Biomedical subjects
S Arnold
Publications and source records attributed to S Arnold.
[The blood group distribution in domestic cats in Switzerland].
1014 Swiss housecats have been blood typed. 99.6% had blood group A and 0.4% had blood group B, with no type AB cats detected. The transfusion of blood, or the transfer of antibodies to newborn kittens through colostrum, can cause clinical signs of incompatibility. Because almost all B-cats have high naturally occurring antibody titers against the other blood group, it is the B-cat which is most likely at risk to have incompatibility reactions after a blood transfusion and it is the B-queen which has high antibody titers in the colostrum. In the contrary only about one third of the A-cats have antibodies and usually in low titers. The present investigation demonstrates that the incidence of blood type B in Swiss housecats is very low. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a minimal risk for incompatibility reactions due to blood transfusions. The same could be said of neonatal isoerythrolysis which is unlikely to occur with the random mating of housecats.
[Estrus induction in bitches by the administration of PMSG and HCG].
Oestrus was induced in 14 anoestrous beagle bitches by intramuscular injection of PMSG in a dose of 20 I.U./kg once daily on five consecutive days, followed by an additional single i.m. injection of 500 I.U. of hCG on the fifth day. The day on which the first injection was given was counted as Day 1 of the experiment. Between the fourth and sixth day, the bitches began to attract the attention of male dogs and between Days 9 and 15 all bitches came in heat. Matings occurred on two to ten occasions, and six of the bitches conceived. The maximum concentrations of oestradiol in the plasma were in most cases reached on Days 10 or 12 and ranged from 42 to 195 pg/ml. In all cases progesterone concentrations rose sharply between Days 10 and 20. The incretion phase of the corpora lutea was noticeably brief in the non-gravid bitches; in five of these eight bitches, anoestrous values below 2 ng/ml were already obtained before the 65th day of the experiment. These results indicate that the administration of PMSG on five consecutive days supplemented by a final single injection of hCG stimulates the ovaries adequately to afford good prospects of conception. The concentrations of ovarian hormones are discussed.
[Estradiol and progesterone concentrations in the plasma of nonpregnant bitches during the sexual cycle].
Measurement of the plasma concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone in six bitches on 180 consecutive days showed large fluctuations in the levels of both hormones. The concentrations of oestradiol began to increase 10-12 days before the peak levels of 38.1-89.7 pg/ml were reached, then declined again over the next 3-7 days to or below the minimum measurable value of 9 pg/ml. On the day after the maximum concentrations of oestradiol were recorded, plasma progesterone began to rise rapidly, reaching a plateau after approximately two weeks, then declining gradually after a further two weeks. At the height of the luteal phase, peak levels of 12.6-70.1 ng/ml were measured, although on some days values of less than 1 ng/ml were recorded. The time of occurrence of the initial rise in the progesterone concentration during oestrus presumably indicates that preovulatory luteinization had taken place. During anoestrus the basal concentration of progesterone was generally less than 1 ng/ml and that of oestradiol less than 9 pg/ml. The normal values derived from these observations are discussed with regard to the interpretation of oestradiol and progesterone concentrations in domestic pets under treatment in veterinary practice.
A peptidergic circuit for reproductive behavior.
A projection from the medial amygdaloid nucleus to the hippocampus and septum probably uses vasopressin as a transmitter. The nucleus synthesizes vasopressin and activation of the nucleus has a hippocampal effect that is completely blocked by a vasopressin antagonist. The afferent and efferent projections of this peptidergic nucleus suggest a possible role for the system in sexual behavior. Stimulation of the nucleus inhibits the output of the hippocampus in both genders and reorganizes behavior for a period of 15-20 min. In males, the effect of peptidergic activation is to produce a behavior that resembles the post-ejaculatory interval in coitus. This state is characterized by an EEG that resembles slow-wave sleep and by ultrasonic vocalizations at a characteristic frequency of 22 kHz. Castration in either gender causes depletion of the peptide from the target fields and eliminates the peptidergic signal in the hippocampus after about 15 weeks. The effects of castration in males can be reversed by testosterone replacement. The fluctuation of estrogen levels in rat plasma during the estrus cycle happens too quickly to impact the peptidergic system, and thus there is no significant change in the strength of the peptidergic signal among the proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus stages. This fact permits study of the physiology of the system without concern for stage of estrus but does not permit conclusions regarding its function in females.
