Clinical study on the application of dexamethasone and cyclosporine/dimethyl sulfoxide combination eye drops in the initial therapy of chronic superficial keratitis in dogs.

PURPOSE: To assess the initial therapy of chronic superficial keratitis (CSK) in dogs with the use of dexamethasone and cyclosporine/ dimethyl sulfoxide combination eye drops. METHODS: The study was conducted on 41 dogs - 16 males and 25 females, aged 2 to 9 years, diagnosed with CSK. The disease was treated with two kinds of eye drops containing 0.1% dexamethasone and 0.75% cyclosporine in combination with 30% DMSO, administered three times a day. Prior to the treatment and after 5 weeks of therapy, depigmentation of the third eyelid margin, corneal neovascularization and pigmentation were assessed. The percentage of the corneal surface afflicted with inflammatory processes was calculated with the use of IsoCalc.com's Get Area software for CorelDRAW12. RESULTS: The administered therapy resulted in a significant decrease in the mean number of quadrants affected by corneal neovascularization in the right eye from 2.63 prior to treatment to 0.24 after treatment (p⟨0.001), and the left eye from 2.66 to 0.59 (p⟨0.001), respectively. Mean corneal surface afflicted with inflammatory processes was statistically significantly reduced from 53.5% to 26.3% (p⟨0.001) in the case of right corneas, and from 54.5% to 30.2% (p⟨0.001) in the case of left corneas. Of 77 corneas diagnosed with pigmentation, pigmentation reduction was observed in 54 and pigmentation increase in 27. CONCLUSIONS: Using dexamethasone and cyclosporine/DMSO combination eye drops proved to be a viable initial therapy against CSK, which facilitates reduction of inflammatory processes and neovascularization atrophy, but in many cases does not inhibit the progress of pigmentation.

Immunoreactivity for calretininin interneurons of the hippocampal CA1 field and dentate gyrus in adult rats after administration of habanero peppers (Capsicum chinense Jacq.).

Calretinin (CR), a calcium-binding protein from EF-hand family, is localised in non-pyramidal GABA-ergic interneurons of the hippocampus. CR takes part in maintaining calcium binding homeostasis, which suggests its neuroprotective role. Hippocampal neurons contain membrane transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) which binds to capsaicin (CAP) contained in habanero pepper fruits. Few in vivo studies have revealed the effect of CAP on interneurons containing CR. The aim of the present study was to investigate the CR immunoreac- tivity in interneurons of the hippocampal CA1 field and dentate gyrus (DG) in adult rats after intragastric admin- istration of the habanero pepper fruits. Wistar rats received a peanut oil - control group (C), and oil suspension of habanero pepper fruits at doses of 0.025 g dm/kg b.w. - group I and 0.08 g dm/kg b.w. - group II for 28 days. After euthanasia, the brains were collected and embedded in paraffin blocks using a routine histological tech- nique. Frontal hippocampal sections were immunohistochemically stained for CR by using a peroxidase-antiper- oxidase method. CR immunoreactive (CR-IR) interneurons were morphologically and morphometrically ana- lyzed under a light microscope. The results showed similar shapes and distribution of cells in both areas of the brain in group C and I of animals. However, CR-IR interneurons in the hippocampal CA1 field and in DG were occasionally observed in the group II of rats. The results of morphometric studies did not reveal statistically significant differences in the surface area and shape index of cells between examined brain regions from groups I and II compared to group C. Only in group II of rats, an increase in the digital immunostaining intensity of CR-IR interneurons was found in DG. Low number of CR-IR interneurons in the hippocampal CA1 field and in the DG, under the influence of a large dose of habanero pepper fruits containing CAP, may be caused by the activation of TRPV1 receptors and the increase in Ca2+ ions in these cells. This phenomenon may ultimately lead to neuronal death and may disturb neuronal conduction.

Immunoreactivity of arcuate nucleus astrocytes in rats after intragastric administration of habanero peppers (Capsicum Chinese Jacq.).

