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Biomedical subjects

L Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to L Johnson.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Effects of month and age on prolactin concentrations in stallion serum.

Prolactin concentrations in stallion serum were measured by a newly developed radioimmunoassay based on anti-dog prolactin serum and radiolabelled horse prolactin. Samples of serum from a total of 444 stallions were obtained at a commercial abattoir monthly from April to the following March. Ages of stallions were estimated from eruption and wear patterns of incisors. In the analysis of variance, both month (P less than 0.01) and age (P less than 0.05) were significant sources of variation whereas there was no interaction between these factors. Monthly means for prolactin concentrations were greatest between May and August with peak concentrations occurring in July (7.1 +/- 0.5 ng/ml). Lowest mean concentrations of prolactin (1.2 ng/ml) were observed during the winter months (December and January). Concentrations of prolactin were lowest in stallions less than or equal to 5 years old and were highest in stallions greater than 10 years old. It appears that prolactin secretion in the stallion is strongly influenced by season, as it is in the mare and in other seasonally breeding animals. Moreover, prolactin secretion in the stallion tends to increase as the stallion ages.

Aging↗
PubMed1987

Chronic idiopathic vitritis. Cytopathogenicity of unusual bacteria for vitreous polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

In acute exacerbations of chronic idiopathic vitritis (CIV) non-cultivatable ultrastructurally unusual 0.5-0.7 micron cell walled coccal bacteria (B) are commonly present within phagolysosomes of 3-5% of vitreous polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes. Inoculation of that CIV vitreous into mouse eyelids produces chronic mouse vitritis (CMV) with identical B within CMV PMN leukocyte phagolysosomes. This transmission electron microscopic restudy of all PMN leukocytes in those 8 CIV and 3 CMV specimens demonstrated in all 11 severe cytoskeletal lytic damage associated with pleomorphic 0.1-1.4 micron cell wall deficient B in 1-2% of the cells; both those cell wall deficient and the unusual cell walled B within the same cell in 1-3 cells per specimens; and within the cell walled B complex internal structures resembling the cell wall deficient B. The study results suggest that the morphologically diverse B may be subportions of a single unusual pathogenic B, which parasitizes, undergoes complex morphologic differentiation within, and produces profound cytoskeletal damage to host PMN leukocytes.

Eye Diseases↗
PubMed1987

Purification, physicochemical, and kinetic properties of liver acetyl-CoA:arylamine N-acetyltransferase from rapid acetylator rabbits.

Cytosolic liver acetyl-CoA:arylamine N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5) from homozygous rapid acetylator rabbits (strain III/J) was purified to homogeneity as judged by gel filtration sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis and isoelectrofocusing. The isoelectric point was estimated to be 5.2. The molecular weight was determined to be 33,500 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis and 33,000 by Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration. The amino acid composition is reported and 16 tryptic peptides were sequenced by Edmann degradation, including a peptide from which a very specific oligonucleotide probe can be synthesized. The enzyme contained neither amino sugars nor cofactors. A broad pH optimum from pH 5.9 to 8.6 was observed. N-Acetyltransferase activity showed a strong dependency on the salt concentration. From the influence of the basicity of the acceptor amine on the maximum velocity, it was concluded that the formation of the covalent acetyl-enzyme intermediate is the rate-limiting step in the N-acetyltransferase-catalyzed acetylation of amines. The covalent intermediate reacts, then, in a fast step with the acceptor amine, when using aniline derivatives with pKa values ranging from 5.65 to 1.74. However, with the weakly basic 4-nitroaniline, the acetyltransfer from the catalytic intermediate to the amine seems to be rate-limiting. A structure-activity study of 30 aniline derivatives that differ in hydrophobicity, position, size, charge, and number of substituents showed that some ortho-substituted derivatives were not acetylated.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1987

Crohn's disease. Rifampin treatment of the ocular and gut disease.

