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W Williams

Publications and source records attributed to W Williams.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Assessment of common idiotype PR4-Id in serial bleeds from lupus patients.

Marked fluctuations in the levels of a common DNA-antibody idiotype, PR4-Id have been found on IgM and IgA antibodies in particular and to a lesser extent on IgG in serial bleeds of 14 lupus patients. Few clear cut examples were found of the PR4-Id levels reflecting disease activity. However, the idiotype expression was not simply related to total immunoglobulin levels and the controlling mechanisms of idiotype expression on different isotypes remain a matter of conjecture.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1991

Neutrophil chemotactic factors in the tears of giant papillary conjunctivitis patients.

This study was designed to determine the presence of neutrophil chemotactic factors in the tears of patients with giant papillary conjunctivitis (BPC) secondary to contact lenses. Chemotactic activity was measured using modified Boyden chambers and the chemoattractant formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (f-MLP) for 100 percent response. Elevated levels of chemotactic activity were found in the tears of symptomatic patients (80.8 +/- 6.4, % f-MLP) compared with control tears of asymptomatic contact lens wearers (15.7 +/- 3.3%) and non-contact lens wearers (5.6 +/- 1.2%). Using radioimmunoassay, C5a (serum-derived chemoattractant), leukotriene-B4, and interleukin-1 (immune cell-derived chemoattractants) were not detected in the tears of symptomatic patients. The authors determined whether injured conjunctival cells participate in this process by releasing neutrophil chemotactic factors. Isolated rabbit bulbar conjunctiva incubated with culture medium for 4 and 6 hr released high levels of neutrophil chemotactic factors. The release of these factors from injured conjunctiva support the premise that physical trauma of conjunctival cells induced by contact lenses may be an important component of the pathophysiology of giant papillary conjunctivitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Peritonitis in acute peritoneal dialysis at the University Hospital of the West Indies (a five-year review).

The records of patients receiving acute peritoneal dialysis during the years 1983-1987 were retrospectively evaluated. Of a total of 59 patients receiving dialysis, 10 developed peritonitis. Staphylococcus aureus was the single most frequently isolated organism. However, gram-negative bacilli as a group were more common. We recommend the use of cloxacillin orally and gentamicin intra-peritoneally as empiric antibiotic coverage until results of culture reports are available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Thyroid-gonad relationship in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Thirty women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were examined to assess the thyroid-gonad relationship. Significant decreases in mean serum tri-iodo-thyronine and testosterone levels and increases in mean serum estradiol and luteinizing hormone levels were observed in SLE patients as compared to control subjects. The serum levels of thyroxine, thyrotropin, tri-iodo-thyronine uptake, free thyroxine index and prolactin were, however, not significantly different in both groups. The interpretation of these findings is unclear but SLE could be regarded as one of the nonthyroidal systemic illness since low serum tri-iodo-thyronine with normal thyrotropin levels were observed in our patients. Furthermore, high levels of estradiol and low levels of testosterone in our female patients may indicate involvement of sex steroids in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Colon cancer in blacks: a disease with a worsening prognosis.

Despite the fact that a significant national effort has been made over the past 10 years to improve the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer, blacks have not had any change in their prognosis compared to whites, and their survival rate appears to be independent of stage at the time of diagnosis. The disease incidence is practically the same for both races, 49 per 100,000. We reviewed all patients with colorectal cancer in our Tumor Registry over a 10-year period to determine whether the experience at an all-black institution with a black patient base for much of its history would help clarify these crucial questions. There were 118 cases (73 women/45 men), and the mean age was 68 years (range: 29 to 93). The most common signs and symptoms were gross bleeding (34%) and abdominal pain (30%), with most patients presenting with a combination of symptoms. Remarkably, none were symptom-free. Of the 96 patients who were staged surgically and pathologically, 68 (71%) were beyond Duke's B staging at the time of diagnosis and surgery. The overall 5-year survival rate was 47%, significantly related to stage of disease at diagnosis (P less than .001). We concluded that blacks have not shared in the progress made in early diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer, and that special attention should be given to developing screening and surveillance methodology targeted specifically at blacks.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Neutrophil chemotactic factors derived from conjunctival epithelial cells: preliminary biochemical characterization.

