Biomedical subjects

Z Polizopoulou

Publications and source records attributed to Z Polizopoulou.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Short-term exogenous glucocorticosteroidal effect on iron and copper status in canine leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum).

Prednisolone was administered as an anti-inflammatory for 7 consecutive days in 11 dogs with leishmaniasis (CL group) and 5 clinically normal dogs (control group). After a 15-day wash-out phase, the same medication was given as an immunosuppressive for another 7-day period. In both animal groups and experimental periods an overall significant increase of serum iron and transferrin saturation was noted. Serum copper showed a significant increase during the anti-inflammatory period in the control group and a significant decrease during the immunosuppressive period in the CL group. No differences or changes of any kind regarding bone marrow hemosiderin were found between the 2 groups either before or after the end of both experimental periods. The only change noticed in the hematocrit values was a significant decrease in the control group after the end of the anti-inflammatory period. Based on these findings the use of prednisolone cannot be recommended and, if contemplated, should be carefully monitored, especially at an immunosuppressive dosage, because it may promote parasite replication through the induction of increased serum iron levels and hypocupremia.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Vertebral telangiectatic osteosarcoma in a dog.

Telangiectatic osteosarcoma (TOS) affecting the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) was diagnosed in a 4-year-old male dog with signs of locomotor dysfunction. Bone lysis and an extradural-extramedullary mass were observed in radiographs and occipital myelograms. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination of the mass. The tumor was composed of large blood-filled cavities lined by anaplastic stromal cells (malignant osteoblasts). Around the cavities were characteristic tumor giant cells ("bizarre cells"). Immunohistochemically the tumor cells were positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The lining cells of the cysts were negative for von Willebrand factor. The histologic findings in this case of TOS involving C7 were similar to those seen in other cases of TOS in dogs and in people. Immunohistochemistry was a useful tool for assessing malignancy and for ruling out other differential diagnoses.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Histopathology and immunohistochemistry of canine distemper virus-induced footpad hyperkeratosis (hard Pad disease) in dogs with natural canine distemper.

Hard pad disease represents an uncommon manifestation of canine distemper virus (CDV) infection with a still uncertain pathogenesis. To study the pathogenesis of this uncommon, virally induced cutaneous lesion, the footpads of 19 dogs with naturally occurring distemper were investigated for histologic changes and distribution pattern of CDV antigen. All dogs displayed clinical signs of distemper, which had lasted from 10 to 75 days. Overt digital hyperkeratosis was observed in 12 animals (group A), whereas the footpads of the remaining seven dogs appeared normal macroscopically (group B). Orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis (12/12; 100%), irregular acanthosis (11/12; 92%), thickened rete ridges (10/12; 83%), and mild mononuclear perivascular (10/ 12; 83%) and periadnexal (7/12; 58%) dermatitis were the most common findings in dogs with hard pad disease. Surprisingly, orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis (5/7; 71%), irregular acanthosis (5/7; 71%), and thickened rete ridges (4/7; 57%) were also seen in the dogs without clinical evidence of digital hyperkeratosis. CDV-specific inclusion bodies and ballooning degeneration were not observed in the footpad epidermis of the 19 dogs. Immunohis-tochemistry revealed that CDV antigen was most frequently found in the stratum spinosum and granulosum and in the epithelial cells of the eccrine sweat glands and only rarely in the basal layer. Fibroblasts, pericytes, endothelial cells, and hair follicles were also positive in some animals. Despite the obvious difference regarding the macroscopic picture, the microscopic changes were less prominent between the animal groups. The selective infection of keratinocytes in the stratum spinosum might be the key event for the development of hard pad disease in the dog.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

A randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial with allopurinol in canine leishmaniosis.

