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Biomedical subjects

H M Morrison

Publications and source records attributed to H M Morrison.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Elastolytic activity of sputum and its relation to purulence and to lung function in patients with bronchiectasis.

Sputum samples from 34 patients with bronchiectasis were assessed subjectively and the results related to objective measurements of elastase activity and albumin content. The results suggest that the macroscopic appearance of the sample is related to the elastase content. 88.7% of the purulent samples but none of the mucoid samples showing elastase activity. The macroscopic appearance was also associated with changes in protein transudation into the secretions. The median sputum: serum albumin concentration ratio was 0.71 X 10(-2) (range 0.22-4.7) in the mucoid samples but was greater in purulent samples (p less than 0.005), with a median value of 1.52 X 10(-2) (range 0.55-12.72), suggesting that purulence in the stable state was associated with low grade pulmonary inflammation or epithelial damage or both. Abnormalities of air flow were found in 24 of the patients (70.6%) but there was a significantly higher ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity (p less than 0.025) in patients who regularly produced purulent sputum (mean (SD) RV/TLC 44.4% (9.0%] than in those with mucoid or mucopurulent secretions (38.0% (9.9%]. A similar difference was found between those who produced elastase positive secretions and those who produced elastase negative ones.

Adult↗

Effect of antibiotic treatment on sputum elastase in bronchiectatic outpatients in a stable clinical state.

Broad spectrum antibiotic treatment was given on 21 occasions to 15 patients with bronchiectasis who regularly produced purulent, elastase positive secretions. Although the results showed that sputum clearing--that is, changing from purulent to mucoid--largely depended on the pathogenic organism isolated, this was not exclusively the case and in some cases sputum growing sensitive organisms failed to clear whereas clearing occurred in other samples containing resistant organisms or no obvious pathogens. Clearing of sputum was achieved eventually in 12 of the patients and this was associated with the disappearance of elastase activity, although it returned in 10 patients within one week of stopping treatment. There was no change in sputum elastase where the sputum failed to clear. The clearance of elastase activity was associated with a decrease in protein transudation into the lung secretions. The sputum:serum albumin concentration ratio fell (p less than 0.005) from a mean (SD) of 2.32 (1.56) X 10(-2) in these 12 patients before treatment to 1.09 (0.40) X 10(-2) within the first week of treatment, but rose again to 2.07 (1.29) X 10(-2) within one week of stopping treatment. The results suggest that antibiotic treatment when patients are in a stable state may have a beneficial effect on the pathogenic nature of lung secretions and inflammation within the lung.

Adult↗

Inhibitory capacity of alpha 1 antitrypsin in lung secretions: variability and the effect of drugs.

The inhibitory function of alpha 1 antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) has been studied in the lung secretions of 31 patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis. The inhibitory capacity for a single sample showed a wide range (median 0.13 micrograms porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) inhibited per microgram alpha 1 antitrypsin; range 0-0.55 micrograms), and all but five of 86 samples studied were capable of inhibiting some porcine pancreatic elastase. No sample showed free elastase activity, however. The inhibitory capacity, studied in six patients over five consecutive days, varied daily within the same individual (coefficient of variation 9.0-108.9%). Corticosteroid treatment (40 mg prednisone daily) increased the inhibitory capacity of sputum alpha 1 antitrypsin in 10 patients (2p less than 0.05) from a median value of 0.13 micrograms PPE inhibited per microgram alpha 1AT (range 0.06-0.36) before treatment to 0.22 micrograms PPE inhibited per microgram alpha 1AT (range 0.09-0.65) after treatment. The inhibitory capacity of sputum was higher than in the corresponding bronchoalveolar lavage sample from the same patient (2p less than 0.05; n = 10). The median value for sputum was 0.22 micrograms PPE inhibited per microgram alpha 1AT (range 0-0.55) and the value for lavage fluid was 0.07 micrograms PPE inhibited per microgram alpha 1AT (range 0-0.27).

Aged↗

Low molecular mass bronchial proteinase inhibitor and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor in sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage.

The concentration of a low molecular mass bronchial mucus inhibitor of proteolytic enzymes (BMPI) was measured in lung secretions from patients with chronic bronchitis and compared to the concentrations of albumin and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI). The concentration of all three proteins was lower in bronchoalveolar lavage samples than in sputum obtained from the same patient. However the relationship between the proteins (concentrations relative to each other) was similar in both secretions suggesting the differences in concentrations were only dilutional. The molar concentration of BMPI in both secretions was generally greater than that of alpha 1-PI suggesting that most of the anti-elastase screen (congruent to 75%) was due to the former protein. Furthermore inhibitory studies using both purified leukocyte elastase and porcine pancreatic elastase show that the inhibitory capacity of lung alpha 1-PI varied and accounted for about 16% of the total inhibition of leukocyte elastase in sputum. However, the inhibitory function of alpha 1-PI was less in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids compared to sputum (p less than 0.05) and accounted for about 5% of the total inhibitory capacity for leukocyte elastase. It is concluded that alpha 1-PI contributes only a part of the anti-elastase screen of secretions from patients with chronic bronchitis. Furthermore it is inactivated to a varying degree in most secretions and its remaining inhibitory capacity represents only a minor proportion of the total inhibitory capacity.

Aged↗

Choroidal malignant melanoma in siblings.

Choroidal malignant melanoma was diagnosed on pathologic examination of enucleated globes from a 54-year-old man and his 58-year-old sister. The brother had been monitored at four-month intervals for four years because of a choroidal lesion, which abruptly increased in size, in his left eye. Three years after an examination with normal findings, the sister developed a retinal detachment with a pigmented dome in her right eye. Both patients are doing well five years (Patient 1) and two years (Patient 2) after enucleation. Screening examinations detected two cases of benign melanoma (nevi) in 18 close relatives but this incidence did not exceed chance.

Choroid Neoplasms↗