Elevated serum creatinine and hyponatraemia as prognostic factors in canine acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prognostic factors for canine acute pancreatitis (AP) based on clinical and laboratory data that can be easily assessed in veterinary practice. DESIGN: Retrospective study between January 2010 and December 2013. METHODS: The diagnosis of AP was based on clinical signs and an abnormal SNAP® cPL™ test result, concurrently with an ultrasound pattern suggestive of pancreatitis. Dogs were divided into survivors and non-survivors. We evaluated 12 clinical and laboratory parameters: respiratory rate, rectal temperature, white blood cells, haematocrit, total serum proteins, albumin, creatinine, cholesterol, total and ionised calcium, sodium and potassium. Clinical and clinicopathological data were statistically compared between survivors and non-survivors. A value of P < 0.05 was considered significant and P < 0.01 as highly significant. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated. RESULTS: The study enrolled 50 client-owned dogs with a diagnosis of AP. Serum creatinine (P = 0.017) and sodium (P = 0.004) correlated significantly with the outcome. Serum sodium < 139.0 mmol/L (139.0 mEq/L) and serum creatinine > 212 µmol/L (2.4 mg/dL) were associated significantly with poor prognosis. Azotaemia (OR 12.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32-118.48) and hyponatraemia (OR 4.9; 95% CI 1.36-17.64) were associated with increased risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: In dogs with AP, hyponatraemia and azotaemia seem to be significantly associated with an increased risk of death.

Chimaera opalescens n. sp., a new chimaeroid (Chondrichthyes: Holocephali) from the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean.

A new species of chimaeroid, Chimaera opalescens n. sp., was described from 31 type specimens caught in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean at 950-1400 m depth. This species differed from all its congeners by the combination of the following characters: body uniformly pale brown to bronze, iridescent on fresh specimens; unpaired fins brown to purple, uniformly coloured or with pale or whitish edges; iris black; claspers tripartite and divided for a third of their length, not extending beyond the pelvic fins in adults; dorsal spine equal to or shorter than first dorsal fin; ventral caudal lobe equal to or deeper than dorsal caudal lobe. Comparison of DNA sequences of the CO1 gene with those of related species supported C. opalescens n. sp. as a distinct species. Specimens of C. opalescens n. sp. were previously misidentified as Chimaera monstrosa, a species sharing a similar geographical distribution. Chimaera opalescens n. sp. lives in deeper water and is a larger-bodied species than C. monstrosa. The two species were newly exploited by deep-sea fisheries and confused under a single landing name.

Evaluation of oxidative stress in hunting dogs during exercise.

Exercise has been shown to increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to a point that can exceed antioxidant defenses, to cause oxidative stress. The aim of our trials was to evaluate oxidative stress and recovery times in trained dogs during two different hunting exercises, with reactive oxygen metabolites-derivatives (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) tests. A group of nine privately owned Italian hounds were included. A 20-min aerobic exercise and a 4-h aerobic exercise, after 30 days of rest, were performed by the dogs. Our results show an oxidative stress after exercise due to both the high concentration of oxidants (d-ROMs) and the low level of antioxidant power (BAP). Besides, the recovery time is faster after the 4-h aerobic exercise than the 20-min aerobic exercise. Oxidative stress monitoring during dogs exercise could become an interesting aid to establish ideal adaptation to training.

Induction of heat shock protein 70 reduces the alteration of striatal electrical activity caused by mitochondrial impairment.

Since mild thermal stress seems to exert neuroprotection via induction of heat-shock protein 70 kDa (hsp70), we tested whether hsp70 would preserve striatal bioelectrical activity under conditions of mitochondrial impairment. Corticostriatal slices from rats that had undergone mild thermal stress were exposed to either rotenone or 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), that selectively inhibits mitochondrial complex I and complex II, respectively. Rotenone is utilized to obtain an experimental model of Parkinson's disease while 3-NP replicates Huntington's disease phenotype in experimental animals. The cerebral hsp70 increase did not alter field potential amplitude of the slices but partially protected them against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity. Similarly, induction of hsp70 had also a partial neuroprotective effect on the neurotoxicity caused by 3-NP on striatal field potential. Since rotenone and 3-NP treatments mimic the mitochondrial impairment and oxidative stress that contribute to development of Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, these data suggest that induction of hsp70 might represent a possible neuroprotective mechanism against the pathophysiological chain of events implicated in these neurodegenerative disorders.

Plasma lipoprotein concentrations in the dog: the effects of gender, age, breed and diet.

