Is the caudal auricular axial pattern flap robust? A multi-centre cohort study of 16 dogs and 12 cats (2005 to 2016).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and type of healing complications arising after the use of the caudal auricular axial pattern flap to close defects on the head in dogs and cats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multi-centre retrospective cohort study. Centres were recruited by the Association for Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery Research Cooperative. Medical records of 11 centres were reviewed, and data from all dogs and cats treated with a caudal auricular axial pattern flap were retrieved. The following data were recorded: signalment, reason for reconstruction, flap dimensions, anatomic landmarks used, histological diagnosis, flap healing and whether revision surgery was required. RESULTS: Twenty-eight cases were included: 16 dogs and 12 cats. Flap length: width ratio was approximately 3:1 and flap length extended to the scapular spine in most cases. Optimal wound healing occurred in five of 16 (31%) dogs and six of 12 (50%) cats. Wound dehiscence without flap necrosis occurred in one of 16 (6%) dogs and one of 12 (8%) cats. Wound dehiscence with flap necrosis occurred in 10 of 16 (63%) dogs and five of 12 (42%) cats. Revision surgery was performed in eight of 16 (50%) dogs and three of 12 (25%) cats. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The caudal auricular axial pattern flap can provide full thickness skin coverage for large defects on the head in dogs and cats. Partial flap necrosis is a common complication, and revision surgery may be required in order to achieve final wound closure.

Indications, outcome and complications with axial pattern skin flaps in dogs and cats: 73 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the indications, frequency of complications and long term outcome associated with axial pattern flaps used to repair wound defects in dogs and cats. METHODS: Medical records from two independent referral centres for dogs and cats undergoing wound repair with an axial pattern flap were reviewed. RESULTS: Seventy-three animals were included, 49 dogs: 24 cats. Indications for axial pattern flaps were chronic wounds (43/73; 59%) and closure following tumour resection (30/73; 41%). Axial pattern flaps used were: thoracodorsal, caudal superficial epigastric, reverse saphenous conduit, superficial brachial, deep circumflex iliac, superficial cervical, caudal auricular, lateral thoracic, cranial superficial epigastric, genicular and superficial temporal. Postoperative complications occurred in 64 patients (89%) and 8 patients (11%) had no complications. Complications were: dehiscence, swelling of the flap, necrosis, infection, discharge and seroma. Flap outcome was excellent in 16 patients (23%), good in 29 (41%), fair in 21 (30%) and poor in 5 (7%). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: There is a high complication rate associated with axial pattern flaps but these are usually easily managed and long term outcome is excellent, in either species.

Inhibition of apolipoprotein B secretion by IL-6 is mediated by EGF or an EGF-like molecule in CaCo-2 cells.

Small intestinal mucosal inflammation observed in celiac disease is associated with the local release of growth factors and various cytokines. In a previous study, we investigated the effect of various cytokines on triacylglycerol and apoB secretion by CaCo-2 cells and observed that TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and particularly IL-6, decreased apolipoprotein (apo) B and triacylglycerol secretion. In this study, we explored possible mechanisms to explain the inhibitory effect of IL-6 on apoB secretion. IL-6, 10 ng/mL, added to the basolateral medium of CaCo-2 cells grown on semi-permeable filters, decreased apoB secretion by 42%. Adding a blocking monoclonal antibody (mAb 528) to the EGF receptor completely prevented this effect. IL-6 decreased the amount of EGF receptor protein and the binding of iodinated EGF to its receptor by 50% and 30%, respectively. Incubation of cells with various ligands to the EGF receptor, such as EGF, TGF-alpha, HB-EGF, and amphiregulin, also decreased apoB secretion. Inhibition of apoB secretion by EGF was prevented by the mAb 528 or an EGF neutralizing antibody. In a dose-dependent manner, the neutralizing antibody to EGF prevented the decrease in secretion of apoB, triacylglycerol mass, and cell-surface binding of labeled EGF caused by IL-6. Similar to the effects of IL-6, EGF decreased the secretion of triacylglycerol mass and the synthesis and secretion on newly synthesized apoB. The results suggest that, in CaCo-2 cells, IL-6 causes the release of EGF or an EGF-like molecule. By binding to cell surface EGF receptors, the molecule then causes a decrease in triacylglycerol and apoB secretion.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy: do both parents contribute genetically to the disease?

