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Biomedical subjects

S Patton

Publications and source records attributed to S Patton.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Pulmonary arterial changes in feline dirofilariasis.

Eleven cats with spontaneous dirofilariasis were necropsied; ten were domestic shorthairs and one was a Persian. The cats ranged in age from 1 to 10 years, and 6/11 cats were male. One to three heartworms were present in the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries of each of the 11 cats. Patchy areas of rugose thickening of the intima of the pulmonary trunk and marked villous endarteritis of lobar and medium-sized pulmonary arteries were observed. Affected larger vessels were partially occluded by large villous intimal proliferations that were lined by hyperplastic endothelial cells supported by connective tissue stroma. Moderate to marked infiltration of eosinophils and mononuclear inflammatory cells was consistently observed in the intima of affected larger pulmonary arteries. Thrombosis of pulmonary arteries was seen in five cats. Medial hypertrophy, mild intimal proliferative changes, and focal infiltrations of leukocytes were seen in small pulmonary arteries. Lesions indicative of right-sided heart failure consisting of right ventricular dilation and chronic passive congestion of the liver were observed in four cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis and Dipetalonema reconditum infection in dogs: 805 cases (1980-1989).

Clinical records of 6,977 dogs examined at the small animal clinic of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine from January 1980 through December 1989 were analyzed to determine the prevalence and changing frequency of Dirofilaria immitis and Dipetalonema reconditum infection. Using the Knott's test on these dogs, 805 (11.54%) tested positive for microfilariae, with D immitis in 430 dogs (6.16%), and Dip reconditum in 375 dogs (5.37%). Statistical analysis confirmed that the prevalence of D immitis and that of Dip reconditum were essentially equal in the population of dogs included in this study. There was a slight decrease in the prevalence of D immitis over the 10 years examined, but the prevalence of Dip reconditum remained constant. The results were not affected by year-to-year variability in the number of examinations performed. On the basis of our findings, in eastern Tennessee, those veterinarians who diagnose heartworm infection by the presence of microfilariae without differentiating the species involved, risk misdiagnosing 50% of the cases. If the patterns of prevalence seen in recent years continue, the chances of error may actually increase.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The epidemiology of toxoplasmosis on Iowa swine farms with an emphasis on the roles of free-living mammals.

Multiparous sows from 19 central Iowa swine farms were tested for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii by the modified direct agglutination test. Antibody titers of 1:32 or greater were considered positive. Rodents, domestic cats, opossums (Didelphis virginiana), raccoons (Procyon lotor) and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) were live-trapped on each farm and similarly tested for antibodies. The overall prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in the species tested was 39/273 (14.3%) swine, 31/74 (41.9%) cats, 2/588 (0.3%) house mice (Mus musculus), 0/21 mice of the genus Peromyscus, 0/9 Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), 1/34 (2.9%) opossums, 4/14 (28.6%) raccoons and 2/7 (28.6%) striped skunks. The overall prevalence was significantly greater in adult cats versus juvenile cats, adult male cats versus adult female cats, and adult raccoons versus juvenile raccoons. The prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in sows was compared with the prevalence in each non-swine species on a farm basis in order to identify existing associations. The prevalence in sows (and each of the non-swine species) was also analyzed on a farm basis for association with farm characteristics or swine management practices, including the degree of confinement of swine, population size and average parity of breeding female swine, estimated cat population size, and estimated mouse and rat abundance. Average titers of seropositive animals were compared on a species basis. The prevalence in sows which were totally and continuously confined was lower than that in sows which were not totally and continuously confined. The prevalence in sows from farms with an average parity of less than 2.0 was significantly lower than that in sows from farms with an average parity of 2.0 or greater. These results suggested that the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in swine increased with age and that prevalence in swine could be reduced through total confinement. No associations could be established between prevalence in sows and prevalence in non-swine species or other farm characteristics/swine management practices. However, the high prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in cats suggested that fecal contamination of the environment by cats may be the most significant source of toxoplasmosis for swine. The extremely low prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in house mice suggested that this species was not an important source of T. gondii for swine in Iowa.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Presence and genetic polymorphism of an epithelial mucin in milk of the goat (Capra hircus).

1. Analysis of individual samples of goat's milk by SDS-PAGE confirmed that they contain a polymorphic, high molecular weight (M(r) greater than 205 kDa) glycoprotein. 2. On SDS-gels, the polymorphism takes the form of two bands of variable mobility which usually stain with equal intensity. This polymorphism resembles that detected in milk mucins of other species and is best explained by an expression of codominant genes containing variable numbers of a tandemly repeated 60-base segment. 3. Analysis of milk fractions provided evidence that the goat mucin is exclusively a membrane protein, and that it can be purified from other fat globule proteins by gel filtration and peanut lectin affinity chromatography. 4. Among proteins in the goat milk fat globule, the mucin appears to be a strong immunogen but the resulting antibodies applied to Western blots only stained the cow's milk mucin mildly and the guinea pig and human milk mucins not at all.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Genetic polymorphism of the epithelial mucin, PAS-I, in milk samples from the major dairy breeds.

