Transpalpebral ultrasonographic measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter in healthy dogs

Objective

To develop a reference range for ultrasonographically measured optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD‐US) in dogs. We hypothesized that ONSD‐US can be measured reliably and is associated with weight but not age, sex, or body condition score (BCS), and that the relationship between weight and ONSD‐US in dogs is allometric due to canine size variations.

Design

Prospective, observational study.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Seventy‐eight healthy adult dogs.

Interventions

The ONSD was measured by a standardized transpalpebral approach.

Measurements and Main Results

Regression analysis showed the relationship between weight and ONSD was better fit with a linear model (R² = 0.8510) than an allometric model (R² = 0.7917). Multiple regression analysis showed ONSD is associated with weight (P < 0.0001), age (P = 0.0021), and BCS (P = 0.0007), but not with sex. Dominance analysis showed 94.6% of the variance explained by the model was due to weight. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis showed excellent interobserver (ICC = 0.9338–0.9608) and intraobserver (ICC = 0.9893) reliability.

Conclusions

These results suggest that ONSD‐US may be reliably measured in dogs using our described transpalpebral approach, and we have calculated prediction intervals based on body weight. Future studies are needed to determine if ONSD‐US measurements are associated with intracranial hypertension as shown in human medicine.     

饮水高钠致肉鸡急性和慢性肺动脉高压综合征

为了探讨肉鸡肺动脉高压综合征 (PHS)的发病机制 ,将 2 4 0羽 1日龄健康AA肉鸡随机均分为对照组 (C)、试验Ⅰ组 (T1)和试验Ⅱ组 (T2 )。从 8日龄起实验组在饮水中添加Na+ ,使水中Na+ 含量分别达 6 0 0和 12 0 0mg·L-1,动态观察和检测各组肉鸡临床表现、PHS发病率、右心与全心重量比 (RV/TV)、红细胞压积 (PCV)、红细胞滤过指数 (FI)和血容量 (BV) ,对各组患病鸡与对照鸡的肺小动脉结构变化进行动态检测和比较分析。结果显示 ,饮水高钠成功诱发了肉鸡PHS ,并显著提高了肉鸡PHS发病率、RV/TV和PCV (P <0 0 5 )。在 2 8日龄以前 ,试验组患病鸡的FI和BV显著增加 (P <0 0 5 ) ,而血管肌化百分率 (%MA和 %WTPV)、管壁面积与管总面积之比 (WA/TA)、平均中膜厚度 (mMTPA)和血管非肌化百分率 (%NMA)无显著差异。 35和 4 2日龄时 ,试验组患病鸡肺血管 %MA、%WTPV、WA/TA和mMTPA显著增加 (P <0 0 5 ) ,%NMA则显著降低 (P <0 0 5 ) ,但FI和BV无变化。从而揭示了饮水高钠使 14～ 2 1日龄的PHS患鸡出现了以肺动脉血流量增加和肺血管阻力升高的血液流变力学变化为主要特征的急性肺动脉高压综合征。使 35～ 4 2日龄的PHS患鸡出现了以肺小动脉肌型化和管壁增生肥厚的血管重构为主要特征的慢性肺动脉高压综合征。     

Association between plasma level of microRNA-21 and pulmonary hypertension in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction

