Exocrine pancreatic function following intraoperative irradiation of the canine pancreas.

Twenty-four beagles received intraoperative irradiation (IORT) with 6 meV electrons to the pancreas and the duodenum. Intraoperative irradiation doses of 17.5 to 40 Gy were given. Billroth II gastrojejunostomy was done to bypass the irradiated duodenum. Six control dogs received only the Billroth II surgery. Two weeks postoperatively, irradiated dogs were given 50 Gy of 6 MV X radiation (external-beam radiation [EBRT]) to the pancreas and duodenum in 2 Gy fractions over a 5-week period. Dogs were monitored clinically and exocrine pancreatic function was evaluated using an N-benzoyl-l-tyrosyl-para-aminobenzoic acid (BT-PABA) test between 3 and 135 days postoperatively. Necropsies were performed on the dogs at 135 days postoperatively. The degree of gross pancreatic atrophy in the irradiated group was dose related. The mean percentage of normal acinar cells correlated with IORT doses and para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) values (P less than 0.1). Weight loss was significantly greater in the irradiated dogs compared to the control (P less than 0.05) and the mean percentage of body weight loss correlated with the mean PABA values (P less than 0.01). In this study, the use of the BT-PABA test to evaluate progressive exocrine pancreatic function following IORT and EBRT showed an expected trend. A progressive decrease in exocrine pancreatic function in the irradiated dogs as indicated by plasma PABA levels may have been partly due to late radiation damage to acinar cells, secondary to vascular and ductular damage. At 135 days postoperatively none of the dogs showed clinical signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and the plasma PABA levels were within the normal presurgical range. The progressive decrease in plasma PABA levels indicated a potential for the late development of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The BT-PABA test could be useful for evaluating the progressive decrease in exocrine pancreatic function and residual radiation injury to the pancreas. Because the exocrine deficiency can be managed with replacement therapy, pancreatic injury may not be a serious complication after doses of less than 30 Gy IORT with 50 Gy EBRT. Data from this study are in agreement with previous clinical and experimental reports that the duodenum is dose-limiting for IORT. Doses of 20 Gy IORT or less plus 50 Gy EBRT for treatment of carcinoma of the pancreas may not result in serious long-term complications due to radiation injury of the duodenum.

Billroth II gastrojejunostomy in dogs. Stapling technique and postoperative complications.

Billroth II gastrojejunostomy was performed with surgical staplers in 6 dogs that were not irradiated and in 11 dogs that subsequently received radiation to the pancreas and proximal part of the duodenum. The dogs were monitored clinically for 135 days and then euthanatized and necropsied. Each gastrojejunostomy site was preserved in formalin and the stomal diameter was measured. No mechanical complications were encountered with the use of surgical staplers and no leakage was observed at the staple closure sites before abdominal closure. All dogs vomited approximately 100 ml of coagulated blood 4 to 8 hours after surgery, and 300 to 400 ml of brown fluid after approximately 24 hours. Vomiting was the most common clinical finding after the first 24 hours. Vomiting was subjectively graded from 1 to 3 with grade 1 representing the least severe problem and grade 3 the most severe. Grade 1 vomiting occurred in 12 of 16 dogs that survived 135 days; in the other four dogs, vomiting was classified as grade 2 or 3. All dogs with grade 1 vomiting had stomal diameters of 1.7 to 2.9 cm (mean, 2.2 +/- 0.4 cm standard deviation). Dogs with grade 2 or 3 vomiting had stomal diameters of 2.2 to 4.0 cm (mean, 3.2 +/- 0.8 cm standard deviation). The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.005). The percentage of weight gained or lost was recorded for each dog. Two nonirradiated dogs gained body weight, whereas the other nonirradiated dogs and all irradiated dogs lost body weight.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pathologic response of the pancreas and duodenum to experimental intraoperative irradiation.