By observing the effect of 0.08 and 0.02 mg/ml linoleic acid (LA on the electrophoretic mobility of fresh red blood cells derived from the parents of a subject with DMD, it has been shown that all of 16 fathers as well as 15 mothers, consistently differ from normal. In normal subjects, whilst 0.08 mg/ml LA causes increased mobility, 0.02 mg/ml causes reduced mobility (P less than 0.001). In both parents this reversal is abolished and 0.02 mg/ml LA gives the same increased electrophoretic mobility of the RBC as does 0.08 mg/ml. This indicates that there is qualitative alteration of the RBC membrane in both, apparently genetically determined. Only when such an abnormal male mates with an abnormal female can DMD occur in a male offspring; other children appear either normal or showing the same abnormality as do the parents, thus continuing the production of DMD parents, the chance mating of whom produces further DMD. The evidence supports the hypothesis that in DMD there is a widespread membrane disturbance. Other relatives have also been explored. It would appear that the common DMD of children is of autosomal recessive origin with strong limitation to the male.

Use of plasma for immediate diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (plasma-erythrocyte unsaturated fatty acid test): comparison with the erythrocyte-unsaturated fatty acid (E-UFA) test.

A labile factor in plasma (but not serum) of MS subjects confers MS like properties vis à vis effect of linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA), on the electrophoretic mobility of washed red blood cells (RBC) irrespective of their provenance. Plasma from anomalous MS relatives and other neurological diseases (OND) likewise confer corresponding properties on washed RBC. The magnitude of results produced by LA and AA on plasma coated cells is equal to that produced by LA and AA directly on the original cells and approximately twice that reported with latex particles.

Treatment of cancer by alteration of a cancer specific surface membrane epitope.

Since cancer is essentially a cell surface problem with loss of contact inhibition, effort might be directed to restoring such inhibition by interfering with activity of new determinants on the cancer cell surface associated with the contact inhibition loss.

Multiple sclerosis: effect of gamma linolenate administration upon membranes and the need for extended clinical trials of unsaturated fatty acids.

Electrophoretic mobility studies of red blood cells from subjects with multiple sclerosis indicate that treatment with unsaturated fatty acids must continue for at least 2 years before normal reactivity is restored by currently available tests. If this applies to myelin also, then clinical trials aimed at treating the recognized multiple sclerosis subject by polyunsaturated fatty acids really begin after 2 years, and this should be recognized when a trial program is drawn up.

Simplified E-UFA test for multiple sclerosis (MS): some sources of "false" results.

A simple modification of the Erythrocyte-Unsaturated Fatty Acid (E-UFA) Test for Multiple Sclerosis is described, whereby well washed erythrocytes (RBC) are allowed to stand in Hanks medium 199, for about 21 days at 4 degrees C. The control-experimental difference in electrophoretic mobility of RBC rises to nearly 20%. Precautions in interpretation and wider implications of the SE-UFA test, recently uncovered, are briefly indicated.

Further observations with the erythrocyte-unsaturated fatty acid test. A contribution to the genetics of multiple sclerosis.

The absolute electrophoretic mobility of RBC of near relatives of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients has been studied in the presence of 0.08 mg/ml linoleic (LA) or arachidonic acid (AA). 42.9% of near relatives show anomalous results (slow with LA, fast with AA), chiefly females, and mothers always. The effect of LA is greater in clinical MS than in 'anomalous' relatives. Silent MS is recorded in 1 in 45 of near relatives, so that the 'disease' is much more common than the usual 5--20 times described in clinical surveys but corresponds with clinical occurrence in the Orkney Islands. Children (below the age of 14 years) with MS have been picked out with the same frequency as in adults. The sibship position of anomalous relatives has been studied where possible.