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Biomedical subjects

J L Curtis

Publications and source records attributed to J L Curtis.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Disseminated Curvularia infection. Additional therapeutic and clinical considerations with evidence of medical cure.

A previously reported case of cerebral infection due to Curvularia lunata is more fully described. Medical cure was apparently achieved after 30 months' treatment with amphotericin B. Success was achieved only when the drug was given in a dose of 40 mg, three times per week, and was continued for six months after enhanced computed tomographic scans no longer showed cerebral lesions. Immunologic studies suggested the infection was accompanied by an unexplained defect in cell-mediated immunity.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Analysis of immune status of hemodialyzed adults: association with prior transfusions.

Peripheral blood leukocytes of 29 hemodialyzed adults, 19 transfused and 10 nontransfused, were studied using immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal antibodies and in vitro measurement of natural killer (NK) cell activity. When compared with control subjects, the absolute number of leukocytes in transfused hemodialyzed patients was significantly reduced (P less than 0.01), as were the absolute numbers of OKT11+ cells (P less than 0.01), and OKT4+ cells (P less than 0.0001). The percent representation of OKT11+ and OKT4+ cells was also significantly lower among transfused hemodialyzed patients (P less than 0.01 and 0.001, respectively), and this loss of OKT4+ cells resulted in a decrease in the ratio of OKT4+/OKT8+ cells (P less than 0.01). The absolute number of Leu-7+ cells was also decreased in the transfused group (P less than 0.05). A decrease in in vitro NK cell activity was present in both transfused and nontransfused hemodialyzed subjects. Whether these differences in peripheral blood lymphocytes were induced by the erythrocyte transfusions could not be determined; however, if they reflect changes in central lymphoid tissues, then these results may help explain the prolonged survival of renal allografts in transfused individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Primary in vitro plaque-forming cell response to DAGG-Ficoll: LPS-induced enhancement mediated by interleukin-1.

The specific primary in vitro plaque-forming cell (PFC) response of C57B1/6 nu/nu spleen cells to the Type 2 T-independent (TI-2) antigen DAGG-Ficoll was analysed in the absence of T cell help in a serum-free medium. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhancement of the antigen-specific response was shown to be mediated by soluble factors contained in the supernatants of LPS-induced bone marrow-derived macrophages. The activity of these supernatants was not associated with residual LPS, since the antigen-specific response of B cells from mice genetically deficient in LPS receptors was equally well enhanced. The activity of these supernatants was associated with interleukin-1 (IL-1) and partially purified IL-1 prepared from P388D1 cells also enhanced the primary in vitro response to DAGG-Ficoll. Limiting dilution analysis experiments showed that only in the presence of exogenously added IL-1 could a single cell type, presumably the B cells, be shown to be limiting.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Fat necrosis of the breast simulating recurrent carcinoma after primary radiotherapy in the management of early stage breast carcinoma.

Between March 1973 and December 1980, 76 patients with Stage I or II breast carcinoma were treated by biopsy and definitive radiation therapy at Stanford University Medical Center. There were 78 treated breasts since two patients had bilateral carcinomas at presentation. During a median follow-up period of 29 months, eight patients developed discrete masses in the treated breast. In four of these patients biopsied tissue revealed recurrent carcinoma yielding a local control rate of 95%. Four additional patients had lesions which were clinically indistinguishable from recurrent cancer. Biopsy specimens, however, revealed fat necrosis of the breast. The clinical and pathologic features of this entity are described. It is imperative that clinicians be aware of this treatment sequelae so that conservative diagnostic procedures may be used and breast deformity minimized. If postirradiation fat necrosis is considered, mastectomy for suspected persistent or recurrent disease may be avoided.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1983

The longitudinal study of chronic sarcoidosis.

