[Evaluierung der Langzeittherapie bei Katzen mit felinem Asthma und chronischer Bronchitis].

Gegenstand Und Ziel: Felines Asthma (FA) und chronische Bronchitis (CB) sind häufige entzündliche Erkrankungen der Atemwege der Katze. Obwohl beide Krankheitsbilder durch eine Infiltration mit unterschiedlichen Entzündungszelltypen gekennzeichnet sind, sind die therapeutischen Maßnahmen oft ähnlich. Über mögliche Unterschiede im therapeutischen Management dieser beiden Atemwegserkrankungen ist wenig bekannt.

Utility of Serum Ki-67 as a Marker for Malignancy in Dogs.

Tumour markers are scarcely used in veterinary medicine, although they are non-invasive, contribute to a faster diagnosis and new therapeutic options. The nuclear protein Ki-67 is absent in G-phase but is detectable throughout all active phases of the cell cycle. Consequently, it is used as a marker for the proliferating cell fraction of a cell population and thus could indicate neoplastic tissue present.

Investigation of serum survivin in dogs suffering from cancer: a multicenter study.

Background: In contrast to human medicine, only a small number of serum tumor markers are established in veterinary medicine even though they are a non-invasive diagnostic tool.

Objectives: This study examined whether survivin could be suitable as a potential canine serum tumor marker.

Methods: This study measured the serum survivin concentrations of dogs with mammary tumors (n = 33), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 9), soft-tissue sarcoma (n = 18) and multicentric lymphoma (n = 22), using a commercially available, competitive immunoassay kit (BlueGene).

Extensive staging has no prognostic value in dogs with low-risk mast cell tumours.

In canine mast cell tumours (MCTs), distant metastasis (DM) occurs infrequently. However, high-risk MCTs or tumours with certain negative prognostic factors (NPFs) are those more prone to develop metastatic disease. Accordingly, a thorough workup might not be necessary for MCTs lacking NPFs.

Maintenance treatment in relapsed canine lymphoma after a short L-CHOP protocol.

Objective: A number of different rescue protocols for relapsed canine multicentric large-cell lymphoma have been described. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of a maintenance treatment in dogs that experienced a second complete remission after a short L-CHOP-rescue protocol.

Material And Methods: Included in the study were dogs experiencing the first lymphoma relapse during a treatment-free period which were treated with a short L-CHOP protocol, achieved a complete remission and were afterwards treated with a continuous maintenance phase (MP) protocol.

Serum concentrations of IL-31 in dogs with nonpruritic mast cell tumours or lymphoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare serum interleukin (IL)-31 concentrations in dogs with lymphoma and mast cell tumours (MCT) without pruritus to those of healthy dogs.

Hypothesis/objectives: To determine if IL-31 plays a role in tumour pathogenesis and if IL-31 could be a biological marker for disease progression.

Animals: Forty-eight healthy dogs and 36 dogs with neoplasia [multicentric lymphoma (14), MCT (15) and cutaneous lymphoma (7)] were included in the study.

Nasal transmissible venereal tumours in 12 dogs - a retrospective study.

Objective: The aim of this study was a retrospective analysis of clinical manifestation and treatment outcome of the nasal form of transmissible venereal tumours (TVT).

Material And Methods: Twelve dogs suffering from nasal TVT were included in this study. Patients with primary genital lesions were excluded from the study.

Comparison of signalment, clinical, laboratory and radiographic parameters in cats with feline asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Objectives: Feline asthma (FA) and feline chronic bronchitis (CB) are common respiratory conditions in cats, frequently referred to as 'feline lower airway disease'. However, the aetiologies of both inflammatory airway diseases are probably different. Little is known about the differences in signalment, clinical signs, laboratory abnormalities and radiographic features between cats with these two airway diseases.

Immunocytochemistry of mesenteric lymph node fine-needle aspirates in the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of tissue samples is considered the gold standard for diagnosing feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), and, in cats without body cavity effusion, IHC is the only method available to establish definitive antemortem diagnosis. However, IHC requires invasive tissue sample collection. We evaluated sensitivity and specificity of an immunocytochemical assay of fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) of mesenteric lymph nodes that can be obtained noninvasively by ultrasound-guided aspiration to diagnose FIP.

A comparison of manual counting of rabbit reticulocytes with ADVIA 2120i analyzer counting.

We compared manual counting of reticulocytes in rabbits with automatic counting using an ADVIA 2120i analyzer. Reproducibility and the influence of different anticoagulants (EDTA and Li-heparin) were also examined. Blood samples of 331 rabbits (method comparison, n = 289; reproducibility, n = 33; comparison of anticoagulants, n = 9) were tested.

Systemic Acremonium species infection in a dog.

A 2-year-old female Magyar Viszla was referred with fever, lethargy, polyuria/polydipsia, and suspected systemic cryptococcosis. At presentation increased rectal temperature and enlarged lymph nodes were detected. Main laboratory abnormalities included lymphocytosis, eosinophilia, and mildly reduced urine specific gravity.

