Depo-Provera increases neural activity in the central amygdala of reindeer bulls.

Reindeer bulls are difficult to manage and dangerous to handlers during the rutting period. Progesterone agonists have been used anecdotally in the field to favorably influence behavior, but effects on reproductive signaling have not been determined. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) on neural activity in the amygdala of reindeer bulls in the early (n = 4) and full (n = 4) rut. Treated bulls (n = 4) were injected with a single injection of Depo-Provera (400 mg i.m.) approximately 2 wk before rut was initiated. Control bulls were untreated. Bulls were exsanguinated and brains collected. Neural activity in the amygdala was determined using c-fos immunohistochemistry. Neural activity did not differ by treatment (P ≥ 0.5), collection period (P ≥ 0.5), or their interaction (P ≥ 0.3) in the medial and cortical amygdala nuclei. A treatment × time interaction (P = 0.009) was observed in the central amygdala. The amygdala nuclei are interconnected allowing for integration of sensory stimuli with a direct connection between the medial amygdala and the olfactory bulb. The central amygdala is responsible for alerting, fear, and initiating a state of arousal towards nonspecific stimuli in the surrounding environment. In wildlife, the central amygdala has a role in recognizing threats in the environment such as predators. During the rut, bulls normally have a decreased sense of fear and elevated aggressive behavior with Depo-Provera treatment seemly able to diminish that aggression. Although it is unlikely that this observed change in neural activity fully explains the decreased aggressive behavior noted in bulls treated with Depo-Provera, neural networks of aggression include the amygdala. It is possible that further changes in c-fos activity will be noted in other areas of the brain known to be necessary for processing social cues. Bulls treated with Depo-Provera maintain sexual interest and have offspring. Depo-Prevera increases the neural activity within the central amygdala and may partially account for their altered aggressive behavior during the rut.

Macroscopic, histologic, and ultrastructural lesions associated with avian keratin disorder in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus).

An epizootic of beak abnormalities (avian keratin disorder) was recently detected among wild birds in Alaska. Here we describe the gross, histologic, and ultrastructural features of the disease in 30 affected adult black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). Grossly, there was elongation of the rhamphotheca, with varying degrees of lateral deviation, crossing, and gapping between the upper and lower beak. Not uncommonly, the claws were overgrown, and there was alopecia, scaling, and crusting of the skin. The most prominent histopathologic features in the beak included epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, and core-like intrusions of necrotic debris. In affected birds, particularly those with moderate to severe beak overgrowth, there was remodeling of premaxillary and mandibular bones and various dermal lesions. Lesions analogous to those found in beaks were present in affected claws, indicating that this disorder may target both of these similar tissues. Mild to moderate hyperkeratosis occurred in other keratinized tissues, including skin, feather follicles, and, occasionally, sinus epithelium, but typically only in the presence of microbes. We did not find consistent evidence of a bacterial, fungal, or viral etiology for the beak lesions. The changes observed in affected birds did not correspond with any known avian diseases, suggesting a potentially novel hyperkeratotic disorder in wild birds.

Polygynous mating impairs body condition and homeostasis in male reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus).

Reindeer are polygynous ruminants that breed when plant growth declines in the Arctic. We studied seven males (2 years and older) in two herds with a total of 34 females to describe the costs and consequences of mating or rut. Body mass declined between September and November and did not recover through winter even though food was available ad libitum. Dominance did not affect body mass or any correlate of mass loss, indicating similar costs of rut among males. Males lost 34% of ingesta-free mass in 77 days of rut, which corresponded to depletion of 23% body protein and 78% body lipid. Water flux, plasma insulin, and plasma thyroxine were minimal 23 days after the peak in body mass, indicating low food intake. Maximum plasma testosterone and cortisol also followed peak mass and coincided with the death of two males from acute infections. Loss in body protein did not increase the ratio of urea to creatinine in plasma. Increased variance in plasma osmolality and urea during mass loss indicated altered homeostatic control during rut. Mating compromises survival of males through reduction of body reserves, food intake, and maintenance of tissues. These adverse effects may be the consequence of selection for large body size and aggression in a highly variable competition for mates.

