Effects of urban pesticide applications on nesting success of songbirds.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
R K Anderson
Publications and source records attributed to R K Anderson.
Productivity, diet, and environmental contaminants in bald eagles nesting near the Wisconsin shoreline of Lake Superior.
Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nesting in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and along the Wisconsin shoreline of Lake Superior produced an average of 0.8 young/occupied nest and had an average nest success of 57% during 1983-1988, compared to 1.3 young/occupied nest and 77% nest success in inland Wisconsin. Contaminant levels in nestling bald eagle carcasses collected from nests near Lake Superior were higher than those collected inland, suggesting local contamination. Prey remains collected at nests consisted of fish (50%); birds, primarily herring gulls (Larus argentatus) (48.4%); and mammals (1.2%). Organochlorine and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) residues were present at low levels (DDE: means = 0.07 micrograms/g wet wt, PCP: means = 0.21 micrograms/g wet wt) in fish. Herring gulls contained higher concentrations (DDE: means = 5.5 micrograms/g wet wt, PCB: means = 16.95 micrograms/g wet wt) and appear to be the major source of elevated contaminant levels in bald eagles nesting near Lake Superior.
Animals↗
An initial assessment of the cost and utilization of the Integrated Academic Information System (IAIMS) at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.
The concept of "one stop information shopping" is becoming a reality at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center (CPMC). The goal of our effort is to provide access to university and hospital administrative systems as well as clinical and library applications from a single workstation, which also provides utility functions such as word processing and mail. Since June 1987, CPMC has invested the equivalent of $23 million dollars to install a digital communications network that encompasses 18 buildings at seven geographically separate sites and to develop clinical and library applications that are integrated with the existing hospital and university administrative and research computing facilities. During June 1991, 2425 different individuals used the clinical information system, 425 different individuals used the library applications, and 900 different individuals used the hospital administrative applications via network access. If we were to freeze the system in its current state, amortize the development and network installation costs, and add projected maintenance costs for the clinical and library applications, our integrated information system would cost $2.8 million on an annual basis. This cost is 0.3% of the medical center's annual budget. These expenditures could be justified by very small improvements in time savings for personnel and/or decreased length of hospital stay and/or more efficient use of resources. In addition to the direct benefits which we detail, a major benefit is the ease with which additional computer-based applications can be added incrementally at an extremely modest cost.
Academic Medical Centers↗
Specific in-vitro lymphocyte immunostimulation activities of Brucella abortus fractions obtained by column chromatography.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗
The optimal time to stain for noncytopathic bovine virus diarrhea field sample virus using indirect fluorescent antibody technique.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗
Cell-mediated immune responses in cattle vaccinated with killed Brucella melitensis strain H-38 vaccine or infected with viable Brucella abortus strain 2308 organisms, or both.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗
Temporal cell-mediated immune responses of cattle following experimental and natural exposure to living Brucella abortus.
A study on cell-mediated immune responses in cattle with different exposure experiences to Brucella abortus was conducted by an in vitro lymphocyte stimulation assay. The purpose of this study was to determine how soon the cell-mediated immune responses would be detected following experimental exposure to B. abortus and to study the cell-mediated immune trend following experimental and natural exposure of cattle to B. abortus. The first positive cell-mediated immune responses occurred one to two weeks after experimental inoculation with living B. abortus strain 2308. The cell-mediated immune responses in these animals appeared at least one week before the appearance of of B. abortus serum agglutinating antibodies. Animals which were naturally infected with B. abortus biotypes 1 and 2 demonstrated positive cell-mediated immune responses throughout the study.
Animals↗
Cell-mediated immune responses in cattle vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19 vaccine and nonexposed control animals of the same age.
Cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses in cattle vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19 vaccine during calfhood were studied by an in vitro lymphocyte stimulation assay. Cattle were grouped in six groups according to the age after vaccination, and CMI responses of these groups, as well as of individual animals, were compared. Lymphocytes were prepared from peripheral blood of these cattle by the Ficoll-diatrizoate technique. Lymphocytes were then cultured with B abortus-soluble antigen. Culture results were assayed for [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA by liquid scintillation spectrometry. On a group basis, B abortus-soluble antigen induced lymphocyte stimulation responses in lymphocytes from all the groups, except the sixth group which contained animals that had been vaccinated the longest time (18 to 24 months before this experiment). Animals that had been vaccinated for 3 to 6 months had the highest lymphocyte stimulation response. Seroagglutination tests were conducted simultaneously with the lymphocyte stimulation test, but there was no apparent correlation between the concentrations of humoral antibodies and the CMI responses as measured by in vitro specific lymphocyte stimulation. The lymphocyte stimulation test exhibited significantly higher specificity (P less than 0.005) than the serologic tests.
Agglutination Tests↗
Cell-mediated immune responses in cattle adult-vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19 and in cattle infected with Brucella abortus field strain.
Cell-mediated immune responses in cattle adult-vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19, cattle infected with B abortus field strain, and nonexposed cattle were studied by an in vitro lumphocyte-stimulation test (LST). Lymphocytes were prepared from peripheral bovine blood by the Ficoll-diatrizoate technique, and results were assayed for [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA by liquid scintillation spectrometry. Serotests and bacteriologic isolation attempts were conducted simultaneously with LST. Lymphocytes from cattle infected with field strains had significantly (P = 0.01) higher specific lymphocyte-stimulation inexposed controls. The LST, the serum standard-tube agglutination test (STT), the Rivanol (RIV) test, and the complement-fixation (CF) test correctly classified cattle from which field strains and strain 19 of B abortus were isolated. The LST was negative in cattle vaccinated with B abortus strain 19 (nonshedding), but the three serotests had many false-positive reactions. The CF test had the least false-positive reaction, followed by the RIV test, and the STT was the least specific. Well before the three serotests became positive, the LST was positive in samples from some cattle during the incubation period of the infection. There was little or no correlation between cell-mediated immune responses (as measured by LST) and serum antibody responses (as measured by STT, RIV test, and CF test) in vaccinated but culture-negative cattle and in some nonvaccinated cattle during the incubation period.
Agglutination Tests↗
Longitudinal studies of naturally acquired Brucella abortus infection in sheep.
Naturally acquired Brucella abortus infections were studied during consecutive pregnancies in eight sheep and in their lambs over a period of 40 months to evaluate epizootiologic aspects of natural infection in sheep. Brucella abortus was isolated from the ewes following 16 of 26 natural terminations of pregnancy: from 5 of 6 ewes in the first year, from six of eight ewes in the second year, from two of six ewes in the third year, and from three of six ewes in the fourth year. Vaginal swab samples and milk samples were the most consistent source of the brucella organisms. Brucella abortus was isolated from three ewes when standard tube test seroagglutination titers were less than 1:100. In contrast, results of supplemental tests (card, 2-mercaptoethanol, complement-fixation, and Rivanol) remained positive during the study. During the 40 months, B abortus was isolated from 4 of 4 aborted fetuses, 2 of 5 stillborn lambs, 10 of 37 living lambs, and as an indicator of continuing infection, from 6 of 12 lambs born during the fourth year. Although B abortus has a definite host preference for cattle, this study demonstrated that under appropriate management conditions, sheep may be naturally infected and may remain infected for more than 40 months. Epizootiologic evaluation of all factors, including husbandry practices and exposure potential, should be utilized in determining the need to test other species that may have been exposed to cattle infected with B abortus.
Animals↗
Decentralized pharmacist concept solves unit dose problems.
In order to solve problems associated with the unit dose drug distribution system at LDS Hospital, the decentralized pharmacist concept was tried. The pharmacist uses a master medication cart to fill new drug orders at the nursing station and a computer video terminal at the nursing station to check patient profiles. The reactions of nurses and members of the medical staff to the decentralized pharmacist are described.
Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over↗
Brucella antigen preparations for in vitro lymphocyte immunostimulation assays in bovine brucellosis.
