The effect of Acemannan Immunostimulant in combination with surgery and radiation therapy on spontaneous canine and feline fibrosarcomas.

Eight dogs and five cats with histopathologically confirmed fibrosarcomas were treated with Acemannan Immunostimulanta in combination with surgery and radiation therapy. These animals had recurring disease that had failed previous treatment, a poor prognosis for survival, or both. Following four to seven weekly acemannan treatments, tumor shrinkage occurred in four (greater than 50%; n = 2) of 12 animals, with tumors accessible to measurement. A notable increase in necrosis and inflammation was observed. Complete surgical excision was performed on all animals between the fourth and seventh week following initiation of acemannan therapy. Radiation therapy was instituted immediately after surgery. Acemannan treatments were continued monthly for one year. Seven of the 13 animals remain alive and tumor-free (range, 440+ to 603+ days) with a median survival time of 372 days. The data suggests that Acemannan Immunostimulant may be an effective adjunct to surgery and radiation therapy in the treatment of canine and feline fibrosarcomas.

Pilot study of the effect of acemannan in cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus.

Acemannan, a complex carbohydrate shown to stimulate interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha and prostaglandin E2 production by macrophages, has also demonstrated antiviral activity in vitro against human immunodeficiency virus, Newcastle disease virus and influenza virus. A pilot study was undertaken to determine acemannan's effect in 49 feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infected cats with clinical signs of disease (Stage 3, 4 or 5), 23 of which had severe lymphopenia. Cats received acemannan either by intravenous (Group 1) or subcutaneous (Group 2) injection once weekly for 12 weeks, or by daily oral (Group 3) administration for 12 weeks. Upon entry into the study, cats were randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Laboratory analyses were performed at the beginning of the study and at Weeks 6 and 12. Cats were allowed to continue with a predetermined maintenance regimen of acemannan after completing the 12-week study. Thirteen cats died during the course of treatment. Upon necropsy, the most frequent histopathologic findings were neoplastic, kidney and pancreatic disease. Friedman's two-way ANOVA test showed no significant differences in efficacy among groups administered acemannan by the different routes. Therefore, groups were combined and a signed-ranks test was used to determine changes over time. A significant increase was seen in lymphocyte counts (P < 0.001). Neutrophil counts decreased significantly (P = 0.007), as did incidence of sepsis (P = 0.008). When cats entering with lymphopenia were analyzed separately, a much greater increase in lymphocyte counts was noted (235%) compared with non-lymphopenic cats (42%). A survival rate of 75% was found for all three groups. Thirty-six of 49 animals are alive 5-19 months post-entry. These results suggest that acemannan therapy may be of significant benefit in FIV-infected cats exhibiting clinical signs of disease.

[Treatment of morbid obesity by gastric bypass. Apropos of 1158 cases treated surgically]. / Traitement de l'obésité morbide par dérivation gastrique. A propos de 1158 cas opérés.

After defining pathological obesity and describing the technical methods used for gastric bypass, a series of 1158 surgical cases is analysed. Discussion, supported by a review of the literature, involved post-operative mortality and morbidity, mid-term results and patient selection criteria. In the light of the results obtained, it would no longer appear justified to offer this type of surgical procedure.

Visceral helminth communities of an insular population of feral swine.

Nine species of helminths, all nematodes, were recovered from the viscera of 48 feral swine (Sus scrofa) from Cumberland Island, Georgia. Both the overdispersed frequency distributions and the abundances of the four common species of helminths (Stephanurus dentatus, Metastrongylus apri, M. pudendotectus and Gongylonema pulchrum) did not vary significantly across the main and interactive effects of host sex and/or seasons. Whether or not the present low population densities of feral swine on Cumberland Island has influenced the pattern of fluctuations in abundances of helminth species across seasons as often observed in helminth communities from other hosts was not resolved. The apparent recent decline in prevalences and abundances, and the loss of certain species from the helminth communities of feral swine on the island may be explained partially by the decreasing transmission potentials of direct life cycle species caused by a recent marked reduction of numbers of individuals in the host population. Conversely, the apparent increased prevalence and abundance of three species of helminths (S. dentatus, M. apri and M. pudendotectus) may be related to their common utilization of earthworms as paratenic or intermediate hosts. Gongylonema pulchrum was the only helminth in which abundances seemed to remain unchanged. This was the only species that was not strictly host specific to feral swine. We found no evidence that helminth infections were responsible for morbidity or mortality in this feral swine population.

Reliabilities of air and water caloric responses.

Air is a safer and more convenient caloric-irrigating medium than water, but many otologists are reluctant to use it because they suspect that it yields less reliable nystagmus responses. To compare reliabilities of air and water caloric responses, we subjected eight normal persons to 12 irrigations each of 50 degrees C air, 44 degrees C water, 24 degrees C air, and 30 degrees C water. Standard caloric-testing conditions were used, and nystagmus responses were recorded by the method of electronystagmography. We found that the reliabilities of air and water caloric responses were not significantly different. A single observation permitted estimation of response strength within approximalely +/- 5 degrees/sec (95% confidence level), regardless of whether air or water was used as the irrigating medium.

A new sutureless technique for skin closure.

A sutureless wound-closure device was used in 150 patients. The average time spent to effect skin closure was reduced; removal was easy; skin apposition was satisfactory; and patient response was favorable. Sutureless tape closures eliminate the disadvantages of invasive skin closures. The device described provides secure tape adhesion to the skin and does not cover the wound. It can be easily applied, adjusted, and removed, in addition to serving as a protective splint to the healing wound. This method can reduce operative time of skin closure with highly satisfactory cosmetic results.