Assessment of regional systolic and diastolic myocardial function using tissue Doppler and strain imaging in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) or strain (St) imaging could provide sensitive indices for early detection and treatment follow-up of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Analysis of TDI and St features in dogs with overt DCM is a prerequisite before using these new criteria in prospective screenings of predisposed families or in clinical trials. HYPOTHESIS: Radial and longitudinal right and left myocardial motion, assessed by TDI and St variables, is altered in dogs with DCM. ANIMALS: Case records for 26 dogs; 14 with DCM and 12 healthy controls of comparable age and weight were reviewed. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of conventional echocardiography, 2-dimensional color TDI, and St imaging data. RESULTS: The DCM group was characterized by decreases in radial and longitudinal systolic velocity gradients of the left ventricular free wall (LVFW), radial and longitudinal absolute values of peak systolic St of the LVFW, and longitudinal systolic right ventricular (RV) velocities (all P < .001 versus control) associated with longitudinal postsystolic contraction waves in 7/14 dogs. Early diastolic LVFW velocities also were decreased for longitudinal (P < .01) and radial (P < .05) motions. All radial LVFW, longitudinal basal LVFW, and RV systolic velocities were negatively correlated with heart rate (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: LV contractility along both the short and long axes is impaired in dogs with spontaneous DCM, as is systolic RV and diastolic LVFW function. These myocardial alterations are associated with an inverse force-frequency relationship. Studies now are needed to determine the comparative sensitivity of TDI and St variables for the early detection of canine DCM.     

Accuracy of the modified vertebral heart score and the cardio-vertebral ratio for radiographic evaluation of cardiomegaly in ferrets

Thoracic radiography is commonly used to assess the size of the heart and diagnose cardiac disease in ferrets. Several standardized radiographic heart size indicators have been introduced in this species and values in healthy ferrets have been reported. To date, none of these indicators has been tested in ferrets with cardiac disease. The aim of this prospective and retrospective, analytical observational design study was to assess the accuracy of the modified vertebral heart score (mVHS) and the cardio-vertebral ratio (CVR) in the radiographic detection of cardiomegaly in ferrets. Thoracic radiographs of 24 ferrets with confirmed heart diseases, 22 ferrets with non-cardiac diseases and normal-sized hearts on echocardiogram, and 24 healthy ferrets were mixed and examined by three independent and blinded radiologists who measured mVHS and CVR in right lateral (RL) and ventrodorsal (VD) radiographs. For all readers, ferrets with cardiac disease had significantly higher mVHS and CVR than ferrets without cardiac disease on echocardiography. Optimal cut-points for predicting cardiac enlargement were 6.25 vertebrae and 7.25 vertebrae for RL-mVHS and VD-mVHS, and 1.58 and 1.80 for RL-CVR and VD-CVR, respectively. Using these cut-points, the accuracy was good for indicators measured in RL radiographs (92.9% for RL-mVHS; 91.4% for RL-CVR) and moderate for indicators measured in VD radiographs (88.6% for VD-mVHS; 85.7% for VD-CVR). Findings supported the use of mVHS and CVR for evaluating the size of the heart in diseased ferrets, with caution in values interpretation when pericardial fat prevents precise delineation of the cardiac silhouette contour especially on VD radiographs.     

Radial strain and strain rate by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography and the tissue velocity based technique in the dog

ObjectivesTwo-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a new angle-independent ultrasound technique based on tracking of speckles within the myocardium on 2D grayscale images. The aims of this prospective study were as follows: (1) to assess the variability of left ventricular peak systolic radial strain (St) and strain rate (SR) in awake dogs using STE (Protocol 1); and (2) to quantify these variables in a healthy canine population and compare them with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)-based St and SR values (Protocol 2).BackgroundSt and SR may be assessed using TDI, which is limited by angle dependency.Animals, materials and methodsThirty-six STE examinations were performed on 6 healthy dogs for Protocol 1 and 37 healthy dogs were recruited for Protocol 2. In both studies, STE measurements were obtained offline from the right parasternal short-axis view by the same trained observer using automatic frame-to-frame tracking of grayscale speckle patterns.ResultsAll within- and between-day coefficients of variation were <10% (Protocol 1). In Protocol 2, St (46.7 ± 12.2%) and SR (2.7 ± 0.6 s⁻¹) measured by STE were correlated with heart rate (p < 0.01), but not with the ratio of early mitral inflow velocity to early mitral annular velocity. There was a good correlation between STE and TDI for both St and SR values (p < 0.001).ConclusionsSTE is a repeatable and reproducible non-Doppler method for assessing radial St and SR. The combination of these indices with conventional echo-Doppler variables could provide a new approach for accurately quantifying canine systolic function.     

Soil quality characteristics of traditional agroforestry systems in Mouzaki area,central Greece

Agroforestry Systems - Agroforestry systems (AFS) are characterized by growing trees and crops on the same area, aiming at sustainable production and better natural resources management, whilst...     

Diagnostic evaluation and short-term outcome as indicators of long-term prognosis in horses with findings suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease treated with corticosteroids and anthelmintics

Background

Recurrent colic and unexplained weight loss despite good appetite and adequate feeding and management practices are common conditions in the horse. However, little information has been published on the systematic diagnostic evaluation, response to treatment, prognostic factors or outcome of either presentation. The aims of this study were to 1) identify possible prognostic indicators and 2) report the short- and long-term response to treatment with corticosteroid therapy of a variety of horses with a presumptive diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Thirty-six horses with a history of recurrent colic and/or unexplained weight loss were screened with a detailed clinical, clinicopathological and diagnostic imaging examination. Twenty horses were subsequently selected that had findings consistent with inflammatory bowel disease based on the fulfilment of one or more of the following additional inclusion criteria: hypoproteinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, malabsorption, an increased intestinal wall thickness on ultrasonographic examination or histopathological changes in rectal biopsy. These 20 horses were treated with a standardized larvicidal anthelmintic regime and a minimum of three weeks of corticosteroid therapy.