Three Brucella antigen preparations, Brucella abortus soluble antigen, B. abortus strain 45/20 enriched protein antigen, and B. melitensis enriched protein antigen, were compared in terms of their ability to induce specific in vitro lymphocyte immunostimulation responses. Lymphocytes were prepared from peripheral blood of cattle with different exposure experiences to B. abortus organisms. Lymphocytes were processed by the Ficoll-diatrizoate technique, and results were assayed for [3H]tymidine incorporation into DNA by liquid scintillation spectrometry. The three Brucella antigen preparations were compared both at the optimal concentrations of protein and on an equal-dry-weight basis. The results were evaluated in terms of specific lymphocyte immunostimulation responses induced by each preparation and the degree of correlation with infection. B. abortus soluble antigen-induced lymphocyte immunostimulation response correlated best with infection status followed by B. abortus 45/20 and B. melitensis enriched protein antigens. The implications of these findings are discussed and a hypothesis is proposed.
Animals↗
Whole-blood lymphocyte stimulation assay for measurement of cell-mediated immune responses in bovine brucellosis.
A study was conducted to develop an in vitro whole-blood lymphocyte stimulation assay for measurement of cell-mediated immune response in bovine brucellosis. A soluble antigen (BASA) prepared from killed cells of Brucella abortus 1119-3 was used. Cattle infected with B. abortus field strains, B. abortus 19 calfhood- and adult-vaccinated cattle, and nonexposed cattle were tested. Blood was diluted 10-fold in RPMI-1640 medium (without added serum) and cultured with BASA (at a concentration of 2.2 microgram per culture) at varying times of incubation. Results were assayed for [3H]thymidine incorporation into deoxyribonucleic acid. A 6-day period was found to be optimal for incubating blood cultures to achieve maximum specific lymphocyte stimulation. Serological tests and bacteriological isolation attempts were conducted simultaneously with lymphocyte stimulation tests, and there was a significant correlation between cell-mediated immune response and bacteriological findings. There was a significant correlation between cell-mediated immune response and the level of serum antibodies on a group basis, but there was little correlation between the two systems on individual infected animals. Among vaccinated animals there was little or no correlation between cell-mediated immune and humoral responses. The whole-blood assay was found to be simple, fast, sensitive, and reproducible.
Animals↗
Comparison of sensitivity and specificity of purified lymphocyte and whole-blood in vitro lymphocyte stimulation assays in detection of Brucella abortus infection in cattle.
A study was conducted to compare the sensitivity and specificity of purified lymphocyte and whole-blood in vitro lymphocyte stimulation assays in detection of Brucella abortus infection in cattle. Cattle used were infected with B. abortus field strains or strain 19. Peripheral blood was collected, and lymphocytes for the technique. The blood for the whole-blood lymphocyte stimulation assay was diluted 10-fold with RPMI 1640 medium (without additional serum supplement) and cultured. The two tests were run simultaneously, and B. abortus soluble antigen or concanavalin A was added to the cultures. The cultures were incubated for 6 days and assayed for [3H] thymidine incorporation into their DNA. Generally, cultures of the purified lymphocyte stimulation assay had higher counts per minute than those of the whole-blood lymphocyte stimulation assay, but the stimulation ratios for the two tests were comparable. The two assays were comparable in terms of their sensitivity and specificity as applied to detection of brucella infection in cattle.
Animals↗
Utilization of a specific in vitro lymphocyte immunostimulation assay as an aid in detection of brucella-infected cattle not detected by serological tests.
Studies using the in vitro lymphocyte stimulation test (LST) were conducted with cattle in a dairy herd with a high percentage of reactors to several serological tests for brucellosis. Lymphocytes were prepared from peripheral bovine blood by the Ficoll-diatrizoate technique. Lymphocytes were cultured using microtitration culture plates. Brucella abortus soluble antigen, at a concentration of 4.4 microgram/culture, was added to the appropriate wells of microtitration culture plates and incubated for 6 days. The lymphocyte stimulation responses were measured by assaying for [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. Seroagglutination tests were conducted simultaneously with the LST, and tissues were collected after slaughter of the cattle for bacteriological culture to isolate B. abortus. All 21 animals studied were serologically negative for anti-brucella antibodies. Two of the 21 animals were classified as infected with Brucella by the LST, and B. abortus biotype 1 was isolated from tissues of these same two animals. The LST exhibited significant sensitivity and specificity in this study, and more observations of this nature might strengthen the application of this assay as an aid in the diagnosis of brucellosis.
