Can neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios be used as markers for hypercortisolism in dogs?

Changes in neutrophil-to-lymphocite ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been identified in dogs with hypercortisolism (HC), but, no studies have investigated the changes in these inflammatory biomarkers as cost-effective and available parameters for the diagnosis and management of HC. This study was performed to evaluate whether NLR and PLR could be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment response in dogs with HC. This retrospective study included 67 dogs with HC, 58 dogs with non-adrenal illness (NAI), and 39 healthy dogs. NLR and PLR were compared among the three groups. Cut-off values of NLR and PLR for HC screening and percent change in biomarkers for assessing treatment response were evaluated. In addition, the NLR and PLR were compared before and after trilostane treatment. NLR and PLR were significantly higher in the HC group than in the NAI and healthy groups. The NLR cut-off value of 4.227 had a sensitivity of 67.16% and specificity of 65.52%, and the PLR cut-off value of 285.0 had a sensitivity of 56.72% and specificity of 70.69% for differentiating between dogs with HC and those with NAI, respectively. Furthermore, a significant decline in NLR was observed after treatment in the well-controlled HC group. The cutoff value of percent change in NLR to identify well-controlled HC was -7.570%; sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 63.64%, respectively. Therefore, NLR and PLR might be used cautiously as supportive biomarkers for HC diagnosis, and NLR could be a potential monitoring tool in assessing the treatment response of HC in dogs.

Use of neurofilament light chain to identify structural brain diseases in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is released into the peripheral circulation by damaged axons. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum NfL concentration in dogs with intracranial diseases. ANIMALS: Study included 37 healthy dogs, 31 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE), 45 dogs with meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE), 20 dogs with hydrocephalus, and 19 dogs with brain tumors. METHODS: Cohort study. Serum NfL concentrations were measured in all dogs using single-molecule array technology. RESULTS: Serum NfL concentration in dogs with each structural disease was significantly higher than in healthy dogs and dogs with IE (P = .01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of NfL for differentiating between dogs with structural diseases and IE was 0.868. An optimal cutoff value of the NfL 27.10 pg/mL had a sensitivity of 86.67% and a specificity of 74.19% to differentiate the dogs with IE from those with structural brain diseases. There were significant correlations between NfL concentrations and lesion size: (1) MUE, P = .01, r = 0.429; (2) hydrocephalus, P = .01, r = 0.563. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Serum NfL could be a useful biomarker for distinguishing IE from structural diseases in dogs and predicting the lesion sizes of MUE and hydrocephalus.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease and associated pulmonary hypertension might increase serum angiopoietin-2 in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationships between the severity of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) and serum angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and Ang-2 concentrations in dogs with MMVD. ANIMALS: 74 dogs (control, n = 12; MMVD, n = 62) were included. METHODS: Serum Ang-1 and Ang-2 concentrations were estimated using the canine-specific ELISA kit. The concentrations were compared between dogs with MMVD and healthy dogs, and they were analyzed according to the severity of MMVD and PH. RESULTS: The median serum Ang-1 concentration did not differ among the study groups. The median serum Ang-2 concentration was higher in dogs with stage B2 MMVD (P = .041) and acute congestive heart failure (P = .002) than in control dogs. In addition, the median serum Ang-2 concentration was higher in MMVD dogs with PH than in those without PH (P = .031). Serum Ang-2 concentration was correlated with vertebral heart score (rs = 0.36, P = .004) and vertebral left atrial score (r = 0.50, P < .001) in dogs with MMVD, and correlated with vertebral heart score (r = 0.63, P = .01), maximum E wave amplitude of the diastolic transmitral flow (rs = 0.61, P = .018), ejection fraction (rs = -0.77, P < .001) and fractional shortening (rs = -0.56, P = .032) in dogs with acute congestive heart failure. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Circulating Ang-2 levels increase in dogs with the severity of MMVD and the presence of PH.

MotGen: a closed-loop bacterial motility control framework using generative adversarial networks.

