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Biomedical subjects

M H Sims

Publications and source records attributed to M H Sims.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Otoacoustic emission in a dog.

A 7-month-old female Poodle was evaluated for a sound continuously emanating from its left ear. The frequency and intensity of the tone was matched by use of a multifrequency audiometer. The frequency and intensity of the sound were 9,594 Hz and 45.5 decibels sound pressure level, respectively. On the bases of normal brain stem auditory-evoked responses and behavioral response to sound, the dog was believed to have normal hearing in both ears. Emission of sound from an ear, referred to as an otoacoustic emission, is a condition that has been reported in human beings and small animals. Successful treatment in human patients with drugs and masking sounds is difficult, and treatment has not been reported in animals. This condition in dogs is not considered life-threatening.

Animals

Use of fine-wire electrodes for electromyographic evaluation of the external urethral sphincter during urethral pressure profilometry in male cats.

Evaluation of urethral pressure profilometry (UPP) with simultaneous fine-wire electromyography of the external urethral sphincter (EUS) was conducted in 11 healthy adult male cats sedated with xylazine and ketamine. A 3.5-F urethral catheter with a closed end and two 1-mm side-ports was infused with sterile 0.9% NaCl solution at a rate of 2 to 3 ml/min. A fine-wire electromyographic (EMG) electrode was placed percutaneously into or near the external urethral sphincter prior to the onset of the UPP. The maximal urethral pressure achieved and functional profile length were recorded from UPP. Setting both catheter withdrawal rate and paper speed at 5 mm/s enabled the measurement of actual urethral length directly from UPP. Sphincter EMG activity was rated as slight (+), moderate (+ +), or intense (+ + +). All recordings were replicated once during each trial for 8 cats and trials were replicated 5 to 7 days later in 4 cats. Before catheterization, EMG activity of the external urethral sphincter was rated slight (+), whereas intense (+ + +) activity accompanied insertion. The activity evoked by movement of the catheter subsided, but intense EMG activity of the external urethral sphincter was recorded from onset to completion of catheter withdrawal in all cats in both trials. The mean maximal urethral pressure was 93.1 +/- 13.29 cm H2O. The mean function urethral length was 8.1 +/- 0.93 cm. Maximal urethral pressure or function profile length did not differ significantly between recordings within trials or between trials. Simultaneous recording of EMG activity and UPP of the external urethral sphincter was shown to be a simple, noninvasive technique for assessing neuromuscular and anatomic urethral function.

Animals

Changes in oscillatory potentials in the canine electroretinogram during dark adaptation.

Oscillatory potentials (OP) and electroretinograms (ERG) were recorded from clinically normal dogs after 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 minutes of dark adaptation. At the end of the adaptation period, OP were characterized by 5 distinct positive peaks, O1 through O5, with mean latencies of 14.46, 20.24, 27.38, 35.31, and 44.85 ms, respectively, and with mean amplitudes ranging from 7.20 to 34.84 microV. After 60 minutes of dark adaptation, the ERG had a mean a-wave latency of 12.03 ms and a mean b-wave amplitude of 109.29 microV. Peaks O3 and O4, which partially mask the summit of the b-wave, had mean latencies of 28.66 and 36.83 ms, respectively. The mean amplitude of the b-wave measured to the peak of O3 was 240.06 microV and 230.73 microV when measured to peak O4. Changes in the OP during dark adaptation consisted of significant (P less than 0.05) increases in the latencies of O1, O2, and O3, and significant increases in the amplitudes of O1, O3, O4, and O5. Concurrent ERG changes consisted of significant increases in the amplitudes of the a-wave and b-wave measured from O3 and O4, and significant increases in the latencies of peaks O3 and O4 on the b-wave.

Animals

Electromyographic evaluation of the external urethral sphincter during cystometry in male cats.

