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Biomedical subjects

A C Todd

Publications and source records attributed to A C Todd.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

In vivo X-ray fluorescence of lead in bone.

The in vivo measurement of lead in bone by K X-ray fluorescence (K XRF) is becoming an increasingly widely utilized technique for assessing long-term lead dosimetry. Several groups have already reported the development of in vivo measurement systems, the majority adopting the 109Cd/backscatter K XRF technique because of its substantial advantages in terms of a robust measurement, lower detection limit (compared with 57Co/90 degrees), absence of the need for sedation of younger subjects, and lower effective (radiation) dose when calculated according to the most recent guidelines. The advantages of the 109Cd system are primarily a consequence of the physics principles of the technique. The apparatus of each XRF technique is transportable, facilitating easy establishment of mobile laboratory facilities. More research is needed to substantiate claims made for particular XRF technologies, but both L and K XRF techniques provide the possibility of improved understanding of the body's handling of the ubiquitous toxin lead.

Animals

In vivo X-ray fluorescence of lead in bone using K X-ray excitation with 109Cd sources: radiation dosimetry studies.

Independent experiments have been performed at two centers, to evaluate the dosimetric properties of their respective 109Cd K X-ray fluorescence (XRF) bone lead measurement systems. Measurements were made of the dose to several points on the skin on the lower leg, at the surface of the tibia, in the red marrow tibia cavity, at the midcalf, and in the abdominal region occupied by the conceptus. Overall agreement between the two data sets was found. Similarities and differences are discussed. The effective dose values for an in vivo measurement of tibia lead concentration in 1-, 5-, and 10-year-old and adult subjects were calculated from one data set to be 1100, 420, 190, and 34/38 (male/female) nSv, respectively, for an in vivo median precision (one standard deviation) of 4.9 micrograms Pb (g bone mineral)-1 for a 30-min adult measurement.

Adult

Kidney effects in long term exposed lead smelter workers.

Occupational exposure to lead may cause kidney damage. This study was carried out on a cohort of 70 active and 30 retired long term exposed lead smelter workers. Their kidney function was compared with 31 active and 10 retired truck assembly workers who had no occupational exposure to lead. The lead workers had been regularly followed up with measurements of lead concentration in blood since 1950. Previous exposure to lead was calculated as a time integrated blood lead index for each worker. Blood and urine samples were obtained from all subjects. The concentration of lead in blood (B-Pb) and urine (U-Pb) was analysed. The urinary concentrations of several sensitive indicators of early tubular (U-beta 2-microglobulin (U-beta 2-m); U-N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (U-NAG)) and glomerular kidney damage (U-albumin) were determined. The B-Pb and U-Pb values were significantly higher among active and retired lead workers compared with their corresponding control groups. The highest concentrations were found among the active lead workers. The concentrations of the parameters of kidney function investigated were of the same magnitude for exposed workers and controls. No clinical signs of renal impairment were found among the workers. No correlations of clinical importance existed between concentrations of U-albumin, U-beta 2-m, and U-NAG activity on the one hand and the concentrations of B-Pb, cumulative blood lead index, U-Pb, and lead concentrations in the calcaneus and tibia on the other, among lead workers and controls. Despite many years of moderate to heavy exposure to lead, particularly for the retired lead workers, no signs of adverse effects on the kidney such as early tubular or glomerular malfunction were found. Reversible changes in kidney function during the 1950s and 1960s could not be excluded, however, due to a greater exposure to lead during that time.

Adult

Monte Carlo modelling of in vivo x-ray fluorescence of lead in the kidney.

A Monte Carlo program has been written to model the in vivo x-ray fluorescence of lead in the kidney, to aid the choice of one of four candidate fluorescing source/measurement geometry combinations: 109Cd/180 degrees, 57Co/90 degrees and 99Tcm at both 180 degrees and 90 degrees. Computational studies and practical considerations led to the choice of 99Tcm in a backscatter geometry for the measurement system.

Humans

Selected clinicopathologic changes associated with experimentally induced Fascioloides magna infection in white-tailed deer.

