Urine glucose concentration: A useful parameter as a surrogate for glycaemia on the first day of life in canine neonates.

INTRODUCTION: Hypoglycaemia is a well-known risk factor in neonatal puppies and kittens; glycaemia control is crucial during the first days of life. Kidneys immaturity provokes the presence of physiological glycosuria during the first 2-3 weeks of life in small animals. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of glycosuria as a predictor of glycaemia in neonatal puppies during the first two weeks of life. METHODS: Prospective study. Thirty-three client-owned healthy neonatal puppies admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona, were included in the study and divided into four different groups according to the day of sampling (1, 4, 7, and 11 days post-delivery). Glucose levels in blood and urine samples were evaluated and compared between groups. Correlation between glucose levels in blood and urine was also determined. RESULTS: Hypoglycaemia was diagnosed in 17.14% of the puppies and only on day 1 after delivery. A positive and significant correlation between blood and urine glucose concentration on day 1 after delivery was observed. No significant correlation between blood and urine glucose was observed on days 4, 7 and 11 after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Urine concentration of glucose is a useful parameter to establish glycaemic status on the first day of life in canine puppies.

Adiponectin as a sepsis biomarker in dogs: Diagnostic and prognostic value.

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin (ADPN) is an adipocytokine with insulin-sensitizing, vascular-protective, and anti-inflammatory properties for which concentration changes occur in response to inflammation. Little is known about the regulation of ADPN and the impact of this adipocytokine in septic dogs. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of ADPN vs other traditional acute-phase proteins (APPs), such as albumin (ALB), haptoglobin (HPT), fibrinogen (FBG), ferritin (FRT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in dogs with naturally acquired sepsis. METHODS: This prospective observational study included 20 dogs with sepsis, 27 with low-grade systemic inflammation (LGSI), and 18 clinically healthy dogs as controls. For method analyses, plasma samples were obtained from all dogs on admission and then every 24-48 hours until discharge or death in the septic group. RESULTS: Septic dogs had lower ADPN (2.4 ± 0.46 vs 4.5 ± 0.41mg/L, P < .001) dand ALB (17 ± 1 vs 22 ± 0.8g/L, P = .002), and tended to have higher CRP (87 ± 4.8 vs 73 ± 4.1mg/L, P < .079) concentrations than dogs with LGSI on admission. Only ADPN and ALB were able to successfully discriminate animals with LGSI from those presenting with sepsis with areas under the curve (AUCs) for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of 0.811 and 0.789, respectively. In the septic group, ADPN concentration did not differ between survivors and non-survivors, either on admission or at discharge or death. CONCLUSIONS: Although plasma ADPN can be used as a reliable negative APP in dogs with sepsis, further studies are warranted to confirm the usefulness of this biomarker in terms of disease progression and recovery.

The diagnostic and prognostic value of paraoxonase-1 and butyrylcholinesterase activities compared with acute-phase proteins in septic dogs and stratified by the acute patient physiologic and laboratory evaluation score.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a complex syndrome that involves an increased oxidative stress status and dysregulation of cholinergic neurotransmission. Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities have been identified as significant biomarkers to monitor such disorders in human septic patients. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of PON-1 and BChE vs other traditional acute-phase proteins such as albumin (ALB) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in septic dogs. METHODS: This prospective observational study included 20 dogs with a diagnosis of sepsis, 27 with low-grade systemic inflammation (LGSI), and 10 healthy dogs that served as controls. Plasma samples were obtained from all dogs for analysis on admission, and then every 24-48 hours until discharge or death in the septic group. RESULTS: Dogs with sepsis had lower PON-1 activity compared with dogs in the LGSI group (1.1 ± 0.10 vs 1.6 ± 0.08 U/mL, P = .002), but no differences in BChE activity were detected between the groups. PON-1, ALB, and CRP could successfully discriminate healthy animals from those with sepsis looking at the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristics curves (ROCs), which were 0.828, 0.903 and 1.000, respectively. Finally, although no differences were found among the groups for PON-1 or BChE activity, the nonsurvivor septic dogs had higher CRP (P = .002), lower ALB (P = .025) levels, and tended to have lower PON-1 (P = .082) activities than the survivors at patient death or discharge. CONCLUSION: Septic dogs showed lower plasma PON-1 and higher BChE activities, but only PON-1 activity correlated with disease severity. Further studies are warranted to describe the usefulness of these new biomarkers of sepsis progression and recovery in dogs.

Transient distal renal tubular acidosis in a dog with gastric-dilatation-volvulus.

A case of distal renal tubular acidosis occurring as a transient complication in a 13-year-old female greyhound dog with gastric-dilatation-volvulus was diagnosed. The acute renal ischemia and inflammatory condition associated with this syndrome could be considered the main underlying mechanisms responsible for the acute, severe, and complicating renal tubular dysfunction.

