CHARACTERIZATION OF PHYSIOLOGIC 18F‐FDG UPTAKE WITH PET‐CT IN DOGS

We evaluated the whole body distribution of 2‐deoxy‐2‐[18F]fluoro‐d ‐glucose (¹⁸F‐FDG) in seven beagle dogs using positron emission tomography/computed tomography. The mean and maximum standard uptake values (SUV) for various tissues were computed. The SUV of the aortic blood pool was 0.65±0.19. Moderate uptake was present in brain (3.40±1.01). Mild uptake was present in orbital muscles, soft palate, laryngeal and pharyngeal region, mandibular salivary gland, myocardium, liver, pancreas, kidney, and intestine. ¹⁸F‐FDG uptake would be normally higher in these tissues because of normal physiologic activity. Mean and maximum SUV values of the eye, skeletal muscle, bone tissue, spleen, adrenal gland, stomach, tongue, gall bladder, and lung were similar to or lower than that of the aortic blood pool. These data provide a normal baseline for comparing pathologic ¹⁸F‐FDG uptake.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—FDG‐PET/CT OF A CANINE SPLENIC PLASMA CELL TUMOR

An 8‐year‐old Shih Tzu developed abdominal pain and hyperglobulinemia. A round splenic mass was noted radiographically and sonographically. The patient was evaluated by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography coupled with computed tomography (FDG‐PET/CT). There was no evidence of metastasis or bone marrow involvement on PET/CT images. The standardized uptake value (SUV) of the splenic mass was increased over the reference range (SUV=4.83). The patient was diagnosed as splenic extramedullary plasmacytoma through immunohistopathologic study. After the splenectomy, the globulin level normalized and the patient is alive without complications.     

PHYSIOLOGIC VARIANTS,BENIGN PROCESSES,AND ARTIFACTS FROM 106 CANINE AND FELINE FDG‐PET/COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCANS

18F‐Fluoro‐deoxyglucose positron emission computed tomography (FDG‐PET/CT) is an emerging diagnostic imaging modality in veterinary medicine; however, little published information is available on physiologic variants, benign processes, and artifacts. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the number of occurrences of non‐neoplastic disease‐related FDG‐PET/CT lesions in a group of dogs and cats. Archived FDG‐PET/CT scans were retrieved and interpreted based on a consensus opinion of two board‐certified veterinary radiologists. Non‐neoplastic disease‐related lesions were categorized as physiologic variant, benign activity, or equipment/technology related artifact. If the exact cause of hypermetabolic areas could not be determined, lesions were put into an indeterminate category. A total of 106 canine and feline FDG‐PET/CT scans were included in the study. In 104 of the 106 scans, a total of 718 occurrences of physiologic variant, areas of incidental benign activity, and artifacts were identified. Twenty‐two of 23 feline scans and 82 of 83 canine scans had at least one artifact. Previously unreported areas of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake included foci associated with the canine gall bladder, linear uptake along the canine mandible, and focal uptake in the gastrointestinal tract. Benign activity was often seen and related to healing, inflammation, and indwelling implants. Artifacts were most often related to injection or misregistration. Further experience in recognizing the common veterinary FDG physiologic variation, incidental radiopharmaceutical uptake, and artifacts is important to avoid misinterpretation and false‐positive diagnoses.     

EFFECTS OF ANESTHETIC PROTOCOL ON NORMAL CANINE BRAIN UPTAKE OF 18F‐FDG ASSESSED BY PET/CT

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of four anesthetic protocols on normal canine brain uptake of 2‐deoxy‐2‐[¹⁸F]fluoro‐d ‐glucose (FDG) using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Five clinically normal beagle dogs were anesthetized with (1) propofol/isoflurane, (2) medetomidine/pentobarbital, (3) xylazine/ketamine, and (4) medetomidine/tiletamine–zolazepam in a randomized cross‐over design. The standard uptake value (SUV) of FDG was obtained in the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes, cerebellum, brainstem and whole brain, and compared within and between anesthetic protocols using the Friedman test with significance set at P<0.05. Significant differences in SUVs were observed in various part of the brain associated with each anesthetic protocol. The SUV for the frontal and occipital lobes was significantly higher than in the brainstem in all dogs. Dogs receiving medetomidine/tiletamine–zolazepam also had significantly higher whole brain SUVs than the propofol/isoflurane group. We concluded that each anesthetic protocol exerted a different regional brain glucose uptake pattern. As a result, when comparing brain glucose uptake using PET/CT, one should consider the effects of anesthetic protocols on different regions of the glucose uptake in the dog's brain.     

