Chorionic villus sampling followed by genetic amniocentesis and septic shock.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
A G Hunter
Publications and source records attributed to A G Hunter.
Protection of cattle against heartwater in Botswana: comparative efficacy of different methods against natural and blood-derived challenges.
Five groups of Tswana-cross castrated male cattle between 20 and 30 months of age (a total of 158 animals) were transported from a ranch in a heartwater-free area of south Botswana to a feedlot near Gaborone in the east of Botswana where heartwater is endemic. On arrival, one group was vaccinated intravenously with the Onderstepoort sheep blood heartwater vaccine, one group was vaccinated intravenously with the new Onderstepoort tick-derived heartwater vaccine and a third group was vaccinated subcutaneously with this tick-derived vaccine. Vaccine reactions were blocked with long acting oxytetracycline on the first day of fever. A fourth group had a series of injections of long acting oxytetracycline on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 after arrival, and a fifth served as untreated controls. The animals remained at the feedlot for 65 days during which time they faced a low level of challenge by Amblyomma hebraeum ticks. None contracted heartwater and so they were then challenged, together with a further group of control cattle, with a dose of the sheep blood vaccine. Some animals in all groups had severe heartwater reactions and died despite therapy, but 76.7 per cent, 64.5 per cent and 74.3 per cent of the cattle in the blood vaccine, intravenous tick vaccine and long acting oxytetracycline groups respectively were resistant to challenge, compared with 48.3 per cent of the subcutaneous tick vaccine group and 36.4 per cent of the controls. It was concluded that intravenous vaccination of susceptible adult cattle with either the blood or the tick-derived vaccine needs careful monitoring in the month after vaccination and does not necessarily result in immune animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Animals↗
Neuroaxonal dystrophy presenting with neonatal dysmorphic features, early onset of peripheral gangrene, and a rapidly lethal course.
Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (IND) is a well-established autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease. Clinical signs generally begin toward the end of the first or during the second year of life. We are aware of at least 4 cases of pre- or perinatal onset of this condition, and report here on 2 brothers who were affected at birth and had an unusual clinical course with onset of peripheral gangrene that progressed to autoamputation of digits. Both boys died in infancy with pathological changes compatible with IND. The somewhat different clinical course in these brothers leaves open the possibility that this is a variant of neuroaxonal dystrophy due to an X-linked recessive mutation.
Abnormalities, Multiple↗
Neonatal lung function following mid-trimester amniocentesis.
Three hundred and fifty-four women who underwent midtrimester genetic amniocentesis were matched for age, parity, indication, and smoking history, with an equivalent number of women who had declined the procedure, for the purpose of comparing the neonatal respiratory status of their offspring. There was no evidence that the infants exposed to genetic amniocentesis were compromised.
Adult↗
Linkage relationships of X-linked choroideremia to DXYS1 and DXS3.
Choroideremia is a distinct blinding condition with an X-linked pattern of inheritance. We have analyzed two RFLPs, DXS3 and DXYS1, for linkage with the choroideremia locus (TCD) within three kindreds. A maximum LOD score of 3.98 was obtained at theta = 0.14 for TCD:DXS3. The summed maximum LOD score from this study and from previously published TCD:DXYS1 data is 5.23 at theta = 0.05. Contrary to previous reports, the present data demonstrate that these two RFLPs are not tightly linked to the choroideremia gene locus.
Choroid↗
Tick infestations on livestock in the Yemen Arab Republic and their potential as vectors of livestock diseases.
A survey of ticks on cattle, camels, sheep, goats and donkeys in four different geographical locations of the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) was carried out to provide more information on the possible risk of tick-borne diseases to imported exotic cattle included in the YAR's plans for livestock development. The most abundant ticks were Hyalomma spp. particularly on camels. Ticks found on cattle included Hyalomma spp., Amblyomma variegatum, Boophilus annulatus and Rhipicephalus spp. In general with the exception of camels tick burdens on all species of domestic livestock were very low. Two hundred and ninety eight serum samples from miscellaneous adult cattle throughout the country were negative to a test for Anaplasma marginale antibodies. It is speculated that tick burdens in the YAR are too low for significant disease transmission and the implications of the findings are discussed.
