Outcome After Pneumonectomy in 17 Dogs and 10 Cats: A Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology Case Series.

OBJECTIVE: To report the signalment, presenting clinical signs, surgical complications, histologic diagnosis, postoperative complications, and outcome of dogs and cats undergoing pneumonectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series; multicenter study. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs (n=17) and cats (n=10). METHODS: Signalment, clinical signs, side affected, surgical data, preoperative diagnostic tests (including complete blood count, serum biochemistry, cytologic diagnosis, chest radiographs, and computed tomography), histologic diagnosis, surgical complications, adjunctive therapy, and date and cause of death were collected from records of dogs and cats that underwent pneumonectomy. Survival estimates and complication were assessed. RESULTS: Seventeen animals had a left-sided pneumonectomy performed (12 dogs, 5 cats) and 10 animals had a right-sided pneumonectomy (5 dogs, 5 cats). Fourteen animals were diagnosed with neoplasia (52%). The overall incidence of complications for dogs and cats were 76 and 80%, respectively, with major complications in 41 and 50%, respectively. Respiratory complications (persistent pleural effusion, oxygen dependence, persistent increased respiratory rate, or coughing) were the most frequent complications. No animals died or were euthanatized intraoperative or within the first 24 hours postoperative. One dog (6%) and 2 cats (20%) died, or were euthanatized in the first 2 weeks postoperative. CONCLUSION: Based on this case series, right and left pneumonectomy can be performed with low perioperative mortality in dogs and cats, with some animals experiencing prolonged survival.

Neutron interferometry using a single modulated phase grating.

Neutron grating interferometry provides information on phase and small-angle scatter in addition to attenuation. Previously, phase grating moiré interferometers (PGMI) with two or three phase gratings have been developed. These phase-grating systems use the moiré far-field technique to avoid the need for high-aspect absorption gratings used in Talbot-Lau interferometers (TLI) that reduce the neutron flux reaching the detector. We first demonstrate, through theory and simulations, a novel phase grating interferometer system for cold neutrons that requires a single modulated phase grating (MPG) for phase-contrast imaging, as opposed to the two or three phase gratings in previously employed PGMI systems. The theory shows the dual modulation of MPG with a large period and a smaller carrier pitch P, resulting in large fringes at the detector. The theory was compared to the full Sommerfeld-Rayleigh diffraction integral simulator. Then, we proceeded to compare the MPG system to experiments in the literature that use a two-phase-grating-based PGMI with best-case visibility of around 39%. The simulations of the MPG system show improved visibility in comparison to that of the two-phase-grating-based PGMI. An MPG with a modulation period of 300 µm, the pitch of 2 µm, and grating heights with a phase modulation of (π,0, illuminated by a monochromatic beam produces visibility of 94.2% with a comparable source-to-detector distance (SDD) as the two-phase-grating-based PGMI. Phase sensitivity, another important performance metric of the grating interferometer, was compared to values available in the literature, viz. the conventional TLI with the phase sensitivity of 4.5 × 103 for an SDD of 3.5 m and a beam wavelength of 0.44 nm. For a range of modulation periods, the MPG system provides comparable or greater theoretical maximum phase sensitivity of 4.1 × 103 to 10.0 × 103 for SDDs of up to 3.5 m. This proposed MPG system appears capable of providing high-performance PGMI that obviates the need for the alignment of two phase gratings.

Delayed intestinal perforation secondary to blunt force abdominal trauma in a cat.

CASE SUMMARY: A 7-month-old intact male domestic shorthair cat was presented 4 h after being hit by a car. It had bilateral inguinal hernias and a mesenteric rent that were repaired surgically and a hematoma in the left retroperitoneal space. No other intra-abdominal abnormalities were identified on abdominal surgical exploration. Approximately 72 h after presentation, the cat started vomiting and developed severe abdominal discomfort. A sudden decrease in mentation and elevation of respiratory rate and effort ensued. Abdominal radiographs showed loss of detail in the abdominal cavity, and abdominocentesis confirmed septic peritonitis. The cat was euthanized, and post-mortem evaluation of the bowel revealed two 1 cm perforations of the jejunum. RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: To our knowledge, delayed intestinal perforation secondary to blunt force abdominal trauma has not previously been reported in cats. It has been reported in dogs, but the pathophysiology resulting in perforation is poorly understood. Delayed intestinal injury secondary to blunt force abdominal trauma has been reported in people, especially in children, as a result of motor vehicle accidents.

