Proper use of quinolones for canine colitis ambulatory treatment: literature review and REQUEST guidelines.

The literature analysed by REQUEST (REassesing QUinolone European STandard) using inclusion and exclusion criteria allows to make the conclusion that the proper use of fluoroquinolones (FQ) in canine colitis requires rigorously performed qualification to specific antimicrobial treatment. An infectious agent responsive to FQ therapy plays an integral role in the clinical manifestation of canine colitis, especially histiocytic ulcerative colitis (HUC) in young Boxer dogs. This supports the use of FQ in these cases. The Request guidelines for proper use of FQ in canine colitis is established, according to the available literature data.

In vivo retroviral mediated gene transfer into bladder urothelium results in preferential transduction of tumoral cells.

OBJECTIVES: Superficial bladder tumours are at high risk for recurrence, relapse after resection, escape to intravesical immunotherapy and they may become invasive. New therapeutics are therefore needed to achieve cure. Thus, gene therapy is an attractive new treatment modality for malignant bladder tumours. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and the efficiency of retroviral mediated reporter gene transfer into malignant urothelial cells both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: We evaluated the feasibility of the transfection of bladder tumour with direct intravesical instillation of a defective retrovirus. The vector was derived from LXSN. The efficiency of transduction with the Moloney Leukaemia Murine virus-based vector, amphotrophic retroviral vector, was monitored through the expression of two marker genes (nls-LacZ and NeoR). The canine animal was chosen since it can present with spontaneous bladder carcinomas mimicking human pathology. Primary cultures of two normal canine bladder urothelium and two canine primary bladder tumours were first studied. We then investigated in vivo, in two normal and two spontaneous tumour bearing dogs, the transduction of urothelial cells following direct intravesical instillation of 2.10(4) to 3.10(6) of the retroviral vector. RESULTS: Transduced cells were evidenced in all primary cultures of canine normal urothelium and transitional cell carcinoma. Bladder biopsies from sound dogs instilled with the viral solution showed long lasting transduction up to 60 days long. Bladder cryosections from tumour-bearing dogs displayed transduction of superficial layers of urothelial cancer cells without passing through lamina propria. In vivo transduction was evidenced in 1 to 15% (mean 5%) of the cells in the tumours and preferentially addressed malignant cells. Normal epithelium either originating from sound or tumour-bearing animals was not transduced. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate for the first time the feasibility of in vivo retroviral transduction of bladder cancer using a clinically relevant procedure.

Management of urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence in a male dog with laparoscopic-guided deferentopexy.

Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence is uncommon in the male dog. Diagnosis is made on the basis of the history (full bladder intermittent incontinence with persistence of normal micturitions), clinical examination and by exclusion of other causes of incontinence, such as prostatic disease, lower urinary tract abnormalities and cystitis. This report describes a case in an 11-year-old male poodle in which positive contrast urethrocystography showed no anatomical abnormalities. Surgical treatment by fixation of both ductus deferens to the abdominal wall under laparoscopic guidance with cranial displacement of the urinary bladder improved the incontinence.

In vivo model mimicking natural history of dog prostate cancer using DPC-1, a new canine prostate carcinoma cell line.

BACKGROUND: Dog prostate cancer is usually considered to be highly relevant to human prostate cancer. We report the isolation of a new canine prostate cancer epithelial cell line designated DPC-1. METHODS: Primary cultures were established from a canine poorly differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma. Population doubling time was determined by counting nuclei after cell lysis. Tumorigenicity was assessed in nude mice and in one adult immunodeficient dog. Immunoscintigraphy was performed in both models using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) raised against the [44-62] sequence of human PSMA. RESULTS: DPC-1 cells have a rapid growth in vitro (doubling time, 27 hr) which is not stimulated by androgens. In addition, DPC-1 displays immunoreactivity to human PSA and PSMA. DPC-1 was found to be highly tumorigenic not only in nude mice but also for the first time after orthotopic seeding in an immunodeficient dog. This allograft mimicked, in a compressed form, the aggressive biological behavior of spontaneous dog prostate adenocarcinoma. Immunoscintigraphy using a (131)Iodine-labeled PSMA mAb clearly visualized induced tumors in nude mice and in the dog allograft. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that DPC-1 may constitute a powerful model for assessing new diagnostic and/or therapeutic tools in the management of prostate cancer.

Comparative study of marbofloxacin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid in the treatment of urinary tract infections in dogs.

