Altered adenosine triphosphatase activities in pigs with naturally occurring hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The purpose of this study was to determine whether myocardial adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities were reduced in pigs with naturally occurring hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The selection of hearts for the HCM and the normal control groups depended on histological examination. Specific ATPase activity and 5-nucleotidase activity were measured in left ventricular myocardium obtained from HCM (n=7) and normal control (n=7) animals. The histological features of HCM included marked disorientation of muscle cells, thickening of the intramural coronary arterial wall with a narrowed lumen, endocardial fibrosis and myocardial fibrosis. The HCM group showed significant increases in both heart weight (32%) and heart weight to body weight ratio (46%). The total ATPase activity in crude homogenates from the HCM group was significantly decreased by 16%. Azide-sensitive ATPase (mitochondrial ATPase) activity, ouabain-sensitive ATPase (Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase) activity, basal Mg²⁺-ATPase activity and Ca²⁺-ATPase activity were all significantly decreased by 18%, 30%, 20% and 50%, respectively. In contrast, no significant decrease was found in the mean values for 5-nucleotidase activity. These results suggest that myocardial ATPase activities are suppressed in pigs with naturally occurring HCMAbbreviations ATP adenosine triphosphate - gww grams wet weight - HCM hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - Pi inorganic phosphate     

Pulmonary metastatectomy in the management of four dogs with hypertrophic osteopathy

The efficacy and outcome of pulmonary metastatectomy in the management of hypertrophic osteopathy (HO) secondary to metastatic osteosarcoma was retrospectively evaluated in four dogs. Metastatectomy was performed by subpleural enucleation, partial lung lobectomy or complete lung lobectomy through either a median sternotomy or thoracoscopically. Perioperative morbidity was minimal. Clinical signs associated with HO resolved within 24 h of pulmonary metastatectomy in all dogs. Durable remission of symptomatic HO was achieved in all dogs (range, 50–294 days), although recurrence of HO was noted in one dog, 246 days postmetastatectomy due to metastasis to the lungs and chest wall. Pulmonary metastatectomy resulted in a rapid and prolonged resolution of HO, and the clinical benefits of metastatectomy potentially exceed the morbidity associated with the surgical procedure.     

Hypertrophic gastropathy associated with gastric sarcoma in a dog

A 14-y-old spayed female Labrador Retriever was presented with an 8-mo history of chronic vomiting. Abdominal ultrasound and gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a mass protruding into the gastric lumen, with cytologic features suggestive of sarcoma. A partial gastrectomy was performed; the gastric body and antrum were thickened, with a cerebriform appearance of the mucosal surface. Histologic examination revealed a submucosal neoplastic proliferation of fusiform cells variably arranged in irregular bundles and scattered whorls. Fusiform cells strongly reacted to antibodies against vimentin, S100, and neuron-specific enolase; glial fibrillary acidic protein was moderately and multifocally expressed. Pancytokeratin, KIT, α–smooth muscle actin, and desmin were nonreactive. Histologic and immunohistochemical findings suggested a diagnosis of gastric sarcoma with features referable to a non-GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor), non–smooth muscle NIMT (non-angiogenic, non-lymphogenic intestinal mesenchymal tumor). The overlying gastric mucosa was thickened by elongated and dilated gastric glands, predominantly lined by intensely periodic acid-Schiff–stained mucous cells. This altered mucosal architecture was suggestive of Ménétrier-like disease. Although this disease has been hypothesized to predispose to gastric adenocarcinoma in dogs, an association with gastric sarcoma has not been documented previously in the veterinary literature, to our knowledge.     

Cardiac L-type calcium channel and its alterations in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure

There are two type of cardiac calcium channel current, both are inward current: (1) L-type Ca²⁺channel current (I_ca-L), plays a major role in determining myocyte action potential plateau characteristics as well as initiating the myocyte excitation-contraction coupling; (2) T-type Ca²⁺ channel current (I_ca-T), probably plays an important role in pacemaker activity. The alterations of L-type calcium channel abundance and function in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure are determined by the the species difference, especially by the stage of the disease process and the degree of the disease. Both abundance and function of L-type calcium channel decrease in severe hypertrophy and heart failure.     