Laryngeal chondronecrosis after radiation therapy in a dog.

A 5-year-old pug presented with a soft tissue swelling on the ventral neck and moderate stridor with associated respiratory effort. This patient received hypofractionated radiotherapy for metastatic upper lip mast cell tumour and to the submandibular lymph nodes 6 months before presentation. Oral examination showed moderate elongation of the soft palate, stage III laryngeal collapse with only the right laryngeal saccule mildly everted and exuberant pale epiglottal and left pharyngeal mucosa. Staphylectomy, resection of the epiglottal mucosa and left arytenoid lateralisation were performed. One day after surgery, temporary tracheostomy was performed after respiratory distress due to the severe laryngeal and pharyngeal oedema. A third oral exam showed pale and redundant caudal pharyngeal mucosa obstructing the rima glottis, soft and collapsible arytenoid cartilage with pale mucosa and bilateral everted laryngeal saccules. Permanent tracheostomy was elected and laryngeal cartilage biopsies were taken. Histologic diagnosis showed cartilage necrosis and abundant tissue oedema. The patient was euthanased 1 week later.

Studies on the mechanism of toxicity of acetaminophen. Synthesis and reactions of N-acetyl-2,6-dimethyl- and N-acetyl-3,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone imines.

N-Acetyl-2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone imine and N-acetyl-3,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone imine were prepared from 2,6-dimethylacetaminophen and 3,5-dimethylacetaminophen by oxidation with lead tetraacetate. Reaction of N-acetyl-2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone imine with hydrochloric acid gave 3'-chloro-2',6'-dimethyl-4'-hydroxyacetanilide, whereas ethanethiol, aniline, and ethanol gave tetrahedral adducts resulting from addition to the imine carbon. Water gave 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone. With N-acetyl-3,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone imine, water and aniline gave substitution on the imine carbon, yielding 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone and 3,5-dimethyl-N-phenyl-p-benzoquinone imine, respectively. Ethanethiol gave 3'.5'-dimethyl-2'-(ethylthio)-4'-hydroxyacetanilide. The toxicity of 2,6-dimethylacetaminophen and 3,5-dimethylacetaminophen was examined histologically in mice and rats. 3,5-Dimethylacetaminophen was slightly more nephrotoxic but showed a similar hepatotoxicity to acetaminophen. 2,6-Dimethylacetaminophen, like N-methylacetaminophen, showed very little tissue damage.

N-hydroxyacetaminophen: a postulated toxic metabolite of acetaminophen.

The decomposition of N-hydroxyacetaminophen has been shown to occur via an initial first-order dehydration step to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine with a rate constant at pH 7.6 of 8.66 x 10(-3) min-1 and a half-life of 80 min. This is followed by a complex reaction between the quinone imine and the N-hydroxy compound to ultimately yield p-nitrosophenol and acetaminophen. The glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of N-hydroxyacetaminophen have been observed as urinary metabolites of N-hydroxyacetaminophen. No N-hydroxylated metabolites were found among the metabolites of acetaminophen. These results have been interpreted to show that N-hydroxyacetaminophen is not a metabolite of acetaminophen. It is proposed that the hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of acetaminophen are mediated by a direct oxidation of acetaminophen to the toxic reactive intermediate N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine by the cytochrome P450 dependent mixed-function oxidase system.

Molecular characterization of a mutant hybridoma secreting truncated IgM.

We have identified the mutation in an IgM hybridoma mutant line which produces truncated mu protein. DNA sequencing has revealed that two base pairs are deleted in the Cmu3 domain, resulting in an early termination of protein synthesis by forming an in-frame termination codon (UGA). The mutant mu chain is incorporated into monomeric IgM which is secreted efficiently.

Functional and morphologic effects of ioxilan, iohexol, and diatrizoate on endothelial cells.

