Equine umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate safety and efficacy in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for xenogeneic use with intra-articular administration in dogs with osteoarthritis. ANIMALS: 80 client-owned dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis in elbow or hip. PROCEDURES: A multicentric, double-blinded, parallel, randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed. After intra-articular injection of equine umbilical cord MSCs, dogs were reexamined at weeks 4, 8, and 12 using a force platform (gait analysis), orthopedic assessment, and validated owner questionnaire. Eighteen months after treatment, a long-term follow-up was done. RESULTS: Best results were obtained 8 weeks after treatment, where 63% of the patients showed an improvement in the gait analysis. Also 8 weeks after treatment, 77% of the dogs improved in the orthopedic examination; 65% of the owners considered that the treatment improved their pet's quality of life 8 weeks after treatment. The long-term follow-up revealed that 59% of the owners observed a duration of effect longer than 6 months after a single intra-articular injection of equine umbilical cord MSCs. No systemic or permanent adverse events were detected at any time point. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of this study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of intra-articular administration of xenogeneic MSCs for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis.

Ultrasonographic and CT diagnosis of a complete splenic duplication with right splenic torsion and presumed regional splenic vein hypertension in a dog.

An 8-year-old mixed breed dog, was referred for lethargy, abdominal discomfort, hematemesis, and melena. Abdominal ultrasound revealed mineralization of the "right splenic vein" with collateral spiraling and a suspected splenic duplication. Computed tomography confirmed the duplication along with torsion of the splenic pedicle. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed the splenic torsion associated with congestion of the gastrointestinal vessels, indicative of a chronic onset of secondary regional splenic vein hypertension.

Spontaneous emphysematous splenitis: Radiographic and ultrasonographic findings in three Golden Retriever dogs.

Spontaneous emphysematous splenitis is a life-threatening condition reported rarely in humans; however, published reports in dogs are currently lacking. The aim of this multicentric, retrospective, case series design study was to describe radiographic and ultrasonographic imaging findings in Golden Retriever dogs diagnosed with spontaneous emphysematous splenitis. A total of three dogs were sampled. All dogs had a history of lethargy, diarrhea, and weight loss. Radiographic findings in all dogs included a mass effect with focal or multifocal coalescing "vesicular-like" gas pattern in the splenic region and focal loss of serosal detail. Ultrasonographic findings in all dogs included focal or multifocal irregularly shaped, hypoechoic areas containing a mixture of hyperechoic fluid and gas within the splenic parenchyma, hyperechoic abdominal free fluid, and generalized hyperechoic mesenteric fat without evidence of splenic torsion. Pneumoperitoneum was detected ultrasonographically and radiographically in two dogs. All three dogs underwent splenectomy and splenic torsion was definitively ruled out at surgery. One dog died three days after surgery, whereas the other two dogs recovered uneventfully. Culture of the splenic tissue and free abdominal fluid was positive for Clostridium spp. in all three cases. Findings supported inclusion of spontaneous emphysematous splenitis and septic peritonitis as differential diagnoses for dogs with this combination of clinical and imaging characteristics.

COMPARISON BETWEEN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MIDDLE EAR IN NONBRACHYCEPHALIC AND BRACHYCEPHALIC DOGS WITH OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAY SYNDROME.

