Central nervous system depression associated with glucocorticoid ingestion in a dog

Signs of a central nervous system disorder were observed following 2 instances of accidental ingestion of glucocorticoid in a young female Doberman Pinscher. The signs included transient aggressive and paranoid behavior, amaurosis, disorientation, ataxia with circling backward, and depression. Vomiting, weight loss, and abnormal drinking behavior persisted for several weeks following recovery from the acute illness.     

Cisplatin chemotherapy for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in two dogs

Cisplatin was used successfully to treat 2 dogs with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. One dog was observed to have a complete remission and died of unrelated causes 23 months later. The other dog had a partial remission of the tumor, but relapsed and was euthanatized 4 1/2 months after the beginning of treatment. Both dogs tolerated the treatment well.     

Nasal obstruction caused by cystic nasal conchae in cattle

Four Holstein heifers were found to have partial nasal obstruction caused by bilateral cystic conchae. Three of the heifers (age range, 4 to 6 months) had a history of progressive nasal obstruction since near birth, were affected severely, and required surgical management. Each of 2 surgical procedures, a bilateral dorsolateral nasal flap approach and a dorsal nasal flap approach, was used successfully. The fourth heifer, which was 15 months old, had signs of nasal obstruction since shortly after birth, but was affected only mildly and was not treated. Follow-up information obtained 10 to 37 months later revealed that all cattle were considered normal and had no signs of nasal obstruction. In each case, a developmental problem or malformation of the ventral nasal concha resulting in cystic enlargement was suspected. The onset of clinical signs early in life and the bilateral nature suggested that the defect was of congenital origin.     

Effects of enrofloxacin and magnesium deficiency on matrix metabolism in equine articular cartilage

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of enrofloxacin and magnesium deficiency on explants of equine articular cartilage. SAMPLE POPULATION: Articular cartilage explants and cultured chondrocytes obtained from adult and neonatal horses. PROCEDURE: Full-thickness explants and cultured chondrocytes were incubated in complete or magnesium-deficient media containing enrofloxacin at concentrations of 0, 1, 5, 25, 100, and 500 microg/ml. Incorporation and release of sulfate 35S over 24 hours were used to assess glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis and degradation. An assay that measured binding of dimethylmethylene blue dye was used to compare total GAG content between groups. Northern blots of RNA from cultured chondrocytes were probed with equine cDNA of aggrecan, type-II collagen, biglycan, decorin, link protein, matrix metalloproteinases 1, 3, and 13, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1. RESULTS: A dose-dependent suppression of 35S incorporation was observed. In cartilage of neonates, 35S incorporation was substantially decreased at enrofloxacin concentrations of 25 mg/ml. In cartilage of adult horses, 35S incorporation was decreased only at enrofloxacin concentrations of > or =100 microg/ml. Magnesium deficiency caused suppression of 35S incorporation. Enrofloxacin or magnesium deficiency did not affect GAG degradation or endogenous GAG content. Specific effects of enrofloxacin on steady-state mRNA for the various genes were not observed. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Enrofloxacin may have a detrimental effect on cartilage metabolism in horses, especially in neonates.     

Enkephalin-like material elevated in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid of pain patients after analgetic focal stimulation

Enkephalin-like activity has been measured in the ventricular cerebrospinal fluid of patients with intractable pain. Electrical stimulation of periventricular brain sites resulted in significant decrease in persistent pain in these subjects. This analgesia, which was blocked by naloxone in 80% of the cases, was accompanied by a significant rise in ventricular enkephalin-like activity, as measured by two different methods. The results present evidence of in vivo release of enkephalin-like material in humans and suggest that stimulation analgesia may be partially due to this release.