Effect of administering dexmedetomidine with or without atropine on cardiac troponin I level in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs.

We aimed to determine whether dexmedetomidine administration with or without atropine increases cardiac troponin I (cTnI) level in healthy dogs. We hypothesized that 10 µg/kg dexmedetomidine + atropine increases the cTnI level, whereas 5 µg/kg dexmedetomidine + atropine does not. Eighteen healthy, pet dogs that underwent an orthopedic surgery or ovariohysterectomy were included in this study. The dogs were randomly assigned to atropine (0.02 mg/kg)-dexmedetomidine (10 µg/kg), saline-dexmedetomidine (10 µg/kg), and atropine (0.02 mg/kg)-dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg) groups. Each dog was premedicated with atropine or saline intramuscularly (IM). After 10 min, they were IM injected with dexmedetomidine (10 or 5 µg/kg)-morphine (0.5 mg/kg)-midazolam (0.2 mg/kg). Following this, anesthesia was induced after 10 min with propofol and maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen. The median plasma cTnI level at 6, 12 and 24 hr after premedication was significantly higher than that at baseline. The cTnI level in the atropine-dexmedetomidine (10 µg/kg) group was significantly higher than that in the saline-dexmedetomidine (10 µg/kg) and atropine-dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg) groups at 6 and 12 hr after premedication. The cTnI level returned to normal within 72 hr after premedication in all groups. The administration of atropine in combination with 10 µg/kg dexmedetomidine increased the cTnI level, indicating subclinical myocardial damage.

Comparison of the neuromuscular blocking effects of cisatracurium during isoflurane or propofol anesthesia in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the neuromuscular blocking effects of cisatracurium during isoflurane versus propofol anesthesia in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. ANIMALS: A total of 20 healthy, client-owned dogs (16 females, four males) weighing 12.5-22 kg and aged 1-8 years. METHODS: Dogs undergoing elective surgery were randomized in equal numbers to an isoflurane (ISO) or propofol (PPF) group. Other drugs used during anesthesia were equal between groups. Single-twitch (ST) stimulation was used to monitor neuromuscular response. After recording the baseline ST (T0), cumulative doses of cisatracurium (0.05 mg kg-1) were administered intravenously until ST/T0 ≤5%. Effective doses 50 (ED50) and 95 (ED95) of cisatracurium in each group were calculated from group dose-response curves. Recovery of ST (TR) was defined as spontaneous recovery of ST to 80-120% of T0 remaining stable for 2 minutes. The ST after each dose of cisatracurium, duration 25% (time after the last dose until 25% recovery of TR), recovery index (time to recovery from 25% to 75% of TR) and duration to TR (time after the last dose until recovery of TR) were recorded. RESULTS: Incremental doses of cisatracurium, median (range), were 2 (1-3) in ISO and 4 (2-5) in PPF to achieve ≥95% depression of ST/T0 (p < 0.01). ED50 and ED95 were 20 µg kg-1 and 117 µg kg-1 in ISO and 128 µg kg-1 and 167 µg kg-1 in PPF, respectively. The duration 25%, recovery index and duration to TR, median (range), were longer in ISO [22.6 (10.3-24.3), 5.3 (3.0-7.8) and 36.1 (20.1-49.7) minutes, respectively] than in PPF [10.2 (6.8-16.5), 3.0 (2.0-3.8) and 17.7 (14.2-28.7) minutes, respectively] (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cisatracurium-induced neuromuscular blockade was significantly enhanced and prolonged by isoflurane compared with propofol.

Ultrasonographic features of insulinoma in six ferrets.

Insulinoma is a functional, insulin-secreting tumor, arising from the beta islet cells of the pancreas. It is one of the most common neoplasms in ferrets and has been associated with clinical signs of hypoglycemia, such as ptyalism, pawing at the mouth, seizures, lethargy, and coma. The ultrasonographic features of insulinoma in ferrets have not been previously reported. The purpose of this retrospective case series study was to describe the ultrasonographic features of confirmed insulinoma in a group of ferrets. Inclusion criteria were abdominal ultrasound examination and histological confirmed insulinoma by surgical biopsy. Six ferrets met the inclusion criteria, all of which had multiple hypoglycemic episodes. Ultrasonographic images were reviewed and the characteristics of the pancreatic nodules were recorded. Twenty-eight pancreatic nodules were observed in the six ferrets and were primarily hypoechoic (89.3%, 25/28) and homogenous (46.4%, 13/28) with a smooth margin (78.6%, 22/28). The distribution of the pancreatic nodules was 46.4% in the left lobe, 50% in the right lobe, and 3.6% in the body of the pancreas. The sizes of the pancreatic nodules varied from 1.5 × 1.5 to 4.1 × 5.6 mm. All of the pancreatic nodules removed from surgery were histopathologically confirmed as insulinoma. The findings indicated that insulinoma in ferrets could be detected through ultrasonography, which may facilitate diagnosis and preoperative surgical planning.

Clinical diagnosis and surgical management of diaphragmatic retroperitoneal perirenal fat and kidney herniation in a pet rabbit.

