PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

D J Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to D J Wilson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Milk production, water consumption, and somatic cell count responses of cows subject to one to two volts of alternating current.

A dairy farm located in central New York was visited because of complaints of electrical shock in the farmhouse shower and the milk house sink. As much as 2 volts AC of potential difference was measured between the waterline and the cow platform (cow-contact voltage). Voltage was coming from the primary neutral wire. The farm's electrical service was modified so that the farmstead could be connected or disconnected from the primary neutral wire at 2-week intervals for 12 weeks. When connected to the primary neutral wire, voltage between waterline and floor ranged between 0 and 1.8 volts, producing estimated current flow through cows of 3.6 to 4.9 mA; when disconnected from primary neutral wire, voltage between waterline and floor was less than 0.1 volt. There was no difference in mean milk production, bulk tank milk somatic cell count, or water consumption among periods when cows were exposed or unexposed to voltage. Despite statistical nonsignificance, the values for somatic cell count were lower and water consumption was higher when cows were exposed to voltage than when they were not.

Animals

Living bone grafts.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Bone Transplantation

Hemifacial microsomia: developmental consequence of perturbation of the auriculofacial cartilage model?

The cause of hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is currently the subject of much investigation. Despite a large body of clinical and experimental data, little is certain other than the heterogeneity of this malformation complex. Here we suggest that some of the cases previously designated as being multifactorial in origin may be interpreted instead as resulting from a single-gene mutation, by applying a stochastic single-gene model. A variety of models of the pathogenesis of HFM have been described, including the proposal that local embryonic haemorrhage is a causal mechanism. More recently, it has been suggested that an interference in chondrogenesis is primarily responsible for the HFM phenotype. In this paper direct experimental evidence, based on surgical interference of mandibular development in the chick embryo, is applied in favour of the latter concept. In particular, asymmetrical perturbation of Meckel's cartilage has been shown to result in asymmetry of the mandible, and it is proposed that, irrespective of cause, the skeletal pathogenesis of HFM primarily involves the auriculofacial cartilage model.

Facial Asymmetry

Intraocular lymphoma. Immunopathologic analysis of vitreous biopsy specimens.

Immunologic analysis of cell surface markers (immunophenotyping) has become a standard procedure in the evaluation of systemic lymphomas. However, attempts to apply these techniques to intraocular lymphoma have not been uniformly successful. We successfully immunophenotyped five consecutive cases of intraocular lymphoma using immunoperoxidase surface marker analysis of cytocentrifuged specimens in two cases and flow cytometry in three. In all five cases, a monoclonal B-cell population was unequivocally present. Contrary to previous reports, we found surface marker analysis of vitreous biopsy specimens to be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of intraocular lymphoma. Not only did it support the cytologic diagnosis but it allowed comparison of the immunophenotype of vitreous infiltrates with that of previous or subsequent lymphomatous lesions from nonocular sites.

Aged

Arteriographic study of the rabbit lower limb.

The rabbit hind limb has been used extensively as an orthopaedic model in the investigation of fracture pathology and healing and the effects of vascular abnormalities. However, a detailed description of the normal arterial supply appears to be absent from the literature. A study of the entire arterial vasculature has been undertaken using a lead oxide injection technique developed for this and other orthopaedic studies. This technique has proved reliable and inexpensive, giving high-quality arteriography, which is easily interpreted. Accurate description of the arterial anatomy is possible without the need for repeated dissection. The rabbit lower limb shows some interesting variations in blood supply, particularly below the knee. The foot has three distinct patterns of blood supply, depending on the presence or absence of the peroneal artery and the degree of dominance of the dorsalis pedis artery. This arrangement has not previously been described and differs from the situation in other mammals. The arteriographic technique and the anatomical description have allowed the interpretation of changes occurring in the vasculature after injury in a fracture model.

Angiography

Preparation and characterization of type 1 astrocytes cultured from adult rat cortex, cerebellum, and striatum.

