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Biomedical subjects

W Kraft

Publications and source records attributed to W Kraft.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Diagnostic value of glutamate dehydrogenase determination in the dog].

Overproportional GLDH-increase was found to be the most frequently appearing pathological enzyme pattern in canine practice. Thus it could be shown that GLDH deviates, in spite of its mitochondrial localization and greater molecular weight, more frequently and to a higher degree from its reference value than the parameters ALT, AST, AP, GGT and Bilirubin. The results of the study suggest that the liberation of the enzyme is less determined by the intensity than by the intralobular target of the liver insult. Therefore an increase in GLDH-activity should no longer be interpreted as the result of severe liver damage. On the contrary, the enzyme appeared to be the most sensitive indicator for the diagnosis of primary and secondary hepatopathies. The phenomenon of isolated GLDH-increase could be interpreted in almost every disease group as an appearance of the over-proportional increase and can therefore be understood as a serological expression of a slight, perivenous liver affection. Only with effusion patients the enzyme pattern should be regarded as an independent finding, because it has extrahepatic reasons. The induction of the enzyme in cases of diabetes mellitus is discussed.

Animals↗

[Total thyroxine (T4) and free thyroxine (FT4) in hypothyroidism and nonthyroid diseases of dogs].

In 1548 dogs total and free thyroxine were determined. 559 of these dogs had been divided into 13 groups: 130 were healthy dogs, 22 suffered from hypothyroidism, two from hyperthyroidism, 405 from various other internal diseases. The other 989 dogs did not belong to one of the groups of interest or could not be attached to a certain group. In all hypothyroid dogs FT4-values were hypothyroid, whereas T4 was hypothyroid just in 16 cases; the other six values were located in the "gray area", which is supposed to be 1.2 to 1.8 micrograms/dl (15 to 23 nmol/l). Many dogs with other diseases expressed low T4- and/or FT4-values, too. Low hormone values could be measured especially in case of severe diseases. If the clinical symptoms corresponded to hypothyroidism and both T4 and FT4 were situated in the hypothyroid area, hypothyroidism is generally assumed. In all the other cases further diagnostic procedures must be performed.

Alopecia↗

[Serum cholesterol in the dog].

The reference values of cholesterol were examined in two groups of healthy dogs. In a group of 591 dogs a value of 122-389 mg/dl or 3.2-10.1 mmol/l was calculated (95% percentile). Statistically significant variations occurred with age, sex, breed, and feeding; however they were small and do not require consideration in diagnostic procedures. Serum cholesterol is increased in numerous diseases. It is questionable whether the consideration of serum cholesterol helped in the diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

Age Factors↗

[Diagnosis of FIV infection].

The FIV PetCheck ELISA is a practical and commercially available method routinely used for the detection of anti-FIV antibodies in FIV infection. However, false positive and false negative results occur, although the reliability of the negative results is higher than that of the positive results. To determine the predictive value of a positive result in Bavaria, 1911 randomly selected cat sera were collected. Using the PetCheck anti-FIV ELISA, 103 (5.4%) of the 1911 samples tested were positive. These positive samples were reexamined by two other ELISA and by Western Blot. Sixty-one (59.2%) were positive with the second ELISA, 53 (51.5%) with the third ELISA and 40 (40.7%) by Western Blot. Therefore, 59.2% of all positive samples could be considered false positive. The ELISA as a single method to diagnose FIV infection is not reliable in Germany due to the low prevalence of FIV infection. Therefore, a Western Blot confirmation of every positive ELISA is of absolute necessity.

Animals↗

[The determination of free thyroxine (FT4) in dog serum].

Free thyroxine (FT4) was determined in canine serum by use of a commercially available test kit. The measurement of intra- and interassay precision showed very good results. Accuracy was examined by adding known amounts of thyroxine and by biological response testing. The results were also good. The reference value was determined in 129 dogs. It was calculated on the basis of a 95% percentile, and ranged from 0.6 to 3.7 ng/dl (7.7 to 47.4 pmol/l).

Animals↗

[Retrovirus infections of the cat: feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). A review from the clinical viewpoint].

Diseases caused by FeLV are very variable. They can be classified in FeLV associated, proliferative and neoplastic signs. Moreover there are other nonspecific diseases and clinically inapparent infections. FeLV as well as FIV may cause immunodeficiency syndromes; this is the main problem in FIV infections. In contrast to humans FIV does not induce specific secondary diseases. Positive diagnostic results obtained by use of commercial test kits must be verified by other methods. Methods of treatment and their problems are discussed.

Animals↗

[The diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs with Larsson's FT4-cholesterol test].

The FT4-cholesterol test (Larsson) is able to distinguish hypothyroid from healthy dogs. In dogs suffering from nonhypothyroidal diseases the test cannot be used since the values overlap with those of hypothyroid dogs. The reason is seen in an influence of numerous other diseases resulting in hypercholesterolaemia as well as a decrease of FT4.

Animals↗

[Lysozyme activity in cat feces].