Idiopathic Uveitis (IU) may occur as either an isolated ocular disease or with other systemic diseases such as Crohn's Disease (CD). As many as 33% of CD patients demonstrate IU, and frequently their gut and IU course and severity are similar. Rifampin produces remissions of isolated IU, and Rifampin has been used to treat gut CD with varying success. In this investigation 4 CD patients, whose gut but not IU had partially responded to corticosteroids, the addition of Rifampin was associated with improvement in both their CD Activity Index and IU, allowing steroid discontinuation; Rifampin withdrawal was associated with exacerbations of both gut disease and IU; and re-institution of Rifampin was associated with another gut and IU disease remission. Since mouse ocular and systemic inflammatory disease producing non-cultivatable ultrastructurally unusual bacteria are commonly found within isolated chronic IU vitreous polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes, a search for these bacteria in CD eye and gut disease seems justified, as the beneficial results of Rifampin in this study may have been an antimicrobial action on these bacteria.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia using chlorambucil and prednisone with or without cycle-active consolidation chemotherapy. A Southeastern Cancer Study Group Trial.

Patients with untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) received protocol treatment with 6 months of chlorambucil (CB) (30 mg/M2) and prednisone (P) (80 mg/d X 5) every 2 weeks. Complete and partial responders (CR, PR) were then randomized to consolidation with six more courses of CB and P or to four courses of cytosine arabinoside (25 mg/M2 every 12 hours X 8, subcutaneously) and cyclophosphamide (25 mg/M2 every 12 hours X 8, orally) every three weeks. Of the 178 eligible patients entered, 138 (78%) were evaluable for induction therapy which produced a 22% hematologic CR and an overall response rate (CR + PR) of 74%. Eighty-two patients received adequate consolidation, at the end of which 43 were in CR. No difference was seen in response or survival between the two consolidation treatments. Responders had longer survival than nonresponders (P = 0.0001) even when a 6-month "guarantee time" was excluded, but there was no survival difference between CR and PR. Thus, intermittent CB and P is a well-tolerated, useful therapy for CLL but the addition of cyclophosphamide and cytosine arabinoside does not improve results.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1986

Use of tears for diagnosis of feline leukemia virus infection.

A comparison was made of the use of serum, tears, and saliva for the detection of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection in cats. Cotton swabs were used to collect saliva, and tear-test strips were used to collect tears. Specimens were analyzed by a commercially available ELISA. Using a 10- to 15-minute specimen incubation period, FeLV was detected in 70% of the saliva specimens and in 73% of the tear specimens from viremic (serum-positive) cats. Feline leukemia virus antigen was not detected in saliva and tear specimens from serum-negative cats. The sensitivity of the tear assay was improved by increasing the incubation time to 24 hours. Tear strips could be air-dried and stored at room temperature for up to 7 days without any appreciable loss of activity. Client-owned and experimentally infected laboratory cats were tested for FeLV, using air-dried tear-test strips and a 24-hour incubation period. Tears were positive (contained FeLV antigen) in 65 of 72 (90%) serum-positive cats and did not contain antigen in 46 of 46 (100%) serum-negative cats. Results of ELISA obtained from serum and tears also were compared with results obtained from indirect fluorescent antibody testing of blood smears. Results of indirect fluorescent antibody and ELISA compared favorably with each other and with the results of tear testing.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

A new approach to quantification of Sertoli cells that avoids problems associated with the irregular nuclear surface.

A new approach to quantification of Sertoli cells is described. The number of Sertoli cells per testis was calculated from the number of spermatids per testis, the number of spermatids per Sertoli cell apex, and the correction for the lifespan of spermatids enumerated per testis. To evaluate this method under different physiological conditions, testes from 28 adult (4-20-year) stallions obtained in the nonbreeding season (December-January) and from 28 adult stallions in the breeding season (June-July) were compared. Number of Sertoli cells per gram parenchyma was similar between seasons. However, the number of Sertoli cells per testis was significantly greater in the breeding season. In verification of this method, the number of spermatids per Sertoli cell apex was similar to that calculated as the ratio of spermatids to Sertoli cell in the same stallions. Likewise, absolute values similar to those of other approaches further verify the validity of this approach.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Perforated diverticulitis in a Hartmann rectal pouch.

