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At least 1,657 records · Page 92Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Epizootiologic evaluation of urolithiasis in cats: 3,498 cases (1982-1992).

OBJECTIVE: to test the hypothesis that breed, sex and age of cats, and anatomic location of uroliths are risk factors for calcium oxalate and magnesium ammonium phosphate urolithiasis. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Records of 3,498 feline urolith accessions submitted between September 1982 and September 1992. PROCEDURE: Mineral composition of feline uroliths was quantitatively analyzed. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for breed, sex, age, and urolith location as risk factors for calcium oxalate and magnesium ammonium phosphate urolith formation. The population at risk was defined as all cats for which that type of urolith had been submitted. The control population was all cats for which uroliths had been submitted, excluding cats with the type of urolith being evaluated. RESULTS: Burmese, Persian, and Himalayan breeds were at higher risk for developing calcium oxalate uroliths, but at reduced risk for developing magnesium ammonium phosphate uroliths. Compared with females, neutered male cats had a higher risk for developing calcium oxalate uroliths, but a reduced risk for developing magnesium ammonium phosphate uroliths. The risk for calcium oxalate urolith formation increased with age. One- to 2-year-old female cats had the highest risk for magnesium ammonium phosphate uroliths. Uroliths removed from the kidneys were more likely to be composed of calcium oxalate than of magnesium ammonium phosphate. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Breed, sex, and age of cats, and anatomic location of uroliths should be considered when evaluating risk of calcium oxalate and magnesium ammonium phosphate urolithiasis in urolith-forming cats.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1996

Study of hereditary cerebellar degeneration in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the nature of ataxia observed in 3 cats spanning 2 generations. DESIGN: Experimental breeding was attempted to confirm heritability of the disease and establish the mode of inheritance; the original 3 cats and their offspring were studied. ANIMALS: Seven diseased cats spanning 3 generations and 11 neurologically normal cats. PROCEDURE: Cats were examined by use of the following methods: clinical observation, hematologic and serum biochemical examinations, neurologic examination, electrodiagnostics, magnetic resonance imaging, lysosomal enzyme activity assay, horizontal transmission test, and virologic and pathologic examinations. RESULTS: All kittens (1 male and 3 females) obtained by backcrosses developed pure cerebellar dysfunction from the age of 7 to 8 weeks onward. It became progressively worse, but not fatal, between 1 and 2.5 months. Prenatal or perinatal infection with feline panleukopenia virus, inherited lysosomal storage diseases, including gangliosidosis and mannosidosis, and feline hereditary neuroaxonal dystrophy were excluded. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated that size of the cerebellum of diseased cats was markedly reduced. Cerebellar cortical degeneration, especially with extensive destruction of Purkinje cells, was observed microscopically. CONCLUSION: The disease was concluded to be cerebellar degeneration of a new clinical form in cats having an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When cerebellar dysfunction is diagnosed in a cat, hereditary cerebellar degeneration of this type should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Plasma amylin and insulin concentrations in normoglycemic and hyperglycemic cats.

The recently discovered pancreatic peptide amylin is postulated to be involved in the pathogenesis of feline diabetes mellitus. However, plasma amylin concentrations in normal and diabetic cats have not yet been published. The aim of the present study was to validate a commercial amylin radioimmunoassay kit for the measurement of feline amylin in unextracted plasma, and to measure plasma amylin concentrations in normal and diabetic cats. The kit had satisfactory specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision, and can be recommended for measurement of feline amylin in unextracted EDTA plasma, when nonspecific binding of plasma samples is used in the calculation of measured amylin concentration. Fasting amylin concentration in cats with normal glucose tolerance was 97 +/- 4 pmol/L. Plasma amylin increased in parallel with insulin after glucose administration in cats with normal and impaired glucose tolerance. In contrast to cats with normal glucose tolerance, cats with impaired glucose tolerance had markedly delayed amylin and insulin secretion. Diabetic cats had basal hypoinsulinemia combined with hyperamylinemia. Hyperamylinemia may lead to reduced insulin secretion and insulin resistance, and contribute to the development of feline diabetes. In conclusion, feline amylin can be measured in unextracted EDTA plasma. Fasting amylin concentrations are approximately 100 pmol/L, and amylin and insulin are cosecreted in cats with normal and impaired glucose tolerance. Increased amylin concentrations may contribute to the development of feline diabetes mellitus.

