Leptospiral meningoencephalitis in a raccoon dog.

Neuroleptospirosis is a rare disease caused by pathogenic in humans; however, it has not been fully studied in animals. A young wild raccoon dog was found convulsing in the recumbent position and died the next day. Histologic examination revealed nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis in the cerebrum, cerebellum, midbrain, and medulla oblongata.

Elevated plasma immunoreactive neuropeptide Y concentrations and its increased urinary excretion in patients with advanced diabetic nephropathy.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide that is abundant in the brain and the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. In the present study we investigated possible changes in plasma immunoreactive (IR)-NPY concentrations and urinary IR-NPY excretion in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and the relationship to diabetic complications, such as nephropathy and neuropathy. IR-NPY in plasma and urine was measured by radioimmunoassay in 69 patients with NIDDM.

Effect of pravastatin on plasma ketone bodies in diabetics with hypercholesterolemia.

Hydroxy-3 methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) is a common intermediate metabolite of cholesterol synthesis and ketone formation in the liver. In order to study the effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (pravastatin) on ketone formation, changes in the plasma levels of ketone bodies by treatment with pravastatin were studied in 18 non-insulin dependent diabetics with hypercholesterolemia. Body mass index, diabetic control, and plasma free fatty acid levels were not changed during the study, and the plasma levels of cholesterol decreased significantly from 250 +/- 25 to 211 +/- 34 mg/100 ml after 6 months of pravastatin treatment.