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Biomedical subjects

S E Williams

Publications and source records attributed to S E Williams.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Sera-reactivity in inflammatory bowel disease: frequency of recognition of Crohn's disease tissue primed nude mouse lymphoid tissue in an interinstitutional blinded study.

We used a double-blinded interinstitutional study with an indirect immunofluorescence assay to evaluate the immunoreactivity of Crohn's disease (CD) sera against hyperplastic and malignant lymph nodes from nude mice primed with CD tissue filtrates. We assessed the reactivity for potential usefulness as a serodiagnostic test by using sera from different clinical subgroups of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The immunoreactivity of 86 coded sera from ambulatory patients treated at the Mount Sinai Medical Center were examined-29 from patients with CD, 25 from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 21 from disease controls, and 11 from normal controls. Each serum was tested at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine against lymph nodes from at least two of six nude mice inoculated with CD tissue filtrates or CD filtrate-induced lymphoma. There was positive immunofluorescent staining in 11 of 29 (38%) CD patients, 4 of 25 (16%) UC patients, 1 of 21 (4.8%) disease controls, and 0 of 11 normal volunteers. Statistically significant differences in immunoreactivity were seen between CD patients compared to non-inflammatory-bowel-disease controls (p = 0.007) and to normals (p = 0.02).

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Communication attitudes and aging.

This investigation compared the reported communication attitudes of 102 adults in six age groups. Participants completed the Inventory of Communication Attitudes which examines perceptions of self and others in a number of speaking situations. Discriminant analysis procedures were utilized to examine age group differences. Results indicated significant difference across age groups for perceptions of self and perceptions of others. The two age groups most frequently differentiated from the other groups were those persons in their twenties and those in their sixties.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Endogenous prostaglandin E2 synthesis preserved following cytoprotection by Roter (bismuth subnitrate) in the rat alcohol model of gastric ulceration.

The protective effect of the compound preparation Roter, principally bismuth subnitrate and the other base constituents of these tablets, magnesium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, were assessed using the standard alcohol model of gastric ulceration in the rat. Groups of ten rats were studied with Group A as controls, Group B alcohol alone, Group C pretreatment with base components followed by alcohol, Group D pretreatment with bismuth subnitrate followed by alcohol and Group E pretreatment with full formulation Roter followed by alcohol. The study was assessed by measurement of areas of gastric ulceration and tissue prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels. Alcohol alone caused gross ulceration and reduction in PGE2 synthesis compared to controls (P less than 0.001). Pretreatment with tablet base gave only marginal protection whilst bismuth subnitrate gave marked protection against ulceration compared to alcohol alone (P less than 0.001). Full formulation Roter also gave marked protection against ulceration compared to alcohol alone (P less than 0.001) and this was associated with PGE2 synthesis indistinguishable from controls but significantly greater than in the alcohol alone group (P less than 0.001). It was not possible to determine whether the normal PGE2 synthesis was the cause or the result of protective effect of Roter and the accompanying reduction in ulceration. It was possible however to conclude that using this model of experimental ulceration. Roter and bismuth subnitrate are 'cytoprotective' and this was associated with the preservation of normal prostaglandin synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Characteristics of gentamicin uptake in the isolated crista ampullaris of the inner ear of the guinea pig.

The characteristics of aminoglycoside uptake in the inner ear were investigated in the isolated crista ampullaris. The organ was incubated with radiolabeled gentamicin, and the stable, nonexchangeable radioactivity was considered the intracellular pool of the drug. Gentamicin was transported against a concentration gradient, and the resulting tissue to medium ratios ranged from 1.4 to 18.6. Transport was inhibited by reduction in temperature or by the addition of metabolic blockers, indicative of an energy-dependent component. The uptake system showed at least two sites, the first a high-affinity site with a dissociation constant KD = 39 nM and a capacity of n = 0.2 pmole/crista; the second had a KD = 16 microM and a capacity of n = 11 pmoles/crista. Aminoglycosides competed with uptake of gentamicin in the order netilmicin greater than or equal to neomycin greater than tobramycin, and polyamines competed in the order spermine greater than spermidine greater than putrescine; glucosamine and the basic amino acids lysine and asparagine were ineffective, excluding the participation of glucose and basic amino acid transport systems in gentamicin uptake. These results along with direct comparisons with some characteristics of putrescine uptake suggest that aminoglycoside and polyamine transport have common features in the crista ampullaris.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Laryngectomees' and nonlaryngectomees' perceptions of three methods of alaryngeal voicing.

