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Biomedical subjects

J R Bolton

Publications and source records attributed to J R Bolton.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts using medium- and low-pressure ultraviolet radiation.

The effect of ultraviolet radiation from low- and medium-pressure mercury arc lamps on Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts was studied using a collimated beam apparatus. Experiments were conducted using parasites suspended in both filtered surface water and phosphate buffered laboratory water. Inactivation of oocysts was measured as reduction in infectivity using a CD-1 neonatal mouse model and was found to be a non-linear function of UV dose over the range of germicidal doses tested (0.8-119 mJ/cm2). Oocyst inactivation increased rapidly with UV dose at doses less than 25 mJ/cm2 with two and three log-units inactivation at approximately 10 and 25 mJ/cm2, respectively. The cause of significant leveling-off and tailing in the UV inactivation curve at higher doses was not determined. Maximum measured oocyst inactivation ranged from 3.4 to greater than 4.9 log-units and was dependent on different batches of parasites. Water type and temperature, the concentration of oocysts in the suspension, and the UV irradiance did not have significant impacts on oocyst inactivation. When compared on the basis of germicidal UV dose, the oocysts were equally sensitive to low- and medium-pressure UV radiation. With respect to Cryptosporidium, both low- and medium-pressure ultraviolet radiation are attractive alternatives to conventional chemical disinfection methods in drinking water treatment.

Animals↗

Driver and right-front passenger restraint system interaction, injury potential, and thoracic injury prediction.

Restrained driver and right-front passenger kinematics and injury outcome in frontal collisions are compared using FARS data and human cadaver sled tests. The FARS data indicate that a frontal airbag may provide greater benefit for a passenger than for a driver. The thoracic injuries sustained by passenger subjects restrained by a force-limited, pretensioned belt and airbag are evaluated, and kinematics are compared to driver-side subjects. The injury-predictive ability of existing thoracic injury criteria is evaluated for passenger-side occupants. Driver and passenger kinematic differences are identified and the implications are discussed. The chest acceleration of the passenger-side subjects exhibited a bimodal profile with an initial (and global) maximum before the subject loaded the airbag. A second acceleration peak occurred as the subject loaded both the belt and the airbag. A similarly restrained driver-side subject loaded the belt and airbag concurrently at the time of peak chest acceleration and therefore did not exhibit this bimodal chest acceleration.

Acceleration↗

Ulceration and stricture of the right dorsal colon after phenylbutazone administration in four horses.

Four cases of ulceration and stricture of the right dorsal colon were encountered. Ulceration of the right dorsal colon is generally associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) toxicosis but there are few reports of stricture following ulceration. All four horses had recent phenylbutazone use: three had been given doses well in excess of the recommended dose and in one the dose was marginally above those recommended but was combined with administration of other NSAIDs. All four horses presented with intermittent low-grade colic, weight loss and ventral oedema. Diarrhoea was also seen in three of them. All had hypoproteinaemia due to severe hypoalbuminaemia, and hyperfibrinogenaemia. Hypoalbuminaemia was less severe in one horse and this horse was successfully managed medically. Two cases were definitively diagnosed at exploratory celiotomy and two at necropsy. Exploratory celiotomy was performed in two horses: one was euthanased at surgery and one was managed successfully with medical treatment and remained normal 1 year after surgery. Medical management included feeding of a low-roughage pelleted ration, corn oil, psyllium mucilloid, and discontinuation of NSAID administration.

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics of cisapride in the horse.

The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and absolute bioavailability of cisapride after intravenous (i.v.) and intragastric (i.g.) administration in healthy, adult horses. Five animals received single doses of 0.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg and 0.4 mg/kg cisapride by the i.g. route in an open, randomized fashion on different occasions separated by a washout period of at least 48 h. Four of these horses were also given a single i.v. dose of 0.1 mg/kg cisapride. Jugular venous blood was collected periodically up to 24 h after dosing. Plasma cisapride concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. There was considerable inter individual variability in pharmacokinetic parameters. The mean (SD) values for systemic clearance (CI) and steady-state volume of distribution (Vss) were 494 (43.6) mL/h/kg and 1471 (578) mL/kg, respectively. Although the rate of cisapride absorption was quite rapid, only about half the i.g. dose was absorbed systemically. The average terminal half-life (t1/2) calculated over three i.g. doses was 2.06 h and that for i.v. administration was 2.12 h. The pharmacokinetics of cisapride from 0.1 mg/kg to 0.4 mg/kg were independent of the i.g. dose.

