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Biomedical subjects

M L Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to M L Anderson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Cyclophosphamide-induced hepatotoxicity in a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis.

Cyclophosphamide is widely used in the treatment of many vasculitides. Hepatotoxicity associated with such therapy is uncommon but possible. Herein we describe a well-substantiated case of cyclophosphamide-induced hepatotoxicity in a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis. Physicians should be aware of this potentially serious reaction when cyclophosphamide therapy is initiated. Baseline liver function tests and periodic assessment are recommended during treatment with cyclophosphamide.

Aged↗

The association of leukocytes with secondary brain injury.

Shock increases mortality from brain injuries, but the mechanism is poorly understood. We hypothesized that brain injury followed by shock and resuscitation leads to a secondary reperfusion injury mediated in part by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). To validate this hypothesis, we studied cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral blood flow (CBF), cortical water content (CWC), and hemodynamic variables in a porcine model of focal cryogenic brain injury and hemorrhagic shock. Cerebral PMN accumulation (CPMN) in the injured and uninjured hemispheres was determined histologically from the total PMNs in five high-power fields (400x). Twenty-nine mature swine were randomized to four groups. Group 1, the control group, was instrumented only. Group 2 animals had a brain injury alone and were studied for 24 hours. Group 3 animals had a brain injury and hemorrhagic shock. Group 4 animals had hemorrhagic shock alone. Brain injury followed by shock caused a significantly greater ICP and a significantly lower CBF than brain injury or shock alone. There was no significant difference in CPP between groups after resuscitation. The CWC of the lesioned area was similar in both brain-injured groups but was significantly increased when compared with the controls and the shock-only group. The CWC of the nonlesioned hemisphere was higher in group 3 than in group 2. The CPMN in both hemispheres in group 3 was significantly greater than in either group 2 or group 4. There was a significant positive correlation between CPMN and both ICP and CWC, and a significant negative correlation between CPMN and CBF. These data suggest an association between CPMN accumulation and secondary brain injury.

Animals↗

Phytochrome A null mutants of Arabidopsis display a wild-type phenotype in white light.

Phytochrome is a family of photoreceptors that regulates plant photomorphogenesis; the best-characterized member of this family is phytochrome A. Here, we report the identification of novel mutations at three Arabidopsis loci (fhy1, fhy2, and fhy3) that confer an elongated hypocotyl in far-red but not in white light. fhy2 mutants are phytochrome A deficient, have reduced or undetectable levels of PHYA transcripts, and contain structural alterations within the PHYA gene. When grown in white light, fhy2 mutants are morphologically indistinguishable from wild-type plants. Thus, phytochrome A appears to be dispensable in white light-grown Arabidopsis plants. fhy2 alleles confer partially dominant phenotypes in far-red light, suggesting that the relative abundance of phytochrome A can affect the extent of the far-red-mediated hypocotyl growth inhibition response. Plants homozygous for the recessive fhy1 and fhy3 mutations have normal levels of functional phytochrome A. The FHY1 and FHY3 gene products may be responsible for the transduction of the far-red light signal from phytochrome A to downstream processes involved in hypocotyl growth regulation.

Arabidopsis↗

Induced transplacental transmission of Neospora caninum in cattle.

Three Jersey cows were inoculated SC and IM with 26 million Neospora caninum tachyzoites at 129 (cow 1), 126 (cow 2), and 81 (cow 3) days after mating. Cows remained clinically normal for at least 1 month after inoculation of N caninum. Cow 1 was euthanatized 32 days after inoculation because of gangrenous mastitis. Cow 1 had a live fetus with no gross lesions; however, microscopic lesions were seen in the fetus and consisted of severe nonsuppurative necrotizing encephalitis of the cerebral white matter. Neospora caninum was identified in lesions by staining with anti-N caninum serum in an immunohistochemical test, by bioassays in mice, and by inoculation of bovine monocyte cultures with fetal tissue homogenate. Neither N caninum nor lesions were associated with infection with the protozoon identified in tissues of cow 1. Cows 2 and 3 aborted small autolysed fetuses 101 and 74 days, respectively, after inoculation with N caninum; the fetuses and attached placenta were unsuitable for laboratory investigations. Cows 2 and 3 remained clinically normal 4 months after abortion. Results of this study indicated that N caninum can be transmitted transplacentally in cattle.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

Neonatal idiopathic cerebral venous thrombosis: an unrecognized cause of transient seizures or lethargy.

Seven neonates who presented with either lethargy (four infants) or seizures (three infants) were found by magnetic resonance (MR) phase imaging to have idiopathic cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Examination showed only hypotonia or hyperreflexia. The presence of CVT was suggested by unenhanced cranial computed tomographic (CT) scans. Conventional MR T1- and T2-weighted images often indicated more extensive thromboses than were suggested by cranial CT. In all infants, MR phase imaging confirmed thromboses by establishing absence of blood flow in cerebral veins or sinuses. No infant received anticoagulation. Lethargy slowly resolved and seizures did not recur. Normal development has been observed thus far in brief follow-up. The occurrence of seven infants with idiopathic neonatal CVT within a 3-month period indicates that CVT may be a cause of neonatal seizures or lethargy of unclear cause. MR phase imaging provides a powerful, noninvasive means of confirming the diagnosis. Treatment with anticoagulants does not appear necessary.

