RADIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF PRIMARY AND CONCOMITANT FLEXOR ENTHESOPATHY IN THE CANINE ELBOW

Primary flexor enthesopathy is a recently recognized elbow disorder and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of elbow lameness. For treatment planning purposes, it is important to make a distinction between primary and concomitant forms of the disease. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare radiographic findings for dogs with primary flexor enthesopathy (n = 17), concomitant flexor enthesopathy (n = 24), elbow dysplasia (n = 13), and normal dogs (n = 7). All dogs underwent a complete radiographic examination and each radiographic image was evaluated for the presence or absence of following characteristics: irregular medial humeral epicondyle, spur and calcified body. Additionally, the presence or absence of other elbow disorders (medial coronoid process disease, osteochondritis dissecans, ununited anconeal process, incongruity, subtrochlear sclerosis, and osteoarthritis) was recorded. Radiographic characteristics of flexor enthesopathy were found in 86% of painful joints in the primary flexor enthesopathy group and in 100% of painful joints in the concomitant flexor enthesopathy group. Radiographic characteristics of flexor enthesopathy were not found in sound elbow and elbow dysplasia groups. Frequencies and details of individual radiographic characteristics did not differ between primary and concomitant flexor enthesopathy groups. Findings support the use of radiography as a first screening method for detection of flexor enthesopathy, but not as a technique for distinguishing primary vs. concomitant forms.     

Pseudoalteromone B: A Novel 15C Compound from a Marine Bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. CGH2XX

A novel 15C compound, pseudoalteromone B (1), possessing a novel carbon skeleton, was obtained from a marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. CGH2XX. This bacterium was originally isolated from a cultured-type octocoral Lobophytum crassum, that was growing in cultivating tanks equipped with a flow-through sea water system. The structure of 1 was established by spectroscopic methods. Pseudoalteromone B (1) displayed a modestly inhibitory effect on the release of elastase by human neutrophils.     

Excavatoids O and P, new 12-hydroxybriaranes from the octocoral Briareum excavatum

Two new 12-hydroxybriarane diterpenoids, designated as excavatoids O (1) and P (2), were isolated from the octocoral Briareum excavatum. The structures of briaranes 1 and 2 were established on the basis of extensive spectral data analysis. Excavatoid P (2) is the first metabolite which possesses a 6β -chlorine atom in briarane analogues.     

Treatment of a malignant pheochromocytoma in a dog using 131I metaiodobenzylguanidine

A 12 yr old castrated male Yorkshire terrier was presented with a history of an inoperable pheochromocytoma. Physical examination revealed a large, midabdominal mass. Neurologic examination was normal at presentation. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a 215 cm(3) mass in the region of the right kidney. Forty-eight hours after IV injection of 370 megabecquerels (MBq, equivalent to10 millicuries [mCi]) of metaiodobenzylguanidine labeled with radioactive iodine ([(131)I]MIBG), standard planar scintigraphy was performed. A diffuse area of moderate uptake was noted in the midabdominal region. The dog experienced stable disease for 1.5 mo after injection based on a follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan; however, 5 mo after injection, repeat CT imaging revealed progression of the tumor, and a second IV injection of 370 MBq (10 mCi) of [(131)I]MIBG was administered. The dog died 3 wk after the second injection as a result of gastrointestinal blood loss that was believed to be caused by compression-induced bowel ischemia by the mass. A full necropsy was not performed, but the mass was removed for histologic evaluation, which confirmed the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. This report is the first to document the treatment of canine pheochromocytoma using [(131)I]MIBG.     

INTRA- AND INTEROBSERVER VARIABILITY OF ULTRASONOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS OF THE THYROID GLAND IN HEALTHY BEAGLES

The repeatability of ultrasonographic measurements of the canine thyroid gland was evaluated. The variability of three different parameters (the maximal length, width, and height) within observer, between observer and between dogs was assessed based on three different measurements made by each of three observers infive healthy beagle dogs. From the three parameters, the volume of the gland was estimated using a formula of a rotation ellipse. The height and the volume had the lowest intra- and interobserver variability, while measurements of the length had the biggest intra- and interobserver variability. The mean values, with their 90% confidence interval were: height = 0.53cm [0.33-0.73], length = 2.45cm [2.04-2.85], width = 0.62cm [0.46- 0.78], volume = 0.38 cm3 [0.20-0.55].     

Effects of two different anesthetic protocols on 64‐MDCT coronary angiography in dogs

Heart rate is a major factor influencing diagnostic image quality in computed tomographic coronary artery angiography (MDCT‐CA), with an ideal heart rate of 60–65 beats/min in humans. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare effects of two different clinically applicable anesthetic protocols on cardiovascular parameters and 64‐MDCT‐CA quality in 10 healthy dogs. Scan protocols and bolus volumes were standardized. Image evaluations were performed in random order by a board‐certified veterinary radiologist who was unaware of anesthetic protocols used. Heart rate during image acquisition did not differ between protocols (P = 1), with 80.6 ± 7.5 bpm for protocol A and 79.2 ± 14.2 bpm for protocol B. Mean blood pressure was significantly higher (P > 0.05) using protocol B (protocol A 62.9 ± 9.1 vs. protocol B 72.4 ± 15.9 mmHg). The R‐R intervals allowing for best depiction of individual coronary artery segments were found in the end diastolic period and varied between the 70% and 95% interval. Diagnostic quality was rated excellent, good, and moderate in the majority of the segments evaluated, with higher scores given for more proximal segments and lower for more distal segments, respectively. Blur was the most commonly observed artifact and mainly affected the distal segments. No significant differences were identified between the two protocols for optimal reconstruction interval, diagnostic quality and measured length individual segments, or proximal diameter of the coronary arteries (P = 1). Findings indicated that, when used with a standardized bolus volume, both of these anesthetic protocols yielded diagnostic quality coronary 64‐MDCT‐CA exams in healthy dogs.