Electromyographic (EMG) evaluation of the external urethral sphincter (EUS) was conducted during cystometry in 11 adult male cats sedated with xylazine and ketamine. A percutaneously placed antepubic catheter was used for bladder infusion and recording intravesicular pressures during cystometrography (CMG). A fine-wire electrode was placed percutaneously into or near the EUS for recording EMG during CMG. The bladder was infused with sterile 0.9% NaCl solution at a rate of 2 to 3 ml/min until a detrusor reflex was initiated. Intravesicular pressures at the onset of infusion, immediately prior to micturition, at the onset of urine flow, and at the maximal voiding pressure were recorded. The time from infusion to micturition, from opening pressure to return to baseline, and from the beginning to the end of the CMG were also recorded. The total volume of 0.9% NaCl solution infused and the residual bladder volume after micturition were also measured. Recordings were replicated once during each trial in all cats, and trials were replicated once approximately 1 week later in 4 cats. Micturition patterns were characterized by slight to moderate EUS EMG activity during vesicular filling, with reduction in activity during emptying. Maximal EMG activity was recorded at the completion of the reflex and was associated with pulsatile expulsion of small amounts of urine. The simultaneous recording of CMG and EUS EMG with fine-wire electrodes was simple and reliable for assessing the neuromuscular integrity and synchrony of detrusor and EUS muscles. There were no significant differences in variables between recordings within trial 1, but there were differences (P less than or equal to 0.05) between trials for pressure at the onset of urine flow and maximal voiding pressure.

Animals

Waveform analysis and reproducibility of visual-evoked potentials in dogs.

Visual-evoked potentials (VEP) and electroretinograms (ERG) were recorded from 10 normal light-adapted adult dogs, using a 3 x 5 matrix of light-emitting diodes as a stimulator. Visual-evoked potentials were recorded from 4 scalp electrodes overlying cortical areas, whereas electroretinographic activity was recorded by 2 scalp electrodes placed near the eye and by a conjunctivally placed electrode. The waveform of the VEP consisted of 3 major positive waves (P1 through P3), with peak latencies in the 20- to 70-ms range. Waveform reproducibility was assessed by comparing peak latencies from VEP recorded on 2 separate days approximately 1 week apart. The peak latencies for P1 through P3 did not differ (P greater than or equal to 0.05) between first and second recording sessions. To substantiate the postretinal origin of VEP, recordings were made before and after unilateral optic nerve transsections in 4 dogs. Electroretinograms were also measured before and after surgery to assess the integrity of the retina. Postsurgically, VEP were absent when the eye on the surgically treated side was stimulated. Stimulation of the contralateral eye induced VEP with the same waveform shape, but latencies were slightly prolonged (P less than or equal to 0.05) compared with presurgical recordings. The only effect of optic nerve transsection on the ipsilateral ERG was a prolongation (P less than or equal to 0.05) of the b-wave. However, when postsurgical ERG values were compared with those from the intact side after surgery, there were no differences.

Animals

Somatosensory-evoked and spinal cord-evoked potentials in response to pudendal and tibial nerve stimulation in cats.

Somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEP) and spinal cord-evoked potentials (SCEP) were recorded in clinically normal adult cats in response to electrical stimulation of pudendal and tibial nerves to provide normative data that can be used in a clinical evaluation of pudendal nerve function in cats after sacral or sacrococcygeal luxations or fractures. Responses to tibial nerve stimulation were included in the study as an internal control because it is usually not involved in these types of injuries and because its SEP and SCEP are easily recorded. Evoked potentials were characterized by the latencies (ms) of positive (P or p) and negative (N or n) peaks. The SEP resulting from percutaneous pudendal nerve stimulation consisted of a prominent P-N-P potential in the 30- to 80-ms range. The pudendal SCEP was not successfully recorded because of large muscle artifacts evoked from the sacral area. The tibial SEP was similar to the pudendal SEP, except that the prominent P-N-P series in the 35- to 81-ms range was preceded by a smaller p-n-p-n sequence in the 7- to 23-ms range. The tibial SCEP consisted of a P-N-P series in the 2- to 4-ms range.

Animals

Visual-evoked potentials in cats, using a light-emitting diode stimulator.

Visual-evoked potentials (VEP) were studied in 8 healthy adult cats anesthetized with xylazine HCl and ketamine HCl. Monocular visual stimulation was accomplished by a 3 x 5 matrix of light-emitting diodes. Subcutaneous needle electrodes placed in the scalp at various locations and a contact lens electrode on the cornea were used to record cortical and electroretinographic activities, respectively. Multiple electrode pairings and unilateral optic nerve transsection were used to distinguish between retinal and postretinal potentials recorded from scalp electrodes. The VEP was a robust polyphasic cortical potential, with peak latencies between 0 and 110 ms. Using the light-emitting diode method of stimulation, a VEP was recorded which was not contaminated by volume-conducted retinal activity.

