Trilostane Treatment of Canine Alopecia X in an American Pit Bull Terrier

This paper describes the case of a one-year-old female American Pit Bull Terrier, presented with the history of progressive baldness. The initial clinical signs were demonstrated by symmetric, primarily non-pruritic alopecia that began in the perineal, genital, and ventral abdominal regions and propagated cranially to the thorax and to the neck. Based on physical and dermatological examination, laboratory findings, and results of skin biopsy, a hormone-responsive dermatosis was diagnosed. Once hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism were ruled out, with the help of hormonal tests, the diagnosis was specified as alopecia X. The first treatment option recommended for the patient and subsequently completed was ovariohysterectomy. After three months, the owner reported improvement; the dog was almost covered with hair. The patient was presented again six months later, showing almost the same dermatological symptoms, which, however, were of a more striking character than before ovariohysterectomy. Again a series of hormonal tests was carried out. Considering the elevated basal and post-adrenocorticothropin stimulation progesterone concentrations, the final aetiology of the disease was determined as an adrenal sex hormone imbalance. Therefore trilostan therapy was initiated. The trilostan dosage of 8 mg/kg/day was divided and given 2 times daily. This treatment led to complete hair regrowth in the dog within four months. No adverse effects associated with trilostane were recognized

Ultrashort Bradycardic Effect of Newly Synthesized Compounds

Changes in the heart rate induced by four different doses of two newly synthesized potential ultrashort-action antagonists of beta adrenergic receptors were tested in 90 male laboratory Wistar rats. The isoprenaline-induced tachycardia model was used. Their effects were compared with those of esmolol. In the second part of the study, approximate electro-physiological measurements were made in vitro to assess the influence of the compounds tested on ion membrane currents in isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes. Both compounds demonstrated significant bradycardic effects in all concentrations tested compared with the control group, but they differed in the time of the onset of their action. Both newly synthesized compounds induced blockade of the fast sodium current (INa) and potassium currents (Ito, IK1, IK,end)

Neonatal Transient Hypothyroidism in Two Whippet Puppies

The work describes a case of neonatal transient hypothyroidism in two whippet puppies aged 10 weeks. The condition was caused by iodine deficiency either in the diet solely or in combination with a partial peroxidase defect. Goitre developed in the puppies, fed giblets and poultry meat. Laboratory examinations in both puppies showed symptoms of hypothyroidism: non-regenerative anaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, significant decrease in the concentration of total thyroxine and increased concentration of thyrotropin. Ultrasonographic examination demonstrated enlarged thyroid glands. Cytological examination confirmed hyperplastic epithelial cells of the thyroid gland. The clinical condition improved within two months after the diet was changed to commercial dog food and after oral iodine supplementation was started. The iodine substitution was gradually discontinued. Four years later, the clinical and laboratory examinations were carried out in one of the presented patients under completely different circumstances (examination after a car accident). Haematological, biochemical and hormonal examinations were entirely within the reference range