Clinical features of muscle stiffness in 37 dogs with concurrent naturally occurring hypercortisolism.

Background: Severe muscle stiffness (SMS) in dogs with hypercortisolism (HC) is uncommon.

Objectives: To evaluate signalment, presentation, treatments, and long-term outcomes of dogs with concurrent HC and SMS.

Animals: Thirty-seven dogs.

Discovery and characterization of H1-type proton channels in reef-building corals.

Voltage-dependent proton-permeable channels are membrane proteins mediating a number of important physiological functions. Here we report the presence of a gene encoding H1 voltage-dependent, proton-permeable channels in two species of reef-building corals. We performed a characterization of their biophysical properties and found that these channels are fast-activating and modulated by the pH gradient in a distinct manner.

'We should classify pet obesity as a disease'.

, and address some of the concerns raised over calling pet obesity a disease and argue that this classification can bring many management opportunities.

Gating Currents in the Hv1 Proton Channel.

The Hv1 proton channel shares striking structural homology with fourth transmembrane helical segment-type voltage-sensor (VS) domains but manifests distinctive functional properties, including a proton-selective "aqueous" conductance and allosteric control of voltage-dependent gating by changes in the transmembrane pH gradient. The mechanisms responsible for Hv1's functional properties remain poorly understood, in part because methods for measuring gating currents that directly report VS activation have not yet been described. Here, we describe an approach that allows robust and reproducible measurement of gating-associated charge movements in Hv1.

Coupling between an electrostatic network and the Zn binding site modulates Hv1 activation.

The voltage sensor (VS) domain in Hv1 proton channels mediates a voltage-dependent and H-selective "aqueous" conductance (G) that is potently modulated by extracellular Zn Although two conserved His residues are required for Zn effects on G gating, the atomic structure of the Zn coordination site and mechanism by which extracellular Zn stabilizes a closed-state conformation remain unknown. Here we use His mutagenesis to identify residues that increase Zn potency and are therefore likely to participate in first solvation shell interactions with Zn Experimental Zn-mapping data were then used to constrain the structure of a new resting-state Hv1 model (Hv1 F). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show how protein and water atoms directly contribute to octahedral Zn coordination spheres in Zn-bound and -unbound Hv1 F models.

Pyrexia in cats: Retrospective analysis of signalment, clinical investigations, diagnosis and influence of prior treatment in 106 referred cases.

Objectives: The main aim of the study was to describe the features and diagnoses of a population of cats referred with pyrexia. Other aims were to report and evaluate the utility of clinical investigations performed, and describe any effect of treatment before referral on temperature at presentation and ability to make a diagnosis.

Methods: Clinical records of cats with pyrexia (⩾39.

Validation and determination of a reference interval for canine HbA1c using an immunoturbidimetric assay.

Background: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) provides a reliable measure of glycemic control over 2-3 months in human diabetes mellitus. In dogs, presence of HbA1c has been demonstrated, but there are no validated commercial assays.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to validate a commercially available automated immunoturbidimetric assay for canine HbA1c and determine an RI in a hospital population.

Proton currents constrain structural models of voltage sensor activation.

The Hv1 proton channel is evidently unique among voltage sensor domain proteins in mediating an intrinsic 'aqueous' H conductance (G). Mutation of a highly conserved 'gating charge' residue in the S4 helix (R1H) confers a resting-state H 'shuttle' conductance (G) in VGCs and Ci VSP, and we now report that R1H is sufficient to reconstitute G in Hv1 without abrogating G. Second-site mutations in S3 (D185A/H) and S4 (N4R) experimentally separate G and G gating, which report thermodynamically distinct initial and final steps, respectively, in the Hv1 activation pathway.

Trilostane in dogs.

Over the last 10 years, trilostane, a competitive inhibitor of steroid synthesis, is being widely used for the treatment of canine hyperadrenocorticism. Trilostane causes a significant but reversible decrease in cortisol production and a concomitant improvement in clinical signs in most dogs with this common condition. Side effects, though infrequent, can be serious: dogs treated with this drug require regular monitoring.

Decreased sodium:potassium ratios in cats: 49 cases.

Background: Sodium:potassium (Na:K) ratios are often reported in feline biochemical panels, although the importance of this measurement has not been investigated.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to document the range of feline disease states associated with a decreased Na:K ratio, to determine the prevalence of this biochemical abnormality in a referral hospital population, and to identify any particular disease that was more likely to have a decreased Na:K ratio.

Methods: A group of 49 cats with decreased Na:K ratios was compared with a group of 50 cats with normal Na:K ratios that were randomly selected from the same hospital population.

Evaluation of an in-practice test for feline coronavirus antibodies.

A commercially available in-practice test for feline coronavirus (FCoV) antibodies (FCoV Immunocomb, Biogal Galed Laboratories) was evaluated by comparison with the gold standard FCoV immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test. One hundred and three serum or plasma samples were selected and tested: 70 were positive by both tests, 24 were negative by both tests. The in-practice test produced five false positive and four false negative results.