Plasma glucagon-like peptide-2 in cats with chronic enteropathies.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare plasma glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) concentrations in cats with chronic enteropathies (CE) with those of healthy cats.

Methods: Nineteen client-owned cats with a histopathologic diagnosis of either idiopathic chronic enteropathy (CIE) or low-grade lymphoma and six healthy client-owned cats were enrolled in a prospective study between 2 December 2021 and 9 June 2023. Fasted and postprandial plasma GLP-2 concentrations were measured via ELISA in CE cats at the time gastrointestinal biopsies were obtained and before CE treatment.

Velagliflozin, a once-daily, liquid, oral SGLT2 inhibitor, is effective as a stand-alone therapy for feline diabetes mellitus: the SENSATION study.

Objective: To investigate safety and effectiveness of velagliflozin oral solution as sole therapy in naïve and previously insulin-treated diabetic cats.

Animals: 252 client-owned cats receiving ≥ 2 doses of velagliflozin; 214 (85%) naïve diabetics and 38 (15%) insulin-treated diabetics.

Procedures: Prospective, baseline-controlled, open-label clinical field trial.

Relationship between HbA1c, fructosamine and clinical assessment of glycemic control in dogs.

Background: Serum fructosamine is a routine test used for clinical monitoring of diabetes mellitus (DM) but the usefulness of HbA1c for this purpose has not been extensively studied.

Hypothesis: The study aimed to compare the ability of blood HbA1c and serum fructosamine tests to correctly classify DM control determined using a clinically-based assessment.

Animals: 28 client-owned dogs with naturally-occurring diabetes mellitus.

Evaluation of the expression of hexokinase 1, glucokinase, and insulin by canine insulinoma cells maintained in short-term culture.

Objective: To develop a technique for isolation and culture of canine insulinoma cells and assess expression of cellular hexokinases (glucokinase and hexokinase I) and expression and secretion of insulin from these cells in vitro.

Sample: Pancreatic insulinomas and normal pancreatic tissue from 4 and 3 dogs, respectively.

Procedures: Tissues were collected by surgical excision or at necropsy.

Feasibility of hepatic fine needle aspiration as a minimally invasive sampling method for gene expression quantification of pharmacogenetic targets in dogs.

Background: Quantifying hepatic gene expression is important for many pharmacogenetic studies. However, this usually requires biopsy (BX), which is invasive.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the feasibility of using minimally invasive fine needle aspirate (FNA) to quantify hepatic gene expression and to assess expression variability between different sampling sites.

Normal cerebral ventricular volume growth in childhood.

Objective: Normal percentile growth charts for head circumference, length, and weight are well-established tools for clinicians to detect abnormal growth patterns. Currently, no standard exists for evaluating normal size or growth of cerebral ventricular volume. The current standard practice relies on clinical experience for a subjective assessment of cerebral ventricular size to determine whether a patient is outside the normal volume range.

Neurosurgical patients admitted via the emergency department initiating comfort care measures: a prospective cohort analysis.

Background: Given the serious nature of many neurosurgical pathologies, it is common for hospitalized patients to elect comfort care (CC) over aggressive treatment. Few studies have evaluated the incidence and risk factors of CC trends in patients admitted for neurosurgical emergencies.

Objectives: To analyze all neurosurgical patients admitted to a tertiary care academic referral center via the emergency department (ED) to determine incidence and characteristics of those who initiated CC measures during their initial hospital admission.

Evaluation of diabetes mellitus regulation in dogs treated with ophthalmic preparations of prednisolone acetate versus diclofenac sodium.

Objective: To evaluate and compare regulation of diabetes mellitus (DM) in dogs with cataracts and well-controlled DM that received an ophthalmic preparation of prednisolone acetate versus diclofenac sodium.

Animals: 22 client-owned dogs with cataracts and well-controlled DM.

Procedures: A prospective, randomized, double-masked, experimental study was conducted.

Correction: The mean cell volume difference (dMCV) reflects serum hypertonicity in diabetic dogs.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

The mean cell volume difference (dMCV) reflects serum hypertonicity in diabetic dogs.

Serum hypertonicity may develop during diabetes mellitus due to hyperglycemia and other biochemical changes. Hypertonicity may produce detrimental cellular and systemic effects and has been identified as a serum marker for some clinical disorders. In non-diabetic dogs, the mean cell volume difference, a novel erythrocyte measure, is increased by serum hypertonicity.

Radiosurgery for Treatment of Renal Cell Metastases to Spine: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) continues to increase, and the spine is the most common site for bony metastasis. Radiation therapy is one treatment for spinal RCC metastasis. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a newer treatment that reportedly has benefits over conventional external beam radiotherapy.

Receptor tyrosine kinase expression and phosphorylation in canine nasal carcinoma.

