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Biomedical subjects

B C Corser

Publications and source records attributed to B C Corser.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Sleep apnea in sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF WORK: Sleep apnea is reported to occur in 2-4% of the general population. Patients with sarcoidosis are at increased risk for sleep apnea, possibly due to factors such as steroid use, neurosarcoid, or upper airway obstruction. METHODS: In order to determine the prevalence and risk factors for sleep apnea in sarcoidosis patients, we studied 83 consecutive patients with sarcoidosis seen over a six-week time period. Patients were screened using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire and the age, sex, race, weight, and medications were recorded. The presence of previously diagnosed sleep apnea, neurosarcoid, lupus pernio, and sinus disease were also noted. A control group of 91 patients seen in general pulmonary clinics were similarly screened. Patients with a positive sleep questionnaire were referred for sleep studies. RESULTS: A total of 14 sarcoid patients (17%) were found to have sleep apnea, which was significantly higher than our control group with 3/91 (3%, p < 0.001). The presence of lupus pernio was significantly more frequent in the sleep apnea group. Although 5/51 (10%) female sarcoid patients had sleep apnea, overall it was more frequent in male sarcoid patients. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep apnea was frequent in sarcoid patients and was associated with lupus pernio.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Enhancement of macrophage and monocyte cytotoxicity by the surface active material of lung lining fluid.

The surface active material (SAM) of alveolar lining fluid has been shown to have immunologic activity. We studied the effect of SAM on monocyte-macrophage cytotoxicity against a tumor cell line. Alveolar macrophages were studied from 15 subjects without cancer. Tumor growth, as assessed by tritiated thymidine incorporation, was significantly inhibited by the macrophages alone (tumor alone median 39,401 cpm, macrophages plus tumor median 12,153 cpm, P less than 0.01). Tumor cytotoxicity was enhanced by preincubating the macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (median 37 cpm, P less than 0.01) or coincubating the tumor cells and macrophages with SAM (median 5474 cpm, P less than 0.01). Similar results were seen when using blood adherent mononuclear cells. There was increasing cytotoxicity for the adherent mononuclear cells with increasing amounts of SAM. When the various phospholipids of SAM were studied, it was found that phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidyl glycerol all enhanced adherent mononuclear cell cytotoxicity, whereas phosphatidylinositol inhibited adherent mononuclear cell cytotoxicity. These studies suggest that SAM may have important immunoregulatory function for the alveolar macrophage.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1986

Spontaneous hydrogen peroxide release from alveolar macrophages of some cigarette smokers.

Alveolar macrophages were retrieved by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from 30 patients, 24 smokers and six nonsmokers. The macrophages were separated from other cells in the BAL fluid by glass adherence. The amount of hydrogen peroxide released into the media by these macrophages was then measured by a new method of determining hydrogen peroxide concentration. Two groups were found. Group 1, who did not spontaneously release hydrogen peroxide, were mostly nonsmokers (six of nine), and group 2, who spontaneously secreted hydrogen peroxide (87.5 +/- 17.08 nmol/10(6) macrophages [mean +/- SEM]), were all smokers (21 of 21). When the alveolar macrophages in group 1 were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate, they secreted as much hydrogen peroxide as the stimulated macrophages of group 2 (group 1: 125.0 +/- 92.08 nmol/10(6) macrophages, group 2: 116.7 +/- 14.82 nmol/10(6) macrophages). We conclude that there is a subset of smokers whose alveolar macrophages spontaneously release hydrogen peroxide.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Prolonged toxicity following massive ingestion of sustained-release theophylline preparation.

Massive ingestion of sustained-release theophylline preparations in three patients was treated with gastric lavage and repeated dosages of orally-administered activated charcoal. Therapy was initiated promptly; however, two patients had their highest theophylline levels documented six to 12 hours after ingestion, and theophylline levels on arrival at the hospital were significantly lower than the maximal level documented. All three patients had prolonged elevations of the level, with markedly delayed half-lives of the drug. Overdosages due to sustained release preparations may lead to prolonged toxicity and require aggressive and continuous therapy.

Administration, Oral↗