The prevalences of breeds and concurrent diseases in a group of 40 dogs with pruritic skin disease associated with elevated cutaneous Malassezia pachydermatis populations were compared with samples of a dermatological hospital population. The ages and genders of the affected dogs were comparable to those of the dermatology population. Basset hounds, cocker spaniels and West Highland white terriers were significantly overrepresented. Concurrent diseases were diagnosed in 27 dogs, of which 15 were atopic. However, the prevalences of atopic disease, primary keratinisation defects and endocrinopathies in dogs with elevated cutaneous M pachydermatis populations were comparable to those in the dermatology population as a whole. These results indicate that certain breeds are predisposed to the development of elevated cutaneous M pachydermatis populations and that concurrent skin diseases can frequently be identified in affected dogs. However, the relationship between these concurrent diseases and abnormal M pachydermatis populations remains unclear.
Nitric oxide (NO) is known to play a role in the non-specific host defence mechanism. Furthermore, it has been proposed that NO may be important in respiratory defence against the viruses which cause the common cold. Indeed, elevated NO levels have previously been observed in orally expired air during upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). We wanted to investigate further the role of NO in the host response to URTI. Total nasal airway resistance (tNAR) and nasal NO levels were obtained during symptomatic URTI in 97 subjects. Of these, 80 received treatment with either oxymetazoline or a placebo spray. Post-treatment tNAR and NO levels were obtained 60 min after treatment. Measurements of NO were also repeated 4-6 weeks later, when subjects were healthy, (n = 82). NO levels were measured using a chemiluminescence gas analyse whilst tNAR was measured using posterior rhinomanometry. The mean pre-treatment NO level (1063 +/- 541 ppb) was shown to be reduced significantly after treatment with oxymetazoline (827 +/- 373ppb), p < 0.0001. The mean pre-treatment tNAR, 0.42 Pa cm-3 sec-1, was also reduced significantly to 0.21 Pa cm-1 sec-1 (p < 0.001) after treatment with oxymetazoline. There was no significant correlation between the change in NO levels and change in tNAR following treatment with oxymetazoline (p. corrected for ties = 0.011, p = 0.98. No significant difference was found between NO levels obtained during URTI (1130 +/- 444 ppb) when compared to values obtained when healthy (1197 +/- 361 ppb), p = 0.25. These results demonstrate that treatment with a topical nasal decongestant spray causes a reduction in nasal NO levels. We propose that this occurs as an indirect consequence of the vasoconstrictor actions of oxymetazoline. Since no change in NO levels was observed during URTI, we propose that the NO synthase responsible for NO production in the nose responds in a different manner to that in the lungs.
This study evaluated PYM00217, a proprietary blend of plant extracts, in the management of canine atopic dermatitis (AD). One hundred and twenty dogs were diagnosed with perennial AD on the basis of history, clinical signs, a positive test for perennial allergens and elimination of other dermatoses. Exclusion criteria included antimicrobials within 7 days, antihistamines within 14 days, oral/topical glucocorticoids or ciclosporin within 28 days, and parenteral glucocorticoids, essential fatty acids or immunotherapy within 56 days. Flea control, shampoos and ear cleaners were permitted. Dogs with a minimum canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (CADESI) of 25 were randomly allocated to receive PYM00217 (100, 200 or 400 mg kg-1 day-1) or placebo for 12 weeks. The mean reductions in CADESI (intention-to-treat population) were 3.9% (placebo; n=29), 4.4% (100 mg kg-1 day-1; n=30), 23.4% (200 mg kg-1 day-1; n=29) and 8.5% (400 mg kg-1 day-1; n=29). The reduction in the 200 mg kg-1 day-1 group was significant (P<0.01). For dogs with a baseline CADESI>or=50, the mean changes were +10.6% (placebo; n=12), +0.6% (100 mg kg-1 day-1; n=14), -29.3% (200 mg kg-1 day-1; n=14) and -3.4% (400 mg kg-1 day-1; n=15). The 200 mg kg-1 day-1 dose was significantly more effective than placebo (P=0.038). No serious adverse effects were reported. Minor adverse effects seen in 10% (placebo and 100 mg kg-1 day-1), 24% (200 mg kg-1 day-1) and 42% (400 mg kg-1 day-1) of cases were mainly minor gastrointestinal disorders and only five cases required cessation of dosing. Two dogs (one in each of the 100 mg kg-1 day-1 and 200 mg kg-1 day-1 groups) refused to eat the medicated food. In conclusion, PYM00217 at 200 mg kg-1 appears to be an effective, palatable and well-tolerated treatment for canine AD.
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