Advanced glycation end products and sorbitol in blood from differently compensated diabetic dogs

Canine diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disorder with long term complications, most of which are caused by glycosylation of structural proteins, decreases in antioxidant concentrations, altered osmotic balance and hypoxia due to impaired oxygen transport. Previous studies have demonstrated that under hyperglycemic conditions canine erythrocytes undergo swelling, probably due to activation of the polyol pathway. The present work aimed to assess the plasma concentration of advanced glycation end (AGE) products, stable Amadori-products generated by non-enzymatic glycosylation of proteins and the intracellular concentration of sorbitol, produced by the activation of polyol pathway in 34 blood samples from diabetic dogs and in 14 controls. AGE products were significantly higher (p<0.01) in plasma from diabetic dogs compared with control animals. The sorbitol concentration in erythrocytes was also significantly higher in diabetic dogs and, in particular, in poorly compensated animals and in dogs with ketonuria. In five cases that were analysed before and after clinical improvement, sorbitol concentration was found to correlate with improvement. These results suggest that non-specific glycosylation is increased and that the polyol pathway is activated in diabetic dogs in a manner that is proportionate to the severity of disease. Moreover, the concentration of AGE products and sorbitol may be useful for monitoring the onset of diabetic complications and assessing the most appropriate therapeutic approaches for management of canine DM.     

Development of a composite orthopaedic pain scale in horses

This study addresses development and validation of a composite multifactorial pain scale (CPS) in an experimental equine model of acute orthopaedic pain. Eighteen horses were allocated to control (sedation with/without epidural analgesia - mixture of morphine, ropivacaine, detomidine and ketamine) and experimental groups: amphotericin-B injection in the tarsocrural joint induced pain and analgesia was either i.v. phenylbutazone administered post-induction of synovitis, or pre-emptive epidural mixture, or a pre-emptive combination of the 2. Inter- and intra-observer reproducibility was good (0.8相似文献   

Neurologic abnormalities as the predominant signs of neoplasia of the nasal cavity in dogs and cats: seven cases (1973-1986)

Neurologic abnormalities were the predominant historic and physical findings in 5 dogs and 2 cats with primary nasal cavity tumors that had invaded the cranial vault. Seizures, behavior changes, and obtundation were the most common signs. Other neurologic signs included paresis, ataxia, circling, visual deficit, and proprioceptive deficit. Although 1 dog and 2 cats had historic findings of mild respiratory disease, no physical abnormalities related to the respiratory tract were found in any of the 7 animals. Nasal cavity neoplasia was suggested by radiographic and computed tomographic studies and was confirmed histopathologically in each case. The nasal tumor types in the 5 dogs were epidermoid carcinoma (n = 1), adenocarcinoma (n = 2), solid carcinoma (n = 1), and anaplastic chondrosarcoma (n = 1). An esthesioneuroblastoma was found in each cat. Radiation therapy was effective for 3 months in palliating the clinical signs in the 2 dogs in which it was used. Neoplasia of the nasal cavity should be considered in the differential diagnosis for animals with neurologic signs suggestive of cerebral disorders.     

Large intestinal capacity, retention times, and turnover rates of particulate ingesta associated with extensive large-colon resection in horses

Fecal excretion of a particulate marker, ytterbium (Yb), was evaluated in 9 horses before surgery and 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months (4 trials) after sham-operation (group 1; n = 3) or extensive large colon resection (group 2; n = 6). Fecal excretion curves of total Yb excretion, loge Yb excretion, % Yb excretion, loge % Yb excretion, and cumulative % Yb excretion were evaluated, and kinetic analysis was performed on the loge Yb excretion curves to detect mixing pools and to calculate the fractional rate of particulate passage, turnover rate, and pool size. Calculations were performed to determined transit time, mean overall retention time, adjusted mean retention time, peak time, and disappearance time. Values were statistically analyzed to determine differences between groups and among trials (P less than 0.05). Group-2 horses had significantly shorter transit, peak, and mean overall retention times, compared with preoperative values and with values for group-1 horses. Two mixing pools were identified: a slower emptying pool of 5.7% hour-1 (k1) and a faster emptying pool of 12.3% hour-1 (k2). The rate of passage from the first pool (k1) was not altered by colon resection, and was interpreted as being most influenced by the cecum. In further support of this interpretation, the capacity of the k1 pool approximated the capacity of the cecum (17 L). The capacity of the k1 pool significantly expanded by 6 months in the resected horses. the rate of passage from the second pool (k2) significantly increased initially after colon resection (3 weeks and 3 months), but returned to preoperative values by 6 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of phenylbutazone on glucose tolerance and on secretion of insulin in healthy geldings

The effect of phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg of body weight, IV, q 24 h, for 5 days) on glucose tolerance and on secretion of insulin in 6 healthy geldings was determined. Phenylbutazone significantly lowered fasting concentrations of glucose in plasma but did not significantly change the concentration of insulin in serum. There was no significant effect of phenylbutazone on glucose tolerance, on secretion of insulin, or on the area under the insulin/glucose ratio vs time curve in healthy geldings, as determined by paired t test analysis.     

A simple method for the quantitative determination of sperm aggregation

Described in this paper are 2 methodological variants for photometric recording of sperm aggregation. Heparin was used to induce aggregation. One of the working principles was related to aggregation-associated alteration of turbidity in an agitated cell suspension, measured by the KZM-1 coagulation-time meter, in analogy to measurement of thrombocyte aggregation. The 2nd variant was based on variation of cloudiness due to sedimentation of aggregates in a non-agitated suspension. Both methods provided equally valid information. They characterised both intensity of aggregation as a combined effect of the number and size of aggregates as well as the rate of aggregation. Photometric recording has proved to be an objectivated method for quantitative assessment of aggregation. Its use is proposed for studies into capacitation or immunological response of spermatozoa.     