A total of 45 non-uremic dogs, with clinical signs indicating leishmaniosis, entered the study. Diagnosis was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) on serum and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on bone marrow samples. The dogs were randomly allocated into Group A (n=37) that received allopurinol (10mg/kg B.W., per os, twice daily) for 4 consecutive months, and Group B (n=8) that were placebo-treated. Clinical signs were scored just before and at monthly intervals throughout the study period, in a blinded and independent fashion. Complete blood count, serum biochemistry profile, urinalysis, lymph node and bone marrow parasitology, IFA and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) serology and bone marrow PCR were carried out at the beginning and at the end of the trial. A total of three Group A and one Group B dogs died of end stage kidney disease that developed during the trial. In Group A animals that endured the trial there was a significant improvement in the general body condition, conjunctivitis, peripheral lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, masticatory muscle atrophy, ulcerative stomatitis, epistaxis, exfoliative dermatitis, cutaneous ulcerations, blepharitis and nasodigital hyperkeratosis. The same observation was made for anemia, lymphopenia, hyperproteinemia, hyperglobulinemia, hyperphosphatemia, increased alkaline phosphatase activity and the low albumin/globulin ratio. By contrast, no improvement of any kind was seen in Group B dogs. Lymph node and bone marrow parasite numbers were significantly decreased in Group A animals. In Group B, that occurred only in the lymph nodes. Apart from remission of clinical signs and restoration to normal of clinicopathological abnormalities, allopurinol did not eliminate Leishmania organisms, as the PCR result on bone marrow was still positive in all the dogs that finished the trial.

Allopurinol↗

PubMed1999

Absence of postmyelographic adverse effects and high radiographic resolution of iotrolan used in the cervical myelography for the clinically normal cat: an open-placebo controlled study.

Iotrolan solution at 300 mgI/ml (Isovist 300, Schering AG), was injected into the cerebromedullary cistern in 8 cats (Isovist group), at a volume of 0.5 ml/Kg BW and over one minute. In 3 cats (control group), normal saline was also injected at a same volume and speed. During the subarachnoid injection and at 1, 5 and 10 min thereafter all the cats were being monitored for evidence of respiratory arrest, bradycardia or changes in the arterial blood pressure. The cats were also checked for postmyelographic adverse effects for at least 3 h after their complete recovery from anaesthesia. Postmyelographic neurologic examination was done for 3 consecutive days and the myelographic quality of the films taken at 5 and 15 min postinjection was evaluated. No significant differences were detected between the Isovist and the control groups for all the variables evaluated immediately before, during and up to 3 days after the injection. No actual post-myelographic adverse effects were seen in the animals of both groups. At 15 and 30 min postinjection the opacity, the distention of the subarachnoid space and the detail of all the myelograms obtained were assessed as highly diagnostic.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Absence of cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities and spinal cord lesions after iotrolan cervical myelography in normal cats: an open placebo-controlled study.

Iotrolan (Isovist 300, Schering AG) at a volume of 0.5 ml/kg B.W. was injected into the cerebellomedullary cistern of 12 cats (Isovist group); the same volume of normal saline was injected in four other cats (control group). Two ml of CSF was collected from each anaesthetized cat by cisternal tap immediately before, and 7 and 15 days after, injection. The physical characteristics, specific gravity, total cell count and total protein concentration of each CSF sample were recorded. The cats were euthanized on day 15 immediately after CSF samples and spinal cord specimens had been obtained. Spinal cord histopathology was examined with the aid of light and transmission electron microscopy. The physical characteristics of all the CSF samples were within the reference range. No significant differences were found for CSF specific gravity, total cell count and total protein concentration between the pre-injection samples and those collected 7 and 15 days post-injection in both groups; no spinal cord lesions were detected in histopathology.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

[Tongue play and manganese deficiency in dairy cattle].

The present paper discusses "tongue rolling" observed in dairy cattle farms of a region in northern Greece associated with manganese deficiency. In these animals total body manganese status was evaluated by determining hair, as well as feed manganese content. Cows exhibiting tongue rolling had significantly lower hair manganese content, compared to non-tongue rolling control animals from other farms; in addition, feedstuff analysis demonstrated that manganese and inorganic phosphorus intake of affected cows was also significantly lower.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1994

Incidence of subclinical lead (Pb) exposure in cattle of an industrial area in Greece.

The incidence of subclinical lead (Pb) poisoning was investigated in the cattle population of an industrial area in northern Greece. The cattle were divided into two groups with respect to their alleged exposure to Pb, which was assayed by determining whole blood and hair Pb concentration and erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) activity. The cows which were located closer to potential contamination sources were found to have higher (P < 0.05) blood and hair Pb content, whereas no significant differences were noted in ALA-D activity. Hair Pb increased significantly (P < 0.05) with age, an observation which should lead to further, more extensive research, in order to evaluate the possibility of using hair as indicator of chronic Pb intake.

Animal Feed↗