Assessing the use of blood microRNA expression patterns for predictive diagnosis of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs.

Background: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is a common, acquired, and progressive canine heart disease. The presence of heart murmur and current cardiac biomarkers are useful in MMVD cases but are not sufficiently discriminatory for staging an individual patient.

Objectives: This study aimed to conduct a preliminary assessment of canine serum and plasma expression profiles of 15 selected miRNA markers for accurate discrimination between MMVD patients and healthy controls.

The effect of obesity and subsequent weight reduction on cardiac morphology and function in cats.

Background: In people, obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, associated with systemic hypertension, cardiac remodelling and systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Weight reduction can reverse myocardial remodelling and reduce risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease. In cats, far less is known regarding the effects of obesity and subsequent weight reduction on cardiovascular morphology and function.

The effect of obesity and subsequent weight reduction on cardiac structure and function in dogs.

Background: In people, the cardiovascular effects of obesity include systemic hypertension, cardiac remodelling and both systolic and diastolic dysfunction, whilst weight reduction can reverse myocardial remodelling and reduce risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease. To date, variable results are reported in studies of the effect of obesity and controlled weight reduction on cardiovascular morphology and function in dogs. This prospective study aimed to assess cardiac function, heart rate variability, cardiac biomarkers and body composition before and after weight reduction in pet dogs with obesity.

Analysis of canine cardiovascular therapeutic agent prescriptions using electronic health records in primary care veterinary practices in the United Kingdom.

Introduction/objectives: Canine cardiovascular (CV) diseases are often managed in primary care settings. The objectives were to describe CV therapeutic agent (CVTA) prescribing patterns in primary care practices in the United Kingdom (UK) and to evaluate recorded clinical signs, diagnostic tests and justifications for use of torasemide, a recently marketed and authorised loop-diuretic in the UK.

Animals, Materials And Methods: Electronic health records (EHRs) describing 3,579,420 consultations (1,043,042 unique dogs) were collated (1 April 2014 and 31 December 2018) by the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network from 270 veterinary practices.

Low plasma taurine levels in English cocker spaniels diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate taurine levels in English cocker spaniels with dilated cardiomyopathy and assess their survival time and natural progression of their disease.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective comparison of English cocker spaniels with dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype with and without taurine deficiency at the cardiology department of a UK academic referral centre between 2008 and 2018.

Results: Taurine plasma concentration was available in 16 English cocker spaniels with dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype; 13 of 16 had congestive heart failure and three of 16 did not.

Association of diet with left ventricular wall thickness, troponin I and IGF-1 in cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (sHCM) have elevated serum insulin and serum amyloid A concentrations correlating with the degree of cardiac hypertrophy. Diet might affect these and other cardiac variables.

Objective: Evaluate the effect of a complete, balanced diet with restricted starch and supplemented with eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid (EPA + DHA) on echocardiographic variables and cardiac biomarkers in cats with sHCM.

Associations among echocardiography, cardiac biomarkers, insulin metabolism, morphology, and inflammation in cats with asymptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and inflammation possibly are involved in cats with asymptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (aHCM).

Objectives: To evaluate echocardiography, morphology, cardiac and inflammatory markers, insulin and IGF-1 in cats with aHCM.

Animals: Fifty-one client-owned cats with aHCM.

Effect of pimobendan on left atrial function in dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Background: Left atrial (LA) function is an important determinant of the left ventricular (LV) filling, playing a key role in maintaining optimal cardiac performance. Pimobendan is a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor with positive inotropic and vasodilator effects. The present study aims to investigate the effects of pimobendan on LA function in dogs with stage B2 myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD).

First report of Lyme borreliosis leading to cardiac bradydysrhythmia in two cats.

Case Series Summary: Two cats were presented for investigation of bradyarrhythmia detected by their referring veterinarians during routine examination. Both cats had extensive investigations, including haematology, serum biochemistry with electrolytes and thyroxine concentrations, systolic blood pressure measurement, echocardiography, electrocardiography and infectious disease testing. Infectious disease testing included serology for and , and PCR for antigen in both cats.

Cardiosphere-derived cells suppress allogeneic lymphocytes by production of PGE2 acting via the EP4 receptor.

Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) are a cardiac progenitor cell population, which have been shown to possess cardiac regenerative properties and can improve heart function in a variety of cardiac diseases. Studies in large animal models have predominantly focussed on using autologous cells for safety, however allogeneic cell banks would allow for a practical, cost-effective and efficient use in a clinical setting. The aim of this work was to determine the immunomodulatory status of these cells using CDCs and lymphocytes from 5 dogs.

Immunohistochemical differentiation of reactive from malignant mesothelium as a diagnostic aid in canine pericardial disease.

Objectives: To develop a provisional immunohistochemistry panel for distinguishing reactive pericardium, atypical mesothelial proliferation and mesothelioma in dogs.

Materials And Methods: Archived pericardial biopsies were subject to haematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin, vimentin, insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3, glucose transporter 1 and desmin. Samples were scored for intensity and number of cells stained.

Cryopreservation of canine cardiosphere-derived cells: Implications for clinical application.

The clinical application of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) to treat cardiac disease has gained increasing interest over the past decade. Recent clinical trials confirm their regenerative capabilities, although much remains to be elucidated about their basic biology. To develop this new treatment modality, in a cost effective and standardized workflow, necessitates the creation of cryopreserved cell lines to facilitate access for cardiac patients requiring urgent therapy.

Vasovagal tonus index (VVTI) as an indirect assessment of remission status in canine multicentric lymphoma undergoing multi-drug chemotherapy.

Vasovagal tonus index (VVTI) is an indirect measure of heart rate variability and may serve as a marker of disease severity. Higher heart rate variability has predicted lower tumour burden and improved survival in humans with various tumour types. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate VVTI as a biomarker of remission status in canine lymphoma.

Pericardial cyst in a 2-year-old Maine Coon cat following peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia repair.

A pericardial cyst developed in a 2-year-old male neutered Maine Coon cat following surgery for an incidentally diagnosed congenital peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia. The cyst caused no clinical signs in the cat, although clinical findings included positional right-sided cardiac tamponade and compression of thoracic structures, associated with a cardiac arrhythmia and axis deviation on electrocardiography. Extensive assessment of the cyst included radiography, echocardiography, computed tomography, exploratory thoracotomy, electrocardiography, histopathology and fluid analysis.

Characterisation and differentiation potential of bone marrow derived canine mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have potential for use in regenerative therapeutics, since they are capable of multi-lineage differentiation. In this study, primary canine MSCs (cMSCs) were isolated from bone marrow aspirates and characterised using marker expression and morphology. cMSCs expressed CD44 and STRO-1, but not CD34 or CD45.

Cardiac specific gene expression changes in long term culture of murine mesenchymal stem cells.

Murine MSCs are a readily available source of adult stem cells enabling extensive in vitro study of this cell population. MSCs have been described as multipotent, and have been proven capable of differentiation into several connective tissue types. Furthermore some studies have suggested an ability to differentiate into non-connective tissue cell types such as the cardiomyocyte.

Characterisation and cardiac directed differentiation of canine adult cardiac stem cells.

This study describes the isolation and characterisation of adult canine cardiac stem cells, and explores their ability to differentiate into cardiac myocytes. Direct comparisons are also made with available human data. Atrial cardiac explants were taken from dogs post-mortem and cultured to isolate adult stem cells.