The effects of a new contrast agent, ioxilan, on vascular endothelium were compared with those of iohexol and diatrizoate. Rabbit aortic rings were incubated in contrast medium (CM) (350 mgI/mL) or Krebs solution as a control agent, for 5 minutes. Scanning and transmission electron micrographs showed that iohexol and ioxilan produced irregularities in the cell borders and in some vesicles, whereas diatrizoate produced intercellular gaps and numerous vesicles containing myelin figures. The ability of the endothelial cells to release endothelium-derived relaxing factor was tested by measuring the dilator response to acetylcholine. Incubation of aortic rings in CM for 5 minutes caused no changes in responses. However, 15-minute contact with diatrizoate irreversibly reduced the dilator response to 49%, and contact with sucrose (2100 mOsm/kg) reduced it to 9%. After incubation for 60 minutes, iohexol reduced the dilator response to 43%, while ioxilan caused no change. Since the hydrophilicity of the nonionic compounds, ioxilan and iohexol, is similar, while ioxilan's osmolality is substantially lower, the endothelial changes detected by electron microscopy and induced by the CM are attributable to their chemical properties, whereas the loss of dilator response appears to be mediated by high osmolality.

The correlation of the complex dielectric constant and blood glucose at low frequency.

A new needle-type sample cell was designed and produced to investigate the correlation between blood glucose and electrical parameters using an impedance analyzer. The characteristics of the measurement cells were optimized to give high sensitivity. High sensitivity complex dielectric constant measurements were obtained by calibration with several known fluids. It was observed that the values of the real (epsilon') and the imaginary (epsilon") dielectric constant increase with decreasing glucose contents in the water/glucose system, and that the value of epsilon' in hamster tail changes according to the variation in blood glucose. It is likely that there is a correlation between blood glucose and the value of epsilon', the electrical parameter.

Visceral oedema and increased vascular permeability in early experimental hypertension.

Increased vascular permeability and visceral oedema without significant hypertension or arterial damage was found in clip-nephrectomized rats dying in the first post-operative week. Increased vascular permeability was demonstrated by intravenous colloidal carbon labelling, and was restricted to capillaries and venules. Rats surviving the first week became hypertensive, and visceral oedema with predominantly venular and capillary labelling continued, although carbon was now present in arteries also, associated with smooth muscle necrosis. These results suggest that the pressor and permeability effects of renal artery constriction are independent.

The effects of temporary fluid restriction in clip-nephrectomized rats.

Constriction of the remaining renal artery in unilaterally nephrectomized rats is associated with a high mortality in the early post-operative phase before hypertension has developed. The high mortality is accompanied by increased vascular permeability, mesenteric and pancreatic oedema. Temporary post-operative water restriction reduces this mortality and also modifies subsequent blood pressure elevation, heart weight and cardiac index in surviving animals.

Macrophages and glomerular crescent formation. Studies with rat nephrotoxic nephritis.

A model of crescentic glomerulonephritis in the rat was developed, based upon an augmented form of nephrotoxic nephritis. The glomerular lesions were relatively mild, permitting an analysis of the morphologic events in crescent formation to an extent not possible in models in other species in which the sequence of changes is obscured by the severity of the inflammatory process. Monocytes and macrophages accumulated in glomerular capillary lumens and walls. Crescents were composed of cells with ultrastructural features indistinguishable from those of the intracapillary mononuclear cells. The findings support the view that the crescent cells are predominantly composed of macrophages derived from circulating monocytes.

Neoplasia in the rat induced by N-hydroxyphenacetin, a metabolite of phenacetin.

N-hydroxyphenacetin, a phenacetin metabolite, was fed to rats as a 0.05-0.5% dietary supplement. After 9 months, tumours of the liver were found in 36 of 64 animals. One animal also developed a renal tumour. No tumours were found in control animals. The findings implicate phenacetin as a carcinogen and suggest that N-hydroxyphenacetin may be the metabolite responsible.

Dialysis osteomalacia: a possible role for zirconium as well as aluminium.

