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Biomedical subjects

David G Baker

Publications and source records attributed to David G Baker.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Synthesis, cellular uptake and animal toxicity of a tetra(carboranylphenyl)-tetrabenzoporphyrin.

A water-soluble nido-carboranyl-tetrabenzoporphyrin has been synthesized in 43% overall yield, by condensation of butanopyrrole with a carboranylbenzaldehyde, followed by metal insertion, oxidation, demetallation and deboronation reactions. This compound accumulated within human glioblastoma T98G cells to a significant higher extent than a structurally related nido-carboranylporphyrin, and localized preferentially in the cell lysosomes. Animal toxicity studies using male and female BALB/c mice revealed that both compounds are non-toxic even at a dose of 160 mg/kg, administered intraperitoneally as a single injection at a concentration of 4 mg/mL. It is concluded that the tetra(carboranylphenyl)-tetrabenzoporphyrin is a promising new sensitizer for the treatment of malignant tumors.

Animals↗

Factors affecting gestation duration in the bitch.

A retrospective analysis was performed to determine the effects of age, breed, parity, and litter size on the duration of gestation in the bitch. Bitches at two locations were monitored from breeding to whelping. A total of 764 litters whelped from 308 bitches (36 large hounds, 34 Golden Retrievers, 23 German Shepherd Dogs (GSD), and 215 Labrador Retrievers). By breed, the number of whelpings was 152, 72, 58, and 482 for the hounds, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, and Labrador Retrievers, respectively. Whelping was predicted to be 57 d from the first day of cytologic diestrus in the hounds or 65 d from the initial progesterone rise in the other breeds. The average gestation duration (calculated as 8 d prior to Day 1 of cytologic diestrus in hounds or measured from the initial progesterone rise in other breeds) by breed (days +/- S.D.) was 66.0 +/- 2.8, 64.7 +/- 1.5, 63.6 +/- 2.1, and 62.9 +/- 1.3 for the hounds, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, and Labrador Retrievers, respectively. The relationship of age, breed, parity, and litter size with the difference in gestation duration was evaluated using log linear modeling. Age or parity had no effect on gestation duration. Compared to Labrador Retrievers, the German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers and hounds were more likely to have a longer gestation duration; three, four and nearly eight times as likely, respectively. Bitches whelping four or fewer pups were significantly more likely to have a longer gestation duration than those whelping five or more pups; the prolongation averaging 1 d.

Aging↗

Effect of Eucommia ulmoides on systolic blood pressure in the spontaneous hypertensive rat.

Experiments were conducted to establish the safety and efficacy of Eucommia ulmoides (Du-Zhong) extract in the treatment of hypertension. Pilot experiments using rats demonstrated that E. ulmoides extract was safe to the saturation limits of the compound. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was 1200 mg/kg when administered by gastric gavage at a concentration of 1200 mg/ml. Also, rats given 200 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg or 1200 mg/kg doses of E. ulmoides extract daily for 28 days demonstrated no evidence of acute toxicity as determined by clinical appearance, histopathology and serum chemistry evaluation. Lastly, spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) were administered E. ulmoides extract daily for 22 days. Systolic blood pressure (BP) was measured on treatment days 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 0, 1, 2 and 3 hours post-treatment. Beginning on day 8, E. ulmoides extract administered at the mid or high dosages lowered BP in male, but not female, rats. BP declined at a rate of approximately 10 mmHg per hour. The mid dosage of 600 mg/kg was found to be the minimum effective dose. In conclusion, E. ulmoides extract was non-toxic and effective in reducing systolic BP in the SHR.

Animals↗

Evaluation of Helicobacter hepaticus bacterial shedding in fostered and sex-segregated C57BL/6 mice.

