Experimental transplacental infection of pregnant dogs with canine herpesvirus

Fetal infection was established in 28 of 33 pups obtained from 7 pregnant dogs (47th to 53rd day of gestation) inoculated IV with canine herpesvirus (CHV). The pathogenesis of transplacental CHV infection was investigated by using pathologic examination, immunofluorescence microscopy, and viral assay. Infection with the virus was recognized in 13 of 18 neonatal pups obtained from 4 bitches by spontaneous delivery at full term. Eleven pups died within a week of birth and all had characteristic lesions of CHV infection. Thirteen live-born and 2 stillborn pups derived from 3 bitches by cesarean section died within 9 days of birth. Characteristic lesions of CHV infection were observed in various organs, such as liver, spleen, kidney, and lung. Fourteen of the fetal placentas had variable degree of necrotizing lesions. The lesions were characterized by degenerative changes and focal necrosis in the placental labyrinth. Lesions were present in the walls of allantoic blood vessels. Intranuclear inclusions were evident in degenerating trophoblast cells and in the cells of maternal and fetal blood vessels. Infective virus and viral antigen were detected in the various organs of pups and in the trophoblastic cells of junctional zone. Virus also was found in the walls of maternal and fetal blood vessels of the placental tissues. The results strongly indicated that transplacental transmission of CHV may occur in pregnant dogs at a late stage of gestation.

A case report of myasthenia gravis associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis

An unusual case of myasthenia gravis is presented. The disease was clinically established in a 71-year-old Japanese woman by an electromyographic, pharmacologic test and anti-acetylcholine receptor (anti-AChR) antibodies demonstrated in the circulating blood. The coexistence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis was diagnosed by the presence of a diffuse thyroid enlargement, anti-thyroglobulin and anti-microsomal antibodies and a lowered thyroidal 131I uptake. A delusion of persecution developed during the treatment with pyridostigmine and ephedrine chloride, but the symptom disappeared after discontinuing the use of ephedrine chloride.

Treatment of severe hypertension and hypertensive emergency with nifedipine, a calcium antagonistic agent

Nifedipine, the Ca++ antagonistic coronary vasodilator, was administered by oral, sublingual and enema routes. 1) In 6 severe hypertensive patients (systolic pressure greater than or equal to 200 mmHg, diastolic greater than or equal to 120 mmHg), nifedipine, administered orally, induced prompt and reliable fall of arterial pressure (systolic pressure: -28% of control level, diastolic: -27%). 2) In 10 patients with hypertensive emergencies, including malignant hypertension, intracranial bleeding, hypertensive encephalopathy and acute hypertensive heart failure, sublingual and enema administration of nifedipine were performed with excellent hypotensive efficacy. 3) Pressure began to fall within 5--15 min, 30 min and 30--60 min after sublingual (or dissolved), enema and oral (capsule), respectively, and reached its lowest levels in the next 10--20 min. The fall of pressure lasts for 2--4 hours. 4) In the combination of nifedipine with alpha-methyldopa, antihypertensive response in short-term was increased about +11% over nifedipine alone and lasted for 8 hours. In combination with beta-blocker (propranolol), hypotensive efficacy increased +39% over nifedipine alone, but the effective duration of this combination was the same as nifedipine alone. 5) Side effects, including dryness of the mouth and burning sensation in face and legs, were observed in few patients.

A gouty family with increased phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase activity: case reports, familial studies, and kinetic studies of the abnormal enzyme

Two male patients with urate overexcretion and clinical gout in a family showed activity of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (PRPP) synthetase in erythrocyte lysates (3.1-fold) greater than that found in normal subjects. Hemolysates from 5 female persons in this family contained (2.7-fold) increased enzyme activity suggesting X-linked dominant transmission of the abnormality. Increased maximal velocity of the enzyme, aberrant protein pattern in polyacrylamide electrophoresis, and increased thermolability in purified enzyme suggested that this enzyme is a mutant one. From these findings, it was assumed that the characteristics of this enzyme were different from 4 previously reported enzymes.

[Two-dimensional echocardiographic and RI angiographic features of aneurysm of the ascending aorta in patients with annuloaortic ectasia (author's transl)]

The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic value of two-dimensional echocardiography with that of other methods in the detection and localization of aneurysm involving the ascending aorta in patients with annuloaortic ectasia. Two-dimensional echocardiography, RI angiography, CT scan and aortography were performed in 19 patients (12 patients with Marfan's syndrome, 4 with aortitis syndrome and 3 with postoperative perivalvular aneurysm). Eight of 12 patients with Marfan's syndrome had dissection in the ascending aorta which was confirmed at surgery or autopsy. The following observations were obtained. 1) Dissection of the ascending aorta was clearly demonstrated on the two-dimensional echocardiogram in 7 patients by recording the intimal tear and flap, and in these cases the short axis two-dimensional echocardiogram of the ascending aorta was more useful in identifying the site and extent of dissection. 2) In patients with postoperative perivalvular aneurysms, RI angiography proved to be a more useful and sensitive technique in differentiating a leakage into the aneurysm from clots in the aneurysm. 3) CT scanning proved to be an insensitive technique to detect dissection of the ascending aneurysm and to differentiate a leakage from clots in the perivalvular aneurysm. From these observations, we concluded that two-dimensional echocardiography and RI angiography proved to be sensitive techniques in detecting dissection of the ascending aneurysm and evaluating a postoperative aneurysm in patients with annuloaortic ectasia.

