Evaluation of urinary carnitine and taurine excretion in 5 cystinuric dogs with carnitine and taurine deficiency

Five client owned dogs with cystinuria were diagnosed with carnitine and taurine deficiency while participating in a clinical trial that used dietary management of their urolithiasis. Stored 24-hour urine samples collected from the cystinuric dogs before enrollment in the clinical diet trial were quantitatively evaluated for carnitine and taurine. These results were compared to those obtained from 18 healthy Beagles. Both groups of dogs were fed the same maintenance diet for a minimum of 2 weeks before 24-hour urine collection. The protocol used for 24-hour urine collections was the same for cystinuric dogs and healthy Beagles except that cystinuric dogs were catheterized at baseline, 8 hours, 12 hours, and at the end of the collection, whereas Beagles were catheterized at baseline, 8 hours, and at the end of the collection. Three of 5 dogs with cystinuria had increased renal excretion of carnitine. None of the cystinuric dogs had increased renal excretion of taurine, but cystinuric dogs excreted significantly less (P < .05) taurine in their urine than the healthy Beagles. Carnitinuria has not been recognized previously in either humans or dogs with cystinuria, and it may be 1 risk factor for developing carnitine deficiency. Cystinuric dogs in this study were not taurinuric; however, cystine is a precursor amino acid for taurine synthesis. Therefore, cystinuria may be 1 risk factor for developing taurine deficiency in dogs. We suggest that dogs with cystinuria be monitored for carnitine and taurine deficiency or supplemented with carnitine and taurine.     

Bovine urolithiasis in Andhra Pradesh

Urinary calculi from three bulls, six bullocks and one male buffalo from the Guntur district were investigated. By chemical analysis only CO₃², Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and a trace of PO¾^- were found. X-ray analysis showed that all samples consisted of magnesian calcite with an atomic percentage of magnesium between 14.5 and 21.9. The size of the crystallites varied approx. from 200 to 400 Å.     

犬黄嘌呤尿结石症的诊断:36例临床病理报告

36只尿石症病犬表现体温下降,剧烈呕吐,食欲废绝,血清尿酸、肌酐、尿素氮升高,尿沉渣中有众多结晶体析出,经尿液和血清生化指标测定、B超探察、X线影像并结合饮食结构调查,确诊为黄嘌呤结石症。     

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ULTRASOUND AND CLINICAL FINDINGS IN 87 CATS WITH URETHRAL OBSTRUCTION

Urethral obstruction is a life‐threatening form of feline lower urinary tract disease. Ultrasonographic risk factors for reobstruction have not been previously reported. Purposes of this retrospective cross‐sectional study were to describe urinary tract ultrasound findings in cats following acute urethral obstruction and determine whether ultrasound findings were associated with reobstruction. Inclusion criteria were a physical examination and history consistent with urethral obstruction, an abdominal ultrasound including a full evaluation of the urinary system within 24 h of hospitalization, and no cystocentesis prior to ultrasound examination. Medical records for included cats were reviewed and presence of azotemia, hyperkalemia, positive urine culture, and duration of hospitalization were recorded. For medically treated cats with available outcome data, presence of reobstruction was also recorded. Ultrasound images were reviewed and urinary tract characteristics were recorded. A total of 87 cats met inclusion criteria. Common ultrasound findings for the bladder included echogenic urine sediment, bladder wall thickening, pericystic effusion, hyperechoic pericystic fat, and increased urinary echoes; and for the kidneys/ureters included pyelectasia, renomegaly, perirenal effusion, hyperechoic perirenal fat, and ureteral dilation. Six‐month postdischarge outcomes were available for 61 medically treated cats and 21 of these cats had reobstruction. No findings were associated with an increased risk of reobstruction. Ultrasonographic perirenal effusion was associated with severe hyperkalemia (P = 0.009, relative risk 5.75, 95% confidence interval [1.54–21.51]). Findings supported the use of ultrasound as an adjunct for treatment planning in cats presented with urethral obstruction but not as a method for predicting risk of reobstruction.     