Animals↗

Gastric squamous cell carcinoma in three horses.

Gastric squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in three horses. Clinical signs observed in all cases were weight loss, anorexia and lethargy. Respiratory signs were prominent in one case. All three horses had depressed albumin and elevated globulin and fibrinogen concentrations. Two horses were mildly anaemic. Inflammatory exudates were present in peritoneal cavities in all cases, and cytological evaluation provided a positive diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in two cases. Pleural fluid samples taken from two cases were also classified as inflammatory exudates, but no neoplastic cells were detected on initial examination. In all cases the neoplasms had arisen from the oesophageal region of the stomach, and had metastised throughout the abdomen. Two cases had metastatic lesions within the pleural cavity.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Effect of dietary composition on abomasal and duodenal myoelectrical activity.

The changes in the frequency of abomasal slow waves and their propagation, the abomasal spike burst rate and the duodenal spike burst rate were assessed in sheep fed three diets containing either 100 per cent concentrate, 50 per cent concentrate and 50 per cent forage, or 100 per cent forage. The frequency of abomasal slow waves and spike burst frequency were both significantly reduced in sheep fed the diets high in concentrate when compared with animals fed the 100 per cent roughage diet. The velocity of propagation of the slow waves and the duodenal spike burst frequency were not significantly affected by the dietary composition. The sheep consumed significantly less of the 100 per cent concentrate diet in the 45 minutes before recording than of the other two diets, but the amount of feed consumed was not correlated significantly with the changes observed in the myoelectrical activity. These are consistent with an inhibitory effect of concentrate on abomasal motility.

Abomasum↗

Cryptococcosis in seven horses.

The clinical, radiographic and post-mortem findings in 6 horses with cryptococcal pneumonia and one horse with an abdominal cryptococcal granuloma are described. In pulmonary cryptococcosis, the lesions were either diffuse and multiple, with bilateral lung involvement, or localised mainly to the dorsocaudal region of one lung. The cases of diffuse multiple cryptococcosis were thought to be associated with haematogenous spread of the fungus after gastrointestinal infection and dissemination from regional lymph nodes. The localised form of the disease was thought to have been associated with inhalation of cryptococci. In all cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis, encapsulated yeast-like organisms were demonstrated in Wright's-stained sediment of tracheal washes. In the horse with the abdominal granuloma, cryptococci were present in a fine needle aspirate sample. Isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii were recovered from 2 of the 5 horses in which cultures were attempted. In addition to a history of previous illness that may have predisposed to infection, most horses in this report had been in areas in which Eucalyptus camaldulensis, or the closely related E rudis, were growing. In humans, an epidemiological relationship between E camaldulensis and infection with C neoformans var gattii has been suggested. Cases of equine cryptococcosis carry a poor prognosis and treatment was not attempted in any of these cases.

Abdomen↗

Mesothelioma in horses.

Pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma with spread to the pleural cavity were diagnosed in 2 horses. Clinical signs included respiratory distress, depression and pleural pain. The affected body cavities contained copious, serous effusions containing very large neoplastic mesothelial cells with densely-staining cytoplasm, hyperchromic nuclei and prominent, often multiple, nucleoli. Ultrastructurally, the neoplastic cells appeared as solid aggregates, with profuse microvillous borders and neolumen formation. Cytological examination, together with confirmative ancillary diagnostic tests, including electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry, may be used to obtain an ante-mortem diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Animals↗

Computer-based collection and analysis of myoelectric activity of the intestine in horses.

Extracellular myoelectric activity from the terminal ileum, cecum, and colonic pelvic flexure was assessed in 4 adult horses. The collection and analysis of myoelectric data involved the development and use of a computer-based system. After collection, the myoelectric signal was digitally filtered to enhance the activity of interest. The smoothed signal was then processed by use of computer programs designed to identify and count spike-burst activity and estimate burst duration. The intense phases of myoelectric complexes also were identified. The propagation of myoelectric spike-burst activity was assessed over 3 electrode sites to identify the propagative patterns of intestinal motility. There was high correlation between the results of computer-based analysis and those of visual analysis. We concluded that the computer provides a fast, accurate, and reliable means of assessing myoelectric activity.

Animals↗

Effects of general anesthesia on myoelectric activity of the intestine in horses.

