Serum prolactin in advanced chronic liver disease.

Hyperprolactinemia is a frequent endocrine disorder with well known harmful effects on the reproductive system and bone metabolism. Besides prolactinomas several drugs and disorders such as renal failure and hypothyroidism have been shown to cause hyperprolactinemia. Based on former studies, liver cirrhosis has also been suggested to cause hyperprolactinemia, while mechanisms have not been identified yet. In this study, we set out to investigate the prevalence and predictors of hyperprolactinemia in 178 patients with liver cirrhosis of different etio-logies. Eighteen out of 178 patients - 7 females and 11 males - displayed elevated serum pro-lactin levels. When patients were excluded who suffered from co-morbidities or took medication that are discussed to potentially interfere with prolactin metabolism, only 3 males displayed increased serum prolactin levels. Prolactin levels were similar in patients with liver cirrhosis of different etiologies. Our data suggest that hyperprolactinemia is not commonly found in patients with liver cirrhosis, but is mostly associated with intake of drugs or presence of comorbidites which are known to potentially cause hyperprolactinemia. We thus hypothesize that in contrast to former studies liver cirrhosis is not a common cause of hyperprolactinemia and that in the absence of co-morbidities or drugs that are known to potentially increase prolactin levels, marked hyperprolactinemia needs further investigation in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Canine splenic haemangiosarcoma: influence of metastases, chemotherapy and growth pattern on post-splenectomy survival and expression of angiogenic factors.

Splenic haemangiosarcomas (HSAs) from 122 dogs were characterized and classified according to their patterns of growth, survival time post splenectomy, metastases and chemotherapy. The most common pattern of growth was a mixture of cavernous, capillary and solid tumour tissue. Survival time post splenectomy was independent of the growth pattern; however, it was influenced by chemotherapy and metastases. Immunohistochemical assessment of the expression of angiogenic factors (fetal liver kinase-1, angiopoietin-2, angiopoietin receptor-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor A) and conventional endothelial markers (CD31, factor VIII-related antigen) revealed variable expression, particularly in undifferentiated HSAs. Therefore, a combination of endothelial markers should be used to confirm the endothelial origin of splenic tumours.

Variable parathyroid hormone(1-84)/carboxylterminal PTH ratios detected by 4 novel parathyroid hormone assays.

AIM: Parathyroidhormone (PTH) measurement is important in the evaluation of bone disease in patients with chronic renal failure. Large carboxyl-terminal PTH fragments (C-PTH) cross-react with second-generation PTH assays, lead to an overestimation of biologically active PTH, and are evaluated by a combination of second- and third-generation PTH assays. The aim of our study was to examine whether the use of 4 different PTH assays of putatively same specificity leads to comparable results detecting C-PTH fragments. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 70 chronic dialysis patients, total PTH and PTH(1-84) were measured in parallel by 4 novel PTH assays (Nichols Advantage Intact PTH and Bio-Intact PTH Chemiluminescence Assay, Nichols Institute Diagnostics, USA, DUO Total and CAP PTH IRMA, Scantibodies Laboratory, USA). The C-PTH concentration was quantitated by subtracting PTH(1-84) from total PTH. Consecutively, the PTH(1-84)/C-PTH ratio was calculated. RESULTS: Nichols Intact PTH and DUO Total PTH assays were highly correlated (r = 0.985), as well as Nichols Bio-Intact and DUO CAP assays (r = 0.984). However, total PTH values measured by the Nichols assay were 30% higher (median (range): 185 (9.9 - 2,332) versus 130 (2.3 - 1,271.1) pg/ml, p < 0.01). PTH(1-84) values, measured by the Nichols Bio-Intact PTH assay were 8% higher compared to the Scantibodies CAP assay (median (range): 79.6 (7.5 - 1,060.9) versus 73.7 (4.4 - 918.9) pg/ml, p = NS). Thirty-six patients had a ratio < 1 measured by the Nichols assays, whereas only 8 patients showed the same ratio when measured by the Scantibodies assays. In 28 patients (40%), contradictory PTH(1-84)/C-PTH ratios were found, showing a ratio < 1 when measured by the Nichols assays, but > 1 when the Scantibodies assays were used. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results suggest that the PTH(1-84)/C-PTH ratio cannot be equally used as a predictor of bone turnover when different PTH assays are used. Depending on those assays, differences in total PTH values mathematically lead to varying amounts of C-PTH fragments resulting in variable, even contradictory PTH(1-84)/C-PTH ratios.

[Fructosamine determination as a tool in the prognosis of diabetes mellitus in dogs]. / Die Fructosaminbestimmung als Hilfsmittel zur Abschätzung der Prognose des Diabetes mellitus bei der Hündin.

