Evaluation of interthalamic adhesion size as an indicator of brain atrophy in dogs with and without cognitive dysfunction

Interthalamic adhesion thickness has been previously described as a parameter for quantifying canine brain atrophy and hypothesized to correlate with brain height or ventricular size. However, studies testing this hypothesis are lacking. This retrospective cross‐sectional study aimed to compare interthalamic adhesion thickness, interthalamic adhesion thickness/brain height ratio, and interthalamic adhesion thickness/brain height ratio/lateral ventricle to brain height ratio values in dogs with and without cognitive dysfunction. Medical records for dogs meeting the following inclusion criteria were retrieved from two hospitals: available brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) studies, no cerebral parenchymal lesions, and no prior neurological treatment. For each included dog, values of interthalamic adhesion thickness, interthalamic adhesion thickness/brain height ratio, and interthalamic adhesion thickness/brain height ratio/lateral ventricle to brain height ratio were measured by one observer from transverse CT or MRI images and a consensus was reached. A total of 113 dogs met inclusion criteria. Dogs were divided into three groups based on the following criteria: Young group (no cognitive dysfunction, <9‐year‐old, n = 43), Aging group (no cognitive dysfunction, ≥9‐year‐old, n = 61), and Dementia group (n = 9). All three parameters were significantly lower in the dementia group than in the Young and Aging groups. In the Young and Aging groups, there was significant negative correlation of all three parameters with age and positive correlation of interthalamic adhesion thickness and interthalamic adhesion thickness/brain height ratio/lateral ventricle to brain height ratio with body weight, while there was no correlation of interthalamic adhesion thickness/brain height ratio with body weight (P < 0.05). There were no differences in all three parameters according to skull type or gender. Findings from the current study supported the use of interthalamic adhesion thickness, interthalamic adhesion thickness/brain height ratio, and interthalamic adhesion thickness/brain height ratio/lateral ventricle to brain height ratio for quantifying brain atrophy in dogs with cognitive dysfunction.     

PREVALENCE OF LATERAL VENTRICLE ASYMMETRY IN BRAIN MRI STUDIES OF NEUROLOGICALLY NORMAL DOGS AND DOGS WITH IDIOPATHIC EPILEPSY

Asymmetry of the cerebral lateral ventricles is a common finding in cross‐sectional imaging of otherwise normal canine brains and has been assumed to be incidental. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the prevalence of ventricular asymmetry in brain MRI studies of normal dogs and dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Brain MRI archives were searched for 100 neurologically normal dogs (Group 1) and 100 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (Group 2). For each dog, asymmetry of the lateral ventricles was subjectively classified as absent, mild, moderate, and severe based on a consensus of two observers who were unaware of group status. Ventricular areas were measured from transverse T1W images at the level of the interthalamic adhesion. An asymmetry ratio was calculated as the ratio of the larger to smaller ventricular transverse area. There was excellent agreement between subjective assessments of ventricular asymmetry and quantitative assessments using asymmetry ratios (k = 0.995). The prevalence of asymmetry was 38% in Group 1 dogs and 44% in Group 2 dogs. Assymmetry was scored as mild in the majority of Group 2 dogs. There was no significant association between presence/absence and degree of ventricular asymmetry vs. dog group, age, gender, or skull conformation. Findings from the current study supported previously published assumptions that asymmetry of the lateral cerebral ventricles is an incidental finding in MRI studies of the canine brain.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF ADRENAL GLAND SIZE COMPARED TO BODY WEIGHT IN NORMAL DOGS

The accepted cut‐off value for adrenal gland maximum diameter of 0.74 cm to distinguish adrenal gland enlargement in dogs regardless of body weight may not be appropriate for small to medium breed dogs. The purpose of the current retrospective study was to examine adrenal gland dimensions as a function of body weight in healthy dogs in three weight categories (< 10 kg, 10–30 kg, and > 30 kg) representing small, medium, and large breeds, respectively, to establish greater confidence in determining if adrenal gland size is abnormal. The measurements of length (sagittal plane), cranial and caudal pole thickness (sagittal and transverse planes), and caudal pole width (transverse plane) of both adrenal glands were obtained ultrasonographically in clinically healthy dogs (n = 45) with 15 dogs in each weight group. Findings support our hypothesis that adrenal gland size correlates with body weight in normal dogs, and more precise reference intervals should be created for adrenal gland size by categorizing dogs as small, medium, or large breed. The caudal pole thickness of either adrenal gland in a sagittal plane was the best dimension for evaluating adrenal gland size based on low variability, ease, and reliability in measurement.     

Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular dimensions in clinically normal English cocker spaniels

Seventeen clinically normal adult English Cocker Spaniels from a kennel population with a history of cardiomyopathy were assessed, using M-mode echocardiography, to establish reference values for left ventricular (LV) dimensions for this breed of dog. Echocardiographic measurements were compared with postmortem measurements in 10 of 17 dogs. The LV weight calculated from the echocardiographic measurements correlated significantly with LV weight at postmortem (P less than 0.05). Echocardiographic measurements of end diastolic and end systolic diameters for the 17 dogs correlated significantly with body surface area (P less than 0.01). Measurements of the interventricular septum were in close agreement with values in clinically normal dogs and were significantly correlated with postmortem measurements (r = 0.94, P less than 0.01). However, 76% of the measurements for LV caudal wall thickness in this group of dogs were above the normal range. Calculation of fractional shortening values identified a group of 5 dogs with reduced fractional shortening (mean +/- SD, 20.97 +/- 3.66%), which indicates that a depression in contractility may be present in some apparently healthy dogs of this kennel population. The remaining 12 dogs had fractional shortening values of mean +/- SD, 34.26 +/- 4.54%.     

RETROSPECTIVE STUDY EVALUATING ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN MIDLINE BRAIN SHIFT ON MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND SURVIVAL IN DOGS DIAGNOSED WITH MENINGOENCEPHALITIS OF UNKNOWN ETIOLOGY

Difficulty has been encountered when trying to identify ante mortem prognostic indicators for dogs with meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE). Identifying MRI imaging parameters associated with prognosis may impact treatment decision‐making for clinician and owner. Our hypotheses for this retrospective cohort study are that dogs diagnosed with MUE that had midline shift on brain MRI would have a poorer survival compared to dogs without midline shift; and that younger age, lower weight, and low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell count would be correlated with improved survival. Medical records were reviewed from two institutions. Inclusion criteria included: clinical signs referable to intracranial disease, brain MRI at presentation, abnormal CSF analysis, and negative infectious disease testing. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were evaluated for midline shift using the T2‐weighted transverse image at the interthalamic adhesion and at the site of maximal deviation. Fifty‐two dogs met the inclusion criteria. Median midline deviation was 0.12 cm. Median survival for dogs with no shift was 906 days and with shift was 84 days. Survival was not significantly different between groups (P = 0.11). This remained true when correcting for age (P = 0.22) and CSF TNCC (total nucleated cell count) (P = 0.12). Age at the time of diagnosis (P = 0.02) and CSF TNCC (P = 0.03) were significantly associated with survival. Cerebrospinal fluid protein value (P = 0.84) and weight (P = 0.82) were not significantly associated with survival. In this study of 52 dogs with MUE, MRI evidence of midline brain shift between 0.04 and 0.3 cm at the level of the interthalamic adhesion was not associated with shorter survival.     

Echocardiographic measurements in the Irish wolfhound: reference values for the breed.

Out of 400 Irish wolfhounds cardiologically examined, echocardiographic measurements of 262 normal dogs were analyzed to obtain reference values for the breed. Based on regression analysis, several echocardiographic parameters showed significant linear correlation with body weight and with age, but coefficients of determination were low. Therefore, due to a high individual variability of echocardiographic measurements in adult Irish wolfhounds, the predictive value of body weight for echocardiographic measurements was clinically not relevant. Sex had no influence on echocardiographic values. For the estimation of myocardial function, end-systolic volume index (ESVI) (mean, 29.0 ml/m2 +/- standard deviation [SD], 5.9 ml/m2) was determined for the group of 262 normal dogs.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF CANINE HYDROCEPHALUS

