Renal pelvic rupture, intrapelvic haematoma and retroperitoneal haemorrhage associated with obstructive ureterolithiasis in a cat.

A neutered female cat presented with a 9-day history of hyporexia and depression. The referring veterinarian had identified moderate non-regenerative anaemia, haematuria and suspected unilateral obstructive ureterolithiasis. Subsequent ultrasonography revealed moderate distension of the left renal pelvis with echogenic material, ureteral distension and ureterolithiasis. A partial ureteral obstruction was suspected. After 4 days of medical management, there was further distension of the renal pelvis with well-delineated echogenic material and an accumulation of perinephric fluid. A left nephroureterectomy was performed. Renal pelvic rupture with intrapelvic haematoma and retroperitoneal haemorrhage was confirmed by histopathology. Eighteen months following surgery, the cat remained clinically well with normal renal values.

Adherence of Renal Transplant Recipients to Once-daily, Prolonged-Release and Twice-daily, Immediate-release Tacrolimus-based Regimens in a Real-life Setting in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: In this study we investigated medication adherence of kidney transplant patients (KTPs) to an immediate-release tacrolimus (IR-T) regimen and, after conversion, to a prolonged-release tacrolimus (PR-T) regimen in routine clinical practice. METHODS: This was a noninterventional, observational, multicenter Swedish study. We included adult KTPs with stable graft function, remaining on IR-T or converting from IR-T to PR-T. Data were collected at baseline, and months 3, 6, and 12 postbaseline. The primary endpoint was adherence using the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medication Scale (BAASIS). Secondary assessments included tacrolimus dose and trough levels, clinical laboratory parameters (eg, estimated glomerular filtration rate), and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). RESULTS: Overall, 233 KTPs were analyzed (PR-T, n = 175; IR-T, n = 58). Mean change in PR-T dose from baseline (4.8 mg/d) to month 12 was -0.2 mg/d, and for IR-T (4.2 mg/d) was -0.4 mg/d; tacrolimus trough levels remained similar. Overall adherence was similar between baseline and month 12 in both groups (PR-T: 54.4% vs 57.0%, respectively; IR-T: 65.5% vs 69.4%); timing adherence followed a similar pattern. The probability of taking adherence improved between baseline and month 12 (odds ratio, 1.97; P = .0092) in the PR-T group only. Mean BAASIS visual analog scale score at baseline was 94.3 ± 11.1% (PR-T) and 95.3 ± 7.6% (IR-T), and >95% at subsequent visits. Laboratory parameters remained stable. Eight (4.6%) patients receiving PR-T (none receiving IR-T) had ADRs considered probably/possibly treatment-related. CONCLUSION: Disparity existed between high, patient-perceived and low, actual adherence. Overall adherence to the immunosuppressive regimen (measured by BAASIS) did not improve significantly over 12 months in stable KTPs converting to PR-T or remaining on IR-T; renal function remained stable.

Adherence of Renal Transplant Recipients to Once-daily, Prolonged-Release and Twice-daily, Immediate-release Tacrolimus-based Regimens in a Real-life Setting in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: In this study we investigated medication adherence of kidney transplant patients (KTPs) to an immediate-release tacrolimus (IR-T) regimen and, after conversion, to a prolonged-release tacrolimus (PR-T) regimen in routine clinical practice. METHODS: This was a non-interventional, observational, multicenter Swedish study. We included adult KTPs with stable graft function, remaining on IR-T or converting from IR-T to PR-T. Data were collected at baseline, and months 3, 6, and 12 post-baseline. The primary endpoint was adherence using the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medication Scale (BAASIS©). Secondary assessments included tacrolimus dose and trough levels, clinical laboratory parameters (eg, estimated glomerular filtration rate), and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). RESULTS: Overall, data from 233 KTPs were analyzed (PR-T, n = 175; IR-T, n = 58). Mean change in PR-T dose from baseline (4.8 mg/d) to month 12 was -0.2 mg/d, and for IR-T (4.2 mg/d) was -0.4 mg/d; tacrolimus trough levels remained similar. Overall adherence was similar between baseline and month 12 in both groups (PR-T: 54.4% vs 57.0%, respectively; IR-T: 65.5% vs 69.4%); timing adherence followed a similar pattern. The probability of taking adherence improved between baseline and month 12 (odds ratio, 1.97; P = .0092) in the PR-T group only. Mean BAASIS visual analog scale score at baseline was 94.3 ± 11.1% (PR-T) and 95.3 ± 7.6% (IR-T), and >95% at subsequent visits. Laboratory parameters remained stable. Eight (4.6%) patients receiving PR-T (none receiving IR-T) had ADRs considered probably/possibly treatment-related. CONCLUSION: Disparity existed between high, patient-perceived and low, actual adherence. Overall adherence to the immunosuppressive regimen (measured by BAASIS) did not improve significantly over 12 months in stable KTPs converting to PR-T or remaining on IR-T; renal function remained stable.

