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Biomedical subjects

S M Barnard

Publications and source records attributed to S M Barnard.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Interstitial nephritis associated with perianeurysmal retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Renal failure in retroperitoneal fibrosis is usually secondary to ureteric obstruction. We report a patient whose renal failure did not improve following relief of obstruction. Renal biopsy showed an interstitial nephritis, and function improved with steroid therapy. We suggest that renal biopsy should be considered in cases of renal failure associated with retroperitoneal fibrosis that do not respond to the relief of ureteric obstruction.

Aged↗

Chemical sensors based on controlled-release polymer systems.

A novel chemical sensor has been developed in which the polymer ethylene-vinyl acetate is used as a controlled-release system to deliver reagents to the sensing region of an optical fiber for a homogeneous competitive immunoassay based on fluorescence energy transfer. A competition reaction is used to enable continuous measurements of the solution antigen concentration. More generally, the technique allows irreversible indicating chemistries to be used in the construction of chemical sensors that can measure continuously for long periods. Although the sensor configuration has not been optimized in all respects, data are presented for a model system in which a fluorescein-labeled antibody and Texas Red-labeled immunoglobulin G (IgG) are used.

Antibody Specificity↗

Identification of a 15-kilodalton surface glycoprotein on sporozoites of Cryptosporidium parvum.

An immunoglobulin A monoclonal antibody (MAb5C3) was developed against a 15-kDa surface glycoprotein (GP15) of Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoites. Indirect immunofluorescence and colloidal gold immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the antibody reacted with both the sporozoite and merozoite surface plasma membranes. On Western immunoblots, MAb5C3 binding was found to be strongly inhibited when 200 mM N-acetylglucosamine was used as a competing sugar. N-Acetylgalactosamine inhibited binding of the antibody only slightly, whereas glucose, mannose, and galactose failed to inhibit binding. MAb5C3 was found to recognize a similar 15-kDa epitope associated with a Cryptosporidium sp. isolated from guinea pigs. However, MAb5C3 failed to react with any proteins or glycoproteins associated with C. baileyi from chickens, Cryptosporidium sp. (= bovine C. muris) from cattle, C. serpentis from a rat snake, bradyzoites of Besnoitia darlingi from an opossum, sporozoite/oocyst extracts of Caryospora bigenetica from an eastern diamondback rattlesnake, sporozoites of Eimeria nieschulzi and E. papillata from rats and mice, or tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain). When hybridoma supernatants containing MAb5C3 were administered orally to suckling mice experimentally infected with C. parvum, a 75% reduction in developmental stages was seen histologically at 72 h postinfection and a 67.5% reduction in mean oocyst output was found at 6 days postinfection.

Animals↗

BAPN dose dependence of mature crosslinking in bone matrix collagen of rabbit compact bone: corresponding variation of sonic velocity and equatorial diffraction spacing.

Crosslinking density in demineralized bone matrix collagen was found to depend on the beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) dose level for compact bone from rabbit femurs. The dependence was demonstrated for the hydroxypyridinium (HP) concentration, a mature crosslink. A more consistent dependence on BAPN dosage was observed for the fraction of the demineralized bone matrix insoluble in 0.5 M acetic acid (AIF) corresponding to the remaining crosslinked collagen. The average HP concentration in 21 week old controls was 0.24 moles HP/mole collagen which decreased to 0.13 +/- 0.04 for the same age rabbits dosed with 1 gm BAPN/kg/day for 13 wks. The comparable mean AIF values were 0.91 for controls and 0.75 for maximum dose level. Most of the effect of BAPN on crosslinking was observed at the lower dosages below 0.2 g/kg/day. On the other hand, overt osteolathyritic symptoms are seen only for BAPN dosages greater than 0.2 g/kg/day. The mean sonic plesio-velocity was previously found to decrease from 3.4 to 3.03 km/sec as the BAPN dosage was increased. A similar close relationship was discovered for the equatorial diffraction spacing in fully mineralized bone which increased from 1.235 for normal rabbit bone to 1.28 nm for maximum dose. Most of the effect on these physical properties is exhibited at the highest BAPN dosage after much of the decrease in mature crosslinking density has been observed and when the further decrease in mature crosslinking density proceeds very slowly with increased drug dosage. These observations suggest that osteolathyrism does not become manifest until practically all mature crosslinking that can be affected has been inhibited. The mineralization process apparently can be maintained in the newly laid collagen even in the presence of severe osteolathyritic conditions. Intermolecular crosslinking in bone collagen appears to play an important role in the development of bone properties whether by direct or indirect processes. Much of the effects on bone properties occur at the higher BAPN dosages where overt osteolathyrism is observed and where there seem to be only small changes in crosslinking density.

