Radiographic evaluation of esophageal function in Chinese Shar Pei pups.

Liquid barium esophagography was done in 29 clinically normal Chinese Shar Pei pups and observed fluoroscopically, beginning when they were approximately 3 months old and repeated periodically until they were at least 18 months old, if possible. Of these dogs, 69% had relatively slow stimulation of secondary waves, 48% had generalized poor esophageal tone or motility, and 38% had esophageal redundancy. Sequential studies revealed apparent improvement with age for those dogs initially showing slow motility, provided that redundancy was not also present. Another group of 9 Chinese Shar Pei pups had histories of either regurgitation or vomiting. Five of these had hiatal hernia and 2 had megaesophagus.

The biologic response to titanium phosphate. A new synthetic mineral fiber.

Titanium phosphate, a new manmade fiber, was evaluated by intratracheal and intraperitoneal techniques in rats and hamsters to assess the fibrogenic potential and possible hazard to man. Titanium phosphate fibers structurally resemble asbestos insofar as they are composed of bundles of submicronic fibers. A slight, dose-related fibrogenic response to the fiber was observed subsequent to the intratracheal injection of a 50- and 10-mg/kg but not 2-mg/kg dose in rats or any of these three doses in the hamster. Intraperitoneal administration of 10 or 2 mg/kg of the fibers in rats or hamsters induced no abdominal tumors considered related to treatment. In contrast, approximately 34% of rats given an intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg of asbestos developed abdominal tumors; no tumors developed in hamsters injected with asbestos.