Hemato-biochemical and ultrasonographic evaluation of hepatic lipidosis in dairy buffaloes.

Around 60% dairy animals developed moderate to severe hepatic lipidosis at the time of parturition or during early lactation stage. Most of clinician suspect the hepatic lipidosis during above time window only. However, negative energy balance or feeding of high concentrate diet can lead to hepatic lipidosis at any phase of life. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential for diagnosis of hepatic lipidosis by means of hemato-biochemical parameters and ultrasonography of the liver at any stage of life. Here, ultrasonographic back fat thickness measurement was correlated with ultrasonographic features of hepatic lipidosis. A total 60 buffaloes were included under the study and sampled for hematological and biochemical parameters. Hematological parameters did not exhibit any significant difference between healthy and hepatic lipidosis-affected buffaloes. Biochemical parameters like beta hydroxy butyric acid, non esterified fatty acid, aspartate amino transferase, gamma glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase revealed a significant increase, while triglyceride, cholesterol, and glucose declined significantly in hepatic lipidosis-affected buffaloes. Total protein, albumin, and total bilirubin levels did not exhibit any significant difference. Based on ultrasonographic findings, the hepatic lipidosis-affected buffaloes were further sub divided into mild, moderate, and severe groups. Portal vein diameter and depth of portal vein were also estimated in current study. Ultrasonographic examination could diagnose 53.33% hepatic lipidosis cases in buffaloes. Among it, 37.50% buffalo had mild hepatic lipidosis, 33.33% had moderate hepatic lipidosis, and 29.16% had severe hepatic lipidosis. Depth of portal vein significantly increased in hepatic lipidosis cases. However, portal vein diameter exhibited a non-significant difference in mild, moderate, and severe groups of hepatic lipidosis. Back fat thickness also revealed a non-significant difference in mild, moderate, and severe hepatic lipidosis. Above study indicate that B mode ultrasonography of the liver can be employed to differentiate various grades of hepatic lipidosis in buffaloes. Biochemical parameters like NEFA, BHBA, AST, GGT, ALP, TG, cholesterol, and glucose can be helpful to screen the hepatic lipidosis at farm level.

Screening of Drug-Induced Steatosis and Phospholipidosis Using Lipid Droplet-Selective Two-Photon Probes.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are organelles that play a major role in regulating the storage of neutral lipids. Dysregulation of LDs is associated with metabolic disorders, such as fatty liver diseases, obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. We have developed LD-selective small-molecule fluorescence probes (probes 3 and 4) that are available for both one- and two-photon microscopy, employing live or fixed cells. We found that probes 3 and 4 sensitively detect the increased LDs in response to oleic acid or endoplasmic reticulum stress, both in cells and tissues of the liver. The narrow absorption and emission bands of probes 3 and 4 allow multicolor imaging for the study of the role of LDs in pathophysiology and LD-associated signaling by the coapplication of the probes for different organelles or antibodies against specific proteins. In addition, we show here, for the first time, that two-photon microscopy imaging using our LD-selective probes with LysoTracker provides a novel method for screening drugs to potentially induce steatosis and/or phospholipidosis.

Noninvasive detection of hepatic lipidosis in dairy cows with calibrated ultrasonographic image analysis.

The aim was to test the accuracy of calibrated digital analysis of ultrasonographic hepatic images for diagnosing fatty liver in dairy cows. Digital analysis was performed by means of a novel method, computer-aided ultrasound diagnosis (CAUS), previously published by the authors. This method implies a set of pre- and postprocessing steps to normalize and correct the transcutaneous ultrasonographic images. Transcutaneous hepatic ultrasonography was performed before surgical correction on 151 German Holstein dairy cows (mean +/- standard error of the means; body weight: 571+/-7 kg; age: 4.9+/-0.2 yr; DIM: 35+/-5) with left-sided abomasal displacement. Concentration of triacylglycerol (TAG) was biochemically determined in liver samples collected via biopsy and values were considered the gold standard to which ultrasound estimates were compared. According to histopathologic examination of biopsies, none of the cows suffered from hepatic disorders other than hepatic lipidosis. Hepatic TAG concentrations ranged from 4.6 to 292.4 mg/g of liver fresh weight (FW). High correlations were found between the hepatic TAG and mean echo level (r=0.59) and residual attenuation (ResAtt; r=0.80) obtained in ultrasonographic imaging. High correlation existed between ResAtt and mean echo level (r=0.76). The 151 studied cows were split randomly into a training set of 76 cows and a test set of 75 cows. Based on the data from the training set, ResAtt was statistically selected by means of stepwise multiple regression analysis for hepatic TAG prediction (R(2)=0.69). Then, using the predicted TAG data of the test set, receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to summarize the accuracy and predictive potential of the differentiation between various measured hepatic TAG values, based on TAG predicted from the regression formula. The area under the curve values of the receiver operating characteristic based on the regression equation were 0.94 (<50 vs. >or=50mg of TAG/g of FW), 0.83 (<100 vs. >or=100mg of TAG/g of FW), and 0.97 (<50 vs. >or=100mg of TAG/g of FW). The CAUS methodology and software for digitally analyzing liver ultrasonographic images is considered feasible for noninvasive screening of fatty liver in dairy herd health programs. Using the single parameter linear regression equation might be ideal for practical applications.

[Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis as a cause of an erosive, destructive arthropathy (author's transl)]. / Multizentrische Retikulohistiozytose als Ursache einer "erosiv-destruktiven Arthropathie".

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis is a special form of an erosive, destructive arthropathy. It can be distinguished from other forms of erosive polyarthropathies by the characteristic x-ray appearances, although the final proof of the diagnosis is histological in association with the clinical features and the presence of nodular skin lesions. A case of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis is described. The typical radiological appearances are discussed and the differential diagnosis from other forms of chronic polyarthritis, such as gout, psoariatic arthropathy, Reiter's disease and erosive osteoarthritis is considered.

Erdheim-Chester disease demonstrated by bone radiograph and scans.

Two cases of patients with Erdheim-Chester disease (EC) are presented with interesting scintigraphic findings. Differential diagnosis of bone scan and radiographic findings is briefly discussed.

Accuracy of ultrasonography in the detection of severe hepatic lipidosis in cats.

The accuracy of ultrasonography in detection of feline hepatic lipidosis was studied retrospectively. The following ultrasonographic criteria were associated positively with severe hepatic lipidosis: the liver hyperechoic, compared with falciform fat; the liver isoechoic or hyperechoic, compared with omental fat; poor visualization of intrahepatic vessel borders; and increased attenuation of sound by the liver. In a group of 36 cats with clinically apparent hepatobiliary disease and in which liver biopsy was done, liver hyperechoic, compared with falciform fat, was the best criterion for diagnosis of severe hepatic lipidosis with 91% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 100% positive predictive value.

Radiological findings in lipoid proteinosis.

The radiological findings in six patients suffering from lipoid proteinosis have been described and discussed. Laryngeal examination showed thickened epiglottis, swollen arytenoids and aryepiglottic folds, thickened irregular false and true vocal cords, and increased stiffness of the vocal cords. The ventricles and subglottic region were free. Bean-shaped suprasellar calcifications were found in two cases who were free of neurological symptoms. The chest and upper gastro-intestinal tract were radiologically free.

Alterations in adipokines in feline hepatic lipidosis.

BACKGROUND: Feline hepatic lipidosis (HL) is associated with alterations in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. The adipokines, adiponectin, and leptin have lipid-lowering and insulin-sensitizing effects. HYPOTHESIS: Serum concentrations of adiponectin and leptin are altered in feline HL. ANIMALS: Client-owned cats: 55 healthy and 45 with liver disease. METHODS: Cats with liver disease were categorized as having HL (n = 20), HL and concurrent disease (n = 19), or other liver disease (n = 6), based on clinical signs, laboratory findings, abdominal ultrasound examination as well as liver cytopathology, histopathology, or both. Serum samples were collected and body condition score determined. RESULTS: Mean serum concentrations of adiponectin were higher in overweight cats with HL (4.5 µg/mL), HL and concurrent disease (4.4 µg/mL), or other liver disease (6.1 µg/mL), as compared with healthy cats (1.5 µg/mL; P < .001, P < .001, and P = .04, respectively). Mean serum concentration of leptin was higher in cats with HL (9.8 ng/mL) or HL and concurrent disease (10.7 ng/mL) than healthy cats (4.9 ng/mL, P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). Cats with other liver disease had leptin concentration (4.9 ng/mL) similar to healthy cats. Concentrations of adiponectin were correlated with alanine aminotransferase activity (r = 0.40, P = .0069), and concentrations of leptin were correlated with alkaline phosphatase activity (r = 0.42, P = .0051) in cats with liver disease. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Adipokine concentrations are altered in feline HL. Increased concentrations of adiponectin are related to liver disease, whereas increased concentrations of leptin are specifically related to HL.

Neuronal ceroidlipofuscinosis: CCT findings in fourteen patients.

CCT was performed in 14 children/adolescents with juvenile ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL) at different stages of the disease. CCT was normal in 7 patients; mildly abnormal in 3, clearly abnormal in another 3 and severely abnormal in 1 patient. Characteristic findings were symmetrical enlargement of subarachnoid spaces and of the lateral and third ventricles. White matter showed no changes in density. In later stages also the fourth ventricle was enlarged and cerebellar atrophy was seen. CCT findings were not closely correlated with onset and/or severity of the neurological abnormalities. CCT findings were positively correlated with age of the patients: CCT was usually normal if patients were less than 10 years old, and usually abnormal if patients were more than 14 years old.