MOTIVATION: Many organisms' survival and behavior hinge on their responses to environmental signals. While research on bacteria-directed therapeutic agents has increased, systematic exploration of real-time modulation of bacterial motility remains limited. Current studies often focus on permanent motility changes through genetic alterations, restricting the ability to modulate bacterial motility dynamically on a large scale. To address this gap, we propose a novel real-time control framework for systematically modulating bacterial motility dynamics. RESULTS: We introduce MotGen, a deep learning approach leveraging Generative Adversarial Networks to analyze swimming performance statistics of motile bacteria based on live cell imaging data. By tracking objects and optimizing cell trajectory mapping under environmentally altered conditions, we trained MotGen on a comprehensive statistical dataset derived from real image data. Our experimental results demonstrate MotGen's ability to capture motility dynamics from real bacterial populations with low mean absolute error in both simulated and real datasets. MotGen allows us to approach optimal swimming conditions for desired motility statistics in real-time. MotGen's potential extends to practical biomedical applications, including immune response prediction, by providing imputation of bacterial motility patterns based on external environmental conditions. Our short-term, in-situ interventions for controlling motility behavior offer a promising foundation for the development of bacteria-based biomedical applications. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: MotGen is presented as a combination of Matlab image analysis code and a machine learning workflow in Python. Codes are available at https://github.com/bgmseo/MotGen, for cell tracking and implementation of trained models to generate bacterial motility statistics.

Oesophageal stricture in a cat with true pleuroperitoneal hernia.

A 2-year-old neutered male Bengal cat presented with solid food dysphagia and chronic regurgitation for >5 months. There were no clinical abnormalities on haematological or radiographic examinations. Thoracic radiography revealed a soft tissue opacity mass adjacent to the diaphragm in the caudoventral thorax. Ultrasonography revealed a protruding liver lobe surrounded by a hyperechoic lining from the diaphragm towards the thorax, and a pleuroperitoneal hernia was diagnosed. An endoscopy was performed to examine the cause of regurgitation, and an oesophageal stricture was observed. Endoscopic balloon dilation of the oesophageal stricture was performed, and the regurgitation was resolved immediately. However, regurgitation relapsed 2 months later, and computed tomography was performed to ascertain the cause. Computed tomography revealed oesophageal mural thickening and true pleuroperitoneal hernia with partial liver lobe herniation. A second endoscopy with balloon dilation was performed to treat the relapsing oesophageal stricture, and the clinical signs resolved without the need for herniorrhaphy. Nevertheless, oesophageal stricture could occur due to gastroesophageal reflux related to a pleuroperitoneal hernia; however, a definite link could not be elucidated in this case. This report describes a case of oesophageal stricture and concurrent true pleuroperitoneal hernia in a cat.

Serum concentrations of complement C3 and C4 in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: High concentrations of complement factors are presented in serum of animal epilepsy models and human patients with epilepsy. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether complement dysregulation occurs in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE). ANIMALS: The study included 49 dogs with IE subgrouped into treatment (n = 19), and nontreatment (n = 30), and 29 healthy dogs. METHODS: In this case-control study, the serum concentrations of the third (C3) and fourth (C4) components of the complement system were measured using a canine-specific ELISA kit. RESULTS: Serum C3 and C4 concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with IE (C3, median; 4.901 [IQR; 3.915-6.673] mg/mL, P < .001; C4, 0.327 [0.134-0.557] mg/mL, P = .03) than in healthy control dogs (C3, 3.550 [3.075-4.191] mg/mL; C4, 0.267 [0.131-0.427] mg/mL). No significant differences were observed in serum C3 and C4 concentrations between dogs in the treatment (C3, median; 4.894 [IQR; 4.192-5.715] mg/mL; C4, 0.427 [0.143-0.586] mg/mL) and nontreatment groups (C3, 5.051 [3.702-7.132] mg/mL; C4, 0.258 [0.130-0.489] mg/mL). Dogs with a seizure frequency >3 times/month had significantly higher serum C3 (6.461 [4.695-8.735] mg/mL; P < .01) and C4 (0.451 [0.163-0.675] mg/mL; P = .01) concentrations than those with a seizure frequency ≤3 times/month (C3, 3.859 [3.464-5.142] mg/mL; C4, 0.161 [0.100-0.325] mg/mL). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dysregulation of classical complement pathway was identified in IE dogs. Serum C3 and C4 concentrations could be diagnostic biomarkers for IE in dogs with higher seizure frequency.

Association between Processed Meat Protein Consumption and Incident Osteoporosis in Adults Aged 50 Years and Older: A Prospective Cohort Study Based on Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study Data (2005-2020).

