Diagnostic value of transcervical endometrial biopsies in domestic dogs compared with full-thickness uterine sections.

Transcervical endometrial biopsy is a useful tool for obtaining information about uterine health in some species. The clinical application of information gained from histopathological interpretations of endometrial biopsies in the bitch has not been validated. We hypothesized that transcervical endometrial biopsy samples would be as diagnostic as full-thickness uterine sections in identifying cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH), inflammation and periglandular fibrosis. Endometrial biopsies were obtained from 20 female adult dogs. Vaginal swabs, gross appearance of the vulva and vaginal tract, and serum progesterone values were used to determine the stage of the oestrous cycle at the time of sampling. The uteri were removed between 1 and 6 days after the biopsy procedure, and full-thickness sections were collected from each uterine horn and ovary and processed for histopathology. Two pathologists, blinded to the origin of each sample, compared full-thickness sections from the excised uteri to the biopsy samples collected via the transcervical technique. Pathologic features noted included: CEH, inflammation and periglandular fibrosis. Pathological diagnoses obtained from the biopsy sections were compared with those obtained from the full-thickness sections, as well as comparing diagnoses between the two pathologists, using McNemar's test. Of the 59 total biopsy samples obtained, 54 were considered diagnostic. All stages of the canine oestrous cycle were represented (anoestrus, proestrus, oestrus and dioestrus). Pyometra was not noted in any of the transcervical biopsy sections, but was noted in many of the full-thickness sections collected from dogs in dioestrus, suggesting either that biopsy is not a sensitive indicator of pyometra or that the procedure may induce pyometra in dioestrous dogs. Transcervical endometrial biopsy showed similar sensitivity as full-thickness sections in detecting CEH, inflammation and fibrosis. No differences in describing lesions were detected between pathologists.

UV radiation emitted by selected sources at work stands.

The paper presents the results of UV effective irradiance measurements at work stands for sources such as: welding arcs, gas blowpipes, exposure processes, printing machines and insecticide lamps. The irradiance measurements were performed using broad-band instruments with detector heads corrected to the Polish action spectra (erythematous and conjunctivitis). The obtained values of effective irradiance for the above sources ranged from 0.2 to 8,000 mW/m2. Safe exposure time corresponding to irradiance was calculated for the Polish threshold limit values. For welding processes the spectra of selected welding arcs are presented additionally. These spectra were measured using a fiber-optic spectrometer.

The effect of fentanyl, DNQX and MK-801 on dorsal horn neurones responsive to colorectal distension in the anaesthetized rat.

Certain dorsal horn neurones respond in a graded manner to noxious colorectal distension (CRD). Morphine inhibits these responses in the spinalized rat, but the role of excitatory amino acids in baseline visceral nociceptive transmission is less clear. This study examines the effect of the mu-opiate receptor agonist fentanyl, and the non-NMDA and NMDA antagonists DNQX and MK-801, respectively, on such responses to CRD in the sodium pentobarbitone-anaesthetized rat. Male rats were prepared for extracellular recording from the lumbosacral spinal cord. 90 neurones responsive to CRD, located throughout the dorsal horn, were classified according to their response duration and latency to 60 mmHg distension, as SL-A (short latency-abrupt; 59%), SL-S (short latency-sustained; 23%), L-L (long-latency; 10%) and Inhib (inhibited; 8%). Convergent cutaneous receptive fields were mapped for 79/90 neurones and classified as LT (low threshold), WDR (wide dynamic range) or HT (high threshold). CRD (20-100 mm Hg) elicited graded responses in most neurones. In 6/6 SL-S neurones, fentanyl (1-8 microg kg-1) dose-dependently inhibited the response to 60 mm Hg CRD, in a naloxone-sensitive manner, with an ID50 value (+/-95% confidence limits) of 2.48 (1.7-3. 7) microg kg-1. In 6/6 SL-A neurones, fentanyl had no significant effect on the response to CRD. DNQX (0.03-3 mg kg-1) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the response to CRD in 5/5 SL-A neurones, with an ID50 value of 0.32 (0.01-41.1) mg kg-1. MK-801 (0. 03-0.3 mg kg-1) had no significant effect on responses to CRD in 6/6 SL-A neurones. The differential inhibitory effects of fentanyl on two neuronal subtypes may indicate functional differences. In SL-A neurones AMPA/kainate, but not NMDA receptors are involved in mediating baseline nociceptive neurotransmission.

