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Biomedical subjects

D Gerber

Publications and source records attributed to D Gerber.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis in cows.

A method was developed for percutaneous ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis in cattle. The procedure was performed on the right side in the 9th, 10th, or 11th intercostal space of 30 cows. Of the 30 cows, 20 were slaughtered 24 hours after cholecystocentesis and the remaining 10 cows were slaughtered after a 10-day observation period. Changes in the peritoneum and gallbladder wall, observed at slaughter, were minimal. During the 10-day observation period, general behavior, attitude, and appetite of the 10 cows were normal. A transient, slight increase in rectal temperature was observed in 6 cows at 4, 5, or 8 days after cholecystocentesis. Total and differential WBC counts and total protein and fibrinogen concentrations, determined daily, were all within normal ranges. Bile samples from 20 cows were examined microscopically and biochemically. Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum eggs were observed in bile from 7 and 12 cows, respectively. Fecal examination revealed F hepatica eggs in 4 cows; D dendriticum eggs were not identified in any of the fecal samples. In 1 cow, F hepatica eggs were observed in the feces, but not in the bile. Bile acids concentration in bile varied from 12.5 to 68.5 mmol/L (mean +/- SD, 45.3 +/- 3.05 mmol/L) and in serum from 3.8 to 281.0 mumol/L (41.6 +/- 17.24 mumol/L). Negative correlation was obtained between bile acids concentration in bile and that in serum (r = -0.60, P less than 0.01). It was concluded that percutaneous ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis in cows is a safe procedure and that microscopic and biochemical examinations of obtained bile can be useful diagnostic aids.

Animals

Ultrasonographic findings in a cow with ascites due to thrombosis of the caudal vena cava.

This case report describes a three-year-old Swiss Braunvieh cow with ascites due to thrombosis of the caudal vena cava. Ultrasonography verified the ascites and revealed dilatation of the abdominal portion of the caudal vena cava (4.8 cm). It was presumed that the caudal vena cava was occluded by a thrombus or by perivenous compression cranial to the dilatation. Post mortem findings included: a massive accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity; a 15 cm long thrombus in the subphrenic region of the caudal vena cava; multiple pulmonary abscesses; severe thrombosis of the pulmonary vasculature; hepatic congestion; oedematous abomasal folds; and severe thrombophlebitis of the left jugular vein and both udder veins, due to poor intravenous injection technique. Ascites caused by thrombosis of the caudal vena cava is rare because collateral routes of venous return, including the udder veins, are usually established. It was therefore concluded that the ascites was attributable to bilateral thrombosis of the udder veins.

Animals

Bleeding abomasal ulcers in dairy cows.

The clinical signs and changes in blood and rumen fluid, and the results of therapy are described in 35 cows suffering from bleeding abomasal ulcer. The most important pathological findings were moderate to severe anaemia with pale mucous membranes and tachycardia, dark coloured to black faeces, a disturbed general condition and anorexia. Two of the cows were slaughtered immediately. The others were treated by the transfusion of several litres of blood and the intravenous administration of a solution containing sodium chloride and glucose and other drugs such as calcium solution, vitamin K, vitamin C and metoclopramide. Two animals died in spite of the treatment and three had to be slaughtered because of the deterioration in their condition. The other 28 cows recovered within a few days and their general condition, appetite and defecation returned to normal.

Abomasum

Novel hybrid maturases in unstable pseudorevertants of maturaseless mutants of yeast mitochondrial DNA.

Unstable pseudorevertants of mitochondrial mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacking the maturase function encoded by the fourth intron of the cytochrome b gene (bI4) were isolated. They were found to be heteroplasmic cells owing their regained ability to respire (and grow on glycerol medium) to the presence of a rearranged (rho-) mtDNA that contains an in-frame fusion of the reading frames of the group I introns bI4 and intron 4 alpha of the coxl gene encoding subunit I of cytochrome c oxidase (aI4 alpha). The products of those gene fusions suppress the bI4 maturase deficiency still present in those heteroplasmic cells. Similar heteroplasmic pseudorevertants of a group II maturaseless mutant of the first intron of the coxI gene were characterized; they result from partial deletion of the coxI gene that fuses the reading frames of introns 1 and 2. These heteroplasms provide independent support for the existence of RNA maturases encoded by group I and group II introns. Also, since the petite/mit- heteroplasms arise spontaneously at very high frequencies they provide a system that can be used to obtain mutants unable to form or maintain heteroplasmic cells.

Base Sequence

Predictive value of clinical and exercise variables for detection of coronary artery disease in men with diabetes mellitus.

