Identification of novel genetic risk factors of dilated cardiomyopathy: from canine to human.

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a life-threatening heart disease and a common cause of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction and subsequent left or biventricular dilatation. A significant number of cases have a genetic etiology; however, as a complex disease, the exact genetic risk factors are largely unknown, and many patients remain without a molecular diagnosis.

Methods: We performed GWAS followed by whole-genome, transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses in a spontaneously occurring canine model of DCM.

Randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial of the effects of coenzyme Q supplementation on plasma coenzyme Q concentration in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Objective: To determine the dose of coenzyme Q (CoQ) needed to achieve at least a 3-fold increase in plasma CoQ concentration in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and congestive heart failure (CHF).

Animals: 18 dogs with CHF due to MMVD and 12 healthy dogs.

Procedures: In a randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial, dogs with MMVD were given 50 or 100 mg of water-soluble CoQ (ubiquinone; total daily dose, 100 mg [n = 5] or 200 mg [6]) or a placebo (7), PO, twice a day for 2 weeks in addition to regular cardiac treatment.

Plasma coenzyme Q concentration, antioxidant status, and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration in dogs with various cardiovascular diseases and the effect of cardiac treatment on measured variables.

OBJECTIVE To determine the plasma total antioxidant capacity, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity, whole blood glutathione peroxidase activity, and plasma coenzyme Q (CoQ) concentration in dogs with various stages of cardiovascular diseases and in healthy dogs; assess the influence of cardiac treatment on the levels of antioxidant variables, plasma CoQ concentration, and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration, and determine any correlation between the disease severity (NT-proBNP concentration) and antioxidant variables or CoQ concentration. ANIMALS 43 dogs with various types and stages of cardiovascular diseases (congenital and acquired) and 29 healthy dogs. PROCEDURES Blood samples were collected from all dogs for spectrophotometric assessment of antioxidant variables.

Comparison of high definition oscillometric and Doppler ultrasound devices with invasive blood pressure in anaesthetized dogs.

Objective: To use the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) validation criteria to evaluate the performance of high definition oscillometric (HDO) and Doppler blood pressure measurement techniques against invasive blood pressure measurements in anaesthetized dogs.

Study Design: Prospective clinical study.

Animals: Twenty client-owned dogs.

Two-dimensionally-guided M-mode and pulsed wave Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of the ventricles of apparently healthy cats.

Objective: To determine two-dimensionally-guided (2D-guided) M-mode and pulsed-wave (PW) Doppler echocardiographic reference intervals range of healthy non-sedated cats.

Animals: Fifty-three healthy, unsedated domestic cats.

Materials And Methods: Cats were interrogated via standard imaging planes with 2D-guided PW Doppler, using 5.

Comparison of high definition oscillometric and Doppler ultrasonic devices for measuring blood pressure in anaesthetised cats.

Indirect blood pressure measurements using high definition oscillometric (HDO) and Doppler devices were compared in 50 anaesthetised client-owned cats presented for various surgical procedures. Sites of cuff placement for Doppler were identified as forelimb and hindlimb and for HDO as forelimb and tail. Oscillometric and Doppler readings were obtained in 90.