Immunological detection and cytotoxic properties of toxins from toxin A-positive, toxin B-positive Clostridium difficile variants.

Clostridium difficile is a major nosocomial pathogen and a causative agent of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis. PCR analysis of the toxin A and B genes of this bacterium has revealed 20 variant types (toxinotypes I-XX), many of which can cause human disease. Strains comprising the 15 toxin A-positive, toxin B-positive toxinotypes are not usually differentiated from non-variant strains by routine laboratories that do not utilize PCR tests. Consequently, the toxins from these variant strains have not been investigated thoroughly. The present studies revealed that toxin A-positive (A+B+) strains representing 12 variant toxinotypes all express considerably lower levels of toxin A and are less cytotoxic in vitro than non-variant strain VPI 10463. Truncated forms of toxin A were detected by immunoblotting in toxinotype VI and VII strains and these toxins were differentiated from each other and from toxin A of the non-variant strain. A further novel finding was the ability of toxin A-positive (A+B+) strains of toxinotypes IX, XIV and XV to exhibit an alternative Clostridium sordellii-like cytopathic effect on Vero cells, characterized by marked cell clumping. A rapid and simple method for toxin A removal from culture filtrates was developed. This enabled confirmation that the abnormal cytotoxicity observed for these strains is due to an altered toxin B, as has been found in toxin A-negative (A-B+) strains. These findings indicate the potential for differentiation of certain toxin A-positive (A+B+) toxinotypes without the need for PCR techniques.

Ceruloplasmin as an indicator of copper reserves in wild ruminants at high latitudes.

Northern ungulates must establish trace mineral reserves when forage is available in spring and summer to sustain biochemical activities through the long winter. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) reserves were measured in the serum, digestive tract, liver, and kidney of six male caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) fed a complete pelleted ration. Dry matter content and absolute amounts of Cu, Zn and Fe were highest in the liver. Digesta contents of Cu and Zn were greatest in the rumen but dry matter concentrations were greatest in the cecum reflecting the high levels of Cu and Zn in the diet. Serum ceruloplasmin (an oxidase containing Cu) activity was related to liver copper in captive reindeer and caribou (P < 0.05, r2 = 0.82) during spring and winter but not during the rut. Michaelis-Menten kinetics of ceruloplasmin were measured in sera from captive reindeer, muskox (Ovibos moschatus) and moose (Alces alces) (n = 3/species). Maximum velocities (VMAX) were 42, 20 and 9 (IU x L(-1)); kM were 0.38, 0.55 and 0.62 (mM) for muskox, reindeer and moose respectively. Wild caribou (n = 3) from the Teshekpuk herd and moose (n = 3) from the Colville River had lower VMAX (7 IU x L(-1)) and higher km (1.9 mM) than their captive conspecifics. These kinetic parameters probably reflect differences in ceruloplasmin structure between species as well as differences in tissue reserves between populations within each species. Serum ceruloplasmin activity and kinetics can provide a non-lethal alternative to direct measures of hepatic Cu reserves in wild and captive populations. However, the method requires validation for the effects of sex, season, development and disease in each species.

A Shared noncapsular antigen is responsible for false-positive reactions by Staphylococcus epidermidis in commercial agglutination tests for Staphylococcus aureus.