The pancreas and duodenum of 24 beagle dogs were given intraoperative irradiation (IORT) with 6 MeV electrons. The dose range was 17.5 Gy to 40 Gy. Billroth II gastrojejunostomy was performed on all dogs prior to irradiation. Six control dogs received only Billroth II surgery. Starting 2 weeks after surgery, dogs in the irradiation groups were given 50 Gy 6 MV X rays external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to the pancreas and duodenum. The total dose of 50 Gy was given in 2 Gy fractions over 5 weeks. Dogs were monitored for 135 days then necropsied. Gross and histopathologic changes in the pancreas and duodenum were evaluated and quantitative analysis of pancreatic lesions done. Duodenal ulcers were found following 32.5 Gy and 40 Gy IORT. The pancreases were atrophic in irradiated dogs and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency occurred in one dog given 25 Gy. Gross pancreatic atrophy correlated with IORT dose. Histopathologic evidence of radiation damage to the pancreas was observed in acinar cells. Islet cell lesions were not apparent. There was pancreatic fibrosis and damage to blood vessels and ducts. Dose-response relationships were observed for the index of damage to the pancreas as a whole, for pancreatic fibrosis and a decrease in normal acinar cells. Although 25 Gy IORT plus 50 Gy EBRT was tolerated by the duodenum to 135 days, these doses may cause later pancreatic injury as an expression of damage to blood vessels and ducts. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and diabetes mellitus may thus represent potential late complications of IORT following 25 Gy or higher doses.

Pneumonia in goats following administration of live and heat-killed Pasteurella haemolytica.

Six of 7 and 3 of 4 goats inoculated with live and heat-killed P. haemolytica (biotype-T), respectively, had pneumonia at necropsy. Clinically, the pneumonia was only detected in 8 of 9 goats with diseased lungs. One goat died of a fibrinous pneumonia which was associated with a profuse growth of both P. haemolytica (biotype-T) and P. multocida and a limited growth of Escherichia coli from the lungs. In the remaining 8 goats with lung lesions, the pneumonia was of the proliferative type, with only some showing the exudative feature. Five of these goats (including 3 controls) had bacteriologically sterile lung lesions, while the other 3 yielded P. haemolytica (biotype-T) and in one of them, chlamydia were also isolated. P. haemolytica (biotype-T) and P. multocida were isolated from 1 of 2 goats with normal lungs.

Nasal bacterial flora of clinically normal goats.

An enclosed swab assembly was employed to collect nasal mucus from 45 clinically normal goats. Eleven bacterial species were isolated from their nasal cavities. Pasteurella haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida were the most important isolates.

Experimental reproduction of septicemic pasteurellosis in feedlot lambs: bacteriologic and pathologic examinations.

Septicemic pasteurellosis (SP) was induced in feedlot lambs. Twenty-eight lambs, randomly allotted into 7 groups, were given combinations of 3 treatments: (i) immunosuppression using hydrocortisone solubilized in dimethyl sulfoxide, (ii) rapid changes in feed, from 100% roughage to 90% concentrate, and (iii) oral inoculation of Pasteurella haemolytica biotype T. Feed changes and immunosuppression by hydrocortisone were needed for the production of SP. Pasteurella haemolytica inoculation was not necessary for induction of SP in all cases, indicating an endogenous source of infection. Clinical pathologic, bacteriologic, and gross and microscopic pathologic findings of induced SP were similar to those described for naturally occurring SP in lambs. Infection of lambs with P haemolytica biotype T via the gastrointestinal tract is discussed as a possible step in the pathogenesis of SP in feedlot lambs.

Comparison of antigenic structure and pathogenicity of bovine intestinal Chlamydia isolate with an agent of epizootic bovine abortion.

A bovine fecal Chlamydia, isolated from a clinically normal cow, had pathogenic capabilities and antigenic structure similar to those of a chlamydial agent of epizootic bovine abortion (EBA). Intravenous inoculation of the fecal chlamydia into a pregnant heifer caused abortion and lesions in the fetus indistinguishable from those of experimentally induced EBA. In serotests with species-specific complement fixation antigens, the intestinal agent was similar to the EBA agent.

Bovine Aspergillosis Produced by the Inoculation of Conidiospores of Aspergillus fumigatus into a Mesenteric or Jugular Vein.

Conidiospores of Aspergillus fumigatus were inoculated during the second trimester of pregnancy into a mesenteric vein of 14 heifers and into a jugular vein of three additional heifers. Heifers were killed at intervals after inoculation. Lesions were confined largely to the placentas, livers, and lungs. Placental infection was present in seven of 14 heifers inoculated via a mesenteric vein and in the three heifers inoculated via a jugularvein. Fetal mycotic infection or lesions were not established. Two heifers inoculated via a mesenteric vein aborted. Mycotic granulomas developed in the livers and lungs.