Joseph J. Vitale

Effects of Magnesium-Deficient Diet Upon Puppies

Diet-induced magnesium deficiency in male puppies resulted in lowered weight gain, hy perirritability, and convulsions. The histopathological changes consisted of calcification of the elastica and media of the aorta, of coronary and other peripheral arteries, and of the inner portion of the myocardium. Fibrous, virtually fat-free, plaques were seen in the coronary arteries. Magnesium deficiency had no effect on serum cholesterol, sodium, calcium, ortotal protein. Slight lowering of serum magnesium lacked statistical significance. There was a significant decrease in the serum-potassium concentration of these magnesium-deficient dogs. Electrocardiographic changes were noted.

Magnesium Deficiency in the Cebus Monkey

Purified diets containing cholesterol and deficient or adequate in magnesium were fed to young growing Cebus (fatuella) monkeys. Diet-induced magnesium deficiency resulted in weight loss, hyperirritability, and in several monkeys, convulsions. In addition to the expected hypomagnesemia, deficient animals also had decreased serum potassium levels. However, after several weeks on diet, the electrocardiogram of deficient animals showed significant changes consisting primarily of S-T segment depression and peaking of the T wave; changes usually seen in hyperkalemic states. Prior to sacrificing the animals, the tolerance to K-strophanthidin, a cardiac glycoside, was ascertained in both deficient and control animals. The cardiac glycoside was administered slowly by the intravenous route to anesthetized monkeys and the appearance of four consecutive ventricular premature contractions in the electrocardiogram was taken as the end-point. Deficient animals required approximately one-half the dose administered to control monkeys to develop extrasystoles. The histopathology consisted of marked vascular sudanophilic deposits and dense fibrous connective tissue plaques in the ascending and descending aorta of deficient monkeys. Control animals showed little, if any, vascular sudanophilia. The serum cholesterol concentration increased significantly in the deficient group while the rise seen in control monkeys lacked statistical significance.

Effects of chronic depletion of potassium and magnesium upon the action of acetylstrophanthidin on the heart

Abstract Beagle puppies were chronically depleted of potassium, magnesium or of both cations simultaneously by dietary means. After eight weeks on deficient diets these animals and a control group were digitalized with acetylstrophanthidin. Potassium-deficient animals and animals deficient in both potassium and magnesium required 60 per cent of the control dose of acetylstrophanthidin to produce toxicity. The ensuing arrhythmias were of prolonged duration. Heart block of advanced degree, ventricular fibrillation and cardiac standstill occurred only in puppies deficient in potassium and in potassium and magnesium. Magnesium deficient animals showed prolonged digitalis toxicity but required normal doses of drug to produce ventricular tachycardia. Death following digitalization occurred in all deficient groups. Digitalization resulted in a rise in serum potasium which was most marked in magnesium-deficient and control animals. T wave peaking occurred during digitalization and was related to the increase in arterial potassium concentration. Control animals showed a reduction in serum magnesium during digitalization.

Effect of potassium and magnesium deficiency on the electrocardiogram and plasma electrolytes of pure-bred beagles☆

Abstract The effect of K + or Mg ++ deficiency, or both, upon the electrocardiogram and plasma electrolytes has been studied in young pure-bred beagle dogs maintained on selected diets for eight weeks. K + deficiency, in addition to resulting in the known electrocardiographic changes, caused a rise in serum Mg ++ and hypokalemia. Mg ++ deficiency resulted in a peaking of the T wave similar to that seen in hyperkalemia, although serum K + was normal. In doubly deficient dogs diphasic T waves developed with marked terminal inversions. In two Mg ++ deficient dogs, maintained on the diet for an additional seven months, hypokalemia developed as well as changes in the electrocardiogram indistinguishable from those seen in doubly deficient animals.