AIM: To investigate the correlation between microRNA-21 (miR-21) and pulmonary hypertension(PH) in the patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). METHODS: From January 2014 to February 2016, 102 HFpEF patients presenting to Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into PH-HFPEF group (n=36, PASP ≥ 50 mmHg) and HFpEF group (n=40, PASP<50 mmHg). Another 36 age-and sex-matched subjects served as healthy controls. The plasma level of miR-21 and its correlations with clinic data were examined, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent predictors of PH-HFpEF. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was analyzed, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. The sensitivity and specificity for PH-HFPEF diagnosis were also determined. RESULTS: Age, plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and left atrial diameter (LAD) were significantly higher in PH-HFPEF group than those in HFPEF group (P<0.05). The level of miR-21 was significantly increased in PH-HFPEF group compared with HFpEF group and healthy control group. In addition, the miR-21 level was correlated with PASP (r=0.267, P=0.000), plasma IL-6 (r=0.302, P=0.013) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (r=0.515, P=0.036). Plasma IL-6 was positively correlated with plasma ET-1 (r=0.622, P=0.002). PASP was positively correlated with plasma IL-6 (r=0.36, P=0.023), ET-1 (r=0.76, P=0.004), BNP (r=0.43,P=0.031), and LAD (r=0.39, P=0.044). ROC curve showed that the AUC of miR-21 was 0.80. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that miR-21, LAD and BNP were the independent predictors of PH-HFpEF. CONCLUSION: Increased plasma miR-21 level is positively correlated to PH-HFpEF, and is an independent predictor of PH-HFpEF, suggesting that plasma miR-21 might be a useful new biomarker for predicting PH in HFpEF patients.     

向天果提取物对肾性高血压动物试验研究

通过2K1C法制作肾性高血压(RH)大鼠模型,研究向天果提取物(SME)对肾性高血压大鼠的降压和靶器官保护等治疗作用。将造模成功的大鼠随机分为模型组、阳性组(25mg/kg卡托普利)、SME高剂量组(500mg/kg)、SME低剂量组(250mg/kg)。给药8周后,血液生化测定肾功能指标,并采用ELISA测定肾素-血管紧张素-醛固酮系统(RAAS)活性。取右肾进行组织切片,HE染色,组织学观察。结果表明,与模型组相比,SME能显著降低RH大鼠收缩压(P<0.01)。与模型组相比,SME高、低剂量组明显降低RH大鼠RAAS水平(P<0.01)。各治疗组对RH大鼠肾脏损伤有不同程度的改善。说明向天果提取物有降压、保护肾脏的作用,其机制可能与抑制RAAS兴奋,抑制血管收缩,以及水钠重吸收有关。     

The renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system and its suppression

Chronic activation of the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS) promotes and perpetuates the syndromes of congestive heart failure, systemic hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. Excessive circulating and tissue angiotensin II (AngII) and aldosterone levels lead to a pro‐fibrotic, ‐inflammatory, and ‐hypertrophic milieu that causes remodeling and dysfunction in cardiovascular and renal tissues. Understanding of the role of the RAAS in this abnormal pathologic remodeling has grown over the past few decades and numerous medical therapies aimed at suppressing the RAAS have been developed. Despite this, morbidity from these diseases remains high. Continued investigation into the complexities of the RAAS should help clinicians modulate (suppress or enhance) components of this system and improve quality of life and survival. This review focuses on updates in our understanding of the RAAS and the pathophysiology of AngII and aldosterone excess, reviewing what is known about its suppression in cardiovascular and renal diseases, especially in the cat and dog.     

肺动脉高压综合征发病过程中肉鸡血清和肺脏iNOS和cNOS活性变化

常规饲养条件喂养的大群AA肉鸡，按临床症状分为肺动脉高压组（M组），肺动脉高压腹水组（S组）和正常对照组（C组）。分别测定21、28、35和42日龄S组、M组和C组肉鸡的腹水心脏指数（AHI）、全心与体重比（WH／BW）、平均肺动脉高压（mPAP）、血清一氧化氮（NO）水平、肺脏和血清cNOS和iNOS活性。试验结果表明：（1）S组和M组全心与体重比值（TV／BW）以及S组血清NO水平均从28日龄起显著或极显著高于C组（P〈O．01或P〈0．05）；（2）S组肺组织cNOS水平显著或极显著低于C组（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）；（3）S组肺组织iNOS在21、35和42日龄显著或极显著高于C组（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）；（4）S组从28日龄起血清中cNOS和iNOS与C组差异显著或极显著（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）；（5）正常对照组肉鸡血清中iNOS活性在21、35和42日龄均显著或极显著低于血清中cNOS活性（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）。此研究结果提示cNOS和iNOS活性的变化与PHS发病机理有着密切的关系，并在其中发挥着重要的作用。