Correlation between clinical signs of depth of anaesthesia and cerebral state index responses in dogs during induction of anaesthesia with propofol

The cerebral state index (CSI) is used for monitoring EEG and depth of anaesthesia. The objective of this study was to analyse the correlation between ocular reflexes, CSI and estimated propofol plasma concentrations (PropCP) in dogs during induction of anaesthesia with propofol.Fourteen dogs were premedicated with acepromazine 0.05 mg kg⁻¹ IM. Anaesthesia was induced with a 200 ml h⁻¹ propofol 1% constant infusion rate until loss of corneal reflex using RugLoop II software with Beths’ pharmacokinetic model to estimate PropCp.Palpebral reflex (PR) and the corneal reflex (CR) were tested every 30 s and classified as present (+) or absent (−), and eyeball position was registered as rotated ventromedialy (ERV) or centred (EC).Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and CSI values were analyzed from baseline before the beginning of propofol infusion (T0) until loss of CR; CSI and PropCp, CSI and anaesthetic planes, and PropCp and anaesthetic planes were compared using correlation analysis.PropCp reached 7.65 ± 2.1 μg ml⁻¹ at the end of the study. CSI values at T0 were 89.2 ± 3.8. Based on the observation of ocular reflexes and eyeball position, it was possible to define five anaesthetic planes: A (superficial) to E (deep), being A (PR+/CR+/EC), B (PR+/ERV/CR+), C (PR−/ERV/CR+), D (PR−/EC/CR+) and E (PR−/EC/CR−). There was a significant correlation between PropCp and the anaesthetic planes (R = 0,861; P < 0.01). No significant correlation was observed between CSI and the anaesthetic planes or between CSI and PropCp. MAP decreased significantly from T0 until loss of corneal reflex (from 98 ± 14 mmHg to 82 ± 12 mmHg); HR did not change significantly (from 101 ± 30 bpm to 113 ± 16 bpm).The CSI monitoring was not consistent with the clinical observations observed in the different stages of depth anaesthesia. This could limit the use of CSI for monitoring depth of anaesthesia with propofol.     

Blood Lactate Concentrations in Anesthetized Dogs with Intracranial Disease

Background: The importance of blood lactate concentrations in dogs with intracranial disease has not been established, despite frequently observed hyperlactatemia in dogs undergoing general anesthesia for advanced imaging, surgery, or both.
Hypothesis: Blood lactate concentrations are elevated in anesthetized dogs with intracranial disease, compared with dogs with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD).
Animals: Eighty-five hospitalized dogs undergoing advanced imaging, surgery, or both for primary neurologic disease; 30 with intracranial disease; 55 with IVDD.
Methods: Retrospective study. Age, breed, neurologic diagnosis, time from anesthesia induction to measurement of blood lactate, blood lactate concentration under anesthesia, and concurrently measured heart rate, mean arterial pressure, PCV, arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation, and arterial partial pressure of oxygen were included in a multivariable linear regression analysis.
Results: Dogs with meningioma (adjusted mean lactate 2.99 mmol/L, 95% CL 2.21–4.05, P < 0.0001) and hydrocephalus (adjusted mean lactate 1.5 mmol/L, 95% CL 0.99–2.27, P = 0.003) had higher blood lactate concentrations compared with dogs with IVDD (adjusted mean lactate 0.79 mmol/L, 95% CL 0.6–1.04). Only dogs with meningioma had clinically important hyperlactatemia (>2.5 mmol/L).
Conclusions: Prospective studies are warranted to determine the degree and clinical importance of high blood lactate concentrations in dogs with intracranial disease.     

