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Biomedical subjects

H C Carlson

Publications and source records attributed to H C Carlson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Mutational analysis of the precursor-specific region of Bacillus subtilis sigma E.

sigma E is a sporulation-specific sigma factor of Bacillus subtilis that is formed from an inactive precursor protein (pro-sigma E) by the removal of 27 to 29 amino acids from the pro-sigma E amino terminus. By using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, sequential deletions were constructed in the precursor-specific region of sigE and analyzed for their effect on the gene product's activity, ability to accumulate, and susceptibility to conversion into mature sigma E. The results demonstrated that the first 17 residues of the pro sequence contribute to silencing the sigma-like activity of pro-sigma E and that the amino acids between positions 12 and 17 are also important for its conversion into sigma E. Deletions that remove 21 or more codons from sigE reduce sigma E activity in cells which carry it, presumably by affecting pro-sigma E stability. A 26-codon deletion results in a gene whose product is not detectable in B. subtilis by either reporter gene activity or Western blot (immunoblot) assay. The primary structure as well as the size of the pro region of sigma E contributes to the protein's stability. The placement of additional amino acids into the pro region reduces the cell's ability to accumulate pro-sigma E. Additional sigE mutations revealed that the amino acids normally found at the putative processing site(s) of pro-sigma E are not essential to the processing reaction; however, a Glu residue upstream of these sites (position 25) was found to be important for processing. These last results suggest that the pro-sigma E processing apparatus does not recognize the actual site within pro-sigma E at which cleavage occurs but rater sequence elements that are upstream of this site.

Amino Acid Sequence

Pathological studies of "Sudden death syndrome" in broiler chickens.

Sudden death syndrome usually occurs in heavy, fast-growing and healthy-looking broilers. Most of the affected birds are males. The characteristic necropsy changes are seen in well-fleshed broilers with edema and generalized pulmonary congestion, recently ingested feed in the crop and gizzard, distended intestine with creamy content and empty gall bladder. The liver and kidneys are slightly enlarged and the latter have patchy areas of subcapsular hemorrhage. The heart contains clotted blood in the atria but the ventricles are often empty and the left ventricle in particular assumes a hypertrophied appearance. Microscopic examination of heart muscle reveals degeneration of fibers, separation of cardiac muscle fibers by edema and infiltration of heterophils. The lungs have severe vascular congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration in the mucosa of the secondary bronchi and edema fluid in the tertiary bronchi and interlobular connective tissue. The liver has moderate bile duct hyperplasia, periportal hepatitis and mononuclear cell infiltration adjacent to bile ducts which possibly leads to bile duct constriction. The kidneys have subcapsular and parenchymatous hemorrhage.

Animals

Studies on effect of lighting on "Sudden death syndrome" in broiler chickens.

Broiler chicken flocks were studied to determine the mortality from sudden death syndrome occurring in the flocks. The difference in the incidence of the syndrome in pullets and cockerels, and the age at which the most birds are affected were also studied. The weight of sudden death syndrome birds was compared with the flock average and the effect of continuous lighting as opposed to intermittent lighting was examined. The results suggest that; continuous lighting produces more sudden death syndrome deaths than intermittent lighting; that the incidence of sudden death syndrome is higher in cockerels than pullets; that the highest death rate occurred during the third and fourth weeks of life, and that sudden death syndrome birds on the average were heavier than the flock average.

Animals

Chronic ulcerative colitis and colon cancer: can radiographic appearance predict survival patterns?

Twenty-four patients with chronic ulcerative colitis and colon carcinoma who underwent barium enema examination prior to the diagnosis of cancer were studied in an attempt to correlate the radiographic appearance of the tumors with their biologic behavior, as well as to assess the accuracy of the barium enema in detection. Of the radiographically detected tumors, 65% displayed an annular infiltrative appearance, with the prime radiographic manifestation being relative nondistensibility of the involved segment. The remaining tumors had various appearances more typical of noncolitic colon cancer. Patients with infiltrative lesions had a much poorer prognosis than those with noninfiltrative lesions. Of 33 gross tumors described pathologically and/or surgically, only 70% were correctly detected by barium enema. It is suggested that periodic barium enema examinations are an unreliable means of following patients with ulcerative colitis if malignant degeneration is to be detected at an early and curative stage. Prophylactic proctocolectomy may be the best therapeutic approach.

