Assessing functional properties of diet protein hydrolysate and oil from fish waste on canine immune parameters, cardiac biomarkers, and fecal microbiota.

Locally produced fish hydrolysate and oil from the agrifood sector comprises a sustainable solution both to the problem of fish waste disposal and to the petfood sector with potential benefits for the animal's health. This study evaluated the effects of the dietary replacement of mainly imported shrimp hydrolysate (5%) and salmon oil (3%; control diet) with locally produced fish hydrolysate (5%) and oil (3.2%) obtained from fish waste (experimental diet) on systemic inflammation markers, adipokines levels, cardiac function and fecal microbiota of adult dogs.

Longitudinal analysis of echocardiographic and cardiac biomarker variables in dogs with atrial fibrillation: The optimal rate control in dogs with atrial fibrillation II study.

Background: Rate control (RC; meanHR ≤ 125 bpm) increases survival in dogs with atrial fibrillation (AF). The mechanisms remain unclear.

Hypothesis/objectives: Investigate echocardiographic and biomarker differences between RC and non-RC (NRC) dogs.

Current State of Canine in Portugal.

The favourable geo-climatic conditions in Portugal have made it highly conducive to the development of in dogs, leading to its identification as an endemic region. This nematode is rapidly spreading across Europe, particularly in northeastern countries. The objective of this study was to provide an updated assessment of the prevalence of this disease in Portuguese dogs, analysing the results in relation to epidemiological and geo-environmental factors, and to identify potential risk factors.

Electrocardiographic Reference Values in Clinically Healthy Lusitano Horses.

The Lusitano horse is gaining popularity in the equestrian world, and as a result, the significance of applied sports medicine for this breed is growing. As cardiology plays a crucial role in this field, numerous studies have been conducted to establish electrocardiographic reference values in various breeds to ensure a more accurate evaluation. However, studies regarding healthy Lusitano horses are lacking.

Blockage of the adenosine A receptor prevents cardiac fibroblasts overgrowth in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Sustained pressure overload and fibrosis of the right ventricle (RV) are the leading causes of mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Although the role of adenosine in PAH has been attributed to the control of pulmonary vascular tone, cardiac reserve, and inflammatory processes, the involvement of the nucleoside in RV remodelling remains poorly understood. Conflicting results exist on targeting the low-affinity adenosine A receptor (AAR) for the treatment of PAH mostly because it displays dual roles in acute vs.

Optimal rate control in dogs with atrial fibrillation-ORCA study-Multicenter prospective observational study: Prognostic impact and predictors of rate control.

Background: The optimal heart rate (HR) in dogs with atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. Impact of HR on survival needs elucidation.

Hypothesis/objectives: Dogs with a 24 hours Holter-derived meanHR ≤125 beats per minute (bpm; rate controlled) survive longer than dogs with higher meanHR.

Emerging Roles of Micrornas in Veterinary Cardiology.

Over the last years, the importance of microRNAs (miRNAs) has increasingly been recognised. Each miRNA is a short sequence of non-coding RNA that influences countless genes' expression and, thereby, contributes to several physiological pathways and diseases. It has been demonstrated that miRNAs participate in the development of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Maternal Left Ventricular Diastolic and Systolic Function during Normal Pregnancy in Saint Bernard Dogs.

This study aimed to evaluate maternal left ventricular (LV) systo-diastolic function using conventional and TDI echocardiography and included 10 healthy Saint-Bernard pregnant bitches. M-mode, peak transmitral flow velocities during early diastole (E) and atrial contraction (A), aortic and pulmonic flow, myocardial performance index (MPI), TDI studies (peak myocardial velocities during early diastole (E'), atrial contraction (A') and peak systole (S')), and blood pressure were measured at 21 to 28 (T1), 40 (T2) and 60 (T3) days of gestation and four to eight weeks postpartum (T4). Cardiac output and heart rate were 20% and 9% higher at T3, respectively, compared to T4 ( < 0.

Urocortins as biomarkers in cardiovascular disease.

The urocortins (Ucns) belong to the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of peptides and have multiple effects within the central nervous and the cardiovascular systems. With growing evidence indicating significant cardioprotective properties and cardiovascular actions of these peptides, the question arises as to whether the plasma profiles of the Ucns are altered in pathologic settings. While reports have shown conflicting results and findings have not been corroborated in multiple independent cohorts, it seems likely that plasma Ucn concentrations are elevated in multiple cardiovascular conditions.

Pharmacological Tuning of Adenosine Signal Nuances Underlying Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) roughly represents half of the cardiac failure events in developed countries. The proposed 'systemic microvascular paradigm' has been used to explain HFpHF presentation heterogeneity. The lack of effective treatments with few evidence-based therapeutic recommendations makes HFpEF one of the greatest unmet clinical necessities worldwide.

Diagnosis and management of canine atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common non-physiological arrhythmia in dogs and humans. Its high prevalence in both species and the impact it has on survival time and quality of life of affected patients, makes it a very relevant topic for medical research. In dogs, the diagnosis of AF is usually fairly straightforward, but optimal management can be complicated.

Canine atrial fibrillation: Pathophysiology, epidemiology and classification.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common non-physiological arrhythmia in dogs and humans. Its high prevalence in both species and the impact it has on survival time and quality of life of affected patients, makes it a very relevant topic of medical research. Significant developments in understanding the mechanisms underlying this arrhythmia in humans has occurred over the last decades and some of this knowledge is being applied to veterinary medicine, despite the many differences between species.

