Objective -To review the human and veterinary literature on the biology of apoptosis in health and disease.

There was marked formation of phosphatidylserine-expressing MPs during storage beyond 7 days in canine RBC concentrates. Prestorage LR attenuated the generation of MPs.

This study demonstrated a marked, storage time-dependent accumulation of IL-8 in canine erythrocyte concentrates. Prestorage LR attenuated the accumulation of IL-8. This chemokine may contribute to the proinflammatory effects of transfusion of stored erythrocyte concentrates.

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A 3 yr old spayed female mixed-breed dog weighing 19.4 kg was evaluated for ingestion of 1,856 mg/kg (180 tablets) of ibuprofen, a human formulated nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). At the time of presentation, the patient was alert and hypersalivating, but her mental status rapidly declined to obtunded, stuporous, and then comatose within 30 min of presentation. Initial treatment included supportive therapy with prostaglandin analogs and antiemetics. An IV lipid emulsion (ILE) was administered as a bolus, followed by a constant rate infusion. Clinical signs began to improve approximately 3 hr after completion of the lipid infusion. The patient required supportive care for 3 days before discharge. This case report demonstrates the use of ILE for treatment of ibuprofen toxicosis in a dog. ILE infusion may be a therapeutic option for patients with toxicosis due to lipid-soluble drugs.

OBJECTIVE To compare clinical signs, laboratory test results, and imaging findings between dogs with suspected anaphylaxis and dogs with sepsis. DESIGN Retrospective case-case study. ANIMALS 10 dogs with suspected anaphylaxis and 22 dogs with confirmed sepsis that met the criteria for systemic inflammatory response syndrome. PROCEDURES Medical records for dogs in each group were reviewed and data extracted regarding signalment; reason for hospital admission; physical examination findings; results of CBC, serum biochemical analysis, coagulation testing, cytologic examination, and microbial culture; and imaging reports. RESULTS All dogs in the anaphylaxis group fulfilled the criteria for systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Dogs in both groups had gastrointestinal signs, lethargy, mentation change, and bleeding abnormalities. Dogs with suspected anaphylaxis had a significantly higher eosinophil count and serum alanine aminotransferase activity and lower blood pH than dogs with sepsis. Dogs with sepsis had a significantly higher band neutrophil count, serum globulins concentration, and serum alkaline phosphatase activity and lower serum glucose concentration. Dogs in both groups had intracavitary free fluid and ultrasonographic findings of thickened intestines, gas or fluid-filled intestines, and a thickened gallbladder wall. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Clinical signs, laboratory values, and imaging findings may be similar in dogs with sepsis or anaphylaxis. Given the marked difference in prognosis and treatment, early differentiation is important. Anaphylaxis should be considered if a septic nidus cannot be identified, and supportive care should be considered for such patients.

The VetMousetrapt, a novel device that allows computed tomography (CT) of awake cats and provides a clinically supportive environment, is described. Ten normal cats were used to test the device for ambient internal oxygen, carbon dioxide levels, and temperature. Twenty-two awake normal cats were imaged using a 16-multislice helical CT unit to evaluate dose-equivalent protocols. Two different X-ray tube potentials (kV), 80 and 120, and two different helical pitches, 0.562 and 1.75, were evaluated. The signal intensity of the pulmonary parenchyma (SI lung ), signal intensity of background (SI backgr ), contrast, noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. Three evaluators ranked the images for sharpness of liver margins, motion, helical, and windmill artifacts. CT was successfully completed in 20 of 22 cats. No artifacts directly related to the device were detected. Overall, 75 of 80 (94%) examinations were judged to have absent or minimal motion artifact. A statistically significant difference was found for SNR (P ¼ 0.001) and CNR (P ¼ 0.001) between all protocols. The higher pitch protocols had significantly lower noise and higher SNR and CNR, lower motion artifact but greater helical artifacts. A protocol using 80 kV, 130 mA, 0.5 s, and 0.562 pitch with 1.25 mm slice thickness, and 0.625 mm slice reconstruction interval is recommended. The VetMousetrapt appears to provide the opportunity for diagnostic CT imaging of the thorax of awake cats. r 2010 Veterinary

FAST exams reliably identify the presence of free fluid in the peritoneal and pleural cavities; however, TFAST is not a reliable method to diagnose pneumothorax in dogs and cats following trauma.