Habanero pepper fruits contain capsaicin (CAP) characterised by a spicy taste. Astrocytes express vanilloid receptor (TRPV1), which interacts with cannabinoids including CAP. Only a few studies revealed that CAP leads to alterations of the arcuate nucleus (ARC) structures. The aim of this study was to analyse the GFAP (GFAP-IR) and S100ß (S100ß-IR) immunoreactive astrocytes of ARC in adult rats after intragastric administration of habanero pepper fruits. Adult, Wistar rats received a peanut oil - control group (C) - and oil suspension of habanero pepper fruits at a dose of 0.08 g dm/kg b.w. for 7 days - E1 group - and 28 days - E2 group. After euthanasia, the brains were embedded in paraffin blocks using a routine histological technique. Frontal slices of ARC were immunohistochemically stained for GFAP and S100ß using specific antibodies in the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Astrocytes of ARC were morphologically and morphometrically analysed under a light microscope. The results of the study did not reveal statistically significant changes in the density of GFAP-IR cells in E1 and E2 groups of rats in comparison with group C. A statistically significant increase in the density of S100ß-IR astrocytes was observed in the E1 group and a decrease in the E2 group. Astrocytes with expression of both studied proteins were characterised by morphological alterations in ARC in the E2 group. The obtained results suggest an influence of CAP contained in habanero pepper fruits on the reactivity of astroglia, which may have an impact on the astrocyte-neuron interactions in order to maintain a proper activity of nervous cells in ARC.

Systemic and local effects of intragastric administration of the habanero fruit (Capsicum chinense Jacquin c.v.) in rats.

The fruits of the habanero plant (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) are commonly used as spices. Their exceptionally hot flavour is the result of the substantial content of capsaicin that has among others the anticancer action. The experiments assess the impact of intragastric administration of a suspension of dried matter (dm) habanero fruit in peanut oil on the state of the digestive tract and parenchymal organs of rats. Habanero fruit with three different doses (0.08, 0.05 and 0.025 g of dry matter (d.m.) habanero fruit/kg b.w.) in 2 equal doses every 12 hours during 28 days was administered intragastrically in male rats. In day 8, 15 and 29 blood proofs were obtained to measure hematological parameters and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, total bilirubin (BIL), total cholesterol (CHOL), glucose (GLUC), urea (U), and creatinine (CREA) content. Internal organs of rats were examined anatomopathologically. Between the study groups and control group there were no statistically significant differences in studied parameters. Post-mortem examinations as well as histological findings showed no pathological changes in the organs of rats. The study demonstrated a high level safety of the fruit habanero (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) administration in rats. There were no hematological, biochemical or post-mortem changes at doses that due to the amount of capsaicin can exhibit antitumor properties.

A retrospective study of the occurrence of chronic superficial keratitis in 308 German Shepherd dogs: 1999-2010.

Chronic Superficial Keratitis (CSK) is an autoimmune mediated inflammation of the cornea, that is usually bilateral but often with nonsymmetrical manifestation. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and appearance of clinical symptoms of CSK in German Shepherd dogs in Poland and Slovakia. CSK was diagnosed in 308 German Shepherds for a period of 11 years (from 1999 to 2010). The highest incidence of the CSK (p < 0.001) in Slovakia and in Poland was in dogs between the ages of 5-8 years. This study found similarity in gender ratio of affected patients with CSK in two neighboring countries. This disease occurs most often in males, with almost identical frequency in both countries, Slovakia 65.63% and Poland 61.32%, respectively. The incidence of depigmentation and thickening of the external surface of the third eyelid together with CSK was observed in 69.19% of dogs in Poland and in 63.15% of dogs in Slovakia. CSK is often recognized in advanced stage-affected areas with inflammatory process by CSK, obtained frequently from 2 to 3 quadrants.

Clinical study on the application of tacrolimus and DMSO in the treatment of chronic superficial keratitis in dogs.

