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Biomedical subjects

T L Walker

Publications and source records attributed to T L Walker.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Intramedullary pressure in canine long bones.

Intramedullary pressure was measured bilaterally in 36 dogs: in the diaphysis and distal metaphysis of the femur, in the proximal metaphysis of the tibia and humerus, and in the diaphysis of the radius. Pressure measurements were repeated in 5 dogs, 14 days after the initial recordings. Mean (+/- SD) pressures in the femoral diaphysis and distal metaphysis were 27.6 (+/- 15.4) mm of Hg and 17.6 (+/- 10.5) mm of Hg, respectively. Mean (+/- SD) pressures in the tibial diaphysis and proximal metaphysis were 26.4 (+/- 13.0) mm of Hg and 17.9 (+/- 11.8) mm of Hg, respectively. Mean (+/- SD) pressures in the humeral diaphysis and proximal metaphysis were 26.2 (+/- 15.8) mm of Hg and 13.4 (+/- 7.7) mm of Hg, respectively. The mean (+/- SD) pressure in the radial diaphysis was 15.4 (+/- 18.9) mm of Hg. Metaphyseal pressure was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower than diaphyseal pressure. Repeated pressure measurements in 5 dogs did not vary significantly from initial values, suggesting that the wide range of pressure was real not artifactual.

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Surgical decompression for traumatic atlantoaxial subluxation in a weanling filly.

A filly with ataxia and splinting and crepitation in the neck was found to have atlantoaxial subluxation. Radiographic diagnosis was based on the same criteria as those used in other species, ie, increased distance between the atlas and spine of the axis and increased distance between the dens and floor of the atlas. Extensive hemilaminectomy was performed to decompress the spinal cord. Stabilization was not attempted. Immediate postoperative response was encouraging, but the untimely death of the filly prevented further evaluation of the procedure.

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Fascicular nerve biopsy in the dog.

A nerve fascicular biopsy technique that preserves the functional integrity of the parent nerve is reported in the dog. Fascicular biopsies from ulnar and peroneal nerves did not produce clinical sensory or motor deficits. Electrodiagnostic testing for the modalities of latency, duration, amplitude, and conduction velocities were not markedly altered after fascicular biopsies. Morphometric analysis of muscle fiber types, delineated by histochemic techniques, revealed no statistical (P greater than 0.05) difference between muscles from biopsied or control limbs. Fascicular biopsies resulted in small neuromas in all dogs.

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Motor nerve conduction velocity and latency in the dog.

Supramaximal percutaneous nerve stimulation was used in motor nerve conduction velocity studies conducted in ten middle-aged, clinically normal dogs. Dogs were separated into two groups; dogs in one group weighted less than or equal to 7.5 kg and dogs in the other group weighted greater than or equal to 15.9 kg. Mean values and SEM were recorded for radial (72.1 +/- 1.9 m/s), median 65.6 +/- 2.1 m/s), ulnar (58.9 +/- 1.0 m/s), tibial (68.2 +/- 1.4 m/s), and peroneal (79.8 +/- 1.8 m/s) nerves. Values for latency, amplitude, and duration for proximal and distal evoked potentials were recorded. Analysis of mean nerve conduction velocity values for all nerves between the two groups indicated no statistical difference (P greater than 0.05). However, the two groups were statistically different (P less than 0.05) when values for distal latency and measurements of nerve length were compared. These data suggest that if latency is substituted for velocity measurements, various populations of dogs must be considered to clarify interpretation.

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Dysmyelination of the central nervous system in the Chow-Chow dog.

Five Chow-Chow dogs from three different litters had generalized body tremors since birth. Histologically a severe myelin deficiency was found in the central nervous system. The peripheral nerves were normally myelinated. Electron microscopically abnormally thin myelin sheaths and completely naked nerve fibers were found. There were many astrocytes in the myelin deficient areas as well as cells with the characteristic features of oligodendrocytes but also containing fibrils. The present cases are compared to other dysmyelinating diseases and possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed.

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Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis in six dogs.

An acute progressive CNS disease characterized by fever, nystagmus, head tilt, facial paralysis, circling, and cervical pain was studied in 6 mature dogs. The term "granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis" was proposed for the disease complex, which was characterized pathologically by disseminated granulomatous lesions having a predilection for brainstem structures.

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A microsphere-liposome (microplex) vector for targeted gene therapy of cancer. II. In vivo biodistribution study in a solid tumor model.

Cationic liposomes are commonly used for transfection of plasmids into mammalian cells, while microspheres have been traditionally used for selective delivery of anticancer agents into tumor vasculature. We have developed a novel vector, comprised of cationic liposomes electrostatically bound to ion-exchange microspheres (termed 'microplex') for targeted gene therapy of solid tumors. The delivery modes tested in a rat solid tumor model were free plasmids, plasmids bound to microspheres, to liposomes, or to the combination vector. The greatest amount of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene expression in tumors was achieved using the microplex vector; 3.4-fold compared with free, and 1.8-fold compared with both microspherical and liposomal deliveries (p < 0.01). Tumor-to-normal kidney tissue CAT expression ratios were as follows: free 1.9:1; microspherical 3.7:1; liposomal 1.4:1 and microplexical 2.7:1. Expression between the two types of tissues was significantly different (p < 0.01) for all delivery modes. Microspheres targeted the plasmids to the tumors, while the action of cationic liposomes on cellular membranes allowed more plasmids to breach the cell membrane. This study has proven that the novel microplex vector is capable of selective delivery of genes to tumors and has the potential to target genes in clinical trials.

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