Activity of fecal lysozyme was determined in healthy cats and cats with chronic diarrhea. The established reference value ranged from 0 up to 2.6 micrograms/g feces. Mean activity of the control group was 1.3 +/- 0.9 micrograms/g feces, mean activity of the patient group was 3.4 +/- 3.3 micrograms/g. There was a statistically significant difference between these two values. Nevertheless it was not possible to classify various diseases by evaluating lysozyme activity. In addition to endoscopy and histological examination, determination of lysozyme can be used as screening test and means of assessment for treatment and progress in cats with chronic diarrhea.

Animals↗

[BT-PABA/xylose test in the cat?].

The BT-PABA/Xylose test was used in 10 healthy cats and 49 cats with chronic diarrhea. In seven cats the test was performed three times in order to investigate individual variability. There was a statistically significant difference between the control group and the patients in the mean peak concentration of xylose, but no difference between groups of different diseases. The mean peaks of PABA were not significantly different between the control group and the patient group. Due to high individual variation in healthy cats the BT-PABA/Xylose test cannot be considered to be a useful test in feline diagnosis.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗

[Cardiopulmonary effects of CPPV (continuous positive pressure ventilation) and IRV (inverse ratio ventilation) in experimental myocardial ischemia].

Continuous positive pressure ventilation (CPPV) is an established therapy for treatment of acute respiratory failure (ARF). However, cardiac performance may be severely disturbed due to elevated intrathoracic pressure, inducing a decrease in cardiac output (CO) and oxygen delivery (DO2). Alternatively, mechanical ventilation with prolonged inspiratory to expiratory duration ratio (inversed ratio ventilation IRV) has been successfully used in ARF. No data are available about IRV in acute haemodynamic oedema. Thus, the cardiopulmonary effects of CPPV (positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP] = 10 cm H2O) and IRV (inspiration to expiration duration ratio [I:E] = 3.0) were studied in nine dogs (body weight 29.9 +/- 4.3 kg) before and after induction of myocardial ischaemia. METHODS. Continuous intravenous anaesthesia and muscle paralysis were provided by 1.2 mg.kg-1 x h-1 piritramide and 0.08 mg.kg-1 x h-1 pancuronium, and the animals were ventilated with intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) as reference method. Cardiocirculatory performance was determined by means of heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP), central venous pressure (CVP), pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Cardiac output (CO) was determined by thermodilution method. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was calculated. Pulmonary function was assessed by arterial and mixed venous blood gas tension for oxygen (PaO2, PvO2) and carbon dioxide (PaCO2). Functional residual lung capacity (FRC) was measured by means of the foreign gas wash-in method using helium as inert gas, and determination of extravascular lung water (EVLW) using the thermal-dye indicator technique. CPPV and IRV were studied in random sequence in the control phase and 60 min after induction of acute left ventricular ischaemia, which was achieved by occlusion of the ramus interventricularis anterior. RESULTS. During the control phase CPPV induced an increase in MPAP (P < 0.05), CVP (P < 0.05) and PAOP (P < 0.05). HR and MAP remained unchanged, whereas CO decreased by 16% (P < 0.05). FRC was elevated by 25 ml.kg-1 (P < 0.01), but not EVLW (9.1 +/- 3.5 ml.kg-1). There was no improvement in oxygenation; instead, oxygen delivery (DO2) decreased (P < 0.05). During inversed ratio ventilation MPAP, CVP, PAOP increased, but less than during CPPV. FRC was elevated mu 7.0 ml.kg-1 (P < 0.05), which was significantly less than during CPPV (P < 0.05). EVLW revealed no differences. During IPPV in the ischaemia phase cardiopulmonary performance deteriorated significantly. CO decreased by 19% (P < 0.05), whereas HR, MPAP, CVP and PAOP increased (P < 0.05). PaO2 was lower (P < 0.05) and alveolo-arterial PO2 gradient (PAaO2) increased (P < 0.05). All animals revealed moderate pulmonary oedema (EVLW = 15.1 +/- 8.4 ml.kg-1) (P < 0.01) and a lower FRC. Mechanical ventilation with PEEP significantly improved oxygenation and FRC; however, DO2 was slightly lower than during IPPV (not significant). IRV elevated PaO2, FRC and DO2, since CO was not depressed when compared with IPPV. CONCLUSIONS. CPPV and IRV may induce a recruitment of collapsed or hypoventilated lung areas, which is more pronounced during CPPV. During both modes of ventilation, oxygenation was improved without apparent changes in EVLW. Haemodynamic performance was more impaired during CPPV, and no improvement of left ventricular function secondary to an elevated intrathoracic pressure was observed. Occlusion of the RIVA coronary artery typically induces an infarction of 35% of left ventricular muscle mass; however, non-ischaemic myocardium reveals an unchanged or increased contractility. Thus, a reduction of left ventricular preload secondary to CPPV mainly contributes to haemodynamic depression, which is less pronounced during IRV due to a lower peak inspiratory airway pressure and mean airway pressure. IRV may be useful for mechanical ventCntCo

Animals↗