Plasma coenzyme Q10 concentration, antioxidant status, and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration in dogs with various cardiovascular diseases and the effect of cardiac treatment on measured variables.

OBJECTIVE To determine the plasma total antioxidant capacity, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity, whole blood glutathione peroxidase activity, and plasma coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) concentration in dogs with various stages of cardiovascular diseases and in healthy dogs; assess the influence of cardiac treatment on the levels of antioxidant variables, plasma CoQ10 concentration, and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration, and determine any correlation between the disease severity (NT-proBNP concentration) and antioxidant variables or CoQ10 concentration. ANIMALS 43 dogs with various types and stages of cardiovascular diseases (congenital and acquired) and 29 healthy dogs. PROCEDURES Blood samples were collected from all dogs for spectrophotometric assessment of antioxidant variables. Plasma CoQ10 concentration was determined with a high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method. Serum NT-proBNP concentration was measured with an ELISA. RESULTS Values for antioxidant variables did not differ among groups of dogs with cardiovascular diseases, regardless of disease stage or treatment. Plasma CoQ10 concentration was significantly increased in treated dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF), compared with untreated patients. However, plasma CoQ10 concentration did not differ among heart failure classes. A significant, negative correlation between serum NT-proBNP and plasma CoQ10 concentrations was identified in treated CHF-affected dogs, suggesting that low plasma CoQ10 concentration may be associated with increased severity of CHF. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The antioxidant variables evaluated were not altered in dogs with CHF, regardless of cardiac disease stage or treatment. Further investigation into the possible effects of CoQ10 supplementation in dogs with advanced stages of CHF is warranted.

L-arginine and antioxidant vitamins E and C improve the cardiovascular performance of broiler chickens grown under chronic hypobaric hypoxia.

Two hundred broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments: control [CTL; 3,200 kcal of ME/kg, 23% CP, 1.55% Arg, and 40 IU of vitamin E (VE)/kg of feed], high-Arg (HA; CTL+0.8% Arg), or high-Arg and high antioxidant-vitamin diet (AEC; HA+200 IU of VE/kg of feed and 500 mg of vitamin C/L of water). The chicks were housed in wire cages in hypobaric chambers simulating 3,000 m above sea level. From d 28 to 42, clinically healthy birds were selected for cardiovascular performance (n=7 to 12/treatment). After surgery, pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) readings were taken at 180, 120, and 60 s (basal values) before an epinephrine (EPI) challenge and then at 30, 60, 120, 180, 300, 600, and 1,200 s after the challenge, followed by a second EPI challenge with similar sample readings. There were no differences in the basal PAP values among chicken groups. The PAP increased within 30 s after both EPI challenges in all groups. It took 180 s after the first EPI challenge for the CTL chickens to return to the basal PAP values, whereas HA and AEC chickens returned to basal PAP values in 120 s. After the second EPI challenge, it took 60, 180, and 300 s for the AEC, HA, and CTL groups, respectively, to return to basal PAP values. The MAP response pattern to the EPI challenges mimicked that of PAP, but there were no differences among treatments in MAP at any sampling point. Supplemental Arg, VE, and vitamin C did not reduce ascites incidence in hypoxic broilers. In conclusion, supplemental Arg improved the pulmonary vascular performance of hypoxic broiler chickens and its effects were further improved by the addition of the antioxidant VE and vitamin C. Arginine and antioxidant vitamins may have played synergistic roles to increase NO bioavailability and reduce oxidative stress damage, thus improving cardiopulmonary performance.

Beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease.

There is a large body of evidence supporting beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids for both primary and secondary prevention of cardiac disease in people. However, evidence is increasing for the use of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs with cardiac disease as well. Omega-3 fatty acids' anti-inflammatory and anti-arrhythmic effects may be beneficial in managing the loss of lean body mass and arrhythmias that are common in heart failure. However, omega-3 fatty acids also may have positive effects on myocardial energy metabolism, endothelial function, heart rate and blood pressure, and immune function. Additional research is needed to determine optimal indications, doses and formulations for dogs and cats with cardiac disease.

Post mortem findings in sows and gilts euthanised or found dead in a large Swedish herd.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to get information on post mortem diagnoses of sows found dead or euthanised and to understand the diagnoses aetiology (causative background). Moreover, the study was to evaluate the association between the clinical symptoms observed on farm and post mortem findings. METHODS: A large Swedish herd was studied from January to September 2006. During the 32-week period 3.9% of the removed sows and gilts (old enough to be mated) were found dead, 12.0% were euthanised and the rest were sent to slaughter. Of 32 sows/gilts found dead 17 (53%) were post mortem examined, and of 98 sows euthanised 79 (81%) were examined. The 96 examined carcasses were after 70 sows and 26 gilts. The findings at examination were together with data from the herd monitoring program PigWin Sugg the base for the descriptive statistics presented. RESULTS: The average parity number at removal was 2.8 for those found dead and 2.1 for those euthanised. The highest number euthanised and found dead was in parity 0 (gilts). The main proportion of post mortem examinations was made on sows being in the period = 28 d of gestation at death (37.5%), followed by weaning to next service period (24.0%). Arthritis, with an incidence of 36.4% was the most common main finding of pathological-anatomical diagnosis (PAD). Of sows/gilts found dead were circulatory/cardiac failure (23.5%) and trauma related injuries (23.5%) most common PAD. The most commonly observed clinical symptom and reason for euthanasia of the sows/gilts was lameness. Notably, in 43% of the cases with PAD arthritis, the clinical symptoms suggested it being a fracture. Further one or more abscesses (38.5%) and teeth injuries (31.0%) were common findings when also incidental findings were included. CONCLUSION: This post mortem study based on carcasses from sows/gilts found dead or euthanised showed that arthritis was a significant problem in the studied herd and that post mortem examination was important to get proper diagnosis.

Metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in poultry: role of dietary lipids.

In the United States, supplemental dietary lipid is typically provided as an animal-vegetable blend using animal tallow or hydrogenated oils from the food industry. Lipids from these sources are rich in saturated, trans, n-6 fatty acids and poor in n-3 fatty acids. Linoleic (18:2 n-6) and alpha-linolenic (18:3 n-3) acids are essential fatty acids and are the precursors of long-chain n-6 and n-3 fatty acids such as arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA). Ester-linked arachidonic acid and EPA can be mobilized by phospholipase A(2) to generate free arachidonic acid and EPA, which can act as substrates for cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase to produce eicosanoids. Eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid, prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2, and leukotriene B4 are proinflammatory and more potent than eicosanoids derived from EPA such as prostaglandin E3, thromboxane B3, and leukotriene B5. Developing dietary strategies in broiler chickens that enhance the n-3 fatty acid content of tissues is also associated with lipid oxidation and muscle product quality. Therefore, alternative strategies for enhancing tissue n-3 fatty acid content without affecting growth and product quality must be devised. The role of maternal (yolk) fatty acids in modulating the long-chain n-3 fatty acid content of tissues and eicosanoid production in chickens fed a diet lacking in long-chain n-3 fatty acids is investigated. Up to d 42 of growth, the cardiac tissues of chicks hatched from hens fed a high n-3 diet retained higher levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids than those of chicks hatched from hens fed a low n-3 diet. Chicks hatched from hens fed a high n-3 diet produced less proinflammatory eicosanoids than chicks hatched from hens fed a low n-3 diet. Modulating maternal dietary n-3 fatty acids enhances tissue retention of n-3 fatty acids during growth and reduces proinflammatory eicosanoid production in chicks, which could lead to fewer metabolic and inflammatory-related disorders in poultry.

Comparison of taurine, alpha-tocopherol, retinol, selenium, and total triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations in cats with cardiac disease and in healthy cats.

Epidemiologic relations were evaluated between plasma concentrations of nutrients and cardiovascular diseases. A total of 220 cats were assessed: 144 cats with noninduced acquired heart disease and 76 clinically normal cats. Plasma was assayed for taurine, alpha-tocopherol, selenium, retinol, and total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. Cardiovascular disease groups included dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 53), left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 28), hyperthyroidism (n = 11), and uncertain classification (n = 52). In cats with dilated cardiomyopathy, mean plasma taurine concentration was the lowest of that in cats of any group, being only 38% of the value in healthy cats; females had less than half the mean value of males. Tocopherol concentration was 20% lower than normal, and retinol concentration was 40% higher than normal. Total cholesterol concentration was 36% lower than normal. Triglycerides concentration was higher in these cats than in any other group--twice the value recorded in healthy cats and 67% higher than that in hyperthyroid cats. In cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, almost 15% had mean plasma taurine concentration < 30 mumol/L. Retinol concentration was 15% higher, and triglycerides concentration was 54% higher than normal. Approximately 27% of hyperthyroid cats had mildly decreased plasma taurine concentration. Hyperthyroid cats had the lowest tocopherol and cholesterol values; both were at least 30% lower than normal. Retinol concentration was 30% higher than normal. Approximately 14% of cats with uncertain classification had mildly decreased plasma taurine concentration. Plasma retinol and triglycerides concentrations were higher than normal in 25 and 38% of these cats, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acupuncture for cardiovascular disorders.

Experimental studies in animals and clinical studies in humans have demonstrated that acupuncture can exert significant effects on the cardiovascular system and provide effective therapy for a variety of cardiovascular ailments. In veterinary practice, acupuncture should be considered as adjunctive therapy in cases of shock and cardiac arrest. Acupuncture may also be beneficial as adjunctive or sole therapy in the management of congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and systemic hypertension.

Experimental acute selenium intoxication in lambs.

The toxic effects of 5 mg per kg body weight of selenium given as sodium selenite orally or parenterally to growing lambs were examined. There was considerable individual variation in both susceptibility to intoxication and the degree of pathological change displayed. The results affirm the previously reported deleterious effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory and urinary systems and highlight damage to secondary lymphoid tissue in various organs. The use of a histochemical method for detecting selenium bonds demonstrated correlation between the density of reaction-product and histopathological changes within tissues, and showed the distribution of selenium in other tissues in which the gross and histopathological findings were non-specific or minimal.

Anesthesia and pain control.

Successful anesthetic management of the critically ill patient requires familiarity with the pharmacologic properties of a variety of anesthetic drugs. An understanding of the altered physiology present in the critically ill allows an anesthetic regimen to be selected that prevents an anesthetic-induced decompensation. Pain should never go untreated because of a fear of causing excessive physiologic depression. There are numerous options available to control pain. A technique suitable in one instance may be unsuitable in another; for example, an animal that has a significant degree of respiratory compromise may not tolerate the additional respiratory insult associated with narcotic use. A local anesthetic technique may be preferred in this situation. Often a local technique is all that is necessary to control postoperative pain. Furthermore, if pain is controlled for the first 4 to 6 h post-insult, often no further analgesic drugs need to be administered.