Animals↗
Difficulties encountered in a randomization trial of CVS versus amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis.
In April 1985, having completed a study of the short-term complications of chorionic villus sampling (CVS), we began a randomized comparison of CVS versus amniocentesis. Our study continued over a 15-month period, and during that time we had difficulty recruiting patients, with only 10.6% of 1254 women referred for prenatal diagnosis fully participating in this study. However, 30.2% of those eligible by dates and indication chose to enter the study. CVS was available in our province only through this study, and the two most common reasons for such a low rate of recruitment were reporting too late in pregnancy and the concern about the potential risks of CVS. Patients continued to seek counselling too late for CVS despite direct and continuous contact with regional physicians. Our patients' concern about risk might well vary with the attitude of their physicians towards CVS, and with the information provided at the time of pre-test counselling. The small number of patients actually enrolled did not permit any meaningful comparison of amniocentesis to CVS. However, our experience with pregnancies lost post-CVS suggests that a pregnancy with an apparent low implantation at the time of sampling may be at a higher risk of loss.
Adult↗
Midtrimester genetic amniocentesis in eastern Ontario: a review from 1970 to 1985.
Greater use of genetic amniocentesis in the Eastern Ontario region occurred once the results from the various national trials were published. Acceptance also paralleled an increase in the number of low parity older women having children and the centralisation and greater publicity given to our programme in the late 1970s. A centralised approach has had the positive effects of preventing unnecessary procedures, assuring appropriate patient counselling, follow up, and review, and of increasing obstetric and laboratory expertise. Advanced maternal age has been largely responsible for the increased demand for the service and accounted for an increasing proportion of tests performed, while the absolute number for several other diagnostic categories remained unchanged. We found no evidence that women with a history of previous miscarriage had a higher rate of pregnancy loss following the procedure, and comparison with a group of women who declined amniocentesis did not show that the test increased the risk of miscarriage.
Abortion, Spontaneous↗
Stage-dependent effects of inhibiting ribonucleic acids and protein synthesis on meiotic maturation of bovine oocytes in vitro.
Ribonucleic acid synthesis continues at a low rate within 1 h of germinal vesicle breakdown. To determine if this newly synthesized mRNA is required for the resumption of meiosis in cattle oocytes, cumulus-enclosed oocytes were removed from 2 to 4-mm antral follicles directly into Dulbecco's medium with or without the RNA inhibitor, alpha-amanitin, or the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (10 micrograms/ml). They were washed twice and matured for 28 or 48 h in medium 199, with Earle's salts, 2.2 g/L NaHCO3 and L-glutamine supplemented with 20% heated fetal calf serum to which were added gonadotropins (10 micrograms/ml NIH-LH-S18; 10 micrograms/ml NIH-FSH-S8; 20 ng/ml NIH-P-S9), estradiol-17 beta (1.5 micrograms/ml), solcoseryl (30 microliter/ml), and Dibekacin sulfate (100 micrograms/ml) with or without the inhibitors. After 28 h of maturation, 95.8% of control oocytes had undergone germinal vesicle breakdown and formation of a metaphase plate compared with only 1.3% of those continuously exposed to cycloheximide and 38% of those continuously exposed to amanitin. Exposure to cycloheximide or amanitin for only the first 16 h of culture followed by 12 h of inhibitor free culture resulted in 96.6% germinal vesicle breakdown with cycloheximide but only 56.5% germinal vesicle breakdown with amanatin. We conclude newly synthesized mRNA and protein synthesis is required for both full cumulus cell expansion and germinal vesicle breakdown.