Background: Osteoporosis is one of the inevitable diseases affecting an aging society, substantially impacting the quality of life of its population. Protein intake has been shown to be beneficial in reducing the incidence of osteoporosis, and the effects of both animal and vegetable proteins have been studied. However, the relationship between processed meat consumption and osteoporosis has not been studied in Korea. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the correlation between processed meat consumption and incident osteoporosis in adults. Methods: Our analysis included 1,260 adults aged 50 years and older from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES), recruited between 2005 and 2020. Participants were categorized into two groups according to their processed meat intake, assessed using a semi-quantitative 103-food item food frequency questionnaire. Diagnosis of osteoporosis was based on questionnaire answers. Multiple Cox hazard regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between processed meat intake and incident osteoporosis. Results: During an average follow-up period of 8.8 years, 230 participants developed osteoporosis. According to the Cox proportional regression models, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of incident osteoporosis in the high intake group was 0.62 (0.41-0.94), compared to the low intake group after adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusion: These findings reveal that processed meat protein intake is inversely related to the incidence of osteoporosis in adults aged 50 years and older. This in turn suggests that processed meat intake can be proposed as an additional strategy to prevent osteoporosis.

Expression of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 in neuroinflammation of canine brains.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a signaling lipid mediator that is involved in multiple biological processes. The S1P/S1P receptor (S1PR) signaling pathway has an important role in the central nervous system. It contributes to physiologic cellular homeostasis and is also associated with neuroinflammation. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the expression of S1PR in dogs with meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The analysis used 12 brain samples from three neurologically normal dogs, seven dogs with MUE, and two canine EAE models. Anti-S1PR1 antibody was used for immunohistochemistry. In normal brain tissues, S1PR1s were expressed on neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and endothelial cells. In MUE and EAE lesions, there was positive staining of S1PR1 on leukocytes. Furthermore, the expression of S1PR1 on neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and endothelial cells was upregulated compared to normal brains. This study shows that S1PR1s are expressed in normal brain tissues and leukocytes in inflammatory lesions, and demonstrates the upregulation of S1PR1 expression on nervous system cells in inflammatory lesions of MUE and EAE. These findings indicate that S1P/S1PR signaling pathway might involve physiologic homeostasis and neuroinflammation and represent potential targets for S1PR modulators to treat MUE.

A single-blind randomised study comparing the efficacy of fluconazole and itraconazole for the treatment of Malassezia dermatitis in client-owned dogs.

BACKGROUND: No reports have compared the clinical therapeutic efficacy of fluconazole and itraconazole in canine Malassezia dermatitis. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to compare the clinical therapeutic efficacy of fluconazole and itraconazole and to evaluate the adverse effects of fluconazole in canine Malassezia dermatitis. ANIMALS: Sixty-one client-owned dogs with Malassezia dermatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The enrolled animals were randomly divided into groups receiving 5 mg/kg fluconazole (5FZ), 10 mg/kg fluconazole (10FZ) or 5 mg/kg itraconazole (5IZ). The drugs were orally administered once daily for 28 days. Cytological examination, clinical index score (CIS), pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS) evaluation and blood analysis (for 5FZ only) were performed on Day (D)0, D14 and D28. RESULTS: On D14, significant reductions in mean yeast count (MYC), CIS and PVAS were observed in the 5FZ (n = 20, p < 0.01), 10FZ (n = 17, p < 0.01) and 5IZ (n = 16, p < 0.05) groups. In all three groups, a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in MYC, CIS and PVAS expression was observed on D28. There was no significant difference in the percentage reduction of MYC, CIS and PVAS among the groups. Moreover, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in each group between D14 and D28, except for the percentage reduction in MYC in the 10FZ and 5IZ groups. No adverse effects of fluconazole were observed in the 5FZ or 10FZ groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study indicates that 5FZ and 10FZ are as effective as itraconazole in canine Malassezia dermatitis.

Serratia marcescens-associated subcutaneous abscess in a dog.

This report describes the clinical presentation and progression of a Serratia marcescens-associated subcutaneous abscess in a dog with hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism and diabetes mellitus. The S. marcescens isolate was resistant to several antibiotics. Treatment with antibiotics and topical antiseptics was not successful.

Immune Activation Modulation via Magnetically Localized Bacteria Based Micro/Bio Robot (BBMBR).