Acetates↗

Cryptosporidium spp. in wild and captive reptiles.

Between 1986 and 1988, 528 reptiles originating from three continents were examined for Cryptosporidium spp. Fifteen specimens representing eight genera and 11 species were infected. Statistical evaluation of oocyst structure suggests that multiple species of Cryptosporidium may exist among the reptiles examined.

Animals↗

Fatal Caryospora bigenetica (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) infections in cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus.

Four groups of cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus, were shown to be suitable secondary hosts for the viperid coccidium, Caryospora bigenetica, following oral inoculation of a mixture of oocysts and sporocysts. Swelling of the face, ears, and scrota and hemorrhagic ears were the predominant clinical signs and some cotton rats died in 3 of 4 experiments. Developmental stages of C. bigenetica were found in connective tissue components of the ear, nose, cheeks, anal skin, scrotum, and penile sheath of all cotton rats in which these tissues were examined. Additionally, developmental stages of C. bigenetica were found in connective tissue components of the following tissues examined from some cotton rats: tongue, lung, testicle, epididymis, rectum, base of the tail, footpad, and bone marrow. The present study shows that C. bigenetica can be pathogenic for cotton rats and demonstrates many new anatomic sites for developmental stages of this parasite in the secondary host.

Animals↗

The variation of sonic plesio-velocity in dose dependent lathyritic rabbit femurs.

It has been hypothesized that the origin of the increased elastic modulus of mineralized bone compared with the demineralized bone matrix is in the higher crosslinking density of the collagen in bone. Osteolathyrism is ascribed to an inhibition of crosslinking of the collagen by the lathyrogen and should be accompanied by a decrease in the elastic modulus of the bone. Dose dependent osteolathyrism was induced by varying the amount of BAPN ingested per day by young New Zealand white rabbits until they were mature. The femurs exhibited dose dependent properties, including wet bone density and sonic plesio-velocity in the radial direction. It was found that there is no minimum critical dose. Even though no overt osteolathyritic stigmata could be observed, both the sonic properties and the wet bone density could be affected at any dose level. The sonic plesio-velocity and the longitudinal elastic modulus decreased with BAPN dose level, most rapidly at the lower dose levels and then less so at higher dosages. Since BAPN acts to inhibit the crosslinking density, it appears that the elastic moduli of bone are dependent on the crosslinking density.

Aminopropionitrile↗

Two new species of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Madagascar Gekkonids.

Two new species of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are described from the Madagascar giant day gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis, and the Golddust day gecko, P. laticauda. Both species of coccidia were found to infect the anterior one-half of the small intestine. Oocysts of Eimeria brygooi n. sp. are spherical or subspherical, 23.0 X 21.3 (18.8-25.2 X 16.4-23.2)micron; shape index (L/W) 1.1 (1.0-1.2). A micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ovoid, 9.2 X 7.9 (8.0-10.0 X 7.2-8.8) micron; shape index 1.2 (1.0-1.3), with a Goussia-type suture; Stieda and substieda bodies are absent. A sporocyst residuum is present, 4.2 X 3.0 (3.2-6.4 X 2.4-4.0) micron. Sporozoites are elongate, with anterior and posterior refractile bodies. This coccidian was found to infect five of six (83%) P. m. grandis and one of five (20%) P. laticauda examined. Oocysts of Isospora gekkonis n. sp. are spherical or subspherical, 24.2 X 22.0 (21.6-26.4 X 20.0-23.6) micron; shape index 1.1 (1.0-1.2). A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent; polar granule present. Sporocysts are ovoid, 12.2 X 9.4 (11.2-12.8 X 8.4-10.0) micron, with Stieda and substieda bodies; shape index 1.3 (1.2-1.4). A sporocyst residuum is present, either compact, 5.1 X 4.2 (4.0-7.2 X 3.2-5.6) micron or diffuse. Sporozoites are elongate, with anterior and posterior refractile bodies. Isospora gekkonis was found in two of six (33%) P. m. grandis and one of five (20%) P. laticauda. In addition, oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. were found in the cloacas of two of six (33%) necropsied P. m. grandis.