Adult

Salmonella investigation in an Ontario feed mill.

The frequency of Salmonella contamination of feedstuffs and finished broiler chicken feeds at an Ontario feed mill were investigated over a four-month period. Samples of feed ingredients and finished pelleted feeds were collected at various points during manufacture and cultured in trypticase soy broth prior to selective enrichment for isolation of Salmonella. Salmonella contamination was found in 4.3% of 93 finished pelleted broiler feeds examined. The contamination appeared to result primarily from the incorporation of contaminated animal protein ingredients into the feed. Meatmeal and the broiler, premix, which contained meatmeal as a filler, were most frequently contaminated followed by feather meal. Pelleting failed to eliminate the Salmonellae from the feeds. The methods used failed to detect Salmonella in the environment of the feed mill or its delivery trucks. Recommendations for control are made.

Animal Feed

Sources of Salmonellae in broiler chickens in Ontario.

Sources of Salmonellae infecting broiler chicken flocks in Ontario were investigated from July, 1975 to April, 1976. Three broiler flocks were investigated on each of four farms which received chicks from a common hatchery. Samples of feed and new litter were preenriched in nonselective broth subcultured to Salmonella-selective enrichment broth and plated on Salmonella-selective differential agar. Samples of used litter, water, culled chicks, insects, mice, wild birds and environmental swabs were not cultured initially in the nonselective broth. Fecal samples from principal and occasional flock attendants were examined for Samonellae. Salmonella infection, as judged by contaminated flock litter was detected in six flocks on two of the farms while the flocks on the other farms remained negative. Salmonellae were isolated from 23 of 412 feed samples (nine serotypes), six of 35 new wood shaving samples (four serotypes), one of 29 pools of culled chick viscera (one serotype) and 44 of 267 used litter samples (14 serotypes). These results indicate that broiler chicken flocks were infected with diverse Salmonellae introduced in day old chicks, pelleted feeds, wood shavings and residual contamination from the preceding flock.

Animal Feed

Secondary neoplasms of the small bowel.

Patterns of small bowel involvement from primary neoplasms elsewhere in the body were studied in order to determine whether the location of the lesions or their radiological appearance could provide criteria for distinguishing secondary from primary lesions. Multiplicity of lesions and the finding of "transverse stretch" were found to be highly indicative of secondary neoplastic involvement of the small bowel.

Humans

The effect of an alexidine mouthwash on dental plaque and gingivitis.

The alexidine mouthrinse used in this study (CP-101) is effective in reducing plaque. There was a reduction in gingivitis after 6-months use but not at a statistically significant level. An extrinsic brown stain occurred at a significant level on the teeth of participants using the active mouthrinse. Blood and urine laboratory results indicated that alexidine can be safely used over a 6-month period.

Adolescent

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolates from the broiler chicken industry in Ontario.

Antibacterial drug resistance among 219 salmonella isolates recovered during 1974 from poultry and poultry environments at the various production stages of broiler chickens in three integrated Ontario companies are recorded. All isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, trimethroprim-sulfamethoxazole complex, furazolidone, cephaloridine and amoxicillin. A relative increase in resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin with an accompanying decrease in resistance to triple sulfa compound was recorded when compared to a previous investigation of avian salmonella isolates in Ontario. The percentage and patterns of antimicrobial resistance were comparable at the various stages of production. Resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin was the most common pattern found among both Salmonella typhimurium and other serotypes. A notably high prevalence of resistance was found among Salmonella enteritidis isolates including some isolates with R factors for chloramphenicol resistance. This latter finding is of particular concern because of the high prevalence of this serotype in poultry and in human salmonellosis.

Animals

Tomography of the gallbladder in oral cholecystography.

