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L J Vial

Publications and source records attributed to L J Vial.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Continuous infusion of endotoxin depresses splenic blastogenesis.

Continuous infusion of a sublethal dose of bacterial endotoxin into rats via an implanted osmotic pump markedly affected the blastogenic responsiveness of spleen cells to specific endotoxin as well as to the nonspecific mitogens Con A, PHA or PWM. There was also a marked alteration in lymphoid cell type and number in the spleen of the rats after continuous infusion of endotoxin, with a marked increase in plasma cell infiltration and germinal center formation. There was no significant alteration in glucocorticoid steroid levels. Control rats given saline only for a period of seven days via an implanted pump showed no or minimal effect for the first 5 days and then a delayed depression of blastogenic responses to LPS and to Con A, but this time lag contrasted markedly to the much earlier unresponsiveness of splenocytes from rats infused with endotoxin. Only a slight to moderate cellular infiltration occurred in the spleen of control rats implanted with a pump infusing saline only or an empty pump. Thus endotoxin infusion in a continuous manner via an implanted pump accounted for the early and marked suppression of responsiveness, as well as alteration in spleen size and cellularity.

Animals↗

Sustained hypermetabolic sepsis in rats: characterization of the model.

This paper describes the development of a sustained sepsis model, using chronically catheterized conscious unrestrained rats, which simulates the progression of septicemia in man, including a sustained hypermetabolic phase. Following chronic arterial catheterization, sepsis was induced in rats by intraperitoneal administration of 0.5 ml of a pooled fecal inoculum. The pooled inoculum, which was used to ensure a uniform inoculation of microorganisms to all animals, produced a septicemia which was progressively lethal. The resultant peritonitis was characterized as polymicrobial, with gram-negative bacteria being continuously present in both peritoneal fluid and blood. Septic animals were normotensive but tachycardic, compared to time-matched controls, throughout the observation period. In contrast to the stable colonic temperature of control animals, septic rats showed a significant febrile response on the first 3 days following inoculation. The hypermetabolic response in septic rats was also manifested by a 25, 38, and 28% increase in oxygen consumption on Days 1, 2, and 3 postinoculation. Animals responded to sepsis with a fall in blood glucose (on Day 2) which remained 15--20% below control levels. Mild hyperlactacidemia (2 mM) and reduced alanine concentrations (14--33%) were also seen in the septic group on Days 2 through 5. Despite the increased lactate levels, septic animals were mildly alkalotic (pH 7.51) which probably reflected the increased (32%) respiratory rate. Light microscopic findings in the septic animals revealed a spectrum of morphologic lesions including an extensive fibrinopurulent exudate, bacterial colonies, and abscesses, which involved most of the abdominal viscera. This investigation characterizes an experimental model of sustained sepsis in rats which exhibits hemodynamics, metabolic and pathologic alterations similar to those seen in human peritonitis.

Animals↗

Histologic typing of lung cancer in Louisiana.

To determine whether histologic patterns differed in the high- and low-lung cancer mortality parishes (counties) of Louisiana and whether the findings in the state differed from those in other parts of the United states, we studied the available histopathologic materials for 272 persons of the 815 who died of lung cancer in ten southern, nonurban Louisiana parishes during a seven-year period from 1971-1977. Squamous-cell carcinoma and small-cell anaplastic carcinoma were the most common tumor types, closely followed in frequency by adenocarcinoma, confirming reports by other investigators of a change during the past decade in the prevalence of various histopathologic types of lung cancer. The distribution of histopathologic types was not different for high- and low-mortality parishes but differed significantly from other areas of the U. S. Three persons had diagnoses consistent with pleural mesothelioma. Occupational histories obtained from relatives showed that one of those persons was a homemaker and the other two were sugarcane farmers with no discernable exposure to asbestos.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Candidal suppurative peripheral thrombophlebitis.

Transient candidemia is common with prolonged intravenous therapy. Sustained candidemia, however, usually indicates a persistent focus of infection. A complication of intravenous therapy not previously emphasized is persistent candidemia caused by candidal suppurative peripheral thrombophlebitis. We report six cases that appeared during intravenous therapy: the infection was characterized by a thrombosed peripheral vein at an intravenous site with manifestations for candida septicemia with or without disseminated candidiasis. In two patients, the source of the process was occult; the examination showed only a thrombosed noninflamed vein. In all cases, surgical exploration showed the thrombosed veins to be suppurative with positive cultures for Candida. Special stains, moreover, showed Candida in the luminal clot and the vascular wall. In the five surviving patients, cure was achieved by excision of the affected vein. Four received a short course of amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine, and one patient received amphotericin B only.

Adult↗

Cytologic nuclear grade of malignant breast aspirates as a predictor of histologic grade. Light microscopy and image analysis characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if cytologic nuclear grade characteristics combined with image analysis assessment of morphometric nuclear parameters (1) correlate with the modified Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grading system and (2) discriminate between low and high nuclear grades of invasive ductal carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-four fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) of breast carcinoma were evaluated for five morphologic nuclear grade characteristics. In addition, four morphometric, standardized object measurements were analyzed by an image analysis system. Corresponding biopsies of invasive ductal carcinoma (46 cases) were independently evaluated with the Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grading system, modified into low (scores 3-6) and high (scores 7-9) grades. RESULTS: An overall agreement of 82% was reached by three of four cytopathologists for each of five morphologic characteristics. There was a strong correlation (r = .8059, P < .0001) between cytologic nuclear grade and modified histologic grade. Only pleomorphism, nucleoli and sum optical density retained their statistical significance in distinguishing low from high grade ductal carcinomas. These three characteristics also had the strongest correlation with cytologic nuclear grade. CONCLUSION: Cytologic nuclear grade from aspirates of ductal carcinoma can be a predictor of the modified histologic grades of Scarff, Bloom and Richardson. Nuclear morphology reinforced by image morphometry may separate these tumors into low and high nuclear grade categories.

Biopsy, Needle↗