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Biomedical subjects

R Hunter

Publications and source records attributed to R Hunter.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Parapoxvirus infections in New Zealand farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Outbreaks of infection due to a parapoxvirus were reported on eight New Zealand deer farms. Scabby lesions were seen variably on the muzzle, lips, face, ears and neck of red deer (Cervus elaphus) with morbidity rates reaching 100%. On three farms multifocal lesions were also present on the velvet. Deaths were reported on two properties where the lesions were extensive and secondary bacterial infections had occurred. On one of these farms multifactorial disease was suspected. Poxvirus particles were seen by negative contrast electron microscopy in scab material from all eight properties. Morphologically the deer virus resembled a parapoxvirus, but restriction endonuclease analysis showed its DNA fragment patterns were distinct from those of orf (contagious ecthyma) virus.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Evaluation of an immunochemical test for faecal occult blood in screening for colorectal neoplasia in a high risk group.

A group of 1615 asymptomatic individuals presumed to be at increased risk of colorectal neoplasia were selected as the study group. All were tested by an immunochemical test for faecal occult blood. In the second half of the study, individuals who were occult blood negative were offered colonoscopy. Ninety-nine individuals (6.1%) returned stools which were occult blood positive. Investigation by full colonoscopy was possible in 90 cases, revealing nine patients (10%) with invasive cancers, four patients (4.4%) with carcinomata in situ, and 36 patients (40%) with adenomata. Non-neoplastic pathology capable of producing occult blood positive stools was found in 31 individuals (34.4%). No pathology was found in 10 instances (11.1%). Of the 53 occult blood negative subjects who underwent colonoscopy, eight were found to have adenomata. Only one of these was larger than 5 mm in diameter (18 mm). No carcinomata were found. The site within the large bowel of the tumour did not appear to significantly affect the occult blood status of the faeces but the size of the tumours detected suggests that the presence of blood within the stool is more likely to be associated with larger lesions. The frequency of detection of both carcinomata and adenomata was greatest in individuals who had a past history of colorectal neoplasia. The individual cost of this immunochemical test is nominal. The high diagnostic yield and low false positive and negative rates suggest that case follow-up, surveillance, or screening utilizing this test is justified.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Epidemiological studies on a hairy shaker virus infected flock.

A serological study of hairy shaker disease (HSD) was carried out on a group of 30 Romney two-tooth ewes and their lambs over a two year period. Although ten ewes showed seroconversion to HSD virus during pregnancy, an association between infection with HSD virus and reproductive failure was not established. Passive immunity was demonstrated in nine of 21(43%) of the lambs. The duration of passive immunity was 10-20 weeks (mean 14.9 weeks) with the half life of antibody being 18.7 days (SD=3.04). The lambs were studied serologically for 12-20 months. Infection with HSD virus was demonstrated in nine of 16 lambs (56%) with most infections occurring in the summer and autumn when they were three to eight months old.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

The thermodynamics of bovine and porcine insulin and proinsulin association determined by concentration difference spectroscopy.

Difference spectroscopy was used to determine the equilibrium constants and thermodynamic parameters for the monomer-dimer association of bovine and porcine insulin and bovine proinsulin at pH 2.0 and 7.0. At pH 2 delta G degree 25, delta S degree, and delta H degree for dimerization of bovine insulin were found to be -6.6 kcal/mol, -18 cal/mol-deg, and -12 kcal/mol, respectively. Porcine insulin behaved similarly to bovine insulin in its dimerization properties in that delta G degree 25, delta S degree, and delta H degree were found to be -6.8 kcal/mol, -14 cal/mol-deg, and -11 kcal/mol, respectively. At pH 7 delta G degree 25, delta S degree, and delta H degree for dimerization of bovine insulin were found to be -7.2 kcal/mol, -16 cal/mol/deg, and -12 kcal/mol, respectively. At pH 7.0 delta G degree 25, delta S degree, and delta H degree for dimerization of porcine insulin were -6.7 kcal/mol, -11.6 cal/mol-deg, and -10 kcal/mol, respectively. The similarity in the thermodynamic parameters of both insulin species at the different pH's suggests that there are minimal structural changes at the monomer-monomer contact site over this pH range. The dimerization of both insulin species is under enthalpic control. This may suggest that the formation of the insulin dimer is not driven by hydrophobic bonding but, rather, is driven by the formation between subunits of four hydrogen bonds in an apolar environment. At pH 2 delta G degree 25, delta S degree, and delta H degree for dimerization of bovine proinsulin were found to be -5.3 kcal/mol, -26 cal/mol-deg, and -13 kcal/mol, respectively. At pH 7 delta G degree 25, delta S degree, and delta H degree for dimerization of proinsulin were -5.9 kcal/mol, -4.2 cal/mol-deg, and -7.2 kcal/mol, respectively. Although the presence of the C-peptide on proinsulin does not drastically affect the overall free energy change of dimer formation (as compared to insulin), the other thermodynamic parameters are rather drastically altered. This may be because of electrostatic interactions of groups on the C-peptide with groups on the B-chain which are near the subunit contact site in the insulin dimer.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

An assessment of an immunochemical test for human haemoglobin in the detection of colonic polyps.

