Secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) as an adjunct prognostic biomarker for canine pyometra.

Pyometra is a potentially life-threatening condition that affects intact female dogs in their middle to advance age. Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are critical for the survival of patients, especially when pyometra advances to sepsis. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic potential of certain haematology, serum biochemical and inflammatory biomarker, secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) for pyometra in bitches (n = 41). Blood samples were collected after clinical diagnosis of pyometra for haematology and serum biochemistry. Based on the prognosis following medical/surgical treatment, animals were retrospectively categorized into survivor (n = 29) and dead (n = 12). Endometrial tissue sections were obtained from the bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy (n = 21). Serum concentration of SLPI was quantified using sandwich ELISA and its expression in the endometrium was investigated using RT-qPCR. A marked increase in the total leucocyte count (TLC), neutrophils, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine was observed in the female dogs that did not survive. Significant elevation in the serum SLPI concentration (3.49 ± 0.44 vs. 2.38 ± 0.13 ng/mL) was observed in the bitches those died after the treatment, in comparison to those survived (p < .01). Additionally, there was a notable upregulation of SLPI in the endometrium in the bitches those died due to pyometra. Based on the ROC analysis results, it was observed that a cut-off concentration of 2.93 ng/mL for SLPI, 27.77 mg/dL for BUN and 16.3 × 103 /µL for TLC could effectively distinguish the prognosis of pyometra-affected dogs. From this study, it can be concluded that upregulation of SLPI in the endometrium and its elevated concentration in peripheral circulation along with TLC and BUN concentration could serve as valuable indicators for predicting the prognosis of pyometra in bitches.

Serum concentrations of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor and IL6 can predict the onset of sepsis in pyometra bitches.

As onset of sepsis adversely affects the prognosis of canine pyometra, finding biomarkers that would distinguish sepsis status would be useful in the clinical management. Accordingly, we hypothesized that differential expression of endometrial transcripts and circulating concentration of certain inflammatory mediators would discriminate pyometra-led sepsis (P-sepsis+) from those of pyometra without sepsis (P-sepsis-). Bitches with pyometra (n = 52) were classified into P-sepsis+ (n = 28) and P-sepsis- (n = 24) based on vital clinical score and total leukocyte count. A group of non-pyometra bitches (n = 12) served as control. The relative fold changes in the transcripts of IL6, IL8, TNFα, IL10, PTGS2, mPGES1 and PGFS, SLPI, S100A8, S100A12 and eNOS were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the serum concentrations of IL6, IL8, IL10, SLPI and prostaglandin F2α metabolite (PGFM) were assayed by ELISA. The relative fold changes in S100A12 and SLPI and mean concentrations of IL6 and SLPI were significantly (p < .05) higher in P-sepsis+ than that of P-sepsis- group. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that serum IL6 had a diagnostic sensitivity of 78.6% and a positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 2.09, at a cut-off value of 15.7 pg/mL to diagnose P-sepsis+ cases. Similarly, serum SLPI had a sensitivity of 84.6% and an LR+ of 2.23, at a cut-off value of 2.0 pg/mL. It was concluded that SLPI and IL6 would serve as putative biomarkers for pyometra-led sepsis in bitches. Monitoring SLPI and IL6 would be a useful adjunct to the established haemato-biochemical parameters in customizing the treatment strategies and arriving at the decision for management of pyometra bitches with critical illness.

Clinical evaluation following the percutaneous transplantation of allogenic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (aBM-MSC) in dogs affected by vertebral compression fracture.

Stem cell therapy has been extensively evaluated for its potential in managing neuronal diseases and disorders. The present study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of allogenic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (aBM-MSC) for the management of neural defects associated with vertebral compression fracture (VCF) in canine. Six clinical cases presented with the history of neural defects secondary to non-deviating VCFs were included in the present study. All the animals were subjected to detailed clinical, radiological, and haematological investigations and observations were recorded. The neurological defects in each case were graded based on routine neurological examination. The aBM-MSCs were isolated, cultured, and characterized as per ISCT criteria from the bone marrow collected from healthy dogs presented for elective surgery. The prepared cell suspension containing aBM-MSC at 3rd passage was utilized for transplantation in the clinical cases of VCF. Following the intraspinal administration of aBM-MSC, the dogs were treated with methylcobalamin and gabapentin orally throughout the study period. Improvement was evaluated on the basis of a detailed neurological examination. Significant improvement in locomotor status and sensory functions was observed in all the cases. Findings of the present study suggest that intraspinal administration of aBM-MSCs along with supportive therapy can be recommended as a therapeutic strategy for managing neural defects associated with non-deviating VCFs in canine patients.

Group Video Feedback is an Effective and Efficient Tool for Enhancing Skills of Surgical Interns.

BACKGROUND: Our group has shown that personalized video feedback (PVF) is better than a task demonstration video at increasing wound closure skills among incoming surgical interns. However, offering PVF can be time-consuming. We sought to compare the educational effects and time required for group video feedback (GVF) and PVF. METHODS: We have mailed our matched incoming "surgical" interns a "welcome package" in mid-March for the past 3 y. The package includes similar resources each year. Incoming interns were asked to video record themselves performing six tasks three separate times between April 1 and June 15. After each submission in 2016 and 2017, incoming interns received 2 min of personalized feedback on their three separate wound closure videos (PVF). In 2018, incoming interns received 5 min of group-based feedback three separate times covering all six tasks (GVF). We compared performance (July Surgical Olympics) of these six skills against the interns from the previous 2 y who received PVF on only one skill (suturing). RESULTS: Twenty-three incoming interns received the pre-residency package and participated in the 2018 Surgical Olympics. This 2018 GVF class had a higher overall mean score for six stations (31.5 [standard deviation = ±7.7]) than the 2016 and 2017 PVF classes (25.6 [standard deviation = ±8]; P < 0.0001). Knot tying ability and suturing skill were similar between the classes. The GVF group performed better on the remaining four skills . The total time of surgical staff and educators spent per class in 2018 (GVF class) was 30 min and includes six tasks compared with 276 min of effort in each of the 2016 and 2017 classes (PVF included one task). CONCLUSIONS: GVF and PVF as a component of preemptive training had the same effect on improving suturing skills among the interns. GVF required less educator editing and voice over time. GVF is effective and efficient in enhancing incoming interns' performance in multiple skills.

