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Biomedical subjects

F X Aherne

Publications and source records attributed to F X Aherne.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Cartilage proteoglycans from normal and osteochondrotic porcine joints.

Modern pigs grow fast but are highly susceptible to degenerative joint abnormalities, including osteochondrosis. Normal and osteochondrotic humeri and femurs were obtained from five normal and ten lame adolescent boars to study cartilage proteoglycans. Histological examination of joints indicated a locally-reduced intensity of proteoglycan staining by safranin-O in lesion areas of cartilage. Cartilage proteoglycans extracted with 4.0 M guanidinium chloride were studied using Sepharose 2B gel chromatography. The proteoglycans from severely osteochondrotic joints were less (P less than 0.05) aggregated and contained a greater (P less than 0.05) proportion of smaller monomers than those from normal joints. Loss or damage of core protein, including its hyaluronic acid-binding regions, may account for the greater proportion of small monomers. The results also indicated that the proportion of hyaluronic acid in the total glycosaminoglycan uronic acid fraction, estimated by Sephadex G-200 chromatography and cellulose acetate electrophoresis, was lower (P less than 0.05) for the extracted proteoglycans than for the residual or the whole cartilage proteoglycans in all joints studied.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Relative amounts of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid from normal and osteochondrotic swine joints.

Twenty eight nonlame and ten lame pigs were used to study glycosaminoglycans in synovial fluid from normal and osteochondrotic elbow and stifle joints. The results indicated that porcine synovial fluid contains both hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate and that the chondroitin sulfate to hyaluronic acid ratio is similar (P less than 0.05) between normal and osteochondrotic joints.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

A study of the relationship between performance and dietary component digestibilities by swine fed different levels of dietary fiber.

A 49-d feeding trial, using 192 growing-finishing pigs (avg initial wt, 32 kg), was conducted to identify pigs of widely differing average daily gains (ADG) when fed 16% crude protein diets containing either 0, 7.5 or 15% corn cobs. There were linear decreases in both ADG (P less than .01) and gain/feed (P less than .001) with increasing levels of dietary corn cobs. Average daily feed intake increased linearly (P less than .001), but average daily digestible energy (DE) intake tended to decrease (P less than .08) with increasing dietary fiber level. Gain/DE was not apparently affected by dietary treatment. At the end of the feeding trial, 27 pigs, nine from each dietary treatment, were selected on the basis of ADG to represent pigs of above average, average and below average performance during the feeding trial. Previous ADG of the pigs selected for these were .93, .81 and .69 kg, respectively. In these pigs, plasma levels of glucose decreased (P less than .01) linearly, but urea N tended to increase (P less than .08) linearly with increasing level of dietary corn cobs. A digestion trial was conducted to determine if previous performance of the selected pigs could be related to the digestibilities of dietary components and the retention of N by these pigs. Nitrogen and dry matter (DM) digestibilities and dietary DE decreased linearly with increasing level of dietary corn cobs. The digestibilities of dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) decreased both linearly and quadratically with increasing level of corn cobs. Regardless of dietary treatment, no significant differences in any of these criteria were observed among pigs selected on the basis of widely differing ADG during the feeding trial.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Molecular size of chondroitin sulfate from normal and osteochondrotic joint cartilage of adolescent boars.

Normal and osteochondrotic femurs and humeri were obtained from five normal and 15 lame adolescent boars to study the molecular size of joint cartilage chondroitin sulfate. Histological examination of cartilage showed a locally reduced intensity of safranin-O staining in fractured areas. Sephadex G-200 chromatography of cartilage glycosaminoglycans revealed a reduction (P less than 0.01) in the average hydrodynamic size of chondroitin sulfate in only the separated cartilage from severely damaged medial humeral condyles. Chromatography also suggested an accumulation of fragmented chondroitin sulfate chains in this cartilage. There were no other appreciable differences in the hydrodynamic size of chondroitin sulfate from normal and osteochondrotic joint cartilage.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Observations of abnormalities and age-related changes in the anconeal processes of swine.