We have previously reported on the release of neutrophil chemotactic factors (NCF) from injured conjunctival tissue. The present study was designed to biochemically characterize these conjunctiva-derived chemotactic factors and determine their biological activities. Bulbar conjunctiva was surgically removed from a rabbit eye and incubated with 250 microL of minimal essential medium (MEM) for 6 hours at 37 degrees C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere. Chemotactic activity was assayed using modified Boyden chambers with rabbit peritoneal neutrophils as indicator cells. Following treatment with subtilisin protease for 90 minutes, chemotactic activity of the conjunctival factors was reduced by 74%. Similarly, activity was lost after heating at 56 degrees C for 60 minutes (41% inhibition). Using ultrafiltration techniques, we showed that the majority of the chemotactic activity remained above a 100 kilodalton filter, suggesting the existence of high molecular weight factors. We also showed that the conjunctival factors are not glycoproteins and bind to both anion and cation exchange resins. When 100 microL of conjunctival supernatant was injected in the superior tarsal conjunctiva of rabbits, significant recruitment of neutrophils was evident by 4 hours. Control rabbits injected with MEM did not show neutrophil recruitment. Results of these studies indicate that NCF from traumatized conjunctival tissue are proteins (and not glycoproteins) of high molecular weight, heat labile, exhibit anionic and cationic charges, and are active in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Expression of a common idiotype PR4 in the sera of patients with leprosy.

The sera of 187 patients from across the leprosy spectrum were screened for the expression of the PR4 idiotype, which was first identified on a human hybridoma-derived monoclonal antibody from a patient with leprosy and found to react with the Mycobacterium leprae phenolic glycolipid and a variety of polynucleotides. Sixty per cent (51 out of 85) of patients with lepromatous leprosy (LL), 66% (33 out of 49) with borderline lepromatous (BL) disease, 47% (14 out of 30) with borderline tuberculoid (BT) leprosy, and 56% (13 out of 23) of tuberculoid (TT) patients were found to have significantly elevated titres of the PR4 idiotype in their sera compared with endemic controls, irrespective of the presence or absence of endemic malaria. Sera from 52 patients with tuberculosis were also screened as a control for mycobacterial infection. The PR4 idiotype was significantly elevated in 37% (19 out of 52) of these patients. No correlation between idiotype and serum immunoglobulins IgG and IgM was found, indicating that the concentrations of idiotype levels in sera were not merely a reflection of changes in serum immunoglobulin levels. It is hypothesized that the expression of the PR4 idiotype is due to certain germline genes preferentially expressed rather than being the result of polyclonal B cell activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The pitfalls of free enterprise health care.

William Williams, Ph.D., executive director, Saint Mary's Foundation, Reno, NV, says that when our free enterprise system is viewed in its simplest form, it consists of an exchange between two participants. Seller gives product/service to buyer, in exchange for payment received. But when it comes to health care, all the rules change. The $550 billion question is: How can we successfully blend free enterprise and health care?

Commerce↗
PubMed1990

Construct validity of the Diagnostic Inventory of Personality and Symptoms: external correlates.

This study extended knowledge of the construct validity of Vincent's Diagnostic Inventory of Personality and Symptoms (DIPS) by examining the relationships between the DIPS and the MMPI, the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, the Profile of Mood States, the Symptom Check List-90, and the California Psychological Inventory. Subjects were 300 predominantly male psychiatric inpatients. Correlational analyses revealed that the DIPS clinical scales were related most strongly to MMPI and MCMI clinical scales. Eleven of 14 DIPS clinical scales showed clinically significant correlations with similar scales of the external measures. The validities of the Stress-Adjustment Disorders and Psychological Factors Affecting Physical Condition scales were not ascertained directly.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The antibody repertoire of early human B cells. II: Expression of anti-DNA-related idiotypes.

Cord blood B cells were immortalized in vitro with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Supernatants containing greater than 500 ng/ml IgM from clones/lines were tested for expression of anti-DNA-associated 16/6 and PR4 idiotypes (id) by ELISA. Four of 70 lines, but no clones, were positive for 16/6 id and none expressed the PR4 id. The presence of 16/6 id on four cell lines was associated with specificity for ssDNA, cardiolipin and Fc of IgG. No association was seen with binding to the K30 polysaccharide of Klebsiella. One clone binding this antigen also had anti-ssDNA, anti-Fc and anti-cardiolipin activity but did not express 16/6 id. Our data support the germ-line nature of the 16/6 id and are consistent with the notion that IgM autoantibody-producing B cells use VH genes which are part of the normal B cell repertoire.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of DNA antibody idiotypes in human sera: an international collaborative study of 19 idiotypes from 11 different laboratories.

