Chronic inflammatory and non-inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in cats: diagnostic advantages of full-thickness intestinal and extraintestinal biopsies.

An evaluation of histological findings in full-thickness biopsies from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and extraintestinal samples of 43 cats with chronic GIT disease signs was performed. In the majority of cases (46.5%) inflammatory bowel disease, ie, lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis/colitis (32.

Pineal volume and circadian melatonin profile in healthy volunteers: an interdisciplinary approach.

Purpose: To correlate pineal parenchyma volume (PP) to circadian melatonin profiles and to determine the 24-hour melatonin per volume of pineal tissue (MLPV). Furthermore, we compared melatonin profiles of cystic and solid glands.

Methods: In 15 healthy male subjects (20-27 years) the PP was determined using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (trueFISP, isotropic voxel: 0.

Common genetic variation near the phospholamban gene is associated with cardiac repolarisation: meta-analysis of three genome-wide association studies.

To identify loci affecting the electrocardiographic QT interval, a measure of cardiac repolarisation associated with risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, we conducted a meta-analysis of three genome-wide association studies (GWAS) including 3,558 subjects from the TwinsUK and BRIGHT cohorts in the UK and the DCCT/EDIC cohort from North America. Five loci were significantly associated with QT interval at P<1x10(-6). To validate these findings we performed an in silico comparison with data from two QT consortia: QTSCD (n = 15,842) and QTGEN (n = 13,685).

Intraoperative use of a reflective blanket (Sirius rescue sheet) for temperature management in dogs less than 10 kg.

Objectives: To compare the effects of the Sirius rescue sheet with gel pads versus gel pads alone on intraoperative body temperature in dogs less than 10 kg.

Methods: Forty small breed dogs undergoing elective surgical procedures were randomly assigned to two groups. One group was intraoperatively laid on warmed gel pads, and the other group was additionally wrapped in a Sirius rescue sheet.

[Optimising MR image quality of the canine nose].

The aim of this study was to optimize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, which are already used for examinations of dog noses, to show more detail of the fine structures of the nose. Examinations were first carried out on phantoms. The resulting improved sequence parameters were further optimized on five clinically healthy animals.

Analysis of HLA and non-HLA alleles can identify individuals at high risk for celiac disease.

Background & Aims: Celiac disease (CD) is a common chronic disorder of the small intestine, resulting from aberrant cellular responses to gluten peptides, and often remains undiagnosed. It is a complex genetic disorder, although 95% of the patients carry the risk heterodimer human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2. Genome-wide association studies on CD have identified 9 non-HLA loci that also contribute to CD risk, most of which are shared with other immune-related diseases.

PLAUR polymorphisms are associated with asthma, PLAUR levels, and lung function decline.

Background: Several studies have suggested that chromosome 19q13.1-3 contains asthma susceptibility genes.

Objective: Linkage and association analyses using 587 United Kingdom and Dutch asthma families (n = 2819 subjects) were used to investigate this region.

Cytologic examination of fine-needle aspirates from mammary gland tumors in the dog: diagnostic accuracy with comparison to histopathology and association with postoperative outcome.

Background: Mammary tumors are the most common neoplasms in female dogs. Malignant tumors may carry a poor prognosis and necessitate surgery. Few data are available on the value of cytologic examination as a diagnostic or prognostic tool for mammary tumors in dogs.

Numerical investigations on the strain-adaptive bone remodelling in the periprosthetic femur: influence of the boundary conditions.

Background: There are several numerical investigations on bone remodelling after total hip arthroplasty (THA) on the basis of the finite element analysis (FEA). For such computations certain boundary conditions have to be defined. The authors chose a maximum of three static load situations, usually taken from the gait cycle because this is the most frequent dynamic activity of a patient after THA.

A randomized controlled clinical trial of the use of benazepril and heparin for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in dogs.

Objective: To investigate the effects of benazepril and heparin on renal function and blood pressure in dogs with chronic kidney disease.

Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Animals: 26 dogs with chronic kidney disease.

An extensive screen of the HLA region reveals an independent association of HLA class I and class II with susceptibility for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: The association of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) region is well known. In this study, we analysed the involvement of the HLA region in susceptibility for SLE in a stable founder, Caucasian population of SLE patients.

Methods: We performed an extensive screen of the entire HLA region on 103 SLE patients and family-based controls.

[Congenital hydrocephalus internus of the dog: clinical, computed tomographic and pathomorphological features of six cases].

The present study rates the value of different investigative procedures used to diagnose a congenital hydrocephalus internus of the dog. Six dogs, aged between two and ten months, were presented in our clinic with neurologic signs because of a congenital hydrocephalus internus. After taking a neurologic examination and further diagnostic studies they were euthanized and dissected.