Acidose tubulaire rénale distale transitoire chez un chien atteint de volvulus et de dilatation gastrique. Un cas d'acidose rénale distale se manifestant comme une complication transitoire chez une chienne Lévrier anglais âgée de 13 ans atteinte de dilatation gastrique-volvulus a été diagnostiqué. L'ischémie rénale aiguë et l'affection inflammatoire associées à ce syndrome pourrait être considérées comme les principaux mécanismes sous-jacents responsables de la dysfonction tubulaire rénale grave et complexe.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Acute polyneuromyopathy with respiratory failure secondary to monensin intoxication in a dog.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a successfully managed case of polyneuropathy and respiratory failure secondary to presumed monensin intoxication. CASE SUMMARY: A 9-month-old Australian Shepherd was evaluated for progressive generalized weakness and respiratory distress. Several days preceding presentation, the dog was seen playing with a monensin capsule, and had free access to a barn where the product was stored and where chewed capsules were subsequently found. The dog was presented with flaccid tetraparesis, hyperthermia, and severe respiratory distress. Bloodwork and urinalysis revealed marked increase in serum creatine kinase concentration and presumed myoglobinuria. Cardiac troponin I level was markedly increased. Management included mechanical ventilation for 5 days, fluid-therapy, active cooling, antimicrobial therapy, analgesia, gastroprotectants, antiemetics, enteral feedings, continuous nursing care, and physiotherapy. Intravenous lipid rescue therapy was administered with lack of improvement in respiratory function and muscle strength. The patient completely recovered and was discharged after 12 days of hospitalization. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: Monensin intoxication should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute polyneuromyopathy and respiratory failure in dogs with access to this compound. Respiratory failure secondary to monensin intoxication does not necessarily carry a poor prognosis if mechanical ventilation can be provided as a bridge until return of respiratory function is achieved.

A Novel Admixture-Based Pharmacogenetic Approach to Refine Warfarin Dosing in Caribbean Hispanics.

AIM: This study is aimed at developing a novel admixture-adjusted pharmacogenomic approach to individually refine warfarin dosing in Caribbean Hispanic patients. PATIENTS & METHODS: A multiple linear regression analysis of effective warfarin doses versus relevant genotypes, admixture, clinical and demographic factors was performed in 255 patients and further validated externally in another cohort of 55 individuals. RESULTS: The admixture-adjusted, genotype-guided warfarin dosing refinement algorithm developed in Caribbean Hispanics showed better predictability (R2 = 0.70, MAE = 0.72mg/day) than a clinical algorithm that excluded genotypes and admixture (R2 = 0.60, MAE = 0.99mg/day), and outperformed two prior pharmacogenetic algorithms in predicting effective dose in this population. For patients at the highest risk of adverse events, 45.5% of the dose predictions using the developed pharmacogenetic model resulted in ideal dose as compared with only 29% when using the clinical non-genetic algorithm (p<0.001). The admixture-driven pharmacogenetic algorithm predicted 58% of warfarin dose variance when externally validated in 55 individuals from an independent validation cohort (MAE = 0.89 mg/day, 24% mean bias). CONCLUSIONS: Results supported our rationale to incorporate individual's genotypes and unique admixture metrics into pharmacogenetic refinement models in order to increase predictability when expanding them to admixed populations like Caribbean Hispanics. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01318057.

Plasma iron, C-reactive protein, albumin, and plasma fibrinogen concentrations in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value over time of plasma iron compared with the inflammatory markers albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). DESIGN: Prospective observational study of sequentially enrolled dogs. SETTING: ICU of a veterinary teaching hospital. ANIMALS: One hundred and sixteen client-owned dogs: 54 dogs with SIRS or sepsis, 42 with focal inflammation, and 20 clinically healthy dogs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Blood samples were obtained on admission in all study groups, and then on alternate days until discharge or death in both inflammation groups. On admission, dogs with SIRS had significantly lower plasma iron (65 ± 5.8 µg/dL, P = 0.001) concentrations than dogs with focal inflammation (89.5 ± 6.2 µg/dL, P = 0.001). Plasma iron, albumin, and CRP effectively discriminated the SIRS/sepsis group from those presenting with focal inflammation with areas under the curve for the receiver operating curves of 0.679, 0.834, and 0.704, respectively. The admission values for these variables did not discriminate survivors from nonsurvivors within the SIRS/sepsis group. However, the magnitude of increase in iron concentration and the decrease in CRP concentration from admission to hospital discharge was higher in survivors than in nonsurvivors within the SIRS/septic group (22.8 vs. 2.51 µg/dL, respectively, P = 0.021 for iron; -67.1 vs. -4.1 mg/L, respectively, P = 0.002 for CRP), resulting in iron and CRP concentrations at hospital discharge for survivors similar to those in the focal inflammation group. CONCLUSION: Hypoferremia is a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation in dogs. In this study, the increase in iron concentrations during the hospitalization period of SIRS/septic dogs was associated with a better prognosis, suggesting that plasma iron in combination with CRP and albumin concentrations might be used to monitor dogs with inflammatory disease processes.