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the proficiency ratings made by laryngectomee and nonlaryngectomee judges when evaluating videotaped samples of laryngeal and alaryngeal speakers. A group of laryngectomee judges and three groups of nonlaryngectomized judges completed proficiency ratings for the following speakers: laryngeal (n = 10); electrolarynx (n = 11); esophageal (n = 12); and tracheoesophageal puncture (n = 10). Significant differences between laryngectomee and nonlaryngectomee judges were found when rating alaryngeal speakers, but not when rating normal, laryngeal speakers. Differences in judge group ratings varied according to the voicing method of the speakers and according to the vocal parameter being rated.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Action-naming performance in four syndromes of aphasia.

This study examined the influence of two situational contexts on the action-naming performances of 44 aphasic patients: single-word confrontation naming and naming within the context of connected speech. Subjects were evenly distributed among the syndromes of Broca's. Wernicke's, anomic, and conduction aphasia. The two naming tasks employed each comprised the same 18 target verbs. Naming performance was not systematically influenced by the particular naming task in any of the aphasia groups studied. However, for some individuals, particularly in the group of anomic aphasia, there were substantial performance discrepancies between scores obtained on the two different tasks. Correlations between scores on the confrontation-naming and picture-description tasks were highest for the Wernicke's aphasics, followed by the conduction, Broca's, and anomic aphasics. The extent to which action-naming error types could discriminate between the four groups of aphasics was examined. Results obtained in the present study were compared to results obtained in an earlier study on object-naming (S. Williams & G. Canter, 1982), Brain and Language, 17, 92-106). Discussion focuses on implications for the psycholinguistic processes involved in action versus object-naming.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Three molecular steps of aminoglycoside ototoxicity demonstrated in outer hair cells.

Previously postulated molecular mechanisms of aminoglycoside ototoxicity were investigated in outer hair cells in vitro. Cells were isolated by microdissection from the organ of Corti of the guinea pig and maintained in Hank's balanced salt solution. (1) Approx. 100 cells (the standard number per assay) bound 432 +/- 198 pmol calcium as determined with 45Ca2+ (1.2 mM). 1 mM neomycin or gentamicin lowered this value by 28% and 45%, respectively. (2) Binding of radiolabeled gentamicin (28 fmol per 100 cells at 0.1 microM gentamicin) was reduced by 55% by 1 mM neomycin or spermine. Washing with an excess of unlabeled gentamicin displaced only 60% of the drug, the remainder being tightly bound to a less accessible compartment. Incubation at low temperature essentially abolished gentamicin uptake. (3) Phospholipids were labeled with [32P]orthophosphate which was mostly incorporated into phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid. When the lipids were chromatographed over immobilized gentamicin PIP2, in contrast to other lipids, was strongly retained. These results are compatible with the following actions of aminoglycosides in outer hair cells: (1) competition with calcium; (2) energy-dependent uptake competitive with polyamines; and (3) binding to the phospholipid PIP2.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Speaking proficiency variations according to method of alaryngeal voicing.

Twelve judges, with no previous exposure to laryngectomees, rated the speaking proficiencies of 33 laryngectomees divided into the following groups: esophageal speakers (n = 12); electrolarynx speakers (n = 11); and tracheoesophageal puncture speakers (n = 10). In addition, the speech of ten normal subjects was rated. Specific speaking parameters examined included voice quality, pitch, loudness, intelligibility, rate of speaking, visual presentation during speech, extraneous speaking noise, and overall communicative effectiveness. Multiple discriminant analyses performed on the ratings made by each judge revealed significant differences in ratings for various speaking parameters in the four subject groups. Results generally support the stance that tracheoesophageal speech is perceived as superior to communication with either an electrolarynx or with traditional esophageal speech, even though it is not viewed as comparable to normal voice.

Factor Analysis, Statistical↗
PubMed1986

Second hepatoma developing 13 years after resection of first tumor.

A patient underwent a left-sided hepatic lobectomy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma 13 years ago and remained symptom free. He then presented with spontaneous rupture of a large tumor in the right lobe of the liver. Although this tumor proved to be primary hepatocellular carcinoma, there were significant histological differences between the two lesions, suggesting that this was a second primary liver tumor. Bleeding from the tumor was controlled by selectively ligating the branches supplying the area of hemorrhage.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

A comparison of speech sound durations in three syndromes of aphasia.