Animals↗

Experimental transmission of Caryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) to Palestine vipers, Vipera xanthina palestinae (Serpentes: Viperidae).

Four littermate, laboratory-reared Palestine vipers, Vipera xanthina palestinae (#149, #150, #151, #152) (Serpentes: Viperidae) were used to determine modes by which Caryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) could be transmitted to snakes. Viper #149 was inoculated orally by stomach tube with 5.0 X 10(4) sporulated oocysts of C. simplex obtained from the feces of an Ottoman viper, V. x. xanthina and began passing unsporulated oocysts of C. simplex 121 days post-inoculation (DPI). Viper #150 was fed five mice that had been inoculated orally greater than or equal to 25 days previously with 5.0 X 10(4) sporulated oocysts of C. simplex and it began passing unsporulated oocysts of C. simplex 33 days after being fed the first two of five mice. Viper #151 was inoculated orally with sporulated oocysts of C. simplex obtained from viper #150 and began passing oocysts 52 DPI. Viper #152 served as an uninoculated control and did not pass oocysts of any species of coccidian. This study demonstrates that snake/snake and mouse/snake transmission of C. simplex readily occurs.

Animals↗

Extraintestinal development of Caryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in experimentally infected mice, Mus musculus.

Developmental stages of Caryospora simplex were found in connective tissue of the cheek, tongue, and nose of Swiss-Webster and C57 BL/6 mice (Mus musculus) from 8 through 70 days after oral inoculation with 50,000 or 250,000 oocysts, or 60,000 free sporocysts of the same species obtained from an Ottoman viper, Vipera xanthina xanthina. The earliest developmental stages were seen on day 8 post-inoculation (PI) and consisted of two types of meronts and gamonts (undifferentiated sexual stages). Gamonts, microgametocytes, macrogametes, and unsporulated oocysts were found on days 10 and 12 PI. Fully sporulated, thin-walled oocysts containing eight sporozoites surrounded by a thin sporocyst membrane were first seen 12 days PI. Monozoic cysts (caryocysts) were first seen 12 days PI and appeared fully viable throughout the duration of the study, 70 days PI. Four mice injected intra-peritoneally with 150,000 free sporozoites and killed 12 days PI contained unsporulated and sporulated oocysts in connective tissues of the cheek, tongue, and nose, suggesting that sporozoites may be carried to the site of infection via the lymphatic/circulatory system. Four cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus, inoculated orally with 250,000 oocysts all had unsporulated and sporulated oocysts of C. simplex in connective tissue of the cheek, tongue, and nose when killed on day 12 PI, indicating extraintestinal development in the secondary host is not species specific. This is the first report of a heteroxenous coccidium with both asexual and sexual development in the primary (predator) and secondary (prey) hosts.

Animals↗

Development of Caryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from sporozoites to oocysts in human embryonic lung cell culture.

Leighton tubes containing monolayers of human embryonic lung cells were inoculated with 70,000 or 30,000 sporozoites of the viperid coccidium Caryospora simplex and examined at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 days post-inoculation (PI). By day 1 PI, sporozoites had penetrated cells and were within parasitophorous vacuoles. Most sporozoites became spherical and then underwent karyokinesis several times between days 2 and 6 PI. Mature Type I meronts were found on days 6-16 PI and contained 8 to 22 short, stout merozoites. Mature Type II meronts were present on days 10-18 PI and contained 8 to 22 long, slender merozoites. Developing gamonts (undifferentiated sexual stages) were observed on days 14 and 16 PI. Mature micro- and macrogametes and thin-walled unsporulated oocysts were present on days 16 and 18 PI. Attempts to sporulate oocysts in tissue culture medium or in a 2.5% (w/v) aqueous solution of K2Cr2O7 at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C were unsuccessful; only a few oocysts developed to the contracted sporont stage. Four Swiss-Webster mice injected intraperitoneally with merozoites obtained from Leighton tubes on day 10 PI did not acquire infections. This is the second coccidium reported to complete its entire development, from sporozoite to oocyst, in cell culture.

Animals↗