Prevalence of subclinical middle ear lesions in dogs that undergo computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging of the head has been reported up to 41%. A predisposition in brachycephalics has been suggested, however evidence-based studies are lacking. Aims of this retrospective cross-sectional study were to compare CT characteristics of the middle ear in groups of nonbrachycephalic and brachycephalic dogs that underwent CT of the head for conditions unrelated to ear disease, and test associations between thickness of the soft palate and presence of subclinical middle ear lesions. One observer recorded CT findings for each dog without knowledge of group status. A total of 65 dogs met inclusion criteria (25 brachycephalic, 40 nonbrachycephalic). Brachycephalic dogs had a significantly thicker bulla wall (P = 2.38 × 10(-26)) and smaller luminal volume (P = 5.74 × 10(-20)), when compared to nonbrachycephalic dogs. Soft palate thickness was significantly greater in the brachycephalic group (P = 2.76 × 10(-9)). Nine of 25 brachycephalic dogs had material in the lumen of the tympanic cavity, compared to zero of 45 of nonbrachycephalics. Within the brachycephalic group, a significant difference in mean soft palate thickness was identified for dogs with material in the middle ear (12.2 mm) vs. air-filled bullae (9 mm; P = 0.016). Findings from the current study supported previous theories that brachycephalic dogs have a greater prevalence of subclinical middle ear effusion and smaller bulla luminal size than nonbrachycephalic dogs. Authors recommend that the bulla lumen volume formula previously developed for mesaticephalic dogs, (-0.612 + 0.757 [lnBW]) be adjusted to 1/3(-0.612 + 0.757 [lnBW]) for brachycephalic breeds.

Hypertrophic osteopathy in a cat with a concurrent injection-site sarcoma.

Case summary An 11-year old neutered female domestic shorthair cat presented for investigation of a large, partially ulcerated skin mass in the area of the left scapula. The cat had been vaccinated 6 weeks previously in the same area. Haematology showed a marked neutrophilia and monocytosis. Tru-cut biopsies were taken and histopathology was consistent with a high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. Thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound revealed no abnormalities. Moderate mixed (palisading, brush border and smooth) periosteal reaction was seen on the diaphysis of long bones at the time of the radiographic examination. Magnetic resonance imaging of the mass showed infiltration within deeper tissues and the owners elected euthanasia. Post-mortem examination confirmed the presence of hypertrophic osteopathy with a concurrent injection-site sarcoma. No evidence of intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal disease was found. Relevance and novel information To our knowledge, this is the first report where hypertrophic osteopathy has been described in a cat with a soft tissue sarcoma, most likely an injection-site sarcoma.

Stress variables add differential diagnostic information between ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy over myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Noninvasive differentiation between ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and nonischemic (NICM) cardiomyopathy is frequently difficult. The aim of this study was to analyze the value of stress test and stress-rest gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) criteria to differentiate between ICM and NICM. METHODS: Data pertaining to 145 consecutive patients (mean age: 63±11 years, 24 women) assessed by means of stress-rest gated SPECT with Tc-tetrofosmin, with left ventricular ejection fraction less than or equal to 40% (107 patients with ICM and 38 with NICM according to coronary angiography) and known coronary anatomy, were analyzed. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses of gated SPECT variables identified a summed stress score greater than 21 [odds ratio (OR) 7.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.85-20.58)] and divergent pattern (OR 6.84, 95% CI: 1.83-25.5) as predictors of ICM, and analysis of exercise test variables disclosed metabolic equivalents less than or equal to 7.3 (OR 10.75, 95% CI: 3.64-31.81) and ST depression of at least 1 mm (OR 6.97, 95% CI: 1.42-34.3) as independent predictors of ICM. The exercise test variables had a significant additional predictive value of ICM over gated SPECT variables (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Estimated functional capacity and ST depression improve the diagnostic value of stress-rest SPECT to differentiate between ICM and NICM.

Metastatic carcinoma in the ulna of a cat secondary to a suspected pulmonary tumour.

A 14-year-old male neutered Burmese cat presented for investigation of right fore limb lameness that was non-responsive to anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids. Thoracic radiography showed multiple pulmonary soft tissue nodules and a larger cavitated mass. Right elbow radiographs revealed marked peri-articular proliferation of new bone and periosteal reaction primarily affecting the ulna. Histopathological examination of an incisional biopsy of the right ulna revealed neoplastic proliferation of epithelial cells; this was confirmed as a poorly differentiated carcinoma with immunohistochemistry. Amputation of the right fore limb was performed at the owner's request. After surgery, radiographs of the limb showed progression of bone proliferation. Repeat pathological analysis confirmed a metastatic carcinoma. The cat deteriorated 3 days after surgery and was euthanased a week later as a result of severe respiratory distress. This case represents an unusual case of metastasis of a suspected primary lung tumour to the ulna in a Burmese cat.