Long-term results of upper respiratory syndrome surgery and gastrointestinal tract medical treatment in 51 brachycephalic dogs

OBJECTIVES: After a first clinical study showing a high prevalence of gastrointestinal tract diseases in brachycephalic dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome, a prospective study was performed to determine the influence of medical treatment for gastrointestinal tract disorders associated with upper respiratory syndrome surgery. METHODS: The gastrointestinal tract and respiratory disorders of 61 brachycephalic dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome were evaluated. Together with surgery of the upper respiratory tract, a specific gastrointestinal medical treatment was administered. A minimal follow-up of six months was required for inclusion. RESULTS: Palatoplasty with rhinoplasty was the most common surgical correction (88.5 per cent). The mortality rate in the perioperative period was 3.3 per cent. Minor complications accounted for 26.2 per cent of cases. No aspiration pneumonia was encountered. A sufficient follow-up was obtained in 51 dogs. The improvement was judged by the owners as excellent or good in 88.3 per cent of the respiratory disorders and in 91.4 per cent of the gastrointestinal disorders. Clinically, a statistically significant improvement was obtained for both respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In comparison with other studies, digestive tract medical treatment combined with upper respiratory surgery seems to decrease the complication rate and improve the prognosis of dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome.     

Emesis in dogs: a review

Emesis is a common presenting sign in small animal practice. It requires a rational approach to management that is based upon a sound understanding of pathophysiology combined with logical decision making. This review, which assesses the weight of available evidence, outlines the physiology of the vomiting reflex, causes of emesis, the consequences of emesis and the approach to clinical management of the vomiting dog. The applicability of diagnostic testing modalities and the merit of traditional approaches to management, such as dietary changes, are discussed. The role and usefulness of both traditional and novel anti-emetic drugs is examined, including in specific circumstances such as following cytotoxic drug treatment. The review also examines areas in which common clinical practice is not necessarily supported by objective evidence and, as such, highlights questions worthy of further clinical research.     

Prevalence of gastrointestinal tract lesions in 73 brachycephalic dogs with upper respiratory syndrome

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal tract lesions in brachycephalic dogs with upper respiratory tract disease. METHODS: The gastrointestinal tract and respiratory disorders of 73 brachycephalic dogs presented with upper respiratory signs were evaluated. Clinical signs and endoscopic and histological anomalies of the upper digestive tract were analysed. RESULTS: A very high prevalence of gastrointestinal tract problems in brachycephalic dogs presented with upper respiratory problems was observed clinically, endoscopically and histologically. Endoscopic anomalies of the upper digestive tract were present even in dogs without digestive clinical signs. Furthermore, histological evaluation of the digestive tract sometimes showed inflammatory lesions not macroscopically visible at endoscopy. Statistical analysis showed a relationship between the severity of the respiratory and digestive signs. This was significant in French bulldogs, males and heavy brachycephalic dogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These observations show a correlation between upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract problems in brachycephalic breeds with upper respiratory disease. Surgical treatment of respiratory disease could improve the digestive clinical signs, and/or gastro-oesophageal medical treatment could improve the outcome for surgically treated brachycephalic dogs.     

Immunolocalization of Melatonin and Follicle‐Stimulating Hormone Receptors in Caprine Ovaries and their Effects During in vitro Development of Isolated Pre‐Antral Follicles

The expression of melatonin type 1 (MT1) and FSH (FSHR) receptors in caprine ovaries and the effects of these hormones on the in vitro development of isolated pre‐antral follicles were evaluated. Follicles (≤200 μm) were cultured for 12 days in α‐MEM (control) or melatonin (100 or 1000 pg/ml) or sequential melatonin medium (100 pg/ml: from day 0 to day 6; 1000 pg/ml: from day 6 to day 12; experiment 1) and in control or sequential FSH (100 ng/ml from day 0 to day 6; 500 ng/ml from day 6 to day 12) or sequential melatonin or this latter plus sequential FSH (experiment 2). MT1 and FSHR expressions were observed in granulosa cells from secondary and antral follicles. The oocytes from primordial and primary follicles also express FSHR. Sequential melatonin increased the percentage of normal follicles and oocyte recovery compared with the control or melatonin (1000 pg/ml) at day 12. In experiment 2, all the treatments increased the normal follicles and growth compared with the control. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the presence of MT1 and FSHR in caprine ovaries. The addition of increased concentrations of melatonin (sequential medium) or FSH can be used to promote the in vitro development of caprine pre‐antral follicles.     

Transform-limited, narrow-linewidth lasing action in organic semiconductor microcavities

Lasing action in organic vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (OVCSEL) structures is demonstrated. Optically pumped OVCSELs with an active layer composed of a thin-film organic semiconductor tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) doped with DCM laser dye produced very narrow linewidth (0.2 +/- 0.1 angstrom), high-power (3 watts) emission that could be varied in different devices from orange to red. The efficient energy transfer from Alq3 to DCM results in a threshold input energy of 300 microjoules per square centimeter. An operational lifetime >10(6) laser pulses was achieved for a device operated well above threshold in atmosphere. The linewidths above threshold are Fourier transform-limited and could potentially be narrowed further.     

