), B cell differentiation factor (BCDF), etc) can replace PWM in the cord blood MNC cultures. The results suggest that the synergistic effect of these two activators overcomes a partial immaturity or an excessive suppressor activity of human cord blood MNC.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A cage implant system was utilized to quantitatively and qualitatively characterize in vivo leukocyte interactions with cast Biomer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with cytochemical staining procedures were used to investigate the cellular events at the leukocyte/Biomer interface as well as in the inflammatory exudate over a 21-day implantation period. SEM was used to characterize leukocyte morphology on the Biomer surface and the cytochemical stains were used to differentially count leukocytes and to demonstrate intracellular alkaline and acid phosphatase activity. The results showed that the population density of leukocytes on the Biomer surface diminished with implantation time. The population density of multinucleated foreign body giant cells remained constant with time, while the numbers of nuclei per giant cell increased. The differential analysis revealed that macrophages preferentially adhered to the Biomer surface compared to other leukocytes in the exudate. The phagocytic capability of all adherent leukocytes, including giant cells, decreased with time and this corresponded to changes in leukocyte morphology observed with SEM.
While angina pectoris has been thought to be a reliable indicator of myocardial ischemia, it is now known that many ischemic episodes are painless or "silent." Critical care nurses play an essential role in detecting this silent disease as well as providing acute nursing care.
We describe a hand-held gyroscope deviometer that an examiner can use to measure strabismic deviations without prisms. The deviometer is ideally suited for use with small children who will not allow prisms to be held near their eyes, and adults with poor fixation in one eye. The device consists of a fixation light attached to a gimbal-mounted single-axis gyroscope. The gyroscope provides the necessary reference for horizontal deviations. Gravity provides the reference for vertical deviations. As the patient observes his or her reflection with the fixing eye in a plane mirror at the end of the room, the examiner positions the corneal light reflex in the pupil of the deviating eye and presses a rocker switch to the "reset" position, zeroing the deviometer. The examiner then aims the deviometer fixation light at a reflection of itself in a plane mirror located on the wall behind the subject and presses the rocker switch to the "read" position. Horizontal and vertical deviations are displayed to the nearest degree. The accuracy of the device is dependent upon the examiner's ability to position the corneal light reflex correctly in the pupil of the deviating eye.