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Biomedical subjects

W J Williams

Publications and source records attributed to W J Williams.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Angiosarcoma and hepatocellular carcinoma in vinyl chloride workers.

The livers from five vinyl chloride workers are described. They show angioformative and hepatocellular growth disturbance in varying proportions: angiosarcoma in four cases, liver cell hyperplasia in all, hyperplastic nodules in three cases and hepatocellular carcinoma in two cases. In one case the transition between hyperplastic nodule and hepatocellular carcinoma is demonstrated. The relationship between these changes and vinyl chloride exposure is discussed, with evidence that they are causally related.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Granulomatous inflammation--a review.

The granulomatous inflammatory response is a special type of chronic inflammation characterised by often focal collections of macrophages, epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells. In this review the characteristics of these cells of the mononuclear phagocyte series are considered, with particular reference to the properties of epithelioid cells and the formation of multinucleated giant cells. The initiation and development of granulomatous inflammation is discussed, stressing the importance of persistence of the inciting agent and the complex role of the immune system, not only in the perpetuation of the granulomatous response but also in the development of necrosis and fibrosis.

Granuloma↗
PubMed1983

Platelet binding in mononuclear cell preparations from peripheral blood.

We have investigated the relative binding affinity of white blood cells for platelets, during the centrifugation and washing procedures used for separating mononuclear cells from peripheral blood. In wet cell preparations the majority of monocytes (greater than 90%) showed platelet binding, compared to 14% of lymphocytes and 38% of polymorphs. Monocytes also had greater numbers of attached platelets per cell and demonstrated considerable variation in their affinity for platelets. The phenomenon was affected by the calcium concentration of the medium. Our observations are of value for identifying monocytes in wet cell preparations. The technique may also be useful for studying platelet adhesion in vascular disease.

Calcium↗
PubMed1982

Comparison of lymphocyte transformation and macrophage migration inhibition tests in the detection of beryllium hypersensitivity.

In seven patients with chronic beryllium disease (Be) the Be lymphocyte transformation test was positive in 100%, independent of steroid therapy, and was reproducible. The Be macrophage migration inhibition test was only positive in four of seven patients (57%) not on steroids, and was not reproducible. In 72 potentially exposed healthy beryllium workers the lymphocyte transformation test was negative in all subjects. The macrophage test was positive in four of 78 and again the results were not reproducible. The workers with positive results showed no differences in age, type or duration of employment from those with negative results and showed no evidence of disease. In addition, the macrophage test was positive in two of 45 non-exposed control subjects. We also confirmed the above advantages of the lymphocyte transformation technique by using tuberculin antigen (PPD). The PPD lymphocyte transformation test gave positive results in approximately 60% of healthy beryllium workers, but the PPD macrophage test was only positive in 7%. We conclude that the Be lymphocyte transformation test is the most sensitive and reproducible and advocate its use in the diagnosis of disease and in monitoring the health of potentially exposed workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Development of beryllium lymphocyte transformation tests in chronic beryllium disease.

We found that optimal conditions for the beryllium transformation test required the use of purified lymphocyte suspensions in 20% human serum, with beryllium sulphate at concentrations of 10(-6) to 10(-7) M. Using these conditions, all 15 chronic beryllium patients tested gave a stimulation index of more than 2. Despite the above, 10(-5) and 10(-6)M, BeSO4 inhibited spontaneous thymidine incorporation and lymphocyte transformation to PHA and PPD in normal subjects. Alternative methods, using whole blood, venous and thumb-prick samples, gave fewer and less reproducible positive results.

Berylliosis↗
PubMed1981

Myeloid differentiation of human blood mononuclear cells in liquid culture.

Human blood mononuclear cells were prepared from peripheral blood or single donor plateletpheresis residues by depletion of adherent cells and T lymphocytes. In double-layer soft agar culture, 5 x 10(5) such cells yielded from 33 to 165 colonies. For liquid culture, these cells were suspended in McCoy's 5A medium with 15% fetal bovine serum and 0%, 20%, or 40% conditioned medium (CM) and incubated for up to 14 days at 37 degrees C in a humidified 5% CO2-95% air atmosphere. The number of cells in cultures with CM decreased about 0%-10%, while cell counts from cultures without CM decreased about 45%-65%. In cultures with CM, 5%-20% of the cells were classified as blasts after 3-5 days. After 7-11 days, blasts and promyelocytes comprised up to 53% of all cells. After 9-11 days, cells with specific granules and maturing nuclei comprised up to 56% of all cells. At 11 days, up to 66% of the cells contained peroxidase-positive granules. Cultures without CM contained no more than 5% blasts and promyelocytes and less than 5% maturing granulocytic cells. 3H-thymidine and Na235SO4 incorporation reached a peak at 3-5 days and at 5-11 days, respectively, in cells from cultures containing CM.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1981

A systems-oriented evaluation of the role of joint receptors and other afferents in position and motion sense.

