Questionnaire‐based Analysis of Owner‐reported Scratching and Pain Signs in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Screened for Chiari‐like Malformation and Syringomyelia

Background

Chiari‐like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM) cause a pain syndrome in Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS). Clinical signs are not consistently apparent on neurologic examination, and owner reporting of signs provides vital clinical history. However, owner questionnaires for this disease are not well developed.

Objectives

To develop a tool to capture owner‐reported clinical signs for use in clinical trials and to compare owner‐reported signs with the presence of pain on neurologic examination and SM on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Animals

Fifty client‐owned CKCS.

Methods

Owners completed a questionnaire and pain/scratch map. Each dog underwent a neurologic examination and craniocervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Questionnaire responses were developed into scores, area of shading for pain/scratch maps was measured, and consistency of responses between these tools was assessed. Owner‐reported findings were compared with neurologic examination findings and presence and severity of SM on MRI.

Results

Thirty‐three dogs were symptomatic and 17 asymptomatic; 30 had SM. The most common sign of pain was crying out when lifted (n = 11). Extent of shaded areas on maps positively correlated with questionnaire scores for pain (r² = 0.213, P = 0.006) and scratch (r² = 0.104, P = 0.089). Owner‐reported findings were not significantly associated with presence or severity of SM or neurologic examination findings. Owner‐reported lateralization of signs was significantly associated with SM lateralization (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The questionnaire and maps may be useful for clinical trials. Lack of association of owner‐reported signs with SM highlights our lack of understanding of the pathophysiology of pain in this disease.     

Retrospective Evaluation of the Effect of Heart Rate on Survival in Dogs with Atrial Fibrillation

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) usually is associated with a rapid ventricular rate. The optimal heart rate (HR) during AF is unknown.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Heart rate affects survival in dogs with chronic AF.

Animals

Forty‐six dogs with AF and 24‐hour ambulatory recordings were evaluated.

Methods

Retrospective study. Holter‐derived HR variables were analyzed as follows: mean HR (meanHR, 24‐hour average), minimum HR (minHR, 1‐minute average), maximum HR (maxHR, 1‐minute average). Survival times were recorded from the time of presumed adequate rate control. The primary endpoint was all‐cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards analysis identified variables independently associated with survival; Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis estimated the median survival time of dogs with meanHR <125 bpm versus ≥125 bpm.

Results

All 46 dogs had structural heart disease; 31 of 46 had congestive heart failure (CHF), 44 of 46 received antiarrhythmic drugs. Of 15 dogs with cardiac death, 14 had CHF. Median time to all‐cause death was 524 days (Interquartile range (IQR), 76–1,037 days). MeanHR was 125 bpm (range, 62–203 bpm), minHR was 82 bpm (range, 37–163 bpm), maxHR was 217 bpm (range, 126–307 bpm). These were significantly correlated with all‐cause and cardiac‐related mortality. For every 10 bpm increase in meanHR, the risk of all‐cause mortality increased by 35% (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.17–1.55; P < 0.001). Median survival time of dogs with meanHR<125 bpm (n = 23) was significantly longer (1,037 days; range, 524‐open) than meanHR ≥125 bpm (n = 23; 105 days; range, 67–267 days; P = 0.0012). Mean HR was independently associated with all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality (P < 0.003).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Holter‐derived meanHR affects survival in dogs with AF. Dogs with meanHR <125 bpm lived longer than those with meanHR ≥ 125 bpm.     

Familial Congenital Methemoglobinemia in Pomeranian Dogs Caused by a Missense Variant in the NADH‐Cytochrome B5 Reductase Gene

Background

In veterinary medicine, congenital methemoglobinemia associated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)‐cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R) deficiency is rare. It has been reported in several breeds of dogs, but little information is available about its etiology.

Objectives

To analyze the NADH‐cytochrome b5 reductase gene, CYB5R3, in a Pomeranian dog family with methemoglobinemia suspected to be caused by congenital b5R deficiency.

Animals

Three Pomeranian dogs from a family with methemoglobinemia were analyzed. Five healthy beagles and 5 nonrelated Pomeranian dogs without methemoglobinemia were used as controls.

Methods

Methemoglobin concentration, b5R activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration were measured, and a turbidity index was used to evaluate Heinz body formation. The CYB5R3 genes of the affected dog and healthy dogs were analyzed by direct sequencing.