FDG‐PET IN HEALTHY AND EPILEPTIC LAGOTTO ROMAGNOLO DOGS AND CHANGES IN BRAIN GLUCOSE UPTAKE WITH AGE

Regional cerebral metabolism and blood flow can be measured noninvasively with positron emission tomography (PET). 2‐[¹⁸F]fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (FDG) widely serves as a PET tracer in human patients with epilepsy to identify the seizure focus. The goal of this prospective study was to determine whether juvenile or adult dogs with focal‐onset epilepsy exhibit abnormal cerebral glucose uptake interictally and whether glucose uptake changes with age. We used FDG‐PET to examine six Lagotto Romagnolo dogs with juvenile epilepsy, two dogs with adult‐onset epilepsy, and five control dogs of the same breed at different ages. Three researchers unaware of dog clinical status visually analyzed co‐registered PET and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. Results of the visual PET analyses were compared with electroencephalography (EEG) results. In semiquantitative analysis, relative standard uptake values (SUV) of regions of interest (ROI) drawn to different brain regions were compared between epileptic and control dogs. Visual analysis revealed areas of hypometabolism interictally in five out of six dogs with juvenile epilepsy in the occipital, temporal, and parietal cortex. Changes in EEG occurred in three of these dogs in the same areas where PET showed cortical hypometabolism. Visual analysis showed no abnormalities in cerebral glucose uptake in dogs with adult‐onset epilepsy. Semiquantitative analysis detected no differences between epileptic and control dogs. This result emphasizes the importance of visual analysis in FDG‐PET studies of epileptic dogs. A change in glucose uptake was also detected with age. Glucose uptake values increased between dog ages of 8 and 28 weeks and then remained constant.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—MULTICENTRIC LYMPHOMA OF GRANULAR LYMPHOCYTES IMAGED WITH FDG PET/CT IN A DOG

A 5‐year‐old female spayed bulldog was referred for mild dyspnea, decreased activity and appetite, occasional nonproductive cough, polydipsia, and polyuria. A 2‐deoxy‐2‐[¹⁸F]fluoro‐D‐glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan revealed unexpected activity in the heart, lungs, and mild generalized lymphadenopathy that led to the diagnosis of lymphoma of granular lymphocytes after nonspecific findings on imaging with standard modalities of echocardiography, thoracic radiography, and abdominal ultrasound. PET/CT scanning is a useful whole body imaging modality with high sensitivity for changes associated with canine lymphoma.     

动物园兽医的使命及发展思路

野生动物的移地保护和保护教育是现代动物园的主要功能,兽医在保障野生动物健康方面承担着重要的使命。动物园兽医在本质上是医学的一个特殊分枝,由于野生动物及其疾病种类的复杂性和个人精力、能力的局限性,动物园兽医的职业化和专业化是提高野生动物健康保障能力的根本出路;应激因素对圈养动物的健康造成很大的威胁,而适度驯化则可以最大限度地减少应激的发生;在国内建立区域动物园兽医服务网络、建立兽医行业内部信息交流平台是提高动物园兽医行业整体水平的基本思路：正确的疾病诊断和规范的处方,以及全面关注动物的基本需求、积极主动的疾病防疫等在兽医日常工作中占有同等重要的地位。由于兽医掌握了动物发病和死亡的第一手资料,动物园应当为兽医参与动物管理提供条件。     

刍议动物类型自然保护区兽医的素养

传统养殖和动物园养殖的动物发病时,其发病时间、数量和症状等情况,兽医可以仔细询问畜主或饲养人员;而野生动物生活在自然环境中,是动物类型自然保护区从事兽医专业人员的服务对象,发病时及以后的一系列情况无从问及。所以动物类型自然保护区的兽医职业,不同于传统养殖和动物园内的兽医工作,必须掌握多学科基础理论知识,必须主动从野外观察入手,充分掌握野生动物的生物学特性,收集和梳理好有效的本土自然信息、本区内野生动物信息、保护区周边社区家养动物信息,并将它们融为一体,才能分辨出野生动物发病时,是属于个发、散发、群发,还是普通病与传染病。因此,动物类型自然保护区的兽医比传统兽医人员会有更高、更严且更全面的素养。     