Many of the commercial slide agglutination tests for Staphylococcus aureus incorporate antibodies against cell surface antigens associated with methicillin resistance, including capsular polysaccharides and an uncharacterized antigen, serotype 18. These tests are more sensitive than the first-generation agglutination procedures that detected only bound coagulase and protein A, but they suffer from false-positive reactions with some coagulase-negative staphylococci. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism for false-positive agglutination by S. epidermidis in these tests. A group of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates, including a serotype 18 strain, that were not detectable in the first-generation tests were found to be of capsular polysaccharide type 8. All of these isolates were deficient in bound coagulase and/or protein A, and they possessed a heat-stable, proteinaceous antigen that was absent from a prototype capsule type 8 strain. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and agarose gel immunodiffusion experiments demonstrated that this proteinaceous antigen was also present on both methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis clinical isolates. S. epidermidis strains that gave false-positive agglutination test results had a considerably higher level of this antigen than strains that gave the correct negative result. These findings reveal the importance of the careful selection of MRSA strains for raising anti-capsular type 8 antibodies for use in agglutination tests. Strains devoid of the antigen shared with S. epidermidis should be used to eliminate potential cross-reactions with this coagulase-negative coccus.

Autoimmune responses against oxidant stress and acetaldehyde-derived epitopes in human alcohol consumers.

BACKGROUND: Studies in experimental animals have indicated that chronic ethanol ingestion triggers the formation of antibodies directed against proteins modified with reactive metabolites of ethanol and products of lipid peroxidation. However, the nature and prevalence of such antibodies have not been compared previously in alcoholic patients. METHODS: Autoantibodies against adducts with acetaldehyde- (AA), malondialdehyde- (MDA), and oxidized epitopes (Ox) were examined from sera of 54 alcohol consumers with (n = 28) or without (n = 26) liver disease, and from 20 nondrinking controls. RESULTS: Anti-AA-adduct IgA and IgG antibodies were elevated in 64% and 31% of patients with biopsy-proven alcoholic liver disease (ALD, n = 28), respectively. The IgA titers were significantly higher than those from nondrinking controls (p < 0.001), or heavy drinkers without significant liver disease (p < 0.001). Anti-MDA adduct titers (IgG) were elevated in 70% of the ALD patients. These titers were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those from nondrinking controls, or heavy drinkers without liver disease. Antibodies (IgG) against Ox epitopes occurred in 43% of ALD patients, and the titers also were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those from nondrinking controls. The anti-AA and anti-MDA adduct titers in ALD patients correlated significantly with the combined clinical and laboratory index (CCLI) of liver disease severity (r(s) = 0.449, p < 0.05; r(s) = 0.566, p < 0.01, respectively), the highest prevalences of anti-AA-adducts (73%) and anti-MDA-adducts (76%) occurring in ALD patients with cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicated that autoantibodies against several distinct types of protein modifications are generated in ALD patients showing an association with the severity of liver disease.

Factors affecting organochlorine contaminant concentrations in milk and blood of northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) dams and pups from St. George Island, Alaska.

Levels of organochlorine contaminants in blood of northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) pups and the blood and milk of their dams early in the lactation period are reported here. The contaminants included 15 selected individual polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and DDT metabolites identified through high-performance liquid chromatography. Congeners CB-77, -81, -126, -169 and -189 were below the limits of detection in milk and blood samples analyzed. Congener-specific concentrations of PCBs in the blood of pups were compared based on the age of their dam (< or = 5 years or > 7 years). Pups of young (presumably primiparous) dams had significantly elevated levels of CBs-101, -118, -128, -138, -153/87, -170/194, and -180 than pups of older (multiparous) dams. Congeners CB-128 and -170/194 were detected in the blood of pups of young dams but not in the blood of pups of older dams nor in any of the dams blood. Additionally, pups had higher blood levels in seven of 10 detected PCB congeners as compared to the levels measured in milk when adjusted for lipid content. Levels of DDT metabolites and toxic equivalency quotients of dioxin-like congeners followed similar trends. Lipid-normalized concentrations of CB-101 and total PCBs were significantly higher in the blood of dams than in their milk. CB-128, -156, -157, -170/194, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDD were not detected in dam blood samples, but were detected in milk samples. Calculation of 'biomagnification factors' from milk to pup blood indicated a biomagnification of CB-101, -105, -118, -138, -153/87, and -180. Significant mean accumulation factors ranged from 1.5 to 7.5. Inter-annual differences in exposure levels and specific congener concentrations in both milk and blood were apparent. Northern fur seal pups, especially first-born, have a substantial exposure to organochlorine contaminants at a critical developmental stage.