The brains of 23 canine patients and six random-source dogs were examined ultrasonographically through the bregmatic fontanelle or a surgical craniotomy. Fifteen dogs had abnormal neurologic signs; the others were normal on neurologic examination. Untrasound results were compared with signalment, clinical signs, electroencephalography, computed tomography, radiology and histopathology. The purposes of the study were to demonstrate the use of ultrasound for the diagnosis of canine hydrocephalus and to determine whether there is a relationship between ventricular size and clinical signs. Lateral ventricles were considered enlarged if lateral ventricular height, ventricle-mantle ratio, or ventricle-hemisphere ratio, at the level of or caudal to the interthalamic adhesion in the transverse plane, exceeded 0.35 cm, 0.25 or 0.19, respectively. Of the 29 dogs examined, 14 had enlarged lateral ventricles and abnormal neurologic signs. Five dogs had enlarged lateral ventricles but appeared neurologically normal (occult hydrocephalus). Correlation was poor between ventricular size and clinical signs.     

MENSURATION OF THE NORMAL PITUITARY GLAND FROM MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES IN 96 DOGS

The pituitary gland was measured from transverse magnetic resonance T1-weighted images after Gadolinium administration in 96 dogs weighing from 13 to 45 kg. The measurements were done by hand with calipers. The mean (+/- standard deviation) pituitary gland height was 5.1 mm (+/-0.9 mm). The mean width was 6.4 mm (+/- 1.1 mm). The correlation coefficient between pituitary and brain measurements, between pituitary measurement and body weight, and brain measurements and body weight was 0.0 to 0.3. A hyperintense region was present on T1-weighted images in the center of the pituitary gland in 64% of the dogs. At necropsy the pituitary glands were grossly and histologically normal. No pituitary gland measurements were performed at necropsy.     

Canine corneal thickness measured by ultrasonic pachymetry.

Ultrasonic pachymetry was used to measure central, superior peripheral, and temporal peripheral corneal thicknesses of 75 dogs (150 eyes) with normal corneas, anterior chambers, and intraocular pressure. Mean corneal thickness averaged over the 2 eyes, 3 locations, and 75 dogs was 562 +/- 6.2 microns. The peripheral cornea was thicker on average than the central cornea by 49.43 +/- 8.45 microns and this difference increased with age at 6.97 +/- 1.3 microns/month of age. Mean corneal thickness changed with age (14.23 +/- 2.26 microns/month), and weight (1.83 +/- 0.38 microns/kg). Females had significantly thinner corneas (22.43 +/- 11.03 microns than males) after adjusting for age and weight.     

Ultrasonographic adrenal gland measurements in clinically normal small breed dogs and comparison with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism

Ultrasonography is a sensitive and specific screening method for assessing the adrenal glands. The upper limit of the normal adrenal gland width is used as 7.5 mm. It is not known if adrenal gland width remains consistent with body weight. A reliable criterion of adrenal gland width in small breed dogs should be established. Small breed dogs with body weights of less than 10 kg were divided into two groups: 189 normal dogs and 22 dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). A retrospective study was conducted on dogs seen between January 1, 2006, and February 10, 2008. One hundred eighty-nine dogs of 14 different small breeds were enrolled in the normal adrenal gland group; the median gland width was 4.20 mm. Twenty-two dogs were in the PDH group; the median gland width was 6.30 mm. The cut-off value between normal adrenal glands and PDH was 6.0 mm. This figure gave a sensitivity and specificity of 75 and 94%, respectively, for detecting PDH. The adrenal gland appeared as a peanut shape with homogeneous hypoechoic parenchyma in normal dogs and in most dogs with PDH as well. This study was performed in a large population of small breed dogs and suggests that the normal adrenal gland size in small breed dogs is smaller than previously reported. We believe that a cut-off of 6.0 mm may be used as the criterion for differentiating a normal adrenal gland from adrenal hyperplasia.     

