Essential Fatty Acid Supplementation In The Treatment Of Canine Atopy: A Preliminary Study

Abstract— In an open, uncontrolled study, 10 dogs with atopy were given evening primrose oil (EPO) (5ml/10kg/day) over a period of 9 weeks. During the first three weeks pruritus, scaling and oedema worsened but erythema and coat condition tended to improve. Subsequently all these parameters tended to improve. The effect on oedema was significant (p < 0.05). Eight of these dogs and two others were then given a 4:1 mixture of EPO and marine fish oil for 9 weeks. Although further reductions in scale and improvements in coat condition were marked in some animals, no significant changes occurred. Alterations in the plasma phospholipid essential fatty acid levels reflected the compositions of the two supplements. These findings suggest that EPO can ameliorate of atopy in dogs. This mirrors observations obtained in studies of human atopic eczema. Résumé— Dans une étude ouverte, sans lot témoin, 10 chiens souffrant d'atopie ont reçu de l'huile d'onagre (5 ml/10 kg/jour) pendant une période de 9 semaines. Pendant les 3 premières semaines, le prurit, le squamosis et l'oedème se sont aggravés mais, l'érythème et l'aspect du poil tendaient à s'améliorer. Enfin tous ces parametres tendaient à s'améliorer. L'effet sur l'érythème a été significatif (p < 0.05). Huit de ces chiens et deux autres ont alors reçu un mélange (4:1) d'huile d'onagre et d'huile de poisson de mer pendant 9 semaines. Bien qu'ultérieurement la diminution du squamosis et l'amélioration de l'état de la fourrure aient été manifestes chez certains animaux, il n'y eut pas de changement significatif. Les modifications des taux d'acides gras essentiels des phospholipides plasmatiques ont reflété la composition des deux supplémentations. Ces observations suggèrent que l'huile d'onagre peut apporter une amélioration de l'atopie canine. Cela reflète certains résultats observés lors d'études sur l'eczéma atopique de l'homme. Zusammenfassung— In einer offenen, nicht kontrollierten Untersuchung wurde 10 Hunden mit Atopie Nachtkerzenöl (EPO) in einer Dosierung von 5 ml/10 kg/Tag über einen Zeitraum von 9 Wochen verabreicht. Während der ersten 3 Wochen verschlimmerten sich Pruritus, Schuppenbildung und Ödeme, während Erytheme und Fellzustand eher eine Tendenz zur Besserung zeigten. Danach besserten sich alle diese Parameter. Die Wirkung auf Erytheme war signifikant (p < 0.05). Acht dieser Hunde und zwei andere erhielten 9 Wochen lang Nachtkerzenöl und Seefischöl in einer Mischung von 4:1 im Anschlufl an diese Untersuchung. Obwohl eine weitere Verminderung der Schuppenbildung und eine Vorbesserung der Fellqualität bei einigen Tieren festgestellt wurden, waren diese Veränderungen nicht signifikant. Die Veränderungen der essentiellen phospholipiden Fettsäuren im Plasma spiegeln die Zusammensetzung der beiden verabreichten Öle wieder. Diese Befunde weisen darauf hin, daß die Atopie des Hundes durch EPO gebessert werden kann. Dies entspricht auch Beobachtungen bei Untersuchungen des atopischen Exzems des Menschen.     

Three-dimensional imaging of a sawn surface: a comparison of confocal microscopy,scanning electron microscopy,and light microscopy combined with serial sectioning

The three-dimensional structure of a transverse sawn wood surface was investigated using several methods, to compare techniques, and to study the types of deformation in tracheids at the saw cut. A sample of spruce sapwood was cut with a fret saw across the grain. The transverse sawn surface was imaged by confocal microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and by light microscopy combined with serial sectioning and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. Both confocal microscopy and FESEM were restricted to visualising the cut surface of the wood. However, serial sectioning was able to reveal the internal structure below the cut surface providing more information on the types of cell deformation present. The wood structure was deformed to depths of more than 600 μm below the surface with twisting, crushing and tearing deformations. Near the outer surface, gaps were formed between groups of tracheids where the cell walls had been torn away to form saw dust. The deformation tended to form groups of tracheids that were twisted relative to each other. Latewood was less distorted, forming a dense solid surface compared to the highly fibrous earlywood.     

