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Biomedical subjects

T Williams

Publications and source records attributed to T Williams.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Surgical practice and perceived training needs of selected Ohio family physicians.

This study was performed to determine, relative to Ohio, what percentage of family physicians are actively involved in providing surgical care, what types of surgical care are provided, and what variations exist in opinions and practices regarding surgery related to previous training and practice location. Data were collected from active members of the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians; usable returns were secured from 76 percent of the members. Several conclusions were made. Overwhelming percentages of family physicians in Ohio are actively involved in providing surgical care. A considerably greater percentage of family physicians are actively involved in performing minor surgery compared with major surgery, although they perform a wide range of minor and major surgical procedures at relatively high frequencies. Over the years, however, there has been a decrease in performance of major surgery on the part of family physicians in Ohio. Issues related to surgery in family practice are more positively influenced by being in a rural practice rather than an urban or suburban practice, having had more surgical training, and having had family practice residency training. Family physicians in Ohio definitely think that surgical training should be included in family practice training programs, and they think that the surgical training should be balanced between a curriculum standardized for all residents and one individualized to the anticipated future practices of the residents.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1985

Effect of supernatants from PHA-stimulated and non-stimulated lymphocyte cultures on thromboxane B2 release by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro.

The present study involves the determination of the effect of supernatants obtained from mitogen-induced lymphocytes of human tonsils and containing lymphotoxins on human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). PMNs treated with supernatants from phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes were found to increase the release of thromboxane B2, compared to normal control levels. This increase was blocked by the preincubation of PMNs with indomethacin. The production or increase in production of thromboxanes may be induced by lymphotoxins since these substances have been reported to activate phospholipase A2 in target cell membranes, which may result in release of the thromboxane precursor, arachidonic acid.

Humans↗
PubMed1985

The effect of secoverine hydrochloride on stimulated sigmoid motility: a double-blind, placebo controlled cross-over study in irritable bowel syndrome.

The effect of oral secoverine hydrochloride on neostigmine-stimulated sigmoid motility in 12 patients with irritable bowel syndrome was studied in a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study. Both spontaneous and stimulated motor activity were significantly reduced by the compound in comparison with placebo. The most sensitive indices were the frequency of wave activity, maximum amplitude and motility index. Two patients reported mild dizziness after secoverine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Identification of Chlamydia trachomatis by direct immunofluorescence applied in specimens originating in remote areas.

The efficacy of the MicroTrak (Syva Co., Palo Alto, Calif.) direct immunofluorescence test for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis was compared with cell culturing of fresh specimens obtained from patients attending a clinic on sexually transmitted disease and of frozen specimens delayed in transit from urban or remote physicians' offices and clinics. Direct immunofluorescence testing detected C. trachomatis more frequently than culturing of the same specimens when transit caused a delay in culturing.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1985

Complex cardiac malformation in a case of trisomy 9.

A case of trisomy 9 showing a complex cardiac malformation is presented with a review of other published cases. A distinct trisomy 9 syndrome can be recognised with intrauterine growth retardation, short survival, consistent facial dysmorphism, congenital heart disease, and abnormalities of the skeletal, genital, and renal systems. There is no evidence for a maternal age effect.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1985

AIDS--a health education approach in West Glamorgan.

An education programme on AIDS has been established in West Glamorgan. It was designed to provide an information network amongst health authority staff which would reach as wide an audience as possible. The programme has been organised on a direct contact approach because of the limitations of other methods of disseminating information to large groups of people. The initial success of the programme has led to its extension among other interested groups in West Glamorgan such as the prison population, drug groups, and members of the gay community. The programme is to continue and be updated on a regular basis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Blunted growth hormone (GH) response to GH-releasing hormone in hypothyroidism resolves in the euthyroid state.

GH secretion is dependent upon thyroid hormone availability. In this study, the GH response to GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) was studied in a group of patients when they were hypothyroid and also when they were euthyroid. Hypothyroidism was associated with a significant reduction in both the peak GH response and the integrated GH secretory response to GHRH compared to those in the euthyroid state [4.7 +/- 1.6 (+/- SEM) vs. 12.2 +/- 3.9 ng/ml (P less than 0.025), and 349 +/- 116 ng vs. 986 +/- 304 ng ml-1 min-1 (P less than 0.025), respectively]. GH responsiveness was impaired within 2 weeks of discontinuation of T3 treatment in athyreotic subjects and was restored within 4 weeks of T4 treatment in one chronically hypothyroid subject. The results imply that a blunted GH response to GHRH in hypothyroidism is attributable to a primary pituitary defect that occurs rapidly and is reversible with attainment of the euthyroid state.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Impaired growth hormone responses to growth hormone-releasing factor in obesity. A pituitary defect reversed with weight reduction.

To investigate whether the impaired growth hormone secretion associated with obesity is a result of a hypothalamic or a pituitary disorder and whether it is a cause or a consequence of obesity, we studied plasma growth hormone responses to growth hormone-releasing factor in morbidly obese patients before gastrointestinal surgical therapy, in formerly obese subjects who had lost considerable weight postoperatively, and in non-obese controls. Growth hormone secretion was also assessed in response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia (in seven patients preoperatively and four postoperatively). In patients studied preoperatively, growth hormone responses to growth hormone-releasing factor were markedly impaired (P less than 0.001 as compared with controls), whereas in patients studied postoperatively they were partially restored to normal (P less than 0.05 as compared with those studied preoperatively). Growth hormone responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia were similarly diminished in obese patients studied before operation (P less than 0.02). The growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing factor was inversely correlated with the percentage of ideal body weight (P less than 0.01) and directly correlated with the growth hormone response to insulin (P less than 0.01). The impaired responsiveness to growth hormone-releasing factor suggests that the diminished response to insulin hypoglycemia is mediated by an impaired pituitary response to endogenous growth hormone-releasing factor. The reversibility of the defect after weight reduction suggests that it is a consequence rather than a cause of obesity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Time-varying magnetic fields: effect on DNA synthesis.