Cerebral Veins↗

Imaging advances in neuro-ophthalmology.

Magnetic resonance imaging has provided many advances in the field of neuro-ophthalmology. Refinements in magnetic resonance imaging allow excellent evaluation of the brainstem, cranial nerves, and sellar and suprasellar regions. Gadopentetic acid enhancement allows identification of subtle lesions, which may not otherwise alter morphology, as this agent may cross an abnormal blood-brain barrier. This year I have focused on imaging advances in evaluation of optic gliomas, radionecrosis of the optic nerves and chiasm, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, and facial pain and hemifacial spasm.

Cranial Nerve Neoplasms↗

Periodic alternating gaze deviation in infancy.

Periodic alternating gaze is a rarely reported phenomenon. We have observed two cases that are unique in their early onset at birth and infancy. Multiple congenital defects of the posterior cranial fossa were present on MRI in both cases. A prominent abnormality shared by both was absence of normal structures in the region of the inferior cerebellar vermis. Periodic alternating gaze appears to be associated with pathologic changes in the hindbrain in these and other reported cases.

Brain↗

Surgical reversal of a subacute complete unilateral visual loss from an ovarian metastasis to the pituitary gland.

A 56-year-old woman with ovarian papillary cystadenocarcinoma that metastasized to the pituitary gland sought treatment with a 7-day history of total loss of vision in one eye. Ten days after transsphenoidal tumor resection, the patient's vision suddenly returned to baseline. This unusual case indicates that surgical decompression of the optic nerve and chiasm can completely salvage vision, even after prolonged total visual loss.

Blindness↗

Neospora-like protozoan infection as a major cause of abortion in California dairy cattle.

Ninety-five aborted bovine fetuses received from California dairies over a 4.5-year period had histologic lesions of focal encephalitis. Protozoa that reacted with Neospora caninum antiserum were detected in the brain of 88 of these fetuses and in the heart of 1 fetus. Sarcocystis spp schizonts were seen in the vascular endothelium of 1 fetus. It was concluded that a Neospora-like cyst-forming coccidian may be a major cause of abortion in California dairy cattle.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

Electroporation of lymphoid cells: factors affecting the efficiency of transfection.

We have increased the efficiency of electroporation of lymphoid cells over fifty fold by optimising several biological and electrical parameters. Under optimised conditions, the electroporation efficiency was comparable to that reported for other cell types. Actively dividing cells were crucial for high transient transfection signal. The two most important electrical parameters were high capacitance (960 microF) and moderate decay constants in the range of 10-15 ms. The optimal field strength depended on the cell line, but was in the range 0.6-1 kV/cm. Administering the pulse in medium lacking serum gave higher efficiency than when isotonic salt solution was used and the transfection signal was depressed if cells and DNA were allowed to incubate for several minutes either before or after the pulse. Electroporation was carried out at room temperature and there was no advantage in using low temperatures (0-4 degrees C). When electroporated cells were grown in conditioned medium, the signal was enhanced about two fold depending on the source of the conditioned medium.

Animals↗

Neospora-like protozoal infections associated with bovine abortions.

Eighty bovine fetuses with presumed protozoal infections from a previous 2-year retrospective study were examined by immunohistochemistry using antisera against Neospora caninum. In 66 (83%) of the fetuses, protozoa were found that reacted positively with anti-N. caninum sera. In three (4%) additional fetuses, protozoa identified as Sarcocystis species did not react, and in two fetuses (3%) single protozoal clusters were found only in hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides. A group of 20 fetuses were chosen for further evaluation. They included 14 fetuses from the first group of 80 fetuses plus six additional fetuses that had large numbers of protozoa in the fetal brain. The 20 fetuses were examined immunohistochemically with antisera to N. caninum, Hammondia hammondi, and Toxoplasma gondii. Protozoa from 3/20 fetuses, identified as Sarcocystis species, failed to react with any antisera. In 16/20 fetuses protozoa reacted positively to antisera against N. caninum, and in most cases reacted to H. hammondi, and weakly to one or more of the antisera against T. gondii. Thick-walled protozoal tissue cysts were found in the brain of four of these 16 fetuses by transmission electron microscopy. The cyst wall morphology was comparable to N. caninum. The results suggested that a single protozoal parasite of unknown identity was responsible for most of the bovine abortions. By immunohistochemistry, the unknown protozoon reacted most strongly and consistently to N. caninum antisera, but was antigenically distinct from N. caninum. Ultrastructurally, tissue cysts found in four fetuses most closely resembled Neospora caninum.

Abortion, Veterinary↗