Amyloid↗
PubMed1996

Fulminant hepatic failure associated with oral administration of diazepam in 11 cats.

Acute fulminant hepatic necrosis was associated with repeated oral administration of diazepam (1.25 to 2 mg, PO, q 24 or 12 h), prescribed for behavioral modification or to facilitate urination. Five of 11 cats became lethargic, atactic, and anorectic within 96 hours of initial treatment. All cats became jaundiced during the first 11 days of illness. Serum biochemical analysis revealed profoundly high alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities. Results of coagulation tests in 3 cats revealed marked abnormalities. Ten cats died or were euthanatized within 15 days of initial drug administration, and only 1 cat survived. Histologic evaluation of hepatic tissue specimens from each cat revealed florid centrilobular hepatic necrosis, profound biliary ductule proliferation and hyperplasia, and suppurative intraductal inflammation. Idiosyncratic hepatotoxicosis was suspected because of the rarity of this condition. Prior sensitization to diazepam was possible in only 1 cat, and consistent risk factors that could explain susceptibility to drug toxicosis were not identified. On the basis of the presumption that diazepam was hepatotoxic in these cats, an increase in serum transaminase activity within 5 days of treatment initiation indicates a need to suspend drug administration and to provide supportive care.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of gastric and duodenal lesions in dogs and cats with and without lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis.

OBJECTIVE--To compare histologic lesions in the stomach and duodenum of dogs and cats with and without lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis (LPE). DESIGN--Case-control study. ANIMALS--20 clinically normal dogs, 40 dogs with LPE, 10 clinically normal cats, and 20 cats with LPE. RESULTS--Unevenness of the mucosal surface was detected in the stomach of 4 of the 20 (20%) clinically normal dogs and 10 of the 40 (25%) dogs with LPE. Mucosal friability was detected in the duodenum of 16 (40%) of the dogs with LPE and 10 of the 20 (50%) cats with LPE. Histologically, clinically normal dogs and dogs with LPE had various degrees of fibrosis in the gastric lamina propria. All of the clinically normal cats and the cats with LPE had slight gastric fibrosis. Clinically normal cats had infiltrates of inflammatory cells similar to those seen in the clinically normal dogs. Significantly more plasma cells and lymphocytes were seen in the duodenal lamina propria of dogs and cats with LPE than in the duodenal lamina propria of clinically normal animals. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS--LPE should be diagnosed by counting the number of inflammatory cells in the duodenal lamina propria and then comparing that number with the number seen in clinically normal animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Hematologic and systemic toxicoses associated with carboplatin administration in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence and severity of carboplatin-induced dose-limiting toxicoses in the cat. ANIMALS: 9 healthy, 6- to 7-month-old cats weighing 4.7 (range, 3.0 to 6.5) kg. PROCEDURE: Cats were given a single i.v. bolus of carboplatin at a dosage of 150 (n = 3), 200 (n = 3), or 250 (n = 3) mg/m2 of body surface area. RESULTS: Dose-limiting neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were significant in all cats given carboplatin at 200 or 250 mg/m2. Weight loss, changes in appetite, and evidence of respiratory difficulty, as well as vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy were not observed at any time during the 28-day period. At a highest dosage (250 mg/m2), the neutrophil nadir (560 +/- 303 neutrophils/microliters) was observed on day 17 and the platelet count nadir (96,500 +/- 11,815 platelets/microliters) was observed on day 14 after carboplatin administration. CONCLUSIONS: Carboplatin appears to be safe and clinically well-tolerated when given i.v. as a single bolus at a dosage of 200 mg/m2 to clinically normal cats. The dose-limiting toxicity of a single i.v. administered bolus is neutropenia. The nadir of a 200 mg/m2 i.v. administered dose occurs on day 17 (1,110 +/- 165 neutrophils/microliters) and neutropenia (< 2,000 neutrophils/microliters) lasts from day 14 through day 25 after carboplatin administration. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The fatal dose-related pulmonary toxicosis observed in cisplatin-treated cats was inapparent in carboplatin-treated cats. To adequately determine the therapeutic role of carboplatin in tumor-bearing cats, a moderately tolerated dose of carboplatin of 200 mg/m2 given i.v. once every 4 weeks should be considered.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence and characterization of Microsporum canis carriage in cats.

