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Biomedical subjects

M R Williams

Publications and source records attributed to M R Williams.

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

The influence of extracellular and phagolysosomal pH changes on the bactericidal activity of bovine neutrophils against Staphylococcus aureus.

The influence of the pH of suspending medium on bovine neutrophil (PMN) function was assessed in tests of phagocytosis and killing of Staphylococcus aureus. Intracellular killing was markedly inhibited by moderate extracellular acidification whereas phagocytosis was little affected, except at the lowest pH level (pH 5.0). The killing of S. aureus by extracts of isolated PMN lysosomal granules showed a similar pH dependence and was optimal at pH levels above neutrality. Survival of S. aureus within PMN from different cows varied significantly and the relative differences in PMN bactericidal efficiency were maintained at all pH levels. The acidification of extracellular medium during incubation which resulted from metabolic activity of the PMN themselves, increased with increasing ratios of bacteria:PMN and varied significantly among cows. Addition of methylamine (10 mM) to elevate phagolysosomal pH inhibited phagocytosis and had no effect on intracellular survival of S. aureus. However, a lower concentration (1.5 mM) did not affect phagocytosis, but reduced bacterial survival without altering the relative differences in efficiency of PMN from different cows. It is suggested that the acidity of the extracellular medium may both reflect and influence the pH changes occurring within PMN phagosomes and, thereby, modulate the efficiency of intracellular destruction of S. aureus.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The use of an LH-RH agonist (ICI 118630, Zoladex) in advanced premenopausal breast cancer.

Fifty-three premenopausal patients presenting with advanced breast cancer have been treated with a potent new luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist Zoladex (ICI 118630) in a phase I clinical trial. On progression of disease 26 patients have undergone therapeutic oophorectomy. We present the clinical and endocrinological responses to treatment in 45 assessable patients. The response rate to Zoladex in this series was 31% and the ER status of the primary tumour was predictive of a response to the luteinising hormone-releasing hormone.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Preliminary endocrinological evaluation of a sustained-release formulation of the LH-releasing hormone agonist D-Ser(But)6Azgly10LHRH in premenopausal women with advanced breast cancer.

Twenty-four premenopausal women with advanced breast cancer were treated with a sustained-release (depot) formulation containing 3.6 mg of the LH-releasing hormone agonist D-Ser(But)6Azgly10 LHRH (ICI 118630), given s.c. every 4 weeks for periods of up to 5 months. Although ICI 118630 initially stimulated LH and FSH secretion, serum gonadotrophin concentrations were suppressed on continued treatment. Increased LH and FSH concentrations were associated with relatively normal ovarian activity during the first month of treatment, but low progesterone concentrations were found in all patients thereafter. In 22 out of 24 women, oestradiol concentrations fell during the second month to values equivalent to those observed in oophorectomized or postmenopausal women. In two patients, persistent but reduced oestradiol production was recorded throughout. No appreciable side-effect of the drug was observed.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1985

The prediction of local or regional recurrence after simple mastectomy for operable breast cancer.

Both the histological grade of the primary tumour and lymph node status have been found to contribute significantly towards the development of a local or regional recurrence after simple mastectomy for operable breast cancer. No other factor, from a series of seven studied, has been found to be of independent significance. A small group of patients with grade III tumours, lymph node positive at mastectomy, has been identified in whom more than 40 per cent of all symptomatic local or regional recurrences occurred. The chance a patient in this group has of developing a local or regional recurrence requiring treatment within 4 years approaches 50 per cent.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1985

Percutaneous central venous catheters--a continuum of use.

Percutaneous central venous catheterization provides access for volume replacement and hemodynamic monitoring. This study reviewed 119 percutaneous central venous catheterizations in 112 patients over a 12-month period. All catheters were placed by emergency department (ED) physicians or housestaff under their direct guidance. Pneumothorax occurred in three patients and required chest tube insertion in one patient. Eighty-seven patients were admitted to the critical care units directly from the ED. In 26 (30%) patients, the central lines were converted to pulmonary artery catheters. Nineteen patients were admitted directly to the operating room, where the central venous line was used for volume replacement and monitoring. Postoperatively, five (26%) of these were converted to pulmonary artery catheters. Central venous catheters can be placed in patients percutaneously in the emergency department with minimal morbidity. They provide initial access to the central circulation for resuscitation and subsequently can be converted to pulmonary artery catheters for hemodynamic monitoring.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The contribution of a capsule to survival of staphylococci within bovine neutrophils.

