Serum proteome profiles in cats with chronic enteropathies.

Background: Serum protein biomarkers are used to diagnose, monitor treatment response, and to differentiate various forms of chronic enteropathies (CE) in humans. The utility of liquid biopsy proteomic approaches has not been examined in cats.

Hypothesis/objectives: To explore the serum proteome in cats to identify markers differentiating healthy cats from cats with CE.

Serum proteome of dogs with chronic enteropathy.

Background: Chronic enteropathy (CE) is common in dogs and can occur with multiple etiologies including food-responsive enteropathy (FRE) and idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Hypothesis/objective: To study the protein profile and pathway differences among dogs with FRE, IBD, and healthy controls using serum proteome analysis.

Animals: Nine CE dogs with signs of gastrointestinal disease and histologically confirmed chronic inflammatory enteropathy and 16 healthy controls.

in a clinically healthy population of captive zoo chimpanzees: Rapid antigen testing, diagnostic real-time PCR and faecal microbiota profiling.

is one of the most common intestinal parasites of humans, with a worldwide distribution. has been reported in both wild and captive populations of non-human primates, namely chimpanzees. In this study we investigated an entire troop of clinically healthy chimpanzees (n = 21) for the presence of and its association with faecal microbiota profile.

Chr15q25 Genetic Variant rs16969968 Alters Cell Differentiation in Respiratory Epithelia.

The gene cluster region, CHRNA3/CHRNA5/CHRNB4, encoding for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits, contains several genetic variants linked to nicotine addiction and brain disorders. The CHRNA5 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs16969968 is strongly associated with nicotine dependence and lung diseases. Using immunostaining studies on tissue sections and air-liquid interface airway epithelial cell cultures, in situ hybridisation, transcriptomic and cytokines detection, we analysed rs16969968 contribution to respiratory airway epithelial remodelling and modulation of inflammation.

Primary ciliogenesis is a crucial step for multiciliated cell determinism in the respiratory epithelium.

The alteration of the mucociliary clearance is a major hallmark of respiratory diseases related to structural and functional cilia abnormalities such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), asthma and cystic fibrosis. Primary cilia and motile cilia are the two principal organelles involved in the control of cell fate in the airways. We tested the effect of primary cilia removal in the establishment of a fully differentiated respiratory epithelium.

Clinical relevance of splenic nodules or heterogeneous splenic parenchyma assessed by cytologic evaluation of fine-needle samples in 125 dogs (2011-2015).

Background: Splenic nodules and heterogeneous parenchyma are seen frequently in abdominal ultrasound examinations of dogs, but the clinical importance of these lesions remains unclear.

Objectives: To determine whether specific ultrasonographic findings correlate with clinically relevant cytologic diagnoses and determine what sonographic features are correlated with these diagnoses. Another objective was to develop a scoring rubric to help clinicians make decisions on whether or not certain ultasonographic findings of the spleen warrant evaluation by fine-needle cytology.

Immediate effect of transmucosal application of corn syrup or 50% dextrose solution on blood glucose concentrations in healthy dogs.

Objective: Evaluate and quantify the effects of mucosal corn syrup and 50% dextrose application on blood glucose concentrations in healthy dogs, to assess the effectiveness of a widely used practice for treatment of hypoglycemia.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: University teaching hospital.

Obstructive sleep apnea in a Chihuahua successfully managed with ondansetron.

While the persistence of clinical signs related to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, particularly sleep-disordered breathing patterns following appropriate surgical management is likely to be relatively rare, this potential sequela needs to be considered, along with being aware of possible medical management options such as serotonin antagonists.

Presumed immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia associated with pregnancy in a cat.

Case Summary: A 7-year-old female entire Birman presented with acute-onset haemorrhagic vulvar discharge. Moderate, normocytic, normochromic, non-/pre-regenerative anaemia, along with a moderate mature neutrophilia, were seen on haematology. Saline test for agglutination was positive.

Biological variation of serum canine calprotectin concentrations as measured by ELISA in healthy dogs.

Calprotectin is a useful biomarker of inflammation in dogs. However, the biological variation of serum canine calprotectin is unknown. Indices of biological variation were determined in serial serum samples (n=147) from 11 healthy dogs (males/females: 4/7, median age: 5 years): analytical (3.

Videofluoroscopy, CT angiography, and ultrasonography of congenital esophageal stenosis in a Labrador retriever.

A 7-week-old Labrador retriever presented for further investigation into acute onset regurgitation, following weaning from liquid to solid food. A videofluoroscopic swallow study demonstrated a severe, focal esophageal dilation in the mid-cervical region, with marked luminal narrowing distally. Computed tomography with angiography revealed esophageal stenosis, extending from C4-T2, secondary to circumferential esophageal wall thickening.

Myenteric ganglionitis and intestinal leiomyositis in a Jack Russell terrier.

A 9-year, 6-month old spayed female Jack Russell terrier presented with a 3-week history of intermittent vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss. Serum biochemistry demonstrated severe panhypoproteinaemia, mild hypocalcaemia and mild hypocholesterolaemia, consistent with protein-losing enteropathy. Full-thickness biopsies obtained from the stomach and different sections of small intestine demonstrated histological features of both myenteric ganglionitis and early intestinal leiomyositis.