A pilot trial of doxorubicin containing phosphatidyldiglycerol based thermosensitive liposomes in spontaneous feline soft tissue sarcoma.

Purpose: Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded phosphatidyldiglycerol-based thermosensitive liposomes (DPPG-TSL-DOX) combined with local hyperthermia (HT) was evaluated in cats with locally advanced spontaneous fibrosarcomas (soft tissue sarcoma [STS]). The study was designed to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of the drug. Results from four dose-levels are reported.

Use of a 2-tier histologic grading system for canine cutaneous mast cell tumors on cytology specimens.

Background: Mast cell tumors (MCT) represent the most common malignant skin tumor in the dog. Diagnosis of an MCT can be achieved through cytologic examination of a fine-needle aspirate. However, the grade of the tumor is an important prognostic marker and currently requires histologic assessment.

Detection of feline coronavirus spike gene mutations as a tool to diagnose feline infectious peritonitis.

Objectives Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is an important cause of death in the cat population worldwide. The ante-mortem diagnosis of FIP in clinical cases is still challenging. In cats without effusion, a definitive diagnosis can only be achieved post mortem or with invasive methods.

Comparative Oncology: Evaluation of 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) for the Staging of Dogs with Malignant Tumors.

Introduction: 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose PET/CT is a well-established imaging method for staging, restaging and therapy-control in human medicine. In veterinary medicine, this imaging method could prove to be an attractive and innovative alternative to conventional imaging in order to improve staging and restaging. The aim of this study was both to evaluate the effectiveness of this image-guided method in canine patients with spontaneously occurring cancer as well as to illustrate the dog as a well-suited animal model for comparative oncology.

Validation of the Celltac alpha automated hematology analyzer for canine and feline blood samples.

Background: Small hematology analyzers for veterinary practices improve point-of-care diagnostic testing for companion animals. Validation of these instruments is needed to ensure the accuracy of results.

Objectives: The objective was to validate the Celltac alpha hematology analyzer for feline and canine blood samples.

[Quality of life and life expectancy of dogs undergoing chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma. An owner survey].

Objective: The outcome of palliative chemotherapy in dogs with lymphoma was evaluated. Special emphasis was placed on the quality of life during chemotherapy. In addition, factors which were important for the owners in estimating their dogs' quality of life and for the assessment of therapy were recorded.

Utility of measuring plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in detecting hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and differentiating grades of severity in cats.

Background: Cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) often have no clinical signs or subtle signs. Measurement of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been demonstrated in people to be highly specific for heart disease and also correlates with severity of HCM. NT-proBNP may also be valuable in detecting and grading HCM in cats, but results to date have been equivocal.

Incidence of persistent viraemia and latent feline leukaemia virus infection in cats with lymphoma.

In the past, feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) infection, and also latent FeLV infection, were commonly associated with lymphoma and leukaemia. In this study, the prevalence of FeLV provirus in tumour tissue and bone marrow in FeLV antigen-negative cats with these tumours was assessed. Seventy-seven diseased cats were surveyed (61 antigen-negative, 16 antigen-positive).

Use of C-reactive protein to predict outcome in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis.

Background: There is a high mortality rate in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis. Therefore, an early diagnosis and prognostic assessment is important for optimal therapeutic intervention. The objective of the study was to evaluate if baseline values and changes in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) might predict survival in dogs with SIRS and sepsis.

Utility of serum cystatin C as a clinical measure of renal function in dogs.

A human kit for cystatin C determination was evaluated for use with canine sera. A reference range was also established. The association between cystatin C and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was evaluated in 60 dogs with various diseases, by using exogenous creatinine plasma clearance (ECPC) as a measure of GFR.

Efficacy of a continuous, multiagent chemotherapeutic protocol versus a short-term single-agent protocol in dogs with lymphoma.

Objective: To compare response rates and remission and survival times in dogs with lymphoma treated with a continuous, multiagent, doxorubicin-based chemotherapeutic protocol or with a short-term single-agent protocol incorporating doxorubicin.

Design: Nonrandomized controlled clinical trial.

Animals: 114 dogs with lymphoma.

Neoadjuvant gene delivery of feline granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor using magnetofection for the treatment of feline fibrosarcomas: a phase I trial.

Despite aggressive pre- or postoperative treatment, feline fibrosarcomas have high recurrence rates. Immunostimulatory gene therapy is a promising approach in veterinary oncology. This phase I dose-escalation study was performed to determine toxicity and feasibility of gene therapy with feline granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (feGM-CSF) in cats with fibrosarcomas.

Adjuvant immunotherapy of feline fibrosarcoma with recombinant feline interferon-omega.

Background: Recombinant feline interferon-omega (rFeIFN-omega) was tested as a treatment option for cats with fibrosarcoma to assess safety and feasibility.

Hypothesis: Treatment with rFeIFN-omega in cats with fibrosarcoma is safe and feasible.

Animals: Twenty domestic cats.