Six white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), less than one year of age, were divided into two groups of three each and administered 50, or 500 metacercariae of ascioloides magna. All six deer became infected. Three additional deer of the same age were uninoculated controls. All deer were monitored for up to 43 weeks after inoculation to investigate changes in weight, selected hematologic values, and blood chemistry values. Although clinical disease was not evident in the infected deer, a significant reduction (p less than .01) in hemoglobin and packed cell volume was detected throughout the experiment. A significant elevation (p less than .01) in the total serum protein level was detected in both infected groups from 0 to 5 months after inoculation. Increases were present in the beta and gamma globulin fractions. No differences (p greater than .05) were detected in the serum calcium, magnesium, or phosphorus levels, or in body weights between infected and uninfected control groups.

Animals

Observations on the pathogenic effects of Nematodirus helvetianus in dairy calves.

Six Holstein-Friesian calves 3 to 5 months old, were used in a small-scale experiment to determine the pathogenic effects of the thread-necked strongyle Nematodirus helvetianus. Two calves were kept as controls and 4 were infected, 2 with single doses of 25,000, and 2 with 50,000 N helvetianus larvae. Observations made during the 8 weeks of the experiment found that N helvetianus is capable of producing severe pathologic changes in the intestine of previously healthy calves. At 38 days after infection, the calves infected with 25,000 and 50,000 larvae gained 32.9% and 72.4% less weight respectively, than their controls. An increase in total lymphocytes was observed with no significant change in hemoglobin concentration. Adult worms were found to penetrate the intestinal mucosa with considerable destruction, including tunneling. Rectal temperatures were elevated in infected animals. The prepatent period for N helvetianus in single infection was 18 to 19 days. A spontaneous expulsion of the adult parasites was observed in 1 of the calves exposed to 50,000 larvae. Worms recovered in this animal numbered 565, whereas the number of worms recovered in another calf infected with 50,000 larvae was 21,860.

Animals

Ovine coccidiosis: comparison of the effects of monensin and aureomycin on lambs infected with coccidia.

Lambs naturally infected with mixed species of Eimeria were fed monensin (30 mg/kg of feed) and aureomycin (10 mg/kg of feed) separately and in combination. An evaluation was made of the efficacy of the treatments in the suppression of oocyst production. Comparisons were made of the parasitic damage to the intestinal surface. Performance of the lambs was measured by weight gains and feed efficiency. Monensin given separately or in combination with aureomycin produced decreases in oocyst counts that were not significantly different from those in the lambs given only aureomycin. Body weight gains and feed efficiency were best in the aureomycin-treated group, and less so in the monensin-treated and the control groups. Animals fed the monensin-aureomycin combination had the poorest weight gains and feed efficiency. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that the groups fed monensin or aureomycin separately had morphologically normal intestinal surfaces. This was in contrast to the control group and the group fed the monensin-aureomycin combination, wherein there was disrupted intestinal surface morphology.

Animals

Anthelmintic activities of fenbendazole against Nematodirus helvetianus in cattle: effect on egg production, embryogeny, and development of larval stages.

Calves experimentally infected with Nematodirus helvetianus were treated with a single dose of fenbendazole at the rate of 5 mg/kg of body weight. Fenbendazole was found to have an efficacy of 97.4% against adult N helvetianus. Additionally, eggs recovered 12 hours after calves were given the anthelmintic had fewer and frequently abnormal blastomeres. Fewer eggs were evident at 36 hours after treatment, and none was found at 72 hours or later. On the culturing of eggs from manure passed at 12 hours and later, almost no larval stages developed.

Animals

Further controlled evaluations of fenbendazole as a bovine anthelmintic.

The efficacy of fenbendazole (methyl-5-(phenythio)-2-benzimidazole-carbamate) in cattle parasitized by the lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparus and in other cattle parasitized by Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Cooperia, and Oesophagostomum was investigated in 3 controlled critical experiments. A single treatment with 5.0 mg/kg of body weight administered in the feed or in a 10% suspension exceeded 99% efficacy against these helminths. Dosages of 1, 0.5, 0.35, and 0.25 mg/kg of body weight administered for 5 days to individual calves in their feed were 99% efficacious against all helminths, except Haemonchus. The 1.0 mg/kg dose removed 99.5% of the Haemonchus, and the other 3 dosages had efficacies of 91.0, 93.7, and 95.6%, respectively. The small daily dosages were not evaluated against Dictyocaulus.

Animal Feed