Comparison of carprofen and pethidine as postoperative analgesics in the cat

The postoperative analgesia and sedation in cats given carprofen (4·0 mg/kg bodyweight by subcutaneous injection preoperatively) was compared to that in cats given pethidine (3·3 mg/kg bodyweight by intramuscular injection postoperatively) in a controlled, randomised, blinded, multicentre clinical trial. Further dosing with the particular analgesic was allowed if a cat was exhibiting unacceptable pain. In total, 57 carprofen cases and 59 pethidine cases were evaluated. Significantly fewer cats in the carprofen group required additional doses of analgesic, and mean pain scores were significantly lower from four hours after ovariohysterectomy, and at 18 to 24 hours after castration, compared to the pethidine group. In conclusion, carprofen provided as good a level of postoperative analgesia as pethidine, but of a longer duration (at least 24 hours) and was well tolerated. It thus provides an option for 'pre-emptive analgesia' in cats about to undergo surgery.     

THE DURAL TAIL SIGN IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF MENINGIOMAS

In humans the dural tail is a sign seen on contrast enhanced T1 weighted magnetic resonance images. This finding is considered specific for meningioma. The purpose of this study was to determine how often the dural tail occurs in cats and dogs and whether it is a specific sign for meningiomas in these species. MR examinations for eighteen dogs and four cats with proven diagnoses were reviewed. Diagnoses included ten meningiomas (seven dogs and three cats), three gliomas, two pituitary tumors, single examples of two other tumor types and five patients with mass lesions due to inflammatory disease. Contrast enhanced T1 weighted images were evaluated independently by three of the authors for the presence of a dural tail, without knowledge of the diagnoses. The results were compared to the diagnosis for each patient and the performance of individual reviewers compared. When their results were averaged, the reviewers reported the presence of a dural tail in 6 of 10 (60%) meningiomas, although detection varied between observers from 40% to 80%. Each reviewer had one false positive result, two reported a dural tail with a chromophobe adenocarcinoma and one with a toxoplasma meningoencephalitis. When a dural tail is seen an associated mass is most likely a meningioma. It is uncertain whether the dural tail represents neoplastic infiltration beyond the margins of the meningioma. This should be considered when planning treatment.     

Evaluation of a point-of-care immunodot assay for predicting results of allergen-specific intradermal and immunoglobulin E serological tests

Immunotherapy to prevent recurrence of clinical signs of atopic dermatitis (AD) is based on intradermal or serological tests that assist in identifying allergen-specific immunoglobulin E hypersensitivities. Unfortunately, the results of such tests can be negatively influenced by several factors, which include the age of the patients, the season of testing and the administration of anti-allergic drugs. Screening to predict when these expensive tests will be useful would benefit owners of dogs with AD. The objectives of this study were to determine whether a point-of-care allergen-specific immunodot assay (Allercept E-Screen, Heska Corp., Ft Collins, CO, USA) could predict results of either intradermal or Allercept full panel serological tests in atopic dogs. Thirty dogs living in the south-eastern USA were diagnosed with AD in accordance with current standards. Allergen-specific intradermal, serological and E-Screen tests were performed in all subjects. For flea, house dust mite and pollen allergens altogether, results of the E-Screen assay agreed with those of intradermal and serological tests in 26/30 dogs (87%) and 25/30 dogs (83%), respectively. In this group of dogs, the probabilities of obtaining intradermal or serological tests positive for these allergens were 70 and 67%, respectively. If either skin or serum tests were performed only in dogs with positive E-Screen tests, the probability of obtaining positive results would be increased from 70 to 95% and from 67 to 90%, respectively. In this population of dogs with AD, results of the E-Screen point-of-care immunodot assay was found to often agree with those of allergen-specific intradermal or Allercept tests for selected allergen groups.     

Apoplastic redox metabolism: Synergistic phenolic oxidation and a novel oxidative burst

The plant apoplast is an important mediator of communication between the cell cytoplasm and its surroundings. Plant cell suspensions offer a convenient model system to gain insight into apoplastic physiology. Here, we describe a novel phenomenon that took place when two naturally occurring phenolics were added together to either soybean or tobacco cell suspensions. Acetosyringone (AS) and/or hydroxyacetophenone (HAP), phenolics found in the extracellular/apoplast of tobacco cells, were added to soybean or tobacco cell suspensions undergoing an oxidative burst. Individually, AS appeared to be utilized as a typical peroxidase substrate to scavenge hydrogen peroxide, while HAP was utilized at a much lower rate. However, when added together the rate of utilization of both phenolics increased and surprisingly resulted in the production of hydrogen peroxide. We have further characterized this novel phenomenon in suspension cells. This study demonstrates that certain phenolics in plants can cause co-oxidation which, as in animals, could alter the structure and bioactivity of surrounding phenolics.     

Scintigraphic evaluation of tissue viability after gunshot injury in a dog.

Triple-phase bone scintigraphy was used to evaluate tissue viability in the forelimb of a dog after gunshot injury. This technique was reliable, noninvasive, and easily performed. It was used to complement radiography by providing functional, rather than structural, assessment of tissues on the basis of regional vascular patterns. In this dog, vascular impairment caused by trauma appeared as photopenic or "cold" spots during immediate (vascular), soft tissue and bone phases of the scintigraphic study. On the basis of gross morphologic and scintigraphic findings, forelimb amputation was performed.     

Primary intraocular primitive neuroectodermal tumor (retinoblastoma) causing unilateral blindness in a gelding

A 14-year-old gray gelding was presented for investigation of a visible, pale-colored ocular mass in the right eye. An intraocular mass was identified clinically and ultrasonographically as originating from the superior nasal quadrant of the ciliary body and retina. The mass occupied the majority of the vitreous chamber and some of the superior anterior chamber of the eye. The affected eye was blind. Following exenteration, a primary intraocular primitive neuroectodermal tumor (i.e. a retinoblastoma/medulloepithelioma), a rarely described intraocular mass in adult horses, was identified by pathologic examination. The gelding returned to normal use following a short recovery period.