CASE DESCRIPTION A 6-year-old 2.08-kg (4.58-lb) neutered male Lionhead-mix pet rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was examined because of sneezing and increased respiratory effort. CLINICAL FINDINGS On the basis of the rabbit's radiographic findings, a diagnosis of diaphragmatic retroperitoneal perirenal fat and kidney herniation was made. Nine months later, physical examination revealed increased respiratory rate and effort and slightly decreased body weight. Thoracic radiography revealed decreased lung aeration and further craniomedial displacement of the right kidney, compared with the initial evaluation findings, suggesting progressive herniation of the retroperitoneal perirenal fat. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME During exploratory celiotomy, a tear in the right dorsal tendinous portion of the diaphragm was noted. The right kidney and perirenal fat were found to be displaced into the thorax. Diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy was performed after replacement of the right kidney and the perirenal fat in the retroperitoneal space. The rabbit recovered uneventfully from anesthesia and surgery. Clinical signs did not recur during the following 16 months. CLINICAL RELEVANCE For rabbits with increased respiratory effort, diaphragmatic retroperitoneal perirenal fat and kidney herniation should be included as a differential diagnosis. As illustrated by the case described in this report, appropriate surgical management can provide a successful outcome for affected pet rabbits.

Emphysematous pyometra secondary to Enterococcus avium infection in a dog.

A 5-year-old female intact Mastiff dog was presented with a history of vaginal discharge for 1 day. Physical examination revealed a sanguineo-purulent vaginal discharge and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Abdominal radiographs showed several dilated and gas- filled tubular loops. The differential diagnoses included emphysematous pyometra or small intestinal mechanical ileus. Surgical exploration of the abdomen demonstrated a severely dilated and gas-filled uterus, and emphysematous pyometra was confirmed. The patient's clinical signs resolved after ovariohysterectomy. Histopathology revealed mild endometrial cystic hyperplasia with infiltration of inflammatory cells in the superficial endometrial epithelia. Enterococcus avium, an α-hemolytic gram-positive coccus, was isolated from the uterus. This paper highlights the radiographic features of emphysematous pyometra and a pathogen that has never been reported to be associated with canine pyometra previously.

Bovine lactoferrin and piroxicam as an adjunct treatment for lymphocytic-plasmacytic gingivitis stomatitis in cats.

Feline lymphocytic-plasmacytic gingivitis/stomatitis (LPGS) or caudal stomatitis is an inflammatory disease that causes painfully erosive lesions and proliferations of the oral mucosa. The disease is difficult to cure and can affect cats at an early age, resulting in lifetime therapy. In this study, a new treatment using a combination of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) oral spray and oral piroxicam was investigated using a randomized double-blinded clinical trial in 13 cats with caudal stomatitis. Oral lesion grading and scoring of clinical signs were conducted during and after the trial to assess treatment outcome. Oral mucosal biopsies were used to evaluate histological changes during and after treatment. Clinical signs were significantly improved in 77% of the cats. In a 4-week study, clinical signs were considerably ameliorated by oral piroxicam during the first 2 weeks. In a 12-week study, the combined bLf oral spray and piroxicam, when compared with piroxicam alone, exhibited an enhanced effect that reduced the severity of the oral lesions (P = 0.059), while also significantly improving clinical signs (P <0.05), quality of life (P <0.05), and weight gain (P <0.05). The remission of oral inflammation was closely correlated with the decreased number of macrophages (OR = 4.719, P < 0.05). There was no detectable influence on liver or kidney function during a 12-week assessment. It was concluded that combining oral bLf spray and piroxicam was safe and might be used to decrease the clinical signs of caudal stomatitis in cats.

Decreased postoperative C-reactive protein production in dogs with pyometra through the use of low-dose ketamine.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of subanesthetic ketamine in dogs with pyometra on C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations following surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, nonconcealed, alternating allocation controlled trial. SETTING: Veterinary teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Sixteen dogs diagnosed with pyometra. INTERVENTIONS: The tentative diagnosis of canine pyometra was based on compatible history, physical examination findings, ultrasonographic findings, and hematological evaluation. Two different anesthesia and analgesic protocols with and without low-dose ketamine were used during and following ovariohysterectomy in 16 female dogs (n = 8 per group) that were diagnosed with naturally occurring pyometra. Dogs were sequentially allocated to treatment groups in an alternating fashion without concealment. Serum was collected before, 24, and 48 hours after surgery for CRP measurement. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Perioperative physical parameters in the 2 groups of dogs were similar. The serum concentrations of CRP in both groups were essentially the same before surgery, but significantly increased in the control group and decreased in ketamine group at 48 hours after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose ketamine attenuated the postoperative concentration of serum CRP in dogs with pyometra compared with dogs that did not receive ketamine in the perioperative period. Further studies are warranted to determine the clinical implications of these findings.

Effect of topical administration of 0.8% nalbuphine on the cornea in dogs after phacoemulsification.