It is now widely accepted that malignant tumours of the colon and rectum almost invariably arise from pre-existing adenomatous polyps. If such polyps could be detected and removed colonoscopically before they become malignant, theoretically the incidence of invasive colorectal cancer could be dramatically reduced. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an immunochemical test for faecal occult blood would identify patients with benign colonic polyps. The faecal samples from 121 patients scheduled to undergo colonoscopy were tested by our immunochemical method and the Hemoccult II test. There were nine patients who had malignant colorectal tumours. These were excluded from this study. Twenty-nine were found to have colonic polyps. Fifteen of these had one or more faecal samples which were positive by the immunochemical test. In contrast, there was only one patient who had a positive Hemoccult II test. Fourteen of the remaining 83 patients had positive immunochemical tests. The findings on colonoscopy provided satisfactory explanations in all these cases. Polyps of all sizes and histological type were associated with positive immunochemical tests. It is concluded that the immunochemical test has sufficiently high sensitivity for colonic polyps to make feasible the screening of patients at high risk of developing colonic cancer.

Colonic Polyps↗
PubMed1985

Blood platelet uptake of serotonin in men alcoholics.

Blood platelet uptake of 3H-serotonin (5HT uptake) was determined in a group of inpatient alcoholics who had just undergone detoxication (N = 19) and an age-matched group of nonalcoholic controls (N = 19). Mean 5HT uptake was 18% lower in the alcoholics (p less than .01). A 3-min 5HT uptake of less than 6 pmoles/10(7) platelets identified 58% of the alcoholics, but only 15% of the controls had a 5HT uptake lower than this value. These results support the hypothesis that serotonergic dysfunction may exist in alcoholics.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Isolation of two serotypes of equine adenovirus from horses in New Zealand.

Two serologically unrelated adenoviruses were isolated from ill-thrifty young horses on a thoroughbred stud. The viruses differed in their cytopathic effects in cell culture and in their haemagglutination properties. A serological survey of horses in the northern half of the North Island showed the prevalence of precipitating antibodies against equine adenoviruses to be 39%.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

An outbreak of vulvovaginitis in goats caused by a caprine herpesvirus.

A caprine herpesvirus related to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus but immunologically distinct from that virus was isolated from an outbreak of vulvovaginitis in a herd of Saanen goats. The morbidity rate was 52.5%, with 21 of 40 does showing clinical signs. The lesions healed rapidly with only two goats showing lesions two weeks after the disease was first detected. No effect on subsequent reproductive performance was observed. The mode of transmission of the virus was believed to be venereal.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

Evaluation of an immunological test for occult bleeding from colorectal neoplasia.

A study to determine the reliability of a recently described test, the faecal human haemoglobin test (FHH), specific for human blood, in the detection of colorectal neoplasia, is reported. All of nineteen patients with proven cancers studied were shown to have detectable blood in the stools. Three of five patients with polyps in this series also had detectable blood in the stools by this test. Although three of nineteen control subjects had positive tests, two of these were subsequently found to have bleeding sites, and the third was normal on follow up some weeks later. The findings are discussed in relation to the Hemoccult II (H-O) test results obtained in these subjects, and the implications for the possible future role for this test in screening for colorectal neoplasia.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1982

Angiodysplasias of the colon.

We studied 14 large bowel resections from patients with a provisional clinical diagnosis of a bleeding vascular lesion of the colon. For the purpose of this study we developed a barium-gelatine vascular injection technique. Six of the 14 cases were proven to be angiodysplasias with an identifiable mucosal vascular ectasia. The pathological findings in these six cases are described. We conclude that angiodysplasia represent a significant cause of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage in the elderly. It is our opinion that only the mucosa vascular ectasia seen in these cases is histologically diagnostic and that sub-mucosal venous ectasia, while characteristic of angiodysplasia, is non-specific. the differential diagnostic features which will allow the histological distinction of angiodysplasia from other vascular lesions of the colon are discussed.

Aged↗