Massive hematuria of nontraumatic renal origin in dogs

Massive hematuria of renal origin was diagnosed in 4 dogs. In all dogs, blood and blood clots were clearly visible in the urine. Serum urea nitrogen and urine concentrating ability were normal. All dogs were anemic, and results of coagulation and platelet function tests were within normal limits. Excretory urography indicated hydroureter and hydronephrosis in all dogs, with filling defects in the bladder attributable to large blood clots in 2 dogs. Cystotomy and catheterization of the ureters enabled identification of one kidney as the source of bleeding in 3 dogs. Unilateral nephrectomy and ureterectomy resolved their hematuria. The results of histologic examination were normal in 2 dogs. The 3rd dog had evidence of pyelitis. Cystoscopy of the 4th dog did not reveal hematuria from either ureter. The dog was not operated on and it continued to have intermittent hematuria.     

Combining ability in crosses within and between diverse groups of alfalfa introductions

Summary 144 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) introductions were classified into eight groups based on their origin, winterhardiness, leafhopper yellowing, and growth characteristics. We studied the performance of crosses within and between these groups. General (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for persistence among the eight groups were about equal. The Chilean group had a high positive GCA for persistence, suggesting that it may be become a good source of germplasm for persistance and, perhaps, disease resistance.SCA for forage yield was about three times greater than GCA, indicating a large amount of non-additive gene action for yield in crosses between groups. In general, crosses between groups yielded more than crosses within groups. The Afghan group showed high GCA with all groups, suggesting that Afghan introductions may contribute to improved synthetic varieties. The Flemish introductions performed well in crosses within their group and also in crosses between groups.GCA for rapid recovery after cutting was six times greater than SCA, indicating largely additive gene action for this trait. Nonhardy and Afghan-like introductions contributed most to rapid recovery in hybrid combinations.GCA for fall growth was slightly larger than SCA. The nonhardy introductions showed a large positive GCA, along with a significant SCA for fall growth.The evidence of specific combining ability, particularly for forage yield, suggested that hybridization may be needed for adequate evaluation of alfalfa introductions. An introduction grown in a new environment often will perform poorly, but its hybrid progeny from crosses to other introduced or adapted strains may show superiority.Paper number 3992 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, N. C. in cooperation with the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.Research Geneticist, Southern Region, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, and Professor of Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. 27607.     

Neurokinin 1 receptor antagonism as a possible therapy for alcoholism

Alcohol dependence is a major public health challenge in need of new treatments. As alcoholism evolves, stress systems in the brain play an increasing role in motivating continued alcohol use and relapse. We investigated the role of the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R), a mediator of behavioral stress responses, in alcohol dependence and treatment. In preclinical studies, mice genetically deficient in NK1R showed a marked decrease in voluntary alcohol consumption and had an increased sensitivity to the sedative effects of alcohol. In a randomized controlled experimental study, we treated recently detoxified alcoholic inpatients with an NK1R antagonist (LY686017; n = 25) or placebo (n = 25). LY686017 suppressed spontaneous alcohol cravings, improved overall well-being, blunted cravings induced by a challenge procedure, and attenuated concomitant cortisol responses. Brain functional magnetic resonance imaging responses to affective stimuli likewise suggested beneficial LY686017 effects. Thus, as assessed by these surrogate markers of efficacy, NK1R antagonism warrants further investigation as a treatment in alcoholism.