Understanding tumor's microenvironment is one of the key factors in the cancer therapy. Especially, from the perspective of immunotherapy, immune desert or cold tumor is referred as significantly downregulated T cell in-filtration due to lack of immune surveillance in the tumor microenvironment. There are many studies are dedicated to convert cold tumor to hot tumor for enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy. In this study, we suggested selective immune activation system through the spatiotemporal control of the bacteria as an immune boosting agent. To this end, we have developed bacteria-based micro/bio robot system (BBMBR) by attaching bacteria with magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) so that the localization can be controlled through the magnetic field. The biomanufacturing results showed that BBMBR includes 6.6 ± 1.54 MNP attached and the presence ratio of bacteria-MNP out of total bacteria population reached 75.2 ± 3.37%. Spatial controllability experiments have shown that rotational and translation localization has been controlled as intended. The function of the immune modulation system through BBMBR was confirmed through experiments that magnetically driven BBMBR localization induced localized immune activation. M1-phenotype differentiation of macrophage cells were quantified CD80 staining, and overall immune response level was evaluated through IL-6 measurements. As the distance from the activation point increased, the population of M1 differentiated macrophages decreased, and when the movement of BBMBR was magnetically restricted, overall immune activation was found to be regulated downward. Proposed BBMBR and immune modulation framework could introduce a powerful new paradigm in cancer treatment by improving the localization controllability of immune-boosting agent and the spatial immune activation strategies.

Case report: Fundic gland polyps caused by long-term omeprazole use in a Maltese dog.

Long-term use of proton-pump inhibitors can induce fundic gland polyps in the human stomach. However, this phenomenon has not been described in the veterinary literature. A 5-year-old intact female Maltese dog was referred to our hospital with chronic intermittent vomiting. The dog had been administered omeprazole (0.7-1.0 mg/kg PO q24 h) for the management of hydrocephalus for over 4 years; the omeprazole dose was increased to 10 mg/kg PO q24 h 8 months prior to presentation at referring hospital. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed marked thickening of the gastric wall with multi-lobulated, thickened folds. Subsequent endoscopy revealed marked polypoid lesions, and histological examination of the biopsy samples was consistent with the fundic gland polyps associated with proton-pump inhibitor use in humans. The lesions resolved after cessation of omeprazole, as assessed by ultrasonography. This report describes a case of fundic gland polyps following the long-term administration of omeprazole in a dog.

Preliminary study of neurofilament light chain as a biomarker for hypoxia-induced neuronal injury in dogs.

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a neuroaxonal protein in the nervous system. NfL has recently been demonstrated to be a biomarker for various neurological diseases. In this study, we investigated the potential role of NfL in hypoxia-induced neuronal injury in dogs. Serum NfL levels were determined using a single-molecule array. Serum NfL concentrations were significantly higher in hypoxemic dogs without neurological signs (n = 6, 175.5 pg/mL) than in healthy dogs (n = 15, 15.9 pg/mL; p < 0.0001). Therefore, neuronal injury should be considered in dogs with hypoxemia caused by cardiopulmonary diseases, even in the absence of neurological signs.

Case report: Central-pituitary hypothyroidism concurrent with hyperadrenocorticism without pituitary macroadenoma in a Miniature Schnauzer dog.

Multiple endocrine disorders are uncommon in veterinary medicine, and the disease combination is usually related to hypercortisolism or autoimmunity. Central-pituitary hypothyroidism, also refer to secondary hypothyroidism, can be caused by hypercortisolemic conditions and is well-recognized in human medicine. However, central hypothyroidism, including pituitary hypothyroidism, concurrent with hyperadrenocorticism, is rarely reported in veterinary medicine. A 7-year-old, intact female Miniature Schnauzer presented with generalized alopecia, scale, and pruritus and was diagnosed with superficial pyoderma and Malassezia dermatitis. Hormonal tests were performed, and the results indicated multiple endocrinopathies with a combination of non-adrenal dependent hyperadrenocorticism and central-pituitary hypothyroidism. Magnetic resonance imaging (7 T) and high-resolution research tomography positron emission tomography were performed to differentiate neuroendocrine tumors; however, no lesion was found in the hypothalamic to pituitary region. Hyperadrenocorticism was managed first to control endocrinopathy. After controlling hypercortisolism, a weak elevation of free thyroxine (T4) was revealed, whereas total T4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were still undetectable, and hypothyroidism management was added. About 9 months after the management, both endocrine diseases were well controlled, and clinical signs improved; however, serum TSH was unmeasured consistently. This case study describes a case of multiple endocrinopathies in a Miniature Schnauzer dog diagnosed with central-pituitary hypothyroidism concurrent with non-adrenal dependent hyperadrenocorticism without pituitary macroadenoma.