[Use of a low dose prostaglandin F2 alpha in bitches].
The dosage of Prostaglandin F2 alpha used until the present (100, 250 and 1000 micrograms/kg bw), in order to treat pyometra in the bitch, was accompanied with side effects such as salivation, vomiting and diarrhea. In the present work, the efficiency of low dose Prostaglandin (20 micrograms/kg bw) was examined in two different groups of patients: Group 1: Included 9 bitches pregnant for a period of 5-7 weeks duration. Initially the bitches were treated 3 or 4 times per day with Prostaglandin F2 alpha. In these cases abortion took place within 4 to 11 days. Group 2: 12 dogs, suffering from pyometra, were treated 3 times per day with PGF2 alpha for 8 days. In 9 dogs the pyometra resolved and the bitches came in estrus 2-5 months after treatment. 7 bitches have been mated and 6 of these gave birth to healthy litters. During a follow-up period of at least 10 months there has not been a reoccurrence of pyometra. In 3 out of the 12 dogs the uteri were still enlarged after 8 days of treatment. These bitches underwent ovariohysterectomy and a cystic hyperplasia of the endometrium was diagnosed histologically. The low dose (20 micrograms/kg BW) Prostaglandin F2 alpha induced in all dogs the expulsion of the uterine contents. Side effects during the treatment were not observed.
Impact of geriatric nurse practitioners on nursing-home residents' functional status, satisfaction, and discharge outcomes.
This study evaluated the impact of geriatric nurse practitioners (GNP) employed by nursing homes on quality of patient care and residents' outcomes during a 12-month study period. Quality of care was assessed in standardized interviews of 525 residents in five nursing homes with GNPs and 323 residents in five other nursing homes without GNPs. Each resident was interviewed up to four times during the study period (at baseline, and 3, 6, and 12 months later) to determine functional status, satisfaction with care, and physical condition at each of these points. The only significant difference between groups was that fewer newly admitted residents were hospitalized from GNP homes than from those without a GNP. The results of this interview study showed that the GNP as a nursing home employee had little impact on residents' functional status, physical condition, or satisfaction.
Treatment of urinary incontinence in dogs by endoscopic injection of Teflon.
Twenty-two dogs with urethral sphincter incompetence, nonresponsive to phenylpropanolamine administration, were treated by urethral submucosal injection of Teflon. Urinary continence was achieved in all dogs for at least 2 months. Urinary incontinence recurred in 14 dogs (64%) and was controlled by a second Teflon injection in 11 of 12 dogs (92%). Minor complications included transient stranguria, with or without hematuria, after 4 of 35 injection procedures. One dog had temporary partial urethral obstruction after treatment.
Periarticular soft tissue calcification and ossification in the septic joint.
We encountered three infants who developed juxta-articular calcification adjacent to the anterolateral aspect of the ilium. All had had drainage of a septic hip using an anterior approach. Calcification was not found among five infants whose septic hips were drained using a posterior approach. Some surgeons who employ the anterior approach facilitate exposure of the joint capsule by elevation of the origins of the sartorius and rectus femoris muscles. We feel this juxta-articular calcification in this setting is a sequla of anterior surgical drainage of the hip in which there has been surgical elevation of the iliac periosteum. It does not imply an unfavorable outcome.
Dose to the cardiac vascular and conduction systems in primary breast irradiation.