Effects of soy protein on renal function and proteinuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.

For > 150 y, clinicians and investigators have observed that high protein intakes accelerate the progression of renal disease and that low protein intakes have beneficial effects. Some studies suggest that the effects of soy-protein intake resemble those of a low-protein diet. The Brenner hypothesis suggests that high protein intakes by diabetic individuals create hyperfiltration and glomerular hypertension eventuating in renal damage. On the basis of the available evidence, we are proposing the soy-protein hypothesis, which states that substituting soy protein for animal protein in diabetes patients results in less hyperfiltration and glomerular hypertension and, therefore, resultant protection from diabetic nephropathy. Furthermore, substituting soy protein for animal protein should have therapeutic value in diabetic nephropathy with resultant slowing of deterioration of renal function and decreasing proteinuria. The preliminary results of the study of 8 type 2 diabetes patients with obesity, hypertension, and proteinuria are reported. Under the conditions of the study, providing soy protein as half of the daily protein intake had no distinct effects on renal function or proteinuria in these subjects. Soy-protein intake was associated with a significant reduction in serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations. Further studies are required to critically examine the effects of soy-protein intake on the renal function of diabetes patients.

Serum IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies directed against acetaldehyde-derived epitopes: relationship to liver disease severity and alcohol consumption.

Chronic ethanol ingestion has been suggested to trigger the formation of antibodies that recognize acetaldehyde-protein condensates. In this study, assays for immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG, and IgM antibodies to acetaldehyde-derived adducts were performed on sera of 140 alcohol consumers, 19 patients with nonalcoholic liver disease (NALD), 35 healthy nondrinking controls, and 10 nondrinking patients with IgA or IgG myeloma. Anti-acetaldehyde (Ach)-adduct antibodies of each Ig isotype were found from the alcohol abusers. In alcoholic liver disease (ALD, n = 86) IgA titers were elevated in 69% of the patients. These titers were significantly higher than those from patients with NALD (P < .001), nondrinking controls (P < .001), or heavy drinkers (n = 54) without any clinical and biochemical signs of liver disease (P < .001). In contrast, anti-adduct IgG titers were significantly elevated both in ALD and in heavy drinkers as compared with patients with NALD (P < .001) or nondrinking controls (P < .01 and P < .05, respectively). The anti-adduct immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, and IgM titers in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) correlated with the combined clinical and laboratory index of liver disease severity (r(s) = .497, P < .001; r(s) = .361, P < .01; and r(s) = .322, P < .01). Anti-adduct IgA titers also correlated with serum bilirubin (r = .768, P < .001) and interleukin 6 (r = .504, P < .001). Anti-adduct IgG titers were, in turn, found to correlate with the presence of inflammation (P < .01) and necrosis (P < .01). During follow-up studies of individual patients, parallel changes were observed in the anti-adduct IgG titers, disease severity, and serum markers of fibrogenesis. The present results provide evidence that antibodies representing distinct Ig classes directed against acetaldehyde (Ach)-derived adducts of proteins are formed in alcoholic patients showing an association with the severity of liver disease. The follow-up data also support an association between such immune responses and the aggravation of liver disease.

A mentoring program for adolescents with diabetes.

Adequate psychosocial support is a major factor in well-managed diabetes, especially with newly-diagnosed adolescents who face many life changes. A review of the literature shows that few psychosocial support systems exist for adolescents with diabetes. Few psychosocial interventions have been tested and shown to be effective in improving the diabetes-related behavior of adolescents. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the emotional and developmental needs of adolescents who are newly diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and to propose a mentoring program that pairs a qualified, supportive young adult who is knowledgeable about diabetes with a newly diagnosed teenager with a similar socioeconomic background. The trained mentor will provide support to the adolescent regarding diabetes-related issues as well as other issues related to adolescence.

