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Biomedical subjects

W C Miller

Publications and source records attributed to W C Miller.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Rapid, shallow ventilatory pattern during exercise after histamine, bronchopprovocation.

The ventilatory response to inhaled histamine sufficient to double specific airway resistance was studied at rest and with exercise in normal subjects. There were no ventilatory alterations at rest but during steady-state exercise the subjects adopted a rapid, shallow breathing pattern. Despite this change and increased resistance over-all ventilation and oxygen consumption were unchanged.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Smoke inhalation in firemen.

Thirty firemen were studied with pulmonary function tests immediately after a severe smoke exposure and then one and a half and 18 months later in order to evaluate acute and chronic changes in their spirometry. The results were compared with predicted values and with those from a group of closely matched control subjects. We found no significant differences between the acute post-exposure spirometry values and those recorded at six weeks and 18 months later. A trend toward an increased rate of volume loss in the FVC and FEV1 was noted which is similar to other published observations. However, we did find a significant decrement in FVC compared with predicted value, and in FVC and FEV1 compared with control subjects. This is further evidence that firemen may develop lung disease related to their occupational exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Low-density gas breathing during exercise in chronic obstructive lung disease.

Because breathing low-density helium-oxygen gas mixture has been reported as improving ventilatory mechanics in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and reducing the oxygen cost of ventilation in exercising normal subjects, it might prove useful in COPD physical conditioning programs. 7 COPD patients performed incremental exercise to tolerance while breathing either air on 79% helium-21% oxygen mixture. There was a tendency for low-density gas breathing to stimulate a higher ventilation at any given work load. As a result there was a tendency to greater tolerance with air breathing. Throughout exercise there was no statistically significant difference in endurance, oxygen consumption, heart rate, or ventilatory parameters suggesting that the helium-oxygen mixture was not beneficial to exercise performance.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

A comparison of oral terbutaline and fenoterol in asthma.

The effects of fenoterol and terbutaline, new beta 2 selective bronchodilators each administered orally in five mgm doses, was assessed in 33 asthmatics treated for six weeks. Both agents appeared to be equally potent bronchodilators with equally prolonged duration of action. Adrenergic side effects were half as frequent with fenoterol as compared to terbutaline. With both agents statistically significant drug tolerance developed--the clinical significance of which is unknown.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1980

Alveolar proteinosis as a consequence of immunosuppression. A hypothesis based on clinical and pathologic observations.

Eight patients with hematologic malignant disease presented with associated alveolar proteinosis. All but one of these patients also had evidence of opportunistic infections. No explanation for this association could be elicited, but all patients appeared immunosuppressed at the time of their death. Autopsy revealed proteinaceous material or micro-organisms in the alveoli, but the inflammatory response was minimal. Forty cases of opportunistic infections and 22 cases of hematologic malignant disease were found among the patients with alveolar proteinosis reported in the literature. Lungs in these cases also lacked a significant number of inflammatory cells capable of phagocytosis. On the basis of these observations, a hypothesis is formulated to explain alveolar proteinosis as being a result of poor alveolar clearance in immunosuppressed patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Clinical application of measurement of angiotensin-converting enzyme level.

Assay of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the sera of 69 patients demonstrated elevated levels in 19 of 22 (86%) of those with clinically active, biopsy-proved sarcoidosis. Patients with dormant sarcoidosis and generally those with various other disorders had normal levels. Elevated levels were also seen in six cases possibly representing sarcoid variants and in one case each of leprosy, carcinoma, tuberculosis, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, and immunoblastic sarcoma. Although ACE is sensitive to active sarcoidosis, the presence of false-positive findings limits its diagnostic usefulness to an adjunctive role; the assay should be combined with medical evaluation and tissue biopsy in selected cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Respiratory failure in cancer patients.

A review of 180 cancer patients requiring mechanical ventilation disclosed that 26% survived to extubation, and 13% and 7% were alive at two and six months, respectively. Mortality was related to several factors individually and the cumulative number of organ systems dysfunctioning in a given patient. Compared with general intensive care patients, those with respiratory failure and neoplastic disease demonstrated a high incidence of drug-induced pulmonary disease, hematologic abnormalities, pneumothorax, and infections with multiple and unusual organisms--all of which alter the approach to management. Although the long-term survival was poor, immediate survival was comparable with that of many groups of patients with respiratory failure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Methotrexate-induced diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

Three patients received respectively 190 mg, 175 mg, and 196 mg of methotrexate and developed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates without evidence of peripheral blood eosinophilia. Sputum in the three cases failed to reveal acid-fast bacilli, pathogenic fungi, or opportunistic organisms by cultures and appropriate stains. Despite discontinuance of the drug and/or institution of corticosteroid therapy, progressive respiratory failure led to death. In all three cases, autopsy revealed gross and microscopic features indistinguishable from those seen in the Hamman-Rich syndrome, and methotrexate hepatotoxicity was present in one. Pulmonary eosinophilia or granulomas, classically seen in previously reported cases of methotrexate pneumonitis, were not observed. It is suggested therefore that methotrexate be added to the list of agents capable of inducing diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Conversely, diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients receiving methotrexate who develop bilateral pulmonary infiltrates seen on chest roentgenograms.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Are all recently detoxified alcoholics depressed?

Reports of the prevalence of depression among alcoholics vary from 3% to 98%; the authors attribute this variation to the use of different diagnostic criteria. They used clinical diagnosis, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, and the MMPI to diagnose 35 men recently withdrawn from alcohol. The percentages of depression diagnosed were 8.6%, 28%, 66%, and 43%, respectively. The authors point out that the Hamilton, Zung, and MMPI scales are not diagnostic of depression in themselves and that accurate diagnosis of depression in alcoholics will reduce inappropriate treatment of nondepressed alcoholics and ensure careful treatment of the truly depressed.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1979

Inhaled atropine in asthma.

Ten adult asthmatics inhaled atropine and isoproterenol to determine the site of action in the airways and relative effectiveness of the two drugs. The two agents were equal in their effect on lung volumes and airway resistance but isoproterenol produced significantly better flows. Atropine was shown to be an effective bronchodilator with a predominant site of action in large airways. The authors believe atropine and atropine derivatives deserve ongoing investigation, especially regarding potential side effects of retarding mucociliary clearance and the clinical significance of apparent failure to dilate small airways.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1978

Antibodies to synthetic polyribonucleotides in spouses of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Serum from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (I.B.D.) and their unaffected spouses bound significantly more synthetic single-stranded (poly.rA) and double-stranded (poly.rA.poly.rU) R.N.A. but not KB cell D.N.A. than did serum from age-matched controls and their spouses. Binding activity resided in Ig fractions and was predominantly of IgM class. A significant corelation was observed between the amount of double-stranded but not single-stranded R.N.A. bound by serum from patients and from their respective spouses. These findings provide indirect support for the presence of R.N.A. viruses in patients with I.B.D. and the transmission of such agents to their close personal contacts.

Antibodies, Viral↗