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Biomedical subjects

C J Nelson

Publications and source records attributed to C J Nelson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Blood flow during pregnancy in the rat: II. Dynamics of and litter variability in uterine flow.

Normal blood flow patterns were characterized in individual CD rats, nonpregnant (NP) or on day 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, or 20 of gestation using the radioactive microsphere technique. Five animals were evaluated at each stage of pregnancy. Weights and flow values were determined for several maternal organs and uterine tissue samples. Embryo/fetal (E/F) sex was determined from day 11 on by measuring the prevalence of nuclei with sex chromatin in amnion smears. There was a marked increase in absolute flow to the uterus and all uterine contents during gestation (0.28 +/- 0.13 ml/min to the NP, diestrous uterus; 9.07 +/- 0.97 ml/min on day 20 of pregnancy). However, relative blood flow (ml/min/g tissue) decreased by day 20 to one-third NP values. Thus, though blood flow greatly increased, it did so at a rate lower than total tissue growth (including the uterus, placental tissues, and the E/F itself). There was a rapid redistribution of blood flow from the decidua parietalis (DEC) to the chorioallantoic placenta (CAP) on days 11-13, with nearly equal flow being delivered to the CAP and DEC of the "average" embryo on day 12 of gestation. By day 16 the DEC functionally had atrophied, and nearly 100% of the flow was delivered to the CAP. Male E/Fs tended to weigh more than female; however, these differences were statistically significant only on days 13, 18, and 20. E/F sex was not found to be strongly related to any of the variables evaluated in this study except E/F weight. Significant interlitter variability in E/F weight and blood flow consistently was observed at all gestational stages. Differences in litter size and E/F distribution within the two uterine horns did not account for the majority of this variability.

Animals↗

Ploidy effects on anatomy and gas exchange of tall fescue leaves.

A growth chamber study was designed to interpret differences in CO(2) exchange rate (CER) and leaf diffusive resistance among 4X, 6X, 8X, and 10X ploidy levels of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea, Schreb). Mesophyll cell size, stomatal density, number of major and minor veins, and bundle cap size of leaf blades were evaluated. Diffusive resistance tended to decrease and CER to increase with increasing ploidy level. Mean stomatal density decreased from 43.6 per square millimeter to 30.6 per square millimeter as ploidy level increased from 4X to 8X. The 10X ploidy level exhibited the highest stomatal density, 47.2 per square millimeter. Major veins decreased from a mean of 14.2 to 10.2, and minor veins increased from a mean of 4.2 to 6.6, per leaf blade as ploidy increased from 4X to 10X. Total number of veins decreased significantly from a mean of 18.4 to 15.7 as ploidy increased from 4X to 8X.Length and width of mesophyll cells tended to increase as ploidy increased from 4X to 8X, but then decreased again at 10X. The number of cells in the bundle cap showed no trend among ploidy levels. Estimated volume of mesophyll cells increased six times between the 4X and the 6X level while chromosome number of nuclear DNA per cell increased only 50%. However, increases in estimated cell volume were proportional to chromosome number as ploidy increased from 6X to 8X. The relationship between cell volume and chromosome number at 10X was intermediate between that at 4X and 6X or 8X.Differences in stomatal density and diffusive resistance did not fully account for the ploidy effect on CER. Further mesophyll cell volume was positively related to CER, a factor contrary to earlier experiments.

Journal Article↗

Commercial laboratory animal diets: toxicant and nutrient variability.

A commercial rodent feed was analyzed for a series of nutrients and potential contaminants during a 5-yr period. Annual average Cu and vitamin A concentrations were generally at least 12% lower than the approximate concentrations listed by the manufacturer, whereas Ca, protein, and vitamin B1 were within +/- 5% and fat and Zn within +/- 8% of the manufacturer's specifications. Frequently, Se was found at concentrations at which it has been shown to interact with the process of chemical carcinogenesis. DDT, dieldrin, Cd, and Pb were occasionally close to concentrations known to have biological effects.

Animal Feed↗

A review and critique of social skills training with schizophrenic patients.

The literature dealing with social skills training of schizophrenic patients indicates that topographical features and self-reports of anxiety and discomfort can be changed for the better by social skills training. Unfortunately, these changes do not occur for every patient and, when they do occur, often do not generalize to new situations. Research must be directed to determining the interaction between patient characteristics and training procedures as they affect outcome. The scope of the procedures must also be expanded if meaningful changes in patients' quality of life are to be effected.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

An illness-death model for the study of the carcinogenic process using survival/sacrifice data.

A semi-Markov model for describing the development of a specific type of tumor which is followed by death from that tumor is proposed. This provides a method for investigating the observable phases of tumor development, when time to appearance of tumor in individual animals is not directly measurable. Parameters of the model are estimated by the method of maximum likelihood. The modeling and estimation procedures are illustrated with liver tumors induced by benzidine dihydrochloride in mice, and inferences with respect to strain, sex and dose differences are made.

Animals↗

Accuracy of birth certificate data for detecting facial cleft defects in Arkansas children.

A comparison of facial cleft defects reported on birth certificates during the period 1943 to 1974 that were reported on birth certificates was made with records maintained by the Arkansas Crippled Childrens Services (CCS). A total of 506 cases were reported of which 331 (65%) were recorded on the birth certificate. Moreover, the accuracy of the reporting was not good. Only 243 (48%) cleft malformations were correctly classified on the birth certificate. Birth certificate information is an inadequate measure of the true facial cleft occurrence in Arkansas. Caution must be exercised when this data source is used in epidemiological surveys because over one-third of such defects were not recorded. These findings serve to reemphasize the national need to improve the quality of such vital health statistics sources.

Arkansas↗

Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase: altered genetic expression in tall fescue.

A decaploid tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) genotype has been found which exhibits net photosynthetic rates of 32 to 41 mg CO(2)/dm(2).hour as opposed to a mean of 22 mg CO(2)/dm(2).hour for 10 hexaploid genotypes. The decaploid genotype exhibited a ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase specific activity 1.3- to 2-fold higher than typical tall fescue genotypes. Specific activities of photorespiratory enzymes and nitrate reduction enzymes were lower in the decaploid than the hexaploid genotypes. Results suggest that genetic expression of RuBP carboxylase activity may have been altered to increase the net photosynthesis rate in the decaploid genotype.

Journal Article↗