The pathogenicity of Brucella suis biovar 4 for bison.

The pathogenicity of Brucella suis biovar 4 for bison (Bison bison) was evaluated by inoculation of 2.1 x 10(7) colony forming units (CFU) in 0.1 ml saline into the conjunctival sac of six pregnant cows. Six pregnant bison were inoculated with 1.27 x 10(7) CFU of Brucella abortus strain 2308 as a positive control. Bison were inoculated on 23 January 1992, and observed until calving or abortion after which they were euthanized, and necropsied. Bacteriological and histological examinations were conducted on lymph nodes, reproductive tract, mammary gland, and internal organs. Terminal serum samples from calves and cows were evaluated by card, rivanol precipitation, standard tube agglutination, cold complement fixation tube, indirect bison conjugated enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), competitive ELISA, and particle-concentration fluorescence immunoassay. No clinical signs of brucellosis were seen in bison inoculated with B. suis biovar 4, and infection was found only in lymph nodes of two animals. There was no evidence of metastasis of this organism to the mammary gland or the reproductive tract. There were no detectable levels of antibodies to Brucella spp. in terminal blood samples taken from B. suis biovar 4-challenged bison. Brucella abortus was isolated from several tissues in all control bison. All B. abortus-challenged animals developed uterine infection and five developed mammary gland infection. Reproductive disease resulted in abortions in five B. abortus-challenged bison and neonatal death in the remaining calf. Brucella suis biovar 4 does not appear to be pathogenic for bison.

Sensitivity and specificity of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin as a marker of alcohol abuse are significantly influenced by alterations in serum transferrin: comparison of two methods.

Despite a number of investigations suggesting the value of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) as a marker of alcohol abuse, a variety of issues on the applicability of CDT measurements in clinical settings have remained unexplored. Earlier studies in this field have focused on the relationship of CDT and the amount of alcohol consumption or presence of liver disease, whereas the influence of alterations in serum transferrin concentrations on CDT has received less attention. In this study, we compared two different methods for measuring CDT (CDTect and %CDT) and total transferrin concentrations in a sample of 83 alcohol abusers (20 patients with alcoholic liver disease and 63 heavy drinkers who were devoid of liver disease, despite excessive alcohol consumption) and 89 controls, who were social drinkers or abstainers. The control population included 53 hospitalized patients with expected abnormalities in serum transferrin concentrations caused by conditions such as negative iron balance, pregnancy, or nonalcoholic liver disease. Both methods gave significantly higher values in alcohol abusers than in controls (p < 0.01), but the overall sensitivity for detecting alcohol abuse was clearly higher for CDTect (59%) than for %CDT (34%). The correlation between the results obtained by the two methods (r = 0.629) significantly improved, when the CDTect values were replaced by the ratio of CDTect/total transferrin (r = 0.770) (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the CDTect and serum transferrin (r = 0.201, p < 0.01), which was significant both in the alcoholics (r = 0.240, p < 0.05), and especially in the controls (r = 0.727, p < 0.001). A significant inverse correlation emerged between %CDT and total transferrin (r = -0.302, p < 0.01). The sensitivities of CDTect and %CDT for correctly classifying alcohol abusers in the subgroup of alcoholic liver disease patients were 90% and 70% and in the subgroup of heavy drinkers without liver disease (49% and 22%), respectively. Specificities for CDTect and %CDT in this sample were 81% and 100%, respectively. However, in the subgroup of hospitalized control patients with abnormal serum transferrin, the specificity of CDTect was only 48%. According to present data, CDTect seems to be more sensitive than %CDT for detecting alcohol abuse. However, any alteration in serum total transferrin concentration markedly decreases the assay specificity. This should be considered when interpreting the assay results in patients with elevated serum transferrin, such as iron deficiency, pregnancy, or liver diseases.

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin as a marker of alcohol abuse: relationship to alcohol consumption, severity of liver disease, and fibrogenesis.