In order to determine the prevalence and to characterize the carriage of Microsporum canis in cats, different mycological examinations (including a culture obtained by hair brushing and Wood's light examination) were performed on 632 animals of different origins. Group 1 comprised 467 healthy pet cats belonging to veterinary students. In this group, prevalence of carriage was 2.1%: eight cats were asymptomatic transient carriers and one cat was an asymptomatic infected animal presenting discrete Wood's-positive lesions disseminated on the whole body that were visible after sedation and clipping. The carriage prevalence was higher (15.7%) in group 2 comprising 134 European cats destroyed in a pound and kept together. In two additional groups of cats, it was shown that an infected cat was responsible for the dissemination of fungal material into its environment including the other in-contact animals. When the active source of fungus was removed, the dissemination stopped, resulting in a decrease in the amount of infective material recovered from both the animal carriers and the environmental surfaces. This was also observed in two experimental groups of guinea pigs. No association between feline immunodeficiency virus infection and the M. canis carriage was observed in a retrospective case-control study performed on group 2. None of these cats was feline leukaemia virus positive.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Primary lung tumors in cats: 86 cases (1979-1994).

OBJECTIVE: To classify histologic type and morphology of primary lung tumors in cats, to describe clinical findings in these cats, and to determine whether clinical findings were associated with histologic type or morphology. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 86 cats with histologically confirmed primary lung tumors. PROCEDURE: Medical records for cats treated between 1979 and 1994 at any of 14 participating veterinary referral hospitals were reviewed. RESULTS: Weight loss, lethargy, and dyspnea were the most common clinical signs. Solitary or multiple pulmonary masses were seen on radiographs from 53 of 79 cats; effusion was seen on radiographs from the other 26. In 45 cats, tumors involved a single lung lobe. Caudal lung lobes were more commonly affected than were cranial lung lobes. Sixty-five cats had metastases. Tumors were classified as bronchial (n = 65), bronchiolar-alveolar (9), or other (12) and as poorly differentiated (59), moderately differentiated (20), or well differentiated (7). Breed, age, sex, weight, clinical signs, duration of clinical signs, and radiographic findings were not associated with histologic type or morphology. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: To identify possible occult primary lung tumors, thoracic radiography should be performed on cats with clinical signs of long duration, including weight loss, lethargy, and dyspnea.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Concentration of ionized calcium in plasma from cats with urethral obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To measure ionized calcium concentration in plasma from cats with urethral obstruction and to correlate these values with results of clinical biochemical analyses and physical examinations. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 24 male cats. PROCEDURE: Blood samples were obtained from each cat on admission, and PCV, pH, and concentrations of ionized calcium, total calcium, glucose, total solids, sodium, potassium, BUN, creatinine, chloride, magnesium, albumin, and phosphorus were determined. Mentation, tissue perfusion, and ECG recordings were also assessed. RESULTS: 18 (75%) cats had low ionized calcium concentrations (reference range, 2.4 to 2.8 mEq/L). Hypocalcemia was considered mild (2.0 to 2.36 mEq/L) in 9 (37.5%) cats, moderate (1.6 to 1.98 mEq/L) in 6 (25%), and severe (< 1.6 mEq/L) in 3 (12.5%). Significant positive correlations were found between ionized calcium concentration and heart rate, pH, and concentrations of sodium, chloride, and total calcium. Significant negative correlations were found between ionized calcium concentration and concentrations of potassium, BUN, creatinine, and phosphorus. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Most cats with urethral obstruction had a low concentration of ionized calcium. This may contribute to cardiac electrical and mechanical dysfunction in some severely affected cats. Although effects of i.v. administration of calcium were not evaluated, results of this study strengthen the rationale for its use in cats with urethral obstruction.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Frequency of Toxocara cati eggs in domestic cats in Mexico City and the State of Mexico].