A Proposal for an Individualized Pharmacogenetic-Guided Warfarin Dosage Regimen for Puerto Rican Patients Commencing Anticoagulation Therapy.

Warfarin is the current standard of care in oral anticoagulation therapy. It is commonly prescribed to treat venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarction, and to decrease the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation. Warfarin therapy is challenging because of marked and often unpredictable inter-individual dosing variations that effectively reach and maintain adequate anticoagulation. Several researchers have developed pharmacogenetic-guided maintenance dose algorithms that incorporate genetics and individual patient characteristics. However, there is limited information available concerning dosing during warfarin initiation. This is considered the most clinically challenging therapeutic phase. In such, the risk of recurrent thromboembolism and hemorrhage are elevated. The objective of this retrospective study is to predict the individual initial doses for Puerto Rican patients (n=175) commencing anticoagulation therapy at Veterans Affairs Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) using pharmacogenetic/pharmacokinetic-driven model. A pharmacogenetic driven model (R2=0.4809) was developed in Puerto Rican patients and combined with pharmacokinetic formulas that enabled us to predict the individual initial doses for patients (n=121) commencing anticoagulation therapy. WinNonlin® pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic simulations were carried out to determine the predictability of this model. This model demonstrated promising results with few (n=10) simulations outside of their respective therapy range. A customized pharmacogenetic-based warfarin maintenance dose algorithm (R2=0.7659) was developed in a derivation cohort of 131 patients. The predictability of this developed pharmacogenetic algorithm was compared with the International Warfarin Pharmacogenomics Consortium (IWPC) algorithm and it demonstrated superior predictability within our study population.

Bursitis de hombro. tratamiento con bloqueo esteroideo

Se realiza un estudio en 60 pacientes para evaluar la eficacia del bloqueo con anestesia y esteroide en bursitis de hombro que acuden a la Clínica de Alivio del Dolor del Hospital General Docente Dr Agostinho Neto, en el período 2009 2010. La muestra fue dividida en 2 grupos: A y B. A ambos grupos se le realizan cinco sesiones con intervalo de 3 días. La analgesia se evalúa después del primer tratamiento, a los 3, 7 y 14 días y se refleja mediante tablas. La calidad de analgesia fue superior en el grupo A con respecto al B encontrándose diferencias entre ambos. El 60 por ciento de los pacientes del grupo A lograron alivio en la tercera sesión y el 25 y 10por ciento entre la cuarta y quinta sesión, respectivamente. El 5 por ciento no logra alivio. Este método es eficaz en el alivio de bursitis de hombro no calcificada (AU)

A study in 60 patients is done evaluating the effectiveness of the blockade under anesthesia and shoulder bursitis steroid attending in the Pain Relief Clinic at the General Teaching Hospital "Dr. Agostinho Neto ", from 2009 to 2010. The sample was divided into 2 groups: A and B. Both groups underwent five sessions with an interval of 3 days. Analgesia was evaluated after the first treatment, at 3, 7 and 14 days and is reflected in tables. The quality of analgesia was higher in group B with respect to finding differences. 60% of patients in group A obtained relief in the third session and the 25 and 10% between the fourth and fifth sessions, respectively. The 5% is not achieved relief. This method is effective in relieving non-calcified bursitis

Evaluación de tres esquemas analgésicos para el control del dolor postoperatorio / Comparison between three analgesia regimen for postoperative pain

Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, cuasi-experimental con relación al manejo del dolor postoperatorio, después de cirugía abdominal. Se comparó la eficacia analgésica del Ketorolaco+Tramadol, la Dipirona+Tramadol contra un grupo control (diferencia clases de regímenes analgésicos). Durante un período de 24 hrs, postoperatorias, el cual comenzó al finalizar la cirugía; los pacientes fueron medicados con 0.5 mg/kg de peso de Ketorolaco cada seis horas+Tramadol 50 mg intravenosos cada ocho horas o con Dipirona 40 mg/kg de peso cada cuatro horas+Tramadol 50 mg intravenoso cada ocho horas. Las escalas verbales análogas del dolor fueron mejores en los grupos de Ketorolaco+Tramadol 50 y de Dipirona+Tramadol con relación a las del grupo control, a las cero horas, cuatro horas, ocho horas, doce horas y veinticuatro horas postoperatorias, siendo estadísticamente diferentes. Hubo unos puntajes de dolor menores en el grupo de Ketorolaco+Tramadol comparado con los del grupo Dipirona+Tramadol, a las cuatro horas, ocho horas y veinticuatro horas postoperatorias y fueron estadísticamente diferentes. Los puntajes en la escala verbal análoga a las veinticuatro horas después de la cirugía fueron los más bajos en los tres grupos. La calificación final del manejo del dolor a las veinticuatro horas del postoperatorio fue mejor en el grupo de Ketorolaco+Tramadol que la de los otros grupos. La administración de Ketorolaco+Tramadol o de Dipirona+Tramadol parece tener beneficio en el alivio del dolor postoperatorio en pacientes de cirugía abdominal.