This study compared the durations of selected vowels and consonants produced by three groups of aphasics and a normal control group in confrontation naming and single-word repetition tasks. There were seven aphasic subjects in each of the syndromes of Broca's, Wernicke's, amnesic, and conduction aphasia, in addition to a group of seven normal subjects. Wide-band spectrograms were used to measure speech sound durations. Analysis of group data revealed no significant differences in the durations of vowels or consonants across the four subject groups. In addition, there were no differences in speech sound durations for the confrontation naming versus repetition tasks. When two speech-language pathologists listened to tape recordings of all subjects performing the two tasks, they judged the speech of two Broca's aphasics as being labored, while the speech of the remaining subjects was not judged as labored. Clinical judgments of labored speech appeared to correspond to acoustical measurements of speech sound duration, as the two Broca's aphasics judged to be labored displayed longer durations than those subjects who were not judged as labored. The increase in duration was particularly marked for vowels and for sounds in polysyllabic words. The results are discussed in relation to current descriptions of the articulatory characteristics of Broca's aphasics. Clinical implications are also addressed.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Binding of neomycin and calcium to phospholipids and other anionic compounds.

In order to assess the potential importance of different cellular binding sites for the adverse effects of aminoglycosides (i.e. oto- and nephrotoxicity) the binding of neomycin and calcium to phospholipids and other anionic cell constituents was assayed in vitro. Phospholipids demonstrated binding affinities that strongly favored neomycin (Km, 10 to 100 microM) over calcium (Km, 300 to 1,120 microM). Both neomycin and calcium showed strongest binding to lipids with monoester phosphate groups: phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The lipids bound 0.2 to 0.4 molecules of neomycin and 0.5 to 1 molecule of calcium, respectively, per lipid. Anionic non-lipid compounds such as melanin, gangliosides or chondroitin sulfate were ineffective competitors of neomycin binding to lipids. The results emphasize the importance of phospholipids as cellular binding sites for aminoglycosides. Furthermore, if one considers extra- and intracellular calcium and neomycin concentrations, the relative affinity of lipids for these two compounds suggests an explanation for both the reversible and the essentially irreversible toxic effects of the aminoglycosides.

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed1986

Aphasia: its effect on marital relationships.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between marital satisfaction and knowledge of aphasia of the spouse of a stroke patient. Other factors such as the severity of the aphasia, length of time poststroke, and length of marriage were also examined. The subjects, 16 spouses of aphasic patients, were grouped according to severity of the aphasia (mild, moderate, severe). Spouses completed a Knowledge of Aphasia questionnaire and pre/poststroke forms of a Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS). The questionnaire measured spouse understanding of aphasia, while the MSS examined changes in spouse attitudes toward their marriages after the patients became aphasic. Neither spouses' knowledge of aphasia nor its severity was related to their marital satisfaction. However, there was a significant negative change between the pre/poststroke MSS scores. Spouses of mildly impaired patients were less knowledgeable about aphasia than were those of severely impaired patients. Results are discussed in terms of the counseling needs of families of aphasic patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Differences in speaking proficiencies in three laryngectomee groups.

Speaking proficiencies of three groups of alaryngeal speakers were examined: (1) esophageal speakers (n = 12), (2) electrolarynx speakers (n = 11), and (3) tracheoesophageal puncture speakers (n = 10). Subjects were videotaped while engaged in a variety of speaking tasks. Three groups of judges, varying in their knowledge about laryngectomees, independently rated the speaking proficiency of each videotaped speaker. Specific variables rated included voice quality, pitch, loudness, intelligibility, rate of speaking, visual presentation during speech, extraneous speaking noise, and overall communicative effectiveness. Multivariate analyses of variance performed on the ratings made by each judge group disclosed significant differences in ratings for various speaking variables for the three laryngectomee groups. In addition, differences in proficiency ratings for the laryngectomees were found, depending on the expertise level of the judges.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

The effect of homogeneous versus heterogeneous stimuli on the confrontation-naming performance of aphasics.

The effect of semantic grouping on confrontation-naming performances of 16 fluent and 10 nonfluent aphasics was examined. Subjects were tested under two testing conditions: homogeneous stimuli within one semantic category and heterogeneous stimuli from several semantic categories. Both the response latencies and the number of correct responses were considered, as well as the types of naming errors produced. Performances of the aphasics were not uniformly facilitated in one naming condition over the other. Some of the individual patients, however, did appear to display performance discrepancies between the two conditions. Clinical and theoretical implications of these results are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Long term study of the effect of rifampicin and isoniazid on vitamin D metabolism.

Eight patients with tuberculosis were studied before, during and after 9 months treatment with rifampicin and isoniazid to assess the overall effect on vitamin D metabolism. No significant uniform change in either 1,25(OH)2D or 25 OH D nor in any of the other biochemistry measured occurred during the study. It seems unlikely that the combined effects of these drugs causes clinically significant derangement of vitamin D metabolism in patients treated over a 9 month period for tuberculosis.

Adult↗