Changes in the phytochemical composition and profile of raw, boiled, and roasted peanuts

Peanuts are consumed mostly as processed products. Although the effect of processing on isoflavone composition of legumes has been extensively studied, there has been no such study on peanuts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of processing (boiling, oil- and dry-roasting) on the phytochemical composition of peanuts. Boiling had a significant effect on the phytochemical composition of peanuts compared to oil- and dry-roasting. Boiled peanuts had the highest total flavonoid and polyphenol content. The biochanin A and genistein content of boiled peanut extracts were two- and fourfold higher, respectively. trans-Resveratrol was detected only in the boiled peanuts, with the commercial product having a significantly (p < or = 0.05) higher concentration. Ultraviolet and mass spectrometry chromatograms for the boiled peanut extracts show the presence of four additional peaks that were not observed in the raw peanut extracts.     

Case–control risk factor study of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) infection in dogs and cats in Germany

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) has emerged as a highly drug-resistant small animal veterinary pathogen. Although often isolated from outpatients in veterinary clinics, there is concern that MRSP follows a veterinary-hospital-associated epidemiology. This study's objective was to identify risk factors for MRSP infections in dogs and cats in Germany. Clinical isolates of MRSP cases (n = 150) and methicillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius (MSSP) controls (n = 133) and their corresponding host signalment and medical data covering the six months prior to staphylococcal isolation were analysed by multivariable logistic regression. The identity of all MRSP isolates was confirmed through demonstration of S. intermedius-group specific nuc and mecA. In the final model, cats (compared to dogs, OR 18.5, 95% CI 1.8–188.0, P = 0.01), animals that had been hospitalised (OR 104.4, 95% CI 21.3–511.6, P < 0.001), or visited veterinary clinics more frequently (>10 visits OR 7.3, 95% CI 1.0–52.6, P = 0.049) and those that had received topical ear medication (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.8–14.9, P = 0.003) or glucocorticoids (OR 22.5, 95% CI 7.0–72.6, P < 0.001) were at higher risk of MRSP infection, whereas S. pseudintermedius isolates from ears were more likely to belong to the MSSP-group (OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.03–0.34, P < 0.001). These results indicate an association of MRSP infection with veterinary clinic/hospital settings and possibly with chronic skin disease. There was an unexpected lack of association between MRSP and antimicrobial therapy; this requires further investigation but may indicate that MRSP is well adapted to canine skin with little need for selective pressure.     

Kisspeptin,c‐Fos and CRFR Type 2 Co‐expression in the Hypothalamus after Insulin‐Induced Hypoglycaemia

Normal reproductive function is dependent upon availability of glucose and insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia is a metabolic stressor known to disrupt the ovine oestrous cycle. We have recently shown that IIH has the ability to delay the LH surge of intact ewes. In the present study, we examined brain tissue to determine: (i) which hypothalamic regions are activated with respect to IIH and (ii) the effect of IIH on kisspeptin cell activation and CRFR type 2 immunoreactivity, all of which may be involved in disruptive mechanisms. Follicular phases were synchronized with progesterone vaginal pessaries and at 28 h after progesterone withdrawal (PW), animals received saline (n = 6) or insulin (4 IU/kg; n = 5) and were subsequently killed at 31 h after PW (i.e., 3 h after insulin administration). Peripheral hormone concentrations were evaluated, and hypothalamic sections were immunostained for either kisspeptin and c‐Fos (a marker of neuronal activation) or CRFR type 2. Within 3 h of treatment, cortisol concentrations had increased whereas plasma oestradiol concentrations decreased in peripheral plasma (p < 0.05 for both). In the arcuate nucleus (ARC), insulin‐treated ewes had an increased expression of c‐Fos. Furthermore, the percentage of kisspeptin cells co‐expressing c‐Fos increased in the ARC (from 11 to 51%; p < 0.05), but there was no change in the medial pre‐optic area (mPOA; 14 vs 19%). CRFR type 2 expression in the lower part of the ARC and the median eminence was not altered by insulin treatment. Thus, disruption of the LH surge after IIH in the follicular phase is not associated with decreased kisspeptin cell activation or an increase in CRFR type 2 in the ARC but may involve other cell types located in the ARC nucleus which are activated in response to IIH.