Phenotypic characterization of canine intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Many dogs suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are presented to veterinary clinics. These patients are diagnosed based on a history of chronic gastrointestinal signs and biopsy-confirmed histopathologic intestinal inflammation. Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) are part of the first line of defense in the gastrointestinal immune system. Alterations in IEL subsets may play a role in the pathogenesis of IBD. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to characterize the phenotypes of IEL in dogs with IBD compared with healthy control dogs. ANIMALS: Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes subpopulations of control dogs (n = 5) obtained from endoscopic biopsies (EB) were compared to those obtained from full thickness biopsies (FTB) on the same day. In addition, the phenotypes of IEL from FTB of control dogs (n = 10) were compared with EB of IBD dogs (n = 10). Each participant was scored clinically using the canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index (CIBDAI), and all samples were graded histopathologically. Three-color flow cytometry of isolated IEL was performed using monoclonal antibodies against T- and B-lymphocyte subpopulations. RESULTS: No significant differences in the composition of IEL subpopulations were found in control dogs based on method of biopsy. The IBD dogs had significantly higher CIBDAI and histopathologic scores compared with control dogs and their IEL contained a significantly higher frequency TCRγδ T-cells. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Endoscopic biopsies provide suitable samples for 3-color flow cytometry when studying canine intestinal IEL and IBD patients show significant changes of major T-cell subsets compared to healthy control dogs.

Inhaled budesonide therapy in cats with naturally occurring chronic bronchial disease (feline asthma and chronic bronchitis).

OBJECTIVES: To describe the long term use of inhaled budesonide in cats with naturally occurring asthma and chronic bronchitis and to measure its effects. METHODS: Owners of 43 cats diagnosed with asthma or chronic bronchitis, which had been prescribed 400 µg of inhaled budesonide twice daily, were contacted and information was retrieved by a questionnaire. Nineteen cats still receiving inhaled budesonide after more than 2 months were re-evaluated clinically and underwent barometric whole body plethysmography and adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulation testing. RESULTS: In 20 of the cats, therapy had been withdrawn by the owners. Cats (n=23) still receiving inhaled budesonide improved clinically and 19 cats that were reevaluated had significantly lower basal PENH (P=0·048) and higher PCPenh300 (P=0·049) values than before treatment. Corticosteroid-induced side effects were not observed in any cats but hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression was detected in 3 of 15 cases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Treatment with inhaled budesonide was well tolerated, resulting in improvement of clinical signs and barometric whole body plethysmography parameters. Although inhaled budesonide therapy was found to cause suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in some cats, no cats showed clinical signs attributable to corticosteroid side effects.

[Chronic diseases of the nose and nasal sinuses in cats: a retrospective study]. / Chronische Erkrankungen der Nase und Nasennebenhöhlen der Katze: Eine retrospektive Studie.

In this retrospective study of 41 cats with chronic nasal disease diagnoses included nasal neoplasia (n = 19), idiopathic chronic rhinosinusitis (ICRS) (n = 12), nasopharyngeal polyps (n = 3), foreign bodies (n = 2), nasopharyngeal stenosis (n = 1) and nasal aspergillosis (n = 1). In 3 cats diagnosis could not be established despite thorough work-up. Gender, indoor or outdoor housing, quality or quantity of nasal discharge, bacteriological findings of nasal flushes, radiology and CT findings did not differ significantly between cats with neoplasia and cats with ICRS. Cats with neoplasia were older (3 - 15, median 11 years) and showed clinical signs for a shorter period of time (1 - 8, median 2 months) than cats with ICRS (age 1 - 13, median 7.5 years; signs: 1 - 36, median 5 months). In all cats with neoplasia a mass was detected rhinoscopically, while this was only seen in 30 % of cats with ICRS. The exact diagnosis has to be established by examination of biopsy samples. A combination of physical examination, imaging studies and rhinoscopy with cytological and histopathological examination of samples enhances the likelihood for a correct diagnosis.

Enhancement of the nutritional status of beef patties by adding flaxseed flour.

Flaxseed flour was used as a functional ingredient in the production of beef patties. Beef patties were produced with five different formulations; the addition of 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% and 15% flaxseed flour. Control samples were formulated with 10% and 20% fat addition. Raw and cooked beef patties were analyzed for moisture, protein, fat, ash, pH, color parameters and fatty acid profiles. Beef patties were evaluated for cooking loss and sensory properties. Fat and ash content of raw patties increased, while moisture and protein content decreased with increased flaxseed flour. The same trend (except fat content) was also observed after cooking. The addition of flaxseed flour did not affect pH values of raw and cooked beef patties. The addition of flaxseed flour improved the cooking loss but, increased the energy value (as kcal/100g). L and a values of raw beef patties containing flaxseed flour were close to controls with 10% fat. α-linolenic acid content of raw and cooked beef patties increased as the level of flaxseed flour increased. The PUFA/SFA ratio increased from 0.04 in the control with 10% fat to 0.62 in the raw beef patties with 15% flaxseed flour. The n-6/n-3 ratio decreased from 5.76 in the control with 10% fat to 0.36 in the raw beef patties with 15% flaxseed flour. The nutritional status of beef patties was enhanced with minimal composition and sensory changes with 3% or 6% flaxseed flour addition.

A new modality in nonstress testing: evaluation of beat-to-beat fetal heart rate variability.

Fetal monitoring equipment that provided accurate external measurement of the interval between each fetal heartbeat permitted the evaluation of beat-to-beat fetal heart rate (FHR) variability as part of routine nonstress testing. Nonstress tests (NSTs) were performed on 350 high-risk patients over a 12-month period. The beat-to-beat FHR variability and the reactivity of the last NST within 7 days of labor were analyzed in relation to the appearance of fetal distress during labor as indicated by late decelerations. Beat-to-beat FHR variability combined with nonstress testing was more predictive of subsequent fetal distress than nonstress testing alone. In all instances, complete loss of beat-to-beat FHR was followed by fetal distress during labor. Fetal distress was present in only 39% of labors following nonreactive NSTs. The inclusion of beat-to-beat FHR variability in nonstress testing can significantly aid in the detection of fetal compromise.