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) measurements have been widely examined as a marker of excessive alcohol consumption, yet the information on the sensitivity of this method has remained controversial. In addition, little is known of the relationship of this marker and the severity of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). To clarify these issues, we analyzed serum samples from 373 alcohol abusers, including 200 problem drinkers with no apparent liver pathology, 173 patients with clinical or morphological evidence of ALD, and 42 healthy controls. CDT was analyzed by anion-exchange chromatography followed by radioimmunoassay. At a specificity of 100%, the sensitivity of CDT was 36% in problem drinkers reporting a mean of 710 +/- 80 (mean +/- 2SE) g of ethanol/week, as compared with the sensitivities of 44% and 35% for gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), respectively. In a subgroup of problem drinkers (n = 51) with the highest ethanol intakes (1160 +/- 180 g of ethanol/week) and severe dependence, the sensitivity of CDT increased to 64%, compared with 55% for GGT and 39% for MCV. In ALD, the CDT values were significantly higher than in the alcoholics with nonliver pathology. However, when such patients were classified according to the clinical, laboratory, and morphological severity of liver disease, CDT was found to be primarily elevated in those with the early stage of ALD, such that there was a significant negative correlation between CDT and the combined morphological index of disease severity (rs = -0.315, p < 0.05). ALD markers of fibrogenesis were elevated more frequently than CDT, showing significant positive correlations with the indices of disease severity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Long-term treatment of alcoholic liver disease with propylthiouracil. Part 2: Influence of drop-out rates and of continued alcohol consumption in a clinical trial.

Although propylthiouracil has previously been shown to reduce the risk of mortality in alcoholic liver disease by 60%, generalized use of propylthiouracil for this condition has not occurred. Additional data are therefore presented on four aspects to provide a better assessment of its therapeutic effectiveness. First, the characteristics and the prognosis of dropouts were virtually identical in both the drug and placebo groups. Also the methodology and analysis employed, were designed to control for dropouts, thus providing an accurate interpretation of the outcome. Secondly, since 97% of the patients continued to drink, abstinence was not a precondition for the beneficial effect of propylthiouracil. However, the beneficial effect was observed most clearly in those patients who continued to drink at lower levels, whereas lower level drinking per se did not afford protection in placebo patients. Thirdly, serious side effects or clinical hypothyroidism occurred extremely rarely in these patients, many of whom have now received propylthiouracil for over 4 years. Fourthly, we discuss why the outcome in long-term clinical trials in alcoholic liver disease cannot be compared with effects observed in clinical trials lasting only a few weeks. Journal of Hepatology.

Serum type I collagen propeptide and severity of alcoholic liver disease.

We assessed the relationship of serum type I collagen propeptide concentrations with various severity indices of alcoholic liver disease, including clinical and morphological severity, the amount of alcohol consumption, and the serum levels of other components of connective tissue. The serum concentration of the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) was measured with a new radioimmunoassay that is devoid of a crossreaction caused by type III procollagen-derived fragments. A significant correlation was found between serum PICP and the Combined Clinical and Laboratory Index (CCLI) (rs = 0.58, p < 0.001) and the Combined Morphological Index (CMI) (rs = 0.57, p < 0.01). However, PICP was elevated less frequently than serum type III collagen propeptide (PIIINP), type IV collagen or laminin, and the correlations with the latter three parameter with both the CCLI (PIIINP: rs = 0.80, type IV collagen: rs = 0.80; and laminin: rs = 0.81) or CMI (PIIINP: rs = 0.75, type IV collagen: rs = 0.72; and laminin rs = 0.61) were all stronger than that of PICP. Furthermore, although during a follow-up period of 6 months, the mild or moderately drinking patients had a significant decrease in PIIINP and the heavily drinking patients had no improvement. PICP was, however, found to improve in both the mild and heavy drinkers. These results point to differences in handling of type I and type III collagen propeptides in alcoholic liver disease. The latter appears to be a more sensitive indicator of disease severity, presence of alcoholic hepatitis, and the amount of alcohol intake.

