Dog identification.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Morton.
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A study was conducted to determine an optimum technique for semen cryopreservation and the biological competence of frozen-thawed ferret spermatozoa. Fifty-two fresh electroejaculates from 4 males were evaluated for sperm percentage motility, forward progressive motility, motility index (SMI) and acrosomal integrity. To determine the optimum temperature for maintaining sperm motility in vitro and the influence of glycerol on sperm motility, seminal aliquants were diluted in TEST diluent (containing either 0 or 4% glycerol) and maintained at 25 degrees or 37 degrees C. For cryopreservation, semen was diluted in each of 3 cryodiluents (TEST, PDV, BF5F), cooled for 30 min at 5 degrees C and pelleted on solid CO2 or frozen in 0.25 ml straws (20 degrees C/min to -100 degrees C). Following thawing, SMI and acrosomal integrity were determined. Ten females with maximum vulval swelling were given 90 i.u. human chorionic gonadotrophin and laparoscopically inseminated in utero with spermatozoa previously frozen using the optimum diluent and freeze-thaw method. The maintenance temperature of 25 degrees C was superior (P less than 0.05) to 37 degrees C for sustaining sperm motility, and glycerol did not influence (P greater than 0.05) motility for up to 11 h of culture. After thawing, motile spermatozoa were recovered in all treatment groups, but sperm motility and normal acrosomal ratings were highest using the PDV diluent, the pelleting method and thawing at 37 degrees C (P less than 0.05). Seven of the 10 ferrets (70%) inseminated with spermatozoa frozen by this approach became pregnant and produced 31 kits (mean litter size 4.4; range 1-9 kits).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
This paper reports on the first 100 infants delivered consecutively the result of 63 pregnancies after conception in-vitro at the Pacific In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Institute. These pregnancies were established prior to the introduction of embryo-cryopreservation into the program. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of singleton pregnancies delivered after 36 weeks; only 5/31 (16%) required tocolytic therapy. The overall multiple gestation rate was 51%, higher than in many other IVF centers. Maternal complications and neonatal morbidity were associated primarily with these multiple gestations. Forty-one percent (41%) delivered in less than 36 weeks, and tocolytics were administered in 22/27 (81%) of twin and 5/5 (100%) of triplet gestations. Neonatal morbidity was noted in 39 infants (33 from multiple gestations); 28 neonates were admitted to the intensive care unit (27 from multiple gestations). Nine births had or developed minor abnormalities (hernias, pyloric stenosis). One case of Trisomy 21, and one infant death at 11 months occurred in the group. The caesarean section rate for all IVF deliveries was 65%. It is concluded that IVF is clearly established in Hawaii for infertility refractory to other methods of treatment. The risk associated with IVF stem from the possibility of multiple gestations, not whether the pregnancy was initiated in-vitro. In the future, embryo cryopreservation may help to reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy.
The complete amino acid sequence of the cardiac stimulatory and haemolytic protein tenebrosin-C, from the Australian sea anemone Actinia tenebrosa, has been determined by Edman degradation of the intact molecule and fragments produced by treatment of the polypeptide chain with cyanogen bromide and enzymatic cleavage with endoproteinase Asp-N, thermolysin and trypsin. The molecule is a single-chain polypeptide consisting of 179 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 19,797 Da. Tenebrosin-C shows a high degree of amino acid sequence similarity (63%) with Stoichactis helianthus cytolysin III [Blumenthal, K. M. and Kem, W. R. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 5574-5581] and is identical to a partial sequence (90 residues) reported for equinatoxin, a cardiostimulatory and haemolytic protein isolated from the European sea anemone Actinia equina [Ferlan, I. and Jackson, K. (1983) Toxicon Suppl. 3, 141-144]. No amino acid sequence similarity was detected between tenebrosin-C and other protein sequences stored in available databases. The predicted secondary structure of tenebrosin-C suggests that it is a compact, highly structured molecule.
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Five domestic ferrets previously maintained for 12 weeks under a 16L:8D photoperiod were electroejaculated weekly for 15-65 weeks while continuing to be exposed to the prolonged light cycle. Two ferrets sustained spermatogenesis for 20 and 26 weeks, while sperm production in the remaining males either was sporadic or decreased, remained depressed and then increased to peak levels observed in other males. Regardless of the temporal spermatogenesis patterns within males, the number of electroejaculated spermatozoa with residual cytoplasmic droplets or abnormal acrosomes increased in all ferrets over time. Diluted ejaculates meeting artificial insemination criteria were deposited intravaginally or by transabdominal laparoscopy into the uterine horns of females treated 0 or 24 h earlier with 90 i.u. hCG. Vaginal insemination was ineffective (0 pregnancies in 10 attempts), but 17/24 ferrets (70.8%) inseminated laparoscopically became pregnant and delivered live young (mean litter size, 5.2 kits). Number of motile spermatozoa deposited in utero (1.6-10.0 x 10(6) cells), presence of glycerol in the sperm dilution medium (0 versus 4%) and time of hCG administration (0 versus 24 h before insemination) had no effect on pregnancy results or litter size.
