Reticulocytosis in non-anaemic cats and dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the proportion of blood samples diagnosed with reticulocytosis without anaemia in cats and dogs and report the aetiology and mortality rate of affected animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective multicentre study including haematological examination of 3956 cats and 11,087 dogs admitted to seven German veterinary clinics (2012 to 2014). The proportion of blood samples with reticulocytosis without anaemia was calculated, and after exclusion of multiple measurements of the same animal, clinical data were evaluated. Animals with reticulocytosis without anaemia were classified as healthy or diseased, and diseased patients were assigned to 12 disease groups. Pretreatment (i.e. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, dipyrone) was recorded. RESULTS: The proportion of blood samples with reticulocytosis without anaemia was 3·1% (124/3956) in cats and 4·4% (492/11,087) in dogs. Overall, 1·8% (2/111) of cats and 1·5% (7/458) of dogs with reticulocytosis without anaemia were healthy. Blood loss/anaemia, cardiac/respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal disorders and inflammatory disorders as well as cancer were the most frequent underlying diseases. Pretreatment was noted in 39·5% (43/111) of cats and 42·4% (194/458) of dogs. The mortality rate was 37·8% (42/111) in cats and 29·7% (136/458) in dogs with reticulocytosis without anaemia; the median survival time in non-survivors was 1 day (range: 0 to 376 days in cats, 0 to 444 days in dogs). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In both species, reticulocytosis without anaemia was observed in a low proportion of blood samples (dogs>cat). Though a bias towards sick animals is possible in our sample, reticulocytosis without anaemia was mainly seen in diseased animals and associated with a mortality rate of approximately one-third of patients.

Features of vernix caseosa cells.

In an attempt to collect more information about the features of the vernix caseosa (VC), a relatively unstudied material, some of the histochemical, ultrastructural, and immunological characteristics of VC cells have been investigated. Histochemistry and light microscopy was used to demonstrate the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase in VC cells, enzymes with a marked increase in activity in the amniotic fluid toward term. Acid phosphatase activity was strongly present either as intracytoplasmic granules or as amorphous material between the cells; alkaline phosphatase activity was absolutely nonexistent. The ultrastructural morphology of the VC cells was analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Significant differences can be demonstrated in the individual surface patterns of the VC keratinocytes. TEM showed irregularly flattened cells in various stages of keratinization. The ultrastructural findings confirm the dissimilarity, which exists between the individual VC cells. Finally, immunofluorescent staining tests of frozen VC smears showed that only immunoglobulin G conjugate gives strong positive reaction at the antigen sites of the VC cells. The special finding in this study is the polymorph appearance of the surface pattern and the cytoplasma structure of the VC cells, as well as the lack of uniform appearance of the acid phosphatase activity in and between the cells. All these suggest that the status of the individual VC cell is not similar in regard to their keratinization and desquamation activities.

[Ultrastructural aspects of amniotic-fluid cells B. "vital cells" (author's transl)]. / Zur Feinmorphologie der Fruchtwasserzellen. B. "Vitale Zellen".

It has been shown, that apart from the mass of non-vital squamous epithelial cells, there also exist vital cells in the amniotic fluid. In this study, two types of amniotic fluid cells, which upon examination based on morphological characteristics gave rise to conclusions concerning their vitality, are presented, described and correlated with morphologically similar cells with known origin. Probably one type of these amniotic fluid cells are macrophages or Hofbauer-cells and the other types could be amnion-cells.

["Ultrastructural aspects of amniotic-fluid cells" A. non-vital cells. iii. large squamous cells (author's transl)]. / "Zur Feinmorphologie der Fruchtwasserzellen" A. Nichtvitale Zellen. Teil III: Grosse Plattenepithelien.

Until desquamation of vernix caseosa near the end of gestation the large, non-keratinizing squamous cells, which have their origin mostly from upper intestinal tract, vagina and urinary tract, form the majority of the population of cells in amniotic fluid. Their structure, as seen by electron microscopy is described, especially it's changes during the process of degeneration after the cell has been desquamated into amniotic fluid: dissolution or condensation of the nucleus, cytoplasmatic changes with appearance of filaments and vesicular corpuscles, and decreasing glycogen content.

["Ultrastructural aspects of amniotic-Fluid Cells". A. Non-vital cells. II. Keratinocytes (author's transl)]. / "Zur Feinmorphologie der Fruchtwasserzellen". A. nichtvitale Zellen. Teil II: Keratinozyten.

The ultrastructural morphology of epidermal keratinocytes, which at the end of pregnancy and after shedding of vernix represent the majority of amniotic fluid cell population, is analysed by electron microscopy. Special attention is focused on the morphological characteristics of epidermal keratinization according the changes of the cell's ultrastructure during this process: The transformation of the cytoplasma into keratin, the formation of the typical cell membrane of the keratinized squamous cells, and the findings concerning the intercellular space, especially of the zones of intercellular contact - desmosomes - and their changes.