Effects of Epidural Ketamine–Xylazine Combination on the Clinicophysiological and Haematobiochemical Parameters of Uraemic and Healthy Goats

Xylazine–ketamine combination was evaluated for its efficacy and safety after epidural administration in uraemic and healthy goats. The combination (xylazine 0.025 mg/kg and ketamine 2.5 mg/kg) was administered to uraemic (n = 6) and healthy (n = 6) animals in the lumbosacral epidural space. The combination was evaluated in terms of clinical, physiological, haematological and biochemical parameters. The onset of analgesia was faster in healthy animals than in uraemic animals. Xylazine and ketamine produced complete analgesia of tail, perineum, inguinal and thigh regions in all animals of both groups. However, healthy animals showed longer duration of complete analgesia than did uraemic animals. Greater ataxia was recorded in healthy animals than in uraemic animals. The heart rate showed a significant decrease in both groups; however, respiratory rate and rectal temperature did not show any significant changes. Haemoglobin, packed cell volume and total leukocyte count decreased non-significantly in both groups. Total leukocyte count was significantly higher in uraemic animals. A significantly higher value of urea nitrogen and creatinine was recorded in uraemic animals. The blood electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻) and blood gases (P o ₂ and P co ₂) did not show any significant changes in both groups; however, base excess was significantly higher in uraemic animals. The effects produced by the combination on different systems were transient and values normal as the effect of the drugs wore off. The results suggest that the combination when used epidurally in uraemic goats produced effective and safe surgical analgesia.     

Influence of diet on calcium metabolism, tissue calcification and urinary sludge in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Rabbits absorb more calcium (Ca) from their diet than they require, and excrete surplus via urine, which therefore contains a typical 'sludge'. This makes rabbits susceptible to Ca-containing uroliths. But given the Ca content of diets of free-ranging specimens, and the limited reports of urinary sludge and Ca contents in free-ranging lagomorphs, we can suspect that rabbits are naturally adapted to high urinary Ca loads. We fed four groups of New Zealand hybrid rabbits [n = 28, age at start 5-6 weeks) pelleted diets consisting of lucerne hay only (L, Ca 2.32% dry matter (DM)], lucerne:oats 1:1 (LG, Ca 1.36%), grass hay only (G, Ca 1.04%), or grass:oats 1:1 (GG, 0.83%) for 25 weeks, with water available ad libitum. Diets were not supplemented with Ca, phosphorus, or vitamin D. Rabbits on diets LG and GG had lower food and water intakes, lower faeces and urine output, grew faster and had higher body mass at slaughter (mainly attributable to adipose tissue). Apparent Ca digestibility decreased in the order L-LG-G/GG. Rabbits on L had larger and heavier kidneys, more urinary sediment at sonography, and a higher urinary Ca content than the other groups. No animal showed signs of urolithiasis/calcinosis at X-ray, sonography, or gross pathology. Kidney/aorta histology only sporadically indicated Ca deposits, with no systematic difference between groups. Under the conditions of the experiment, dietary Ca loads in legume hay do not appear problematic for rabbits, and other factors, such as water supply and level of activity may be important contributors to urolithiasis development in veterinary patients. However, due to the lower Ca content of grass hay, the significantly lower degree of urinary sludge formation, and the significantly higher water intake related with grass hay feeding, grass hay-dominated diets are to be recommended for rabbits in which urolithiasis prevention is an issue.     

某犬场一起群发性尿石症的临床病理学研究

南京某地犬场爆发一起尿石症,其发病率为34.44%（62/180）,致死率为45.16%（28/62）,且发病持续时间较长。B超探查病犬肾脏和膀胱内出现点状或团块状强回声,表明有晶体存在;组织学检查,肾脏沉积的结晶体导致肾组织变性;患病犬的尿液和生化指标显示肾功能障碍;对结石成分进行扫描电镜观察,结晶体多呈球状,表明为黄嘌呤结石。     

三金排石汤加减方在输尿管结石围手术期的疗效观察

目的 观察三金排石汤加减方在输尿管结石围手术期的临床疗效及1年后肾积水改善、结石复发情况。方法 将所选取的135例患者完全随机分为综合治疗1组、综合治疗2组和手术组三组,均予以行输尿管镜碎石取石术、留置D-J管及术后对症治疗,而综合治疗1组间断服用中药半年,综合治疗2组仅术后服用中药半个月。观察3组治疗前后中医证候积分、术后住院时间及血尿清除时间、不良反应发生情况,1年后肾脏积水改善结石复发情况。结果 治疗后综合治疗组、手术组均能明显改善输尿管结石症状,且综合治疗组的疗效明显优于手术组,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;综合治疗组在术后住院时间、血尿清除时间、不良反应发生情况上,均优于手术组,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;在1年后结石复发情况方面,综合治疗1组未见结石复发,与综合治疗2组、手术组比较,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 在输尿管结石围手术期服用中药三金排石汤加减方能明显降低手术并发症、改善保留D-J管的不良反应及预防结石复发疗效确切,值得临床使用及深入研究。