Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric atrophy and the stages of the oesophageal inflammation, metaplasia, adenocarcinoma sequence: results from the FINBAR case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: A number of studies have shown an inverse association between infection with Helicobacter pylori and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). The mechanism of the apparent protection against OAC by H pylori infection and, in particular, the role of gastric atrophy is disputed. The relationship between all stages of the oesophageal inflammation, metaplasia, adenocarcinoma sequence and H pylori infection and gastric atrophy was explored. METHODS: A case-control study involving 260 population controls, 227 OAC, 224 Barrett's oesophagus (BO) and 230 reflux oesophagitis (RO) patients recruited within Ireland was carried out. H pylori and CagA (cytotoxin-associated gene product A) infection was diagnosed serologically by western blot, and pepsinogen I and II levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Gastric atrophy was defined as a pepsinogen I/II ratio of <3. RESULTS: H pylori seropositivity was inversely associated with OAC, BO and RO; adjusted ORs (95% CIs), 0.49 (0.31 to 0.76), 0.35 (0.22 to 0.56) and 0.42 (0.27 to 0.65), respectively. Gastric atrophy was uncommon (5.3% of all subjects), but was inversely associated with non-junctional OAC, BO and RO; adjusted ORs (95% CIs), 0.34 (0.10 to 1.24), 0.23 (0.05 to 0.96) and 0.27 (0.08 to 0.88), respectively. Inverse associations between H pylori and the disease states remained in gastric atrophy-negative patients. CONCLUSION: H pylori infection and gastric atrophy are associated with a reduced risk of OAC, BO and RO. While use of the pepsinogen I/II ratio as a marker for gastric atrophy has limitations, these data suggest that although gastric atrophy is involved it may not fully explain the inverse associations observed with H pylori infection.

Conditions of the lumbosacral spinal cord and cauda equina.

Lumbosacral conditions are now recognized as compromising a significant percentage of problems for dogs and cats with rear limb abnormalities. Diagnosis is based on logically ruling out the more common maladies and then performing specific diagnostic procedures that definitively show the lesion(s).

Vascular response of the equine radius to cerclage devices.

The arterial blood supply to the diaphysis of the radius, and the vascular reaction when three cerclage devices (cerclage wire, Parham-Martin band, and a partially contacting band) were applied 2 cm apart, were studied in six adult ponies. The opposite radial diaphysis served as the control. Ponies were euthanatized at weeks 4 and 8. A centrifugal blood flow pattern was demonstrated by microangiography. Larger numbers of medullary arteries exist in equine than in canine and human long bones. Changes in centrifugal blood supply were not identified beneath any of the cerclage devices.

Effect of distal femoral growth plate fusion on femoral-tibial length.

Unilateral distal femoral epiphysiodesis in seven 10 week old crossbred Doberman Pinscher littermates resulted in a significant (p less than or equal to 0.0001) femoral length deficit of 23.5% without clinically detectable alterations in gait up to 42 weeks after surgery. In addition to compensatory hyperextension of the stifle joint, the ipsilateral tibia showed significant (p less than or equal to 0.0001) acceleration in longitudinal growth. The combined femoral-tibial length at necropsy was still significantly shorter (p less than or equal to 0.0001) in the treated leg than in the control leg despite the increased tibial growth. Unlike other species, neither of the other two femoral growth plates produced any significant compensatory increase in length after fusion of the distal growth plate. The femoral condyles of the treated legs rotated caudally and degenerative joint disease developed in all stifle joints of the treated legs. No contralateral limb abnormalities were evident radiographically.

Intrapelvic urethral anastomosis. A comparison of three techniques.