Assessment of plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentration in Boxers with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Boxers with a clinical diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) have increased plasma concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), compared with concentrations in clinically normal dogs. ANIMALS: 13 Boxers with ARVC, 9 clinically normal Boxers, 10 clinically normal non-Boxer dogs, and 5 hound dogs with systolic dysfunction. PROCEDURE: All Boxers were evaluated via 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography and echocardiography; the number of ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) per 24 hours was assessed. Hound dogs with cardiac pacing-induced systolic dysfunction (positive control dogs) and clinically normal non-Boxer dogs (negative control dogs) were evaluated echocardiographically. Three milliliters of blood was collected from each dog for measurement of plasma BNP concentration by use of a radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD plasma BNP concentration for the ARVC-affected Boxers, clinically normal Boxers, negative control dogs, and positive control dogs was 11.0 +/- 4.6 pg/mL, 7.9 +/- 3.2 pg/mL, 11.5 +/- 4.9 pg/mL, and 100.8 +/- 56.8 pg/mL, respectively. Compared with findings in the positive control group, plasma BNP concentration in each of the other 3 groups was significantly different. There was no significant difference in BNP concentration between the 2 groups of Boxers. A significant correlation between plasma BNP concentration and number of VPCs per 24 hours in the ARVC-affected Boxers was not identified. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A significant difference in BNP concentration between Boxers with ARVC and clinically normal Boxers was not identified. Results suggest that BNP concentration may not be an indicator of ARVC in Boxers.     

Decreased systolic function and inadequate hypertrophy in large and small breed dogs with chronic mitral valve insufficiency

BACKGROUND: Systolic dysfunction associated with chronic mitral valve insufficiency (CMVI) has been demonstrated in experimental animal models and large breed (LB) dogs but has been reported as an uncommon finding in small breed (SB) dogs with naturally occurring disease. It has been suggested the myocardial failure could be, in part, because of an insufficient increase in left ventricular mass. HYPOTHESIS: To test if SB and LB dogs with CMVI and moderate heart failure have systolic dysfunction and if they have adequate eccentric hypertrophy. ANIMALS: Data from 38 SB and 18 LB dogs affected with CMVI were compared retrospectively with results from 2 groups of normal dogs (17 SB and 32 LB). METHODS: Systolic function was investigated echocardiographically by using percentage fractional shortening (FS), the ratio between observed and expected end-systolic diameter (ESD/ESDe), and end-systolic volume index (ESVI). Left ventricular hypertrophy was estimated by using the ratio between the thickness of the left ventricular free wall and the radius in diastole (h/R). RESULTS: Both affected SB and LB dogs had a significantly increased FS and ESVI (FS% SB 45.6 + 8.04 versus 40.06 + 8.9, P < .05; FS% LB 33.64 + 8.61 versus 27.3 + 7.3 P < .05; ESVI SB 30.0 +/- 2.3 mL/m2 versus 21.18 +/- 13.9 mL/m2, P < .05; ESVI LB 83.22 +/- 43.84 mL/m2 versus 36.43 +/- 13.30 mL/m2 versus P < .001). The h/R in affected animals was decreased (0.53 +/- 0.11 versus 0.41 +/- 0.12, P < .05 SB; 0.47 +/- 0.11 versus 0.38 +/- 0.09, P < .05, LB). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Data from this study indicate that dogs with moderate heart failure caused by CMVI have systolic dysfunction. Inadequate hypertrophy of the left ventricle may be, in part, responsible for this finding.     

Leukopenia in six healthy Belgian Tervuren.

A healthy 6.5-year-old sexually intact female Belgian Tervuren was found to be persistently leukopenic during preoperative evaluation for routine ovariohysterectomy. Abnormalities of the erythroid or myeloid series were not detected during bone marrow analysis. Blood samples for CBC were collected from 8 additional healthy Belgian Tervuren of both sexes and of various ages. Six of the 9 dogs were leukopenic, with WBC counts between 2.38 and 5.42 x 10(3) WBC/microl (mean +/- SD, 4.13 +/- 1.04 x 10(3) WBC/microl). Leukopenia was a persistent finding in the 3 dogs from which multiple blood samples were collected. All dogs were otherwise clinically normal. Leukopenia, as defined by a WBC count < 6.00 x 10(3) WBC/microl, may be a common finding in the Belgian Tervuren breed.     