Position and motion sense have been considered to be primarily mediated by receptors in the joints until recently. New evidence indicates that muscle receptors and cutaneous receptors may also be critically involved. Some investigators even rule out a role for joint receptors in position and motion sense. In addition to the changing viewpoint concerning receptors, there has been a change in the view concerning the pathways of central projection of joint afferent information. Until recently, the last 10 years, the dorsal column-lemniscal system was assigned the major if not exclusive role in mediating proprioceptive information. This idea has now been revised as well. This review will cover historical and recent research results, with an emphasis on recent results. The newer findings especially the reintroduction of a sensory role for muscle spindles and a diminished role for joint receptors, are closely examined. The problem is approached from a systems analysis conceptualization. A number of quantitative results and aspects of the problem that have not been considered in the studies that have been published are included. The recent trend has been to strongly advance the case for muscle receptors, while retreating from joint receptors as mediators of kinesthetic sensation. This review focuses upon the issue of how joint receptors or other afferent information might be handled by the nervous system acting as a processor of dynamic signals. The modification imposed upon the signals as they ascend the neuraxis and the types of information that might be used by higher centers (velocity, position, acceleration, torque, force) are emphasized. The adequacy of the candidate receptors for this use is examined. The idea of position and motion sense and the way in which the sensations are defined and tested is covered.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1980

Rapid in situ cytochemical classification of CFU-C colonies in soft agar culture: permanent whole culture preparations.

Soft agar culture CFU-C (colony-forming units in culture) are rapidly classified in situ as eosinophil, macrophage, and neutrophil-monocyte types by whole culture staining with luxol fast blue for eosinophil specific granules and acetoorcein for nuclei. Stained colonies may be picked and examined individually as wet mount cover slip preparations, or the agar culture may be air dried and mounted permanently. The whole culture stain has been variously modified for the enzyme markers alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase and peroxidase and for nuclear staining alone with acetoorcein.

Agar↗
PubMed1980

Purification of human peripheral blood colony forming cells (CFUC).

A 10-fold enrichment of colony forming cells (CFUC) from single donor platelet-apheresis residues and from 70-120 ml of peripheral blood of normal donors was achieved by sequential sedimentation on Ficoll-diatrizoate, depletion of cells adherent to plastic, and depletion of cells rosetting with sheep red blood cells (T lymphocytes). Culture of 5 x 10(5) unfractionated mononuclear cells yielded 9 +/- 3 colonies and mononuclear cells depleted of adherent cells and T lymphocytes yielded 53 +/- 6 colonies. The mononuclear cell fraction depleted of adherent cells and T lymphocytes was further enriched for CFUC by isopycnic sedimentation of Percoll gradients. Cells recovered in the 1.0063-1.065 g/cm3 density layer of the gradient formed 146 +/- 9 colonies in culture. The mononuclear cells depleted of adherent cells and T lymphocytes were also enriched for CFUC by depletion of Fc-receptor positive cells using an immune sheep red blood cell rosette sedimentation technique. Cultures of the Fc-receptor depleted fractions yielded 107 +/- 12 colonies, while the Fc-receptor enriched fraction yielded only 2 +/- 1 colonies. CFUC appear to lack surface membrane receptors for sheep erythrocytes and the Fc portion of immunoglobulin as well as the ability to adhere to plastic.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1980

The effect of aging on the blood count.

There are age-related changes in the results of some tests, but in none is the normal value for the elderly sufficiently different from normal values for younger adults to permit the physician confidently to ascribe an abnormal result to age alone. In assessing the significance of abnormal results of hematologic tests in asymptomatic patients, it is particularly important to consider problems of major import, such as blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract. Anemia is the abnormality most likely to be encountered, and investigation of a marginal reduction in the hemoglobin level of an elderly patient may be rewarded with a specific diagnosis of a disease that can be effectively treated, at least for a time.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Quantitative evaluation of joint motion sensation in an aging population.

Fifty-two neurologically normal subjects from 61 to 84 years in age were evaluated for sensitivity of perception of joint motion. Right and left metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints were passively moved in an ever-increasing amplitude in a sinusoidal flexion-extension mode. Precise measurements of the amplitude of the angle of deviation where the subjects felt motion were made and stored with the help of a computer. A younger cohort 19 to 34 years in age was also tested. The older subjects did less well in perceiving motion at the lowest frequency in the metatarsophalangeal joints. When the older cohort was separated in semidecades and compared to each other, as well as the younger cohort, all differences of motion threshold perception lost significance. It is concluded that there is no major decline in joint motion sensation with aging.

Adult↗