PULMONARY MINERALIZATION IN FOUR DOGS WITH CUSHING'S SYNDROME

The clinical and imaging features of four dogs with Cushing's syndrome and pulmonary mineralization are reviewed. Three dogs presented with a primary complaint of respiratory distress/dyspnea. Three dogs had pituitary dependent Cushing's syndrome, while the remaining one dog had iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome. Each dog had clinical features typical for Cushing's syndrome. Two of the dogs were euthanized due to progressive hypoxemia. In each dog, the serum calcium, phosphorous, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were normal.
A generalized increase in unstructured interstitial pulmonary opacity with diffuse mineralization was noted on thoracic radiographs of all dogs. In one dog, an ill-defined nodular interstitial pattern of mineralization was present. Delayed bone phase scintigraphy using ^99mTechnetium methylene diphosphonate documented generalized pulmonary uptake in two dogs. ^99mTechnetium labeled microaggregated albumin lung perfusion scans were normal in these two dogs. ^99mTc-MDP scintigraphy can provide useful information in diagnosing pulmonary mineralization in Cushingoid dogs.     

Transesophageal monitoring of aortic blood flow during nonemergent canine surgeries

Objective: To establish baseline values for descending thoracic aortic blood flow parameters as determined with a transesophageal combined M‐mode and pulsed Doppler ultrasound‐based monitoring method. Design: Preliminary observational study. Setting: University small animal teaching hospital. Animals: The study population consisted of anesthetized canine patients undergoing nonemergent surgeries. Prospectively set criteria for inclusion were adequate body size for placement of the esophageal probe and a nonemergent reason for surgery. The criterion for exclusion was recent trauma. Interventions: Placement of the transesophageal probe. Measurements and main results: Data was collected during 15 surgeries. Data from three dogs was excluded from data analysis (two recently hit by motor vehicles, one recently having undergone a total hip replacement). Each parameter was stable across time within each individual dog. The ranges of the descending thoracic aortic parameters across the 12 nonemergent cases were as follows: blood flow, 0.038–0.085 L min^?1 kg^?1; blood flow per beat, 0.31–0.84 mL kg^?1; blood acceleration, 6–29 m s^2?1; blood peak velocity, 38–105 m s^?1; left ventricular ejection time interval 331–492 ms; and diameter, 0.30–0.93 mm kg^?1. Conclusions: The range of descending thoracic aortic blood flow parameters encountered in this small group of dogs during nonemergent surgeries was broad; however, each parameter was quite stable across time with little change occurring in any dog during monitoring.     

Expression and modulation of connective tissue growth factor in renal interstitial fibrosis

CTGF, a member of the CCN family of immediate early genes, is a recently discovered profibrotic growth factor, which is involved in many pathophysiologic procedures. CTGF acts as a downstream effector of TGF-β acting on interstitial cells to enhance the progression of fibrotic renal diseases. It has been shown that CTGF gene expression can be induced or blocked by some kinds of cytokine and drugs. It is an interesting candidate target for future intervention strategies of renal interstitial fibrosis.     

TOTAL ANOMALOUS PULMONARY VENOUS CONNECTION IN A FOAL

An 8-day-old Arabian-Morgan cross colt underwent cardiac evaluation. The foal was tachycardic, tachypneic, exercise intolerant and had a loud right-sided heart murmur and cyanotic mucous membranes. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was diagnosed with echocardiography and confirmed at postmortem examination. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is a very rare congenital cardiac abnormality that has not been reported before in the horse.     

2种组胺受体拮抗剂对低温诱发的肉鸡肺动脉高压的影响

为探讨组胺H1受体拮抗剂扑尔敏和H2受体拮抗剂西咪替丁对低温诱发的肉鸡肺动脉高压的影响,并由此推测组胺在低温诱发的肉鸡肺动脉高压形成过程中的作用。140只17日龄AA肉鸡随机分为4组。(1)常温组:40只在常温条件下饲养(22～23℃),每日注射生理盐水2次;(2)低温组:40只在低温环境中饲养(9～11℃),每日注射生理盐水2次;(3)扑尔敏组:40只在低温环境中饲养(9～11℃),每日注射扑尔敏2次;(4)西咪替丁组:20只在低温环境中饲养(9～11℃),于24日龄至38日龄期间每日注射西咪替丁2次。分别于低温处理后1周(24日龄)、2周(31日龄)、3周(38日龄)、4周(45日龄)从常温组,低温组,扑尔敏组中各随机抽取10只,西咪替丁组在低温处理后2周(31日龄)、3周(38日龄)各随机抽取10只,称取体重,然后利用右心导管法测定肺动脉压(PAP),并测定红细胞压积(PCV),腹水心脏指数(AHI)。结果发现:(1)24日龄、31日龄、38日龄时,低温组肺动脉收缩压,舒张压显著高于(P<0105)或极显著高于(P<0101)同日龄常温组。24日龄时扑尔敏组肺动脉收缩压显著低于(P<0105)同日龄低温组。38日龄时西咪替丁组肺动脉收缩压,舒张压极显著低于(P<0101)同日龄低温组。(2)24日龄、31日龄、38日龄、45日龄时,低温组PCV极显著高于(P<0101)同日龄常温组。24日龄时扑尔敏组     

