D-dimer concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with disseminated intravascular coagulation

OBJECTIVE: To determine sensitivity and specificity of assays of D-dimer concentrations in dogs with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and healthy dogs and to compare these results with those of serum and plasma fibrin-fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) assays. ANIMALS: 20 dogs with DIC and 30 healthy dogs. PROCEDURE: Semi-quantitative and quantitative D-dimer concentrations were determined by use of latex-agglutination and immunoturbidometry, respectively. Fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products were measured by use of latex-agglutination. A reference range for the immunoturbidometric D-dimer concentration assay was established; sensitivity and specificity of the assay were determined at 2 cutoff concentrations (0.30 microg/ml and 0.39 microg/ml). RESULTS: Reference range for the immunoturbidometric D-dimer concentration assay was 0.08 to 0.39 microg/ml; median concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with DIC than in healthy dogs. Latex-agglutination D-dimer and serum and plasma FDP assays had similar sensitivity (85 to 100%) and specificity (90 to 100%); the immunoturbidometric assay had lower specificity (77%) at the 0.30 microg/ml cutoff and lower sensitivity (65%) at the 0.39 microg/ml cutoff. Sensitivity or specificity of the latex-agglutination D-dimer assay was not significantly improved when interpreted in series or parallel with FDP assays. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Measurement of D-dimer concentrations by latex-agglutination appears to be a sensitive and specific ancillary test for DIC in dogs. Specificity of D-dimer concentrations in dogs with systemic disease other than DIC has not been determined, therefore FDP and D-dimer assays should be performed concurrently as supportive tests for the diagnosis of DIC in dogs.     

Grain composition of Virginia winter barley and implications for use in feed,food, and biofuels production

Grain compositional components impacting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) use in food, feed and fuel products, must be combined with improved agronomic traits to produce a commercially viable barley cultivar. Little current information is available on grain composition and variability among winter barley genotypes. This study was conducted to determine the variability among modern hulled and hulless winter barley genotypes in grain composition. Barley types varied significantly in grain and kernel weight, starch, beta-glucan, oil and ash content, but not in protein concentration. Hulless barley had significantly higher grain test weight and starch concentration than hulled and malting types, and significantly higher beta-glucan than malting barley. Hulless barley had significantly lower kernel weights, oil, and ash concentrations than hulled and malting types. Higher starch and lower fiber and ash in grain of hulless barley versus hulled feed or malting type barley are characteristics that increase hulless barley desirability. Selection for high starch concentration among all barley types is feasible and will facilitate development of barley cultivars better suited for use in feed, malt, and ethanol production.     

Effect of citrate concentration on coagulation test results in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of citrate concentration (3.2 vs 3.8%) on coagulation tests in dogs. DESIGN: Original study. ANIMALS: 30 clinically healthy dogs and 12 dogs with hereditary hemostatic disorders. PROCEDURE: Blood was collected from all dogs directly into collection tubes containing 3.2 or 3.8% buffered citrate. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and fibrinogen concentration were measured by use of 3 clot-detection assay systems (2 mechanical and 1 photo-optic). Factor VIII and factor IX coagulant activities (FVIII:C and FIX:C, respectively) were determined by use of a manual tilt-tube method and a mechanical clot-detection device. RESULTS: Significant differences were not detected in median PT, fibrinogen concentration, FVIII:C, or FIX:C between 3.2 and 3.8% citrate for any assay system. A significant prolongation in aPTT for 3.2% citrate, compared with 3.8% citrate, was found in 1 mechanical system. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Citrate concentration does not significantly affect results of most coagulation assays, regardless of assay system. The aPTT was mildly influenced by the citrate concentration, although this was animal-, instrument-, and reagent-dependent. The choice of 3.2 or 3.8% citrate as an anticoagulant for coagulation tests has minimal influence on assay results in healthy dogs or dogs with hereditary hemostatic disorders.     

Conceptus elongation in ruminants: roles of progesterone,prostaglandin, interferon tau and cortisol

The majority of pregnancy loss in ruminants occurs during the first three weeks after conception, particularly during the period of conceptus elongation that occurs prior to pregnancy recognition and implantation. This review integrates established and new information on the biological role of ovarian progesterone(P4), prostaglandins(PGs),interferon tau(IFNT) and cortisol in endometrial function and conceptus elongation. Progesterone is secreted by the ovarian corpus luteum(CL) and is the unequivocal hormone of pregnancy. Prostaglandins(PGs) and cortisol are produced by both the epithelial cells of the endometrium and the trophectoderm of the elongating conceptus. In contrast, IFNT is produced solely by the conceptus trophectoderm and is the maternal recognition of pregnancy signal that inhibits production of luteolytic pulses of PGF2αby the endometrium to maintain the CL and thus production of P4. Available results in sheep support the idea that the individual, interactive, and coordinated actions of P4, PGs, IFNT and cortisol regulate conceptus elongation and implantation by controlling expression of genes in the endometrium and/or trophectoderm. An increased knowledge of conceptus-endometrial interactions during early pregnancy in ruminants is necessary to understand and elucidate the causes of infertility and recurrent early pregnancy loss and provide new strategies to improve fertility and thus reproductive efficiency.     

Evaluation of the induction of vasoactive mediators from equine digital vein endothelial cells by endotoxin

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) on vasoactive mediator production by cultured equine digital vein endothelial cells (EDVECs). SAMPLE POPULATION: EDVECs obtained from forelimb digital veins of 7 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES: EDVECs were incubated with or without LPS (1 microg/mL) for 0, 2, 4, 6, 22, and 24 hours. The EDVECs were incubated for 18 hours with LPS (10 pg/mL to 1 microg/mL) with or without ibuprofen, cycloheximide, or L-nitroarginine methyl ester. Medium concentrations of prostacyclin, cyclic guanosine monophosphate, endothelin-1, and thromboxane A(2) were determined. Changes in inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression were determined. RESULTS: LPS stimulated mean 4.2- and 14.1-fold increases in EDVEC prostacyclin and cyclic guanosine monophosphate production, respectively, after 22 hours. These effects were LPS concentration-dependent (LPS concentrations that induced a response halfway between the maximum response and baseline of 1.50 and 1.22 ng/mL, respectively). The LPS-induced cyclic guanosine monophosphate production was significantly inhibited (to basal concentrations) by L-nitroarginine methyl ester, and prostacyclin production was inhibited by cycloheximide and ibuprofen. Production of thromboxane A(2) by EDVECs was not detected. Endothelin-1 accumulated in the medium, but LPS did not enhance its production. Inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in EDVECs was not detected with the available antibodies, whereas LPS stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: LPS stimulated vasoactive mediator production by equine endothelial cells, which may play a role in LPS-induced digital hypoperfusion.