Six patients with dialysis osteomalacia were studied before and after treatment with desferrioxamine. Before treatment, all six had severe osteomalacia with histochemical evidence of metals at the mineralization front, confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis to include Al, Zr and Fe. Zr was not detected by histological staining in patients without dialysis osteomalacia. After treatment a decrease of Al and Zr was associated with improvement in clinical, biochemical, radiological and histological parameters. These observations suggest the possibility of a role for metals other than Al in the pathogenesis of dialysis osteomalacia.

The nephrotoxicity of p-aminophenol. I. The effect on microsomal cytochromes, glutathione and covalent binding in kidney and liver.

p-Aminophenol administration lowered the microsomal cytochrome P-450 and b5 content and decreased the activity of NADPH cytochrome c reductase in kidney, but not in liver. Kidney GSH was depleted to 29% of the control value at 2 h, and only partly restored (50% of control) at 24 h. Liver GSH was transiently decreased, the lowest levels (77% of control) occurring at 30 min. The maximum level of covalently bound radioactivity was at two hours when 16.8% of the total radioactivity in kidney, 1.5% in liver and 3.6% in plasma was protein bound. At this time 81% of the total radioactivity in kidney and 95% of that in the liver was present in the soluble fraction.

The nephrotoxicity of p-aminophenol. II. The effect of metabolic inhibitors and inducers.

Inducers and inhibitors of the microsomal mixed function oxidase system have no consistent effect upon the nephrotoxicity of p-aminophenol, or on binding of the compound in vivo to cell protein. p-[ring-3H]Aminophenol was bound in vitro to kidney microsomal protein and to a lesser extent to liver. The binding was enhanced by preincubation of the p-aminophenol in air and inhibited by ascorbate, GSH, N2 and NADPH. These findings indicate that in contrast to paracetamol hepatoxicity which is dependent upon the mixed function oxidase system, that nephrotoxicity of p-aminophenol is dependent upon oxidation to a toxic metabolite by some other pathway. A similar metabolite may be responsible for the nephrotoxic action of phenacetin.

Extended experimental and preliminary surgical findings with autologous fibrin tissue adhesive made from patients own blood.

A surgical tissue adhesive can be made from the patient's own blood. We have been refining the procedures for manufacturing autologous fibrin tissue adhesive to facilitate its use in the operating room and to increase its bonding strength. Fibrin tissue adhesive efficacy depends on fibrinogen concentration. We found that fibrinogen precipitation using the ammonium sulfate method produced the highest concentration. Bonding power was compared with that of the commercial glue 10 minutes and 30 minutes after glueing two pieces of 1 X 1 cm2 human dura together. Bonding strength of the autologous product was close to that of the commercial product. Comparisons of fibrinolysis inhibition time of autologous fibrin tissue adhesive and commercial glue in experiments on rats over a period of one hour to six days after subcutaneous injection are described.

Autologous fibrin tissue adhesive biodegration and systemic effects.

A series of experiments was conducted to investigate the rate of Autologous Fibrin Tissue Adhesive (AFTA) degradation by the fibrinolysis inhibitor, epsilon amino caproic acid (EACA). The duration of AFTA clots in vitro, subcutaneous, and in the middle ear was prolonged for a time interval that was proportional to the concentration of EACA in Component II of the adhesive. No toxic reactions were observed in the middle or inner ear. Systemic pathology (thrombosis or emboli) could not be related to the presence of EACA applied in the middle ear or directly into the blood stream at concentrations (mg/kg body weight) up to 1,500 times that expected to occur during surgery on humans.

Cationic radioisotope delivery to loose connective tissue in vivo using ion-exchange resin beads.

Ion-exchange resin beads, implanted into connective tissue, were used as the vehicle for the delivery of radiolabelled cations to determine the local distribution of lead, silver and cadmium in loose connective tissue. The system was devoid of systemic toxicity, permitted a predictable release, enabled location of released cations in respect to the site of bead implantation, afforded safety and could be used with several other cations. The radiolabels released into the tissue formed an immediate relationship with inflammatory cells and a more protracted relationship with the matrix elements of the local connective tissue. The lesion induced by the presence of the bead was complicated by the particular cation.