Immunoreactivity of canine, feline, and equine D-dimer with antibodies to human D-dimer.

Background: Commercially available D-dimer assays use antibodies against human D-dimer, with limited sensitivity and specificity data in companion animals.

Objectives: To evaluate the immunoreactivity of D-dimer in plasma of dogs, horses, and cats with commercially available antibodies to human D-dimer.

Animals: Plasma samples were collected from healthy dogs and horses, and from surplus feline plasma submitted for diagnostic purposes.

Analytical errors in nucleated red blood cell enumeration.

Background: Enumeration of nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) in peripheral blood of dogs and cats is performed by manual counting during blood film evaluation. Automated methods have increased precision and accuracy; however, most analyzers cannot distinguish leukocytes and NRBCs. The Sysmex XN-V Series may distinguish NRBCs and leukocytes; however, analytical errors occur.

Hypoglobulinemia in a dog with disseminated plasma cell neoplasia: Case report and review of the diagnostic criteria.

This is the first reported case of hypoglobulinemia in a dog with disseminated plasma cell neoplasia. A 6-year-old male intact Rottweiler was referred to the U-Vet Animal Hospital (Werribee, Vic, Australia) for weight loss, hyporexia, lethargy, vomiting, and soft stools. Examination of a buffy coat preparation and splenic and liver aspirates revealed a monomorphic population of plasmacytoid cells, and the same cells comprised approximately 90% of bone marrow samples submitted for cytologic and histologic evaluation.

COGConnect: A new visual resource for teaching and learning effective consulting.

Objective: Consultation skills are essential to clinical practice and, when effective, can facilitate diagnoses and improve patient satisfaction. Various models exist to facilitate consultation teaching. These can be prescriptive, a challenge to apply in clinical settings and are often designed for primary care.

COPD-X Australian and New Zealand guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 2017 update.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and chronic airflow limitation, and is associated with exacerbations and comorbidities. Advances in the management of COPD are updated quarterly in the national COPD guidelines, the COPD-X plan, published by Lung Foundation Australia in conjunction with the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and available at http://copdx.org.

Implementing clinical guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: barriers and solutions.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex chronic lung disease characterised by progressive fixed airflow limitation and acute exacerbations that frequently require hospitalisation. Evidence-based clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of COPD are now widely available. However, the uptake of these COPD guidelines in clinical practice is highly variable, as is the case for many other chronic disease guidelines.

Chronic subcutaneous leptin infusion diminishes the responsiveness of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in female rhesus monkeys.

The fat derived protein leptin has its anorexic action through a number of neuropeptides including an upregulation of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) expression in the hypothalamus. However, the influence of leptin on these neuropeptides may be different during stress. The present study used ovariectomized female rhesus monkeys (n=8) to further define the effect of leptin on HPA responsivity.