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Biomedical subjects

J C Low

Publications and source records attributed to J C Low.

72 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

A census of the prevalence of vaginal prolapse in sheep flocks in the Borders region of Scotland.

A postal census of vaginal prolapse in sheep flocks in the Borders region of Scotland yielded 540 replies from 963 owners (56 per cent). There were 262,250 ewes in 976 flocks and 2573 vaginal prolapses were reported. Analysis of the data revealed that 390 (40 per cent) of the flocks had no vaginal prolapses and in 237 (24.3 per cent) the reported prevalence was between 0.1 per cent and 1.0 per cent. Only 63 (6.5 per cent) of flocks had a greater than 5 per cent prevalence of vaginal prolapses. The greatest number of prolapses occurred in an upland flock of greyface ewes mated with Suffolk tups with 50 cases among 700 ewes (7.1 per cent) and the highest prevalence was in an upland Scottish blackface flock of ewes bred with Suffolk tups with 15.2 per cent (35 cases among 230 ewes). There were marked breed differences; very few hill breeds were affected and most cases occurred in greyface ewes mated with Suffolk tups.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The corneal ERG of the heterozygous retinal degeneration mouse.

In the retina of the mouse heterozygous for retinal degeneration (+ rd) cGMP levels are reported to be considerably reduced from normal. The sensitivity and timing of the a- and b-wave components of the electroretinogram of anaesthetized, dark-adapted, heterozygous (+ rd) mice were measured and compared with those of normals (+ +). The (+ rd) mouse was found to be 0.43 log units more sensitive to flashes of green light than the normal for both a- and b-waves; the Vmax amplitude of the b-wave was larger; and variations in time-to-peak were of small magnitude except at low a-wave intensities, where the + rd responses were slowed compared with those of + +. Reduced phosphodiesterase activity has been suggested previously as a mechanism for altered cGMP levels in the rd mouse. The findings reported are interpreted in terms of reduced rates of cGMP metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The projection of the visual field upon the retina of the pigeon.

Co-ordinates in the visual field of the pigeon eye were located in the eye cup anatomically by marking the position of the trans-scleral image. The retinal horizon and vertical meridian at azimuths 0 deg (frontal field) and 90 deg (lateral field) were located. Approximately 18 deg of binocular field are available in frontal vision and the frontal meridian projects to temporal retina outside the red field. Spatial distributions of ganglion cells, displaced ganglion cells, and centrifugal terminals were located in the eye cup. Retinal magnification factors in the posterior pole and temporal periphery are close to 120 microns/deg.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Rhodopsin levels in the isolated normal and +rd mouse retina.

The levels of rhodopsin in isolated retinae of two mouse genotypes have been estimated by measuring with a scanning spectrophotometer the apparent absorbance change at 500 nm after photo-bleaching the retinae for 2 min in the presence of hydroxylamine. The optical density due to bleachable rhodopsin was 0.313 +/- 0.015 for the normal ++ and 0.305 +/- 0.016 for the heterozygous +rd retinae (mean +/- SEM). By statistical test these values were not significantly different.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Acute myopathy in horses at grass in east and south east Scotland.

A myopathy of horses at grass in east and south east Scotland was recognised in the autumn and winter of 1984 and the spring of 1985. The clinical signs resembled those of paralytic myoglobinuria. Grossly increased creatine kinase activities and the passage of dark brown urine were consistent features. However, the horses were not in training, most of them died and the muscles affected were those of posture and respiration rather than movement. The condition may be unrelated to nutritional myopathy because all the cases had adequate levels of alpha-tocopherol although their selenium status varied from normal to deficient. The clinical and pathological findings in 12 cases are presented and the differential diagnosis and possible aetiologies discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Septicaemia, encephalitis and abortions in a housed flock of sheep caused by Listeria monocytogenes type 1/2.

