Echocardiographic evaluation of regurgitant fraction in dogs with subclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease: Method comparison, effects of pimobendan, and reproducibility.

Introduction/objectives: To evaluate regurgitant fraction (RF) using Simpson's method of discs to estimate total stroke volume (RF) and using Motion-mode to estimate total stroke volume (RF) in dogs with subclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). We also sought to evaluate the effects of pimobendan on RF, and to determine the reproducibility of RF and RF.

Animals, Materials, And Methods: Echocardiography was performed on 57 dogs with MMVD (30 stage B1 and 27 stage B2).

Fenofibrate promotes PPARα-targeted recovery of the intestinal epithelial barrier at the host-microbe interface in dogs with diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a dysfunctional intestinal barrier and an increased risk for systemic infection and inflammation in people, though the pathogenic mechanisms leading to this are poorly understood. Using a canine model of DM, we showed that the peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-α agonist fenofibrate modulates plasma lipid profiles and markers of intestinal barrier function. A 3-week course of fenofibrate reduced fasting interstitial glucose and inflammatory cytokine IL-8 and TNF-α concentrations, which correlated with reduced triglyceride levels.