Measurement of N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide in plasma of cats with and without cardiomyopathy.

Objective: To determine whether plasma N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide (Nt-proANP) concentrations in cats with cardiomyopathy (CM) differ from values in healthy cats and evaluate whether plasma Nt-proANP concentrations can be used to discriminate cats with CM and congestive heart failure (CHF) from CM-affected cats without CHF.

Animals: 16 cats that had CM without CHF, 16 cats that had CM with CHF, and 11 healthy control cats.

Procedures: All cats underwent a physical examination, assessment of clinicopathologic variables (including plasma thyroxine concentration), thoracic radiography, and echocardiography.

Confirmation of multiple Crohn's disease susceptibility loci in a large Dutch-Belgian cohort.

Objectives: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)-Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)-are chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders with a complex genetic background. A genome-wide association scan by the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC) recently identified several novel susceptibility loci.

Methods: We performed a large replication study in 2,731 Dutch and Belgian IBD patients (1,656 CD and 1,075 UC) and 1,086 controls.

Cloning, characterisation, and comparative quantitative expression analyses of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) transcript forms.

RAGE is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface molecules playing key roles in pathophysiological processes, e.g. immune/inflammatory disorders, Alzheimer's disease, diabetic arteriosclerosis and tumourigenesis.

Free Bioverit II implants coated with a nanoporous silica layer in a mouse ear model-- a histological study.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the suitability of a mouse middle ear model for testing ossicular replacement materials. Twenty-four BALB/c mice are implanted with the bioglass-ceramic Bioverit II which is coated with a silica-nanostructure or with plain Bioverit II as a control. After 2, 6, and 12 weeks, 4 mice per group are sacrificed and both complete petrous bones are analyzed histologically.

Transient widespread blood-brain barrier alterations after cerebral photothrombosis as revealed by gadofluorine M-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool to assess brain lesions, but currently available contrast agents are limited in the assessment of cellular and functional alterations. By use of the novel MRI contrast agent gadofluorine M (Gf) we report on imaging of transient and widespread changes of blood-brain barrier (BBB) properties as a consequence of focal photothrombotic brain lesions in rats. After i.

Use of an oncolytic vaccinia virus for the treatment of canine breast cancer in nude mice: preclinical development of a therapeutic agent.

Mammary cancers together with cancers of the skin account for about 60% of the total cancers occurring in dogs. The veterinary options for therapeutic management of canine mammary cancer are limited and prognosis for such patients is poor. In this study, we analyzed the functionality of the oncolytic vaccinia virus strain GLV-1h68 as a possible therapeutic agent for canine mammary cancer.

Molecular prediction of disease risk and severity in a large Dutch Crohn's disease cohort.

Background: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have a complex genetic background. We assessed the risk for both the development and severity of the disease by combining information from genetic variants associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: We studied 2804 patients (1684 with Crohn's disease and 1120 with ulcerative colitis) and 1350 controls from seven university hospitals.

[Viscosity determination of synovial fluids from the canine hip and elbow joint as well as the human knee joint].

The development of pathological changes in both human and canine hip joints is mainly caused by a lack of synovial fluid lubrication. This results in an increased joint abrasion. Even after implantation of joint prosthesis, inadequate lubrication can lead to abrasion in the tribological pair.

High Mobility Group Box 1-Protein expression in canine haematopoietic cells and influence on canine peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferative activity.

High Mobility Group Box 1-Protein (HMGB1) is a nuclear chromosomal protein occurring ubiquitary in mammalian tissues. HMGB1 demonstrates cytokine function and induces inflammation when actively released by haematopoietic cells or passively released during cell necrosis. This study aimed at the determination of HMGB1 expression in different cell types and at the evaluation of the role of HMGB1 in PBMC proliferation.

Numerical investigations of stress shielding in total hip prostheses.

Aseptic loosening of the prosthesis is still a problem in artificial joint implants. The loosening can be caused by, among other factors, resorption of the bone surrounding the prosthesis owing to stress shielding. In order to find out the influence of the prosthesis type on post-operative stress shielding, a static finite element analysis of a femur provided with the conventional uncemented stem BICONTACT and of one with the femoral neck prosthesis SPIRON was carried out.

Application of high-mobility-group-A proteins increases the proliferative activity of chondrocytes in vitro.

The low capability of self-repair in hyaline cartilage tissue and chondrocytes de-differentiating when grown in vitro (e.g., for tissue engineering approaches) limits articular cartilage repair.