Cancer detection in dogs using rapid Raman molecular urinalysis.

Introduction: The presence of cancer in dogs was detected by Raman spectroscopy of urine samples and chemometric analysis of spectroscopic data. The procedure created a multimolecular spectral fingerprint with hundreds of features related directly to the chemical composition of the urine specimen. These were then used to detect the broad presence of cancer in dog urine as well as the specific presence of lymphoma, urothelial carcinoma, osteosarcoma, and mast cell tumor. Methods: Urine samples were collected via voiding, cystocentesis, or catheterization from 89 dogs with no history or evidence of neoplastic disease, 100 dogs diagnosed with cancer, and 16 dogs diagnosed with non-neoplastic urinary tract or renal disease. Raman spectra were obtained of the unprocessed bulk liquid urine samples and were analyzed by ISREA, principal component analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) were applied using the Rametrix®Toolbox software. Results and discussion: The procedure identified a spectral fingerprint for cancer in canine urine, resulting in a urine screening test with 92.7% overall accuracy for a cancer vs. cancer-free designation. The urine screen performed with 94.0% sensitivity, 90.5% specificity, 94.5% positive predictive value (PPV), 89.6% negative predictive value (NPV), 9.9 positive likelihood ratio (LR+), and 0.067 negative likelihood ratio (LR-). Raman bands responsible for discerning cancer were extracted from the analysis and biomolecular associations were obtained. The urine screen was more effective in distinguishing urothelial carcinoma from the other cancers mentioned above. Detection and classification of cancer in dogs using a simple, non-invasive, rapid urine screen (as compared to liquid biopsies using peripheral blood samples) is a critical advancement in case management and treatment, especially in breeds predisposed to specific types of cancer.

Histotripsy ablation for the treatment of feline injection site sarcomas: a first-in-cat in vivo feasibility study.

PURPOSE: Feline soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and injection site sarcoma (fISS) are rapidly growing tumors with low metastatic potential, but locally aggressive behavior. Histotripsy is a non-invasive focused ultrasound therapy using controlled acoustic cavitation to mechanically disintegrate tissue. In this study, we investigated the in vivo safety and feasibility of histotripsy to treat fISS using a custom 1 MHz transducer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three cats with naturally-occurring STS were treated with histotripsy before surgical removal of the tumor 3 to 6 days later. Gross and histological analyses were used to characterize the ablation efficacy of the treatment, and routine immunohistochemistry and batched cytokine analysis were used to investigate the acute immunological effects of histotripsy. RESULTS: Results showed that histotripsy ablation was achievable and well-tolerated in all three cats. Precise cavitation bubble clouds were generated in all patients, and hematoxylin & eosin stained tissues revealed ablative damage in targeted regions. Immunohistochemical results identified an increase in IBA-1 positive cells in treated tissues, and no significant changes in cytokine concentrations were identified post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results of this study demonstrate the safety and feasibility of histotripsy to target and ablate superficial feline STS and fISS tumors and guide the clinical development of histotripsy devices for this application.

Plasma Vitamin D (25-Hydroxyvitamin D) Levels in Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots (Amazona ventralis) Housed Indoors Over Time.

Vitamin D is a hormone that can be ingested or synthesized in the body when skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UV), typically from sunlight. In captivity, birds with no sunlight exposure may develop vitamin D deficiencies that may contribute to hypocalcemic conditions, even when fed a diet supplemented with vitamin D. An initial pilot study with Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) conducted approximately 18 mo prior indicated there were significant differences in the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vit D) plasma levels between the resident parrots (indoor-only housing) and a new group of historically outdoor-housed parrots (new parrots) 5 days after the arrival of the latter at our institution. The goals of this study were to determine if vit D, ionized calcium (Ca2+), and ionized magnesium (Mg2+) levels changed from baseline values (taken 18 mo prior) in the new birds as well as to compare those values to those of the resident birds over time. The treatment was a change in husbandry for the new parrots (no UV exposure and diet as provided for the resident parrots). To accomplish this, the authors compared vit D levels in the same two groups of birds that were fed the same vit D-fortified diet and given no access to natural or artificial UV light exposure for 18 mo. The resident parrots (N = 9) had been housed indoors for approximately 20 yr with no exposure to natural or supplemented UV light. The second group of birds (new parrots; N = 8) had been housed outdoors prior to the initiation of the pilot study in 2016 and were fed a similar-but not identical-diet prior to their arrival. Plasma samples were sent to the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health for analysis. Test results demonstrated differences between the two groups of parrots, largely attributed to the decrease in vit D plasma levels in the new parrots over time to values equivalent to those measured in the resident birds. Differences were seen in plasma Ca2+, while no differences were demonstrated relative to Mg2+. We discuss these findings and suggest that plasma vit D levels decrease in the absence of UV light, even when animals are maintained on a vit D-fortified and balanced diet.