Animals

Fiber type composition of rostral and caudal portions of the digastric muscle in the dog.

The distribution of muscle fiber types in rostral and caudal portions of the musculus digastricus (digastric muscle) was studied in 6 dogs. Staining procedures which stain specifically for type IIM fibers, a fiber type found in other muscles supplied by the trigeminal nerve, were used. Rostral and caudal portions of the muscle were compared because the rostral portion is innervated by the trigeminal nerve, and the caudal portion is innervated by the facial nerve. The musculus triceps brachii (triceps muscle), which contains fiber types I and IIA, and the musculus masseter (masseter muscle), which contains type IIM, were used as controls. Mean fiber diameters were calculated for each of the muscles. Both portions of the digastric muscle exhibited the same histochemical behavior, possessing types I and IIA myofibers. Neither portion contained type IIM fibers. Type I fibers in the masseter muscle were histochemically different from type I fibers in the other muscles studied. Type II fibers predominated in all 3 muscles, but there were significantly (P less than 0.001) more type I fibers in the triceps muscle than in either portion of the digastric muscle or in the masseter muscle. Type II fibers were significantly larger than type I fibers in the caudal digastric (P less than 0.01) and masseter (P less than 0.05) muscles. There was no difference in the size of type I or type II fibers between any of the muscles studied (P greater than 0.20).

Adenosine Triphosphatases

Effects of tenotomy of the tensor tympani muscle on the acoustic reflex in dogs.

The acoustic reflex (AR) was recorded from 12 healthy mixed-breed dogs. Latency and amplitude were measured from ipsilateral and contralateral AR at stimulus frequencies of 1 and 2 kHz and intensities of 70 to 110 dB sound pressure level for ipsilateral AR and 70 to 120 dB hearing level for contralateral AR. Mean latencies for ipsilateral and contralateral AR were between 33.46 and 206.10 ms and between 45.26 and 180.89 ms, respectively, and amplitudes were between 0.14 and 1.79 cm3 and between 0.31 and 1.86 cm3 of air, respectively. Stimulus frequencies and intensities had significant effects (P less than 0.05) on ipsilateral and contralateral AR latencies and amplitudes. Ipsilateral and contralateral AR decays were determined by measuring compliance change during a 10-s pure-tone stimulation at frequencies of 1 and 2 kHz at an intensity of 10 dB above AR threshold. Reflex decays for 1 kHz and 2 kHz frequencies averaged 5.74% and 9.71%, respectively, for ipsilateral AR and 5.08% and 5.40%, respectively, for contralateral AR. Bilateral tympanograms and brain stem auditory-evoked responses were performed on each dog. Mean normal static compliance of the middle ear, as determined by tympanometry, was 0.15 cm3. Unilateral tenotomy of the tensor tympani muscle was done on 6 of the 12 dogs, and each of the preceding procedures were repeated within 1 week after surgical operation. Transection of the tensor tympani tendon did not alter (P greater than 0.05) the latencies or amplitudes of 1 kHz- or 2 kHz-evoked contralateral AR, the latency or amplitude of 1 kHz-evoked ipsilateral AR, or the amplitude of 2 kHz-evoked ipsilateral AR. However, the latency of 2 kHz-evoked ipsilateral AR was significantly (P less than 0.05) increased. Reflex decay increased significantly (P less than or equal to 0.001) for the contralateral reflex elicited by the 2 kHz stimulus. Neither compliance of the middle ear system nor amplitude and latency of the brain stem auditory-evoked response were affected (P greater than 0.05) by tenotomy. Since tenotomy eliminates participation of the tensor tympani in the AR, these data indicate that contraction of this muscle is not primarily responsible for the compliance changes recorded during an acoustic reflex in dogs.

Animals

Effects of xylazine and ketamine on the acoustic reflex and brain stem auditory-evoked response in the cat.