近红外量子点表皮生长因子单克隆抗体荧光探针对金黄地鼠颊黏膜癌变过程的动态可视化荧光成像研究

目的 利用近红外量子点表皮生长因子单克隆抗体荧光探针对由9,10-二甲基1,2苯并蒽（9,10-dimethylen-1,2-benzanthracene,DMBA）诱导建立的金黄地鼠颊黏膜癌变过程进行动态可视化荧光成像研究。方法 （1）用0.5%DMBA丙酮液诱导建立金黄地鼠颊黏膜癌变各期模型;（2）将水溶性近红外荧光量子点（QD800）表面功能性的修饰藕连表皮生长因子受体单克隆抗体（EGFR mAb）后,形成具有靶向功能性的QD800-EGFR mAb荧光探针;（3）将QD800-EGFR mAb经金黄地鼠各期癌变模型尾静脉注射入血液循环系统以靶向适配原理显示其颊黏膜动态癌变过程荧光图像。结果 （1）QD800-EGFR mAb能够通过血液循环系统与金黄地鼠颊黏膜癌变细胞上的EGFR特异性的靶向适配并荧光显影;（2）QD800-EGFR mAb显示的荧光图像随着金黄地鼠颊黏膜癌变程度的加深而增强,且能准确地显示癌灶的形状及浸润深度。结论 QD800-EGFR mAb通过与口腔癌不同癌变阶段癌细胞表面的EGFR靶向性适配结合来显示个体化荧光图像,可能对以后临床研究口腔癌的发生发展及转移规律发挥巨大的影响。     

Brain Abscess in a 4-Month-Old Filly: A Case Report

Although recognized as a possible complication to sepsis, there are few published reports on brain abscesses in foals. This case report describes a 4-month-old Icelandic filly that, as a neonate, had a history of pyrexia and lameness, which resolved with antibiotic treatment. Approximately 3 months later, the foal developed neurological signs which were initially attributed to trauma; she was referred for further investigation. The clinical signs were consistent with a lesion of the right forebrain. Computed tomography examination revealed a mass, approximately 6 cm in diameter, located in the right cerebral hemisphere craniolateral to the right lateral ventricle. Because of the poor prognosis, the foal was killed, and a postmortem was performed. The findings confirmed the presence of an abscess of the right cerebral hemisphere, leading to severe atrophy of the cortex and dilation of both lateral ventricles. The left hemisphere was moderate-to-severe atrophic and had displaced to the left. Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus was isolated in pure culture from the abscess. The clinical features of the foal were compared with the pathological findings.     

Hereditary ataxia in the Jack Russell Terrier--clinical and genetic investigations

Hereditary ataxia in the Jack Russell Terrier (JRT) is characterized by a gait disturbance with symmetric generalized ataxia and hypermetric and spastic movements. Histopathology shows a disease of the entire central nervous system, predominantly an axonopathy. In the present study, 35 clinically affected dogs were examined. Gait abnormalities began at 2-9 months of age. Generalized seizures occurred in 13 dogs in addition to the ataxia, and 7 dogs developed respiratory distress. Brain stem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEPs) were abnormal in 4 of 8 examined dogs, in which only waves I and II were detected. Abnormal BAEPs suggest the possibility of hereditary ataxia in the JRT. Investigations regarding the mode of inheritance were performed by complex segregation analyses on 3 pedigrees with a total of 115 JRTs (27 clinically affected dogs and 88 unaffected littermates and ancestors). Different modes of inheritance were tested, including monogenic, mixed, and polygenic models, as well as a model with environmental effects only. Models with genetic effects explained the data significantly better than the environmental model. The monogenic model had to be rejected in this study because of an insufficient match of data when compared to that of the most general model. The polygenic and mixed major gene models explained the pedigree data best and therefore have to be regarded as possible hypotheses for the mode of inheritance of hereditary ataxia in the JRT. The polygenic model proved best suited to explain the segregation pattern in the JRT, because it had the fewest number of parameters.     

