Effect of an injectable cabergoline formulation on serum prolactin (PRL) and milk secretion in early postpartum Beagle bitches.

This study was conducted in order to evaluate effects on prolactin (PRL) concentration and mammary milk secretion of an injectable cabergoline formulation administered to five lactating Beagle bitches during early postpartum (PP). Bitches were bled twice daily (from PP day 3 to PP day 12) and then daily (from PP day 13 to PP day 16) to assay serum PRL. On PP day 6, a subcutaneous (SC) injection of 0.1 ml/kg of placebo was administered. On PP day 9, a SC 0.1 ml/kg dose of injectable cabergoline was administered. All bitches were checked for milk production, using a clinical scoring in order to quantify milk expression from each teat. A circadian variation of serum PRL was evident during the 6 days of pre-treatment monitoring. The day after cabergoline injection, an 80% decrease of PRL serum concentration was observed (p < 0.05). The circadian oscillatory pattern of PRL secretion disappeared after administration of cabergoline, and PRL values remained significantly lower than in the previous days for the first 60 h following treatment (p < 0.001). Milk production was drastically reduced when comparing pre-treatment to post-treatment scores (p < 0.001). A single dose of injectable cabergoline caused a significant reduction in serum PRL concentration and a significant reduction in milk flow. The injectable formulation of cabergoline appeared to be safe and well tolerated.

The effect of administering a dopamine agonist (Cabergoline) on follicular and luteal development during pro-estrus and estrus in the female greyhound.

To study the effect of the dopamine agonist Cabergoline, on ovarian activity in the female dog during pro-estrus and estrus, 6 greyhounds were treated with 5 microg/kg per os of Cabergoline for 20 days beginning on the first day of pro-estrus; 6 animals were left untreated (controls). Ovarian morphology was determined by ultrasound examination once a day during pro-estrus and twice a day during estrus. Follicles were divided into three classes on the basis of their diameter: F1 (<3mm), F2 (3-6mm) and F3 (>6mm). The presence and diameters of post-ovulatory follicles (F-POST) and corpora lutea (CL) were also recorded. Blood samples were taken once a day during pro-estrus and twice a day during estrus. The plasma was assayed for LH, prolactin and progesterone by radioimmunoassay. There were no differences between Cabergoline-treated and control dogs in the duration of pro-estrus or estrus. There was a progressive increase in follicle diameter from the start of pro-estrus when follicles were mainly class F1 to the day of estrus when follicles were mainly class F3. Three days after the start of estrus, the first F-POST follicles were detected. This pattern of development continued and on day 5 the first CLs were detected. By day 9, only CLs were detected. The peak of pre-ovulatory LH was within 3 days of estrus and ovulation was detected in all animals within 3 days of the LH peak. There were no differences in LH concentrations between groups. Plasma prolactin levels varied between animals and were reduced in treated dogs, however, this was not statistically significant (P=0.12). Plasma progesterone levels were below 1.0 ng/ml before the LH surge and thereafter gradually increased. There were no differences in plasma progesterone concentrations between treated and control dogs. In conclusion these results show that the administration of the dopamine agonist Cabergoline during pro-estrus and estrus did not affect the duration of pro-estrus or estrus or the pattern of follicular and luteal development in female dogs.

Effect and mechanisms of the anti-prolactin drug cabergoline on pseudopregnancy in the bitch.

A potent anti-prolactin drug, cabergoline, administered orally for five days, was clinically successful in treating three different clinical manifestations of pseudopregnancy in referred bitches. The clinical conditions treated were categorised as standard pseudopregnant bitches (n = 8), those previously unsuccessfully treated with hormones (n = 10) and those which had behavioural pseudopregnancy following ovariohysterectomy (n = 8). The number of bitches whose owners reported a 'good' response was seven out of eight, six out of 10 and six out of eight, respectively. There were very few side effects in that only one bitch vomited following treatment. The clinical response did not necessarily appear to be related to an alteration in circulating prolactin concentrations, suggesting that the drug may have a direct effect on the tissues as well as in most cases reducing the plasma prolactin concentrations.

[Comparison of high-resolution arterial echography and angiography in the diagnosis of atheromatous lesions of the external carotid]. / Confronto tra ecografia arteriosa ad alta risoluzione ed angiografia nella diagnosi delle lesioni ateromasiche della carotide extracranica.

Personal experience about a correlative study on ultrasonographic and angiographic methods executed on carotid artery is reported. Usual techniques are described and result discordances are considered. Stenosis level is subdivided in four different types: normal, less than 45, 45-75%, greater than 75%. Authors examine in which stenosis range one technique can be superimposed on the other one and show limits and possibilities. Moreover complementary and interdependence position of these two techniques are stressed with respect to atherosclerotic disease study.

Effects on pseudopregnancy, pregnancy and interoestrous intervals of pharmacological suppression of prolactin secretion in female dogs and cats.