Abnormalities and age-related changes in the anconeal processes of 60 boars were studied. Postmortem examination of both cubitus joints from 25 lame adolescent boars and from 5 of their nonlame contemporaries revealed cartilaginous tissue (termed cartilage plate) of varying size between the anconeal process and the ulnar diaphysis in 8 of the lame animals. The cartilage plate was fractured in both joints from 7 of these 8 animals, and joints from 6 animals with cartilage plate were associated with lesions of the semilunar articular cartilage and bone in the proximal portion of the ulna. Postmortem examination of the joints from 30 boars (ranging in age from 1 month before birth to 1.5 years) indicated that during growth, bone developed from the ulnar diaphysis toward the cranial tip of the anconeal process. Separate ossification centers were not observed in any of the clinically normal anconeal processes studied in this group. However, microscopic observations of 1 abnormal anconeal process from a 13-week-old boar indicated that trauma may be involved in morphogenesis of a cartilage plate. Age-dependent changes were also observed in the composition of the anconeal process.

Aging↗
PubMed1981

Age related changes and osteochondrosis in swine articular and epiphyseal cartilage: light ane electron microscopy.

Age related changes and osteochondrosis in swine were studied using light microscopy and electron microscopy in articular cartilage and light microscopy and epiphyseal cartilage of swine from three days to 30 weeks of age. Thickness, cellularity and vascularity of both the epiphyseal and articular cartilage, decreased as the swine aged. Osteochondrotic changes included formation of "plugs" of cartilage indicating localized failure of ossification and separation and space formation in epiphyseal cartilage. Eosinophilic streaks and space formation in epiphyseal cartilage was observed in relation to epiphyseal separation. Electron microscopy showed a continuous fibrillar layer on the surface of the cartilage corresponding to the lamina splendens of light microscopy. This layer increased in the thickness and showed accumulation of amorphous material between the fibrils with aging. In the matrix, the orientation and distribution of the collagen fibers changed with growth and thicker fibers with clear sub banding were more common in older age groups. Also, necrotic cells, glycogen containing bodies and cellular debris were noticed in the matrix of normal cartilage in old animals. Chondrocytes in the younger cartilage showed accumulation of organelles responsible for protein synthesis; while Golgi bodies, vesicles, lysosomes, well developed foot processes and other inclusions were noticed in older cartilage. Cartilage erosions had a clumped and disrupted lamina splendens on the surface and electron lucent patches in the ground substances of the matrix and chondrocyte cytoplasm.

Aging↗
PubMed1980

Serum and urine concentrations of protein, urea, sodium, and potassium during the immediate postnatal period of the suckling pig.

Serum and urine concentrations of protein, urea, Na and K were monitored between birth and 72 h in neonatal pigs. Serum protein increased (p less than 0.05) 37 mg/ml after suckling, while urinary protein temporarily increased (p less than 0.05) to 14.7 +/- 0.98 mg/ml by 12 h but declined (p less than 0.05) to birth values by 72 h. Urinary urea levels tripled (p less than 0.05) by 12 h and remained elevated. The ratio of urea of urea in the urine to that in the serum ranged from 17 to 29. Serum Na concentrations were stable (141--146 mEq/l) during the 72 h, and urinary Na levels were low (9--4 mEq/l) and decreased (p less than 0.05) by 72 h. Serum K fluctuated and was highest (p less than 0.05) at birth (6.4 +/- 0.26 mEq/l) and lowest by 72 h (4.4 +/- 0.26 mEq/l). Levels of K excreted in the urine were high (20.0--7.6 mEq/l) compared to blood levels. Colostral concentrations of Na were low (81--73 +/- 3.8 mEq/l) while K levels were high (24.3--28.8 +/- 1.39 mEq/l) compared to piglet serum levels.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Histological structure of the thyroid gland in the neonatal pig.

The histological structure of the thyroid glands from 115 piglets that were stillborn or slaughtered at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 or 72 h of age were examined. Thyroid follicle diameter decreased (p < 0.05) after birth and then increased (p < 0.05) through 72 h. Thyroid glands from stillborn piglets contained follicles whose diameters were similar to those oberved in 72-hour piglets. Thyroid follicles at all stages of development contained colloid and were surrounded by mainly cuboidal-columnar epithelium.

Aging↗
PubMed1980

Postnatal changes in concentrations of serum and urinary thyroxine and 3,3',5-triiodothyronine in the pig.