One hundred and ninety-six housed pregnant ewes were fed poor quality silage for two days. Ewes are reluctant to eat the silage and within 48 hours they became dull and developed diarrhoea and lameness. Despite treatment with antibiotics and calcium borogluconate 19 ewes died, more than 60 developed vaginal discharges and at lambing 94 ewes were barren. Six developed nervous signs and two of these died, one with lesions typical of listeric encephalitis. Post mortem lesions and the isolation of Listeria monocytogenes type 1/2 from lung, liver, spleen and kidney are described. L monocytogenes was also isolated from blood samples from live ewes. The estimated gross financial loss to the farmer was 5130 pounds or, for the flock, 26 pounds per ewe.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1985

Refractive sectors in the visual field of the pigeon eye.

Scheiner's principle has been used in electroretinographic optometry to refract the photoreceptor plane in different regions of the visual field of the pigeon eye. Along the horizon and in the upper visual field the eye is emmetropic, or nearly so. Below the horizon the eye becomes progressively more myopic at more negative elevations, refractive state falling to -5D at -90 deg. Lower field myopia is not an artifact of oblique astigmatism, nor of an aberration symmetrical about the optical axis. It is suggested that lower field myopia is a biological adaptation suited to keep the photoreceptors in the upper retina conjugate with the ground. Refractive state below the horizon can be fitted with a sine function by varying a parameter H (eye-ground height). The value of H agrees well with directly measured eye-ground height.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Photoreceptoral basis for altered dark-adaptation in retinal degeneration (RCS) rats.

The 'fast PIII' rod mediated photoreceptor response to flashes of monochromatic light has been investigated in isolated retinae of the RCS rat at age 30 days. A loss of both sensitivity and maximum response amplitude were found, with a concurrent slowing of the response kinetics. These observations indicate a rod abnormality which may underly the altered adaptational properties in these retinae.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Changes in pigeon cone photocurrent caused by reduction in extracellular calcium activity.

1. Photocurrents have been recorded from the red spot of the isolated superfused pigeon retina. The technique used was to record photovoltage gradients and extracellular fluid resistivity in a direction parallel with the long axes of the receptors. 2. Cone and rod responses were identified, and experiments designed so that only the former were elicited. 3. In the outer portion of the receptor layer, the wave form of the cone photoresponse lacks the initial transient (the 'nose') seen in the portions of the receptor layer nearer the synapses. It is argued that this observation permits the use of a simple equivalent circuit for the generation of the extracellular photocurrent, to infer membrane properties from extracellular recordings. 4. When the superfusing Ringer is changed to one which has a very low calcium activity (2 X 10(-7)M) the first result is that photoresponses increase in magnitude (X 7.7) but the relationship between light intensity and response amplitude and the light intensity (sigma) required to produce a half maximal response remains unchanged. 5. This increase in photocurrent in low calcium also occurs if the superfusing fluid is cooled to 10 degrees. 6. After 2--3 min, the photoresponses in low calcium begin to decrease in amplitude, and the value of sigma is progressively reduced, tenfold in 10 min. 7. During this time, the wave form of the photocurrent alters, the rate of increase and decrease of the responses being slowed. 8. The relationship between peak photocurrent and duration of light flash is modified. 9. The response to a step of light is not well maintained in higher calcium, but is well maintained in low calcium. 10. In higher calcium, the current overshoots during recovery from a flash to below the previous dark level. This does not happen in low calcium. 11. In low calcium, a light adapting background illumination desensitizes the cones. All changes in wave form of the response can be accounted for in terms of the membrane non-linearities. The calculated time course of the change in concentration of the 'internal transmitter' is unaffected. The same is true of desensitization, in the dark, following exposure to intense illumination.

Animals↗
PubMed1972

Simultaneous measurement of thyroxine and triiodothyronine peripheral turnover kinetics in man.