Animals↗
Kinetics of in vitro bovine lymphocyte immunostimulation with a Brucella abortus antigen.
A Brucella abortus-soluble antigen was investigated, using in vitro assay of lymphocyte immunostimulation, to determine which concentration of this antigen and which period of incubation of the lymphocyte cultures would induce maximum specific lymphocyte immunostimulation as an additional method for further study of B abortus infection in cattle. Soluble antigen was prepared from autoclaved cells of B abortus strain 1119-3. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were obtained from cattle infected with B abortus and from healthy control cattle not infected with B abortus. The lymphocytes were prepared by the Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient technique, suspended in RPMI 1640 medium (1.5 X 10(6)/ml), cultured with several dilutions of soluble antigen, and incubated. Prior to termination of incubation, cultures were labeled with 1 muCi of [3H]thymidine and, after harvesting, assayed for [3H]thymidine incorporation in DNA by a liquid scintillation spectrometer. Maximum specific immunostimulation of lymphocytes from B abortus-infected cattle was induced in this assay system with 6 days' incubation and 22 microgram of protein/ml/1.5 X 10(6) lymphocytes, using protein content to express concentration of soluble antigen in this system.
Animals↗
Specific lymphocyte stimulation in cattle naturally infected with strains of Brucella abortus and cattle vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19.
Cell-mediated immune responses in cattle naturally infected with strains of Brucella abortus and in cattle vaccinated with B abortus strain 19 during calfhood were studied by an in vitro lymphocyte-stimulation procedure. Lymphocytes were prepared from peripheral bovine blood by the Ficoll-diatrizoate technique, suspended in RPMI-1640 medium (1.5 X 10(6) lymphocytes/ml), cultured with B abortus-soluble antigen or phytohemagglutinin, and incubated for 6 days. Sixteen hours prior to termination of incubation, cultures were labeled with 1 muCi of [3H]thymidine (3HdT) and, after harvesting, assayed for 3HdT incorporation into DNA by liquid scintillation spectrometry. Lymphocytes from cattle with bacteriologically confirmed isolation of B abortus underwent a significantly higher lymphocyte stimulation with B abortus-soluble antigen than did cattle vaccinated with B abortus strain 19 during calfhood (P less than 0.005). Standard seroagglutination tests were conducted simultaneously with lymphocyte-stimulation tests, but there was no apparent correlation between levels of humoral antibodies and the cell-mediated immune responses as measured by in vitro specific lymphocyte stimulation.
Agglutination Tests↗
Cell-mediated immune responses in swine from a herd infected with Brucella suis.
Cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses in swine naturally infected with Brucella suis biotype 3, swine suckling an infected sow and Brucella-noninfected swine were studied by an in vitro lymphocyte transformation procedure. The antigen used was a soluble antigen prepared from killed cells of B suis biotype 3. Lymphocytes were prepared from peripheral swine blood by the Ficoll-Hypaque technique, suspended in RPMI-1640 medium (1.5 X 10(6) lymphocytes/ml), cultured with B suis-soluble antigen or concanconcanavalin A, and incubated for 6 days. Sixteen hours prior to termination of incubation, cultures were labeled with 1 muCi of [3H]thymidine and, after harvesting, were assayed for [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA by liquid scintillation spectrometry. Agglutination tests were conducted on sera collected simultaneously with samples for lymphocyte-stimulation tests. The B suis-soluble antigen elicited specific stimulation in lymphocytes from infected pigs. On a group basis, there was high correlation between the amount of serum antibodies and specific lymphocyte stimulation, but on an individual animal basis, there was little correlation of the results of both systems in infected swine. There was high correlation between recovery of Brucella from the tissues of animals and the degree of CMI response. Suckling pigs from an infected sow did not develop CMI responses, as measured by our system.
Agglutination Tests↗