Earlier studies of canine lipoprotein metabolism have frequently not taken into account such variables as age, gender, lifestyle or feeding status. In the last years, many changes to lifestyle and feeding of dogs have occurred. In this study, C-tot, C-HDL, C-LDL, triglycerides and lipoprotein fractions were determined in 251 healthy dogs by means of enzymatic methods and through the electrophoretic technique. All data were analysed by multifactor anova test to determine which factors (age, gender, breed and diet) have a statistically significant effect (p < 0.05) on the determined parameter and subsequently Bonferroni's test was applied where necessary. Gender, age, breed and diet can significantly affect lipid metabolism, in particular lipoproteins involved in cholesterol plasma transport; on the contrary, triglycerides are not influenced by the same factors. The most important observation about age is the high level of C-LDL in puppies under 1 year of age. The highest cholesterol concentrations are found in Rottweiler but high values of plasma cholesterol are found also in Pyrenees Mountain dog and a great level of C-LDL in Labrador. Diet has shown a great influence on lipidic metabolism: dogs fed with different high-quality dry foods had significant differences in plasma cholesterol values (C-tot, C-HDL, C-LDL,), in particular, dogs fed with a diet rich in fish and fish-by-products have shown the lowest levels of C-tot, C-HDL and C-LDL.

Analytical performances of d-ROMs test and BAP test in canine plasma. Definition of the normal range in healthy Labrador dogs.

An high level of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), due to an increased production of oxidant species and/or a decreased efficacy of antioxidant system, can lead to oxidative stress, an emerging health risk factor involved in the aging and in many diseases, including inflammatory, infectious and degenerative disorders, either in humans or in animals. In the last years some assays panels have been developed to globally evaluate the oxidative balance by means of the concomitant assessment of ROS production and antioxidant system capability. In this report, the validation trials of d-ROMs (Reactive Oxygen Metabolites- derived compounds) and BAP (Biological Antioxidant Potential) tests in canine specie are described and also the specific referral ranges are calculated in a Labrador population. The results of linearity, precision and accuracy trials show that both tests exhibit good to excellent analytical performances. The possibility of measuring oxidative stress in vivo with simple, cheap and accurate tests, d-ROMs test and BAP test, provides for the veterinarians a very suitable tool to monitor oxidative stress and to correctly choice of eventual antioxidant supplementations in diseases proven related to oxidative stress in animals and particularly in dogs. Further studies will be useful to confirm this possibility.

[Work related sensitization risk in hotel school students, the role of garlic]. / Rischio di sensibilizzazione "professionale" in studenti di scuola alberghiera, il ruolo dell'aglio.

We want to evaluate the incidence of allergic problems in a population of catering students at the beginning and after 3 and 5 years of their course. We enrolled in the study 601 students of a professional catering school: 412 in the first year and 189 in the fifth years. We used two questionnaires to investigate respiratory problems and dermatological ones. All the subjects were also patch tested with 10 aptens. The incidence of reported symptoms of allergy was higher in fifth year than in first one. We can observe a rising in positive reaction between the two group of students to Balsam Perù, Nickel, Fragrance mix and Garlic. In particular we found an higher incidence of positive patch reaction in female population. On the contrary the rising in positive reaction to Garlic is higher in male. About two third of the subjects positive to garlic present a sensitization to diallyl disulphide. The rising of positive patch test reactions to Garlic and Balsam Perù should be caused by the contact with cooking spices. The higher incidence of allergic pathology between students during fifth year of school and students at first year is probably due to scholastic practical activity.

Evaluation of fungicidal efficacy of benzalkonium chloride (Steramina G u.v.) and Virkon-S against Microsporum canis for environmental disinfection.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of Steramina G u.v. (10% solution of alkyldimetylbenzylammonium chloride; Formenti Grünenthal) and Virkon-S (multipurpose system; Antec International) against Microsporum canis-infected hairs and spores. Samples were collected from a random sample of household cats and from subjects from catteries. Seventy M. canis-positive hairbrushes containing furs, keratin scales and other organic material were treated with each of the two disinfectants, using concentrations recommended by the manufacturer's instructions (2% and 1% for Steramina G u.v. and Virkon-S, respectively). Each brush remained in contact with the antifungal solution for 10 min. After this period, the brushes were air-dried, then seeded into mycobiotic agar, and incubated for up to 21 days at 28 degrees C. The disinfectants were considered effective if dermatophytes failed to grow. Steramina G u.v. was effective in 97.14% of samples and Virkon-S in 87.14%. The antifungal activity of Steramina G u.v. against M. canis was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of Virkon-S.

The plasma kinetics and tissue distribution of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin in the Muscovy duck.

The disposition and tissue distribution of enrofloxacin and of its main metabolite ciprofloxacin were investigated in ducks after oral or intramuscular administration of a single dose of 10 mg/kg enrofloxacin. Plasma and tissue concentrations were determined by a HPLC method. The peak concentrations of enrofloxacin after intramuscular administration (1.67 micrograms/ml at 0.9 h) were higher than after an oral dose (0.99 microgram/ml at 1.38 h). The relative bioavailability of enrofloxacin after administration directly into the crop was 68%, while the metabolic conversion of enrofloxacin to ciprofloxacin was quite low (< 10%) with both routes of administration. High tissue concentrations and high tissue:plasma concentration ratios were demonstrated for enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin 24 h after treatment. It was concluded that a dose of 10 mg/kg per day provides serum and tissue concentrations sufficiently high to be effective in the control of many infectious diseases of ducks.