The encapsulated strain M of Staphylococcus aureus and the encapsulated strain 76 of S. simulans survived incubation with bovine neutrophils in media containing heated bovine serum 0.5% v/v or milk whey 10% v/v. With two unencapsulated strains of S. aureus, M12 and M60, less than 5% of the original inoculum survived. When the concentrations of bovine serum and milk whey were increased to 2% and 50% respectively, survival of the encapsulated strains was similar to that of the unencapsulated strains. The ability of skimmed milk 50% v/v to opsonise strain M was found in milk from 95% of 62 cows. The individual values for percentage intracellular survival of strains of S. aureus phagocytosed by bovine neutrophils in the presence of bovine serum 2% v/v or milk whey 50% v/v were 0.48, 0.30 and 0.24 for strains M60, M and M12 respectively. Intracellular survival of strain M60 was significantly greater than that of strains M12 and M. The encapsulated coagulase-negative strain 76 (S. simulans) was not susceptible to lysis by lysostaphin, and it was not possible to destroy extracellular staphylococci to measure intracellular survival. It is concluded that the capsule of S. aureus strain M does not contribute to intracellular survival.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Mammographic parenchymal patterns: value as a predictor of hormone dependency and survival in breast cancer.

The relation between the parenchymal pattern of the breasts as demonstrated on a mammogram and the estrogen-receptor status of the primary tumor in 337 patients with operable invasive breast cancer has been studied. These factors have also been correlated with the response to endocrine therapy in 92 patients who subsequently developed secondary disease. It has been shown that patients with a DY pattern are more likely to develop tumors that are estrogen-receptor (ER) positive (p = 0.01). Patients with secondary disease who have a DY pattern are more likely to respond to endocrine therapy (p = 0.001). The DY pattern has been shown to be at least as good an indicator of the probability of response to endocrine therapy as the estrogen-receptor status, and a combination of the two factors better than either taken singly. In a series of 141 postmenopausal women, the DY pattern, as determined at the time of mastectomy, was associated with significantly improved survival (p = 0.001). Mammographic parenchymal pattern could form the basis for selecting patients for endocrine therapy where no estrogen-receptor assay is available.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1985

Five year experience using PTFE vascular grafts for lower limb ischaemia.

The 5 year results using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE-Gore-Tex) grafts mainly for superficial femoral occlusion have been reviewed. The majority of these grafts were inserted in an elderly poor risk group of patients with critical ischaemia of the lower limb. The overall cumulative patency at 2 years was 29% falling to 18% at 5 years. Further analyses were performed to take into account risk factors, namely, patient's age, diabetes, hypertension, continuation of smoking, peroperative angiographic findings and the site of the distal graft anastomosis. Peroperative angiographic run off was found to be the only risk factor significantly affecting the cumulative graft patency. The presence of diabetes was found to have a significant detrimental effect on limb salvage.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

The relationship of background mammographic pattern to hormone dependency in breast cancer.

We have studied the relationship between mammographic parenchymal pattern of the breast and oestrogen receptor (ER) status in the primary tumour in 337 patients with operable invasive breast cancer, and the response to endocrine therapy in patients subsequently developing secondary disease. Patients with dysplastic (DY) parenchymal pattern are significantly more likely to develop tumours which are ER-positive. In 92 patients who subsequently developed secondary disease, those whose primary tumour arose in a DY pattern breast were significantly more likely to respond to endocrine therapy irrespective of their ER status.

Breast↗
PubMed1984

The use of monoclonal antibody 791T/36 in the immunoscintigraphy of primary and metastatic carcinoma of the breast.

Radiolabelled monoclonal antibody 791T/36 raised against a human osteogenic sarcoma cell line was used to image primary and metastatic tumours in 13 patients with mammary carcinoma. Successful imaging was achieved in 3 of 5 women with primary tumours, in one woman with hepatic metastases, 3 with loco-regional metastases and one with pleural involvement. No localization was demonstrated at sites of known bone involvement in 5 patients.

Adult↗