Retrospective evaluation of the use of small-bore wire-guided catheters for the management of peritoneal effusion in cats and dogs

Objective

To describe the use of small-bore wire-guided catheters in the management of peritoneal effusion in cats and dogs and to detail any associated adverse events.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

University teaching hospital

Animals

Forty-five client-owned animals that had peritoneal catheters placed for management of peritoneal effusion between July 2010 and June 2021.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

Forty-five cases were included (25 dogs and 20 cats). Twenty-eight animals had the catheter placed to aid management of a uroabdomen, 8 of which recovered without surgical management, 11 had the catheter placed to allow autotransfusion of hemoabdomen, 3 had peritonitis, and 3 had ascites secondary to cardiac disease. Twenty-seven cases (15 dogs and 12 cats) received sedation (n = 24) or local anesthesia alone (n = 3) to facilitate catheter placement, and 6 cases had the catheter placed while under general anesthesia. Median length of catheter persistence was 24 hours (range: 2–144 h). The most common adverse events reported were impaired drainage (n = 7) and leakage at the insertion site (n = 4).

Conclusions

Peritoneal catheters can be inserted percutaneously for management of peritoneal effusion. Indications include stabilization and conservative management of uroabdomen, and autotransfusion. They can often be placed with minimal or no sedation and adverse events appear infrequent in occurrence.     

Variation in crushing strength and some related properties of a red pine

Summary Below-crown radial and height variations in maximum crushing strength parallel to grain, relative density and tracheid length of an immature, 55 year old, red pine were studied. All properties showed pronounced trends with radial age and increased from pith to bark. A radial age of 16 years was estimated as the age from which mature stem wood is formed. All properties studied varied with height above ground. Strong correlations were observed among properties. The study tree exhibited noticeably lower average crushing strength than is reported in the literature for wood from mature red pines.This work was undertaken with financial support from Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Operating Grant 0GP0004417     

The Tripartite Symbiosis Formed by Indigenous Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Soya Bean Under Field Conditions

The tripartite symbiosis formed by indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Bradyrhizobium japonicum (Kirchner) Jordan and soya bean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv. Evans) was investigated under field conditions to test the hypotheses that: (i) the tripartite symbiosis enhances nodulation and nodule activity; and (ii) its establishment does not rely on improved phosphorus (P) uptake through the fungal partner. Soil tillage was used to produce treatments with contrasting AMF colonization potentials while the amount of B. japonicum inoculum was kept constant. Nodulation, AMF colonization and the P and nitrogen (N) nutrition of plants were evaluated at 10 and 51 (full‐bloom) days after emergence. N₂ fixation was estimated by the difference method and by the isotopic dilution method. At the early stage of plant growth, AMF hyphal colonization and nodulation were, respectively, 16 % and 33 % greater in plants from untilled than from rototilled soil. The establishment of the tripartite symbiosis was observed under field conditions, and factors other than P nutrition were critical to its formation. However, the tripartite symbiosis did not promote N₂ fixation under the high soil P conditions of this study.     

Can the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices actively mobilize P from rock phosphates?

Plants colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been shown to respond positively to the application of insoluble forms of inorganic phosphorus (P) such as rock phosphates (RPs). The mechanism(s) underlying such responses remain(s) unknown and although it has been hypothesized, there is no experimental support for the production of chelating agents by AM fungal hyphae. Here we investigate whether AM fungi can solubilize P from RPs and transfer it to plant roots. Using root-organ cultures of Daucus carrota L. inoculated or not with Glomus intraradices Schenk & Smith and containing P from different RP sources, we predicted that: (1) roots inoculated with G. intraradices would take up more P than those uninoculated; that (2) the amount of P taken up by roots through G. intraradices would be positively correlated with the RP reactivity; and that (3) G. intraradices would have access to RP through localized alterations of pH and/or by the production of organic acid anions that may act as chelating agents. The RP reactivity was positively correlated with P uptake. However, mycorrhizal roots grew initially slower and did not respond differently to any P treatment than those uninoculated. There was no evidence of localized changes in pH in proximity of G. intraradices hyphae, indicating that responses to RP by mycorrhizal plants observed in previous studies do not appear to result from the release of H⁺ ions alone or in combination with organic acid anions.     

Effects of Single Metals and their Mixtures on Selected Enzymes of Carcinus Maenas

In this work, the acute effects of copper, chromium and mixtures of both metals on females of the marine crab Carcinus maenas were investigated. The parameters indicative of toxicity were mortality and the activity of the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutathione-S-tranferases (GST). LC50 values determined at 96 hr were 51.8 mg L^-1 for copper, 49.8 mg L^-1 for chromium and 15 mg L^-1 Cu + 43.6 mg L^-1 Cr for the mixture of both metals. Copper, chromium and the mixtures of both metals significantly inhibit haemolymph AChE, ovarian LDH and hepatopancreas GST after an in vivo exposure of 96 hr to concentrations lower than NOEC values for mortality. Furthermore, the mixtures tested showed a more pronounced effect than individual agents.     

