Data suggest that IMP can be used to assess changes in IPV blood flow and help predict outcome following attenuation of single CPSSs in dogs.

Mechanical loading influences bone mass and architecture through a cascade of cellular events that involve estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha). An implication of this is that bone architecture is more adaptive to mechanical loading when the estrogen receptor number is high, as during adolescence, and less sensitive when the estrogen receptor number is low, as occurs postmenopausally, during amenorrhea, or after ovariectomy.

Results of the present study suggest that although most owners of dogs that undergo surgery for treatment of intramural ureteral ectopia consider the outcome of surgery to be excellent, substantial proportions of dogs will continue to have urinary incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infections after surgery. Findings do not provide any support to the hypothesis that the resection technique is superior to the ligation technique for management of dogs with intramural ureteral ectopia.

Background & AimsIn acute liver failure, severity of liver injury and clinical progression of disease are in part consequent upon activation of the innate immune system. Endotoxaemia contributes to innate immune system activation and the detoxifying function of albumin, critical to recovery from liver injury, is irreversibly destroyed in acute liver failure. University College London-Liver Dialysis Device is a novel artificial extracorporeal liver assist device, which is used with albumin infusion, to achieve removal and replacement of dysfunctional albumin and reduction in endotoxaemia. We aimed to test the effect of this device on survival in a pig model of acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure.MethodsPigs were randomised to three groups: Acetaminophen plus University College London-Liver Dialysis Device (n = 9); Acetaminophen plus Control Device (n = 7); and Control plus Control Device (n = 4). Device treatment was initiated two h after onset of irreversible acute liver failure.ResultsThe Liver Dialysis Device resulted in 67% reduced risk of death in acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure compared to Control Device (hazard ratio = 0.33, p = 0.0439). This was associated with 27% decrease in circulating irreversibly oxidised human non-mercaptalbumin-2 throughout treatment (p = 0.046); 54% reduction in overall severity of endotoxaemia (p = 0.024); delay in development of vasoplegia and acute lung injury; and delay in systemic activation of the TLR4 signalling pathway. Liver Dialysis Device-associated adverse clinical effects were not seen.ConclusionsThe survival benefit and lack of adverse effects would support clinical trials of University College London-Liver Dialysis Device in acute liver failure patients.

Dogs without identifiable intrahepatic portal veins that had a ductular reaction on hepatic histologic examination were less likely to tolerate complete attenuation of a CPSS.

13Detection of wooden foreign bodies in dogs can be challenging. A retrospective, cross-sectional study 14 was done to describe computed tomographic (CT) signs associated with wooden foreign bodies, and to 15 estimate the accuracy of CT for detection of wooden foreign bodies. Patient records and CT images were 16 reviewed of 72 dogs that had a history of suspected stick injury and CT of the affected body part, or 17 possible wooden foreign object reported on CT, and had surgical exploration during the same period of 18 hospitalization. Duration of clinical signs was acute in 48 (67%) dogs and chronic in 24 (33%). Wood was 19 removed from 55 dogs, including a piece of a tree or shrub in 33 (60%) instances, kebab stick in 8 (15%), 20 piece of bamboo garden cane in 2 (4%), cocktail stick in 2 (4%), thorn in 1 (2%), and unidentified wood in 21 the remaining 9 instances. Based on review of CT images with knowledge of the surgical findings, 22 sensitivity of CT for wooden foreign bodies was 79% (95% CI 65-89%), specificity 93% (78-98%), positive 23 likelihood ratio 11.5 (2.9-44.1), and negative likelihood ratio 0.23 (0.13-0.41). Wooden foreign bodies 24 were predominantly rectangular or linear, with median length 48mm (range 2-270mm), median 25 thickness 3mm (range 1-22mm), and median attenuation 111HU (range -

A reproducible, clinically relevant, intensively managed, large animal model of acute liver failure, with death as a result of multi-organ failure, has been successfully validated for translational studies of disease progression and therapies designed to prolong survival in man.

Pneumonectomy is the resection of all lung lobes from one side of the thorax. The clinical findings, treatment and outcome of four cases of feline chronic pyothorax managed with exploratory thoracotomy and pneumonectomy are reported. All cases were initially medically managed with thoracic drain placement and antibiosis. However, resolution was not achieved with medical therapy and diagnostic imaging findings consistent with an area of abscessation or marked lung lobe consolidation were identified, supporting a decision for surgical management. Surgical exploration was performed via median sternotomy and, on the basis of gross inspection, non-functional lung was removed. A left-sided pneumonectomy was performed in three cats and a right-sided pneumonectomy in one. All cases survived to discharge and an excellent quality of life was reported on long-term follow-up. Pneumonectomy appears to be well tolerated in the cat.