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Biomedical subjects

L Meadows

Publications and source records attributed to L Meadows.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Time since death and decomposition of the human body: variables and observations in case and experimental field studies.

Much of the difficulty in determining the time since death stems from the lack of systematic observation and research on the decomposition rate of the human body. Continuing studies conducted at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, provide useful information on the impact of carrion insect activity, ambient temperature, rainfall, clothing, burial and depth, carnivores, bodily trauma, body weight, and the surface with which the body is in contact. This paper reports findings and observations accumulated during eight years of research and case studies that may clarify some of the questions concerning bodily decay.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Deficiency of the fifth component of complement in human subjects. Clinical, genetic and immunologic studies in a large kindred.

The discovery of a large kindred with a heritable deficiency of the fifth component of complement (C5) has permitted the accumulation of new clinical, genetic and immunologic data concerning the role of C5 in human subjects. The proband, who has had nine episodes of disseminated gonococcal infection, has a hemolytic C5 level of approximately 0.5 per cent of normal. No C5 protein was detectable, but low levels of functional C5 activity could be found using a sensitive bactericidal assay. The proband's twin as well as another sister also had extremely low levels of hemolytic C5(approximately 0.5 per cent normal), but both these subjects have been healthy. Hemolytic complement and bacteriolytic activity could be restored by the addition of purified C5. No chemotactic activity for polymorphonuclear leukocytes could be generated in the C5-deficient serums upon activation of either the classic or alternative pathways, again demonstrating the importance of C5 in human subjects for the production of chemotactic factors. The chemotactic responsiveness of the patients' polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes to preformed chemotactic factors was not depressed. Twenty-two of 32 other family members from three generations had depressed whole hemolytic complement levels. In 19 of 30 family members, levels of hemolytic C5 ranged from 13 to 64 per cent of normal. No linkage for C5 deficiency and the A or B loci of the major histocompatibility complex could be found. These data suggest an autosomal codominant mode of inheritance of C5 deficiency. Deficiency of C5 is compatible with good health, but it can be associated with repeated disseminated gonococcal infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Hereditary C2 deficiency associated with cutaneous lupus erythematosus: clinical, laboratory, and genetic studies.

Selective congenital deficiency in the second component of complement has been described in association with lupus erythematosus (LE) and other connective tissue disorders. We identified a 59-year-old woman with a 13-year history of cutaneous LE and no detectable serum C2. The patient's photosensitivity, large polycyclic erosive cutaneous lesions, lack of renal disease, paucity of serological findings, and high incidence of bacterial infection is consistent with previously described patients with this association. Uniquely, the patient demonstrated secondary infection with Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton rubrum in the skin lesions themselves. Immunologic studies disclosed depression in both humoral and cellular immunity. Moderation in her clinical disease and immunologic measurements has been observed after treatment with levamisole hydrochloride. Immunogenetic studies of the patient's four-generation kindred was consistent with an autosomal recessive inheritance of C2 deficiency genetically linked to HLA, segregating with the B18 allele. Mixed lymphocyte culture determinations reinforce evidence for linkage between the HLA-D locus and the trait for C2 deficiency.

Complement C2↗
PubMed1978

Abnormal monocyte chemotaxis in patients with breast cancer: evidence for a tumor-mediated effect.

The chemotactic responsiveness of peripheral blood monocytes was measured in 194 individuals: 37 patients with breast cancer, 17 patients with a history of breast cancer but clinically free of disease after surgery, 42 patients with benign breast masses, and 98 normal controls. Monocyte chemotactic responsiveness (MCR) in vitro was not significantly different from normal [mean = 72.8 migrating monocytes/oil immersion field, +/- 9.3 (1 SD)] in 2 groups of patients: a) those with benign breast masses (mean = 72.6 +/- 15.1; P greater than 0.3) and b) those previously having breast cancer resected and remaining clinically free of disease (mean = 69.0 +/- 12.5; P greater than 0.4). However, MCR was significantly depressed in the group of patients with active breast cancer (mean = 57.2 +/- 20.7; P less than 0.0025). Resection of malignant breast masses resulted in a significant change in MCR (P less than 0.0025), whereas resection of benign lesions did not (P greater than 0.4). MCR was abnormal in all clinical stages of breast cancer, including breast cancer without evidence of metastasis to regional lymph nodes. These data supported the hypothesis that neoplasms adversely affect monocyte function and may thereby hinder immunologically mediated destruction of malignant cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1978

Epiphysiolysis as a method of limb lengthening.

Epiphysiolysis followed by distraction was performed at the proximal tibial growth plates in 18 young rabbits. Union across the distracted plate occurred in all animals. In 12 rabbits skeletally immature at operation, premature fusion of the separated plate resulted in growth arrest of the operated limb. The contralateral control limb was longer at maturity by an average 1.10 cm. In 6 rabbits near skeletal maturity at epiphysiolysis, the operated limb was the longer at maturity by the amount distracted, an average of 0.62 cm. In all animals a permanent loss of joint motion resulted. Epiphyseal distraction in the very young rabbit does not appear to be practical due to consistent premature fusion of the distracted growth plate. It is possible to lengthen the limbs of rabbits near skeletal maturity with this procedure. An added advantage is that union between the epiphysis and the metaphysis always occurred, eliminated the problem of delayed ana non union found in diaphyseal lengthening. However, at this time, until the effects of distraction and compression on the adjacent joint can be minimized, epiphysiolysis as a method of limb lengthening is not recommended in children.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1977

Generalized microsporum audoninii infection and depressed cellular immunity associated with a missing plasma factor required for lymphocyte blastogenesis.

Described herein is a 15 year old girl with a generalized, possibly systemic Microsporum audouinni infectin associated with anergy and defective lymphocyte transformation as a consequence of a deficiency of an uncharacterized plasma factor. Intravenous administration of plasma, obtained from normal donors, has produced consistent although incomplete clinical improvement. Defective lymphocyte transformation to M. audiouinii antigen cultured in autologous plasma became normal after infusions of normal plasma were instituted. Systemic administrations of griseofulvin, clotrimazole and miconazole produced transient and incomplete clinical improvement. Clearing of the cutaneous infection and stabillization of the neurologic status was finally achieved with plasma infusions combined with parenterally administered amphotericin B.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Abnormalitieis of monocyte chemotaxis in patients with melanoma: effects of immunotherapy and tumor removal.

The chemotactic responsiveness of peripheral blood monocytes was studied before and after immunotherapy was administered to 56 patients with melanoma. Abnormal chemotaxis was found in 36 patients (64%) prior to treatment; this abnormality correlated with severity of disease and prognosis. Immunotherapy with BCG and sensitized autologous lymphocytes and X-irradiated melanoma cells or surgical removal of the neoplasm both reduced the percentage of patients with abnormal chemotactic responses. The best prognosis was found for those patients who had normal chemotaxis prior to therapy. The data support the hypothesis that abnormalities of monocyte function might render the host less likely to destroy developing neoplasms and that malignant tumors themselves might affect monocyte function.

Adolescent↗