Haemolysis following repair of subpulmonic ventricular septal defect with pulmonic stenosis

We observed a case of severe intravascular haemolysis following repair of subpulmonaic ventricular septal defect with pulmonic stenosis. In this case immunological studies and cardiac catheterization demonstrated haemolysis resulting from mechanical factors. When severe haemolysis and progressive anemia following intracardiac repair persist, inadequate intracardiac correction should be suspected and the second surgery is to be considered.

Long-term follow-up of artificial valves in patients under 15 years old

Forty-nine artificial cardiac valves implanted in 44 patients less than 15 years old were reviewed. Out of 49 valves, 16 were mechanical and 33 were xenografts. Average follow-up was 2 years 5 months. Marked valvular stenosis developed in 11 out of the 33 xenografts, an incidence of 15% per patient-year. In patients with a xenograft valve, the incidence of sepsis was found to be 4% per patient-year and brain accidents, 4% per patient-year. In patients with mechanical valves, the incidence of stenosis was only 2% per patient-year and brain accidents, 2% per patient-year. There was no sepsis. From these follow-up results, mechanical valves seem to be superior to xenografts when used in patients less than 15 years old.

Pathology of the placenta and newborn pups with suspected intrauterine infection of canine herpesvirus

Pathologic and virologic investigations were done on the fetal placenta and on pup runts which were obtained from a bitch with a medical history of canine herpesvirus (CHV) infection. Macroscopically, the placenta was poorly developed. Small grayish white foci were observed in the placental labyrinth. Characteristic lesions of CHV infection were not prominent in the pups examined. Microscopically, however, focal degenerative and necrotizing lesions were observed in the placental labyrinth. Rarely, eosinophilic or basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were in the trophoblastic cells in the necrotizing lesions. In the adrenal gland of one stillborn pup, focal necrosis and hemorrhages could be seen; these irregularities were essentially the same as those seen in the newborn pups with CHV infection. Focal interstitial pneumonia was also observed in some of the pups. The CHV organism was isolated from the kidney of one pup that survived for 22 days.

Effects of oral administration of positively charged insulin liposomes on alloxan diabetic rats: preliminary study

Insulin encapsulated in liposomes of various lipid compositions were prepared. The amount of insulin trapped in these liposomes increased in the order, negatively charged liposomes less than neutral liposomes less than positively charged liposomes. In positively charged liposomes, the amount of insulin trapped increased with increase in the amount of amphiphile stearylamine. Under the conditions tested, the highest insulin content (about 50%) was obtained with liposomes composed of phosphatidyl choline/cholesterol/stearylamine in a molar ratio of 7/2/2.25. These liposomes were stable on incubation for 3 hr at 37 degrees C in solutions of pepsin, trypsin, and pancreatin, and after these incubations, a considerable amount of insulin was still associated with the liposomes. However, the liposomes released almost all the insulin into the medium on treatment with bile. When the liposomes were administered orally to rats in the 3rd phase of acute alloxan diabetes, reduction of the blood glucose level was observed in 7 of 11 animals, the reduction persisted for several hours and was ranging from 30 to 75%. In alloxan diabetic rats showing hyperglycemia for 3 to 6 months, the liposomes also increased the glucose tolerance in half the animals tested.

Juvenile acinar atrophy of the pancreas of a dog

A dog with juvenile acinar atrophy of the pancreas had degranulation and loss of the acinar cells. Transitional features from normal to degranulation were seen. Electron microscopically, the atrophic pancreas mainly consisted of epithelial cells of duct system, islet cells and multivesicular cells.

Successful surgical management of a dissecting aneurysm of the ascending and transverse aorta with heart failure due to sudden, severe aortic valve insufficiency

A dissecting aneurysm of the ascending and transverse aorta with heart failure due to sudden severe arotic valve insufficiency in a 47-year-old man has been treated successfully. Vasodilator therapy was done preoperatively, and then hemodynamics was improved markedly. A selective perfusion technique by using separate pumps at pre-determined flow-rates with hypothermia was utilized. The replacement of both the aortic valve and the ascending and transverse aorta involving brachiocephalic artery with a prosthetic valve and expanded polytetra-fluoroethylene coated woven Dacron grafts was performed.