Intestinal ganglioneuroma in a neonatal Japanese black calf - Short communication.

A 1-day-old male calf presented with clinical signs of severe progressive abdominal distension. Abdominal radiographic and ultrasonic images revealed several loop-like structures in the small intestine, which were indicative of gas retention. Experimental laparotomy was performed. However, the calf died during surgery. At necropsy, a round, well-circumscribed mass (3 × 3 × 2.5 cm) was found in the jejunal wall, and the jejunal lumen was narrowed. The mass was firm and had white to grey appearance on the cut surface. Histologically, the submucosa and the muscle layer were diffusely thickened due to abundance of neural tissues comprising several fascicles of nerve fibres and large aggregates of ganglion cells. Some ganglion cells contained basophilic Nissl substances in their cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, these cells were positive for S-100 and synaptophysin. Ultrastructural examination revealed that the neoplastic ganglion cells contained dense core vesicles in the cytoplasm. Based on these findings, the neoplastic lesion was diagnosed as ganglioneuroma in the jejunum.

Plasma fluctuation in estradiol-17ß and bone resorption markers around parturition in dairy cows.

Blood samples were obtained sequentially from 10 dairy cows around the time of parturition to assess plasma fluctuations in estradiol-17ß (E2) levels in association with those of several bone resorption markers. Plasma E2 concentration increased sharply a few days prepartum and decreased quickly after parturition. In terms of bone resorption markers, the plasma level of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAP5b) rose significantly, commencing 1 week prepartum, and was maintained at this level to a few days postpartum. The plasma concentration of carboxyterminal collagen cross-links of type-I collagen (CTx) increased significantly after parturition. These observations suggest that osteoclast-mediated bone resorption was activated after parturition when plasma E2 concentrations decreased.

Measurement of left atrial appendage size by transesophageal echocardiography.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the most common imaging method for evaluating left atrial morphology. Recent advances in 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (64-MDCT) allow accurate measurement of left atrial appendage (LAA) volume. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of LAA sizing by TEE in comparison with 64-MDCT in patients with atrial fibrillation. Electrocardiogram-gated 64-MDCT and TEE were performed within 2 days in 18 consecutive patients (63 ± 9 years old, 12 males, 5 paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. LAA area and LAA volume were measured at end-systole by TEE and 64-MDCT, respectively. The largest LAA area was measured on TEE image. Five patients were in sinus rhythm during examinations. In all patients, LAA was clearly visualized; the largest area of LAA was 9.3 ± 3.9 mm(2) and the LAA volume was 21.6 ± 7.5 ml. A significant correlation between LAA area and LAA volume was observed (p = 0.0003, r = 0.75). TEE allows a detailed evaluation of the LAA structure by two-dimensional imaging. LAA size could be evaluated by TEE despite its morphological complexity, i.e., sac-like or multilobed structure.

Changes in plasma bone metabolic markers in periparturient dairy cows.

We examined fluctuations in plasma tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAP5b) measured using fluorometry in conjunction with those in calcium (Ca) and other bone metabolic markers from 2 weeks prepartum to 2 weeks postpartum in 7 primiparous and 18 multiparous pregnant cows. The plasma Ca concentration decreased temporarily on the day of calving in multiparous cows only. Plasma TRAP5b peaked on the day of calving in primiparous and multiparous cows and was significantly lower in multiparous cows than in primiparous cows 2 weeks before and after parturition. Plasma hydroxyproline increased 1 week postpartum in multiparous cows. Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin tended to decrease after parturition in primiparous and multiparous cows. These results suggest that bone resorption increases around parturition in healthy parturient cows from the viewpoint of the TRAP5b activity.