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Biomedical subjects

M P Cunningham

Publications and source records attributed to M P Cunningham.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Bovine homocytotropic antibody in the sera of cattle resistant to infestation with Rhipicephalus appendiculatus.

The homologous skin sensitizing activity of serum from tick-naive cattle (Bos taurus) and from cattle resistant to the tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was tested by attempting to induce passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in tick-naive calves. The serum from tick-resistant cattle induced PCA, whereas that from tick-naive cattle failed to do so. The PCA was more marked at 72 hours than at 24 hours after administration of the serum. Treatment of the serum by heat at 56 degrees C for 2 hours or by adding 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol to it reduced its ability to sensitize. Serum from tick-resistant cattle did not sensitize the skin of heterologous species, namely rabbits, guinea-pigs and rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Effect of some drugs on the skin response of tick-resistant cattle to an allergenic extract of larval Rhipicephalus appendiculatus.

When a larval extract from Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was inoculated intradermally into tick-resistant cattle, a cutaneous swelling or bulla was induced, but this did not occur when tick-naive cattle were similarly inoculated. Certain drugs, infused around the inoculation sites just before administration of the extract, affected the development of the swelling. The size of the bulla was lessened by mepyramine maleate, whereas levamisole enhanced the response to the extract. Acetylsalicylic acid and phenylbutazone had no observable effect on the skin reaction. Intravenously administered cyclophosphamide enhanced the response. It is suggested that histamine plays a major role in inducing the skin swelling.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Cutaneous responses of cattle to extracts from Rhipicephalus appendiculatus larvae.

A component of an extract from Rhipicephalus appendiculatus larval ticks induced an immediate hypersensitivity reaction in sensitized cattle when intra-dermally inoculated. Generally, the magnitude of the cutaneous reaction depended upon the duration of exposure of the cattle to tick infestation. The skin reaction was absent in steers not previously fed on by ticks. Field trials, using the extract in the Narok District of Kenya (Masailand), showed that the skin swelling thus induced was biggest in adult cattle and those over 9 months, moderate in the 6-month age-group and barely palpable in the less-than-1-month age-group.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Follow-up adjuvant chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy for stage II and III carcinoma of the breast.

Patients with stage II or III carcinoma of the breast were assigned to one of three adjuvant chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy treatment groups following radical or modified radical mastectomy. This study compares the efficacy of single drug treatment (melphalan) versus multiple drug regimens (CFP and CFP + BCG). In the initial phase of the project participants in the melphalan group showed a higher recurrence rate than those in the CFP and CFP + BCG groups. The recurrence rate of the melphalan group was 4.4 times higher than the recurrence rate of the combined polychemotherapy arms. However, after the initial phase, the recurrence rates for the polychemotherapy arms steadily increased and approached the dropping rate of the melphalan group. Currently (247 weeks after the beginning of the study and nine months after the last patient accrual), 194 patients have been treated (median follow-up time of 101 weeks), and no significant differences can be detected between the three treatment arms using any of the following criteria: disease-free interval, proportion of recurrence and recurrence rate. The only factors which are significant with respect to recurrence are the two prognostic factors: tumor size and degree of nodal involvement. The two chemotherapy groups, CFP and CFP + BCG, show no significant difference with respect to recurrence rate along the entire span of the study.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1982

Effect of the calcium antagonist nimodipine on contractile responses of isolated canine basilar arteries induced by serotonin, prostaglandin F2 alpha, thrombin, and whole blood.

Nimodipine is a new calcium antagonist that has been advocated as a specific treatment for the cerebral vasospasm accompanying subarachnoid hemorrhage in humans because of reports that it selectively inhibits the constriction of cerebral arteries in vitro. Because calcium antagonists may have specific blocking actions, whereas the origin of vasospasm is likely to be multiplex, the effect of nimodipine on the contractions of isolated canine basilar arteries that are produced by serotonin, prostaglandin F2 alpha, thrombin, and whole blood was studied. The results demonstrate that nimodipine significantly inhibits the contractile responses induced by these diverse agonists whether it is given before or after the agonist. The findings suggest that, in canine cerebral arteries, a common calcium influx channel is involved in the responses elicited by a variety of receptor mechanisms and afford a rationale for the use of nimodipine in the treatment of the cerebral ischemia that often follows cerebral hemorrhage.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II and III breast carcinoma.

