bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Single‐Agent Pamidronate for Palliative Therapy of Canine Appendicular Osteosarcoma Bone Pain
Authors: Fan Timothy M. , de Lorimier Louis‐Philippe , O'Dell‐Anderson Kristen , Lacoste Hugues I. , Charney Sarah C. 
Published: March 2010

Background:Canine appendicular osteosarcoma (OSA) causes focal bone destruction, leading to chronic pain and reduced quality‐of‐life scores. Drugs that inhibit pathologic osteolysis might provide additional treatment options for managing cancer‐induced bone pain. Aminobisphosphonates induce osteoclast apoptosis, thereby reducing pain associated with malignant osteolysis in human patients with cancer.Hypothesis:Treatment of dogs with pamidronate administered intravenously will alleviate bone pain and reduce pathologic bone turnover associated with appendicular OSA in dogs.Animals:Forty‐three dogs with naturally occurring appendicular OSA administered pamidronate intravenously.Methods:Prospective study. Therapeutic responses in dogs treated with pamidronate administered intravenously and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAID) were evaluated by using a numerical cumulative pain index score (CPIS), and by quantifying urine N‐telopeptide (NTx) excretion and relative primary tumor bone mineral density (rBMD) assessed with dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry. In addition, variables, including pamidronate dose, skeletal mass, baseline and change for CPIS, urine NTx andrBMD during treatment, and baseline tumor volume and radiographic pattern were compared between dogs clinically responsive and nonresponsive to pamidronate therapy.Results:Twelve of 43 dogs (28%) had pain alleviation for > 4 months, lasting a median of 231 days. Changes in CPIS andrBMD during treatment were statistically different between responders and nonresponders (P= .046 and .03, respectively).Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Substantiated by reductions in CPIS and increases inrBMD, single‐agent pamidronate administered intravenously with NSAID therapy relieves pain and diminishes pathologic bone turnover associated with appendicular OSA in a subset of dogs.
Effects of 4 Classes of Cardiovascular Drugs on Ventricular Function in Dogs with Mitral Regurgitation
Authors: Nakayama Tomohiro , Nishijima Yoshinori , Miyamoto Mutsumi , Hamlin Robert L. 
Published: March 2010

Background:There have been few trials in which dogs with mitral regurgitation (MR) have been treated with various cardioactive drugs to determine effects on left ventricular (LV) function.Hypothesis:Four classes of cardiovascular drugs may improve LV function in dogs with MR without increasing MR.Animals:Nine mature dogs were included in the study.Methods:MR was produced in 9 dogs. Five months later under butorphanol narcosis, parameters of LV function and left atrial dimension (LAD) were monitored by LV micromanometry and echocardiography/Doppler. Dogs were given (in random order) enalaprilat, nitroglycerine, ouabain, milrinone, and placebo.Results:Nitroglycerin produced no significant change; milrinone and ouabain increased contractility; ouabain decreased heart rate; and there was evidence that enalaprilat and milrinone decreased LAD. Milrinone and ouabain decreased isovolumetric contraction time and therefore the time available for MR. There was no evidence that a positive inotrope increased MR despite increasing LV contractility and stroke volume.Conclusion and Clinical Importance: This study contradicts the hypotheses that (1) strengthening the left ventricle may increase MR and (2) treatment of MR (even before symptoms of heart failure develop) may decrease LAD. It is reasonable that strengthening the force of LV contraction should increase the driving pressure for MR; however, this effect did not appear to increase MR. Although some investigators believe that treating dogs with MR with afterload reducers and decreasing hindrance to ejection of blood from the LV to aorta may lengthen life by decreasing MR, there did not appear to be a reduction in MR, at least in response to the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.
Hemostatic Biomarkers in Dogs with Chronic Congestive Heart Failure
Authors: Tarnow Inge , Falk Torkel , Tidholm Anna , Martinussen Torben , Jensen Asger L. , Olsen Lisbeth H. , Pedersen Henrik D. , Kristensen Annemarie T. 
Published: March 2010