The distribution of and relationships between 18 anti-DNA antibody idiotypes and one anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody idiotype have been tested in an international collaborative study of human sera from 180 individuals. The main finding is that the serum levels of many of these idiotypes, whether of murine or human origin, show a high degree of statistical correlation. The studies in a wide range of autoimmune rheumatic diseases confirm that none of the idiotypes tested is disease specific, but 13 of 15 (87%) whose levels were recorded as OD units or cpm correlated strongly with anti-ssDNA antibody levels and 11 of 15 (73%) with total serum IgM. Expression of several idiotypes was found to fluctuate in parallel with disease activity in SLE; levels of others were also elevated in the healthy relatives of lupus patients whilst a few were also raised in the spouses of these patients. The data support the notion that there may be only a few groups of related DNA antibody idiotypes. The correlations between the idiotypes with regard to their quantities, association with disease activity, and wide distribution in different diseases and healthy individuals suggest at least two explanations. First, all of these idiotypes may be present in normal immunoglobulin repertoires and simply increase in response to poly- or oligoclonal B-cell activation in autoimmune diseases. Secondly, these idiotypes may be structurally linked to each other, so that their behaviour under conditions of specific antigenic stimulation is similar. Genetic and structural studies will be required to distinguish between these possibilities.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1990

Pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and pyoderma gangrenosum after a brown recluse spider bite.

Brown recluse spider bites may result in extensive soft tissue injury, causing months of disability. We have described a patient who had a series of extensive surgical debridements after envenomation. Despite skin grafting, persistent cutaneous lesions and extensive satellitosis progressed to involve the entire lower extremity. A recent biopsy showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and pyoderma gangrenosum complicating the original injury. Although the role of early surgical excision and newer forms of medical treatment including dapsone and antivenom are still in evolution, recent reports suggest that the majority of patients will respond to medical therapy and may not require any surgical intervention.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Lupus nephritis at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica: a 10-year experience.

The case records of 75 patients who had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and renal involvement on renal histology were reviewed. There were 70 females and 5 males, with a ratio of 14:1. The majority of the patients were in their second and third decades of life. SLE nephritis was distinctly uncommon in patients below 10 years of age and above 50 years of age. In nearly 80% of the patients, SLE nephritis was diagnosed within the year prior to presentation. The most common presenting clinical features were arthritis in 78% and a rash in 48%. The two most common renal features were proteinuria in 60% and renal failure in 55%. Of these patients, 20%, 12%, 48%, and 17% fell into Class II (mesangial GN), Class III (focal GN), Class IV (diffuse GN), and Class V (membranous GN), respectively, when the renal histological abnormalities were categorized according to the World Health Organization classification. The remaining 3% of patients had sclerosis and as a result were unclassifiable. The two major clinical manifestations in the Class IV patients were an acute nephritis syndrome in 83% and renal failure in 61%. The nephrotic syndrome was seen in 62% of Class V (membranous GN) cases. There was 100% survival in Classes II (mesangial GN) and V (membranous GN), and 62% percent in Classes III (focal GN) and IV (diffuse GN) combined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Sexual myths in the male.

Most men, regardless of intelligence and education, have their sexual behaviour adversely affected by a variety of misconceptions or myths. Much sexual unhappiness results. In this article the commonest misconceptions and some of their adverse effects are examined.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

DSM-III diagnosis and code types of the Diagnostic Inventory of Personality and Symptoms in public hospital settings.

The relationships of high-point code types of the Diagnostic Inventory of Personality and Symptoms (DIPS) to the Diagnostic and statistical manual III of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-III) were explored for public hospital patients (N = 448). Nineteen DIPS code types that relate code types to Axis I diagnoses are prepared. The three DIPS personality disorder cluster scales and the eight combinations thereof are presented as well. Eight of the personality disorder cluster scale code types that relate to DSM-III Axis II categories are identified. Finally, a narrative summation of each of the code types is given.

Adult↗