Vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of dogs with neoplastic or inflammatory central nervous system disorders.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key molecular driver of angiogenesis and vascular permeability and is expressed by a wide variety of neoplasms. Although blood VEGF concentrations have been quantified in intracranial tumors of dogs, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) VEGF concentration might be a more sensitive biomarker of disease.

Objective: Concentrations of VEGF in CSF are higher in dogs with central nervous system (CNS) neoplasia compared to those with meningoencephalomyelitis and other neurologic disorders.

The sensory field and repeatability of the cutaneous trunci muscle reflex of the dog.

Objective: To describe the cutaneous trunci muscle (CTM) reflex in dogs.

Study Design: Prospective descriptive study.

Animals: Normal dogs (n = 155) and 10 dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathies.

The cutaneous trunci muscle reflex: a predictor of recovery in dogs with acute thoracolumbar myelopathies caused by intervertebral disc extrusions.

Objective: To determine whether changes in the cutaneous trunci muscle (CTM) reflex are an early predictor of outcome in dogs with severe acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE).

Study Design: Multicenter prospective cohort study.

Animals: Dogs (n = 36) with acute IVDE causing paraplegia, loss of nociception in pelvic limbs and tail, and an abnormal CTM reflex postoperatively.

The vitamin K-dependent gamma-glutamyl carboxylase gene contains a TATA-less promoter with a novel upstream regulatory element.

The expression of the vitamin K-dependent gamma-glutamyl carboxylase gene in liver is developmentally regulated. Since the gene product catalyzes an essential post-translational modification of the vitamin K-dependent blood coagulation proteins, the regulation of carboxylase expression is critical for hemostasis. We analyzed the activity of the rat carboxylase gene 5'-regulatory DNA sequences in rat hepatoma cell lines at different states of differentiation.