Central and peripheral effects of repeated noise stress on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in pigs

The present study was performed to examine the effects of a repeated noise exposure (4 weeks) on basal and noise-induced plasma adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH), cortisol and corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) levels, brain glucocorticoid receptors (GR) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) concentrations as well as on the morphology of adrenal glands in German Landrace pigs. Chronically cannulated pigs were exposed to either a daily stimulation with broad-band noise (2 h, 90 dB) (N1), or to the same stimulus three times a week (N2), or to an equal handling procedure without noise stimulation. Noise exposure caused an increase of basal CBG concentrations in N1 animals in the first week. During noise session, an increase of plasma ACTH and cortisol levels in N1 animals was measured in week 1 followed by a subsequent decrease until week 4. The ACTH and cortisol response of the N2 animals increased after week 1 and was significantly elevated in week 4. Furthermore, noise stress caused an increased hippocampal GR binding of N2 pigs, but had no effects on GR binding in the amygdala and on hypothalamic CRH levels. There were also significant structural modifications in the adrenal gland of N1 pigs resulting in differentiated effects on the adrenal cortex and medulla. The present results show that repeated noise exposure of pigs causes considerable alterations at different levels of the HPA system in association with the frequency of noise stimulation. This may have substantial impact on the general vulnerability of the animal with respect to productivity, health and welfare.     

Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis in dogs: A review

: Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in dogs that is characterised by focal or disseminated granulomatous lesions within the brain and/or spinal cord, non-suppurative meningitis and perivascular mononuclear cuffing. The aetiology of the disease remains unknown, although an immune-mediated cause is suspected. This article reviewed the typical history, clinical signs and pathology of the condition along with current opinions on pathogenesis. The potential differential diagnoses for the disease were discussed along with current treatment options.     

Evaluation of telomerase-targeted therapies in canine cancer cell lines

Despite advances in conventional therapeutics, cancer remains an invariably fatal disease, the major challenge being to develop tumour‐specific cancer treatment strategies. Current treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy rely on a crude distinction between cancer cells and normal cells. However, with an increased understanding of the molecular events in the development of cancer, it is possible that far more innovative and targeted approaches can be developed. From studies on humans and dogs, the enzyme telomerase has emerged as a central unifying mechanism underlying the immortal phenotype of cancer and has thus become a candidate for differentiating between normal and cancer cells. The level and frequency of telomerase activity and component gene expression in cancers reinforces this as a potential target for cancer therapies. This article describes two approaches to target cancer by capitalizing on the expression of this enzyme. In the first approach, we target the enzyme itself, the goal being to cause cancer cell death. In the second approach, we utilize the respective gene promoters for telomerase component enzymes to drive expression of a reporter gene in cancer cell lines. The results demonstrated that targeted gene expression using promoter elements can be achieved specifically in telomerase‐positive cell lines. However, targeting the enzyme itself proved less successful and warrants investigations into alternative approaches.     

Level of copeptin for early prediction of cardiorenal syndrome in rats

AIM: To study the value of copeptin (CPP) level for the prediction of cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) in the rats with subtotal nephrectomy (SNX) combined with myocardial infarction (MI).METHODS: Male SD rats (n=60) were divided into blank control group (Con group), renal failure group (SNX group), heart failure group (MI group) and heart failure+renal failure group (CRS group). The concentrations of CPP in the serum and urine, hemodynamic indexes, blood pressure and renal function indexes were measured 1~5 weeks after modeling. The predictive value of CPP for CRS in the rats was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.RESULTS: Compared with Con group, left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) at 9 d in CRS group was significantly decreased (P<0.05), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) at 9 d in CRS group was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the difference of blood pressure at each time point was not statistically significant. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and urinary creatinine (UCr) in CRS group were significantly increased at 1 and 3 weeks (P<0.05). Compared with Con group, serum CPP level was significantly increased at 1, 3 and 5 weeks (P<0.05), and urine CPP level was significantly increased at 3 weeks in CRS group. Serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was significantly increased at 1 and 3 weeks, while urine BNP level was significantly increased at 5 weeks after modeling in CRS group (P<0.05). No correlation between serum or urine CPP and BNP or BUN levels at 1 week in CRS group was observed. The results of ROC curve analysis indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) of serum CPP was 0.908 (95% CI:0.789~1.028), and the cut-off value was 56.59 ng/L (sensitivity 0.875, specificity 0.800).CONCLUSION: The combination of SNX and MI establishes a CRS rat model with both heart and kidney injury, and serum CPP can be used as a sensitive and specific biomarker for early prediction of CRS.