Theoretical Models of Collaborative Partnerships in Arts-Health Care Practices for Older Adults.

Although research investigating collaborative partnerships with older adults has been slow to develop, promoting user involvement and co-production is gaining interest in aging studies, with the aim of improving interactions between the different stakeholders involved, and toward the more effective delivery of care provisions and better community life for aging people. This is based on existing evidence that improved dynamics within collaborative and mutual learning processes can enhance the integration of new practices at different levels by generating novel creative approaches and practice frameworks for the delivery of quality care for older adults. This article presents the findings from a series of narrative interviews conducted with different stakeholders involved in arts-health practices in Finland and South Korea. Focusing on empirical perspectives of these stakeholders on arts-health practices-from planning to assessment-this study identifies vital components of co-producing and co-delivering arts-health practices for older adults and highlights the importance of utilizing their late-life creativity as active partners in such practices across cultural contexts. In addition to identifying three central stages of developing arts-health practices, two theocratical models are proposed to provide structural support for collaborative partnerships in arts-health practices, with the aim of promoting holistic care provisions for aging people through such practices.

Expression of vitamin D receptor, CYP24A1, and CYP27B1 in normal and inflamed canine pancreases.

Vitamin D plays a role in anti-inflammatory processes, and the alteration of its metabolism is associated with the inflammatory processes of pancreatitis. This study was performed to evaluate the expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the two major enzymes that regulate vitamin D metabolism, 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) and 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1), in the canine pancreas and to compare their degrees of immunoreactivity between normal and inflamed pancreases. Five normal and inflamed pancreatic tissues each were obtained from six dogs. The expression of VDR, CYP24A1, and CYP27B1 were determined immunohistochemically, and the degree of immunostaining was assessed semiquantitatively. The VDR was expressed in the ducts, acini, and islets of Langerhans of normal pancreases and in the ducts and acini of inflamed ones. There was a significant difference in the immunoreactivity score for VDR in the islets of Langerhans between normal (median, 3 [interquartile range, 2-7.5] score) and inflamed pancreatic tissues (0 [0-0.5] score, p = 0.03). CYP24A1 was expressed in the ducts and islets of Langerhans in both normal and inflamed pancreases, whereas CYP27B1 was expressed in the ducts and acini in only some normal and inflamed pancreatic tissues. This study showed that VDR expression decreased in inflamed pancreases and demonstrated CYP24A1 and CYP27B1 expression in the canine pancreas for the first time. These findings indicate that the pancreas could regulate the metabolism and biological activity of vitamin D and suggest that a decrease in these might be related to the pathophysiology of pancreatitis.

Perspectives on creative well-being of older adults.

The growing aging population has become a significant global issue in recent years, increasing the need for research that examines aging-related phenomena such as personal growth and development in later life. A major challenge in achieving this aim is the prevailing deficit perspective on aging, which is so pervasive that it often overshadows older adults' contributions to society and diminishes the opportunities encountered in older adulthood. Although perspectives on the nature of aging are gradually changing in a positive way, and the developments in medicine are improving health-related aspects of aging, it is still a worldwide challenge to eradicate negative stereotypes around aging. This article explores empirical perspectives on aging by analyzing diverse narratives gathered from open-ended interviews we conducted in Finland from 2019 to 2021. Focusing on their aging experiences and the value of a broad range of creative engagements and interventions that older adults have joined voluntarily, the study aims to provide a better understanding of personal perspectives of aging, the creative well-being of older adults, and the growing diversity of experiences within the older age group. Based on the findings of this study, we highlight the importance of promoting older adults' engagement in art-based interventions to enhance their creativity and well-being in later life, as well as fostering aging-friendly co-creative approaches in such interventions by involving the older adults themselves in the process.

Association between Hyperglycemia and Canine Serum Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity Concentration in Diabetic Dogs.

