[Experimental substitution of carbimazole for Alkiron in the atherogenic diet]. / Pokus o náhradu alkironu carbimazolem v aterogenní diete.

Due to present unavailability of Alkiron the authors tried to substitute it by Carbimazole in atherogenic diet aimed at inducing advanced atherosclerosis in rats. Carbimazole proved to be entirely ineffective in this respect and thus the thiouracil derivatives cannot be substituted by it.

[An attempt to substitute carbimazole for Alkiron in an atherogenic diet]. / Pokus o náhradu alkironu carbimazolem v aterogenní diete.

Due to present unavailability of Alkiron the authors tried to substitute it by Carbimazole in atherogenic diet aimed at inducing advanced atherosclerosis in rats. Carbimazole proved to be entirely ineffective in this respect and thus the thiouracil derivatives cannot be substituted by it.

[The first finding of Paramphistomum daubneyi (Dinnik, 1962) in beef cattle in Algeria]. / Prvý nález Paramphistomum daubneyi (Dinnik, 1962) u hovädzieho dobytka na území Alzírska.

The first finding of the causative agent of paramphistomatosis of cattle in the coastal region of Algeria is described. As found on the basis of histological diagnosis, this causative agent is the species Paramphistomum daubneyi (Dinnik, 1962). Lymnaea truncatula was found to be present as a potential intermediate host at the localities where the cattle harbouring these trematodes were kept. It is suggested by the high intensity of invasion by the trematodes (up to 2204 specimens in one host) that the animals suffered from severe helminthosis in some cases. The finding of the causative agent of bovine paramphistomatosis in Algeria draws attention to the need of further investigation of trematodosis in the cattle kept in that country.

Postlathyric fibroelastosis of the rat aorta related to topical factors of experimental atherosclerosis.

Postlathyric aortic fibroelastosis was produced in rats with the aid of low-percentage fetal lathyrism. Subsequently the rats were kept on an atherogenic regimen for one year, and at the end of that period the aortas were studied to detect the relation of postlathyric alterations to the experimental atherosclerotic lesions. In the ascending aorta and the arch the fibroelastosis neither enhanced nor suppressed the development of mixed atherosclerotic plaques. In contrast, fibroelastosis of the thoracic and abdominal aorta usually causing a slight tunnel-shaped stenosis of the affected segment significantly reduced the development of intimal lipoidosis. The present experiment permitted to identify a new postlathyric lesion, namely sac-shaped microaneurysms situated at the sites of origin of lumbar arteries. Despite the fact that otherwise virtually the only lesion developing in the abdominal aorta was intimal lipoidosis, the aneurysms were filled up with mixed atheromatous masses. The above postlathyric vascular lesion appeared to significantly support the local development of atherosclerosis. The results presented have been discussed in view of the some recent facts stressing the indisputable importance of haemodynamic factors for the localization and development of atherosclerosis.

Choniagnium algericum sp. n. (Nematoda: Strongylidae) from the intestine of African elephant, Loxodonta africana (Blumenbach, 1779).

Nematodes of the genus Choniagnium were found in African elephant (Loxodonta africana) from Algerian Zoological Garden. On the basis of studies in light and scanning electron microscope these nematodes were identified as a new species, Choniagnium algericum sp. n.

Changes in experimental atherosclerotic lesions of rat heart valves following long-term regression.

Regression of experimental atherosclerotic lesions of rat heart valves was studied in a long-term experiment. Following a period of regression of 12 months duration, the thick superficial layers of foam cells disappeared completely. Persisting masses of cholesterol crystals did not seem to be accompanied by any cellular proliferation or fibrous reaction. Such cholesterol deposits showed peculiar transparent cystoid areas probably representing local cholesterol dissolution. The structural differences between arterial and valvular plaques can be hypothetically explained by small numbers of smooth muscle cells in the heart valves.

Cadmium necrosis in transplanted testicles as evidence for persistence of original vessels in the graft.

The testicles of newborn rats were transplanted subcutaneously to the external ears of mature male rats. Four and 8 weeks later the hosts received a subtoxic dose of cadmium chloride. Forty-eight hours thereafter focal, but evidently cadmium-induced necroses occurred in the grafts. As is the generally acknowledged, the tissue selectively sensitive to cadmium is the original endothelium of testicular vessels. Therefore the results of the study can be summarized as follows: 1) In the transplanted testicles the original vessels and their endothelium survive for at least 8 weeks. 2) Under the experimental conditions used here, the original vasculature of the graft joins with the vascular system of the host.

Experimental atherosclerosis of the heart valves in rats following a long-term atherogenic regimen.

Male and female rats kept on a long-term atherogenic regimen for periods up to 15 months developed marked atherosclerotic changes of cardiac valves in 100% of cases. The degree and the topography of valvular atherosclerotic plaques corresponded widely to that seen in human atherosclerotic valvular disease. The regular topography of atherosclerotic valvular lesions was believed to be primarily due to differences in blood pressure as occurring during cardiac performance. Histologically, there was a striking contrast between the uniform composition of atheromatous plaques as found on the valves and the variability in composition of aortic atheromas.

[Morphological study of 70 cases of brucellosis in rabbits caused by Brucella suis].

Seventy cases of morphologically developed cases or brucellosis in hares are described. Twenty-five of the cases were tested by the cultivation methods and the causative agent was identified as Brucella suis. In females the authors found 57 cases, in males 13 cases. Brucellosis of hares was characterized by a chronical course, by a conspicuous local progression, and by a predominance of pathological changes in the reproductive organs of both sexes. Males showed changes mainly on testes. Nodal, solitary as well as multiple lesions in the parametrium near the uterine wall were particularly typical of females. The hematogenous propagation of brucellosis affected mostly liver and spleen, frequently showing conspicuously large nodes with irregular sides resulting from the growh of the deposits through apposition. The microscopic basis of the changes due to brucellosis was represented by granulomas of histiocytic character with a conspicuously small pyogenic component penetrated by necrosis of a caseous character, rich in lipoids. In comparison with tuberculosis, the brucellosis inflammation in hares shows a conspicuous cellular and nuclear variability in the histiocytic layer of granulomas, prevalent caryloytic disintegration of cellular elements, frequent finding of eosinophiles, and non-constant occurrence of giant multinuclear elements of Langhans cell type.

Atherosclerosis in relation to cholelithiasis and cholesterolosis.

The frequency of cholelithiasis and cholesterolosis was remarkably similar in Prague and Malmö subjects. When the possible effects of associated hypertension or diabetes mellitus were taken into account, subjects with cholelithiasis showed the same extent of raised and calcified lesions of the coronary arteries, the same prevalence of large myocardial scars, and the same distribution of heart weight as subjects without cholelithiasis. In general, they showed rather fewer raised and calcified lesions of the aorta, less coronary stenosis, and fewer fresh myocardial infarctions than subjects without cholelithiasis. Subjects with cholesterolosis were similar to those without this condition in respect of raised lesions of the aorta and coronary arteries. Men with cholesterolosis had slightly more aortic calcification and slightly less coronary calcification. Women with cholesterolosis had slightly less coronary stenosis than those without cholesterolosis. There was a slight tendency for those with cholesterolosis to show an increased frequency of fresh myocardial infarction and large myocardial scars and to have a higher heart weight.