Preliminary studies have supported use of toceranib phosphate (Palladia®) in treatment of canine nasal carcinomas, though the mechanisms of its activity are unknown. This study evaluated sixteen canine nasal carcinoma and five normal nasal epithelium samples for expression and phosphorylation of known targets of toceranib [vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGR2), platelet derived growth factor alpha (PDGFR-α), platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR-β), and stem cell factor receptor (c-KIT)] and epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR1) using immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) phosphorylation panel. Protein for VEGFR2 was expressed in all carcinomas, PDGFR-α was noted in 15/16, whereas PDGFR-β was detected in 3/16 samples, but showed significant stromal staining.

Stability of osmolality in previously frozen canine serum and urine samples.

Background: The measurement of osmolality is of interest in several clinical conditions and has been investigated in multiple veterinary studies. However, the stability of osmolality over time in frozen canine serum and urine has not been established.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the stability of osmolality in canine serum and urine stored frozen at -20°C and -80°C up to 90 days, and to assess the effect of storage temperature on osmolality measurement.

Effects of feline hyperthyroidism on kidney function: a review.

Chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism are two commonly diagnosed conditions in the geriatric feline population, and are often seen concurrently. Management of both diseases is recommended; however, the physiologic implications of both diseases must be understood to ensure the most favorable outcome for each patient. This report reviews the complex interplay between hyperthyroidism and kidney function, as well as the effects of hyperthyroid therapy on kidney function.

Evaluation of mean corpuscular volume difference as a marker for serum hypertonicity during water deprivation in dogs.

Objective: To evaluate mean corpuscular volume difference (dMCV) as a marker for hypertonicity induced by water deprivation in dogs.

Animals: 5 healthy Greyhounds maintained in a research colony.

Procedures: Water was withheld for 24 hours.

Determination of tonicity effects of ketoacids and lactate by use of two canine red blood cell assays.

Objective: To determine the tonicity effects of β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and lactate in canine RBCs.

Sample: RBCs from approximately 40 dogs.

Procedures: 2 in vitro methods were used to conduct 4 experiments.

Diagnosis and management of feline hyperthyroidism: current perspectives.

Previous and ongoing research has provided insights to the pathophysiology and diagnosis of hyperthyroidism as well as new treatment modalities. This paper reviews the etiology, clinical presentation, and clinicopathologic changes associated with hyperthyroidism, and provides a thorough explanation of confirmatory testing and treatment options.

Radiation safety and spine surgery: systematic review of exposure limits and methods to minimize radiation exposure.

Background: Ionizing radiation is typically used during spine surgery for localization and guidance in instrumentation placement. Minimally invasive (MI) surgical procedures are increasingly popular and often require significantly more fluoroscopy, placing surgeons at risk for increased radiation exposure and radiation-induced complications. This study provides recommendations for minimizing risk of radiation-induced injury to spine surgeons and summarizes studies addressing radiation exposure in spine procedures.

Cloning and characterization of feline islet glucokinase.

Background: Glucokinase (GK) is a metabolic enzyme encoded by the GCK gene and expressed in glucose-sensitive tissues, principally pancreatic islets cell and hepatocytes. The GK protein acts in pancreatic islets as a "glucose sensor" that couples fluctuations in the blood glucose concentration to changes in cellular function and insulin secretion. GCK and GK have proposed importance in the development and progression of diabetes mellitus and are potential therapeutic targets for diabetes treatment.

In vitro increase of mean corpuscular volume difference (dMCV) as a marker for serum hypertonicity in dogs.

Spurious increase in erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) on automated cell analyzers is a well-characterized lab error in hypertonic patients. A difference between automated and manual MCV (dMCV) greater than 2 fl has been shown to predict hypertonicity in humans. The purpose of this study was to investigate dMCV as a marker for serum hypertonicity in dogs and to examine the relationship between dMCV and three methods of estimating serum tonicity: measured (OsMM), calculated (OsMC), and calculated effective (OsMCE) osmolalities.

Normal glucose metabolism in carnivores overlaps with diabetes pathology in non-carnivores.

Carnivores, such as the dolphin and the domestic cat, have numerous adaptations that befit consumption of diets with high protein and fat content, with little carbohydrate content. Consequently, nutrient metabolism in carnivorous species differs substantially from that of non-carnivores. Important metabolic pathways known to differ between carnivores and non-carnivores are implicated in the development of diabetes and insulin resistance in non-carnivores: (1) the hepatic glucokinase (GCK) pathway is absent in healthy carnivores yet GCK deficiency may result in diabetes in rodents and humans, (2) healthy dolphins and cats are prone to periods of fasting hyperglycemia and exhibit insulin resistance, both of which are risk factors for diabetes in non-carnivores.

Peritoneal EMH in a dog with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is the process by which normal blood cells are produced outside the bone marrow. In humans, EMH effusions are rare and are characterized by the presence of megakaryocytes, immature erythrocytes, immature leukocytes, or combinations of those cells. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report to describe a case of peritoneal EMH effusion in a dog.