Evaluation of cystatin C as an endogenous marker of glomerular filtration rate in dogs

Cystatin C is a cysteine protease inhibitor produced by all nucleated cells. It is freely filtered by the glomerulus and is unaffected by nonrenal factors such as inflammation and gender. Because of greater sensitivity and specificity, cystatin C has been proposed to replace creatinine as a marker of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in humans. The aims of this study were to validate an automated assay in canine plasma and to evaluate the usefulness of cystatin C as a marker of GFR in dogs. Western blotting was used to demonstrate cross-reactivity of an anti-human cystatin C antibody. An immunoturbidimetric assay was used to detect cystatin C in 25 clinically healthy dogs and 25 dogs with renal failure. Mean cystatin C concentration in the healthy dogs and the dogs with renal failure was 1.08 +/- 0.16 mg/L and 4.37 +/- 1.79 mg/L respectively. Intra- and interassay variability was <5%. The assay was linear (r = .974) between 0.14 and 7.53 mg/L. Both cystatin C and creatinine concentrations were measured in banked, frozen serum from 20 remnant kidney model dogs and 10 volume-depleted dogs for which GFR measurements by exogenous creatinine clearance had been determined previously. In the remnant kidney model, cystatin C was better correlated with GFR than creatinine (r = .79 versus .54) but was less well correlated with GFR in volume-depleted dogs (r = .54 versus .95). GFR measurements were repeated in the remnant kidney model dogs 60 days after initial GFR measurements. At this time, cystatin C and creatinine concentrations correlated equally well with GFR (r = .891 versus .894, respectively). Cystatin C concentration is a reasonable alternative to creatinine for screening dogs with decreased GFR due to chronic renal failure.     

Xylitol intoxication associated with fulminant hepatic failure in a dog

Objective: To describe a case of xylitol intoxication causing fulminant hepatic failure in a dog. Case summary: A 2.5‐year‐old castrated male English Springer Spaniel weighing 26 kg, was presented after ingestion of half of a loaf of bread containing the sweetener xylitol. Toxic effects of the xylitol in this dog included vomiting, mild hypoglycemia and fulminant hepatic failure. Clinical management of acute hepatic failure and subsequent coagulopathy with supportive care and fresh frozen plasma is described. The dog was discharged 3 days after admission after a full clinical recovery. New or unique information provided: This paper describes the clinical consequence and successful treatment of fulminant hepatic failure in a dog following ingestion of xylitol.     

影响山羊胚胎冷冻效果因素的研究

分别用浓度为1.5 mol/L的乙二醇(EG),1.5 mol/L 1,2-丙二醇(PROH)和1.5 mol/L甘油为冷冻保护液对山羊胚胎进行常规冷冻保存,结果三者对山羊胚胎的冷冻保护效果无显著差异,其中以1.5 mol/L EG的冷冻保护效果为佳。以EFS40为玻璃化液对山羊胚胎进行细管法和OPS法玻璃化冷冻,其结果与常规冷冻间差异不显著,表明常规冷冻法、玻璃化细管法和OPS法均可用于山羊胚胎的冷冻保存。采用25℃和37℃水浴对常规冷冻和玻璃化冷冻后的山羊胚胎进行解冻,从解冻后的发育效果看,二者间无显著差异,但37℃水浴解冻后的胚胎发育效果略好于25℃。还比较了玻璃化液EFS40中添加FCS和BSA后与不添加其他成分的EFS40对胚胎冷冻保护效果的影响,结果表明添加BSA的EFS40的冷冻保护效果显著地高于不添加其他成分的EFS40,但与添加FCS的EFS40间不存在统计学上的差异。     

Syncope secondary to transient atrioventricular block in a German shepherd dog with dilated cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation

This case report describes transient atrioventricular block as the etiology for syncopal events in a 6-year-old male German shepherd dog with atrial fibrillation and dilated cardiomyopathy. The arrhythmia diagnosis was obtained via Holter monitoring. Medical treatment with a sustained-release preparation of theophylline, as an additive to the standard congestive heart failure treatment (benazepril, furosemide and pimobendan) may have contributed to temporary remission of the syncopal events. However, the congestive heart failure progressed and the dog was euthanized. Veterinarians should be aware of the possibility of transient atrioventricular block causing syncope in dogs with DCM and AF and should be careful in empirically lowering the ventricular response rate if these dogs present with syncopal episodes.     

Canine renal failure syndrome in three dogs

Three dead dogs were brought to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University for study. Clinically, all the dogs showed emaciation, anorexia, depression, hemorrhagic vomiting and diarrhea for 7~10 days before death. All the clinical signs were first noted for about one month after feeding the dogs with commercial diets. At necropsy, all 3 dogs had severe renal damage with the same green-yellowish colored nephroliths in the renal pelvis. They also showed systemic hemorrhage and calcification of several organs, which might have been induced by uremia. Microscopically, necrosis, calcification and calculi were detected in the renal tubules, and especially in the proximal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts of the kidney. These findings were supportive of a mycotoxic effect, and especially on their kidneys. However, the precise cause of the toxic effect in these cases of canine renal failure could not be determined.     

冷冻方法和冷冻保护液对山羊卵母细胞发育的影响

比较了不同冷冻方法和冷冻保护液对山羊卵母细胞冷冻-解冻后体外受精和激活后的发育效果.结果表明,开放式拉长塑料细管(OPS)法的效果好于玻璃化细管法和常规冷冻法;在OPS法中,20%EG 20%DMSO对卵母细胞的冷冻保护效果好于EDFS40,而在玻璃化细管法冷冻中,则是EDFS40好于20%EG 20%DMSO.对于常规冷冻法而言,则是1.5mol/L EG的冷冻效果好于1.5mol/L PROH.     

Characteristics of ventricular electrophysiology in a right ventricular rapid pacing-induced canine heart failure model

AIM: To research the characteristics of ventricular electrophysiology in right ventricular rapid pacing-induced congestive heart failure (CHF) dogs.METHODS: Dogs (n=16) were randomly divided into 2 groups: the control (n=7) and the CHF group (n=9) induced by rapid right ventricular pacing at 240 pulse·min-1 for 4 to 5 weeks.The electrophysiologic parameters were evaluated by the technique of standard electric stimulation and monophasic action potential (MAP) recording.RESULTS: (1) Ventricular effective refractory period (VERP),ventricular MAP duration (MAPD90),ventricular late repolarization duration (VLRD) and intra-ventricular conduction time (IVCT) were prolonged by 26% (P<0.01),43% (P<0.01),318% (P<0.05),and 19% (P<0.01),respectively in CHF group.(2)The ratio of VERP to MAPD₉₀ (VERP/MAPD₉₀) was decreased by 13% (P<0.05) in CHF group.(3) The dispersion of ventricular recovery time (VRT-D) was increased by 185% (P<0.01) in CHF group.(4) The ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) was decreased by 48% (P<0.01) in CHF group.CONCLUSION: The abnormal electrophysiological changes in the CHF condition may be contributing factors of lethal ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac deaths in CHF.     

国民党执政大陆时期腐败现象的法理透视

权力的集权设置与运行、法制失控是国民党执政大陆时期腐败愈演愈烈的法律原因.国民党的贪必腐、腐必败的历史,反映了腐败消解国家统一意志和前进动力、导致社会灾难和政权倾覆的不变真理.能否有效地抑制和清除腐败现象,决定着一个执政党执政的成败, 也决定着社会能否长治久安.今人当从国民党盛衰演变的历史中认真吸取教训.