Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S E Long.
Cytogenetic examination of G-banded lymphocyte chromosomes of an Icelandic ram from a line with a history of poor fertility revealed a rcp (13;20) (q12;q22) translocation. Meiotic studies showed a quadrivalent configuration at diakinesis and this was confirmed by C-banding.
1. Egg production records of 31,455 individually caged hens, 27 to 34 weeks of age and of 4 genotypes, were examined. 2. Sixty-nine non-layers were identified in the 30 to 40 week age group, and examined post mortem; an incidence of 2.1 per 1000. 3. Some of the 69 individuals had more than one abnormality. Forty-two percent were internal layers, 34% had some form of neoplasia, 24% had an abnormal or diseased oviduct, 18% were sex reversals, 16% had a diseased ovary, 8% were of poor condition and considered culls, and 7% were in good condition, but with small, immature ovaries. 4. Of 54 birds not in lay at 27 weeks, 43 (80%) had come into lay by 34 weeks of age. 5. Genotype influenced the incidence of neoplasia and, in turn, the number of non-layers.
The incidence and effect of 29 different reciprocal translocations in the pig are reviewed. It is concluded that heterozygosity for these translocations causes major reproductive loss. The chromosome anomaly appears to occur spontaneously and between 42 per cent and 50 per cent of hypoprolific boars are carrier animals. The incidence in the general population is calculated to be 0.6 per 1000.
Samples were collected post mortem from 28 cycling parous cows. At all stages of the oestrous cycle, the cranial vaginal epithelium was thinner (P less than 0.001), had fewer cell layers (P less than 0.001) and proportionally more superficial columnar cells (P less than 0.001) than more caudal regions. At all stages of the cycle there were more intraepithelial lymphocytes caudally than in more cranial regions (P less than 0.001). At oestrus the proportion of superficial columnar cells was maximal, having increased from the late dioestrus proportions of 1, 29 and 40 per cent of all superficial cells to 15, 54 and 83 per cent in caudal, middle and cranial regions, respectively (P less than 0.02). However, the epithelial thickness in all regions of the vagina was greatest at metoestrus (P less than 0.02). At this stage, the number of cell layers was greater than at any other stage (P less than 0.05).
Two cows with synchronised oestrous cycles were housed with a Friesian bull. During the midcycle period of the cows, one cow was given an intradermal injection of adrenaline in the perineal region. This caused local sweat gland discharge. The other cow was treated with water. The number and types of bull-to-cow behaviours were recorded before, during and after the day of treatment. This was repeated at three-weekly intervals for a total of four times. On the day of treatment the bull directed a greater proportion of olfactory behaviours towards the adrenaline-treated cow than the other cow (P less than 0.05). There was no difference between the cows before or after the day of treatment. The above experiments were repeated with a Hereford bull who showed the same response as the Friesian for the first two but not the last two experiments. The increased proportion of bull olfactory behaviours elicited by an increased perineal skin gland discharge, adds support to our hypothesis that the perineal skin glands are the source of an oestrous pheromone in the cow.
We reviewed the medical records and technetium bone/joint scans of 160 children presenting to the inpatient Pediatric Rheumatology service over a 3-year period. When the scan result (normal versus abnormal) was considered for each patient as a whole, scan sensitivity and specificity were both approximately 75%. However, when each joint was considered individually, sensitivity decreased to 37%, while specificity rose to more than 95% when compared to clinical examination. Reasons for these variations and their clinical correlation are discussed. Overall, radionuclide bone/joint scanning was found to be very useful in the evaluation of monoarticular and nonrheumatic disorders, but it did not alter therapy in children with known connective tissue disorders or other polyarticular diseases.
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Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LG) is a rare condition with histological similarities to Wegener's granulomatosis and malignant lymphoma. Characteristically there is an angiocentric, angiodestructive lymphoreticular cell infiltrate. The lungs are usually affected, and, less frequently, the skin, nervous system, kidney, and bowel are involved. The prognosis is poor and frank lymphoma develops, in some cases terminally. The usual radiological appearance of the lungs consists of bilateral nodular lower zone opacities. The authors report two patients (siblings) with LG, and their gallium scans are presented. In each case there was a significant accumulation of gallium in the lungs at times of clinically active disease. The limited role of gallium imaging in this disease is discussed.
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Nine reproductively normal mares, 25 infertile mares and one set of heterosexual twins were examined cytogenetically using conventional giemsa staining, C-banding and G-banding. It was concluded that G-banding was necessary to identify even gross anomalies. Three (12 per cent) of the infertile mares, but none of the controls, had a chromosomal anomaly. One was 63,XO, one a 63,XO/64,XX mixoploid and one a 64,XY sex reversed male. It is argued that a cytogenetic examination is a useful diagnostic technique but that routine screening of the whole population would be uneconomic.