Neonatal fostering has been evaluated as a means of eliminating Helicobacter hepaticus infection in laboratory mouse colonies. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate cross-fostering of neonatal C57BL/6 pups from experimentally infected dams after male-absent parturition and to determine the effects of sex and housing strategy on H. hepaticus populations. Approximately 20 C57BL/6 mice (age, 1 to 4 days) were fostered daily. In all fostered mice, fecal samples collected at 21 and 42 days of age and cecal samples collected at 42 days of age tested negative for H. hepaticus by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Our results demonstrate that removal of the male prior to parturition extends the fostering period to yield Helicobacter-free mice. In a second experiment, the effects of time of infection, housing strategy, and sex on fecal H. hepaticus shedding and cecal colonization were evaluated. Neither time nor housing strategy affected bacterial shedding. In contrast, fecal and cecal bacterial loads were higher in male mice versus female mice. A novel predictive algorithm was developed to predict cecal bacterial colonization levels in light of fecal bacterial loads. Our findings likely will prove useful in Helicobacter eradication efforts and in studies designed to further elucidate the role of H. hepaticus in disease.

Algorithms↗

Optimal age at fostering for derivation of Helicobacter hepaticus-free mice.

Helicobacter hepaticus is well established as an unwanted variable in laboratory rodent colonies. Historically, cesarean section and embryo transfer have been used to derive Helicobacter-free mouse colonies. Neonatal transfer of newborn mice onto Helicobacter-free foster dams was recently reported as an alternative method of deriving Helicobacter-free mice, but until now, the age by which pups must be fostered to remain Helicobacter-free was unknown. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine the age by which mouse pups must be fostered to remain free of H. hepaticus. Beginning on the day of birth, 20 C57BL/6 mice were fostered from H. hepaticus-positive parents onto Helicobacter-free BALB/c dams each day for 14 days for a total of 280 pups fostered. Fecal specimens collected at weaning, and fecal, liver, and cecal specimens collected at euthanasia were analyzed by use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. No pup fostered within 24 h of birth became infected with H. hepaticus; however, many of those fostered after 24 h became infected. These results were supported by those of a large field trial, in which 201 litters representing 71 strains of mice were fostered within 24 h of birth. Follow-up fecal PCR analysis was performed on 52 mice or their progeny that were randomly sampled from the 201 fostered litters. All mice tested remained free of H. hepaticus approximately 100 days after fostering. The results indicate that mouse pups must be fostered within 24 h of birth to remain free of H. hepaticus. In addition, cecal and fecal PCR analyses detected more infections, than did liver PCR analysis, thus indicating that those specimens are preferred for detection of H. hepaticus infection.

Age Factors↗

A retrospective study of 11 cases of lungworm (Didelphostrongylus hayesi) infection in opossums (Didelphis virginiana).

A juvenile, female North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana) died of verminous pneumonia caused by Didelphostrongylus haysei despite aggressive treatment with oral fenbendazole, corticosteroids, and antibiotics. This prompted a retrospective study of lungworm infection in opossums, during which 19 additional necropsy reports from opossums were reviewed. Including the subject of this report, a total of 11 (55%) of these cases included a diagnosis of lungworm infection. This diagnosis was considered to have contributed to death in eight out of the 11 cases (73%). Histologically, 10 of the 11 (91%) opossums had granulomatous bronchopneumonia with small to moderate numbers of adult nematodes in the airways and parenchyma. Four of the 11 (36%) opossums had free larvae within the parenchyma or terminal airways. Inflammation was usually associated with larvae, degenerating parasites, and nonintact adult nematodes. Superimposed bacterial pneumonia was evident in three animals, and sections of lung examined from all the opossums were characterized by moderate to severe smooth-muscle hyperplasia in airways, including terminal respiratory bronchioles and alveolar ducts. Nine animals had prominent medial smooth-muscle hyperplasia in small- and medium-sized arterioles. Lesions in other organs, particularly in liver, heart, and gastrointestinal tract, were frequently identified. Three animals had concomitant septicemia or bacterial bronchopneumonia (or both), which contributed to the cause of death. Seven animals had gastric nematodosis (Physaloptera sp.), although three of them had been treated with a 14-day course of fenbendazole.

Animals↗

Combination therapy for footpad lesions in a captive Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris).

A captive adult male Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) was treated for chronic footpad ulcers associated with pacing on concrete cage surfaces. Combination therapy of oral fluoxetine and acepromazine administration to diminate pacing behavior, daily application of moisturizing ointment, and oral vitamin E supplementation resulted in complete resolution of all footpad lesions. Subsequent clinical episodes completely resolved with similar treatments.

Acepromazine↗