Quantitative assessment of regional right ventricular myocardial velocities in awake dogs by Doppler tissue imaging: repeatability, reproducibility, effect of body weight and breed, and comparison with left ventricular myocardial velocities

Right ventricular myocardial (RVM) motion is poorly documented. The objective of this study was to determine the variability of RVM velocities by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in healthy dogs (study 1), to analyze RVM motion in a large healthy canine population (study 2), and to compare the results with those obtained for the left ventricular free wall. Six healthy Beagle Dogs were monitored in study 1, and 64 healthy dogs of 14 different breeds were monitored in study 2. Velocities were recorded in 2 segments (basal and apical) of the right and left myocardial walls. In study 1, 36 TDI examinations were performed for 4 days, whereas a single TDI examination was performed on each dog in study 2. All velocity profiles included 1 positive systolic wave and 2 negative diastolic waves. The lowest intraday and interday coefficient of variation values of the right TDI variables were observed at the base (3.5-16.1%). The variability of the right apical velocities was much higher, with most coefficient of variation values > 15%. RVM velocities were higher in the basal than in the apical segments (P < .001) and were higher than the left velocities of the corresponding segment (P < .01). Body weight and breed had an effect on only a few right and left TDI variables. TDI provides a repeatable and reproducible method for evaluating basal RV function in the dog. These data also demonstrate the heterogeneity of the myocardial velocities between the left and the right ventricles and between the base and the apex.     

Ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin aqueous humor concentrations after topical administration in dogs undergoing cataract surgery

OBJECTIVE: To determine if preoperative topical administration of ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin results in aqueous humor drug concentrations that exceed the MIC(90) of common ocular contaminants in dogs undergoing cataract surgery. PROCEDURES: Twelve dogs were treated with topical 0.3% ciprofloxacin and 13 dogs with topical 0.3% ofloxacin once the night before surgery, and then with 1 drop of ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin every 15 min for 2 h immediately before surgery. Aqueous humor samples were taken from each eye immediately before the incision was made and frozen at -70 degrees C. First eye samples (S1) were taken closer to the time of topical treatments than second eye samples (S2). Samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Clinical Pharmacology laboratory. RESULTS: In ciprofloxacin patients, S1 concentrations were 0.03-0.69 (0.17 median) microg/mL, and S2 concentrations were 0.09-0.95 (0.36 median) microg/mL. Aqueous humor concentrations did not exceed the MIC90 of Streptococcus sp. Few eyes (1/12 OU) exceeded the MIC90 for Staphylococcus sp. or Corynebacterium sp.; moderate numbers (5/12 S1; 8/12 S2) exceeded the MIC90 for E. coli. In ofloxacin patients, S1 concentrations were 0.48-2.81 (1.05 median) microg/mL, and S2 concentrations were 0.45-3.63 (1.30 median) microg/mL. Although few eyes (相似文献   

Quantification, repeatability, and reproducibility of feline radial and longitudinal left ventricular velocities by tissue Doppler imaging

OBJECTIVE: To measure the radial and longitudinal velocities of several myocardial segments of the left ventricular wall by use of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in healthy cats and determine the repeatability and reproducibility of the technique. ANIMALS: 6 healthy cats. PROCEDURE: 72 TDI examinations were performed on 4 days by the same trained observer. Radial parameters included left endocardial and epicardial myocardial velocities. Longitudinal parameters included left basal, middle, and apical myocardial velocities. RESULTS: All velocity profiles had 1 positive systolic wave (S) and 2 negative diastolic waves (E and A). Myocardial velocities were higher in the endocardial than epicardial segments during the entire cardiac cycle (systolic wave S, 4.4 +/- 0.82 and 1.9 +/- 0.55; diastolic wave E, 9.7 +/- 1.70 and 2.2 +/- 0.74; and diastolic wave A, 5.1 +/- 1.56 and 1.4 +/- 0.76, respectively). Velocities were also higher in the basal than in the apical segments (systolic wave S, 4.7 +/- 0.76 and 0.2 +/- 0.11; diastolic wave E, 9.7 +/- 1.36 and 0.5 +/- 0.17; and diastolic wave A, 3.7 +/- 1.51 and 0.2 +/- 0.13, respectively). The lowest within-day and between-day coefficients of variation were observed in endocardial segments (8.2% and 6.5% for systolic wave S and diastolic wave E, respectively) and in the basal segment in protodiastole (5.5%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Repeatability and reproducibility of TDI were adequate for measurement of longitudinal and radial left ventricular motion in healthy awake cats. Validation of TDI is a prerequisite before this new technique can be recommended for clinical use.     