Amanitins↗
Individual variation for in vitro fertilization success in dairy bulls.
Individual semen samples from 29 bulls in routine artificial breeding service were tested for their capability to achieve in vitro fertilization. Ejaculated semen was diluted, .1 ml of semen in 2 ml of a modified Tyrode's medium with an osmolality of 340 mOsmol/kg, washed thrice, incubated 3 h at 37 degrees C before being used for in vitro fertilization, or incubated 4 h and 8 h before assessment of motility, capacitation, and acrosome integrity. The degree of variability in percentage of oocytes fertilized was assessed along with several factors that might contribute to this variation. Variation among bulls was not significantly different. Variation from one replicate to another was high. Variation was found in motility, capacitation, and frequency of acrosome reaction, but these variables were not significantly correlated to fertilization rate in vitro.
Acrosome↗
Gene mapping of X-linked choroideremia with restriction fragment-length polymorphisms.
Choroideremia is a sex-linked chorioretinal disorder that causes blindness in affected males. The gene for choroideremia has recently been localized by means of recombinant DNA technology to a region of the X chromosome, Xq13-22. We have used two DNA probes, both specific for this region, to study three affected families. The results of linkage analysis of restriction fragment-length polymorphisms (RFLPs) revealed by these probes suggest that in the three families the gene for choroideremia may not be as closely linked to the region of the X chromosome as was previously reported. The estimated degree of linkage between an informative RFLP and the disorder should be considered before predictive testing is offered to people at risk in affected families.
Adult↗
Assessment of the early risks of chorionic villus sampling.
A study was carried out to develop proficiency in performing chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and to determine whether the risk for miscarriage was so high as to preclude a randomized clinical trial comparing CVS with amniocentesis. A total of 202 women who had decided to have induced abortions volunteered to either undergo CVS (101 women) or be a control (101). There were no differences between the two groups in factors that may affect the rate of miscarriage. CVS was performed an average of 9.8 days before abortion. The rate of fetal loss was significantly higher in the CVS group (p = 0.009). An analysis of the results as a function of the physician's experience over time showed that there were distinct learning phases. It may take longer than is generally recognized to acquire the expertise necessary to perform CVS with the lowest risk possible. Caution should be exercised before diagnostic CVS is offered to women who plan to continue their pregnancies.
Abortion, Spontaneous↗
Characteristic craniofacial appearance and brachytelephalangy in a mother and son with Kallman syndrome in the son.
We report on a mother and son with a similar facies characterized by a square forehead, small nose, telecanthus, and thin upper lip. They both had a similar metacarpal-phalangeal profile characterized by marked brachytelephalangy. They were both short in comparison to other family members, and the son had hypogonadotropic-hypogonadism and anosmia. We favor the hypothesis of a single autosomal dominant gene with variable expression of the hypogonadism and anosmia, although there are alternative explanations for the combination.
Adolescent↗
Implications of malformations not due to amniotic bands in the amniotic band sequence.
It is widely accepted that the primary event in the amniotic band sequence (ABS) is early rupture of the amnion, and that the development of the fetus is then disrupted by entanglement and abrasion. The mechanism of the initial rupture is unknown. An argument raised in favor of this theory has been the apparent absence of non-band-derived malformations in the ABS. Here we report on four infants with ABS and additional malformations that are not readily explainable on the basis of band disruptions. These infants, together with some additional observations in the literature, and a growing number of reports of familial ABS, raise the question as to whether the formation of bands and other "non-disruption" abnormalities may have a common primary etiology in some cases. The primary mechanism could operate through disturbing the vascular system, and the factors involved might be both extrinsic or intrinsic, and some instances might date to an abnormality of the germ disk.
Abnormalities, Multiple↗
Osteogenesis imperfecta type IV: evidence of abnormal triple helical structure of type I collagen.
