CyberKnife stereotactic radiotherapy for treatment of primary intracranial tumors in dogs.

Background: Limited data exist about the use, efficacy, and prognostic factors influencing outcome when CyberKnife is used to treat dogs with intracranial neoplasia.

Objectives: To determine the prognosis and associated prognostic factors for dogs that were imaged, determined to have primary intracranial tumors, and treated with CyberKnife radiotherapy.

Animals: Fifty-nine dogs treated with CyberKnife radiotherapy for primary intracranial tumors.

Evaluation of novel serological markers and autoantibodies in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: The use of serological markers to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in humans is well-established. Because of the frequency of IBD in dogs and resources required for its diagnosis with current methods, new approaches are desired.

Objective: The goal is to evaluate novel serologic markers to differentiate clinical cohorts in dogs with gastrointestinal (GI) disease and assess their potential to develop a serum-based IBD diagnostic test.

Menhaden oil administration to dogs treated with radiation for nasal tumors demonstrates lower levels of tissue eicosanoids.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or menhaden oil may reduce inflammatory eicosanoids (prostaglandin E₂, thromboxane B₂, leukotriene B₄, and 11-dehydro thromboxane B₂), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and blood lactate in dogs with nasal carcinomas receiving radiation therapy. We hypothesized that menhaden oil would reduce inflammation from radiation damage and lower blood lactate levels in dogs with nasal carcinoma. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, 12 dogs with malignant carcinomas of the nasal cavity were given dietary menhaden oil (DHA and EPA) or soybean oil (control) and then received radiation therapy.

Evaluation of 12- and 24-month survival rates after treatment with masitinib in dogs with nonresectable mast cell tumors.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of masitinib for the treatment of nonresectable mast cell tumors (MCTs) in dogs at 12 and 24 months after onset of treatment.

Animals: 132 dogs with nonresectable grade 2 or 3 MCTs.

Procedures: Dogs received masitinib (12.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid dietary supplementation induces lipid peroxidation in normal dogs.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have anti-inflammatory effects at low concentrations; however increased dietary consumption may conversely increase susceptibility to oxidation by free radicals. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of PUFAs on selective oxidative injury and inflammatory biomarkers in canine urine and serum. Dogs (n = 54) consumed a diet supplemented with 0.

Doxorubicin and BAY 12-9566 for the treatment of osteosarcoma in dogs: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background: This study was designed to assess the efficacy of a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor in prolonging posttreatment survival for dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma after treatment with amputation and doxorubicin chemotherapy.

Hypothesis: Survival will be prolonged in dogs receiving BAY 12-9566.

Animals: The study included 303 dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma.

Dietary long-chain n-3 fatty acids modify blood and cardiac phospholipids and reduce protein kinase-C-delta and protein kinase-C-epsilon translocation.

The effects of an n-3 PUFA-enriched diet on cardiac cell membrane phospholipid fraction compositions and associated protein kinase-C (PKC) translocation modification have never been studied in higher mammals. This is of importance since membrane fatty acid composition has been shown to influence PKC signalling pathways. In the present study, we have tested whether the incorporation of n-3 PUFA in cardiac membrane phospholipids correlated with changes in the fatty acid composition of diacylglycerols (DAG) and led to a differential translocation of PKC isoforms.

Fish oil decreases matrix metalloproteinases in knee synovia of dogs with inflammatory joint disease.

This study was designed to determine whether dietary fish oil affects the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), tissue inhibitors of MMP-2 (TIMP-2) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in synovial fluid from dogs with spontaneously occurring stifle (knee) instability in a single hind limb resulting from acute cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury. Two groups of 12 dogs were fed diets from 1 week prior to surgery on the affected knee to 56 days post-surgery. The fish oil and control diets provided 90 and 4.

Evaluation of the effects of dietary n-3 fatty acid supplementation on the pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin in dogs with lymphoma.

Objective: To determine the effect of dietary n-3 fatty acids on the pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin in dogs with lymphoma.

Animals: 23 dogs with lymphoma in stages IIIa, IVa, and Va.

Procedure: Dogs receiving doxorubicin chemotherapy were randomly allocated to receive food with a high (test group) or low (control group) content of n-3 fatty acids.

Canine digital tumors: a veterinary cooperative oncology group retrospective study of 64 dogs.

We compared clinical characteristics and outcomes for dogs with various digital tumors. Medical records and histology specimens of affected dogs from 9 veterinary institutions were reviewed. Risk factors examined included age, weight, sex, tumor site (hindlimb or forelimb), local tumor (T) stage, metastases, tumor type, and treatment modality.

Plasma and skin concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids before and after supplementation with n-3 fatty acids in dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Objective: To determine essential fatty acid concentrations in plasma and tissue before and after supplementation with n-3 fatty acids in dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Animals: 30 dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Procedure: Dogs received supplemental flaxseed oil (200 mg/kg/d), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 50 mg/kg/d)-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 35 mg/kg/d), or mineral oil as a placebo in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in canine appendicular osteosarcomas.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in dogs and it has a high mortality rate from distant metastatic disease. Targeted adjuvant therapies are needed to prolong currently achievable survival times. The role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in carcinogenesis has been attributed to the production of prostaglandins and involvement in apoptosis, immune surveillance, and angiogenesis.

Streptozocin for treatment of pancreatic islet cell tumors in dogs: 17 cases (1989-1999).

Objective: To determine toxic effects of streptozocin given in combination with a diuresis protocol in dogs and establish whether streptozocin is efficacious in treatment of pancreatic islet cell tumors in dogs.

Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: 17 dogs.

Effects of dietary flaxseed oil supplementation on equine plasma fatty acid concentrations and whole blood platelet aggregation.

An 18-week feeding trial was performed to investigate the effects of an omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid-enriched ration on plasma fatty acid concentrations and platelet aggregation in healthy horses. Flaxseed oil served as the source of the n-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Twelve horses were fed dietary maintenance requirements using a complete pelleted ration (80%) and timothy grass hay (20%) for a 2-week acclimation period before being randomly assigned either to a treatment (group 1) or control (group 2) group.

Matrix metalloproteinase activity in tumor, stromal tissue, and serum from cats with malignancies.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that play key roles in angiogenesis, tumor invasion, and metastasis in a wide variety of species. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pro and active MMP 2 and 9 concentrations in tumor, normal stromal tissue, and serum from tumor-bearing cats. We hypothesized that serum concentrations of pro and active forms of MMPs 2 and 9 would be predictive of MMP concentrations in tumor tissue and that these MMP concentrations would correlate with the histopathologic grade of the malignancies.

Application of rapid CD3 immunophenotype analysis and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) frequency to fine needle aspirate specimens from dogs with lymphoma.

Determinations of CD3 immunoreactivity (CD3-IR) and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AGNOR) frequency from fine needle aspirate (FNA) samples were compared with those from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded surgical biopsy samples in 51 dogs with lymphoma. Both CD3-IR (using a rapid EPOS polymer system) and AGNOR techniques were readily applied to FNA samples. CD3-IR from FNA samples matched those of histologic samples with 100% concordance.

Cytology of canine malignant histiocytosis.

Cytologic features of bone marrow, tissue, and abdominal fluid in seven cases of malignant histiocytosis in dogs are described, and histopathology, hematology, and serum biochemistry of the cases are reviewed. Diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis was confirmed by tissue morphology and immunohistochemistry; neoplastic cells in all cases had positive immunoreactivity to lysozyme. This stain can be used to definitively establish the diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis on cytology specimens as well as tissue sections.