Background:Chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) in humans is associated with abnormal hemostasis, and abnormalities in hemostatic biomarkers carry a poor prognosis. Alterations in hemostatic pathways can be involved in the pathogenesis of CHF in dogs, and microthrombosis in the myocardium could contribute to increased mortality.Hypothesis:That plasma concentration or activity of hemostatic biomarkers is altered in dogs with CHF and that these factors predict mortality.Animals:Thirty‐four dogs with CHF caused by either dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, n = 14) or degenerative valvular disease (CDVD, n = 20) compared with 23 healthy age‐matched control dogs were included in this study. Dogs with CHF were recruited from 2 referral cardiology clinics, and control dogs were owned by friends or colleagues of the investigators.Methods:Clinical examination and echocardiography were performed in all dogs. Plasma fibrinogen and D‐dimer concentrations, antithrombin and protein C activity, and thrombin‐antithrombin complex (TAT) were measured in all dogs.Results:Dogs with CHF had significantly higher fibrinogen (P= .04), D‐dimer (P= .002), and TAT concentration (P< .0001), lower antithrombin (P< .0001) and protein C activity (P< .001) compared with control dogs. None of the hemostatic biomarkers were associated with risk of death.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: There is evidence of a procoagulant state in dogs with CHF. The lack of predictive value for survival might be due to the small number of dogs examined. Further studies are necessary to investigate the presence and importance of microthrombosis in dogs with CHF.
Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy in Lagotto Romagnolo Dogs
Authors: Jokinen T.S. , Metsähonkala L. , Bergamasco L. , Viitmaa R. , Syrjä P. , Lohi H. , Snellman M. , Jeserevics J. , Cizinauskas S. 
Published: March 2010

Background:Idiopathic childhood epilepsies with benign outcomes are well recognized in human medicine, but are not reported in veterinary literature. We recognized such a neurologic syndrome in Lagotto Romagnolo dogs.Animals: Twenty‐five Lagotto Romagnolo puppies from 9 different litters examined because of simple or complex focal seizures and 3 adult Lagotto Romagnolo dogs exhibiting similar clinical signs were used.Methods: Clinical and diagnostic evaluations of affected dogs were conducted, including electromyography, electroencephalography, and other testing.Results: Seizures in puppies began at 5 to 9 weeks of age and usually resolved spontaneously by 8 to 13 weeks. Those with the most severe seizures also had signs of neurologic disease between these seizures, including generalized ataxia and hypermetria. There were no abnormalities in routine laboratory screenings of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. Electromyography, brainstem auditory‐evoked potentials, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed no specific and consistent abnormalities. Fourteen of 16 (87.5%) affected puppies and 2 of 3 (67%) adult dogs revealed epileptiform activity in the electroencephalogram. Histopathologic examination in 1 puppy and 1 adult dog revealed lesions of Purkinje cell inclusions and vacuolation of their axons restricted to the cerebellum. Pedigree analysis suggests an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: This disorder, with simple or complex focal seizures and cerebellar lesions, represents a newly recognized epileptic syndrome in dogs.
Suspected Immune‐Mediated Myositis in Horses
Authors: Lewis Susannah S. , Valberg Stephanie J. , Nielsen Ian L. 
Published: March 2010

Background:Although immune‐mediated myositis (IMM) is commonly reported in other species, this condition is poorly described in horses.Hypothesis:IMM occurs in horses.Animals:Thirty‐seven horses with suspected IMM were included in the study.Methods:The database of the Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory was reviewed to identify 37 horses with muscle biopsies characterized by lymphocytic infiltrates. A retrospective standardized questionnaire regarding clinical signs and response to treatment was answered by horse owners.Results:Horses with suspected IMM were predominantly of Quarter Horse bloodlines (33/37 horses) and primarily either 8 years or 17 years of age. Clinical signs included rapid atrophy, particularly of the epaxial and gluteal muscles, depression, and stiffness. Creatine kinase (CK) activity (mean 9,746; range 260–139,183 U/L: reference range 119–287 U/L) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activity (mean 2880; range 350–9,009 U/L: reference range 138–409 U/L) were high. Exposure to horses with infectious respiratory disease occurred in 39% (9/23) of horses before clinical signs and 47% (9/19) had recurrence of atrophy. Variation in dosage and time elapsed before administration of corticosteroids confounded assessment of treatment efficacy. Macrophages and CD4+ T lymphocytes were the prominent mononuclear cellular infiltrates with lesser numbers of CD8+ cells and small clusters of B lymphocytes in some samples. Myofibers did not stain for equine immunoglobulin G (IgG).Conclusions and Clinical Importance: IMM appears to be a distinct cause of rapid muscle atrophy, particularly in Quarter Horses that may be amenable to treatment with corticosteroids. Diagnosis is best achieved by identifying lymphocytic infiltrates in atrophied muscles.
Thoracic Percussion to Determine the Caudal Lung Border in Healthy Horses
Authors: Bakos Zoltán , Vörös Károly 
Published: March 2010