Tomography was used to supplement 327 oral cholecystograms in which the findings, including nonvisualized gallbladder, were inconclusive. In 136 cases, operative and tomographic findings were correlated. In 286 cases (87%), tomography provided conclusive diagnostic information. A diagnosis was possible in 108 of 111 cases in which the gallbladder had been visualized on conventional films and in 179 of 216 cases in which the gallbladder had not been visualized. Tomography of the gallbladder is an easily accomplished procedure that usually adds enough information to the inconclusive cholecystogram to permit accurate diagnosis and eliminate the need for reexamination.

Adult

Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in the domestic fowl.

Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) has been demonstrated in young and adult domestic fowl using antisera obtained from actively sensitized chickens on the day of their maximal susceptibility to systemic anaphylaxis. Young chickens are more sensitive to histamine and PCA reaction than adults. The PCA reaction was inhibited by the H1-histamine receptor blocker, mepyramine. In the PCA reaction of 2 h sensitization period, the main exudating cells were heterophils, mononuclear cells (lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages) and some basophils. This study suggests a possible role for circulating basophils in the mediation of early acute inflammatory reaction of immunological origin.

Aging

Specificity of 99mTc-pertechnetate in scintigraphic diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum: review of 100 cases.

Numerous reports in the recent literature have questioned the value of abdominal scanning with pertechnetate in the diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum. In an attempt to evaluate further the specificity of pertechnetate in this condition, the clinical data and scintigrams of 100 patients with suspected Meckel's diverticulum were reviewed. The scintigram correctly identified Meckel's diverticulum before operation in seven of eight patients. One false-negative study occurred in 33 patients who underwent laparotomy. Conditions suggested as possible causes of false-positive studies (hydronephrosis, arteriovenous malformations, and intussusception) were found to give negative scans.

Adolescent

The roentgenographic and clinical findings in Whipple's disease. A review of 8 patients.

Out of 8 patients with Whipple's disease, 7 had roentgenographic findings consisting of slight dilatation of the small bowel, with thickening of the mucosal folds. The eighth patient had no abnormality on roentgenographic study. This series represents the first in which the roentgenographic changes have been quantitatively assessed. Confirmation of the diagnosis by biopsy is important because antibiotic treatment results in marked improvement both clinically and roentgenographically.

Adult

Retrograde pancreatography in autopsy specimens.

Sixty-two pancreases were dissected at autopsy. In 55 of them, the pancreatic ducts were filled with 50 per cent Hypaqje and roentgenograms were made prior to dissection. Clinical information (available in every case) was correlated with the gross and microscopic findings and findings on the pancreatograms. The anatomically and functionally predominant duct was considered the "main pancreatic duct" regardless of its embryologic development. The common bile and main pancreatic duct opened independently into the duodenum in 8 of the 62 cases (13 per cent). The accessory pancreatic duct had a patent orifice into the duodenum in 12 of 57 cases (21 per cent). The ampulla of Vater was well developed in only 4 of the 62 cases (6 per cent), but an ampullary dilatation was present twice as often at the end of the acessory pancreatic duct, in both those that ended blindly and those that opened into the duodenum. The orifices for the accessory duct were often tiny pinhole openings. There were 2 primary carcinomas of the pancreas, one in the head and one in the tail. The pancreatic duct was almost completely obstructed in each case. Both tumors were undifferentiated adenocarcinomas, and extravasation occurred into each one of them. Extravasation also occurred into a necrotic lymphoma involving the tail of the pancreas, and into two areas of abscess formation in another case. Diffuse, dense, fluffy opacification of pancreatic parenchyma, due to alteration in cell membrane permeability, was demonstrated in acute pancreatitis, infarction, autolysis, and overfilling of the ducts by vigorous injection. Three pancreases showed microscopic changes of chronic pancreatitis. The pancreatogram on one was normal, but the microscopic changes were minimal, and pancreatitis was not suspected clinically. The other 2 cases were symptomatic, and their pancreatograms showed strictures and irregularities of the main pancreatic duct as well as saccular ectasia was present in three additional pancreases, two of which showed squamous metaplasia of ductal epithelium without other microscopic stigmata of chronic pancreatitis and no clinical features to suggest pancreatitis. The possibilities exist that ectasia of secondary ducts and squamous metaplasia of ductal epithelium are manifestations of low-grade injury and that "subclinical pancreatitis" may be common in the general population.

Adult