Urine and serum obtained from piglets at birth (0 hr), 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 240 hr postpartum were assayed for thyroxine (T4) and 3, 3', 5-triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations. Urine was also quantified for total iodine. Piglet body weights and hematocrits were also recorded at each sampling time. Serum T4 concentrations were higher (P < .05) at birth (0 hr) than at any other time. By 24 hr, serum T4 decreased (P < .05) to a concentration similar to that observed at 240 hours. In contrast, serum T3 concentrations were lowest (P < .01) at birth but doubled (P < .01) within 6 hours. At 12 and 24 hr, T3 concentrations were lower (P < .05) than they were at 6 hours. By 48 and 72 hr, serum T3 concentrations increased to values similar (P < .05) to those observed at 6 hr; they then decreased (P < .05) slightly by 240 hours. Urinary concentrations of T4 and T3 were lowest (P < .05) at birth and increased (P < .05) by 12 hours. Urinary T4 concentration at 72 hr decreased (P < .05) to values observed at birth (0 hr), while T3 concentrations at 72 hr remained similar to values observed at 12 hours. T4 and T3 concentrations at 72 hr remained similar to values observed at 12 hours. T4 and T3 iodine accounted for only .16 +/- .025% of the total iodine in the urine. Hematocrits (PCV percentage) decreased (P < .01) during the first 24 hour of the pigs's life. High (P < .005) linear relationships existed among serum T3, body weights and serum T4.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Postnatal development of cardiac distribution in the pig.

Distribution of cardiac output was measured in 0- and 12-hour-old piglets using 103Ruthenium-labelled microspheres, 15 +/- 3 micrometer in diameter. The 12-hour-old piglets had remained with the sow and had suckled. Coronary and bronchial fractions of cardiac output were high in piglets at birth. The coronary fraction remained high at 12 h but the bronchial fraction decreased significantly (p less than 0.05). Percent cardiac output to the liver and upper gastrointestinal tract, pancreas and salivery gland in 12-hour-old piglets was significantly increased (p less than 0.01) by 138, 156, 85 and 109%, respectively, compared with piglets at birth. Preferential blood flow occurred to the lungs, adrenals, heart, thyroid and spleen at 0 h and to the adrenals, thyroid, heart, lungs and diaphragm at 12 h.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1978

The nutritive value of faba beans and low glucosinolate rapeseed meal for swine.

Faba beans may be effectively used as a partial replacement for other protein supplements in swine diets. Breeding swine appear to be particularly sensitive to the level of faba beans in their diets. The lack of response to autoclaving faba beans suggests that the trypsin inhibitor level and condensed tannin content of faba beans do not significantly influence the performance of growing-finishing swine. Supplementation of diets containing faba beans with lysine and/or methionine has not improved pig performance. The scientific selection and commercial production of low glucosinolate varieties of rape constitutes a major advance for swine nutrition. All swine experiments that have compared low glucosinolate rapessed meal with regular rapeseed meal have demonstrated the superiority of the low glucosinolate material as a protein source. Substantially larger proportions of the low glucosinolate material may be fed to all classes of swine without any significant depression in performance.

Amino Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nutritional effects of surgical and medical treatment for short bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The choice of treatment options in short bowel syndrome (SBS) is hampered by a lack of comparative studies. This study uses a previously validated juvenile pig model of SBS to compare nontreated controls (C), surgical treatment with either proximal colon interposition (CI) or bowel lengthening (BL), with medical treatment with codeine and cimetidine (M). METHODS: Treatment was initiated 6 weeks after resection of 75% of the small bowel, and animals were followed until sacrifice at week 16. Feed intake and weight gain were monitored throughout; in vivo nutrient absorption, in vitro nutrient transport, sodium-glucose cotransporter activity, and intestinal morphology (gross and microscopic) were examined at the end of treatment. RESULTS: BL and M treatments resulted in improved rates of weight gain; this improvement was associated with improved absorption of dietary fat. The treatments did not affect carbohydrate or protein absorption in vivo. In vitro fatty acid absorption was not increased in any group. Active uptake of glucose was increased in the colon interposition group, but phlorizin binding (reflecting sodium glucose cotransporter activity) did not differ between groups. Gross serosal and microscopic mucosal surface areas increased in all groups; however, there were no significant differences between the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that bowel lengthening and medical treatment improved the rate of weight gain in this model of SBS. This appeared to be due to improvement in the absorption of dietary fat, which was not caused by alterations in in vitro uptake or mucosal surface area, suggesting these treatments have their affects by altering motility or intraluminal digestion. These findings suggest that these treatments are worthy of further study in treating patients (primary pediatric) with SBS.

Animals↗