Toxocariosis is a zoonosis which has been widely studied in dogs. However, not much is known about this parasitosis in cats. The aim of the present work was to determine the frequency of Toxocara cati in domestic cats in Mexico City and the State of Mexico. Feces of 660 domestic cats were studied by the Faust concentration-floating test; 401 samples were from cats living in Mexico City of which 308 lived in houses and 93 in apartments; 231 were from urban areas of the State of Mexico and 28 from a rural area of the same state. The total frequency of T. cati eggs obtained from domestic cats in Mexico City was 42.9%; in cats living in apartments it was 18.3% and in cats living in houses it was 50.3%. In domestic cats from the State of Mexico, T. cati frequency was 36.4% in the urban and 21.4% in the rural areas. We consider that toxocariosis frequency observed at the two studied sites is high and that the need to prevent dissemination of the infectious forms of T. cati is urgent, as is the necessity of informing the population of the risk of living with T. cati parasited animals and of the anatomopathological alterations caused by T. cati in man.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A case-control study of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection in cats with diarrhea.

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of enteric verocytotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) infection in a population of cats in Ontario, and to determine whether an association exists between the presence of VTEC and feline diarrhea. Fecal samples from 179 cats, representing 113 cats with diarrhea and 66 cats with normal feces, were cultured for E. coli. The fecal cultures were screened for verocytotoxin activity with a Vero cell assay. Confirmation of the presence of verocytotoxin (VT) genes was done with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification; the frequency of occurrence of the genes for generic VT, VT1, and VT2 was determined. VTEC-positive samples were defined as those that demonstrated cytotoxicity on the Vero cell assay and yielded E. coli possessing one or more of the VT genes. All VTEC-positive isolates were serotyped. The overall prevalence of enteric VTEC infection in the cats was 12.3% (22/179). Statistical analysis of the case-control data showed no significant association between VTEC infection and diarrheal illness. The majority of the cats with VT-positive E. coli were positive for the presence of the generic VT, rather than for VT1 or VT2; it is therefore possible that a novel verocytotoxin gene may exist in E. coli isolated from cats. Eight VTEC strains were identified by serotyping; 4 of these serotypes have previously been isolated from humans, and 2 from cattle, suggesting that cats may be capable of acting as reservoirs for human and bovine VTEC serotypes.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Heinz body formation in cats fed baby food containing onion powder.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cats fed baby food with onion powder develop Heinz bodies and anemia and to establish a dose-response relation between dietary onion powder content and Heinz body formation. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 42 healthy, adult, specific-pathogen-free cats. PROCEDURE: Commercial baby food with and without onion powder was fed to 2 groups of 6 cats for 5 weeks. Heinz body percentage, PCV, reticulocyte percentage, turbidity index, and methemoglobin and reduced glutathione concentrations were determined twice weekly and then weekly for 4 weeks following removal of the diet. For the dose-response study, 5 groups of 6 cats were fed a canned diet for 2 months that contained 0, 0.3, 0.75, 1.5, or 2.5% onion powder. Heinz body percentage, PCV, and reticulocyte percentage were determined twice weekly. RESULTS: Compared with cats fed baby food without onion powder, cats ingesting baby food with onion powder had significantly higher Heinz body percentages that peaked at 33 to 53%. Methemoglobin concentration also significantly increased but did not exceed 1.2%. Glutathione concentration, PCV, and food intake did not differ between the 2 groups. Rate and degree of Heinz body formation differed significantly between various onion powder concentrations fed. Compared with 0% onion powder, the diet with 2.5% onion powder caused a significant decrease in PCV and an increased punctate reticulocyte percentage. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Baby food or other foods containing similar amounts of onion powder should be avoided for use in cats because of Heinz body formation and the potential for development of anemia, particularly with high food intake. Cats with diseases associated with oxidative stress may develop additive hemoglobin damage when fed baby food containing onion powder.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗
PubMed1998

