Pediatric Medicine of Galliformes.

Galliformes pediatrics covers general husbandry recommendations for gallinaceous chicks as well as information on vaccination for the average backyard poultry keeper. This article also covers basic information on common diseases affecting gallinaceous chicks in a small hobby operation. The focus lies on description of disease transmission, clinical signs, age of onset, and general prognosis and focuses less on specific treatment of individual diseases.

Cystine Urolithiasis in Ferrets.

Urolithiasis in captive domestic ferrets has previously been predominantly struvite uroliths, although more recent laboratory submissions show a shift to predominantly cystine uroliths. Genetic mutations for cystinuria have been identified in dogs, and it is suspected that underlying genetic mutations are partly responsible for this disease in ferrets. Currently, surgery remains the only definitive treatment of cystine urolithiasis in ferrets, since dietary dissolution protocols have not been thoroughly explored. Despite this, medical management with dietary and urinary manipulation should be considered for use in ferrets postoperatively based on principles of cystine urolithiasis management in dogs adapted for ferrets.

Measurement of tear production and intraocular pressure in conscious captive European fallow deer (DAMA dama).

Normal values for intraocular pressure (IOP) and tear production in conscious cervids have not been reported to date. Based on trends in zoological institutions to perform non-anaesthetized health exams, it is applicable to establish normal values in conscious animals, as anaesthesia and sedation can alter these parameters. The goal of this study was to estimate intraocular pressures using rebound tonometry and measure tear production values in a group of healthy, conscious, European fallow deer utilizing chute restraint. Evaluation of these values with regards to instrumentation and restraint variables will be assessed. Complete ophthalmic examinations, including estimation of IOP with rebound tonometry and measurement of tear production with Schirmer tear tests (STT) were performed on nine conscious European fallow deer (Dama dama) restrained in a chute. Correlations between IOP on the unspecified (P) and the equine (H) settings, as well as IOP and STT differences between left (OS) and right (OD) eyes were evaluated, in addition to assessment of correlations between right and left lateral recumbency on IOP and STT. Tear production measurements were 18.7 ± 5.1 mm min-1 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) range of 16.4-21.1 mm min-1 . Intraocular pressure measurements for the P setting were 16.1 ± 4.5 mmHg with a 95% CI range of 14.1-18.2 mmHg, and for the H setting were 21.5 ± 5.1 mmHg with a 95% CI range of 19.1-23.9 mmHg. No statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) was found between OS and OD in any test. Neither left nor right lateral recumbency was found to have a statistically significant effect on IOP or STT. This study represents the first assessment of ophthalmic parameters in conscious fallow deer with rebound tonometry and STT.

Inflammatory markers, angiographic severity of coronary artery disease, and patient outcome.

Serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have been shown to be predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We hypothesized that measurement of inflammatory markers could predict atherosclerotic burden and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). We prospectively measured hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in 249 patients who were admitted with acute chest pain and underwent coronary angiography. We analyzed the relation between serum levels of inflammatory markers and angiographic severity of CAD. A follow-up at 6 months was conducted to assess MACEs, defined as a cumulative of myocardial infarction, all-cause death, or coronary revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass surgery). After adjusting for conventional CAD risk factors (age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and hypercholesterolemia), there was no association between inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) and angiographic severity of CAD. There was a significant positive correlation between age, male gender, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia with atherosclerotic burden determined by angiography. There was no significant positive association between MACEs and hs-CRP, IL-6, or TNF-alpha level in unadjusted and adjusted models. In conclusion, in patients hospitalized with chest pain, we found no association of serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, or TNF-alpha with coronary atherosclerotic burden or MACEs at 6 months after adjustment for traditional CAD risk factors.

Safety and effectiveness of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in mobilizing stem cells and improving cytokine profile in advanced chronic heart failure.

The objective of this study was to determine a safe and effective dose of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells in patients with advanced heart failure and to determine its effects on the cytokine profile. Patients with advanced heart failure (n = 6) and implantable defibrillators in situ were administered G-CSF after baseline echocardiographic and laboratory evaluation, using an escalating dose schedule designed to ensure safety. The peripheral CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell count increased from 3.6 +/- 0.5/microl to 38.7 +/- 13/microl (p= 0.022) after 5 days of 5 microg/kg/day G-CSF therapy. The baseline or peak white blood cell count did not predict the stem cell response. G-CSF increased plasma levels of interleukin-10. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased significantly in the 4 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy 9 months after treatment. No major adverse effects attributable to the drug occurred during administration or 9 months of follow-up. Our results have shown that low-dose G-CSF significantly mobilized hematopoietic stem cells in advanced heart failure and improved left ventricular function in the ischemic subset of patients. G-CSF significantly increased plasma levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10, without changing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. In conclusion, these results indicate a novel mechanism of action for the potential therapeutic benefit of G-CSF in advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Inhibition of platelet aggregation with eptifibatide, bivalirudin, and heparin in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention receiving clopidogrel pretreatment (The PharmacoDynamic Evaluation of Angiomax, Clopidogrel with or without INtegrilin [DEACON] study).

The present study assessed the magnitude of inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate and thrombin receptor activating peptide achieved with unfractionated heparin, the direct thrombin inhibitor bivalirudin, and the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor eptifibatide in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and and were treated with concomitant aspirin and clopidogrel.