It is difficult to give the prognosis of diabetes mellitus after castration of the bitch. An algorithm using the blood glucose and fructosamine level is suggested to evaluate the prognosis of diabetes: While the algorithm classifies 19 bitches with good prognosis 18 (95%) are cured. 18 are classified with poor prognosis and all of them undergo a long difficult insulin-therapy or are not treated with success. 6 bitches are classified as indifferent, 2 of them are cured by castration, 2 are managed with insulin and 2 are treated without success. The limits can be described by the following equations: lower limit y = 5.04x + 321, upper limit y = 7.74x + 433. If blood glucose is available only in mg/dl, the equations are: lower limit y = 0.28 + 321, upper limit y = 0.43x + 433. The algorithm is statistical high significant but it should be verified by calculation of a larger number of patients.

[Therapy of narrow canine teeth using a methacrylate orthodontic splint]. / Therapie von Zahnfehlstellungen des Hundes mittels aus Methacrylat hergestellter Aufbissschienen.

32 cases of narrow canine teeth were treated with an orthodontic splint similar to the Becker-splint (1965). The splints are either fixed only to one or two teeth using adhesive bone of to both canine teeth and incisors. They can be made simply within short time and may treat different orthodontic problems.

[Replantation and fixation of luxated canine teeth in the dog]. / Replantation und Fixation luxierter Canini beim Hund.

The alveolus of a (usually maxillary) canine tooth in a dog may fracture during fighting or in a car accident. The trauma loosens the tooth with resultant avulsion. Ten patients are reviewed, nine with maxillary and one with mandibular canine tooth avulsion, and a method for fixation and replantation is described.

[Fructosamine as a valuable criterion for the evaluation of diabetic animals and its photometric determination]. / Fruktosamine als neues wertvolles Kriterium für die Einstellung diabetischer Tiere sowie ihre photometrische Bestimmung.

The new photometrical kit fructosamine is tested for its use with canine, feline and equine blood. Normal values of fructosamine in nondiabetic animals as well as adequately and inadequately stabilized patients are given. The measurement of fructosamine is an excellent new tool for diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus and should become an essential part of the control of the course of diabetes mellitus in animals.

[Individual glycoside therapy using serum concentration determination in canine heart failure]. / Individuelle Glykosidtherapie mittels Serumkonzentrationsbestimmung bei der Herzinsuffizienz des Hundes.

32 dogs with congestive heart failure without sufficient reaction to a standardized therapy with glycosides are treated with an individual glycoside dose. The therapy is controlled by the serum concentration of the cardiac glycoside. The influence of additional diseases and medications is demonstrated. Finally a rule for the evaluation of the therapeutic glycoside dose is given.

[New approaches to the secretolytic therapy of chronic bronchitis in dogs]. / Neue Ansätze zur sekretolytischen Therapie bei der chronischen Bronchitis des Hundes.

6 dogs with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are treated with acetylcysteine and get three infusions of isotonic NaCl (7-10% of body weight). Their dyspnea is visibly improved. Their therapeutic benefit is objectified by radiology and blood gas parameters.

[The determination of the urea content in cow's milk with the help of the dry chemical system Reflotron]. / Die Bestimmung des Harnstoffgehaltes in Rindermilch mit Hilfe des Trockenchemiesystems Reflotron.

The dry chemistry laboratory unit "Reflotron" (Boehringer Mannheim) is tested for its efficacy in the determination of urea in dairy milk with the test Urea. It gives reliable results. The system is easy to handle. The storage of milk is of no influence on the level of urea.

[Lincomycin therapy of streptococcal and staphylococcal mastitis in cattle]. / Ergebnisse der Lincomycin-Therapie der Streptokokken- und Staphylokokken-Mastitiden des Rindes.

Lincomycin has a good influence on mastitis caused by gram positive bacteria especially streptococci and staphylococci. Applied parenterally lincomycin is very toxic. Therefore it is not a regular therapeutic drug. The tubes for intramammary application are completely non-toxic. Lincomycin is very useful for treating dairy herds with galt mastitis.

[Individual glycoside therapy using serum concentration determination in heart insufficiency of horses]. / Individuelle Glykosidtherapie mittels Serumkonzentrationbestimmung bei der Herzinsuffizienz des Pferdes.

23 horses and one donkey with congestive heart failure are treated with a standardized methyldigoxin dose (0.0032 mg/kg of body weight). The therapy is controlled by the serum concentration of the cardiac glycoside. 4 horses have a higher and 13 horses a lower serum concentration as necessary for therapeutic approach. The influence of additional diseases and medications is demonstrated. Finally a rule for the evaluation of the individual therapeutic glycoside-dose is given.