Although spontaneous remissions are frequent in sarcoidosis, chronic persistent disabling disease is also observed. This feature seems more frequent and more severe in black patients, as has been previously reported (10). The more extensive and severe the initial disease manifestations, the more likely it is that the disease will continue. Corticosteroids are usually beneficial and complications are infrequent. Delayed or interrupted treatment seems to allow progression or irreversible disease or both. Patient compliance is an obvious important factor. Relapses are frequent as treatment is withdrawn but are usually at least partially reversible. Some deterioration is observed with repeated relapses. Low dose daily prednisone (5-15 mg) seems to prevent relapses. Patient compliance is facilitated with daily treatment rather than alternate day therapy. Prolonged treatment for 10 to 15 or more years is often required. Chloroquine is particularly helpful in skin and mucosal disease. The necessity for long-term thoughtful management is obvious.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Pigmented olfactory neuroblastoma: a new example of melanotic neuroepithelial neoplasm.

The light and electron microscopic features of a pigmented olfactory neuroblastoma are described. The neuroblastic nature of the tumor was confirmed by the demonstration of axons, some of which originated from the neoplastic cells, and by the presence of dense-core vesicles in the perikarya and processes of the tumor cells. The tumor contained a large amount of pigment, most of which had the histochemical reactions of melanin, but some of which had that of lipofuscin. Electron microscopy failed to demonstrate the presence of melanosomes or premelanosomes: the pigment showed some of the features of neuromelanin, although the fine structural appearances were not typical. The pigment was interpreted in this case as presumably representing a modified catecholamine degradation product, perhaps related to lipofuscin. The presence of melanotic pigment in an example of olfactory neuroblastoma, unreported until now, augments the list of neurogenic neoplasms in which an association with melanin formation has been described. The significance of this association in tumors originating from the nervous system or its coverings needs further investigation, as the nature of pigment appears to be heterogeneous. These tumors may contain either melanosomal pigment or pigment identified as neuromelanin (or a related substance), seemingly regardless of the derivation of the pigment-bearing cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Cutaneous cytomegalovirus vasculitis: an unusual clinical presentation of a common opportunistic pathogen.

A case of cutaneous leukocytoclastic cytomegalovirus (CMV) vasculitis arising in a man with acute myelogenous leukemia is described. An antemortem biopsy specimen of ulcerated skin and an open lung biopsy specimen showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis and nonspecific diffuse interstitial pneumonitis, respectively, neither tissue demonstrating viral infection. Autopsy material revealed CMV vasculitis with typical intranuclear inclusions identified in enlarged endothelial cells associated with thrombus formation and luminal narrowing, in addition to florid CMV pneumonitis. This case represents an unusual although clinically relevant expression of a common opportunistic pathogen.

Cytomegalovirus Infections↗
PubMed1976

Plasma vitamin A levels--a diagnostic indicator of hepatitis in an institutionalized mentally retarded population.

Based on hepatitis-associated antigen carrier status as a model liver disease, level of vitamin A can be a useful diagnostic indicator in mentally retarded individuals. It was found that vitamin A levels and age were linearly related by the equation A = (B + CD), where A is the plasma vitamin A in mugms per 100 mls of plasma, B is the sex dependent constant of 25.9 for males and 28.4 for females, C is a sex dependent constant of 0.64 for males and 0.77 for females, and D is age in years. Above age 20, D becomes a constant with a value of 20. With this equation, if the observed vitamin A value is less than 79 percent of the predicted value, then liver damage should be suspected. This information presented graphically allows one to predict liver damage by observing the plasma vitamin A levels and then locating the point on the appropriate graph.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Minority student success and failure with the National Intern and Resident Matching Program.

Doubts have been raised concerning the success of minority students in obtaining the more desirable teaching hospital internships in the United States. Earlier reports by others indicated that minority graduates may be anywhere from 41 percent to 70 percent successful in obtaining their first, second, or third choice of internship through the National Intern and Resident Matching Program. Ninety percent of those in the sample reported here were successful. At least one minority applicant was a successful intern candidate in 79 out of the 103 institutions where internships had been most sought after by this group. Possible reasons for these different findings are not adequately explained because of a lack of comparable data on minority and nonminority pools; further sample studies are required to establish the actual facts.

Hospitals, Teaching↗