Serum hydrocortisone (cortisol) values in normal and adrenopathic dogs as determined by radioimmunoassay

Using a specific radioimmunoassay, serum hydrocortisone values were measured in dogs. Between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM, the base-line hydrocortisone value for 56 clinically normal dogs ranged from 6.0 to 28.5 ng/ml, with a mean value of 17.8 +/- 1.32 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM). Marked differences due to age, sex, body weight, or breed were not observed in the hydrocortisone values. In 11 dogs with definitive hyperadrenocorticism, serum hydrocortisone values were from 32 to 148 ng/ml. In 2 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, the values were 4.5 and 3.1 ng/ml. The estimation of serum hydrocortisone values by radioimmunoassay is simple and precise, and can be utilized to aid in the diagnosis of adrenopathy in dogs.     

VERTEBRAL HEART SIZE IN RETIRED RACING GREYHOUNDS

The vertebral heart size (VHS) is used to objectively assess cardiac dimensions on thoracic radiographs. A high VHS suggest the presence of cardiac pathology, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, degenerative atrioventricular valvular disease, pericardial effusion, pericardioperitoneal diaphragmatic hernia, tricuspid dysplasia, ventricular septal defect, or patent ductus arteriosus, among others. However, breed or body conformation can influence the VHS. Because Greyhounds have a high prevalence of physiologic systolic murmurs associated with high aortic velocity, and large cardiac dimensions when compared with dogs of similar size, they are frequently suspected of having heart disease. The purpose of this study was to compare the VHS in normal Greyhounds with those in Rottweilers, and a group of dogs from various other breeds using both analog and digital radiology. The VHS was significantly higher in Greyhounds (P< 0.0001), when compared with Rottweilers and to other dog breeds. The mean VHS on lateral radiographs for Greyhounds was 10.5 +/- 0.1, for Rottweilers it was 9.8 +/- 0.1, and for mixed breed dogs it was 10.1 +/- 0.2. This study confirms that the relative cardiomegaly reported in necropsy and echocardiographic studies in Greyhounds is easily detected using plain radiography and the VHS.     

ULTRASOUND EVALUATION OF SMALL BOWEL THICKNESS COMPARED TO WEIGHT IN NORMAL DOGS

The use of ultrasound to measure small bowel thickness is an important part of any ultrasound examination of the abdomen. Increased thickness of the intestinal wall is a hallmark for the detection of diseases ranging from inflammatory bowel disease to neoplasia. Our subjective impression has been that dogs with no clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease often have sonographic measurements greater than published norms. The purpose of this study was to prospectively reevaluate these norms. The clinical history on all dogs receiving an abdominal ultrasound examination was evaluated for signs of gastrointestinal disease. Those without clinical signs were entered into this study. The documentation of body weight, breed, jejunal thickness, and duodenal thickness was made in 231 dogs. Dogs were placed into five groups based on their weight. Sixty-nine breeds were represented with weight ranging from 2.1 to 64 kg. A statistically significant (P < or = 0.05) correlation between body weight and both jejunal and duodenal thickness was observed. We also found that the maximum thickness in both jejunum and duodenum in healthy dogs was larger than previously reported. These data indicate norms for the jejunum of < or = 4.1 mm for dogs up to 20 kg, < or = 4.4 mm for dogs between 20 and 39.9 kg, and < or = 4.7 mm for dogs over 40 kg. The data indicate norms for the duodenum < or = 5.1 mm for dogs up to 20 kg, < or = 5.3 kg for dogs between 20 and 29.9 kg, and < or = 6.0 mm for dogs over 30 kg.     