Clotting times and antithrombin III activity in cats with naturally developing diseases: 85 cases (1984-1994).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of abnormalities of in vitro prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), or antithrombin III (ATIII) activity or all 3 variables in cats; and the association of abnormalities of these variables with naturally developing diseases or disorders. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 85 cats from which blood had been obtained for measurement of a coagulation profile (PT, APTT, and ATIII activity) and concentration of fibrin degradation products. PROCEDURE: Medical records from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine were reviewed to determine clinical diagnosis, results of CBC and coagulation profile, and clinical evidence of abnormal bleeding or thrombotic disease. RESULTS: 38 cats had one or more abnormality in the coagulation profile; most had multiple abnormalities. Twenty of these 38 cats had concurrent thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia was identified in 9 of 47 cats in which results of the coagulation profile were normal. Most cats did not have clinical evidence of a coagulation disorder, and testing had been requested as part of a diagnostic work-up or before surgery. Diseases commonly associated with laboratory evidence of a coagulation disorder, either singly or in combination, included hepatic disease, neoplasia, and systemic infections. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: On the basis of laboratory evidence, hemostatic disorders develop more commonly in cats than clinical signs would suggest. Coagulation profiles may be warranted in high-risk cats to alert clinicians to potential problems.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Myocardial infarction in dogs and cats: 37 cases (1985-1994).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of acute and subacute myocardial infarction on postmortem examination, identify associated diseases, and evaluate clinical or diagnostic indicators of myocardial infarction in dogs and cats. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 32 dogs and 5 cats. PROCEDURE: Records from the necropsy service from December 1985 through August 1994 were searched for dogs and cats in which acute or subacute myocardial infarction was diagnosed on postmortem examination. Clinical records were reviewed for signalment, initial owner complaint, medical history, results of physical examination, electrocardiography, radiography, echocardiography, CBC, serum chemistry analysis, urinalysis, and coagulation profile as well as clinical course, outcome, necropsy findings, and results of histologic evaluation. RESULTS: Initial owner complaints and physical examination findings were consistent with associated diseases. Electrocardiographic abnormalities in dogs included ventricular tachycardia (16%), atrial fibrillation (9%), and premature ventricular contractions (6.5%). Premature ventricular contractions were noticed in 2 cats. Echocardiography revealed dilated, poorly contractile hearts (n = 3) and thickened mitral valves (2) in dogs, and ventricular hypertrophy (3) in cats. Ninety-seven percent of dogs had infarction of the left ventricle as well as other other portions of the heart. Infarctions in cats were found in all parts of the myocardium including the right ventricle (n = 3), left ventricle (3), and interventricular septum (1). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Myocardial infarction is rare in dogs and cats. It is associated with a number of common diseases and may contribute to morbidity and mortality in those dogs and cats that are critically ill.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Pure red cell aplasia in cats: 9 cases (1989-1997).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical features, laboratory test results, treatment, and outcome of FeLV-negative cats with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) diagnosed by examination of bone marrow. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 9 cats. PROCEDURE: Medical records and smears of bone marrow aspirates were reviewed to determine clinical features, laboratory test results, treatment, and outcome of this syndrome in cats. RESULTS: PRCA was diagnosed in 9 cats that were between 8 months and 3 years old. Cats had 2- to 16-day histories of lethargy and anorexia, and a severe normocytic, normochromic to hypochromic, nonregenerative anemia (Hct range, 6 to 15%; reference range, 25 to 45%). Other hematologic values were generally within reference ranges. Consistent changes in biochemical profiles included high aminotransferase activities and hyperferremia. Cats were seronegative for FeLV and feline immunodeficiency virus. Smears of bone marrow aspirates were characterized by absence of identifiable erythroid precursors and a high proportion of small lymphocytes. Abnormalities were not identified in megakaryocytes or myeloid cells. Treatment with immunosuppressive drugs (corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide or cyclosporin) resulted in resolution of anemia within 3 to 5 weeks. Most cats required long-term treatment to maintain Hct within reference range and tended to relapse when treatment frequency or dosage was decreased (especially if done rapidly) or treatment was discontinued. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: PRCA is a rare syndrome in young FeLV-negative cats, and is characterized by severe nonregenerative anemia and absence of erythroid cells in bone marrow. The condition requires prompt, aggressive, often long-term treatment with immunosuppressive drugs for resolution.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The cat infected with Brugia pahangi as a model of human filariasis.