The objective of this study was to assess the treatment of chronic superficial keratitis (CSK) in dogs with the use of tacrolimus and DMSO. The study was conducted on 16 dogs - 7 males and 9 females, aged 3 to 11 years, diagnosed with CSK. The disease was treated with ophthalmic drops containing 0.02% tacrolimus and 50% DMSO, administered to the ocular surface three times a day. Prior to the treatment and after 5 weeks of therapy, the corneal neovascularisation, pigmentation, and also the redness and depigmentation of the third eyelid margin were assessed. The percentage of the corneal surface afflicted with inflammatory processes was calculated on the basis of photographs taken with the use of IsoCalc.com's Get Area software for Corel DRAW 12. It was found that the application of tacrolimus and DMSO caused a reduction of inflammatory process and neovascularisation in the cornea. The mean corneal surface afflicted with inflammatory processes was statistically significantly reduced from 69.9% to 43.9% (p < or = 0.01)--in case of the right corneas, and from 58.9% to 38.6% in case of the left corneas. Of 32 corneas diagnosed with the pigmentation, the reduction of the pigmentation was observed in 14, while in 16 the pigmentation increased. The treatment of CSK with the use of tacrolimus and DMSO causes the reduction in terms of inflammatory processes and neovascularisation, but in many cases does not inhibit the progress of the pigmentation.

Studies on keratoconjunctivitis sicca incidence in crossbred dogs.

The present study was aimed at determination of keratoconjunctivitis sicca occurrence in crossbred dogs. The investigations covered 36 mongrel dogs with keratoconjunctivitis sicca recognized by the ophthalmic examination. Patients' age and sex was established. The ophthalmic evaluation protocol included: the conjunctiva examination (humidity, redness, discharge), the corneal examination (transparency, vessel ingrowth, pigmentation, defects), Schirmer tear test. The highest incidence among the crossbred dogs was reported between 6 and 9 year of age, males accounted for 64% of cases. In a clinical study involving 61 corneas, 10 appeared to be completely opaque. The pigmentation occured in 75% of corneas. The corneal defects were found in 50% of cases. A 10-15 mm/min Schirmer test was established in 29% while 0-5 mm/min in 28% of cases.

[Treatment of experimental broncho-pleural fistula with myoplasty]. / Leczenie doswiadczalnej przetoki oskrzelowo-oplucnowej metoda myoplastyki.

Surgical experiment of closing broncho-pleural fistula by muscle flap from the chest wall was conducted on the sheep model. The procedure was completed in two stages. During the first thoracotomy the middle lobe of the right lung was removed. In the second stage the vascularised muscle flap of the latissimus dorsi was inserted in the pleural space and stitched onto the bronchi stump closing broncho-pleural fistula. Microscopic investigation of lung, bronchus and muscle tissue performed after each step of procedure showed the inflammatory process primarily and the regression of it after the second stage. Well vascularised muscle flap is the best tissue for repair of broncho-pleural fistula.

[Comparative studies of the administration of relanium and fenactil as sedatives in sheep]. / Badania porównawcze nad stosowaniem Relanium i Fenactilu do uspokajania owiec.

The objective of the studies was to examine the influence of sedatives drugs: Relanium and Fenactil on clinical parameters, blood pressure, blood composition, acid-base balance, arterial blood oxygenation, electrolytes, bilirubin and activity of enzymes in sera of sheep. Basing on these data the more effective drug for sedation in sheep has been chosen. It was found that intravenous injection of Relanium at a dose of 1 mg/kg b.w. enables an appropriate sedation with immobilisation lasting for 20 minutes, whereas Fenactil at a dose of 3 mg/kg b.w. injected intravenously caused a sedation of a various intensity lasting for about 20 minutes. Moreover, Fenactil revealed a depressive action in the respiratory center which was manifested by decrease in oxygenation of arterial blood and disturbances in acid-base balance. Relanium affected these parameters only slightly. The disturbances developing after Fenactil were more intense and long lasting. On the basis of the above data--Relanium (diazepam) appeared to be more convenient that Fenactil to sedation in sheep.