Staying current by searching the veterinary literature.

The body of knowledge in veterinary medicine and the biomedical sciences continues to grow logarithmically, and learning about new developments in veterinary medicine requires successful navigation of recently published literature worldwide. This article examines how veterinarians can use different types of automated services from databases and publishers to search the current and past literature, access articles, and manage references that are found.

Tian ma, an ancient Chinese herb, offers new options for the treatment of epilepsy and other conditions.

Our purpose is to bring attention to the antiepileptic properties of the Chinese herb tian ma and its constituents, as well as to suggest the potential for the development of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) related to this herb. All available literature regarding the chemistry, pharmacology, animal data, and clinical use of tian ma and its constituents are reviewed, showing that tian ma, its constituents, and its symbiotic fungus Armillaria mellea have antiepileptic properties in in vitro and in vivo models. One clinical study reportedly demonstrated the AED effects of a component of tian ma, vanillin. Thus, tian ma, its constituent vanillin, and its symbiotic fungus armillaria hold promise as cost-effective and less toxic alternatives to standard AEDs. In addition, similar chemical compounds may be developed as AEDs.

Long-term effects of ranirestat (AS-3201) on peripheral nerve function in patients with diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether ranirestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor, maintains the improved nerve function observed in patients with diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSP) after completing a 12-week nerve biopsy study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients with mild to moderate DSP, as determined by the presence of sural nerve responses, were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled biopsy trial and randomized to placebo or 5 or 20 mg/day ranirestat for 12 weeks. Patients completing this biopsy study were offered a 48-week extension at the same ranirestat dose or at 5 mg/day ranirestat if they were originally treated with placebo. Electrophysiological tests, the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score, and vibration perception thresholds (VPTs) were performed at entry and at 12 (end of the biopsy study) and 60 (end of the 48-week extension) weeks. RESULTS: Peroneal motor nerve conduction velocity (NCV) improved in the 20-mg/day group following 60 weeks of treatment. Sural and median sensory NCV improved after both 12 and 60 weeks of treatment with 20 mg/day. VPT improved after 60 weeks of treatment with 20 mg/day. Ranirestat was well tolerated with no difference in adverse events between the 5- and 20-mg/day groups. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty milligrams ranirestat per day improves NCV and VPT following 60 weeks of administration. The improved sensory nerve function observed after 12 weeks of therapy was maintained at 60 weeks, and improved motor nerve function was observed at 60 weeks.

Aldose reductase inhibition by AS-3201 in sural nerve from patients with diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this investigation was to determine whether AS-3201, a new aldose reductase inhibitor, penetrates the sural nerve and inhibits sorbitol and fructose accumulation in patients with diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSP). An additional aim was to determine whether any changes in nerve function would manifest with AS-3201 therapy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients with mild to moderate DSP based on nerve conduction studies were randomized into one of three treatment groups in a double-blind fashion: placebo or AS-3201 at 5 or 20 mg/day. After 12 weeks of administration, the sural nerve was biopsied for measurement of sorbitol, fructose, and AS-3201. RESULTS: At baseline, no important clinical, electrophysiological, or laboratory differences were found between the three groups. The nerve sorbitol concentration of 3.14 x 10(-2) nmol/mg wet nerve in patients in the placebo group was inhibited by 65 and 84% in patients on AS-3201 at 5 and 20 mg/day, respectively (P < 0.001). Fructose levels were similarly inhibited. Sensory nerve conduction velocities improved by > or = 1 m/s (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AS-3201 penetrates the sural nerve and inhibits sorbitol accumulation in patients with DSP. Additional studies are needed to confirm the electrophysiological suggestion that AS-3201 delays progression or leads to regression of DSP.

Sural nerve sorbitol in patients with diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: Nerve sorbitol levels have been measured in sural nerve biopsy samples from patients with diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy in several studies using different methods and measurement units. In this study, we compared the results of sorbitol assays to determine the required sensitivity of analytical methods for nerve sorbitol measurements. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a literature search using PaperChase for reports of nerve sorbitol in diabetic patients and selected those with nerve conduction studies to delineate the severity of nerve damage. RESULTS: In patients who had undergone a nerve conduction study, the standardized nerve sorbitol levels were 0.034-0.300 nmol/mg wet nerve. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed the level of sensitivity required in laboratory methodology to perform this assay in the target population and aid in the planning of clinical research trials of aldose reductase inhibitor agents.

Varicella zoster infections

Vidarabina (Vira-A, arabinosido de adenina) es un nucleósido purínico con actividad antiviral in vivo contra herpes simple y los viruses de varicela-zoster. Vidarabina está aprobada actualmente para el tratamiento de encefalitis de herpes simple. En pacientes con inmunosupresión, las infecciones con varicelazoster (herpes zoster) son dolorosas, debilitantes y pueden presentar un riesgo a la vida si los órganos internos están afectados. Un estudio multicentro, controlado y cruzado se llevó a cabo para evaluar la eficacia y seguridad de vidarabina en dósis de 10mg/Kg por día durante 5 días en pacientes con inmunosupresión padeciendo de infecciones zoster. En los 87 pacientes que se estudiaron, vidarabina eliminó el virus de las vesículas de la piel significativamente con más rapidez que el placebo. Ochenta y tres porciento de los pacientes que recibieron vidarabina experimentaron alivio del dolor contra 46% de los pacientes que recibieron el placebo. No pudo estudiarse la prevención de diseminación y complicaciones viscerales ya que todos los pacientes en este estudio cruzado recibieron otro tratamiento activo. Por lo tanto, se llevó a cabo otro estudio multicentro, controlado con placebo. Cuando comparamos los 121 pacientes estudiados con los controles, vidarabina aceleró la cicatrización cutánea medida por la cesación de la formación de nuevas vesículas y el tiempo de pustulación. Ocho porciento de los pacientes que recibieron vidarabina experimentaron diseminación contra 24% en el grupo control. La incidencia de complicaciones viscerales fue de 5% en el grupo de vidarabina y de 16% en el grupo control. Esto se llevó a cabo sin toxicidad clínica o biológica significativa. Con el avance de la quimioterapia anticáncer, el número de pacientes altamente susceptibles a infecciones raras aumentará. Por lo tanto el progreso en la terapia antimicrobiana debe continuar al mismo ritmo que el de la quimioterapia anticáncer