The responses of cats to Brugia pahangi, which parasitizes them in nature, mimic those of humans to Brugia malayi and Wuchereria bancrofti in many important respects. It is likely that many of the features of the relationship between host and parasite that can be studied in cats infected with B. pahangi also apply to humans, but for a variety of practical reasons cannot be demonstrated in humans. Both immunologically and parasitologically there is a profound difference between B. pahangi-infected cats that have microfilariae in their blood and those that either do not become microfilaraemic or clear their blood of microfilariae and become post-microfilaraemic. Microfilaraemic cats are susceptible to reinfection and fail to recognize the surface of the sheath of microfilariae. They also do not produce antibodies against several components recognized by post-microfilaraemic cats. Cats that have destroyed their microfilariae also destroy their adult worms and are very resistant to challenge with infective larvae. Apart from the unique ability to recognize the sheath of microfilariae in fluorescent antibody tests, sera from these cats react with microfilarial antigens at 61-81 kDa, antigens of infective larvae at 22 and 18.5 kDa and adult antigens at 34, 18, 16, 13 and 11.5 kDa. None of these antigens are recognized by microfilaraemic cats.

Animals↗
PubMed2007

Recombinant human anti-transforming growth factor beta1 antibody therapy in systemic sclerosis: a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled phase I/II trial of CAT-192.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate CAT-192, a recombinant human antibody that neutralizes transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1), in the treatment of early-stage diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). METHODS: Patients with SSc duration of <18 months were randomly assigned to the placebo group or to 1 of 3 CAT-192 treatment groups: 10 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg. Infusions were given on day 0 and weeks 6, 12, and 18. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of CAT-192. Secondary outcomes included the modified Rodnan skin thickness score (MRSS), the Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire, assessment of organ-based disease, serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor, collagen propeptides (N propeptide of type I [PINP] and type III collagen), and tissue levels of messenger RNA for procollagens I and III and for TGFbeta1 and TGFbeta2. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were enrolled. There was significant morbidity and mortality, including 1 death in the group receiving 0.5 mg/kg of CAT-192 and 3 deaths in the group receiving 5 mg/kg of CAT-192. There were more adverse events and more serious adverse events in patients receiving CAT-192 than in those receiving placebo, although these events were not more frequent in the high-dose treatment group. The MRSS improved in all groups during the study, but there was no evidence of a treatment effect for CAT-192. Improvement in the MRSS correlated with the disease duration (r = -0.54, P = 0.0008). Changes in the PINP level from baseline correlated with changes in the MRSS (r = 0.37, P = 0.027). CONCLUSION: We report the first evaluation of a systemically administered and repeatedly dosed anti-TGFbeta1 drug. In this pilot study, CAT-192, in doses up to 10 mg/kg, showed no evidence of efficacy. The utility of clinical and biochemical outcome measures and the feasibility of multicenter trials of early dcSSc were confirmed.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Abnormal interhemispheric connections in the visual system of Boston Siamese cats: a physiological study.

In the normal cat most visual fibers in the splenium of the corpus callosum are concerned with a representation of the vertical meridian of the visual field. These fibers for the most part originate from cortical regions forming the border between adjacent architectonic areas, such as the anatomical 17-18 border. Due to a genetic mutation in Boston Siamese cats, the anatomical 17-18 border now represents a region in the ipsilateral visual field roughly 20 degrees away from the vertical meridian, and the representation of the vertical midline is displaced from the border to regions within areas 17 and 18 proper. Do visual fibers in the Boston Siamese cat corpus callosum originate, as in normal cats, from the 17-18 border even though the vertical meridian is no longer represented there? The present paper deals with this question from a physiological standpoint. Single visual fibers in the corpus callosum of 11 Boston Siamese and two normal cats were recorded using extracellular microelectrodes. Receptive fields were mapped and their positions used to infer the likely cortical site of origin for each fiber. In confirmation of earlier findings, most callosal receptive fields in the normal cat were closely apposed to the vertical meridian, as would be expected if only those visual cortical regions which represent the vertical meridian, such as the border between areas 17 and 18, contribute to the corpus callosum. In Boston Siamese cats, however, an abnormally large amount of visual field was represented in the corpus callosum, with some receptive fields located as far as 25 degrees away from the vertical meridian. The representation of the vertical meridian was nevertheless substantial. The present findings suggest, therefore, that in Boston Siamese cats callosal fibers do not originate solely from the boundary regions between adjacent cortical areas, such as the anatomical 17-18 border, but originate also from other cortical regions, especially the vertical meridian representation, regardless of their location with respect to such boundaries.

Animals↗