Amanitin toxicosis in two cats with acute hepatic and renal failure.

Amanitin is a toxic cyclopeptide present in several species of poisonous mushrooms. Amanitin toxicosis was diagnosed in 2 cats from separate premises. Both cats initially had lethargy and vomiting, and they rapidly developed depression and neurological signs over 24-48 hours. Marked elevation of alanine aminotransferase was the primary finding, with subsequent serum chemistry values compatible with hepatic and renal failure. Histopathological findings consisted of submassive to massive acute hepatic necrosis, renal proximal tubular epithelial necrosis, and foci of necrosis and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Amanitin exposure was confirmed postmortem by detection of α-amanitin in the kidney by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A similar clinical course and pathological changes are reported in human and canine amanitin intoxication; however, gastrointestinal lesions are not typically described.

Salmon poisoning disease in dogs: 29 cases.

BACKGROUND: Salmon poisoning disease (SPD) is a trematode-borne disease of dogs caused by Neorickettsia helminthoeca. OBJECTIVES: To determine risk factors and spatial epidemiology of SPD in dogs from northern California; to describe the clinicopathologic, microbiologic, and imaging findings of SPD in these dogs; and to evaluate treatments and outcomes for SPD. ANIMALS: Twenty-nine dogs with SPD based on the finding of trematode ova in the feces, or organisms consistent with N. helminthoeca in specimens submitted for microscopic examination. METHODS: Information regarding signalment, fish exposure, clinical signs, diagnostic evaluation, treatments, and outcomes was obtained for each dog. Archived lymph node aspirates and histopathology specimens were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Neorickettsia spp. RESULTS: Labrador Retrievers and intact male dogs were overrepresented. Exposure locations were often distant from the dogs' residence. Some dogs had neurologic signs, including twitching and seizures. Dogs lacking peripheral lymphadenomegaly had abdominal lymphadenomegaly on ultrasound examination. A combination of centrifugation fecal flotation and sedimentation had greatest sensitivity for finding fluke ova. N. helminthoeca DNA was amplified by PCR from 4/10 dogs. Penicillins, cephalosporins, and chloramphenicol did not appear to be effective treatments. Mortality rate was 4/29 (14%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: SPD should be suspected in dogs with inappetence, gastrointestinal, or neurologic signs, with or without fever or peripheral lymphadenomegaly in the appropriate geographical setting. Diagnosis is facilitated by a combination of fecal sedimentation and centrifugal flotation, abdominal ultrasonography, and PCR-based assays on lymphoid tissue. The treatment of choice is tetracycline antimicrobials.

Cardiac Leiomyosarcoma in a Cat Presenting for Bilateral Renal Neoplasia.

A 10-year-old neutered female domestic longhair cat was presented to a tertiary care veterinary hospital for evaluation of a right renal mass that was identified incidentally on abdominal radiographs and classified further as a sarcoma based on fine needle aspiration cytology. Further diagnostic workup, including ultrasound and cytology, identified a sarcoma in the left kidney. After approximately 1 month of conservative medical management, the clinical condition deteriorated and the cat was humanely destroyed. Post-mortem examination confirmed bilateral renal masses with multifocal infarction and extensive necrosis, and further identified a large mass at the apex of the heart as well as multiple pulmonary nodules. Microscopical examination of the masses identified a population of poorly-differentiated neoplastic spindle cells, consistent with sarcoma. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells expressed smooth muscle actin and muscle-specific actin, but were negative for myoglobin and factor VIII. Phosphotungstic acid-haematoxylin staining was unable to identify cross-striations in the neoplastic cells. Based on these results and the pattern of lesion distribution, the cat was diagnosed with cardiac leiomyosarcoma with pulmonary and bilateral renal metastasis.

Antihypertensive effect of amlodipine compared with nifedipine retard in patients with mild and moderate essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of amlodipine for hypertension treatment in comparison with nifedipine retard. METHODS: We examined 31 patients with arterial blood pressure approximately 155-165 mmHg/100-105 mm Hg at the beginning of the trial. It was a randomized double-blind, parallel-group trial including two groups of patients. Patients of the first group were given active amlodipine and nifedipine retard placebo during 6 weeks, while the second group was given active nifedipine retard and amlodipine placebo. Statistical analysis was made using the paired Student's t-test, chi-square test and ANOVA test. RESULTS: At end point we observed significant decrease in arterial blood pressure after treatment of both drugs. The treatment with nifedipine retard increased the mean heart rate of patients. Amlodipine therapy in comparison to nifedipine retard did not change the heart rate in treated patients. Safety parameters: SGOT, SGTP, creatinine and others were in laboratory norms ranges. CONCLUSION: Amlodipine proved to be an effective, more safe and better-tolerated therapeutical alternative for hypertension management than nifedipine retard.