The Hartmann procedure is the surgical treatment of choice for perforated diverticulitis. Modifications leaving a long rectal pouch or mucous fistula and a variable length of bowel that contains inactive diverticula have been described. A steroid-dependent patient presented with perforated diverticulitis in residual disease in the Hartmann rectal pouch ten months after initial sigmoid resection for a perforated diverticulum. Because steroid-treated patients are at high risk for complications and recurrent disease, all diseased bowel should be resected during the initial procedure.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Possible immunoenhancement of persistent viremia by feline leukemia virus envelope glycoprotein vaccines in challenge-exposure situations where whole inactivated virus vaccines were protective.

Kittens immunized with purified native FeLV-gp70 or -gp85 envelope proteins developed ELISA, but not virus neutralizing, antibodies in their serum to both whole FeLV and FeLV-gp70. Kittens vaccinated with envelope proteins and infected with feline sarcoma virus (FeSV) developed smaller tumors than nonvaccinates, but a greater incidence of persistent retroviremia. Similarly, FeLV-gp70 and -gp85 vaccinated kittens were more apt to become persistently retroviremic following virulent FeLV challenge exposure than nonvaccinates. Kittens vaccinated with inactivated whole FeLV developed smaller tumors after FeSV inoculation and had a lower incidence of persistent retroviremia than nonvaccinates. The protective effect of inactivated whole FeLV vaccine against persistent retroviremia was also seen with FeLV challenge-exposed cats. Protection afforded by inactivated whole FeLV vaccine was not associated with virus neutralizing antibodies, although ELISA antibodies to both whole FeLV and FeLV-gp70 were induced by vaccination.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

In vitro susceptibility of the Bacteroides fragilis group in community hospitals.

The antimicrobial susceptibility of clinical isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group was determined at six community hospitals (one large, greater than 600 beds; and five smaller, 96-325 beds). Imipenem was the most active beta-lactam with 100% of isolates being sensitive at 4 micrograms/ml. The percentage of isolates inhibited at 16 micrograms/ml (and 32 micrograms/ml) for the 7-alpha-methoxy antibiotics was: cefoxitin 66 (90); moxalactam 73 (85); cefotetan 68 (72); cefmetazole 40 (61). Metronidazole, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin were active against 100%, 100%, and 89% at breakpoints of 8 micrograms/ml, 8 micrograms/ml, and 4 micrograms/ml, respectively. The activity of several beta-lactams in our report differed slightly from that reported from university teaching hospitals. There were differences at many of the breakpoints for activity of some of the beta-lactam antibiotics for isolates from the large community hospital as compared with the combined isolates from the smaller community hospitals. Interestingly, the pattern was one of more resistance at the smaller community hospitals.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1986

Effect of vesical outlet obstruction on detrusor contractility and passive properties in rabbits.

Outlet obstruction was induced in 16 New Zealand rabbits by implanting a polyethylene tube (20 F) for a period of three months. The tube was slit longitudinally and placed around the bladder neck, between the ureters and vasa deferentia. It was left open to induce moderate obstruction and closed by a suture to induce severe obstruction. The animals were studied by cutting consecutive rings from each bladder, which were subjected to the following studies: morphology, contractility and mechanical properties. Morphology. Histology sections of the rings, studied by Hematoxylin and Eosin and Masson-Trichrome stains, demonstrated smooth muscle hypertrophy in moderate obstruction, while hyperplasia was the predominant response in severe obstruction. The average nuclear count per square millimeter of smooth muscle was 251 in controls, 87 in moderate obstruction and 705 in severe obstruction. Bladder wall thickness was significantly increased after both moderate and severe obstruction, as compared to controls. Contractility and mechanical properties. Each ring was tested in a muscle chamber under conditions of maximal electrical stimulation (100 V, 2 ms, 40 Hz). For each ring, full force-length relationships (active and passive) were obtained by stretching the rings in successive increments until length of maximal active force development was reached. Force was normalized per unit cross-sectional area (stress), and length according to a "reference" underformed state (per cent of unloaded length). The maximum active stress of the rings was taken as a measure of bladder contractility, and the rate of increase in passive force as a measure of detrusor stiffness. In all groups, the body of the detrusor exerted better contractility, as compared to a rigid, less contractile base. In the obstructed groups, detrusor contractility was significantly decreased at the body level, with increased stiffness, as compared to controls. The length at which maximum contractility was exerted, however, increased in moderate obstruction, and decreased in severe obstruction.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The antiarrhythmic effect of nortriptyline in cardiac patients with ventricular premature depolarizations.

