Biomedical subjects

Michael B Porter

Publications and source records attributed to Michael B Porter.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Equine neonatal thoracic and abdominal ultrasonography.

Pathologic disorders of the equine neonate often develop shortly after foaling as a result of prematurity, dystocia, trauma, or septicemia. Recognition of these disorders requires routine patient assessment along with diagnostic aids, including abdominal and thoracic ultrasonography. Fortunately, modern technology affords today's equine practitioners the opportunity to use ultrasonography to advance their practice, and it is the authors' hope that this article might help in those efforts.

Abdomen↗

PubMed2004

Adjoint modeling for acoustic inversion.

The use of adjoint modeling for acoustic inversion is investigated. An adjoint model is derived from a linearized forward propagation model to propagate data-model misfit at the observation points back through the medium to the medium perturbations not being accounted for in the model. This adjoint model can be used to aid in inverting for these unaccounted medium perturbations. Adjoint methods are being applied to a variety of inversion problems, but have not drawn much attention from the underwater acoustic community. This paper presents an application of adjoint methods to acoustic inversion. Inversions are demonstrated in simulation for both range-independent and range-dependent sound speed profiles using the adjoint of a parabolic equation model. Sensitivity and error analyses are discussed showing how the adjoint model enables calculations to be performed in the space of observations, rather than the often much larger space of model parameters. Using an adjoint model enables directions of steepest descent in the model parameters (what we invert for) to be calculated using far fewer modeling runs than if a forward model only were used.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Localization of marine mammals near Hawaii using an acoustic propagation model.

Humpback whale songs were recorded on six widely spaced receivers of the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) hydrophone network near Hawaii during March of 2001. These recordings were used to test a new approach to localizing the whales that exploits the time-difference of arrival (time lag) of their calls as measured between receiver pairs in the PMRF network. The usual technique for estimating source position uses the intersection of hyperbolic curves of constant time lag, but a drawback of this approach is its assumption of a constant wave speed and straight-line propagation to associate acoustic travel time with range. In contrast to hyperbolic fixing, the algorithm described here uses an acoustic propagation model to account for waveguide and multipath effects when estimating travel time from hypothesized source positions. A comparison between predicted and measured time lags forms an ambiguity surface, or visual representation of the most probable whale position in a horizontal plane around the array. This is an important benefit because it allows for automated peak extraction to provide a location estimate. Examples of whale localizations using real and simulated data in algorithms of increasing complexity are provided.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2003

Neurologic disease putatively associated with ingestion of Solanum viarum in goats.

Several Nubian-cross goats were evaluated because of chronic progressive neurologic disease. Physical and neurologic examination revealed signs consistent with diffuse cerebellar disease. Neurologic signs included generalized hyperresponsiveness, fine head tremors, wide-based posture, dysmetria, weakness, and horizontal nystagmus. No clinical improvement was noted after removing goats from affected enclosures. Histologic examination of cerebellar tissues revealed extensive vacuolation within the cytoplasm of Purkinje cells. The clinical and histologic lesions resembled closely findings that were associated with ingestion of Solanum spp in cattle and goats. Examination of enclosures revealed Solanum viarum (tropical soda apple) that had been heavily consumed by the goat herd. We hypothesized that ingestion of S. viarum caused the neurologic disorder.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

West Nile virus encephalomyelitis in horses: 46 cases (2001).

OBJECTIVE: To determine signalment, clinical findings, results of diagnostic testing, outcome, and postmortem findings in horses with West Nile virus (WNV) encephalomyelitis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 46 horses with WNV encephalomyelitis. PROCEDURE: Clinical data were extracted from medical records of affected horses. RESULTS: On the basis of clinical signs and results of serologic testing, WNV encephalomyelitis was diagnosed in 46 of 56 horses with CNS signs. Significantly more males than females were affected. Increased rectal temperature, weakness or ataxia, and muscle fasciculations were the most common clinical signs. Paresis was more common than ataxia, although both could be asymmetrical and multifocal. Supportive treatment included anti-inflammatory medications, fluids, antimicrobials, and slinging of recumbent horses. Results of the IgM capture ELISA and the plaque reduction neutralization test provided a diagnosis in 43 horses, and only results of the plaque reduction neutralization test were positive in 3 horses. Mortality rate was 30%, and 71% of recumbent horses were euthanatized. One horse that had received 2 vaccinations for WNV developed the disease and was euthanatized. Follow-up communications with 19 owners revealed that most horses had residual deficits at 1 month after release from the hospital; abnormalities were resolved in all but 2 horses by 12 months after release. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings were similar to those of previous WNV outbreaks in horses but provided additional clinical details from monitored hospitalized horses. Diagnostic testing is essential to diagnosis, treatment is supportive, and recovery rate of discharged ambulatory horses is < 100%.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Findings in cerebrospinal fluids of horses infected with West Nile virus: 30 cases (2001).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate CSF in horses with confirmed West Nile virus encephalomyelitis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 30 horses. PROCEDURE: Results of CSF analyses from horses with acute neurologic signs attributed to West Nile virus infection that was confirmed by immunoglobulin M antibody capture ELISA were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Among 30 CSF samples, findings in 8 (27%) were within reference ranges and in 22 (73%) were abnormal. Among the 22 abnormal samples, mononuclear pleocytosis was found in 16 (73%) and high protein concentration with nucleated cell count within reference range was found in 6 (27%) samples. A predominance of lymphocytes was found in 11 of 16 samples with mononuclear pleocytosis, and a predominance of large mononuclear cells was found in 5 of 16 samples. Sensitivities of analyses of CSF obtained from the lumbosacral and atlanto-occipital regions of the spinal cord were 89 and 50%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that in horses with acute onset of neurologic signs caused by West Nile virus encephalomyelitis, findings in the CSF are likely to be abnormal, mononuclear pleocytosis with lymphocytic predominance may be most commonly observed, and CSF collected from the lumbosacral region may be abnormal more commonly than CSF collected from the atlanto-occipital region.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunoglobulin M-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing of cerebrospinal fluid and serum from horses exposed to west nile virus by vaccination or natural infection.

The West Nile (WN) virus, present in the United States since 1999, is a cause of encephalomyelitis in birds, alligators, humans, and horses. No data exist regarding detection of anti-WN virus immunoglobins in equine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The aims of this study were to evaluate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in WN virus-infected (WNE) horses, to compare diagnostic testing in serum and CSF, and to describe the immunoglobulin M (IgM) response in serum and CSF of vaccinated horses. CSF was collected from the lumbosacral (LS) space (n = 13) or the allanto-occipital (AO) space (n = 14) of WNE horses. The albumin quotient (AQ) and IgG index were calculated, and the IgM-capture-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA) was used to detect anti-WN virus IgM in serum and CSF. CSF collected from the LS site had a higher (P < .02) IgG index compared to the AO site (0.34 +/- 0.04 versus 0.22 +/- 0.04 [mean +/- SE], respectively). The mean AQ, irrespective of collection site, did not exceed reference values. There was 100% agreement between CSF and serum testing for IgM by MAC-ELISA testing. However, the positive to negative antigen ratios were higher (P < .001) in CSF (34.5) versus serum (8.5), indicating lower nonspecific reactivity in CSF samples. Horses vaccinated against WN virus did not develop an IgM response at 1:400 mg/dL in serum; however, a few horses developed a weak IgM response in serum but not in CSF. In conclusion, MAC-ELISA testing of serum and CSF were equivocal. Also, examination of CSF data from WNE horses suggests a normal BBB integrity and increased intrathecal production of antibodies.

Animals↗