We examined the use of a constant insufflation of oxygen into the lungs to assist ventilation in a ventilatory failure model. The model consisted of 12 anesthetized dogs (17 to 32 kg) that were partially paralyzed using intermittent low doses of muscle relaxant; this produced a steady-state mean PaCO2 of 90 +/- 15.8 mm Hg (+/- SD). A catheter (1.5 mm ID) was inserted into each lung to the most distal position possible and withdrawn 1 to 2 cm. The effects of a constant insufflation of oxygen at rates of 5, 10, or 20 L/min were studied at this position (mean distance from the carina = 9 +/- 2 cm); at the carina; and using a single catheter located 2 cm above the carina. The changes in PaCO2 and minute ventilation (VE) due to the insufflation were calculated from the mean steady-state control values. Using the data for all catheter positions and flow rates, the insufflation was associated with a mean decrease in PaCO2 of 31 (+/- 7.6) mm Hg associated with a mean decrease in VE of 48 (+/- 12.9)%. The flow of 20 L/min caused a significantly greater drop in PaCO2 than the flow of 5 L/min (p = 0.02). This technique may prove beneficial for patients with various forms of ventilatory failure that are difficult to treat by conventional means.
The utility of upper extremity radionuclide venography (RNV) in the assessment of suspected catheter-related central venous thrombosis (CRVT) was evaluated in 40 patients with subclavian venous catheters. Twenty normal patients (Group A) served as controls and their venographic patterns were analyzed by using four criteria: (1) delayed tracer transit time, (2) nonuniformity of flow and venous pooling, (3) jugular venous reflux, and (4) collateral venous filling. Control studies displayed no collaterals as a distinguishing characteristic but demonstrated the other three features to a variable degree. Of 106 extremities suspected of CRVT, 67 (Group B) were initially considered to have normal RNV findings (no collaterals). Contrast venography confirmed a normal pattern in 3 but identified CRVT with collaterals in 3 others. Retrospective review of the RNV studies confirmed faint collaterals in these latter 3. The 39 remaining extremities (Group C) showed abnormal RNV findings; contrast venography and postmortem studies confirmed the presence of venous disease in 5 patients. The authors believe that RNV is a reliable, noninvasive procedure for early diagnosis of venous occlusion associated with subclavian venous catheters.
Tuberculosis of the liver in association with generalized miliary tuberculosis is not an uncommon clinical entity. A solitary tuberculous liver abscess, however, is rare. Two such cases, in which there was no clinical evidence of extrahepatic tuberculosis, are reported. The similarities between this condition and other causes of hepatic lesions are discussed, with particular emphasis placed on the imaging patterns of various diagnostic imaging procedures.
Ten 16-week-old Friesian x Hereford heifer calves were split into experimental and control groups. Experimental animals were given an implant of oestradiol-17 beta in the ear whilst controls were given blank implants. They were killed 14 days later. After implantation the experimental group had consistently greater (P less than 0.01) plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta than the control group. After death, sebaceous gland volume in the perineal region was greater (P less than 0.01) in the experimental than in the control group, whereas sebaceous gland volume in the neck was smaller (P less than 0.01). Sweat gland volume in the perineal region was greater (P less than 0.01) in the experimental than in the control group. There was no difference between groups in the volume of sweat glands in the neck.
In adult cows the volumes of sweat and sebaceous glands per unit skin surface area (ssa) in the vulva were greater (P less than 0.01) than in the neck, lip or eyelids. Within this perineal region skin gland volumes were greater dorsally than ventrally (P less than 0.01). Adult cows had much greater (P less than 0.01) volumes of perineal skin glands per unit ssa than 8 weeks or 6 weeks old heifer calves or steers. There was little or no difference between animal categories in neck skin gland dimensions. Adult morphology of perineal sebaceous glands was present in 15 and 18 months but not 6 and 9 months old heifer calves. The skin glands of the perineal region in cows should be considered as specialised skin glands.
Normal reproductive tracts were obtained from 11 adult cows, five eight-week-old and five six-week-old heifer calves. Lymphoid nodules and aggregations (loci) were localised in vestibules by immersion in 2 per cent acetic acid. Adults had significantly more loci (P less than 0.001) than eight- or six-week-old calves, there being means of 194.6, 44.2 and 7.4 loci per vestibule, respectively. In all age groups there was a greater concentration (number cm-2) of loci along the median ventral groove than the side walls (P less than 0.001), and in the caudal third of the vestibule than in the middle or cranial thirds (P less than 0.001). The concentrations of loci were the same in adults and eight-week-old calves but significantly lower in six-week-old calves (P less than 0.01).
The incidence of centric fusion (Robertsonian) translocation in cattle breeds is reviewed. Thirteen different centric fusions have been identified in cattle, with few breeds carrying more than one translocation. Of the commercial breeds, Friesian-Holstein cattle appear to be free of translocations, while the Simmental is the only one which carries three translocations. The major effect of centric fusion is on fertility, causing unbalanced gametes and hence unbalanced zygotes to be formed, leading to early embryonic death. However, to discard all translocation-carrying animals may be misguided as they represent genetic variation and a source of desirable traits.