BQ123对低温诱发的肉鸡肺血管重塑的影响

动态观察了肺小动脉中膜平滑肌的增殖及管腔面积的改变,探讨内皮素受体拮抗剂BQ123 对低温诱发的肉鸡肺血管重塑的影响。200只16日龄AA肉鸡随机均分为4组: 常温(20 ℃)对照组、低温(7~9 ℃)组、低温低剂量BQ123组和低温高剂量BQ123组。23日龄、30日龄时测定肺动脉压,并取肺组织做石蜡切片, 以Weigert间苯二酚复红染色,形态学计算机图象分析法测定肺细小动脉外径和内径、管总面积和管腔面积,计算中膜厚度占外径百分值(%)mMTPA及管壁面积/管总面积WA/TA(%)。结果显示:(1)BQ123 抑制低温肉鸡平均肺动脉压的升高,23日龄时低温高剂量BQ123组显著低于低温组(P<0 05),30 日龄时低温低剂量BQ123 组和低温高剂量BQ123组均极显著低于低温组(P<0 01);(2)BQ123 抑制低温肉鸡肺小动脉WA/TA(%)的升高,30~50μm的肺小动脉,低温组极显著高于低温低剂量BQ123 组及低温高剂量BQ123 组(P<0 01),其它分级的肺小动脉组间差异性与此类似;(3) BQ123抑制低温肉鸡肺小动脉的mMTPA的升高,30~50μm的肺小动脉,23日龄时低温组极显著高于低温低剂量BQ123 组和低温高剂量BQ123 组(P< 0 01), 30 日龄时低温组显著高于低温低剂量BQ123组(P<0 05)、极显著高于低温高剂量BQ123组(P<0 01),30μm以下的肺小动脉组间差异性与此类似,50~120μm     

Influence of paricalcitol on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy

AIM: To investigate the effect of paricalcitol (P) on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms in diabetic nephropathy (DN).METHODS: DN rat model was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin after fasting. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups:the DN rats in paricalcitol-intervened group (group P) were injected intraperitoneally with paricalcitol dissolved in propylene glycol after the day when the model was induced successfully at a dose of 0.4 μg/kg (3 times a week); the DN rats in DN group (group D) were given isopyknic propylene glycol. Normal control group (group C) was also set up. The samples of blood, urine and renal tissue were collected after intervention of paricalcitol for 12 weeks. The biochemical indexes were measured. The renal tissues were used for pathologic observation and determining the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Wnt-4, β-catenin and Klotho by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. In addition, the correlation among the above indexes was analyzed.RESULTS: (1) Scr, BUN and 24 h urine protein increased significantly in group D compared with group C, while decreased in group P compared with group D (P<0.05). (2) The area of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis increased in group D compared with group C, while decreased in group P compared with group D (P<0.05). (3) The expression of Klotho decreased, while the expression of TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin increased in group D compared with group C (P<0.05). Compared with group D, the expression of Klotho increased, while the expression of TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin decreased in group P (P<0.05). (4) The expression of Klotho was negatively correlated with the fibrosis area, TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Paricalcitol inhibits renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DN by promoting the expression of renal Klotho, and inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation and TGF-β1 synthesis.     

Time-course comparison of pulmonary inflammation induced by intratracheal instillation of four different nickel oxide nanoparticles in male Fischer rats

Occupational exposure to nickel oxide (NiO) is an important cause of respiratory tract cancer. Toxicity is known to be associated with the dissociated component, i.e. nickel (II) ions. To address the relationship between physicochemical properties, including solubility in artificial lysosomal fluid, of NiO and time-course changes in the pulmonary response, we conducted an intratracheal instillation study in male Fischer rats using four different well-characterized NiO products, US3352 (NiO A), NovaWireNi01 (NiO B), I small particle (NiO C), and 637130 (NiO D). The NiOs were suspended in purified water and instilled once intratracheally into male F344 rats (12 weeks old) at 0 (vehicle control), 0.67, 2, and 6 mg/kg body weight. The animals were euthanized on days 3, 28, or 91 after instillation, and blood analysis, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) testing, and histopathological examination were performed. The most soluble product, NiO B, caused the most severe systemic toxicity, leading to a high mortality rate, but the response was transient and surviving animals recovered. The second-most-soluble material, NiO D, and the third, NiO A, caused evident pulmonary inflammation, and the responses persisted for at least 91 days with collagen proliferation. In contrast, NiO C induced barely detectable inflammation in the BALF examination, and no marked changes were noted on histopathology. These results indicate that the early phase toxic potential of NiO products, but not the persistence of pulmonary inflammation, is associated with their solubility.     

猪丹毒和猪肺疫混合感染综合诊治

疫病一直是生猪养殖中影响猪群健康的重要因素,受到疾病影响的猪群会给养殖户带来巨大的经济损失,严重阻碍养殖业的发展。该文将简要概述猪丹毒和猪肺疫的病理状况,分析猪丹毒和猪肺疫混合感染的发病特征和临床症状,并研究综合诊治猪丹毒和猪肺疫混合感染的方法,降低猪丹毒和猪肺疫混合感染对生猪养殖的影响。     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—MULTIMODALITY FINDINGS IN AN ADULT DOG WITH PRIMARY SARCOMA OF THE PULMONARY ARTERY AND MYOCARDIAL METASTASES

Intravascular pulmonary artery sarcomas in combination with myocardial metastasis are rare in dogs. We describe the radiographic, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic‐gated (ECG‐gated) computed tomographic angiography (CTA) findings in a dog with pulmonary artery sarcoma. All imaging studies demonstrated severe main pulmonary artery enlargement. Echocardiography and ECG‐gated CTA revealed a mass occluding the lumen of the right pulmonary artery. In addition, CTA revealed focal left ventricular myocardial contrast enhancement and parenchymal lung changes. Postmortem examination confirmed the presence of a large thrombus associated with arteriosclerosis and an intravascular sarcoma in the right pulmonary artery with metastases to the myocardium, lungs and brain.