Intraepidermal adenocarcinoma in the perianal skin of two cats, a condition resembling human extramammary Paget's disease

In humans, mammary and extramammary Paget's disease is an uncommon to rare manifestation of intraepidermal adenocarcinoma arising from simple epithelium, usually glandular in origin. This report describes two cats with lesions in perianal skin consisting of atypical intraepidermal neoplastic cells. Differential diagnoses included intraepidermal adenocarcinoma, in situ squamous or basal cell carcinoma, junctional amelanotic melanoma, and epitheliotropic tumours of histiocytic or lymphocytic origin. The atypical intraepidermal cells in the cats were immunohistochemically positive for cytokeratin 8/18 (CK8/18), which stains simple (glandular) epithelium. The keratinocytes and basal cells were negative for CK8/18. In addition, the atypical intraepidermal cells were immunohistochemically negative for melanocytic, lymphocytic, and histiocytic markers. The staining results confirmed the atypical intraepidermal cells to be of simple glandular origin, and ruled out other causes of intraepidermal malignancy. In one cat the clinical lesions consisted of a pruritic erythematous eruption surrounding the anus. Another cat presented clinically for an area of irregular anal thickening; this cat had well-regulated diabetes mellitus. The cats were otherwise clinically healthy. The clinical features, histological appearance, and immunohistochemical staining of the skin lesions were consistent with those described for human perianal extramammary Paget's disease. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of an intraepidermal adenocarcinoma in a cat or other animal species.     

Distribution of Heavy Metals in Near-Shore Sediments of the Swan River Estuary,Western Australia

Estuarine systems adjacent to urban areas are at risk of contamination by contaminants from anthropogenic sources, such as heavy metals. We anticipated that the sediments of the Swan River estuary, which runs through metropolitan Perth in Western Australia, would show metal contamination related to industrialization and inputs of stormwater. Total Cu, Pb and Cd concentrations, and Cu, Pb, Cr and Zn inoperationally-defined fractions, were determined inseparate sampling exercises in near-shore sediments ofthe upper Swan River estuary.Total metal concentrations in sediments were not high (maximum values of 297 mg kg^-1 for Cu, 184 mg kg^-1 for Pb and 0.9 mg kg^-1 for Cd) when compared with Australian environmental assessmentguidelines for soils. On the basis of linear regressions between sediment metal concentrations andphysicochemical properties of the sediments (pH, organic carbon, particle size distribution), no single parameter could explain the variation in metal concentrations for all metals. Sediment organic carbon content was positively correlated with Cu concentration; Cu concentrations also increased significantly with increasing clay content anddecreasing sand content. Pb concentrations showed a significant increase with increasing sediment pH, and were approximately three-fold higher in sediments adjacent to stormwater drain outfalls than in sediments remote from drains; no such effect was observed for Cu or Cd. No effect of distance downstream was observed. Sequential extraction of sediments showed that most of the metals were in relatively immobile forms, for example bound to Feoxides, or only extractable by aqua regia. The enhanced concentrations of Pb near stormwater outfalls suggest that vehicle-derived Pb may be an important contributor of Pb to the estuary.     

Efficacy of crude seed extracts of Annona squamosa against diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella L. in the greenhouse

Experiments were conducted to assess the efficacy of crude seed extracts of Annona squamosa collected from Ambon (Maluku, Indonesia) against larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L., feeding on cabbage. Three greenhouse trials were carried out using aqueous seed extracts and an aqueous emulsion of ethanolic seed extracts. At a concentration of 0.5% (w/v), an aqueous emulsion of an ethanolic seed extract was 2.5 fold more effective than 1% rotenone, a commercial botanical insecticide. Crude aqueous seed extracts showed efficacy comparable to pyrethrum, the most widely used botanical insecticide. Seed extract of A. squamosa is a promising candidate for development as a simple botanical insecticide for local use in rural Indonesia.     