Yersiniosis in free-ranging muskoxen on Banks Island, Northwest Territories, Canada.

Sixty-seven muskox (Ovibos moschatus) carcasses, 53 skeletal remains and two sick muskoxen were seen during an aerial survey of the Thomsen River region, northern Banks Island, Northwest Territories, Canada in late July 1986. Complete necropsies were performed on 29 muskoxen estimated to have died within the previous 3 to 5 days. Twenty were diagnosed with acute yersiniosis due to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype 1B and were in excellent body condition. A diagnosis could not be made on seven animals due to marked autolysis; however, these muskoxen also were in excellent body condition. The remaining two were aged, emaciated muskoxen. This report describes the first occurrence of yersiniosis in free-ranging muskoxen and the first documentation of large scale mortality due to this disease in a free-ranging population of wild ungulates.

Connective tissue metabolism and alcohol intake in alcoholic liver disease.

We have examined the relationship between blood markers of fibrogenesis and basement membrane formation and alcohol intake in patients with a wide range of clinical and histological severity of alcoholic liver disease (Niemelä et al., 1990). While the patients with a mean of less than 8 mM alcohol in morning urines (mild or moderate drinkers) had a significant (p < 0.00001) decrease in serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen, type IV collagen and laminin in a period of 27 +/- 1 weeks, the patients with more than 8 mM of urinary alcohol (heavy drinkers) had no improvement. There was also a significant decrease in serum gamma glutamyl transferase activity in the group with lower, but not in that with the higher urinary alcohol concentrations. The Combined Clinical and Laboratory Index (CCLI) decreased in both groups, although the recovery was significantly (p < 0.03) greater in those with the lower urinary alcohol levels (66% +/- 6%) than in the group with a urinary alcohol level of > or = 8 mM (28% +/- 15%). We suggest that connective tissue metabolism in alcoholic liver disease is closely related to alcohol intake and thus affects the prognosis of the alcoholic patient.

Osteoporosis and cranial asymmetry in a mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis).

The skull of a mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis cremnobates) exhibiting osteoporosis was recovered from San Diego County, California. This specimen also exhibited lateral asymmetry of the cranium and rostrum, malocclusion of molars, and mandibular asymmetry. Investigators are cautioned about potentially confusing lesions associated with chronic frontal sinusitis with lesions of osteoporosis in mountain sheep. To our knowledge this is the first report of osteoporosis in this species.

Markers of fibrogenesis and basement membrane formation in alcoholic liver disease. Relation to severity, presence of hepatitis, and alcohol intake.

This study investigated the relationships of the serum markers of fibrogenesis and basement membrane formation to the clinical and morphological severity of alcoholic liver disease and to the degree of alcohol abuse. The concentrations of the aminoterminal propeptide of type III collagen, type IV collagen, and laminin were measured from 87 samples representing a wide range of clinical and histological severities of the disease, which were assessed with indices that have been shown to correlate well with the risk of dying within 1 yr. Significant correlations (p less than 0.00001) were found between the markers of connective tissue metabolism and the Combined Clinical and Laboratory Index: (aminoterminal propeptide of type III collagen, rs = 0.82; type IV collagen, rs = 0.82; laminin, rs = 0.81), as well as between these markers and the Combined Morphological Index: (aminoterminal propeptide of type III collagen, rs = 0.70; type IV collagen, rs = 0.68; laminin, rs = 0.64). Whereas the patients with less than 8 mM of alcohol in their morning urine (mild or moderate drinkers) showed a significant (p less than 0.00001) decrease in these markers in a period of 27 +/- 1 wk, the patients with more than 8 mM of urinary alcohol (heavy drinkers) had no improvement. It is proposed that both fibrogenesis and basement membrane formation are associated with disease severity, degree of alcoholic hepatitis, and alcohol intake, which are important determinants of prognosis in alcoholic liver disease.