Hyperthyroidism in dogs caused by consumption of thyroid-containing head meat.

Two female spayed dogs belonging to the same owner were admitted for further examinations because of clinical signs and laboratory values compatible with hyperthyroidism. Sonography of the ventral aspect of the neck revealed small thyroid glands in both dogs. The hypothesis that the dogs suffered from alimentary hyperthyroidism caused by feeding head meat containing thyroid gland tissue was confirmed by consultation of the slaughtering plant, determination of iodine concentrations in deep-frozen samples and hormone measurements in 5 other dogs receiving head meat from the same supplier. After changing the diet, thyroxine concentrations declined and clinical signs were no longer observed.

Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of duodenal and colonic biopsies after oral bovine lactoferrin supplementation in beagle puppies.

Lactoferrin is a natural compound in the milk of mammals and was shown to influence the intestinal micro-flora and the immune system in mice, calves, dogs and man. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of orally administered bovine lactoferrin (0, 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg DM feed) on the intestinal morphology and lymphocyte colonization in 36 motherless raised puppies. Endoscopic biopsies from duodenum and colon, taken in week 14, were scored histologically after staining with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) and plasma cells (IgA+, IgG+, IgM+) were enumerated after immunohistochemical staining by computer-aided quantification. Histological scoring revealed no significant differences amongst the groups. IgG+ plasma cells were reduced (p < 0.05) in the lamina propria of the colon of the 30 and the 60 mg group. The number of CD8+ lymphocytes was higher (p < 0.05) in the epithelium of the colon of the lactoferrin groups. In conclusion, this study indicated only minimal effects of bovine lactoferrin on the population of selected immune cells in the gut mucosa of puppies. More investigations are needed to describe the impact of lactoferrin on the digestive physiology of puppies.

Effect of oregano (O. majorana x O. vulgare) on performance and antioxidative capacity of quails fed a diet rich in omega3 fatty acids.

Oregano possesses high antioxidant activity and could therefore be used to enhance oxidative stability of eggs high in omega3 fatty acids. In this study, 20 female quails were fed a diet containing 4% linseed oil. They were divided into two groups, one receiving oregano, and the other grass meal as control (2% respectively). Cholesterol oxidation products were analysed in fresh eggs, in stored eggs and in the livers. Trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity of plasma was measured. No significant differences were seen between the groups.

Function of granulocytes in B-chronic lymphatic leukaemia.

To study the function of granulocytes in patients with B-cell chronic lymphatic leukaemia (B-CLL), granulocytes were separated from peripheral blood of 48 patients (mean age: 69 years) and 35 apparently healthy age-matched volunteers. Spontaneous mobility, ingestion, digestion and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of granulocytes were assessed. Decreased spontaneous mobility was found in granulocytes from patients with B-CLL but between the two groups no detectable differences were encountered in the other parameters tested. No alterations of granulocytes functions were found to be correlated with clinical stages of B-CLL. If granulocytes functions were compared in treated (chlorambucil, steroids) and untreated patients, a significant decrease in digestion was found in treated patients.

The results of some cytochemical reactions in metastatic malignant tumor cells in pleural and peritoneal effusions.

The cytomorphologic and cytochemical investigation of 59 samples of pleural and peritoneal effusions with malignant tumor cells was performed and the results were compared. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically in most cases. The cytomorphologic method gave very good results not only in the determination of malignant tumor cells but also in the differentiation of various kinds of tumors. A diagnosis was made of differentiated carcinoma (adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma) in 40 cases, undifferentiated carcinoma in five, sarcoma or hemoblastosis in nine and undifferentiated malignant tumor in five cases. The results of cytochemical reactions investigated demonstrated a significant difference between the cells of carcinoma and sarcoma, and in various kinds of carcinoma the most important difference was found between the positive reaction of the alkaline phosphatase and negative reaction of the acid phosphatase in the cells of ovarina and uterine carcinoma. Although we consider the morphologic examination of effusions the most important for the diagnosis of malignancy, the cytochemical methods can sometimes be helpful in a more precise differentiation.