Genetic polymorphism in a mucin of the human milk fat globule arises from variable numbers of a tandemly repeated amino acid sequence. As a consequence, the gene from each parent expresses a variable-sized protein. This is manifest on SDS gels in the form of either one or, more often, two protein bands, which differ among individuals in mobility. Evidence of such polymorphism in the bovine mucin, PAS-I, was first obtained from Holstein milk samples. The objective of this study was to evaluate the other major dairy breeds for polymorphism of their PAS-I. Milk samples from individual Jerseys, Guernseys, Ayrshires, and Brown Swiss were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Bands of the mucin varying in number and mobility were seen in samples from all four breeds. In three of the breeds (Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, and Jersey), there was evidence that two alleles for PAS-I may have become predominant, possibly through degeneration in the structure of their tandem repeats, one that gives rise to a faster moving mucin (relative molecular weight 170,000) and the other to a slower form (relative molecular weight 200,000). In contrast, the PAS-I band patterns on SDS gels for both Guernseys and Holsteins were characterized in nearly 50% of samples by two close bands near the 205,000-molecular weight marker. This pattern was never seen in the other three breeds. The findings suggest a genetic kinship among the Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, and Jersey, on the one hand, and between the Holstein and Guernsey, on the other.

Alleles↗
PubMed1992

Serologic response of the opossum Didelphis virginiana to a temperature-sensitive mutant (ts-4) of Toxoplasma gondii.

A study was designed to measure the Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgM and IgG antibody responses of opossums inoculated with tachyzoites of the temperature-sensitive mutant of T. gondii, ts-4, and to examine its persistence in the tissues. Four young opossums seronegative for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibodies immediately after capture and 4 wk later were injected subcutaneously with 1.8 x 10(6) ts-4 tachyzoites; a fifth opossum (also seronegative) received an injection of saline only. Serum was collected weekly and titered by modified direct agglutination for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG. IgM titers were detectable from week 1 to week 6 postinoculation (PI). IgG was measurable by week 3 and remained high for 30 wk PI when the opossums were killed and examined. The control opossum did not develop a specific antibody response. At necropsy major lesions were not found. No anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG was detected in serum collected from mice injected with tissues prepared from the opossums at necropsy, and no T. gondii was found on impression smears made at necropsy from these mice. Modified direct agglutination performed with or without 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethanol worked well for measuring specific IgM and IgG antibodies in experimentally infected opossums.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1991

Molecular cloning and analysis of the mouse homologue of the tumor-associated mucin, MUC1, reveals conservation of potential O-glycosylation sites, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains and a loss of minisatellite-like polymorphism.

We present here the full-length cDNA sequence and genomic structure of the mouse homologue of the tumor-associated mucin, MUC1. This mucin (previously called polymorphic epithelial mucin) is present at the apical surface of most glandular epithelial cells. The mouse gene, Muc-1, encodes an integral membrane protein with 40% of its coding capacity made up of serine, threonine, and proline, a composition typical of a highly O-glycosylated protein. The mucin core protein consists of an amino-terminal signal sequence, a tandem repeat domain encoding 16 repeats of 20-21 amino acids, and unique sequence containing transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Homology with the human protein is only 34% in the tandem repeat domain, mainly showing conservation of serines and threonines, presumed sites of O-linked carbohydrate attachment. Homology rises to 87% in the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, suggesting that these regions may be functionally important. The pattern of expression of the mouse mucin is very similar to that of its human counterpart and accordingly the two promoter regions share high homology, 74%, although previously identified potential hormone-responsive elements are not conserved. Interestingly, the mouse homologue, unlike its human counterpart does not exhibit a variable number tandem repeat polymorphism. We present evidence that suggests that the mouse gene was at one time polymorphic but has mutated away from this state.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Relationships between the amount of weight loss and post-heparin lipoprotein lipase activity in patients with type II diabetes.

The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in plasma post-heparin lipoprotein lipase activity, as it relates to the total amount of weight loss and the changes in plasma lipoproteins, during acute weight reduction and after weight maintenance in type II diabetic patients. Twenty-eight severely obese (mean weight = 106 +/- 21.7 kg, BMI = 36.4 +/- 6.0 kg/m2), diabetic patients lost, on the average, 13.3 kg on a 500 kcal (2100 kJ) diet in eight weeks. Weight loss was maintained throughout the study, which lasted 24 weeks. At the baseline, post-heparin lipoprotein lipase activity did not correlate with degree of obesity, but correlated inversely with fasting plasma glucose (r = -0.64, P less than 0.0001) and triglyceride (r = -0.63, P less than 0.0001). Both during acute caloric restriction and after weight maintenance suppression in post-heparin lipoprotein lipase activity correlated directly with the amount of weight reduction (r = 0.37, P less than 0.05 during weight loss and r = 0.42, P less than 0.03 during weight maintenance). At the end of the study patients were divided into tertiles according to the amount of weight loss achieved and baseline characteristics of the highest and lowest weight loss groups were compared. Before weight loss, despite having similar weights, the highest weight loss group had higher lipoprotein lipase activity (211 +/- 32 mU/ml vs 166 +/- 35 mU/ml, P less than 0.05) and lower plasma triglyceride (1.64 +/- 0.62 mmol/l vs 2.81 +/- 1.28 mmol/l, P less than 0.05) as compared to the lowest weight loss group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Apolipoprotein A-I↗
PubMed1990

Carotenoids of human colostrum.

