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Biomedical subjects

R Neiger

Publications and source records attributed to R Neiger.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effect of dietary factors on the detection of fecal occult blood in cats.

Eight different diets were each fed to 6 cats to evaluate the effect on a guaiac and an o-tolidine fecal occult blood test. Fecal samples were collected from day 5 through day 7. Canine blood or pure cottage cheese were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. One hundred thirty-four fecal samples were analyzed. The dry fish (capelin) and vegetable (tapioca) diet and the pure cottage cheese diet had only negative results in both tests, whereas a canned chicken and cereal (rice) diet had negative results in all fecal samples in the o-tolidine tablet test and in 10 of 16 fecal samples in the guaiac paper test. All other fecal samples from cats eating 6 other diets and the canine blood additive were positive in both fecal occult blood tests. These results indicate that occult blood tests based on o-tolidine and guaiac are clinically useful, but cats need to be on a strict diet before the tests are used.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Comparison between vaginal misoprostol and cervical dinoprostone for cervical ripening and labor induction.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol (Cytotec) to intracervical dinoprostone (Prepidil) for pre-induction cervical ripening. METHODS: Sixty-one patients admitted for induction of labor, whose cervices were unfavorable (Bishop score: 4), were randomly assigned to either intravaginal placement of a 50 micrograms misoprostol tablet or intracervical administration of dinoprostone gel. RESULTS: Eighteen women (56%) in the misoprostol group and five (17%) in the dinoprostone group achieved cervical ripening within 12 hours (P = 0.007). Fewer doses of misoprostol were required to achieve cervical ripening, and the interval from induction of labor to delivery was shorter in the misoprostol group. Sixteen patients (50%) in the misoprostol group required oxytocin, whereas 26 (90%) in the dinoprostone group required oxytocin augmentation (P = 0.008). There was no significant difference in mode of delivery or neonatal outcome between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Vaginal misoprostol appears to be a more effective cervical ripening agent than cervical dinoprostone.

Administration, Intravaginal↗
PubMed2000

Distinction of gastric Helicobacter spp. in humans and domestic pets by scanning electron microscopy.

BACKGROUND: A number of different Helicobacter spp. can colonize the stomach of humans and domestic pets. Difficulties encountered with primary isolation of these spiral microorganisms and their unusual inertia with respect to biochemical reactions still represent considerable obstacles to their characterization with classic tools. In addition, the high degree of similarity in the 16S rRNA sequence hampers differentiation of Helicobacter spp. using routine molecular biological assays. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples from experimentally monoinfected mice, of naturally infected hosts, and of cultured strains were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In parallel, all samples were analyzed by molecular techniques to ascertain the Helicobacter spp. involved. RESULTS: Using the mouse samples as a reference, microorganisms found in naturally infected hosts were identified by SEM as belonging to H. pylori, H. felis, or a group consisting of H. bizzozeronii and H. heilmannii. A further spiral microorganism with unique morphology was found in a dog that was positive for H. salomonis, but the organism could not be recovered from experimentally infected mice. In culture, most Helicobacter strains lost their ultrastructural characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: When gastric Helicobacter spp. were collected from their natural habitat and examined by SEM, relevant differences could be detected between H. felis, H. bizzozeronii and H. heilmannii, and H. salomonis, respectively. SEM, therefore, seems to be a useful auxillary tool for the distinction of various gastric Helicobacter spp. as based on their ultrastructure.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Evidence for a parasite-mediated inhibition of abomasal acid secretion in sheep infected with Ostertagia leptospicularis.

The acid secretory capacity of the abomasal mucosa was studied in sheep experimentally infected with Ostertagia leptospicularis. The acidity of the abomasal contents, permanently recorded by a pH probe located inside the abomasum, decreased markedly to mean levels between pH 5 and 6. Subcutaneous administration of histamine or carbachol successfully stimulated acid secretion (pH 3.4). The results indicate that the abomasal mucosa harboured a population of functional parietal cells which were also identified immunohistochemically (H(+)/K(+)-ATPase). Ultrastructural investigation before stimulation revealed that the majority of these cells was in a resting state. Despite high serum gastrin levels, the acid secretion was blocked either at the level of the parietal cell or the enterochromaffin-like cell by an unknown factor, possibly mediated by the parasites. This is the first report of a parietal cell dysfunction associated with a nematode infection in the abomasum. It is suggested that the parasites induce changes in their environment which favour their survival and/or increase their reproduction.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1999