Three intrapelvic urethral anastomosis techniques were performed on 12 mature male dogs to compare the degree of stricture. The intrapelvic urethra was transected 1 cm caudal to the prostate, and anastomosis was performed using either suturing of the urethra over an indwelling catheter, suturing of the urethra without an indwelling catheter, or apposition of the urethra without sutures over an indwelling catheter. Postoperatively, the dogs were evaluated using clinical urination patterns, biochemical tests, radiography, and pathology. Three of four suture-catheter dogs and one of four catheter-only dogs had normal urinary patterns. Stricture (25-84%) with urethral dilation or fistulas tracts was visible on retrograde, positive contrast urethrograms of 3 of 12 intact dogs 20 weeks after surgery, and on all 12 excised lower urinary tracts. Suture-catheter dogs subjectively had the least amount of stricture. All eight dogs (1 suture-catheter dog, 4 suture-only dogs, and 3 catheter-only dogs) with severe stricture (greater than 60% lumen diameter reduction) had histopathologic signs of chronic, inflammatory urinary tract disease, including four with chronic, ascending lymphocytic pyelonephritis. Hydroureter and hydronephrosis developed in two catheter-only dogs. Complete urethral transection resulted in some degree of stricture, regardless of technique used for anastomosis. Urethral anastomosis over an indwelling catheter appeared to result in a lesser degree of stricture and clinical and histopathologic derangement.

Lameness associated with coxofemoral soft tissue masses in six dogs.

Six cases of mechanical lameness involving the coxofemoral joint are presented. All dogs had a history of chronic rear leg pain and lameness, and decreased range of motion of the hip. On physical examination, ventral subluxation of the coxofemoral joint during extension was present in three dogs. A radiographic diagnosis of subluxation was made in five dogs. In each dog, surgical exploration of the area caudal to the coxofemoral joint revealed a fibrous mass between the lesser or third trochanters and the ischium, diagnosed as a nonneoplastic fibrous reaction by microscopic examination. The clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic signs were similar to previously described cases of myositis ossificans. Five dogs returned to normal function after excision of the soft tissue mass, and one dog was normal when lost to follow-up 4 weeks postoperatively.

Radiographic and histologic changes after thoracolumbar disc curettage.

Forty-eight thoracolumbar disc spaces were approached by a dorsolateral muscle-separating technique in six mature dogs. Twenty-four of the discs were fenestrated and curetted, and the changes were followed radiographically and histologically for 16 weeks. Disc space collapse was visible radiographically immediately after the surgical procedure, and those disc spaces remained narrow throughout the observation period. Histologically, there was evidence of chondrocyte activation within 2 weeks in the excavated disc spaces. By 16 weeks, fibrocartilage had filled the void in the curetted disc spaces.

Canine mammary gland tumors.

An understanding of the known biologic facts of this disease and methodical evaluation of the individual patient are necessary prerequisites for outlining rational courses of therapy for dogs afflicted with mammary tumors. Because of the common occurrence of multiple tumors arising at various stages of development simultaneously and the heterogeneity of histology of the complex (mixed tissue types) tumors, presurgical biopsy is recommended only in cases in which mast cell tumor or anaplastic carcinoma is suspected. Although investigative work is being performed regarding the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, surgery still remains the mainstay in treatment of this condition. No one surgical procedure fits the needs of all patients, although it seems logical to remove as much breast tissue as is reasonable in each circumstance owing to the multicentric nature of the disease. Ovariohysterectomy has not been demonstrated to be of value in treatment of dogs with mammary tumors, but it is a markedly effective method of preventing mammary tumors if it is performed before puberty; it is moderately effective if performed before the dog is 21/2 years of age.

Immunotherapy of the guinea pig line 10 hepatocarcinoma with a variety of nonviable bacteria.

A variety of heat-killed bacteria were tested for their capacity to induce regressions of established line 10 hepatocarcinomas in syngeneic guinea pigs. Multiple intralesional injections of heat-killed Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, Listeria monocytogenes, and Propionibacterium acnes resulted in complete regression of the tumor in a majority of guinea pigs. Repeated injections of heat-killed Mycobacterium bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guérin caused no regressions. Surviving animals were immune to subsequent challenge with line 10 cells but not L2C cells, another syngeneic tumor.

