A 2-year-old domestic shorthair cat was presented with a history of hematuria, stranguria and intermittent urethral obstruction. Urine sediment showed hematuria, pyuria, and yellow-brown, amorphous and spherical crystals. Upon surgical correction of the obstructed urethra by perineal urethrostomy, many dark yellow to grey, irregular, gravel-like to millet grain-sized uroliths, consisting of 100% xanthine by crystallography were found. The urinary xanthine concentration was high. The cat subsequently developed bilateral nephroliths, recurrent urinary tract infection, and chronic kidney failure. Dietary management with a low-purine diet failed in part due to poor compliance, and the cat was euthanized at 6 years of age. Xanthinuria is rare inborn error of metabolism in cats and other species but should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of feline urolithiasis. No associated molecular genetic defect has been elucidated, and management of these cases is difficult. In the absence of calculi for analysis, measuring urinary xanthine concentration can help in diagnosing this metabolic defect.

BackgroundFrequency and classification of anemia in terms of regeneration status and erythrocyte indices are not well described in cats.ObjectiveTo determine frequency and regenerative status of anemia in samples from adult cats, to assess the sensitivity and specificity of macrocytosis and hypochromasia for detecting regenerative anemia (RA), and to evaluate the association of anemia with increased serum creatinine concentration (SC).Study PopulationLaboratory records from 30,503 blood samples from cats (2003–2011).MethodsClinicopathologic data reviewed retrospectively. Anemia defined as hematocrit (Ht) ≤27%, red blood cell count (RBC) ≤5.5 × 106/μL and hemoglobin (Hb) ≤9.0 g/dL. RA defined by manual absolute reticulocyte count >50 × 103/μL. Macrocytosis was defined as mean corpuscular volume (MCV) >55 fL and hypochromasia as mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) <31 g/dL. Cutoff for increased serum creatinine concentration was 1.6 mg/dL.ResultsOverall, 1,098 of 30,503 blood samples (3.6%) from cats fulfilled criteria for anemia, 633 of 1,098 (57.7%) classified as nonregenerative (NRA) and 465 of 1,098 (42.3%) as regenerative. RBC, Ht, and Hb were significantly lower in the RA compared to NRA group (P < .05). Sensitivity and specificity of the combined high MCV and low MCHC to detect samples with RA were 19.5 and 90.7%. SC was increased in 572 of the 1,098 anemic samples (52.1%) and in 11,121 of 29,405 of nonanemic samples (37.8%).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceMajority of anemic samples were classified as NRA. Anemia was more severe in cats with RA. Erythrocyte indices were not sensitive indicators of RA.

Objective. To develop methods for a rapid distance computer diagnosis of COVID-19 based on the analysis of breath sounds. It is known that changes in breath sounds can be the indicators of respiratory organs diseases. Computer analysis of these sounds can indicate their typical changes caused by COVID-19, and can be used for a rapid preliminary diagnosis of this disease. Materials and methods. The method of fast Fourier transform (FFT) was used for computer analysis of breath sounds, recorded near the mouth of 14 COVID-19 patients (aged 1880 years) and 17 healthy volunteers (aged 548 years). The frequency of breath sound records ranged from 44 to 96 kHz. Unlike the conventional methods of computer analysis for diagnosis of diseases based on respiratory sound studying, we offer to test a high-frequency part of FFT (20006000 kHz). Results. While comparing the breath sound FFT in patients and healthy volunteers, we developed the methods for COVID-19 computer diagnosis and determined the numerical criteria in patients and healthy persons. These criteria do not depend on sex and age of the examined persons. Conclusions. The offered computer methods based on the analysis of breath sound FFT in patients and volunteers permit to diagnose COVID -19 with relatively high diagnostic parameters. These methods can be used in development of noninvasive means for preliminary self-express diagnosis of COVID-19.

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Objective of the Review: to present current information on monitoring and therapy of bronchial asthma (BA) in children amidst the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19. Key Points. There is no evidence that controlled BA increases the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection or leads to more severe COVID-19. Inhaled glucocorticosteroids (IGCS) to manage BA inhibit gene expression of major SARS-CoV-2 target receptors. Anti-inflammatory BA therapy, primarily IGCS, should not be discontinued until BA is controlled, thus mitigating the risk of unfavourable course of COVID-19. Nebuliser therapy at home remains the preferred treatment in pre-school children with BA. Conclusion. Amidst the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19, children with BA should receive individualised therapy depending on disease severity and rate of disease control. Keywords: bronchial asthma, children, novel coronavirus infection COVID-19.

Using a database containing audio files of respiratory sound records of asthmatic patients and healthy patients, a method of computer-aided diagnostics based on the machine learning technique – creation of neural networks, has been developed. The database contains 952 records of respiratory sounds of asthma patients at different stages of the disease, aged from several months to 47 years, and 167 records of volunteers. Records were carried out with a quiet breathing at four points: in the oral cavity, above the trachea, on the chest, the second intercostal space on the right side, and at a point on the back.The developed method of computer-aided diagnostics allows diagnosing bronchial asthma with high reliability: sensitivity of 89.3%, specificity of 86%, accuracy of about 88% and Youden’s index of 0.753.The program learned once makes it possible to diagnose bronchial asthma with high reliability regardless of patient’s gender and age, a stage of disease, as well as the point of sound recording.The developed method can be used as an additional screening method for the diagnostics of bronchial asthma and serve as the basis for development of computer control methods, including remote control (telemedicine) of patient’s condition and the effectiveness of the applied drugs in real time.

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Summary Transient Fanconi syndrome without azotemia was diagnosed in a dog and was associated with ingestion of Chinese chicken jerky treats. Fanconi syndrome is a proximal renal tubular defect and a diagnosis was made based upon severe glucosuria with normoglycemia, and severe generalized aminoaciduria. The clinical signs of polyuria and polydipsia as well as the massive urinary metabolic abnormalities resolved after jerky treat withdrawal. While frequently seen in North America and Australia, this is the first report of jerky treat induced Fanconi syndrome in continental Europe. Clinicians should be aware of this potential intoxication and be vigilant for a history of jerky treat consumption in a dog with glucosuria.