The effect of ethanol, beer, and wine on histamine release from the dog stomach.

The mediator for the action of ethanol on the parietal cell of the stomach is not known. However, because the action of ethanol on gastric acid secretion was proposed to involve the release of histamine, we decided to investigate the effects of ethanol and some alcoholic beverages (red wine and beer) on histamine release from the dog stomach. After performing a splenectomy in anaesthetized beagle dogs, the gastrosplenic vein draining the corpus of the stomach was cannulated for blood withdrawal to evaluate the local release of gastrin and histamine by RIA. Intragastric administration of 200 ml of beer (4.8% ethanol) or red wine (12.5% ethanol) caused a significant enhancement in gastrin and histamine concentrations in venous blood from the stomach. By contrast, intragastric administration of pure ethanol in distilled water at the same concentrations of wine or beer did not significantly modify gastrin and histamine release. Integrated histamine responses for 20 min to beer and wine paralleled gastrin concentrations and were of the same magnitude of those induced by intravenous infusion of pentagastrin at 1 and 6 micrograms/ kg/h, respectively. We conclude that: 1) beer and red wine, but not pure ethanol, are potent releasers of histamine; 2) histamine release seems to be related to the gastrin response and probably occurs at the level of enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells; 3) the ethanol content of these drinks is not important for their stimulant effect, indicating that some other components of beer and wine are responsible for gastrin and histamine release from the dog stomach.

Synthesis and local anaesthetic activity of some 7-amino-2-dialkylaminoalkylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyridine derivatives.

A number of 7-amino-2-dialkylaminoalkylpyrrolo[3,4-c] pyridin-1,3(2H)-dione derivatives were synthesized and their local anaesthetic activity was evaluated in vivo by corneal anaesthesia in rabbits. Only compounds 3,9 and 14 showed any activity, albeit lower than that of the reference drug lidocaine.

Synthesis, antiinflammatory activity and platelet antiaggregating activity of a new series of beta-aminoxypropionic acids.

A series of beta-aminoxypropionic acids (AOPAs) had previously been designed and synthesised as analogues of antiinflammatory arylacetic acids (ArAAs) in which the Ar portion is substituted by the (methyleneaminoxy) methyl moiety (C = NOCH2, MAOMM). Most of these AOPAs had exhibited a significant antiinflammatory and antiaggregating activity. This paper reports the synthesis of a new series of beta-aminoxypropionic acids (SAOPAs) which include the saturated (methylaminoxy)methyl moiety (CHNH-OCH2, SMAOMM) in the place of the MAOMM present in AOPAs. The antiinflammatory activity of SAOPAs was evaluated by the carrageenan-induced paw edema method and the antiaggregating activity was evaluated by means of tests using arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) as the aggregating agents. Two SAOPAs were evaluated for their capacity to inhibit the cyclooxygenase enzyme by measuring the malondialdehyde (MDA) produced by incubation of sodium arachidonate with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The pharmacological results showed that the saturation of the iminic double bond led to a reduction or even the disappearance of the antiaggreganting activity, whereas it did not induce any evident changes in the antiinflammatory activity. Theoretical studies were carried out in order to compare the conformation and the molecular reactivity of SAOPAs with those of AOPAs.

Regulation of gastric acid secretion by histamine H3 receptors in the dog: an investigation into the site of action.

The involvement of histamine H3 receptors in the regulation of gastric acid secretion was investigated in the conscious dog with gastric fistula, by the use of the selective agonist (R)alpha-methylhistamine and the selective antagonist thioperamide. (R)alpha-methylhistamine (0.3-1.2 mumol/kg/h) induced a dose-related inhibition of the acid secretion induced by pentagastrin and by bombesin, maximum inhibition not exceeding 60-65%. The inhibitory effect of the H3 agonist (0.6 mumol/kg/h) was inhibited by thioperamide (0.1 mumol/kg/h), suggesting that the effect was entirely mediated by H3 receptors. Thioperamide was also able to enhance the acid response to submaximal doses of pentagastrin and bombesin. The acid secretion induced by histamine was not modified by (R)alpha-methylhistamine (0.3-1.2 mumol/kg/h) but it was significantly enhanced by thioperamide (0.1 mumol/kg/h). Neither (R)alpha-methylhistamine nor thioperamide significantly modified the increase in plasma gastrin levels induced by bombesin. In conclusion these data demonstrate that histamine H3 receptors may represent an effective mechanism for the negative control of stimulated gastric acid secretion in the dog; however, since the inhibition was mainly evident against stimuli which involve the release of histamine, a location of H3 receptors in paracrine cells of the gastric mucosa rather than in gastrin producing cells or parietal cells seems more likely.