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Biomedical subjects

J A Weir

Publications and source records attributed to J A Weir.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Familial cutaneous vasculopathy of German shepherds: clinical, genetic and preliminary pathological and immunological studies.

A genodermatosis affecting the German shepherd breed has been recognized in 26 dogs in Ontario since 1991. Clinical signs, first noted in young puppies,are manifested as pyrexia and lethargy. The main cutaneous lesions are footpad swelling and depigmentation,but there is also crusting and ulceration of ear tips and tail tips, and focal depigmentation of the nasal planum. Affected puppies show no consistent abnormalities in hematological or biochemical parameters, and immunological tests (antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor titer,immunoglobulin levels, and CD4+ and CD8+T-lymphocyte percentages) are normal. Bone marrow analysis has shown myeloid hyperplasia in 5 of 7 cases and myelofibrosis has been detected in 1 case. All but 3 of the 19 clinical cases have been strongly positive for platelet factor-3; however, normal puppies routinely develop positive platelet factor-3 tests. Furthermore, affected pups all had normal numbers of platelets on repeat complete blood counts.Light microscopic examination of footpad biopsies reveals a multifocal nodular dermatitis in which neutrophils and mononuclear inflammatory cells surround foci of dermal collagenolysis, and degenerative and inflammatory vessel lesions. Depigmented lesions have a mild, cell-poor, interface dermatitis,characterized by single cell necrosis of the basal cells, in addition to the nodular dermatitis. Similarities and differences between this disease,a condition known as collagen disorder of the footpads of German shepherds and other forms of cutaneous vasculitis in the dog are discussed. The cause and the pathogenesis of the disease are yet to be elucidated;however, pedigree analysis indicates an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Hypersensitivity reactions, directed against normal or damaged self-collagen, may be involved. The role of cell-mediated immunity against native or altered collagen is an area worthy of further investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Prophylactic oophorectomy in operable instances of carcinoma of the breast.

In 1964, a prospective study was initiated of prophylactic oophorectomy in operable instances of carcinoma of the breast, in patients who showed evidence of ovarian activity. Patients were randomized to a control group and a group treated by surgical castration. By December 1979, 359 patients were evaluable at five years and 240 patients at ten years. The over-all results of the oophorectomy series were superior to that for those of the control group. Patients who had cancer confined to the breast showed no significant benefit from oophorectomy. When one to three axillary nodes were involved, women less than 50 years of age were found to benefit significantly from prophylactic oophorectomy, in relapse-free status at five years, and in survival and relapse-free status at ten years. Patients 50 years of age and older showed no advantage from oophorectomy. It s suggested that there is a place for prophylactic oophorectomy in patients who are less than 50 years of age with operable carcinoma of the breast and with positive axillary nodes.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1976

Allosomal and autosomal control of sex ratio in PHH and PHL mice.

When male mice from inbred PHH (sex ratio .535) and PHL (.435) are mated to females of various inbred lines, the sex ratio follows the male parent. The sex ratios from litters sired by reciprocal cross F1 males (letting A represent a set of autosomes) are 0.510 from AH/AL, XL/YH and 0.469 from AH/AL, XH/YL. The difference is statistically significant but only half the difference between pure strains. The paternal effect, presumably due to the Y, persists in progeny of the two kinds of F2 males. In backcrosses to the female parent, resulting finally in AH/AH, XH/YL and AL/AL, XL/YH, and in outcrosses, the effect of the Y chromosome does not persist, indicating that neither the Y alone, nor the autosomes alone, will cause the sex ratio to depart significantly from equality of sexes. When pairs of males in all possible combinations were presented with C57BL/6 females mating success gave the following ranking: AH-YL, AL-YL, AH-YH, AL-YH. The combination of autosomes from PHH and Y-chromosome from PHL seems to confer the greatest competitive advantage.

Animals↗