Hematologic effects of xylazine when used for restraint of Bactrian camels

Xylazine was found to be a safe and reliable drug for chemical restraint of Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus). Dosages of 0.27 to 0.51 mg/kg of body weight provided adequate sedation for the performance of various procedures (e.g., tuberculin testing, lymph node biopsy, and electroejaculation). Hematologic and serum biochemical values for camels restrained manually were compared with those for camels restrained with xylazine. Xylazine-treated camels had significantly lower values for RBC, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume, and significantly higher blood glucose concentrations. Venous blood gas analyses did not reveal any major acid-base disturbances resulting from the use of xylazine. Rapid arousal from the sedative effects of xylazine occurred after the intravenous administration of doxapram hydrochloride in dosages of 0.05 to 0.13 mg/kg of body weight.

Lead poisoning in sandhill cranes

Seven Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) and 6 greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were exposed to lead-base paint containing 27% lead. One bird of each subspecies died enroute to the hospital, with a clinical history of anorexia, weakness, and open-mouth breathing of 36 hours' duration. There were no gross lesions, and microscopic lesions were limited to focal hepatic necrosis and hemosiderosis. Two of each subspecies of cranes developed clinical signs of lead poisoning, which included anorexia, weakness, green diarrhea, regurgitation, and open-mouth breathing. Diagnosis of lead poisoning was confirmed on the basis of blood lead concentrations ranging from 146 microgram/100 ml to 378 microgram/100 ml. These 4 cranes were treated successfully with calcium disodium edetate intramuscularly. Seven of the birds remained clinically normal despite high blood lead levels, especially in the greater sandhill cranes.

Leukocyte and lymphocyte cyclic AMP responses in atopic eczema

Lymphocytes from subjects with mild and severe atopic eczema were compared with normal control subjects in regard to their cAMP (3';5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate) responses to a variety of stimulatory agents. Individuals in the severe eczema group were shown to have a significant diminution in their unstimulated lymphocyte cAMP levels and absolute cAMP responses to 0.5 mM theophylline, 0.5 mM theophyline + 1 micronM epinephrine, 10 mM isoproternol, 1 mM isoproterenol, 10 mM salbutamol, and 3 micron M PGE1. Individuals with mild eczema had a reduced response to 0.5 mM theophylline. The severe eczema groups also differed in a number of these responses from a group of 5 subjects with severe psoriasis. Mixed leukocyte cAMP responses to 10 mM isoproterenol also were examined and found to be diminished in individuals with eczema.

Left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy. III: ultrastructural characteristics of cardiomyopathy and cardiac hypertrophy with good or poor ventricular function

Left ventricular endomyocardial biopsies have been obtained from patients with cardiomyopathy and hypertrophy due to aortic valve disease. These biopsies have been examined by electron microscopy and the ultrastructural abnormalities compared. In congestive cardiomyopathy no specific abnormalities were found although myofibrillary degeneration and membrane-bound vacuoles were more commonly present. Crossing of whole groups of sarcomeres was found only in asymmetric septal hypertrophy, but was not present in all cases. Amyloid deposits were demonstrated easily by electron microscopy in patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy. In the patients with hypertrophy due to aortic valve disease, no specific features were found and ultrastructural abnormalities did not differentiate between normal and impaired left ventricular functions.

Psychological response of patients cured of advanced cancer

Psychologic testing was performed in 22 patients with advanced cancer (breast, endometrium, testis, lymphoma) who had undergone a complete remission that had been maintained for 5 to 20 years since the last therapy. The reaction to the probability of being cured was measured. The patients' overall attitude was very positive towards life and the future. They had a greater appreciation of time, life, people, and interpersonal reactions. They were less concerned about the nonessentials of life. It appeared that recovery from advanced cancer was a good experience for character development.

Effects of long-term elemental nasogastric feeding on elderly debilitated patients

The effects of a liquid elemental diet on nine patients requiring nasogastric tube feeding because of severe dysphagia were studied. A casein based feeding served as a control. The elemental diet was given over a 12-week period except in the case of one man who expired after nine weeks from causes unrelated to the diet.The feeding was well tolerated by the digestive tract. Satisfactory nutrition appeared to be maintained as indicated by weight gain, stable hemoglobin, serum total protein and albumin values, and normal healing of pressure sores. BUN levels decreased significantly. Uric acid levels increased but remained within normal limits. Pancreatic function was unaffected clinically and from the postmortem findings of the man who died, pancreatic morphology was normal. Fasting blood sugars, serum electrolytes, hematocrit, bleeding, clotting and prothrombin times, and platelet counts were normal.