Uncontrolled study assessing the impact of a psyllium-enriched extruded dry diet on faecal consistency in cats with constipation

Two field trials, involving 66 cats (15 trial 1; 51 trial 2) were conducted to assess the efficacy of a psyllium-enriched diet for management of constipation in cats. After investigations and faecal evacuation (by enema if required), all cats were fed on a moderate fibre, psyllium-enriched, dry extruded diet. Additional therapy was either not used (trial 1), or initially allowed but was subsequently withdrawn if possible (trial 2). The diet was well tolerated, and palatability was excellent. Most cases improved after initial therapy (at 2 months; trial 1: 14/15 [93%]; trial 2: 42/51 [82%]), and faecal consistency improved significantly in both trials (P < 0.001). Use of cisapride and lactulose decreased significantly in trial 2 (P < 0.001 for both). The diets used in these pilot studies were efficient in the management of recurrent feline constipation. Randomised control trials are now recommended to examine whether a clinical benefit can be proven.     

Immunohistochemical Localization of Fibroblast Growth Factor‐2 in the Sheep Ovary and its Effects on Pre‐antral Follicle Apoptosis and Development In Vitro

Studies with sheep are important to improve our knowledge about the factors that control folliculogenesis in mammals and to explore possible physiological differences among species. The aims of this study were to characterize FGF‐2 protein expression in ovine ovaries and to verify the effect of FGF‐2 on the morphology, apoptosis and growth of ovine pre‐antral follicles cultured in vitro. After collection, one fragment of ovarian tissue was fixed for histological analysis and TUNEL analysis (fresh control). The remaining fragments were cultured for 7 days in control medium (α‐MEM⁺) alone or supplemented with FGF‐2 at different concentrations (1, 10, 50, 100 or 200 ng/ml). After culturing, ovarian tissue was destined to histology and TUNEL analysis, and oocyte and follicle diameters were measured. The immunostaining for FGF‐2 was observed in oocytes from primordial, primary and secondary follicles, as well as in granulosa cells of secondary and antral follicles. The percentage of normal follicles was similar among control medium, 1 and 10 ng/ml FGF‐2, and significantly higher than those observed in 50, 100 or 200 ng/ml FGF‐2. A significant increase in follicle diameter was observed when tissues were cultured in 10, 50, 100 or 200 ng/ml FGF‐2 compared with the fresh control and the other treatments. Similar results were observed for oocyte diameter in tissues cultured with 50, 100 or 200 ng/ml FGF‐2 (p < 0.05). However, the percentage of apoptotic cells only decreased (p < 0.05) in ovarian tissues cultured in 1 or 10 ng/ml FGF‐2 compared with the control medium and other FGF‐2 treatments. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the presence of FGF‐2 in ovine ovaries. Furthermore, 10 ng/ml FGF‐2 inhibits apoptosis and promotes ovine follicle growth. As the sheep ovary is more similar to that of humans, the culture system demonstrated in this work seems to be an appropriate tool for studies towards human folliculogenesis.     

Carbon structures with three-dimensional periodicity at optical wavelengths

Porous carbons that are three-dimensionally periodic on the scale of optical wavelengths were made by a synthesis route resembling the geological formation of natural opal. Porous silica opal crystals were sintered to form an intersphere interface through which the silica was removed after infiltration with carbon or a carbon precursor. The resulting porous carbons had different structures depending on synthesis conditions. Both diamond and glassy carbon inverse opals resulted from volume filling. Graphite inverse opals, comprising 40-angstrom-thick layers of graphite sheets tiled on spherical surfaces, were produced by surface templating. The carbon inverse opals provide examples of both dielectric and metallic optical photonic crystals. They strongly diffract light and may provide a route toward photonic band-gap materials.     

Use of protocatechuic acid as the sole antioxidant in the base medium for in vitro culture of ovine isolated secondary follicles

This study evaluated the effect of the protocatechuic acid (PCA) as the sole antioxidant in the base medium for in vitro culture of ovine secondary follicles. Secondary follicles (200‐230 μm) were isolated and cultured in α‐minimal essential medium supplemented with BSA, insulin, glutamine and hypoxanthine (α‐MEM: antioxidant‐free medium) or α‐MEM also added by transferrin, selenium and ascorbic acid (α‐MEM+: with antioxidant) or α‐MEM added by PCA (56.25; 112.5; 225; 450; or 900 μg/ml). Moreover, after culture, oocytes were matured and the chromatin configuration and DNA fragmentation were evaluated. After 12 days, the treatment containing 56.25 μg/ml PCA showed higher percentage of normal follicles than control medium or the other treatments (p < .05), except for 900 μg/ml PCA (p > .05). The antrum formation was significantly higher in treatments containing 56.25, 112.5 or 900 μg/ml PCA, compared to the α‐MEM and similar (p > .05) to the other treatments. The rates of fully grown oocytes (≥110 μm) were similar (p > .05) among all treatments containing PCA and α‐MEM+, and those were superior (p < .05) than α‐MEM, except for 450 μg/ml PCA (p > .05). GSH levels and mitochondrial activity were higher (p < .05) in α‐MEM+ than in α‐MEM and similar (p > .05) to all PCA treatments. The rates of meiotic resumption and DNA fragmentation were similar (p > .05) among α‐MEM+ and 56.25 μg/ml PCA. In conclusion, PCA at 56.25 μg/ml as the sole antioxidant added to the medium for ovine isolated secondary follicle culture maintains follicular survival, GSH and active mitochondria levels, meiotic developmental competence and DNA integrity of cultured oocytes.