Branch pulmonary artery stent placement in a dog with heart base neoplasia

A 7-year-old French bulldog was presented for evaluation of cardiac neoplasia. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography revealed a mass on the base of the heart, compressing the right pulmonary artery. Computed tomography exam confirmed that a surgical approach to remove the mass would not be viable. Stent placement in the right pulmonary artery was performed to relieve external compression caused by the neoplasia. When surgery is not feasible, pulmonary artery stenting could be one aspect of a multidisciplinary approach to palliative management of heart base neoplasia.

Geographic distribution of Gongylonema pulchrum and Gongylonema macrogubernaculum from Macaca fuscata in Japan

After a first report on the gullet nematode, Gongylonema pulchrum Molin, 1857, being found in the Japanese macaque, Macaca fuscata, in Kyushu, Japan, the geographic distribution of the parasite, a causative agent of gongylonemiasis in cattle and man, was examined in 181 monkeys transferred to the Japan. Monkey Centre from 23 sites in Japan, including Yaku-shima (Island). Yaku-shima is included in the World Natural Heritage List of the United Nations for its subtropical forests, which have an unusual variety of plant and animal species. G. pulchrum was found in M. fuscata yakui monkeys inhabiting Yaku-shima and M. fuscata fuscata monkeys inhabiting Honshu and an is and near Honshu. G. macrogubernaculum was found in M. fuscata yakui monkeys. Comparison of the two kinds of parasite specimens obtained from the variety M. fuscata yakui confirmed that G. macrogubernaculum Lubimov, 1931 is a valid species. Thus, the finding of G. macrogubernaculum constitutes a record of a newly identified host. M. fuscata yakui, and shows that Yaku-shima, Japan, is a natural locality of G. macrogubernaculum.

[Edematogenic syndrome in diabetics treated with insulin: a little-known complication]

Two cases of insulin oedema similar to that of nephrotic syndrome were described. It appeared in two diabetic patients after the beginning of insulin therapy, when glycemia was normalized, as described by other Authors, with a spontaneous tendency to decrease. Pleural and pericardial effusion were also associated. The possible pathogenesis of insulin oedema in the two cases was discussed.

[Nitrendipine, a new calcium antagonist, in the therapy of arterial hypertension]

Bay e 5009 (nitrendipine) is a new calcium-antagonist that acts mainly on blood vessel smooth muscles. The effects of this drug on hypertensive patients of both sexes was investigated. Nine patients were treated for 42 days at a fixed dosage of 1 tablet/day. A highly significant fall in arterial pressure was obtained (p less than 0.001). Seven patients took 20 mg/day of nitrendipine for 14 days and a significant reduction in A.P. was obtained (p less than 0.001): for the next four weeks, the dosage was increased to 20 mg twice a day when a further decrease in systolic and diastolic A.P. was obtained without the occurrence of side effects. A further five patients were treated for 14 day (20 mg/day). These showed a fall in blood pressure levels (p less than 0.001) but suffered from slight oedema which made it necessary to suspend the treatment. An increase in heart rate was noted in all patients (p less than 0.001). This was due to reflex adrenergic activation. Nitrendipine therefore proved effective as an antihypertensive drug even at a daily dose of only 20 mg.