To further define optimal combinations of antiemetics, high-dose metoclopramide and lorazepam (M+L) were compared with prochlorperazine and lorazepam (P+L) in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study. Both patient and observer assessments were documented in 66 patients receiving cisplatin and noncisplatin chemotherapy. M+L significantly reduced the severity of vomiting (P = 0.01), duration of vomiting (P = 0.05), and number of vomiting episodes (P = 0.003). Comparing the severity or duration of nausea, M+L and P+L were not significantly different. M+L significantly reduced severity of vomiting (P = 0.005) and number of vomiting episodes (P = 0.03) in the cisplatin subset. The number of vomiting episodes was also reduced in the noncisplatin subset (P = 0.03). When asked to nominate a preferred regimen, 41% of patients preferred P+L, 35% preferred M+L, and 24% rated them equally. M+L was associated with significantly more anxiety and less sedation than P+L. Patient assessments produced similar results to observer assessments but gave a broader understanding of our patients' tolerance to chemotherapy. M+L is a superior regimen in controlling vomiting induced by chemotherapy.
Plasma catecholamine (adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine) concentrations have been measured in 48 patients within 6 hours of the onset of symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction. The concentrations of all three catecholamines were elevated, and there were positive correlations between plasma noradrenaline concentrations and the severity of infarct as assessed by the coronary prognostic index and serum LDH levels. Plasma glucose, free fatty acid, lactate and cortisol levels were elevated while insulin levels were reduced. The site of infarction did not influence the pattern of hormonal and metabolic responses although heart rate was significantly lower in the inferior than in the anterior infarct group. Seven patients went into ventricular fibrillation shortly (less than 1.8 h) after blood sampling. Plasma catecholamine concentrations were markedly elevated in these patients with levels similar to those previously reported after cardiac arrest.
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The consistent appearance of specific chromosomal translocations in human Burkitt lymphomas and murine plasmacytomas has suggested that these translocations might play a role in malignant transformation. Here we show that transformation of these cells is frequently accompanied by the somatic rearrangement of a cellular analogue of an avian retrovirus transforming gene, c-myc. Moreover, we map c-myc to human chromosome 8 band q24, the chromosomal segment involved in the reciprocal Burkitt translocations [t(8;14), t(8;22) and t(2;8)]. In two t(8;14) human Burkitt cell lines, c-myc appears to have been translocated directly into a DNA restriction fragment that also encodes the immunoglobulin mu chain gene. In the case of a specific cloned fragment of DNA derived from a mouse plasmacytoma, we demonstrate directly that c-myc has been translocated into the immunoglobulin alpha switch region. Our data provide a molecular basis for considering the role that specific translocations might play in malignant transformation.
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Despite the relative frequency of iatrogenic splenectomy, its effect on postoperative morbidity and mortality remains controversial. This retrospective study compares the postoperative morbidity and mortality among 72 patients who underwent a Nissen fundoplication for esophageal reflux and 25 patients who had iatrogenic splenectomy and Nissen fundoplication. The age range in both groups was comparable. In the Nissen fundoplication (N.F.) group the average postoperative hospital stay was 9.4 days and in the Nissen fundoplication and splenectomy (N.F. + S.) group postoperative hospital stay was 15 days. In the N.F. group nine patients (12.5%) experienced significant postoperative morbidity in comparison to 36% in the N.F. + S. group (statistically significant p less than 0.1%). In the later group the complications were of a more severe nature. No mortality occurred in the N.F. group and one patient died in the N.F. + S. group. Iatrogenic splenectomy in this patient could well have been a prime factor in precipitating his demise. This retrospective study stongly supports the view that iatrogenic splenectomy in association with Nissen fundoplication adds considerably to postoperative morbidity.
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PURPOSE: To evaluate the assumptions on which the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) Standards and Guidelines for detecting mosaicism in amniotic fluid cultures are based. METHODS: Data from 653 cases of amniotic fluid mosaicism were collected from 26 laboratories. A chi-square goodness-of-fit test was used to compare the observed number of mosaic cases with the expected number based on binomial distribution theory. RESULTS: Comparison of observed data from the in situ colony cases with the expected distribution of cases detected based on the binomial distribution did not reveal a significant difference (P = 0.525). CONCLUSIONS: The empirical data fit the binomial distribution. Therefore, binomial theory can be used as an initial discussion point for determining whether ACMG Standards and Guidelines are adequate for detecting mosaicism.
Ropivacaine is a new aminoamide local anaesthetic drug. Its clinical profile is similar to that of bupivacaine but it causes less motor block and is less cardiotoxic.