The effect of nortriptyline against ventricular arrhythmias was determined in 16 cardiac patients with 30 or more ventricular premature depolarizations per hour. Nortriptyline was administered orally, 0.5 mg/kg body weight per day, and increased by 0.5 mg/kg per day every third day until ventricular premature depolarizations were suppressed (greater than or equal to 80%), adverse effects occurred or a total daily dose of 3.5 mg/kg per day was given. Each patient had daily 24 hour continuous electrocardiograms, 12 lead standard electrocardiograms and physical examination; blood pressure was measured in the supine and standing position four times a day. Each patient also had radionuclide angiography at rest to measure ejection fraction before and at the effective or maximal dose. Thirteen patients (81%) had an antiarrhythmic response and 11 met the study criterion of at least 80% improvement. Doses ranged from 50 to 200 mg/day (mean 111 +/- 45), steady state plasma concentration ranged from 46 to 410 ng/ml (mean 153 +/- 96) and half-life of elimination of nortriptyline was 4 to 22 hours (mean 13 +/- 4). Administration of nortriptyline did not depress mean ejection fraction (before 42 +/- 12%, after 41 +/- 12%); it was associated with an orthostatic decrease in systolic blood pressure (mean -13 +/- 13 mm Hg). Nortriptyline is an effective antiarrhythmic agent which may be given twice a day even in patients with impaired ventricular function.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Effect of cimetidine and pyrilamine on histamine-induced ocular surface hyperemia.

Histamine-induced ocular surface redness was virtually abolished by a combination of cimetidine (H2-receptor antagonist) and pyrilamine (H1-receptor antagonist), whereas either antagonist administered alone produced no significant reduction. It appears that combined H1- and H2-antagonist therapy is required for effective blockade of ocular responses to histamine that involve both receptor subtypes.

Aminopyridines↗
PubMed1986

Seasonal variation in the total volume of Leydig cells in stallions is explained by variation in cell number rather than cell size.

Stereological methods were employed in two studies with stallions 1) to determine if seasonal variation in the total volume of Leydig cells is a function of cell number or cell size and 2) to characterize the annual cycle of the Leydig cell population. In the first study, numbers of Leydig cells were calculated for 28 adult (4-20 yr) stallions in the breeding or nonbreeding seasons from nuclear volume density (percentage of the decapsulated testicular volume), parenchymal volume (decapsulated testicular volume), and the volume of individual Leydig cell nuclei. The average volume of the individual Leydig cells was calculated as the total Leydig cell volume/testis (volume density of Leydig cells in the parenchymal volume times parenchymal volume) divided by the number of Leydig cells. The average volume of an individual Leydig cell varied within each season, but means were almost identical for the nonbreeding (6.94 +/- 0.61 picoliter) and breeding (6.91 +/- 0.45 picoliter) seasons. However, Leydig cell numbers per testis were 57% higher in the breeding season, which also had a 58% higher total volume of Leydig cells per testis. In the second study, the numbers of Leydig cells were determined for 43-48 adult horses in each 3-mo period for 12 mo. The number of Leydig cells per testis in May-July was higher (p less than 0.05) than in August-October or February-April, and higher (p less than 0.01) than in November-January. Thus, seasonal fluctuations in the total volume of Leydig cells in adult stallions is a function of the number of Leydig cells that cycle annually.

Animals↗