Skin fibroblasts from a patient with mild osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type IV synthesize two populations of type I procollagen molecules. One population contains pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) chains that migrate normally in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and a second population contains only slower migrating pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) chains. The total amount of type I procollagen made by OI cells and the ratio of pro alpha 1(I):pro alpha 2(I) is normal. When labeled under conditions that inhibit post-translational modification of pro alpha chains, the OI cells produce only single populations of pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) chains indicating that the apparent increased molecular weight of some OI pro alpha chains is due to excessive post-translational modification rather than peptidyl insertions. Peptide maps indicate that excessive post-translational modification occurs along the entire triple helical segment of some alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) chains produced by OI cells. The effect of the mutation is to lower the melting temperature of the molecules containing slow migrating alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) chains to 39.5 degrees C (compared to 41.5 degrees C for control), and to delay secretion of the over-modified type I procollagen from OI cells. These data are consistent with a mutation near the carboxyl-terminal end of the triple helical domain which delays triple helical formation and renders all chains available for further post-translational modification amino-terminal to the mutation. Such alterations in triple helical structure, thermal stability, and secretion previously associated only with the lethal OI type II phenotype are thus also seen in the mild OI type IV phenotype.
Cells, Cultured↗
Urine odour in a camel suffering from surra (T. evansi infection).
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Animals↗
Individual variation in immunosuppressive activity of bovine seminal plasma on concanavalin A-stimulated bovine T lymphocytes in vitro.
Individual dialyzed seminal plasma samples from 21 bulls in routine artificial breeding service were tested for their immunosuppressive activity on in vitro induced blastogenesis of bovine lymphocytes from 3 nonpregnant cows. Concanavalin A was used to induce blastogenesis and thymidine uptake was monitored. Dialyzed seminal plasma from 15 of 21 bulls inhibited deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis response to concanavalin with cow A lymphocytes, and 21 of 21 were immunosuppressive to lymphocytes from cows B and C. Degree of immunosuppression varied according to bull and cow, ranging from 0 to 100%. The lower the percentage response of the lymphocytes to concanavalin stimulation, the less their inhibition by dialyzed seminal plasma. The degree of immunosuppression produced by a bull's dialyzed seminal plasma was not highly related either to amount of protein in the seminal plasma or to the bull's 60 to 90-d nonreturn rate.
Animals↗
Effect of osmolality and glycosaminoglycans on motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, and in vitro fertilizability of bovine ejaculated sperm.
Bovine ejaculated semen was placed in a modified Tyrode's medium with albumin, lactate, and pyruvate. The sperm were washed three times and subjected to nine treatment in a 3 X 3 factorial arrangement. Treatments consisted of osmolality (exposure to 380 mOsmol/kg medium for 5 min, exposure to 340 or 295 mOsmol/kg medium for the entire incubation period), and the presence or absence of glycosaminoglycans (100 micrograms/ml chondroitin sulfate A or 10 micrograms/ml heparin). Sperm were examined at 4.5 h, 8 to 9 h, and 24 to 25 h of incubation (37 degrees C, 5% CO2, and 95% air). Heparin caused head-to-head agglutination of sperm, raised the percent sperm without seminal antigens over the acrosome (capacitated) by 20% at 4.5 h, and doubled the percent of acrosome-reacted sperm. However, this stimulation did not improve in vitro fertilizability. Chondroitin sulfate A tended to maintain motility, but did not affect capacitation or the acrosome reaction, possibly due to glucose inhibition. Both high osmolality treatments tended to reduce motility, especially after 24 h of incubation when the 340 osmolality treatment reduced motility by 14% over the 295 treatment. No consistent effect on capacitation was observed. The 340 and 380 osmolality treatments induced 8.6 and 6.1% more acrosome reactions by 24 h than the 295 treatment. The 340 mOsmol/kg treatment yielded insignificantly higher in vitro fertilization rates, as evidenced by development of zygotes to the two-cell stage. Lack of statistical significance was due to high variation with in vitro fertilization rates.
Acrosome↗