Suramin alleviates hypertrophic scar in mice by inhibiting fibroplasia and inflammatory response

AIM: To investigate the therapeutical effect of suramin on hypertrophic scar (HPS) and its mechanism. METHODS: After the mouse model of HPS was established by mechanical stretching, the suramin solution at low dose (5 mg/kg) and high dose (10 mg/kg) was applied onto the scar site caused by mechanical load in mice by transdermal administration once a day for 10 d. The degree of scar hyperplasia was observed by macroscopy. The scar cross-sectional area and scar elevation index in the HPS tissues were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The expression levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in HPS tissues were detected by immumohistochemical staining. The expression level of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in HPS tissues was detected by immunofluorescence staining, RT-qPCR and Western blot. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β1 in the HPS tissues were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Macroscopic observation showed that the surface areas of scar in the HPS mice after treatment with suramin at low and high doses were significantly reduced (P<0.01). HE staining results showed that the scar cross-sectional area and the scar elevation index of HPS mice after treatment with suramin at low and high doses were significantly reduced (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The results of immunofluorescence staining, RT-qPCR and Western blot showed that the number of α-SMA positive cells and the mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA in scar tissues of HPS mice after treatment with suramin at low and high doses were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression levels of TGF-β1 and IL-6 in scar tissues of HPS mice after treatment with suramin at low and high doses were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The results of ELISA showed that the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β1 in the scar tissues of HPS mice after treatment with suramin at low and high doses were significantly reduced (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Suramin inhibits the formation of HPS, which may be related to the inhibition of fibroplasia and reduction of local inflammatory response.     

苹果花脸病田间病情发展及ASSVd在组培条件下的传播

为了明确苹果锈果类病毒（apple scar skin viroid,ASSVd）引起的苹果花脸病在田间的病情发展情况以及ASSVd在组培条件下的传播方式,2012—2015年对河北省顺平南神南村3个果园进行持续调查和检测。结果显示,果园A、B、C的显症率分别从3.00%、19.35%和10.00%上升至10.00%、34.41%和22.00%,带毒率分别从11.00%、20.43%和14.00%上升至23.00%、37.63%和30.00%,带毒率和显症率都逐年增加,而且带毒率大于显症率,即有些带毒果树不显症。发病果树田间分布有明显的发病中心。通过高通量测序发现显症果树ASSVd vsiRNA reads数是带毒未显症reads数的4.08倍,同时实时荧光定量PCR检测发现显症树ASSVd病毒积累量显著高于带毒未显症树。以携带ASSVd的组培苗和无毒组培苗为试材,利用RT-PCR检测明确了ASSVd可通过伤口沾染带毒汁液、组培剪污染、含毒培养基、根系接触进行传播,其中根系接触传染率较高。     

TWO-DIMENSIONAL COLOR TISSUE DOPPLER IMAGING DETECTS MYOCARDIAL DYSFUNCTION BEFORE OCCURRENCE OF HYPERTROPHY IN A YOUNG MAINE COON CAT

A 20-month-old healthy male Maine Coon cat was referred for a cardiovascular evaluation. Physical examination and electrocardiogram were normal. The end-diastolic subaortic interventricular septal thickness (6 mm; reference range: < or = 6mm) and the mitral flow late diastolic velocity (0.89 m/s; reference range: 0.2-0.8m/s) were within the upper ranges. However, M-mode echocardiography did not reveal any sign of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) identified a marked left ventricular free wall dysfunction characterized by decreased myocardial velocities in early diastole, increased myocardial velocities in late diastole and the presence of postsystolic contractions both at the base and the apex for the longitudinal motion. One year later, the diagnosis of HCM was confirmed by conventional echocardiography and the cat died suddenly 2 months later. This report demonstrates for the first time in spontaneous HCM the sensitivity of TDI for early diagnosis of myocardial dysfunction and suggests that TDI should form part of the screening techniques for early diagnosis of feline HCM.     

动物肥厚性心肌病--人类疾病理想模型

动物肥厚性心肌病的临床所见、心脏超声波图、肉眼组织病理、冠状小动脉变化、胶原纤维组织变化等 ,与人类肥厚性心肌病非常相似 ;遗传学分析 ,人类及猫肥厚性心肌病均为家族性常染色体显性遗传类型。动物肥厚性心肌病可为理想模型来研究人类疾病 ,而且动物肥厚性心肌病小冠状动脉病变与人类冠状动脉粥样化血管切除或皮下血管内腔扩张术后小冠状动脉再阻塞相同 ,可为人类疾病之模型。尤其猪心脏血行、生理及形态均与人类心脏相似 ,故猪肥厚性心肌病实为人类肥厚性心肌病研究之理想动物模型。