Myoelectric activity was monitored from the terminal ileum, cecum, and colonic pelvic flexure by use of AgpAgCl bipolar electrodes in 4 adult horses before, during, and after general anesthesia. Horses were anesthetized by way of 3 commonly used regimens, including xylazine (1.1 mg/kg of body weight) and ketamine hydrochloride (2.2 mg/kg); thiopental sodium (7.7 mg/kg), followed by halothane vaporized in oxygen; and thiopental sodium (2.5 g) in guaifenesin (100 mg/ml) solution given to effect, followed by halothane in oxygen. All 3 anesthetic regimens decreased intestinal spike-burst activity in the areas monitored. The slowest return to preanesthetic myoelectric activity was observed after xylazine and ketamine administration. After both of the barbiturate/halothane anesthetic regimens, there was a rebound increase in spike-burst frequency, without alteration in the proportion of propagative myoelectric events. All 3 anesthetic regimens appeared to reset the timing of the small and large intestinal migrating myoelectric complexes. By 9 hours after recovery from anesthesia, the effects of anesthesia, irrespective of regimen, had disappeared. Although anesthesia significantly (P less than 0.05) altered intestinal myoelectric activity, no particular anesthetic regimen had a prolonged effect. Results of our study indicate that the particular chosen regimen of general anesthesia is unimportant in development of motility disturbances in horses after anesthesia.

Acepromazine↗

Bilateral hypoplasia of the soft palate in a foal.

Bilateral hypoplasia of the soft palate and aspiration pneumonia occurred in a Standardbred foal. The filly was presented with a history of illthrift, dyspnoea, coughing and bilateral nasal discharge. Abnormal sounds (crackels and wheezes) were auscultated over all lung fields and the cervical trachea. Endoscopy revealed a shortened soft palate with a uvula-like mass protruding from the free border into the nasopharynx. Mucopurulent material was present in the trachea. Samples obtained by tracheal wash were submitted for cytology, culture and sensitivity testing. Results indicated a septic inflammatory process. On lateral radiographs of the thorax there were patchy areas of consolidation and air bronchograms. The foal was euthanased. Necropsy confirmed the presence of a palatal defect and aspiration pneumonia of moderate severity. No other congenital abnormalities were present.

Animals↗

The effect of Strongylus vulgaris larvae on equine intestinal myoelectrical activity.

The myoelectrical activity of the ileum, caecum and large colon was monitored from Ag-AgCl bipolar recording electrodes in four conscious 'parasite-naive' weanling foals. All foals were inoculated with 1000 infective 3rd-stage Strongylus vulgaris larvae and alterations to the myoelectrical activity observed. The frequencies of caecal and colonic spike bursts increased significantly in all post infection periods coinciding with assumed larval penetration into the intestinal mucosa and migration through the vasculature. Peaks in caecal and colonic activity occurred at Days 1 to 5 post infection. In the caecum, peaks occurred again at Days 15 and 31 post infection, preceding similar rises in colonic spike burst frequency at Days 19 and 35. Longer term changes indicated a return towards pre-infection levels of activity suggesting smooth muscle adaptation to decreased blood flow. The analysis of caecal and colonic spike burst propagation indicated that the increases in burst frequency were not attributable to an increase in the propagation of spike bursts in any particular direction, but rather to proportional increases in all directions of activity. There was a slight decrease in the simple ileal spike burst frequency immediately post-infection. None of the experimental animals exhibited signs of abdominal pain during the trial, and there was no evidence of bowel infarction at post mortem examination despite the presence of severe parasite-induced arterial lesions. The results suggest that increased caecal and colonic motility is an important host response in susceptible foals exposed to S. vulgaris larvae.

Animals↗

Functional and morphological studies on blood platelets in a thrombasthenic horse.

A four-year-old Standardbred gelding presented with a 3.5 year history of intermittent epistaxis and spontaneous submucosal petechiae and ecchymoses in the nares and the mouth. Routine haematological and biochemical examinations were unremarkable. A thrombocytopathy was suspected when activated partial thromboplastin time, one stage prothrombin time, plasma fibrinogen and the platelet count were all normal. The patient's platelets failed to aggregate with serotonin, adenosine diphosphate, collagen (at 20 micrograms/ml) or the endoperoxide analogue U46619. Very high levels of collagen (100 micrograms/ml) did cause aggregation. The response to the calcium ionophore A23187 was reduced and although complete degranulation occurred the resulting aggregates were unstable. Thromboxane generation in response to collagen and ADP was inferred from the concentration of its stable metabolite thromboxane B2 and was reduced. A diagnosis of a thrombasthenia-like syndrome possibly equivalent to Type II Glanzmann's thrombasthenia in people was made.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