中兽医学的研究现状与未来展望

畜牧业生产有机化和绿色化是提高 畜牧产品质量的主要途径。高效、低毒、无副 作用和无耐药性的中兽医学疾病防治技术则 是完成此项工程的主要保障,但随着西兽医 学和西方科学技术的迅速发展,中兽医学遇 到了严峻的挑战。为了继承和发扬中兽医学 的优势和特色,文章对中兽医学研究现状进 行了较全面的综述,并通过未来展望,提出了 加快中兽药现代化研究进程和加快中兽医标 准化步伐的科学见解。     

体验式教学在兽医内科学课程教学中的应用探索

强调以“学生为中心”的体验式教学有利于提高教学效果。以兽医内科学课程教学改革为研究对象,重点分析了目前高校兽医内科学课程教学现状,并积极探索体验式教学在该课程教学中的应用,以期得到更好的教学效果。     

Preliminary evaluation of serial (18) FDG-PET/CT to assess response to toceranib phosphate therapy in canine cancer

Palladia(TM) (toceranib phosphate-Pfizer Animal Health) is a novel orally administered receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for treatment of canine mast cell tumors. Receptor tyrosine kinase dysregulation leads to tumor growth, progression, and metastasis. Toceranib's targets include vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR-2/Flk-1/KDR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and kit. Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) is used commonly to diagnose, prognosticate, and monitor response to antineoplastic therapy in human patients. In this study, serial PET/CT imaging with (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18) FDG) was used to assess response to toceranib therapy in dogs with measurable solid malignancies. Six tumor-bearing dogs underwent tumor assessment using both standard RECIST criteria and PET/CT prior to and at a median of 5 weeks postinitiation of toceranib treatment. Toceranib was prescribed initially at a target dose 3.25 mg/kg PO q48 h, with subsequent modifications based on observed toxicity. Treatment was continued in patients achieving stable disease with acceptable drug tolerance. One dog was maintained on drug despite dose modification due to toxicity; measurable clinical and image-based responses were seen after 10 weeks of therapy. All others had stable or progressive disease based on clinical restaging and PET/CT at first recheck. . Due to discordance with anatomic and metabolic imaging, further studies are needed to investigate the role of molecular imaging in assessment of drug response and identify other potential molecular targets of toceranib.     

提高《兽医内科学》教学质量的探讨

《兽医内科学》是动物医学专业理论性、实践性和系统性较强的临床专业课。通过对兽医内科学教师综合素质培养和教学能力的提高,对课程内容进行调整与丰富教学方法,建立实习基地与加强实践教学等方面进行改革,将教学与社会需求、个人发展相结合,旨在提高教学效率,培养学生的综合应用能力,从而增强学生的就业能力。     

病案教学法在兽医内科学教学中的运用

兽医内科学是兽医学科的主干课程之一,掌握兽医内科学理论和运用所学知识解决临床问题对学生理论知识和实践能力有很高的要求。在有限的课堂教学内容中使学生掌握兽医内科学的学习方法和临床诊疗能力是当前我国兽医内科学教学工作者的探索重点,传统的教师主导型教学模式已不能满足兽医内科学理论增长及技术革新的要求。病案教学法旨在提高学生学习兴趣,培养其独立思考、分析问题、解决问题的能力,是兽医教学改革的方向之一。根据对该课程教学的体会,阐述病案教学法在兽医内科学理论及实践教学中的运用,旨在为提高兽医内科学教学质量提供参考。     

兽用中药配方颗粒产业化创新研究

为探索开展兽用中药配方颗粒产业化创新,通过分析兽用中药配方颗粒应用基础、品种目标、产业化关键技术,提出了充分借鉴医药领域中药配方颗粒生产、管理经验,建立兽用中药配方颗粒管理体系的建议措施,以促进兽用中药产业化模式创新,满足养殖业高质量发展需求。     

口服肠溶制剂在兽药领域中的应用前景

介绍了肠溶制剂的制剂特点、肠溶制剂包衣原理、肠溶包衣材料和肠溶制剂类型等内容。结合规模化养殖场对药物饮水给药的需求,从兽用肠溶制剂的药物开发特点及近几年的国内外研究情况等两方面做以阐述,以期为兽用肠溶微丸、肠溶微囊制剂研发提供新的思路。     

《中兽医学》课程实践教学模式的探索

结合《中兽医学》实践教学的现状,针对以往教学过程中存在的中兽医理论比较抽象、内容繁杂以及理论与实践脱节等突出问题,通过进行教学改革,探索实践教学改革的方法,把理论教学和实践教学有机地结合起来,使抽象繁杂的理论直观化、系统化,帮助学生理解和掌握《中兽医学》理论和专业实践技能知识。