The effect of milk on the attenuation of exercise-induced muscle damage in males and females.

PURPOSE: The consumption of 500 ml milk following muscle damaging exercise can attenuate decreases in muscle functional capacity and increases in markers of muscle damage and soreness in males. There has been no similar research in female participants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of milk consumption on exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in males and females. METHODS: Thirty-two team sport players (male n = 16; female n = 16) were randomly, but equally divided into four groups: male milk, male carbohydrate, female milk, and female carbohydrate. Immediately following muscle damaging exercise, participants consumed either 500 ml of milk or 500 ml of an energy-matched carbohydrate solution. Skeletal troponin I (sTnI), creatine kinase (CK), peak torque, counter movement jump height, 20 m sprint performance and passive and active soreness were recorded prior to and 24, 48 and 72 h post-EIMD. RESULTS: For females, milk had a likely/very likely beneficial effect on attenuating losses in peak torque at 60°/s from baseline to 24, 48 and 72 h, and a likely beneficial effect in minimising decrements in sprint performance and soreness over 72 h. Milk was unlikely to have a negative effect on serum markers of damage from baseline to 48 and 72 h. For males, milk had an unclear effect on muscle function variables. Milk had a most likely/likely beneficial effect on limiting muscle soreness from baseline to 72 h, and a possible beneficial effect on attenuating increases in CK. The effect on sTnI was unlikely to be negative from baseline-72 h. Overall gender comparisons provided many unclear outcomes. However, female participants demonstrated smaller increases in sprint time, passive soreness, active soreness (non-dominant leg) and sTnI values. CONCLUSION: Consumption of 500 ml of milk post-EIMD can limit decrements in muscle function in females, and limit increases in soreness and serum markers of muscle damage in females and males.

Beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in extracts of the fetal bovine pancreas. Column chromatographic characterizations of a high-molecular-weight immunoreactive species.

Acid-ethanol extracts of fetal bovine pancrease were examined for the presence of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity. Gel-filtration analyses revealed the presence of a major large-molecular-weight beta-endorphin immunoreactive species of approximately 20K delta. This molecular form maintained its size upon resubmission to gel filtration in the presence of 6 M guanidine hydrochloride, separated from the bulk of the glucagon immunoreactivity upon ion-exchange chromatography, showed proportional dilution in the beta-endorphin radioimmunoassay, and interacted in a biospecific manner with Concanavalin-A-Sepharose.

Glycoprotein-like large glucagon immunoreactive species in extracts of the fetal bovine pancreas.

Large glucagon immunoreactive substances, extracted from the fetal bovine pancreas and separated by gel filtration in the presence of 6 M guanidinium-hydrochloride, were submitted to lectin-sepharose affinity column chromatograph. Gel-filtered peak I (approximately 45 K delta) and peak II (approximately 10 K delta) interacted biospecifically with concanavalin-A- and wheat-germ-lectin-sepharoses, suggesting glycoproteins as possible constituents of large glucagon immunoreactive substances in extracts of the fetal bovine pancreas. The glucagon-like immunochemical identity of the lectin-sepharose-bound substances was further substantiated by binding to antiglucagon antibodies-sepharose and by characteristic proportional dilutions in the glucagon radioimmunoassay.

Glucagon from the bovine fetal pancreas: chromatographic and electrophoretic characterizations of high molecular weight immunoreactive species.

Fetal bovine pancreas was extracted for glucagon using (A) ethanol-Hcl after trichloroacetic acid (TCA) treatment of the pancreas, (B) ethanol-HCl and (C) urea-acetic acid. Fractionation of the acetic acid soluble proteins vi Sephadex G-50 columns yielded glucagon immunoreactivity in the void volume, high molecular weight glucagon immunoreactivities (HMW-IRGs), "proglucagon" (approximately equal to 9 K delta), and true glucagon (3.5 K delta) regions. HMW-IRGs were obtainable using all three methods of extraction. The material obtained from the ethanol-HCl-TCA method appeared stable on Sephadex G-100 (1 M acetic acid) rechromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed immunoreactive species corresponding to approximately 40 K delta and approximately 12 K delta. HMW-IRGs did not bind to concanavalin A (Con A)-agarose. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the Con A-agarose filtered IRG again showed a major immunoreactive peak of approximately 40 K delta. Dose-response RIA studies indicated that the HMW-IRGs from both the gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel experiments were immunochemically indistinguishable from glucagon. HMW-IRGs bind to antiglucagon antibody agarose, further indicating their reactivity towards glucagon antibodies. When HMW-IRGs are incubated with guanidinium hydrochloride and gel filtered in the same system, a significant fraction of HMW-IRG (representing up to 25% of the total IRG analysed) was found to resist disruption. Our data support the contention that a significant portion of the HMW-IRGs (molecular weight greater than 20 K delta) extracted from fetal bovine pancreas are composed of glucagon covalently linked to larger protein unit(s).