Ein allgemeiner Indikator als wefentlicher Fortschritt bei der Reakionsbestimmung der B?den

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Absence of renal cortical anisotropic backscattering artifact in feline chronic kidney disease

Renal cortical anisotropy backscattering artifact (CABA) is a focal hyperechoic region where the tubules are parallel to the incident ultrasound beam, reflecting most of the beams to the transducer. To investigate the association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the absence of renal CABA in cats. Ultrasonographic renal images of 40 cats with CKD (stage II-IV) and 36 clinically healthy cats were blindly evaluated by two observers to determine the visibility of renal CABA. Inter- and intraobserver agreements were evaluated using McNemar’s test. The association between the absence of renal CABA and CKD was assessed using Fisher’s exact test. Excellent intraobserver and substantial interobserver agreements were demonstrated. A significant association (P < .0001) between absent renal CABA and CKD stage was revealed in all cats. Cats with CKD had an increased risk of the absence of renal CABA (Odds ratio, 56.0; 95% CI, 13.8–227.0) compared with the clinically healthy cats. The absence of renal CABA revealed 87.5% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity to detect CKD in all cats, and 91.7% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity in aged cats. Our study demonstrated a correlation between feline CKD and the absence of renal CABA, providing a feasible and alternative method for feline CKD evaluation.     

Survey of the prevalence and methodology of quality assurance for B‐mode ultrasound image quality among veterinary sonographers

Image quality in B‐mode ultrasound is important as it reflects the diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic information provided during clinical scanning. Quality assurance programs for B‐mode ultrasound systems/components are comprised of initial quality acceptance testing and subsequent regularly scheduled quality control testing. The importance of quality assurance programs for B‐mode ultrasound image quality using ultrasound phantoms is well documented in the human medical and medical physics literature. The purpose of this prospective, cross‐sectional, survey study was to determine the prevalence and methodology of quality acceptance testing and quality control testing of image quality for ultrasound system/components among veterinary sonographers. An online electronic survey was sent to 1497 members of veterinary imaging organizations: the American College of Veterinary Radiology, the Veterinary Ultrasound Society, and the European Association of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, and a total of 167 responses were received. The results showed that the percentages of veterinary sonographers performing quality acceptance testing and quality control testing are 42% (64/151; 95% confidence interval 34–52%) and 26% (40/156: 95% confidence interval 19–33%) respectively. Of the respondents who claimed to have quality acceptance testing or quality control testing of image quality in place for their ultrasound system/components, 0% have performed quality acceptance testing or quality control testing correctly (quality acceptance testing 95% confidence interval: 0–6%, quality control testing 95% confidence interval: 0–11%). Further education and guidelines are recommended for veterinary sonographers in the area of quality acceptance testing and quality control testing for B‐mode ultrasound equipment/components.     

Presumed acquired dynamic pectus excavatum in a cat

An 11-year-old, spayed female American domestic shorthair cat was presented with open-mouth breathing and dyspnea due to respiratory tract disease. Radiographically, there was thickening of the retropharyngeal soft tissue and soft palate, focal pulmonary change, and severe pectus excavatum (PE), best seen on the left lateral view. Repeat thoracic radiographs 4 months later showed persistent PE, but only on the right lateral view; PE was absent on the left lateral view. The dynamic component of the observed PE was presumably acquired secondary to chronic upper respiratory disease and/or concurrent increased pliability of the thoracic wall from prolonged prednisolone treatment.     

Inhibition of endogenous peroxidase activity in soil samples. Application to the analysis of soil‐bound triazine residues by enzyme immunoassays with peroxidase tracer

In the analysis of soil samples with immunochemical methods, the interpretation of tracer signals derived from marker enzymes such as peroxidase may be limited by the presence of endogenous enzyme activity. Therefore various inhibitors of peroxidase were tested for their ability to remove endogenous enzyme activity. Hydrogen peroxide, sodium azide and phenylhydrazine effectively inhibited a commercial peroxidase, while only phenylhydrazine proved to be a successful inhibitor of peroxidase in soil samples. An optimized enzyme immunoassay was then used for the investigation of soil samples for non‐extractable atrazine residues. Only soil samples where atrazine had been applied during preceding years yielded positive signals in contrast to a control soil that came from a barn with no atrazine applied.     

Diffuse cylindrical bronchiectasis due to eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy in a dog

A miniature pinscher-cross was evaluated for chronic coughing. Computed tomography and bronchoscopy revealed severe, diffuse, cylindrical bronchiectasis secondary to eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy. Computed tomography is the gold standard for diagnosis of bronchiectasis in humans, and should be further investigated in dogs as a means of characterizing severity and pattern of disease.     

FAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AN INTRAMURAL RADIOLUCENT BAND IN THE FELINE STOMACH WALL

An intramural radiolucent band in the stomach wall can be seen on abdominal radiographs of cats without concurrent clinical gastrointestinal signs. A retrospective study of cats with normal abdominal radiographs and computed tomography (CT) was performed to determine the prevalence of this finding. This gastric radiolucent band was seen in 13 of 37 (35%) radiographs. There was no relationship between age, weight and relative obesity and the presence of this radiolucent band. Using CT, an intramural hypoattenuating layer was detected in the stomach wall of four of 15 (27%) cats. The intramural radiolucent band was visible on the radiographs in all four of those cats. This radiographic and CT finding was histologically determined to be normal fat in the gastric submucosa in one cat cadaver.