Clinical evaluation of a benchtop dry chemistry analyzer for measurement of ammonium concentrations in canine plasma samples.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical performance of a veterinary benchtop dry chemistry analyzer for measurement of plasma ammonium concentrations in dogs by comparing results with those obtained by a reference standard test method. DESIGN Prospective evaluation study. SAMPLE 32 blood samples from 30 dogs (16 with and 14 without suspected hepatobiliary disease).

Assessment of the effects of diet and physical rehabilitation on radiographic findings and markers of synovial inflammation in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of an omega-3 fatty acid and protein-enriched diet, physical rehabilitation, or both on radiographic findings and markers of synovial inflammation in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy and arthroscopic surgery for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease. DESIGN Randomized, prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS 48 dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament disease.

Evaluation of the clinical effects of diet and physical rehabilitation in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

OBJECTIVE To assess clinical effects of an omega-3 fatty acid and protein-enriched diet, physical rehabilitation, or both in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and arthroscopic surgery for cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease. DESIGN Randomized, prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS 48 dogs with unilateral CCL disease.

Variability of Symmetric Dimethylarginine in Apparently Healthy Dogs.

Background: Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a screening tool for early kidney dysfunction and monitoring treatment in cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD). There are no current studies describing the suitability of this test for use with published population-based reference intervals.

Hypothesis/objectives: To determine the components of biological variability, the index of individuality (IOI), the critical difference between sequential measurements (C ) and the number of measurements required to assess the homeostatic set point (HSP), for both SDMA and serum creatinine (sCr), in apparently healthy dogs.

Estimates of biologic variation in specific feline pancreatic lipase concentrations in cats without clinical or ultrasonographic evidence of pancreatitis.

Background: Serum concentrations of feline-specific pancreatic lipase are commonly used for diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatitis in cats, but little is known regarding biologic variation of this analyte.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine biologic variation, index of individuality, and reference change values (RCV) for specific feline pancreatic lipase concentrations (Spec fPL) in apparently healthy cats.

Methods: Four blood samples were collected prospectively from 12 apparently healthy cats at 2-week intervals.

Preliminary evaluation of serum total cholesterol concentrations in dogs with osteosarcoma.

Objectives: To determine if total serum cholesterol concentrations were altered in dogs with osteosarcoma. To evaluate association of total serum cholesterol concentration with clinical outcomes in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective, multi-institutional study on 64 dogs with osteosarcoma.

Family Dog-Assisted Adapted Physical Activity: A Case Study.

The aim of this case study was to examine the individual effects of an adapted physical activity, animal-assisted intervention (APA-AAI) with the family dog on motor skills, physical activity, and quality of life of a child with cerebral palsy (CP). : This study used an A-B-A single-subject design. The assessment phase (phase A) occurred pre- and post-intervention.

Contribution of molecular tools for the diagnosis and epidemiology of fungal chronic rhinosinusitis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) rank second at chronic inflammatory diseases in industrialized countries and are an important public health concern. Diagnosis relies on a set of arguments including clinical signs, imaging, histopathologic and mycological analyses of sinus specimens, collected during nasal endoscopy. The sensitivity of fungal cultures is reported to be poor, even when direct examination is positive, thus the epidemiology of fungal chronic sinusitis is ill-known.

Expression of serotonin, chromogranin-A, serotonin receptor-2B, tryptophan hydroxylase-1, and serotonin reuptake transporter in the intestine of dogs with chronic enteropathy.

Serotonin regulates many intestinal motor and sensory functions. Altered serotonergic metabolism has been described in human gastrointestinal diseases. The objective of our study was to compare expression of several components of the serotonergic system [serotonin (5-HT), serotonin reuptake transporter protein (SERT), tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (TPH-1), 5-HT receptor2B (5-HT2B)] and the enterochromaffin cell marker chromogranin-A (CgA) in the intestinal mucosa between dogs with chronic enteropathy and healthy controls.

Validation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of canine S100A12.

Background: Canine S100 calcium-binding protein A12 (cS100A12) shows promise as biomarker of inflammation in dogs. A previously developed cS100A12-radioimmunoassay (RIA) requires radioactive tracers and is not sensitive enough for fecal cS100A12 concentrations in 79% of tested healthy dogs. An ELISA assay may be more sensitive than RIA and does not require radioactive tracers.

Biologic variability in NT-proBNP and cardiac troponin-I in healthy dogs and dogs with mitral valve degeneration.

Background: The N-terminal fragment of the prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin-I are candidate biomarkers for cardiac disease in dogs. The degree of biologic variation in these biomarkers has not previously been reported in healthy dogs or dogs with mitral regurgitation.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to derive estimates of intrinsic biologic variability and reference change values for NT-proBNP and cardiac troponin-I in healthy dogs and dogs with mitral regurgitation grade IB and II according to the International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council (ISACHC) grading system.