Stage II or III breast carcinoma patients were assigned to one of three adjuvant chemotherapy groups after mastectomy. The efficacy of melphalan, vs cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil, and prednisone (CFP), vs CFP plus BCG vaccine was compared in 173 patients treated for five days every six weeks for the first postoperative year. Tumor size, unfavorable local signs, extent of axillary nodal involvement, menopausal status, and participating hospital were considered in assigning patients to treatment groups. The median follow-up time was 26 months; 24.2% of the patients were studied for more than three years. Recurrent disease occurred in 31.6% of the patients in the melphalan group and in 13.4% and 13.2% in the other two groups. Six patients died of metastatic tumor; three others died of other causes. A favorable significant difference exists for polychemotherapy in prolonging disease-free interval in our series.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1980

The effect of immunisation with BCG on Theileria parva infection in cattle.

Cattle were immunised with 10(8) bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) organisms 32 days before challenge with a lethal dose of Theileria parva stabilate. The disease reactions of immunised and control cattle were similar and all infected cattle died. It is suggested that the failure of BCG to protect cattle against T parva infection is because the cattle response to this non-specific immunisation is poorly developed.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Symptomatology as an indicator of recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.

Eighty-seven patients with recurrent breast cancer after mastectomy were analyzed for patterns of recurrence and methods of detection. After an average disease-free interval of 30 months, 38% developed osseous metastases, 16% recurred locally, 10% had local plus systemic disease, 10% showed pulmonary metastases and the remainder were distributed among liver, brain, and remaining breast disease. In 79 patients recurrence was heralded by symptoms. Physical examination in five asymptomatic patients revealed local or supraclavicular recurrence. In only three asymptomatic patients was recurrence documented by "routine" chest x-rays (in two), or liver enzymes/liver scan (in one). No asymptomatic disease was found by bone scan. It is concluded that periodic history, physical examination, and chest x-rays are the most important components in the follow-up of breast cancer patients. Radioisotope scans and other radiographs are valuable in confirming symptomatic disease and detecting additional diseases, but cannot be recommended routinely in the asymptomatic patient because of low yield and cost.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1977

The use of tetracyclines on the chemotherapy of experimental East Coast Fever (theileria parva infection of cattle).

In a series of experiments, groups of cattle, undergoing patent East Coast fever (ECF) reactions induced by the inoculation of tick-derived stabilates of Theileria parva infective particles, were treated by parenteral administration of 2 tetracyclines. Ten cattle were treated with n-pyrrolidinomethyl tetracycline at 15 mg/kg for 5 days, starting on the first day macroschizonts were detected in lymph node biopsy smears. Nine of these treated cattle survived ECF reactions induced by an inoculum which killed 7 of 10 untreated controls. The same tetracycline, at 10 mg/kg daily for 5 days from the first day of febrile response had no effect on the disease. Oxytetracycline was administered at 15 mg/kg daily for 5 days to 2 groups of cattle infected with ECF. All 5 cattle survived which were treated on the first day parasites were seen. Four of 5 survived in which treatment was delayed till the onset of febrile response. All 5 untreated controls in this experiment died.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Immunization against East Coast fever (Theileria parva infection of cattle) by infection and treatment: chemoprophylaxis with N-pyrrolidinomethyl tetracycline.

Cattle were immunized against East Coast fever by the inoculation of a tick-derived stabilate of Theileria parva infective particles and the intramuscular injection, at daily intervals, of n-pyrrolidinomethyl tetracycline at a dose level of 5 mg/kg. Four doses of the tetracycline, starting on the day of inoculation of the infective stabilate, minimised the ECF reactions in the cattle during immunization. Immunity to homologous T. parva stabilate challenge was demonstrated in 27 out of 27 cattle infected and treated in this manner.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Establishment of an experimental field population of Theileria lawrencei-infected ticks maintained by African buffalo (Syncerus Caffer).

A population of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks infected with buffalo-derived Theileria lawrencei was established in a paddock. Two infected buffalo had been introduced into this paddock which contained a small population of Theileria-free R. appendiculatus. At intervals, successive groups of Theileria-susceptible cattle were grazed with the buffalo. Transmission of T. lawrencei from buffalo to cattle was first noted 7 to 8 months after the introduction of the buffalo, this delay being accounted for by the slow buildup of the tick population and low infection rates in ticks. A T. lawrencei challenge lethal for cattle was finally achieved 10 months after the introduction of the buffalo. The paddock was then seeded with engorged R. appendiculatus female ticks and an increase in tick population occurred. The lethal challenge was observed for a further 3 years, death of exposed cattle becoming progressively more rapid as the tick population increased. The T. lawrencei challenge establsihed in the paddock may be suitable for testing the efficacy of various T. lawrencei-immunization procedures for cattle.

Animals↗