Association of hyponatremia and hyperglycemia with outcome in dogs with congestive heart failure

Objective: To evaluate plasma sodium and glucose concentrations in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) prior to treatment and evaluate the differences between survivors and non‐survivors. Design: Retrospective study. Animals: Fifty‐nine dogs with CHF prior to receiving cardiac medication. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: The mean plasma sodium concentration in dogs with CHF was below the reference range (144–156 mmol/L) and significantly lower (P=0.009) in non‐survivors (141±6 mmol/L) compared with survivors (147±4 mmol/L). The mean plasma glucose concentration was above the reference range (76–117 mg/dL) and significantly higher (P=0.004) in non‐survivors (128±52 mg/dL) compared with survivors (100±13 mg/dL). Forty‐four percent of non‐survivors had concurrent low plasma sodium and high plasma glucose concentrations, whereas no survivors had both abnormalities (P<0.0001). Conclusions: Lower plasma sodium and higher plasma glucose are associated with a worse outcome in dogs with CHF.     

C-reactive protein concentrations in canine acute pancreatitis

Objective: To determine if C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentration is elevated in spontaneously occurring canine acute pancreatitis (AP), and to measure changes in CRP during the course of hospitalization. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine Foster Hospital for Small Animals. Animals: Sixteen client‐owned dogs with AP and 16 healthy controls. Interventions: Blood samples were obtained from the AP group on the day of diagnosis (Day 1), and on Days 3 and 5, unless the dog died or was discharged from the hospital. Blood was obtained from the control dogs once. Measurements and main results: Serum CRP was measured using a commercial immunoassay for each dog with AP and for healthy controls. Day 1 CRP concentrations were significantly higher in the AP group (56.1±12.7 μg/mL) compared with controls (2.8±1.3 μg/mL; P<0.001). For the 7 dogs that had samples collected on all 3 days, the mean CRP concentrations decreased significantly (P=0.043) over the 5 days of measurement. Of the 16 dogs with AP, 14 were discharged from the hospital and 2 were euthanized. Conclusions: Serum CRP concentrations were elevated in this group of 16 dogs with spontaneously occurring AP. In the 7 dogs that had measurements on all 3 days, the mean CRP concentration decreased from the day of diagnosis to the measurement made 5 days later.     

BQ123对低温诱发的肉鸡肺血管重塑的影响

动态观察了肺小动脉中膜平滑肌的增殖及管腔面积的改变,探讨内皮素受体拮抗剂BQ123 对低温诱发的肉鸡肺血管重塑的影响。200只16日龄AA肉鸡随机均分为4组: 常温(20 ℃)对照组、低温(7~9 ℃)组、低温低剂量BQ123组和低温高剂量BQ123组。23日龄、30日龄时测定肺动脉压,并取肺组织做石蜡切片, 以Weigert间苯二酚复红染色,形态学计算机图象分析法测定肺细小动脉外径和内径、管总面积和管腔面积,计算中膜厚度占外径百分值(%)mMTPA及管壁面积/管总面积WA/TA(%)。结果显示:(1)BQ123 抑制低温肉鸡平均肺动脉压的升高,23日龄时低温高剂量BQ123组显著低于低温组(P<0 05),30 日龄时低温低剂量BQ123 组和低温高剂量BQ123组均极显著低于低温组(P<0 01);(2)BQ123 抑制低温肉鸡肺小动脉WA/TA(%)的升高,30~50μm的肺小动脉,低温组极显著高于低温低剂量BQ123 组及低温高剂量BQ123 组(P<0 01),其它分级的肺小动脉组间差异性与此类似;(3) BQ123抑制低温肉鸡肺小动脉的mMTPA的升高,30~50μm的肺小动脉,23日龄时低温组极显著高于低温低剂量BQ123 组和低温高剂量BQ123 组(P< 0 01), 30 日龄时低温组显著高于低温低剂量BQ123组(P<0 05)、极显著高于低温高剂量BQ123组(P<0 01),30μm以下的肺小动脉组间差异性与此类似,50~120μm     