It is suggested that topical application of opioids may provide localized analgesia without delay in corneal wound healing. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of topical application of 0.8% nalbuphine on post-operative ocular pain in dogs. Twelve eyes from 11 dogs undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery were divided into a nalbuphine group (n=6) and saline group (n=6). Postoperatively, the nalbuphine group received 0.1 ml of topical 0.8% alkalinized nalbuphine (pH 5.6) every 8 hr, and the saline group received 0.1 ml of topical saline (pH 5.9) as a placebo. All dogs received systemic postoperative pain managements with oral tramadol (4 mg/kg) and prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg) every 8 hr. All dogs received pre- and post-ophthalmic examinations. Pain was scored in the dogs using a pain scoring system modified from the University of Melbourne pain scale at 15, 30 and 60 min following the topical treatment on days 1 and 2 (24 and 48 hr after surgery). Eye blink frequency and corneal touch threshold (CTT) were recorded at the same time. There was no statistical difference in the pain score between groups. Significant decreases in CTT, blepharospasm and eye blink frequency were observed after the topical nalbuphine treatment. This indicated that topical application of 0.8% nalbuphine solution can produce a rapid reduction of corneal discomfort in dogs.

Targeting l1 cell adhesion molecule using lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA interference reverses aggressiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) has been implicated in tumor progression of many types of cancers, but its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been investigated. In the present study, we demonstrated overexpression of L1CAM in OSCC cells, but not in normal keratinocytes, using both clinical specimens and cell lines. This overexpression demonstrated a strong correlation with less differentiation and a higher invasion potential of cancer cells, supporting the significance of L1CAM in human OSCC tumor progression. Targeting L1CAM gene expression in SCC4 cells overexpressing L1CAM using a lentivirus-mediated small hairpin RNA (shRNA) led to a significant reduction in cell proliferation in vitro via retardation of cell cycle at the G1 phase. In addition, shRNA knockdown of L1CAM strongly attenuated the migration and invasion of SCC4 cells, and this was also observed to parallel increased E-cadherin levels and decreased levels of vimentin, fibronectin, and Snail-family transcription factors, indicating that L1CAM expression was related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, while mice receiving orthotopically placed control SCC4 cells died within 40 days due to invasive tumor growth and regional lymph node metastasis, prolonged animal survival and complete suppression of tumor progression was observed in mice implanted with L1CAM-deficent SCC4 cells, further substantiating the fundamental importance of L1CAM in OSCC pathophysiology. Our findings suggested that L1CAM is a critical mediator of tumor progression in OSCC, and targeting L1CAM using lentivirus-mediated shRNA may be a useful molecular pharmaceutical approach for the treatment of advanced OSCC.

Functional expression of the recombinant ATPase of orf virus.

Nucleotide sequence analysis has indicated that the A32L gene of orf virus can encode an ATPase (Chan et al. in Gene 432:44-53, 2009). In this work, we cloned the A32L gene into a prokaryotic expression vector, and the recombinant protein was expressed and purified. The antigenicity of recombinant ATPase was examined by immunoblotting, and its identity was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The ATP hydrolysis function of the purified recombinant protein was examined, and our results showed that it exhibited the ATPase activity. Similar to other viral ATPases, the ATPase of orf virus remained active in the presence of different divalent ions; nevertheless, unlike other viral ATPases, our recombinant ATPase exhibited similar enzymatic activity in reaction buffers of different pH.

Phylogenetic analysis of parapoxviruses and the C-terminal heterogeneity of viral ATPase proteins.

Two outbreaks of orf virus (a parapoxvirus) infection in goats found in Nantou and Taiping of central Taiwan were investigated. The nucleotide and the amino acid sequences of viral B2L, E3L and A32L genes in these two outbreaks were analyzed, and each of their phylogenetic trees were also constructed. In the A32L gene, an unexpected deletion of 24 nucleotides was found in the Taiping strain. The A32L gene can encode an ATPase and is supposed to be involved in virion DNA packaging. The 24 nucleotides correspond to 8 amino acids residues of the viral ATPase, which are located near the C-terminal region of the enzyme. Moreover, two copies of the RGD sequence at C-terminal region of ATPase were found in the Nantou strain. The 24-nucleotide difference in the A32L gene indicated that the Nantou strain and the Taiping strain were two separate strains, and it can be used in differential molecular diagnosis. Moreover, the C-terminal heterogeneity was found to be a general feature of the viral ATPase. Lastly, similar functional motifs of the ATPase and the Ras proto-oncoprotein (a GTPase) are discussed.

On the TATA box and transcriptional start site of gE gene of pseudorabies virus: a comparison of three methods.

Using the upstream region of glycoprotein E gene of pseudorabies virus (PRV) as a model, a method based on reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the determination of transcriptional start site was developed. The conventional primer extension method was used to determine the start site. Comparing the results obtained by these two methods, a good agreement on the location of start site was achieved. In addition, a computer program was used to predict the transcriptional start site, and the predicted site was found to be close to the two sites obtained by experiments. Based on the transcriptional start site data and on the general knowledge of the eukaryotic gene, the TATA box of gE gene was assigned at approximately 33 bp upstream to the start site.