cis-Atracurium in dogs with and without porto-systemic shunts

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drug cis-atracurium in dogs with porto-systemic shunts, and to compare it in clinically normal animals. ANIMALS: Thirteen dogs of mixed breed and sex, aged between 3 and 31 months old, weighing 2.2-25.5 kg, with ASA physical status II-IV, and undergoing surgical attenuation of porto-systemic shunt. A control group of 11 bitches of mixed breed, between 8 and 60 months old, and weighing 4.5-41.0 kg, all ASA physical status I, undergoing routine ovarohysterectomy were also studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre-anaesthetic medication was an opioid analgesic, given either alone or in combination with acepromazine. Following induction of general anaesthesia with intravenous (IV) propofol and oro-tracheal intubation, anaesthesia was maintained using isoflurane in either oxygen or oxygen and nitrous oxide. Ventilation was controlled. The train of four (TOF) technique was used to monitor neuromuscular blockade. An initial dose of 0.1 mg kg(-1)cis-atracurium was given IV and additional doses of 0.03 mg kg(-1)cis-atracurium were administered when at least one twitch of the TOF was present. RESULTS: Except for one dog that was killed during surgery because its anomaly was inoperable, all animals recovered satisfactorily from anaesthesia and surgery. In dogs with porto-systemic shunt, onset of neuromuscular blockade was 3.1 +/- 1.1 minutes (mean +/- SD) and in control dogs was 3.4 +/- 0.7 minutes (not significantly different). Neuromuscular blockade lasted 34 +/- 13 minutes in dogs with porto-systemic shunt and 29 +/- 17 minutes in control dogs (not significantly different). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of porto-systemic shunt did not affect the rate of onset or duration of action of cis-atracurium. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: cis-Atracurium may have a use in veterinary anaesthesia for producing neuromuscular blockade in dogs with hepatic insufficiency, including those with porto-systemic shunt.     

Effect of Breed and Body Weight on Echocardiographic Values in Four Breeds of Dogs of Differing Somatotype

Eighty normal dogs of four morphologically disparate breeds (Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Miniature Poodle, Afghan Hound, Golden Retriever) (twenty of each breed), were studied by echocardiography to determine the importance of breed and weight in establishing normal echocardiographic reference ranges. Echocardiographic measurements included left-ventricular chamber dimension at systole and end-diastole, right-ventricular chamber dimension at end-diastole, interventricular septal thickness at systole and end-diastole, left-ventricular free wall thickness at systole and end-diastole, E-point septal separation, aortic root dimension at end-diastole, left atrial dimension, and fractional shortening. Analyses of covariance indicated that for all measurements except right-ventricular chamber dimension, the means were significantly different among breeds, after the differences in weight were taken into account. Echocardiographic measurements are variable even within the same breed. Breed must be considered in establishing echocardiographic measurement reference ranges. Echocardiographic values for each breed are presented.     

Morphometric analyses of the skin of dogs with atopic dermatitis and correlations with cutaneous and plasma histamine and total serum IgE

In order to improve the diagnostic value of histopathologic examination of skin biopsy samples from dogs with atopic dermatitis and, perhaps, to identify any differences from the normal state that may predispose to this skin condition, we compared the anatomic and cellular morphology of skin from three standard sites in 21 normal and 15 atopic dogs. The standard sites were lateral neck, dorsal rump, and craniolateral abdomen. No differences between the two groups were found in the means of area or thickness of the stratum corneum or the remainder of the epidermis at any site. The area of sebaceous glands, but not apocrine sweat glands, was larger in the atopic group (P less than or equal to 0.05 for the lateral neck skin and P less than or equal to 0.1 for the dorsal rump skin). The mean number of non-metachromatic mononuclear cells in combined skin samples (126 microns 2) in atopic dogs (91.0 +/- 28.7) was significantly greater (P less than or equal to 0.01) than for the control normal dogs (65.3 +/- 19.3); the mean number of mast cells in atopic dogs (12.39 +/- 6.44) was similarly greater than in the controls (8.48 +/- 5.14; P less than or equal to 0.1). Eosinophils were significantly increased in atopic dog skin (P less than or equal to 0.01). with the mean for all three sites combined of 0.81 +/- 0.90 compared with a mean of 0.06 +/- 0.15 for normal dogs. Numbers of circulating blood eosinophils were not significantly different in the atopic and normal group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)