Ambulatory cervical ripening in term pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the safe use of Dilapan at term for ripening the unfavorable cervix in an outpatient setting. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective review of cervical ripening with Dilapan in women at term gestation. Such women were assigned to either outpatient or inpatient cervical ripening with Dilapan. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were assigned to each group. The length of induction was similar between women who had ambulatory cervical ripening and hospitalized patients (11 +/- 7 vs. 14 +/- 7 hours, respectively), and the rates of chorioamnionitis, endometritis and nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracings were also similar. However, the average length of hospitalization was significantly shorter for those who had ambulatory ripening as compared to those who were hospitalized (51 +/- 27 vs. 70 +/- 20 hours, respectively; P < .0007). CONCLUSION: The use of Dilapan for cervical ripening at term in an ambulatory setting is safe and effective and may decrease the overall hospitalization time and cost.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Use of a urea breath test to evaluate short-term treatments for cats naturally infected with Helicobacter heilmannii.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of 3 short-term treatments in cats naturally infected with Helicobacter heilmannii. ANIMALS: 29 cats infected with H heilmannii that had positive results for a urea breath test, rapid urease test, and Helicobacter species-specific polymerase chain reaction test. PROCEDURES: Cats anesthetized for routine surgical procedures were randomly allocated to 4 groups: group 1, control cats; group 2, cats treated with azithromycin, tinidazole, ranitidine, and bismuth once daily for 4 days; group 3, cats treated with clarithromycin, metronidazole, ranitidine, and bismuth twice daily for 4 days; and group 4, cats treated with clarithromycin, metronidazole, ranitidine, and bismuth twice daily for 7 days. Efficacy was determined on the basis of results of a urea breath test performed 10 and 42 days after end of treatment. RESULTS: Ten days after treatment, 0 of 4, 4 of 6, 11 of 11, and 8 of 8 cats in groups 1 to 4, respectively, had a negative result for a urea breath test. Forty-two days after treatment, 0 of 4, 3 of 6, 7 of 11, and 4 of 8 cats in groups 1 to 4, respectively, still had a negative result. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Treatments used in this study regularly suppressed breath 13CO2 production. However, although 23 of 25 (92%) cats had negative results for a urea breath test 10 days after treatment, only 14 of 25 (56%) cats still had negative results 42 days after treatment. It is difficult to achieve a definitive long-term cure in cats naturally infected with H heilmannii.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Reattempting failed external cephalic version under epidural anesthesia.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesize that the success rate of external cephalic version may be increased by performing a repeat attempt with the patient under epidural anesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred eight women with term singleton pregnancies in breech presentation underwent attempted external version. When external version failed, we offered them the option of a later attempt under epidural anesthesia. All fetuses who remained in breech position were delivered by elective cesarean section. RESULTS: Fifty (60%) of the 83 attempted external versions performed without anesthesia were successful. Seventeen of the 33 women whose versions were unsuccessful underwent elective cesarean delivery, and 16 elected to undergo repeat version attempts under epidural. Nine (56%) of these 16 procedures were successful, and 7 of these 9 women were delivered vaginally. The overall success rate was 71%, similar to the success rate of versions attempted on 25 women under epidural anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: When an attempted external version fails, a repeat attempt under epidural anesthesia will usually be successful, resulting in a lower cesarean delivery rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Detection and prevalence of Helicobacter infection in pet cats.

The presence of spiral bacteria in the feline stomach has been recognized for over a century, but the identities and degrees of prevalence of such organisms in privately owned cats are still poorly documented. The aims of this study were (i) to adapt different diagnostic tools and evaluate their practicality for diagnosing feline gastric Helicobacter colonization, (ii) to determine the prevalence of gastric Helicobacter-like organisms in pet cats, (iii) to identify the feline species, and (iv) to correlate the presence of a Helicobacter infection with gastritis. Biopsy samples were taken gastroscopically from the antra and the corpora of clinically healthy pet cats. Helicobacter-like organisms were detected by Gram staining, Warthin-Starry staining, and rapid urease testing in biopsy specimens and by [13C]urea breath testing in 79, 77, 78, and 85% of cases, respectively. PCR analysis revealed that 78% of the cats (38 of 49) were infected by Helicobacter heilmannii; however, none of them was harboring Helicobacter pylori or Helicobacter felis. Culture was positive for one cat; the organism was identified as Helicobacter pametensis by dot blot DNA hybridization. By a combination of the detection methods, 91% of the pet cats were found to be Helicobacter positive. For 46 cats (79%) diagnostic tests were concordant. All cats showed mild to moderate gastritis in either the antrum or the corpus, regardless of the presence or density of gastric bacteria. In summary, pet cats are frequently colonized by H. heilmannii without a significant correlation between infection and degree of gastritis.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Presence of multiple "Helicobacter heilmannii" strains in an individual suffering from ulcers and in his two cats.

Circumstantial evidence suggests that "Helicobacter heilmannii" infection is an example of zoonosis. The presence of "H. heilmannii" strains in a human subject with acute gastric erosions, in his two cats, and in two unrelated cats was analyzed, and the genetic relatedness of the human and feline strains was assessed. A 580-bp, PCR-amplified sequence of "H. heilmannii" urease B gene (ureB) obtained from biopsies from the human subject and his two cats was restricted with AluI and cloned for sequencing. Analysis of the restriction fragment length polymorphism of the ureB-amplified product suggested the presence of different individual "H. heilmannii" strains in the cats and of three distinct strains in the human subject. One of the "H. heilmannii" ureB sequences amplified from the human subject's biopsies was identical to that derived from one of his cats. The degree of similarity between the other "H. heilmannii" human and feline nucleotide sequences was higher than 97%. Most of the base substitutions were conservative. We conclude that human and animal "H. heilmannii" strains are closely related and that humans can be infected by more than one "H. heilmannii" strain, as has been observed for Helicobacter pylori.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Intramural pregnancy in a cesarean section scar. A case report.