禽网状内皮组织增生病病毒和马立克氏病病毒共感染对鸡的致肿瘤作用

用禽网状内皮组织增生病病毒(REV)和马立克氏病病毒(MDV)共感染肉鸡，研究这2种病毒对鸡的致瘤作用，结果表明肉鸡共感染MDV和REV后13d即可发生死亡．接种后100d死亡率达84％。死亡鸡的肝脏、脾脏、肾脏和心脏等可以形成2种外观明显不同的散在的大肿瘤结节和弥漫性的小肿瘤结节。取发病鸡的肝脏、脾脏、肾脏、心脏和腺胃等组织样品做连续石蜡切片，HE染色后发现这些脏器均存在2种不同类型的肿瘤细胞增生。对这些连续切片分别用MDV和REV的单克隆抗体进行间接荧光试验，则同1份样品存在可以与REV和MDV分别呈现阳性反应的肿瘤细胞团，结果表明REV和MDV可以在感染鸡的体内分别诱发形成肿瘤。在接种后14、21、28和42d随机采集3只鸡的全血分离MDV和REV，均可以同时分离到MDV和REV。表明REV和MDV的共感染延长了病毒血症的时间。     

内毒素介导动物急性肾功能衰竭机理的试验研究

为了阐明内毒素介导急性肾功能衰竭的机理,观察了内毒素性肾功能衰竭家兔血液凝固性变化和肾脏的病理形态学变化。与对照组家兔比较,模型组家兔血小板计数和血浆纤维蛋白原含量极显著降低(P<0 01),出血时间、凝血时间、凝血酶原时间和白陶土部分凝血活酶生成时间显著或极显著延长(P<0 05,P<0 01)。另一方面,内毒素注射在全部模型组家兔导致了弥漫性血管内凝血,71.4%的肾小球中发现了微血栓,肾小球纤维素密度指数达60 6%。此外,96.2%的肾小管上皮细胞变性坏死,84.1%的肾小管中有管型形成。对照组家兔均未发现这些病理变化。上述试验结果揭示,内毒素引发了弥漫性血管内凝血,而肾小球毛细血管内广泛形成的微血栓阻断了肾小球毛细血管血流,从而导致肾小球滤过率降低,这是内毒素介导急性肾功能衰竭的首要机理。此外,肾小管上皮细胞的变性、坏死可损害其重吸收和分泌功能,管型形成可阻塞肾小管管腔并增大肾球囊内的压力,这些也都是在内毒素介导急性肾功能衰竭发生发展过程中起重要作用的因素。     

Canine GM2‐Gangliosidosis Sandhoff Disease Associated with a 3‐Base Pair Deletion in the HEXB Gene

Background

GM2‐gangliosidosis is a fatal neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease (LSD) caused by deficiency of either β‐hexosaminidase A (Hex‐A) and β‐hexosaminidase B (Hex‐B) together, or the GM2 activator protein. Clinical signs can be variable and are not pathognomonic for the specific, causal deficiency.

Objectives

To characterize the phenotype and genotype of GM2‐gangliosidosis disease in an affected dog.

Animals

One affected Shiba Inu and a clinically healthy dog.

Methods

Clinical and neurologic evaluation, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), assays of lysosomal enzyme activities, and sequencing of all coding regions of HEXA, HEXB, and GM2A genes.

Results

A 14‐month‐old, female Shiba Inu presented with clinical signs resembling GM2‐gangliosidosis in humans and GM1‐gangliosidosis in the Shiba Inu. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the dog's brain indicated neurodegenerative disease, and evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) identified storage granules in leukocytes. Lysosomal enzyme assays of plasma and leukocytes showed deficiencies of Hex‐A and Hex‐B activities in both tissues. Genetic analysis identified a homozygous, 3‐base pair deletion in the HEXB gene (c.618‐620delCCT).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Clinical, biochemical, and molecular features are characterized in a Shiba Inu with GM2‐gangliosidosis. The deletion of 3 adjacent base pairs in HEXB predicts the loss of a leucine residue at amino acid position 207 (p.Leu207del) supporting the hypothesis that GM2‐gangliosidosis seen in this dog is the Sandhoff type. Because GM1‐gangliosidosis also exists in this breed with almost identical clinical signs, genetic testing for both GM1‐ and GM2‐gangliosidosis should be considered to make a definitive diagnosis.