Canine distemper viral antigens and antibodies in dogs with rheumatoid arthritis

Dogs with canine rheumatoid arthritis had significantly elevated levels of antibodies to canine distemper virus. This increase was particularly seen in the synovial fluids, compared with paired sera, and was not found in dogs with infective arthropathies, osteoarthritis or in osteoarthritis secondary to rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. Analysis of the immune complexes precipitated from synovial fluids showed immunoglobulins in all types of arthropathy. Western blotting analyses showed reactivity with anti-distemper antisera in immune complexes from dogs with rheumatoid arthritis, but not in immune complexes from dogs with other joint diseases. These results suggest that there are increased immune responses to distemper in canine arthritis and that these may be due to the presence of this paramyxovirus in affected joints. The implications for the role of a possible infectious agent in rheumatoid arthritis in the dog are considerable.     

Risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries in 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) in racehorses have been identified as the most common cause of lost training days and weeks spent resting at pasture. Several training-, track- and horse-related risk factors have been identified. However, there is no clear understanding of the inter-relationship between these factors. The aim of this longitudinal cohort study was to investigate risk factors for MSI in 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses. Australian Thoroughbred trainers were convenience sampled and enrolled in a 27-month longitudinal cohort study. The study population consisted of all 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses trained by a participating trainer. Horses were followed from the time of enrollment until the completion of the study or until they were lost to follow-up. Trainers were visited at approximately 14-day intervals to collect training and injury data. Training days were categorised as fast days if the maximum speed during training exceeded 800 m/min. For each horse, the first training period that included one or more fast days was analysed. A multiple logistic regression model was used to determine those horse- and training-related variables that were associated with MSI. Data from 274 horses trained by 14 trainers at five racetracks were analysed. Forty percent of the horses sustained a MSI during their first fast preparation. The average distance trained at speeds >or=800 m/min and the percentages of fast days from the first fast day until the end of the preparation were the only variables associated with MSI. After accounting for these variables there were still significant differences between trainers. This suggests that there are other training-related variables such as the rate of increase in distance trained at speeds >or=800 m/min that may be risk factors for MSI. In addition, other factors such as the level of veterinary involvement and the training centre/racetrack may be risk factors for MSI. More analysis using multi-level modelling is required to determine the relationship between trainer- and track-related risk factors.     

Disorders of the origin of the suspensory ligament in the horse: a diagnostic challenge

Lameness in horses due to pain originating from the proximal metacarpal/metatarsal region remains a diagnostic challenge. In cases of obvious lameness the pain can be localised to this region by diagnostic anaesthesia. Because a variety of disorders can cause lameness in this region different imaging modalities including radiography, ultrasonography and scintigraphy should be used to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. Even though a precise anatomic-pathologic diagnosis can still be an enigma, because not only bone and joints, but also soft tissue structures including the proximal suspensory ligament, its origin at the proximal metacarpus/ metatarsus, its fascia, the superficial fascia, as well as the intermetacarpal/metatarsal ligaments, the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon and both digital flexor tendons may be involved. Magnet resonance tomography (MRT) shows a high diagnostic sensitivity in imaging soft tissue structures and bone. In horses MRT is still at the beginning. The MRT appearance of the proximal metacarpal/metatarsal region has not yet been evaluated in detail and there are only few anatomic studies of the origin of the suspensory ligament in horses. The first experiences showed, that more gross and histologic examinations are necessary to fully interpret MRT-images and to differentiate pathologic alterations from clinically not relevant variations.     

Exogenous eFSH, follicle coasting, and hCG as a novel superovulation regimen in mares

The objective of this study was to evaluate various equine follicle-stimulating hormone (eFSH) treatment protocols and the effect of “follicle coasting” on ovulation and embryo recovery rates in mares. Cycling mares (n = 40) were randomly assigned to one of four groups 7 days after ovulation: (1) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily until follicles were 35 mm or larger; (2) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily until follicles were 32 mm or larger; (3) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily for 3.5 days followed by 12.5 mg eFSH enriched with luteinizing hormone (LH) twice daily until follicles were 35 mm or larger; and (4) 25 mg eFSH once daily until follicles were 32 mm or larger. Mares in groups 1 and 3 were injected with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (2500 IU intravenously) at the end of eFSH treatment, whereas mares in groups 2 and 4 were given hCG approximately 42 and 54 hours, respectively, after the last eFSH treatment (“follicle coasting”). Nonsurgical embryo collection was performed 6.5 to 7.5 days after ovulation. Each mare experienced a nontreated estrous cycle before being reassigned to a second treatment. Ovulation rates for mares in treatment groups 1 to 4 were 3.3 ± 0.4, 4.1 ± 0.4, 3.5 ± 0.4, and 2.8 ± 0.4 (mean ± SEM; P < .05), respectively. One or more embryos were recovered from more than 80% of mares in each treatment group, and embryo recovery rate per flush was similar among treatment groups (1.9 ± 0.3, 2.6 ± 0.3, 1.9 ± 0.3 and 1.9 ± 0.3, respectively; P > .05). The overall embryo recovery rate was 2.1 ± 1.5 embryos per flush. In summary, ovulation rate was higher for mares treated with eFSH (3.4 ± 0.4) compared with non-treated controls (1.1 ± 0.2). Ovulation rate in mares in which hCG was delayed (follicle coasting) was higher (P < .05) when treatments were given twice per day versus once per day. Administration of equine luteinizing hormone (eLH) in conjunction with eFSH did not have an advantage over mares treated only with eFSH.