Cabergoline, a new ergoline derivative, is a potent prolactin inhibitor. In this review, results are combined from previously published and unpublished blind laboratory and open clinical studies with cabergoline in pseudopregnant, pregnant and lactating bitches, in bitches with normal and prolonged cycles, and in pregnant queens. Dose-response studies in nursing bitches, using puppy weight as an endpoint, revealed that a dose of 5 micrograms/kg/day orally (for 5 days) was the optimal dose with a minimum of side effects. This dose effectively lowered blood prolactin concentrations in pregnant bitches and was partly luteolytic during the 1st half of gestation, and fully luteolytic during the 2nd half of gestation. Consequently, pregnancies were terminated in the 2nd half of pregnancy in the bitch, and in the queen. Treatment successes with pseudopregnancy and true and false lactation, including cases of eclampsia, were greater than 90%. The same level of success was seen in bitches with prolonged cycles (anoestrus). A 7-10-day treatment period resulted almost uniformly in oestrus, and restored fertility in greater than 80% of all bitches mated. Cycles were occasionally shortened in bitches treated for false lactation. Attempts to shorten cycles routinely in beagle bitches, in a commercial breeding operation, with a dose of 5 micrograms/kg/day for 14 days during months 4, 5 or 6 of the cycle were unsuccessful.

[Percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty. Initial clinical experience in 9 patients]. / L'angioplastica percutanea transluminale con laser. Iniziale esperienza clinica in 9 pazienti.

In this paper the authors report on a new technique--percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty (PLR) which was performed on 9 patients with iliac and/or femoro-popliteal artery occlusion. All patients were males (mean age: 64.5 years) and had arterial occlusion (mean length: cm 12.5). PLR was performed with an argon laser (max power: 16 Watts). In 8 out of 9 patients (88.8%) a complete recanalization was obtained of the occluded arterial tract, without complications. In one case only (12.2%) there was an arterial wall perforation with unsatisfactory results. In our opinion, PLR has proven a simple methodology, which can be performed on any patient due to the very low incidence of severe complications and distal embolism. Moreover, PLR has quite low costs, and does not prevent eventual surgical/percutaneous interventions.

Inhibition of lactation in the Beagle bitch with the prolactin inhibitor cabergoline (FCE 21336): Dose response and aspects of long-term safety.

Sixteen healthy, lactating Beagle bitches with litters of three to six pups were assigned to four treatment groups for one daily oral treatment of cabergoline in an oily solution (0, 1.25, 2.50 or 5.0 mcg/kg body weight (BW) for 5 d, commencing on Day 8 of lactation. Bitches and all their puppies were weighed daily for 2 d before treatments started, and for 10 d thereafter. Technicians rated daily treatment effects on maternal health, maternal behavior and mammary glands, using a scoring system. Treatments had no effect on maternal health, maternal body weight, and maternal behavior. Treatments with the two higher doses caused a reaction and a regression of the mammary glands in a dose-related fashion, resulting in cessation of lactation with 5 mcg/kg BW. Maternal treatment did not adversely affect the puppies' health, and no puppy was lost during the trial. However, average daily weight gains of puppies declined with increasing levels of cabergoline, causing significant weight losses in the 2.5 and 5 mcg/kg treatment group. This became evident after 2 d of treatment. To save the puppies in the highest dosage group, hand-feeding, and later, crossfostering, had to be used with all litters, starting on Day 3 or 4 of treatment. Weight losses were dose-related with an ED(50) of 1.5 mcg/kg/d and persisted for at least 24 h after treatment had ceased. Since puppies were left with their mothers to provide a continued suckling stimulus, lactation rebounded in all bitches treated with 2.5 mcg/kg, but only in two of four bitches treated with 5 mcg/kg. All bitches returned to estrus at their normal intervals. Fertility and fecundity at the next breeding were undisturbed.

Induction of estrus in cows by a new analogue of PGF2 alpha (alfaprostol).

A new analogue of PGF2 alpha, alfaprostol, was used to induce estrus in normally cycling and anestrous cows. Five groups of six animals were treated with single injections of different doses of the drug (4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 mg/animal) on day 10-11 of the estrous cycle. Six cows in anestrus, with palpable corpora lutea, were treated i.m. with 8 mg/animal. The luteolytic properties of alfaprostol were assessed by measuring milk progesterone by RIA for 96 h after treatment and by checking for the subsequent signs of estrus. The dose of 4 mg caused a slight fall in progesterone but did not induce heat; the 5 and 6 mg doses induced estrus in 3/6 animals and the 7 mg dose was effective in 4/6 animals. The 8 mg dose produced a sharp reduction in milk progesterone within 24 h, followed by estrus in both the normally cycling and the anestrous groups in 6/6 animals. No clinical signs of drug intolerance were seen. The present results show that alfaprostol might be of great use for both cycle synchronization in normally cycling cows and for treatment of anestrus caused by a persistent corpus luteum.

Vascular surgery in Behçet's syndrome: a case report.

A case of Behçet's syndrome with right femoral artery thrombosis surgically treated by femoro-popliteal TEA and lumbar sympathectomy is described. The validity of TEA even in this rare vascular disease is evidenced. After having examined the reasons leading to this surgical procedure, and good results in long-term follow-up are underlined.

The problem of lower limb revascularization in III and IV stage arteriopathies.

With reference to our statistical data, we discuss the revascularization of the profound femoral artery and the importance, in some cases, of the superficial femoral artery in IV stage arteriopathies. We refer to the obtained results with attention to some technical particularities.

[Surgical approach to the deferents for vasectomy during suprapubic prostatectomy (author's transl)]. / Proposta di una via di accesso ai deferenti per la vasectomia nella prostatectomia per via sovrapubica.

PIP: The article describes in detail, and with the help of accurate illustrations, a new technique for performing vasectomy during suprapubic prostatectomy. The technique proved to be simple, quick, and without postoperative complications.^ieng