It has been reported that hypertriglyceridemia can partially mediate between diabetes mellitus (DM) and pancreatitis in dogs, implying that another mediator, such as chronic hyperglycemia, might exist. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between hyperglycemia and serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) concentration in diabetic dogs. This retrospective cohort study included 26 client-owned diabetic dogs, divided according to their serum fructosamine levels (<500 µmol/L = well-controlled DM group; ≥500 µmol/L = untreated or poorly controlled DM group). Five of the 26 DM dogs (19.2%) had serum cPLI concentrations consistent with pancreatitis, among which two showed ultrasonographic evidence of pancreatitis without clinical signs. The serum cPLI concentrations (median [interquartile range]) were significantly higher in the untreated or poorly controlled group (520 µg/L [179.76-1000 µg/L]) than in the well-controlled group (77 µg/L [32.22-244.6 µg/L], P = 0.0147). The serum fructosamine concentration was positively correlated with the serum cPLI concentration (r = 0.4816; P = 0.0127). Multivariate analysis revealed serum triglyceride and fructosamine concentrations were associated with the serum cPLI concentration. In conclusion, this study suggests that chronic hyperglycemia may induce pancreatic inflammation in diabetic dogs; however, the clinical significance of increased cPLI concentration is unknown.

T-cell lymphoma infiltrating the uterus and ovaries of a Golden Retriever: a case report.

BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of female genital system infiltration of T-cell lymphoma in veterinary literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A 1.5-year-old, intact female Golden Retriever was referred due to melena and hyporexia that lasted for three weeks. Fever (40.5℃), tachycardia, tachypnoea, pale mucous membranes, and purulent vaginal discharge were identified on physical examination. Blood analyses revealed leucocytosis, anaemia, hypoalbuminemia, and increased lactate and C-reactive protein levels. On abdominal radiography, the small intestine was moderately deviated because of an oval-shaped mass (13 cm × 8.7 cm) located in the mid-abdomen. An enlarged tubular-shaped structure that had the opacity of soft tissue located in dorsal to the bladder to the middle of the abdomen, and an oval-shaped mass (5.28 cm × 3.26 cm), which was suspected to be a medial iliac lymph node located at the sixth to seventh lumbar level. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed gas and fluid in the lumen of the uterine horn with a severely thickened wall, round enlarged lymph nodes around the genitourinary system, and free fluid in the abdominal cavity. Based on these results, pyometra was suspected, and an exploratory laparotomy was performed for ovariohysterectomy. The resected ovary and uterus were macroscopically hypertrophied. Histopathological examination of the ovary and uterus revealed neoplastic proliferation of large round cells with strong immunoreactivity for CD3, indicating T-cell lymphoma. Therefore, the young dog was diagnosed with genital lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS: The present report describes T-cell lymphoma infiltrating the uterus and ovaries in a young dog, which is rarely diagnosed and could aid in the differential diagnosis of genital diseases in young dogs.

Evaluation of progression of chronic kidney disease in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Introduction: Cardiovascular and renal diseases are known to affect each other in the cardiovascular renal axis disorder (CvRD). Although CvRD, which includes myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), has been described in dogs, there are only a few reports on the progression of CKD in accordance with the severity of MMVD. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of MMVD is associated with the rate of progression of CKD in dogs. The time from the initial diagnosis to the worsening of the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage and the time for the occurrence of hyperphosphatemia and isosthenuria were evaluated. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, CKD progression was determined as an increase in the IRIS stage by at least one level and the development of hyperphosphatemia or isosthenuria. The CKD progression was compared in dogs with and without comorbid MMVD. Results: Dogs with CKD were divided into two groups: dogs with and without MMVD (n = 63, concurrent group; n = 52, CKD group, respectively). The concurrent group was further divided into two subgroups based on the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine guidelines (B1 group, n = 24; B2 group, n = 39). The time for progression of CKD from IRIS stage 1 to IRIS stage 2 was significantly shorter in the concurrent group than in the CKD group (log-rank test, p < 0.001). MMVD was associated with an increased risk of progression from stage 1 to stage 2 (hazard ratio, 6.442; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.354 to 18.850; p < 0.001). The timing of the onset of hyperphosphatemia or isosthenuria in the concurrent group and the CKD group was not significantly different. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that MMVD could be a risk factor for the progression of CKD. Our findings may help predict the prognosis of dogs with both CKD and MMVD compared to CKD only.