The acoustic reflex (AR) and brain stem auditory-evoked response (BAER) were recorded in adult cats 5 minutes after IM administration of xylazine (1 mg/kg) and after IM administration of ketamine (10 mg/kg). Ipsilateral and contralateral AR were recorded at 10 and 20 dB above acoustic reflex threshold 5 minutes after xylazine administration and 5 and 35 minutes after ketamine administration. Monaural BAER were recorded 5 minutes after xylazine and 5 and 35 minutes after ketamine, using stimulus intensities of 90-, 80-, and 70-dB hearing level (HL). Additional BAER were recorded at 10, 15, and 25 minutes after ketamine, using the 90-dB HL stimulus. Pre- and postinjection comparisons were made for threshold, latency, and amplitude of the AR and for latency and amplitude of waves I through VI of the BAER. At both stimulus intensities before and after ketamine administration threshold for the ipsilateral reflex was significantly lower (P greater than 0.05) than for the contralateral reflex. The threshold, latency, and amplitude of the AR were unaffected (P greater than 0.05) by the injection of ketamine after xylazine. The amplitude of BAER waves was not affected (P greater than 0.05) by ketamine after xylazine for each of the 3 stimulus intensities. Latency of the 90-dB HL-evoked response was increased (P less than or equal to 0.05) for waves III/IV at 5 and 35 minutes after ketamine, and for wave V at each of the postinjection times, except at postinjection minute 15.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Electrodiagnostic evaluation of deafness in two English setter littermates.

Two English Setter littermates (male and female) were evaluated for hearing difficulties at 4, 16, and 24 months of age. Auditory function was evaluated by behavioral response to pure-tone sounds, tympanometry, brain stem auditory evoked response, and acoustic reflex testing. Hereditary sensorineural deafness was diagnosed in both dogs. The extent of the hearing deficit, as characterized by these tests, was slightly different between the dogs, as well as between the ears in 1 dog.

Acoustic Impedance Tests

Failure of neuromuscular transmission after complete nerve section in the dog.

After the ulnar nerve was surgically transected, nerve conduction velocity in the distal segment and the evoked motor unit potential (EMUP) from the interosseous muscle were recorded until neuromuscular transmission failed. In five of the six dogs in the experiment, functional conduction ceased by 4.8 days, as determined by failure of both proximal and distal stimulation of the distal segment to evoke a muscle response. From the time of section until neuromuscular failure, the nerve conduction velocity remained unchanged. The amplitude of the EMUP from the interosseous muscle, however, decreased markedly during this time. Changes in other features of the EMUP are also presented. Fibrillation (denervation) potentials did not appear until the first day that muscle response could not be detected by stimulating the nerve. These data present a principle which would enable a determination of relative extent and progression of peripheral nerve damage.

Animals

Porcine mastitis-metritis-agalactia (MMA) syndrome: mammary gland responsiveness to oxytocin given to healthy sows during lactation.

Mammary gland responsiveness to exogenous oxytocin during lactation was assessed by measuring changes in intramammary pressure of healthy sows given (IM injection) synthetic oxytocin (40 U). Response to oxytocin was measured once a week for the first 8 weeks of lactation. Recordings of pressure changes were expressed as mean area (cm2) under the trace at each 10-minute interval over 30 minutes after oxytocin had been given. During the 2nd week of lactation, there was a 55.3% increase (P less than 0.05) in responsiveness to oxytocin (25.1 +/- 4.2 cm2/10 minutes) as compared with the 1st week (13.9 +/- 2.2 cm2/10 minutes). Responsiveness decreased, however, from the 2nd to the 8th week. Since the incidence of mastitis-metritis-agalactia in sows is particularly high during the 1st week of lactation, low responsiveness of the mammary gland to oxytocin may be a contributing factor.

Animals

Depressed thyroid function in two tetraplegic dogs.

Rapidly progressing tetraplegia developed in two 6-year-old dogs, both of which had eaten decayed meat sometime during the 24 hours prior to the onset of paralysis. Both dogs were found to have depressed thyroid function, as indicated by extremely low triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) values. Electromyographic studies revealed some abnormal insertional activity but no abnormal potentials when the fore- and hindlimb muscles were at total rest. Nerve conduction velocity was slightly depressed in 1 of the dogs and severely depressed in the other. Recovery was complete in less than 3 weeks in 1 dog, but the other dog was not completely recovered when placed under the owner's care 2 1/2 months after admission.

Animals