Protective effect of lactoferrin on Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Although cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents, its clinical use is limited because of its strong side effects on the kidneys. The aim of this study was to investigate the renoprotective effect of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) in cisplatin-induced renal failure in rats. To assess the renoprotective effect of bLf, oral bLf (300 mg/kg) was administered from the day before to the fifth day after cisplatin (7 mg/kg, i.p.) injection. Daily administration of bLf histologically reduced renal tubular injury induced by cisplatin and suppressed the deterioration of renal function. Accumulated platinum content in the kidney was significantly decreased by the daily administration of bLf. Moreover, the administration of intravenous bLf caused a significant increase in urine volume in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that pretreatment with bLf produces a protective effect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. This protective effect of bLf involves the reduction of accumulated cisplatin in the kidney.

Cerebral vascular hamartoma with thrombosis in a dog.

A cerebral vascular hamartoma was identified in the frontal lobe, striatum and thalamus of the right side of the brain of a male, 7-year-old Shih Tzu. Histologically, the lesion consisted of thin-walled vessels, which showed various sizes and occasionally contained fibrin thrombi. These vascular walls were composed of a single layer of fibromuscular tissue lined by flat endothelium with various amount of collagen, but devoid of large coat of smooth muscles and elastic tissue. Immunohistochemically, the lining endothelial cells were positive for von Willebrand Factor antibody. Neuropil between the vessels was stained with Klüver-Barrera stain, and positive for synaptophysin and GFAP antibodies. Based on these findings, the lesion was diagnosed as vascular hamartoma, which might resemble venous malformation in humans.

Isolation and characterization of staphylococci from external auditory meatus of dogs with or without otitis externa with special reference to Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp. coagulans isolates.

Staphylococci were isolated from the external auditory meatus in 14 (48.3%) of 29 dogs affected with otitis externa (OE dogs) and 28 (68.3%) of 41 dogs without OE (non-OE dogs). Twenty-two OE isolates were identified as belonging to 12 species, and 42 non-OE isolates were identified as belonging to 13 species. The predominant species found in both OE and non-OE isolates were S. intermedius, and S. epidermidis. Thirty-eight (59.4%) of 64 isolates were resistant to one or more of the 17 antimicrobial agents tested. Resistance to PCG and ABPC was most frequent. S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans, a recent etiologic agent of canine OE, was isolated from OE and non-OE dogs. All of the 5 S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans isolates showed typical characteristics. No clear difference in the extracellular enzyme or toxin profiles, nor in the PFGE patterns, was demonstrated between the OE and non-OE isolates of S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans. A new PCR primer set specific for 16S rDNA was designed to identify strains of S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans. The amplified fragment was detected in all of the 5 isolates as well as the type strain GA 211 (=JCM 7470) and a reference strain GA 11, but was not detected in any strains of the related species, S. aureus, S. intermedius and S. hyicus. The PCR may allow a simple, rapid and precise identification of S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans, in addition to the standard tube test for free coagulase.