Background:The application of equine thoracic percussion has been ignored because of the availability of modern imaging techniques. Ultrasonography is a reliable tool in determining the caudal lung border of horses. The aim of the study was to compare percussion with ultrasonography to determine lung borders in horses.Hypothesis:That thoracic percussion can detect the caudal lung border and that its accuracy is comparable with thoracic ultrasonography.Animals:Fifteen randomly chosen, healthy, Warmblood horses.Methods:The caudal lung border was detected by percussion and ultrasonography at the end of inspiration and expiration on both sides of the thorax. A reference point close to the withers was determined, allowing standardized measurements. The distance between this point and the caudal lung border in different intercostal spaces (ICS) was measured by a tape measure.Results:No significant difference was found between percussional and ultrasonographic results. Greater differences were found between inspiration and expiration by ultrasonography compared with percussion in all intercostal spaces on both sides of the thorax. It was significant (P= .028) in the 12th ICS in the right hemithorax.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Percussion is a reliable tool to determine the caudal lung border in healthy horses. Differences caused by the displacement of the lung during respiration should be taken into consideration when applying either method.
Chronic Enteropathies in Dogs: Evaluation of Risk Factors for Negative Outcome
Authors: Allenspach K. , Wieland B. , Gröne A. , Gaschen F. 
Published: March 2010

Hypothesis: Certain variables that are routinely measured during the diagnostic evaluation of dogs with chronic enteropathies will be predictive for outcome and a new clinical disease activity index incorporating these variables can be applied to predict outcome of disease.Animals: Seventy dogs were entered into a sequential treatment trial with elimination diet (FR, food‐responsive group) followed by immunosuppressive treatment with steroids if no response was seen with the dietary trial alone (ST, steroidtreatment group). A 3rd group consisted of dogs with panhypoproteinemia and ascites (PLE, protein‐losing enteropathy) that were treated with immunosuppressive doses of steroids.Methods: Three years of follow‐up information was available for all dogs. Clinicopathologic variables were tested for their ability to predict negative outcome, defined as euthanasia due to refractoriness to treatment. Different scoring systems including different combinations of these variables were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results: Thirteen of 70 (18%) dogs were euthanized because of intractable disease. Univariate analysis identified a high clinical activity index, high endoscopic score in the duodenum, hypocobalaminemia (<200 ng/L) and hypoalbuminemia (<20 g/L) as risk factors for negative outcome.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Based on the factors identified by logistic regression and ROC curve analysis, a new clinical scoring index (CCECAI) was defined that predicts negative outcome in dogs suffering from chronic enteropathies.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Electrocardiography and Thoracic Radiography in the Assessment of Left Atrial Size in Cats: Comparison with Transthoracic 2‐Dimensional Echocardiography
Authors: Schober Karsten E. , Maerz Imke , Ludewig Eberhard , Stern Joshua A. 
Published: March 2010