Sixty-eight men with diabetes mellitus (mean age 53 +/- 10 years) and no symptoms of cardiac dysfunction enrolled in a long-range study for detection of latent coronary artery disease. The testing included maximal treadmill stress with thallium-201 scintigraphy and echocardiography. Radionuclide angiography was available in 35 men (52%), and 24 (35%) had gated scanning with exercise. Of the 68 patients, 14 (21%) had a mild (9 patients) or moderate (5 patients) decrease in ejection fraction on radionuclide angiography, echocardiography or both. Fifty-two men agreed to remain in the study and have been followed for 12 to 18 months (mean 41 +/- 19). Ten coronary events have occurred. Four of the men died (2 suddenly) and 6 have angina pectoris. Three patients have had vascular complications. Of the clinical and exercise variables studied, exercise duration effectively predicted an adverse outcome, while the odds ratio in favor of a coronary event increased by 36 times in those with thallium-201 defects and 7 times in those with ST-segment changes on exercise. Radionuclide angiographic responses during exercise were abnormal in 5 of 6 patients with events, but were also abnormal in 12 of 29 men (41%) who did not have coronary artery disease. Clinical variables such as blood pressure, cholesterol level and family history were not predictive of outcome, nor was maximal heart rate during exercise. Thus, diabetic mean who can exercise for 440 seconds on a treadmill using a bruce protocol are at low risk of a coronary event.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiography

Adverse reactions of piroxicam.

During the approximately five years (1981-86) that piroxicam has been available in South Africa, the Medicines Safety Centre has received 31 reports of adverse reactions associated with this drug. Among these are two reactions not previously recorded in the literature, paresthesia and hair loss. This article records drug events associated with piroxicam worldwide and tabulates those received by the Centre.

Adult

[Thyroid weights and iodized salt prophylaxis: a comparative study from autopsy material from the Institute of Pathology, University of Zurich].

Based on autopsy material from the Institute of Pathology, University of Zürich, thyroid weights and goiter incidence were investigated and the results correlated with goiter prophylaxis. Autopsy protocols of the years 1949/50 adn 1978/79 were reviewed for thyroid weights as well as for age and sex of patients. Average thyroid weights and goiter incidence were determined separately for both sexes and for different age groups. The values for both periods (1949/50) and 1978/79) were compared and related to results reported in the literature. Thirty years ago the mean thyroid weights were very high, although as an effect of goiter prophylaxis with iodized salt, introduced in 1923, the thyroids of younger adults were significantly lighter than those of older groups. 30 years later the thyroids were only half the weight of those in the years 1949/50. Goiter incidence decreased to the same degree. In addition, some preexisting goiters were found to have decreased in size within the 30 year span. The average thyroid weights of adults up to 40 years of age are now largely the same as in regions without endemic goiter. The few remaining goiters may be explained by a still insufficient iodination of table salt. However, other pathogenic factors, e.g. disturbances of hormone synthesis, must also be considered.

Adolescent

Effect of frequent sun exposure on bacterial colonization of skin.

The bacteria colonizing the surface of the skin of a group of frequent sunbathers and a group of infrequent sunbathers were surveyed. Frequent sunbathing does not greatly affect the total number of organisms on the skin, but does tend to increase the proportion of bacteria containing carotenoid pigments.

Adult

Psychosocial aspects of truancy in early adolescence.

The authors studied truancy in junior high school students, largely by structured interviews of 33 truants. Truancy at this age was commonly associated with significant difficulties at home, at school and with peers. Two modal types of truants were delineated: "authority defying" and "peer phobic." The school environment, including the response to truancy and the transition to the junior high, was found to play a critical role in creating and aggravating truancy. The authors discuss the findings with respect to strategies for prevention and remediation.

Absenteeism

The effects of secretagogues on the incorporation of (2- 3 H)myoinositol into lipid in cytological fractions in the pancreas of the guinea pig in vivo.

Stimulation of enzyme secretion in the pancreas on injection of a single dose of the cholinergic drug, pilocarpine, was associated with an increased incorporation of [2-(3)H]myoinositol into a lipid, which was previously characterized as phosphatidylinositol. Stimulation of enzyme secretion by hourly injection of the pancreozymin congener, caerulein, led to more increased phosphatidylinositol synthesis than with a single injection of pilocarpine. The amylase level of the pancreas remained at a low level as long as caerulein was injected, indicating continued stimulation of enzyme secretion even though increased phosphatidylinositol synthesis ceased after 6 h. Feeding gave the same stimulation of phosphatidylinositol synthesis as caerulein. The major synthesis of phosphatidylinositol in controls and the stimulation of phosphatidylinositol synthesis by pilocarpine was entirely confined to the microsome fraction throughout the experiments (up to 18 h). This shows that there is no flow of microsomal membrane (smooth- or rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum) to other membranous structures throughout the secretory cycle and beyond. It is concluded that the stimulation of phosphatidylinositol synthesis by pancreatic secretagogues is confined to microsomal elements and does not play any role in membrane flow.

Amylases