Astrocytes have been prepared from adult rat cortex, cerebellum, and striatum, using a modification of the McCarthy-DeVellis (J Cell Bio 85:890, 1980) method. The cultures consist of 99% type 1 polygonal astrocytes, which divide more slowly than cells from newborn animals. One day after preparing the cultures, 90% of the cells are glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive and 80% are vimentin-positive by immunohistochemical staining, suggesting that they are present de novo and not derived from precursor cells. The astrocytes from adult brain respond to an elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP, following treatment with forskolin, by becoming more stellate in shape and putting out fine ramified processes. They contain the same amount of GFAP per mg protein, measured by immunoblot, as cells from newborn animals. These cultures thus offer the possibility of comparing the biochemical properties of astrocytes derived from adult animals with those from newborn animals, or with cultures of reactive astrocytes isolated from lesioned brain.

Age Factors

The effect of hypoxia and low pH on the cytotoxicity of chlorambucil.

Studies with mouse tumors have shown that the effectiveness of certain chemotherapeutic agents can be enhanced if they are used in appropriate combination with an anti-hypertensive drug such as hydralazine. This results in reduced tumor blood flow with, among other things, a consequent decrease in oxygenation and increase in acidity in the tumor tissue. The purpose of the present work was to determine to what extent hypoxia and low pH are involved in the mechanism of this effect for chlorambucil. V79-WNRE cells were exposed to various drug concentrations under aerobic or hypoxic conditions, pH 6.4 or 7.4. Measurements of cell survival following 1 hr exposure at 37 degrees C showed that pH 6.4 produced a large potentiation of cell killing by chlorambucil (ER = 4 approx.); hypoxia, on the other hand, had little effect. The potentiation was shown to be greatest for pH values below 7.0. HPLC measurements of drug uptake were made since it was anticipated that chlorambucil, a weak acid, might tend to accumulate in cells under conditions of low extracellular pH. It was found that at an extracellular pH of 6.4 the ratio of the intracellular (Ci) and extracellular (Ce) drug concentrations was increased 4.5 and 3.6 fold for aerobic and hypoxic conditions, respectively. This probably explains most, if not all, of the cell killing potentiation observed at low pH.

Animals

Renal hemodynamics, urinary eicosanoids, and endothelin after liver transplantation.

Patients with hepatic cirrhosis develop widespread abnormalities in kidney function and vasoactive hormones. These change rapidly after liver transplantation during immunosuppression with cyclosporine. The role of changing eicosanoid excretion and endothelin levels in regulating renal function after transplantation in humans remains uncertain. We studied 32 patients with regard to renal hemodynamics, glomerular filtration, urinary prostacyclin (6-keto-PG-F1-alpha), thromboxane (TBX2), and endothelin before and during the first four weeks after orthotopic liver transplantation. Arterial pressure rose from 106 +/- 2/61 +/- 2 to 146 +/- 4/81 +/- 2 mmHg, (P less than .001), while renal blood flow fell (686 +/- 38 to 453 +/- 24 ml/min/1.73 m2, P less than .05), as did GFR. Pretransplant excretion of 6-keto and TBX2 was above that of normal subjects and fell progressively after transplant, as did plasma renin activity and aldosterone. The 6-keto levels fell below normal after two weeks. The ratio of TBX2/6-keto remained elevated compared with normal subjects throughout the month after transplant (1.54 +/- 0.38 vs. 0.54 +/- 0.07, P less than .01). Endothelin levels rose during the first week (7.4 +/- 1.4 vs. 12.4 +/- 2.7 pg/ml, P less than .05), but fell back to baseline thereafter. These results indicate that high levels of urinary eicosanoids in patients with liver disease fall rapidly after liver transplantation during CsA immunosuppression. Unlike results in many experimental models, these data suggest that renal vasoconstriction in humans may be associated primarily with suppression in renal prostacyclin excretion rather than stimulation of thromboxane.

Adult

Culture of human osteoblasts on demineralised human bone. Possible means of graft enhancement.

We cultured human osteoblasts from trabecular bone explants and confirmed their phenotype by alkaline phosphatase assay, increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate production in response to prostaglandin E2 and radiographic micro-analysis of nodules of calcification. The osteoblasts were seeded on to demineralised human bone fragments and examined at ten-day intervals over a 50-day period by scanning electron microscopy. During this time the bank bone became progressively repopulated by the cultured osteoblasts. This system may offer a means of graft enhancement in elective orthopaedic and maxillofacial surgery by delivery of cultured autologous human osteoblasts to bone defects.

Alkaline Phosphatase

Expression of growth factor mRNA in rabbit PVR model systems.