["Ultrastructural aspects of amniotic-fluid cells". A. Non-vital cells. I. Periderm-cells (author's transl)]. / "Zur Feinmorphologie der Fruchtwasserzellen". A. nichtvitale Zellen. Teil 1: Periderm-Zellen.

The surface layer of fetal epidermis in early pregnancy, the Periderm, is progressingly replaced by the final keratinization process during fifth to sixth month of gestation. Then the peridermal cells are shed into the amniotic fluid. It is still controversial, whether complete peridermal cells or just their globular protrusions are separated. Formation of mikrovilli and invaginations of plasma membrane, the numerous smaller and larger vacuoles and the cytoplasmatic meshwork of fine filaments without production of keratohyaline, are characteristics of peridermal cells, and are described in detail by electron microscopical investigations on cells suspended in the amniotic fluid, which are most likely of peridermal origin.

[Ano-cutaneous gangrenous ergotism]. / Anokutaner Ergotismus gangreanosus.

A case of ergotism by abuse of ergotamine tartrate suppositories is reported. The patient developed the clinical picture of ergotism with multiple perianal ulcers. After ergot had been withdrawn there was a spontaneous healing of these ulcers after a few weeks. It is well known that ergot abuse can develop severe vascular spasm in the arteries, but it is unknown that cutaneous ulcers may occur by topical application.

[Light-microscopic study of classified virus warts (HPV-1 and HPV-4) (author's transl)]. / Lichtmikroskopische Untersuchungen an typisierten Viruswarzen (HPV-1 und HPV-4).

Histological investigations of verrucae vulgares of the hand and of plantar warts show striking differences between HPV-1-induced warts and those caused by the virus type HPV-4. In warts caused by HPV-1 massive vacuolization and disturbance of epidermal cell differentiation through the entire thickness of the epidermis is predominant whereas in HPV-4 stimulated warts cell differentiation is impaired to a much lesser degree. Despite the presence of inclusions and of vacuolized cells a thick stratum granulosum and a compact horny layer are formed in the latter type.

[Treatment of alopecia areata with dinitrochlorobenzol (DNCB)]. / Zur Behandlung der Alopecia areata mit Dinitrochlorbenzol (DNCB).

Twenty-two patients with severe forms of alopecia areata were treated about 4--16 months with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) dissolved in acetone. According to the patients' reactivity to DNCB the chemical was applied to the scalp in various concentration once a week. In 14 patients we observed the therapeutic effect of DNCB is unknown. Possibly it might be due to a change in the local immunoregulation. At the present time this treatment cannot be recommended for general use.

Localization of viral DNA-replication in sections of human warts by nucleic acid hybridization with complementary RNA of human papilloma virus Type 1.

Using complementary RNA of human papilloma virus type 1 (HPV1) and in situ hybridization techniques the localization of viral DNA replication was studied in sections of 38 human virus acanthomata from 31 different patients. In five cases significant labeling was detected by autoradiography. Labeling started always in the first or the second suprabasal cell layer and was strongly limited to the nuclei. A remarkable early beginning of the vacuolated process seemed to be correlated with the visible DNA replication. No labeling could be detected in the basal cell layer. This suggests that these cells contain at the most only a small number of viral genomes. Our findings represent only the situation in human warts definitely caused by HPV 1. We are not able to say, whether our negative hybridization results in the remaining warts indicate either the scarcity of viral genomes within these sections or their infection by a different agent.

[Therapy of morbus Bowen with 5-fluoro-uracil ointment (author's transl)]. / Zur Therapie des Morbus Bowen mit 5-Fluor-uracil-Salbe.

A case of extensive Bowen's disease of the skin treated successfully with topical 5-fluor-uracil is described. the follow-up time at present is 18 months. The carcinoma in situ arose in a cicatricial area of the right lower leg after lewisite contamination in 1940.

[Syntopy of Bowen's disease and Lewisite scar]. / Syntopie von Morbus Bowen und Lostnarbe.

Description of a case of Bown's disease in an area of the right lower leg after lewisite contamination 30 years ago. The possible influence of lost derivatives on carcinogenesis is discussed.

[Diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis in childhood]. / Beitrag zur diffusen kutanen Mastozytose im Kindesalter.

We report the case of a 15-month-old child suffering from diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis characterized by blisters and widespread skin involvement but without systemic manifestations. Skin biopsies were examined by electron microscopy. We observed various alterations in the morphology of mast cells and mast cell granules.

[Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus and lichen ruber planus]. / Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus und Lichen ruber planus.

We describe a 67 year old woman who suffers from lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. The clinical and histologic findings are mixed with those of lichen planus or respectively the alterations of both diseases.