In vitro inhibition of the activation of Pro-matrix Metalloproteinase 1 (Pro-MMP-1) and Pro-matrix metalloproteinase 9 (Pro-MMP-9) by rice and soybean Bowman-Birk inhibitors

The in vitro inhibitory activity of the rice Bowman-Birk inhibitor (rBBI) or soybean Bowman-Birk inhibitor (sBBI) against trypsin-catalyzed activation of pro-matrix metalloproteinase 1 or 9 (pro-MMP-1 or pro-MMP-9), respectively, was investigated using electrophoresis with silver staining, heparin-enhanced zymography, biotinylated gelatin, Biotrak assay, and fluorescence quenched substrate hydrolysis. rBBI at concentrations of 0.08-0.352 mg/mL dose-dependently inhibited the in vitro activation of 45 microg/mL pro-MMP-1 by trypsin. Heparin-enhanced zymography analysis of pro-MMP-1, trypsin-activated MMP-1, and a mixture of pro-MMP-1-trypsin-rBBI showed clear zones associated with trypsin-activated MMP-1 and the absence of clear zones in lanes containing pro-MMP-1 or a mixture of pro-MMP-1, trypsin, and rBBI. The results of the Biotrak assay also indicated that rBBI dose-dependently suppressed the activation of pro-MMP-1 by trypsin. sBBI dose-dependently inhibited the activation of 100 microg/mL of pro-MMP-9 by trypsin. Biotinylated gelatin assays demonstrated that pro-MMP-9 or pro-MMP-9 in the presence of trypsin and BBI did not hydrolyze gelatin, whereas p-aminophenylmercury acetate (APMA)-activated MMP-9 and trypsin-activated MMP-9 caused significant hydrolysis of gelatin. Quenched fluorescence substrate hydrolysis for total MMP activity showed that pro-MMP-1 or pro-MMP-9 did not hydrolyze the substrate Mca-Pro-Leu-Gly-Leu-Dpa-Ala-Arg-NH2; active MMP-1 or MMP-9 hydrolyzed the substrate, but lower substrate hydrolysis was obtained when pro-MMP-1 or pro-MMP-9 was incubated with trypsin in the presence of increasing concentrations of rBBI. The results are discussed in light of the role of MMP-1 and MMP-9 in the process of angiogenesis and the potential of rBBI or sBBI as a functional food ingredient.     

Collection Rates and Morphology of Equine Oocytes Obtained from Immature Follicles after Treatment with Equine Pituitary Extract (EPE) and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

This study examined the effect of treating mares with equine pituitary extract (EPE) in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; EPE/hCG) on the recovery rate of immature oocytes by ovum pick-up (OPU) and on oocyte morphology. Ten mares were subjected to each of two treatments in a random sequence: superstimulated with EPE (25 mg, twice daily) and treated with hCG (2,500 IU) or control (no exogenous treatment). The cytoplasmic morphology of oocytes recovered was evaluated through transmission electron microscopy. Follicular fluid was collected at aspiration for progesterone analysis, which was performed by radioimmunoassay. The EPE/hCG did not increase the oocyte recovery rate from immature follicles when compared with the controls (15.5% and 16.7%, respectively). A significantly higher oocyte recovery rate per mare was observed (70% versus 50%). However, precocious granulosa cell expansion was observed with EPE/hCG treatment in contrast to the control (64.4% and 33% of follicles with expanded cumulus, respectively), and increased intrafollicular progesterone concentration was also seen (158.80 ng/mL versus 82.05 ng/mL). The ultrastructural analysis of oocytes from both groups showed morphologic features related to immaturity. Numerous vesicles containing cortical granules were found, distributed in clusters into the cytoplasm, and junctional complexes were still seen between oocyte and granulosa cells. In conclusion, EPE/hCG treatment induced some follicular modifications, but the recovery rate was not increased. All oocytes examined presented signs of immaturity.     

Evaluation of a Collagenase Generated Osteoarthritis Biomarker in Naturally Occurring Canine Cruciate Disease

Objective— To determine the clinical value of a novel osteoarthritis (OA) biomarker in detecting canine cruciate disease.
Study Design— Cross sectional clinical study.
Animals— Dogs (n=22) with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture and 12 control dogs.
Methods— Concentrations of collagenase-generated cleavage epitope of type II collagen (Col2-3/4C_{long mono}, or C2C) in serum, urine, and joint fluid were compared between a group of dogs with CCL rupture and a control group. Correlation of C2C concentrations to the clinical stage of stifle OA was also evaluated.
Results— There were no significant differences in C2C concentrations in serum, urine, and joint fluid between groups ( P >.05). Subjective scores of lameness, joint effusion, osteophytosis were significantly more severe in the CCL rupture group compared with the control group ( P <.05). There was no significant correlation of C2C concentrations with clinical stage of stifle OA ( P >.05).
Conclusion— This OA biomarker did not detect pathology associated with CCL rupture. Our results suggest that collagenase-specific degradation of type II collagen in articular cartilage may not be involved in the early stage of naturally occurring canine cruciate disease, and that pathology associated with naturally occurring CCL rupture is different from that of experimental OA model.
Clinical Relevance— C2C is not clinically useful in detecting CCL rupture in dogs.     

Unilateral scrotal pyocele in ram caused by Staphylococcus capitis

A massive unilateral scrotal pyocele caused by Staphylococcus capitis in a 6‐year‐old ram is reported. Ultrasound examination of the right hemiscrotum showed an irregular hyperechoic mass in an anechoic fluid. A dense exudate was collected from the scrotum for microbiological analysis. Grossly, there was an extensive greenish purulent exudate and a completely atrophied right testis. Coagulase‐negative S. capitis was isolated in pure culture. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of genital infection by S. capitis in rams. This microorganism should be included in the differential diagnosis of ovine genital infections.