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) involves the formation of intravitreal fibrocellular membranes which may lead to traction retinal detachment and blindness. The cellular component of epiretinal membranes originates from the proliferation and migration of cells within the eye. Several growth factors and other cytokines are plausible candidates for directing the processes leading to membrane formation. A reproducible animal model is needed for experimental studies of cytokine expression during PVR induction or treatment. We found that intravitreal injection of > 10(6) mixed mononuclear leukocytes or adherent monocytes along with a trans-scleral incision through the pars plana leads to the development of PVR-like disease in rabbit eyes. The severity of the disease was related to the number of monocytes injected. Typically, organized membranes extending from the incision toward the optic nerve formed within one week. Progression to extensive traction retinal detachment required 1 to 4 weeks. Injection of up to 5 x 10(6) lymphocytes or freeze-thaw killed monocytes was ineffective, and coinjecting 100 micrograms endotoxin with the monocytes did not result in enhanced disease. The histological appearance of the epiretinal membranes was similar to human PVR membranes. Macrophage, cytokeratin-positive (epithelial), and fibroblast-like cells were present. Northern blot analysis of RNA extracted from the rabbit membranes revealed the presence of mRNA for acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF). Acidic FGF mRNA was not expressed by the injected monocytes. A comparable level of aFGF mRNA and also mRNAs for basic FGF, platelet-derived growth factor-B, and transforming growth factor beta were found in epiretinal membranes induced by a scleral incision in association with cryopexy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Detection of antibiotic and sulfonamide residues in bob veal calf tissues: 967 cases (1987-1988).

The data on antimicrobials in bob veal calves obtained by USDA-Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) during the fiscal year 1988 were reviewed. Of 3,095 calf antibiotic and sulfonamide test (CAST)-positive carcass submissions, 967 were chosen by FSIS for antimicrobial residue analyses. Specimens of muscle, liver, and kidney were obtained at abattoirs as a part of the FSIS program, and the results were reviewed by calf submission. At least 1 tissue from each of 425 submissions contained neomycin. Unidentified microbial inhibitors were found in 291 submissions. Streptomycin was found in 86 carcass submissions, penicillin in 81, sulfamethazine in 73, tetracycline HCl in 59, and gentamicin in 53. Other monitored agents were found in less than 50 submissions each. Only 257 submissions included evaluation for sulfonamides, but sulfamethazine was found in 28.4% of them. Chloramphenicol was not detected. Concentrations of neomycin in kidney specimens ranged from 0.25 to greater than 100 ppm, and differed among the 3 regional laboratories (West, Midwest, and East). The western region had the greatest proportion of low-concentration specimens, whereas the midwestern laboratory had the largest proportion of specimens with very high concentrations (greater than or equal to 100 ppm) of neomycin in kidney tissue. Data to identify the sources and causes of the residues were not available. However, the western laboratory evaluated CAST-positive submissions from calves certified to be antimicrobial-free, whereas the other laboratories evaluated submissions from certified and noncertified calves; therefore, this may partially explain regional patterns for neomycin quantities in kidney specimens. Neomycin predominated among CAST-positive verifications. A high prevalence of unidentified microbial inhibitors suggests further identification may be warranted.

Abattoirs

Evidence for isoleucine as a positive effector of the ilvBN operon in Salmonella typhimurium.

Concerted efforts were directed towards understanding the control of acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) in the gyrB mutant hisU1820 of Salmonella typhimurium. A media shift from valine to valine plus isoleucine causes a dramatic 4 to 5 fold burst of AHAS valine sensitive activity which appears to be dependent on translation. DJ19, an isolated valine sensitive derivative of the gyrB mutant, maintains a dramatic increase in AHAS valine sensitive activity upon the addition of isoleucine to valine supplemented cultures, suggesting that the isoleucine effect is specific for valine sensitive AHAS. Evidence supports isoleucine as a positive effector on valine sensitive AHAS expression and that the gyrB mutation accentuates the isoleucine effect.

Acetolactate Synthase

Antibiotic and sulfonamide residues from Food Safety Inspection Service bob veal calf tissues by region, from October 1987 to September 1988.