A Collaborative Evaluation of LC-MS/MS Based Methods for BMAA Analysis: Soluble Bound BMAA Found to Be an Important Fraction

Exposure to β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) might be linked to the incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Analytical chemistry plays a crucial role in determining human BMAA exposure and the associated health risk, but the performance of various analytical methods currently employed is rarely compared. A CYANOCOST initiated workshop was organized aimed at training scientists in BMAA analysis, creating mutual understanding and paving the way towards interlaboratory comparison exercises. During this workshop, we tested different methods (extraction followed by derivatization and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, or directly followed by LC-MS/MS analysis) for trueness and intermediate precision. We adapted three workup methods for the underivatized analysis of animal, brain and cyanobacterial samples. Based on recovery of the internal standard D₃BMAA, the underivatized methods were accurate (mean recovery 80%) and precise (mean relative standard deviation 10%), except for the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya. However, total BMAA concentrations in the positive controls (cycad seeds) showed higher variation (relative standard deviation 21%–32%), implying that D₃BMAA was not a good indicator for the release of BMAA from bound forms. Significant losses occurred during workup for the derivatized method, resulting in low recovery (<10%). Most BMAA was found in a trichloroacetic acid soluble, bound form and we recommend including this fraction during analysis.     

Ultrasonographic assessment of regional radial and longitudinal systolic function in healthy awake dogs

BACKGROUND: Strain (St) and strain rate (SR) imaging are new ultrasound modalities based on tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) that allow quantitative assessment of segmental myocardial contraction or stretching and rate of deformation, respectively. HYPOTHESIS: Regional peak systolic St and SR could allow repeatable and reproducible assessment of systolic function of the right (RVW) and left (LVFW) myocardial walls in dogs. ANIMALS: Six healthy Beagle dogs were used to determine the repeatability and reproducibility of regional peak systolic St and SR in the RVW and LVFW (Study 1). These variables were also assessed in 30 healthy dogs of several breeds (Study 2). METHODS: Longitudinal peak systolic St and SR were recorded in 2 segments (basal and apical) of the RVW and LVFW. Radial peak systolic St and SR of the LVFW were also assessed. RESULTS: All within- and most (7/10) between-day coefficients of variation were <15%. Absolute values of the longitudinal deformation indices were significantly higher (P < .001) in the RVW (St = -39.5 +/- 5.5% and SR = -5.2 +/- 0.8 s(-1) at the base; St = -36.3 +/- 4.3% and SR = -4.7 +/- 1.1 s(-1) at the apex) than in the LVFW. Absolute values were also higher for the radial (St = 62.9 +/- 10.4% and SR = 5.8 +/- 1.1 s(-1), P < .001) than for the longitudinal LFVW motions. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: St and SR imaging is a repeatable and reproducible method for assessing systolic myocardial function. The combination of these indices with conventional echocardiographic variables may be useful for screening canine myocardial diseases.     

Quantitative assessment of velocities of the annulus of the left atrioventricular valve and left ventricular free wall in healthy cats by use of two-dimensional color tissue Doppler imaging

OBJECTIVE: To analyze velocities of the annulus of the left atrioventricular valve and left ventricular free wall (LVFW) in a large population of healthy cats by use of 2-dimensional color tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). ANIMALS: 100 healthy cats (0.3 to 12.0 years old; weighing 1.0 to 8.0 kg) of 6 breeds. PROCEDURE: Radial myocardial velocities were recorded in an endocardial and epicardial segment, and longitudinal velocities were recorded in 2 LVFW segments (basal and apical) and in the annulus of the left atrioventricular valve. RESULTS: LVFW velocities were significantly higher in the endocardial than epicardial layers and significantly higher in the basal than apical segments. For systole, early diastole, and late diastole, mean +/- SD radial myocardial velocity gradient (MVG), which was defined as the difference between endocardial and epicardial velocities, was 2.2 +/- 0.7, 3.3 +/- 1.3, and 1.8 +/- 0.7 cm/s, respectively, and longitudinal MVG, which was defined as the difference between basal and apical velocities, was 2.7 +/- 0.8, 3.1 +/- 1.4, and 2.1 +/- 0.9 cm/s, respectively. A breed effect was documented for several TDI variables; therefore, reference intervals for the TDI variables were determined for the 2 predominant breeds represented (Maine Coon and domestic shorthair cats). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: LVFW velocities in healthy cats decrease from the endocardium to the epicardium and from the base to apex, thus defining radial and longitudinal MVG. These indices could complement conventional analysis of left ventricular function and contribute to the early accurate detection of cardiomyopathy in cats.