BACKGROUND: More than 95% of ectopic pregnancies involve the fallopian tubes. Other sites of ectopic implantation are less frequent, and a pregnancy in the myometrium is extremely rare. CASE: An intramural pregnancy occurred in the uterine scar in a woman who had had two previous cesarean sections. It encompassed the full thickness of the uterine wall, with chorionic villi invading the myometrium. Following conservative surgical treatment, the patient successfully carried the twin pregnancy to term. CONCLUSION: Meticulous examination of all the pelvic organs is important when searching for an ectopic pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Plasma fibrin D-dimer in pregnancies complicated by partial placental abruption.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of the plasma fibrin D-dimer test, a sensitive indicator of coagulation abnormalities, as a method of affirmation of partial placental abruption. METHODS: Fibrin D-dimer studies were obtained on 25 healthy, normotensive gravidas with late second and third trimester uterine bleeding and a clinical diagnosis of partial placental abruption. The test was repeated 24 hours later if bleeding persisted. The results were compared with D-dimer tests done on 30 healthy, term gravidas. Postpartum, all placentas were evaluated for evidence of abruption, and those suspected of abruption were sent for pathologic evaluation. RESULTS: Three of 34 D-dimer tests, performed on 25 women who had 28 bleeding episodes, were mildly elevated. At delivery, 12 of the 25 placentas showed evidence of abruption, and six had pathologic findings suggesting abruption. One of the 16 D-dimer tests done on these 12 women was mildly elevated, and 2 of the 18 tests done on the other 13 women, whose placentas appeared normal, were mildly elevated. All 30 D-dimer studies in the control group were normal. The difference between the study group and the controls' results was not significant (P = 0.3). CONCLUSION: We did not find the fibrin D-dimer test to be of value in substantiating the diagnosis of partial placental abruption.

Abruptio Placentae↗
PubMed1996

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency combined with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in a juvenile German shepherd dog.

Canine juvenile-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is a rare disease. While pancreatic acinar atrophy is a well known picture in the dog, the simultaneous occurrence with an endocrine insufficiency has never been clearly established. The clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical findings of a three-month-old German shepherd dog with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus concurrent with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are described.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Guidelines for the handling of antineoplastic drugs].

Chemotherapeutic drugs are potentially harmful. It is the task of the veterinarian to minimize the danger to the staff, the owner and the animal and to educate all persons in contact. Potential harm from the use of cytotoxic medications can never be completely ruled out. However the adherence to certain guidelines can ensure that the risks are minimized. In this article practical guidelines are presented and discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Vomiting: causes and therapy].

Vomiting can be a symptom of serious disease. Although it is important to correctly diagnose the cause of vomiting so the underlying disease can be treated, often antiemetic drugs must be used for the well being of the patient. First the physiology of vomiting with the neurotransmitter receptor system and the neuroanatomical neuron pathway is reviewed. Then a synopsis of antiemetic drugs currently used in veterinary medicine is presented with classification according to receptor antagonism. Finally novel drugs used to control vomiting in human patients and which may play a future role for the veterinary patient are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

D-dimer test for early detection of HELLP syndrome.

We attempted to predict patients at risk for HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) by using the D-dimer test to screen 81 preeclamptic gravidas and 12 control subjects. Among preeclamptic patients, 43 had positive and 38 had negative results of D-dimer tests. All controls had negative results. Women with positive results had significantly higher mean arterial pressures at admission and postpartum, lower platelet counts, and elevated liver enzyme values. D-dimer-positive women also had infants with significantly lower birth weight and lower Apgar scores. After delivery, those with a positive D-dimer test were at risk for even greater abnormalities of liver enzymes, as well as lower platelet counts. Abnormalities of any of these laboratory parameters were unlikely in the presence of a negative D-dimer test result (negative predictive value = 0.89). Our results suggest that D-dimer-positive preeclamptic women are at high risk of having HELLP syndrome and should receive close follow-up, whereas D-dimer-negative patients are unlikely to have this disorder and tend to have a better maternal-fetal outcome.

Apgar Score↗
PubMed1994

Cytogenetic abnormalities among perinatal deaths demonstrating a single umbilical artery.

The presence of a single umbilical artery is associated with fetal congenital malformations and cytogenetic abnormalities. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in perinatal deaths complicated by a single umbilical artery is unknown. We studied the proportion of cytogenetic abnormalities associated with a single umbilical artery among perinatal deaths undergoing autopsy. Of 1078 autopsies, 42 (3.9 per cent) were identified with a single umbilical artery. Chromosome analysis was attempted in 21 of the 42 cases (50 per cent). There were 16 successful chromosome analyses, of which three (18.75 per cent) were abnormal. All the chromosomally abnormal fetuses had major congenital malformations. These data suggest that in a perinatal death, the presence of a single umbilical artery does not clinically alter the a priori risk of cytogenetic abnormalities.

Chromosome Aberrations↗