Results

The initial response to treatment was good in 75% (15/20) of horses, with a 3-year survival rate of 65% (13/20). The overall 3-year survival in horses that responded to initial treatment (12/15) was significantly higher (P = 0.031) than in those that did not respond to initial treatment (1/5). The peak xylose concentration was significantly (P = 0.048) higher in survivors (1.36 ± 0.44 mmol/L) than non-survivors (0.94 ± 0.36 mmol/L).

Conclusions

The overall prognosis for long-term survival in horses with a presumptive diagnosis of IBD appears to be fair to moderate, and the initial response to anthelmintic and corticosteroid therapy could be a useful prognostic indicator. The findings of the present study suggest that a low peak xylose concentration in absorption testing is associated with a less favourable prognosis, supporting the use of this test.     

A comparison in dogs of medetomidine,with or without MK‐467, and the combination acepromazine‐butorphanol as premedication prior to anaesthesia induced by propofol and maintained with isoflurane

ObjectiveTo compare the haemodynamic effects of three premedicant regimens during propofol-induced isoflurane anaesthesia.Study designProspective, randomized cross-over study.AnimalsEight healthy purpose-bred beagles aged 4 years and weighing mean 13.6 ± SD 1.9 kg.MethodsThe dogs were instrumented whilst under isoflurane anaesthesia prior to each experiment, then allowed to recover for 60 minutes. Each dog was treated with three different premedications given intravenously (IV): medetomidine 10 μg kg^?1 (MED), medetomidine 10 μg kg^?1 with MK-467 250 μg kg^?1 (MMK), or acepromazine 0.01 mg kg^?1 with butorphanol 0.3 mg kg^?1 (AB). Anaesthesia was induced 20 minutes later with propofol and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen for 60 minutes. Heart rate (HR), cardiac output, arterial blood pressures (ABP), central venous pressure (CVP), respiratory rate, inspired oxygen fraction, rectal temperature (RT) and bispectral index (BIS) were measured and arterial and venous blood gases analyzed. Cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), oxygen delivery index (DO₂I), systemic oxygen consumption index (VO₂I) and oxygen extraction (EO₂) were calculated. Times to extubation, righting, sternal recumbency and walking were recorded. The differences between treatment groups were evaluated with repeated measures analysis of covariance.ResultsHR, CI, DO₂I and BIS were significantly lower with MED than with MMK. ABP, CVP, SVRI, EO₂, RT and arterial lactate were significantly higher with MED than with MMK and AB. HR and ABP were significantly higher with MMK than with AB. However, CVP, CI, SVRI, DO₂I, VO₂I, EO₂, T, BIS and blood lactate did not differ significantly between MMK and AB. The times to extubation, righting, sternal recumbency and walking were significantly shorter with MMK than with MED and AB.Conclusions and clinical relevanceMK-467 attenuates certain cardiovascular effects of medetomidine in dogs anaesthetized with isoflurane. The cardiovascular effects of MMK are very similar to those of AB.     

Manufacture and characterization of pasta made with wheat flour rendered gluten-free using fungal proteases and selected sourdough lactic acid bacteria

Wheat flour, which was rendered gluten-free by sourdough lactic acid bacteria fermentation and fungal proteases, was used for manufacturing experimental gluten-free pasta (E-GFp), according to a traditional process with low temperature drying cycle. Chemical, technological, structural, nutritional and sensory features were characterized and compared with those of commercial gluten-free (C-GFp) and durum wheat pasta (C-DWp). As shown through immunological analyses, the residual concentration of gluten of the hydrolyzed wheat flour was below 10 ppm. E-GFp showed rapid water uptake and shorter optimal cooking time compared to the other pastas. Despite the absence of the gluten network, the supplementation with pre-gelatinized rice flour allowed structural properties of E-GFp, which were comparable to those of C-GFp. The in vitro protein digestibility of E-GFp resulted the highest. Probably due to proteolysis during sourdough fermentation; chemical scores, essential amino acid profile, biological value and nutritional index of E-GFp were higher than those of C-DWp. The hydrolysis index (HI) of E-GFp was ca. 30% lower than that found for C-GFp. As shown by sensory analysis, the characteristic of E-GFp were acceptable. The manufacture of E-GFp should be promising to expand the choice of gluten-free foods, which combine sensory and nutritional properties.     

Conservation management for Orthoptera in the Dadia reserve, Greece

The diversity patterns, the ecological structure and the typical species of the orthopteran assemblage in the Dadia reserve are investigated. The reserve was designed to protect the black vulture (Aegypius monachus) and other raptors. A total of 39 orthopteran species were found, including Paranocarodes chopardi, a pamphagid species with very restricted distribution. All species can be represented in a network of six complementary habitats, including open oak woodlands, agricultural fields separated with hedges, humid grasslands, as well as serpentine grasslands. The buffer zone of the reserve is far more important for Orthoptera conservation than the core areas, which host most of the black vulture nests. Management focusing on raptors is in general compatible with conservation of Orthoptera. We suggest the maintenance of forest openings in the buffer zone, the maintenance of forest heterogeneity, the enhancement of periodical livestock grazing, and the use of nine indicator species and Paranocarodes chopardi in the reserve monitoring program.