Human fibroblasts have exhibited enhanced DNA synthesis when exposed to sinusoidally varying magnetic fields for a wide range of frequencies (15 hertz to 4 kilohertz) and amplitudes (2.3 X 10(-6) to 5.6 X 10(-4) tesla). This effect, which is at maximum during the middle of the S phase of the cell cycle, appears to be independent of the time derivative of the magnetic field, suggesting an underlying mechanism other than Faraday's law. The threshold is estimated to be between 0.5 X 10(-5) and 2.5 X 10(-5) tesla per second. These results bring into question the allegedly specific magnetic wave shapes now used in therapeutic devices for bone nonunion. The range of magnetic field amplitudes tested encompass the geomagnetic field, suggesting the possibility of mutagenic interactions directly arising from short-term changes in the earth's field.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1984

The edge cell, a possible intraspinal mechanoreceptor.

In the lateral edge of the "white matter" in the lamprey spinal cord, there is a group of nerve cells referred to as edge cells. The results of a combined physiological, light microscopical, and electron microscopical study suggest that these cells serve as intraspinal mechanoreceptors. Edge cells are depolarized on stretch of the lateral margin of the spinal cord, and they have nestlike ramifications in this region oriented in a rostrocaudal plane. These cells exhibit a close structural similarity with the crayfish stretch receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Expression of cell surface determinant(s) on murine myeloma stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells.

Murine B cell lymphomas and myelomas were examined for the expression of a determinant previously found exclusively on normal pluripotent stem cells colony-forming unit-spleen (CFU-s). This determinant(s), which is defined by a rabbit antimouse brain antiserum (R alpha MB), is present on the tumor stem cell population of some but not all B cell neoplasms examined. The determinant is not detected on tumor cells of the macrophage or T cell lineage. Absorption of the activity in R alpha MB with myeloma cells, concomitantly removed reactivity with the normal stem cell, CFU-s, and the myeloma stem cell, plasmacytoma CFU-s. Sorting analysis further showed that the antigen was diminished within a positive tumor population as cells acquired the capacity to secrete immunoglobulin. These studies suggest that this normal stem cell-associated antigen may also be an early differentiation antigen for the B cell lineage, and is expressed on some stem cells of B cell tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma of the vagina.

A 26-year-old female with an alveolar soft-part sarcoma of the vagina, manifesting itself during and after pregnancy, is described. The presenting symptoms were pain and an increase in the size of the mass. Local excision, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, was ineffective and the tumor reoccurred within 6 weeks. Reoperation with removal of a portion of the vagina, surrounding tissues, and adjacent periosteum of the pubic bone has resulted in a stabilization of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse in Vietnam combat veterans: treatment problems, strategies and recommendations.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) rarely presents as a discrete diagnostic entity. Frequently, PTSD is accompanied by substance abuse, somatoform, and/or affective disorders. This article focuses on the interplay of PTSD and substance abuse in Vietnam combat veterans. PTSD symptoms, assessment and diagnostic difficulties, treatment strategies and recommendations are discussed. The role of substance abuse should be determined before initiating treatment. Substance abuse may suppress, exacerbate or perpetuate PTSD symptoms. Substance-free combat veterans, veterans who use substances to self-medicate PTSD symptoms, and chronic substance abusers can be differentiated. Treatment goals and strategies differ for each group. Case histories, intake procedures and treatment recommendations conclude this article. To conform with APA guidelines (1983) for non-sexist language and to avoid ambiguity of reference, it should be stated that all of the information in this paper came from or relates to male Vietnam combat veterans. It is truly unfortunate that so little is known about the role of females in the Vietnam conflict. The authors, who are themselves Vietnam veterans, have interviewed or treated more than 2,000 combat veterans and their families and have found that 80% of the veterans seen have had alcohol related problems. The information in this paper is largely drawn from the authors' personal experiences, that of co-professionals with whom they have worked, and from the direct experiences of patients who have been treated by the authors.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Environmental study of poultry confinement buildings.

Environmental measurements were made in three poultry confinement buildings in order to characterize gas and particulate contaminants. Levels of total and respirable dust averaged 4.4 and 0.24 mg/m3, respectively. Particle size distribution as measured by cascade impactors was similar in the three confinement houses with a mass median aerodynamic diameter of about 15 microns and a geometric standard deviation of about 2.2. Ammonia levels measured in the active areas of the buildings averaged about 25 ppm. Ammonia concentration was quite high, however, in an unused and unventilated portion of one of the buildings (mean = 170 ppm). CO2 levels ranged from 0.05-0.1%. Levels of CO, H2S, NO2, NOx, CH4, mercaptan, formaldehyde, and hydrocarbons were all below the limit of detection for indicator tubes. Concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi were on average about 1.5 X 10(5) and 1.0 X 10(4) colony-forming units/m3, respectively. Endotoxin analysis was also performed on the total and respirable dust samples. Endotoxin levels (expressed in air concentration) ranged from 0.77 to 61 ng/m3 for total dust and from 0.71 to 15 ng/m3 for respirable dust. Endotoxin was also measured on the collection media from the individual impactor stages. Endotoxin was detected in all size ranges with the highest concentration of endotoxin per unit of dust found in the smallest (less than approximately 3.5 microns) size fraction. The endotoxin levels tend to be lower than those previously reported in poultry operations.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