Exposure of humans to the zoonotic nematode in Northern Portugal.

Dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) is a zoonosis, considered an endemic disease of dogs and cats in several countries of Western Europe, including Portugal. This study assesses the levels of D. immitis exposure in humans from Northern Portugal, to which end, 668 inhabitants of several districts belonging to two different climate areas (Csa: Bragança, Vila Real and Csb: Aveiro, Braga, Porto, Viseu) were tested for anti-D.

The Ionotropic P2X4 Receptor has Unique Properties in the Heart by Mediating the Negative Chronotropic Effect of ATP While Increasing the Ventricular Inotropy.

Mounting evidence indicate that reducing the sinoatrial node (SAN) activity may be a useful therapeutic strategy to control of heart failure. Purines, like ATP and its metabolite adenosine, consistently reduce the SAN spontaneous activity leading to negative cardiac chronotropy, with variable effects on the force of myocardial contraction (inotropy). Apart from adenosine A receptors, the human SAN expresses high levels of ATP-sensitive ionotropic P2X4 receptors (P2X4R), yet their cardiac role is unexplored.

Novel insights into the role of urotensin II in cardiovascular disease.

Urotensin II (UII) is a vasoactive peptide that interacts with a specific receptor called the UT receptor. UII has been implicated in cardiovascular regulation, with promising therapeutic applications based on UT receptor antagonism. The endogenous ligands of the UT receptor: UII and urotensin-related peptide (URP), differentially bind and activate this receptor.

Is the adenosine A 'biased' receptor a valuable target for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension?

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a maladaptive disorder characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure and death. Adenosine released by injured tissues, such as the lung and heart, influences tissue remodeling through the activation of adenosine receptors. Evidence regarding activation of the low-affinity AAR by adenosine points towards pivotal roles of this receptor in processes associated with both acute and chronic lung diseases.

Ion Fluxes through KCa2 (SK) and Cav1 (L-type) Channels Contribute to Chronoselectivity of Adenosine A1 Receptor-Mediated Actions in Spontaneously Beating Rat Atria.

Impulse generation in supraventricular tissue is inhibited by adenosine and acetylcholine via the activation of A1 and M2 receptors coupled to inwardly rectifying GIRK/KIR3.1/3.4 channels, respectively.

Seroprevalence of heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in feline and canine hosts from central and northern Portugal.

Dirofilaria immitis is endemic in Portugal. Several studies have reported the presence of canine heartworm disease, although no previous studies on feline infections have been published. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of D.

[Neuregulin1/ErbB system: importance in the control of cardiovascular function].

The family of Neuregulins (NRG), growth factors like epidermal growth factor, is known to induce growth and differentiation of epithelial, glial, neuronal, and skeletal muscle cells. This family comprises four members, being NRG1 the most largely studied, particularly at the cardiovascular level. The biological effects of NRG1 in the adult heart are mediated by the tyrosine kinase receptors ErbB.

Modulation of myocardial stiffness by β-adrenergic stimulation--its role in normal and failing heart.

The acute effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation on myocardial stiffness were evaluated. New-Zealand white rabbits were treated with saline (control group) or doxorubicin to induce heart failure (HF) (DOXO-HF group). Effects of isoprenaline (10(-10)-10(-5) M), a non-selective beta-adrenergic agonist, were tested in papillary muscles from both groups.

Agreement between echocardiographic techniques in assessment of the left ventricular myocardial performance index in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE-To report reference values and examine the agreement in the myocardial performance (Tei) index of the left ventricle (LVTI) as measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), pulsed-wave Doppler imaging (PWD), and M-mode echocardiography in clinically normal rabbits. ANIMALS-26 clinically normal male New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURES-Echocardiographic examinations that included TDI, PWD, and M-mode echocardiography were performed.

Effects of adrenomedullin on systolic and diastolic myocardial function.

Adrenomedullin (AM) effects were studied in rabbit papillary muscles by adding increasing concentrations (10(-10) to 10(-6)M) either alone or after pre-treatment with l-NNA, indomethacin, AM22-52 (AM receptor antagonist), CGRP(8-37) (CGRP receptors antagonist), KT5720 (PKA inhibitor), as well as after endocardial endothelium (EE) removal. Passive length-tension relations were constructed before and after a single concentration of AM (10(-6)M). AM concentration-dependently induced negative inotropic and lusitropic effects, and increased resting muscle length (RL).

Urotensin II-induced increase in myocardial distensibility is modulated by angiotensin II and endothelin-1.

Endogenous regulators, such as angiotensin-II (AngII), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and urotensin-II (U-II) are released from various cell types and their plasma levels are elevated in several cardiovascular diseases. The present study evaluated a potential crosstalk between these systems by investigating if the myocardial effects of U-II are modulated by AngII or ET-1. Effects of U-II (10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6) M) were tested in rabbit papillary muscles in the absence and in the presence of losartan (selective AT(1) receptor antagonist), PD-145065 (nonselective ET-1 receptors antagonist), losartan plus PD-145065, AngII or ET-1.

Echocardiographic evaluation including tissue Doppler imaging in New Zealand white rabbits sedated with ketamine and midazolam.

Limited data are available on the use of more recent echocardiographic parameters in the rabbit. Echocardiographic examination, including conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), was performed on 26 male New Zealand white rabbits under ketamine-midazolam sedation. Particular emphasis was placed on the more recent systolic and diastolic parameters, such as myocardial performance index (Tei index) and mitral annular motion (from septal and lateral sides of the left ventricle) obtained using pulsed TDI.