Results

Methemoglobin concentrations in erythrocytes of the affected dogs were remarkably higher than those of the control dogs. The b5R activity of the affected dogs was notably lower than that of the control dogs. DNA sequencing indicated that this Pomeranian family carried a CYB5R3 gene missense variant (ATC→CTC at codon 194) that resulted in the replacement of isoleucine (Ile) by leucine (Leu).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

This dog family had familial congenital methemoglobinemia caused by b5R deficiency, which resulted from a nonsynonymous variant in the CYB5R3 gene. This variation (c.580A>C) led to an amino acid substitution (p.Ile194Leu), and Ile194 was located in the proximal region of the NADH‐binding motif. Our data suggested that this variant in the canine CYB5R3 gene would affect function of the b5R in erythrocytes.     

民国时期西北地区苜蓿栽培利用刍考

自汉代苜蓿引入我国以来,受到历朝历代的重视,民国时期亦不例外,苜蓿种植利用也得到了发展。在收集近现代有关苜蓿研究文献的基础上,对民国时期西北地区苜蓿种植利用情形进行了梳理与归纳,结果表明,在民国时期西北地区乃为我国苜蓿种植集中区,在陕西、甘肃、新疆、绥远(西部)、宁夏和青海等都有种植,据不完全考查,种植苜蓿的县有52个,其中以陕西最多,达22个县,甘肃次之为14个县,新疆为8个县,绥远(西部)为3个县,宁夏2县(道)和青海1个县。特别是陕甘宁边区发展苜蓿的势头高涨,如1942年边区政府在延安、安塞、甘泉、志丹、定边、靖边等县种植苜蓿达3万亩,陇东种植苜蓿2.3万亩;1944年延川县紫花苜蓿保留面积2.0万亩,到1949年,陕西全省种植苜蓿约98.49万亩。1949年新疆苜蓿保留面积达29300 hm²。绥远河套地区还进行了苜蓿粮草轮作,并建立了苜蓿种植基地。为了鼓励苜蓿种植,边区政府出台了不少政策,例如,1941年边区政府公布了《陕甘宁边区政府建设厅关于种牧草的指示信》,1942年边区政府颁布了《陕甘宁边区卅一年推广苜蓿实施办法》等,李仪祉在治理黄河的方略中,从大农业、生态环境和经济效益出发,提倡广种苜蓿,肥田养畜,并提出了4条种植苜蓿的措施。李烛尘提出,苜蓿根入土深,且能耐旱,适宜西北地区种植和培植草原。苜蓿除用于饲喂家畜外,幼嫩时可当蔬菜食用,在灾荒年也是百姓很好的救荒食物,苜蓿作为农产品常出现在兰州的市场上,试验表明苜蓿保存水土流失的作用要大于作物。     

我国明代苜蓿栽培利用刍考

苜蓿被《救荒本草》《本草纲目》《群芳谱》和《农政全书》以及明皇帝实录与方志等经典要籍所记载,充分体现了苜蓿在明代的重要性、研究的普遍性和种植的广泛性。本研究以记载明代苜蓿的相关典籍为基础,应用植物考据学原理和方法,结合现代研究成果,对明代苜蓿种植分布与状况、植物生态生物学特性、栽培管理和利用方式等进行尝试性研究考查。结果表明,明代在山西、陕西、河北、河南、山东、安徽、江苏、北京、甘肃和宁夏等省均有苜蓿种植,其中以“三晋为盛,秦、鲁次之,燕、赵又次之”。在苜蓿植物学、生态生物学研究方面成绩显著,对苜蓿植株形态、花色及其着生部位、荚果种子形状的精准描述已达到现代植物学的水准。同时,对苜蓿的轴根性也有一定的认识,记载其根的形态与黄芪的根相类似。在明代出现了紫花和黄花2种苜蓿的记载;主张苜蓿与荞麦混作,并利用苜蓿的肥田能力,将苜蓿纳入了轮作制度中;提倡7、8月种苜蓿,一年三刈,种子田一刈;苜蓿3年后生长进入旺盛期,7、8年后衰退垦去。在苜蓿饲用方面明代王象晋提出了最佳利用时期,即“苜蓿花时,刈取喂马牛,易肥健食”。同时,在苜蓿的食用、药用等方面人们利用得更加具体有效。此外,苜蓿还可做贡品。