Background: Left atrial (LA) enlargement (LAE) is a morphologic expression of the severity and chronicity of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, volume overload, and increased atrial pressure and has diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic importance in cats. The noninvasive gold standard for assessing LA size is 2‐dimensional echocardiography (2DE).Hypothesis: ECG and thoracic radiography may be used to predict LAE in cats.Animals: Twenty‐one healthy control cats and 31 cats with cardiomyopathy were prospectively studied.Methods: 2DE studies, including determination of the maximum LA dimension (LAD) and area (LAA), were performed prospectively in all cats and compared to the assessment of LA size based on thoracic radiography and indices obtained from a 6‐lead ECG. Results obtained from healthy cats were used to generate discrimination limits suggestive of LAE as defined by LAD >1.57 cm and LAA >2.75 cm2.Results: In cats with LAE, P wave duration and PR interval were prolonged and radiographic LA vertebral heart size (LA‐VHS) was increased (P< .05). P wave‐related indices had low sensitivity (Se; range, 0.12 to 0.60) but high specificity (Sp; range, 0.81 to 1.00) for the prediction of LAE. Radiographic indices had low Se (range, 0.28 to 0.72) and high Sp (range, 0.74 to 0.95) for the prediction of LAE. Correlation analyses identified correlations between LAA and P wave duration (r= 0.47,P= .003) and LAD and LA‐VHS (r= 0.70,P< .001).Conclusion and Clinical Importance: ECG and thoracic radiography are reasonably specific but less sensitive predictors of LAE in cats.
Comparative Adverse Cardiac Effects of Pimobendan and Benazepril Monotherapy in Dogs with Mild Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease: A Prospective, Controlled, Blinded, and Randomized Study
Authors: Chetboul Valérie , Lefebvre Hervé P. , Sampedrano Carolina Carlos , Gouni Vassiliki , Saponaro Vittorio , Serres François , Concordat Didier , Nicolle Audrey P. , Pouchelon Jean‐Louis 
Published: March 2010

Background: Pimobendan (PIMO) is an inodilator that may have some beneficial effects in canine degenerative mitral valve disease (MVD). However, little information is available about its cardiac effects in dogs without systolic myocardial dysfunction.Hypothesis: Compared to benazepril (BNZ), an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor, PIMO may worsen valve regurgitation in early canine MVD.Animals: Twelve Beagles with asymptomatic MVD were randomized into 2 groups (n = 6) receiving BNZ or PIMO at dosages of 0.25 mg/kg PO q24h and q12h respectively, for 512 days.Methods: The study followed a blinded, randomized, prospective, and parallel group design. After day 512, the dogs were necropsied, and cardiac histopathology was performed in a blinded manner.Results: A significant treatment effect was observed as soon as day 15 with increased systolic function in the PIMO group by comparison to baseline value as assessed by fractional shortening (P< .0001) and tissue Doppler variables (P= .001). Concurrently, the maximum area and peak velocity of the regurgitant jet signal increased (P< .001), whereas these variables remained stable in the BNZ group. Histologic grades of mitral valve lesions were more severe in the PIMO group than in the BNZ group. Moreover, acute focal hemorrhages, endothelial papillary hyperplasia, and infiltration ofchordae tendinaewith glycosaminoglycans were observed in the mitral valves of dogs from the PIMO group but not in those of the BNZ group.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: PIMO has adverse cardiac functional and morphologic effects in dogs with asymptomatic MVD. Additional investigation in dogs with symptomatic MVD is now warranted.
Premature Death, Risk Factors, and Life Patterns in Dogs with Epilepsy
Authors: Berendt Mette , Gredal Hanne , Ersbøll Annette Kjaer , Alving Jørgen 
Published: March 2010

Background: Epilepsy in dogs is often difficult to medically control, resulting in premature death of dogs with epilepsy. However, the risks of premature death are not known.Hypothesis: Dogs with epilepsy have an increased risk of premature death as compared to a general population of dogs.Animals: Sixty‐three dogs diagnosed with epilepsy between 1993 and 1996 were included in this study.Methods: A prospective longitudinal study of the population was performed from the diagnosis of epilepsy until the time of euthanasia, death, or a maximum of 12 years to investigate mortality and risk factors. Information about sex, onset, type, frequency, and control of seizures, remission of epilepsy, death, cause of death, and owner's perspective was collected and analyzed.Results: The median age at death of dogs was 7.0 years. The life span of dogs in which euthanasia or death was directly caused by their epileptic condition was significantly shorter as compared with epileptic dogs that were euthanized because of other causes (P= .001). The median number of years that a dog lived with epilepsy was 2.3 years. Females lived longer with epilepsy than males (P= .036). Seizure type (primary generalized versus focal seizures) was not significantly associated with survival time. The remission rate of epilepsy (spontaneous remission and remission with treatment) was 15%.Conclusion and Clinical Importance: The diagnosis of epilepsy implies an increased risk of premature death. The prognosis for dogs with epilepsy is dependent on a combination of veterinary expertise, therapeutic success, and the owner's motivation.
Continuous Low‐Dose Oral Chemotherapy for Adjuvant Therapy of Splenic Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs
Authors: Lana Susan , U'ren Lance , Plaza Susan , Elmslie Robyn , Gustafson Daniel , Morley Paul , Dow Steven 
Published: March 2010

