["Stealing madness"--kleptomania].

Kleptomania is one of the common less diagnosed impulse control disorders, which could be treated by the combination of psychological and pharmacological therapy. The most effective treatment regimens include cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy in the psychological field, and antidepressants and mood stabilizers as pharmacological treatment. Most of the patients with kleptomania are initially treated only for a comorbid psychiatric disorder, since kleptomaniac symptoms had not been raised in the anamnesis. The aim of our article is to inform the physicians about the possible diagnosis and treatment options for this disorder in order to prevent co-morbidity with other psychiatric disorders. Some specific cases are presented in order to explain symptomatology.

A modified laparoscopic approach for liver biopsy in dogs.

A modified laparoscopic technique for liver biopsy in dogs was developed, using an otoscope to observe the liver and to guide the biopsy needle. The procedure was used to obtain liver biopsy specimens from 7 control dogs and 22 treated dogs during studies of the hepatic effects of long-term anticonvulsant drug therapy. In addition, biopsy specimens were obtained from 10 clinical patients with diffuse liver disease. Diagnostic liver specimens were obtained from all dogs with minimal complications. The procedure used basic principles of needle biopsy technique under visual control. It enabled the operator to observe the liver, select a biopsy site, and obtain diagnostic samples quickly, with considerably less expense than by use of fiberoptic laparoscopy. The results of this study indicate that the modified laparoscopic approach is a safe, practical method for liver biopsy in dogs.

Acute hemolytic anemia, methemoglobinemia, and heinz body formation associated with ingestion of red maple leaves by horses.

From June 1975 through June 1979, acute hemolytic anemia developed in 11 horses from 7 New York farms. Of the 7 horses that died, 6 had methemoglobinemia. In the 4 horses that recovered, methemoglobinemia was not observed. but Heinz body formation was seen in 3 of the 4. On 2 of the premises involved, frank methemoglobinemia was observed concurrently with Heinz body formation, suggesting a relationship between the pathogenesis of methemoglobinemia and Heinz body formation in the hemolytic process. In addition to the 11 cases described, 22 clinically similar cases were reported to us during the period of this investigation by practicing veterinarians from New York, Pennsylvania, and the New England states. All 33 cases of hemolytic anemia occurred between June and October of each year, and affected horses had access to outside paddocks or fields containing a variety of native grasses, weeds, and trees. On 2 farms, hemolytic anemia developed after the horses were observed browsing fallen branches of red maple trees (Acer rubrum). Red maple leaves and bark were obtained from 1 of these farms, and approximately 1 kg of a leaf and bark mixture was fed to each of 2 ponies. Within 48 hours, both ponies became ill. The syndrome was indistinguishable from that observed in clinical patients and was characterized by methemoglobinemia and intravascular hemolysis. The ponies died 5 and 6 days after which time the packed cell volumes were 6% and 7% respectively. It was concluded that many cases of hemolytic anemia in horses in northeastern states may be related to ingestion of leaves or bark from red maple trees. The studies did not, however, define the factors that predispose to poisoning and did not exclude the possibility that other environmental toxins may have been involved.

Vitamin B12 binding proteins in bovine serum.

Examination of bovine serum by the diethylaminoethyl cellulose small column method revealed three proteins binding vitamin B12. The elution pattern suggested that they are similar to the three transcobalamins recognized in human serum. Distribution of unbound binding capacity among serum binders was assessed in serum from normal, ketotic, and B12- and Factor B-supplemented cows in early lactation. No major differences were observed among groups; however, cow serum displayed a pattern different from human serum. Mean total binding capacity of bovine serum for B12 as well as mean unbound binding capacity were lower than the corresponding means for human serum.