[Epidemiology of cholelithiasis among professionally active persons in the Katowice province]. / Epidemiologia kamicy pecherzyka zólciowego u ludzi zawodowo czynnych w województwie katowickim.

In the workplaces of the City of Katowice 2867 subjects in 5 age groups were studied by inquiry, physical examination and gallbladder ultrasonography. Calculi in the gallbladder were found in 344 subjects that is 11.99%. The prevalence of calculi was much higher in females, and in both sexes it increased with age. The study confirms the value of USG in the diagnosis of gallbladder calculi and the possibility of its use for screening of the general population.

B-cell lymphoma with plasmacytoid differentiation, atypical cytoplasmic inclusions, and secondary leukemia in a dog.

A 7-year-old male castrated Jack Russell Terrier was presented to the oncology service at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for evaluation of suspected lymphoma. The dog had several enlarged lymph nodes and moderate lymphocytosis. Aspirates of an enlarged inguinal lymph node contained a bimorphic population of large immature lymphocytes and smaller cells with plasmacytoid features. Both cell types often contained a single large cytoplasmic inclusion that varied from clear to pale pink to sky blue. Cytologic changes were interpreted as most consistent with lymphoid neoplasia. Based on the predominantly mature cell morphology and some morphologic heterogeneity, the peripheral lymphocytosis was interpreted as most likely reactive in nature. However, the immunophenotype of the cells (CD20+, CD21+, CD79a+, MUM-1+, and MHCII+) and clonality assays showed that tissue and blood lymphocytes were neoplastic B cells with clonal identity despite their different morphologic appearances. The cytoplasmic inclusions were positive with periodic acid-Schiff and were immunoreactive for IgM and IgG. By transmission electron microscopy, inclusions consisted of aberrant rough endoplasmic reticulum; a few small Russell bodies were also noted. A final diagnosis of high-grade B-cell lymphoma with plasmacytoid differentiation, atypical cytoplasmic inclusions, and secondary leukemia was made. Chemotherapy was initiated, but the dog was euthanized due to severe and uncontrolled seizures 9 months after the initial diagnosis. This case extends the morphologic repertoire of canine plasmacytoid neoplasms and emphasizes their continuum with multicentric lymphoma. This case also demonstrates the need for advanced diagnostic techniques in establishing blood involvement in lymphoma in some instances.

[Doppler examination of portal venous flow in liver neoplasms]. / Dopplerowskie badania przeplywu krwi ukladu wrotnego w nowotworach watroby.

An attempt was made to measure blood flow of portal system at various stages of neoplastic changes in the liver, which could be of some prognostic and therapeutic value. In the group of 80 studied persons, 20 patients had hepatic angioma, 6 patients hepatic cancer, 24 patients metastatic cancer affecting to the liver. Control group consisted of 50 healthy volunteers. No disturbances of blood flow in portal system in the group of patients with hepatic angioma were found. In the group with primary hepatic cancer decrease of TAV and TF in portal and splenic veins were noted, especially in 2 cases with numerous changes with relatively big sum of diameters, as compared with control method. In group with metastases of cancer to the liver slight decrease of blood flow in portal and splenic veins was observed as compared to the control group. Decrease in blood flow in the portal system was seen in cases with numerous and relatively big neoplastic focuses in the liver. Blood flow monitoring might be helpful in evaluation of the progress or regression of infiltrative changes in the liver.

A new immunological marker of atherosclerotic injury of arterial wall.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The atherosclerotic arterial injuries lead to many life threatening vascular incidents. It has been well documented that inflammatory processes play an important role in atherogenesis. Intensive studies are undertaken to find a serum marker of inflammatory reaction correlated with arterial injuries. METHODS: In our study we measured the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with dyslipidemia IIa and IIb biochemically confirmed. Control estimations were done in age-matched group. Arterial injuries were evaluated as a thickening of complex intima-media in common carotid arteries by means of Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS: Levels of IL-6 were significantly higher in both groups of patients with dyslipidemia as compared with the healthy control persons (IIa vs control p<0.001, IIb vs control p<0.001). The plasma level of IL-6 is significantly correlated to intima-media complex thickness (r=0.68, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: We conclude that increase of serum concentration of IL-6 may be related to arterial wall injuries in the course of the most atherogenic lipid disorders.