Echocardiographic study of healthy Indian Spitz dogs with normal reference ranges for the breed.

AIM: The present study was aimed to determine the normal reference values of M-mode echocardiographic measurements in healthy Indian Spitz dogs and evaluate the influence of gender and body weight on these measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: M-mode echocardiography was performed in twenty-four clinically healthy conscious Indian Spitz dogs, aged 3-5 years and weighing 7-18 kg. Measurements were made from the right parasternal long axis left ventricular outflow tract view of the heart. The parameters recorded were: Left ventricular internal dimension, interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness during diastole and systole, left atrial diameter, aortic root diameter, left ventricular systolic functional parameters, and indices and mitral valve parameters. RESULTS: M-mode echocardiographic measurements in healthy Indian Spitz dogs were standardized. Gender had no influence on echocardiographic measurements except mitral valve excursion amplitude and time interval between onset and end of mitral valve closure, which were significantly (p<0.05) higher in females than males. Left ventricular internal dimension at end-diastole, left ventricular internal dimension at end-systole, left ventricular posterior wall dimension at end-systole, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, stroke volume, cardiac output, left ventricular ejection time, and mitral valve excursion amplitude correlated significantly (p<0.05) with body weight in Indian Spitz dogs. CONCLUSION: Data obtained in the present study can be used as breed-specific reference values for cardiac disease diagnosis as well as for future studies in Indian Spitz dogs.

Proliferation of canine bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells on different nanomaterial based thin film scaffolds.

Stem cell niche research uses nanotechnologies to mimic the extra-cellular microenvironment to promote proliferation and differentiation. The aim of designing different scaffolds is to simulate the best structural and environmental pattern for extracellular matrix. This experiment was designed to study the proliferative behaviour of canine bone marrow deriver mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on different nanomaterial based thin film scaffolds of carbon nanotubes (CNT), chitosan and poly ε-caprolactone. Similar number of cells was seeded on the scaffolds and standard cell culture flask, taken as control. Cells were maintained on DMEM media and relative number of metabolically active cells was determined by MTT assay up to day six of culture. Cells proliferated on control and all the scaffolds as the days progressed. Although proliferation rate was slow but no decline of cell number was noticed on the scaffolds during the study period. Initially, the cell proliferation was lower on CNT but as time progressed no significant difference was observed compared to control. The result indicated that nanomaterial based scaffolds reduce the proliferation rate of canine MSCs. However, canine MSCs adapted and proliferated better on CNT substrate in vitro and may be used as a scaffold component in canine tissue engineering in future.

Vertebral scale system to measure heart size in thoracic radiographs of Indian Spitz, Labrador retriever and Mongrel dogs.

AIM: To establish reference values of vertebral heart score (VHS) in Indian Spitz, Labrador retriever, and Mongrel dogs; to assess applicability of VHS in these three dog breeds; to determine if breed, recumbency side, gender, body weight, and thoracic depth (TD) to thoracic width (TW) ratio has an influence on the VHS measurement in these dog breeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60, client owned, clinically healthy Indian Spitz (n=20, mean age = 4.25±2.15 years, body weight = 11.87±2.7 kg), Labrador retriever (n=20, mean age = 4.75±1.91 years, body weight = 27.31±5.43 kg), and Mongrel dogs (n=20, mean age = 4.25±1.52 years, body weight = 16.25±3.99 kg), having no radiological and clinical signs of cardiovascular or pulmonary disease were included in the study. All dogs were restrained manually and left lateral (LL) and right lateral (RL) radiographic views were obtained. The size of heart in lateral radiographs was calculated using VHS method. Besides, the TD, TW and TD: TW were calculated to determine the type of thoracic conformation in the dog breeds. In addition to this, the effect of breed, side of recumbency, gender, body weight, and TD to TW ratio on the calculation of VHS was determined. RESULTS: VHS was calculated in all the animals of the breeds. VHS in Spitz and Labrador retriever was significantly (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively) >9.7±0.5 v. RL and LL VHS in Mongrel dog was significantly (p<0.037) >9.7±0.5 v. Significant (p<0.05) differences in the VHS were observed among Spitz, Labrador retriever and Mongrel dogs, being higher for Labrador retriever followed by Spitz and Mongrel dogs. VHS in RL recumbency was significantly (p<0.001) greater than VHS in LL recumbency in all three breeds. LL and RL VHS correlated significantly with each other in Spitz (r=0.58; p=0.02), Labrador retriever (r=0.87; p<0.0001), and Mongrel dogs (r=0.93; p<0.0001). Significant (p<0.05) differences in the TD and TW were observed among Spitz, Labrador retriever, and Mongrel dogs. Non-significant effect of gender, body weight, and TD to TW ratio on the VHS measurement was observed in each dog breed. CONCLUSION: Breed-specific VHS reference ranges should be used for the objective measurement of heart size in dogs. Furthermore, the radiographic view should also be taken into consideration to avoid any erroneous interpretation of cardiac enlargement in dogs.