One hundred and four dogs with clinical signs of urinary tract infection were selected by 15 practitioners in a multicentric, controlled and randomised study. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by urinalysis and imaging. Each dog received either marbofloxacin (2 mg/kg orally once daily or 4 mg/kg by subcutaneous injection every four days) or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid tablets (12.5 mg/kg twice daily) for 10 or 28 days, depending on the clinical diagnosis. Rectal temperature, general condition, appetite, urinary signs, defecation disorders and pain on abdominal palpation were monitored at each visit, the timetable depending on diagnosis: three urinalyses and at least three examinations per case were performed. Side effects were also thoroughly sought at each examination. Marbofloxacin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid both yielded good bacteriological cure rates (96.2 per cent versus 85.0 per cent, respectively) and clinical cure rates (83.3 per cent versus 69.7 per cent). Fewer relapses were observed in those dogs that received marbofloxacin. Few mild side effects were recorded with both products.

Comparative effects of xylazine and propofol on the urethral pressure profile of healthy dogs.

The effects of 2 drugs, xylazine and propofol, on the urethral pressure profile were compared. Seven female dogs were sedated by administration of one drug, then the other, and urethral variables were measured. In the dogs sedated with propofol, the mean +/- SD, maximal urethral closure pressure (51 +/- 7.4 cm of H2O) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the value when dogs were sedated with xylazine (23.3 +/- 7.6 cm of H2O). Results were compared with those obtained by various authors, in particular for nonsedated dogs. It is concluded that propofol is a good drug for investigation of the urethral pressure profile, whatever its effect on maximal urethral closure pressure.

Effects of pulsed dye laser lithotripsy on tissues. Experimental study in the canine ureter.

This experimental study demonstrates the absence of irreversible tissue damage after lithotripsy with a pulsed dye laser. The absence of thermal damage with this laser is due to the beam divergence capacity at the end of the fiber and to the short pulse, which generates very low thermal effect. These results as a whole confirm the safety of the pulsed dye laser and indicate that it can be used for clinical treatments in humans.

[Tissue effects of pulsed-dye laser lithotripsy. Experimental study on the ureter in dogs]. / Effets tissulaires de la lithotritie par laser pulsé à colorant. Etude expérimentale sur l'uretère du chien.

The tissue effects of pulsed dye laser (Pulsolith) were studied in 10 dog ureters. The results show the absence of ureteric perforation or damage to adjacent organs by the laser irradiation. The only lesions observed were focal hyperplasia of the urothelium and chorion with extremely limited abrasions of the urothelium. The absence of tissue damage of the pulsed dye laser allows it to be used in human clinical practice.

[Lithotripsy by ultrashort pulsation. Experimental study in renal lithiasis in the dog]. / Lithotripsie à impulsions ultra-courtes. Etude expérimentale sur une lithiase rénale du chien.

A lithotriptor delivering ultrashort shockwaves and designed for use under ultrasonographic guidance has recently been developed. Immersion in water is unnecessary. The device was experimented in renal lithiasis in dogs. Twenty-two animals were treated. In seven, who served as controls, the safety of shots delivered in particular to the lungs, liver, bones and kidneys was demonstrated. Furthermore, no cardiac rhythm disorders were recorded. A human stone was implanted in 15 animals. The stone was successfully broken up in 12. Gross and microscopic examinations done 2 to 30 days after the treatment indicate that the shots initially produce lesions similar to a limited contusion. Healing of the contusion, already underway on the 8th day, is complete by the 4th week. Elimination of the fragments is gradual. The quality of fragmentation can be evaluated during the treatment session using mode A ultrasonography. These experimental data are evidence of the effectiveness of this second generation lithotriptor.

Noninvasive experimental determination of the individual kidney filtration fraction by means of a dual-tracer technique.

A noninvasive method for measurement of the individual kidney filtration fraction (FF) is presented, based on an analysis of the early rise of the kidneys' time-activity curves obtained after simultaneous injection of tubular [131I] ortho-iodohippurate and glomerular (Tc-99m DTPA) tracers. The analysis is based on the assumption that an insignificant amount of tracer leaves the kidney during the first few moments following injection. Therefore the kidney activity during this period is directly proportional to the integral of the blood (heart) activity. The dual-tracer technique allows the direct calculation of the ratio of glomerular to tubular clearances, i.e., the FF. In vivo studies were performed on 12 dogs, including normals as well as others with acute ureteral ligation or Benemid-induced tubular blockade. The calculated FF correlated well with the FF obtained from single-shot clearances performed simultaneously. We conclude that the FF can be calculated directly for each kidney, noninvasively, from the early part of the tubular and glomerular time-activity curves by noninvasive external detection.