Background: Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a highly metastatic and often rapidly fatal tumor in dogs. At present, conventional adjuvant chemotherapy provides only a modest survival benefit for treated dogs. Continuous oral administration of low‐dose chemotherapy (LDC) has been suggested as an alternative to conventional chemotherapy protocols. Therefore, we evaluated the safety and effectiveness of LDC using a combination of cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and piroxicam as adjuvant therapy for dogs with stage II HSA.Hypothesis: We hypothesized that oral adjuvant therapy with LDC could be safely administered to dogs with HSA and that survival times would be comparable to those attained with conventional doxorubicin (DOX) chemotherapy.Animals: Nine dogs with stage II splenic HSA were enrolled in the LDC study. Treatment outcomes were also evaluated retrospectively for 24 dogs with stage II splenic HSA treated with DOX chemotherapy.Methods: Nine dogs with stage II splenic HSA were treated with LDC over a 6‐month period. Adverse effects and treatment outcomes were determined. The pharmacokinetics of orally administered etoposide were determined in 3 dogs. Overall survival times and disease‐free intervals were compared between the 9 LDC‐treated dogs and 24 DOX‐treated dogs.Results: Dogs treated with LDC did not develop severe adverse effects, and long‐term treatment over 6 months was well‐tolerated. Oral administration of etoposide resulted in detectable plasma concentrations that peaked between 30 and 60 minutes after dosing. Both the median overall survival time and the median disease‐free interval in dogs treated with LDC were 178 days. By comparison, the overall survival time and disease‐free interval in dogs treated with DOX were 133 and 126 days, respectively.Conclusions: Continuous orally administered LDC may be an effective alternative to conventional high‐dose chemotherapy for adjuvant therapy of dogs with HSA.
Plasma Adrenocorticotropin, Cortisol, and Adrenocorticotropin/ Cortisol Ratios in Septic and Normal‐Term Foals
Authors: Gold J.R. , Divers T.J. , Barton M.H. , Lamb S.V. , Place N.J. , Mohammed H.O. , Bain F.T. 
Published: March 2010

Background: Little information exists on the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis in septic foals.Hypothesis: The plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol are expected to be higher in septic foals as compared to normal foals. The concentrations of hormones in septic foals also are expected to differ further depending upon survival.Animals: Twenty‐eight control foals and 46 septic foals < 14 days of age were included in this study.Methods: Blood was collected in EDTA once from 28 normal foals born in the University of Georgia or Cornell University equine research herds and from 46 septic foals within 12 hours after admission to 1 of the 3 tertiary care referral centers involved in the study. Septic foal selection was based on a sepsis score of >11 or a positive blood culture. The control foals were age matched to the septic foals in the study. ACTH and cortisol concentrations were measured by a chemiluminescent immunoassay system.Results: Cortisol concentrations in control foals did not vary with age. Septic foals had significantly higher mean ACTH, cortisol, and ACTH/cortisol ratios than did normal foals. Within the septic foal group, 28 foals survived to discharge, and 18 were euthanized or died. The mean age was not significantly different between the septic surviving and nonsurviving foals. The mean ACTH/cortisol ratio was significantly higher in the septic nonsurviving foals as compared to the septic surviving foals.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Septic foals had higher hormone concentrations as compared to normal foals, which is an expected endocrine response to critical illness. The increased ACTH/cortisol ratio in nonsurviving septic foals in comparison to surviving septic foals could indicate hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis dysfunction at the level of the adrenal gland in critically ill septic foals.