Serum triiodothyronine (T(3)) kinetics in man have been difficult to define presumably due to the interference of iodoproteins generated during the peripheral metabolism of T(3). The use, in the present study, of an anion-column chromatographic method for separation of serum T(3) as well as thyroxine (T(4)) from these iodoproteins has overcome this technical handicap. Simultaneous measurement of serum (125)I-T(3) and (131)I-T(4) kinetics were performed in 31 subjects from the clinical categories of euthyroid, primary hypothyroid, thyrotoxic and posttreatment hypothyroid Graves' disease, factitial thyrotoxic, and idiopathically high and low thyroxinebinding globulin states. The normal mean T(3) fractional turnover rate (kT(3)) was 0.68 (half-life = 1.0 days), increased in toxic Graves' disease patients to 1.10 (half-life = 0.63 days), and decreased in primary hypothyroid patients to 0.50 (half-life = 1.38 days). The mean T(3) equilibration time averaged 22 hr except in hypothyroid and high thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) patients where the equilibration period was delayed by 10 hr. The mean T(3) distribution space in normal subjects was 38.4 liters. This was reduced in subjects with high TBG levels (26 liters) and increased in patients with low TBG and in all hyperthyroid states (53-55 liters). The normal serum T(3) concentration was estimated by radioimmunoassay to be 0.106 mug/100 ml. Combined with the mean T(3) clearance value of 26.1 liters/day, the calculated T(3) production rate was 27.6 mug/day. The mean T(3) production rate increased to 201 mug/day in thyrotoxic Graves' disease patients and was reduced to 7.6 mug/day in primary hypothyroid subjects. T(3) production rate was normal in subjects with altered TBG states. The ratio of T(3) to T(4) production rate in normal subjects was 0.31 and was unchanged in patients with altered TBG values. This ratio was increased in all Graves' disease patients with the highest value being 0.81 in the posttreatment hypothyroid Graves' disease group. This apparent preferential production of T(3) may have been responsible for the retention of rapid turnover kinetics for T(3) and T(4) observed in treated Graves' disease patients. The finding that factitial thyrotoxic patients also displayed similar rapid T(3) and T(4) turnover kinetics indicates that these alterations are not a unique feature of Graves' disease per se. When comparing the peripheral turnover values for T(3) and T(4) in man, it is apparent that alterations in metabolic status and serum TBG concentration influence both hormones in a parallel manner; however, changes in metabolic status seem to have a greater influence on T(3) kinetics while alterations in TBG concentrations have a greater effect on T(4). These observations probably relate to the differences in TBG binding affinity and peripheral tissue distribution of these two hormones.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Primary cutaneous listeriosis in adults: an occupational disease of veterinarians and farmers.

Seventeen cases of cutaneous listeriosis in adults are reviewed. The condition appeared as papular or pustular lesions on the arms or hands, and was most often acquired as an occupational hazard from infected animals. The cases were all mild and were resolved successfully. However, listeric infections are potentially fatal, and as the initial cause of the lesion may be unknown, it is recommended that veterinarians and farmers should have suspect lesions examined microbiologically.

Agriculture↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of the absorbed ELISA and agar gel immunodiffusion test with clinicopathological findings in ovine clinical paratuberculosis.

Thirty-two sheep with clinical paratuberculosis and 43 normal, healthy control animals were tested for serum antibodies to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis with the absorbed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test. All the sheep were necropsied and the diseased cases were categorised as having either multibacillary ('lepromatous') or paucibacillary ('tuberculoid') intestinal lesions. The ELISA and AGID test were highly sensitive when testing the multibacillary group (86.4 per cent and 100 per cent, respectively) but the sensitivity of the tests in the paucibacillary group was significantly lower (10 to 50 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively). These findings were related to the ELISA optical density readings, with the multibacillary samples having values significantly greater than those of the paucibacillary and control groups, and the optical density values appearing to correlate with the numbers of mycobacteria present in the intestinal lesions. These results indicate both the usefulness of serological testing in the diagnosis of the multibacillary form of paratuberculosis and the difficulty in identifying animals with the paucibacillary form of the disease.

Animals↗