The 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist alosetron inhibits the colorectal distention induced depressor response and spinal c-fos expression in the anaesthetised rat.

BACKGROUND: Noxious intestinal distention elicits a reflex depressor response in the sodium pentobarbitone anaesthetised rat, which can be used as an index of visceral nociception. 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists inhibit this reflex. Repeated colorectal distention (CRD) induces Fos like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) in the rat spinal cord. AIMS: To examine the effect of the 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist alosetron on the depressor response to CRD, and on Fos expression in the lumbosacral spinal cord. METHODS: Male rats were anaesthetised with sodium pentobarbitone, and mean arterial blood pressure monitored during repeated colorectal balloon inflation before and after treatment with alosetron or saline. Rats anaesthetised with urethane and treated with alosetron or saline underwent a repeated CRD paradigm, after which the lumbosacral spinal cord was removed and processed for visualisation of Fos-LI. RESULTS: CRD elicited reproducible, volume dependent falls in arterial blood pressure, and repeated distention-effect curves were constructed. Alosetron (1-100 microg/kg intravenously) inhibited the depressor response to CRD in a dose related manner, with an ID(50) value of 3.0 microg/kg. Following repeated CRD, numbers of Fos-LI neurones were significantly increased to 1246 (total in 12 sections at 120 microm intervals from L6 to S1) compared with 49 in sham distended animals. Pretreatment with alosetron (100 microg/kg) significantly reduced numbers of Fos-LI neurones to 479.8. CONCLUSION: The 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist alosetron inhibits the depressor response to CRD in a potent and dose dependent manner. It also inhibits CRD induced Fos-LI in the spinal cord. These results suggest that 5-HT(3) receptors are involved in visceral nociceptive transmission, perhaps located on primary afferent or spinal neurones.

Quantification of anti-c in haemolytic disease of the newborn.

Anti-c is an important Rh antibody that causes haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). We have carried out a retrospective analysis of the clinical outcome of pregnancy in 120 mothers with anti-c. Of these, 100 gave birth to c-positive infants, of whom 14 had severe HDN requiring exchange transfusion. In all of these, the maternal level was 9.5 iu/ml or greater. Of the 29 women with anti-c levels of 9.5 iu/ml or above, in addition to the 14 with severely affected infants, 15 had infants requiring only phototherapy or no treatment. Our observations suggest that when the anti-c level is below 7.5 iu/ml, the fetus is unlikely to be seriously affected and invasive obstetric intervention is unnecessary. Of the 120 women studied, 50% had had a blood transfusion, in most cases for obstetric complications in a previous pregnancy. Although it was not possible to attribute alloimmunization to blood transfusion rather than previous pregnancy in any individual case, this observation points to the value of routine c typing as part of antenatal screening, so that c-negative blood can be selected.

Transesophageal echocardiography and concurrent coronary angiography for the rapid assessment of papillary muscle rupture.

Echocardiography with color flow imaging is valuable for identifying mechanical complications of myocardial infarction. Transesophageal echocardiography is useful for critically ill patients in whom transthoracic imaging is often insufficient. A case of papillary muscle rupture is presented in which transesophageal echocardiography was performed concurrently with coronary angiography. The detailed information obtained from two-dimensional and color flow imaging eliminated the need for diagnostic right heart catheterization and left ventriculography. Transesophageal echocardiography used in this manner can facilitate expeditious surgical management.

Neutropenia associated with X-linked agammaglobulinaemia.

In a series of six cases of sex-linked agammaglobulinaemia neutropenia occurred as a presenting feature in four and during the presenting illness in the other two. The six patients all had low antibody titres and absent or low immunoglobulin concentrations with normal concentrations of T cells and absent B cells. The patients were all first seen with severe, acute infection, including septic abscesses and meningitis; neutropenia resolved as the infection and immunoglobulin deficiency were treated. Haematologists should be aware that neutropenia is a common association of infection in patients with immunoglobulin deficiency.

Lung cancer, immune thrombocytopenia and the lupus inhibitor.

This case report describes the simultaneous occurrence of autoimmune thrombocytopenia and the lupus anticoagulant in a patient with primary adenocarcinoma of the bronchus. Treatment with corticosteroids and plasmapheresis resulted in a return to normal of the partial thromboplastin time and the disappearance of the platelet antibodies. The carcinoma was inoperable.