Using computerized tomography (CT) in which cardiac anatomy was defined, doses delivered to the cardiac compartments, vascular and conduction systems were assessed for various standard techniques of primary breast irradiation. Included in the analysis were 6 MV photon tangents (T) alone, or in conjunction with a separate internal mammary field (IMF). Beams evaluated in the IMF were 6 MV photons, 12 MeV electron beam, and mixed photon/electron beam; Cobalt 60 was also analyzed as an alternate photon beam. Treatment of the IMF with photons, either alone or in combination with electron beam, delivered doses ranging between 30 Gy to 50 Gy to all chambers of the heart, coronary arteries and branches of the conduction system. Complete sparing of the posterior cardiac structures and volume is accomplished with treatment plans using tangents alone or in combination with 12 MeV electron beam irradiation to the IMF. Sparing of the anterior wall of the left ventricle, Bundle of His and left anterior descending coronary artery is also achieved in treatment with tangents and 12 MeV electron beam IMF. Doses to this region with tangents alone ranged from 20 Gy to 45 Gy compared to 0 to 30 Gy with tangents and 12 MeV electron beam IMF. Clinical significance of these findings will be discussed.
Effect of duration of PMSG treatment on induction of oestrus, pregnancy rates and the complications of hyper-oestrogenism in dogs.
In anoestrous bitches, the use of 5 or 10 days of daily PMSG treatments (20 i.u./kg/day) before a single injection of hCG (500 i.u./dog) did not affect the timing of induced pro-oestrus (4-6 days) but did result in a greater incidence of conception (3 of 6 vs 6 of 17), a high rate of successful pregnancy (50% vs 0%), lower preovulatory oestrogen concentrations, and reduced incidence of complications due to hyper-oestrogenism such as thrombocytopenia (0% vs 29%). These results suggest an advantage of 5 over 10 days of priming with PMSG, at the doses used before hCG injection, for induction of fertile oestrus in bitches.
[Urinary incontinence in spayed female dogs: frequency and breed disposition].
A follow up study was performed in 412 spayed bitches in order to determine the incidence of urinary incontinence. The period between the operation being performed and the survey being made varied between 3 and 10 years. 83 animals (20.1%) were incontinent independent of the surgical procedure (ovariectomy versus ovariohysterectomy). The onset of incontinence varied between immediately to 12 years with an average period of 2.9 years after surgery. 57 of these incontinent bitches were treated with ephedrine or estrogen. In 73.7% a good response was achieved with ephedrine and a further 23.7% showed some improvement. Generally ephedrine was more successful than estrogen in the treatment of incontinence. There appears to be a strong connection between body weight and the incidence of incontinence. Of bitches with a body weight of less than 20 kg only 9.3% were incontinent. Whereas in bitches with a body weight of more than 20 kg the incidence was 30.9%. Of the breeds Boxers showed a high incidence of incontinence (65%) while breeds such as German Shepherds (10.6%) or Dachshunds (11.1%) showed a low incidence in relation to the average incidence rate (20.1%).
A comparison of prednisolone with azathioprine and prednisolone with intramuscular gold in rheumatoid arthritis.
Pulse prednisolone hemisuccinate therapy (500 mg given intravenously on three occasions over two weeks) has been combined with either intramuscular sodium aurothiomalate or azathioprine in an assessment of 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Significant improvement in a variety of clinical and biochemical assessments was seen in both groups. Both treatments were well tolerated by the patients and prednisolone appeared to accelerate the response to sodium aurothiomalate and azathioprine but there was no great evidence that it enhanced it.
A method of quantify confounding in regression analyses applied to data on diet and CHD incidence.
We present a method to display the results of linear regression when the independent variables are highly correlated. In this method the sum of squares of regression (SSR) for pairs of variables are partitioned into orthogonal and shared components. A shared component is the reduction in the SSR of one of the variables when the other variable is added to the regression equation. This method shows how the SSR for one variable depends on the other variables present in the regression equation and explains apparent inconsistencies between forward and backward stepwise regression. To demonstrate the potential usefulness of this method we reanalyzed previously reported data on the relationship between coronary heart disease (CHD) and diet. The analysis suggested that carbohydrate and alcohol intake are negatively associated with CHD because they are associated with greater caloric intake. Protein and fat intake are also associated with greater caloric intake, but in addition they are associated with factors that increase the risk of CHD.
Geriatric nurse practitioners as nursing home employees: implementing the role.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Cutaneous sarcoidosis: gallium-67 imaging.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
[Early diagnosis of pregnancy in bitches using ultrasound].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.