Of 3,095 bob veal carcasses declared positive to the calf antibiotic and sulfonamide test (CAST) performed by USDA-FSIS personnel during the fiscal year 1988, 967 were submitted to USDA-FSIS laboratories for intensified antimicrobial evaluation of kidney, liver, and muscle specimens. In the western region, CAST-positive specimens were analyzed from certified calves, that is, calves declared free of antimicrobials by their producers. In the midwestern and eastern regions, 20% of the CAST-positive carcass submissions were certified and 20% had not been certified. Among the regions, neomycin was the most commonly reported agent from kidney specimens; however, there were some distinct differences among regions (24.6% of the specimens in the Midwest, 37.4% in the East, and 46.8% in the West). Reports of gentamicin in specimens also were different among regional laboratories (9.0% in the Midwest, 12.1% in the East, 3.1% in the West). Sulfamethazine was less frequently reported by the western laboratory, never exceeding 2% among the 3 tissues tested, whereas the eastern and midwestern laboratories had at least 1 tissue type that was greater than or equal to 9%. Not all specimens were subjected to sulfonamide evaluation. Regional patterns were noticed for unidentified microbial inhibitors, which were most evident for liver in which 24.6% of the specimens at the western laboratory were classified as having unidentified microbial inhibitors, and only 6.3% of specimens at the eastern laboratory were classified as having unidentified microbial inhibitors.

Animals

Full length mouse glycophorin gene constructed using recombinant polymerase chain reaction.

Recently, an incomplete cDNA clone for a major mouse glycophorin gene, pGP315, and a genomic clone, pGX7 (which contains the first exon and nucleotide sequences around the transcription start sites) was isolated and sequenced by Matsui et al. (1). Since there were no available restriction sites for the construction of a full length mouse glycophorin A gene, the recombinant PCR technique was adapted to splice together the above two partial sequence clone inserts to obtain a full length recombinant DNA fragment (1053 bp) containing the proper sequence of mouse glycophorin A cDNA. The PCR reconstructed DNA fragments were verified by: gel electrophoresis to contain the expected sizes, hybridization to probes made from the DNA components before recombination, and confirmed by the restoration of a previously destroyed restriction enzyme site. The corrected gene sequence for pGP315 is also reported.

Animals

Species specificity in mouse glycophorin.

89, 65, 46 and 29 Kd mouse glycophorin proteins identified during polyacrylamide electrophoresis of mouse erythrocytes have been further characterized. These proteins (1) stain positive with Periodic Acid Schiff reagent after sodium hydroxide treatment; (2) labeled using [125I] in intact cells; (3) co-isolated along with integral membrane proteins in the pellet fraction of sodium hydroxide treated ghosts; and (4) demonstrated a molecular weight downshift after neuraminidase treatment during electrophoresis. We have called them mouse Sialoglycoproteins 1, 2, 3 and 4. Immuno-blot analysis revealed distinct species specificity between human and mouse erythrocyte ghosts, and some cross-reactivity between rat and mouse erythrocyte ghosts.

Animals

Ocular clinicopathologic study of gyrate atrophy.

We performed a histopathologic study of whole globes obtained post mortem from a patient with well-documented, vitamin B6-responsive gyrate atrophy. The retina in the posterior pole had focal areas of photoreceptor atrophy with adjacent retinal pigment epithelial hyperplasia. An abrupt transition from the near normal retina to a zone of near total atrophy of the retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid was present in the fundus midperiphery. Electron microscopic examination disclosed abnormalities of the mitochondria of the corneal endothelium and the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium. Similar, but less severe, mitochondrial abnormalities were present in the photoreceptors.

Aged

Chick frontonasal process excision significantly affects mid-facial development.

The midfacial region in vertebrates may be considered as developing from five separate processes, namely the central frontonasal process (FNP) and the paired maxillary and lateral nasal processes. Relatively little is known about the mechanisms whereby these processes interact to produce structures of the neonatal/adult face. This study was undertaken to gain some insights into the events involved in this process, and involved observing the effects on facial development in the chick of surgical excision of the FNP, prior to its fusion with the other facial processes. In the absence of the FNP, outgrowth of the upper beak was dramatically reduced, agenesis of the primary palate occurred, and development of the maxillary processes and palatal shelves was impaired. Thus, in the chick, the frontonasal process plays a major role in midfacial morphogenesis. Not only does the FNP provide the primary palate and a contribution to the development of the nasal septum, it is also important in the ordered development of the maxillary processes and of the definitive secondary palate--contributions which have not emerged clearly from in vitro and teratogenic studies.

Animals