Colostrum, the initial postpartum secretion of the breast, ordinarily has a distinct yellow color due to carotenoids of its fat globules. This pigmentation progressively diminishes as milk production increases during the first week of lactation. Identity of these carotenoids was investigated by means of thin-layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and spectral analysis. Alpha- and beta-carotene, lycopene and beta-cryptoxanthin were revealed as major chromogens. A component corresponding to lutein and/or zeaxanthin was also detected by both chromatographic techniques. Extracts of 23 saponified colostrum samples from 10 donors revealed considerable variation in total carotenoid concentration (0.34-7.57 micrograms/ml of colostrum). Multiparous mothers had greater mean colostrum carotenoid concentrations than did the primiparae, 2.18 +/- 1.94 vs 1.14 +/- 1.32 micrograms/ml, respectively. Seven of the eight primiparous donors' samples had little or no yellow color. These findings imply a difference in carotenoid transport by breasts that have lactated as compared to those that have not. The interrelation of carotenoids, lactation and breast cancer is discussed.

Carotenoids↗
PubMed1990

Factors related to the formation of cytoplasmic crescents on milk fat globules.

Cytoplasm from lactating cells is included with some milk fat globules at secretion. The objective was to search for factors causing this phenomenon. Globules bearing crescents of cytoplasm were selectively stained with the fluorescent dye, acridine orange, and their proportion in the globule population was obtained by counting from photomicrographs. Incidence of crescents on fat globules in milk samples of 50 human donors ranged from 1 to 29%, and the mean was 7.2%. Two bovine milk samples, both representing over 100 animals, contained 1% or less of globules with crescents. Globules in individual milkings of five beef cows showed the same low proportion of crescents. In addition to species, genetic and diurnal factors influenced numbers of crescents. Two sisters showed evidence within and between lactations of a persistent high proportion (greater than 25%) of globules with crescents. Samples collected in the a.m. contained a lower percentage of globules with crescents (6.5%) than those obtained in the p.m. (9.7%). Crescent incidence was not correlated with lipid or protein content of human milk, interval within a milking, days in lactation, or the donor's age. Evidence is presented to suggest that the concentration, distribution, and acylation of butyrophilin and xanthine oxidase, coat proteins of the apical plasma membrane, are important factors in globule crescent formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Genetic polymorphism of PAS-I, the mucin-like glycoprotein of bovine milk fat globule membrane.

A sensitive analytical method based on gel electrophoresis and silver staining was developed to detect PAS-I, a glycoprotein of bovine milk fat globule membrane. Application of the method to samples of milk from individual animals demonstrated that PAS-I is polymorphic and established that it also occurs in the skim milk phase. This polymorphism consisted of two bands showing variable mobility among samples of individual animals. Band patterns for an individual persisted from one lactation to the next. Comparison of 12 dam-daughter pairs for PAS-I patterns indicated that each pair had at least one band matching in mobility. Milk from identical twins had identical PAS-I patterns. Two out of three sets of fraternal twins had one band that did not match. Based on these data and genetics established for a similar protein of human milk, two codominant alleles, one from the sire and the other from the dam, account for the two bands of PAS-I. The PAS-I band patterns may be related to inheritance of milk production and composition factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Histochemical and biochemical observations on milk-fat-globule membranes from several mammalian species.

A specific secretory product of the lactating mammary gland are triglyceride fat globules which are enveloped by a very complex membrane, the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM). In different mammalian species (man, rhesus monkey, horse, goat, sheep, cow, grey seal, camel, alpaka) the glycoproteins of this membrane have been analyzed by gel electrophoresis, Western blotting and lectin histochemistry. A remarkable intra- and interspecific variability of these glycoproteins has been detected pointing to so far unknown physiological adaptions, which may play a role in the intestine of the new born. High molecular weight glycoproteins, with a very high degree of glycosilation have been found only in primates, horse and camel; the MFGMs of the true ruminants (cow, sheep, goat) are characterized by specific glycoproteins of a lower molecular weight range.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in nine populations of dairy goats: compared titers using modified direct agglutination and indirect hemagglutination.

In a convenience survey of dairy goats on 9 farms in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, 54 of 99 females were positive for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii as measured by the indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). Two of 9 males were also positive. Positive goats were found on all farms. The percentage of positive does increased from 55% to 65% when the sera were titered a second time by modified direct agglutination (MDAT). This difference was not statistically significant, indicating that both IHA and MDAT are reliable epidemiological tools.

Agglutination Tests↗