Infiltrative lipoma in dogs.

Infiltrative lipomas, similar to those described in man, were diagnosed in 12 dogs of various breeds, sexes, and ages. The neoplasms were poorly delineated, soft enlargements in muscle and connective tissue that caused dysfunction because of mechanical interference or pressure pain. The neoplasms consisted of differentiated fat cells that had infiltrated between or replaced muscle, collagen fibers or both. Single or multiple recurrences followed surgical removal in four of eight dogs: no follow-up was possible in the other four.

Suppression of growth of guinea pig line-10 hepatocarcinoma. II. Effect of passive transfer of xenogeneic and syngeneic antibodies and normal lymphoid cells.

Complete or partial protection against the line-10 hepatocarcinoma was conferred to a significant number of strain-2 guinea pigs by the passive transfer of antibodies reactive to antigens from line-10 cells. Immunoglobulins were administered intradermally and injected sites were subsequently challenged with line-10 cells. Immunoglobulins prepared from the sera of rabbits that had been immunized to line-10 cells and from the sera of guinea pigs that had been rendered immune to this tumor by previously described methods were more effective than immunoglobulins obtained from normal rabbit or guinea pig sera. Protection was abolished if immunoglobulins were absorbed with line-10 cells. Antitumor effects were dependent on the close contact of antibodies and tumor cells. Protection was greater if normal syngeneic peritoneal exudate cells were transferred in addition to the immunoglobulins. A possible mechanism for the antitumor effects observed is that of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

Immunological method to differentiate between antigens of tubercle bacilli, other mycobacterial species, and non-acid-fast bacteria.

Sera from rabbits immunized with sonicates of Mycobacterium bovis BCG were passed through an immunoadsorbent made of a soluble BCG extract to make partially purified antibodies to BCG. These antibodies were in turn used to prepare an immunoadsorbent through which the BCG extract was passed. The partially purified antigenic material was radiolabeled and subjected to electrophoresis in acrylamide gels. One of the radiolabeled fractions isolated (BCG-C) was found to bind to antibodies to BCG and H37Rv, but not to antibodies in sera from rabbits immunized with other mycobacterial species or Nocardia asteroides. The reaction between BCG-C and the partially purified antibodies to BCG was inhibited by small amounts of different BCG antigens. Cultures obtained from 25 patients with tuberculous diseases, other bacterial cultures, and various bacterial extracts were tested for their capacity to inhibit this reaction. Each of 13 mycobacteria identified as M. tuberculosis inhibited this reaction. Equivalent numbers of 12 strains of mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis and high concentrations of other bacterial extracts did not inhibit, indicating that determinants of BCG present in M. tuberculosis were not detected in the other mycobacteria or in non-acid-fast bacteria. The use of sequential purification procedures could be of potential clinical value in quickly differentiating between M. tuberculosis and a variety of other mycobacteria.

Suppression of growth of guinea pig line-10 hepatocarcinoma. I. Effect of simultaneous administration of tumor cells and antibodies from normal rabbits.

Suppression of growth of the line-10 hepatocarcinoma in strain-2 guinea pigs occurred when line-10 cells were injected intradermally together with sera or immunoglobulins derived from normal rabbits. A significant number of animals were resistant to subsequent rechallenge with tumor cells. This immunity was specific, depended on contact of immunoglobulins with tumor cells and on the concentration of immunoglobulins. Repeated injections acted as potent vaccines and resulted in the development of immunity in 84.6% of recipients. Fc receptors were not detected on line-10 cells. Antibodies reacting with line-10 cell unique antigens as well as with antigens common to line-10, line-1 and normal guinea pig spleen cells were found in NRS. Injection of line-10 cells together with rabbit immunoglobulins from which antibodies reacting with antigens derived from line-10 cells had been removed did not result in tumor suppression. The specific antigen(s) recognized by antibodies that suppressed growth of the line-10 tumor in vivo was not determined.