Newborn Sepsis following Antepartum Group B Streptococcal Maternal Infection in Rats

ABSTRACT: Group B streptococcus is an important pathogen in man and infection due to this bacteria is responsible for significant mortality and morbidity in neonates. An animal model of neonatal infection caused by group B streptococcus that results from vertical transmission is described. Nine pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal inoculation of 109-1010 colony forming units of group B streptococcus on day 20 or 21 of gestation. Four of nine rats died following inoculation. A total of 51 pups was born to the surviving five mothers. Pups were sacrificed at 4- to 8-h intervals and cultures of blood, brain, liver, and spleen were obtained. Nineteen of 51 pups (37%) had group B streptococcus isolated from blood or tissues within the first 48 h of life. Results suggest that antepartum systemic infection in rats can result in vertical transmission of disease. This animal model can be used to further study the mechanisms of transmission of group B streptococcus and the pathogenesis and treatment of neonatal sepsis caused by this pathogen.

Advances in human clinical nutrition.

1 Issues and Advances in Human and Clinical Nutrition.- 2 Can We Design an Optimal Diet for the United States?.- 3 Human Milk Versus Proprietary Milk in the Newborn.- 4 Does Human Milk Intrinsically Help Protect Newborns from Infection?.- 5 Psychosocial Aspects of Breast-Feeding.- 6 Infant Formula - Clinical Evaluation, Its Uses, and Current Feeding Practices in the United States and Developing Countries.- 7 Breast- Versus Bottle-Feeding: Psychological Outcome.- 8 Nutritional Problems of Physically and Mentally Handicapped Children.- 9 Impact of Nutrition on Immune Function.- 10 The Effect of Infection on Host Nutritional Status.- 11 Vitamin D in Health and Disease.- 12 Prothrombin Biosynthesis - A Vitamin K-Dependent Reaction.- 13 Surgical Approaches to Morbid Obesity.- 14 The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.- 15 Dietary Fiber and Cancer.- 16 Nutrition and Chemotherapy- Drug-Nutrient Interactions Using Breast and Colon Carcinoma as Models.- 17 Diet and Diabetes Mellitus.- 18 The Effects of Dietary Components on Brain Function.

ANEMIAS OF PROTEIN MALNUTRITION.

The type of anemia present in malnourished children with severe protein deficiency is initially difficult to diagnose. The morphologic and biochemical characteristics usually observed in the deficiency of a single hematinic are not readily apparent. Serial studies of blood and bone marrow changes must be made during protein feeding and administration of the lacking hematinics. In addition, special studies such as radioiron uptake, blood levels of folic acid and iron, etc., will be helpful in differential diagnosis.

Nutrition and the elderly. 1. Nutrition assessment and education.

PreviewThe elderly often look to dietary changes or nutritional support for improving the quality of (if not prolonging) their life. Part 1 of this two-part article discusses the nutritional needs of the elderly. It explores the value of using preventive or nutrition management techniques to improve the health of the aged. Part 2, beginning on page 93, focuses on some of the problems encountered when treating several specific diseases and conditions of the gut in older persons.

Effect of Ethanol Consumption on Lipid Metabolism in the Buffalo Rat

Summary The substitution of 20% alcohol for drinking water of Buffalo rats maintained on an adequate diet demonstrated significant decreases in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, formiminotransferase, malic and citrate cleavage enzyme activities. This is in contrast to the Charles River and other strains of rats. Liver studies using labeled glucose and acetate indicated that the Buffalo rat is capable of synthesizing approximately twice as much lipid from glucose compared with the Charles River rat. The results suggest that the Buffalo rat has a sensitivity to alcohol related to certain aspects of lipid metabolism not seen in the Charles River rat or other strains.

Nutrition and the elderly: 2. The effects of diet on gastrointestinal-related diseases

PreviewIn part 1 of this two-part article (page 79), Drs Vitale and Santos discussed the use of nutrition for treating health problems of the elderly. In this second part, they examine some of the nutritional considerations with diseases of the gut. They explain how natural and drug-associated body changes can complicate nutrition management of the elderly. The authors delineate an appropriate nutritional role for the treating physician.